The Gray Institute (The Gray Institute Trilogy Book 1) (19 page)

The room is silent and I search quickly for Sir Alec's gaze. He's smiling ecstatically, his lips bared over his teeth as he nods approvingly, rubbing his hands together. Alexandrov beams as he extends a hand, pulling me to my feet.

'Well done, Ryder!' He gasps as I stagger drunkenly back to my place by Tia's side. I feel full and satisfied, like a fat piglet, but also high on the sensation of the blood in my veins.

With no effort at all, Alexandrov scoops the bag of bones from the floor and hands the body over to Katarzyna, like a bag of discarded rubbish she hurries to dispose of.

Tia's eyes stay glued to mine, her expression unchanging as I mentally decide what to do with the excess blood still clinging to my lips. I wipe it with my hand – refraining myself from licking it – and smear it subtly on my trousers as Tia looks away. She does so quickly, but not quickly enough to save me the pain of seeing the disgusted look in her eyes.

A ripple of anger bristles my shoulders and I try not to shake her. Doesn't she realise that she's no different from the rest of us? That in two years time, she will have to do what I just did over and over again?

Max steps forward to take her turn and Alexandrov chooses a male in his late twenties. He wears a suit and tie, tugging at the latter frequently in a nervous tell. She copies me entirely but I expect her to, the whole class does; why risk disappointing Sir Alec when you know a sure fire way to gain his approval?

The attack lasts about thirty seconds and I marvel at her speed.

'Was I that fast?' I ask Richard, feeling a misplaced sense of worry that I wasn't the best.

'Faster.' He says simply, and I smile privately to myself.

Max provides the last attack and as she re-joins our group, her pupils dilated with ecstasy, Katarzyna leads the spared humans away, back through the door they came from. 

I feel a sense of disappointment in myself as I watch them follow her, their shoulders shaking with sobs of relief, and I glance over to the majority of the class who refused to participate. They saved those humans' lives by their courageous actions in the face of certain punishment.

I didn't.

'Those of you who refused to participate in today's Practical lesson, please disregard your timetables for tomorrow morning's first period and instead, see me in the Board room, third floor,' Sir Alec stands and addresses the crowd as they keep their heads lowered.

'Eve Ryder, see me in my office immediately.' He adds, his grey eyes meeting mine before he turns, striding confidently through the double doors. 

Tia squeezes my shoulder gently as a sign of reassurance but the gesture brings me little comfort, despite her ongoing efforts.

'He seemed impressed with you.' She states, shrugging slightly, not quite meeting my eyes. I feel a surge of affection for Tia; despite her disagreement with my actions, she's still worried for me. 

'Thanks, Tia.' I nod, forcing a smile as Richard pats my other shoulder.

'Meet me in the common room – if you can.' Tia mumbles, adding the last three words hastily, as though she doesn't want to consider them. 

She exits the hall with Richard as the rest of the class file out. Hushed whispers and nervous muttering tells me the majority of students are anxious about their fate after their refusal to participate.

'Eve?' A familiar voice calls timidly from across the hall and my eyes snap up to meet Lorna Gray, clutching her dress anxiously. She avoids eye contact and wrings her hands, shifting her weight awkwardly from one leg to the other.

'Miss Gray.' I reply, nodding respectfully yet staying reserved. I don't need a repeat of the First Year Ball. 

'I just wanted...' She falters, placing two elegant fingers to her temple and pressing lightly, a pained expression on her young face. She takes a deep breath and lets it out in a long sigh, letting her shoulders relax before meeting my eyes.

'I just wanted to ask you why you changed... subjects?' She chooses the word carefully, shuddering as she speaks.

'Oh,' I nod, avoiding her gaze, attempting to see my attack through her human eyes. The whole ordeal must have been confusing, as it had been even to our kind. 

My mind races as I try to decide whether or not to tell her the truth. If I do, Sir Alec will most likely hear of it, and my instinct tells me he wouldn't react favourably. Then again, I couldn't be certain that she would tell him about it, especially as she seems less than keen on him herself.

