Page 14 of The Demon's Discovery
“Fine. It was just still a bit hot.” As he stared at me as though gauging whether I was being truthful about the extent of my injury, I started again with a different powder. This time, when I lowered the flame to the alcohol, the flame turned a bright apple green.
“Fantastic,” he enthused, smiling brightly, his canines leaving an indentation against his bottom lip. I blushed as I looked away, the faint edge of fear feathering against the unfamiliar flare of desire the sight provided.
I couldn’t help but glow under his praise, proud of not only having performed an experiment correctly, but of my audience having received it enthusiastically. Henrik and Lara pressed me constantly to keep up with my studies but had no real interest in it themselves. Despite that, nothing was ever good enough for them. They were not impressed by colored fire or bubbling chemical reactions or even explosions.
Feeling buoyant, I pulled over the ingredients for one final trick. I spooned a third white powder into a bell-shaped jar, then poured in a small amount of a different clear liquid. Despite mylight-handed pour, the combination bubbled up and over the rim of the glass, puddling around it on the table.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized hastily, grabbing a fresh cloth to mop up the mess. My pulse pounded in my ears as my whole body braced for his reaction to the spill. The spectacles slipped off my nose, my anxiety shooting through the roof as they dove for the floor. I squeezed my eyes shut, prepared for the sound of breaking glass, but it never came.
A cool sensation passed along my back, then a warm hand covered mine as I blotted at the wood furiously, breath sawing in and out of my chest. When I opened my eyes again, I was surprised to find Vassago had moved to the other side of me.
“Greta.” His voice was low and warm, wrapping around me like a calming embrace. “It’s alright. It’s only a bit of vinegar and bicarb soda, yes? Two things that are good for cleaning, if I’m not mistaken. That table could surely use a good scrubbing. You’ve done me a favor by giving me a head start is all.” His reaction was so opposite of what I was used to getting, I couldn’t do much besides stare at him in response. It didn’t help that the strange current was there again, hot and prickly as it sparked between our hands. “Grace was rather curious why I wanted laundry detergent and several items from her spice cupboard. I’m thrilled to be able to report back to her that they were put to excellent use. Especially since some of them were rendered mostly useless for cooking and such by that rat.”
I blinked at him again, pulling myself together once he finally removed his hand. “Rat?”
He frowned, head tilted. “Yes. A rather fat one who had been enjoying quite a good life under the stove and in the pantry. Grace worked on getting him out all morning, but she couldn’t lift the stove on her own. Once I picked it up, he made a very bold last-ditch effort to avoid being caught, and charged us. Grace is not to be messed with though. Sharp reflexes.” He made agesture across his neck with one finger, the faintest of smiles on his mouth.
My lips parted, and a faint, “Oh,” escaped as I went hot again, embarrassed all over at my misinterpretation of the situation. My mouth simply wouldn’t cooperate as I tried to explain myself. “I heard… I thought… the sounds…” I gave up and just shook my head.
“You thought Grace and I—” He broke off suddenly and let out a rolling laugh. I focused on my hands, which were tangled in my lap. I didn’t think I’d ever felt more mortified than I did in that moment. “I promise you, Greta, there’s no woman in my life.” He closed his eyes and sighed deeply. “Grace is myfriend. And all but married to another man, besides.” He looked through me then, leaning forward with his elbow on his knee, the pads of his fingers barely brushing my cheek so there was no avoiding his attention. I was too stunned to react. “Though I will say, there’s a certain chemist I met recently that I find quite fascinating.” He scanned me head to toe, eyes flashing red and the hints of his teeth showing. He sat back, suddenly subdued, and swallowed, eyes dropping from my face.
“Oh.” It was hardly my most intelligent reply, but it was all I could muster.
Vassago carried the conversation for the short remainder of my visit. I was too internally scrambled to offer much more than some well-timed responses while I sipped. I hoped I wasn’t missing anything vital, but my mind simply couldn’t focus.
I was too caught up in the way his eyes seemed to flash red when he looked at me. At wondering if my little tricks were enough. I had no idea what the criteria even was to become a student, never mind a staff member. I wanted to hope that he’d been as impressed as he’d seemed, that his praise was genuine, but then I’d gone and ruined everything with my clumsiness, just like every other job trial before now.
“I’d be happy to have you back any time. I mean that.” He stared at me long enough that I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. His jaw flexed several times, betraying some tension his demeanor hid. “Shall I expect you, say, Thursday? Come for lunch perhaps? That should give me enough time to secure some new supplies for you.”
Surprise made my eyes widen, but I found myself nodding. “Yes, alright.”
“When you’re ready, I’ll have the carriage take you back.”
“That’s very generous, thank you.” I glanced around, finding the sun rather low. “I’m so sorry. I’ve overstayed my intention. And yours, I’m sure.”
I hadn’t meant for him to hear the last bit, but to my further embarrassment, he started to laugh. It was a low, rumbling sound that started somewhere in his broad chest and made my stomach feel funny. “Not at all. You’re more than welcome to stay for supper as well. I’m sure Grace has prepared plenty. Her cooking is well worth it, I can attest. And I’ll take as much of your company as I can get.”
I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to stay more than I’d wanted anything in recent years, which was a wonderful turn-around from how I’d felt earlier. Despite how frazzled I felt, I was more relaxed than I’d been in ages. There was no pressure here to be what Henrik and Lara wanted me to be, no looming threat of being scolded for existing outside the narrow box they liked to keep me in.
Regretfully, I declined. “I’m afraid I have to pass for now. I’ve been away longer than I said I would be. I really should get back.”
We both glanced over as the raven returned, landed on the fence, and crowed a knocking kind of call deep in his throat. Seeing him made me unexpectedly happy.
“I’ll send Clem to pick you up on Thursday.” He studied me for a moment, then gave a gentle nod. “I look forward to your next visit, Greta. I apologize that we didn’t have a chance to tour the observatory today. Though it’s a very enticing reason for you to come back.”
Disappointment flared. I’d forgotten all about it. Once again, it was my fault that something had gone off plan, and he was taking the blame. “I’d love that, thank you.”
“Me too. Safe travels.” He opened the carriage door, helped me in, and closed it behind me. “Give this to Henrik, if you please?” He handed me a letter sealed with what I assumed was his crest in crimson wax.
“Of course.” I gave a gentle wave of my fingers as the carriage began to move, the raven, having observed our conversation from the fence, took flight with a loud squawk.
I watched the raven out the window the whole way back to the manor. He was a familiar dark streak in the sky nearly until the carriage pulled into the Belette’s drive. My stomach was tight as I watched the vehicle leave and approached the front door.
Henrik was waiting in the entry for me and all but snatched Vassago’s letter from my hand when I offered it. “What’s this?” he asked as he broke the wax seal and scanned the words, glancing at me several times as he read through it. “You’ve been invited to return,” he said, sounding mildly surprised.
“Yes.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Remain on your best behavior, Greta.”
