Elysium (19 page)

He pointed to yet another graph, his finger brushing along mine and sending butterflies through my stomach. I breathed out softly and focused on what he was showing me.

“You can see that when the rays hit your blood, your red blood cells started to disintegrate, which is normal with a vampire, but almost instantly your cells started to mutate in order to withstand and survive. Your red blood cells transformed into human cells once they were exposed to the light.”

“So, when I go in the sun I turn back to a human?” He shook his head, and I was surprised that I didn’t get disappointed. True, I would have been happy to go back to my old life, but I was getting used to the Manor and everyone there. I had made some wonderful friends, and then, of course, there was Cadeon to think about. I guess I was adapting to this new and crazy world and the idea of being “normal” didn’t hold the appeal it used to.

“No, you’re still a vampire, Meadow. There is no way to reverse the change, but because one of your parents was human, they passed on their DNA and you are still able to be a daywalker.”

“Is this normal for vampires that can go out in the sun? I mean does their blood change like that?”

“Yes and no.” He leaned back from me, and I felt the chill from the loss. He sat back behind his desk and rubbed the back of his neck. “When another vampire can walk in the sun—a daywalker—their blood morphs slightly, but doesn’t change into a human form, like yours does. I guess the idea is basically the same, but not, if that makes any sense.”

It didn’t, but I kept my mouth shut and nodded.

“I know this is a lot to take in, and we are still doing tests to see if we can find out how a human and a vampire could procreate, but it could take a long time for us to find the answers.” He stared at me and was quiet for a moment.

“I have plenty of that.”

He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “So I heard you are helping Violet Fender out during the Winter Solstice?”

“Yeah, she needed some background music, so she pretty much volunteered me to play the piano.”

He nodded. “The Winter Solstice is a wonderful event, and it gives the students a chance to interact with each other. Usually the boys will ask the girls to go with them, even though it really isn’t a dance per say.”

“Yeah, I figured that out already.” I smiled lightly. I cleared my throat at the uncomfortable silence that followed.

“Has someone asked you to go?” He sounded pleasant and smiled, and I was a little disappointed that the knowledge didn’t bother him.

“Yeah.”

“Who may I ask? Maybe I know him.”

He might act like it wasn’t a problem, but I could now see the subtle change in his body language, as if he was uncomfortable with the conversation, yet he kept asking questions. “Nikolai Murdock.” Silence. “Do you know him?”

He leaned back in his seat, and the sound of the leather creaking seemed loud in the room. “Yes. You shouldn’t feel obligated to go with him because he asked. Like I said, it really isn’t a formal dance; the students just kind of made it one.”

“I don’t feel obligated. I mean, I like Nik. He’s a really great guy.” Cadeon’s eyebrow rose as he smirked at me, but I could tell that small tilt of his lips was anything but pleasant. I couldn’t deny that the very idea that he might be jealous sent tingles through my body. Maybe I was just making something out of nothing? Probably, but I hoped not.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time.”

“Will you be there?” I asked the question too quickly and immediately felt my face become hot with embarrassment.

“Yes, I will be one of the chaperones.”

I didn’t like the idea that he was going to be there as one of the “adults”, but I was happy that he would be there nonetheless. The silence stretched on, and I started to shift in my seat. Cadeon just continued to stare at me, and I looked around, knowing it was time for me to leave. “Okay, well, I’ll see you later.”

“Have you eaten yet?”

I knew he was talking about blood and not actually “food”. I shook my head and watched as he rose and walked over to a small fridge and grabbed a few bags. He then grabbed a handheld cooler and put them in it, handing it out to me. I could tell he was angry, but I wasn’t quite sure why. I assumed it was because I was going with Nik, but I could have been completely wrong. What right did he have to be upset over something like that? It wasn’t as though he had asked me to the dance. I thought about that though. What if he had asked me? Would I have even agreed to go? How would that have looked—a student going to the dance with one of the clinic’s doctors? Yeah, that probably wouldn’t have gone over so well, but still, he
could
have asked.

I slipped on my coat and took the cooler and stood, walking to the door that Cadeon had already opened. I stopped right before I stepped out of his office and looked at him. I could see his jaw was clenched as his gaze was downcast. “Thank you for everything.” I lifted the cooler and then looked at the stack of papers on his desk. “I appreciate you letting me know what’s going on.”

“Not a problem, but I would go talk to Mikhail.”

I looked back over at him. “I will. Thank you again.”

“Don’t let him turn you away. Demand he tell you the truth.”

I didn’t like the way he said that, but I just nodded and turned to leave, looking over my shoulder once more at him and catching an emotion in Cadeon’s gaze that baffled me. He smiled before slowly shutting the door, and I just stood in that sterile hallway for a minute, alone. I didn’t know if I would have the strength to hear what Mikhail had to say.

I decided to go to Mikhail’s office, since I was at the clinic, but he wasn’t there. Now I trudged back to my room, my hair practically frozen from my short trek from the clinic to the Manor. I took the stairs two at a time and walked down the quiet hallway. Usually, at this time, students were milling around, but it was silent, which made things a bit eerie. I turned left down the hallway where my room was and immediately saw a rather large box sitting in front of my door, a shimmery gold ribbon tied in a perfect bow on top, and when I picked it up, I was surprised at how heavy it is.

I went into my room and shut the door, tossing my bag in the corner and sitting on the bed with the box in my lap. I untied the ribbon and opened the lid, peeling away the iridescent tissue and gasping at the contents laid precisely inside. I set the box on the bed and pulled out the blood red evening gown. I just looked at it, more in shock than anything else. It was quite possibly the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I walked over to the mirror hanging from the back of my door and held the gown up to my body. It was strapless with an empire waist and beautiful little crystals dotting the skirt. I ran one of my hands over the butter smooth material, looking over my shoulder at the box. I saw a small ivory colored envelope peeking from underneath the tissue and walked back to the bed, laying the gown down and opening the card.

