Pure (Book 1, Pure Series) (41 page)

           
Odette left, and after a few minutes, I heard GM hurrying down the hall to my room.

           
She rushed into the room and laid a warm hand on my forehead.
 
"Oh, Solnyshko.
 
Odette was right.
 
Your forehead is on fire."

           
GM glanced around the dark room.
 
"It looks like Odette has done everything just right.
 
You keep drinking water, and I will get you some juice, too, if you would like that.
 
And try to get some sleep.
 
I will sit with you.
 
You tell me if you need anything."

           
GM's presence made me feel even calmer, and I closed my eyes and lay back against the pillows.
 
Odette came in once with a clinking pitcher of ice water and a folding chair for GM.
 
Other than that we were undisturbed, and before I knew it, I had drifted off to sleep.

           
When I opened my eyes again, the room was brighter.
 
Though the curtains were still drawn, I could tell the sun was out.
 
I breathed in deeply, and put a hand to my face.
 
My skin was still hot and feverish, and my limbs still ached.
 
But somehow I felt better – like the pain and the fever didn't matter.
 
I felt like I should get out of bed.

           
I looked over at GM.
 
She was sitting by the bed in her folding chair with her arm propped on the nightstand and her chin propped on her hand.
 
Her eyes were closed.

           
"Good morning, GM," I said.

           
GM's eyes flew open, and she sat up.
 
"Ah, Solnyshko.
 
You are awake.
 
How are you feeling?"

           
"Much better, GM."

           
GM was clearly relieved.
 
"Oh, Solnyshko, you don't know how happy I am to hear that.
 
It was terrifying to have a fever in this house ag—"

           
She broke off.
 
But she didn't need to go on.
 
I could tell that she had been reminded uncomfortably of the illness that had killed my mother.

           
She leaned over and placed her hand on my forehead.
 
She frowned.

           
"You are still hot.
 
I should see if Odette has a thermometer in the house.
 
Are you sure you are feeling better?"

           
"Yes.
 
I can still feel the aches and the fever, but I'm definitely better.
 
I think I should get up and take a shower."

           
GM looked uncertain.
 
"All right.
 
But make sure it isn't too hot or too cold – pleasantly warm is what you need.
 
In fact, I'll start the water for you.
 
You may not be a good judge of temperature at the moment."

           
After GM had finished fussing over the water, I took a shower and dressed.
 
Then I went downstairs.
 
I felt dizzy and a bit shaky.
 
GM cast a worried eye over me as I walked into the kitchen and settled gratefully into a chair.

           
"What would you like for breakfast, Solnyshko?"

           
The thought of food actually made me feel a little queasy, but I had a feeling that not eating anything would upset GM.

           
"A glass of water would be wonderful, GM.
 
And also some toast – dry toast.
 
I don't want anything too heavy just yet."

           
GM looked even more worried as she gave me the water and put bread in the toaster.

           
I kind of zoned out while waiting for the toast, and when it popped up, I was startled.

           
GM brought me the toast and watched me as I ate.

           
I wasn't terribly enthusiastic about the dry toast, but the water was different.
 
I drank the water quickly and finished the toast to show GM that I really was doing better.

           
GM didn't seem to buy it.
 
"Solnyshko, I don't think you are doing as well as you imagine.
 
I think you should go back to bed."

           
I was inclined to agree with her.
 
My head was swimming, and despite the fact that I had a fever, I was starting to get chills.
 
Another part of me wanted to stay up, though, and spend time with GM and Odette.

           
"Where's Odette?" I asked.

           
"She left us a note while I was up in the room with you," GM replied.
 
"She's gone shopping again for the ball.
 
Some of her accessories weren't quite right.
 
She said she'll be back soon, and that she hopes you are feeling better."

           
I was disappointed that Odette was gone.
 
I really wanted to see her.

           
GM patted my hand.
 
"I know you haven't seen your cousin very much since you've been here, but it probably is best that you don't see her this morning.
 
You should go back to bed, Solnyshko.
 
Try to get more sleep.
 
I'm going to call a doctor."

           
I went back up the stairs, and I was surprised to realize that I was out of breath.
 
I went to my room and climbed into bed.
 
I had wanted to stay up, but now that I was lying down again, I was happy I had done what GM wanted.

           
I closed my eyes and succumbed to sleep.

           
I woke up several hours later when I heard clanking sounds just outside my door.
 
GM came in with a tray.
 
I sat up, and she set the tray across my lap.

           
"What's this?" I asked.

           
"It's lunch.
 
Unless you decide you would like something more solid," GM said.
 
"It's chicken broth and juice.
 
And, of course, you have your water.
 
The doctor said you should force fluids.
 
He also said that if the fever doesn't come down by tomorrow morning that you should come in to see him.
 
I couldn't find a thermometer in the house.
 
