Here’s Chapter One of Deadly Alchemy! Enjoy!
“I did it! I can’t believe I actually did it!” I find myself bouncing lightly on my stool while conducting the final experiment on X280. Carefully setting the tube in the slender holder, I press a cork gently on top. I grin and press the tips of my fingertips together. “This will win me every prize known to man! Besides, it’s about time a woman won an award or two,” I huff to myself.
Grasping my pencil, I quickly jot down a few important details in my notebook.
The experiment of batch X280 was successful. After the death bite had taken place, the facility received the cadaver patient. As his body began the transformation from human to vampire, we administered X280 and it instantaneously stopped the transformation from taking place. The cadaver then began to breathe oxygen again and his heartbeat started up on its own. Recovering from his death state, rigor mortis failed to set in, and the victim soon became a survivor.
Smiling to myself, I close my file folder and tuck it securely into my carry bag, pencil tucked behind my ear. As I clean up the remnants of today’s adventure in the lab, I take a few steps back and almost scream when I bump into someone.
“Eva! Oh my gosh! I didn’t hear you come in!” Sighing as I catch my breath, my supervising leader steps out of the shadows and farther into the room. I am not sure how I did not hear her coming as her heel strikes the tile floor with each step she takes.
The woman is absolutely stunning. Her dark hair, pulled back into a bun, frames her face nicely with a few whispies hanging down. Her bold, chocolate brown eyes, lined with the darkest of eyeliner, seem to accentuate her beauty, and her makeup looks refreshed on her tanned skin. Her slender frame fills her corset in places that would make a man drool.
“Amelia, love, were you successful in the experiments today?” Eva looks around my lab and takes in the area with a raised brow. Her fingers gesture as if suggesting what I do may be beneath her—in a way, I suppose it is.
Eva has not always been an Alchemist. She came by her talent through training. Where, with me, it came naturally. Family stories have it my bloodline descends from those who created the original serum for the first original vampire, Henry VIII. Then again, that is just speculation.
My superior looks back toward me again and I realize I have been staring at her for a moment. “Oh, umm yes, ma’am. I successfully created a positive cure of vampirism! Oh, Eva, I’m so…”
She suddenly cuts me off. “Shh!” She brings a single digit to her lips and stops me from speaking anything else. “Ears are everywhere, Amelia!” She lowers her voice and steps forward. “You have everything documented? Everything is in its place? You were able to duplicate the efforts?”
Looking to my left and right, maybe expecting someone to be eavesdropping, I nod a few times. “Yes, ma’am. The cadaver brought in today,” lowering my voice to a whisper, “I was able to bring him back successfully.” My lips stretch into a wide grin. “He’s recovering nicely at the hospital next door and…”
“That’s enough for now. You’ve done well.” She smiles and pats my arm casually. “Make a duplicate of your notes and leave them on my desk first thing. I will need to review this with our investors. We need a reason to continue our research, you know.” Eva smiles, but it does not reach her eyes. She turns away from me and walks back out the door. “Oh, and Amelia,” she looks back at me slightly over her shoulder.
“Yes, Eva?”
“No word of this to anyone, understood?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Very good.” She smiles and continues down the hallway as her heels click away, echoing in the silence.
“How did I not hear her before?” I ask myself. Shaking my head and pulling my carry bag underneath my arm, I pin my small hat to the top of my head. As I cross the room to the coat hanger, I pull on the matching dark blue jacket of my dress. The bustle catches in the shadows, and for a moment, I am reminded of the shadow rooms I have frequented in the museums.
After safely locking X280 in the lab cooler, I lock the main door behind me then venture out into the night air. With summer coming soon, the air at night is still cool in Savannah—tonight is no exception.
Making my way toward my driver, I look around, finding myself alone. I mumble to myself, “Too bad the moon does not offer more of a guide at night.”
