BAY #2
We move into a side hall backstage.
"I don’t know, but I had two smaller ops lately," Ennio says in a low voice, glancing around to make sure no one can hear.
"And both of them failed," he adds under his breath. "Anzo insists that Moon is a seer and that he helped him predict the setbacks. And… in fact, I lost one of my loyal soldiers because of it. It never happened before. It’s a miracle Rocco didn’t grab him and interrogate him, because I’d be in deep shit," he mutters, jaw tightening.
"So I’m willing to believe Moon actually has some kind of prophetic talent. Despite being a junkie."
I stare at him, surprised.
"But our last two ops were successful," I murmur.
"Exactly, the ones with you were. And the ones without you weren’t. Did you not hear what he was screaming? That you’re blocking his visions."
"Ennio, you cannot be serious. You really believe any of that nonsense? It didn’t sound normal at all."
Ennio snorts. "Didn’t you tell me your own brother has something like that? Snow?"
My jaw tightens as irritation flares.
"Well, yeah, at least that’s what my dad claims," I admit hesitantly, rubbing my chin as a thought flashes through my mind. "But you know… it’s interesting. Snow never predicted anything for me, though he did for other family members. Maybe I’m blocking him too."
Ennio gives me a crooked little grin. "Maybe it’s a kind of immunity to seers that you developed organically. Almost like an allergy to the sibling."
His tone is half joking, so I just let out a heavy sigh and shrug. "Still, the guy sounded completely delirious. The screaming, the strange trance."
"Yeah, maybe. But what came first? His skills or his addiction?"
The question goes unanswered. He sighs deeply.
"I’m just being cautious, you know. You can’t rule anything out. In my line of work, that’s basic survival," Ennio speaks slowly, emphasizing each word.
"What if his visions show him you, a man behind the sabotage?"
Ennio smirks. "Well, that’s why I’ll be taking you on all of my ops." He shows his teeth in a cold, sarcastic way. But the amusement does not last. With Ennio, it usually fades in a matter of seconds. He turns his face away from me. "I won’t risk more of my people."
I watch him for a moment. He’s staring at the glowing tip of his vape, jaw locked. Well, I’m not going to lecture him. It’s his business. But losing one of his loyal soldiers must have hit him hard. Ennio believes in loyalty and cares about his subordinates’ safety.
"One thing, though. Moon is pretty strong for an omega," I mutter.
"Yeah. That’s part of it. He’s actually a rose omega, hence I’m a bit more inclined to believe in his supernatural skills. They’re known for that."
I freeze, staring at him. That changes a lot.
Rose omegas are the counterparts of purple alphas, and indeed, there’s a lot of talk that they have unusual abilities.
It’s actually scientifically proven. They’re stronger than ordinary omegas, with resilient bones similar to those of purple alphas, among other interesting differences.
"So, I want you on the next op. Because it really did look like whatever we did with you in the team, Moon couldn’t see it," Ennio finally says.
I hesitate, thinking it over. Ennio seems to take this ‘blocking’ seriously. Maybe I should too? He’s got good instincts.
"But if I’m blocking the future, why all that screaming about ‘saving us’?"
Ennio shrugs.
"No idea. But who knows, maybe he can sense things about someone’s nature or original purpose, but that doesn’t mean he can actually see what will happen or when. He seemed to be straining to see it, but he was only scraping the surface."
I roll my eyes and let out an unimpressed breath.
"That’s so vague. Whatever. True, I’ve been called a fallen angel before, but forgive me if I find it hard to believe that I’m here to ‘save you all’.
This whole thing is seriously weird. I know there are different kinds of strange abilities out there, but that guy just looked high out of his mind. "
"Because he is. I know Anzo gives him something that’s supposed to boost his visions, but I don’t know how well it works. I don’t think he’s found the perfect dose yet, because Moon is all over the place."
I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. I stare at him, he kind of avoids my gaze. Ennio is usually so grounded. Maybe something really is up?
"Well, that would be so otherworldly if he were the real deal." I sigh. "I just hope that, in that case, we won’t walk straight into some trap because of him."
Ennio takes another drag. "Well, if he wants us ‘all to be saved’, he should keep his mouth shut," he says, giving me a meaningful look.
I sigh again and take a slow drag from my vape. We smoke for a few aimless minutes, standing there in the hallway while I let my mind go quiet.
Silence fills me. My constant companion. The only thing that takes me in, the only cushion where I can rest my head.
I close my eyes and let myself drift into it.
The hallway drifts away, the worries lift.
At the edge of my vision, a sweet, beautiful face flickers into view, fair in the darkness, wide eyes staring at me like amethyst gems. Unsure, questioning, utterly beautiful. I drown in them for a while.
And then the silence takes that image too.