Story: Steel Sapphires and Shattered Emeralds (chapter 4)

Authors: Stephanie

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Chapter 4

Steel Sapphires and Shattered Emeralds

Chapter 4 

Her head didn’t actually clear until they’d gotten through the door of her apartment. She turned to Sage as she closed the door, not sure what to say to get the ball rolling. Talking to Sage in her home was entirely different to talking her in the mortuary. “Do you want a cup of tea before we begin?” she tried.

“No, thank you,” said Sage, looking around briefly before adding, “I find that caffeine interferes with my concentration. I wouldn’t mind water or fruit juice if you have it.” 

“Uhhh sure…” Kayleigh rummaged in her cupboards for a second, “apple juice good for you?”

“Yes, thank you,” said Sage, accepting the glass of juice from Kayleigh, who then poured one for herself.

The two women drank in awkward silence for a moment before Kayleigh blushed and said “I’d better go and get changed, I’ll be with you in a minute. The lounge is just through there.” She pointed, and then half-sprinted to her bedroom. She felt slightly awkward leaving anyone, let alone Sage alone in her kitchen, but she needed to change into something suitable. Something that didn’t smell faintly of dead people.

Looking through her wardrobe, Kayleigh despaired. She had no suitable tops. She still had an old pair of cotton gym trousers and a good sports bra, but her last t-shirt had gone to rags over 6 months ago. Sighing, she grabbed a fresh shirt and hoped that it would do. She also tied her hair into a shorter plait, knowing that it would only get in the way otherwise. 

She found Sage still in the kitchen where she had left her and led her through into the lounge, where they quickly cleared a space in the centre. There wasn’t much to clear. Kayleigh’s apartment was somewhat Spartan.

They stood and looked at each other for a moment. Kayleigh struggled for something to say. “Should we warm up first?” she suggested. It had been a while since she’d done any serious exercise, as shown by the layer of dust covering her one exercise tape and the distinct lack of suitable clothing. She knew she’d have to warm up not to do herself an injury. 

“Yes. Sage said simply. She turned away from Kayleigh and began stretching, her body contorting further that Kayleigh thought possible. Momentarily distracted by the sight of such athletic beauty Kayleigh paused mid-stretch and found her mouth running away without her.

“Wow…” she said, “you’re as graceful as a…” Kayleigh’s brain caught up with her mouth and she panicked trying to find a suitable comparison. ‘As graceful as a… swan? Cat? Panther? Rattlesnake… Rattlesnake? Yeah, now that’s going to go down well now isn’t it,’ she thought desperately. ‘Quick, say something, she’s going to think you’re a fucking idiot…’ “Erm, graceful thing.” Kayleigh finished lamely. 

“Indeed.” Sage said quirking an eyebrow and smirking slightly, not quite smiling outright. “Lets begin. Shall we?”

First Sage showed Kayleigh how to fall and take her weight when she landed, reasoning that there was no use in teaching her to break someone’s grip if she injured herself falling over. Then, once she had mastered that, they moved on to the most basic methods of breaking someone’s hold. 

“Now, if someone tries to grab you, like this…” Sage demonstrated by grabbing Kayleigh tightly by the arm. Kayleigh almost missed the next thing Sage said, her mind focusing more on the tingle that was spreading from Sage’s hand towards her scalp. After a second, Sage’s voice shook her out of her trance. “Kayleigh? Are you paying attention?”

“Sorry, you what?” Kayleigh blinked and shook her head. Miraculously, her hair behaved itself. 

“I said are you ready to try and break my hold?” Sage asked, demonstrating again what Kayleigh needed to do.

“What… oh, yeah,” Kayleigh shook her head and concentrated. Sage stepped forward and grabbed Kayleigh by the arm again. Kayleigh stepped back slightly, to weaken Sage’s grip and pull her off balance, before finding the pressure spot in Sage’s wrist that made her fingers release. 

“Good.” Sage said warmly, “You used to be a dancer?”

“Gymnast actually, but that was a long time ago though, while I was still in school.” Kayleigh shrugged. “My fitness levels are nowhere near what they once were.” 

“Maybe not, but the muscle memory is still there. You are quite fast.” Said Sage. “That will be an advantage if you need to hit somebody before they hit you. Or if you need to get away from somebody.”

