Elysium (10 page)

“Get out!”

I looked at the door, thinking she was talking to me, but realizing she noticed the TV on the wall.

“Is that a flat screen plasma?”

I shrugged. “I guess, why?”

“Again, remind me to show you my room and my twenty-four inch clunker. Are you related to someone in the Manor?”

“No, why?”

“Well, you have the penthouse of all rooms, not to mention the best of best things. I just wanted to know what strings you pulled to get this kind of loot.”

She was starting to embarrass me, but I didn’t say anything. It made me wonder though, why would they give me such an extravagant room, if none of the other students had them? Maybe they felt sorry for my predicament, or maybe it was because I really was their science experiment and they wanted to make sure their lab rat was happy.

“Anyway, I’m Violet. Did I mention that?”

I shook my head, smiling at her childlike attention span.

“Violet Fender. Extraordinary Fey at your service.” She got off the bed and walked up to me and held her hand out.

“So you’re fey? What is that exactly?” I hadn’t read all my course books yet, but knew there was one in there about all the different types of Arcane.

“What! Have you never heard of our ethereal like qualities? Or our blinding beauty? Or maybe our compelling personalities?” I shook my head. “I think I’m hurt.” She laughed, that same tinkling melody.

Thankfully, she smiled right after that, and I was grateful to get paired up with someone who had a sense of humor.

“It’s nothing special. I think we’re related to fairies or something, not sure. I’m pretty boring though.”

Just like that she was serious again, and this time I did laugh out loud.

“Ah, she is alive. For a moment there I thought I would have to pull out the big guns and go into knock, knock jokes.”

We laughed at the same time, and I felt all my worry and all my fear and confusion melt away.

“That’s what I can do.”

“What?” I looked at her, not knowing what she meant. I still felt good, like I didn’t have a care in the world, and then the next second my worries, fear and confusion came back.

“I can make people feel better. It’s what I do, well sometimes, if someone really needs it.”

“That’s amazing.” Her cheeks got red, and I knew I had embarrassed her with my compliment.

“Not really. Anyway, it isn’t anything like the powers vampires have.”

I wondered how much they had told her about me. I wasn’t about to offer any information, because frankly I didn’t want to frighten her away. “I’m not really anything special. I mean, I can’t even do the things other vampires can do.”

“Really? Well, what can you do?”

I started to get uncomfortable again, and I knew she noticed because the next instant I felt wonderful. “That’s cheating.” I smiled at her.

“No, it’s not. You just looked a little freaked out.” She waved her hand for me to continue. “
Carry on.”

“I can’t do anything. I can’t see or hear like them. Honestly, I think I’m a dud.”

She laughed, and I felt myself come back to reality again, the wonderful feeling slowly slipping away. She brought her hand up and put a piece of her hair behind her ear, and that’s when her tiny pointed ears became visible. She must have seen me looking, because she shook her hair out, the strands falling back into place and hiding her ears.

“I hate them.”

“What? Why? I think they’re cute.” She snorted, but even that sounded whimsical.

“That’s why I hate them. I’m eighteen years old and everyone around me considers me
cute
. I’m an adult now, but everyone sees me as a child.”

I could see the frustration on her childlike features and could understand why she would be upset. There is no way I would have thought she was older than me. “Well, on the bright side, you will always look young and fresh.”

“That really doesn’t help me when I have no life span. I am to live the rest of my life looking like a twelve year old? The fates are so cruel.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her exasperated tone. I could see why it would bother her—to look like a child for the rest of your life. “It could be worse.” I shrugged, just saying anything to try to make her feel better about it. She gave me one of those looks—the kind that lets you know what you just said was a load of crap.

“You’re too sweet. Better toughen up though, if you want to make it in this place.” She walked towards the door and opened it. “Oh, by the way, I’ll meet you in the foyer tomorrow evening, say six? Classes start at seven, but I thought it would be best to show you around first.”

“Okay, but Cadeon showed me around the other day.”

“No, he showed you the main house. I’m going show you where all our classes are held. Oh and by the way, those are your uniforms in the package. See ya!”

She skipped down the hall, which was the only way I could put it. I walked over and shut the door, not knowing what to think about her. She was nice, and I should be thankful to get paired with someone who was genuinely happy to be around me. I glanced at the package and walked over to it. I brought it over to the bed and tore away the brown craft paper. Neatly folded inside were several white and navy long sleeve and button down cotton shirts, navy and white pleated skirts, white and navy cardigans, and a bunch of other accessories to match the uniforms. I set everything on the bed and scanned the items. I guessed navy and white were the theme colors, along with the dragon as their mascot.

I picked up a cardigan and ran my finger over the embroidered dragon in the corner. The dragon didn’t have a face—just smooth stitching flowing down the rest of its body. Its mouth was open in a ferocious snarl, its fangs prominent.  The body was twisted in an elegant way, the tail curved upward, and the claws on its hand and feet stretched outward. My finger followed the smooth lines of stitching, running the length of the entire body, until I ended at the tip of the tail. The initials AM were under the dragon’s body, written in Old English script and stitched in silver thread.

I fell back on the bed and let my feet hang over the edge, my toes barely touching the plush carpet. I didn’t know if I was ready for all of this, and as much as I was scared about everything, there were really no other options for me. I couldn’t go and see Marie and the kids, tell them I wanted to move back in with them, and smile, showing off my fangs. Yeah, that would probably go over really well.

After everything that had happened, I think what was starting to frighten me the most was seeing the other students. Even now, being a vampire, the whole idea of what my peers would think of me weighed on me the most. How crazy was my thinking?

