Buried In Blue

by L G Rollins

  While everyone piled into the dining room, Elise quietly walked down the hall toward William’s door. Checking over her shoulder to be sure no one was watching, she pulled the magnet out of her pocket, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.

  William was just as she’d left him—lying on the bed, one leg flat down the other bent up, hands behind his head. Only this time, he was smiling.

  He looked over at her and his grin only grew. “You did it.” Standing abruptly, he wrapped his arms around her waist, picked Elise up, and twirled her around the room. “You did it. You did it!”

  Relief flooded through her. She had been so certain she’d walk in to find the same sullen William she’d left the night before.

  He put her down, but took hold of her hands, clasping them tight to his chest. The sight of his hands wrapped completely around hers brought back to mind the panic-laced memory of last time he’d held on to her. But he was angry then, she told herself. So, she was safe this time, right? Nonetheless, she pulled her hands away. Much to her relief, he let go.

  “Just think of what this means,” William said, his tone upbeat.

  It was wonderful that he was so optimistic, and the praise helped her feel more confident, but she wasn’t ready to brush off all possible problems. “It was only one night. We still have two more full moons before we know if this experi—”

  “Oh, but it will be,” he interrupted. “I won’t have to shift, ever again.”

  “You know that’s not true.” She didn’t want him to run away with impossible ideas. It hurt to have to bring him back to earth, but he needed to stay grounded. Which was ironic. William had accused her of not remaining grounded more than once. “What would you do? Spend your entire life on a submarine? Because that’s what it would take.”

  His whole body froze suddenly, and his brow furrowed, though not in anger. “You know,” he listed his head, his eyes darkening as the wheels of his brainbox visibly spun. “That’s not a half-bad idea.”

  Then he waved at her, as if brushing all else aside. “But that won’t be necessary. You’ve figured out how to keep me from shifting under water, I know you can figure out how to keep me from shifting on dry land.”

  “Yes.” She glanced around the room, wishing there was something at hand to illustrate how ridiculous he was being. “Given a decade or more I may construct a solution.” Did he really expect her to figure it out with a simple snap of her fingers? “But that is far outside the scope—”

  He stepped up to her abruptly. Cupping her face in his hands, he lifted her gaze to him. “Oh, my dear, you’ve always been so uncertain of yourself. All you need is a little confidence. I’m certain, together, we can figure it out.”

  The nearness felt like an intrusion. Hair on the back of her neck stood on end and Elise pushed away from him. “You’re getting far too ahead of yourself.”

  He didn’t give her time to say more. Taking hold of her hand, he dropped to one knee.

  Elise felt her skin grow cold. Oh, no. Please, no. He wasn’t supposed to be interested in her. Addie and Pearl and everyone else who had thought he was were certainly wrong. They had to be wrong. She and William were friends. They worked together. They weren’t—she couldn’t tear her gaze away from the sight of him kneeling before her—they weren’t this.

  “Elise Sterling,” William’s voice took on a solid tone it had never held before. “I know this might not be the ideal time, but I can’t wait longer.”

  “William.” She held up her free hand, wishing he would stop. How could this be happening? All she did was come in here to see if he was awake and alright.

  He ignored her. “I’ve wanted to ask you for years. But I knew I couldn’t, not being what I am. However, now”—his grip on her hand grew tighter, pinching sharply—“now I know it will all be as it should be.”

  What William meant by “as it should be” Elise didn’t know. The intense excitement of not shifting must be going to his head—it was the only explanation Elise could fathom.

  “Marry me, Elise?”

  The words hung between them, as though frozen in air. He stared at her, face alight and expectant. In that singular expression Elise saw all the summer picnics shared, all the letters swapped. She saw days in her lab, huddled over historical accounts and chemical equations.

  However, she also saw every time had belittled her. Every time he’d yelled and blamed her for progress being slow. She saw the time, just days prior, when he’d painfully held her hands in his vise-like grip, ignoring her plead to let go.

