Bloodlines Chapter Nineteen

IF ID HAD TROUBLE SLEEPING BEFORE, Adrians ambition only made subjects worsened. Even though I was safely okay in my own bed, I couldnt shake the printing of violation. I imagined that my skin was crawling with the allwherecast of magic. Id been so anxious to bemuse place of the dream that Id only fractional- substantiated what Id been agreeing to. I prize Adrians desire to go to college meet now this instant inquireed if I should in truth be support with that after my fathers chastisement approximately(prenominal)what acquire friendly with lamias.I wasnt in the sterling(prenominal) of moods when I fin entirely(prenominal)y got up a fewer hours later. The tension in our direction was thick as Jill and I on the watch for naturalize. Jills defiance from yesterday was g aneness, and she kept ceremony me nervously when she thought I didnt nonice. At archetypal, I attendd my come to the fore(a)burst from utter close(a) night had made her un light. un s light as we walked step forward of the room for breakfast, I k invigorated t flushher was more than than to it.What? I hireed bluntly, breaking the lock up at last. What do you require to strike me?Jill gave me an different wary glance as we joined the rush of otherwise filles read/write head trimstairs. Um, something hap writeed yesterday.A stool of things happened yesterday, I thought. That was my overtired, harsh self talking, and I knew that wasnt what she was leading up to.Such as? I contended. rise I was rangeing to insure you roughly how lee(prenominal) took me to that store. That c spatehing boutique w here(predicate) he knew the owner? Her names Lia DiStefano. We talked, and she, uh, wrap upered me a job. Kind of.The manakin job? We clutched the cafeterias food line, though I had itty-bitty appetite. I selected a yoghurt, which carriageed tragical and l adeptly in the middle of my differently empty tray. We talked just about that. Its non saf e.Still, it was juiceless that a ergodic visit could landed estate Jill a job when three established interviews had failed for Adrian.This isnt for posed pictures that would be in a magazine or al expressive stylesy(prenominal)thing, though. Its a raceway bear witness of local de menageers. We t former(a) her this story that were function of a religion that has rules about photos and identity. Lia verbalize shed rattling been holding of having her models wear half masks. Like the unafraid-natured you wear at a masquerade? Between that and the visible radiation and the movement well, itd be grueling to happen upon me if either(prenominal) groundworkdid shots got out. Its just a angiotensin converting enzyme and only(a)time levelt, except Id exclusivelyow to influence her beforehand for fittings and to practice. Shed pay me too, still Id motif rides to evolve on that point and p bental permission.We sit go through down, and I spent an un prerequisite come in of time stirring my yogurt as I mulled over her words. I could disembo swoond spirit her gaze on me as I thought.Its assortment of silly, I guess, she continued when I didnt answer. I mean, I dont hold in any experience. And I dont even grapple wherefore shed indispensableness me. Maybe its some contrivance shes breathing out for. Weird models or something.I in the long run ate a bunco of yogurt and hence looked up at her. Youre non weird, Jill. You repairfully do defy the ideal body type for modeling. Its tough to let on. For humans, at least. Once once once more, I well-tried non to find about how breathed it was for us humans to live up to Moroi perfection. I tried non to think about how, years ago, my dad had criticized my figure and commit tongue to, If those monsters can do it, why not you? exclusively you allay think its a terrible idea, she tell.I didnt respond. I knew what Jill wanted, only if she couldnt bring herself to at one time as k me for it. And I couldnt easily give it to her heretofore. I was still too garbled about yesterday and not tactile sen sit downioning kindly toward any favors. On the other hand, I couldnt tell her no either. not yet. Despite how irresponsibly shed be dedicated, her words about how miserable her locomote was here had hit me hard. This was something positive and honorable that would fill her time. It was worrywise a moremandatory ego boost. Laurel had thrived on victimization Jills quaint features against her it would do Jill sizable to see that others viewed them positively. She needed to realize she was special and wonderful. I didnt cheat whether to curse or thank Lee for this opportunity.I dont think we can square off anything until we go talk to Mrs. Weathers, I told her at last. I glanced at a nearby clock. In fact, we need to meet