A Violet Fire (Vampires in Avignon #1) - Kelsey Quick Page 0,43
tags that Narref had given to me from my sash, giving one to Katarii.
“Take this,” I say, my mind elsewhere. “It’s for you.”
Her mouth drops. “Where did you-?”
But I don’t stick around long enough to hear the end of her question. I march to the next checkpoint in line where the tags are traded for food. An auburn-haired vampire with blue eyes looks over me.
“...Good evening,” she says, her voice illustrated by a strange accent. “What have you to trade?”
I open my palm near my chest, unintentionally revealing the four count of ration tags to the woman. “Two portions, please,” I request, holding out two of the tags, uncertain if I’m doing it right.
Now her stare is full-blown skeptical, but she smiles warmly. “Sorry dear, only one full portion per day.”
Her wide eyes grow ever-wider. “Wait a minute, you couldn’t be...” She breaks her train of thought, thinking to herself for a moment before completing the question. “... supply unit Z-two-nine… oh, I can’t remember. The one who stood up to Lord Zein at the Distribution?”
Now it’s me that gives her a questionable look. Somewhere in the depths of my mind, I recall Gemini’s secretive nature when retrieving us from the fallen reservoir at distribution. For the first time, I find myself questioning the motives behind that secrecy. I decide to play ignorant.
“No, I’m sorry, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh? Forgive me… my dear friend is a dorm mother at Nightingale and she told me this rumor of a red-haired supply unit who disgraced our honorable leaders, even that of Lord Giomar.” She continues her lingering gaze, expecting some sort of reply.
“I’m sorry to say that you must have heard a false rumor, madam. I don’t think I have it in me to do such a foolish thing.” I may have called myself foolish, but my apparent talent for lying carries me through seamlessly.
“Ah.” She sighs, disappointedly. “I really should stop listening to all of that nonsense then.”
I nod, solidifying my stance. “I’d rather be burned to death than test any leader of Cain.”
She bursts out in a fit of chuckles before turning toward the kitchen. “Yes, yes. Well, me too. If I could burn, that is.”
She laughs her way to the food trays while I shoot Katarii a quick glance, creating a visual statement for ‘What the hell was that?’ Katarii shrugs, but looks to be pretty confused, herself.
Soon, the giggling vampire is back with a tray full of delicious food.
“Well, here you are. I hope I didn’t offend you by jumping to conclusions,” she says, a look of formulated guilt stitched across her brow. Since when did vampires care if they offend humans?
“No, of course not, madam,” I say submissively.
“It’s Seriesa.” She grins. “Seriesa Tamoir.”
“Oh, um, Wavorly,” I half-smile while nodding, taking my leave from the window as she nods back.
What a strange vampire.
While on my way to the concrete table that Savvy has picked out for us, an unusual weight lands in my gut. In light of that previous conversation, I wonder.
Did Zein purposely sentence me in front of the crowd at the Distribution, only to recover me later on when less eyes were watching? But, why would he? Because my sewage-like blood would go to waste? Because of the worth of my red hair and green eyes to his collection?
I’m beginning to doubt such shallow reasonings for his actions. To salvage someone like me for the sake of hair and eye color that would disappear after a short time—short for vampires, anyway—is a bit difficult to believe. As I near Savvy, I push the thought to the back of my mind, excited to surprise her.
“Hey, Sav, this is for you,” I say, smiling at her widely and dropping the tray with a clank to scare her. It works.
“H-how did you get this? You didn’t work at all!” she says, her eyes growing wider the more the juicy peas, baked potatoes, and honey-drizzled strawberries ensnare her senses.
“Don’t worry about that,” I say, pushing the tray more toward her so that she knows there’s no room for debate. “I’ve already eaten, and you need to eat, so don’t fight me on it.”
Skeptically, she eyes me before blinking down at the food—as if she doesn’t know what to do with it. She finally relents to her instincts and stuffs her face. Katarii joins us, sitting next to me and thanking me for the meal. However, she seems extremely uneasy.