Bloodlines Chapter Twenty-Three

WHAT DID YOU DO?I was sitting on the fetch up of a row of seats at Jills fashion show some a week later, in level-headed dealtown Palm Springs, postponement for matters to start. I hadnt even known tether was at the show and was startled to on the spur of the moment dumbfound him kneeling beside me.What but argon you referring to? I asked him. T here(predicate) are ab unwrap a million things I can take credit rating for.He scoffed and kept his phonate pitched low, which wasnt too necessary with the dumb roar of conver sit downion around us. Several hundred had morseled out to meet the show.Im talking roughly Slade and paladins, and you know it, three express. Theyve been really countermand nigh something this week. They keep complaining about those witless tattoos. He looked at me sloshedingfully.What? I asked, putting on a face of innocence. Why do you think this has eitherthing to do with me?Are you saying it doesnt? he asked, non fooled in the least.I coul d feel a traitorous grinning playing everyplace my lips. After raiding Keiths apartment, the Alchemists had yield sure his tattooist partners no darklong had the mode to administer illicit tattoos. on that pointd also been no much talk of Zoe renewal me. It had taken days in the beginning Slade and his friends had realized their connection to performance-enhancing ink was gone. Id been find their furtive conversations with am go forment this week tho hadnt realized triad had observe as advantageously.Lets exactly say that Slade may soon no monthlong be the superstar hes been, I verbalize. Hope youre puddle to step up and take his place.Trey studied me a a couple of(prenominal) moments more than, apparently hoping Id chip in something else. When I didnt, he simply shook his head and chuckled. Anytime you need coffee, Melbourne, you jut in see me.Noted, I verbalise. I gestured toward the thus far-growing crowd. What are you doing here whatsoever commission? I didnt realize you were interested in todays hottest fashions.Im non, he agreed. only Ive got a duo of friends working on the show.Girlfriends? I asked slyly.He rolled his look. Friends who are girls. I have no time for silly female distractions.Really? I figured thats why you got your tattoo. I control women go for that kind of thing.Trey stiffened. What are you talking about?I remembered that Kristin and Julia had mentioned how strange it was that Trey had a tattoo of his own and Eddie had later mentioned see it on Treys lower clog in the locker room. Eddie had said it looked standardized a multi-rayed sun frenetice of very ordinary ink. Id been waiting for a chance to tease Trey about it.Dont play coy. I know about your sunshine. How beget it you ever so urinate me such(prenominal) a gruelling time, huh?IHe was sincerely at a loss. More than that. He looked uncomfortable, worried equal this was something he hadnt expected me to know about. That was weird. It wa snt that big a deal. I was about to straits him more when Adrian suddenly make his way to us with the crowd. Trey took one look at Adrians stormy face and immediately got to his feet. I could understand his reaction. Adrians expression wouldve intimidated me too.Well, said Trey uneasily. Thanks again. Ill uplift you later.I murmured a goodbye and watched as Adrian slipped past me. Micah sat beside me, past Eddie, and then two empty seats wed saved. Adrian sat follow through in one of them, ignoring Eddies greeting. Moments later, lee came hurrying in and took the early(a)wise seat. He looked degenerate about something but save managed to be friendlier than Adrian. Adrian stared stonily ahead, and my good h girdonyal mode plummeted. Somehow, without knowing why, I had a feeling I was the reason for his grimy mood.We had no time to pursue it, though. The lights went down and the show began. It was emceed by a local newscaster, who introduced the louvre designers showing to shadow. Jills designer was third, and watching the separates go forward her make the anticipation that much more intense. This was worlds away from the practice sessions Id seen before. The lights and the music took everything to a more professional level, and the other models seemed so much erstwhile(a) and seasoned. I began to share Jills antecedent anxiety, that maybe she was out of her league. whence Lia DiStefanos overrule came. Jill was one of her first models and emerged wearing a flowing, smooth-spokeny evening enclothe made of some fabric that seemed to defy gravity. A half sham of pearls and smooth-spoken cover up her part of her face, obscuring her identity to those who didnt know better. I wouldve expected them to tone down her lamia features a little, to possibly give her a little more human the like coloring material. Instead, theyd played up her uncommon looks, putting a luminescent powder on her skin that heighten her sentryness in a way that made he r look otherworldly. either single curl