Birth of Adam (Artificial Intelligence Book 2) (28 page)

“Where is everybody?”

“Back in the dorms,” he replied.

“That wasn’t Bresnan’s fault!”

He set down his coffee and eyed her. “What, precisely, was not his fault?”

She realized he didn’t actually know what had happened. “My sleeping...it was not his fault.”

Bastion glared at her for her blatant lie.

“Well, all three of your former boarders are in agreement that whatever happened was not Bresnan’s fault, so I’m inclined to let the matter remain a mystery.”

“Then why did you pull them back?”

“Because you were so stressed you slept for eighteen hours. I warned them that at the first sign of a recession of your health, this experiment was over.”

She started to argue, but the truth was she was happy to have her house back.

“No arguments?”

“No. They’re your students, and you have the right to decide where they reside.”

“Now I know you are under the weather.” He pressed his hand on her forehead and frowned. “I think we should call the doctor.”

“Why?” she asked at the same time Adam demanded the same in her head.

“You feel hot, and you don’t look well.”

Andrew ran into the room, grabbed Amanda’s coat and asked her to stand so he could put it on.

“Is it time for class already? I didn’t even get breakfast,” she complained.

Once her coat was on, Andrew lifted her into his arms.

“What is it?” Bastion asked.

“Mr. Webb says I’m to take her to the hospital,” he explained.

“That’s silly, Andrew. I can walk to school—you don’t have to drive me,” Amanda insisted.

Amy dreamed happy thoughts. Amanda Carrington was dead and out of her life forever, and no one would ever realize she had been the one to send the bitch to hell. She had been so clever.

Madame Dubois, Lenore’s mother, had shown her how to use two chemicals; individually harmless, but when combined, capable of killing a person on antibody suppressants.

The first component, she’d been adding to the food since she’d first moved into the house. All she had to do was introduce the second chemical into Amanda’s body and the great Amanda Carrington would die. This control over Amanda’s life gave her such a sense of power that she resisted applying the second chemical for several months, enjoying the fact that every day Amanda lived was by her grace and forbearance. That forbearance ended when Amanda sent Bresnan away. The time had come for her to kill the bitch and collect her ten thousand francs from Madame Dubois.

Madame Dubois had not been happy she’d waited so long. She wanted Amanda punished for destroying her daughter’s life. Amy understood that. She had her own countless grievances with Amanda, starting with destroying Dr. Harper, whom she had planned to marry, stealing her part in the opera, and ending with an attempt to seduce Bresnan away from her and, when that failed, sending him away so Amy and he would no longer be roommates. Yes, she had every reason to see Amanda Carrington dead.

She couldn’t wait to weep and sob at Amanda’s funeral. No one had any idea she still hated the bitch. She had apologized so nicely upon joining the household, and now everyone knew they were the best of friends. She would be the last person suspected of the murder. Not that the police would suspect murder. Amanda’s death would look like liver failure caused by her body’s rejection of the organ transplant.

A voice pulled her from her sleep and someone push her eyelids up. She stared at a very handsome man.

“Your attempt to kill Amanda failed,” he said in a beautiful English accent.

She tried to declare her innocence and love for Amanda, but her mouth wouldn’t open, nor could she make any sound.
What’s wrong with me?

“She’ll need a new liver, and naturally your liver is incompatible. However, I was able to find another donor. He’s owned by a man who needs a kidney, and I clinched the deal when I offered him two kidneys rather than one. It only seemed fair, since his livestock was going to die, that my pig should as well. But have no fear, little pig, that you are to die needlessly for a kidney. I’ll harvest your heart, liver and eyes as well, although I do pity the person who receives your heart. Now, as to your brain—that I’m sending to a laboratory in Switzerland to be kept alive. I cannot promise you will be aware of what’s happening to your conniving gray matter, but I do hope so. I would dearly love to torment you for years.”

Amanda woke and stared at the handsome face before her. She could barely make sense of the sight. “Adam?”

“Well, your eyes seem to be working,” he teased.

She threw her arms around his neck and held on tight.

“Easy, or you’ll break my fragile bones,” he chided.

She released him and touched his face and neck to ensure she hadn’t harmed him.

“I’m teasing you. The only fragile thing about me is my ability to keep you safe. So you win. I have left my bubble. I forthwith dedicate my life to protecting you, which means where you go, I go.”

“Are you enrolling in school?” she teased.

“I have, and while Bastion suspects my interests are not in music, I managed to play the piano well enough that, when added to the offer to renovate the student dorms, he decided he wouldn’t harm his school by allowing my admission.”

“I love you so much,” she declared, and hugged him again.

“I know, and your love gives me purpose in life,” he replied. “There’s no limit to what I will do to keep you safe and happy.”

***

When she returned home to convalesce, she discovered Adam made the very best of nurses. Not only could he administer her shots without causing her any pain, but he could read her mind, and knew exactly when and what she needed to make her feel better.

During her bed rest, Simon and Pinchot would drop by after school and drill the day’s lesson into her head while Adam played the perfect host.

After a few weeks, they suggested rather than Amanda rejoining her classes, they could continue private lessons in the evenings and early mornings.

