Elysium

by Sylah Sloan

  Chapter Twenty

  The night waned on, and I didn’t move from my seat. There had been several guys who asked me to dance, some I knew and some I didn’t, but I had politely declined, and I had to keep telling myself it had nothing to do with Cadeon. I sneaked a glance behind me and saw Cadeon standing in the corner, stoic as he scanned the students. He never once looked at me, and my heart broke a little more. Maybe it was for the best. Although I told myself that over and over again, I couldn’t help my feelings or the fact I wished things could be different. I had begun to enjoy my new life even though I hadn’t “unlocked” my hidden talents. I slouched in my seat more, crossing my arms and feeling sorry for myself.

  “Hey there, Miss Sunshine, why the long face?”

  Violet’s bubbly voice tinkled through the air as she smiled and sat down, Xander trailing behind. I studied Arcane Manor’s star Lacrosse player, taking in how he was probably one of the bigger boys at the school. I studied him, as he sat across from me, taking note he never took his eyes off Violet, and how he wore an awestruck expression on his face. I wondered what he was, and tried to use my other senses that came with being a vampire to try to decipher what he was. At first, I didn’t feel anything, but then I felt a buzzing feeling at the base of my skull. It wasn’t extreme, but it was noticeable enough to make me wonder whether my powers were coming forth, but the feeling ended almost as soon as I felt it. I made a mental note to ask Violet about Xander at the party tonight.

  The rest of the evening dragged, and I danced a few more dances with Nik. I felt like a lousy date, but I wasn’t in the best of moods since the whole Cadeon thing.

  “You don’t look like you’re having the best time,” Nik said.

  I looked over at Nik, who was busy refolding his napkin for the hundredth time. “I’m sorry, I’m a crappy date. I’m ready for the party, that’s all.”

  He nodded, his handsome face lighting up. “Me too, it’ll be a blast.”

  I really hoped so, because I knew I didn’t want to dwell over what Cadeon and I could have had for the rest of my time at Arcane Manor.

  Violet and I parted as we went to change out of our gowns and into more appropriate “party” wear. I ended up putting on a pair of jeans and a sweater and slipping on a pair of sneakers. I undid my chignon and put my hair in a ponytail, grabbing my red pea coat and a pair of thick wool gloves. Although it was cold outside, it was warmer than usual, but the weather can change quickly in Colorado, so I made sure to prepare.

  I met Violet and Nik at the bottom of the stairs, worried the whole time a teacher would catch us. My fear must have shown, because Violet started teasing me as soon as I reached the bottom of the steps.

  “They won’t catch us, at least not for several hours. This is one of the nights when the teachers and Headmaster are more laid back. They assume the Winter Solstice wore the students out. Little do they know, this after-party has been going on for years.”

  We didn’t go out the front door, and then I felt like a fool for thinking we would. Instead I followed them down several long corridors I had never used. I knew if I tried to find my way back, I would get lost. We stopped at one of the kitchens. The Manor had three kitchens they used simultaneously, because of the student population, but because of the dance, the largest one was the only one used, and the other two were as barren as a desert.

  The only lights were the track lighting illuminating the appliances. We went out one of the side doors and walked into what appeared to be a small supply room. Brooms, several sinks, and other paraphernalia used to clean the kitchen lay against the walls. Violet walked up to the backdoor, looking at a silver keypad above the doorknob for a second, and started entering in numbers. I saw a red light flash when she was done with the sequence and heard her swear softly. She tried several more times and finally, on the fourth try, it turned green.

  She pushed the door open, and a gust of chilly air blew in. I buttoned the rest of my coat and followed them out, our shoes crunching on the snow. “How did you know the code?”

  Violet kept walking and answered my question. “We had a big parent’s day thing here a while ago. I was volunteered by the Headmaster to help prepare the pastries, since my parents weren’t able to be here.” There was a little bit of resentment in her words. “The kitchen crew would go in and out of the backdoor all the time, and I watched them enter the code.”

  “You weren’t afraid of them changing it?”