I wish Odette had stopped in to see me before she left.
 
I could have asked her to pick one up.
 
I'll have to wait till she comes back now.
 
I can't leave you alone."

           
I looked down at the broth.
 
"Thanks, GM, this is perfect.
 
Solid food for lunch doesn't sound too great right now."

           
After lunch, I fell asleep again.
 
When I awoke, the light peeking out from behind the closed curtains had dimmed, and the day was clearly wearing away.
 
I took a deep breath.
 
My chest and my throat weren't as sore as they had been, and the chills I had felt seemed to have gone away.
 
My mind was clearing, too.
 
Things were not nearly as hazy as they had been for the few hours I had been awake earlier.

           
My thoughts turned to William and the way he had looked last night.
 
I wished I knew where he was.
 
I remembered suddenly that I had called for him once, and he had come to me.

           
I hesitated to call him now.
 
GM would surely not be happy to see him, and his presence would be hard to explain.
 
I would have to wait till after she had gone to bed to try calling him.

           
I realized that I would have to go out myself after GM was asleep, too.
 
I had to go back to the stone ring and retrieve the clear fire again.
 
Odette was likely to be out at her ball, so getting by her wouldn't be a problem.

           
Now that Gleb's plane had landed, it was even more important for me to retrieve the clear fire.
 
Gleb was likely to be back in Krov, and he would be after me.
 
I reached for the iron cross I wore all the time now.
 
I understood now that the cross could throw Gleb off my trail, but he surely knew that my family had once lived in this house.
 
The vampire Innokenti had said that Gleb would find me.
 
This house would be one of the first places he would look.

           
I couldn't let that happen.
 
I had to go out myself and find Gleb before he showed up here and became a threat to GM and Odette.

           
I frowned as I realized that Gleb was unlikely to be alone – Innokenti had said as much.
 
Galina seemed to be working for him, and I'd heard that he had a son.
 
Aleksandr had also mentioned a 'keeper' – the man I had seen in the cave in Elspeth's Grove with Gleb.
 
That could be Gleb's son, or it could be someone else.

           
The presence of other people worried me.
 
I could use the clear fire on Gleb.
 
I doubted it would work on regular people.

           
All of that was several hours away, though.
 
I figured I should rest until then – maybe the aches in my body and my fever would go away by the time it was clear for me to go out.

           
GM soon brought dinner up to me – more juice and broth, which was fine with me.
 
I still wasn't in the mood for solid food.

           
"Is Odette back yet?" I asked GM.

           
"No," she said, frowning.
 
"I do wish she would come home soon."
 
GM leaned over to feel my forehead again.
 
"You do look a bit better, but you're still hot.
 
I wish I knew how high your temperature was."

           
I took another nap after dinner and was awakened by a ringing telephone downstairs.
 
The phone continued to ring for several minutes, and I tried to tune it out.
 
I did drift off once more, but I soon woke up again.

           
The phone was still ringing.

           
It suddenly occurred to me that something might have happened to GM.
 
My room was dark now, but I quickly got out of bed, and then swayed dizzily.
 
I forced myself out the door and down the hall.
 
I stopped just short of the stairs, when I heard the ring of the phone cut off abruptly.

           
"What do you want," GM snapped.
 
"Of course I knew it was you.
 
We have caller ID, you know."

           
There was a brief silence.

           
"What do you mean your son's gone?"

           
Another silence.

           
"Galina, you're talking nonsense as usual."

           
A pause.

           
"I cannot possibly leave here.
 
Katie is ill.
 
You'll have to call the police – there's nothing I can do."

           
The front door opened, and someone bustled in.

           
"Annushka, I'm home!" Odette called cheerfully.
 
"Annushka!"

           
"Odette, please do not shout," GM said.
 
"I will be with you in a moment.
 
I'm trying to get rid of Galina."

           
"What does Galina want?" Odette asked.

           
"Galina claims that Aleksandr was just taken forcibly from their home and that she herself has been injured.
 
She wants me to come over to see her.
 
I'm trying to convince her to call the police."

           
"Oh, no," Odette said.
 
"You know Galina doesn't trust the police.
 
You must go to her – help her.
 
If you are with her, maybe you can convince her to be sensible."

           
"I can't leave Katie," GM said.
 
"Yes, you heard me correctly, Galina.
 
I'm not coming."

           
"Go to Galina," Odette urged.
 
"I'll stay with Katie."

           
"What about your ball?"

           
"The ball is not important," Odette said firmly.
 
"This is an emergency.
 
I'll stay here and look after Katie.
 
Galina needs you."

           
"Well, you are a thoughtful girl, Odette," GM said.
 
"Galina, I am coming over to help, but I want you to know that I do it against my better judgment."

           
GM put the phone down rather more forcefully than was necessary, and moments later, she hurried out of the house.