Affinity

Chapter 26: In the Limelight

There were three scars blazing ferocious trails across Anastasia's cheek. The middle was the deepest, reddest, and most resistant to concealer. The bright lights used in the joint makeup room between the male and female dressing rooms only emphasized the vampire's one flaw. Ms. Trailbridge had said not to worry about it, that the scratch fit with the whole zombie apocalyptic theme, and the audience will hardly see it.

Fortunately, her parents did not see the scratches before they left for Court. She was hoping her diligent use of antibiotic ointment will speed up the healing process and she will be able to hide it from them when they do return.

Her mother's farewell letter had been scathing yet impersonal at the same time, often mentioning the fact their daughter is neglecting her familial duties by not seeing them off, ending the terse note with the expectation of a proper welcome when they return within a fortnight. Lady Turgenev's critique was nothing short of hypocritical, Anastasia thought. Familial duty? Nastia isn't the only one to blame for the distance. Even with her recent nightly escapades, it wasn't anything new.

Halloween had passed by as a joyous blimp in the middle of an otherwise typical school week. Friday night found Anastasia dressed up in a white round-collared blouse, a knee-length peach skirt with a white rose pattern along the hem, and a matching peach cardigan. Her hair was pulled back with a headband and teased for volume. The ensemble fit her character, Judy, to a tee: your average good teen girl in the late 1960's. It was opening night of the play and caterpillars threatened to burst out of their cocoons in Nastia's stomach, no matter how much she insisted she was not nervous.

"I can't wait for tomorrow night!" Pam  sat beside her pressing on fake eyelashes without much success. They both did their own makeup since the ragtag 'makeup crew' had twenty zombies occupying their time.

"Right. Your Halloween party. You've only been talking about it for the past week."

"A lot of people have said they're coming. Mom and Bob are leaving first thing in the morning, so we will have all day to prepare."

"And you have taken care of your brothers, right?"

She nodded. "They both are heading to friends' houses."

Nastia stole a glance across the room where Reina and Savannah were getting artificial bites and blood painted on their skin. Savannah had blotchy rashes where they had quickly discovered an unknown latex allergy. Anastasia leaned over to whisper to Pam. "How is Reina holding up? She has been unusually quiet about the whole Austin thing."

"She didn't tell you? She is talking to another guy now."

"Cool," Anastasia deadpanned, managing to hold back the rolling of her eyes. "But what about her home situation?"

Pam shrugged. "Hasn't said a word about it. You know how she is. She wants to take care of it herself."

"Yeah, the bravado of self reliance. She will bask in it so she can complain later about how hard her life is. Whatever. I'm not hearing it. You and Savannah have offered to help her out."

"Yeah, I know, but..." Pam's words fled as something behind Nastia's shoulder caught the attention of nearly everyone in the crowded room. She turned to find her view blocked by an enormous bouquet of flowers being brought in by a stagehand.

"We found this on stage. Nobody knows where it came from or who sent it, but the card says 'Anastasia'." The boy grinned from ear to ear as he tried to hand the overbearing bundle to the surprised vampire. She took a step back and told him to just put it on the center table after a few students cleared a space.

Inquiries filled the room as she studied the dark arrangement. A bad feeling assailed her, but she couldn't put her finger on what exactly bothered her. Her stomach was tightening as she felt the beginnings of a headache. All this unwanted attention border lined embarrassing. This was no classic bouquet of a dozen red roses. It was a basket, a tasteful assortment of begonias, dahlias, and callas lilies, all ranging in dark black, purple, and red hues, offset by a few white roses. The drooping greenery completed the macabre look.