Chemistry had been so quiet for so long, in terms of Nell and Ms. Lacusta, that I had gotten lulled into a sense of complacency. Ms. Lacusta hadn’t mentioned her chemistry club to me again; I hoped she had either forgotten about it or decided I wasn’t the right material after all. Nell never turned around, never looked at me; it was as though I had ceased to exist in her mind. And Liza had perfected the art of completing a lab without speaking a single word to me.
So I was totally unprepared on Monday when Ms. Lacusta approached my side of the table, her eyes focused on me. I had come into class a little early that day, since we’d had a test in French and Madame had let us go when we finished. I was still feeling challenged by the pace of Chemistry, and I was glad to have a few extra minutes to prepare for the day’s lesson.
The room was empty when I sat down in my chair, and I was so absorbed in the reading that I hadn’t noticed when others began trickling in for class. Even the growing buzz of thoughts didn’t distract me; I was becoming used to hearing it as my ability to maintain that mental curtain was slowly fading.
I didn’t see Ms. Lacusta coming toward me, but I sensed her. The strange and unsettling aura she carried wrapped around me, and I shivered as I looked up at her.
Although knowing the future was definitely not my gift, I had one of those moments where I knew exactly what was about to happen. Nell, Casey and Liza were sitting in their respective places; I hadn’t even noticed their arrival. Ms. Lacusta was about to bring up my possible involvement with the chemistry club again, and Nell was going to respond in one of two ways: either she would melt down right there, in front of the class; or she would bide her time and plot to somehow destroy me.
Ms. Lacusta was standing next to me. “Ms. Vaughn,” she purred, in that exotically-accented voice, “it occurred to me this weekend that you never responded to my invitation to join my chemistry club. I assume you did not forget?”
I held my breath for just about ten seconds, waiting, my eyes on the back of Nell’s head. She was motionless, except for the almost-imperceptible stiffening of her shoulders, but a spurt of angry thought erupted from her mind.
“I… I did speak to my parents, actually. And they feel that with me just starting out here and trying to catch up academically, I need to limit my extracurricular activities. So—thank you, but for now, I think I have to say no.”
I spoke in such a rush of words that I was sure she could tell how she unnerved me. I was glad that I had indeed mentioned the chem. club to my parents and convinced them that it wasn’t a good idea. So I wasn’t lying.
Ms. Lacusta’s gaze never wavered from my face. “What a shame,” she murmured. “You would have been a wonderful addition to our little group. I’ve been thinking lately that we needed some… new blood.” She smiled thinly and her eyes flickered briefly over the girls sitting around me, none of whom had acknowledged her presence or her words. “Perhaps your parents will reconsider after you’ve been here a few months. Let me know. The invitation stands.”
I didn’t know how to respond, which was all right since she had turned quickly on her heel and moved to the front of the room to begin class.
I was shaken as I buried my head in the Chemistry book again. I tried to focus on the words before me, and on the teacher as she began class, but the low buzz had grown into a roar in my head. I could pick out words here and there from the indistinguishable drone. And then, a coldness crept over me.
She wants new blood, does she? Well, I’ll be happy to be oblige. When she sees what I’m going to do, there won’t be any need for people like that idiot behind me. She’ll see that I’m all she needs. The rest are just around for window dressing. Amber is going to be a perfect sacrifice, and then there won’t be any stopping me. The fullness of time is within the fullness of the moon. Blood equals power, and I’m not afraid to spill blood to gain power. That’s what makes me unstoppable. When she realizes that, everything will be perfect. It will be just the two of us… and the power…
A familiar wave of nausea swept over me, but I was determined this time not to let her knock me out. I gripped the edge of the table and drew several deep, slow breaths until my vision cleared and the sick feeling had subsided.
I had been on the right track, all along. I was certain of it now. There was no ambiguity in Nell’s thoughts today, and their vicious nature hadn’t left much to my imagination. A blood sacrifice… it must be blood…
Now the only question was what I was going to do with this information. I knew that Michael was loathe to act on anything that wasn’t precise and specific. I still didn’t have any proof to back up what I had heard, so I couldn’t go to any teachers or to my parents with what I knew. I was positive that my parents would be more upset that I was giving any credence to someone’s private thoughts than about the very disturbing direction of Nell’s mind.
I didn’t hear one word of the rest of the class. The hum of thoughts stayed with me, but I concentrated on tuning out everyone but Nell. I didn’t want to listen to her, but I was hoping to get some more information on her plans. Any little thing might help. But although her anger simmered just below the surface, Nell was paying attention to the lecture and only the occasional image flitted through her mind. I recognized a fleeting glimpse of Amber, standing in the dark. But nothing else concrete emerged.
When the bell rang, Nell rose before I had even gathered my books. She swept past me with only the smallest icy glance. As frustrated as I was that I hadn’t pulled more information from her thoughts, it was a huge relief to have her away from me.
It was tempting to go in search of Michael, to tell him what I’d just heard. I wracked my brain to think of a legitimate excuse for getting out of my next class—the dreaded Speech and Debate—that would also allow me to pull Michael out of calculus, but nothing came to mind. And our classrooms for this period were at opposite ends of the school campus as well, so I couldn’t even count on a chance encounter.
I decided instead to concentrate on putting the information I had into some semblance of order so that I could present it to Michael at lunch as reasonably and unemotionally as possible. While the teacher introduced the topic of the week—it was political speeches, I guess because we were getting close to election day—I tuned him out and thought about chemistry club, Ms. Lacusta, blood and full moons.
Luck or something like it was with me, and Speech actually ended a few minutes early, with the teacher encouraging us to watch as many televised candidates’ speeches as possible in preparation for presenting our own on Friday. Lovely, that was what I needed. But I didn’t have time to dwell on it yet; I had the opportunity to waylay Michael before I went to English and at least ask him to save us an outside seat at lunchtime.
I saw him heading toward the library. It was rare for me to see him before he saw me, and I took advantage of the opportunity to observe him unnoticed. He moved through the crowds on the covered sidewalk, not rushing, yet not meandering, either. He had purpose in his stride, but I saw him catch the eyes of several classmates, giving a quick wave or a grin. The breeze ruffled his hair, and I felt the pleasure of watching him, and knowing he belonged to me.
This feeling was so warm and positive after what I had experienced with Nell today, and it reminded me that I wasn’t alone. Michael might not have the answers right away, but I knew that he would listen to me with an open mind and support me no matter how I decided to handle this.
I was so caught up in appreciating him that I very nearly let him pass me without accomplishing my mission. Fortunately he saw me even before I opened my mouth to call his name, and I was treated to that instant brightening in his expression, the full smile that I knew was only for me.
“Don’t tell me. You ran away from Speech and Debate, and now you’re looking for a safe place to hide out?”
I grimaced. “If only. I did think about it actually, but I decided you wouldn’t appreciate me pulling you out of calc. So instead I’m lying in wait for you here.”
He brushed my hair back over my shoulder. “Do I need to smuggle you into my independent study? I’m researching hybrids, and I could use an assistant.”
“You’ll have to muddle through without me, I’m afraid. I just wanted to ask you to take our lunch outside today. We need to talk about something.”
Michael looked at me seriously. “Does this have anything to do with our conversation from this weekend?”
I heard the bell ring and glanced in the direction of my English classroom. “It does. There’ve been—developments. I have to get to class. I’ll see you outside?”
He nodded. “I’ll be there.”
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