Sage continued to teach Kayleigh a selection of basic self-defence moves, some of which Kayleigh got first time, others of which ended up with her on the floor and swearing like a trooper. Throughout it all, Kayleigh managed to keep a tight leash on her hair, only having a few flashes of annoyance and embarrassment. As they practiced, Sage asked Kayleigh how she was feeling about the case. She found the conversation far easier when they had something else to focus on.  

“It’s getting to me I’ll admit. This psycho is so damned cold and personal; it makes me scared of what he’ll do next.” She managed to break Sage’s hold this time, and broke into the happy dance before realising that not only was she not alone but Sage was still standing there and not down on the ground where she was supposed to be at the end of that move.

After an hour of practise they came to a natural stopping point, with Sage promising to teach her more next time she was in town. Kayleigh was surprised at how much better she felt knowing a few basic moves. Still scared sure, but more prepared, just in case. 

“Fancy a bite to eat?” Kayleigh asked Sage, aware of the embarrassing growls from her stomach.

“That would be good,” Sage replied, adjusting her hair where it had come loose. 

“I’ve got a pizza, I hope that’s ok.” She said, and then remembered something. “Oh shite. I’ve only got one big plate, so we’re gonna have to share. If that’s a problem I can do something else, I think I’ve got two bowls and…”

“It won’t be a problem.” 

The pizza didn’t take long to cook, and soon they were sat on opposite sides of the kitchen table, plate between them, a cup of fruit tea each and both far more relaxed in each other’s company. This time, it was Sage that initiated the conversation. “So, why did you leave Ireland?” she asked.

“Home, southern Ireland, was nice but small. My family lived in a small town where if you weren’t related to someone, you knew someone that was. A small town where everyone knew everything within hours. When they found out I was a mutant, well it wasn’t a very friendly place. Mutants weren’t understood, just hated and feared. I was in school the first time,” she sighed slightly before continuing.

“Not a fun experience and nobody believed me when I told them that it changed all by itself until they saw it. It took about 8 weeks for it to go from changing every other day to it changing every time my emotions shifted.”

“It doesn’t change that often now.” Sage remarked, interrupted briefly.

“No, but mostly because I keep myself very distant and removed, and I’m no longer a volatile, hormonal adolescent. If I keep a lid on how I feel I can pretend that I’m a brunette. Fun really. It took me a while to learn. My parents were a great help though. First time I came home crying with my hair all black and grey Ma sat down with me and made me a headscarf. Nice long one too, so I could wrap my hair all the way down to my waist. I used to be really proud of my hair you know.”

“Do you resent it now?” Sage asked. Kayleigh had a suspicion that Sage was studying her, but let it drop. People had to have hobbies after all.

“Not really,” said Kayleigh, “people are predictable. They can only ever seem to find the same few insults, the same few ideas. It all just brushes off these days. Besides my hair actually takes good care of itself. Hurts like hell to cut, which is why I keep it so long, but I never seem to get split ends.”

“Did you try to cut it?” Sage asked.

Kayleigh nodded slowly. “They tried. I screamed and passed out, it hurt that much. I don’t quite understand it, but it’s mostly not a problem. Even now though, if I have it trimmed it takes a strong drink and some painkillers. Lucky for me I have a very understanding hairdresser. But it did mean that I had to quit gymnastics, I lost all hope of dating anyone and it didn’t do a lot for my father’s reputation.” She shook her head, slightly disgusted.

“He actually had to be checked to make sure he wasn’t a mutant too. I was lucky to not have been expelled from school. That in itself would have been enough to have him loose his job. He’s a magistrate, one of the most respected in the whole damn country, but anyone tries to throw him off balance, even now, they always use me. I guess for that, I resent it.”

“Does that hurt?” enquired Sage.

“What do you think?” snorted Kayleigh. “It was bad enough that he had to watch his friend’s kids throwing bricks at me, but having them question his judgement for not having disowned me?” she shook her head.

“Most of the kids from home didn’t go to university, or if they did they went to one that was close by. As soon as I could I went as far away as I dared. I was amazed. I’d hardly left my hometown for fear of it being worse elsewhere, but nobody even looked twice at me when I was wandering around the city centre or the university campus. I actually made some pretty good friends, though my best friends were all Americans. I dated at bit too, although it was spoiled somewhat that I didn’t have the guts to ask out any of the girls. I fought my sexuality for a long time. I still have… issues with it.”

