Sydney's POV

I was lying on my bed in my dorm room, wishing that the chemistry homework I'd been given today was challenging enough to take my mind of the Strigoi attack. It had been two weeks and I felt that I should have been over it by now but I could still clearly remember the fear and pain of that night. Also, and somehow slightly more disconcertingly, I can plainly recall the feel of Adrian's hand around mine. The memory came back to me every time I was distracted or when I closed my eyes to go to sleep at night,

At first I thought it was because that was the only relatively safe thing that occurred that night, but as time goes on I think that it might be something else. Something much scarier than a Strigoi. Shaking my head in an attempt to clear it, I turned back to my homework. It had to be done even though I had studied this particular subject, amino acids, about 5 years ago. But because it was so easy for me, I found it hard to concentrate easily.

The phone rang and, glad for a distraction, I picked it up without checking the caller ID.

"Hello? Sydney here."

"Hello to you too, Sage. I think that's the nicest you've ever been to me," said Adrian's voice on the other end of the line.

I sighed, "What do you want Adrian?"

"Ah, back to normal. Well, Sage, I was wondering if you could give me a lift to buy some art supplies. My final piece is due soon and I really need new paints for this painting I'm working on."

"I thought that you were taking the bus everywhere nowadays. You don't need me to take you anywhere."

"The buses don't go this late, and besides, if I paid for the bus I wouldn't have enough for all the paint and the new brush I need. Come on Sage, curfew is not for a few hours yet," Adrian pleaded with me.

My patience was wearing thin and I knew that I would give in soon. There was something about Adrian's voice, or maybe it was just the way he spoke, that made me want to do whatever he wanted. I'm pretty sure it wasn't spirit because I didn't want to puke every time I heard him, but it was still quite disorienting.

"Say please and I might consider it" I said, trying to cover up the effect he was having on me – if he found out he was able to convince me of almost anything, there would be no end to the favours he would ask of me.

"Pretty please with a cherry in top of me," Adrian pleaded in a whiney voice.

"That won't be necessary. I'll pick you up in front of your apartment building in ten minutes. You better be ready!"