12. Changes
CHANGES
J ulian gestured for Grayson to step into the quad ahead of him and Christian. His two roommates--as this was a quad, there must be another PERSON who was not there yet--looked at him curiously. The bright, dark eyes of the elderly Eiji Goda were creased with a welcoming smile. Dr. Amara Biswas blinked rapidly as if trying to clear her vision because she wasn’t quite sure what she was seeing. Neither of them was wearing the school uniform he had on.
Going to kill Balthazar.
Grayson kept his expression studiously neutral, even though he felt the urge to retreat into some dark shadows until they forgot about him. But that was not to be. He was definitely in the spotlight. By having the Vampire Prince and his best friend escort him personally to his rooms had been a mistake. Or maybe not. People would want to know him, because they would think he was something special.
Special, not just different, he reminded himself.
He’d been different all of his life and not in a good way. It had cost him everything to be different. Hiding had been safety and security. Escaping notice had been necessary. So he knew he was ill-equipped for this kind of scrutiny.
The Sect knows who I am already, I bet, so notoriety will give me the opportunity to suss out everyone. I need to figure out who is in on this, otherwise I’ll never be safe, he thought.
“Hello.” Dr. Biswas extended a hand to Grayson. “I’m Amara and you are?”
He was somehow impressed that she hadn’t stated she was a doctor. He imagined that getting that title had been difficult and something one would be proud of and want to show off. But here she was yet another student who wished to be a Vampire. Her old life was the past and it didn’t matter here.
He clasped her hand lightly in his and shook it. “Grayson. Nice to meet you. I saw your interview. Both your interviews.”
Eiji Goda offered his hand as well. It was light and cool as paper as they shook. Eiji half bowed.
“Grayson, nice to meet. I am Eiji Goda,” the old Japanese man answered.
“Nice to meet you too,” Grayson said awkwardly and stepped back from them towards the corner so that he could see the whole of the shared space and where all the exits were.
The room was large and rectangular. Upon entering there was a cozy sitting area with a large overstuffed sofa with blankets thrown over the back of it. There was also a dining table that could seat six. And there was an open air kitchen with a large island made of stone and steel for more to sit. The far wall held a set of french doors that led out onto a generously-sized balcony which had a sleek gas flame fireplace and more comfortable seating to take in the stars. On either of the short ends of the rectangular room were hallways, which he guessed led to their bedrooms. The space engendered connection. It practically urged people to sit down with a glass of wine opposite someone new and get to know them better. But wasn’t that what the school was about?
Eiji’s dark eyes briefly narrowed as he saw how Grayson positioned himself so that there was as little open space behind his back as possible. He wondered if the man understood why. Eiji was old, not as old as the Vampires by any means, but older than most of the humans here. He could have lived quite a few lives in his over 80 years. Who knew what his past held?
Eiji and Amara were both the most obvious–and the least likely–for the Sect to have recruited. They were some of the very few that had been interviewed so the fact that they had gotten into the academy was public knowledge. The Sect could have approached them, blackmailed them or convinced them to join in their cause, after they had been chosen. Choosing them after they got through the rigorous process would explain how they weren’t identified before. But the Vampires would have had a watchful eye on these two for just that reason that they could be harmed or approached by their enemies. So reaching them would be the most difficult as compared to other students. He’d have to watch them just as carefully as anyone else. They weren’t ruled in or out.
“Your final quad-mate is downstairs,” Julian said, breaking him out of his thoughts, then added dryly, “She brought a few things.”
“Not the one with the birdcage.” Grayson frowned. The thought of birds squawking at all times of the day and night--well, all times of the night as there was no day in the Ever Dark--would be Hellish.
“No, no.” Julian scrubbed the back of his neck with one hand though as if what this person had brought was worse than the birds.
“It’s the one with the pool table,” Christian remarked.
“You’re kidding!” Amara burst out then plastered a smile on her face as if she was afraid that objecting would have points taken against her. “I guess that explains the empty spot over there.”
She indicated an empty corner of the common room where that pool table would just fit. Grayson wondered if the birds would have been better.
“I’m afraid so,” Julian said tightly.
“I suppose it will be something we can do together,” Amara said just as tightly, but she tried to smile. “But don’t they understand that we’re starting new lives here? Holding onto something as large as a pool table is--is hardly doing that.”
“Some wish to hold onto their past,” Eiji remarked neutrally with that benevolent smile.
“Indeed. You don’t seem to bring anything with you at all, Grayson,” Amara remarked as she took in his lack of luggage.
“Oh, my pool table is yet to be delivered,” Grayson deadpanned.
Amara blinked again, but then let out a pleasant laugh. “Right! We’ll have dueling pool tables!”
“Grayson, why don’t we go look at your room and see if there’s anything you want changed,” Julian suggested.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Grayson said.
He suddenly didn’t want to see his room. It was to have been Gregory’s. He already felt like a fraud and that would make him feel more so. Besides, no matter what was in his “room” it would be better than anything he’d had since he was a kid.
