Blood Day (28 page)

“What do you know, Evelyn?” Viv said, sounding like a broken record.

“I know that you have to do it tonight,” she said. “I know that they’re all going to be here. All of the leaders. They wouldn’t miss such a thing for the world.”

“Miss what? The party?”

“The party,” she said, and Viv could detect a vestige of her old steely self in the old woman. “You know what this is, don’t you? It’s not really a party.”

“What?”

“It’s all up to you, Dr. White. You are a self-sustaining factory of Rev poison, but you have to do it right. Don’t let anyone see, don’t pass out for God’s sake,” said Evelyn. “You are the answer to save her from her fate.”

“Who?” said Viv. “Who are you talking about?”

Evelyn stood wearily.

“I shouldn’t be here,” she said. She started to walk to the door, but Viv held her arm to stop her. The arm was tiny. Viv could wrap her fingers around it and then some, like chicken bones. Evelyn looked at her and Viv thought she looked dead already.

“My son…” said Viv.

“There’s a hidden wing,” Evelyn murmured. “Through the trees with the blackened petals. In the courtyard. Go all the way through, even when the trees get so close together you have to climb around them. You’ll see it at the end, under the vines. The door is marked with a red Z. It looks like it’s marked for the plague. And maybe that’s closer to the truth.”

“My son is here?” said Viv. “Are you sure?”

Evelyn shook her head. “No. But I’ve been out there. I worked there. I administered the…I worked there.”

“What’s out there?”

“Children. So many children. And Revs. But I saw it. It was real, I’m sure it was.”

“I need to go there now,” said Viv. “I need to know.”

“No,” said Evelyn, and Viv was surprised by the sureness in her voice. “After the party. You taint the blood, and then you go. It’s the only way.”

“Why? Why wait?”

“Because two men are being arrested out there right now,” Evelyn said, “and they would never let you get in. But you taint the blood, you poison the Revs, you poison the president, that is your chance. You have to kill the president to get your son back, Dr. White. Either that, or you’ll be just the same as the rest of them.” Evelyn pointed towards the door, toward the employees. Someone was laughing.

“And what would that be?” said Viv.

“Helpless.”

“What do you get out of this?” said Viv. “Why are you telling me this?”

Evelyn met her eyes. “I’ve committed such sins that I’m going to burn until the end of time.” She fingered a tiny gold cross at her neck. “If I’m going to die soon, I’m going to die doing something good. It’s time to kill those devils. They don’t belong in the light. The light is ours.”

“What if I fail?”

Evelyn opened the door and the chatter grew exponentially louder. But Viv heard the old woman when she said, “You won’t.”

And then she was gone, closing the door behind her.

Viv sat down at her desk, stunned. Then she opened a desk drawer, passing over a half-empty bottle, and took out a box cutter, pushing the blade up to test it. She touched the razor blade with her finger and saw the blood well up there. She put the finger in her mouth and slid the blade back down.

She put the box cutter in her pocket, and, still sucking on her finger, walked out of the office to greet her new employees. She only cared about one thing now. Not retribution, not revenge, not even her poor husband who she had hated so hard all this time.

Hunter. Only Hunter.
 

Twenty-Five

Sia looked out the window as her hair was twisted and pulled into shape. She had known the trees weren’t normal, but she needed a closer look to be sure: They had all been Revenants once. But where they had all come from, how had Joshua tracked them and brought them here? If those two men hadn’t shown up, perhaps she could have found out. Or perhaps Mathilde would just find her where she wasn’t supposed to be.

“Do you remember our deal, Sia?”

Sia turned to look at Mathilde, sitting in a chair opposite her, causing the woman styling her hair to curse. Mathilde had gone back to wearing her veil again.
 

“I can’t talk to you when you look like that,” said Sia. “Take that ridiculous thing off.”

“I have been instructed to wear it at all times,” said Mathilde with a sniff.

“By whom?” said Sia. “Maybe you should rethink your loyalties.”

“Watch your tongue, girl,” said Mathilde. “Someone will hear.” Though even Mathilde didn’t look very concerned. She lifted her teacup under her veil and drank. “You have a very special guest tonight at your party. You are quite fortunate. Not very many people have met him in person.”

