Chapter Eight
It’s a bad idea. I know it’s a bad idea. But I can’t stop thinking about it. Tucked away safely in my room, far from the Masquerade, I can’t stop thinking about Nikolai’s offer. I lay on my bed in the dark, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing. He’ll drive me crazy. He’ll antagonize me every chance he gets. We’ll be lucky if we don’t kill each other.
But he’s my best option. Garcia is too busy for one-on-one instruction, and Nikolai is good. If he can teach half as good as he fights, I’ll learn a lot. I’ll definitely learn more quickly than I would by relying solely on classroom instruction. And isn’t that the reason I’m here? To become the best that I can be?
What the hell. It’s worth a shot. I grab my boots with reckless abandon and slip them over my feet before I can change my mind. I head straight for the party. I have no intention of stopping until I find Nikolai, but I’m flabbergasted when I reach the main hall and stop frozen in my tracks. Shaye wasn’t kidding when she said the staff went all out.
I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s a bizarre cross between a haunted house and an underage rave. The result is… mind-numbing. The entire first floor has been transformed for the party. There are candelabras everywhere. They hang from the ceilings and walls, creating an ominous atmosphere and casting shadows all around. The hallways are filled with fog leaving the floors invisible. The walls, which are draped in gauzy black fabric, appear to breathe with life. I pass coffins, skeletons, and a colony of bats that flap their wings and screech loudly as they fly freely up and down the halls. Outside of the dining hall, there’s an ornate stone fountain spewing blood from the mouth of a naked maiden at its center. The scent of blood is ripe in the air and my mouth begins to water. The whole scene would be disturbing if it weren’t so cliché.
Mockery must be the theme of the night. I’ve passed no less than a half dozen students dressed in some vestige of hokey vampire garb. Capes, powdered faces, blood dripping from their mouths. I’ve counted three Dracula’s, one Count Chocula, an Elvira, Vlad the Impaler, Count von Count, a Nosferatu, two brides of Dracula, and one hellishly ugly beast with a mouthful of fangs that is surely meant to convey the worst myths we’ve fed the humans. I have to admit it is kind of ironic.
It only gets better when I enter the dining hall. It’s been converted into a first-rate club. The room is dark save for the flash of strobe lights and glow sticks. Techno music blares from speakers overhead, and the room is writhing with movement, as the students dance to the rhythm. There are limbs flailing all around me, many of them alight with glow paint. It seems I’m the only one not feeling the spirit tonight. I take in more of the costumes. They run the gamut: werewolves, witches, monsters, politicians.
I push my way into the crowded room. Blaine is spinning at the makeshift DJ booth on the far side. It’s probably my best bet for finding Nikolai. Unfortunately, getting through the sea of dancing vamps is easier said than done. I’m shoved back and forth by the force of their powerful bodies bouncing and twisting all around me. I get more than a few nasty glares as I go. No one likes having their flow interrupted.
I ignore them and keep my eye on the prize. I spot Nikolai quickly. He’s easy to find. Blaine is staring intently at him and Jade dancing a few feet from the DJ booth. They’re totally engrossed in the music. Jade is grinding on Nikolai, rubbing her body against his provocatively. I doubt they’re aware of anything going on around them.
I contemplate retreat. The last thing I need is another run in with Jade, especially with this many witnesses. I know I can catch up with Nikolai later, but determination wins out. Besides, I might wimp out if I don’t do it now.
“Nikolai!” I shout over the music. He doesn’t hear me. I call his name again, this time tapping him on the shoulder a little harder than necessary. He spins around to face me, breaking off the dance with Jade.
“I knew it wouldn’t take you long to decide.” He smiles, looking pleased with himself. Jade on the other hand does not look so happy to see me. Go figure.
“What do you want?” she cuts in, fists clenched and at the ready. She looks to Nikolai and then back to me.
“You clean up well,” I comment looking her over. There’s not a trace of the mud and grime that had been clumped in her hair at the maze. “Showering has done you wonders.” I shouldn’t antagonize her, but it’s just so easy.
“Jade, why don’t you go get yourself a drink? There’s something I need to discuss with Katia,” he tells her diplomatically. Probably he wants to prevent another wrestling match between us. “This will only take a minute,” he assures her.
“Whatever.” She storms off in the direction of the fountain, and I can’t say I’m sorry to see her go. This will be easier without an audience.
“Sorry to interrupt your fun.”
“Fun? Ha!” He laughs, eyes raking over the costumed vamps grinding all around us. “I can think of better ways to spend the night, but I’m making the best of it.”
“Oh? Glow sticks and body paint isn’t your thing? Could’ve fooled me,” I retort, eyeing the trail of glitter that Jade has left on the front of his dark shirt. Perhaps it’s Jade’s way of marking her territory.
He doesn’t bother replying to my ridicule. He just stands there expectantly, eyes locked on mine. He’s not going to make it easy for me. And why should he? I haven’t exactly been easy to get along with or even to like. I don’t know why he’s offered to help, but I guess it’s time to find out. Time to swallow my pride.
“Will you train me?” I ask through clenched teeth. I practically choke on the words. I hate asking for help. I hate asking for anything.
“Sorry. I didn’t catch that?” he returns, raising his voice to be heard over the roar of the music. “It’s so loud in here, you know?” I’m certain he’s messing with me. He knows damn well what I said. Arrogant jerk! I turn to leave.
“Katia, wait!” He grabs my arm preventing retreat. “I offered, didn’t I?”
“What do you want in return?” It’s hard to keep the edge of suspicion from my voice. I know the lessons won’t come without a price.
“What makes you think I want something from you?” he asks crossing his arms over his chest. He’s clearly amused.
“The fact that I wasn’t born yesterday,” I retort. “So? What is it you want? Name your price.”
“Isn’t it obvious? I want to get to know you.” He’s got that mischievous look in his eye again. “You intrigue me. After all, there’s never a dull moment when you’re around.”
Right. I’m sure it’s that innocent. Probably he wants to get closer to me because of Aldo. It doesn’t matter though. Not as long as I get what I want.
“When do we start?”
“Tomorrow. Meet me in the training center at 11 o’clock.”
“I’ll be there.”
I nearly escape the dining hall without incident. Jade intercepts me at the door, grabbing my arm and digging her blood red nails into my skin like talons. If it weren’t for the baleful look on her face she might actually be able to pull off the white wings affixed to her back. As it is, there’s nothing angelic about her right now. “What do you want with Nikolai?”
“It’s a private matter,” I return, biting my tongue to keep from saying anything inflammatory. What is up with this crazy possessiveness of hers? Maybe she hasn’t heard the old adage about freeing that which you love the most. Then again, maybe she knows there isn’t creature in its right mind that would voluntarily come back for more of her bitchiness.
“Stay away from him,” she warns, her brown eyes flashing angrily. “Nikolai is mine.”
So much for playing nice. I can’t help but smirk at the tawdry threat as I wipe her glittery handprint off my forearm. “Jade, I have only one interest in Nik and I can assure you it’s purely physical.”