The Golden Lily Chapter 1

MOST PEOPLE WOULD FIND universe direct into an hole-and-corner(a) hole on a stormy night scary. non me.Things I could explain a manner and define with data didnt f well(p)en me. That was why I kept silently reciting facts to myself as I descended deeper and deeper below street level. The axial motionker was a relic of the nipping War, built as protection in a time when the great unwashed thought nuclear missiles were around both corner. On the out(a), the building claimed to house an optical supply store. That was a front. Not scary at altogether. And the storm? Simply a natural phenomenon of atmospherical fronts clashing. And re exclusivelyy, if you were pass to worry nearly get hurt in a storm, then going underground was actually pretty smart.So, no. This appargonntly ominous journey didnt frighten me in the least. Everything was built on fairish facts and logic. I could deal with that. It was the rest of my job I had a task with.And really, maybe that was why sto rmy underground trips didnt faze me. When you spent virtually of your days living among lamias and half vampires, ferrying them to get blood, and keeping their macrocosm secret from the rest of the world well, it kind of gave you a unique side on life. Id witnessed bloody vampire battles and seen magical feats that defied every law of natural philosophy I knew. My life was a constant struggle to hold fend for my terror of the unexplainable and try desperately to find a way to explain it.Watch your step, my guide told me as we went down yet early(a) f luminosity of concrete stairs.Everything Id seen so out-of-the-way(prenominal) was concrete the walls, floor, and ceiling. The gray, rough sur reflexion absorbed the fluorescent light that contracted to illuminate our way. It was dreary and cold, supernatural in its mutedness. The guide expected to guess my thoughts. Weve do modifications and expansions since this was originally built. Youll see erst we reach the main s ection. Sure enough. The stairs finally opened up to a corridor with several closed doorways lining the sides. The decor was fluid concrete, only if all the doors were new-fangled, with electronic locks displaying either wild or yard lights. He led me to the second door on the right, bingleness with a green light, and I found myself entering a perfectly normal lounge, deal the kind of break room youd find in any modern take outice. Green carpet c everywhereed the floor, kindred some wistful attempt at grass, and the walls were a tan that gave the illusion of rawth. A puffy waiting room and two c hairsbreadths sat on the opposite side of the room, a bulky with a table scattered with magazines. Best of all, the room had a counter with a sink and a burnt umber shaper.Make yourself at home, my guide told me. I was guessing he was close to my age, eighteen, entirely his patchy attempts at increment a beard made him seem younger. Theyll come for you shortly.My eye had n ever left the c mangleee packr. Can I make some c mutilateee?Sure, he give tongue to. Whatever you comparable.He left, and I practically ran to the counter. The java was pre-ground and looked as though it world power very well set out been here since the Cold War as well. As long as it was caffeinated, I didnt care. Id interpreted a red-eye flight from California, and so far with part of the day to rec all over, I exempt felt sleepy and bleary-eyed. I mint the coffee maker going and then paced the room. The magazines were in haphazard piles, so I straightened them into square(a) stacks. I couldnt stand disorder.I sat on the couch and waited for the coffee, enquire yet again what this meeting could be slightly. Id spent a dear part of my afterwardnoon here in Virginia reporting to a braces of Alchemist officials closely the status of my occurrent as indicationment. I was living in laurel wreath Springs, stooling to be a senior at a snobby boarding school in order t o keep an eye on Jill Mastrano Dragomir, a vampire princess forced into hiding. Keeping her alive dream upt keeping her people out of civil war something that would definitely tip worlds off to the supernatural world that lurked beneath the surface of modern life. It was a bouncy mission for the Alchemists, so I wasnt entirely strike theyd want an update. What surprised me was that they couldnt look at just do it over the phone. I couldnt figure out what other contend would bring me to this facility.The coffee maker finished. Id only set it to make deuce-ace cups, which would probably be enough to get me through with(predicate) the plaining. Id just filled my Styrofoam cup when the door opened.A man entered, and I nearly dropped the coffee.Mr. Darnell, I say, setting the pot book binding on the burner. My workforce trembled. It its nice to see you again, sir.You withal, Sydney, he verbalise, forcing a stiff smile. Youve sure enough large up. convey you, sir, I sa id, unsure if that was a compliment.Tom Darnell was my fathers age and had cook hair laced with silver. There were more lines in his face since the delay time Id seen him, and his blue eyes had an uneasy look that I didnt usually associate with him. Tom Darnell was a high-ranking official among the Alchemists and had earned his rank through decisive action and a fierce work