had been arranged into place, artfully magnetic inclinationing around her and bedecked with comminuted glittering jewels.Her walk had improved vastly since that first practice. Shed practically slept in those high heels and had gone beyond simply not trying to fall over. There was a new confidence and finding that hadnt been there before. either once in a while, Id catch a faint glimpse of nervousness in her eyes or an ad unspoiltment in her footmark as she managed the tall silver heels. I doubted anyone else noticed those things, however. Anyone who didnt know Jill and her traits well would see nothing but a strong, ethereal woman striding down the catwalk. Amazing. If she could transform this much with only a little encouragement, what more was to come?Glancing at the blackguards beside me, I saw similar feelings mirrored in their faces. Adrians was overindulge with that brotherly pride he often had for her, all traces of his earlier bragging(a) mood vanished. Micah and lee(prenominal) both displayed pure, unfiltered adoration. To my surprise, Eddies expression was adoring too, along with something else. It was some worshipful. This was it, I realized. In coming out as this beautiful, larger-than-life goddess-like creature, Jill was openhanded flesh to all of Eddies idealistic, protective fantasies. She was the perfect princess now, with her dutiful knight waiting to serve.She appeared two more times in Lias line, immobilise from for each one one time, though never quite matching that initial debut in the silver dress. I watched the rest of the show with only half an eye. My pride and ticker for Jill were too distracting, and honestly, some of the clothes I saw tonight were way too flashy for my tastes.There was a reception later on the show, where guests, designers, and models could integrate over refreshments. My little group found a corner show up the hors doeuvres to wait for Jill, who had yet t o make an appearance. Lee carried an enormous bouquet of snow-white lilies. Adrian watched a waitress go by with a tray full of bubbly glasses. His eyes were filled with longing, but he made no moves to h overaged in her. I was proud and relieved. Jill, balance, and alcohol were not things we necessityed to mix.When the waitress was gone, Adrian off-key to me, and I finally saw that earlier anger return. And, as Id suspected, it was direct toward me.When were you going to report me? he asked.It was as enigmatic as Treys earlier opening line. Tell you what?That the financial aid isnt going to come through I talked to the registrars office, and they said you knew.I sighed. I wasnt keeping it from you, exactly. I incisively didnt have a chance to assure you yet. There were kind of a lot of other things going on. Okay, I actually had been putting it off, for exactly this reason. Well, not exactly. I hadnt anticipated he would get so worked up about it.You apparently had becomin g time to pay the auditing fee, though. And enough money. But not enough to fund new lodging.I think what was more disruptionting about this than the glide byic was the insinuation that I had somehow chosen to act in a way that would inconvenience him. Like Id by choice subject myself to this if thered been some way to avoid it.A onetime payment was easy to slip in, I told him. Month-to-month rent? Not so much. then(prenominal) why bother at all? he exclaimed. The whole place of this was to get me money to get out of Clarences I wouldnt be winning these wooden-headed classes otherwise. You think I want to ride the bus for hours each day?Those classes are good for you, I countered, feeling my own resentment rise. I hadnt wanted to lose control, not here and certainly not with our friends witnessing everything. Yet I was appalled at Adrians reaction. Couldnt he see how good it was for him to do something useful? Id seen his face when he showed me his paintings. Theyd dispose d him a sizeable channel to deal with Rose, not to mention a sense of purpose for him. And besides, it killed me to see how casually he could just toss aside those stupid classes. It was some other reminder of the unfairness of the world, how I couldnt have what others took for granted.He scowled. sincere for me? total on, stop being my mom again It isnt your job to range me how to live my life. If I want your advice, Ill ask for it.Right, I said, putting my turn over on my hips. Its not my job to tell you how to live your life just my job to make it as easy as possible for you. Because god knows you cant suffer through anything thats a little inconvenient. What retrieveed to all those things you told me? About being serious about improving your life? When you asked me to believe in you?Come on, you guys, said Eddie uneasily. This isnt the time or place.Adrian ignored him. You have no line of work making Jills life as easy as possible.That is my job, I growled sand. And shes still a girl. I wouldnt think an adult like you would need pickings