We arrived in Moscow almost a day later. As soon as the flock was off the jet, we jumped up into the cold morning air and stretched our wings.
"Okay guys, we'll make a pit stop and get some refreshments. Maybe even have a little look around before we head out again." I instructed the flock.
"What's wrong with Jeb's refreshments?" Nudge asked taking a bite out of a small chunk of chocolate.
"What's right with them? It is Jeb food after all." I said. The flock is never picky about food. We've had our own share of dumpster food in the past along with rat bbq but this was just distastful. Unless we had a full black bag of Jeb food each this wasn't going to get us far.
"I hear ya, I think I've got a gas build up from all this cheap chocolate." Gazzy complained.
"I have a headache, if that counts." Iggy added.
We landed and told Jeb we needed proper food and he agreed. Luckily he still hadn't found out how expensive our winterwear was because if he knew I don't think he would be happy about paying for all of us to have a proper meal somewhere.
"Jeb have you even exchanged your money to russian money?" I asked before we got to a restaurant and found out we only had American dollars.
"Already a step ahead of you." He replied. I guess he will be paying for most of our trip then. Not thatI'm complaining.
"Max, I think we should go to an information centre so we can grab a booklet and see where we can eat and what we can look at." Nudge said.
"Great idea, I think there isn't one too far from here. We will have to catch the train into main Moscow." Jeb said grabbing his backpack.
"Oooh we're riding on the metro train?" Angel said excitedly. She seemed to be getting more like her old self again.
I wrapped my arm around Dylan's as we walked through the station and onto the metro train.
"Just encase someone takes a shine to you along the way." He joked. I smiled and blocked any thoughts for Angel to read. Already she and Nudge were whispering something behind our backs which couldn't be good. I'd have to worry about that later.
"This is our stop." Jeb said doing a headcount as we got off. I was the one that always did headcounts. This trip changed nothing about the way I feel for Jeb. He still wasn't welcome in our house. I was still in control.
"Look an information booth. I'll grab a brochure thing." She said running off. I kept a close eye on her as she grabbed the brochure and came running back.
She flipped through the pages looking under bars and restaurants for young people. I guess that meant Jeb wasn't joining us. Too bad.
"Oh look, Jean- Jacques. A French, Russian restaurant that's a favourite amoung the citiesyoung and beautiful." Nudge dictated.
"Sounds good to me." Iggy said and the others agreed.
"Oh wow look Max, a circus. There is a circus here. Can we go? Please?" Angel begged pointing to the flyer nearby.
"I don't know Ange, if we have time then yes, but we are on an important mission." I whispered. She nodded and stared at the flyer.
"Okay I need some grub, lets go." I said and let Jeb lead the way. He knew his way round foreign countries like he did labs.
The walk was 20 minutes and by the time we arrived, the wind had picked up and the flock was exhausted.
"We are going to fly next time Jeb." Iggy complained.
"Yeah, that was tiring." Gazzy huffed sitting on a bench outside the restaurant.
"I'll go and check if there is room for 7." Jeb said and disappered.
The 6 of us waited outside on a bench, squeezed together. Everyone will take one look and think Oh those poor kids skinny and homeless. They have no idea.
"Everyone alright?" Dylan asked.
"Tired." Angel said and the others nodded.
"I've got cramp." Gazzy said rubbing his foot.
"So have I." I said rubbing my padded coat over my stomache.
"Are you alright." Dylan asked concerned. I guess he really does care what happenes to me after all.
"Just need to eat thats all." I said and stood up just as Jeb invited us in.
A tall man with a huge mustache led us down to what appeared to be the basement and took us to our seat. I felt uncomfortable being trapped underground with only one exit. Dylan squeezed my shoulder as though he understood and almost instantly I felt a little better. Soft music played and people payed no attention to us as we walked in. We sat at our table and each grabbed a menu provided by the foreign man. Luckily Jeb spoke some French.