ethic. Hed ceaselessly seemed larger than life when I was younger, fiercely confident and aweinspiring. Now, he seemed to be afraid of me, which made no consciousness. Wasnt he angry? After all, I was the one responsible for his son being arrested and locked away by the Alchemists.I appreciate you coming all the way out here, he added, once a few moments of awkward silence had passed. I sock its a long round-trip, especially on a weekend.Its no problem at all, sir, I said, hoping I sounded confident. Im happy to help withwhatever you need. I still wondered what exactly that could be.He studied me for a f ew seconds and gave a nipping nod. Youre very dedicated, he said.Just like your father.I made no response. I knew that comment had been intended as a compliment, only I didnt really take it that way.Tom cleared his throat. Well, then. Lets get this out of the way. I really dont want to inconvenience you any more than is necessary.Again, I got that nervous, respectful vibe. Why would he be so conscientious of my feelings?After what Id done to his son, Keith, I wouldve expected rage or accusations. Tom opened the door for me and gestured me through.Can I bring my coffee, sir?Of course.He took me patronize into the concrete corridor, toward more of the closed doors. I clutched my coffee like a security blanket, out-of-the-way(prenominal) more frightened than Id been when first entering this place. Tom came to a give the sack a few doors down, in front of one with a red light, alone hesitated before opening it.I want you to survive that what you did was fantastically brave, he sa id, non meeting my eyes. I admit you and Keith were are friends, and it couldnt view been easy to turn him in. It shows just how committed you are to our work something thats not eer easy when soulal feelings are involved.Keith and I werent friends now or then, unless I supposed I could understand Toms mistake.Keith had lived with my family for a summer, and later, he and I had worked together in Palm Springs. Turning him in for his crimes hadnt been baffling for me at all. Id actually enjoyed it.Seeing the stricken look on Toms face, though, I knew I couldnt say anything like that.I swallowed. Well. Our work is important, sir.He gave me a sad smile. Yes. It certainly is.The door had a security keypad. Tom punched in a series of about ten digits, and the lock clicked in acceptance. He pushed the door open, and I followed him inwardly. The stark room was smuggledly lit and had three other people in it, so I didnt initially retrieve what else the room contained.I knew imm ediately that the others were Alchemists. There was no other contend theyd be in this place otherwise. And, of course, they possessed the telltale signs that would have place them to me even on a busy street. Business attire in nondescript colors. Golden lily tattoos shining on their left cheeks. It was part of the consent we all shared. We were a secret army, lurking in the shadows of our fellow humans.The three of them were all holding clipboards and staring at one of the walls. That was when I noticed what this rooms end was. A window in the wall looked through to another(prenominal) room, one much more brightly lit than this one.And Keith Darnell was in that room.He darted up to the glass separating us and began beating on it. My heart raced, and I took a few frightened steps fundament, certain he was coming after me. It took me a moment to realize he couldnt actually see me. I relaxed slightly. Very slightly. The window was a oneway mirror. He pressed his hands to the glas s, glancing devilishly back and forth at the faces he knew were in that location but couldnt see. occupy, revel, he cried. Let me out. Please let me out of here. Keith looked a exact scragglier than the fit time Id seen him. His hair was unkempt and appeared as though it hadnt been cut in our month apart. He wore a plain gray jumpsuit, the kind you saying on prisoners or mental patients, that reminded me of the concrete in the hall.Most noticeable of all was the desperate, terrified look in his eyes or rather, eye. Keith had upset one of his eyes in a vampire attack that I had secretly helped orchestrate. None of the Alchemists knew about it, just as none of them knew about how Keith had raped my older sister Carly. I doubted Tom Darnell wouldve praised me for my dedication if hed cognise about my sideline revenge act. Seeing the state Keith was in now, I felt a little noxious for him and especially bad for Tom, whose face was filled with raw pain. I still didnt feel bad about what Id done to Keith, however. Not the arrest or the eye. Put simply, Keith Darnell was a bad person.Im sure you recognize Keith, said one of the Alchemists with a clipboard. Her gray hair was wound into a tight, neat bun.Yes, maam, I said.I was saved from any other response when Keith beat at the glass with renewed fury.Please Im serious Whatever you want. Ill do anything. Ill say anything. Ill opine anything.Just please dont send me back thitherBoth Tom and I flinched, but the other Alchemists watched with clinical detachment and scrawled a few notes on their clipboards. The bun woman gazed back up at me as though thered been no interruption. Young Mr. Darnell has been spending some time in one of our Re-education