Chapter four

'So Marcus, you have got to tell us about the tattoo," I said. "What does it do?" I was completely intrigued, and seeing it in person made me just want to touch it.
"Strigoi can't drink your blood, can they Sydney?" I was caught off guard. How did he know this? "Well they can't drink mine either; this tattoo makes it taste disgusting to them. The question is though, why can't they drink yours?"

24 hours earlier

"Sorry Jill I can't. I've got too much homework to finish." I really did want to hang out with her, Eddie and Angeline. But what I said was true. The amount of homework assignments I had to finish before the end of the week was unbelievable. I had I history essay on Benjamin Franklin and the invention of the lightening conductor in the 18th century. Sure, I knew a lot about the 18th century but it still took time to write a 2000 word essay. Ms Terwilliger had also given me a report to do on the correlation between real magic and superstitions. I was actually quite excited to do this. Ever since I used a few of her spells to avoid being captured by the Warriors I had been keen to learn more. Maybe I didn't want to practice magic, but I could certainly learn about it.
Jill sighed when I refused her offer and stalked away. I headed up to my dorm prepared to get a good chunk of my assignments done. I decided to start with the magic and superstitions one first. I sat down at my laptop and began researching the first time magic was discovered. I found out that magic, in general, is just an amalgam of superstitions working to cause or prevent an event from occurring. This report was going to be a lot easier than I thought; nevertheless, I bunkered down and got stuck in to it. I finished it rather quickly so I read and re-read it just to make sure it all made sense. After a few little tweaks I found myself impressed by it, and moved on to the next assignment. I started researching Benjamin Franklin, just to make sure that my facts were 100% correct. Not that I needed to, of course. I was half-way through it when I decided I needed a break. I stayed on my laptop but searched a different thing. Marcus Finch. I was hoping a simple Google search might reveal something, anything. Nothing relevant showed up on the first page of results. Or the second. Or the third. Or the fourth. I was determined to find something so I trudged on. Finally on page forty–three, forty –three!, I found a single phone number. It was a cell number so I thought there would be no harm in texting it.

"Hi, I was just wondering if this is Marcus Finch?
The ex-Alchemist? I would love to talk to you, if
you could call me on this number I would
appreciate it. I know Clarence Donahue.
Thanks for your consideration."

I realised this text was quite long, but I hadn't even said half the things I wanted to say. I just hoped that he would call, or at least reply. I set my cell down and turned back to my computer. Although I didn't really feel like doing any homework now, I was too anxious to see what would happen with this Marcus guy. It was getting kind of late now too so I just decide to get some sleep.

I woke up the next morning with a pounding headache. Coffee. That's what I needed. I sat up slowly dragged my legs over the side. I was so drained. Walking like a zombie I made it to my small coffee maker and turned it on. Today was going to be a long day. I drank my coffee, then got dressed and headed down to the cafeteria to meet the others for breakfast.

Eddie was in an awfully good mood today, but Jill looked a little worse for wear. That's when it hit me. It was feeding day. I was guessing that they would all be grateful to get away from Amberwood, even if it was just for a couple of hours.
"Hey Jill," I said, "It's feeding day today, which means you get to see Adrian as well!" Lately she had been a little down and Adrian could always cheer her up without even trying.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot! Now I have something to look forward to." She perked up a bit after that.

We all went our separate ways to class, except Eddie. He jogged to catch up to me. "Hey Sydney, I know its short notice but I was wondering if I would be able to borrow your car today? I was planning on taking Angeline out somewhere, and while Jill is at her feeding would be the perfect time. We wouldn't be gone long and I promise no harm will happen to your car. None whatsoever." He seemed adamant to reassure me nothing would happen to Latte. I was curious at first where they would go. There weren't really any places that seemed 'date worthy' around here. But nevertheless I agreed. I hated seeing when Eddie didn't like Angeline, but now that he does I couldn't help but feel sorry for Jill. She was strong though, and I couldn't see Angeline and Eddie getting very serious anytime soon.
"Sure, I guess. Just make sure you are back in time for us to get back by curfew." I seriously still couldn't imagine where they would be going.
"Thanks, you're the best Sydney." He replied.

The day felt like it dragged on forever, just like I had predicted this morning. I did, however, get some time to finish off my Benjamin Franklin essay. I handed it in to my teacher, a few days before it was even due, but that's just how I worked. I had to have everything ready before it was due. Finally the school part of the day ended and I trudged upstairs to my dorm to put my books away and grab my keys. When I was in my room I saw my cell phone sitting on my desk. When did I go anywhere without it? I picked it up to see if I had missed anything. Just one text message. From Marcus Finch. I couldn't believe he had actually replied. Before I even read the text I started to panic. What if it was the wrong Marcus? What if he was angry that some stranger had messaged him? What if…What if…what if… I put my mind out of its misery and read the text.

"I don't know who you are but if you're
a friend of Clarence's then that's good
enough for me. I'll see you around."

