The Golden Lily (28 page)

Have you had any more run-ins?”

“No. And they don’t seem to have been folowing us anymore either. Maybe they gave up.”

“Unlikely.” Her next words took a long time to get out. “Not from what we’ve observed in the past.” I froze, momentarily speechless. “In the past? Do you mean … you’ve run into them before? I was hoping they were just some … I don’t know. A crazy, localized group.”

“Unfortunately, no. We’ve encountered them before.

Sporadicaly, mind you. But they pop up everywhere.” I was still in disbelief. “But I was always taught that any hunters had disappeared centuries ago. Why has no one ever talked about this?”

“Honestly?” asked Stanton. “Most Alchemists don’t know.

We want to run an efficient organization, one that deals with the vampire problem in an organized, peaceful way. There are some people in our group who might want to take more extreme action. It’s best then if the existence of our radical offshoot is kept secret. I wouldn’t have even told you, but with all the contact you’re having, you need to be prepared.”

“Offshoot … then they are related to Alchemists!” I was sickened.

“Not for a very long time.” She sounded equaly disgusted.

“There’s almost no resemblance anymore. They’re reckless and savage. The only reason we let them be is because they usualy just go after Strigoi. This situation with Sonya Karp is more difficult. She hasn’t had any more threats?”

“No. I just saw her tonight … which brings up the other reason I caled …”

I gave Stanton a rundown of the various blood experiments, including my own donation. I painted it in very scientific terms, how it had seemed useful as extra data.

I then made sure to sound properly appaled by the second request—which wasn’t that difficult.

“Absolutely not,” said Stanton. No hesitation. Often, Alchemist decisions went through chains of command, even with someone as high up as her. It was a sign of how much this went against Alchemist beliefs that she didn’t even have to consult anyone. “Human control-blood is one thing. The rest she’s suggesting is out of the question. I will not alow humans to be used in these experiments, especialy when the evidence clearly shows the former Strigoi need to be the focus—not us.

Besides, for all we know, this is some ploy on the Moroi part to get more of our blood for personal reasons.” I didn’t believe that last part at all and tried to find a tactful way of saying so. “Sonya seems to sincerely believe this would help protect against Strigoi. She just doesn’t seem to grasp how we feel about it.”

“Of course she wouldn’t,” said Stanton dismissively. “None of

“Of course she wouldn’t,” said Stanton dismissively. “None of them do.”

She and I returned our focus to the vampire hunters. The Alchemists were doing some investigating on any sightings in the area. She didn’t want me to do any active investigation myself, but I was to report in immediately if any other information came my way. She was assuming the Warriors of Light were operating nearby, and once she found out where, the Alchemists would

“deal with them.” I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant, but her tone made me shiver. As she’d pointed out earlier, we weren’t a particularly aggressive group …

though we were excelent at getting rid of problems.

“Oh,” I said, just as we were wrapping up. “Did you ever find out anything about Marcus Finch?” I’d tried locating Clarence’s mysterious human, who’d helped against the hunters, but had found nothing. I’d hoped Stanton might have more connections.

“No. But we’ll keep looking.” A slight pause. “Miss Sage … I can’t emphasize enough how pleased we are with the work you’re doing. You’ve run into a few more complications than any of us expected, yet you handle them all efficiently and properly.

Even your conduct with the Moroi is outstanding. A weaker person might have yielded to Karp’s request. You refused and contacted me. I’m so proud I took the chance on you.” I felt a tightening in my chest. So proud. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had said they were proud of me. Wel, my mother did a lot, but no one tied to my work among the Alchemists did. For most of my life, I’d hoped my father would say he was proud. I’d finaly given up on expecting that. Stanton say he was proud. I’d finaly given up on expecting that. Stanton was hardly a parental figure, but her words triggered happiness in me I hadn’t known was waiting to come out.

“Thank you, ma’am,” I said, when I could finaly speak.

“Keep it up,” she said. “When I can, I’ll get you out of that place and into a position that doesn’t involve so much contact with them.” And like that, my world came crashing down. I suddenly felt guilty. She realy had given me a chance, and now I was deceiving her. I was hardly like Liam, ready to sell my soul to the Strigoi, but I also wasn’t staying objective with my charges.