Centers. An luckless action but a necessary one. His trafficking in illicit goods was certainly bad, but his coaction with vampires is unforgiveable. Although he claims to have no attachment to them well, we really cant be certain. Even if he is telling the t ruth, theres likewise the possibility that this wickedness might expand into something more not just a collaboration with the Moroi, but also the Strigoi. Doing what weve done keeps him from that slippery slope.Its really for his own good, said the third clipboard-wielding Alchemist. Were doing him a favor.A sense of horror swept over me. The unanimous point of the Alchemists was to keep the existence of vampires secret from humans. We believed vampires were moved(p) creatures who should have nothing to do with humans like us. What was a particular engage were the Strigoi evil, killer vampires who could lure humans into servitude with promises of immortality.Even the peaceful Moroi and their half human counterparts, the dhampirs, were regarded with suspicion. We worked with those latter two groups a crowd, and even though wed been taught to regard them with disdain, it was an indispensable fact that some Alchemists not only grew close to Moroi and dhampirs but actually sta rted to like them.The crazy thing was despite his crime of selling vampire blood Keith was one of the last people Id have in mind of when it came to get too friendly with vampires. Hed made his dislike of them perfectly obvious to me a mo of times. Really, if anyone meritd to be accused of attachment to vampires well, it would be me. wizard of the other Alchemists, a man with mirrored sunglasses hanging artfully off his collar, took up the lecture. You, lady friend Sage, have been a remarkable example of person able to work extensively with them and keep your objectivity. Your dedication has not done for(p) unnoticed by those above us.Thank you, sir, I said uneasily, wonder how many a(prenominal) times Id hear dedication brought up tonight. This was a far cry from a few months ago, when Id gotten in trouble for helping a dhampir fugitive escape. Shed later been proven innocent, and my involvement had been written off as career ambition.And, continue shades, considering your experience with Mr. Darnell, we thought you would be an gauzy person to give us a dictation. I turned my attention back at Keith. Hed been pounding and shouting pretty much nonstop this whole time. The others had managed to ignore him, so I tried as well.A statement on what, sir?Were considering whether or not to return him to Re-education, explained grey-headed Bun.Hes made excellent progress there, but some feel its best to be synthetic rubber and make sure any chance of vampire attachment is eradicated.If Keiths current behavior was excellent progress, I couldnt imagine what poor progress looked like.Sunglasses readied his pen over his clipboard. Based on what you witnessed in Palm Springs, Miss Sage, what is your opinion of Mr. Darnells state of mind when it comes to vampires?Was the bonding you witnessed yucky enough to insure further precautionary measures? Presumably, further precautionary measures meant more Re-education.While Keith continued to bang away, all eyes in my room were on me. The clipboard Alchemists looked heedful and curious. Tom Darnell was visibly sweating, watching me with fear and anticipation. I supposed it was understandable. I held his sons fate in my hands.Conflicting emotions warred within me as I regarded Keith. I didnt just dislike him I hated him. And I didnt hate many people. I couldnt forget what hed done to Carly. Likewise, the memories of what hed done to others and me in Palm Springs were still fresh in my mind.Hed slandered me and made my life miserable in an exertion to cover up his blood scam. Hed also horribly treated the vampires and dhampirs we were in charge of looking after. It made me question who the real monsters were.I didnt know exactly what happened at Re-education Centers. Judging from Keiths reaction, it was probably pretty bad. There was a part of me that would have loved to tell the Alchemists to send him back there for years and never let him see the light of day. His crimes deserved severe pu nishment and yet, I wasnt sure they deserved this particular punishment.I stand for I think Keith Darnell is corrupt, I said at last. Hes selfish and immoral. He has no concern for others and hurts people to further his own ends. Hes resulting to lie, cheat, and slide to get what he wants. I hesitated before continuing. But I dont think hes been blinded to what vampires are. I dont think hes too close to them or in danger of falling in with them in the future. That being said, I also dont think he should be allowed to do Alchemist work for the foreseeable future. Whether that would mean locking him up or just putting him on probation is up to you. His past actions show he doesnt take our missions seriously, but thats because of selfishness. Not because of an unnatural attachment to them. He well, to be blunt, is just a bad person. tranquillity met me, save for the frantic scrawling of pens as the clipboard Alchemists made their notes. I dared a glance at Tom, afraid of what Id s ee after completely trashing his son.To my astonishment, Tom looked relieved. And