The sound of a struggle erupts from the side of my coach. My heartbeat speeds up, and standing frozen in place, my eyes roam the area in hopes of seeing what is happening… before it sees me. Vampires are plentiful in our world; however, as an Alchemist, it is my duty to protect the humans from attacks. If I am attacked… “Well, I can’t think about that right now.”
Taking in a deep breath, and pushing the thoughts of a vampire attacking me by the lab out of my mind, I take a few steps toward my coach. “Henry?” I call for my driver, “Are you alright?”
Tentatively, I reach inside my bag. My fingers search for a vial of liquid sun. Years ago, when becoming a master at my craft, the best decision I made was creating this solution. As the Undead burn from the inside out, their bodies explode as if the sun was actually shining from within.
Clutching it tightly in my grasp, I think for a moment I might break the glass within my grip. Slowly pulling it out of my bag, I take another tentative step forward. “Henry? Please talk to me!”
Suddenly, a growl pierces the night air, followed by a figure moving so quickly, I am afraid I might have imagined it. A scream pierces the night from somewhere nearby and I drop the liquid sun on the ground where it explodes at my feet. I cover my mouth with my hand to keep from screaming along with whoever is being tortured. Panic and fear build quickly and I am afraid I may pass out from the adrenaline rush I am experiencing. I take a few steps back when a man peers from around the side of the carriage.
“Madam, has harm come to you tonight?”
His voice has an accent—French maybe? Shaking my head a few times, I am scared to move from the shock of what has just happened. “Where’s Henry?” I ask the stranger. Not that he even knows who Henry is, but considering the circumstances, this is the best I can come up with.
“I’m sorry, madam; I’m not sure who your Henry is.” He steps farther around and I suddenly gasp. Blood settles on his chin and some has spilled on his shirt.
“No! You need to keep your distance! Henry is my driver and I simply wish to return home!” I reach into my bag again and realize the glass I dropped was the only one I had. Dammit, I think to myself.
“Madam, I do not wish to attack you. I simply wish to…”
“Please, don’t come any closer! I will scream and someone will come!”
Suddenly he is directly in front of me and I suck in a sharp breath, taking a step back. “Who, exactly, would come? You do understand I could quickly snap your neck before you even think of screaming.”
Swallowing thickly, my eyes widen as I take in his features—dark, almost black hair, down to his ears, his dark blue eyes seem to glow in the darkness. His lips pull back in a smirk and his teeth peek through his thin lips. Fangs are on display, most likely for my benefit. I can only nod a few times.
“Why are you nodding?” He leans in toward me, the blood already drying on his lips and chin. “Did I ask you a yes or no question?”
“N-No.” I look from his eyes to his thick, broad chest, back to his eyes again.
“Like I said,” he pulls away from me and straightens the gloves on his hands, “I will not be attacking you tonight.” He turns his back to me as he continues talking. “I believe it is your Henry who was not so fortunate.”
Finding my voice, I whisper, “Wait, what?” Keeping the distance between us, I follow him toward my carriage. “What happened?”
He turns back toward me and glares. A look of rage fills his features and my heart quickly climbs into my throat. “A man was just attacked on the other side of your ride here, madam. Most likely, you would have been next.” He looks down my body then slowly brings his eyes back up, meeting my gaze. A slight shiver runs through me. “Blood calls to blood. I came to investigate, to see what had occurred while in the area. I found one of my kind attacking one of yours.” He bows and brings an arm across his body. “You’re welcome, madam, for saving your outstanding, most important life tonight.” He stands back up and the look of rage shifts to chagrin.
My lips part as his insult sinks in. My own rage begins to fuel my body and heat my face. Feeling my cheeks and ears redden from my circulating blood, I step forward, finding a boldness I usually do not carry in front of strangers, especially if said stranger is a vampire. “I’ll have you know…”
“Just stop, madam.” He crosses his arms over his chest and raises a brow. “No apology necessary.”
Gasping, my mouth opens in astonishment. “Sir, I will have you know I had no intention of apologizing, for you have offended me!”