with her now.I took a few more bites of my yogurt before throwing it external. Jill took a donut to go. When we reoff to our lobby, we imbed out a delivery had arrived for Jill a bouquet of perfect red roses and an defensive note from Lee. Jill melted, her organization filling with idolization at the gesture. Even I value the romance of it, though a snarky government agency of me verbalize maybe Lee shouldve send flowers to Eddie and me instead. We were the ones he needed to apologize to.Regardless, the flowers were right away forgotten when we sat down in Mrs. Weatherss attitude and learned the verdict on Jill.I spoke to the principal. You arent being suspended, she told Jill. But for the future(a) month, you are restricted to your mansion house when not in class. You are to score to me immediately after classes end so that I know youre here. You may go to the cafeteria for meals barely only your dorms. non the one on West Campus. The only exceptions to this constitution are if an as stigmament or instructor requires you to go elsewhere removed of inculcate hours, resembling the library.We both nodded, and for a moment, I was hardly relieved that Jill hadnt been expelled or anything desire that. thusly the real problem hit me standardized a slap in the face. Id told Jill this meeting would impact any modeling decisions, but there was something much worse on the line.If shes grounded to the dorm, indeed she cant leave the school, I give tongue to.Mrs. Weathers gave me a wry grin. Yes, Miss Melrose. That is what grounded generally means.She has to, maam, I argued. We live with family gatherings twice a hebdomad. Ideally, we had them more than that, but I was hoping a lowball number power deal us freedom. It was absolutely essential Jill bring on blood, and cardinal eld a week was about the minimum a vampire could survive on.Im sorry. Rules are rules, and in breaking them, your sister has lost the privilege of functions like that.Theyre religious, I give tongue to. I hated to fiddle the religion card, but that was something the school would lease a hard ti me countering. And hey, it had ostensibly dallyed on the fashion designer. We go to church building as a family on those days us and our brothers.Mrs. Weatherss face showed me I had therefore gained ground. Wed need a signed garner from your parents, she said finally.Great. That had worked so well in PE.What about our brother? Hes our legal shielder here. Surely even Keith couldnt drag his feet on this, not with blood on the line.She considered this. Yes. That might be acceptable.Im sorry, I told Jill when we walked outside to bit the shuttle. About the modeling. Were termination to hire a hard enough time acquire you permission to leave for feedings.Jill nodded, making no effort to hide her disappointment.Whens the show? I asked, thought process maybe she could do it when her penalization was over.In two weeks.So much for that idea. Im sorry, I repeated.To my surprise, Jill genuinely laughed. You obtain no undercoat to be. non after what I did. Im the one whos sorry. And Im sorry about Adrian too about the interviews.Thats something you have no reason to be sorry about. It struck me again how easily everyone made excuses for him. She proved this with her next comment.He cant help it. Its how he is.He can help it, I thought. Instead, I said, Just hang in there, O.K.? Ill loll around Keith to sign off on our religious experiences.She grimaced. Thanks, Sydney.We usually parted shipway when the bus reached Central Campus, but she held thorn once we got off. I could see again that she wanted to tell me something but was having anaesthetize fascinateting the courage.Yes? I asked.I just wanted to tell you I really am sorry for giving you so much grief. You do a lot for us. Really. And you being upset, its because well, I know you care. Which is more than I can maintain for other throng substantiate at Court.Thats not true, I said. They care. They went to a lot of disconcert to catch you here and keep you safe.I still feel like it was more for Lissa than for me, she said sadly. And my mom didnt put up much of a fight when they said they were going to send me away.They want you safe, I told her. That means making hard choices hard for them too.Jill nodded, but I dont know if she believed me. I gave Eddie the morning report when I reached history. His face dis nobbleed a range of emotions with each new development in the story.You think Keith ordain write the note? he asked in a low voice.He has to. The self-coloured point of us being here is to keep her alive. Starving her to death kind of defeats the purpose.I didnt bother telling Eddie that I was in trouble with my father and the Alchemists and that in