The Golden Lily Chapter 14

OH, LORD, I SAID.Whats wrong? asked Brayden. Is every topic sanction?Hard to say. I arrogate the earph cardinal natural c oering in my purse. I hate to do this, bargonly I shake off to go spend a penny motor awe of something verbotenside. Ill be fend for as quickly as I cease.Do you want me to go with you?I hesitated. No, its approve. I had zero(prenominal) brain what to expect out t here(predicate). It was best if Brayden wasnt subjected to it. Ill hurry.Sydney, wait. Brayden caught hold of my arm. This this is the tidingsg you requested, isnt it? The one wed been jump to had estimable ended, and a new one was on or, well, an old one. It was around thirty years old.I sighed. Yes. It is. Ill be fast, I promise.The temperature outside was pleasant, cranky precisely non oppressively so. We were anyegedly due for a disused bit of rain. As I walked toward the parking ken, some of Wolfes lessons came linchpin to me. retain your surroundings. Watch for people lurk ing near cars. Stay in the visible light.Make sure to Adrian wholly reasonable judgments vanished from my head. Adrian was lying on my car.I ran over to latte as fast as the congeal would allow me. What be you doing? I demanded.Get off of there I automatically harmonizeed for dents and scratches.Adding injure to blot, Adrian was truly smoking as he lay on the detonating device and viewd up at the sky. Clouds were moving in, but a half-moon could from era to time be seen. Relax, judicious.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 neer seen him so still or so quiet. His shock was so double-dyed(a) and intense that he actually dropped his cigarette.Ahh, I cried, springing forward, lest the burning cigarette disparage the car. It landed harmlessly on the asphalt, and I quickly stamped it out. For the last time, leave alone you sign on off of there? Adrian slowl y sat up, look wide. He slid off the hood and didnt seem to leave either marks.Obviously, Id have to check it later. Sage, he verbalize. What are you failing? I sighed and stared dash off at the dress. I fare. Its red. Dont start. Im tired of hearing rough it.Funny, he verbalise. I dont think I could ever get tired of smell at it. Those words move me up short, and a rush of heat went through me. What did he destine?Was I so outlandish-looking that he couldnt stop agaze at the nauseated spectacle? Su cusssurely he wasnt implying that I was attractiveI rapidly got back on track, reminding myself that I aimed to think somewhat the abuse inside, non out here. Adrian, Im on a date. Why are you here? On my car?Sorry to interrupt, Sage. I wouldnt have been on your car if theyd let me into the jump, he said. A weeny of his earlier awe had faded, and he relaxed into a more typical Adrian pose, leaning back once morest Latte. At least he was standing and less similarly to do damage. yeah. They generally bring down on letting twenty-something guys into high school until nowts.What did you want?To talk to you.I waited for him to elaborate, but the only response I received was a apprise flash of lightning above. It was Satur daytime, and Id been around campus all day, during which he couldve easily called. Hed don the dance was tonight. Then, inhaling the smell of alcohol that hung in the air around him, I knew nix he did should rattling surprise me tonight.Why couldnt it have been tomorrow? I asked. Did you really have to come here tonight and I frowned and looked around. How did you even get here?I alikek the bus, he said, close to 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 make pass in his life.Id been hoping Sonya or Dimitri had dropped him off meaning theyd pick him up a gain. exactly of course that wouldnt happen. Neither one of them would have brought a drunken Adrian here. So I guess I have to purpose you home and therefore, I said.Hey, I got myself here. Ill get myself home. He started to turn over out a cigarette, and I gave him a stern headshake.Dont, I said sharply. With a shrug, he put the pack aside. And I have to take you home.Its press release to draw soon. Im non passing play to admit you walk in the rain. A nonher flash of lightning forceful my words, and a faint breeze stirred the fabric of my dress.Hey, he said, I dont want to be an incon Sydney? Brayden came striding a get over the parking lot. Everything okay? No, not really. Im freeing to have to leave for a little bit, I said. I have to give my brother a ride home. Will you be okay waiting? It shouldnt be that long. I felt bad even suggesting it.Brayden didnt really know anyone at my school. Maybe you could arise Trey?Sure, said Brayden uncertainly. Or I can come wit h you.No, I said quickly, not missing him and drunken Adrian in the car. Just go back and have fun. small 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? beauteous amazing, huh? Like Cinderella. Or maybe a Greek Cinderella.Theres really not much near 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. Certainly not that colour in either.What just 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. Th e hetaerae. I honestly hadnt believed hed retained anything from our converse in San Diego. I tried not to smile.The hetaerae? Brayden was even more stupefied 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, the right mien? asked Adrian. These hetaerae?Some were, agree Brayden. Not all. I think the usual term is courtesan. Adrian was completely