“Well, we want to make sure you’re completely comfortable,” Christian said and gestured towards the left hallway.
Grayson resisted the urge to sigh and headed down the dark wood hallway with a tight smile. He could almost feel the questions in their eyes following him. Now the Vampire Prince and his best friend were assuring that his room was to his liking. What were they likely thinking of him? He’d been a street kid and now he was… what? He felt conspicuous and strange.
“It’s the last door on the left,” Christian said as they neared the first door to his right.
He found himself glancing inside the first room. It was very spare with grays and whites predominant. There was a futon with no pillow on the floor and a low table with pillows on either side. It clearly evidenced a Japanese aesthetic.
Must be Eiji’s room. Beautiful.
He realized he immediately presumed his own room wouldn’t be half so nice. But then they reached his room, or rather Gregory’s room. It was meant for Gregory so why would it be less nice than Eiji’s? It wouldn’t. He was just staying there. It wasn’t his room. He hesitated by the door, unwilling to push it open and see what had been planned for a dead man.
“We changed things based on what we thought you might like,” Julian said quietly, as if understanding the reason for his reluctance.
And maybe he did. Prince Julian was said to have all the gifts, including that of Eyros to read minds. But Grayson sensed that Julian just guessed what he was feeling out of sheer empathy. That caused him to speak out loud what was eating him up inside.
“I saw him die,” Grayson said. “Though he was supposed to be a spy, he wanted to be a part of this. One of you . It makes me wonder what I’m doing here.”
That last phrase just slipped out. Grayson wondered if that single glass of champagne had been a mistake and made his tongue loose. But that rarely happened to him. Not that he often drank to excess--though he had to quiet the nightmares--but he normally became more withdrawn when he drank as his mind offered visions of his past. But he did not feel at all drunk. He was stone, cold sober and yet he had spoken out loud what he truly felt.
“Seeyr believes that fate is real. Some things, no matter what we do, must happen. Seeyr is an Immortal. She has the gift of seeing the future,” Julian explained gently. “This could be one of those things. You being here could be meant .”
Grayson studied the intensely handsome face of the Vampire Prince. He saw no lie or con in it. Julian was telling him the truth as he saw it. Could this be meant? All his life he’d had this ability that, in the movies and books, should have led him to some incredible fate, but all it had done was to destroy his life.
Except for now. This is the first time that my gift has led me somewhere good.
He couldn’t believe he was thinking that of the Ever Dark. Not to mention he was likely still being hunted by the Sect. So…
“Can you imagine if Gregory had come and we did not find out about the Sect until something tragic happened to onr or more of the students?” Julian continued. “No matter what else you do here, you have stopped that. You’ve likely saved lives, Grayson. We owe you for that. Everyone here owes you for that.”
“Not to mention if you keep looking for the Sect and find it,” Christian added.
“I should have known that I couldn’t keep that secret with Eyros Vampires around,” Grayson remarked. “Makes me wonder how the Sect is doing it.”
“There are ways to guard your thoughts,” Christian said. “And like I told you before, not everything is accessible, but you were thinking hard on your plan.”
Grayson nodded. He wasn’t actually annoyed by Christian and Julian knowing as they seemed to approve. Not that it would matter if they didn’t. He’d do what he had to do to keep himself safe. Though normally that meant retreating, there had been times when he’d had to act. A flash of a stiletto smile and drug-glazed eyes flashed through his mind. If he had to go on the offense, he would. That’s what he was doing here.
The sense of not belonging, of being an imposter, eased a little bit, too. Grayson rolled his shoulders back. He wasn’t here out of some kind of pity or charity. He was here because he had gotten crucial information to the Vampires. Now they were paying him back in small part with a place to stay and food to eat. And they, evidently, knew he intended to still keep looking for the Sect.
While there was definitely a selfish aspect to it--protecting himself was crucial--he would also be protecting the innocent people here from fates that had taken Sam and Gregory. He had a purpose and it wasn’t just to pretend to be a student. His goal was greater than that. Grayson opened the door to his new bedroom and blinked.
He recognized this place.
Or more like he recognized the sort of place it was. His grandparents on his father’s side had a cabin that he’d gone to once just the year before they’d died. It was high up in the woods where the snowfall blanketed the ground under a sea of white and the sky was awash with stars so bright and numerous there had hardly been any darkness. He had loved that cozy yet elegant space.
After their deaths, his mother had married his stepfather and that had started the bad times. It had seemed that when the one link to his father--his grandparents--had been broken, everything had gone with it. And this was so like their cabin. Not exactly, but so close . It was like the very soul of it had been pulled out of his heart and placed here before him.
This can’t be possible.
The floor, walls and ceiling were all wood. Bare, open beams were visible on the ceiling. The king-sized bed had a dusky, heather-gray headboard and a broad mattress covered in white and tan blankets. There was a fur throw across the corner of the bed. A dark leather couch sat before a stone fireplace where a fire already crackled. A chandelier in the shape of a wheel with faux candles that could be dimmed reigned above the space.
