ELEMENTARY VIRTUE: The Savior

by Sonja Wuthrich

  “Damn it for the hundred thousandth time, he is my stepcousin and we are not related, and no, I don’t want to hear the answer if this idiots are listening.”

  She crossed her arms, clearly pissed.

  Aiden rolled his eyes.

  “Boys was that really necessary. Those are great news. He is apparently slowly regaining his memory. It really doesn’t matter what he remembered first. Leyla was important to him until he swallowed that poison. Maybe she was on his mind before he drank it and lost control over his body and his mind. In any way, we have other worries than Gregory's love life.”

  He looked over at the Vultures; they were still observing them.

  “Now to you Shane, how are you going to explain your visit?”

  "No problem, I decided to take up my studies again and therefore I am on my way to Boston. This afternoon I will move on. I have to clear up the mess I left in Boston. So I thought that I could take a little trip to Toronto on my way to Boston to visit Leyla and her clan to break the good news. Finally, my visit should be nothing earth shattering, as I am the son of Leyla's godfather Steven. I might even stay here tonight and leave tomorrow morning.”

  Leyla was thrilled.

  "Hey, this is a great idea. My mom will be pleased to see you again finally. I'll call my parents. They will be ecstatic when they hear that you take up your studies again.”

  "You mean they will be impressed that I conduct myself back to normal and my shrink gets unemployed?"

  "Something like that,” Leyla grinned in Aiden's direction.

  “How about a party at the beach house?”

  She looked at him with big pleading eyes and Aiden agreed reluctantly.

  “Lately, the beach house is a bit too risky. My father will be back soon and I am not into uninvited guests. How about a new partying place?”

  Brooklyn looked at him biting her lip; she had been thinking for some time about it.

  “What about my place? My parents have both left again today and I could leave the parking lot to the bank open. Then you wouldn’t have to come through the front door and it would be less conspicuous.”

  "Let's hope that the Vultures don’t get suspicious and are following us. It would be interesting to know what goes on in their evil little brains,” Aiden said. Shane looked at the group on the other side of the meadow.

  “If you are talking about the blond grim-looking guy, he is completely beside himself with rage and wondering who the hell I am and what I'm doing here. He feels threatened by my mere presence.”

  Mila looked at him skeptically.

  “How do you know that?”

  "I don’t know, sometimes I feel other people’s emotions.

  It happens to me again and again without even wanting it.”

  “That means you can read minds? Why did you never tell me about it?"

  Leyla asked doubtfully. He shook his head, “No, I can’t read anybody’s mind, and it doesn’t happen on purpose, but sometimes it happens spontaneously as it has now.

  It's more that I can identify the emotions of another person under certain circumstances. I sensed, for example, that Gregory felt something important before he told me.”

  Aiden and the other guys had the same thought at the same time. They put their heads together and seemed to concoct something. Then Matt said representatively for all of them that they were convinced that his skills could be helpful for the Akandos and would increase the prospect to be always one-step ahead of the Vultures.

  "Do you think you could use your skills specifically?”

  Shane looked a little puzzled at Aiden, Matt and James, who stared at him intently.

  “No idea, but why should I be able to help you with my useless ability.”

  Aiden looked at him in disbelief.

  “Dude, you really have no clue. It’s a gift you have. This is called clairsentience, and if you can deliberately use this ability, it gives you great power over your opponent. You can take advantage. If you are able to identify the feelings and thus his intentions, you will always be one step ahead of your opponent. So if Gabe as just before or someone else is mad at you and you feel his anger, you can prepare yourself and fight him off at a possible attack.”

  Matt leered.

  “And just think of all the other nice things. If a chick likes you, you can have a few condoms at hand instead of losing a good opportunity and let it slip through your fingers.”

  Shane answered with a wry grin and Mila hit Matt lightly with her flat hand on the back of his head.

  “You're such a sexist asshole,” Aiden sighed.

