The Golden Lily Chapter 14

OH, LORD, I SAID.Whats wrong? asked Brayden. Is incessantlyything okay?Hard to say. I pose the phone lynchpin in my purse. I hate to do this, and I film to go manoeuver c are of something pop step upside. Ill be back as quickly as I can.Do you take me to go with you?I hesitated. No, its okay. I had no idea what to expect step forward at that place. It was best if Brayden wasnt subjected to it. Ill hurry.Sydney, wait. Brayden caught hold of my arm. This this is the stock you requested, isnt it? The one wed been dancing to had just ended, and a new one was on or, healthful, an old one. It was about cardinal years old.I sighed. Yes. It is. Ill be fast, I promise.The temp epochture outside was pleasant, warm but non oppressively so. We were allegedly due for a rare bit of rain. As I walked toward the parking lot, some of Wolfes lessons came back to me. allow out your surroundings. Watch for people lurking near cars. Stay in the light.Make sure to AdrianAll cogitateabl e thoughts vanished from my head. Adrian was finesse on my car.I ran everywhere to Latte as fast as the dress would allow me. What are you doing? I demanded.Get off of there I automatically checked for dents and scratches.Adding insult to injury, Adrian was actually smoking as he lay on the hood and contemplated up at the sky. Clouds were moving in, but a half-moon could occasionally be seen. Relax, Sage.I wont leave a scratch. Really, this is surprisingly comfortable for a family car. I wouldve expected He turned his head toward me and froze. I had never seen him so until now or so quiet. His shock was so thorough and intense that he actually dropped his cigarette.Ahh, I cried, springing forward, lest the burning cigarette ruin the car. It landed harmlessly on the asphalt, and I quickly stamped it out. For the last time, leave you find off of there? Adrian slowly sat up, eyes wide. He slid off the hood and didnt seem to leave each marks.Obviously, Id founder got to che ck it later. Sage, he utter. What are you weakening? I sighed and stared go through at the dress. I know. Its red. Dont startle. Im tired of listening about it.Funny, he state. I dont think I could ever get tired of looking at it. Those words drew me up short, and a rush of heat went through me. What did he mean?Was I so outlandish-looking that he couldnt stop staring at the crazy spectacle? Surelysurely he wasnt implying that I was prettyI promptly got back on track, reminding myself that I needed to think about the jest at inside, not out here. Adrian, Im on a date. Why are you here? On my car? inconsolable to interrupt, Sage. I wouldnt have been on your car if theyd let me into the dance, he give tongue to. A little of his earlier veneration had faded, and he relaxed into a more than typical Adrian pose, leaning back against Latte. At least he was stand up and less uniformly to do damage.Yeah. They generally frown on letting twenty-something guys into high school ste adyts.What did you desire?To chew out to you.I waited for him to elaborate, but the only response I received was a brief frighten away of lightning above. It was Saturday, and Id been around campus all day, during which he couldve easily called. Hed known the dance was tonight. Then, inhaling the smell of alcohol that hung in the commit around him, I knew nothing he did should really surprise me tonight.Why couldnt it have been tomorrow? I asked. Did you really have to discern here tonight and I frowned and looked around. How did you even get here?I took the bus, he said, or so proudly. A lot easier getting here than to Carlton. Carlton College was where he took art classes, and without his own transportation, hed come to rely heavily on mass transit something hed never done before in his heart.Id been hoping Sonya or Dimitri had dropped him off meaning theyd pick him up again.But of course that wouldnt happen. Neither one of them would have brought a drunken Adrian here. So I guess I have to take you home accordinglyce, I said.Hey, I got myself here. Ill get myself home. He started to take out a cigarette, and I gave him a stern headshake.Dont, I said sharply. With a shrug, he put the pack away. And I have to take you home.Its divergence to storm soon. Im not freeing to retain you walk in the rain. Another flash of lightning emphasized my words, and a faint press stud stirred the fabric of my dress.Hey, he said, I dont want to be an incon Sydney? Brayden came striding across the parking lot. Everything okay? No, not really. Im personnel casualty to have to leave for a little bit, I said. I have to give my buddy a ride home. Will you be okay waiting? It shouldnt be that long. I felt spoilt even suggesting it.Brayden didnt really know anyone at my school. by chance you could find Trey?Sure, said Brayden uncertainly. Or I can come with you.No, I said quickly, not wanting him and drunken Adrian in the car. Just go back and have fun.Nice toga, Adrian told Brayden.Its a chiton, said Brayden. Its Greek.Right. I forgot that was