by Tara Chau
* * *
By the time lunch comes, Gabe is late. When twenty minutes pass and I have finished my lunch, I decided to do Gabe a favour and pick up his lunch order. When I get back, I open the lid and start to pick out the slices of cucumber from his Greek salad. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I know that cucumbers are Gabe’s favourite, but I am too bored to care. Listening to Jess and Ty’s conversation, I smile; they are talking about how both agree that girls are very high maintenance. Somewhere far off, I can hear Anne talking to me. Trying to focus on her, I turn my head in her direction.
“Gabe seemed super chipper this morning. Why is that?” Anne asks.
Still picking at his salad, I reply absentmindedly. “Probably because he kissed me on Friday, and I didn’t punch him in the face for doing so.” Realising what I have just said, I look up in mortification. Anne grins wickedly, silently clapping. I shove her hands down and stare at her seriously.
“You cannot tell anyone. I’m serious.”
“Alright, I won’t tell anyone. Except Ty,” she says to my horror. I slap my hand over her mouth as she makes to call Ty’s name.
“Not funny,” I say sternly.
“Okay, okay, but you gotta spill all the details,” she says excitedly.
I’m about to say something when Anne smiles brightly.
“Speak of the devil,” she says, looking back to me.
Turning around, I see Gabe walking swiftly towards us. His face, unlike earlier, is full of concern and uncertainty. Gabe approaches the table, smiling at everyone before grasping my arm gently and leading us back out into the empty hall.
“Hey,” I say soothingly. Gabe seemed more troubled a few hours ago.
“Hi,” he replies.
Gabe kneels onto the floor, yanking a pale-yellow folder from his navy-blue backpack.
“What is that?” I ask questioningly.
“A folder,” he answers obviously.
“Of what?” I prod.
“Lucien,” he says simply, gazing at my face, watching my reaction.
“Why?” I ask.
“Because you wanted it,” he says as if it explains everything.
“Yeah, but why did you get it? I thought you didn’t want me investigating this.”
“I don’t, but I know that if I don’t let you, you’ll go behind my back and do it on your own,” he says wisely.
I nod, confirming his theory.
“I passed the office on my way to lunch, and Alice and some other lady were talking about Lucien. They had two folders. I could only get a hold of one,” he says.
“You… stole it?” I ask. Gabe is the perfect student. If anyone catches him, he’ll fall into a damn deep hole.
Gabe simply nods, still watching my face.
“Thank you,” I say, giving him an assuring smile.
Gabe smiles back, his usual crooked grin sliding back into place seamlessly.
“Let’s take it back to my house. We can have a look at it then,” I say, taking the folder gratefully from his grasp.
“Yeah, good idea. Meet outside the school after classes finish,” he confirms.
I nod as the two of us walk back into the cafeteria. Anne gives us both a suspicious look, glancing between the two of us. I pray he misses it. Gabe sits down in his seat with me between him and Anne. I spot Gabe looking at his salad, eyeing it suspiciously.
“Where are the cucumbers?” he asks me.
Shrugging, I go back to eating my own sandwich. I’m called out by Anne moments later.
“Ask lover girl there,” she says, pointing right at me.
I close my eyes tight, puffing out a long breath. Damn it.
Gabe heaves a sigh. Reaching over to grab the other half of my sandwich, he pushes aside his salad. I narrow my eyes at him. Gabe grins, shrugging coolly and continues to eat my lunch.
Arriving at my house hours later, we both walk in. We’re about to go down into my room when my dad calls from the kitchen. Crap.
“Sorry, dad! Forgot to mention that Gabe was coming over. I’m helping him catch up on some work he missed while he was sick,” I call back.
Gabe smiles at me before walking into the kitchen. I forgot how gentleman-like he really is. Following him into the kitchen, I give my dad a hug. Gabe shakes his hand firmly.
“That’s fine. Though if you’re going to study in your room, keep the door open,” he warns.
Gabe nods, but I start to protest. He nudges me lightly. I shut up instinctually and nod alongside him.