  “No. Nothing ever really changes around here, but I did check it in case I needed to find another way out. The number sequence slips my mind more times than not though.”

  We trudged down a hill, and I turned around, seeing the massive Arcane Manor looming behind us. I half expected to see someone in the windows, but most of the lights were off on this side of the building. I turned back around just in time to sidestep a tree. I heard Nik and Violet talking softly in front of me, as the tree line approached. We wove our way through the aspens and blue spruces, moving deeper and deeper into the bowels of the forest. Although the moonlight speared through the heavy foliage, I didn’t have night vision like Violet and Nik, and I stumbled. Most likely sensing how uncoordinated I was, Nik slowed and gripped my elbow, helping me through the trees.

  I felt like we had been walking for miles, and although I wasn’t breaking a sweat, I was breathing heavily. Nik and Violet, on the other hand, showed no signs of exertion. As I wove my way through the trees, a flash of white caught my attention. I looked to my side, but just as quickly as I had seen it, it was gone. I paid no mind to it as I trekked through the rocky Colorado terrain. Even though snow littered the ground, the rocks still protruded, as if they were trying to escape. Violet and Nik suddenly stopped, their bodies tense as their heads turned to the side at the same time. I followed their gaze, my eyes growing wide.

  Where we were standing angled downward, so what I was looking at was higher up, ascending towards the mountains. At least twenty bodies walked up the steep incline, all of them in white robes, their hoods concealing their features. Even though the land was a milky white, it was easy enough to see them against the inky backdrop. No one moved or spoke, and I wondered if they were making sure we weren’t caught. Once the ghostly bodies disappeared behind an outcropping, Violet turned towards me and breathed a sigh of relief. Nik still had his attention towards the mountains. I didn’t need to ask what we had just seen, because Violet spoke up before I could utter a word.

  “That was the Witch and Warlock coven.”

  “Coven?” I don’t know why I was surprised. I mean I was staying in a school filled with supernatural creatures.

  “They practice their magic up there.” Violet pointed to the mountains, like I would know exactly where she was talking about.

  “Like black magic?”

  Violet shook her head immediately, both Nik and her looking at each other at the same time. “No, their magic is white. They help the school by creating wards and spells to protect the students and faculty. Not a lot is known about them. Once a magic user graduates, they have a choice to join the coven.”

  “Oh.” We started walking again and kept looking where the white robed people disappeared. I should have been used to the whole idea of covens and anything supernatural, but I wasn’t.

  “We’re almost there. I can see the firelight and hear the music.” Violet spoke quietly as we made our way down a steep hill. We stopped at the bottom of what appeared to be a ravine, and a large bonfire roared at the center, the heat reaching out and warming my bones. My nose ran and my ears were like ice, even with my hood on. Several kegs stood away from the fire, along with a beat-up pickup truck off to the side, music blaring out of it.

  “I’m getting something to drink. Do you guys want anything?” Nik looked at Violet, her curls bouncing as she nodded. He looked at me next and waited.

  “You mean like alcohol?” He smiled, but it wasn’t patronizing. I probably seemed like an adolescent child, but I had never had alcohol before.


  “They have pop if you don’t want a beer.”

  I shook my head, knowing that Marie would have killed me, if she had known what I was up to. I didn’t want to look like the “kid” of the bunch, but I also wanted to just let loose, forget everything and just enjoy myself. “No, I’ll have whatever you guys are having.” He eyed me suspiciously before nodding and heading over to the kegs.

  I looked at the pickup truck, wondering where it had come from. “Whose truck is that?” It didn’t look like anyone at Arcane Manor would have driven it, not with their Louis Vuitton handbags and Chanel perfume.

  Violet’s attention moved over to the rusted truck. “Some townies. Some of the students pay the guy to drive out here with wood and booze. They let him stay to drink and hang out, but he keeps to himself.” She looked around, shrugging after a minute. “I don’t see him though. Normally he hangs out by the kegs.” Violet lifted her hand and waved at Xander, and then looked over at me.

  “I was wondering if I could ask you something,” she said.

  “Sure.”