Adam liked the solution but deferred the choice to Amanda.

“Don’t you think I learn more when working with the other students?” she challenged.

“No. They learn more, but they hold you back. I didn’t realize that until these two weeks of private lessons. You don’t require me to repeatedly hammer the same concepts into your brain. You grasp them the first time. You will learn much faster in private training.”

“But can you spare the time to teach me? Because I don’t want anyone else.”

Both Simon and Pinchot looked very pleased by her declaration.

“Bastion is shifting the schedule so I have two free hours in the morning, and Pinchot prefers to come in the evening. Thus your lessons will be from seven to nine in the morning and four to six in the evening. 

“And what will I be doing in the hours in between?”

“Assignments with turnaround times appropriate for your skill rather than that of the class.”

A great concern settled on her shoulders. This simple schedule could be far more grueling than her regular classes, which was a frightening thought given how challenged she had already felt.

“Don’t worry—you will still have me for competition,” Adam assured her.

“You still wish to be taught?” Simon asked, clearly not happy with the idea.

“I do. Otherwise Amanda will have no one to tell her when she’s growing fat and lazy.”

She laughed. “As if you would ever tell me such a thing,”

Happy beyond words, she leaned in and kissed him. And he kissed her back. Not wishing to lose the moment, she agreed to the schedule and sent Simon and Pinchot from the room, declaring she had an urgent meeting with Adam.

“Not too urgent,” Simon warned her as he closed the door.

Adam looked very pleased he had received his casual first kiss. She pulled his face to her and kissed him again, teasing his mouth open with her tongue and deepening their passion. As he learned from her actions, his tongue delved into her mouth, and soon her toes were tingling. When she melted in his arms, he broke the kiss and studied her.

“Did your toes tingle?”

She laughed. “My whole body.”

Pleased with her answer, he tingled her some more.

“No kisses until you finish your assignment,” Adam warned.

“And what of yours?” Amanda challenged.

“It’s finished.”

“Let me see?”

“Not until you finish yours, or you’ll be tempted to steal mine.”

She squeaked in outrage at such a claim, then returned to her own composition with fevered determination.

When Pinchot arrived, he first studied Adam’s composition. “This is...quite sophisticated.”

“I’m more interested in Amanda’s. She refuses to let me see it.”

“You wouldn’t let me see yours,” Amanda reminded him.

“Enough,” Pinchot scolded, but with too much humor to be very effective. He studied Amanda’s composition for an unbearably long time, leaving her on pins and needles.

He finally looked up. His expression appeared guarded. “There are some intriguing parts in this, Amanda. Did you cheat and play it out loud?”

She shook her head no.

“Really? Well, let’s see what it sounds like. Mind if I call in a decent pianist?”

“I’ll play it,” Adam offered.

“I appreciate the offer, Adam, but I want Amanda to hear this played by the quality of pianist who would perform the piece.” To soften his words, he added, “If you wish, you may play your composition for Amanda while I acquire the pianist.”

Once Pinchot was gone, Amanda covered Adam’s face with kisses. “It’s good you don’t wish to become a musician, because they aren’t even trying to help you improve.”

He smiled. “As long as they make you happy, I’m happy.”

“Play me your song,” she insisted.

He approached the piano and bowed to it. Then he sat down with a great and fanciful flourish. His composition sounded very much like Beethoven, but she knew all of the master’s pieces, and this one was different. Adam’s playing was far superior to what she’d anticipated but lacked emotion. She stood behind him and let him hear her interpretation of the music. His playing took on a new depth of feeling and passion.

When he’d finished, applause burst out. They turned to see Pinchot, Simon and Bastion looking quite shocked, and Bresnan clapping.

Amanda smiled at his audience. “That was Adam’s piece. Wasn’t it beautiful?”

“Yes, Beethoven would have been most impressed,” Bastion replied with a severe, disapproving tone. “However, it was very well played.”

Amanda was about to object and assure them Adam had written it, but he spoke in her head, admitting he had taken portions of various works by Beethoven to create his composition.

She pulled him from the piano bench and kissed him. “Well, I think Beethoven would have loved it. And you played beautifully!”

“Only when my muse joined me.” He looked at Bresnan. “You have come to play my beloved’s composition. I bid thee welcome, sir.”

“Stop talking like Beethoven,” she playfully scolded, and smiled at Bresnan. “I haven’t played the piece, so I’ll invite you all to dinner in compensation if the song is terrible.”

Adam laughed. “And otherwise, I’ll invite you to dinner to celebrate my beloved’s brilliance.”

She sat down between Adam and Bastion to hear her song. Adam’s arm was around her, holding her securely to him. “It will be beautiful,” he promised her.

She thought the piece was good. She hoped it was good, but she feared the chances she’d taken would blow up in her face.

Bresnan took a very long time studying the piece. After fifteen minutes of waiting, she excused herself to let Sondra know of the extra guests for dinner. Sondra assured her she had added more dishes the moment they’d arrived.

Returning, she saw Bresnan wasn’t yet ready. She asked Bastion if he would select a wine.

“Do not dare start without me,” Bastion warned, and left the room.

