Chapter 20: Grand Ball

Salem

The day of the Grand Ball had come upon us and I almost dreaded it. How was I expected to look Infinity in the face after everything I had learned last night? The only reason I could even live with myself at the moment was because I knew Charlie would eventually tell her… even if it meant telling her everything. I wondered if he had told her already? I paced my bedroom, trying my hardest to hear her thoughts but once again, I was met with nothing. What was happening to me? Why was I becoming so weak?

I was afraid to tell anyone how weak I had become. It was beginning to stress me out and I was carrying a heavy burden. I was expected to hide so many things. My head was beginning to ache. I took a couple of Tylenol and went about my day. I didn't speak to anyone during breakfast, I didn't mingle with any of the Hundred Heads that were still floating about the academy. I didn't try to find Charlie and discuss what had happened. I just…existed.

Then it came time to get ready and I couldn't even focus long enough to do that. My fingers just lazily put buttons in holes and I couldn't even remember how to tie a tie. I never forgot anything… "Salem, what is wrong with you today?" Manfred's sharp voice caught me off guard as he hovered in my doorway. "You look absolutely terrible. Did you forget how to dress yourself?" He took a few large strides and immediately fixed my buttons.

"I don't know what's wrong with me." I admitted. "Everything is foggy."

"What you're probably feeling is insurmountable guilt." He snickered at me as his fingers looped my tie correctly. "Why do you let this relationship go on when you still continue to help us instead?"

"It's not as if I have a choice." I grumbled, looking him in the eye. A blush creeped to his cheeks and he wasn't able to maintain eye contact. I scoffed. "You're not even able to hypnotize anyone anymore, are you?"

"Maybe not, but I'm not becoming weak like you. I can tell something has gone dull behind your eyes too. I've acquired something greater. Can you say the same?"

"Yeah. Love." I retorted.

"She wouldn't love you if she knew what I know. But you should go. She's waiting for you to pick her up." He put my car keys in my hand, turned on his heel and walked away.

I hoped the drive to Filbert Street would clear my head. Tonight wouldn't be about gossip and magic, normal people from the city would be there. This was supposed to be a night I could spend with the girl of my dreams. Father's words stuck with me. She was going to be someone important someday, she wanted to be a doctor. She wanted to help the sick both medically and magically. And what was I going to do? Attempt to be famous? Run off to the states and try to make a name for myself? I sat in my car outside of number nine Filbert Street, wondering if I should even bother to go in. All I was doing was ruining her life and now I was going to sit back while I let them erase the memory of Lyell Bone forever.

Another pulse of pain rippled through my head. I couldn't do this tonight. I couldn't face her. I put my car back in drive and sped away, hoping someday she would forgive me for all that I had done. I drove back to the academy and ignored those who tried to talk to me as I made my way back to my room. I could see the triumphant smiles on the faces of my father and brother. They knew my guilt would eventually win. They knew they could break me into submission. I didn't give a shit anymore. I threw off my coat, loosened my tie and collapsed onto my bed, hoping the throbbing pain in my head would go away.

I felt like I had been asleep for eternity when I felt someone try to shake me awake. "Jesus Christ, wake up!" An annoyed but still forever sweet voice hissed in my ear. When I looked up, I saw Infinity hovering over me, shaking me roughly with her small hands. I hardly recognized her though. Her blonde hair was piled on top of her head, her lips were painted the same bright red as the dress she wore. The dress was breathtaking, especially so on her. The sleeves were long and lace, but sat off of her shoulders. The dress was long and form fitting. She looked almost like a siren. "Mr. Noble brought me. What the hell are you doing? You were supposed to pick me up an hour ago!"

"Infinity, you can't be here." I murmured groggily. "There's something you need to know, and it will make you hate me."

"Oh, shut up." She huffed. "Charlie already told me everything. You need to get up now though. I'm not staying at this ball all by myself. I'm more pissed that you left me waiting for you dressed like this than I am for you completely turning my memories into apple sauce. We do what we have to."

"Wait… you're not mad?" I sat up and looked at her clearly in the light. Her face was clouded with annoyance, but not hurt or rage.

She faltered for a minute. "Well… I was. But Charlie talked me down. He told me that you helped him get out of there alive and with all of his memory still in tact, so that shows me that you aren't bad at all. You were just trying to keep me safe. Now will you please come downstairs before I brutally murder the sorcerer that keeps touching my mom?" She offered me her hand and I took it.

I allowed her to lead me to the ballroom, but she decided to take a different way. She wanted to go by the music tower. "Why?" I asked her.

"The music… Why aren't they having Mr. Pilgrim play at the Grand Ball?" She asked as we got closer. Sure enough, I could hear him playing a beautiful but haunting melody. It was supposed to be a happy song. I knew enough about reading and hearing a tune that I could pick up on that, but for whatever reason the way he made it sound was so sad. The Count was making Amy Bone forget her husband altogether, but no one wanted to run the chance of her seeing him before the magic was complete. I had done a good job altering his likeness in her brain, but they wanted her to forget everything.

I wanted to stop Infinity as she climbed the stairs up the tower, but she was on a mission. She didn't care that she was disturbing him, it seemed that the music had control of her, almost as if she were floating up the stairs. The song he was playing was not one that belonged to any composer, it seemed to be one that he had written himself. "Infinity, he might get angry that you're bothering him. It is his day off after all."

"No, I want to listen." She pulled her arm away from me and twisted her hand around the door as the clock tower across the city chimed loudly. Mr. Pilgrim, who had heard her enter immediately stopped playing. He turned his head and jumped to his feet almost impressively quick.

"Amy?" He asked, staring at her in disbelief. His eyes were shining brightly, like a man who had just woken up from a deep slumber and had regained his footing.

Infinity scoffed. "No, Mr. Pilgrim. It's me, Infinity. I'm sorry to-"

"Infinity?" He froze. He recognized her. He knew that it was his daughter who stood before him. The bell tower rang for the fifth time as he stepped towards her, hand extended. His eyes were brimming with tears. "My God… Where has the time gone? Why are you here? You look beautiful."

"Oh… I just wanted to listen to your song." Her cheeks turned bright red. She was confused. She had no idea who he was but he knew who she was. The tables had turned and I began to feel very sad. "Who wrote it?"

"I did… For my children." The bell rang for the 10th time and Lyell's eyes clouded back over. He had been able to show himself to his daughter for only a few minutes. No wonder Tolly Twelve Bells had been stolen. That is what would have woke Lyell up too. I thought they were just being paranoid.

"You have children?" Infinity stepped closer.

"Once…" He said wistfully. "Two. I don't remember them much now." He slammed his hand down on the keyboard, frustrated. This made Infinity jump back in surprise. "They're dead. Now if you don't mind…"

Infinity nodded and we made a hasty retreat. She didn't say anything about Mr. Pilgrim's strange behavior. She didn't say anything at all until right before we opened the door. "You may have put up a mental block once, but that was the face of a man hypnotized. I have no proof, but that man is my father, isn't he? That's why he calls me Amy…" Her voice was flat.

"Yeah… That's him." I admitted. "I refuse to erase your memory again… Do what you want with that information."

"I…I don't want it." She looked up at me with sad eyes. "Please take it away." She begged.

"I can't…" My heart was heavy with guilt. For the second time that night, I couldn't bring myself to face her and I walked away. I couldn't handle all of this right now. My head was pounding again and I felt sick.