'I have a... gift,' I explain slowly, not sure how much she knows of our kind. 'I can determine guilt or innocence in individuals...'

'Just humans?' She interrupts, and I shake my head steadily.

'No, our... my kind too.' I correct myself quickly. 

'What is guilt and what is innocence?' She frowns, her voice sceptical.

'That's the question,' I sigh, breathing steadily through my lips. 'I believe, and so does your fa... Sir Alec, that it's based on my own personal morals. So if I believe that...'

'I understand,' She interrupts once more, impatiently. 'So that man...' She nods vaguely to the centre of the room where just a few moments ago I had slain the old murderer. 

'Was guilty,' I nod. 'In my opinion.' I hasten to add. She nods slowly, digesting my words.

'And the girl?' She raises an eyebrow and I shrug.

'Was just a girl. I didn't want to kill her.'

Lorna's eyebrows knit in an expression of both confusion and concentration. She stares at me, bewildered, processing a difficult concept as I shift awkwardly beneath her gaze. She takes a deep breath, regaining her composure before nodding at me formally and turning on her heel, breezing through the exit without so much as a glance back.

As I stare – dumbstruck – after her elegant frame, the clock strikes four-thirty and I suddenly remember my appointment with Sir Alec.

My stomach jolts as I force my feet forward, my legs feeling heavier with every reluctant step, my mind racing with a thousand awkward and frightening conversations awaiting me in that eerie office.

Chapter Fourteen

My footsteps make no sound on the plush carpets as I tread the arduous path to Sir Alec's office. The oil paintings and tapestries loom ominously beneath their flickering torches, casting shadows across the walls. My breathing quickens as I pass depictions of helpless women shrouded by ugly and dangerous beasts, deceived by evil disguised as good. 

The fourteenth floor corridor is usually empty – being home only to Sir Alec's office – so I'm surprised when two figures emerge around the corner, the leader striding purposefully towards me. A slender woman moves at an unnatural speed as her companion, a male, reluctantly follows.   

I halt, feeling threatened, and press my back against the wall, giving myself a way out if it becomes necessary to flee. A familiar scent washes over me, alerting me to the presence of Malachy Beighley; his blond hair flashing beneath the torchlight as he hurries to keep up with the girl. 

I've never seen her before but she straightens as she nears me, eyeing me with both interest and accusation.

'You're Eve Ryder?' She barks, stopping a foot short of me.

'Yes.' I stand firm, jutting my chin out defensively and suddenly, she shrinks a little.

'I'm glad I caught you in time.' She breathes. Malachy steps forward, gripping the girl's arm.

'Leave it, Katy.' He warns, his voice low and threatening, but she shrugs his hand away.

'Don't use that on me, Malachy,' She snarls, turning back to me. 'Take my advice, Eve Ryder; stay away from Lorna Gray. She's nothing but trouble.'

'What do you mean?' I frown, tired of cryptic messages.

'She means nothing.' Malachy replies coldly, gripping the girl – Katy's – arm tighter and tugging her away.

'Whatever he says, don't get involved with her.' She yells back desperately as Malachy drags her away. She stares at me until she and Malachy enter the lift and I stand alone, breathing heavily beneath a crackling torch.

My mind races as I try to make sense of Katy's words. I had guessed for myself that Lorna Gray accompanied trouble, but why would a perfect stranger see fit to warn me?

Had she mistaken my faux pas at the First Year Ball for something more than plain courtesy, or indeed, stupidity? Of whom did she speak when she said; '
No matter what he says...
'?

Malachy?

I'm already running late so I push Katy's bizarre warning to the back of my mind as I hurry onwards, almost relieved to see the permanent guard stationed outside Sir Alec's office. He looks through me but opens the door and announces my arrival loudly, waiting for a response before nodding rigidly. 

I step into the room, relaxing at the comforting sound of the waves lashing at the rocks below, accompanied by the rhythmic ticking of the old grandfather clock standing faithfully in the corner.