Driving lessons. Thanksgiving. What would Stanton say if she knew about that? I was a sham, reaping glory I didn’t deserve. If I was truly a dedicated Alchemist, I’d change my life here. I’d stop all extraneous activities with Jill and the others. I wouldn’t even attend Amberwood—I’d accept the offer of outside accommodations. I’d only come here and see the gang when I absolutely was required to.

If I could do those things, then I’d truly be a good Alchemist.

And, I realized, I’d also be terribly, awfuly lonely.

“Thank you, ma’am,” I said.

It was the only response I could give.

JILL DIDN’T GIVE ME any starry-eyed looks at breakfast the next morning, which was kind of a relief. Micah had surfaced again, and while they weren’t as flirty as they’d been in the past, the two were chatting animatedly away about a science project she had. Eddie and Angeline were equaly engrossed in conversation, making plans for when she was free of her suspension. Her blues eyes were alight with happiness as they talked, and I realized that she had legitimate feelings for him. She hadn’t just been throwing herself at him for the sake of conquest. I wondered if he knew.

It would’ve been easy to feel like a fifth wheel here, but instead, I was pleased and content to see my little cohort getting along so wel. Stanton’s conversation had still left me conflicted, but there was nothing wrong with appreciating the peace around here. I would’ve been happier still if Trey’s behavior had also normalized, but when I reached my history class later, he was absent yet again. I had no doubt he’d claim he had family stuff, but my earlier suspicions were returning, about whether his family might be responsible for his injuries. Should I report my worries to someone? Who? I didn’t want to jump to conclusions either, which left me in a bind.

which left me in a bind.

Eddie and I always sat near each other in that class, and I leaned toward him before the bell rang, pitching my voice low to address another concern. “Hey, have you noticed that Jil’s been kind of acting weirdly around me?”

“She’s got a lot going on,” he said, ever quick to defend her.

“Yeah, I know, but you had to have noticed her last night. In the library? I mean—keeping in mind I’m terrible at figuring this stuff out—it was like she had a crush on me or something.” He laughed at that. “She was kind of laying it on thick, but I don’t think you have to worry about some romantic complication. She just looks up to you a lot, that’s al. Part of her still wants to be a brave fighter who rushes out fearlessly …” He paused as he savored that idea, a mix of pride and rapture on his face before he tuned back into me. “But at the same time, you’re starting to show her there all sorts of ways to be powerful.”

“Thanks,” I said. “I think. But speaking of her being a brave fighter …” I studied him curiously. “Why don’t you train her anymore? Don’t you want her to hone her skils?”

“Oh, yeah. That. Well … there are a few reasons for it. One is I need to focus on Angeline. Another is that I just don’t want Jill worried about that. I’ll do the protecting.” Those were exactly the reasons I’d guessed. The next one was not. “And I guess … the other thing is that I don’t feel right being in contact with her like that. I mean, I know it means nothing to her … but it means something to me.”

Again, my social skils took a moment to kick in. “You mean, you don’t like that you have to touch her?” you don’t like that you have to touch her?” Eddie actualy blushed. “It doesn’t bother me, that’s the problem. Better for us to spend time together in a hands-off way.” I hadn’t expected that, but I could understand it. Leaving Eddie to his own inner demons, I soon got caught up in the day and wondering what had happened to Trey. I’d hoped he’d come into class late, but he didn’t. In fact, he didn’t surface for the rest of the day, not even when I was finishing up my independent study. I’d thought he might come by again for homework.

“You look troubled,” said Ms. Terwiliger, watching me pack up when the bell rang. “Worried about getting your project in on time?”

“No.” I’d actualy finished two of the charms, but I certainly wasn’t going to tell her that. “I’m worried about Trey. He keeps missing school. Do you know why he’s out? I mean, if you can tell me?”

“The office notifies us if a student will be out for the day, but they don’t tell us the reason. If it makes you feel better, Mr.

Juarez’s absence was caled in this morning. He hasn’t disappeared.” I almost mentioned my fears about his home but held off. I still needed more evidence.

Between worrying about Trey, Ms. Terwiliger’s work, the Warriors, Brayden, and all my other myriad complications, I knew I couldn’t waste any of my free time.

Nonetheless, I went to Adrian’s after school on a mission I couldn’t refuse. On our way to Wolfe’s class earlier this week, Adrian had mentioned way to Wolfe’s class earlier this week, Adrian had mentioned offhandedly that he hadn’t had the Mustang looked at by a mechanic before purchasing it. Although my own novice assessment hadn’t found anything wrong with the car, I pushed for Adrian to get the car examined—which, of course, meant I had to look up a specialist and make the appointment. It was just before my textile museum date, but I was certain I had time to make it all work.

