Elysium (20 page)

I followed, looking around, as the bright lights shone on the waxed pine flooring. “It’s okay. Not much we can do about it anyway.”

“Go ahead and see how the piano works.”

I was feeling jittery as I walked across the stage, my heels clicking along the hardwood. I sat down, letting my fingers run over the ivory, as I closed my eyes. It was like a dream, sitting on a stage with a grand piano beneath my fingers. I tapped on the keys, random ones making more annoying noise than anything else.

“Do you need to freshen up or get something to drink?”

I shook my head, as I played around on the piano, my smile so wide I knew I probably looked silly. I didn’t care though. This might not be Carnegie Hall, but it was probably as close as I was going to get. I was going to live it up.

****

I stood behind the stage, pacing as I heard everyone in the ballroom. It sounded so loud and imposing, and my anxiety had come back full force. I peeked around the thick red velvety curtain and about gasped. The whole school had to be out there, every single table filled, along with people standing against the walls. I let the curtain fall back and breathed out, starting my pacing again and already wishing this was over with.
Yeah, there is no way you could have done Carnegie.
I chuckled at my own thinking, knowing that I needed to suck this up for Violet’s sake. She was the one that was actually going to be in the limelight, everyone watching her.

“Are you ready for this, Meadow?”

I turned around and stared at Violet before nodding. I took a deep breath and got into position. The curtain was closed in front of us so I was able to collect myself and take some deep, calming breaths before I was forced to look at everyone. I sat behind the piano and ran my fingers over the cold keys, looking up at Violet, as she stood center stage and took a graceful pose. Suddenly all talking stopped, and everything got silent and still. My heart beat hard as the curtain opened, and I was momentarily blinded by the stage lights.

I blinked several times, my eyes adjusting, as I looked out into the audience. The lights were extremely bright, and because of this I really wasn’t able to make out the people I knew were watching us intently. I was thankful for small favors. I took another deep breath and started to play, praying I didn’t screw this up.

I closed my eyes and imagined myself alone in the music room, the
Francis Bacon
beneath my fingers, as I played for myself. As if magic surrounded me, I suddenly pictured myself exactly there, no one around me as
Moonlight Sonata
flowed through the air. I kept my eyes shut tight and kept the image of that cluttered room foremost in my mind.

As my fingers swam across the keys, I let myself open my eyes, as I focused on Violet’s elegant dancing. She was smooth and flawless, as she moved to the music I played for her. Never once did she falter, and I was mesmerized as I watched her. She looked truly beautiful, exactly how I envisioned a Fey to look.

Before I knew it, I was done with the song, and Violet was taking a bow. She gestured for me to come up and stand next to her, and I tentatively did. As soon as I was beside her, the cheering and clapping increased. Now that I wasn’t blinded by the lights, I could see the people and their smiles.

“Take a bow.”

I looked over at Violet as she whispered the words. I was stunned. I bent at the waist, a pretty half-assed bow compared to Violet’s full force one. I scanned the crowd of my peers and teachers. There were many of them I didn’t know, but the Manor was a gargantuan place, and I knew I hadn’t even met one-fourth of its inhabitants. I looked around the room, my gaze stopping when I spotted Cadeon in the corner. He was leaning against the wall, and even though there was quite a bit of distance between us, I knew he was staring right at me. I held his gaze, until he was the one to look away. I was disappointed, as I watched him walk out of the ballroom, hoping it wouldn’t be the last time I saw him tonight.

I swept my eyes around again, seeing Nik standing almost in the front row, his hands slamming together as he whistled and then waved. I smiled, looking over at Violet and seeing her big grin, as she too stared at Nik. He had to be the loudest one of them all. We bowed a few more times and left the stage. Once the curtain closed, I caught my breath as Violet moved past me and then stopped at a closed door.

“Hey, you okay?”

There was concern in her voice, and I felt kind of silly for how overwhelmed I had let myself get. She wasn’t even phased, her breathing even, and her body not showing the slightest bit of excitement. “I’m fine, it was just, I don’t know…”

“Weird, exhilarating, intense?”

I chuckled and nodded. “Or something like that. You don’t even seem worked up after the performance you just gave.”

She shrugged. “I’m not. My parents always had me in recitals and stuff, and I am Fey, so it runs in my blood. You did an awesome job out there, by the way. I wouldn’t have been able to pull my routine off without you.”

“Sure you would have.”

“Well, yeah, I guess, but you totally rocked that piano.” She grinned widely. “I’m going to change, but I’ll see you out there.”

I nodded and watched her open the door and
then shut it behind her softly, before I finally turned and made my way out to the ballroom.

As I exited the side door, people I didn’t even know started complimenting me on my piano skills. I had never had this much attention. I smiled and thanked them, weaving my way through the crush of bodies and trying to find Nik.

“Hey there, Meadow the vampire.”

I looked up at the deep voice drawing me out of my wandering thoughts. Dorian stood in front of me, Porscha once again hanging off of his side like an extra limb. Her dress was nothing more than a strip of cloth covering her “areas.” Back at my old high school, an outfit like that would have cost her a suspension, but I guessed at the Manor, as long as her “parts” were covered, all was good.

“Hi.” I really wasn’t sure what to say. It wasn’t like I conversed with Dorian, or his gang, and besides, they kind of gave me the creeps.

“You have some mad piano skills.” He smiled broadly as his gaze roamed over my body. “You comin’ to the party after this?”

I shivered, his gaze making my skin prickle with awareness. “Maybe, I’m not really sure yet.” It was a lie. I knew I would be going, but I didn’t feel like telling them that. Maybe I was being ridiculous. Dorian and his crew, minus Porscha, had been really nice to me. I couldn’t get over how uncomfortable they made me feel though.

