Chapter 96 - New security

I went straight for a shower, I was surprised to find that Demos had washed the large T-shirt I was wearing last night and it already dried. He folded the laundry on the neatly done bed. I unwrapped my towel and pulled the shirt over my head messing up my hair. It was already 8 PM when we got here. So getting ready for bed was only natural. It's not like there were any clubs around here. Not that I was a party addict, quite the contrary.

"Are you done?" called Grant from the other room. They did mention that they were installing security or something when I stepped into the bathroom. I hang my wet towel on the new washing line outside. The air was chilled and refreshing. I took deep breaths while gazing at the myriad of stars. From the city flooded with neons, it was hard to admire the beauty of the night sky.

"Liliane," whispered Grant behind me.

"I want to stay here, I'm a little tired of all the blinding artificial lights," he slipped his arms around my waist and I leaned against him. "There's a terrible migraine brewing at the back of my skull," I sighed.

"It was a long day," his voice low against my hair. "You did great, I'm really proud of you," he pulled me closer and kissed my temple. I looked up at him, his eyes were glowing. Was he using his power?

"Hey, I don't want you to misuse your energy. I just need to sleep it off," he inhaled. Was he sniffing my hair? I chuckled.

"What are you doing?"

"Recording memories," he smiled. Footsteps caught our attention. We both turned and found Demos glaring from the doorway with his hands on his h.i.p.s.

"Here I am, working my ass to get dinner ready and waiting like an idiot when both of you are creating memories," we laughed and hurried inside before flames burst out of his nostrils.

"Sorry," I mumbled when he stepped aside to let us in. "So, what's for dinner?" I changed the subject to get him in a better mood. He pursed his lips not buying it.

"I tried fried chicken with a salad," my eyes widened.

"Real chicken?" Grant laughed at my question.

"What's the difference? Doesn't they taste the same?" he tossed over his shoulder as we head to the kitchen. I wouldn't be able to tell real chicken from the fake ones. Since everything here on this island seemed so high class. I'd hope to actually taste real meat. Maybe those famous scientists ate other things from us commoners. But I guess that was too much to ask for.

"Are you developing a taste for luxury?" teased Demos. I smirked at him as I perched myself on the high chair.

"You should have seen that buffet at the cafeteria. Those desserts were exquisite," my stomach rumbled just thinking about it. They both laughed at my passion for food. I like to eat, sue me. When Demos placed dinner in front of me, my appetite rushed back. Tasting each mouthful like it was my last meal.

"It's delicious?" I said between bites. They both watched me appreciate my food with fascination. Having people staring at me while I eat could be bothersome, however, I knew they were only curious.

"How does it taste? Like real chicken?" asked Demos leaning his elbow on the bar.

"That's a difficult one," I pushed my empty plate aside. "Well, I've worked for SolTec for years and they make premium fakes. I don't think I've ever tasted real chicken at all. But then I wonder if everything I've ever eaten tastes like the real thing," they nodded at me as if they related. I laughed and nearly fell off my chair. Demos caught me by the arm. It didn't stop my hysterical outburst.

"What's so funny?" asked Grant.

"The facts that you think you relate," I smiled.

"Humans have the strangest sense of humor," Demos tilted his head to the side to study my face. I shifted on my seat then turned to Grant.

"You said earlier that we needed to talk, right?" he walked to the living room and switched off the rooter and the main electricity switch. It instantly plunged the room into darkness.

"What's going on?" he came back to the kitchen.

"I've checked the house for spies and found one in the living room. We took care of it," said Demos, I instinctively covered my mouth with my hand. In utter shock.

"You mean, someone was recording us? Who?" then my previous night with Grant flashed. My body went cold. "W-was there one in the room?" in the gloom I only saw their silhouettes. Still, I knew exactly who was speaking.

"No, but I should have checked. It was careless from my part," Demos went on. I was trembling, how could something like that happen in our own house. A place I thought was safe. What if they saw us together? What if they recorded everything? Can I even step out of this place again? Will they look at me funny from now on? My heart raced and my stomach twisted in a knot.

