Bloodlines Chapter Ten

MY PHONE RANG JUST THEN, saving me from the awkwardness of figuring out what to do about Jill. I answered without bothering to check the caller ID. Miss Melbourne? Your services are needed immediately.Maam? I asked in surprise. Ms. Terwilligers frantic voice was non what Id been expecting. Whats wrong?I need you to point me a caramel sauce cappuccino from Spencers. in that location is absolutely no way of life I mint finish translating this document if you dont. There were a million responses I could make to that, n angiotensin-converting enzyme of which were very polite, so I went with the obvious point of logic.I dont turn over I can, I said.You moderate off-campus privileges, dont you?Well, yes, maam, but its well-nigh campus curfew. I dont know where Spencers is, but I dont think I can make it punt in sentence.Non sense datum. Whos running your dorm? That Weathers woman? Ill call down and get you an exception. Im working in nonpareil of the library offices. Meet me th ere.Despite my personal devotion to coffee, getting an exception to the schools curfew seemed kind of excessive for an errand like this. I didnt like to bend the rules. On the other hand, I was Ms. Terwilligers assistant. Wasnt this part of my job description? All the old Alchemist instincts to follow orders kicked in.Well, yes, maam, I suppose I She disconnected, and I stared at the phone in astonishment. I slang to go, I told Jill. Hopefully Ill be back soon. Maybe very soon since Ill be surprised if she remembers to call Mrs. Weathers. She didnt look up. With a shrug, I packed my lap baksheesh computer and some homework, just in case Ms. Terwilliger thought of something else for me to do.With coffee on the line, my teachers memory was good, and I found I did indeed have clearance to conduct when I went downstairs. Mrs. Weathers even gave me directions to Spencers, a coffee shop that was a few miles away. I got the cappuccino, wondering if Id be reimbursed, and picked up some thing for myself as well. The library staff at Amberwood gave me a hard time about carrying in beverages when I re off-key, but when I explained my errand, they waved me on through to the back offices. Apparently, Ms. Terwilligers addiction was well known.The library was surprisingly busy, and I quickly deduced why. After a certain point each night, guys and girls were banned from each others dorms. The library was open later, so this was the place to go to fall down out with the opposite sex. Lots of people were just there to study too, including Julia and Kristin. Sydney Over here called Kristin in a stage whisper.Break free of Terwilliger, added Julia. You can do it.I held up the coffee as I passed them. Are you kidding? If she doesnt get her caffeine soon, therell be no escaping her. Ill come back if I can. As I continued walking through, I saw a downcast cluster of students gathered around someone and heard a familiar and techy voice. Greg Slades. Curious in spite of mysel f, I walked over to the edge of the crowd. Slade was showing off something on his upper arm a tattoo.The design itself was nothing special. It was an shoot in flight, the kind of generic art all tattoo shops had in stock and copied en masse. What caught my attention was the color. It was all done in a rich, tinny silver medaly. Metallics like that werent easy to pull off, not with that sheen and intensity. I knew the chemicals that went into my own gold tattoo, and the formula was complex and composed of several rare ingredients.Slade made a halfhearted effort to keep his voice low tattoos were forbidden around here, after all but it was clear he was enjoying the attention. I observed quietly, glad others were asking some of my questions for me. Of course, those questions moreover left me with more questions.Thats brighter than the ones they used to do, one of his friends degraded.Slade tilted his arm so the light caught it. Something new. They say these are better than the ones from pull round year. Not sure if thats true, but it wasnt cheap, I can tell you that.The friend whod spoken grinned. Youll find out at tryouts. medal the red-haired girl whod been interested in Micah stretched out her leg beside Slade, revealing a slim ankle adorned with a faded butterfly tattoo. No metallics there. I might get exploit touched up, maybe for homecoming if I can get the money from my parents. Do you know if the celestial ones are better this year too? She tossed back her hair as she spoke. From what Id observed in my brief time at Amberwood, Laurel was very vain about her hair and made sure to pee it around at least every ten minutes.Slade shrugged. Didnt ask.Laurel noticed me watching. Oh, hey. Arent you lamia girls sister?My heart stopped. Vampire?Vampire? echoed Slade.How did she find out? What am I going to do? I had just begun making a list of the Alchemists I had to call when one of Laurels friends snickered. Laurel looked at them and laughed haught ily, and so turned back to me. Thats what weve decided to call her. No one human could possibly have skin that pale.I nearly sagged in relief. It was a joke one that hit painfully close to the truth, but a joke nonetheless. Still, Laurel didnt seem like someone to cross, and itd be better for all of us if it was a joke soon forgotten. I admittedly blurted out the first distracting comment that came to mind. Hey, stranger things have happened. When I first saw you, I didnt think anyone could have hair that long or that red. But you dont hear me clacking about extensions or dye. Slade nearly doubled over with laugher. I knew it I knew it was fakeLaurel flushed nearly as red as her hair. It is not Its realMiss Melbourne?I jumped at the voice behind me and found Ms. Terwilliger there, watching me with bemusement. You arent getting credit for chatting, especially