CHAPTER 11 – CAUGHT OUT

Félix peered through the thick mesh of the fencing mask. The fencing master stood a few metres from him in the defensive "en garde" position that he had first demonstrated just minutes before.

Normally Armand D'Argencourt did not take on novices, but Gabriel Agreste could be quite … persuasive. The threat to withdraw Adrien from his fencing classes and to launch a public smear campaign had been enough to convince D'Argencourt to relax his stringent admission rule just this once.

D'Agencourt sighed. At least the boy had some sort of natural ability. Like his famous cousin the épée sat comfortably in his hand and his stance was natural.

D'Agencourt muttered to himself under his breath before launching a series of lunges designed to test the parry that he had just shown Félix. Félix fell back under the series of blows before D'Agencourt slipped under his guard.

"Touché" Félix acknowledged.

The opponents lifted their helmets.

"Not bad" admitted D'Agencourt. "You need to keep the point of the blade up, but not bad at all." Perhaps Gabriel's pig-headedness would not be an entirely bad thing. The boy was clearly blessed with natural ability and he was untouched by bad errors learnt from less talented coaches. Like a field of virgin snow free of blemishes Félix could be sculptured to perfection under D'Agencourt's expert tutelage.

His train of thought was interrupted by the clash of steel upon steel as two white-clad students sparred with each other. Both Félix and his coach turned to watch the exchange.

This was no novice duel, but a meeting of expert athletes in their prime. The whirl of blades was mesmerising to watch: lunge, parry, riposte. The pair moved back and forth in a perfectly choreographed dance, never a foot out of place. The deadly tango moved back and forth. Suddenly the taller fencer feinted, then as the inevitable counter-attack was made he dropped beneath the blade, supporting his weight on his hand whilst his épée thrust towards his opponent in a classic passata sotto.

"Touché" said Kagami Tsurugi, lifting up her mask. The disappointment was evident in her voice, but she held out hand to assist her opponent to his feet.

Félix's had only the vaguest knowledge of fencing, but even he knew that he had just witnessed a world-class exhibition of the art. He also knew that Kagami was consistently rated in the top ten fencers worldwide in her age bracket. Who was her opponent? Surely this was a potential world champion before him?

The fencer accepted Kagami's hand and got to his feet. Félix's feeling of admiration disappeared as the fencer lifted his mask, revealing familiar green eyes and golden locks. ADRIEN.

Envy crept into Félix's body as he looked at his perfect cousin complimenting Kagami on her form and downplaying his own perfect performance, attributing his masterstroke to good luck. The perfect gentleman.

Could Félix ever better his cousin? Perfect manners. Perfect academics. Perfect modelling career. Perfect house. Perfect body. And now … the perfect athlete.

Suddenly a wave of nausea hit Félix. His sword fell to the ground and he dropped to his knee, gagging. The ground swum before his eyes.

"Félix? Félix?" his cousin asked.

Félix looked up into his cousin's eyes. Adrien had rushed over when his cousin had dropped. His hand was on Félix's shoulder and his eyes were filled with genuine concern.

"I don't feel so good," mumbled Félix.

"Come, let's get you home." Adrien put his neck under Félix's arm and walk assisted him towards Gorilla and the waiting car.

"Can you take us home please?" Adrien asked his driver as they approached the car.

The Gorilla shook his head, holding out his copy of the boys' schedule, his finger gesticulating at the bright colours indicating the remaining engagements for the afternoon.

Adrien rolled his eyes. He knew that his father would brook no unauthorised change to Adrien's schedule. He could almost picture his father's voice now. "You're an Agreste Adrien. That means hard work, sacrifice. You aren't ill, are you? You're a man now, act like it."

"Can you just take Félix home please? He's really ill. My practice is scheduled for another 40 minutes still, you can be back long before it finishes. Pleeaase."

Adrien clasped his hands together, his mesmerising green eyes silently pleading with his bodyguard.

The Gorilla's heart melted. He had always had a soft spot for his young charge, though he could never show it. And those eyes … who could say no to those eyes?

The Gorilla's head dropped and he audibly exhaled, gesturing at the back seat with his thumb.

"Thanks, you won't regret it," said Adrien, flashing one of his trademark winning smiles at the Gorilla as he helped his cousin onto the back seat.

-000-

Félix felt a little bit better by the time the car pulled up into the Agreste driveway. He was able to walk up the steps into the mansion unaided, the sound of the car returning to the fencing class receding into the background as he entered the cool, marbled entrance hall.

The room was empty and Félix turned towards the guest wing and his bedroom, his footsteps echoing in the vastness of the Agreste mansion.

He stepped into the sanctuary of his bedroom and stopped short.

In front of him, her back to the door, was Nathalie. Before her was HIS suitcase … open. She was systematically going through each item in turn, holding shirts up to the light, feeling the seams, searching … for something.

"What are you doing with my bag?"

Nathalie visibly jumped.

"Félix, I wasn't expecting you back so soon."

"What are you doing with my bag?" he repeated.

"Oh, I was just checking that everything in your room was in order when I noticed that most of your clothes were not packed away yet. I was just checking if they needed laundering first. I'll have words with the help." The lies tumbled from her mouth.

Félix's eyes narrowed. It was clear that she was lying, but he was in no state of mind to work out why right now.

"Don't do that again. Do you understand? My privacy is not to be violated like this."

"I'm sorry," said Nathalie. "I didn't mean to offend you."

Félix's knees suddenly turned to jelly as another wave of nausea hit him.

"I've taken ill. Please leave me alone to sleep."

"Of course Félix," said Nathalie. "I'll see that you're not disturbed. The door clicked shut behind her as she accepted the out he offered her and left the room.

The bed beckoned invitingly, but Félix needed to check his bag first. He staggered over to the bag and checked the secret compartment. The ring was still there. A wave of relief washed over him and he closed up the secret compartment again.

Satisfied, Félix staggered over to his bed. He kicked off his shoes and stripped off his fencing uniform before collapsing on the bed. Darkness swiftly overtook him.