“The guy I bought it from seemed pretty trustworthy,” Adrian told me, after we’d dropped the car off with the mechanic. He’d told us he’d look at it right away and that we could hang around and wait. His shop was on the outskirts of a suburban area, so Adrian suggested we go for a walk through the neighborhoods.

“And it ran just fine when I did the test drive, so I figured everything was okay.”

“That doesn’t mean there aren’t problems you can’t see. It’s best to be safe,” I said, knowing I sounded preachy. “Bad enough you got a car you can’t drive.” Glancing over, I saw a small, half smile on his face.

“With your help, I’ll be a pro in no time. Of course, if you don’t want to help anymore, I’ll just wing it and figure it out on my own.” I groaned. “You already know what I’d say about—wow.” The neighborhood we were in was pretty affluent. In fact, I’d say the houses bordered on being bona fide mansions. We stopped in front of one that looked like a cross between a hacienda and a southern plantation, large and sprawling with a hacienda and a southern plantation, large and sprawling with a pilared porch and pink stucco siding. The front yard was a mix of climates, green grass with palm trees lining the path to the house. The trees were like tropical sentries.

“Gorgeous,” I said. “I love architecture. In another life, I’d have studied that—not chemicals and vampires.” As we continued on, we saw more of the same, each house trying to outdo the others. All of them had high fences and hedges blocking their backyards. “I wonder what’s back there. Pools, probably.” house trying to outdo the others. All of them had high fences and hedges blocking their backyards. “I wonder what’s back there. Pools, probably.” Adrian stopped in front of another. It was as yelow as his car and showed another mix of styles, like a southwest version of a medieval castle, complete with turrets.

“Nice juxtaposition,” he remarked.

I turned, knowing my eyes were wide as I stared at him. “Did you just use juxtaposition in a sentence?”

“Yes, Sage,” he said patiently. “We use it all the time with art, when we’re mixing different components. That, and I know how to use a dictionary.” He turned from me and scanned the house, his eyes resting on a gardener who was out trimming some hedges. A sly smile crossed Adrian’s lips. “You want to see the back? Come on.”

“What are you—” Before I could say another word, Adrian strode up the granite pathway and cut across the lawn to where the guy was working. I didn’t want anything to do with this, but the responsible part of me couldn’t let Adrian get into trouble. I hurried after him.

“Are the owners home?” Adrian asked.

“Are the owners home?” Adrian asked.

The gardener had stopped his clipping and stared at Adrian.

“No.”

“When will they be back?”

“After six.”

I was astonished that the guy was answering these questions.

If I’d been asked them, I would’ve assumed someone was staging a break-in. Then, I saw the glazed look in the gardener’s eyes and realized what was going on.

“Adrian—”

Adrian’s eyes never left the other man’s face. “Take us to the backyard.”

“Of course.”

The gardener dropped his hedge clippers and headed for a gate on the side of the house. I tried to get Adrian’s attention to stop this, but he was outpacing me. Our guide stopped at the gate, entered a security code, and led us to the back. My protests died on my lips as I gazed around.

This back property was almost three times the size of the front. There were more palm trees ringing the yard, along with a terraced garden full of plants, both native and non-native. A huge oval shaped pool dominated the space, its turquoise hue startling against the gray of the granite that surrounded it. On one side of the pool, several steps led up to a smaler, square pool. It could only hold a few people, and a waterfal poured out from it, down to the larger pool. Tiki torches and tables around the pools completed the lush setup.

“Thanks,” Adrian told the gardener. “Go back to your work.

“Thanks,” Adrian told the gardener. “Go back to your work.

It’s okay if we’re here. We’ll see ourselves out.”

“Of course,” the man replied. He walked back the way we’d come in.

I snapped back to reality. “Adrian! You used compulsion on that guy. That … I mean, it’s …”

“Awesome?” Adrian walked over to the steps leading up to the upper pool. “Yeah, I know.”

“It’s wrong! All of this. Breaking and entering, and compulsion …” I shivered, despite the sweltering heat. “It’s immoral. Controling someone else’s mind. You know it! Your people and mine both agree.”