“Good, now go on, do your homework, kiddies,” Dad says before walking over to sit back down at the dining room table.
Gabe makes his way confidently into my room, pulling the door halfway closed. I follow him in. With Gabe sitting on the desk chair, I kick off my boots and jump onto the bed, getting into a comfortable sitting position. Gabe pulls out the folder again and hands it to me.
“Thanks,” I say, taking the folder into my hands.
“Don’t thank me yet,” he says solemnly.
Looking at the folder, I notice that it’s separated into fractions: sightings, associations, theories, findings. I flick straight to associations. If anyone that I know has seen him, I want to know who.
“Take it easy,” Gabe warns.
Ignoring him, I quickly start to read. Three names are listed: Tessa Lyn, Brenden Moss and Nyx Lee.
Tessa was spotted talking to him two weeks ago at the library. Brenden had been seen with Lucien on the streets one and a half weeks ago.
Nyx was seen having lunch with him four days ago in a café. All of these people are students at ESG-my school. I know Nyx personally.
When our fencing teacher told us to switch partners, I fought her. She was the best at fencing, besides the Protectors, of course, but still, she was good for a first timer. Nyx is sweet but sour and doesn’t talk much, but when she does, you will be surprised by how soft she sounds. All these people, they’ve been missing since the day they met with Lucien.
Going to the page where it is labelled sightings, I stare in shock. There is one address on this piece of paper, exactly three streets north of here. Lucien has been seen living in a simple one level house. It somehow scares me that he lives so close to me, close enough to get here within five minutes of walking. Flipping frantically to the very back page, I gape. A large picture of Lucien is held to the folder by a paper clip. Only, it isn’t truly Lucien.
This person staring back at me is warped. His hair is bleached white, eyes no longer an amazing green but stark yellow. Not a pretty sunshine yellow but a menacing evil glow of yellow. Disgusting green swirls decorated his pupils, and they look like the eyes of a demon.
How all this is captured in a picture, I have no idea, but it terrifies me. His skin is also a sickly yellow shade. Lucien’s eyebrows are lifted in a taunting way, his sneer awful, making my stomach churn. Around his neck hangs a large golden pendant and carved in the centre is a grotesque claw. It glows and seems to beckon me. I stare at it for a little while before snapping back into reality. Looking up at Gabe, I blink a few times before speaking.
“What…is going on?” I ask worriedly.
Gabe simply shakes his head, watching me in a concerned fashion. “All I know is that we have to go to that address there and get him to explain,” Gabe says seriously.
“And if he won’t?” I ask.
“Then I’ll get to punch him after all,” he says not so seriously.
“Alright, let’s go-”
I’m interrupted by my dad, who peeks his head around the door. Looking at Gabe then me, nodding at the acceptable distance between us both.
“You better get started on dinner, darling. Or I’ll get hungry,” dad says.
Oh damn, I forgot that it is my turn to cook tonight. Dad had made it a tradition. It includes me cooking dinner every Monday. This is his attempt to get me to develop better cooking skills. So far, it’s just made me extremely annoye
d and earned us multiple forty-dollar bills for Chinese takeout.
“Will you stay for dinner, Gabe?” dad asks to my horror.
“No, save your taste buds!” I say with pleading eyes.
“What?” he asks, confused, an amused expression crossing his features.
“I’m the worst cook in the world,” I confess.
Gabe chuckles lightly, making me glare at him.
“Come on, won’t you?” dad pleads desperately.
“Why?” Gabe asks questioningly.
“Misery loves company,” dad says with a shrug.
* * *
On Wednesday, Gabe and I walk silently to the Sanctuary. Before entering the street, Gabe speaks.
“I’m still trying to scrub the taste of burnt pasta out of my mouth. How the hell do you burn pasta?” Gabe says, breaking the perfect silence.
“I bet you aren’t the best of cooks either,” I say smartly.
“Actually, I’m an amazing cook,” Gabe boasts.
