Elliott was highly pleased with her and spoke in high term about her several times. Leyla hurried up after the training and left the BJJ as fast as she could. She hoped that Aiden hadn’t bunked off in the meantime. She urgently needed a few answers. Apparently, she wouldn’t have had to hurry that much, because he was still hanging around in front of the entrance trying to do some tricks with a skateboard. When Leyla came down the stairs, he tried a trick with the banister and landed quite hard on his back in front of her. She stopped and looked down at him.
“Quite a cool trick, but has the landing really have to be done on your back?”
He grinned and pulled himself to his feet.
“You are a cheeky little thing! I didn’t feel like training and tried out some Moves instead. The Board belongs to Sebastian. I have to bring it back to him. Just wait a second.”
He disappeared briefly into the BJJ coming out without the skateboard.
“Where can we talk without being disturbed and I really mean a place where nobody knows us?”
Leyla considered for a moment.
“Spontaneously only the Second cup comes to my mind, but it is in Midland. Mostly seniors only visit it. Why is someone following you?”
Aiden shrugged, “I am not sure. But today, one of these new guys has appeared at the BJJ hanging around. I don’t want to take any chances. Let’s hit the road before this guy comes out.”
Leyla agreed.
“Well then, Midland here we come. I suppose that this new guy is the reason for the woolen cap and the sunglasses?”
He nodded and grinned mischievously.
“Does look, kind of, sharp and promising enticement, don’t you think?”
Leyla rolled her eyes and preferred not to answer at all. They reached the Subway without somebody following them.
For the second time this week, Leyla was sitting at a corner table in the Second cup drinking some cold chocolate, only that this time around Aiden was sitting opposite her instead of sobbing Brooklyn, drinking chamomile tea. He had taken off his woolen cap in the meantime.
Aiden looked nervously around. Then, however, he relaxed visibly when he realized that only seniors were in the restaurant. Besides, nobody was within reach to listen to their conversation. He sipped on his coffee and glimpsed at Leyla apparently feeling a little awkward.
“How is Brooklyn? Is she ok? Is she still angry with me?”
Leyla rolled her eyes.
“God, I thought we were talking about the big CIA secret. No, you dumb ass. She is not angry. She is hurt. It got her pretty badly. She was always the most self-confident person I knew and now she has turned into a small heap of misery. You have done a really good job.”
Aiden shifted uncomfortable in his chair.
“I know I am an idiot and I should have held back. Maybe you can explain to her everything and if the whole thing is over eventually, we can be together. Still you did say yourself that she is devastated. I don’t want to put her needlessly in danger.”
Leyla lifted both hands in defense, “Wait a minute, hold your horses. You have lost me here. I don’t have that many gigabytes. My system has to do some rebooting first. What are you talking about? If what is over?”
She looked bewildered. Aiden turned his head left and right once more to make sure that no one was around.
He lowered his voice.
“You know Gregory’s secret.”
She raised her eyebrows.
”So?”
“I mean the thing about the four elements, the legend of the Savior?”
She shrugged.
“What Savior? I haven’t got a clue.”
Aiden told her the whole story about the corrupt Akandos, calling themselves the Black Vultures; about his father, his dead mother and the shamanic prophecy. The danger Gregory was in, if he was discovered and of course the danger in which all his friends were. When he had finished, Leyla gripped his hands and pressed them compassionately.
“This is some kind of story and I understand the burden of it, but why didn’t you tell Brooklyn? I am sure she would have understood and she knows how to keep a secret.”
He shook his head.
“That’s not all of it. The Black Vultures got wind of Gregory. I don’t know how they found out, maybe through the incidents in Italy in his old school. To tell you the truth, we don’t know. Yet, it doesn’t matter how they found out. As you mentioned earlier today, there are some new students that are clearly outstanding and they all appeared at school this week. It is quite intriguing and more than a little suspicious. Shamanic legends say that all Akandos are somehow outstanding and attractive.”
Leyla snorted contemptuously.
“Arrogant bunch!”
“God, it’s not about Gregory or me, don’t get this wrong,” he said in defense.
“But it is a fact, I am sorry about that.”
Leyla smirked at him.
”And what is that genetic pool of good looks planning according to you?”
“In my opinion, they were sent to check out whether the rumors are true. If they find out about Gregory, they will not hesitate to eliminate him along with all his friends or sympathizers. You’ll understand certainly Gregory’s behavior towards you. He cares about you, that’s why he kept his distance.”
She bowed, accepting this fact.
“I get it, but you on the other hand don’t seem to be so worried about me.”
She watched him with suspicion.
He caught her hand, “As long as you don’t come too close to Gregory and they can’t use you against him which would make him vulnerable. You may not forget that he is our Savior. Literally, I am not that worried about you. You are tougher than you look. I watched you at Judo and boy, you are a fighter.”
He seemed to like that about her.
She angled her head thoughtfully.
“I guess you are right, but what about Brooklyn?”
Aiden sighed.