  “People, I get it, your hormones are upside down, but we really have to think about Gregory and his mission since it looks as if he is back in the game. We can combine our duty with some fun today after school. Let’s meet and have a new attempt to unravel the prophecy and then we can celebrate the fact that Gregory’s memory is back. We will meet after school at Brooklyn’s house. Matt, can you text Eva and the others, but please try to be discreet. We don’t want to have any Vultures at our party.”

  Mila whispered into Leyla’s ear that Aiden was certainly not the right person to talk about upside down hormones and such stuff. Leyla tried to suppress a grin, because she was right. The bell rang and Greyson came running from the baseball field together with Jason. He passed giving Leyla a radiant smile as he passed by. Mila laughed coughing and spluttering.

  Today hormones seemed to be a general issue.

  They walked back towards their classroom. Shane strolled to his jeep. He would dump his stuff at Leyla’s house and then he had a few hours to dawdle away. Maybe they had an X-Box, probably not. Well, he would somehow pass the time. All of a sudden, he felt being observed and sensed a surge of anger rise inside of him. He was aware that somehow it was not his own anger, but Gabe’s. So he looked over his shoulder straight into Gabe’s stony face although his face seemed completely normal, even friendly and his anger was not written all over his face, as he had expected. Not bad big boy, Shane thought, you're probably a master of masquerade. He curled his lips into a sneer and raised a hand in greeting. Then he climbed into the jeep revving the engine unnecessarily before he drove away. He knew that this was more of a somewhat childish gesture, but he felt damn good doing it.

  Gabe was thunderstruck. Who was this guy? He was certainly no Akando, that much was clear. He just knew. What was his connection to Leyla? Did he have something to do with Gregory's disappearance? The uncertainty enraged him. He always wanted to be in control of any situation, but things seemed to be slipping through his fingers more than ever. His dad wasn’t exactly happy because there was no body. Damn it, he would find out who this guy was and what he was up to, hanging out with these bunch of Akando losers. Suddenly he smiled, he knew what he had to do. He walked up and came across Greyson and walked over to Angel’s classroom. She was standing in front of her locker flirting with some jerk from the basketball team.

  “Hey, can I talk to you for a sec?”

  Gabe interrupted their conversation.

  She wasn’t exactly pleased to see him and gave him a wry look. She would have liked to continue that little chat with Dallas. He was maybe not exactly the brightest light in the room but certainly one of the hottest. But she also knew Gabe well enough to realize that something had come up. He seemed to be severely pissed, so she bit back a cutting remark. She gently touched Dallas shoulder and looked at him seductively.

  “Well, I’ll see you later Dallas, ok?”

  He seemed a little disappointed and disappeared in his classroom.

  "Well, what do you want Gabe?”

  "I have a task for you beautiful! A purpose that is worthy of you. You don’t seem to be that busy if you are wasting your time with morons like Dallas.”

  Angel looked annoyed.

  “Why are you jealous?” He gave her a withering look.

  She sighed. He seemed to be in a seriously bad mood.

  “Ok, ok, then shoot. Math class is abo
ut to start.”

  "Listen to me carefully. You do exactly as I tell you. We cannot afford any more failures. Gregory is not dead, I'm sure about that.”

  “Then what do you want from me? Am I supposed to get the police involved? It was not me letting him get away.”

  Her expression was reproachful after all her father had expressed his disappointment about their failure and his monthly check had turned out a lot sparser than she was used to. “That's exactly why you are getting the job. Because you're the best,” he said, flattering her. Angel relaxed increasingly looking at him not exactly knowing what to expect. Her eyes sparkled. She felt that he needed her help this miserable stuck-up prig. “Stop fawning and spit it out then!”

  He looked at her angrily, “No need to get nasty my dear. Go into the classroom, then you're telling the teacher that you are not feeling well. Be persuasive so that he sends you home. Then you will go to Leyla's house. She looked at him suspiciously. “What the hell am I going to do there? Are you nuts?”

  He put a finger to her lips and she fell silent.

