“I can already tell so much success will be achieved within these walls.” Mr. Saint trailed his hand over an examination table, his Saint ring scraping along the polished metal.
Elise’s ears grated at the noise. No one else seemed to notice. Her mother surveyed the lab with curious, albeit judgmental, eyes, and Josi stood on her tiptoes to see over every countertop. Thalia Gray and Sterling stood on either side of Elise, Thalia standing tall in a pristine white coat, while Sterling’s eyes roamed the room.
The laboratory walls were white, and the yellow and green tinted ceiling lights reflected off the white linoleum floor beneath them. Elise, standing against one of the counters, felt claustrophobic with the scent of antiseptic pressing into her from all sides. She shifted uncomfortably, her gloves creasing while she pressed her hands together.
“Pardon my ignorance, but why have you decided to fund a lab, Mr. Wayne?” Elise’s mother asked. “As long as Tobias and I have known you, you’ve given most of your financial support to political causes…”
Mr. Saint’s jaw clenched and he whispered something into his wife’s ear. Analia Saint nodded reluctantly and fell silent.
“That’s an excellent question, Mrs. Saint,” Stephen Wayne began. Elise noticed the expensive watch on his wrist, and it took no genius to know that his suit was of top quality. He wasn’t just rich; he was made of money. Elise knew that was what had drawn her father to him when they had moved to New York. Tobias Saint had been just a man with a small metalworks business, hoping for a break. To him, Stephen Wayne must have been a beacon of possibility.
“If I aspire to be anything,” Mr. Wayne continued, “it’s a man in politics, not a scientist. But scientific research is necessary for ending reaperhood, which, as you know, is my current cause. I do hope the lab meets your expectations. Dr. Harding is a somewhat reserved man, so he is not joining us today, but he’s hard at work in the research lab.”
Mr. Wayne had been acquainted with the Saint family since before Elise was born; later, it had been Mr. Wayne’s money that finally pushed Mr. Saint’s business from a modest factory to an empire. Elise understood why he was so important to the Saints; she just wished her father was as interested in making up for lost time with her as he was in touring laboratories.
“From what I’ve seen so far, I’m impressed,” Mr. Saint said.
Thalia grinned. “Just wait until you see the clinic.”
Mr. Wayne laughed gently. “That’s where Miss Gray spends most of her time.”
Elise couldn’t help but notice how pale Stephen Wayne looked under the lights. He was almost ghostly, his skin so white it looked nearly translucent. But his smile seemed genuine at least.
He turned to her just then and held out his hand. “I hear congratulations are in order for you. You graduated with honors from your music school?”
Elise smoothed sweaty palms over her skirt, then took his hand. “Yes, sir. Thank you.”
“Have you any plans to continue performing?” Mr. Wayne asked.
Elise opened her mouth to respond, but her father spoke instead, “She auditioned for the Paris Conservatory, but is still waiting to hear back from them. We’re not worried about it. I know she will be playing full-time in Paris come autumn. She will remain home until then.”
Sterling stared hard at Elise, and she looked away.
Relief crashed through her when Thalia suggested they tour the adjoining clinic.
Thalia and Mr. Wayne led the group down a hallway and into a bright room that resembled a busy hospital ward. Visitors filled the entryway, lining up at a front desk. Others occupied cots while nurses tended to them. An antiseptic scent overpowered Elise’s senses, and she fought the urge to wrinkle her nose.
“It’s so beautiful, I love it here,” Thalia breathed, her eyes lit up. “It was originally supposed to just be a lab, but I suggested we have a clinic attached.”
Elise noticed Sterling sharing a gentle look with Thalia, who bit her lip, hiding a smile.
“Excuse me,” came a voice from behind Thalia. “I need help.” A Black boy who could not have been older than fifteen stepped up to her and Stephen Wayne. His clothes were so loose he appeared to be swimming in them, and his voice quavered as if he was on the verge of tears.
Mr. Wayne held out his hand. “That’s what we are here for. What’s your name, son?”
“Th-Theo,” the boy whimpered.
Elise watched Sterling narrow his eyes and move closer to Thalia, putting himself between her and Theo. But Thalia pushed past him to talk to the boy. “It’s okay. You’re safe here. What’s going on—”
“Miss Gray, he should see Dr. Harding,” Mr. Wayne interrupted. His brow creased with concern.
Mr. Saint cleared his throat. “I would like to meet the man who founded this lab. Do you mind if Analia and I accompany you?”
Mr. Wayne nodded. “Please. Join me.” With an arm around Theo’s slumped shoulders, the man led Elise’s parents back to the lab.
