Gail had not been wrong in thinking her family had already gotten the authorities involved. In fact, her mother had been quite quick in alerting the police after Gail's boss had informed her that her daughter hadn't shown up for work on the previous Monday. That had been three days after her capture the preceding Friday. Honestly, it was one more reason to hang tight where she was. She was quite certain she had burned a bridge with her previous job now that she was going with the narrative that she had just…left. THAT would be hard to explain away.
But despite the clear worry, stress, and anger she had caused her mother, she had been, more than anything, relieved to hear that her daughter was safe, well, and taken care of. That certainly helped in convincing her that she had merely left in a hurry and previous attempts at contacting anyone had fallen through. It was a farfetched story, but not entirely impossible and so was just believable enough.
Now, she was growing somewhat accustomed to life in the castle. The zealots and servants had become background noise, blending in the right along with the ancient statues and shrewd oil paintings that surrounded her.
And meals with Ramon were an everyday occurrence, with a midday meeting when he would be caught up on current progress, often giving her an errand or two to run, where she would usually be paired with Pesanta or on a couple of occasions Isidro. She became surprisingly accustomed to both their presences too. She was even getting better at understanding their body language and what some of the noises they made meant.
Ramon was growing used to the new schedule as well, and though they would have their disagreements, he was happy to have the company. Certainly, he continued to be wary of Gail's true intentions and aware that she was secretive about her true origins, but he couldn't help but wish for the best possible outcome. He truly was quite fond of her.
It had been over two weeks now since Lord Saddler had put her in his care, and if all went according to plan, he would have two fully functioning and fully refurbished rail systems by the end of the day. He had already taken the time to plan several more future projects for her so long as Lord Saddler allowed him to keep her.
He thanked her skill again as the cart whisked him quite smoothly and quickly to the audience hall. He honestly did not miss all the walking.
As the tram ground to a halt, he was shaken from his thoughts by the echo of a strange sound in a nearby room. A sort of… buzzing, perhaps? Surely the Novistadors hadn't escaped from the sewer… What in hell's bells WAS that?
It grew a bit louder as he entered the audience hall, now sounding more like a loud, metallic racket, and he was met with a sight that might have struck him as funny if he weren't so baffled already. Several zealots paced back and forth near the stairway that lead to the other rail system, coming in and out, clearly confused by the sound, desperate to find a solution but clueless as to where to even start.
He neared the corridor to the stairs, watching the rabble run back and forth past each other, the ones at the top standing at the closed door looking very much like a flock of curious birds.
Ramon sighed. Sometimes he wished the lower plagas would allow their hosts a SLIGHT bit more sense. As he pushed past them up the stairs, the noise DID leave an irritating tingle in the vicinity of his own plaga, as if it had been rattled around in his chest. That was probably what had them so agitated.
He growled, "Out of the way!" shoving the zealot that blocked him from the door for it to stumble clumsily out of its superior's path.
It wasn't until after Ramon had opened the door that he could tell that what sounded to his ears like cacophony was actually music. Music that his new engineer was swaying enthusiastically to.
"Something's wrong! Shut the light!
Heavy thoughts tonight, and they aren't of Snow White!"
A large radio sat in the chair just his side of the tracks, the main source of the clamor, and as loud as the screaming voice coming out of it was, she was belting just as audibly.
"Dreams of war! Dreams of liars!
Dreams of dragon's fire and of things that will bite! YEAH!!"
Ramon beheld the display as she continued to do what he could only describe as scream-sing. Then in a twirling motion, she moved from the overturned cart she was working on to the open panel of cogs to continue to scream into the small metallic chamber, her voice echoing quite effectively. He covered his ears as the blaring racket from the speaker crescendoed.
"Eeeexiiit light! Eeeenteer niiight!"
"Gail!"
"Taaaake my haaand!"
"GAIL!"
"We're off to never never land!"
"GAAAIIIL!!!"
She finally turned on her heal with a start, standing straight as a board and the color draining from her face as she realized he had been there for who knew how long. She quickly extended a finger to press pause on the machine next to her.
"Uh…heh! Hello, Ramon."