He nodded, his smile one of something I might see on the cover of a GQ magazine. “Well, save me a dance.” He winked, which along with his comment had Porscha narrowing her lips and slitting her eyes at me.

Even though Dorian played nice, I could tell he was an ass. Here he was, flirting with me profusely, as his girlfriend hung all over him. I gave him a weak smile and ducked away from them, moving towards where I had seen Nik. As the crowed parted, I saw him standing by the table, a redhead beside him with a dress so low, I was afraid her breasts would pop out. Although he was staring at her, I could tell his attention wasn’t on whatever she was saying. Before I could even say anything, he turned towards me, a smile brightening his face. He turned his back on the redhead and took a few steps towards me.

“You were wonderful.”

He took my hands and brought them to his mouth and kissed them lightly, causing my cheeks to heat with embarrassment. The act was very old-world, and I won’t lie, little butterflies started moving in my stomach. The redhead was all but forgotten, and I didn’t miss how his gaze moved over me before he quickly looked back into my eyes.

“I saved you a seat.” He held out the chair next to his.

“Will you be at the party, Nik?” the redhead asked as she gave me a once over and must have decided I wasn’t worth her worry.

I sat down, adjusting my dress as I looked between Nik and the girl. “Hi, I’m Meadow.” I held my hand out for her, but she just looked at it before she flipped a strand of her hair over her shoulder.

“I’m Shawndra. We have trig together.”

I filed through my memory and was surprised I really didn’t remember her. Trigonometry was hard enough, but with a head full of red hair and a bust which could blind someone, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed her. She must have become offended at my silence, because she made some kind of noise in the back of her throat.

“I sit in the back.” She dismissed me that quickly and turned back towards Nik. “So I’ll see you later, Nik?”

“Probably.”

She leaned in, and I thought she was going to kiss him right on the lips, but at the last moment, he turned his head and she kissed his cheek. She didn’t seem phased by it though, bouncing up with enough enthusiasm it rattled the table. I was afraid her twin cannons would fly out any minute now and knock someone out. I blew out a breath, when she sauntered away, everything staying in its rightful place. I looked over at Nik, one of my brows arched, as I waited for some kind of explanation as to
what
that was.

His cheeks became red. “
That was Shawndra.”

“Uh huh.” I grabbed my cup of water and took a sip, not taking my eyes off of him.

“We have a … history together, and she still thinks there’s something between us.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. He stammered his words, his face getting redder and redder with each passing moment. “I thought for sure one of her boobs was going to come out and knock someone on the floor. They looked lethal.”

It was his turn to laugh. “Yeah, well, that’s about the only interesting thing she has going for her.”

I looked at him open mouthed, shocked by his admission. “So you’re a boob man, huh?” I had no idea why I was even talking about this with him. I started to laugh again. “Sorry, totally not an appropriate thing to ask someone.”

“Nah, I mean it’s all good. I don’t mind being open and honest with you.” He held my gaze for a little longer than necessary, until I finally broke eye contact. “I don’t know if I’d call myself a boob guy per se.” I looked back at him, smiling with amusement. “I’m an equal opportunist; I appreciate every part of the female anatomy.”

We both cracked up laughing, and I turned my attention to the stage as the curtain started to part.

“Hey, guys.”

I looked up as Violet came over and sat down.

“Wow, you look hot, Violet.”

She blushed at Nik’s comment, but I had to agree. “No, really, you look beautiful.”

“Thanks, guys.” She ran her hand over her dress, a smile playing over her lips, as the crystals in her hair sparkled.

The room suddenly became silent, and everyone took a seat. Mr. Rumbada—the Principal or Headmaster, or whatever you want to call him—took the center stage, microphone in hand, as the light glared off his balding head.

“I want to thank everyone for attending this year’s Winter Solstice celebration. I hope everyone enjoyed Violet Fender’s performance. Let’s give her another round of applause.” The room broke out in whistles and cheering, the noise deafening. The room quieted once more. “We decided to have a more relaxed atmosphere this year, so we will be serving dinner, and then the rest of the night will be for socializing and dancing. Enjoy it, students. You deserve it.” He clapped, which in turn started everyone clapping in the room. The lights dimmed, and the curtain closed, and soon the only illumination in the room was the soft glow of the candles on the table, and thousands of tiny lights strung up along the silk ceiling—like tiny stars dotting the night sky, bringing forth the nocturnal side of every fabled creature in the room. It was surreal.

As the night progressed, I ate the most incredible four course dinner imaginable. Never had I tasted such exquisite food. I felt like I should be in
Hollywood, or maybe in a Palace, seated next to royalty, as caviar and escargot were served to me on chilled platters. Although, I guess, Arcane Manor wasn’t much different from those places I imagined, not with the arched cathedral ceilings or the towers dotting the spacious castle-like building.

Once we finished dessert, which was called something fancy, but really just looked and tasted like lime sorbet, everyone around us got up as the music started to play overhead. It wasn’t the classical and soft flowing music that had played while we ate.
It was hard and fast rap music that really got your heart pumping and your blood flowing. I turned in my seat and watched as students moved to the music, a lot of them grinding their bodies together, until a teacher or chaperone tapped them on the shoulder and they were forced to pull away a safe distance. I looked around the room for Cadeon, not having seen him since I was up on stage and feeling a sense of longing inside of me.

“Would you like to dance?”

I looked over at Nik, as he gazed at me expectantly. The music was fast, and to be honest, I was a horrible dancer. “I can’t dance.”

His smile broadened. “
Not to worry, neither can I.” He held his hand out, and I looked at it for a second before meeting his eyes. “We can bruise each other’s feet together.”