There was a hallway that led to a walk-in closet and a massive bathroom with a standalone shower and deep soaking tub. The closet was filled with new clothes just like Balthazar had said there would be. He ran his hands over the fine material. This was more than all the clothes he’d had together in his life .
So much to lose...
“This is… how did you… I wasn’t unconscious for long enough for you to change things that much,” Grayson found himself saying as he sat down half in a daze on the back of the sturdy leather couch. That was when he noticed Julian and Christian’s faces. “What? What is it?”
“Ah, we didn’t…” Julian began and then stopped.
Something was wrong. But what could be wrong? This place was perfect. Julian looked at Christian for guidance or advice. Christian’s expression was harder to read. They were clearly talking about something. Christian turned towards him and smiled, though that smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Nightvallen changes to suit certain of the people in it,” Christian said. “It appears to have changed to suit you.”
“Why? I’m not expected here. I mean…” Grayson’s voice drifted off as the two other young men exchanged looks again.
Julian turned back to him and said, “It looks like you’re welcome . I hate to do this, but Christian and I have to get back downstairs. Will you be all right on your own for a bit?”
Grayson almost said, “I’m always alone.” But he just nodded. He didn’t understand how this room could so perfectly suit him. Were they honestly telling him that the city had done this all on its own. For him? Why?
Christian gestured towards a tidy desk beneath a window. There was a thick black, leather binder there and a stapled piece of cream paper with typing on it.
“You’ll find tonight’s activities on the loose paper. You’ll be getting a new schedule every day. The binder has all the general information you’ll need about the school. Maps. Where you can get food. All of that,” Christian explained, clasping his hands in front of him. He pointed to a very fancy watch on the desk in a leather case. “You’ll actually need to use a watch. Phones don’t work here. Oh, and expect some… disorientation. The lack of a day-night cycle will play havoc with your sleep schedule. There are sun rooms and vitamins that we have provided and recommend you take. There are physicians on staff to help you at any time.”
With every word, Grayson’s eyebrows lifted. He shouldn’t have been surprised that there would be such luxury here. Doctors on staff. He hadn’t seen a doctor in… forever. He didn’t get sick often and, thankfully, he’d never broken anything. He’d always been paranoid that something off about him would be given away during an examination. Now he could go if he wanted to without any fear. They already knew what he could do.
He set the coat, scarf and gloves on the bed. He didn’t need them right now. It was so warm and pleasant in the room. As he did so, he couldn’t help but compare his old life to this one. He did feel lucky, but he also experienced a flare of anger that the only reason his life was better in this moment was because had gotten the equivalent of a lottery ticket to the Ever Dark.
With quite the cost.
“Thanks,” Grayson told them. “I appreciate it.”
“We’ll let you get settled in. We’ll see you later,” Julian said and waved as he and Christian left the room and shut the door.
The only sound was the crackle and pop of the fire. Grayson got up from the couch and decided to look more carefully at his surroundings before joining his quad-mates outside.
He ran a hand over the silky dark leather of the couch, noticing that there was a pile of books on a side table. He ran his fingers over the spines. It was The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He’d started reading that the last year before he… he had to leave home. He’d used libraries as places to keep warm during some of the winters and books had been a comfort then. But he’d never read that trilogy again, because it reminded him too much of what he’d lost. But now here they were as if they’d been waiting for them.
He went over to the bed and sat down on the edge. It was incredibly comfortable. He leaned all the way back on it and spread his arms wide. The blankets were soft and silky underneath his hands. The wood-beamed ceiling above him was interesting to look at, drawing his eye along the wood’s grain. He could have just shut his eyes and fallen asleep then. But there was a parade that night. He couldn’t miss seeing Ryder in a parade. He grinned and sat up.
He went over to the desk and saw that the stapled paper had tonight and tomorrow’s events. Tonight was the parade. Tomorrow there was a welcome breakfast and orientation. He took the watch out of its case. The face had a blue metallic sheen and a solid, leather strap. He put it on his wrist. It felt cool against his skin. It appeared to already be set to the appropriate time, which was 4 in the afternoon. He was definitely going to have some sleeping issues.
He heard the thump of a door and a loud female voice lifted in greeting. He turned around.
Must be the owner of the pool table. Would a Sect member be this bold? Let’s find out.
He raked his fingers through his hair and strode out of his room and back down the hallway. Eiji stood with his hands crossed at the wrists behind his back. Amara was blinking again from her seat at the kitchen island. They were both looking at a woman who had short, bright red hair with black tips, green snapping eyes and freckles all over her engaging--if not pretty-face. She was snapping gum and smiling. When she saw him, she hopped down from her perch on the back of the couch.
She grinned at him and with a broad Irish accent said, “Ach, so here’s the celebrity!”
“Celebrity?” He lifted an eyebrow.
“Come in with a Weryn by your side, though they claim to be sitting this school year out. Then you have Prince Julian and the Speaker to the Dead Christian hanging about you like old friends.” She ticked these things off on her fingers. “So what’s your story, mate?” Her grin grew bigger. “For I bet it’s a big one.”