by I. T. Lucas
Over her head, she felt Magnus nodding as if to encourage Ella to say yes.
Sweet guy.
“Well, I need to add a few items to my wardrobe, and if it helps to take your mind off worrying, I’m all for it. But not today. After Julian comes back from the halfway house, I want to spend some time with him. Besides, we can go virtual shopping and order everything online.”
“Things won’t arrive on time.”
“We can pay for expedited shipping.”
Poor girl. She was still wary about leaving the safety of the village. “Are you afraid of going anywhere other than the sanctuary?”
Ella shrugged. “It hasn’t even crossed my mind, but now that you mention it, I was reminded of what a hassle it was to put on my full disguise. I can’t stand the contact lenses, and trying on clothes with sunglasses on will be too weird.”
“Online shopping it is, then.” Vivian headed to the kitchen and opened the fridge. “I’m just afraid of ordering shoes and then finding out that they don’t fit. We don’t have time to send them back and order another size.” She pulled out lettuce and a wedge of parmesan cheese for a Caesar salad.
Ella followed her to the kitchen and leaned against the counter. “I need to go talk to Eva. I haven’t thought about wearing the disguise while touring Georgetown, and the contacts are a pain in the derrière. I need to ask her if there are regular looking glasses that can fool facial recognition software.”
Vivian frowned. “I hadn't thought of it either. Perhaps we both should go see her. We need better disguises.”
Pulling out her phone, Ella glanced up. “I’ll ask her if she can see us after lunch. Okay with you?”
“Perfect. We can do that while Magnus is at his meeting.”
“Right. And I need to go visit Tessa too. Do you want to come with me?”
Vivian smiled. “I have a great idea. How about we make something special for lunch and bring it to her? I’m sure she is in no mood for cooking.”
Ella waved a dismissive hand. “I don’t know if she cooks at all. Jackson could be bringing stuff from the café. Besides, it isn’t as if either of us is a great cook. I’m not going to take Tessa your meatloaf, if that’s what you have in mind.”
Vivian cast her a reproaching look. “I know more than one recipe, and besides, it’s the thought that counts.”
“I meant no offense, Mom. I love your meatloaf, but many people don’t like that kind of food. If I bring Tessa something, I want to make sure she enjoys it. Like a box of Godiva chocolates.”
“Do you have any left?”
Ella was a sucker for those. If she had any, they were most likely gone by now.
“I do. After I cleaned his kitchen, Merlin gave me a huge pack full of small boxes. I had Julian keep them so I wouldn’t eat all of them at one sitting, but I have two boxes here. I can wrap one up and give it to Tessa.”
“Perfect.”
21
Ella
“I have just what you need,” Eva said. “Believe it or not, Roni printed them for me on a 3D-printer.”
Vivian shook her head. “Technology is progressing at an amazing speed. I read that scientists at the Tel-Aviv university were able to 3-D print a small scale human heart using human cells. Pretty soon organ donations will no longer be needed. No more waiting in line for hearts and kidneys and the like. Each hospital will have a 3-D printer and replacement parts will be custom made for any patient that needs them.”
Eva grinned. “I just love it. Yesterday’s science fiction is today’s reality. Like Jules Verne’s stories. The inventions he wrote about were fantasy back then, but they became reality.” She pushed to her feet. “Let me get my magic makeover case.”
In his bassinet, Ethan was making cute little sucking noises, and Ella got up to get a better look. He was sound asleep, probably dreaming about nursing.
Such an adorable baby, and those pink cheeks were just asking to be kissed. Hopefully, he would wake up before they left so she could hold him for a little bit. Having the baby pressed against her chest felt like an infusion of good. It really was a bundle of joy.
Ella wondered if that feeling was produced by the same chemical reaction Julian had talked about, or if it was unique to babies. Hugging adults, or even Parker, had never flooded her with as many feel-good endorphins.
“Do babies have this effect only on women or on men too?”
“What do you mean?” Vivian asked.
“Whenever I’ve held Ethan, and I’ve only gotten to do it twice, I felt like I was high. It felt euphoric. So, I’m wondering if only females feel that because their bodies prepare them for motherhood, or do males feel that too?”
A sadness settled over Vivian’s features. “Your father’s eyes would roll back from pleasure every time he held you and later Parker.” She chuckled. “But only until you started crying or made a stinky in your diaper. Then he would quickly give you back to me.”
When Eva came back hefting a huge trunk, Ella rushed to help her. “This looks heavy.”
Eva huffed. “Don’t be silly. I’m at least twice as strong as you are.” She put it down on the floor, crouched next to it, and sprung the coded locks. “Open sesame.” The lid popped up.
Inside, several compartments of various sizes were separated by dividers. Eva pulled a makeup case out and opened it.
“I have three new pairs of those specialty glasses, but with clear lenses this time so they look like reading glasses. They are called adversarial, probably because they can fool your adversaries. They aren’t the prettiest, and if you want, I can ask Roni if he can print something better looking.” She handed one pair to Ella and the other to Vivian.
The frames were made from simple black plastic, but they weren’t as hideous as Ella had feared something made with a 3-D printer would be.