  Violet’s gaze flickered between me and a large group of students, off to the side. “What is Xander?” She looked at me as if I had grown horns, and I blushed with embarrassment.

  “You can’t tell?” She wasn’t being a smartass, her expression one of utter shock. She started giggling, most likely seeing my red face. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to laugh at you. I forget everyone has different powers. Xander’s a shifter.” She sighed, one of those pathetically adoring ones making me want to puke. She looked back over to the group of students. “Will you be okay for a sec? I just want to talk to him.”

  “I’ll be fine.” She practically sprinted over there, and I couldn’t help smiling. Nik came back balancing three plastic cups, filled to the brim, in his hands.

  “Where’s Violet?”

  I took one of the cups and tilted my head in her direction. Nik glanced over there, his lips forming an “O” as he understood. I looked down at the foamy beer, taking a sip and hiding my distaste.

  “Did you have fun tonight?”

  “Oh, yeah.” I faked enthusiasm because I didn’t want Nik to know the truth. It started out being a wonderful night, but when things turned sour between Cadeon and me, it kind of sucked. I took another sip of my beer and smiled at Nik.

  “You know, you don’t have to drink that, if you don’t want to.”

  I took another sip. “I know, but I want to.” I wanted to forget my problems, okay, maybe not actually forget them, but make them a little fuzzy, so that I could smile and mean it. I finished the rest of the beer, Nik’s eyebrows rising as he watched me.

  “Want another?”

  I nodded and wiped some of the foam from my lips, knowing this was a bad idea, but not caring.

  Two and a half beers later, I felt pretty good. The music flowed through me, and everything Nik and Violet said was hilarious. I wasn’t drunk, but I did have a good buzz going, and my problems seemed distant and not so bad. The townie, Cliff, left, and took the music. There was about twenty minutes of silence, but then one of the students had a battery operated stereo and the music resumed. “Forever”, by Drake, blasted through the speakers, and I watched as Porscha gave Dorian a lap dance.

  “I would never have the nerve to do anything like that.” I was mainly talking to myself, but when you speak out loud, anybody overhearing was fair game.

  Nik looked over at me, as he held his half empty cup of beer. “That’s trashy. It’s freakin’ cold outside, and your peers are watching as you grind your junk on your boyfriend’s crotch. Doesn’t sound like my kind of good time. Doesn’t she know the cold does bad things for boys?”

  I couldn’t help but giggle. “Yeah, but if a girl were to be doing that to you right now, I know you wouldn’t be complaining.” He looked at me with a serious expression. I couldn’t tell what emotions he had, but they were strong.

  “Maybe if it was the right girl.”

  I had no idea how to respond to that, but luckily Violet spoke up and rescued me from my awkwardness.

  “Uh oh, trouble’s coming this way.”

  I peered around Nik’s shoulder to see Dorian striding our way. He had a dark bottle in one hand and a couple of shot glasses in the other.

  “Hello, Meadow, the awesome piano player.”

  I smiled, taking a sip of my warm beer, which wasn’t having the same appeal as it had earlier. I didn’t miss how Nik took a step in front of me in a protective gesture. Dorian was a big guy, but not as big as Nik.

  “Calm down. I’m here with a peace offering.”

  Dorian smiled, but I could tell it was completely forced and not at all pleasant. He held up the bottle and shot glasses, offering some to Nik and Violet, but both of them refused.

  “I’m gonna go talk to Xander for a while. You guys okay?” Violet said.

  I couldn’t help smile at the protectiveness in Violet’s voice. “Go ahead. We’ll be fine.” She gave a hesitant look at Nik and Dorian, and I wondered if she knew something I didn’t. I could tell Dorian was drunk, by the way he slurred slightly, and the way he talked about videogames and Crown Royal and how the two go together perfectly. It was also a good indication he was sloshed, because he was speaking to Nik, and ever since I came to Arcane Manor, I never saw him do that, not on a friendly basis anyway.