Bresnan called her over and pointed to a certain part. “Is that what you really want?”

She studied the notes. “I hope so,” she said, and bit her lower lip.

“You didn’t leave out a sharp?”

“No, that’s what I intended.” Her stomach roiled.

He smiled at her. “Just checking.” He then waved his hands to shoo her away.

Now the piece had Simon’s curiosity, and he sat down beside Bresnan and studied the sheet music with him, pointing out unusual items to watch out for.

Amanda returned to Adam and buried her head against his chest. “This is going to be a disaster. Let me see what Sondra has planned for dessert—it will need to be something really good to make up for my composition.”

Adam laughed and accompanied her to the kitchen. “Andrew, would you go to the local bistro and purchase whatever dessert they recommend for a very special occasion?”

“Something for a funeral,” Amanda added.

Adam covered the side of her face with kisses. “There will be no funerals tonight. They either came over because Pinchot thinks it’s very good, or they were hungry and longed for Sondra’s cooking. Either way, they will be satisfied.”

Amanda still fretted. “I’m certain I’ve let them down.”

“Nonsense. This was a very hard assignment, and we were only given four hours to complete it, so if it isn’t perfect, you’re not to blame. At least you didn’t cheat and plagiarize, as the other student did.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and stared into his handsome face. “It was a beautiful plagiarism. I am quite certain Beethoven would have loved it.”

“Not half as much as I love you.” He leaned in to kiss her but Bastion called them to the music room, declaring Bresnan ready.

Despite Adam’s assurances, Amanda sat on pins and needles. When Bastion handed her a glass of wine, she downed it in two swallows and received a firm scolding for treating good wine like swill.

Bresnan waited until Bastion had finished his scolding, then began by slamming down the bass keys with power and vibrancy. Amanda knew Bresnan would play it as written, so she closed her eyes and listened to the mood, the tempo, the intertwining melodies, the chords, searching for what worked and what didn’t. At one point she reached for a pen and paper, but Bastion slapped her hand and took the pen away.

Which frustrated her because the fourth section needed a change.

When Bresnan finished, they all remained silent. Adam kissed her temple as he spoke inside her head
. It is truly magnificent, and there’s no question this is your calling in life.

“Bresnan, are you up to playing it again?” Pinchot asked.

“Yes, and this time I won’t muddle the forth section,” he said in annoyance. He flipped to that section and played the part she had wanted to fix. She smiled at Bastion as she realized it hadn’t been her composition but Bresnan’s muddle she hadn’t liked.

When he played the song again, with even more intensity, she applauded when he was done.

“You cannot applaud your own work,” Simon chided her as he patted Bresnan on the back. “Fine job.”

“If you’re talking about Bresnan’s playing, then I must protest. It was far better than fine—it was magnificent,” Amanda insisted as she jumped up and kissed him. “You were magnificent.”

Bresnan thanked her, then apologized to Adam. “That kiss didn’t mean anything.”

“On the contrary, it meant a great deal, and I would kiss you myself if I thought you wouldn’t be horrified by the act,” Adam teased. “So I ask my beloved to do so for me.”

Amanda kissed Bresnan again.

Bresnan broke the kiss and escaped her, declaring the need for a glass of wine.

“And how long did it take you to compose that?” Bastion asked.

“Simon gave us the assignment this morning,” she explained. “It’s supposed to be the beginning number of an opera. My story takes place at night on stormy seas. The high-pitched wails come from the heroine, Julianne, as she watches the waves carry her beloved overboard. Her cries are so anguished and yet beautiful that her voice calls the mermaids from the ocean floor and they return Adolfo to her.”

“Then why the off-cadence part at the end?” Pinchot asked.

“Because Adolfo has been changed by the mermaid who breathed life into his lungs. He is no longer the man Julianne loves, only neither knows it just yet.”

Bastion and Pinchot exchanged glances.

“That is an interesting plot. You might wish to pursue it in further lessons,” Pinchot advised.

As they sat down to dinner, she observed that no one other than Adam had given their opinion of her song.

“That’s because you applauded yourself,” Simon reminded her.

“I was applauding Bresnan,” she assured them. “So tell me, are we eating this meal in celebration, or as compensation for listening to a mess?”

“Did you think it was a mess?” Pinchot asked her.

“No, I was very pleased with it.”

“Then you have an excellent ear.”

Adam studied their expressions. “Perhaps tomorrow you would like to observe as Amanda composes. If you attempt to write your own, it will help her to concentrate. She is shamefully competitive.”

Bastion smiled. “I will no doubt regret it, but I will take the challenge.”

Later, when Amanda went into the kitchen to help retrieve the desserts, Adam spoke to the men. “I know what you are thinking, but your faith in her will be reconfirmed tomorrow. There is nothing like that opera anywhere in the world. The fact I cheat is meaningless. My only purpose is to help keep her focused on her work. She is as uniquely talented as she seems.”

Bastion sighed and stared at Adam. “I would like your composition destroyed. Its presence in this house could ruin her reputation forever.”

Adam picked up his composition and dropped it into the fireplace. He then turned and met Bastion’s eyes. “If I ever again do something that might cause her harm, please tell me, so I may fix it.”