His eyes flicked to William once again. Then he smiled at me. Innokenti's smile was a disturbing thing.
"As for Galina, be careful how much you associate with her."
I remembered what Aleksandr had said. "You are suspicious of her?"
Innokenti inclined his head. "Yes."
"Why?"
"In our capacity as the protectors of these woods and these people, we vampires watch everything. We knew of your mother. We knew what she was. We also watched her grow sick and weak. But her illness was not natural. The Sídh do not succumb to sickness the way ordinary mortals do – not even the half Sídh. She was poisoned, and she was poisoned on a regular basis. Her Sídh strength protected her for a time, but her body eventually failed. Anything with a body can die.
"Galina gave out that your mother was poisoned by Gleb, though she claimed she did not know how exactly. But we watched your mother everywhere she went, and we kept watch over everyone who passed by her house. Neither Gleb nor any of his agents ever went anywhere near your mother."
"You think Gleb couldn't have poisoned her," I said.
"Exactly so. We think the poisoner was someone she knew well – someone she saw every day. You and your cousin were surely too young. Your father died weeks before your mother did – so if he were the poisoner, her symptoms should have begun to decrease. But they actually grew worse. That leaves your grandmother and Galina. We can't entirely discount your grandmother. However, it's a rare woman who would poison a grown daughter – especially when she had been a loving and attentive parent in that daughter's childhood. To us, the likeliest suspect is Galina. She had plenty of access to your mother, and she has a kitchen full of strange items. In addition, Galina, more so than anyone else would know what would work on an unusual person like your mother."
I was horrified. "You have to be wrong. Why would Galina do something like that?"
"Who can know the human heart? Perhaps it was jealousy. Galina studied the supernatural for a long time. She wanted to be special. Your mother actually was. We believe that it is possible that Galina has been secretly working for Gleb for a long time. And someone let Gleb out of the crypt – Galina has that type of knowledge, too."
"A vampire could open the crypt," William said.
"True," Innokenti replied. "But none of our number would to it. After all, Gleb can destroy us, too. The spirit within Gleb is far older than we are."
I hadn't known Galina for a very long time, but the way she had talked about my mother made it hard for me to believe that she would have poisoned her, or let Gleb out of the crypt. But a little voice in my head reminded me that she had led me into a trap that very morning. Still, I shook my head. "I don't believe it. I can't believe Galina would do such a thing."
Innokenti spread out his hands. "We are not the law. We do not gather evidence. We do not put people on trial. In our capacity as protectors we watch and observe. We don't know, but we suspect."
I frowned. "You said something like that before. What do you mean by your 'capacity as protectors'?"
Innokenti smiled broadly again, showing his teeth. "As vampires, we have certain gifts – advantages that humans do not have. For example, we have greater speed and strength, heightened senses, powers of persuasion. And there are darker things than vampires in these woods – things that are dangerous to humans. We can't handle everything, but we do keep many truly horrible creatures in check – creatures I hope you never have the misfortune to encounter."
"So, you're saying you're beneficial?"
"We like to think so. We consider our condition a calling. As I said, we have advantages that humans – including part humans such as yourself do not have."
There was a feral gleam in his eye as he spoke, and I fought the urge to run.
Innokenti continued. "Our ranks have been growing – there are new vampires every day. That means something is coming. When supernatural conditions grow more dangerous for humans, our kind grows thirstier. I have seen it before. So, yes, I do believe we are beneficial."
I felt like my line of questioning was a dangerous one, but I also felt compelled to go on. I had to know what I was dealing with. "You say you are beneficial, but you still—" I stumbled over my words. "You…you actually feed on humans. Sometimes you even kill them."
Innokenti shrugged. "There's a price to be paid for everything."
He surveyed William and me for a moment. "Well, you two seem to have everything in order. Incidentally, if I were you I wouldn't attempt to fight the kost tonight. Don't seek him out in his own lair – he isn't alone. Wait till he comes for you. He will be alone then. And he will come for you, little one. Good night."
Innokenti took a step backward, and then melted into the darkness beyond the stone circle.
After the vampire disappeared, I felt myself breathing easier, and yet there was still one standing next to me.
I looked up at William. His face was still stone.
"William," I began, "I don't entirely understand—"
He turned to look at me. His eyes were desolate.
The expression on his face made me freeze. It was hard for me to see him looking so hurt.
"William, Innokenti said you were Sídh. Then he said you were a vampire. What are you?"
"I am cursed," he said bitterly.
"Cursed?"
He looked away. "The funny thing is that I was suspicious of you at first because of Galina. I thought you were going to help her to help Gleb. And that nearly tore me apart because of the way I felt about you. That first time I saw you at your house after the visit from Galina I—"
I remembered thinking at the time that I had seen a figure in the shadows. I realized now that I had seen William there.
He looked back at me. "And now I find that the truth is even worse. You're one of them. You're Sídh. I am cursed and you know it. How you must have laughed at me." He shook his head and looked away again.
I put a hand on his shoulder. "William, I didn't know I was Sídh until today. I'd never even heard that word until today. Galina told me that my grandfather was Sídh, and that I was born to use this." I gestured up at the clear fire. "But I don't know what I'm doing, or what being Sídh could possibly mean. And I don't believe you're cursed."