  I saw Porscha leaning against a tree, her arms crossed and scowling. I noticed her eyes flickering our way, but when she noticed I was watching, she quickly looked away, not like her, so maybe she was drunk, as well. As I turned my attention back to Nik, I saw movement in the trees. It was fuzzy and out of focus, and I half wondered if I hadn’t imagined it. I shook my head and poured the rest of my beer on the ground, knowing I was done for the night.

  A flash of movement sliced through the trees, and I blinked several times. None of the other students were aware of anything, and, if I hadn’t seen it again a second later, I might have brushed it away. It resembled mist and was tall while it moved through the trees and then ventured between the students. I expected someone to scream or at least make a comment about it, but they acted as though nothing was wrong. It was black and white, the colors mixing together in places to form a milky grey. As it stopped behind a student, I felt as if it were staring at me, although it had no face, just a swirl of color, and I had a strong feeling it could see right into my soul.

  Then it moved into the student in front of it, the student’s eyes growing large slightly and then returning to normal. It jumped from one student to the next, moving into their bodies and then jumping to the next. No one noticed, but soon I was shaking with fear as it came closer. I opened my mouth to say something and then froze, when the milky apparition stood in front of me. I looked at Nik and then Dorian, neither of them noticing anything.

  “Free me, Meadow.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Just as the hushed words surrounded me, I saw a crystal clear image of a face with red eyes watching me—it was Rhyker Rulon staring at me. I stumbled backwards, as the mist disappeared. I gasped, hearing my cup scatter to the ground. I looked down, seeing the beer I had poured out earlier soaked into the ground, the snow swallowing it up like a thirsty man.

  “Meadow? Are you okay?”

  Nik was looking down at me with concern, but all I could do was stare at the empty air in front of me. “Yeah,” I wheezed. How could I tell anyone what I saw? Who would believe me? I was, after all, consuming alcohol and my hallucinations could be chalked up to drinking too much, but I knew that wasn’t what it was. Why was I seeing Rhyker Rulon in my dreams and now while I was awake?

  “I know what she needs.” Dorian walked up to me and poured a shot, offering the small glass, as if it were liquid gold. I shook my head and thanked him. There was no way I was going to be drinking again. He took another step towards me, thrusting the shot glass in my face. “Here, take it. It’s the best you’ll ever have.”

  His words sounded strongly pornographic, but
then again Dorian seemed like the type of guy to say things like that. “No, really, I don’t want any.” His face became red, and my eyes widened. I could feel his anger and irritation. He thrust the glass at me for a third time, and the contents spilled over my jacket, the thick smell of liquor making my stomach turn.

  “Back off.” Nik was immediately in front of me and blocked my view of Dorian. “She said she didn’t want any, but you kept pushing, don’t you.”

  “I think you need to step back or things are going to get ugly.”

  “Things are already ugly. You’re an asshole and don’t know when to stop. She said no, but you keep pushing.” Nik’s voice deepened and grew fierce, and I shivered. I had always heard the light and cheery voice of Nik, but now he frightened me.

  There was a heartbeat of silence and then all hell broke loose. In the next moment, Nik and Dorian rolled on the ground, both of them throwing punches at the other, and blood seeped into the snow. I made a noise in the back of my throat. The students made a semi circle, one side rooting for Nik and the other for Dorian. I saw Porscha standing in front, a wicked looking smile on her face, as she gleefully watched the violence.

  “We have to stop them.” Violet came running up to me, her eyes worried, as she watched the scene.

  “This is my fault.” I was scared. Nik was getting hurt, and it was because of me. My whole body shook, my fingers and toes tinged, and my heart beat violently. I suddenly remembered Violet’s talent for calming people. I wondered if she could do it simultaneously to both Nik and Dorian. “Can you stop them? Use your powers or something to make the situation calmer?” I was speaking quickly, but she was already shaking her head before I even finished.

  “I can’t. I can soothe one person, Meadow, not two at the same time and certainly not a fight where there is so much violence.”

  “Well, can you calm down one of them?”

  “And then what? If I calm down Nik, Dorian will sucker punch Nik. If I reverse it then Nik will do the same to Dorian, and even though that idea doesn’t sound too bad, I don’t want Nik getting in any more trouble than he already is.”