“Can’t we order nicer ones from a store?” Vivian asked.
“They are not commercially available yet. The instructions are not publicly available either, but you know Roni. When he wants to get his hands on something, he finds a way.”
Ella took the glasses off and examined them closer. “Did he hack the instructions?”
“According to him, he did not. The inventors are sharing them with people in their close circle, and William knew a guy who knew another guy. That sort of thing.” Lifting a handheld mirror from her case, Eva handed it to Ella. “Here, put them back on and take a look.”
“They are not bad.” Ella ran her fingers through her hair, spiking it. “Hipster style meets grunge punk. I like it.” She handed the mirror to her mother who didn’t look happy.
“Ugh, it’s going to look awful with my black wig, but whatever. I’m not entering a beauty pageant.”
“What else can you do for us?” Ella asked. “We need things that are not difficult to put on and keep on.”
Eva looked her up and down. “You’re fine. If you want, you can go to William’s lab and have him run you through his program while you’re wearing the glasses. If you pass the test, then there is no reason to go any further. And the same is true for your mom.” She turned to Vivian. “But keep the wig on. Your hair is very distinctive, especially when combined with your tiny frame.”
“I will.”
“I have one here that might look better on you than the one Amanda gave you.” She pulled out a shoulder-length wig. “It’s not all black, so it looks more natural. Try it on.”
The wig was dark chestnut, and it looked like it was real hair. Either that or it was made from better materials and didn’t look as fake as the one Amanda gave Vivian. Except, Ella thought that it was kind of gross to wear someone else’s hair.
“I love it. Thank you,” Vivian said. “I don’t look like a vampire in it. I’m normally pale, but when I’m stressed, I look like a ghost.”
“Then I suggest you put on a lot of makeup.” Eva smiled evilly. “You don’t want to scare your prey off.”
Vivian swallowed. “I need to buy more foundation.�
�
Way to go, Eva. It was good that the woman wasn’t a doctor because her bedside manner left a lot to be desired. She would’ve scared her patients to death.
Then again, her direct approach had worked for Tessa. After killing her tormentor, Eva had nursed the traumatized girl back to health, which meant that she wasn’t as callous as she appeared. Or maybe Tessa responded better to tough love?
“How is Tessa doing?” Ella asked. “Did you talk with her since yesterday?”
“Jackson took her horseback riding. That boy is a genius. It would’ve never occurred to me that such an activity could have a therapeutic effect. But apparently, it’s working for Tessa. When she called me earlier, she sounded fine.”
“Well, his mother is a therapist. He must’ve asked Vanessa for advice.”
Eva cocked an eyebrow. “Did you see any horses in the sanctuary? If that were Vanessa’s idea, she would have a stable on the grounds.”
“Horses are expensive and need a lot of care,” Vivian said.
Eva waved a dismissive hand. “She could have made do with some cats or goats to pet.”
Cats and goats were not in the same category as horses, but Ella wasn’t going to point it out. No one liked a wiseass, and Eva was a bit scary. Pissing her off was not a good idea.
“Why not dogs?” Vivian asked. “Small ones, that is. I can see how some girls might be afraid of big dogs.”
Ella took the glasses off and put them in her purse. “Dogs pee and poo where they are not supposed to. Scarlet still has accidents.”
Vivian grimaced. “Tell me about it. I ordered half a dozen of those disinfecting spray bottles.”
“Scarlet is so funny.” Ella chuckled. “She always looks so guilty after doing something she knows is a no-no. As soon as she makes that face, we go looking for her mess right away.”
As a sound of protest came from Ethan’s bassinet, Eva walked over and picked him up. “Are you hungry, my sweet little boy?” She kissed his cheek.
The baby cooed and reached with his tiny fist, closing it around a strand of her hair.
“Don’t pull on Mama’s hair, precious.” Eva smoothed a finger over his tiny ones but didn’t attempt to pry them open.
Ella wondered if the baby would let go on his own. Perhaps when Eva started feeding him?
“We should go.” Vivian pushed to her feet. “Thank you so much for all your help.”
“My pleasure. And if I don’t see you before you leave, good luck. I wish I could be there, but since my Bhathian is escorting you, I know that you are in good hands.”
22
Julian
When Julian made it back to the village, it was after ten at night and he still needed to pack, but he had to see Ella before leaving. The flight was scheduled for early in the morning the next day, and he didn’t think she would be awake to say goodbye.
Should he ask her to spend the night with him?
The yearning to hold her in his arms until the last moment was so intense that it made breathing difficult. A problem, since he was running.
Fifty feet or so away from her house, Julian slowed down to a walk and evened out his breath. There was no need for Ella to know how obsessed with her he was, and that he had run all the way from the pavilion.
Except, as soon as his foot touched the first of the three steps leading up to her front porch, Ella opened the door and stepped out. “Did you run all the way here?”
“What gave me away?” He climbed the stairs and took her into his arms.
“I timed it. You called me when you left the construction site. And I calculated the drive and the walk. You are seven minutes early.”