  She couldn’t accept him. Looking directly into his eyes, she knew she couldn’t.

  Elise opened her mouth; she had to say something. “I do care . . .” her words stuttered.

  With a bright smile, William stood and moved to wrap his arms around her. Elise stepped to the side and lifted a hand, palm out. “But . . .”

  His smile remained, even while the joy in it seemed to bleach away at her last word.

  Elise hurried on. Silence would only make things worse at this point. “But we aren’t suited to one another.”

  “Aren’t suited?” A scowl cut across his forehead. “Deuced idiot, we’ve been friends forever.”

  She’d turned down his suit and now he expected her to accept him if he called her a “deuced idiot”? Where was the sense in that? “Yes, friends. Dear friends. But that doesn’t mean we’re meant . . .” she couldn’t even force the rest of the words out.

  “I see.” His tone turned mocking. “So, you’re willing to work with werewolves, you’re willing to help werewolves, but you aren’t willing to marry one. In the end, I’m just dirt to you, aren’t I? Or worse, a test subject.”

  He believed she thought herself better than he? After all the time together, working side by side, helping others? Frustration at his outlandish assumption bubbled in her chest. Of all the nerve. “This has nothing to do with you being a werewolf.”

  He snorted his disagreement.

  Elise turned her back to him, her hands wrapping around either side of her face. Her gaze jumped from the metal wall, to the mess of clothing on the floor, to the door. She wanted, needed, someone who was more even keeled.

  Nathaniel’s face came to mind. The easy way he calmed and comforted her, the encouragement she always found with him. He supported her dreams and aspirations without belittling her when she tripped or came up short. Oh, and the way she felt standing close to him, her hand in his. Just thinking of it brought tingles of excitement coursing over her skin. Elise took a deep breath and forced the thoughts away. She shouldn’t dwell on Nathaniel now, not when William stood before her, brokenhearted.

  Lifting her chin, she turned and faced him once more. Couldn’t he see what she did? Not only was William a poor match for her, she was equally ill-suited for him. William deserved someone who could lift him in his dark moods, something Elise knew she lacked the ability to do. No, they would never be suited to one another.

  A heaviness seemed to weigh down his shoulders and his eyes glazed over. “You were my one chance at happiness.”

  It was as though all the anger in her crumbled away at his soft plead. Just because they didn’t suit, didn’t mean she wished him ill. “You know that’s not true. There is ever so much happiness in your future.”

  He turned away. “I have nothing left.”

  She reached to place a hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry.”

  He pushed her outstretched hand away, forcing her to take several steps backward. “Don’t say sorry to me.” The darkness in his eyes had spread across his face, making his jaw tight and his features sharp. Reaching around her, he wrenched the door open. “Good day, Doctor Sterling. Thank you ever so much for checking in on me.”

  here was she? Nathaniel slid down the ladder into the engineering room, but the lack of Wimple yelling to “not touch” caused him to doubt this was where Melissa was hiding. Far above their heads, the sun was setting and he wanted to put his little girl to bed before the seco
nd night of the experiment was is full swing.

  “Father said I couldn’t come down here and bother you.” Melissa’s voice, floating up from the level below, was punctuated by a sigh. A loud one. “So, I missed you instead.”

  What a manipulative little sphinx. She was down in the cargo hold, after he expressly told her not to go down there. Melissa was clearly developing a rebellious streak. Was it any wonder his mother was struggling to manage Melissa on her own?

  As Nathaniel slid down the ladder into the cargo hold, Melissa continued, “All I wanted, was to see an actual, life, really-true experiment.” Her voice was far too sweet and she looked up at Elise with those doe-eyes she used whenever she wanted something.

  Elise’s mouth twisted into a side smile. How was it Melissa always managed to take down Elise’s ever-constant professional mask? For him it was hit-and-miss. Sometimes she was open and warm and engaging. Like the night they were attacked by the ghost.