Worry crept into Elise, and her heart rate sped up. She didn’t realize how hard she was squeezing Josi’s hand until she yanked herself away. “I’m sorry,” Elise mumbled.
“What do you think is wrong with the boy?” Josi asked.
Thalia shrugged. “He might have been bitten by a reaper.”
“What?” Elise gasped.
“Reaper bites are common cases here. What most people do not know is that just one bite will not turn them; you have to die with reaper blood in your system as well. But it’s better to be safe than sorry. We give them a little pain medication, then send them home with less anxiety.” Thalia pushed her hair back from her face, rubbing her chin. “I think it’s better to have scared people come here than anywhere else. Other hospitals would…take advantage of them. I want these patients to feel safe,” Thalia said.
Elise rubbed her chest, right where the scars marred her skin. Perhaps she was lucky. All she had gotten was Layla’s nails. Elise could not imagine the suffering that would have followed if she had been infected by reaper venom—if five years ago, Layla had bitten her.
“It’s clear they do,” Sterling said. “Look at how many people are in here already, and you’ve only just started working.”
Thalia beamed. “My hope is that one day the clinic will be empty, because that would mean there are no more reapers.”
Sterling reached forward to tuck a lock of Thalia’s hair behind her ear. “I’m proud of you. And you should let yourself be proud too.”
Josi sighed. “This is boring, Lisey,” she whispered to Elise. “I don’t want to be heir if I have to do stuff like this when I’m older.” She kicked at the linoleum.
“We’re going soon, so stop kicking,” Elise whispered back. “And tie your shoe.”
Elise considered herself willing to do anything for Josi, but she was glad she didn’t have to do that task for her anymore; shoes were so dirty and touching them had always made her hands feel contaminated. Even now her fingers twitched by her sides, already uncomfortable at the thought.
“Ugh, fine.” Josi crouched down to redo the laces of her saddle shoe.
Elise watched her sister’s hands loop them slowly. Until she noticed something. “Josi, where’s your ring?”
Josi paused. She looked up, apprehension bright in her eyes. “Don’t tell Mother—”
“Did you lose it?” Elise asked sharply.
“I think I just misplaced it. I didn’t mean to—”
“Hey, hey.” Sterling stepped between them. “Josi, let’s go take a look at that candy out at the newsstand. I’ve got some nickels.”
Josi grinned and followed him toward the front door of the clinic.
“God, he’s the best friend a girl could ask for,” Thalia said.
Elise almost laughed. “Thalia—”
“I know how it sounds, but we’ve discussed it and he understands. I want to focus on my work now and I might be selfish, but I’d rather have him as a friend than not at all,” Thalia said.
Elise wanted to wince on Sterling’s behalf. But she touched Thalia’s hand and smiled gently. “I’m proud of you, too, by the way.” Elise gestured around them. “This is incredible, and Mr. Wayne says there are stories in the papers about it—”
“Oh, trust me, I’m still earning my place here. Dr. Harding never mentions me when he talks to the papers,” Thalia said bitterly. “I almost confronted him about it, but I’d rather not compromise my job. My mother is worried. She believes I’ll end up like her, used and discarded. She is a brilliant scientist who made one mistake and your father cast her out. As much as I hate to admit it, I have a better chance of making a difference here. Even if it means putting up with Dr. Hardass.” She rolled her eyes. “The man is insufferable and barely lets me touch anything, but other than that, the connections here are extraordinary,” Thalia said.
“I understand,” Elise said. “You’ve always wanted to change the world.”
Thalia nodded weakly. “Of course. Though it’s difficult to get people’s hopes up only to disappoint them in the end. Reapers are getting harder to differentiate from humans, and other countries are starting to see the United States as a breeding ground for evil. When I was in Switzerland, there were already talks of cutting ties with us because of how we’re handling the reapers here. It’s starting to feel oppressive. I don’t want to let anyone down,” Thalia muttered.
Elise understood that all too well. She laced her fingers through Thalia’s. “You won’t disappoint us, Thalia.”
“Okay, that’s enough of that. No more emoting.” Sterling returned with Josi, who had a lollipop and a red tongue from the candy. “We need to make up for our lost time,” Sterling said.
“Jazz club tonight? I can have Colm pick you up?” Elise asked.
Thalia nodded. “Yes, please.” She turned to Sterling, who had lifted up a giggling Josi. “Unhand her.”
“Unhand me, stupid!” Josi squealed at Sterling.
Elise fell into a fit of laughter, all earlier gloom chased away by her sister’s mirth.