A/N: Okay guys sorry about the long wait. This is the sequel to Lead and Gold. This takes place about a year after Sydeny was taken by the Alchemists, the characters may seem a bit OOC at first but all of that will be explained, a lots happened.

Chapter 1

Weddings were supposed to be happy occasions.

Full of fun and laughter and an awful amount of champagne.

Any other day Adrian would have been quite happy with this one, Vasilisa Dragomir was marrying the love of her short life Christian Ozera and normally by this time he'd be half way through his drunken speech recalling embarrassing times for both the Queen and her King.

However, any other day, he wouldn't have just walked in on his pretty much-but not-quite sister making out with her guardian in a deserted room.

"Adrian!"

"Where's the eye soap!"

Jill Dragomir rolled her pretty brown eyes, as she caught on to his suit sleeve and tugged him away from the crowd, "Oh, don't be hypocritical, the amount of times I've been in your head when you've been…" she blushed, "deflowering innocent women."

"The women I get with are never innocent Jillian and I'm not sixteen, it's not illegal for me." He pointed out with a mock disapproving tut.

Jill rolled her eyes again, "It's not illegal if we don't…well, you know."

She blushed again.

Adrian sighed, "Of course Eddie could only stretch his morals so far." He shook his head despairingly, "well I guess I'll just have to dust off my protective big brother speech, you know, I've only used it once, best give it a practice go." Jill looked mortified as he cleared his throat and spoke in a deep baritone. "Jillian's virtue is not to be threatened, considered or even questioned until the age of eighteen, making out I can accept but anything beyond over the clothes groping—"

"Oh dear god! Shut up!" she launched herself at him trying to cover his lips, if she had been human she would be beet red, but her vampirism allowed for only so much embarrassment. She caught hold of his ear and tugged making Adrian yelp and several of the wedding guests look around in surprise. Jill gave them indulging looks before hissing in his ear. "If you don't stop talking right now…I swear to god I'll have Lissa banish you."

Adrian flashed her his most charming grin, "But what would you do without me in your life?"

"Live in peace."

"Honestly I'm surprised you convinced him to give it a go, I thought he was all high and moral about not dating you." Adrian pointed out, his voice dropping as a waiter passed them with an empty kosh.

Jill sighed, "I haven't really, he still thinks I'm too good for him, what you saw, well, I just kinda surprised him."

Adrian looked impressed, "You are too good for him Jailbait, all women like you are too good for men like us, but that's what makes us lucky. Good for you. You go girl!"

If what he had said wasn't so sweet Jill would have seriously considered stepping on his foot for that last remark but let it slide in favour of peace. Truth was, she needed all the support she could get in this conquest. Even if technically her and Eddie dating wasn't against the rules, it was still scandalous by social standards and that was forever weighing on her mind. Jill didn't have the backbone of her sister or Rose, to be able to withstand judging eyes and whispers.

"Jill, Adrian!" the pair looked up at the sound of a voice and found Angeline slipping through the crowd to reach them, as usual she was doing this ungracefully and knocking several royal patrons out of the way. When the dark haired Dhamphir finally reached them, she crossed her arms and huffed. "Finally, someone not boring I can talk to."

"Aren't you on duty?" Jill asked with a smile, taking in Angeline's new guardians uniform, she was still a probationary guardian but still had shifts and sweeps like all the others.

The other girl shook her head, "Nah, Lissa gave Rose and Dimitri the day off and they gave me the day off, it's a vicious circle."

"Rose taking a day off, has hell frozen over and I wasn't informed?" Adrian asked jokingly.

Angeline shrugged, "Lissa pulled rank I think, said they'd pull in extra guardians to cover but she didn't want her maid of honour wearing combat boots."

Adrian snickered, while Jill giggled, she'd been a bridesmaid as well and had witnessed one of the pairs discussion over what was and what wasn't appropriate wedding attire, she wondered if Rose had got to slip that knife into her girdle.

"Don't know why she was so paranoid, there are enough guardians here to protect a castle, and the factions haven't tried anything for months." True. But if any event was to be gate crashed by the anti-royal vampires, the wedding of the Queen was certainly high on their list.

Adrian was just about to point out the fact that they had been so quiet was exactly what had everyone on edge when a scream cut across the dining hall.

The music halted and the crowd froze, all eyes turning to the front of the room, where the royal party sat.

And the newly crowned King had just fallen to the ground.

"Spoke to soon."

"Christian!"

Jill pushed through the crowd, heedless, Adrian and Angeline on her heels. When they reached their destination, Rosemarie Hathaway was turning Christian over, his arms and legs were ridged, the cords in his neck were strained, his eyes wide, there was foam on his lips.

Poison.