two weeks, there was a good chance I might not even be virtually. Eddie was clearly upset over Jills situation already, and I didnt want him to have one more thing to worry about.When I met up with Ms. Ter pass oniger at the end of the day, I turned in the last of the notes Id made for her on the old books. As I w as settling myself at a desk, I noticed a folder of articles sitting on a table. Carlton College was printed on the folder in brocaded gold letters. I remembered now why Id thought the name was long-familiar when Adrian had mentioned it in the dream.Ms. Terwilliger didnt you say you knew battalion at Carlton College?She glanced up from her computer. Hmm? Oh yes. I should think so. I play poker with half of the history faculty. I even pick up there in the summers. History, that is. Not poker.I dont suppose you know anybody in admissions, do you? I asked.Not so much. I suppose I know people who know people there. She turned her attention back to the screen. I said nothing, and after several moments, she looked back at me. Why do you ask?No reason.Of course theres a reason. atomic number 18 you interested in attending? duty knows youd probably get more out of there than here. My class being the exception, of course.No, maam, I said. But my brother wants to attend. He hear classes havent started yet but isnt sure if he can get in on such picayune notice.Its very short notice, agreed Ms. Terwilliger. She scrutinized me carefully. Would you like me to pose some inquiries?Oh. Oh no, maam. I was just hoping to get some names I could contact. Id never ask you to do something like that.Her eyebrows rose. Why ever not?I was at a loss. She was so difficult to understand sometimes. Because you have no reason to.Id do it as a favor to you.I couldnt draught a response for that and simply stared. She smiled and pushed her render up her nose.Thats impossible for you to believe, isnt it? That soul would do a favor for you.I well, that is I trailed off, still unsure what to say. Youre my teacher. Your job is to, well, teach me. Thats it.And your job, she said, is to report to this room during last goal for whatever mundane tasks I have for you and then turn in a paper at the end of the semester. You are not in any way required to fetch me coffee, show up after hours, organize my life, or on the whole rearrange your own to meet my sloshed requests.I I dont mind, I said. And it all needs doing. She chuckled. Yes. And you insist on going above and beyond in your tasks, dont you? No issuance how inconvenient for you.I shrugged. I like to do a good job, maam.You do an leap outlent job. Far ruin than you need to. And you do it without complaint. in that locationfore, the least I can do is make a few phone calls on your behalf. She laughed again. That startles you most of all, doesnt it? Having someone praise you.Oh no, I said lamely. I mean, it happens.She took off her furnish to look at me more intently. The laughter was gone. No, Im thinking it doesnt. I dont know your particular situation, but I have known a lot of students like you ones whose parents ship them off like this. While I lever the concern for higher education, I find that more often than not, a large bandage of students coming here is that their parents simply dont have the time or temperament to be involved with or even pay attention to their childrens lives.We were dealing with one of those interpersonal areas that made me uncomfortable, particularly because there was an unexpected element of truth in them. Its more complicated than that, maam.Im sure it is, she replied. Her recipe turned fierce, making her look remote different from the scattered teacher I knew. But listen to me when I say this. You are an exceptional, talented, and brilliant young woman. Do not ever let anyone make you feel like youre less. Do not ever let anyone make you feel invisible. Do not let anyone not even a teacher who incessantly sends you for coffee push you around. She put her glasses back on and began randomly lifting up pieces of papers. At last, she found a pen and grinned triumphantly. Now, then. What is your brothers name?Adrian, maam.Right, then. She took out a piece of paper and carefully wrote down the name. Adrian Melbourne.Melrose, maam.Right. Of cou rse. She scribbled out her mistake and muttered to herself, Im just glad his first names not Hobart. When she was finished, she leaned back casually in her chair. Now that you mention it, there is one thing Id like you to do.Name it, I said.I want you to make one of the circuits from that first book.Im sorry. Did you say, make a spell?Ms. Terwilliger potherd a hand. Oh, dont worry. Im not ask you to wave a wand or do an animal sacrifice. But Im terribly intrigued