C’mon, or we’ll be late for our next class.”
After lunch I was called to Dr. Blackwell’s office. I figured it had something to do with my weekend, and I was scared to death. I was about to get busted — and by a vampire, no less. I knew I was safe with Aidan, but Dr. Blackwell? Aidan trusted him, I reminded myself. He’d been the headmaster for years, and as far as I knew, he’d never hurt anyone.
Just as I arrived outside the headmaster’s office, I saw Jack leave, a scowl on his face. He grunted a greeting to me as he passed me in the hall.
I just waved, feeling terrible for him. According to Kate, he’d been caught using his telekinesis to manipulate a physics experiment — a pretty serious COPA violation.
Kate said he was probably going to get benched at this weekend’s football game, and with playoffs coming up everyone was going to be pissed.
Poor Jack. I imagined it must be difficult to possess the power to make things do what you wanted them to do, and not be able to use it when and how you wanted to. Unlike my useless so-called talent, which basically served no real purpose.
“Come in, Miss McKenna,” Dr. Blackwell called out, and I hurried inside.
“Please have a seat,” he said, his voice full of kindness as he gestured toward the chair across from his desk.
I shut the door and did as I was told, erecting the solid wall around my thoughts. I had to, now that I knew what he was capable of.
“I’m sure you know why I’ve summoned you,” he began, leaning back in his chair with his hands folded in his lap. “A weekend pass is a privilege, and not one to be abused. I believe the purpose of your pass was to visit your stepmother, was it not?”
I swallowed hard before replying. “It was, sir. And I meant to visit her. I had every intention to, and then—”
“Mr. Gray told me what happened when you left the train station,” he interrupted, his voice gentle. “I know you received quite a shock that night, and if you wish to discuss it, do not hesitate to do so.”
“No, I. uh, I’m okay.”
“Mr. Gray is certain of your discretion on the matter, and therefore I don’t need to remind you. well, never mind. His assurance is all I require.
Anyway, where were we? Oh, yes. The weekend pass. I’m afraid I’ll have to give you a demerit, as using the pass for purposes other than those for which it was issued is strictly against the rules. I’m sure you understand.”
“Yes, sir,” I said miserably. I couldn’t help but study his incisors. They looked pretty normal to me.
“Rule breaking aside, I must say how pleased I am to see you and Mr. Gray getting on so well. He works too hard, pushes himself. well, far more than is necessary. I’m happy he’s found a friend at last.”
Dr. Blackwell stared at me expectantly, obviously waiting for me to say something.
“I’m happy to be his friend,” I said, wincing at just how lame it sounded.
“I’m glad to hear you say that. I realize there are certain complications with. well, with the situation as it stands. As it was, he was robbed of his youth, and in all these years he’s never once recovered it. I guess what I’m trying to say, Miss McKenna, is that I hope you’ll help him find that youth again. After all, despite a lengthy existence, he’s still a teenager at heart — that’s the way our condition works, you see. He spends far too many hours in the lab working on. well, I’m certain he’s told you of his work. I’d like to see him out more, enjoying himself instead.”
“But his work is really important to him,” I mumbled, not quite sure what to say.
He waved one hand dismissively. “Yes, yes, of course. Still, he has all the time in the world for that, doesn’t he?”
He doesn’t think Aidan will ever find a cure. All I could do was nod mutely.
“Good, good. Well, I believe our business is concluded, then. I’ll inform Mrs. Girard of your demerit. I’m sure it won’t happen again, now, will it?”
“Definitely not,” I said, relief washing over me as I stood and reached for my bag. I wanted to get out of this office, and fast.
“Excellent.” Dr. Blackwell rose, smiling warmly at me. “I’ll see you fifth period, then.”
It was odd that the first vision I had after spending the weekend with Aidan didn’t involve him or anyone at Winterhaven, but Lupe. It happened just before I walked into fifth period, and luckily Aidan was able to catch me as I stumbled, helping me, to lean back against the wall until it passed.
It lasted only a few seconds — it was a quick one, as far as my visions went. I did everything Sandra had taught me too. Studied clues, looked for specifics. I was armed with everything I needed to prevent this one from coming true. Which was good, because I hadn’t yet mastered summoning a particular vision, no matter how hard I tried.
As soon as sixth period let out, I hurried back to my room and quickly changed out of my sweaty fencing clothes. I had to do this — had to at least try. My cell phone clutched in one clammy hand, I sat on my bed and stared at the clock. 3:14. I’d wait one more minute, just to be safe. Gran played bridge at the club every Monday at 3:00 p.m. That meant Lupe would be home, and I needed to talk to her — alone.
Taking a deep breath, I hit the speed-dial button and connected the call. It rang three times before Lupe picked up.
“Hey, Lupe, it’s Violet,” I said, trying to keep my tone light.
“Violet! Is everything okay?”
I should have figured that my call would alarm her. After all, I always called on Sundays, right after dinner. I looked forward to that call every week, to that connection with home. But I never called during the week.
“Sure, everything’s fine. I, uh, I just wanted to talk to you about something, that’s all. Do you have a minute?”
“For you, m’ija? Of course.”
“Well, it’s just that I heard on the news that you’re going to get some bad weather on Saturday,” I improvised. “And. you know, the paper boy might miss the porch. And if you’re not careful, you could. um. slip going down the stairs trying to get it. You could break your hip.”
I’d seen it happen, exactly like that. And I was sure about the timing, because I’d managed to see the date on the paper.
“M’ija, are you saying that if I go out to get the paper on Saturday, I’m going to slip and break my hip?”
I let out my breath in a rush. How was I going to explain it? “I know it sounds crazy, Lupe, but just trust me on this. Forget the paper on Saturday.
Just leave it, okay? Stay inside where it’s dry and safe, that’s all.”
There was a moment of silence, though I could hear Lupe breathing, so I knew she was still there.
“I understand,” she said at last.
But did she? “And I’d really rather you didn’t tell Gran about this. It would just upset her.”
“Sí, Violet,” she said on a sigh. “Your mama, she was just like you, you know.”
“Wha — what do you mean?” I stuttered. Was she. was she saying what I thought she was saying?
I could hear Lupe drumming her nails against the table, like she always did when she was thinking something over. “She had. intuition. Good instincts,” she said at last. “Like you.”
Tears burned behind my eyelids. I tried to picture my mother in my mind’s eye, but the image was fuzzy, indistinct. I glanced over at the photograph I kept on my bedside table — my mom, my dad, and me. I couldn’t have been more than two. That image of her — sitting beside my dad, smiling happily, me on her lap and her hair blowing behind her — was the only one I could see, no matter how hard I tried. I’d forgotten her, I realized.
I had no solid, concrete memories of my mother, none whatsoever.
“Thank you, Lupe,” I murmured, suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. “For telling me that about my mom. It. it really means a lot.”