Sir Alec is hunched uncomfortably over his desk, rifling through papers, his brows knitted in concentration. I stand, motionless and silent, with my hands folded neatly together, awaiting his acknowledgement. He glances up at me, resting his grey eyes upon my face, and sighs.

'You would think that after all these years, I would be a little more organised.' He raises an eyebrow and I smile politely, too anxious to laugh. He abandons his papers and leans back in his chair, linking his fingers behind his head.

'Thank you for coming, Miss Ryder. Please have a seat.' He gestures to the wooden chair opposite his own and I take it slowly, my movements smooth and precise – as if he's a cobra and I'm anticipating his strike. He pauses, regarding me for a moment before sighing again, lowering his eyes.

'I won't mince words with you Miss Ryder; you are an intelligent creature, as am I,' He smiles as I shift uncomfortably in my chair. 'My initial intention for calling you to my office was to unveil a very unpleasant punishment for your actions at the First Year Ball. Engaging in contact with my daughter is not something I take kindly to. As you may have noticed, she's still human and by this nature, very vulnerable.    

Perhaps Miss Carey should have informed you...'

'Please, Sir, it wasn't Tia's fault,' I interrupt quickly. 'She told me who Lorna... Miss Gray was and she warned me to stay away but I...' Sir Alec holds a hand up to silence my pleading monologue.

'Relax, Miss Ryder. I do not hold Miss Carey accountable for what happened,' he shakes his head and I breathe a sigh of relief. 'And besides, my motive for summoning you here has changed.' His eyes sparkle as I feel an uneasy stirring in my stomach.

'At first I wished to chastise you for approaching my daughter, now I wish for you to approach her a great deal more.'

I frown, straining my ears, confident I've misheard him. 'Sir?' He nods knowingly, leaning towards me across the desk.

'My daughter is – as you no doubt know – due to be changed on her eighteenth birthday,' he explains, keeping his tone neutral. 'And she is somewhat reluctant.'

I nod, recalling Lorna's harsh words about Immortals at the First Year Ball.

'She will be changed of course, willingly or not. However, I had hoped that she would have a change of heart and finally consent. No father wants to go against his daughter's wishes,' His eyes sadden, showing a genuine emotion.

'The procedure is a mere three months away. I thought involving her more in the Institute and its programmes would make her see sense, put an end to this silly view of us she harbours...'

'Like today's Practical lesson, you mean?' The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. I freeze as Sir Alec's expression hardens.     

'Today, I admit, was a harsh lesson for Lorna. But she must eventually face the life she will be leading in just a few short months. I had estimated her progress to be much quicker, alas, she is slow to adjust to her situation. I believed that if she saw the skill, the sheer mental capacity, the speed and strength of our kind she would warm to us. But still she remains stubborn in her opinions.' He shrugs half-heartedly, sighing deeply.

'I see your predicament, Sir Alec,' I tread carefully, watching his eyes closely. 'But, with due respect, I'm not sure what I can do to help?'

'You are very skilled, Miss Ryder. Something I was unaware of until this afternoon. Mr Oblonsky is right – you're a natural. You have a talent for hunting, attacking and going undetected. It's rare we find an Immortal like you,' He says this grudgingly.

'You are the kind of student I aspire Lorna to be. And it seems to me that she has taken a certain... liking to you.' He grits his teeth as he spits this – a fact he would rather not admit. 

'And so, Miss Ryder, I have a request of you,' he smiles as my heart sinks in my chest. I have a nagging feeling that Sir Alec's 'request' will be somewhat more of a command, and one I'd rather not obey.

'I would like you to spend some time with my daughter, befriend her, become her confidante. Show her your talents, your skill, your intelligence; make her see that you have morals, as I know you do.

And above all – persuade her to change willingly.' 

I swallow a lump in my throat. I'm desperate to refuse Sir Alec's 'request' but I know there's no possible way out. Lorna Gray will not change willingly; her hatred for Immortals is obvious and the fact that she's spoken to me merely twice won't change that.

'Sir, with respect, I don't believe I'll be able to convince your daughter to change willingly. I met her for only a matter of minutes and – if I may say so – she's a very stubborn young woman. If you, as her father, are unable to convince her, how could I possibly?'

