Eden's Ore - Secrets

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  “Hi.”

  Gabriel was taken aback as he rounded the last bend in the hallway. Claire stood in front of him. “Hey.” He couldn’t help but smile at her.

  “Sorry, for last time. With everything going on,"  she blushed, her accent was cute, “I must have come off like an oaf.”

  “It’s fine.” Gabriel paused, then held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “You, too.” She took his hand and shook it. “I’m getting some lunch if you’re interested?” She pointed down the hall.

  “Sure.” Gabriel stepped forward. “Just breakfast for me.”

  Claire frowned as he walked beside him. “Breakfast?”

  “Yeah.” Gabriel realized he sounded like a lazy person. He had been taking advantage of sleeping in every day, probably a little too much. “Yeah, I'm still not used to the time change and all.”

  “It’s been over a week.” She raised her eyebrows at him. “Not sure jet lag lasts that long.”

  Gabriel couldn’t help but let out a nervous chuckle. “Yeah, I wasn’t getting much sleep back home. People trying to kill me and all.”

  “Oh my word.” Claire covered her mouth. “I’m sorry, I did it again! I don’t mean to say such things.”

  “It’s fine.” Gabriel laughed. “So, lunch?”

  She nodded at him and led the way. Neither of them spoke as they entered the large cafeteria. Gabriel felt stupid – he didn’t know what to talk to her about. He handed her a tray and smiled. “Here”

  “Thanks.” She smiled back. “So, back home – sounds like things were a bit rough?”

  Gabriel shrugged as he surveyed the items available to eat. “Just not sure where the next day was going to take me.” He filled his tray with all sorts of random items.

  “Because of the ore.” She picked things lightly. Her tray looked pathetic compared to his.

  He stared down at her tray, his mind half-off the conversation. “The ore certainly makes life more difficult.” He didn’t know how else to say it. “I mean … uh …”

  She had a coy grin on her face. “Mmhmm.” She giggled at him.

  “I’m normally good at this. Sorry.” He was a mess. “I just noticed how much food is on my tray. I normally eat alone so I can’t really gauge it.” He stopped talking. “I think it’s the ore.”

  “Well,” she nodded, “you’re in pretty decent shape.” He could see she was uncomfortable. “I usually get some cake and pudding at the end. It isn't right for me to judge.” She frowned and pointed at the dessert case.

  “Me too.” Gabriel grinned.

  They both laughed. He served her up a plate of chocolate cake and vanilla pudding. Then added the same to his plate.

  “Interesting combination.” She grinned at him.

  Gabriel froze. “Ah, sorry. I didn’t even ask. They’re just really good when you –”

  “Mix them.” She smiled at him.

  “Yeah.” He nodded.

  “Brilliant.” She laughed.

  Gabriel nodded.  He couldn’t get rid of the grin smeared across his face. “We’re good then.”

  She laughed and turned a bit red, walking away from the food line and towards a table near the side windows. Gabriel grabbed two bottles of water and followed after her. He sat down and stared at his plate, unsure of where to even begin. “Wow, this really is a lot of food.”

  Claire burst out laughing, then stifled it back. “It’s a fair bit.”

  Gabriel shrugged. “The ore is hungry I guess.”

  “That must be it.” She took a bite of an apple. “So,” She covered her mouth. “I've never seen anyone do what you can do.”

  Gabriel finished chewing his mouthful of eggs. “Yeah, one of the reasons why I had so many visitors at night.” He paused after he said it, realizing how that sounded. “Not visitors … people. Trying to kidnap or kill me.” He took a fast mouthful of food.

  “I get what you meant.” She took another bite of apple. “It’s not easy being like this.” She shook her head. “The Church’s views about us are – horrid. I don’t understand why they can’t see past it.”

  Gabriel shrugged. “People always seem to be afraid of those different than them.” He scoffed. “I don’t know – they seem to justify in their own way.”

  “A function of control.” Claire rolled her eyes. “I’ve had that argument too many times with the Cardinals.”

  “Still you’re here, and they haven’t killed me yet,” Gabriel joked. “Maybe things are changing.”

  “That would be nice.” She stared down at the table. “But I’m not augmented and you’re … something they’ve never seen before.”

  “Hmph.” Gabriel studied her. “A temporary cease fire.” He held up his bottle of water in a toast. “Maybe it’ll hold.”

  She smiled at him and grabbed her own bottle. “I pray every night for that.” Her expression changed and she clinked his bottle.

  Gabriel swallowed hard and changed topics. “You ever hear of a Sphere?”

  Claire froze, staring at him. “Yes. Many times.”

  “What’s it like?” Gabriel took a mouthful of food.

  She looked uncomfortable. “How do you know what one is?”

  Gabriel swallowed his food. “Ah, people were trying to kill me one night. I had no idea how to use this.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin and tapped on his chest. “Priests, actually.” He raised his eyebrows. “I was saved by another ore user. She told me to find one – that I would be safe there.”

  Claire smiled. “You would have been.”

  “Well, I never did find one, so I thought I would ask.” He shrugged.

  Her eyes fluttered and tears welled inside them. She faked a smile. “They're like a family.”

   Gabriel stopped eating; he wiped his lips and watched her. A tear slipped down her face.

  “Sorry.” She wiped it away. “Can we talk about something else?”

  “Sure, of course.” He stared at their plates as he eyed his cake and his pudding. “I kinda just like to dump it on the top.” He let the pudding fall onto the piece of chocolate cake.

  “I like it a little bit at a time. Just enough pudding to thinly cover the cake.” She picked up her fork and demonstrated. “Just like that.”

  “Yeah, I’m more of a stuff it in my mouth kind.” Gabriel shoveled a big piece of cake into his mouth, followed by a spoonful of pudding. “See?” he said through a mouthful of food.

  She laughed. “Charming.”

  He tried not to laugh as he finished the massive bite of cake and pudding and wiped his mouth. “So, what’s there to do here?”

  “Besides saving the world and all?” She raised her eyebrows at him.

  “That’s good – interesting.” He winched. “But not really fun.”

  “Well,” she set up another bite of cake and pudding, “this might just be it.” She held it up on her fork.

  “So, you’re saying we should eat cake and pudding together for every meal?” Gabriel nodded at her. “I can make that work.”  

  Claire put the piece of cake into her mouth and rolled her eyes at him.

  “What?” He smiled at her and shrugged. “It’s a reasonable proposition.”

  She laughed. “I might need another test run before I fully commit.”

  “Okay.” He nodded. “Dinner it is.”

  “Alright,” she sighed. “I will be here around seven-ish.” She glanced down at her watch. “I should get back to the lab.”

  “And I have more food to eat.” Gabriel nodded at her. “Then maybe a nap.”

  She was taken aback by his comment. “You know, if you’re bored, the lab could always use some help – we can do things some of the other researchers can’t. They appreciate the help with the ore.”

  “Well, I have a busy day of doing nothing, but I think I can pencil you in.” Gabriel pointed down at his plate. “After this, of course.”

  She rolled
eyes. “Good.” She let out a laugh and strolled away.

  “Hey!” Gabriel raised his hands and called out to her. “Can you double check that they won’t shoot me if I touch the ore?”

  Claire halted, and her face twisted as she thought. “Maybe you can help clean up or something.”

  He pointed at her. “Smart.”

  She shook her head and laughed. “I can see this afternoon with you will be interesting.”

  He shrugged. “It’s all part of the test run.” Gabriel took a deep breath and watched her walk away. “Let’s not screw this up,” he whispered to himself.