by T. C. Edge
Beneath his visor, however, the showing of big white teeth suggests he knows me.
“Ah, Miss Melrose, back again I see.”
I move towards him.
“Hi there…um…sorry, I don’t know exactly what to call you.”
“My name would work,” he says with a wry smile. “It’s Magnus.”
Magnus. Titus. These Brutes all appear to be appropriately named. I guess their parents knew what they’d grow into.
“Good to officially meet you, Magnus. Is it always you on guard at this gate?”
“Oh, goodness me, that would be a violation of my rights, wouldn’t it,” he says. “Not that I have too many rights…”
A false laugh bellows from inside him. He quenches it quickly enough.
“No, in all seriousness, I work in shifts with other members of the City Guard. My current rota is here, at the western gate. I’ll be here on and off for the next few weeks.”
“Ah, I see. Well, it’s nice to see a friendly face before I cross to ‘the other side’.”
He laughs.
“You know, I get the impression that you’re not too fond of Inner Haven.”
Now I laugh. Awkwardly.
“No…I do like it. It’s just very different,” I say.
“It sure is. I wouldn’t worry. I’ve met a few girls like you who take time to settle. It’s only natural when moving across from Outer Haven.”
I muse briefly on his work, right here at the border. The colourful, vibrant and sometimes dangerous world of Outer Haven lying before him. The cold, lifeless, but seemingly safe streets of Inner Haven behind. At least, that’s how it all appears on the surface. I know now that nothing around here is quite what it seems.
“Well, good to know there are others like me,” I say. “Anyway, I’d best get going. I don’t want to keep him waiting.”
“Quite right too. Through you go, Miss Melrose.”
“Please, call me Brie.”
He nods courteously and opens up the door, allowing me to pass through. My eyes shoot straight up the short linking road to the Spiral, where I see Adryan awaiting me once more, standing as he did the last time outside of his car.
A sense of déjà vu envelops me at the sight. He looks to be standing in precisely the same position, and with exactly the same posture, as he did previously. It’s as if he’s figured out that it’s the most inviting way to stand as he awaits me, and so will make sure he adopts it each time.
I find myself smiling at the sight as I wander up the street, removing my jacket as I go. Already, I can feel the underfloor heating working its magic, warming the streets so the ideal temperature for comfort and productivity can be maintained.
Seeing me come, Adryan quickly moves off from the car and approaches me. His smile is even more natural than last time. Either he’s been working on it, or I’m simply getting used to seeing it.
“Good evening, Brie,” he says. He stops before me, performs his little bow, and I do the same. Then he sweeps forward to grab my jacket, before turning me to the car. “How are you?” he asks as we wander casually towards it.
“Good,” I say, with no need for feigned enthusiasm.
As bad as things were a couple of nights ago, I consider myself to be in a pretty good position. Drum is safe and sound. I got back into the city without being detected. Zander’s sorted everything out so that my recent activities should be suitably hidden from the authorities.
I’ve sure dodged a few bullets recently. But you know, it’s all about growing pains. Soon enough I’ll get the hang of this spy business.
I’d better, anyway…
“I’m glad to hear it,” says Adryan, guiding me into his car. He steps in after me and shuts the door, locking us away from the outside world. “I hear you’ve had a fairly adventurous time of it recently?”
Is that a smirk I detect?
“I’ve hit some speed bumps, that’s for sure. But you know what they say, all’s well that ends well.”
“A good mentality to keep. Let’s just hope there aren’t too many more speed bumps left, though.”
“Knowing my luck, I wouldn’t be so sure! So, what’s the plan then?”
Adryan answers by way of giving his car an instruction, calling for it to take us to the Court House.
I’m not overly surprised, nor am I particularly disappointed. In fact, I’m quite the opposite. Whilst there’s a niggling desire in me to explore Inner Haven a little more, there’s also the suspicion that I’ve seen about all there is to see.
Being as uniform and functional as it is, with its ergonomic buildings and identical streets, I doubt there’s a great deal to explore. In fact, the only place that I am quite keen to visit is the High Tower itself. Which, I suppose, is a good thing given that’s where my mission is likely to take place.
For many years I’ve yearned to see the view from the top, wondering just how far my eyes will take me. And now, with my newly evolved vision, the desire to gaze upon the world is growing ever more potent.
“So, is it true that you went outside of the city?” asks Adryan as the car whirs and glides down the grey streets. “I was told that you were quite sick, most likely from toxic poisoning? Are you OK now?”
There’s a measure of concern in his voice, and his eyes show it too.
“I’m fine now. Is it…good for me to tell you all of this?” I ask, thinking about earlier. “Surely the less you know, the better. Just in case you get interrogated.”
“I’m afraid there’s no point in hiding the truth from me, Brie. Right now, there’s no suspicion on me. And if there were, then none of this would be happening. As soon as you’ve completed your mission, we’ll be perfectly safe. And, well, if either of us got caught before then, then I suppose we’ll both suffer the consequences.”
“I guess so. I’m just trying to be a bit more cautious about things now. I’ve just had my mind read by an agent of the SCU. I’ve been advised by my brother to keep from telling too many people what’s been going on.”