'It's true, she is stubborn,' He smiles fondly. 'But all of us, even the most stubborn, will give into something eventually. Unfortunately, for reasons I will not divulge, my daughter is less likely to listen to me than anyone else about this particular matter. I believe you will have a positive impact on her, you are almost the same age, the same gender... she has shown interest in you.'   

I nod as I feel my hope slowly draining away. I'm wriggling and squirming but I can't break free from the hold Sir Alec has over me. I don't need a lecture on the history of the Institute to know that to defy Sir Alec would be a costly mistake.

'If it is your wish, Sir.' I nod reluctantly and his eyes light up. 

'Excellent,' He beams, the green ball of light swirling. 'I must warn you, Lorna is smarter than she appears. Try not to let her know that I've sent you,' He warns.

'Of course, your efforts will not go unrewarded. I assure you, if you succeed, you will reap the benefits for many years to come.' 

*

I spot Tia before she sees me, sitting alone on her favourite sofa in the common room, gnawing at her nails and fidgeting. Her expression is worried, frantic even, and I realise that she's probably been wondering if I would return at all. Not that I'm returning bearing particularly good news. She jumps up as I reach her, pulling me into a perfume-clouded hug.

'Thank God, you're back.' She breathes a sigh of relief, pulling me down onto the sofa with her. 

'Yeah, but I've got bad news.' I nod gravely.

'What happened?'

'He wants me to 'befriend' Lorna Gray.' I lower my voice, out of ear shot of the crowded room.

'What?! Why?' She gasps, panic-stricken.

'Look, you can't tell anyone, okay? Not Meredith, not even Richard.' I warn her.

'I won't, I promise. But why on Earth does he want you to befriend her? I thought the whole point of the meeting was to tell you to stay away from her?'

'So did I. He said that
was
his initial intention, but when he saw me in Practical... he wants her to be like me.' 

'But everybody knows Lorna Gray doesn't want to be Immortal. She hates us all.' Tia splutters.

'That's the whole point of this 'request.' He wants me to convince her to change willingly.'

'But...' Tia's mouth hangs agape as she shakes her head, failing to make sense of it all. 'But you barely know her! Why you?'

'Like I said, he wants her to be like me.' I sigh, leaning back on the sofa. 

'So, you're going to do it?' She asks, her tone incredulous. 

'Tia, what choice do I have? It wasn't a request, it was an order. I don't think I need to go into detail about the consequences of my disobeying it,' I hiss. I'm tired of fretting, of seeing Tia's panicked face. 'I don't want to talk about it any more, I'll worry about it tomorrow.'

Tia nods reluctantly, thousands of questions revolving in her mind, before she spots Meredith at the common room door and waves a hand, beckoning her over.

'Not a word.' I hiss menacingly in her ear as Meredith nears us, perching on the armchair opposite our sofa. Tia is quiet – far too quiet – and she risks giving the game away.

'How are you, Meredith?' I blurt out, trying to shift Meredith's attention from Tia to me. It's a bad move; Meredith's suspicious instantly.

'Well, thank you.' She speaks slowly, frowning.

'Yes, how are you, Meredith?' Tia asks too loudly, making herself look odd. But, as it happens, Tia's bizarre reaction doesn't have an impact on Meredith as her eyes widen, body stiffens, and she stares strangely across the room.

I follow her gaze and my heart sinks at the sight of Malachy Beighley, striding into the common room as students part for him. Lucrezia follows in his wake, averting her gaze from the ants scuttling below her.

I tut and roll my eyes, turning my back to deliberately ignore them. I feel a rush of irritation at the other students' reactions to the Beighley twins – as though Mary and Jesus themselves have arrived – and glare with agitation as Meredith swoons.

I force Tia to make casual conversation, ignoring Meredith as the Beighley twins make their rounds, stopping to chat to the more prestigious students whilst ignoring the others altogether.

They pass us by, their eyes glazed, as though the three of us are merely an illusion. Meredith's shoulders slump in disappointment, her face contorting.