He stood up and nearly ran over to me. Rose had made herself a shadow on the edge of a room. Lissa stood behind me, confusion hanging over her, but my entire focus was on Adrian. He gripped my arms, much like he'd done the last time I'd seen him. "It's been a long time," He said embracing me. I couldn't hold it in any longer and began to sob into his chest. Adrian began to slowly stroke my hair. His green eyes a light green; whereas, mine were green rimmed with hazel. "Oh, how I've missed you, sister." He whispered in my ear.
His soothing voice made me sob harder. Lissa's voice was soft, almost unheard. "You two know each other?"
Adrian spoke over my shoulder to her. "This is Elle, my baby sister."
Lissa's face showed a large amount of surprise. "You never told us that you had a sister, Adrian."
Adrian released me and I turned back to Lissa, but he was the one who spoke. "It's hard to remember, seeing as my parents shipped her off to only god knows where." He exclaimed. I chuckled as the usual snarky smirk played over his lips.
"Sorry for the surprise," I said sheepishly. I looked up at Adrian. "I hadn't known you'd be here, I thought you were at College."
Adrian gave me his signature joking smile. "Yes, I'm just visiting."
Remembering my strange feeling from early, I stretched on my toes to reach his ear to whisper. "She's like you, Adrian. I got that strange feeling around her."
Adrian didn't look surprised; instead, he nodded. "I know, Elle, it's called Spirit."
"But, I thought… you never specialized." I stuttered weakly.
The joking smirk returned to his lips effortlessly. "Neither have you, little sister."
Lissa's voice piped in, obviously hearing our hushed conversation. "Adrian, do you mean?"
He turned his smirk on her. "Yes, Lissa. Elle is indeed a spirit user."
Lissa gasped, covering her mouth with her hands, "I was right. The test worked." She said it more to herself than us.
This made Adrian laugh, looking back down at me, he said to Lissa. "She has such amazing skill. She learned it all on her own. I can see auras, but she can see a person's feelings and even their thoughts. It's truly remarkable" I basked in his praise, smiling. He truly felt astonished about me. In truth, it took barely any effort at all to keep the channel of feelings to another person.
Lissa asked a moment later. "That's how she knew about Rose and…" Her voice dropped off. Adrian's face grew dark, his green eyes blazing.
An overwhelming rush of anger passed through him, but he tried to calm it because he didn't want me to feel it; too late. "Adrian." I gripped his hand, "Are you okay?"
"Fine," His voice was harsh and distant, his eyes on the wall behind Lissa. He was staring at Rose, I realized. He looked back down at me, suddenly. "Come on, sis. We should do some catching up. I can show you around Court. A lot has changed since we were kids."
Lissa looked disappointed. "What about dinner?"
Adrian turned his green eyes on her. "We'll order something up to my room later." There was an annoyed tone to his voice, barely noticeable, but it was there.
Sensing that he wanted to get away, I followed along. "I'm not that hungry anyway." I said to no one in particular. It seemed rude to abandon the dinner with the queen, but knowing that Adrian wanted to get away… there was no decision to be made.
He smiled, but I could tell it was a fake. "Then it's settled. See you tomorrow, Queen Vasilisa." He led me out of the grand dining room, putting a large amount of space between us and Lissa, or Rose rather.
"So what are we going to do now?" I asked once we were safely out of the Palace.
Adrian shrugged. "Whatever you want to do. We can walk, explore, get a drink." I think it was meant to be a joke, but his tone was serious.
I laughed. "I'm 16, Adrian. I'm underage."
He shrugged again.
"Miss Ivashkov?" A voice called behind us. Adrian and I turned around; Guardian Wilson was walking towards us. He merely glanced at Adrian, turning his attention fully on me when he reached us. "I would've thought you'd be at dinner." I could tell that he'd been following us, but he seemed to have mustered the courage to speak.
I smiled politely. "I wasn't that hungry, I can always order something from room service later tonight. Besides, Adrian wanted to show me around. It's not a big deal." He nodded. I broke eye-contact with him and looked over at Adrian. Adrian's feelings were slightly uneasy, but were otherwise calm.
"Well, I just wanted to check on you." Guardian Wilson said to me.
Adrian's eyebrow rose, "And why is that?"
Guardian Wilson looked at Adrian, "I'm her guardian."
Adrian's uneasy feeling instantly settled. Placing his hand on my shoulder he said. "Well, she's in good hands for now. I'll take good care of her."