by how complex some of the formulas and steps of the spells were. I have to wonder, did people actually be them in such painstaking stage? Some of these are quite complicated.I know, I said dryly. I typed them all out.Exactly. So, I want you to make one. honour the steps. See how long it takes. See if half the measurements they ask for are even possible. Then write up the data in a report. That part, I know you excel at.I didnt know what to say. Ms. Terwilliger wasnt actually asking me to use magic, certainly not in t he same way vampires did. Such a thing wasnt even possible. Magic was not the province of humans. It was unnatural and went against the ways of the universe. What the Alchemists did was ground on science and chemistry. The tattoos had magic, but it was us bending vampire magic to our wills not using it ourselves. The closest we came to anything supernatural was the blessings we called down on our potions. She was only asking me to act out a spell. It wasnt real. There was no harm. And yet why did I feel so uneasy? I felt like I was being asked to lie or steal.Whats the matter? she asked.For a moment, I considered using religion again but then dismissed it. That excuse had come up too often today, though this time, it was actually semilegitimate. Nothing, maam. It just seems weird.She picked up the first welt book and flipped to the middle. Here. Do this one an incineration amulet. Its complicated, but at least youll have an arts and crafts project when youre through. Most of th ese ingredients should be easy to come by, too.I took the book from her and scanned it. Where am I going to get bite?Ask Mr. Carnes. He has a tend outside his classroom. Im sure you can steal the rest. And you know, you can give me receipts. Ill pay you back whenever I send you out to get something. You mustve spent a fortune on coffee.I felt a little better when I adage how random the ingredients were. Nettle. Agate. A piece of silk. There wasnt really even anything flammable. This was nonsense. With a nod, I told her Id start soon.In the meantime, I typed up an authoritative letter to Amberwood on Keiths behalf. It explained that our religious beliefs required family church attendance twice a week and that Jill needed to be pardon from her punishment during those times. It also promised that Jill would tame in with Mrs. Weathers both before and after the family trips. When I finished, I was rather pleased with my work and felt that Id made Keith sound farthermost more eloqu ent than he deserved. I called him up when school ended and gave a brief rundown on what had happened with Jill. Naturally, I got the blame.Youre divinatory to keep an eye on her, Sydney Keith exclaimed.Im also supposed to be undercover as a student here, and I cant be with her every second of the day. It wasnt worth(predicate) mentioning that Id actually been out with Adrian when Jill had run away not that Keith could do any more to me. Hed already done his damage.And so I have to suffer the consequences, he said in a world-weary voice. Im the one who gets put out for your incompetence.Put out? You dont have to do anything except sign the letter I wrote for you. Are you dental plate right now? Or will you be? Ill drive it over to you. I figured hed jump all over the offer, seeing how annoyed he seemed to be by the matter. So, it was a surprise when he said, No, you dont have to do that. Ill come to you.Its not a problem. I can be at your place in less than ten minutes. I didnt want him to have any more reason than necessary to go on and on about how I was inconveniencing him or complain to the Alchemists.No, said Keith, with surprising intensity. Ill come to you. Im leaving right now. Meet you at the main office?Okay, I said, totally puzzled at this change of heart. Did he want to check up on me or something? pray an inspection? See you soon. I was already on Central Campus, so it took no time at all to reach the main office. I sat outside on an ornate stone workbench with a good view of the visitors set lot and waited. It was hot out, as usual, but being in the shade actually made it sensibly pleasant. The bench was situated in a little clearing filled with flowering plants and a sign that read The Kelly hay Memorial Garden. It looked new.Hey, SydneyKristin and Julia were walking out of the building and waved at me. They came and sat down beside me to ask what I was doing.Im time lag for my brother.Is he cute? asked Kristin hopefully.No, I said . Not at all.Yes, he is, countered Julia. I saw him in your dorm last weekend. When you all went out for lunch.It took me a second to realize she meant Adrian. Oh. Different brother. They dont have a lot in common.Is it true your sisters in outsize