“I am in charge of Gregory’s security together with the other Akandos from our school. If they find out about her and me, our genetic pool would surely not hesitate. I don’t know what they would do to her, to distract me and get me away from my duty to protect Gregory.”
He looked at her with his almost black eyes. They reminded her of two black pools. He looked more like a warrior than a high school kid with the stern expression on his face.
“Will you help me to protect Gregory’s identity and should he be busted, to protect him with your life? I know he means a lot to you!”
He seemed deadly serious.
Leyla couldn’t help bursting into laughter.
“Hell, I feel like being in some James Bond movie -For Your Eyes Only- your Majesty or some other crap.”
He held her gaze still unsmiling.
She tried to keep a straight face.
“Sure thing, I’m in. The part about giving my life is certainly a bit exaggerated at least. “I hope so.”
He looked at her mockingly, “Does come across quite awesome, don’t you think?”
He reached out his hand.
“Are you with us in our mission then?”
“I’m in. Just how much of the whole James Bond thing can I give away to Brooklyn? She is my best friend after all.”
“Only what is absolutely necessary,” he said quietly.
“Ok, everything is clear so far. And who is in it except the two of us, if I may ask?”
“Tomorrow, we’ll meet after school in civic park close to the church behind school area. Make sure that nobody follows you.”
Leyla saluted.
“And what is the code word for our mission?”
Aiden gave her a puzzled look and she continued talking. “Don’t you ever watch psycho agent movies? In those movies, such a mission always comes with a secret code.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“I’ll leave that to you and your colorful imagination”
“What about operation genetic pool?�
�
He grinned shaking his head.
“You are a crazy chick, you know that, don’t you?”
She nodded.
“If I wasn’t, I would hardly be here!”
Two vultures meet
Angel was sitting in her new class looking around her. How was she supposed to find out who belonged to the recruits. Nobody had spoken to her so far. And where was this much-praised Gabe? In her class, there wasn’t any vulture except her. She was sure about it. They all looked far too average. The dark-haired girl with the pigtail had been observing her unobtrusively from the very first moment she had seen her, yet Angel couldn’t imagine that she belonged to the Vultures. She was too average. Not that she wasn’t pretty, but she did not have the charisma of a Vulture. Her blond seat neighbor could have been Vulture material, but this one seemed to be miles away from the classroom in deep thoughts.
No worries. Angel would find out who the recruits were and she would find Gabe eventually. She decided to wait and let them find her instead. Why make too many efforts? At lunch, she sat down with her tray at a table with some Nerds, who probably felt flattered and starred at her constantly. She had left some free seats between her and them and they apparently didn’t dare sitting closer to her.
All of a sudden, she heard a soft melodious voice beside her and looked up startled.
“Is this seat taken, May I join you?”
Her answer got stuck in her throat. Actually, her jaw almost dropped. She had been around and seen a lot, but the guy that looked at her with dark-green eyes would hardly ever be topped. There was such an impact of self-assurance and charisma about him combined with incredible angelic looks.
She was convinced the instant she looked in these incredible eyes, that he was the mysterious Savior. He had apparently found her, without her having to search for him. She applauded herself mentally. She was gifted no doubt about that. Who else would be capable to attract the victim without knowing? She attracted guys like bees a honeypot. Nobody was able to resist her. She gave him a closer look.
He was tall and slender. He looked like he would spend most of his spare time outdoors, because his dark complexion was a considerable contrast to his blond hair. His full lips were slightly open and he smiled at her seductively. His regular teeth were white and his mossy eyes were framed by long, thick
eyelashes. Some girls would kill in sheer envy for such eyelashes.
His striking face was friendly but at the same time was also somehow unapproachable. One could say distant. It rarely happened that someone threw Angel of balance, but she had to admit that it had just happened. She was completely tongue-tied. All she could do was stare at him and nod. Evading his eyes, she looked at his dark red T-Shirt, on which there was some printing in French. She took a closer look and squinted slightly irritated. The imprint read Merde, which obviously had the same meaning as a similar Italian word: Shit.
She suppressed upcoming laughter. He sat down and ate his lunch without making any further attempt to start a conversation with her.
What was happening, Angel asked herself. She was not used to being ignored. What was wrong with that guy? How did he dare to act this way? She gave him a flashing smile.
“So, is this your first day too?"
He smirked. After all, she was not such a super female, as his father had been convinced about. She was no different from all the other girls. If you ignored them, they instantly went on the attack. Angela di Benedetto was no exception. He looked at her with a smug smile on his face.
"Hi, Angel, you look even better in reality than on the photos my father showed me.”
Angel looked right and left before she answered being clearly startled. The nerds seemed to be busy talking and did not listen to them.
“Who are you and why do you know my name?”
He looked at her with blatant interest and all of a sudden, she noticed that mean look on his striking face around the corners of his perfect mouth.
The scales fell from her eyes. No, this wasn’t the Savior, on the contrary. Opposite her, she had the devilish attractive Gabe, Carmines son. She laughed visibly amused.