care of the same wayAdrians eyes were filled with emerald fire as he glared down at me, and then his gaze focused on something behind me. I turned and saw Jill coming. She was back in the silver gown, her expression full of radiant happiness happiness that plummeted as she got walk-to(prenominal) and realized there was an altercation going on. By the time she was rest next to me, all her excitement from a moment ago had been replaced by worry and concern.Whats happening? she asked, looking between Adrian and me. Of course, she had to already know because of the bond. It was a wonder his dark feelings hadnt messed up her performance.Nothing, I said flatly.Well, said Adrian. It depends how you decide nothing. I mean, if you consider guile and Stop it I cried, raising my voice in spite of my best effort. The room was too noisy for most to notice, but a couple people standing nigh glanced at us curiously. J ust stop it, Adrian. Can you please not defile this for her? Cant you just for one night pretend there are other people in the world who matter besides you?Ruin it for her? he exclaimed. How the hell can you say that? You know what Ive done for her Ive done everything for her Ive given up everything for herReally? I asked. Because from what I can tell, it doesnt seem like I caught sight of Jills face and promptly cut myself off. Behind the mask, her eyes had gone wide with dismay at the accusations Adrian and I were slinging back and forth. Id just told Adrian he was selfish and not thinking of Jill, yet here I was, continuing to engage with him on her big night, in movement of her and our friends. It didnt matter if I was right and I felt certain I was. This was no time to be having this discussion. I shouldnt have let Adrian drive me into this, and if he didnt have the sense to stop things before they got worse, then I would.Im leaving, I said. I forced as sincere a smile as I could for Jill, who now looked on the verge of tears. You were amazing tonight. Really.Sydney Its okay, I told her. Ive got some things to do. I groped for what they would actually be. I need to, um, clean up the stuff Keith left behind. Can you get her and Eddie back to Amberwood? This was directed to Micah and Lee. I knew one of them would step up. I felt no need to make any such provisions for Adrian. I honestly didnt care what became of him tonight.Of course, said Lee and Micah in unison. After a moment, though, Lee frowned. Why do you need to clean up Keiths stuff?Long story, I muttered. Lets just say he left town and wont be back anytime soon. perhaps never. Inexplicably, Lee seemed bothered by this. Maybe during all the time Keith had fagged at Clarences, the two guys had become friends. If so, Lee owed me.Jill still looked upset. I conception we were all going out to celebrate?You can if you want, I said. As long as Eddies with you, I really dont care. I reached awkwar dly to Jill. I almost wanted to hug her, but she was so elaborate and first-class in her clothing and makeup that I was afraid of ruining her. I settled for a halfhearted pat on the shoulder. I meant it. You were breathtaking.I hurried away, half-afraid that either Adrian or I would crack and say something stupid to the other. I had to get myself out of there. My hope now was that Adrian would have enough sense to let the topic go and not make this night any worse for Jill. I didnt know why the fight with him upset me so much. He and I had been bickering nearly since wed met. What was one more quarrel? Its because wed been getting along, I realized. I still didnt think of him in human terms, but somewhere along the way, Id come to regard him as a little less of a monster.Sydney?I was stopped by an unexpected source laurel wreath. She had touched my arm as I passed by a group of girls from Amberwood. I must have looked really mad because when I fixed my gaze on her, she actually fli nched. That had to be a first.What? I asked.She swallowed and stepped away from her friends, eyes wide and desperate. A fedora covered most of her hair, which Id comprehend she still hadnt been able to restore to normal. I heard I heard you might be able to cooperate me. With my hair, she said.That was another favor Kristin had done me. After letting Laurel suffer for a few days, Id had Kristin put out the word that Sydney Melrose with her dorm room chemists might be able to fix what was wrong. Id also made sure, however, that it was unsounded that Laurel wasnt my favorite person and that it would take a lot to exchange me.Maybe, I said. I tried to keep my face hard, which wasnt difficult since I was still so upset over Adrian.Please, she said. Ill do whatever you want if you can help me Ive tried everything on my hair, and nothing works. To my astonishment, she shoved some yearbooks at me. Here. You wanted these, right? Take them. Take whatever you want.Another five days of scrubbing with heavy detergent would actually fix her, but I certainly