"Max is it okay if we have steak?" Angel asked and Nudge nodded.
"Mmmm steak sounds delicious. Count me in." Iggy said and Gazzy began licking his lips.
"Sure that's okay. Garlic bread and nachos for starters. Three of each that is." I said and Jeb looked at me and gave me a 'your going to cost me a fortune' look. Little did he know we already had.
"Sounds yummmy!" Angel said.
"Jeb we're ready to order. 7 steak meals, 7 cold drinks...no, better make them coffee's and 3 baskets of garlic bread and nachos." I directed. Jeb nodded and signaled the waitor.
"Que prenez-vouz?" The waitor said and Jeb began ordering our long list of items. The waitor seemed a little shocked at the amount we ordered but nodded and went away.
"Jeb what did the waitor say?" Angel asked in her sweet old voice.
"What are you having is what he asked." Jeb replied.
We sat at our table going over the plan for the day. After our meal we would visit the GUM (pronounced goom) shopping mall where we would each get to buy a souveneir. I would get something nice for my mum and sister when I next see them again.
After that we would go and see the circus for an hour just to keep the younger ones happy and finally check out the City Space Bar and Lounge on the 34th floor of The Swiss Otel and refuel our tank before hitting the road. Or should I say, sky.
The appetizers arrived and we immediately inhaled everything within 5 minutes. Jeb was still on his first peice of bread by the time we had finished.
"Jeb your soooo sloowww." Nudge laughed.
"It's his age sweetie, he can't help it." I mocked and the flock laughed. Jeb didn't look very impressed but with a slight nudge to the elbow, and I do mean slight, he put on a smile and tried to make a comback with his lame excused.
During the laughter, I met eyes with Dylan who seemed to be making a few jokes of his own.
He was so different from Fang, but beautiful in his own way.
"He was made to be beautiful. For you Maximum." A familiar voice intruded my thoughts. Oh good morning. Nice to see you still exist in the deep depths of my mind. Not! It didn't answer, thankfully, and concentrated on my flock.
"Don't get too comfortable. Things never stay the same." The voice spoke again. I froze up in my seat, casting my mind back to when Angel had told me something similar back in Africa. How I wanted things to stay the same, but they can't.
Alright, so the voice had my attention. And if your listening to this, unless you have something really important to tell me, something life threatening or dangerous please do not hesitate to warn me. But if it isn't important and your just here to gloat, beat it!
"Everything I tell you is important in its own way. You need to broaden your mind and think outside the box. Everything is about to change." The voice said in its serious tone.
I became fully aware of the surroundings around me. The people sitting at their tables, sitting at the bar, laughing and having deep conversations with each other. The soothing music in the background adding to the calmness of the atmosphere. It didn't look like anything out of the ordinary was going to happen. No men in black suits, or white for that matter, where standing at the door, no men with guns or tasers, no erasers or robotic looking men. Everything seemed...cool.
I wondered what the voice had meant by everything will change and tried to shove it to the back of my head.
The main course was served by the same foreign man that had served us before. He looked at my flock and smiled.
"Bon appetit!" He said with a bow and quickly left to serve another table.
"I know what that means!" Angel said laughing.
I observed as my flock inhaled their main meals. Even Jeb seemed to be getting stuck in to his steak which is unusual for him. Usually he only takes an interest in things he can cage up.
In the next minute, Jeb's cell phone began ringing from his coat pocket and he hesitantly answered it.
"Hello?" He spoke quietly as though he was trying to make sure we couldn't hear him. His eyes turned to me and he got up from the table and walked towards the men's room.
"Wonder who it is?" Nudge asked.
"Who ever it is, it can't be good." I said taking my first bite out of my food.
"It's Dr. Hans." Iggy said with his mouthfull.
"Great. What does he want?" I asked. Iggy cocked his head to the side and began listening in on the phone conversation.
"He wants to know...how you are?"Iggy asked, almost surprised.