  “You are so adorably when you are upset. If we are lucky, this tall dark-haired dude from before will be there and open the door to you. He has something to do with Leyla and I could swear that he knows where Gregory is. You will tell him some story, what exactly you tell him I leave to you. The important thing is that he falls for it and that you will get out as much information from him as you can. Now go my angel and don’t disappoint me.”

  God! He was so dramatic.

  “Ok fine, but if he is not there, or worse Leyla's parents for some reason are home?”

  "You'll find an appropriate excuse. I'm not worried, I trust you.”

  “Well then, I suppose I can do it my own way and there are no restrictions on my approach? You know what I mean, don’t you?"

  He nodded.

  “Whatever you think is necessary. But please don’t kill him. One missing body is enough to deal with.”

  She gave him a smug look.

  “Don’t worry babe, you can consider the matter settled.”

  He grimaced as if he had bitten into a lemon.

  “Sorry, I forgot that you can’t stand being called babe.”

  She laughed silvery leaving him behind in front of the locker. She disappeared hip wiggling in her classroom without looking back. Leyla and Brooklyn had been watching them from inside the classroom through the open door. They threw each other a questioning look. What were these two up to now? It certainly couldn’t be anything good.

  An angel with devilish intentions

  Shane hadn’t felt that good in months. His life was just starting to get back to track. The first time in months, he was looking forward to something. It was an incredible feeling and sometimes he just thought it was a dream and he would wake up in front of the TV and sink back into his depression, in which he had fallen after the death of his mother. Yet it actually was kind of fun to help Gregory and he was looking forward to take up his studies. His life slowly began making sense again, after this dark period. The University in Boston was making an exception in his case and would take him back in the middle of the semester. No doubt, it helped that they knew, he hadn’t just cracked out of sheer youthful high spirit, his life simply fell apart after the sudden death of his mother. He had been sitting around on his lazy butt long enough. So to speak, Gregory had brought him back to life. He didn’t know exactly when that change within had happened, but probably looking at the supposedly unconscious drunk body had been something like a wake-up call for him. Gregory's weakness had given him back his strength.

  He wondered what to do with the rest of the afternoon. Maybe Aiden and Matt were right and he should try to probe the emotions of others on purpose. He went to the backyard and threw some sticks for Rogan. The dog went totally nuts because of some squirrels. It was standing on its hind legs and scratched a tree like a maniac with its front paws, as the two squirrels were comfortable on the tree looking down.

  Shane laughed. He should try out his skills on Rogan. He could forget about the squirrels as he could see from a distance that they certainly would have shit their pants if they had worn some. He tried to concentrate on Rogan, which was not easy because his loud barking was ear deafening, when the doorbell rang. Maybe it was the mailman? Then he would try his skills on him instead of Rogan. He opened the front door and froze. A heavenly female creature was standing outside the door. A graceful beautiful delicate girl stood there in front of him. His protective instincts raised immediately and if he had possessed a sword, he would have wielded it to protect her from whatsoever. He cleared his throat, “I think you have got the wrong house and if not, the owners are not here and I don’t know when they will be coming back.”

  He noted awkwardly that he was babbling. She had the sweetest smile he had ever seen on a girl. Pure sugar. His heart warmed like butter in the August sun. There was something supernatural about her.

  “Not at all,” she said in a gentle voice.

  “I am Angel, a friend of Leyla. She sent me.”

  He sighed and heard the angels sing being overwhelmed by her presence.

  "Angel - what a wonderful and suitable name.”

  She smiled awkwardly and her cheeks showed a delicate blush.

  ”As I said, Leyla sent me. You apparently have some time to kill, as she will meet you only after school this afternoon and I'm free. So she thought I could come over, in case you get bored.”

  The angels ceased abruptly to sing and Shane seemed to come back to his senses. What a shame, this angel seemed to be of a different kind.

  His suspicion was awakened.

  “Come in,” he gestured.

  “How is it that I have never heard of you Angel?”