He laughs and his voice echoes into the air. “I offended you? Madam, I saved your fucking life! You know, it does not matter now. The least I can do is offer you a ride home since your driver is obviously now indisposed. That is, of course, unless you are too offended by me to take said ride.”
Biting my tongue, I can feel the blood pool in my mouth. Exactly what you need to do, Amelia. Attract him to your mouth where your blood is oozing. “I’ll find my own way home, thank you very much.” Turning my back to the stranger, I begin walking toward the cab station.
Just as fast as before, he is in front of me. He runs his hands down his jacket as if dusting debris from it, lifting his eyes to meet mine. “Allow me this favor, madam. I can guarantee the vampire would have attacked you. I took it upon myself to save you from such fate. Please, allow me the honor of getting you home safely.” His tone has changed from sarcastic to serious.
My brows lift in surprise and I blink a few times. “Fine,” I offer and my gaze drops to the ground. A throbbing begins in my shin, and when I raise my leg, blood is oozing from a cut. I gasp and remember the glass vial of the liquid sun I dropped earlier. I immediately look up to the vampire in front of me. He has just had dinner and now I am presenting myself as dessert.
He reaches into his breast pocket and withdraws a handkerchief. Taking a tentative step forward, he lifts his palms up as if offering surrender. “I simply wish to apply pressure to stop the bleeding. Nothing more.”
The vampire bends down in front of me and slowly glides his hand around my calf. The touch is cool and his skin soft. Slowly, he moves his hand up my leg as he pulls it toward him. The other hand presses the handkerchief to my shin.
“Umm, thank you, sir…”
“Michel. Michel Gauthier,” he offers, and then looks up, catching my gaze.
I offer a hint of a smile then nod. “Thank you, Mr. Gauthier.”
He looks back down at my leg and continues holding the material against my wound. “Please, I insist you call me Michel. I believe the vial you intended to use on me…”
“No!” I clear my throat as he quickly looks up, “My attacker, not you.”
He slowly forms a smile. I am the first to look away when he removes the handkerchief. “Look, all is well.” Michel stands and I realize he is almost a half-foot taller than I am now that we are standing so close to one another.
Swallowing hard, I nod and look away. I blush and now I am grateful for the night sky. “I would appreciate that ride home, Michel.” Glancing at him again, I offer my hand. “I’m Amelia Rimos.”
“Miss Rimos,” he takes my hand, lifts it to his lips, and kisses it, never breaking eye contact. I have completely forgotten about the blood on his clothing and chin. “My night has become saved by your beauty and by merely being in your presence.”
I find myself biting my bottom lip and lower my gaze. “Please, Amelia, and thank you, Michel.”
He pulls my hand into the crook of his elbow and walks us toward his carriage, opening the passenger door for me. After sliding in, he shuts the door. Watching him as he walks around to the other side of his ride, I smooth down my dress. He climbs inside, starts up the engine and it roars to life. Vehicles like Michel’s have not been in existence for too long and only the fortunate and wealthy own one. I am not sure at this moment if I am lucky to have met Michel tonight… or unfortunate. Time shall tell.
After offering directions to my home, Michel opens my door and escorts me to the front step of my building.
“Miss Amelia, it was my pleasure to make your acquaintance tonight. I do hope to call on you again, if I may?”
My brows rise at this, having no idea how to respond. It is not common for vampires and humans… especially Alchemists…to fall into courtship. However, I have not disclosed I am an Alchemist, either. “I frequent the library if you ever find yourself in the area. I adore historical artifacts.” I smile and look toward my door.
Michel nods and takes my hand again, lifting it to his lips and kissing it while watching me. “Until then, Miss Amelia.” He releases my hand, takes the steps down to the walkway, and turns to head back to his carriage.
I grin and unlock my door, excited to fill my sister, Rachel, in on tonight’s events, adventure, and Michel.
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