Chapter 339: Roommate
Another round of apologies to my roommate did nothing to thaw the tension between us. Out of energy and really not caring anymore, I left Sashenka shivering and saying she was sorry-for what I had no idea-to once again curl up with my back to her.
This time when I tried to call up sleep it ignored me completely. Partly because my demon was still riled and even Shaylee upset by what happened with Alison. I did my best to reassure them, but neither was really talking to me, so I just let them stew and settled into my own version.
My thoughts went instead to Alison, to the vampire virus trapped in the jewel I wore around my neck. I glanced down at it, the softest of glows escaping the piles of shields I'd placed around it. I felt it at times, stirring, though there was no way it could break free. Or so I told myself.
Despite what Dad said when he gave me the thing, trapped in a marble of stone after he and Theridialis tried to contain it on Demonicon, it turned out Sebastian and the vampires were unable to destroy it. In fact, Sebastian had a hard time being around me now, a fact which made me very sad. I adored the beautiful blood clan leader, was happy I'd found a way to free him from the prison he'd made of his body in an attempt to contain the very same virus. But the call of it, what remained of its residual energy inside him, pulled him in a way that made us both uncomfortable.
Even Sunny and Uncle Frank had no luck. When they tried to touch it, the thing attacked them, shields or no shields, able to use its power on them despite my attempts to keep it under control. As long as it wasn't around vampires, it seemed content to remain contained. So we decided-I decided-it was best if I dealt with it.
Yay me. Taking responsibility. Which meant I was stuck with the thing until I could figure out a way to kill it once and for all.
I knew it was the virus attracting Alison. She'd discovered, shortly after her echo appeared, the power inside it could keep her aware and partially corporeal, unlike most ghosts. And now she craved it, came for it fairly frequently. I poured more shields over it as I lay there, smothering it further, until the faint glow was only visible if I didn't look directly at it, a mirage in my peripheral vision.
Who knew what would happen if Alison was able to access its full power? I shuddered under the warmth of my blankets, suddenly chilled to the bone. It was bad enough the virus itself wanted to consume others. What would it be able to do as a vampire ghost? Was such a thing even possible?
Would Alison live again as pure undead? The thought made me pause, and this wasn't the first time. What if I did let her have it? Would my friend really be alive?
I already knew the answer. The girl I knew, the real essence of who she was, was long gone, passed over. This echo could never be allowed to take control of the virus.
The marble stirred over my heart and I found myself quickly clenching one hand around it. It shouldn't be stirring, not with the amount of magic I had cushioning it. It wasn't like there were vampires here to attract it, either. No vampires were allowed in Harvard Yard.
After a moment, the virus fell still again and I slid the gem back inside my T-shirt. Finally worn out enough to sleep, I fell into a dreaming state dominated by blood-soaked vampires, sobbing Sashenka and the gaping, laughing face of the girl who had once been my best friend.
***
I woke to the sound of the door closing and, groggy from my terrible sleep, flipped over to find Sashenka's bed made and her missing.
Lovely. Just freaking lovely. Well, at least I didn't have to see her much. Today was first day of classes already and, aside from sleeping in the same room, I could keep our interactions to a minimum if that was what she wanted.
Grumpy and out of sorts, wishing I'd come the day before instead of leaving my trip to the last minute, I slid out of bed and hit the shower.
The hot water helped improve my mood a little. By the time I'd dressed, I even felt human. Never mind I'd never admit how carefully I'd chosen my clothes, the blue sweater Quaid loved, my favorite denim skirt hugging my hips and flaring to my knees. I even took the time to run the flat-iron through my hair and double up on my mascara layer and lip gloss. Pathetic, really. Quaid proved over and over he loved me no matter what I looked like. Still, I was feeling the need, after not seeing him for so long, to show off a little.
So sue me.
Computer and a blank notebook tucked in my bag and I was on my way, Charlotte on my heels. The hall was quiet, though a few late witches ran past me, down to mingle with the normals and outside into the Yard. Not one person paused to smile, say hi, even notice me and the old gloom settled around me as I stepped out into the sunlight.
Syd's on her own again. Well, isn't that special? Just like always. Years and years of being an outcast had clearly stamped some kind of message across my whole being.
College was supposed to be different. And yet, obviously it wasn't the case.
Two steps in the sunshine and I shook myself.
Yes, this year was different. I had Charlotte, for one thing. So I was never alone. I tried to see that as a consoling fact and caught myself grinning. Sure, she wasn't the best conversationalist, but at least I had someone I could bounce ideas against, eat meals with.
Maybe if people saw me with someone else they'd take a chance. I was determined to make some friends this year, if only to replace the ones I'd lost, the brief and shining friendships I fought at first and now cherished the memories of now that they were gone.
Beth with her cute bob and sweet nature was at state college with her boyfriend Tim, thanks to Mom and a scholarship from the Brindle family in England. Blood was gone to Europe with his family, the tall, looming Goth with his deep voice and steady, calming nature that always made me smile. Pain, Mia, the lost daughter of the Dumont coven, now their leader. She was lost to me in more ways than one and I found I missed her a great deal. Alison. Not going there. And Simon.
I perked. Simon! He was here at Harvard, had been bumped years ahead, only fifteen and now a sophomore. I was sure I'd find him at some point. The idea of seeing his sweet face, thick glasses perched on his narrow nose, skinny body all arms and legs, made everything all right again.
Simon was the type who would have made friends, the outcast kind. And those, it turned out, were the ones I liked the most.
Grinning at the thought of falling into another group of quirky, funny, genuine friends thanks to Simon, I headed across campus with a lighter heart.
***