  Angel felt his distrust swearing under her breath. She could have chocked that moron on the spot, but then again, they would hardly find out what the Akandos were up to and where Gregory was. She gave him an innocent look and the most beautiful smile that she could manage.

  "Then you don’t know all of the pack?”

  She looked at him questioningly. Shane felt a wave of impatience and anger emerging from her that did in no way suit her friendly smile. Something was out of line with this angel. “What do you mean by pack? I think you are watching too many Fantasy series. Leyla doesn’t belong to a pack, as far as I know.”

  She laughed apologetically, “How silly of me. You know I'm new to this country and sometimes I have troubles finding the right words. I am originally from Sicily.”

  She gave him a seductive look.

  “I meant her friends of course.”

  She had come into the house and Shane started to regret letting her in. Still, what else could he have done?

  ”May I sit down?”

  Shane was on his guard.

  “Sure,” he pointed towards the couch.

  “Angel does not sound very Italian.”

  She ran a hand through her shining hair and put a strand behind her ear with a harmonious gesture.

  “Actually, my name is Angela, but here in Canada, Angel is cooler, I think. Oh my god, I'm so confused sometimes and I am embarrassed to admit that I forgot your name. To my defense, it must have been a difficult name to remember at least for an Italian girl.”

  She seemed to be truly embarrassed and shook her head guiltily.

  "No problem, I understand that, must be hard for you with all those strange English name. My name is Shane.”

  He was sure that this girl had no idea who he was and certainly, she was no friend of Leyla. He would have bet his Xbox. The question was who had sent her and what did they have in mind? Probably, this blond guy with the stony expression. What was his name again? Gabe, what a metaphor - the angel and the archangel Gabriel, in truth having devilish intentions. However, he had no choice but to play along to find out what she was up to.

  “So Angel, what are we going to do until Leyla picks us up?”

  He felt a moment of horror. Bingo. Yet t
he shock did not show on her face, he had to give her that. She still smiled sweetly.

  "Forget it, she does not have to pick you up, we can go together. She can text us the address. You will write her and then we can go there together.”

  "Wait a minute, then you don’t know where we're going? Why don’t you text her from your phone then?”

  This time he felt her flare of anger and nervousness very clearly.

  “Oh, silly me, I forgot my phone at home.”

  How practical and imaginative, Shane thought.

  "Could I get a glass of water? My throat is all dried up.”

  That is what you get from telling tales and lying that much, Shane thought to himself, but he didn’t say anything like that.

  “Sure.”

  He brought her a glass of soda.

  Angel felt an inner turmoil. This guy obviously was of a suspicious kind and did clearly not buy her story. What was wrong with her? Had she lost her seducing and manipulating abilities? Such a thing had never happened to her before back in Sicily. These Canadians were probably not as passionate as Italians were. Good thing she was able to take different measures. While Shane turned away to get his phone, she reached into her jeans pocket and took out a small plastic bag containing a white powder and poured the contents into her glass quickly. She pretended to stumble and spilled the contents of her glass over Shane's neck and shoulders. Not a moment too soon, she thought, Shane had just been texting Leyla but he had not yet pushed the sending button. It had been a narrow escape.

  “My God, I'm sorry, sometimes I really am clumsy.”

  She hurried into the kitchen to get a towel to dry Shane’s neck.

  In fact, she wanted the poison to spread quickly in his blood and had no intention to wipe him dry. The neck was the best way to get the poison into the blood circulation. The last thing Shane remembered before he sank onto the couch and fell into some sort of trance, was the overwhelming joy that emanated from Angel. Shit, he thought to himself, but somehow he could not move anymore. His mind raced in circles. Maybe the angel with the devilish intentions would try to read his mind but he wouldn’t let her get into his head. However, it looked as if she wasn’t interested to mess with his mind. She grabbed his phone and wrote a message. Whom she wrote he did not know, but he guessed that she made it look as if he was texting. What a bitch.