“And I agree with that entirely. But not me. I’m in this with you, Brie. We’re partners.”
“You’re right,” I say, relaxing again.
“So, this agent…I assume they’re investigating the academy because of the friend you saved?”
“Yep, I know that wasn’t the best idea but I couldn’t help it. I had to save him. I’ll bet Lady Orlando is fuming.”
And I don’t care if she is…
Adryan shakes his head.
“You made a choice to save your friend. Some people consider it a weakness of the Unenhanced. I don’t agree with them. You were just being human.”
“And by some people, you mean the Savants?”
“Most Savants,” he corrects me. “There are varying degrees of emotional understanding within my kind. I suppose I happen to be at the opposite end of the spectrum to others.” Others like Director Cromwell. “So what was this agent’s name?”
“Woolf. I guess that was her surname. I didn’t get her first.”
“Agent Romelia Woolf. Yes, I’ve heard of her. She’s quite, um, thorough in her work, even by Savants’ standards. I can assume by your current state of relaxation that your brother was able to secure everything?”
I nod. “He did…well, I don’t really know what he did, but it worked. Agent Woolf didn’t appear to see anything out of the ordinary in there,” I say, tapping my forehead.
“Good. And, back to my original question – what would she have seen?”
“Oh, well, I suppose you know from Zander that we had a chase through the underlands. When we split, I managed to escape from some Stalkers by jumping into an underground river. It took me outside the southern gate, down in the marshes. I got back in with a little help.”
“Help? From who?”
“A Brute called Titus. He works for the City Guard.”
Adryan’s eyes curl into a mini-frown. It’s the best he can manage.
“Why would a City
Guard help you? It doesn’t seem very logical.”
I raise my eyes.
“Logical? And you? You’re helping me right now. Does that seem logical to you?”
His fingers scratch his chin as we curve around the Inner Spiral, our destination not too far off.
“I suppose you’re right, from a certain point of view. Then again, from another…what I’m doing is entirely logical. But, let’s not talk about that. You’re safe, you’re here, and our mission is still on track. We should be grateful for that, and I’m sure you could do with relaxing after what you’ve been through.”
“It’s been a hectic few days for sure. So what’s on the agenda this evening?”
The car glides right and slips underground, moving into its assigned parking spot.
“Nothing exciting. This is Inner Haven, after all.”
That had to be a joke. His attempt at a smirk confirms it.
I feel like I’m watching a robot achieve sentience, an animatronic coming to life.
He leads me to the lift and up through the building to the 20th floor. Then back down the corridor to the same apartment he brought me to before. As we step in, a smell saunters up my nose, drifting from the kitchen in the large open plan living area down the corridor.
As we move down it, I turn my eyes around and notice that the apartment isn’t quite as drab as before. Still, it’s mostly layered with chrome and silver and grey, yet there’s some colour too, dotted around the place.
Turning to the kitchen, I see that two red dishes have been set out on a table top. Over on the table by the window where we sat the last time I came here, I see similarly coloured napkins and a vase of multi-coloured flowers.
On the wall, I make out a painting, a beautiful picture of the mountains and woods and rivers. I step towards it and it comes to life before me, the same view towards the landscapes to the northwest of the city that I’ve gazed upon so often.
I turn back to Adryan, who hovers nearby.
“Did you do this for me?” I ask.
He tilts his chin with an abbreviated nod.
“I just thought you’d like a bit of colour. To make you feel at home.”
“I don’t know what to say. That’s so…sweet of you, Adryan.”
A warm smile works up the corners of his mouth, holding its form. It looks natural. Real.
“Think nothing of it.”
I sniff again and hear the lightest humming of an oven at work. I drift towards the kitchen, and the hum grows louder, and the scent grows more potent. It smells like he’s roasting meat of some kind, but I can’t tell what.
“Did you cook?” I ask, my shock still growing.
I twist around to look at him again, wide-eyed.
“I know people like to cook over in Outer Haven. I thought I’d try my hand at something. It’s roast beef. Have you eaten beef much?”
I shake my head silently, staring at his silver eyes.
“Well, it’s very tasty. I hope, anyway. Um…perhaps you’d like a glass of wine? As I say, we’re here to relax this evening. Go and take a seat, Brie. I’ll bring it over.”
I do as ordered, wandering over to the large white sofas and taking a seat within view of the painting on the wall. I’m so pre-occupied with it that I barely even notice the rug beneath the coffee table that sits between the sofas. It too is a warm maroon, bringing the entire apartment to life.
As Adryan wanders over with another shade of red in his hands owing to the wine, I ask him whether his own apartment is like this.
He shakes his head as he passes me a glass.
“No,” he tells me. “That would be rather odd for any Enhanced, let alone a Savant. Few people have anything of this shade in their apartment.”
“But how do you know? Do people police this sort of stuff?”
“No, it’s not illegal or anything. Just frowned upon, I suppose you might say, particularly for us Savants in the High Tower. It’s possible that some regular Enhanced around the Outer Spiral have some colourful embellishments in their quarters, but I wouldn’t imagine it’s particularly common.”