when my coffees on the line. Come on.I skulked away, though hardly anyone noticed. Laurels friends were having too much fun teasing her. I hoped I had diffused the vampire jokes.Mean duration, I couldnt get the image of Gregs tattoo out of my mind. I let my thoughts wander to the mystery of what components would be needed for that silver color. I near had it reckon out at least, I had one possibility figured out and wished I had access to Alchemist ingredients to do some experiments. Ms. Terwilliger took the coffee gratefully when we reached a small workroom.Thank God, she said, after taking a long sip. She nodded at mine. Is that a backup one? Excellent thinking.No, maam, I said. Its mine. Do you want me to start in on those? A familiar stack of word of honors sat on the table, ones Id seen in her classroom. They were core parts of her research, and shed told me Id eventually need to outline and document them for her. I reached for the top one, but she stopped me.No, she said, moving toward a large briefcase. She rifled through papers and assorted office supplies, finally digging out an old lash book. Do this one instead.I took the book. Can I work out there? I was hoping if I went back to the main study area, I could talk to Kristin and Julia.Ms. Terwilliger considered. The library wont let you have the coffee. You should probably leave it in here.I waffled, debating whether my desire to talk to Kristin and Julia outweighed the likelihood that Ms. Terwilliger would drink my coffee before I got back. I decided to take the risk and bid my coffee a painful farewell as I hauled my books and gear back out to the library.Julia eyed Ms. Terwilligers nonplus book with disdain. Isnt that just on the internet somewhere?Probably not. Im guessing no ones even looked at this since before the internet was invented. I opened the cover. system fluttered out. Way before. Kristin had math homework open in front of her but didnt look particularly interested in it. She tapped a pen absentmindedly against the textbooks cover. So you saw Slades tattoo?Hard not to, I said, getting out my lapto p. I glanced across the screen. Hes still showing it off.Hes wanted one for a while but never had the money, explained Julia. Last year, all the big athletes had them. Well, except for Trey Juarez.Trey almost doesnt need one, pointed out Kristin. Hes that good.He will now if he wants to keep up with Slade, said Julia.Kristin shook her head. He still wont do it. Hes against them. He tried reporting them to Mr. Green last year, but no one believed him.I looked back and forth between them, more lost than ever. Are we still talking about tattoos? About Trey needing one or not? You really havent found out yet? asked Julia.Its my second day, I pointed out with frustration. Remembering I was in a library, I spoke more softly. The only people who have really talked about them are Trey and you guys and you havent said much of anything.They had the grace to look embarrassed by that, at least. Kristin opened her mouth, paused, and then seemed to change what she was going to say. Youre sure y ours doesnt do anything?Positive, I lied. How is that even possible?Julia cast a glance around the library and twisted in her chair. She turn her shirt up a little, exposing her lower back and a faded tattoo of a swallow in flight. Satisfied that Id seen it, she turned back around. I got this last spring break and it was the best spring break ever.Because of the tattoo? I asked skeptically.When I got it, it didnt look like this. It was metallic not like yours. Or Slades. More likeCopper, provided Kristin.Julia thought about it and nodded. Yeah, like reddish-goldish. The color only lasted a week, and while it did, it was amazing. Like, I have never felt that good. It was inhumanly good. The best graduate(prenominal) ever.I swear, theres some kind of drug in those celestials, said Kristin. She was trying to sound disapproving, but I thought I detected a note of envy. If you had one, youd understand, Julia told her.Celestials I heard that girl over there talk about them, I said.Lau rel? asked Julia. Yeah, thats what they call the copper ones. Because they make you feel out of this world. She looked almost embarrassed about her enthusiasm. Stupid name, huh?Is that what Slades does? I asked, stunned at what was unfolding before me.No, hes got a mark one, said Kristin. Those give you a big athletic boost. Like, youre stronger, faster. Stuff like that. They last longer than the celestials more like two weeks. Sometimes three, but the effect fades. They call them steel because theyre tough, I guess. And maybe because theres steel in them.Not steel, I thought. A silver compound. The art of using metal to bind certain properties in skin was one the Alchemists had perfected a long time ago. Gold was the absolute best, which was why we used it. Other metals when formulated in the proper ways achieved similar effects, but neither silver nor copper would bind the way gold could. The copper tattoo was easy to understand. Any number of feel-good substances or drugs co uld be combined with that for a short-term effect. The silver one was more difficult for me to understand or rather, the effects of the silver one. What they were describing sounded like some kind of athletic steroid. Would silver hold that? Id have to check.How more people have these? I asked them, awestruck. I couldnt believe that such complicated tattoos were so popular here. It was also beginning to sink in just how fuddled the student body here really was. The materials alone would cost a fortune, let alone any of the alleged side effects.Everyone, said Julia.Kristin scowled. Not everyone. Ive almost got enough saved up, though.Id say half the schools at least tried a celestial, said Julia, flashing her friend a comforting look. You