I could feel the tension in his shoulder relax, and he turned to look at me. He took both my hands in his. His eyes were earnest and searching. "You shouldn't say that – not yet. I want you to know the truth – even if you despise me for it. I was Sídh once, though I can barely remember that life. I was attacked one night by a vampire – one very ancient and very powerful. He attempted to turn me and it worked – partially. Vampire blood does course through my veins. I can feel their hunger, but I do not need to indulge it. I don't need human blood to live – though Innokenti and the others tell me I would be stronger if I took it. But despite the fact that I don't need human blood, I am not the same as I was. The Sídh would not take me back afterward. I am not pure. The Sídh avoid me, shun me. They stole my memories, and they turned me out. All I have left is my name, and only my strongest core memories remain, including a vague memory that I was once happy. The vampires found me and brought me here. They tried to make me one of them. From what I understand, there is an ancient enmity between the Sídh and the vampires."
He laughed harshly. "But I will help them to protect their people. I accepted their assignment to combat Gleb – they seem to have known that he would escape the crypt one day.
"I am cursed to roam the day and the night, cut off from everything I once loved."
He continued to hold my hands, but his gaze faltered, and he looked down.
"I don't believe you're cursed," I said again.
His hand gripped mine convulsively, and in the next moment, he pulled me into his arms. His body was warm – very warm, and I could feel all his longing and loneliness in the way he held me.
"Would you run if I tried to kiss you?" he asked.
"No," I said.
He
kissed me then, and I could feel fire run through my veins. I clung to him. I never wanted the kiss to end.
Far too soon, William stepped back and took my hands again. "I'm forgetting myself. It's not safe for you out here."
"But I'm with you," I said.
He shook his head. "Not even when you're with me. You should send the clear fire back to where it came from, and I should get you home."
Still holding William's hands, I closed my eyes and concentrated on the clear fire. I began to sing. I had a strong feeling that his presence would help rather than hinder my nascent abilities. And I didn't want to let go of him – ever.
I bent my mind toward sending the clear fire back to its hiding place. I felt the light go out above me, and I opened my eyes. William and I were now standing in the darkness. I felt a tiny surge of hope – I had successfully managed to find the clear fire and send it away again – all on the same night. Maybe I could actually use it to defeat Gleb.
"I should get you home," William said again.
He started to pull me forward.
"Wait, William," I said. "I can't see. Let me get out my flashlight."
"You don't need it," he said. "The trees here have a natural luminescence. Your eyes will adjust after a moment, and until then, I can see well enough for the both of us. I can guide you."
We moved through the woods at a swift, but not uncomfortable pace, and soon I could make out the ghostly white trees all around us. William led me to a car that was parked behind the monastery. I was a little disappointed. None of the supernatural creatures I had encountered so far ever seemed to travel by superhuman methods – at least not while I was around.
As we settled into the car, I glanced over at William – he looked so young. Surely, he was a teenager like me. "Are you sure you're old enough to drive?"
"Perfectly sure. The memories are dim, but when I first encountered humans, their most advanced form of travel was the horse."
After I gave William directions to Odette's house, we drove swiftly through the night, and I had the very disorienting feeling that we were going at a dangerous speed. I avoided looking at the speedometer. I didn't want to know for sure and scare myself.
I felt my heart sink when we pulled up to the house. I didn't want to say goodnight to William.
We both got out of the car and stood in the light of one of the street's two working streetlights. William took my hands again and then let them go. I felt the loss of his touch keenly.
"You should go in and go to sleep," he said quietly. "Gleb will not harm you in the night. I will see to that."
I was suddenly worried. "You're not going to try to fight Gleb tonight, are you?"
William gave me a small smile. "Innokenti said not to."
I relaxed. "Then I will sleep soundly, knowing that you will be safe, too."
I walked up to the house and turned to look at William one last time before I went in. Once inside, I couldn't help looking out through the curtains to see if he was still there. He was, and his head was bowed – dejection was written in every line of his body. I let the curtain drop, and I hurried to the door.
When I opened it, he was gone.
Chapter 18.
My dreams that night were troubled and broken. I was worried about William. And the feverishness I had felt earlier returned with a vengeance.
I kept waking up. My skin was hot and my throat was dry and sore. My hair clung damply to my face and neck. My limbs and chest were beginning to ache. My covers seemed to hurt any place they touched me, so I threw them on the floor. I turned from side to side and pushed my pillows onto the floor, too. It was impossible for me to find a position that was comfortable.
There was a gentle knock on my bedroom door, and I ignored it. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I had an idea that if I could get some unbroken sleep that the pain and the fever would go away.
The door opened, letting in the light from the hall, and I shut my eyes tightly. I hoped that if I pretended to be asleep, whoever it was would go away.
"Katie, are you all right?" asked a soft voice.
I opened my eyes. It was Odette. I turned away from her.
Odette came into the room. "Katie, what's wrong? I could hear you crying from my room."
I hadn't realized I'd been crying. I passed a hand over my eyes. My fingers came away wet.