“Because being a mutant was bad enough. Being a gay mutant probably would have got you killed?” Sage suggested.

“Yeah. That and no matter how hard I tried, my hair just doesn’t do the fucking pride flag.” They both laughed. “I picked here over England or somewhere equally liberal like Canada because I made some really good friends in university. I stayed here with them until I found my feet. My parents paid for the flight over. There was a media shitstorm about my dad ‘finally getting rid of me’ and all that, but he didn’t actually disown me, contrary to popular belief. We still talk. I even send him ships in bottles when I find them,” she pointed to a bottle on the kitchen side before continuing.

“He can’t understand how I do my job, and I don’t get why he still does his. I keep meaning to go home, but nobody there knows me any more. At least I had some friends once. Now their children will throw things at me. I’m better off here.” She stared into her teacup, realising that the orange liquid had cone cold without her even noticing. She looked at the kitchen clock and blushed scarlet again. “Jesus, it’s late, I’m sorry. That was one hell of a ramble. You must be tired.” Kayleigh babbled quickly. “You’re not used to doing nights and…”

“It’s all right. I find your story fascinating,” Sage said. “And I’m not that tired. I don’t tend to sleep much.”

“Oh.” Said Kayleigh. Having been stopped mid flow, it was hard to work out what to say next. “I’m all out of routine…” she managed to stammer, “normally, I’ve had a shower by now, and I should nearly be in bed… where are you staying tonight?”

“Bishop and I are booked into one of the hotels near the police station.” Sage replied, stifling a yawn. 

Kayleigh paused where she was rinsing the mugs and bit her lip, glancing at the morning sun streaming through the window. “Look,” she said, “it’s been a long day, and I’d be happier if you didn’t travel this morning. Even someone with a computer mind needs to shut down sometimes. I’ve got some spare bedding if you want to kip in the lounge for a while. That is, if Bishop won’t mind.”

“You’re right.” Said Sage, “I’m in no fit state to travel, and I’m sure Bishop won’t mind. I’ll take the couch. Thanks.” 

“You’d be better off on the floor. That couch is piece of shite, no matter how comfortable it looks.”

“Thank you for the advice.” Sage said, stifling another yawn 

“Are you sure he won’t mind?” Kayleigh asked, helping Sage pull the larger cushions off the couch.

“Why should he?” asked Sage, stopping to look at her. 

“Well, he is your partner. I mean, when you said that, you meant he was your boyfriend, right?”

Sage looked like she was a few seconds away from laughing out loud. “No. He is not my boyfriend. I mean partner purely in the sense of him being my work colleague and good friend. We work on cases together. We have separate hotel rooms.” Kayleigh nodded, since there was little she could say to that without making herself look stupid, and disappeared into her bedroom to find the aforesaid bedding. When she returned, Sage was rummaging through a small leather bag that she’d brought in from her bike. 

“I’m afraid it’s not much.” Kayleigh said, handing over the bedding.

“That’s ok. I’ve slept on worse.” 

Kayleigh bid Sage a good night and left her setting up her bed on the floor while she went to shower. Closing the door behind her she started to strip, throwing the clothes at the wash basket. Her hair had flared purple as soon as she’d closed the door and was confident she was alone. ‘Calm down girl, calm the fuck down.’ She thought to herself. ‘Just because she’s staying over doesn’t mean anything. You’re just being friendly.’

Hissing in frustration she got into the shower, once again having it cold to try to diffuse her frustration and knowing that she couldn’t do anything else this time. She didn’t dare with Sage in the apartment. 

Kayleigh slept fitfully that night, at least to start with. No matter how much you trust someone, the first time they sleep in the same place as you, you always wonder if they’re going to try and kill you in your sleep, and Kayleigh wasn’t used to having someone else around.

Once Kayleigh had woken up a dozen times to reassure herself there was no deadly woman in the shadows, she settled into a deeper sleep than she had for the past fortnight, only waking when her alarm screamed at her.

 Wandering groggily into the front room Kayleigh found it empty, except for a neatly stacked pile of bedding and a piece of note paper. There was no sign of Sage. She picked up the note and read it, a slight smile appearing.

‘Kayleigh,

Thank you very much for the bed.

You were right about me needing to sleep.

Sorry I left so early, but something came up.

You needed your sleep so I didn’t wake you.

I hope to see you again.

Sage.’

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