Damn it, of course, he is. Sticking my nose in the air, I march ahead of him, making my way into the Sanctuary. Gabe follows just behind me. I can hear him laughing softly as we walk through the corner of the wall and emerge into the foyer. As we enter and stand in the elevator going down, Gabe cuts a glance at me.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing,” he says, looking back at the closed elevator doors.
“Gabe,” I push.
“Nothing,” he emphasizes.
“Okay,” I say, doing my best to ignore his puzzling looks, “let’s go to my room first. I have to pick up a few things.”
My room just so happens to be a few doors down from Gabe’s. Astrid had given it to me when she realised that with the number of times I get hurt, it would be better if I could sleep here. It would be easier instead of sleeping at my own house, where dad would be able to see my healing wounds. Taking the key from my schoolbag, I unlock the door.
The room is exactly how I left it: my bed made in a rush, hairbrush left in the corner of the desk, and a glass of water on my bedside table. Gabe sits down on the edge of the bed, watching me search aimlessly. After three minutes of watching me walk back and forth, he finally asks.
“What are you looking for?” he asks impatiently.
Gabe is throwing my staff up and down, catching it skilfully.
“My coat,” I say.
Gabe hesitates before speaking. “Di, I had to throw it away after you fought the Zyth. It was completely ruined.”
I stare at him from halfway across the room. Memories from that night leaked slowly into my mind, washing around every corner until nothing is forgotten.
“Damn,” I mutter. “I really liked that coat,” I complain.
“Well, if you don’t need anything else from here, we can go get you your new coat,” he says smiling, chucking my staff up and catching it.
I smile gratefully at him. Grabbing my staff from him while it’s in mid-air, I walk out the door. Gabe followed behind. We approach his bedroom door. Gabe opens it and walks over to pull something out from under his bed. Closing the door behind me, I stand next to his desk, looking around for his bow. Spotting it in the corner next to his bed, I walk over and retrieve it, placing it carefully on the bed. Looking back at Gabe, I see he has a big white box. He rises from the ground and puts it on the bed, laying it carefully next to his bow.
“What is it?” I ask suspiciously.
“Open it,” he says with a charming smile.
Walking over to the box, I slowly open the lid, unwrapping it from tissue paper. I gawk.
A beautiful coat as black as night flows from my grasp. It has deep red insides that travel onto the outside hems of the coat. I smile in surprise as I notice something that no other one has… a hood. Quickly pulling it on, I grin at how it hugs my body perfectly, still leaving enough room to be able to fight comfortably, though. The end brushes the ground like my old one, but I love this one a whole lot better. Turning to Gabe, I beam.
“It was my mothers,” he explains, looking me up and down.
“Oh,” I stumble, suddenly feeling guilty. “Thank her for me. Are you sure that she wants me to have it?” I ask, not wanting to have this against her will but not wanting to give it up either.
“Yes. When I told her that your second kill was a Zyth demon, she was amazed. Then I told her that you had lost your coat in the process. She wanted you to have hers. It was my mums’ favourite before she retired to the Counsel. Mum never needs it anymore. The Counsel gave her a new formal coat instead. She doesn’t like the idea of it staying in the back of the closet for the rest of time,” Gabe says, still looking at me.
“I love it,” I say, grinning madly.
“Good,” he says simply, tearing his eyes from me as he grabbed his coat from the end of his bed. “Just don’t get it dirty before you really need it.”
Nodding, I tuck the staff into my coat. There is a pocket right up against my thigh, which is perfect.
“And this one’s from me,” he says slowly.
Turning to face Gabe, I smile at his uncertain expression. Gabe takes his hand from behind his back, revealing a small dagger. It has a silver blade and a black handle. Vines decorate the handle, making its way up half the blade itself. In short, it’s amazing.
Taking the blade carefully from him, I goggle at its fine workmanship. Flipping it over onto the other side, my eyes widen as I spot the small white crystal embedded into the centre, glistening even when no light is shining. I hold it like I will have to in battle. It’s balanced perfectly. Light, but with just enough weight to it.