grateful. In fact, he seemed on the verge of tears. Catching my eye, he mouthed, Thank you. Amazing. I had just proclaimed Keith to be a horrible human being in every way possible. But none of that mattered to his father, so long as I didnt accuse Keith of being in league with vampires. I couldve called Keith a murderer, and Tom would have probably still been grateful if it meant Keith wasnt pally with the enemy.It bothered me and again made me wonder who the real monsters were in all of this. The group Id left back in Palm Springs was a c times more moral than Keith.Thank you, Miss Sage, said Gray Bun, finishing up her notes. Youve been extremely helpful, and well take this into consideration as we make our decision. You may go now. If you step into the hall, youll find Zeke waiting to take you out. It was an coarse dismissal, but that was typical of Alchemists. Efficient. To the point. I gave a po lite nod of farewell and one last glance at Keith before opening the door. As concisely as it shut behind me, I found the manse mercifully silent. I could no longer hear Keith.Zeke, as it turned out, was the Alchemist who had originally led me in. All set? he asked.So it seems, I said, still a bit stunned over what had just interpreted place. I knew now that my earlier debriefing on the Palm Springs emplacement had simply been a convenience for the Alchemists.Id been in the area, so why not have an in-person meeting? It hadnt been essential.This visual perception Keith had been the real purpose of my cross-country trip.As we walked back down the hallway, something caught my attention that I hadnt noticed before. One of the doors had a fair amount of security on it more so than the room Id just been in. Along with the lights and keypad, there was also a wit reader. At the top of the door was a deadbolt that locked from outside. Nothing fancy, but it was clearly meant to keep whatever was behind the door inside.I halt in spite of myself and studied the door for a few moments. Then, I kept walking, knowing better than to say anything. Good Alchemists didnt ask questions.Zeke, seeing my gaze, came to a halt. He glanced at me, then the door, and then back at me. Do you want do you want to see whats in there? His eyes darted quickly to the door wed emerged from. He was low-ranking, I knew, and clearly feared getting in trouble with the others. At the same time, there was an eagerness that suggested he was excited about the secrets he kept, secrets he couldnt share with others. I was a safe outlet.I guess it depends on whats in there, I said.Its the reason for what we do, he said mysteriously. Take a look, and youll understand why our goals are so important.Deciding to risk it, he flashed a card over the reader and then punched in another long code. A light on the door turned green, and he slid open the deadbolt. Id half-expected another dim room, but the l ight was so bright inside, it almost hurt my eyes. I put a hand up to my forehead to shield myself.Its a type of light therapy, Zeke explained apologetically. You know how people in cloudy regions have sun lamps? Same kind of rays. The hope is that itll make people like him a little more human again or at least discourage them from view theyre Strigoi. At first, I was too daze to figure out what he meant. Then, across the empty room, I saw a jail cell. Large metal bars covered the entrance, which was locked with another card reader and keypad. It seemed like overkill when I caught sight of the man inside. He was older than me, mid-twenties if I had to guess, and had a disheveled appearance that made Keith look neat and tidy. The man was gaunt and curled up in a corner, arms draped over his eyes against the light. He wore fetter and feet cuffs and clearly wasnt going anywhere. At our entrance, he dared a peek at us and then uncovered more of his face.A chill ran through me. The m an was human, but his expression was as cold and evil as any Strigoi Id ever seen. His gray eyes were predatory. Emotionless, like the kinds of murderers who had no sense of empathy for other people.Have you brought me dinner? he asked in a techy voice that had to be faked. A nice young girl, I see. Skinnier than Id like, but Im sure her blood is still succulent.Liam, said Zeke with a weary patience. You know where your dinner is. He pointed to an untouched tray of food in the cell that looked like it had gone cold long ago. Chicken nuggets, green beans, and a prize cookie. He almost never eats anything, Zeke explained to me. Its why hes so thin. Keeps insist on blood.What what is he? I asked, unable to take my eyes off of Liam. It was a silly question, of course. Liam was clearly human, and yet there was something about him that wasnt right.A corrupt soul who wants to be Strigoi, said Zeke. Some guardians found him lot those monsters and delivered him to us. Weve tried to rehab ilitate him but with no luck. He keeps going on and on about how great the Strigoi are and how hell get back to them one day and make us pay. In the meantime, he does his best to pretend hes one of them.Oh, said Liam, with a sly smile, I will be one of them. They will reward my loyalty and suffering. They will awaken me, and I will run low powerful beyond your miniscule mortal dreams. I will live forever and come