tonights theme. Adrian gave Brayden an appraising look, glanced over at me, and then turned back to Brayden. So. What do you think of our girls ensemble tonight? Pretty amazing, huh? Like Cinderella. Or maybe a Greek Cinderella.Theres really not much about it thats truly Greek, said Brayden. I winced. I knew he didnt mean to be insensitive, but his words stung a little. The dress is historically inaccurate.I mean its a very nice dress, but the jewelrys anachronistic, and the fabrics nothing that ancient Greek women would have had. for sure not that color either.What about those other Greek women? asked Adrian. The flashy smart ones. His forehead wrinkled, as though it were taking every ounce of his brain to come up with the word he wanted. And, to my astonishment, he did. The hetaerae. I honestly hadnt believed hed retained anything from our conversation in San Diego. I tried not to smile.The hetae rae? Brayden was even more surprise than I was. He gave me a scrutinizing look. Yes yes. I suppose if such materials were hypothetically possible in that era that this is something youd expect to see find on a hetaera instead of the average Greek matron.And they were prostitutes, right? asked Adrian. These hetaerae? almost were, agreed Brayden. Not all. I think the usual term is courtesan. Adrian was completely deadpan. So. Youre saying my sisters dressed the similar a prostitute. Brayden eyed my dress. Well, yes, if were still speaking in hypothetical You know what? I interrupted. We need to go. Its going to rain any minute now. Ill take Adrian home and meet you back here, okay? I refused to let Adrian continue to play whatever game he had going to torment Brayden and, by extension, me. Ill text you when Im on my way back.Sure, said Brayden, not looking very sure at all.He left, and I started to get into the car until I noticed Adrian trying and failing to open the passeng er side door. With a sigh, I walked over and opened it for him. Youre drunker than I thought, I said. And I thought you were pretty drunk. He managed to get his frame into the seat, and I returned to my own side just as raindrops splashed on my windshield. Too drunk for Jailbait to tone of voice, he said. The bonds numb. She can have an Adrian-free night.That was very thoughtful of you, I said. Though Im guessing thats not the real undercoat you were hitting the bottle. Or wherefore you came here. As far as I can allege, all youve action is to mess with Brayden.He called you a prostitute.He did not You baited him into that.Adrian ran a pass along through his hair and leaned against the window, watching the rapidly unfolding storm outside. Doesnt matter. Ive decided I dont like him.Because hes too smart? I said. I remembered Jill and Eddies earlier comments. And unmemorable?Nah. I just think you can do better.How?Adrian had no answer, and I had to shorten him for a bit as my attention shifted to the road.Storms, while infrequent, could come up fast and furious in Palm Springs. Flash floods werent uncommon, and the rain was now pouring down in sheets, making visibility difficult. Fortunately, Adrian didnt spanking that far away. That was a double blessing because, when we were a couple blocks from his a offendment, he said I dont feel so well.No, I moaned. Please, please do not get sick in my car. Were almost there. A minute or so later, I pulled up at the curb outside his building. Out. Now. He obeyed, and I followed with an comprehensive for myself. Glancing over at me as we walked to the building, he asked, We live in a desert, and you come about an umbrella in your car?Of course I do. Why wouldnt I?He dropped his keys, and I picked them up, figuring Id have an easier time unlocking the door. I flipped on the nearest light switch and nothing happened. We stood there for a moment, together in the darkness, neither of us moving.I have candles in t he kitchen, said Adrian, finally taking a a few(prenominal) staggering locomote in that direction.Ill light some.No, I ordered, having visions of the entire building going down in flames. Lie on the couch. Or throw up in the bathroom. Ill take care of the candles. He opted for the couch, apparently not as sick as hed feared. Meanwhile, I found the candles atrocious air freshening ones that smelled like fake pine. Still, they cast light, and I brought a lit one over to him, along with a wish-wash of water.Here. Drink this.He took the glass and managed to sit up long enough to get a few sips. Then, he handed the glass back and collapsed against the couch, draping one arm over his eyes. I pulled up a nearby chair and sat down. The pine candles cast fragile, flitter light between us. Thanks, Sage. Are you going to be okay if I leave? I asked. Im sure the power will be on by morning. He didnt answer my question. Instead, he said, You know, I dont just subscribe to get drunk. I mean , thats take time off of it, yeah. A big part of it. But sometimes, alcohols all that keeps me clearheaded.That doesnt make sense. Here, I prompted, handing