Darkling (8 page)

Someone behind me coughed politely.

I spun around, filled with fear. Set stood a couple of feet away.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I spaced out. What are you doing here?”

“Taking a walk?” He grinned.

He seemed pleasant enough, but earlier today I had felt something off about him. His eyes, deep and dark, never reflected his grin. I could easily imagine them watching some brutality unflinchingly. And now, they were watching me in the same peculiar way as they had earlier that morning.

“Mind company?”

I did, actually, but that’s not exactly something you just blurt to a vampire, alone in the woods. So I just shrugged and moved on. Of course, my previous thoughts had been permanently interrupted; in fact, I couldn’t contemplate anything with him walking so close to me.

“So, how’re you holding up?”

“You’re the first one to ask me that.” First vampire, I thought.

He laughed. “That’s not an answer.”

“It’s a day-to-day struggle for survival, I guess.”

“Tomorrow’s a special honor.”

I didn’t answer.

“Hope you’re not going to bail, because I chose my best suit.”

We stopped, and the corner of his mouth was tilted in a crooked smile. I had always found that sexy in boys.

“What kind of dress are you planning to wear?” he asked, getting closer. “So I’ll be able to find you easily.”

His closeness was alarming. None of the vampires had ever gotten so close!

“Nika.” There was a strong voice behind me.

Set retreated to his previous position, squaring his shoulders a little with a nonchalant bob of his head.

“Belun. I wasn’t aware this path was so busy.”

“Neither was I,” Belun answered, focusing on Set’s eyes.

Then I knew why I hadn’t recognized his voice—he had never said my name before.

“It’s late and you have training early tomorrow,” he said. I gave a tiny apologetic smile to Set and started back.

“Didn’t know that anyone was working tomorrow,” said Set.

“Now you do. Goodnight.” Belun walked directly in my path, so I had to stop and wait until he had passed before I followed.

What just happened? After a while I broke the silence.

“Why is nobody working tomorrow?”

“Free day,” Belun said, and then added. “But not for you. You need to train.”

“Instead of having my head ripped off?”

He looked confused.

“As punishment, I mean. You’ll build me up until you finally break me.”

“Punishment for what?”

I felt his gaze, even through the dim evening light. I was silent, and a little confused.

“Because of the kick, you mean?”

I nodded. “You’ll torture me until I sweat blood.”

“You lack motivation. Your technique is acceptable for a beginner, and as we saw, you have strength when well-motivated.”

This was the longest sentence he had said to me.

“That wasn’t strength. It was anger.”

“Whatever. Tomorrow at nine. Good night.”

He left me at the door of my dorm and left before I could say anything.

Chapter 5

The Reception

“Where you going so early?” Julia eyed my morning tea.

“There are those who have to train today,” I said in a sulky voice.

“He’s no joke, right? You could always complain to a higher authority, you know, ‘cause today, my dear, is a vacation day.”

“Right, and where would that leave me?”

“If it’s any consolation, he won’t bother you for long. There’s a Council meeting before lunch, and Belun has to be present.”

“Great. When is the reception?” I muttered.

“It starts at six. You decided what to wear yet?”

That made me think of Set’s question from the night before. But he was her team leader; I couldn’t just spill that in a chat.

“I see myself in black.”

She smiled approvingly.

“Your team leader….”

“Set?”

“Yeah, how’re things between him and Belun?”

“Not sure, but I’d say they have history. I’ve seen some animosity a couple of times between them, but nothing more than that. They are both on the Council, so my guess is political disagreements.”

“Maybe.” That was new information. “So, are you meeting someone special tonight?” She gave me a secretive look, and winked but said nothing. I didn’t feel I could pry.

I put on my new sportswear. Brown yoga pants, with a pale yellow t-shirt and orange hoodie. And new Nikes. I felt better—who said clothes don’t make the man? Okay, that was me, like a zillion times before—but in these clothes my self-esteem jumped about thirty-five percent, and that seemed like it would be enough to help me survive another day in this place.

Belun was waiting in the gym.

“Good morning.”

When did we start being so polite?

“Good morning,” I replied, hiding my nervousness.

