Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Academy/Bloodlines world or its characters.
Sorry for taking so long to post the previous chapter. I have been experiencing a bit of writer's block since my grandfather past away. But I hope I didn't disappoint too much. Thank you again…
I dedicate this chapter to CherrySlushLover. Thank you for your Adrian advice. It was very helpful!
My beautiful Sydney started to stir after what seemed like a lifetime of waiting. "Sleeping Beauty's about to wake up." I said to the crowd that was hovering above us.
"How do you know?" One of the girls asked. I think she said her name was Kristen.
"I could feel her twitch." I lied. I couldn't really tell this human that I sensed it Sydney's aura, but it would have been interesting to see how the humans reacted.
"You said you were Sydney's brother?" The girl that introduced herself as Julia asked.
"Yup, that's me, Sydney's brother, Adrian Melrose." I said holding out my hand. I wish I could tell them the truth. I wish I could be honest and open to the world and write it in the stars that I was Sydney's love and she was the reason for my existence.
"You have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen." Julia said again. "Now I see the family resemblance. I was starting to believe that Jill was adopted or a half-sister, or something."
"Oh yeah, my dad had an affair with my mom then paid her off to keep quiet." Jill droned sarcastically as she and Neil joined the party. I had to give her credit for that one.
"Jill's not being serious." Eddie amended immediately. I looked up to see jealousy flooding Eddie's aura. I looked over to see Jill spaced out, staring noticeably at Eddie. So, she too could see what I could, poor guy. Jill scowled at me then proceeded to stand next to Eddie. The look they gave each other, said legions but they both were so completely blind towards each other's feelings.
"Jill's trying out for the lead Comedian role in this family." I added smugly. I was beginning to think my sardonic yet very clever nature was rubbing off on our little Dragomir Jr.
"The competition's rigged." Jill muttered. "Adrian wins every year even though he's really not that funny."
"Who needs to be with a gorgeous face like that?" Julia whispered in Kristen's ear. Of course our vampire hearing kicked in.
"I am a very funny guy, Jailbait. It just comes naturally." I said choosing not to comment on Julia's gorgeous face remark.
"Maybe in an alternate reality." Eddie said and Jill smiled. I had a really witty equip ready in my head but Kristen spoke before I could.
"So do you have a boyfriend, Mr. Melrose?" Jill and Eddie locked eyes and smiled but I didn't see the humor in this. I could not tell Sydney's two best human friends about us. An aura spike caught my eye and looked down to see the colors of jealousy and irritation mixed into Sydney's aura. So Sleeping Beauty was finally awake but totally faking it right now.
"Sorry girls but Adrian has a girlfriend." Jill answered for me. I looked up to see her giving me the quit-pissing-off-Sydney look. She evidently saw Sydney's aura spike through my eyes.
"Are you sure you have a girlfriend?" Julia asked allusively. I could tell now that Sydney really wasn't happy and the last thing she needed worry about was this.
"Sorry Ladies. I'm off the market." I said earnestly. I brushed the loose strains of hair away from Sydney's eyes. "C'mon Sage, you can open your eyes now." She knew I knew she was awake. I smiled as her eyes fluttered open. Everyone came crashing down smothering both Sydney and I.
"What happened?" She asked looking from face to face. She wasn't remotely surprised to see Kristen and Julia but she did a good job pretending. "What are you doing here?"
"We were walking to the car when we saw you fall so we rushed over here to make sure you were alright." Kristen replied.
"You collapsed Sydney." Jill divulged the information Sydney requested. "Are you feeling any better now?" Sydney tried to stand but five pairs of hands kept her down.
"Just stay down for a sec, Sage." I put both my hands on her shoulders gently restraining her.
"Actually, she should probably sit up with her head between her knees." Neil instructed. I rolled my eyes. Who have this little guard dog any permission to speak?
"Why don't you go run around in a circle?" I said to Neil, referring to a perimeter search. I wonder if he even got the hint. Jill shifted to whisper in Neil's ear. He nodded once to her and walked off in the direction of the outer quadrant. She then turned and winked at me. I smiled back.
"You guys, I'm fine. Stop worrying about me."
"You just fainted, Sage. We are permitted to worry about you." I argued. Same old Sydney Sage, always wants to be strong for everyone and never wanting to show weakness. I loved her for that but I wished she would just take care of herself for once.
"Adrian, I just had a simple vasovagal attack. It's nothing really." Sydney argued back. That maybe the case but I still wanted any reason to have her in my lap. Wait…what? What the hell is a vasovagal attack?
"A what?" Julia inquired with a smile.
"A vasovagal attack." She said again. She said as if that was going to clear everything up. "I just had a brief drop in blood pressure causing reduced circulation to my brain, hence, the temporary loss of consciousness."
"Yeah, that certainly sounds like nothing. Thanks for clearing things up Sage." Sydney reached up and poked my side.
"Can I get up now?" I could sense irritation in her voice and I figured I shouldn't mess with fire any longer. "I feel fine now." I positioned my hands on Sydney's hips to help her up. Well my intentions were mostly to help her up, and then there was that part where I just couldn't go a minute without having my hands somewhere on that amazing body of hers. Sydney placed her hands on top of mine and sparks emitted from our fingertips, sending tingles throughout my whole body. I wonder if she felt that too. That was just one more reason why we needed to be together. "You okay Sage?" I asked still wondering if she felt the sparks.
"Just peachy." She garbled as she sway a bit on her feet. "I think I just got up to fast. I'm okay now."