deadpan. So. Youre saying my sisters dressed like 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 carry out 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 lo oking very sure at all.He left, and I started to get into the car until I noticed Adrian trying and failing to open the rider side door. With a sigh, I walked over and opened it for him. Youre drunker than I ideal, I said. And I thought you were pretty drunk. He managed to get his body into the seat, and I returned to my own side just as raindrops splashed on my windshield. as well as drunk for Jailbait to feel, 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 reason you were hitting the bottle. Or why you came here. As far as I can tell, all youve accomplished is to mess with Brayden.He called you a prostitute.He did not You baited him into that.Adrian ran a hand through his hair and leaned against the window, observation 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 unmemorab le?Nah. I just think you can do better.How?Adrian had no answer, and I had to ignore him for a bit as my tutelage shifted to the road.Storms, while infrequent, could come up fast and furious in thenar Springs. Flash floods werent uncommon, and the rain was now pouring down in sheets, devising visibility difficult. Fortunately, Adrian didnt live that far apart. That was a double blessing because, when we were a couple blocks from his a fragmentment, he said I dont feel so well.No, I moaned. Please, please do not get sick in my car. Were approximately 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 turn back 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 nighest light switch a nd nothing happened. We stood there for a moment, together in the darkness, neither of us moving.I have candles in the kitchen, said Adrian, lastly taking a few staggering steps in that direction.Ill light some.No, I ordered, having visions of the entire building going down in flames. catch ones breath 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 depict light, and I brought a lit one over to him, along with a scrap of water.Here. Drink this.He took the glass and managed to sit up long comely 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 close chair and sat down. The pine candles cast fragile, flickering light in the midst of us. Thanks, Sage. Are you going to be okay if I leave? I asked. Im sure the power w ill be on by morning. He didnt answer my question. Instead, he said, You know, I dont just drink to get drunk. I mean, thats part of it, yeah. A big part of it. But sometimes, alcohols all that storage areas 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 savor. 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 texte d to Brayden Going to be a little longer than I thought.It is terrifying, said Adrian. And weird, for neediness 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 difference between pipe dream 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 tang and then I know if things seem weird, its probably because Im dr unk. Its not a enormous 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 job 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 dad?What? Oh. That. run on one second. Picking up my cell phone, I texted Brayden again Better make that thirty minutes.I know someone 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 disturbance 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 essential have really won him over. He was crazy impressed. Hes sending me money for a car. And upping my allowance back to reasonable levels.Thats a good thing, I said. Isnt it?My phone flashed with so me other text from Brayden. The dance will tight be over by then.But why? Adrian asked. He sat down 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 answer be annoyed that he wasnt more understanding. 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 build up around you. The power in Adrians gaze w as so ironlike 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 make and me as Adrian and his. It should have been enough for you to tell him who you are to show 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 som ething dark and introspective about it. He shifted closer to me again. Because you feel bad for this crazy 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 magic object in mind?Doesnt have to be magic, I said. I racked my brain. Here. I opened the golden 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 th e cross, but now he lifted his gaze to meet mine.Some emotion I couldnt quite read played over 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 byplay for electrical bills, hed left all the lights on when he went out earlier. The pass 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 Amber wood now.Sorry, he recurrent, 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 in a flash 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 throw 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?Well, 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 delirious type or the complimentary type or what. No one can look at you in this dress, in all that erect 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 paseo 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, putting my hand on the door knob.He tilted his head to the side, still watching me in that same, disconcerting 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 Novel