Chapter 3: "Second Sight"
Back in the room that had been assigned to her (she was afraid to call it "her" room), Gillian put the new clothes neatly in the wardrobe. Her own clothes, which she had brought with her, stayed untouched in the bagpack, which she pushed under the bed. Suddenly she got her hands on the package with the boots, that Larten had presented her. She crushed the silky paper.
She had not even tried them on.
She gulped.
Determined, she stuffed the boots without unpacking them deep inside the big closet and shut the door.
The saloon in the ground floor was lighted by innumerable candles, and a small fire flickered in the cozy marble fireplace, where Gillian was asked by Mr Telton to come down after sunset. "Master Purl wishes your accompany."
Well, Master Purl was not present yet, and Gillian strolled through the room, fingering the fabric of furniture and tapestry, admiring a vase on a small chest of drawers and felt terrible misplaced the whole time.
Gavner Purl entered the room, dressed impeccably in a suit with an embroidered monogram on his chest. He walked with outstretched arms towards Gillian and gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek left and right, panting loudly: "My love! Look at this. Mr Telton, I must applaud you, you have done wonders ".
Mr Telton standing by the door bowed.
Hello, don`t boast, thought Gillian. Wonders? As if it would have been that bad before.
Aloud, she said: "I thank you, Gavner". And she had to endure that the old vampire beau turned her around to look at her from all sides.
He tugged at his mustache and snorted: "A bit too much eyeliner, my love, but otherwise quite acceptable."
Gillian could not help but blushed a bit.
What was he thinking?
As if she had painted herself.
Angry at the chicks from the salon, she tried to cover up her embarrassment by going to the sideboard and reached for the carafe filled with red liquid.
Mr Telton was immediately by her side and took with a disapproving glance the glass from her hands. He made it very clear, that he alone had the right to pour the vampire his drink.
As you like, thought Gillian.
She shrugged her shoulders, and went to one of the armchairs next to the fire, to sit down.
She wondered again what was expected of her.
When she had been a student of Larten Crepsley, she had taken care of everything that the vampire could not do during the daylight. These tasks are taken over here by Mr Telton. For the first time Gillian wondered how Darren Shan had felt when he had come to Larten and her.
Useless and unwelcome?
"I hope your day was a pleasure. I'm sure you've returned with an armful of clothes. "
"Yes, Gavner, and I thank you for your generosity."
But the vampire barely listened, he took the glass from Mr Telton and said to him: "Did you go to Prada? I find that they have quite a few delightful new bolero jackets in their collection. Oh, and Tiffany. You surely have gone to Tiffany's? "
"Of course, if only briefly. It was not much time, we had to do a manicure as well, "said Mr Telton, as though he always did this kind of chitchat with the old vampire.
Gavner Purl nodded sympathetically and ran his finger over the traced lines of his carbon black mustache.
Vain dandy, thought Gillian, and had to suppress a giggle at the idea of Larten Crepsley entering one of these posh shops. He would be a fine appearance in his worn out red coat, and Gillian imagined a saleswoman fainting at the sight of the scar that ran across his face.
Gavner Purl looked at her her and Gillian turned her giggle quickly into a cough.
"All right, my dear? That comes from the soot. Telton the chimney smokes, I always say. "
"Yes, sir," said Telton and began to take care of the fireplace.
Gillian straightened her dress and took up all her courage. "Master Purl?"
It was hard for her to dub him as a master. It felt wrong.
"Master Purl, I thank you very much for the warm welcome in your home, and for all the gifts today. But I would like to know when we start."
"Start?" The vampire looked at her in amazement.
"Well, with my transformation."
"My dear, you have only just arrived. And you still have so much to learn. "
Gillian frowned. "I assure you, I'm ready."
"No, not at all. You are far from being ready. "
"What?" Gillian sprang up, so that her earrings swung fiercely. "Do you want to test me? I'll show you what I've learned! I can move nearly soundless, I flitt fast ! I can sneak on humans, and drink, without them being aware what`s going on! I've learned to fight and use my fingernails as a weapon! I can heal my wounds and make... "
Gavner Purl waved impatiently. "Yes, yes, no one doubted that. Certainly, my old friend Crepsley had shown you all these wonderful abilities. "
"But why don`t you then ..."
"Well, there's more than fight and sneak and scurry around in the dark, isn`t it?"
He calmly drained his glass and held it then stretched out, so Telton took it and quickly filled it up again.
"There's more?". Gillian was confused. Had Larten withhold her something?
"Well, first of all there is the knowledge how to behave." Purl pursed his lips, and threw a glance at Telton, who softly chuckled.
Gillian's whole body began to tremble.
But she pulled herself together and sat down again.
"That's better." Purl took the glass and exchanged amused glances with Telton.
"We're not in the circus, little Gillian, the vagabond life has an end. And I`m known for not making hasty decisions. Above all, I`m known, not to transform my new students in a hurry. "
"I'm a half vampire since fifteen years! There can be no talking about rashing!", said Gillian upset.
"In the time I come from, a master used to have his students fifty years with him, before they received the gift."
Fifty years? Gillian felt a heat.
"But we had a deal! You have promised that ... "
"I promised that I will carry over, what Larten had begun. Namely your education. And I see that you are far away from the end of your training, you have a lot to learn. "
"Purl ..."
"Shush. I want to hear no more. Mr Telton, would you be kind enough to bring Miss Gillian back to her room?"
Telton bowed, and Gillian had no choice, but to do as she was told, and to follow the man back upstairs.