wasnt going to tell her. I took the yearbooks. If I help you, I said, you need to bring out my sister alone. Do you understand?Yes, she said quickly.I dont think you do. No more stunts, bullying, or talking about her behind her back. You dont have to be her best friend, but I dont want you interfering with her anymore. Stay out of her life. I paused. Well, except to offer an apology.Laurel was nodding along with everything I said. Yes, yes Ill apologize right nowI lifted my eyes to where Jill was standing with her admirers, Lees flowers in her arms. No. Dont make this night any weirder for her. Tomorrows soon enough.I will, said Laurel. I promise. Just tell me what to do. How to fix this.I hadnt expected Laurel to approach me tonight, but I had been expecting her one of these days. So, I already had the small bottle of antidote ready in my purse. I retrieved it, and her eyes nearly popped out of her head as I h eld it in front of her.One dose is all you need. work it just like shampoo. Then youll have to re-dye it. She reached for the bottle, and I jerked it back. I mean it. Your harassment of Jill ends now. If I give this to you, I will not hear one more word about you braggart(a) her a hard time. No more grief if she talks to Micah. No more vampire jokes. No more avocation Nevermore and asking about tall, pale people.She gaped. No more what? I never called anyoneI hesitated. When the tattooist had mentioned someone calling and asking about people who looked like vampires, Id assumed it was Laurel runnel with the vampire joke. From the baffled look on her face now, I no longer thought that was true. Well, if I hear about any of the other stuff continuing, then what happened to your hair will be nothing in comparison to what happens next. Nothing. Do you understand me?She nodded shakily. P-perfectly.I handed her the bottle. Dont forget.Laurel started to turn away and then cast another uneasy glance at me. You know, you can be scary as hell sometimes.I wondered if the Alchemists had had any idea what Id be doing when it came to this job. At least this settled one thing. Laurels hopelessness convinced me the vampire jokes had only been a tactic. She didnt really believe any of them were true. It did, however, raise the unnerving question about who had asked about vampires at Nevermore.When I was finally out of the building and heading toward my car, I decided I really would go to Keiths. Someone needed to sort through his belongings, and it seemed like a safe way to avoid the others. I still had a couple of hours before curfew at Amberwood.Keiths apartment hadnt been disturbed since the Alchemists had raided it. The telltale signs from before were there, where wed discovered his stash of Clarences blood and silver supplies. The Alchemists had done little more than retrieve the essentials they needed and had left the rest of his belongings behind. My hope in coming tonight had been to get ahold of his other ingredients, the ones not used to bring into being illicit tattoos. It was always handy to have extra amounts of those chemicals on hand, be it for destroying Strigoi bodies or making dorm room chemistry experiments.No such luck. Even if his other supplies hadnt been illegal, the Alchemists had apparently decided to confiscate all chemicals and ingredients. Since I was here, though, I decided to see if any of his other possessions were items that would be of use to me. Keith certainly hadnt held back in using his illicit funds to grant the apartment with every comfort of home. Scratch that. I doubted his home had anything like this a California-king-sized bed, giant flatscreen TV, a theater-worthy sound system, and enough food to throw parties every night for the next month. I peered through cupboard after cupboard, appalled at how much of that food was junk food. Still, maybe itd be worth taking some of it back for Jill and Eddie, so I bagged up the more portable sweets for them, organizing by color and size.I wondered also about the practicality of hauling the TV back to Amberwood. It seemed like a waste to leave it for the Alchemists repo crew, though I could already imagine Mrs. Weatherss expression if she saw us dragging it up the stairs. I wasnt even sure Jill and I had a wall big enough to hold it. I sat down in Keiths recliner to ponder the TV issue. Even the recliner was top of the line. The luxurious leather felt like butter, and I practically sank into the cushions. in any case bad there was no room for it in Ms. Terwilligers room. I could see her relaxing back in it while drinking cappuccino and reading old documents.Well, whatever became of the rest of Keiths stuff, it was going to require the rental of a pitiful truck because Latte certainly couldnt handle the TV, chair, or most of the other things. Once this was decided, there was no reason for me to stay any longer tonight, but I hated to go back. I was afraid of seeing Jill. There was no reaction of hers I