“Um, you didn’t---thank you,” I say breathlessly. “It’s amazing.”
Gabe smiles fondly, watching me survey the dagger. “I thought you might like it. Picked it up in Maline,” he says smoothly.
“You didn’t have to,” I say, tucking it safely into the breast pocket of my coat if only to make myself look at Gabe while I thank him instead of the gorgeous blade.
“I was thinking of you,” he says with a simple shrug. “I had nothing else to do, so I thought it would be nice for you to have a souvenir from Maline.”
Jumping up, I give Gabe a tight hug. He holds me firmly, lifting my feet centimetres from the floor. After a few moments, which only seem like a second, Gabe sets me down gently. I smile up at him. Daring to do something stupid, I kiss him. A light, quick peck, but long enough to make us both shudder with exhilaration. With my arms still wrapped around his neck, I can feel the shivers running down his spine. Seconds later, I pull back, giving him a smirk before breaking free from his grasp and dashing out the door. I head for the main exit, hearing Gabe following close behind me. By the time I’ve stopped running, we’re on the main street.
Gabe comes to a stop behind me. I can see his chest rising and falling unsteadily.
“I should remind myself to get you more gifts,” he says slyly.
In response to that, I hit him hard on the shoulder, me wincing more than him, but the slight throb seems far off.
We walk to Lucien’s hide-away in silence. Me braiding my hair tight, leaving out the loose bits of hair to flow around my eyes. By the time we’re about to enter the street, I stop Gabe and turn to face him.
“What’s up?” Gabe asks.
“I think that it would be better if I confronted him alone,” I say, waiting for Gabe’s response. After I know that he won’t interrupt me, I continue.
“Just because he doesn’t really like you. And I think it will be easier to get information from him when he’s calm.”
Gabe nods. His eyes search for something behind me, but I know there’s nothing there. He’s just thinking.
“Promise that you’ll call for me if you need me,” he says.
“I promise,” I say, nodding.
We continue to walk down the road leading towards the small house. Before we walk up the driveway, Gabe grabs my wrist.
“
Leave the door open so I can hear you,” he says wisely.
I smile at him, nodding in reassurance. Gabe hides behind a tree stationed close to the door while I make my way up the steps slowly, knocking as I reach the door. The old door swings open slowly within the first few knocks. This is starting to get creepy. Glancing back at Gabe one last time, I walk in confidently.
The entrance leads straight into a hall with two rooms attached to it on either side. Following the hall to the end, I emerge into a small kitchen which spans into a dining and lounge room. The walls are covered in old wallpaper, peeling in certain places. It’s stripy yellow and white.
Food stains are splatted across the walls in the lounge room. There is an old-fashioned TV and a ripped-up leather couch. Three lamps are stationed around the room: one beside the couch on a small table, one resting on the same bench the TV rests on, and the other pushed against the kitchen bench. Even with the three lamps, the room is still poorly lit.
The foul smell is overwhelming. It's musty and smells of mould. A cool breeze brushes through the room and is coming from the open window to my right. Surveying the room, I wonder how Lucien has lived here for three weeks. There’s something wrong in the air. I can feel it. Hearing something stir from behind me, I whip around in panic. Letting out a deep breath, I shudder, not realising how freaked out I really am. Gabe stands there, eyes widening as he takes in our peculiar surroundings.
“What are you doing in here?” I hiss quietly.
“A little boy spotted me in the front yard. Said that people who go in here don’t come back out. That includes his own parents. Apparently, they came over to say hello to Lucien two weeks ago. He said that he lives right across the road. I told him to go back. The kid wouldn’t leave until I promised that I’d get you out,” Gabe explains.
“We can’t go yet,” I snap. “We need to keep looking.”
Gabe nods reluctantly, walking over to look out the window. Minutes pass in eery silence, setting the both of us on edge. I mutter to myself as a roach crawls over my boot, disappearing into another dark corner.