Scientific Fantasies (Wattys2015)

Chapter Twenty

It was very close to midnight as she hurried up the stairs from the flight room. She knew that she was nearly late, but she hadn't wanted to rouse the suspicions of the other scientists. Her breath catching in her throat, she opened the door to the roof, shutting it silently behind her, and raked her eyes over the roof. She didn't know if he would be here, or if he would have given up, but she knew she wouldn't leave.

Carefully, hoping that he wouldn't scare her, she walked forward to the railing, staring out over the buildings sprawled below her. It never failed to amaze her that they'd never been found.

"You came."

She yelped in shock, spinning with a hand flying to her chest. He was standing next to the door, watching her evenly. She let out a long shuddering breath, trying to calm herself.

"Yes."

He didn't move for a moment, like he was waiting to see what she'd do, but she just stared back at him, already wishing for another coffee. She'd had too many shocks over the past few days. At last, he sighed, and came forwards. She could see the blindfold hanging from his hand, but didn't protest when he tied it tightly around her eyes. She held the bag tightly as he swept her off her feet, the now familiar sensation of her stomach dropping away no longer unnerving her.

Neither of them spoke until he nearly dropped her on the cave ground. She grunted as her sensitive shoulder, still not quite healed from dislocating it, hit the rock hard, and she began to pull off the blindfold. His hand gripped hers, though, and she froze.

"Come."

She swallowed, following him as he almost dragged her to her feet, pulling her through what she guessed were the tunnels. She stumbled often, but he didn't slow down, and she had to wonder what his hurry was. Finally, though, he stopped, and she sank to her knees, fumbling for the blindfold. This time, he didn't stop her, and she found that she was in the main cave, the moon brightening it enough to see.

He wasn't near her anymore, and she turned her head, searching for him. She finally picked out his silhouette near the female's corner, crouched, one hand outstretched, and she knew that he was talking to the girl. Deciding not to interfere, Natalia turned her attention to her bag, which she'd dropped to the ground, and pulled it towards her. She didn't open it, though, preferring to wait until she spoke with them. She wasn't even sure she would be doing anything now.

Light footsteps made her look up, and she met black eyes. She swallowed at the expression in them, cringing back against the rock wall. He crouched near her, gently pulling the girl over to sit next to him.

"It's alright," he murmured, and Natalia's eyes widened at the gentleness in his voice. "She needs to do this, Bella. You know why."

She was shaking, clinging to his arm. Natalia dropped her gaze, not daring to say anything. But she knew the girl's name now.

"I won't let her hurt you," he promised. "It's okay, honey. And after this, you'll have a home to go to. I promise you'll be safe."

Bella's clear green eyes were full of trust as she gazed up at him.

He nodded, brushing her hair away from her face. "I promise. It's okay, honey."

Finally, she nodded, and curled on his lap, turning her back to the scientist and letting her soft wings go limp. Natalia hesitated, catching the stern glare from him.

"Do it," he said quietly, but she heard the steel in his voice. If she did anything wrong, he would know.

She took a deep breath, and opened the bag. When she spoke, she spoke softly, hoping that she wouldn't frighten the young girl. "I have to clip some of your feathers, Bella," she said. "So I can get to the scar. I'll try not to hurt you."