“We’ll be running.”

And go running we did—ninety minutes of torture on the same forest path that I had taken the night before, which made me think of our strange little meeting. However, I couldn’t decide which part was stranger: encountering Set or Belun. Suddenly I realized that Belun hadn’t had any right to shoo me to bed. It’s not like there was a curfew in the compound, and I could meet whomever I liked after hours. Not that Set and I had planned to meet, but still. Belun had taken me to my dorm as if I was disobedient child! And it’s not like he was that much older than I, well, at least not in the way of physical appearance—I mean, he looked like a college senior. Oh crap, what had I been thinking! He was much older, like centuries older!

I stole a glance at him, but he instantly turned his eyes on me. I looked away, feeling like I had been caught doing something wrong.

“C’mon, don’t lag behind.”

“I’m doing my best!”

“Hardly.”

I frowned and tried to speed up.

Of course we walked back, I couldn’t jog anymore. When would this torment end?

“So, has it started?”

“Has what started?” I asked, surprised.

“Sweat to blood transformation?”

I barked a weird sort of laugh. “Why, you making a new race behind the Elders’ back?”

“Warriors are not a sub-race.”

“I’m not here to be a Warrior. I’m an Inquirer.”

“I’m not making you into a Warrior, just a physically capable person.”

I was silent. Clearly he thought I was a total idiot.

“Are you coming tonight?” he asked.

“Do you like the soft aroma of a good A Negative?”  He didn’t reply; actually he didn’t open his mouth again.  Training over.

Great. Half a step forward, five steps back.

This time for breakfast I ate cereal and fresh orange juice. The dining room was almost empty, so I ate fast and returned to my suite and relaxed on the couch—God, I’d missed that.

I flipped through the millions of satellite channels and found nothing interesting, as usual. Annoying. The more I flipped, the stupider it got. At some point, I fell asleep. Then I felt something blink; and then a thousand more fast blinks. Suddenly I was in the middle of millions of blinking eyes, all watching me intensely. I tried to yank myself awake, only to find myself in another dream—I was actually captured in one of those many eyes!

Julia’s hand shook me awake.

“Nika? Hon, you okay? Sorry to wake you, but it looked like you needed it.”

I nodded in confusion, looking about me. She brought me a glass of water. After a few minutes I spoke.

“Are you satisfied with your job here? Is it worth the sacrifice?”

“So that’s what this is all about.” Julia smiled and sat next to me.

“Maybe. I don’t know.”

“What kind of sacrifice do you have in mind?”

“You know marriage, kids, dog, and house. That whole thing.” I thought I saw a sharp line cutting through her eyes.

“We all have our reasons for being here and not somewhere else, honey. Would you choose to live in ignorance after you knew better?”

I shrugged. I still didn’t feel like this was my real life, so making the decision to reject it wasn’t completely unappealing.

I would have been lying if I said that, after zoning out for the rest of the day, I didn’t enjoy the party preparations that followed later that evening.  It helped me to remember that I still was a teenager, no matter what my situation, so the party frills, preparations, and whatnot, were still part of my DNA.

I selected a satin black dress. It was sleeveless, hit just above the knees, and looked like a fancy tunic dress from the 70s. A black string belt cut the dress at the hips, giving it a phenomenal shape that smoothly slid over my body.  With black stockings and black evening pumps, I looked good. I really did. My reflection actually surprised me, because I hadn’t had a chance to pay any attention to my looks since I’d become a college student, what with all the lectures and exams and stuff. Who said that college life was all fun? Plus, I’d never had such beautiful designer clothes before.

Gray-blue eye shadow, mascara and colorless lip gloss. I skipped the foundation and blush, thinking that I’d look like a clown in that sea of pretty pale faces. I curled my hair a bit, enough to make it wavy, and to fell nicely on my shoulders.

“Wow.” Tibor and Blake said in unison when I entered the common room.

I had heard them come in while I was getting ready. It was satisfying to see their raised eyebrows.

“You look beautiful, Lamb.”

“Very pretty,” Blake offered.

“Hey guys, thanks.”