-Liliane, stay with us.

"I-I need a glass of water," Grant hurried to the cupboard and filled a mug in the darkness. the mugs cling followed by gushing water. He came back an I felt his hand guiding mine over the drink. I tried to wash the sick feeling but it didn't completely go away. Grant lifted his hand and a screen hovered before him. He scrolled through a compact wall of codes and tapped so rapidly I couldn't follow his movements.

"We've installed a new security system," he said as I placed the mug back on the bar with trembling hands. A bright figure materialized over the bar surface. A doll size girl with blond hair in a shiny dress, I peered at it in awe. "This is Jil 2.0," the light from the bright girl reflected on Grant and Demos. Both grinned at me. "From now on, she will run the security around our home, making sure Atlas or whoever was behind the spy device never do it again," the girl blinked and turned to Grant with a smile. Her blue eyes sparkled with glee.

"Hello," she greeted him and shifted to Demos and finally me. "You look familiar," she pointed at me. I've got to admit I wasn't ecstatic about having Jil at home 24/7.

"How did you...?" my voice trailed off. Grant placed his palm on the counter and Jil 2.0 stepped in it.

"While you were having lunch, Olga helped me retrieved the data from a stick drive Nicolai gave me. It was incomplete. But we were able to save most of her core data," he smiled at the tiny figure.

"But...will she have access to our room? I don't want her to peek when I'm taking a shower," I said. Jil turned to me with a frown.

"Lady, I have no interest in those things," she crossed her arms over her chest and turned her back to me. "I am here to run this castle and defend it from intruders. What you do in your private quarters is up to you," she stuck her tongue out mockingly. Demos chuckled.

"I like her," he poked her with his index. It went through her holographic image.

"Ouch!" she screamed and jumped to the side. "Get your paws off me," she scolded. Yeah, I kind of like her too. Demos' grin widened like he just found a new toy.

"She's cute. She looks like a pixie without wings," I leaned over the counter. Jil faced Grant and climbed along his arm to perched herself on his shoulder.

"Master, should I run a full scan for eventual threats?" I rose my eyebrows at her. Master?

"You should protect Demos when we are not home. And block all data leakage when we go to sleep. I want the rooter and the TV off. Every device that communicates among themselves, I want all interaction scanned and blocked. You are now the admin of the house. I've followed Olga's instructions and cut it off the complex's grid," Jil nodded at the instructions. It was a strange sight.

"Mm, what about us?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" he turned back to me.

"We still, have to face Atlas at work," Grant sighed.

"You just do as Olga instructs you. She knows what she is doing," he commented. That wasn't the point. What about our security? I didn't feel safe around lying Dr. Churchhill and that spying AI. Just earlier we had guns aiming at us. This place was definitely not safe.

"Jil, switch on the lights, put the house on lockdown for the night," the tiny girl nodded and hopped off his shoulder. The lights immediately came back on. I blinked to adjust to the brightness. All the devices of the house hummed back to life. It was a strange sensation.

"I don't want to watch TV," I got off my seat. My migraine was still lurking in the background. I massaged the space between my eyes. Then I remembered I left my glasses in the bathroom.

"What about, me reading you a book," suggested Demos. Grant's face lit up.

"It's been a while. What will you read?" he hopped to the bedroom eager for him to start. Here was my Grant. The cheerful one. We made our way to the room and the moment we left the living room all the lights went out and the one in the room lit up. Smart. Grant took a quick shower then came to join us wearing only his boxer. He had washed his clothing and left it to dry outside. We settled in bed, Grant on the left and Demos on the right with me in the middle. That was not our usual sleeping order. Demos had always taken the left and Grant the right.

Demos browser through his downloaded library. I recognized some books from my own library. So he was reading what I have purchased. It feels a little intimate that someone else goes through your books. It connects us in a weird way, and find that we can talk more easily. It creates a bridge where minds can cross. Exchange experiences and feelings.

"What genre do you want to read? Thriller, action, sci-fi or romance?" I turned to Grant who was bouncing with joy.

"Fantasy!" he shouted, it made me giggle. He was like a little kid.