Bloodlines- After Silver Shadows- The Golden Light

This story happens right after Silver Shadows

Sydney

I woke up wrapped in a fluffy blanket in Adrian's arms. As my brain started to remember the day before a pounding on the door scared me. It was Adrian's mom yelling for us. She sounded scared or worried. I sat up quickly shaking Adrian. It took only two shakes and he was awake. Both of us were confused at the frantic voice yelling for us. As fast as we could we tossed on the clothes we wore before I got the wedding dress and hurried to the living room. I saw Rose and Dimitri sitting on the couch with panicked looks. Adrian's mother was making coffee.

"What's wrong?" I walked over but couldn't sit.

"It's Jill… She's disappeared." Rose blinked back tears.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Adrian demanded.

"Eddie called this morning" Dimitri started explaining. "He said they all went to bed last night at ten. Angeline was up till eleven. She said Jill was asleep by then. When she woke up Jill was gone. They searched everywhere but no one has seen her."

"Lissa is freaking out." Rose said as she read the bond between her and the vampire queen.

"Lissa wants all of us to meet her in an hour." Dimitri spoke but kept his eyes on Rose.

"We'll have to get some clothes first." Adrian looked at his tattered clothing.

"I got you some things last night." Adrian's mom handed us each two bags filled with clothes and basic necessities.

Adrian and I went to shower and change. Mrs. Ivashkov, Adrian's mom Danielle, made a quick breakfast. She seemed worried too and wanted to keep busy. I hoped this was just a mistake and Jill had been with someone. I knew Zoe wasn't around since she was here last night with my dad. I wondered if she had meet someone while I was away and was secretly with them. Deep down I knew it was my fault she had disappeared.

Once Adrian and I were ready to go we walk with Rose and Dimitri to the palace. I had been here before last night to help with the study of sprit and Stogri but every time I was here my stomach fluttered and I felt sick. We walked down a long dark hallway to a small living room area. Lissa was pacing back and forth. I could sense her distress the second her eyes reached mine. Her eyes were red rimmed and glazed over, she had been crying.

"Please sit we have a lot to discuss." Lissa moved to sit in the large arm chair with Rose and Dimitri standing on either side.

Adrian took my hand and lead me to the couch. "Lissa, I am so sorry, this is all my fault." The tears I was holding back now broke through.

"No, it's not all your fault. It is mine, Adrian's, and everyone in Palm Springs. Not to mention the Alchemist." Lissa ranted.

"Is it the Alchemist for sure?" Adrian asked.

"We are not positive but we heard from Eddie that she was walked out of the school with a women and man. They said they were her parents. Eddie is bringing us the video footage now." Lissa explained.

"Lis, have you tried to dream walk?" Adrian wondered.

"I tried but couldn't. My emotions are so out of sorts." Lissa hung her head.

"I can try" Adrian stood up. I worried if he used it any more he would be lost to it, but he was right we had to try.

"That would be great Adrian. You can use my room while I speak with Sydney." Lissa's eyes flashed to me but they were unreadable. Adrian nodded and followed Dimitri out of the room. "Sydney," She paused as she got up and paced a little more.

"Lissa, I am sorry. If it's the Alchemist I will give myself up for her." I promised.

She looked at me completely shocked. "You would do that for one of us?"

"Of course, Jill is like a sister to me too. You all have never done anything wrong to me. Yet the Alchemist have done nothing but harm you at every turn." I admitted.

"What do you mean?" She sat on the couch next to me.

"When I was taken hostage in re-education, I saw some things I tried not to believe. I haven't told Adrian about it yet either." I started nervously. "The first three months I was away I was held in a cell. They drugged me to keep me asleep and not be able to connect with Adrian through a dream. While I was asleep one night I heard a few Alchemist talking. They said they had caught five moroi and were going to use their magic to take down the royal court. At first I thought it was a dream but when they rescued me. I saw five moroi in the mix. The alchemist shot and killed them."

"You mean they have been plotting against us all this time." She was blown away.

"I wanted to tell you last night but with them being here and everything going on. I wanted to wait until today. Never did I think they would take Jill to dethrone you." I felt horrible.

"Well they can't. The law passed three days ago. I was going to go to Palm Springs and bring Jill back personally." Tears trickled down her face.

"Now Adrian and I have complicated things even more so; I will never forgive myself for that." I admitted with my own tears falling.

"It is not your fault." Lissa reached over and touched my hand. "Do you love Adrian?" I nodded. "Do you want to spend your entire life with him?" I nodded again. "Then you have done nothing wrong. I have never seen Adrian so happy and not being Adrian. He has changed for the better Sydney. He needs you and you need him." She leaned over and hugged me. Rose stood frozen the whole time.

"That's why he was so lost and partying when he came her a month or so ago." Rose chuckled. "He was truly lost without you."

"When was he here?" I asked.

"He came about a month ago when his mom went to get him from Palm Springs. Jill called Danielle and said he was in bad shape." Rose looked confused.

"What do you mean he was partying?" I felt my heart ache as I thought of the womanizer he used to be.

"I only heard he was pretty drunk during a party." Rose was hiding something and I knew she didn't want to tell me since that was Adrian's job.

"Oh" Was all I could say.

I sat there picturing all the horrible things Adrian could have done while I was away. I wondered if he could have cheated knowing I was being held hostage. I knew Adrian loved me more then anything in the world, but could he remember those feelings when he was completely drunk?

A few moments later Adrian and Dimitri walked in. Adrian's face was full of anger. He sat next to me but never met my eyes. We all sat there silently waiting for him to speak.

"I got through for only a second. Jill doesn't know who has taken her yet, but she does know they have injected her with a sedative. Then she was woken up." Adrian voice was shaky. "I will try again later."

"Wait if they are drugging her how can you reach her?" I asked knowing he couldn't reach me when I was drugged.

"I think it has something to do with the sprite bond." He looked exhausted.

"Ok, well at least we know she is ok." Lissa watched Adrian with pure worry. "You and your wife" She smiled at me. "Go get some food and rest. Adrian please stop by the feeders as soon as possible."

"I will go right now. Sydney I will meet you at the restaurant by the mall." Adrian left without another word or a look in my direction. I was beyond worried.

"Sydney, will you come back later and update me on his condition?" Lissa asked with a small smile.

"Of course" I smiled back before leaving.

"Rose please make sure she gets there ok." Lissa turned to Rose and handed her a small card.

As we walked to the restaurant Rose turned to me. "Sydney, Lissa wants you and Adrian to have this." She handed me the small black piece of plastic. It was credit card. "She wants you to have whatever you may need for now."

"Oh, well tell her thank you very much." I took the card and placed it in my pants pocket.

"I'm sure it will be a while before we can find Jill and end this with the Alchemist for once and for all. Until then you will be the queens guests." Rose smiled.

"Oh ok, well we both appreciate everything you both have done for us." I wasn't sure how to thank Rose and Lissa properly.

"I will tell Lissa." Rose smiled.