can get them touched up again later but it still costs money.Half the school? I repeated incredulously. I looked around, wondering how many shirts and drawers concealed tattoos. This is crazy. I cant believe a tattoo can do any of that. I hoped I was doing an okay job of hiding how much I really knew.Get a celestial, said Julia with a grin. Then youll believe.Where do you get them?Its a place called Nevermore, said Kristin. Theyre selective, though, and dont give them out easily. Not that selective, I thought, if half the school had them. They got a lot more cautious after Trey tried to turn them in. There was Treys name again. It now made sense that hed been so disdainful of my tattoo when we met. But I wondered why he cared so much enough to try to get them shut down. That wasnt just a casual disagreement.I guess he thinks its unfair? I offered diplomatically.I think hes just jealous that he cant afford one, said Julia. Hes got a tattoo, you know. Its a sun on his back. But its just a regular black one not gold like yours. Ive never seen anything like yours.So thats why you thought mine made me smart, I said.That couldve been really useful during finals, said Julia wistfully. Youre sure thats not why you know so much? I smiled, disrespect how appalled I was by what Id just learned. I wish. It might make getting through this book easier. Which, I added, glancing at the clock. I should get to. It was on Greco-Roman priests and magicians, a kind of grimoire detailing the kinds of spells and rituals theyd worked with. It wasnt terrible reading material, but it was long. Id thought Ms. Terwilligers research was more focused on mainstream religions in that era, so the book seemed like a weird choice. Maybe she was hoping to include a section on alternative magical practices. Regardless, who was I to question? If she asked, Id do it.I outlasted both Kristin and Julia in the library, since I had to stay as long as Ms. Terwilliger stayed, which was until the library closed. She seemed pleased that Id gotten so far with the notes and told me shed like the whole book completed in three days.Yes, maam, I said automatically, as if I didnt have any other classes at this school. Why did I incessantly agree wi thout thinking?I returned to East Campus, bleary-eyed from all the work Id done and exhausted over the thought of the homework remaining. Jill was fast asleep, which I took as a small blessing. I wouldnt have to face her accusing stare or figure out how to handle the awkward silence. I got ready for bed quickly and quietly and down asleep almost as soon as I hit the pillow.I woke at around three to the sound of crying. Shaking off my sleepy haze, I was able to make out Jill sitting up in her bed, her face buried in her hands. Great, shaking sobs racked her body.Jill? I asked uncertainly. Whats wrong?In the umbrageous light coming in from outside, I saw Jill raise her head and look at me. Unable to answer, she shook her head and began crying once more, this time more loudly. I got up and came to sit on the edge of her bed. I couldnt quite bring myself to hug or touch her for comfort. Nonetheless, I felt terrible. I knew this had to be my fault.Jill, Im so mordant. I never should h ave gone to see Adrian. When Lee mentioned you, I shouldve just stopped it there and told him to talk to you if he was interested. I shouldve just talked to you in the first place The words came out in a jumble. When I looked at her, all I could think of was Zoe and her horrible accusations on the night Id left.Somehow, my do always backfired.Jill sniffled and managed to get out a few words before breaking down again. Its not its not thatI stared helplessly at her tears, frustrated at myself. Kristin and Julia thought I was superhumanly smart. Yet I guaranteed one of them wouldve been able to comfort Jill a hundred times better than I could. I reached out my hand and nearly patted her arm but pulled back at the last moment. No, I couldnt do that. That Alchemist voice in me, the voice that always warned me to keep my distance from vampires, wouldnt let me touch one in a way that was so personal.Then what is it? I asked at last.She shook her head. Its not I cant tell you wouldnt und erstand.With Jill, I thought, any number of things could be wrong. The uncertainty of her royal status. The threats against her. Being sent away from all her family and friends, trapped among humans in the gross(a) sun. I really didnt know where to start. Last night, there had been a chilling, desperate terror in her eyes when she woke up. But this was different. This was sorrow. This was from the heart.What can I do to help? I asked at last.It took her a few moments to pull herself together. Youre already doing plenty, she managed. We all appreciate it really. Especially after what Keith said to you. Was there nothing Adrian hadnt told her? And Im sorry Im sorry I was so bitchy to you earlier. You didnt deserve that. You were just trying to help.No dont apologize. I messed up.You dont have to worry, you know, she added. About Micah. I understand. I only want to be his friend.I was pretty sure that I still wasnt doing a great job at making her feel better. But I had to admit, apo logizing to me at least seemed to be distracting her from whatever had woken her to so much pain.I know, I said. I should never have worried about you.She assured me again that she was fine, with no more explanation about why shed woken up crying. I felt like I should have done more to help, but instead, I made my way back to my own bed. I didnt hear any more sobs for the rest of the night, but once, when I woke up a couple hours later, I stole a glance at her. Her features were just barely discernible in the early light. She lay there, eyes wide open and staring off into nothingness, a stalk look on her face.