Adrian half felt his magic summon, before Lissa was at her husbands side, she touched a hand to his heart and Adrian saw her aura flare brilliant gold and white and red and every colour in existence as her magic flowed through her finger tips.

Without thinking Adrian stepped forward and added his power to the stream of healing and in a matter of moments Christian's body was relaxing, his skin colour was retuning to normal, his eyes were opening.

The crowd released a breath and the guardians swarmed around them. News of the almost tragedy already spreading into the crowd. In a few hours everyone in the Moroi world would know that the factions had struck again.

"Jill." That was Eddie's voice appearing from behind them, his face was stern, his eyes darting every way searching for threats, he held his hand out to the young princess, "We should get you somewhere safe."

Jill hesitated, and then shook her head, "No, I want to stay with Lissa."

Eddie and Jill's wasn't the only relationship to take a step forward recently.

Speaking of, Rose's commanding voice cut across the chaos, "Liss you better see this." The Queen in all her white glory crossed to her best friend and took from her hand a note that had been set down on their table in all the commotion.

Lissa's aura flashed with fury and fear and Adrian saw spirit darkness press in on her, he stepped over to the two women and rested his hand on his cousins shoulder. She glanced at him and saw the warning in his eyes. Lissa took a breath and tried to calm herself as she handed him the note.

Jill saw it through Adrian's eyes and gasped.

All the queens' friends and all the queens' men

One by one.

They fall down dead.

The words were blurring in front of his eyes, Adrian sat at his desk, which hadn't seen much use before this year, his tuxedo jacket still on, his tie hanging around his neck. He pressed his palms into his eyes and wished his brain to serenity.

Istanbul.

Moscow.

He'd have to go to both places; Christ was there no where in the world that the Alchemist's shadow didn't cover?

He supposed, anywhere there were vampires…

He'd been at this for months, almost a full year now and while he was no detective money was a universal language, Danielle's return to the family home had forced his father to start dishing out the cash again, but it was still a minor miracle that Nathan Ivashkov didn't yet know that all his wealth, all his son's time was spent looking for a missing Alchemist

That probably wouldn't go down well.

Adrian sighed and slumped in his chair, his eyes shutting as he thought. Was she really worth all this? Part of that question was Spirit, part of it was him, all of it desperate, truth was he had a habit of chasing after women he would never have.

It would drive him crazy one day.

He was at a football game and for a few moments he couldn't discern. Was this a spirit dream or a regular dream? The crowd around him went wild as the players on the field scored, maroon and grey players he realised. He was at Amberwood Prepatory School. Why? He had know clue. If this wasn't a spirit dream and he didn't see how it could be, for he hadn't actively tried to call upon it, then why the hell was he dreaming of a school he had never attended.

"Adrian you can sit down again." Oh right.

Sydney's voice came from behind him, he turned to look at her and she rolled her eyes at him, "They're still behind by twenty points." Jill was there, as was Eddie, Angeline and their old friend Micah, two girls he vaguely recognised as friends of Sydney's sat just in front of their row. One of them, the blonde one, turned in her seat and flashed a cheeky grin at Sydney, "Your boyfriends pretty amazing hey Syd?"

Sydney Sage scowled, Adrian didn't know wether it was because of the boyfriend comment or the shortening of her name but in any case the other girl didn't seem concerned by her expression, she turned back in her seat giggling.

Adrian took his seat next to the Alchemist and he looked around confused. For something that wasn't a spirit dream this place sure was vivid and if he was really, really dreaming then should he really know that? Wasn't the whole problem with dreams that you could never tell when you were having them?

"Your right," he turned to Sydney at the sound of her voice, she was leaning close to him, her voice low, "Golf really is a better sport." It occurred to him then, that this wasn't so much a dream as a weird cross between a memory and a delusion.

This football game had happened, the evening of his and Sydney's first kiss. But he hadn't been there; she was too busying avoiding him. He looked up as the Amberwood team scored again and the crowd cheered. He was fairly certain they had won this match.

Hey, maybe he could find a bookie.

Sydney sighed next to him, "If we actually win this there'll be no shutting Trey up, I'll hear about it for weeks." Adrian grinned at her, she was looking at him just like the real Sydney did. Golden hair and golden eyes, he lent back in his chair and decided to merely enjoy whatever parallel universe he had just stumbled into.

"He must be compensating for something." Adrian commented as he slipped his arm around her shoulders and Sydney gave him a despairing look.

"Best honeymoon ever."

Lissa laughed "I know right? What's a wedding without a poisoning and fisticuffs?" Christian kissed her on the nose, lying on his side next to her in her bed. Their bed, he corrected.

King Ozera, it still flawed him and he suspected it always would.