I know you wouldn’t have asked for this, but when I heard you would be going to the Winter Solstice, I thought you might need something to wear. I hope the shoes fit. I took a wild guess.

Sincerely, Mikhail

I looked in the box and saw a pair of matching peep-toe pumps—just the right size. I fell back on the bed, so stunned I was speechless. Someone knocked on my door, and I went to answer it, not able to contain my smile when I saw Mikhail standing on the other side. Without thinking, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him, my earlier questions I had for him dissolving.

“Thank you so much. That was so thoughtful of you.” He stiffened beneath my arms, and I pulled slightly back, not knowing if I had done something wrong. “I’m sorry.” A strange look crossed his features, and I swore he was about to say something, but he didn’t.

His arms lifted and wrapped around my shoulders, and he pulled me closer. “You are so very welcome, Meadow.”

I pulled back, not knowing what to say now. I knew I wanted to ask Mikhail about some things, but right now really didn’t seem like a good time.

“Well, I just wanted to make sure you got the gift. You weren’t here when I dropped it off, and I worried about leaving it outside your room.” He put his hands in the pockets of his white lab coat. “So everything fits?”

“I haven’t tried them on yet, but I know they will.”

He nodded and cleared his throat. “
Well, I have work to do and just wanted to check on you. Everything’s good?”

I nodded, not able to help the smile that spread across my face.

“What?” He had started to smile too.

“Nothing, you’re just so nice.”

“No, not really.” He got serious suddenly, and I wondered if I had said something wrong.

“Okay, well, I’ll leave now, but I’ll see you later, all right?”

“Okay.” I watched him walk down the hallway before finally shutting my door and looking again at my gown. I couldn’t help but squeal with excitement. Never in my life had I received a gift so elaborate or extravagant. The Winter Solstice was sounding better every day.

****

I sat at my vanity and looked at myself in the mirror. I was really nervous, so anxious I became dizzy every time I stood. I had to meet Violet downstairs in twenty minutes and get things set up for her performance. The rest of the weekend had flown by, and now that it was Saturday and the actual day of the dance, I was scared shitless. It was silly really; it wasn’t like anyone would be able to see me playing the piano, not with the thick curtain blocking their view. It didn’t matter though. I had stage fright, and I wasn’t afraid to admit it.

I put my hair in a chignon, something I found fairly easy to do. I put on a coat of lip-gloss and then some mascara. I was never big on makeup, but I figured a little would go a long way, well, if you considered lip-gloss and mascara makeup. I slipped on my shoes and stood, looking at myself in the mirror and then going over to the small jewelry box I kept hidden in my dresser. I opened it, the small ballerina popping up just as the theme song from
Swan Lake
started to play. The jewelry box wasn’t very “grownup”, but Marie had given it to me for one of my birthdays, and it was special to me—especially now. I pulled out the small gold necklace, with the miniscule diamond hanging from it. It was a
real
diamond, although it was more like a chip than an actual rock. It didn’t matter to me though. The necklace had been in the jewelry box when I had opened it—the first “real” present I had ever gotten. I held both of those close to my heart, knowing that I would never see the people who had given it to me again.

I set the box back under my clothes and shut the drawer, walking over to the mirror once again. I hardly recognized myself, not with the elegant gown or my hair done up. I opened the door and made my way downstairs, not bothering with a shawl, since I wouldn’t be going outside. I saw Violet at the bottom of the staircase, her auburn hair in perfect little ringlets around her head. I walked down the stairs, taking note of the crystals dotting her hair and her pointed ears in view. I thought they looked cute but didn’t comment, since I knew it would probably piss her off.

“Wow, you look great.” She really did too. She wasn’t wearing the dress I had assumed she would be in, but then again she was going to be doing ballet and who could possibly move wearing an evening gown? I was amazed how great she looked in her black leotard and white sheer skirt. It was what I imagined a ballerina wearing, but she made the simplicity of it seem so much more.

She looked down at herself and shrugged, her slim shoulders moving as she smiled. “Thanks, you look amazing.” Her eyes were big as they took note of my gown.

I had told her Mikhail had gotten me one, but she hadn’t seen it until now.

“You weren’t kidding when you said it was gorgeous. You almost put mine to shame … almost.” She giggled and started to walk towards the ballroom. “The celebration will start in about an hour. We don’t really have to set anything up, but I wanted you to get a feel for the stage and the piano.” She pulled open the heavy double doors, and we walked in.

My mouth opened at the transformation of the ballroom. It didn’t seem like big open space any longer, not with the silk that hung from the ceiling and dropped along the walls, like liquid silver dripping from the sky. The chandelier glowed softly, the opaque crystal feathers casting iridescent slivers across the midnight atmosphere. Circular tables were sporadically placed around the huge room, pristine white tablecloths adorning them and long cylindrical candles in their center.

I followed Violet towards the monstrous stage looming in front of us—empty except for the black shining grand piano that sat in the corner. It wasn’t hidden amongst the curtain, like I thought, but now that I was actually standing on the stage, my anxiety was waning, so I was feeling pretty good. We went through a small side door and up a set of steps, coming out behind the stage. I had never seen the back of a stage before, and it looked just like the movies—sandbags hanging midair, ropes piled on the floor, along with dressing rooms and skids pushed against the walls.

“Okay, so I thought the piano would be completely hidden, but there wasn’t enough flooring to do so. I hope that’s okay.” She looked behind her shoulder as she made her way onto the stage.