The Last Corvus (completed)

Ch. 28 Isadora

Chapter 28

Isadora

Our footsteps sound different now, echo differently against the walls. Are we inside?

Demetrius unmasks me, and indeed, we are inside. I look up at the cavernous ceiling; we must be in a warehouse. Do these people have no imagination? Why couldn't they, impractical as it would be, live in a penthouse suite or something? I imagine somewhere some vampires do, but why not these?

With nothing else to do, just standing here as if waiting for something, I turn to Demetrius. "How's your wrist? Did I break anything?" I want to know both from a sense of guilt and a perverse sense of accomplishment. All he does is turn to me and smile. He's no fun.

An old man in an equally old grey suit enters, telling us that 'she is expecting us'. Janet? Whoever it is, we follow the old man down a short hall and into a side room off the main warehouse where we were. This room, besides being much smaller, is beautiful. The walls are a warm almond color, there's large, overstuffed pillows scattered on the floor, and a record playing quiet classical in one corner.

The door behind us reopens (I hadn't realized it'd closed) and a girl emerges. She looks to be about fourteen, maybe fifteen at the most. Her red eyes starkly stand out against her unusually (even for a vampire) pale skin and muted brown hair that almost perfectly matches the wall color. Her hair appears to be almost floor-length, if the tuft I saw drifting past the edge of her skirt is any indication. But what's most unusual is her clothing; full, peach-colored bell skirt cinched at the waist with a pale pink corset (complete with whalebone!) and a billowy dark blue shirt.

Usually that combination of colors would look downright hideous; but somehow she pulls it off perfectly. Demetrius walks to her and bows low, kissing her hand when she offers it. "Janet," he says, with such tenderness in his voice that I almost blush.

She curtsies so low that it makes my legs hurt just looking at her and replies, "Dimca. You're dreadfully late. The sun has already risen. Don't cause me to worry again or I will have to reprimand you." Her accent is thick, but I can't quite place it. She sounds too playful to be serious, but the glint in her eyes prove differently.

He nods and ushers me forward. "My dear Janet. May I introduce to you..." He looks at me and I realize I still haven't told him my whole name.

"Isadora Corvus." I feel like I should curtsy or call her miss or something, but I don't know what to do, so I just stand here like an idiot while Janet's eyes get gradually larger.

"Isadora Corvus?" This time it's my turn to jump, the universe's revenge for scaring all those others. She giggles, a high, girlish sound that makes it impossible not to smile with her. "Marvelous, simply marvelous! I'm so glad that the rumors are true, and your esteemed bloodline has been discovered again. I know that we will be fast friends; will we not?"

Discovered again? I never realized we were hidden.

"Now, I realize that you have instructed against getting more members, as I was so graciously reminded by Hank, but perhaps we can permit her allowance?" Demetrius's tone turns slightly sour at the mention of Hank and Janet's lips pull together in a pout (a very cute pout).

She considers for a moment, her brows drawn together in thought. "Indeed. Hank has overstepped his place yet again. When we are through, bring him here," she says the last to the butler, who nods and steps out of the room.

An image of Demetrius holding Hank against the wall fills my mind with an overwhelming dread. "Wait. Please don't hurt him."

Giving me a questioning look, she notices my jacket and turns to him, as is asking him if that is indeed his jacket. He nods and she turns back to me with a slight frown. "My dear girl, I do not intend to harm Hank. He is far too valuable to me. Why so much distress over his safety?"

"I just don't want anyone to get hurt because of me," I think to her, eyes downcast. Remembering Walter, my teeth start to throb as I'm once again consumed by the Blood Craze. I open my mouth to ease the pressure. Janet seems confused and then I realize... this is the first time I've let her see my fangs. Its brighter now, my pupils dilated, and I can tell my eyes are that strange grey color again.

They both look at me like I'm an alien, and I know that my eyes are indeed grey. I bite my cheek and the craving for blood passes as quickly as it takes me to heal. She giggles, somewhat tremulously, and turns to Demetrius, "how strange she is. Have you brought me a demented soul? Shall I call an exorcist?"

I hate it when people talk about me as if I'm not standing right in front of them. I have to explain for fear of being sprinkled with holy water and chanted over; even though, according to Linden, holy water won't hurt me. "I assure you I'm not possessed. You see, I'm not just a half-blood. I've been bitten by a vampire, and sometimes, when I'm hungry or scared or someone mentions blood I just start craving blood and for some reason my eyes turn grey."

She giggles again, apparently positively delighted by my explanation.

She giggles way too much.

"How truly extraordinary. I've never heard of a Corvus being bitten," she walks over to the door and pulls a small cord suspended from the ceiling. A minute later the butler knocks and enters, standing at attention. "Ah yes, Bernhardt. Would you be so kind as to bring us some tea? Jasmine would be lovely."

She looks to me as if for agreement and makes a surprised noise, her lips making a perfect 'o'. "You do eat, yes, Isadora?" I nod and she sighs in relief. Turning back to Bernhardt, "yes, that will suffice. Could you also whip up some of those cucumber sandwiches that the men like so much?"

Bernhardt bows and turns back down the hall. She turns back to us and offers us a cushion. Noticing Demetrius's jacket that I still have on, she calls down the hall after him, "and one of my blouses for Isadora."

I look down, wondering what's wrong with the jacket besides the fact that it's not mine, and notice that it's nearly half unzipped. It must have happened when we were running here. Zipping it up as fast as I can, I barely manage to not turn beet red. Janet touches my hand, startling me, and smiles as she pulls me down to sit next to her, her skirts laid around her perfectly on the cushion, her hair a beautiful cascade of almond. It's so weird how doll-like she is; if she weren't a vampire I'd be afraid she'd be breakable.