"¡Oye! What in the hell is that ridiculous caterwaul?! You've got half the ganados in the castle running around like decapitated hens!"
"Oh! Shit! …sorry!" The barely concealed laughter in her voice didn't go unnoticed, and his mouth twitched as he tried to cover his own mirth as the ridiculousness of the situation was finally catching up to him.
The two stood awkwardly for several seconds before Gail was the first to snort with an eruption of laughter, and it was impossible for Ramon not to sputter with an uncontrollable cackle as well. Several seconds of belly laughs had the gasping for breath before finally being able to calm themselves.
"Leave it to you to enjoy music that sounds like a million dying souls…"
"Just one dying soul, I'm afraid," she shrugged sheepishly, wiping a tear from her eye with a stray titter, "I thought it fit the dark castle vibe pretty well."
Ramon came to rest a hand atop the rather impressive stereo system, "And where did you get this?"
"Pretty nice, idn' it? Merchant found that for me!" She rested herself against the railing next to them, "I just asked for a radio, but he really outdid himself. Got ahold of some CDs for me, too," she pointed to the pile on the adjacent chair against the wall.
"Are they all…" he eyed the radio, "…like that?"
Gail scoffed, "If you mean awesome, then yes!"
Ramon smirked, "Perhaps you should ask the merchant to look for a set of headphones."
She sighed dramatically, "There's gotta be SOMETHING you would like ok," she snatched one of the plastic cases, "Rammstein, maybe." She held it up to show him an image that looked like a man's, most likely, severed head.
"Mm! Charming…"
She grinned, "So!" she slammed the wall panel shut and closed the latch, "Wanna see if I've made this one even faster than the first one?"
"Absolutamente!" Ramon held out an arm, and she mocked a curtsy before wrapping hers around his.
The ride was both swift and smooth, of which Gail was quite proud. "You should have me build you a roller coaster!" She followed him as they exited the cart and made for the double doors.
"Oh, I've already got one! …of sorts… There's an extensive mine railway beneath the castle grounds."
Her eyes brightened, "ANOTHER thing you've still gotta show me!"
He shrugged, "Perhaps…if you remain here for long."
Gail examined the portraits that covered the walls, "Damn! How much of this castle have I STILL not seen?"
Ramon chuckled lightly, "Quite a bit," he stood next to her, observing the paintings as well, "You will most certainly see it all, should you stay for a time," he glanced up at her, "All eighty-two acres…"
Gail snapped her head toward him, to gawk for a moment, "Eighty-two ACRES?!"
"Indeed!" He bounced proudly on his heals, "And that is only the expanse of the structure. The grounds continue to the village and along the coast."
"Christ! The Queen of England wishes she COULD!"
"I am sure she DOES."
She flashed a crooked smile, "Well…hopefully all that can wait till after dinner? About time I should be getting ready."
Ramon gave a light bow of his head, "Certainly! I also have a surprise for you."
Gail's jaw dropped slightly, "For real?"
He chuckled, "For real."
"Well, let's hurry, then!" she softly nudged his shoulder, "It's not my new project, is it? Not that I'm not excited about it…"
"I should like to discuss that as well, but no," he opened the doors again back to the tram, "This is a small gift for a job well done."
"Nice!" She opened the swinging door of the cart to let them in, and they made a markedly speedy journey back to the courtyard.
~*~*~*~
Gail had managed to find a few outfits that she had liked and rotated through each evening, but tonight, she wore the bodice-coat combo she had worn on their first dinner. It was still her favorite.
Ramon gave her a once over as she walked to the head table where he stood beside his chair, "You do wear royalty well."
She grinned with a muffled snort, "Well ENOUGH, I guess…" she sat herself and scooted into the table, "Sooo…?"
Ramon chuckled before snapping his fingers. Isidro stepped forward baring a heavily embellished, silver pitcher, which Ramon took and came to fill her wine glass with. The heavily fruited red wine mixture swirled and glistened.
She gasped, "Sangria?!"
He smirked, "Have a taste and tell me it isn't the best you've had in your life."
"With those strawberries?! I already know it will be!"
He sat the pitcher next to her and seated himself, raising his glass of wine, "To our first success!"
