Oh boy, Sydney's eyes were the most beautiful Adrian had ever seen, her golden irises matched her golden lily perfectly, he wanted to move closer and touch her, touch her cheek where her tattoo lay, stroke her hair, the way the sunlight hit it, she was all golden, and Adrian suddenly realised he was forgetting all about Rose.

Sydney noticed Adrian was staring at her.

Fear suddenly sounded an alarm in Sydney's brain, is he looking at me like I'm his next meal? Is he hungry? Oh shit, why is he looking at me like that? I wish he would stop.

"What's wrong? Adrian?"

"Your eyes, you're so beautiful, can I paint you?"

A part of Adrian's brain screamed at him, what if she refuses you because you're a Vampire and she's an Alchemist and you repulse her? Nonsense, his conscience fought back, if she was repulsed she wouldn't be here right now.

"You want to paint me?" Sydney was stunned, he doesn't want to eat me, he wants to paint me?

"Yes, you don't mind do you, you really inspire me, and the light is perfect right now"

"Ok, not naked though"

"Sage, I am offended that you would think that"

"Ok good, where do you want me to stand?"

"Right there is perfect"

"Ok" Sydney stood infront of the window so the sunlight just hit her face. Adrian tilted her face to look out the window, then went and collected his easel and paints.

"May I ask you something?" she asked without looking at him.

"Sure"

"What inspired you to paint in the first place, I mean, I know it was Rose, but why paint, why not write or something?"

"Everyone needs their way to express themselves, painting for me is like a diary if for a girl, except not so private"

"The personal meaning for you could be private"

"As you said, everyone interprets things differently"

"You must have a very overactive mind"

"I do" he said, grinning at her. oh boy he has a sexy gorgeous smile.

Sydney wanted to control herself, part of her wanted to just stand here, let Adrian paint her and let it be over with so she could be on her way, but another part of her, deep down inside, wanted to kiss him, that part of her felt deeply drawn to him, part of the allure of being a vampire that so many girls love perhaps? She didn't know, but Sydney never thought she'd be one of those girls. Fear resounded inside, vampire lover, she was definately going to be called that now.

When Adrian was done he stepped around his easel and stepped towards her.

"Finished? already?"

"As you mentioned, I have a very overactive imagination, so I finish things quickly"

"This painting thing has been good for you" she told him with a smile.

"I know right" he reached out and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, Sydney turned to look at him, really look at him, see the way his eyes reminded her of emeralds, the color and the sparkle, and that was the moment she could no longer control herself, her wall crumbled, and she kissed him. Adrian was a little shocked, but he still kissed her back.

Jill awoke suddenly from a dream and sat upright in bed, she felt warm, happy and tingly and she knew why, she smiled to herself.