Un2talented (Book 3 of the Un2 Series)

“Follow me, uh, freezer dude,” Mikey waved on the shivering hulk.

“Leslie,” he replied.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m Leslie. My companion is named Gary.”

“Gary is kind of an unusual name for a dog.”

Gary barked.

“He seems to disagree,” Cadence laughed. “I’m Cadence, and this is Mikey.”

Mikey mimed tipping his cap as he walked somewhat sideways down the hallway, speaking over his shoulder to the trio of man, woman, and dog as he led them away from the kitchen. “This used to be a passage the kitchen help used when they brought food to parties in the ballroom, back when it still was a ballroom. Now it’s just a shortcut to the aviary.”

“Aviary?” Leslie questioned, “As in a big room full of birds?”

“Yep.”

“Uh, Mike, do you think it’s wise to lead a dog to a great big room full of birds?”

“Everything will be fine, won’t it Gary?” Mikey suggested rather than asked. Gary wagged his tail with a bit more vigor in response.

The temperature within the hallway rose with each step they took away from the kitchen and closer to the pair of carved walnut doors ahead of them. Mikey swiped his employee ID through the touchpad and the doors unlocked and opened enough to allow a shaft of amber light to pierce the hall. A warm breeze snuck in as Gary pushed his way into the aviary with great anticipation.

The ceiling changed from coffered walnut to a dome of Tiffany stained glass as the hallway emptied into the great room. An immense Phoenix formed from shards of honey and crimson circled overhead. The mid-morning sun struck the dome, projecting the blazing tail feathers onto the polished marble floor giving the illusion of flames dancing at one’s feet. Lush foliage surrounding a waterfall that emptied into a crystal-clear pool sat beneath the center of the dome.

Mikey ushered the group to a curved stone bench at the edge of the pool and urged them to take a seat. The moist heat felt like heaven to Leslie. He stretched and rubbed his upper arms.

At the edge of the oasis, several peacocks appeared, curious about the guests visiting their habitat. The mosaic of reds and yellows cast from the dome above splashed over the birds like camouflage. Gary sprang towards the creatures that, surprisingly, weren’t phased by the dog at all. They sidestepped his advance as he slid past them across the slick, smooth floor. He slowly slid to a stop a dozen feet beyond his prey. He turned and scrutinized the boring birds, disappointed that didn’t want to play.

“These are quite rare indeed. They are the last of their kind.” Mikey motioned toward the peafowl.

“I didn’t know peacocks were endangered,” Cadence replied.

“These aren’t peacocks. They are so much more than peacocks.”

Mikey walked toward the birds and squatted closer to the ground. Cupping his hands around his mouth he produced a low cooing sound. One of the birds turned towards the threesome and cocked its head slightly. Mikey called again. The fowl slowly moved forward, towing its massive tail feathers. As it drew closer, it became apparent that this indeed was not a peacock. Most of the bird’s body was covered in tiny red feathers packed so dense it looked like it had been formed from red velvet cake. Iridescent teal feathers coated the throat and belly running between the bird’s legs and continuing across the underside of the tail. They reflected off of the polished floor, creating the illusion that the animal was hovering on a bed of light. The bird stopped inches away from the threesome and preened its wing. Mikey reached for the creature and it nested its head into his outstretched hand.

“Come here, pet him.” He nodded to Cadence.

Quietly, tentatively, she touched the crown on the bird’s head. It was hot to the touch. The bird ruffled its feathers and fanned its majestic tail. A swirl of hot air puffed across Cadence’s face. The eye-like patterns across the plumes of the tail seemed to twist and flicker.

“Mr. DeLeon claims that these are direct descendants of the legendary Phoenix. The only ones left on the planet.

“They aren’t actually Phoenix, are they?”

“Only half,” Mikey chuckled. “They’re half Phoenix and half peacock if you want to believe such nonsense. DeLeon calls them Pheacocks. He says that his ancestors brought a flock of peacocks as an offering to a Phoenix that had been devouring their livestock.”

Mikey assumed the posture of a practiced orator, cleared his throat, and continued his speech in the dulcet tones of a nature documentary narrator.

“The Phoenix became enchanted by the beauty of the birds and eventually accepted them as his own. At the time of his rebirth, he gathered his newfound flock into his nest. The great flames consumed the flock, leaving behind a handful of golden eggs. From these eggs rose the Pheacocks you see before you.” Mikey resumed his normal posture and speaking voice. “Can you tell that I’ve heard the story a few times?”

“I’ve heard the stories a few times,” A quiet echo repeated from behind a cluster of ferns. Mikey sighed with disdain.

“Ugh, not this one.”

“Ugh, not this one.”

“Be quiet and it might go away.”

Mikey held a finger to his lips.

“Be quiet and it might go away.”

From behind the foliage emerged a bird, smaller in stature but similar in appearance to the Pheacocks. Its feathers were in shades of red with a tendency to lean towards orange through its throat and underbelly. Two large plumes that resembled those of the Pheacock bracketed the wispier center feathers that trailed behind the bird. It hopped into the air and glided toward Leslie, taking a seat beside him on the bench.

“Why, aren’t you the friendly one?” Leslie cooed to the bird.

“Why aren’t you the friendly one?” the bird replied, sounding identical to Leslie. It shivered its body and displayed its lyre-shaped tail feathers.

Mikey signaled for Leslie to come to join him and Cadence. He huddled them close and whispered,” That precious little beasty was a gift from a tribal chief of some island off the coast of Australia. The boss loves that thing! I, on the other hand, can’t stand it. It will mimic anything it hears. Not in a squawky bird voice, but in exactly the same voice as it hears. It creeps me out.”

“It creeps me out,” came a whisper from below.

“Shit!” Mike blurted as he jumped back.

“Shit!” blurted the bird.

It rubbed its head against Cadence’s calf. She squatted down to greet it. Not able to fight the urge, she softly sputtered a beatboxed rhythm. The bird echoed back. Cadence beatboxed again, this time leaving rests in her rhythm, allowing the bird’s echo to fill the gaps. She laughed, surprised at the impressive results. The bird laughed, as well. She leaned forward and kissed the bird on the top of its head. The bird jerked back suddenly and took flight.

“Aw, I thought we were having a moment,” she sighed. The bird disappeared briefly behind the ferns from whence it came, then reappeared carrying something in its beak. It circled over the group and spiraled down to land at Cadence’s feet. It displayed its tail feathers and bowed toward Cadence, laying an offering before her.

“What should I do?” Cadence asked Mikey, puzzled.

“I’ve never seen this before. I guess you should pick it up,” Mikey shrugged.

Cadence bent down and collected her gift, a tarnished golf ball-sized nugget laced with veins of crimson. It was heavier than she expected. The bird looked up at her. She smiled back. The bird popped up and took flight across the aviary.

“Thank you. It’s beautiful,” she called out.

“You’re welcome!” The bird called back.