the water back to him. As I did, I cast a quick look at my cell phones clock, anxious about Brayden. Drink some more. Adrian complied and then continued speaking, arm back over his eyes. Do you know what its like to feel like somethings eating away at your mind? Id been about to tell him I needed to leave, but his words left me cold. I remembered Jill saying something similar when she was telling me about him and spirit. No, I said honestly.I dont know what its like but to me, well, its pretty much one of the most terrifying things I can imagine. My mind, it its who I am. I think Id rather suffer any other injury in the world than have my mind tampered with.I couldnt leave Adrian right now. I just couldnt. I texted to Brayden passing play to be a little longer than I thought.It is terrifying, said Adrian. And unearthly, for l ack of a better word. And part of you knowswell, part of you knows somethings not right. That your thinkings not right. But what do you about that? All we can go on is what we think, how we see the world. If you cant trust your own mind, what can you trust? What other people tell you?I dont know, I said, for lack of a better answer. His words struck me as I thought how much of my life had been guided by the edicts of others.Rose once told me about this poem shed read. There was this line, If your eyes werent open, you wouldnt know the dispute between dreaming and waking. You know what Im afraid of? That someday, even with my eyes open, I still wont know.Oh, Adrian, no. I felt my heart breaking and sat down on the floor near the couch. That wont happen.He sighed. At least with the alcohol it quiets the spirit and then I know if things seem weird, its probably because Im drunk. Its not a great(p) reason, but its a reason, you know? At least you actually have a reason instead of not trusting yourself. Brayden texted back How much longer? Irritated, I answered back Fifteen minutes.I looked back up at Adrian. His face was still covered, though the candlelight did a fair affair of illuminating the clean lines of his profile. Is that is that why you drank tonight? Is spirit bothering you? I mean you seemed to be doing so well the other day He exhaled deeply. No. Spirits okay in as much as it ever is. I actually got drunk tonight because well, it was the only way I could bring myself to talk to you.We talk all the time.I need to know something, Sage. He uncovered his face to look at me, and I suddenly realized how close I was sitting. For a moment, I almost didnt pay attention to his words. The flickering dance of shadow and light gave his already good looks a haunting beauty. Did you get Lissa to talk to my public address system?What? Oh. That. Hang on one second. Picking up my cell phone, I texted Brayden again Better make that thirty minutes.I know soulfulness got her to do it, Adrian continued. I mean, Lissa likes me, but shes got a lot going on. She wouldnt have just thought one day, Oh, hey. I should call Nathan Ivashkov and tell him how awesome his son is. You got her to do it.Ive actually never talked to her, I said. I didnt regret my actions at all but felt weird at being called out on them. But I, uh, may have asked Sonya and Dimitri to talk to her on your behalf.And then she talked to my old man.Something like that.I knew it, he said. I couldnt gauge his tone, if it was upset or relieved. I knew someone had to have prompted her, and somehow I knew it was you. No one else would have done it for me. Not sure what Lissa told him, but man, she mustiness have really won him over. He was crazy impressed. Hes sending me money for a car. And upping my allow back to reasonable levels.Thats a good thing, I said. Isnt it?My phone flashed with another text from Brayden. The dance will nearly be over by then.But why? Adrian asked. He sat do wn on the floor beside me. There was an almost distraught look to him. He leaned closer to me and then seemed shocked as he realized what he was doing. He leaned back a little but only a little. Why would you do that? Why would you do that for me?Before I could answer, another text came in. Will you even be back in time? I couldnt help be annoyed that he wasnt more under stand up. Without thinking, I typed back Maybe you should just leave now. Ill call you tomorrow. Sorry. I flipped the phone over so I wouldnt see any other messages. I looked back at Adrian, who was watching me intently.I did it because he wasnt fair to you. Because you deserve credit for what youve done.Because he needs to realize you arent the person hes always thought you were. He needs to see you for who you really are, not for all the ideas and preconceptions hes built up around you. The power in Adrians gaze was so strong that I kept talking. I was nervous about meeting that stare in silence. Also, part of me was afraid that if I pondered my own words too hard, Id discover they were just as much about my own father and me as Adrian and his. It should have been enough for you to tell him who you are to state him who you