"Me?" I said sounding like I was greatful for the concern.
"Oh and Dylan. He wants to know how you AND Dylan are." Iggy corrected.
"Ohhhh he wants to know if you two are 'together' yet." Nudge said raising her eyebrows suggestively. I ignored her comment and watched Iggy.
"Oh Max...Jeb has just told that...well that...you know..." Iggy trailed off.
"That what?" I pressed him for answers. He was quiet for a few moments then he spoke.
"He told Hans that you and Dylan are a couple now... Hans seems really, really happy. He's asking all sorts of awkward questions." Iggy said. I blushed and looked over at Dylan. He seemed to be slightly embarrassed by what Iggy has said too. I was going to kick Jeb's butt for this.
"Awkward questions?" I repeated like a parrot.
"I don't want to discuss this right now. Maybe Jeb will tell you." Iggy said burying his head in his grub.
Jeb came back over and sat down.
"Who was that?" I asked pretending I didn't know.
"Dr. Hans. He wanted to know how everything was going." Jeb said.
"You told him about our trip?" I almost yelled.
"Well he is Dylan's 'creator'. He deserves to know that we are going on a mission to find his real heritige. And about the cult." He explained. I decided toleave it at that, for now and pry him about it later. I finished my food and called the waiter over so Jeb could pay the bill.
I made sure we left quickly and headed towards the shopping mall Nudge had been so interested in. We decided to stay together and headed for the gift shop. I had to literally drag Nudge behind me to stop her from trying on any clothes or perfume.
I walked around with Dylan, Nudge with Angel, Gazzy with Iggy and Jeb on his own. I came across a woman's necklace, embedded in diamonds over the letters MUM. I grabbed Jeb and forced him to get it. In the end he gave in. I also managed to find another one for SISTER, which Jeb also hesitantly brought.
Angel spotted a snowglobe on the snowglobe stand and came completely mesmerized by it. She carefully picked it up and walked over to me, not taking her eyes off the item.
"Max...Look." She said in a faint voice which drew my attention quickly to the snowglobe she was holding. I had never seen her look at something in this way before.
"What is it Angel?" I asked concerned. Hello Mother Teresa again.
"I have this strange feeling."She said still looking at the snowglobe. I became even more concerned and took the globe out of her hands and examined it closely. Once all the snow had cleared I noticed that the city inside it was the same city we were from.
"This is our city." I said and looked at Angel. She nodded and then a smile spread across her face.
"Angel?" I said looking into her eyes.
"Max I think something wonderful is going to happen..." She said looking like a normal 7 year old when they see the room full of christmas presents. "It doesn't snow this much at home. Not where we live. What could be causing all that snow?"
"Sweetie, it's just a snowglobe. There is meant to be lots of snow." I began but she started shaking her head quickly.
"No Max. This is something wonderful." She started again. I stood up and put the snowglobe back in its place. Angel ran to get Jeb and for some strange reason, he actually brought it for her.
"Dylan came over and saw the strange look on my face. I told him what Angel has said and he shrugged it off.
"Kids will be kids." He laughed. Angel brought the snowglobe over to me and Dylan and Dylan held it in his hands. Angel seemed to really want Dylan to see it.
Dylan brought the snowglobe up to his face and examined it like I had done. He glared for a few seconds taking in every detail as though it were important. He brought it back down and gave it back to Angel.
"Interesting." He said and began to rub his chin. I had thoughts running through my mind like someone had spiked our food and our drinks when Angel's face returned to normal, as did Dylan's.
"Everything alright?" I asked wondering if they had been under some kind of spell. Anythings possible.
"Wierd." Dylan replied. I gave him a what does that mean look and he smiled.
"I think something wonderful is going to happen." He said and Angel nodded. "But I don't know what exactly." He finished. I was completely puzzled and decided weall leave and get some clean air.
Is that what the voice meant by everything is going to change?