I still hadn’t gotten into the whole nocturnal schedule, and more times than not I would fall asleep in the middle of the night. I’m sure things would change once I started classes.
At least, I hoped so.

I stood in a field of tall green grass and white flowers, lilies I think. The wind blew lightly, moving the grass and flowers in waves around me. The grass brushed against my knees, and I looked down, noticing I wore a thin, white lacy gown. I picked at the fabric; it felt so smooth, like velvet and silk against my fingertips. I looked back at the field, only grass and flowers for as far as I could see, the wind making it seem as if I were standing in a sea of green and white. The sky was a bright blue, dashed with puffy white clouds.

I must be dreaming, right? This place was far too beautiful to be real. I turned around and first saw the thick, white trunk of the tree. My eyes traveled up, and I gasped, stepping back as I saw the leaves. They burned a brilliant orange, flames dancing across the thin branches. As I looked at it harder, I realized the tree wasn’t on fire even though it burned brightly. The flames made up the leaves, and as I watched the burning tree it mesmerized me, so beautiful I couldn’t take my eyes from it.

“Beautiful.”

I spun around, as a voice whispered against my ear and warm breath brushed against my skin. I could only stare at the man standing in front of me. He didn’t look much older than me, but I had a feeling he was ancient. His hair was a light blond, so light I could have sworn it was white. His eyes were obsidian, and as I stared at those eyes, a sense of déjà vu overwhelmed me. There was something about those eyes, something nagging at me to remember where I had seen them before. Swallowing, I took a step back. He regarded me solemnly, his handsome features almost amused at my uncomfortable state.

“Yes, it is.” He chuckled, walking around me as his eyes traveled up the burning tree.

“Oh, I wasn’t talking about the tree, Meadow.”

I watched him intently. I knew I was dreaming, but even so, something inside of me urged me to be careful.

“How do you know my name?” I followed him as he disappeared behind the white trunk, not emerging on the other side. I looked around and hesitantly made my way closer to the tree. I touched the trunk, the bark so smooth it felt like blown glass, even though its appearance seemed weathered and rough. I knitted my brows and shook my head. I looked behind the trunk, empty space greeting me on the other side.

“I know all about you, Meadow.” His whispered voice came to me again, a soft caress against the skin of my ear that had awareness spiking inside of me.

I spun around and faced him, his big body so close I pressed myself against the trunk of the tree. “Where am I?” I asked.

He smiled, all straight, white teeth. “We’re in your dream, although I would say it is Elysium, wouldn’t you?”

“Elysium?” I watched as he smiled again, turning to the side and sweeping his hand towards the ocean of grass and flowers.

“Yes. Elysium—a heaven all its own. I’m grateful to be here with you, much more spectacular than even I could have imagined.”

I knew this was a dream, yet everything felt so real. “I’m dreaming. None of this is real.”

“It isn’t?” He stepped back, slightly tilting his head to the side.

I took a deep breath, thankful for the space, yet feeling a strange disconnection at the loss. “Who are you?”

“I can be anyone you want me to be.” He held his arms open as if offering himself to me. His smile couldn’t be called anything but flirtatious, and I felt a pull towards him, which didn’t make any sense.

“What’s your name?” I tried asking again, hoping he would just tell me and stop playing games.

“I have been called many things.” He bowed at the waist, his eyes never leaving mine, his smile still wide.”You can call me Tallin, if it pleases you.”

“How are you here? In my dream, I mean?”

“You brought me here. I am your creation.” He emphasized his point by running his hand through his hair and down to rest over his heart.

I watched, confused as to why I would be dreaming of this strange man when my thoughts had been on someone completely different.

“You don’t like this one?” He held his arms out again, but I wasn’t sure what he was referring to.  

He looked sad, but I knew he truly wasn’t; how I discerned that, I didn’t know. He intently stared at me, like he was trying to read me. A smile covered his features and his eyes never left mine. When he shook his head shook his white-blond hair became brown, right before my eyes.

“Still don’t like?” He brought his finger to his mouth, tapping it and looking into the fire above us. His hand dropped, and he took a step toward me. Those black bottomless eyes suddenly turned green, a color I knew so well. The man in front of me was no longer Tallin, but what I desired most—Cadeon.

“Hello, Meadow.”

He sounded like Cadeon, looked just like him. I shook my head, trying to tell myself this was not truly him, that this was all a dream. “You’re not Cadeon.”

“No?” He looked down at himself, as if in disbelief, looked back at me, and stepped closer. I could smell the unique scent only Cadeon had, and my heart refused to listen to my brain. For all intents and purposes, this was Cadeon, and he was right in front of me. I looked up at him in awe, my mind becoming lost as he ran his fingers down my cheek. My heart rate sped up from his simple touch.

It wasn’t as if Cadeon or I had actually done anything, and to be honest, it was most likely the feelings went one way, but I couldn’t help how he looked at me in that moment, as if I were the only person in the world he cared about.

He leaned into me, and I knew he was going to kiss me. This wasn’t a dream; it was real, and what I felt for him was real. My breathing quickened, each breath sucking in more of his delicious scent. He was only an inch from my lips, his hand resting on my cheek, his heat searing my skin. I closed my eyes, waiting for the inevitable to happen. My eyes slowly opened again when time seemed to pass and his lips hadn’t met mine. His eyes were closed, his jaw tense as he breathed in deeply.

“Cadeon?” His eyes slowly opened, and that was when I screamed. It wasn’t Cadeon’s emerald colored eyes that stared back at me, but something I remembered all too well. I stumbled back, out of his grasp, as blood red eyes looked back at me. They were the same eyes that had stared at me in my other dream, whispering he was coming for me.