“Eh, no harm done.” He climbed to the top of the pool and stood on its edge, surveying his kingdom. The sun brought out chestnut glints in his brown hair.

“Believe me, that guy was easy to control. Weak-wiled. I barely had to use compulsion.”

“Adrian—”

“Come on, Sage. Not like we’re going to hurt anything.

Check out this view.”

I was almost afraid to go up there. It was so rare for any of the Moroi here to use their magic that it was easy for me to pretend it didn’t exist. Seeing Adrian use it—

the most insidious kind—made my skin crawl. As I’d told Ms. Terwiliger in our charm discussion, no one should be able to control another like that.

“Come on,” Adrian repeated. “You’re not worried I’m going to compel you up here, are you?” to compel you up here, are you?”

“Of course not,” I said. And I meant it. I didn’t know why, but some part of me knew Adrian would never, ever harm me.

Reluctantly, I went to join him, hoping that would encourage him to leave. When I reached the top, my jaw dropped. The intimate pool hadn’t seemed that high, but it gave us a stunning view of the mountains off in the distance, rugged and majestic against the blue of the sky. The larger pool glittered below us, and the waterfal made it look like we’d entered some mystical oasis.

“Cool, huh?” he asked. Adrian sat down on the small pool’s edge, roled up his jeans, and took off his socks and shoes.

“Now what are you doing?” I asked.

“Making the most out of this.” He put his feet in the water.

“Come on. Do something bad for a change. Not that it’s realy that bad. We aren’t trashing this place or anything.” I hesitated, but the water was intoxicating, as though it too could wield compulsion. Settling down, I copied Adrian and dipped my bare feet into the water. Its coolness was startling—

and wonderful—in this intense heat.

“I could get used to this,” I admitted. “But what if the owners come home early?”

He shrugged. “I can talk us out of it, don’t worry.” That wasn’t exactly reassuring. I turned back to the gorgeous view and lush property. I wasn’t always the most imaginative person, but I thought back to what I’d said about living another life. What would it be like to have a home like this? To stay in one place? To spend days by the pool, soaking in the sun, and not worrying about the fate of humanity? I fell into daydreams not worrying about the fate of humanity? I fell into daydreams and was so caught up that I lost track of time.

“We have to get back to the shop,” I exclaimed. Glancing over, I was astonished to see Adrian watching me, a look of contentment on his face. His eyes seemed to study my every feature. Seeing me notice him, he immediately looked away. His usual smirky expression replaced the dreamy one.

“The mechanic will wait,” he said.

“Yeah, but I’m supposed to meet Brayden soon. I’ll be—” That’s when I got a good look at Adrian. “What have you done?

Look at you! You shouldn’t be out here.”

“It’s not that bad.”

He was lying, and we both knew it. It was late afternoon, and the sun was merciless. I’d certainly felt it, though the coolness of the water had helped distract me.

That, and I was human. Sure, sunstroke and sunburns were concerns, but I loved the sun and had a high tolerance for it. Vampires did not.

Sweat poured off Adrian, soaking his shirt and hair. Pink blotches covered his face. They were familiar. I’d seen them on Jill back when she’d been forced to play outdoor sports in PE.

Left unchecked, they’d turn into burns. I jumped to my feet.

“Come on, we have to get out of here before you get worse.

What were you thinking?”

His expression was astonishingly nonchalant for someone who looked like he would pass out. “It was worth it. You looked … happy.”

“That’s crazy,” I said.

“Not the craziest thing I’ve ever done.” He smiled as he

“Not the craziest thing I’ve ever done.” He smiled as he looked up at me. His eyes grew slightly unfocused, as though they were seeing more than just me. “What’s a little crazy here and there? I’m supposed to be doing experiments … why not see which is brighter: your aura or the sun?” The way he looked at me and spoke unnerved me, and I remembered what Jill had said, how spirit slowly drove its users insane. Adrian hardly seemed insane, but there was certainly something haunted about him, a definite shift from his usual sharp wit. It was as though something else had seized hold of him. I remembered that poem line, about dreaming and waking.

“Come on,” I repeated. I held out my hand. “You shouldn’t have used spirit. We need to get you out of here.” He took my hand and staggered to his feet. A rush of warmth and electricity went through me, just as it had the last time we touched, and our eyes held. For a moment, all I could think about were his earlier words: You looked happy …