After a few interviews, Jackson and Maddy walked into the main event space, which was a lavishly decorated courtyard. Delicate, twinkling lighting was strung across the elegant space, as huge platters of oysters, bottles of champagne and steaming platters of seared scallops all streamed by, served to the beautiful Angel clientele, who indulged themselves with the best the Immortal City had to offer. The ruckus just outside now seemed to be a thousand miles away.
Every head turned as Jackson and Maddy entered the space.
A waiter with a tray of drinks somehow materialized at their side. Jacks pulled two full glasses off. “Thank you,” he said to the waiter before the man disappeared into a cluster of Angels across the room.
Maddy looked suspiciously at the drink in Jackson’s hand as he offered it to her.
“You’ve finished your first week of training. We have to celebrate!”
“I still have a long way to go,” Maddy said quietly, thinking of what the professor had told her about the conflicting theories on her wings. And how totally out of place she felt at Guardian training. How much she had to learn. “And I have to wake up early tomorrow. I think I’ll stick to sparkling water.”
Jackson leaned down and kissed behind her ear. “Maddy, you are going to do great. You already are doing great. Did you see how everybody looked when we walked in? They’re looking at you. They’re seeing what I’ve seen in you all along. I can see the Angel coming out in you. Embrace it.”
“I guess so,” Maddy said uncertainly. Looking at Jackson’s flawless features, she wondered, as she had so many times, how she could even measure up to this Angel perfection. But Jackson’s eyes were so eager. Maddy squeezed his hand. “I mean, I know so. I know what you’re saying, Jacks.”
Jacks wrapped his arm around her waist and turned away from the party-goers so that they had a private space on the periphery of the crowd.
“How was the treatment today?” Maddy asked. “Dr Liebesgott has been trying out some new method, right?”
A shadow crossed Jackson’s face at the mere word treatment. He couldn’t help it, Mad
dy knew. The Angel tried to keep his upbeat attitude, but his tone gave him away. “It’s going fine,” he growled. “But I don’t want to talk about it. Anyway, Mark’s helping me find other ways to be useful. If that’s even possible.” He seemed to realize he was sounding a bit gruff and brightened his tone. “Let’s see if we can find Mitch and my sister.”
Maddy wished she hadn’t said anything, but it worried her so much to see Jacks struggling every day and not getting better. Each day she hoped he would turn the corner to full recovery and rejoin the ranks of what she knew he wanted more than anything: to be a Guardian. What she herself was now training to become, she reflected uncomfortably.
Leading her by the hand, Jacks took Maddy across the courtyard as they looked for Mitch. It was true, everyone was staring at them. But Maddy was kind of used to it by now. Jacks glanced over towards the bar and saw his sister.
“I’m going to ask Chloe if she’s seen Mitch. Do you want me to bring you a seltzer?”
“Sure,” Maddy said, kissing him in thanks. Jacks started walking through the crowd. In his wake, Maddy heard a female voice say clearly, “How is she going to make a save without any wings? Take the bus to try to make it in time?”
There was no mistaking the Australian accent.
Shrill laughter came out of the small group of Angels clustered around Emily Brightchurch, who was standing with her back to Maddy just a metre away. Emily was wearing a short skirt with a pair of towering Fendi heels that complemented her fierce crimson hair – and made her legs seem to go for ever. She turned around, oh-so-casually.
“Oh, hi, Maddy. It’s funny, we were just—”
“Emily,” Maddy frostily replied. She didn’t want a confrontation. Not tonight. Maddy unconsciously pulled at the right strap of her dress, which was digging into her shoulder.
The Aussie sex symbol looked Maddy up and down. “Is your dress too small? There is a lot of pressure to size down here. And, you know, being an Angel takes a lot of work. I haven’t seen you at the gym lately. Just some friendly advice. The camera adds ten pounds.”
Maddy breathed through gritted teeth. “The dress fits just fine, thanks. The strap was just twisted. And some of us don’t have to work out for our figures.”
“Or maybe that’s just what they think.” Emily smiled bitchily, her voice dripping with malice. “And how are your wings coming? We’re all very concerned about your well-being. It must be so stressful being in Guardian training and not even knowing if you’ll be able to fly. If you need anything, just let us know. We’d be so happy to help.”
Before Maddy could put together a reply, Jackson materialized at her side with her seltzer.
“Mitch just showed up,” he said. “And I had to stop the bartender from serving my little sister a vodka tonic.” He rolled his eyes.
“Well, if it isn’t Jackson Godspeed,” Emily said, undressing him with her eyes. Maddy smouldered angrily next to Jacks, trying to hold her tongue.
“Hey, Emily,” Jacks said, looking mildly uncomfortable.
“Come on, Jacks, let’s go and hang out with Chloe,” Maddy interjected.
Jackson nodded, noticing the tension between the two girls. Wisely, he held his tongue.
“Don’t be a stranger, Jacks,” Emily said, smiling slyly. “And I’ll see you at training, Maddy. That is, if they let you back in?” There was a peal of laughter from Emily’s hangers-on, but as Jacks opened his mouth in angry protest, Maddy grabbed his arm and turned him away from the group. As Maddy and Jacks threaded their way through the crowd over to the bar on the opposite side of the room, Maddy felt Emily’s eyes watching them.