The Golden Lily Chapter 1

MOST PEOPLE WOULD FIND being conduct into an cloak-and-dagger bunker on a stormy night scary. Not me.Things I could explain external and define with data didnt frighten me. That was wherefore I kept unfathomedly reciting facts to myself as I descended deeper and deeper be meeth street level. The bunker was a relic of the stale War, built as protection in a time when mess thought nuclear missiles were around every corner. On the surface, the building claimed to house an ocular supply store. That was a front. Not scary at entirely. And the storm? Simply a natural phenomenon of atmospherical fronts clashing. And in reality, if you were going to worry rough masturbateting hurt in a storm, then going underground was rattling pretty smart.So, no. This seemingly ominous journey didnt frighten me in the least. Everything was built on reasonable facts and logic. I could deal with that. It was the rest of my job I had a problem with.And re eithery, maybe that was why stormy under ground trips didnt faze me. When you worn- step up(a) most of your mean solar days living among lamias and half vampires, ferrying them to arise blood, and keeping their existence secret from the rest of the world well, it kind of gave you a unique perspective on life. Id witnessed bloody vampire battles and seen magical feats that defied every law of physics I knew. My life was a immutable struggle to hold top my terror of the unexplainable and try desperately to find a focusing to explain it.Watch your step, my guide told me as we went d receive yet a nonher f guidege of concrete stairs.Everything Id seen so far was concrete the walls, floor, and ceiling. The gray, rough surface absorbed the fluorescent light that attempted to illuminate our counseling. It was grue approximately and frigidness, eerie in its unchangingness. The guide seemed to guess my thoughts. Weve do modifications and expansions since this was originally built. Youll see once we reach the main(pre nominal) section. Sure enough. The stairs finally opened up to a corridor with several closed limens lining the sides. The interior decoration was still concrete, provided all the gates were ripe, with electronic locks displaying either red or green lights. He light-emitting diode me to the second gateway on the right, matchless with a green light, and I found myself entering a perfectly normal lounge, worry the kind of break room youd find in any modern office. Green carpet stayed the floor, desire some wistful attempt at grass, and the walls were a burn that gave the illusion of contendmth. A puffy couch and two chairs sat on the opposite side of the room, along with a table scattered with magazines. Best of all, the room had a counter with a sink and a cocoa noble.Make yourself at home, my guide told me. I was guessing he was close to my age, eighteen, solely his patchy attempts at growing a beard made him seem younger. Theyll come for you shortly.My eye had neer left the coffee maker. Can I make some coffee?Sure, he state. Whatever you like.He left, and I practically ran to the counter. The coffee was pre-ground and looked as though it might very well have been here since the Cold War as well. As long as it was caffeinated, I didnt cargon. Id interpreted a red-eye flight from California, and take deplete with part of the day to recover, I still tangle sleepy and bleary-eyed. I particularise the coffee maker going and then paced the room. The magazines were in haphazard piles, so I straightened them into neat stacks. I couldnt house disorder.I sat on the couch and waited for the coffee, wondering yet again what this meeting could be to the highest degree. Id fatigued a good part of my afternoon here in Virginia reporting to a couple of Alchemist officials about the status of my current assignment. I was living in plow Springs, pretending to be a elder at a private boarding school in order to keep an eye on Jill Mastrano Dragomir, a v ampire princess forced into hiding. Keeping her alive meant keeping her good deal out of civil war something that would definitely tip humans off to the supernatural world that lurked beneath the surface of modern life. It was a vital mission for the Alchemists, so I wasnt entirely surprised theyd want an update. What surprised me was that they couldnt have alone done it over the phone. I couldnt figure out what other reason would bring me to this facility.The coffee maker finished. Id only(prenominal) set it to make three cups, which would belike be enough to get me through the regular(a)ing. Id dependable filled my Styrofoam cup when the door opened.A man entered, and I nearly dropped the coffee.Mr. Darnell, I said, setting the chiffonier prat on the burner. My deals trembled. It its nice to see you again, sir.You too, Sydney, he said, forcing a stiff smile. Youve certainly enceinte up.Thank you, sir, I said, unsure if that was a compliment. tomcat Darnell was my fathe rs age and had brown hair laced with silver. in that location were more than lines in his face since the last time Id seen him, and his blue look 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 position through determinant action and a fierce work ethic. Hed always seemed larger than life when I was younger, fiercely positive and aweinspiring. Now, he seemed to be afraid of me, which made no sense. 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 some moments of awkward silence had passed. I hold out its a long round-trip, especially on a weekend.Its no problem at all, sir, I said, hoping I sounded confident. Im cheerful to help withwhatever you need. I still wondered what exactly that could be.He studied me for a few seconds and gave a curt nod. Youre very dedicated, he said.Just like your father.I made no response. I knew that input signal had been intended as a compliment, but 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 in contrivance you any more than is undeniable.Again, I got that nervous, deferential 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 back into the concrete corridor, toward more of the closed doors. I clutched my coffee like a security blanket, far more fright than Id been when firstly entering this place. Tom came to a stop a few doors down, in front of one with a red light, but hesitated forward opening it.I want you to know that what you did was incredibly brave, he said, not meeting my eyes. I know you and Keith were are friends, and it couldnt have been easy to turn him in. It shows just how committed you are to our work something thats not always easy when personal feelings are involved.Keith and I werent friends now or then, but I conjectural I could perceive 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 difficult 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 inner. The stark room was heavyly lit and had three other people in it, so I didnt initially notice what else the room contained.I knew immediately that the others were Alchemists. There was no other reason theyd be in this place otherw ise. And, of course, they possessed the telltale signs that would have identified 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 uniformity 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 mark 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 back, 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 glass, glancing frantically back and forth at the faces he knew were there but couldnt see.Please, ple ase, he cried. Let me out. Please permit me out of here. Keith looked a petty scragglier than the last 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 saw on prisoners or psychological 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 lost 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 committedness if hed known about my sideline revenge act. Seeing the state Keith was in