As he speaks, a few words stick out.
Us Savants in the High Tower, he said.
I hadn’t really thought about it before, but now it becomes clear.
“Do you live in the High Tower yourself?” I ask.
He takes a sip of his red wine, which is quite possibly another luxury he’s providing, just for me. Given how they are, I can’t imagine the Savants drink much wine, what with the impact it has on your mental faculties.
“Of course I do,” he says flatly.
“Of course you do,” I repeat, nodding and thinking. That’s how you get access, Brie. “And when we marry?”
“Then I’ll be moved to new quarters, and you’ll join me.”
“Really? An Unenhanced girl living in the High Tower. I didn’t know that was possible.”
“Well, it happens on occasion. I’m fairly high ranked among Savants. Working for the Institute of Human Relations has provided me with a decent standing, and I’ll be staying in the High Tower whoever I happen to marry.”
“Well, that’s convenient.”
“It’s more than convenient, Brie. It’s essential. It will give you entry and a base from which to operate. Without it, this mission wouldn’t be possible.”
Yep, I get it. I’m unique, and he’s in a unique position to help. I’m the only one who can do this job, and he’s the only one who can give me access.
We’re like two peas in a pod, Adryan and me. The sarcastic tone to my inner dialogue sets an ironic smile to my face.
“Anyway,” comes Adryan’s voice again. “Let’s move off that topic for now, and enjoy our nice glass of wine.”
“And do you? Enjoy it I mean?”
“I appreciate the taste,” he says. “My emotions may not be quite as lively as yours, but my taste buds certainly are. I enjoy a glass on occasion.”
“Hmmmm, I didn’t realise you Savants enjoyed anything. I…I guess I didn’t realise you could enjoy anything.”
He shakes his head.
“Ah, Brie, you do have a lot to learn. It isn’t all quite so black and white between the different people of this city. There are various shades of grey in between. You only have to look into my eyes to realise that…”
He smirks, and takes another sip of warm wine.
And meanwhile, I do look into his eyes, silver and cool, and yet strangely beautiful.
Certainly, I judged Adryan far too early when I first met him.
He’s a lot more complicated than I thought he was.
60
I think it’s safe to say that Adryan’s roast beef is about the most delicious thing that’s ever graced my lips.
Given my upbringing, I suppose that’s not saying a great deal. Yet still, I can’t conceive of a piece of meat better cooked than this. And to be served it by a Savant of all people? I’m truly shocked.
Then again, they are rather good at following orders and being precise. So, I suppose a task like cooking should be quite suited to them.
I make Adryan very aware of his culinary skills by way of a boatload of gushing compliments. The fact that it goes so well with the red wine doesn’t exactly halt my tongue from waxing lyrical. By the end of the dinner, I’ve had at least two full glasses to myself and am craving a third.
Adryan appears to enjoy my compliments, and seems only too happy to oblige when I ask for more wine. He too, drinks along with me, both of our lips quickly growing red.
It’s a strange side-effect that I never knew existed. Wine – red wine in particular – isn’t that common where I’m from. Like the champagne I had at the bachelor ball, it’s very much a luxury that few enjoy on a regular basis.
The sight of his lips as they grow increasingly stained is enough to make me laugh. Against his pale skin, grey-blue eyes, and black hair, it’s quite the colour shift. I’m sure the same is true of me, although he appears to be gentlemanly enou
gh not to draw attention to them.
I enjoy the meal so much that it surprises even me. It isn’t until the end that I recall the slaughterhouses over in the eastern quarter, and remember the terrified eyes of the poor cattle there as they await their doom.
I’m grateful that that particular memory stays away until I’ve finished off my plate. It might otherwise have put a hex on the entire thing, which would be quite the disappointment given how good a time I’m having.
By the time the meal has concluded, and we retire to the sofas once again with glasses in hand, I’m beginning to look upon Adryan in a new light. I can’t tell whether it’s the alcohol – I’m sure it is, at least to a certain extent – but I’m actually starting to enjoy his company.
He even goes so far as to make me laugh. Not necessarily through his own ability to tell a joke, but more through his natural coolness and his amusing manner of taking things quite literally.
I suppose, when we’re not talking about such serious things, it can be very interesting spending time with a man like him. Learning about what makes him tick, and the world he inhabits.
And, it turns out, learning about each other is an important facet of the courting process. Apparently, it’s not just about ‘signing a contract’ as he made me believe last time. There’s also a test that I’ll need to pass to show that I have at least a basic knowledge of his past, as well as the inner workings of life here.
It’s just another hoop for us Unenhanced to jump through to prove our commitment to living here and learning about the world we’re set to join, and the man we’re set to marry.
It does ring a bell, somewhere in my head. I suspect Sophie would have mentioned this test at some point, most probably during one of her unbearably dull slideshows.
“It’s a means to an end,” Adryan assures me. “It won’t be difficult, but it is important that you know a bit about me. They’ll be asking some simple questions about me and my work. As well as Inner Haven itself.”
“OK. So…like, how old are you?” I ask. “Surely they’ll ask that?”
“I suspect so. I’m 23. And you’re 18. I know that already. Obviously.”