"Do you need to sit back down?" Eddie asked still concerned.
"Guy's I feel perfectly fine. Stop worrying about me. I just stood up too fast. No need for concern."
"Easier said than done these days." Jill mumbled taking the words right out of my mouth. It was scary how much I was rubbing off on her.
"Sydney!" We turned to see Zoe, Trey, and Angeline running straight for us.
"Maybe I spoke to soon." Sydney muttered only audible to those with exceptional hearing. Zoe stopped in front of Sydney panting like a dog that just ran ten miles.
"What happened?" Zoe demanded with a fierceness I haven't seen before. "Did they…" Zoe paused looking around. I knew what happened just then because I've seen that happened to Sydney before. Zoe's tattoo blocked her from saying anything remotely incriminating to our kind. Sydney and I locked eyes. I didn't need an aura handicap to see that Sydney picked up on what I did. She gravely shook her head. "Were you hurt?" Zoe amended. I took big offence to Zoe's accusatory tone.
"I'm quite satisfactory. Now drop it." Sydney snapped letting everyone around us aware that she was perfectly fine and the next one to ask would probably get a mouthful of fury.
"You can let go of her now." Zoe stuttered, determination filling her eyes. She was legitimately concerned for Sydney's well-being. "I can take it from here." Her voice was getting stronger by the minute as she sneered at us in a cold and very unwelcoming tone. Eddie let go of Sydney right away but of course I had to be a little more difficult.
"Please," Sydney whispered only audible to my fantastic hearing. I nodded once and slowly backed away. Zoe instantly rushed in grabbing Sydney's elbow.
"Let's get her to the CR-V." Vamp hunter boy said as he reached for Sydney's other side. An involuntary snarl escaped my lips. Jill rushed to my side.
"Drop it Adrian." She whispered in my ear. "It's not worth it."
"Sunshine gets to help her but I, her own boyfriend, will get crucified by the religious cult if I got within 5 feet of her." I watched as the girl I loved was dragged off.
"Wow, she was a spitting image of Sydney. She must be your sister." Kristen said deadpanned.
"How many brother's and sister's do you have?" Julia asked with an angelic smile.
"God only knows." I growled. "Dad's a busy man." I said dryly and took off in the direction of the CR-V.
"I'm sorry." I heard Jill apologize. "Adrian doesn't get along with his father very well and Zoe's a bit of a Daddy's girl."
"Ain't that the truth?" Angeline added.
"We need to go." Eddie said as he, Jill and Angeline rushed to catch up to me.
"Are you okay?" Jill asked as we made our way to the parking lot.
"Sydney's the one we should be worrying about right now." I barked
"That was very inappropriate, Adrian." Eddie scolded. "Do we have to worry about you blowing our cover onto of the Zoe situation?" I was not in the mood to be chastised by inferior kid.
"I think a man having improper thoughts of a minor pretending to be his own kin has a far greater chance of blowing our cover. Don't you think?"
"Eddie, can you and Angeline go find Neil and grab your suitcases." Jill intervened. "We will meet you back at the car."
"My bags are already at Clarence's but I'll grab yours for you." Eddie said anger still in his voice. Jill nodded and Eddie took off at a full sprint. It seemed like I managed to piss him off. I even realized I shouldn't have said that but I wasn't one to admit when I was wrong.
"Make sure he calms down first." Jill said to Angeline before she took off after Eddie.
"Are you going to yell at me like I'm a child too?" I asked when Jill and I were alone.
"No, Adrian." Jill countered. "You already know what you said was wrong. Now I just want to make sure you have calmed down enough to be around Zoe. If you frighten her, you'll drive a wedge through our relationships with Sydney." Jill was right. She was a remarkable fifteen year old girl with insights far beyond her years.
"With insights far beyond my years?" Jill giggled. "Really Adrian, you just sounded like you're forty." We both erupted in laughter.
"You're alright Jailbait. I'm glad I can always count on you." Jill looked up at me with shining eyes. "I mean it Bondmate. I wouldn't have changed anything with you." I thought in my head. Jill swung her arms around my in a tight embrace.
"Adrian, I know you're worried about the darkness but don't." Jill whispered. "Once I learn how to siphon some from you, we will-"
"No!" I bellowed. "I won't let you do it. I won't let you end up like Rose did." I couldn't let my sweet Jill with a pure innocent heart go through that.
"I was there, when the darkness completely consumed Rose." Jill argued back with such fierceness. "I watched as she repeatedly bashed Victor's head into the concrete and I saw how completely crazy she went afterwards." Jill said shaking her head. "It was Dimitri and charmed jewelry that brought her back to us."
"You're not really providing a great argument." I interrupted.
"The point is that she DID come back to us." Jill stared me down. "And we have two things that Rose and Lissa didn't have."
"Inquiring minds want to know." I said dryly.
"We have prior knowledge," Jill said holding up one finger. She then grinned from ear to ear. "And we have a kick ass witch on our side."
"That we do." I said laughing. "And we should probably get to her before she turns everyone into frogs." I thought for a second. "Although, that would solve a lot of arguments."
"Or start a few more." Jill finished reading my thoughts. Suddenly I thought of court when we were first introducing Jill as the Dragomir Princess.
"Let's go join the fun." I said as the CR-V came into view.
"Hey and if you behave, I'll buy you a Cherry Slush later."
"Forget the 'Princess' tittle…You're a Goddess."