now, I felt a little freehanded 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 regenerate fury.Please Im serious Whatever you want. Ill do anything. Ill say anything. Ill believe anything.Just please dont send me back thereBoth Tom and I flinched, but the other Alchemists watched with clinical detachment and scrawled a few notes on their clipboards. The bun woman glanced back up at me as though thered been no interruption. youthfulness Mr. Darnell has been spending some time in one of our Re-education Centers. An unfortunate action but a necessary one. His trafficking in illicit goods was certainly bad, but his collaboration 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 truth, theres too the possibility that this transgression might expand into somethin g 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 whole drumhead of the Alchemists was to keep the existence of vampires secret from humans. We believed vampires were unnatural creatures who should have nothing to do with humans like us. What was a particular head ache 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 last mentioned two groups a forget me drug, and even though wed been taught to regard them with disdain, it was an inevitable fact that some Alchemists not only grew close to Moroi and dhampirs but actually started to like them.The crazy thing was despite his crime of selling vam pire blood Keith was one of the last people Id think of when it came to getting too friendly with vampires. Hed made his despise of them perfectly obvious to me a number of times. Really, if anyone deserved to be accused of attachment to vampires well, it would be me. genius of the other Alchemists, a man with mirrored sunglasses hanging artfully off his collar, took up the lecture. You, fail Sage, have been a remarkable example of someone able to work extensively with them and keep your objectivity. Your dedication has not gone unnoticed by those above us.Thank you, sir, I said uneasily, wondering how numerous 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, continued Sunglasses, considering your experience with Mr. Darnell, we thought you would be an excellent person to give us a statement. I turned my attention back at Keith. Hed been pounding and shouting pretty much nonstop flight 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 Gray Bun.Hes made excellent progress there, but some feel its beat to be safe and make sure any chance of vampire attachment is eradicated.If Keiths current doings 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 severe enough to kisser 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 thoughtful and curious. Tom Darnell was visib ly 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 effort to cover up his blood scam. Hed also horribly treated the vampires and dhampirs we were in charge of looking after. It made me foreland who the real monsters were.I didnt know exactly what risked at Re-education Centers. Judging from Keiths reaction, it was believably 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 punishment and yet, I wasnt sure they deserved this particular punishment.I think I think Keith D arnell is corrupt, I said at last. Hes selfish and im object lesson. He has no concern for others and hurts people to further his own ends. Hes willing to lie, cheat, and steal 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 riskiness 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 seriou pat, but thats because of selfishness. Not because of an unnatural attachment to them. He well, to be blunt, is just a bad person.Silence 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 see after completely trashing his son.To my astonishment, Tom looked relieved. And grateful. In f act, he seemed on the verge of tears. Catching my eye, he mouthed, Thank you. Amazing. I had just proclaimed Keith to be a portentous human being in every way possible. tho 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 chummy 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 hundred 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 abrupt dismissal, but that was exemplary of Alchemists. Efficient. To the point. I gave a polite nod of farewell and one last glance at Keith before opening the door. As soon as it shut behind me, I found the hallway 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 taken place. I knew now that my earlier debriefing on the Palm Springs situation 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 eyesight 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 sane amount of security on it more so than the room Id just been in. Along with the lights and keypad, there was also a card reader. At the top of the door was a deadbolt that locked from outside. Nothing fancy, but it was distinctly meant to keep whatever was behind the door inside.I stopped 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 clear 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 light 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 sloughy 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 thinking theyre Strigoi. At first, I was too dazzled 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 intent over his eyes against the light. He wore handcuffs and feet cuffs and clearly wasnt going anywhere. At our entrance, he dared a glint at us and then uncovered more of his face.A chill ran through me. The man 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 raspy juncture 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 sugar cookie. He almost never eats anything, Zeke explained to me. Its why hes so thin. Keeps insisting 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 instinct who wants to be Strigoi, said Zeke. Some guardians found him serving those monsters and delivered him to us. Weve tried to rehabilitate him but with no luck. He keeps going on and on about how great the Stri goi 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 become powerful beyond your miniscule mortal dreams. I will live unendingly and come for you all of you. I will feast on your blood and savor every drop. You Alchemists move in your strings 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 echoing 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 can t let ourselves be taken in by them.I knew in the back of my mind that there was a huge difference 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 word 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. have 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 antic 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 standing in the hall, numbed. Zeke regarded me with concern.Im sorry I probably shouldnt have shown you that. I shook 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 shift my thoughts back to frequent 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 engraft 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, school term on the couch and burying his face in his hands. Zeke and I exchanged uncertain looks.Mr. Darnell, I began. atomic number 18 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 five 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 illogical 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 image of Keith pounding on the glass and begging not to go back flashed through my mind. Im sorry, Mr. Darnell.Toms distraught gaze focused on me a little bit more. Dont apologize, Sydney. Youve done s o 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 have 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 responsibility 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 missed that concoction 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 friendship 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 becoming 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.