“Who?” said Sia, watching the trees. She thought she saw movement. She remembered the two men from earlier and felt a pang of guilt for not helping them. But finding Ana was not going to happen by protecting a couple of idiots crunching around in the snow. She’d heard them from a mile away.

“My brother,” said Mathilde. “A very important man.”

“Man?” said Sia, looking at Mathilde. The hairdresser cursed again.

Mathilde just continued to sip her tea under her veil.

“Don’t you have to get ready?” said Sia.
 

“Not at all, my dear,” said Mathilde, too sweetly. “I’ll be fine in what I’m wearing. All that I need to do today is sit with you so you don’t get lonesome.”

“Lonesome?” said Sia. “No one can seem to leave me alone for five minutes.”

“Because you continually try to get yourself killed,” said Mathilde.

Sia could feel the items she had shoved into her boots in the trees. She could feel one of the sticks starting to rub the skin on her ankle away. She was sure she’d be riddled with splinters by the time someone left her alone long enough to sharpen them. How could the Revs overlook their courtyard being full of the only weapon that could kill a Rev? Sia looked at Mathilde, sipping her tea, covering her face demurely, like a subservient Victorian woman.
 

They’d grown so human, they didn’t even see any longer, Sia realized. Becoming too human was going to be their downfall. When monsters lost their bite, what was there to be afraid of? She yearned for her own monster, her Joshua, to come bursting through the door. He would rip apart everyone who got in his way, then take her away from this place forever. But Sia knew that if he didn't let her do this on her own, she would never forgive him. If they even realized that Joshua Flynn was nearby, what would they do to the children?
 

Conrad was to blame for all this, Joshua reminded her again and again. Conrad decided and Conrad was popular, so the Revs listened. Though the Blackout hadn’t been his, he had made it so. He’d killed the Revs responsible, Joshua told her. Killed them without hesitation, in true Revenant fashion. And then Conrad had proceeded to defang those that remained. So to speak. Science, technology, all for the so-called health of the race. They made Slack and gave it to the humans, curing every disease that had ever given a Rev as much as a stomachache. It was all over after that. Joshua had been unable to convince them to stay underground. He pleaded to stay to the shadows where they belonged, where they were strong. But Joshua was an outcast, especially after Sia. His love of music and beauty and art made him an oddity. He was a relic from a time long ago, when even the Revenants were beautiful.

And now he was the only strong one left. He was the one who stayed in the shadows. He was the only beast left standing, and he was hers. Sia shook her head, realizing Mathilde was saying something.

“I said, did you try on your dress? I had it custom made just for you.”

“I’m sure it’s fine,” said Sia. “Why are you having this party again? Why do I have to go? I don’t like being around them.”

“The Revenants?” said Mathilde, trying her best to sound shocked. “They insisted upon it. And you must go, it’s in your honor.”

“Why me?”

“You are to kill Joshua Flynn,” said Mathilde, setting her teacup down with a clink. “Or have you forgotten our deal?”

Sia sighed. “I want to play again.”

“Ah, that is another surprise,” said Mathilde. “You will be playing at the party. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“Revs hate music,” said Sia.

“Not any longer,” said Mathilde. “They have struggled to understand humanity. And during that time, they have come to appreciate some of the finer points in human culture. Music, dancing, art, literature. It’s very en vogue.”

“Then why is it still illegal?”

“Well something so beautiful mustn’t be available to just anyone. What would be the fun if everyone could have it?”

“What a horrible concept,” said Sia.
 

“Ah, Sia, you will learn. All will be revealed very soon. Very soon indeed.”

“You can’t even reveal your face,” said Sia. “Forgive my lack of enthusiasm.”

Mathilde rose, irritated. “You must work on your manners, girl,” she said. “If you speak that way tonight, you will find yourself a donor by morning.”

Sia looked out the window. Softly she said, “I’ll behave.”

“See that you do,” said Mathilde. “I’ll be just a moment. Let the girl finish your hair and then get dressed. Understood?”

“Fine.”

Mathilde left, slamming the door behind her.

“She’s a real piece of work,” said the hairstylist.

“Mind your tongue,” said Sia.

The girl finished her hair in silence as Sia stared out across the courtyard. There was something strange about this party.
 