She turned her head to look at him, just studying the lines of his face for a moment. "I'm glad you're okay." She said softly.

He leant forward and kissed her again, "I'm glad I'm okay too."

Lissa let out a breath, "They're getting closer."

"But not close enough. Both you and Adrian can bring back the dead. They're not more powerful than us."

"Adrian's already bonded to Jill and that's not really the point…"

"I know."

"I won't let them hurt the people I love." There was just a flicker of spirit in her eyes and Christian held her tighter as if trying to squeeze it away from her. "I won't."

"I know and I won't let them hurt you." He said honestly.

She looked back to his blue eyes and grinned, "Best honeymoon ever." She joked.

The new King got a devilish look in his eyes, "You just wait, I seem to recall something about little Dragomir's being on the cards."

Vasilisa let out a very un-queenly laugh, which was quickly smothered by her husband's lips.

She was running.

It was never something Sydney Sage had been good at, she preferred to drive or fly or even ride to a destination. Running seemed so archaic, unnecessary, and you got all sweaty.

For some reason thinking that made her recall volleyball, and a shrill woman yelling insults at her students. That didn't make sense.

Not much made sense to her these days. Not since him. Not since them.

She tripped.

Sydney put out her hands on reflex and was lucky she did as they collided with a broad tree trunk just in front of her; she fell to her knees, jarring her hips. Her heart was pounding, she'd scratched her arm on a wayward sapling and she knew he was coming.

Fear drove her upward; she was back on her feet and off again when she heard a branch crack. The sound echoed in the night. These woods seemed familiar to her but she couldn't remember why. There was silence except for her breathing, as if even the animals and the trees were paused just like her.

Then,

Crunch!

Sydney would have screamed if there wasn't a hand covering her mouth. Her back was pressed painfully against a tree; he was leaning against her, keeping her there.

Vampire

Adrian Ivashkov.

She knew him well. His green eyes haunted her dreams, left her no peace.

He grinned at her now and she could see his fangs glistening in the moonlight. She tried to squirm free but as always he was too strong for her human body.

Creature of the night.

"I've missed you Sydney." He whispered, his face inches from hers, he spoke as if to a lover and a shiver of disgust ran down her spine. "Did you miss me?"

"Don't." she bit out, "please don't."

He kissed her and his fangs nicked her lip, spilling blood into her mouth.

He pulled away, "Adrian…please."

"I can't, not without you." He spoke the words but his lips didn't move and it made no sense to Sydney, yet it pulled at her all the same, like déjà vu, grasping for the memory.

Then, he ducked his head, his lips against her ear, "Why do you always run from me Sydney?" And why could she never run far enough was her question. She squirmed against him, trying to get free. "You love me Sydney; remember you told me you loved me." He kissed her again, licking the blood from her lip and she was trying not to cry when he looked into her eyes. "You remember that don't you?"

Compulsion.

All her fear fell away, she was aware of her arms falling to her sides, no longer resisting him, she was aware of the grin that was appearing on her own face but she could do nothing to fight it as her mind was pushed aside by his and he took control of her. "Yes," she breathed and he smiled at her, it was her who kissed him this time.

Sydney's mind was trapped in a fog as he pressed his mouth against her jaw, her neck, down to her pulse where he paused.

His compulsion didn't stop her from feeling the agony as his teeth sunk into her throat.

She screamed.

"Sydney!"

She almost clocked Ian in the face when she woke from the nightmare, her heart was pounding and blindly she grabbed for her neck, expecting to feel blood and pain but instead nothing. Her fellow Alchemist looked her in the eyes and held her gently, his expression concerned. "It's okay, it's just a dream."

Sydney Sage let the breath back into her lungs as she took in Ian's face next to her, sandy hair and brown eyes, not emerald. Warm tan not skin like ice. She reached out a hand and touched his lips, his teeth. They were flat.

He smiled at her and kissed the tips of her fingers, "We're almost there." He said pulling away from her. They sat in the back of a black station wagon, their driver in the front, stoic eyes on the road, unbothered by the commotion in the back.

They had left the airport behind almost an hour ago and must, as Ian had said, almost be to the Moroi court. Information coming in from their colleagues was giving them further details on the attack on the King.

Sydney tried to smooth down her hair which had been mussed form sleep and clear the last of the nightmare from her mind. Yet, still fear clouded her air ways, why the Alchemists, why her father had thought it was a good idea to send her and Ian on this mission she had no clue.

He would be there.

She shivered.

As would the Dragomir princess and her guardian, not to mention Rose Hathaway. Three other people she never wanted to see again.

"How long?" she asked, as Ian settled back into his seat but left his fingers linked with hers.