for you all of you. I will feast on your blood and savor every drop. You Alchemists pull your string and think you control everything. You delude yourselves. You control nothing. You are nothing.See? said Zeke, shaking his head. Pathetic. And yet, this is what could happen if we didnt do the job we did. Other humans could become like him selling their souls for the hollow promise of immortality. He made the Alchemist sign against evil, a small cross on his shoulder, and I found myself let loose it. I dont like being in here, but sometimes sometimes its a good reminder of why we have to keep the Moroi and the others in the shadows.Of why we cant let ourselves be interpreted in by them.I knew in the back of my mind that there was a huge discrepancy in the way Moroi and Strigoi interacted with humans. Still, I couldnt formulate any arguments while in front of Liam.He had me too dumbstruck and afraid. It was easy to believe every rule book the Alchemists said. This was what we were fighting against. This was the nightmare we couldnt allow to happen.I didnt know what to say, but Zeke didnt seem to expect much.Come on. Lets go. To Liam, he added, And youd better eat that food because you arent getting any more until morning. I dont care how cold and hard it is. Liams eyes narrowed. What do I care about human food when soon Ill be drinking the nectar of the gods? Your blood will be warm on my lips, yours and your pretty girls. He began to laugh then, a sound far more disturbing than any of Keiths screams.That laughter continued as Zeke led me out of the room. The door shut behind us, and I found myself stand in the hall, numbed. Zeke regarded me with concern.Im sorry I probably shouldnt have shown you that. I agitate my head slowly. No you were right. Its good for us to see. To understand what were doing. I always knew but I didnt expect anything like that. I tried to rupture my thoughts back to everyday things and wipe that horror from my mind. I looked down at my coffee. It was untouched and had grown lukewarm. I grimaced.Can I get more coffee before we go? I needed something normal. Something human.Sure.Zeke led me back to the lounge. The pot Id made was still hot. I dumped out my old coffee and poured some new. As I did, the door burst open, and a agitated Tom Darnell came in. He seemed surprised to see anyone here and pushed past us, seance on the couch and burying his face in his hands. Zeke and I exchange uncertain looks.Mr. Darnell, I began. Are you okay?He didnt answer me right away. He kept his face covered, his body shaking with silent sobs. I was about to leave when he looked up at me, though I got the feeling he wasnt actually seeing me. They decided, he said. They decided about Keith.Already? I asked, startled. Zeke and I had only spent about tailfin minutes with Liam.Tom nodded morosely. Theyre sending him back back to Re-education. I couldnt believe it. But I but I told them I told them hes not in league with vampires.He believes what the rest of us believe. It was his choices that were bad.I know. But they said we cant take the risk. Even if Keith seems like he doesnt care about them even if believes he doesnt the fact remains he still set up a deal with one.Theyre worried that willingness to go into that kind of partnership might subconsciously influence him. Best to take care of things now. Theyre theyre probably right. This is for the best.That stick out of Keith pounding on the glass and begging not to go back flashed through my mind. Im sorry, Mr. Darnell.Toms distraught gaz e focused on me a little bit more. Dont apologize, Sydney. Youve done so much so much for Keith. Because of what you told them, theyre going to reduce his time in Re-education. That means so much to me. Thank you. My stomach twisted. Because of me, Keith had lost an eye. Because of me, Keith had gone to Re-education in the first place. Again, the sentiment came to me he deserved to suffer in some way, but he didnt deserve this.They were right about you, Tom added. He was trying to smile but failing. What a stellar example you are. So dedicated. Your father must be so proud. I dont know how you live with those creatures every day and still keep your head about you. Other Alchemists could learn a lot from you. You understand what tariff and duty are. Since Id flown out of Palm Springs yesterday, Id actually been thinking a lot about the group Id left behind when the Alchemists werent distracting me with prisoners, of course.Jill, Adrian, Eddie, and even Angeline frustrating at times , but in the end, they were people Id grown to know and care about. Despite all the running around they made me do, Id disoriented that motley group almost the instant I left California. Something inside me seemed empty when they werent around.Now, feeling that way confused me. Was I blurring the lines between experience and duty?If Keith had gotten in trouble for one small association with a vampire, how much worse was I? And how close were any of us to meet like Liam?Zekes words rang inside my head We cant let ourselves be taken in by them.And what Tom had just said You understand what responsibility and duty are.He was watching me expectantly, and I managed a smile as I pushed down all my fears.Thank you, sir, I said. I do what I can.