When the girl finished, she left without another word and Sia was finally alone. She closed her eyes and looked out the window again, picking up the wine glass that had been wheeled in when Mathilde arrived. Sia picked up the full glass and drained it. She took the cap off the crystal decanter and refilled the glass, drinking half of it before the alcohol hit her. She sat down, dizzy. The snow was starting to come down hard, the light growing dim and surreal in the gloaming. Sia saw movement outside and stood up, clutching the windowsill for balance.
 

Mathilde was setting out across the courtyard. Sia watched her disappear into the trees, looking surreptitiously over her shoulder. Sia stared. She had seen Mathilde going into the copse of trees several other times, but she had always just assumed she was out for a walk. Sia remembered to breathe and watched the trees until the snow was too heavy and the night was too dark to see.
 

Sia drank the rest of the wine and then closed the drapes. She slipped into the white dress, liking the way the silk clung to her body. She stepped into the shoes and looked at the mask for a long time. She applied blood red stain to her lips and finally put the odd mask on. She looked at herself in the mirror, turning to get the full affect.
 

Mathilde entered without knocking, out of breath, snow melting on her veil.
 

“Where were you?” said Sia. “Where did you go?”

“Just for a walk,” said Mathilde.

Sia frowned, surprised at the hurt she felt at being lied to.

“You are a vision, Sia,” she said.

“Do I have to wear the mask?” said Sia. “It feels funny on my face.”

“It is a masquerade,
ma belle
,” said Mathilde. “You must wear the mask.” Mathilde was just standing in the doorway, frozen. Sia turned to study her.
 

“Take off your veil so I can see you,” said Sia.

“No,” Mathilde breathed. “I shall not.”

“I don’t know what to think when you stare at me.”

“Think only that I love you, Sia,” said Mathilde. “Think only that I have treasured my time with you.”

Sia frowned. “Are you leaving me, Mathilde?”

“No,
ma belle
,” said Mathilde, sounding impossibly sad. “I would never leave you.”

“I’ve grown very fond of you,” said Sia. “It would be a shame if we were separated.”

“I would not leave you, Sia,” said Mathilde. “But I must take you to the party. It has begun already. Do you hear it?”

Sia turned her head to listen. She could hear voices, low and laughing. And something else.

“Music,” she said, feeling a smile spread across her face. “They’re playing music.”

“Yes, Sia,” said Mathilde. But she didn’t sound happy. “Music just for you. Music for the guest of honor.”

“I don’t have to give a speech, I hope,” said Sia, smiling. She was suddenly eager to go. She could feel the vibration of strings in her belly. She could hear violins and…was that a cello? She patted her hair and then walked over to Mathilde and slipped her hand into Mathilde’s cool gloved one. Mathilde clutched Sia’s hand tightly.

“Is everything all right?” said Sia. “You don’t seem yourself.”

“No, my dear. I’ve only just received some tragic news.”

“Oh that’s awful. Did someone die?”

“Not yet,” said Mathilde.

“Well, shall we go and dance to forget our sorrows?” said Sia.

“Yes,” said Mathilde. “Yes, I suppose we must.”

Sia adjusted her corset, trying not to wince as the stakes she’d sharpened and slipped under the stays cut into her skin. But she smiled at Mathilde.

“Will I be able to play?” said Sia. “I would so love to show you what I’m capable of.”

“Yes,” said Mathilde. “I’m sure you will be magnificent.”

Twenty-Six

Mike groaned as he tried to open his eyes, but they felt glued shut. His head throbbed and his eyeballs ached. One of his hands hurt, and when he tried to make a fist electric shocks of pain shot up his arm. He could feel bandages around it. Mike strained to remember. It felt as though he’d gone on a bender.

Sia. The woods that were once people. A woman in a black veil. An altercation.

Oh God. What had he done?

Mike forced his eyes open, wiped away the crust with the back of his good hand. Something creaked under him as he moved and he realized he was on a bed. He fought the pain in his head and hand as he slowly, gingerly sat up, kicking away the thin blanket. It was dark, but it felt musty. It occurred to him that this is what a dungeon must feel like, but he discarded it. A dungeon might be Joshua Flynn’s style, but not these new Revenants. They liked order, cleanliness, predictability. But, Mike, surmised, their experimental hospital was built in the early 1800s, and very little had been done to improve it. Mike remembered researching the hospital for a story, years ago. Some wings of the building still had gas lighting. A few wings were new, but the Revs liked old fashioned clothing, old fashioned architecture. They weren’t really so modern as they liked to think.