Page 30 of Wicked Savior
I pretend to listen when Theron explains where to find food and encourages us to help ourselves. The chef scowls when Theron waves a hand toward one of his immaculate stoves but says nothing. That alone tells me a lot about the power dynamics here.
Becca is wringing her hands, so I reach out and take one of hers into mine. She gives me a tremulous smile. “Do you think we could find Aurora now?”
Theron glances sharply at her, then flicks his eyes to our joined hands. “Of course. Follow me.”
With purposeful strides, he leads us over to an elevator on the far wall.
“How big is this place?” I ask with a frown.
“It depends on the day. The Abbey flexes to fit our needs,” he replies, his eyes darting in my direction. “After you.” The doors open at that very moment, making me wonder exactly what I’m getting into here.
Becca pulls me into the elevator, and Theron follows. Without a single word or push of a button, the doors close and it begins to move.
I’m instantly and utterly captivated. The merging of technology with magic is seamless and so incredibly functional for a sanctuary that is constantly “flexing” to meet the needs of its inhabitants.
My hand reaches out and glides down the wall nearest to me. “Who designed this incredible feat of steel wrapped in magic?”
His violet eyes show a spark of something natural. Pride. “I designed it. Why?”
The elevator shifts and we’re suddenly moving horizontally, not vertically. It truly does utilize magic to defy the laws of physics. “It’s incredible. I’d love to hear how you were able to merge technology and magic in such a way that the original element is almost unrecognizable. The elevator uses magic to serve its original purpose of transporting individuals to a different location, but in a way that eclipses its design.”
One side of his mouth lifts almost imperceptibly. “I’d be happy to explain it, but I’m not sure a human would understand the complexities of it.” Violet eyes turn to me with a challenge in their depths.
It’s obvious he knows something is off about me but can’t quite place his finger on what it is that’s bugging him. I smirk.
“I’m a scientist. We’re universally cursed with the need to break down the complexities of life.” Although I’m dying to know how he did it, I have enough on my plate right now, so I let it go.
The doors open and we step out into a hallway. He motions to a door on the right. “This is Becca and Aurora’s room. John’s is next door, and yours is farther down the hall. Arden figured you would want to stay together.”
When he opens the door, Becca drops my hand and runs over to Aurora. Her little face is flushed with health, while Arden, who’s standing by the bed, looks a bit tired.
“Another treatment?” I inquire lightly.
Arden flashes a broad smile. “The cancer is gone. It may come back later, but if it does, we’ll do more treatments.” She pops Aurora on the nose. “How do you feel about that, poppet?”
Aurora looks at Becca. “It means we get to stay together. I can go back to school, and Becca can find someone to marry. Right, Becca?” Her beautiful brown eyes meet her sister’s.
With tears flowing down her face, Becca chokes out a laugh and smooths Aurora’s hair back from her forehead. “Only the best for us.” The words are all she can get out, but the beaming smile on her face tells us how happy she is right now.
An ache builds in the back of my throat. Her emotions are bleeding into me, and the urge to cry along with her is building fast. I swivel around to Theron.
“While they’re celebrating, why don’t you show me my room?”
He nods shortly and flicks an assessing glance at Arden. “Maybe you should go lie down for a bit.”
She narrows her eyes in return. “Stop fussing. I’m a little tired, that’s all. I’ll go with you, though, to give them some privacy.” Her hand reaches out and pats Aurora’s.
Theron leads us a short distance down the hall to another door. He opens it and ushers us into the room.
This one is smaller, with a few basic necessities—a bed, chair, and dresser. My bag of clothes is sitting on a nearby stand. I’d hoped for a desk but can easily make do with the bed and chair.
“Have you shown her the lab?” Arden asks, her eyes studying the man standing beside me. She heaves an exasperated sigh when he gives her a look. “Come on. Lucifer told us you would need a lab.” Pulling me out of the room and down the hall to the very end, she opens the last door with a flourish. “Ta da!”
I step into the room to find stainless steel counters, beakers, several centrifuges, microscopes, a couple of PCR machines to amplify and target DNA, and a UV-lightbox. It’s a state-of-the-art geneticist lab. Everything in my old lab has been replicated here.
My palm skims the cold surface of the table. “Thank you. This has everything I need to continue my experiments. I don’t know how long I’ll be here, but I’m happy to pay for everything.” My mind immediately starts rearranging the room to suit the experiments I’m running now.
Arden leans her head on Theron’s shoulder. “We didn’t buy it. Lucifer gave us a list and a chest of gold.” She looks at Theron. “Someone really should teach him how to use a more current money system.”