  Cleaning up the kitchen together afterward, Elise had spoken on and on about what she knew regarding other-worldly beings. They’d even laughed over the ghost’s reaction to her homespun incendiary. Since then, he’d noticed her smiling more when around his crew of the test subjects. It seemed she was trying to branch out into, what was for her, uncomfortable territory. He found her quiet efforts endearing and and respect-worthy. He knew such efforts were not easy for her and he admired her for it.

  However, other times, it was just like the day they’d met. She was polite but standoffish. Such as earlier that very morning, during breakfast. The test subjects and crew had all been boisterous and celebratory, but Elise had barely looked at him and never once came close to smiling.

  She’d been troubled by something. He’d seen it in her eyes, guarded though her emotions were. Though he’d asked her more than once if she was alright, she’d chosen not to confide in him.

  “It isn’t as exciting as it may sound,” Elise’s voice, though directed toward Melissa, still drew Nathaniel to her. Despite her occasional coldness, Nathaniel was always drawn to Elise. “I did nothing more thrilling than sit and take notes all night.”

  Elise sat at her makeshift laboratory, elbow on the table, head resting in her upturned hand. She had removed her lab coat and it was carefully draped over the back of her chair. Elise caught sight of him and her smile brightened. But, it was broken by a large yawn, which she tried to cover it with long, slender fingers. “Staying awake the full night long is not all parties and balls.”

  “I know,” Melissa pressed. “I would sit quietly. I’d be like a little mouse.” She hunched slightly, as though trying to shrink, and whispered, “No one would know I was here.”

  Did Elise have any idea how much Melissa idolized her?

  Elise laughed softly. “Well, if you have your heart set on—”

  Nathaniel took a step forward, catching Elise’s eye, and shook his head slightly but fervently. He would not have his little girl down here during the experiment and last night’s success did not change that.

  Elise’s brow creased in confusion, her head tilting ever so slightly to one side. “But if your father feels you need your sleep, I think it’s best we do as he says.” From her tone, he could tell she didn’t believe sleep was the issue at hand. She was right, it wasn’t. But he was grateful she trusted he had other, sensible reasons.

  Melissa’s bottom lip stuck out in a pout, but she didn’t say more. Holding Elise’s gaze, Nathaniel motioned toward the other side of the room. She nodded her agreement to speak with him and stood.

  “Look, but don’t touch,” Nathaniel warned Melissa.

  She only glared at him and then rolled her eyes. He probably should reprove her for such a blatant display of disrespect—he’d certainly never tolerate such a look from one of his crewmembers—but none of them had blond curls, large blue eyes, or were under the age of ten.

  Leaving her to explore the tags on Elise’s jars and vials, he moved a bit to the side so Melissa wouldn’t overhear them.

  “She really wouldn’t be a problem,” Elise began.

  She stood closer to him than usual. Not a distance which denoted casual acquaintances or even colleagues. It was the distance dear friends stood, or family members. Or lovers. It was a strange thing to feel hopeful over, but Nathaniel did just the same.

  The desire to take her hand, or put an arm around her waist pulsed against his hands and arms. Gears above, what he truly wished for was the right to hold and kiss her good evening. Instead, he clasped his hands tightly behind his back to keep them from getting him into trouble.

  “I know she wouldn’t be a problem.” He nodded—both in agreement, but also in the hopes of shaking loose his errant thoughts and forcing some focus back in.

  “And this isn’t about her needing sleep,” she surmised.

  He dropped his voice even lower. “I don’t want her seeing your test subjects locked up.”

  “Why ever not? She’s old enough to understand it’s a necessary part of the scientific process.”

  Nathaniel let out a slow breath. Just how upset would Elise be to learn of his daughter’s ambitions? Apparently, it was time to find out. “You see, I returned from my last venture only days before we met. I had been gone quite some time, and during those two years Melissa apparently chose a future profession.”

  Elise’s head was still tilted in confusion as she listened quietly. He glanced around. While there were a couple crewmembers straightening up the cells, no one stood close enough to overhear. Melissa was studying the jars, her attention fully on them.