They looked dashing, too. Tibor wore a dark gray suit with blue skinny tie, part of his gray dress shirt escaping the belt—purposely, I assumed. Blake was tie-less in a black suit and dark gray dress shirt. While Tibor’s hair was messy as usual, Blake had carefully arranged his hair into a 50s look. They both were very handsome. And Julia was mesmerizing in a strappy champagne-colored knee length cocktail dress. Her blonde hair was swept up in a Grace Kelly chignon. Jeez, it felt like we were going to prom.

“You’re not taking a bag?” she asked me.

“Not in the mood, and there’s nothing to fill it with.”

She gave an alluring little laugh. “Darling, a bag is an accessory.”

“I say she doesn’t need one.” Blake winked at me and took my hand, linking it through his arm. Prom.

“Shall we ladies? I’m kind of hungry.” Tibor said, taking Julia’s arm through his own.

The reception was on the top floor of the main building that housed Baldur’s offices. The room was breathtaking—a spacious ballroom in brandy and gold. Rich but elegant, with several marble pillars supporting the high ceiling. I felt like I was in a royal court with all the sophisticated guests attended by suited waiters offering sparkling drinks and fancy little hors d’oeuvres. Beautifully attired porcelain dolls everywhere.

The room was filled with a melodic murmur. I accepted the offered champagne. There were many eyes on me, but I was prepared for that. I had promised myself that I would not look frighten again. Since I already looked good I might as well enjoy it. It was about time, after all that insecurity that came of the Kyle-Selene drama—I’d almost lost myself to that one. I was determined to enjoy myself, and it was nice to feel the appreciative looks of other people. People?  . . . Whatever.

“Blake, what did you mean when you asked me about the moment that I met my Vocati?” It had been bothering me ever since he had asked me at lunch.

“So much for chitchat.” He grinned and leaned toward me. “It’s just a theory, but it matches each of the seven Inquirers’ cases. It’s like, when each of us met with our Vocati our frequencies connected with him or her. The strongest emotion within us in that exact moment was reflected on their faces. My guess is to create a stronger bond between us.”

A string quartet played modern songs, including the latest rock and pop and MTV hits. It sounded surprisingly cool.

“What did you come up with when you compared tests?” I asked, spurred on by our common interest in how
we
became Inquirers.

“What tests?”

“The ones from Psychology classes.”

“I couldn’t get access. I’ve been told that they cannot give me the results because it’s an invasion of privacy. But the vamps wholeheartedly assured me that their
people
were looking into it but that no pattern has been found,” he frowned.

“Have you asked the others to give you their consent? Maybe then the vamps would give in.”

“I must admit I haven’t.” His brows rose at the prospect.

“Or we could steal them.” I flashed a crooked grin.

“Now, that had crossed my mind, but it’s pretty much unfeasible. Baldur keeps them in his office, and I’m not sure how one could trick him, or any vampire.”

“Well, it just got little more feasible with me in the equation, I’d say.” I winked.

“I’m so glad someone is interested in this stuff. And I’m glad it’s you.”

I gave his shoulder a friendly shove.

We’d split up near the dessert table and I searched the room for Julia. When I finally found her, she was speaking to Mr. Matthews, and I noticed that when she laughed, she touched his arm.

Tibor was engaged in conversation with Lyndon and two porcelain dolls. Behind them, next to a marble pillar, stood Andrei Belun, all in black. He was talking with a honey-haired doll who seemed fragile and shy, and he was—different. He was drop-dead gorgeous, and serious and relaxed at the same time, like some king, or master, or something. I couldn’t stop staring. Belun looked like a fallen angel who’s seen everything, from the monstrous to the sublime, and that little smile on his face….That was not my team leader! That was some other guy who looked exactly like him!

“You look like you stepped out of a dream.” I turned and faced a doll who looked to be my age, but was a bit taller than I was.

“Luckily, you don’t look anything like my nightmares,” I offered.

She had dark, asymmetric, hair with straight bangs, and the most joyful brown eyes I’d ever seen. Her thin silver dress stopped just above the knees.

“Doris Lazar.”

“Nika Young.”