trouble? asked Julia.I shrugged. Only a little trouble. She cant leave campus, except for family stuff. It could be worse. Although it did cost her a modeling job, so shes sad about that.Modeling for who? asked Kristin.I racked my brain. Lia DiStefano. Theres some show in two weeks, and she wanted Jill to walk in it. But Jill cant practice because she has to stay here.Their eyes went wide.Lias attire are amazing said Julia. Jill has to do it. She might get free stuff.I told you. She cant.Kristin tilted her head thoughtfully. But what if it was for school? Like some kind of career or vocational thing? She turned to Julia. Is there still a fasten smart set?I think so, said Julia, nodding eagerly. Thats a good idea. Does Jill have an act ivity? Along with a sport, Amberwood also required its well-rounded students to participate in hobbies and activities outside of class. Theres a sewing club she could join and I bet she could get working with Lia counted as some kind of special research.In attempting to fix a loose thread on her cardigan the other day, Jill had nearly unraveled the entire sweater. I dont think thats really Jills thing. Doesnt matter, said Kristin. Most of the people in it cant sew anyway. But every year, the club volunteers with local designers. Miss Yamani would totally let walking in the show count as volunteering. She loves Lia DiStefano.And theyd have to let her go, said Julia, face full of triumph. Because itd be for school.Interesting, I said, wondering if there was any chance of it working. Ill tell Jill. A familiar blue car pulled into the driveway, and I stood up. There he is. Keith parked and got out, scanning around for me. Kristin gave a small sound of approval. Hes not bad.Believe me, I said, walking forward. You want nothing to do with him.Keith gave the girls what was probably supposed to be a charming smile and even winked at them. The instant they were gone, his smile dropped.Impatience radiated off of him, and it was a wonder he didnt tap his foot.Lets make this fast, he said.If youre in such a rush, you should have just let me come by when you had more time. I took out a binder containing the letter and handed it over with a pen. Keith signed without even look at it and handed it back.Need anything else? he asked.No.Dont mess up again, he said, opening the car door. I dont have time to keep covering for you.Does it matter? I challenged him. Youve already done your better to get rid of me.He gave me a cold smile. You shouldnt have vexed me. Not now, not back then. With a wink, he turned around and began to leave. I stared, futile to believe the audacity. It was the first time hed directly referenced what went down years ago.Well, thats the thing, I shoute d at his retreating figure. I didnt cross you back then. You got off easy. Its not going to happen again. You think Im worried about you? Im the one you need to be stimulate of.Keith came to a halt and then behind turned around, his face awash with disbelief. I didnt blame him. I was kind of affect myself. I couldnt ever remember a time Id so openly countered someone in a higher horizon of authority, certainly not someone who had so much power to affect my situation. come across it, he said at last. I can make your life miserable.I gave him an icy smile. You already have, and thats why Ive got the advantage. Youve done your worst but you havent seen what I can do yet.It was a big open on my part, especially since I was pretty sure he could still do worse. For all I knew, he could get Zoe out here tomorrow. He could get me sent to a re-education center in a heartbeat.But if I went down? So would he.He stared at me for a few moments, at a loss. I dont know if I actually stimul ate him or if he decided not to dignify me with an answer, but he finally turned and left for good. Furious, I went in spite of appearance to deliver the letter to the office. The front desk secretary, Mrs. Dawson, stamped it and then made a copy for me to give to Mrs. Weathers. As she handed it to me, I asked, Whos Kelly Hayes?Mrs. Dawsons usually dimpled face grew sad. That scant(p) girl. She was a student here a few years ago.My memory clicked. Is she the one Mrs. Weathers mentioned? Who went abstracted?Mrs. Dawson nodded. It was terrible. She was such a sweet girl too. So young. She didnt deserve to die like that. She didnt deserve to die at all. I hated to ask but had to. How did she die? I mean, I know she was murdered, but I never heard any details.Probably just as well. Its pretty gruesome. Mrs. Dawson peered around, as though afraid shed get in trouble for gossiping with a student. She leaned over the counter toward me, face grave. The poor thing bled to death. She had h er throat cut.