It seemed that he was not the only one obsessed.
His heart felt lighter at the realization. “How are we going to survive these five days?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “We will have to talk on the phone a lot and video chat.”
All kinds of visions crossed his mind, some naughtier than others.
“What’s that smirk about?” Ella asked.
He kissed the tip of her nose. “You’re not the only one with a vivid imagination. I entertained a few ideas for those phone calls.”
Catching his meaning, she blushed. “We can’t. Not yet.”
He made a face. “It doesn't count when there is no touching involved.”
“I’m sure that some touching was going on in your vivid fantasies.”
“Guilty.”
Ella sighed. “Just a little bit longer, Julian. By next Wednesday, I will be free. Hopefully. If everything works out as planned.” She pushed out of his arms and took his hand. “It will be one hell of a disappointment if Mr. D doesn’t show up, and all this careful preparation is for nothing. I will feel like such an idiot.”
As they started walking down the pathway, Julian wrapped his arm around Ella’s waist. “Do you know the phrase about the leopard and how he cannot change its spots? The same is true of the Doomer. It would be uncharacteristic for him to help you out of the goodness of his heart. He wants you. He admitted it.”
“True.” She shrugged. “Everything is set in motion, so there is no point in speculating. Whatever happens, happens. Just promise me to be extra super-duper careful. I won’t survive it if anything happens to you.” Her voice wobbled a little.
“Hey.” He stopped and hooked a finger under her chin. “Look at me.”
She had tears in her eyes.
“Nothing is going to happen to me. Thirty experienced Guardians can take on a platoon of Doomers. The most formidable warriors on the planet are going to guard you and your mom. I’m just tagging along because I’ll expire from worry if I’m not there with you.”
Wiping the tears with the back of her hand, she smiled. “And I thought that I was being melodramatic. Sorry for the mini-meltdown.”
“Speaking of meltdowns, how is Tessa doing?”
Holding hands, they resumed their walk.
“Better. Jackson took her horseback riding. Except, I don’t know what did the trick, him taking the day off to be with her or the horses.”
“A little bit of both, I guess.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m not going to bore you with a geeky explanation about why horseback riding releases endorphins.”
“Why not? I love it when you tell me interesting facts. I can then use them in conversations and sound smart.”
“You are smart.” He leaned and kissed the top of her head. “But I’ll save it for after we come back. Right now I want to hear about you and your day. Did you talk with Sylvia about assisting you in the sanctuary?”
“I did. She’s going to help me film and also help edit the videos.”
“Editing was supposed to be my job.” On the one hand, Julian had been looking forward to spending long hours with Ella, but on the other hand, he hadn’t been looking forward to the emotional pain of hearing horrible stories.
“It still is. I just want to edit the first three videos and put them up before I leave for Washington. I want to have this fundraiser up and running. Sylvia is going to help with those. When we come back, you’ll help me with the ones I’m going to shoot tomorrow and the day after.”
“Did you get more volunteers?”
“No, but I’m going to. Tomorrow I’m shooting the other two from the original four, and I hope more will sign up. We don’t need all of them to do it, but the more the better.”
“Good luck.”
“Thank you.” Ella looked down, found a small loose rock, and kicked it. “This project keeps me going. Whenever I feel scared or overwhelmed, or when bad thoughts intrude, all I need to do is think about the fundraiser to get excited and positive again.”
It was a little disappointing that thinking of him was not enough to chase the gloom away, but he was happy that she had something to keep her upbeat.
Having a goal, especially a worthy one like that, was a powerful motivator.
Julian wished he had something like that to get him excited.
Something he felt super passionate about. He could jump on the fundraiser wagon and help Ella or focus on remodeling the halfway house. Both were worthy endeavors, but they didn’t get his juices flowing. He needed a challenge, something he was exceptionally good at, or believed he could be. Regrettably, he hadn’t stumbled upon that one thing yet.
He was excited about catching the Doomer, though. Which brought back Ella’s suggestion of him joining the Guardian force. Perhaps as a medic?
Nah, that wasn’t it either.
Who did he want to be when he grew up?
Ella waved a hand in front of his face. “A penny for your thoughts.”
“They are not worth even that. I was trying to figure out what would excite me as much as the fundraiser excites you.”
“I don’t think you can go looking for it. Fate has a way of putting the right person in the right place for the right job. The choice we have is either to step up to the plate or not. If you asked me a month ago if I was interested in fundraising, I would have said no way. I was convinced that I wanted to be a nurse. But one thing led to another and here I am, all consumed by this project that is way too big for me, but that I want to tackle anyway.”
“You no longer want to be a nurse?”
“I’m not sure what I want.”
“A doctor. You should study to become a doctor.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
He chuckled. “That makes two of us. Neither of us know who we want to be when we grow up.”
“Oh, I know who I want to be.” Ella looked up at him and smiled. “I want to be Ella Takala, Director of Save the Girls.”
23
Ella
As they got back to her house, Julian swept Ella into his arms and sat with her on the loveseat swing.
“I need a kiss that will hold me through the next five days.” He palmed the back of her head and took her lips.