Talk about cryptic! What did 'I'll see you around' mean? If he doesn't know me, then how? I decided I wouldn't reply. I would be seeing Clarence soon enough to ask him what this Marcus guys deal was. I grabbed my keys and headed down to Jill and Angeline's room. Sure enough, when the door opened Angeline was dressed in a cute dress, all ready for her date with Eddie. Jill on the other hand didn't look too happy. My guess was that she still had feelings for Eddie. I felt sorry for Jill; she had been through so much. I pushed away those thoughts and told myself she would be happy when she saw Adrian. I, on the other hand, was a bit nervous to see him, and I worried how he would act after we saw each other last. Hopefully things were back to normal.

Jill, Angeline and I headed downstairs and found Eddie waiting. His eyes lit up when he saw Angeline. Maybe they were right for each other. But I still couldn't help but feel like Jill should have some love in her life. Maybe that person just wasn't Eddie. We walked to the parking lot where Latte was parked and piled in.

It didn't feel like we were in the car for all that long when we pulled into Clarence's driveway. Adrian yellow mustang, in all its glory, was there already. There was also another car. One I didn't recognize. A small dark blue Mini Cooper. Maybe Clarence got a new car? Although it didn't really seem like he went anywhere. I stopped the car and we all got out.

After a quick knock on the door Dorothy opened it and welcomed us in. We followed her to where the others were, but I could have just as easily followed the sound of loud laughter to find them. We walked into one of the sitting room and found Adrian, Clarence and another guy with his back to us. They all seemed as if they were having a great time. Adrian even looked interested. That was rare. The laughter stopped and Adrian and the other guy stood up.
Adrian did the introducing. "Sage, this is Marcus Finch. Marcus, this is Sydney Sage."
I couldn't believe it. Like actually, I didn't believe what I was seeing. I studied this 'Marcus'. He had straight blonde hair, with stunning blue eyes. He was very good looking, so much so that he even rivaled Adrian's good looks. If I had to guess, he was about a year tops, older than me. The thing that stood out the most was the tattoo on his left cheek. Rich indigo clustered crescents of different sizes covered his cheek. It looked almost like a vine, the way they were placed. It was him. The one from the photo. I quickly pulled myself together, so I didn't look like an idiot, and offered him my hand.
"It's so nice to finally meet you." I said formally, as I shook his hand.
"Likewise. I was eager to meet you after your text message yesterday. I was on my way here already and I hoped I would be able to meet the infamous Sydney Sage." Said Marcus. How did he know who I was? I had only just recently found out about him. Not that there was anything to find out. My mind felt like it was going crazy.
"How did you know it was me that texted you?" I was curious so I just blurted it out. The others seemed to share my opinion too.
"Well you mentioned Clarence in your text, so I decided I'd give him a call and see if it was still alright if I visited. I read him your text to see if he had any idea who sent it and he immediately said your name." Was I that predictable? Even Clarence could tell it was me. I was a bit embarrassed.

We all sat down and there was an awkward silence for a moment. Adrian broke it first. "So, tell us more about the time you were in Europe. How many Strigoi did you kill?"
"You kill Strigoi?" I asked. Alchemists didn't outright kill Strigoi, but maybe now that he wasn't an Alchemist he did do that.
"Yeah, I do. Ever since I left the Alchemists I decided that that is what I wanted to do. I was sick of sitting behind a desk, it didn't seem like I was doing anything useful. That was just one of the many reasons I left them." It didn't really seem like he wanted to tell the rest of the reasons so I asked another question.
"How come the Alchemists have no record of you? I have looked but there's nothing." I was so curious about this question that I leant forward to hear his answer, nearly falling off my chair.
"It's quite simple actually. I delete it. Everything they had on me, gone. Of course though, they didn't know I did that. They probably still don't." He seemed quite proud that he fooled the Alchemists. I was actually quite impressed too.
We all talked for a little while longer. Eddie and Angeline had decided to postpone their date and stay with us. Adrian and Marcus seemed to be really hitting it off. Marcus was the first guy, close to his age, which he had talked to in a while, so it only made sense that they would hit it off. Adrian seemed really happy, and I really hoped that Marcus would stay around for a while. Not just for my sake, to find out information, but for Adrian. He needed a friend.

There was one question that I had been too shy to ask before, but I forced myself to ask it now.
"So Marcus, you have got to tell us about the tattoo," I said. "What does it do?" I was completely intrigued, and seeing it in person made me just want to touch it.
"Strigoi can't drink your blood, can they Sydney?" I was caught off guard. How did he know this? "Well they can't drink mine either; this tattoo makes it taste disgusting to them. The question is though, why can't they drink yours?" I was stunned. He seemed to know so much about me. Yet I knew nothing of him. I hoped he would stick around long enough for me to find out about him.

Note:
Ta Da! Marcus Finch and all his mystery! He is kind of hard to write because there is very little mention of him in the books, but I hope I did alright. There will be more Marcus in the next chapters to come. Only time will tell what his story really is. Love triangle, Adrian's new best friend or Jill's new love interest? You will soon find out!

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Always and Forever,

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