She smiled and raised her own, "And many more, Lord Saddler willin'." She took a sip and swooned, "Oh my GOD, this is perfect! Thank you!"
"You have MORE than earned it," he sipped his own wine, "If I had five more like you, I could have this castle looking like new in a week or two."
"Maybe you could get Saddler to put some of his researchers on cloning," she took another long swig of sangria before turning to her meal, "But I wouldn't wanna unleash another five of me upon the world."
"It would be better for it, I'm certain," he nodded.
She smiled warmly, "Well that's sweet of you to say."
It wasn't long at all before Gail found herself pouring herself another glass. Surely the occasion called for a bit of indulgence. "So, what's my next project?"
Ramon looked up from the steak he was cutting with a simper, "Eager for more work already?"
"I'm just wondering what kind of contraption you're gonna surprise me with next," she motioned toward him with her fork.
"In that case…perhaps you would be interested in making some minor repairs in the fire chamber."
"Finally! I'd been working right next to it for almost a week and still haven't seen it!"
"Now is your chance! Oh!" He gave a wag of his finger, "And I would also like you to try something for me. A test of your skill, if you'd like…"
She raised a curious eyebrow, "I never puss out on a challenge…lay it on me!"
"Saddler's mine workers have need of a drill. A BIG one. I think it is quite within your capabilities to build us one."
She gave a determined nod, "We'll sure as hell find out!"
Ramon smiled as he watched her refill her glass a second time. She was by nature a friendly and chipper person, but he could tell she was becoming just slightly more excitable…more loose-tongued. Absolutely, the sangria had been a reward, but what would the harm be if he were to use her lowered guard to get her to finally spill the beans about herself.
"You have quite surprised me at every turn, Gail," he grazed a navy fingernail around the brim of his wineglass, "Not only are you a genius engineer, you are…rather gifted in many areas."
Her eyes brightened, before becoming half-lidded, "Yeah? In what areas?"
"Where to START?" he made certain to lay on the charm, "You certainly bare a…unique physicality. One that I would imagine is coveted by many."
She rested her chin in her palm, swirling her glass around in her other hand with a smile, "Care to be…specific?"
"Specifically…like how you lifted the entire front end of a two thousand pound rail cart with hardly an ounce of effort."
"Oh!" She straightened up a bit, "Ok, uh…honestly…THOUGHT you were gonna tell me I had nice boobs or something like that, but…" She didn't take much notice as Ramon's eyes bulged for a moment and his mouth became a straight line. "But, YEAH! Yeah, I've always been stronger than most. Probably should have played some kind of sport and gotten a scholarship, but I was never interested. Not other than a bit of recreational soccer for a few seasons. I MUCH prefer making things. Ya know I can also sew? Pretty good at drawing, too; helps a lot in the planning process of a lot of things."
Ramon had regained his sly gaze, "Do you remember how you found these abilities, Gail?"
Her own gaze darted to his, and a wash of something not at all pleasant slowly melted her smile away. Her hands dropped to her lap as she fidgeted, eyes drooping to look to her right. "I-I don't…" she shook her head, "I dunno, it's kind of fuzzy."
He eyed her for a moment, not in a pressing way, but in observation. Her expression was not of a person trying to remember. On the contrary, it was of someone who remembered quite well.
"I know the look of a troubled past quite well, Gail; I see it in the mirror every day," he tilted his head, the hand on the table nearest her edging subconsciously closer, "I told you of my past; trust me with yours."
She wasn't nearly drunk enough to not see what he was trying to do, but she knew she WAS drunk enough that she should think long and hard about what she said next. Why keep it from him, though? Saddler already knew. What would be the difference if Ramon knew? Perhaps she was keeping it from him to avoid some unforeseen consequences. She wanted to trust him. She DID trust him to an extent, though there was the constant fear that perhaps she shouldn't.
She glanced back up at him, their eyes meeting, and in his, she saw something that she never thought she would see. Patience. She WANTED to trust him…REALLY WANTED to.
She closed her eyes for several seconds, before exhaling, and opening them again.
"I've been implanted with a cadou."
Spanish translation:
Absolutamente - absolutely