"A few minutes, the drivers going to drop us off, if all goes well we could be there a while." She gave him a tight smile in reply.

He squeezed her fingers, "Don't worry Syd, I won't let them hurt you, they wouldn't dare it, not in the current climate."

He was right; things between the Vampires and the Alchemists had eroded even further in the last few months. Assisting in the investigation in the attacks on the Queens closest was in part a diplomatical move, a way to assure the bloodsuckers of their loyalty.

They couldn't know what their human counterparts were really up to.

Adrian Ivashkov wasn't drunk.

Yet.

He nodded to the Dhamphir bartender, who promptly poured him another drink. He had just left the Queens quarters where the discussion over what to do with the ever increasing risk of Moroi factions was still raging on. Frankly he'd reached his limit for politics and had retreated to his favourite bar.

He had more work to do tonight and he wanted to be rested for it. There was someone he needed to find.

The bar tender placed a shot of Grey Goose in front of him and he tipped his imaginary hat to the man and was just about to take a drink before the glass disappeared and a voice interrupted. "Can I borrow that? Thanks."

The Lord Ivashkov looked up to spy Rosemarie Hathaway sitting next to him at the bar and downing the last of his vodka, he made a dramatic gesture, "Help yourself."

Rose sat down the empty glass, and nodded at the bar tender. "Don't mind if I do."

"Have they stopped arguing already, I'm impressed." Adrian commented.

Rose shrugged, "Lissa put her foot down, the Alchemists are helping, the Guardians aren't really cut out for detective work."

Adrian tensed and as ever vigilante as Rose was, she noticed. "The Alchemists, huh?"

"Hey I don't like it either." Their vodka arrived, "but it's always good to have the enemy close, this way we may know more of what's going on with them."

"Vampire Hunters?"

"Among other things, Abe seems to think we're all fools for trusting them as long as we did, as much as I hate to say this and I'll deny it if you tell, I kind of agree with him." She flashed Adrian a joking smile and he returned it.

They weren't friends as they had used to be or as Rose had wished they could be but they weren't ignoring each others existence anymore.

Rose jumped and relinquished her shot glass for the moment as her cell phone rang; she fished it from her pocket and frowned at the called ID, "Speak of the devil." She gave Adrian a look, "Literally and figuratively." She answered the call. "Dad how lovely to hear from you!" her voice was overly cheerful and Adrian snickered.

"Liar, liar." He took a sip of his drink.

Rose and her father talked for a few minutes before Rose scowled, "Are you sure?" she asked and for some reason flashed Adrian a worried look.

Rose rolled her eyes at Abe's responses and nodded exaggeratedly, "Okay I get it, you're not the joking type. Well when are they getting here? That soon, really?" she again glanced at Adrian and he was starting to get the impression that this conversation pertained to him somehow. "I'll tell him." She hung up.

"What is it?" he swallowed his shot

Rose's expression was dark and sad all at the same time. "The Alchemists they're sending…Sydney's one of them."

Adrian's workload promptly got much lighter.

Sydney Sage had only been to the Moroi Court once before, when she'd been hauled in and interrogated by their 'Guardians' about the whereabouts of Rose Hathaway. She hadn't liked it then. She didn't like it now.

Her and Ian were dressed, as usual, like accountants, white button down shirts covered by black blazers and matching slacks, Sydney wished she had worn a skirt, the day was hot, although it was technically the middle of the Moroi night that did little for the temperature. But luckily few others were around to see them arrive.

Ian gave her a look, "Let me do the talking." She nodded, he had seniority here and frankly it would probably take all her will power to keep from running screaming from the room.

They crossed the court yard and were promptly met by a group of guardians with red collars, royal guards she knew and were then led through the halls, of increasing grandeur until they reached the Queens court.

Vasilisa Dragomir was there, and she seemed to be arguing with her younger sister. Eddie Castile stood between them vigilante as always, Dimitri Belikov stood just behind the young queen next to her husband Christian Ozera.

Ian and Sydney's entrance seemed to quell the voices, as every eye in the room turned towards them. Sydney's jaw clenched as their smiling and curious faces were replaced by fangs and blood in her mind. Ian cleared his throat. "Are we interrupting?"

"Adrian don't!" curiously that voice came from behind them. Sydney and Ian turned to find Rose Hathaway stumbling into the room on the heels of a furious looking Adrian Ivashkov.

For a moment she froze in fear, he looked the same as in her dreams, gorgeous and deadly, blazing emerald eyes filled with hate. The only difference was that he wasn't looking at her. He was looking at Ian.

Right before he punched the other Alchemist in the face.

So much for diplomatic negotiations.

A/N: Okay, so I know its probably a little confusing at the moment but all will be explained. All comments welcome, let me know what you think.