are but he wouldnt listen. I dont like the idea of using others to do things we can do ourselves, but this seemed like the only option.Well, Adrian said at last. I guess it worked. Thank you.Did he tell you how to get in touch with your mother?No. His pride in me apparently didnt go that far.I can probably find out where she is, I said. Or or Dimitri could, Im sure. Like you said before, they must let letters in.He almost smiled. There you go again. Why? Why do you keep helping me? There were a million answers on my lips, everything from Its the right thing to do to I dont know. Instead, I said, Because I want to.This time, I got a true smile from him, but there was something dark and introverted about it. He shifted closer to me again. Because you feel bad for this cr azy guy?You arent going to go crazy, I said firmly. Youre stronger than you think. The next time you feel that way, find something to focus on, to remind you of who you are.Like what? Got some charming object in mind?Doesnt have to be magic, I said. I racked my brain. Here. I unfastened the well-off cross necklace. This has always been good for me. Maybe itll help you. I set it in his hand, but he caught hold of mine before I could pull back.What is it? he asked. He looked more closely. Wait Ive seen this. You wear this all the time.I bought it a long time ago, in Germany.He was still holding my hand as he studied the cross. No frills. No flourishes. No secret etched symbols.Thats why I like it, I told him. It doesnt need embellishment. A lot of the old Alchemist beliefs focused on purity and simplicity. Thats what this is. Maybe itll help you have clarity of mind.He had been staring at the cross, but now he lean his gaze to meet mine.Some emotion I couldnt quite read played ove r his features. It was almost like hed just discovered something, something troubling to him. He took a deep breath and, his hand still holding mine, pulled me toward him. His green eyes were dark in the candlelight but somehow just as enthralling. His fingers tightened on mine, and I felt warmth spread throughout me.Sage The power suddenly came back on, flooding the room with light. Apparently, with no concern for electrical bills, hed left all the lights on when he went out earlier. The spell was broken, and both of us winced at the sudden brightness. Adrian sprang back from me, leaving the cross in my hand.Dont you have a dance or a curfew or something? he asked abruptly, not looking at me.I dont want to keep you. Hell, I shouldnt have bothered you at all. Sorry. I assume that was Aiden texting you?Brayden, I said, standing up. And its okay. He left, and Im just going to go back to Amberwood now.Sorry, he repeated, moving toward the door with me. Sorry I ruined your night.This? I nearly laughed, thinking of all the crazy things I contended with in my life. No.Itd take a lot more to ruin my night than this. I started to take a few steps and then paused.Adrian?He finally looked directly at me, once again nearly knocking me over with his gaze.Yeah?Next time next time you want to talk to me about something anything you dont have to drink to work up the courage. Just tell me.Easier said than done.Not really. I tried for the door again, and this time, he stopped me, resting a hand on my shoulder.Sage?I turned. Yeah?Do you know why I dont like him? Brayden? I was so astonished hed gotten the name right that I couldnt voice any answers, though several came to mind. Because of what he said.What part? Seeing as Brayden had said many things, in great detail, it wasnt entirely clear which Adrian was referring to.Historically inaccurate. Adrian gestured at me with his other hand, the one not on my shoulder. Who the hell looks at you and says historically inaccurate?W ell, I said. Technically it is.He shouldnt have said that.I shifted, knowing I should move away but I didnt. Look, its just his way.He shouldnt have said that, repeated Adrian, eerily serious. He leaned his face toward mine. I dont care if hes not the emotional type or the complimentary type or what. No one can look at you in this dress, in all that fire and gold, and start talking about anachronisms. If I were him, I would have said, You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen walking this earth.My breath caught, both at the words and the way he said them. I felt strange inside. I didnt know what to think, except that I needed to get out of there, away from Adrian, away from what I didnt understand. I broke from him and was surprised to find myself shaking.Youre still drunk, I said, displace my hand on the door knob.He tilted his head to the side, still watching me in that same, embarrass way. Some things are true, drunk or sober. You should know that. You deal in facts all the time.Yeah, but this isnt I couldnt argue with him looking at me like that. I have to go.Wait you didnt take the cross. I held it out to him.He shook his head. Keep it. I think Ive got something else to help center my life. The Golden Lily A Bloodlines tonic