Guardian Wilson hesitated for just a moment, thinking this situation over. He no doubt knew that Adrian was my brother, but a sense of concern hung over him. The feeling didn't leave him once he began to walk away, but soon enough he was out of my range to sense his feelings, but he hovered a respectable distance away to watch over us.
Adrian and I spent the rest of the day exploring the old routes of the Royal Court and he'd been right: many things had changed since we were kids. The buildings were the same, yes, but there was a different feel to everything there. A new atmosphere… and I didn't like it. Ever since Lissa had become queen, the Moroi seemed to be split into two sides: those who supported her, and those who didn't. Even at school, I'd noticed it.
Eventually Adrian did have to take me back to my room, where I lay awake in bed, restless. My mind was spinning, thoughts flying faster than I could grasp onto them. I kept thinking: Why was I brought here? The Queen had gasped when Adrian told her I was a "spirit" user, saying something about a test. What test? I thought it had something to do with magic, but what was "spirit"? Adrian had said Lissa was a "spirit" user too, along with him and I, but that wasn't possible. How could there be a 5th element? Isn't that a human movie? There's something I'm missing, but what? Eventually, my mind exhausted itself and gave into the unconsciousness of sleep. I could feel the pull of a dream, and before I could stop it, my mind was enveloped in it.
I was in a garden meadow. All types of flowers bloomed in the earth around me. I could hear a fountain somewhere, but the tall trees obscured my view of anything, but the meadow. I reached out to touch a rose on the bush in front of me, caressing the red flower in my hands. The crunch of grass behind me told me that I wasn't alone, but I knew who it was. Only one person could make these dreams.
"Adrian…" I turned around thinking I would see my brother, but I gasped when the person I faced was a stranger. He was a Moroi, the sun gleamed off his pale skin, and reflecting the violet of his eyes. His blonde hair was slightly mussed, but in a cute way. The clothes he wore were designer jeans and a black & white flannel shirt. The smirk he gave me sent chills down my back. "Who are you?" I asked him, slightly outraged, but overly curious.
His voice was smug. "I should be asking you the same question. You're the one who brought me here." He gestured around to the meadow.
I scoffed at him, crossing my arms in defense. "I've never met you before in my life, which leaves to reason that you brought me here. Now who are you?"
The smirk grew, his violet eyes sparkling. "My name is Michael Szelsky."
I didn't say anything. I instead began to examine all the flowers. I walked around the garden, touching every single one. Moments passed between us in silence until I could feel his agitation without needing to touch him.
"Well," He said flippantly, clearly annoyed. "Aren't you going to tell me your name?"
I glanced at him briefly before continuing my flower walk. "Why should I? You obviously know me, hence you bringing me into this ludicrous dream."
His agitation grew. "I told you before, I have no idea who you are and why I'm here!" the smugness was gone from his tone.
I looked at him. "And you think I know?" I was equally agitated, but I didn't let it show. I would not give him that satisfaction.
Michael was enraged. He'd walked over to me and we now stood face-to-face, inches apart. "Well, you have to know something."
I looked deep into his eyes that were the color of violets, aka: the most gorgeous shade of purple. I opened my mouth to answer, but I couldn't bring myself to speak. His eyes were a fierce and dark purple, the sun no longer made them shine because we'd stepped into the shade. A feeling came over me. It seemed to wrap around my entire soul. The urge for the shine in his violet eyes, I needed to see it again. I reached my hand out and placed it on his chest. Then before he could resist, I pushed him.
Michael stumbled back, out of the shade. He looked back at me, his violet eyes still blazing with anger, but something was new. The sun once again lit up his features; the violet eyes were shining once more becoming the rich purple once more. The feeling within me grew immensely and I stepped into the sun after him.
We stood only inches apart and I could see the way his face changed suddenly. The agitation was gone, replaced by a softness. His eyes gazed into mine, and it was like we were looking into each other's souls.
I brought up my hand and slowly touched his face. At the contact of our skin, I could feel the rush of his emotions inside me. His feelings intensified my own and soon it was too much.
Michael closed the small space between us, bringing my face up to his. Our lips met and the world exploded. Passion ignited a flame between us and we couldn't stop. The kiss became so much more. He cradled me in his arms in a loving embrace, the grass was scratchy beneath us, but at the moment nothing mattered except him. The passionate fire was out, but we still lay there in each other's arms.
He kissed my hair as I snuggled up beside him. "You know," His voice was silk. "I still don't know your name."
I smiled up at him. "My name is…" Suddenly the meadow faded into black and I awoke from sleep. I sat upright in my bed. "Michael!" I called into the blackness of my room, but he was gone.