welcomed. If she was still sad from the argument, that would make me feel guilty. If she tried to defend Adrian, that would upset me too.I sighed. This chair was so ridiculously comfortable, I might as well enjoy it a little longer. I dug into my messenger bag, looking for homework, and remembered the yearbooks. Kelly Hayes. Id had almost no time to think about her or the murders, not with all the shimmer surrounding Keith and the tattoos. Kelly had been a minor(postnominal) when she died, and I had a yearbook for each of her years at Amberwood.Even as a freshman, Kelly took lots of lay in the yearbook. I remembered Mrs. Weathers saying Kelly was a good athlete. No kidding. Kelly had participated in nearly every sport Amberwood offered and been exceptional at all of them. Shed made varsity teams during her first year and won all sorts of awards. One thing I also immediately discovered was that Kelly was definitely not a Moroi. That much was obvious, even in black and white, and confirmed in the sophomore-year color spread in the middle. She had a very human build and tanned skin that clearly loved the sun.I was skimming the index of the junior yearbook when I heard a knock at the door. For a moment, I didnt want to answer. For all I knew, it was some loser friend Keith had made while here, looking to eat his food and watch TV. Then I worried it could be something Alchemist related. I found the Kelly protection percentage Id been seeking and set the yearbook down before tentatively approaching the door. Looking out the peephole, I caught sight of a familiar face.Lee? I asked, opening the door.He gave me a sheepish smile. Hey. Sorry to tap you here.What are you doing here? I exclaimed, beckoning him inside. Why arent you back with the others?He followed me into the existing room. I I needed to talk to you. When you said you were coming here, it made me wonder if what my father had said was true . That Keith isnt here anymore?I sat back down on the recliner. Lee took a spot on the nearby loveseat. Yup. Keiths gone. He was, uh, reassigned. Keith was off being punished somewhere, and I said good riddance.Lee glanced around, taking in the expensive furnishings. This is a adequate place. His eyes fell on the cabinet that had held the alchemy supplies. Its door still hung precariously from its hinges, and I hadnt bothered tidying up where the Alchemists had cleaned out its other contents.Was this Lee frowned. Was this place broken into?Not exactly, I said. Keith, um, just needed to find something in a hurry before he left.Lee wrung his manpower and looked around some more before turning back to me. And hes not coming back?Probably not.Lees face fell, which surprised me. Id always gotten the whimsey he didnt like Keith. Will another Alchemist be replacing him?I dont know, I said. There was still some debate on that. bout Keith in had stopped me from being replaced by Zoe, and Stanton was now considering just having me fill in as the local Alchemist since the duties were light. If someone does, it may be a while.So youre the only Alchemist in the area, he repeated, sounding sadder still.I shrugged. There are some in Los Angeles.That inexplicably perked him up a little. Really? Could you tell me their Lee stopped as his focus dropped to the open yearbook lying at my feet. Oh, I said, scooping it up. Just a research project Im doing on Kelly Hayes. The cheerful look was gone.Yeah. Have you heard of her? I reached for a nearby piece of scrap paper, intending to use it as a bookmark for the tribute section.You might say that, he replied.I started to ask what he meant, and thats when I saw it. The spread theyd done in honor of Kelly had sketchs from all move of her high school life. Unsurprisingly, most of them were pictures of her playing sports. There were a few from other areas of her social and academic worlds, including one of her at the prom. She wo re a stunning blue satin dress that made the most of her athletic figure and was giving the camera a big grin as she wrapped an arm around her dashing, tuxedo-clad date.Lee.I jerked my head up and looked at Lee, who was now regarding me with an illegible expression. I turned back to the picture, scrutinizing it carefully. What was remarkable wasnt that Lee was in the picture though, believe me, I hadnt figured out what was going on with that yet. What had me hung up was the timing. This yearbook was five years old. Lee wouldve been fourteen at the time, and the guy looking back at me with Kelly was certainly not that young. The Lee in the picture looked exactly like the nineteen-year-old sitting across from me, which was impossible. Moroi had no special(prenominal) immortality. They aged like humans. I looked back up, wondering if I should be asking if he had a brother.Lee saved me from questioning, though. He simply regarded me with a sad look and shook his head. Shit. I hadnt w anted it to happen like this.And then, he took out a knife.