Home > Imitation and Alchemy (Elemental Legacy #2)

Imitation and Alchemy (Elemental Legacy #2)
Author: Elizabeth Hunter

Prologue

BENJAMIN VECCHIO SAT IN THE library of his home in Pasadena, studying for his art history final. To say the class was an easy A would be a gross understatement, but the habits instilled by his scholar of an uncle wouldn’t allow him to rest for the night until he’d at least looked over his notes.

A small air vampire floated into the room and over the library table, blocking his notebook. She settled on his textbook and waited silently for Ben to acknowledge her.

He glanced up at Tenzin a second before he shook his head. “Nope.”

She said nothing, watching Ben with storm-grey eyes that always seemed just a little out of place. Her features were unquestionably born on the steppes of Central Asia. Her full lips remained closed over the lethal, clawlike fangs in her mouth. And her expression? It revealed nothing.

“Whatever it is,” he continued, “the answer is no. I can’t spar tonight. I have a final tomorrow. And I don’t have time to get online and research an obscure manuscript in Sanskrit or whatever it is you want. I need to sleep.”

The air vampire continued to watch him silently. Ben continued to ignore her. Ignoring Tenzin when she wanted something from him was a talent he’d been honing for years.

She had a face that could have been fifteen or thirty, depending on her expression. She’d let her hair grow out to below her shoulders the past few years, so she looked younger than Ben now. If you didn’t know who or what she was, she could pass herself off as an innocent schoolgirl.

Well, until she smiled and you saw the fangs.

She used her looks to her advantage, but no matter what expression Tenzin wore, Ben saw the millennia when he looked into her eyes.

She ignored his indifference and leaned over his notes. “Why are you studying this? You knew about neoclassicism before I met you.”

He grimaced. Modern universities were inexplicable to Tenzin. “I need the credits if I’m going to graduate next winter. I only have one more semester, and I’ve ignored most of my lower-level requirements.”

“Because they are stupid.”

“Art history is not stupid.”

She flicked the edge of his notebook. “Taking a class where you probably know more than the instructor is stupid.”

“Well, they wouldn’t let me take the upper-level class.”

“Why not?”

“Because I hadn’t taken the lower level… Listen”—he sat back in his chair—“do you have a purpose here? What do you want?”

“It doesn’t matter.” She shrugged. “You’ve already said no.”

“Tenzin—”

“Why are you taking art history?” She stretched out on the table, lazing like a cat. “What does art history have to do with political science?”

“Nothing. It’s just part of my— Will you get off that?” He pulled his textbook from under her hair. “I need to study—”

“No, you don’t! You’ve known art since you were old enough to steal it. Do you want some food? I feel like cooking. What would you like? I’ll cook food and you can eat it.”

“What do you want, Tenzin?”

She rolled over and propped her chin on her hands; her eyes laughed at him. “You already said no.”

“Just tell me.”

She kicked her legs. “I want to go to Italy this summer.”

His eye twitched and he looked back to his book. “No.”

“You go to Italy all the time.”

“I learned my lesson last summer, Tiny.”

“We’re not going to China. I want to go to Italy. It’s practically a second home to you. You have a house in Rome.”

“Gio has a house in Rome. If you want to borrow it, ask him.”

“You speak Italian like a native. You have friends there. You could visit Fabia.”

“Fabia has a boyfriend lately.”

“So?”

“Just… no.”

She didn’t move from her position stretched on the table. Not even when he picked up his notes and stood them up, blocking her face.

“What if—”

“No!” He slammed his notebook down. “No. No. No. I’m not getting involved in one of your schemes. I’m not stealing anything. I’m not pretending to be your butler again—”

“I only told one person that, and I think Jonathan knew it was a joke.”

“I do not want to lie to dangerous people. I don’t want to run for my life. I don’t want to hurt anyone. I don’t want to get beat up or threatened or—”

“Fine!” She scowled and lay on her back, huffing at the ceiling. “What happened to you? You used to be fun.”

“I grew up, Tenzin. And I realized that I can’t live in my aunt and uncle’s house forever. I’m twenty-two. I’m going to have to get a job one of these days. And a house. And pay bills.” Ben grimaced. “I’m going to have to figure out something useful to do with my life, and I have no idea what the hell that means for someone like me.”

He slammed his notes back on the table and tried to concentrate, all the while feeling her eyes on him like a brand.

After a few minutes, she crawled across the table and leaned down to his ear. Tenzin whispered, “Medieval gold coins from Sicily.”

He groaned and let his head fall back. “I hate you a little right now.”

GIOVANNI was in the den, curled up with a book, Beatrice lying across his legs while she caught a movie.

   
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