“Let me guess and believe me it won’t be that hard. You are Carmines’ son. Am I right?”
She played with the leaves on her bracelet and he still stared at her silently. His eyes had taken on a darker shade of green. He looked like a big cat looking at its prey and he made her nervous. After a while, his expression changed and he smiled friendly at her again.
“We’ll meet at my father's penthouse corner of the College and Young street 133W, 20th floor at six o'clock sharp this evening. By the way, you can call me Vincent. A small name change was necessary.”
He got up.
“Please don't be late.”
He left without another word. Angel watched him leave. What a rude idiot. Angela di Benedetto was not used to be treated this way. She would make him feel sorry for treating her like this. Even if he was the son of the Godfather himself, this gave him no right to humiliate her.
Who the fuck had appointed him to be the leader. She would have her saying in that. Next time she would be prepared for him.
From the other side of the cafeteria, Gregory and Aiden had observed the incident. Jason sitting remotely with a couple of other guys, didn’t get it.
"There is something strange about these new students; they all look like they’ve come straight out of Men's Health or Vogue.”
Gregory hissed under his breath to Aiden who sat next to him. “This blonde guy seems to approach every one of them, as if he was recruiting them for something.”
Aiden angled his head.
"You are damn right. That’s exactly how it looks and the guy looks kind of familiar to me, but I can't place him.”
"By the way, Leyla calls it operation gene pool,” Aiden smirked.
Gregory's head jerked up.
“She’s talking to you man? Then why won't she talk to me?”
Aiden shrugged.
“Why don’t you ask her yourself man? We’ll meet today after school in the civic park near the Church. Alex, the boys, Mila and Leyla will be there, too. We will discuss what we are going to do about this situation and you my friend will have to do a lot more of training if we want to stand a chance against the gene pool of madness.”
He seemed slightly amused.
Gregory was startled.
“No, this is not going to happen. She doesn’t have to be involved. It's far too dangerous. She has no features like we do. She's helpless.”
Aiden couldn’t help laughing.
“Helpless? You are not being serious. She is tough and can defend herself very well. Don’t forget her Judo issue.”
He looked at him, “She wants to help us.”
He gave him a conspiratorially push.
“You want to be with her, or am I wrong about that?”
Gregory was torn.
“Of course I'd like to be with her, she is so…”
He was searching for the right words.
“But I don’t want to put her in danger unnecessarily.”
Aiden gave him a friendly push.
“Let her decide Bro. Both of you are living in the same house, she will be involved either way. Just enjoy being around her, that’s all you have for now.”
“And what about Brooklyn? You don't want her to be in this, because you're afraid that she‘ll get hurt too.”
Aiden sighed
“Think about it, you are the main issue here. Whether you like it or not, it is about protecting you and your identity. Leyla being your step cousin will be involved either way, but I want Brooklyn to stay out of the picture as much as possible. My main concern has to be your security. This is my job and I can't allow myself getting distracted or vulnerable.”
"You are saying that you would sacrifice everything for me? Even your love life? What am I, the King, and you my freaking bodyguard? Man, this is ridiculous and I don't fucking want any of that.”
> "I know, but these are your cards for now. You pulled the prophecy card and it can’t be returned. So all I am saying is you should at least enjoy the moment.”
He moved his head towards where Leyla was sitting with Brooklyn and Melissa.
Brooklyn had been watching the two boys and whispered to Leyla.
"Aiden and Gregory are looking over and probably talking about us, shouldn’t we go over and talk to them? “Leyla shook her head, “Forget it, let’s go back to class.”
Brooklyn shrugged discouraged, “Okay, you're probably right.”
The Assembly of vultures
The penthouse of Gabe’s dad was huge and luxuriously furnished. There was even an indoor swimming pool. Gabe or Vincent - how he called himself lately since he had no longing that Aiden or someone else would find out who he really was, was waiting for his followers. He had even started to pronounce certain words with a French accent. His cover had to be perfect. He gazed drifted around. One day all of this would belong to him and he wasn’t going to settle for a ridiculous Ferrari Testarossa only. He was standing on the open vast terrace spreading his arms as if they were wings. Then he closed his green eyes that shone like two emeralds. Suddenly, a strong wind came up, even though seconds before, the humid summer heat of Toronto had almost been unbearable. Thunder roared and lightning flashed from the sky. Strong rain started pouring down. It was a weird show; there was a storm exclusively above the penthouse. And all around the city, the sun was shining. Within seconds, Gabe was completely soaked. He was standing in the eye of the storm turning in circles, his arms still spread. The doorbell buzzed. He lowered his arms and went for the door. The storm stopped instantly, and the sun burned mercilessly on the terrace as before.
Gabe opened the door. He was still wet to the bone; the raindrops sparkled in his blond hair and they looked dark. Everything about him was dark. Angel was standing there looking at him, a crocked smile on her face. “Well, well, did you take a bath my dear?"
ELEMENTARY VIRTUE: The Savior Page 10