  He drew in a deep breath and some needed courage with it. Here goes. “She decided to become a werewolf huntress.”

  Elise’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “A werewolf . . .” Her gaze jumped from him, to Melissa, and back again. “Why ever for?”

  He shrugged, trying not to smile too broadly. Elise’s shock had been unfettered and wholly sincere. It wasn’t often she allowed herself such open expression and he struggled not to let his pleasure become too blatant. He would hate for it to be misinterpreted as mockery. “I am not completely sure, but I heard rumors of an incident not long before I returned home.”

  Elise’s voice turned flat. “Addie Dubois was attacked by a werewolf.”

  How did she . . . Oh, that’s right, she and Mademoiselle Dubois were close friends, according to his mother. This time he didn’t stop the instinct to reach for her. He placed a hand on her elbow and rubbed his thumb against the smooth silk of her sleeve.

  “She almost didn’t . . . If it wasn’t for Matthew Burkhill going after her in that storm.” Elise shook her head. “I didn’t realize Melissa knew Addie.”

  “My mother knows everyone, and often retells gossip she’s heard. I don’t know if Melissa heard the tale from Mademoiselle Dubois personally, or if she only heard enough to figure out what happened. But I think the story had a large sway on her.”

  “Still,” Elise said. “She’s only seven. Surely she will out grow the notion of being a huntress.”

  “I don’t want her to merely grow out of it, though. I want her to grow up—I want this experience to help her understand that people deserve respect, no matter if they are sick or different or strange when compared with how she was raised.”

  “You worry seeing my test subjects locked up will undo all she’s learned thus far.”

  It was a relief to know Elise understood where he was coming from and wasn’t upset. “She hasn’t mentioned becoming a huntress in nearly two weeks. She used to talk of it many times a day.”

  “It’s probably due to the fact that, now, she spends her days shoveling chemistry facts into her brainbox.” Elise turned to watch Melissa, who was studying each and every container secured inside the cabinet. “I hope she continues to study chemistry. She shows great promise. Just image what type of health and societal problems she will solve someday.”

  Nathaniel couldn’t keep himself from leaning in closer to her. If only Elise wasn’t constantly
running here and there, constantly checking on test subjects and mulling over problems and solutions. If only she took a moment to stay, in the now with him, would she possibly find a place in her life for him, even after they returned home?

  Melissa skipped over to them, a large jar in her hands with a wax coating sealing it shut. “Elise, what’s this?”

  “What does the label say?” she replied. Nathaniel loved his mother and would forever be grateful she agreed to help raise his daughter, but he rather preferred the way Elise spoke to Melissa. She was always kind and spoke with an aim to educate and guide rather than order and confine.

  “It has two labels, see?” Melissa tried to hold out both slips of paper tied around the jar’s neck, but the jar slipped as she moved her hands, rocking back toward her little chest.

  Nathaniel caught hold of the jar and took it from her before she dropped glass jar, and spilled heaven-knew-what all over them and the floor.

  Elise lifted the two labels. “Oh. See, this was pure silver nitrate at one point. But then, one of my BLU Elixir vials got dumped inside. So I added a second label denoting the contamination.”

  Nathaniel caught her gaze out of the corner of his eye. This, apparently, was one of the jars their old ghost friend had messed with.

  “It’s beautiful in the gas light,” Melissa said, grabbing each of their hands with one of hers. “Come and see.”

  Nathaniel and Elise followed her back toward the table and cabinet resting on top it. At least Melissa hadn’t asked for the particulars of how the small vial of elixir was dropped into the jar. Thus far, the ghost had kept his end of the bargain and hadn’t sent his Kraken to sink them all. But he didn’t want to scare his daughter with talk of ghosts and submarine-eating pets.

  “Hold it up to the light, papa. You can see your face in it.”

  Nathaniel held up the jar. Now, close to the orange light, he could see the inside of the glass was coated with a shimmering substance which reflected his own face back at him.