neck in the spot that she loved. ‘What happened?’
‘Just when Wilbur had built his energy up enough to begin the transfer, you flipped out. You started screaming, calling him the Devil and trying to rip your hands free. He managed to keep his grip on you while controlling his own transition; he showed incredible restraint. Then you blacked out, so we’ve got no idea whether the transfer worked or not. We decided to carry you back to the lodge to get you out of the rain, which decided to clear just after we set out anyway.’
Sophia turned tentatively to Wilbur, who was standing a respectful distance away. ‘I’m sorry to be so rude, Wilbur. You were only trying to help.’
‘No apology necessary,’ he replied. ‘It’s not the first time a woman has called me the Devil.’ He winked. ‘Besides, it’s me who should apologize. I knew the procedure would be traumatic; it was for the woman I watched before. But I decided not to tell you because I feared that you wouldn’t do it. I should’ve let you make an informed decision. But tell me, did it work? Are you stronger?’
Sophia stepped away from Van and made a mental scan of her body. Her head was clear, vision sharp. All trace of wobbliness was gone from her legs and arms. She felt charged with liveliness, like a bird in full flight. ‘I feel fantastic!’ she said joyously. ‘This is amazing! The only thing is…’ She looked down at the palms of her hands. They were scalded bright red, with tiny yellow blisters bubbling up around the edges. She showed them to the men, who shook their heads sympathetically.
‘I had no idea the heat would be intense enough to actually burn you,’ Van said.
But the injury didn’t dampen Sophia’s reaction. She threw her arms around Van and then, with only a second’s hesitation, around Wilbur as well. ‘I can’t thank you enough, Wilbur. You’ve changed the whole game.’
He chuckled and squeezed her. ‘This result is better than anything we could’ve hoped for.’ He waited until the hug was over before saying, ‘Remember, though; this is only temporary. It’ll only last a few days, a week at best. Then Van will inherit this new energy supply just as he has taken the rest of it.’
Sophia nodded solemnly, giving Van a reassuring look. ‘We’d better get on that plane then.’
Chapter 15
Wilbur’s private jet was sleek, sophisticated and quite simply everything that Sophia imagined it would be. It seemed to sit like a beautiful white eagle, waiting to take flight, while the small party crossed the tarmac. The sun had come out and warmed Sophia’s back as she climbed the steps in front of Van and Wilbur. She noted that even the steel rail beneath her bandaged hands was perfectly shiny. The interior was completely cream aside from sophisticated touches of grey in the edging of the seats and the plump cushions. Sophia removed her shoes, even though Wilbur insisted that she needn’t bother. It didn’t seem right to walk on pristine cream carpet in her old travelling shoes.
There were eight chairs, each as large and comfortable as a lounge chair at home, and at the far end of the cabin Sophia could spy a double bed, complete with cream comforter and fluffy pillows. All of their bags and equipment were already stowed in the baggage area below. An air hostess with a French accent who was as neat as a pin welcomed them aboard. She served glasses of sparkling water and tiny filled croissants while they waited for the pilot and co-pilot to complete their preparations. It was way past lunchtime and Sophia ate her little canapés with gusto, hoping that there were more culinary treats in store during the two hour long flight.
Her prayers were answered in the air a short while later when the petite hostess spread napkins across their laps and presented exquisite meals according to their preferences. Both Wilbur and Van selected the Colorado lamb chop, glazed with honey
‘Just when Wilbur had built his energy up enough to begin the transfer, you flipped out. You started screaming, calling him the Devil and trying to rip your hands free. He managed to keep his grip on you while controlling his own transition; he showed incredible restraint. Then you blacked out, so we’ve got no idea whether the transfer worked or not. We decided to carry you back to the lodge to get you out of the rain, which decided to clear just after we set out anyway.’
Sophia turned tentatively to Wilbur, who was standing a respectful distance away. ‘I’m sorry to be so rude, Wilbur. You were only trying to help.’
‘No apology necessary,’ he replied. ‘It’s not the first time a woman has called me the Devil.’ He winked. ‘Besides, it’s me who should apologize. I knew the procedure would be traumatic; it was for the woman I watched before. But I decided not to tell you because I feared that you wouldn’t do it. I should’ve let you make an informed decision. But tell me, did it work? Are you stronger?’
Sophia stepped away from Van and made a mental scan of her body. Her head was clear, vision sharp. All trace of wobbliness was gone from her legs and arms. She felt charged with liveliness, like a bird in full flight. ‘I feel fantastic!’ she said joyously. ‘This is amazing! The only thing is…’ She looked down at the palms of her hands. They were scalded bright red, with tiny yellow blisters bubbling up around the edges. She showed them to the men, who shook their heads sympathetically.
‘I had no idea the heat would be intense enough to actually burn you,’ Van said.
But the injury didn’t dampen Sophia’s reaction. She threw her arms around Van and then, with only a second’s hesitation, around Wilbur as well. ‘I can’t thank you enough, Wilbur. You’ve changed the whole game.’
He chuckled and squeezed her. ‘This result is better than anything we could’ve hoped for.’ He waited until the hug was over before saying, ‘Remember, though; this is only temporary. It’ll only last a few days, a week at best. Then Van will inherit this new energy supply just as he has taken the rest of it.’
Sophia nodded solemnly, giving Van a reassuring look. ‘We’d better get on that plane then.’
Chapter 15
Wilbur’s private jet was sleek, sophisticated and quite simply everything that Sophia imagined it would be. It seemed to sit like a beautiful white eagle, waiting to take flight, while the small party crossed the tarmac. The sun had come out and warmed Sophia’s back as she climbed the steps in front of Van and Wilbur. She noted that even the steel rail beneath her bandaged hands was perfectly shiny. The interior was completely cream aside from sophisticated touches of grey in the edging of the seats and the plump cushions. Sophia removed her shoes, even though Wilbur insisted that she needn’t bother. It didn’t seem right to walk on pristine cream carpet in her old travelling shoes.
There were eight chairs, each as large and comfortable as a lounge chair at home, and at the far end of the cabin Sophia could spy a double bed, complete with cream comforter and fluffy pillows. All of their bags and equipment were already stowed in the baggage area below. An air hostess with a French accent who was as neat as a pin welcomed them aboard. She served glasses of sparkling water and tiny filled croissants while they waited for the pilot and co-pilot to complete their preparations. It was way past lunchtime and Sophia ate her little canapés with gusto, hoping that there were more culinary treats in store during the two hour long flight.
Her prayers were answered in the air a short while later when the petite hostess spread napkins across their laps and presented exquisite meals according to their preferences. Both Wilbur and Van selected the Colorado lamb chop, glazed with honey
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