"And why have you thrown all your covers on the floor?" Odette asked. "The night is too cold for you to sleep without them."
She pressed a hand to my forehead. Her hand felt like ice against my hot skin. I pulled away from her.
"Oh, Katie, you're burning up," Odette said.
She bent down and retrieved my pillows, which she placed under my head. Then she picked up my covers. "You don't have to have the heavier ones, but you should at least have the sheet."
Odette drew the sheet up over me, and then folded my other covers up and placed them at the foot of the bed.
"I will be right back. Don't throw away your pillows or your covers while I'm gone," she ordered gently.
Odette returned a few moments later with a cool, damp cloth that she pressed to my forehead and the sides of my face. I wasn't exactly comfortable, but I was starting to feel calmer. I began to realize that some of my panic had come from not being fully awake – I had been in some kind of half-waking nightmare made of emotions rather than images. Now that I was properly awake, I was better able to deal with the pain and feverishness.
"You should have something to drink," Odette said. "Would you like some tea?"
"No," I said quickly. "Nothing hot."
"Perhaps you are right," Odette said. "I will bring you water."
Odette left the room and was soon back with a glass of water.
I sat up and drank it, wincing at first at the coldness of it. But soon the coolness began to feel soothing.
"Oh, Katie, you are terribly unwell, aren't you," Odette said. She gave me a stern look. "Now this is important – keep drinking liquids and get some sleep. If you do that you'll feel better in the morning."
"Isn't it morning yet?" I asked. I had been outside in the forest for a long time, and then I had slept, albeit not well. It seemed to me that it had to be morning. I hoped it was, and I hoped I would see William again.
"No, well, I suppose it is, technically." Odette smiled at me. "It's about four in the morning. But dawn is still a little way off."
She glanced at my empty glass. "I'll get you more water, and I'll tell Annushka that you have a fever."
She paused at the door. "Remember what I said – sleep and you will feel better."
Odette left, and after a few minutes, I heard GM hurrying down the hall to my room.
She rushed into the room and laid a warm hand on my forehead. "Oh, Solnyshko. Odette was right. Your forehead is on fire."
GM glanced around the dark room. "It looks like Odette has done everything just right. You keep drinking water, and I will get you some juice, too, if you would like that. And try to get some sleep. I will sit with you. You tell me if you need anything."
GM's presence made me feel even calmer, and I closed my eyes and lay back against the pillows. Odette came in once with a clinking pitcher of ice water and a folding chair for GM. Other than that we were undisturbed, and before I knew it, I had drifted off to sleep.
When I opened my eyes again, the room was brighter. Though the curtains were still drawn, I could tell the sun was out. I breathed in deeply, and put a hand to my face. My skin was still hot and feverish, and my limbs still ached. But somehow I felt better – like the pain and the fever didn't matter. I felt like I should get out of bed.
I looked over at GM. She was sitting by the bed in her folding chair with her arm propped on the nightstand and her chin propped on her hand. Her eyes were closed.
"Good morning, GM," I said.
GM's eyes flew open, and she sat up. "Ah, Solnyshko. You are awake. How are you feeling?"
"Much better, GM."
GM was c
learly relieved. "Oh, Solnyshko, you don't know how happy I am to hear that. It was terrifying to have a fever in this house ag—"
She broke off. But she didn't need to go on. I could tell that she had been reminded uncomfortably of the illness that had killed my mother.
She leaned over and placed her hand on my forehead. She frowned.
"You are still hot. I should see if Odette has a thermometer in the house. Are you sure you are feeling better?"
"Yes. I can still feel the aches and the fever, but I'm definitely better. I think I should get up and take a shower."
GM looked uncertain. "All right. But make sure it isn't too hot or too cold – pleasantly warm is what you need. In fact, I'll start the water for you. You may not be a good judge of temperature at the moment."
After GM had finished fussing over the water, I took a shower and dressed. Then I went downstairs. I felt dizzy and a bit shaky. GM cast a worried eye over me as I walked into the kitchen and settled gratefully into a chair.
"What would you like for breakfast, Solnyshko?"
The thought of food actually made me feel a little queasy, but I had a feeling that not eating anything would upset GM.
"A glass of water would be wonderful, GM. And also some toast – dry toast. I don't want anything too heavy just yet."
GM looked even more worried as she gave me the water and put bread in the toaster.
I kind of zoned out while waiting for the toast, and when it popped up, I was startled.
GM brought me the toast and watched me as I ate.
I wasn't terribly enthusiastic about the dry toast, but the water was different. I drank the water quickly and finished the toast to show GM that I really was doing better.
GM didn't seem to buy it. "Solnyshko, I don't think you are doing as well as you imagine. I think you should go back to bed."
I was inclined to agree with her. My head was swimming, and despite the fact that I had a fever, I was starting to get chills. Another part of me wanted to stay up, though, and spend time with GM and Odette.
"Where's Odette?" I asked.
"She left us a note while I was up in the room with you," GM replied. "She's gone shopping again for the ball. Some of her accessories weren't quite right. She said she'll be back soon, and that she hopes you are feeling better."
Pure (Book 1, Pure Series) Page 22