Chapter Eight

A-N

Hello, lovely people!

Thank you all again for reading and reviewing! This chapter is dedicated to LeftyGeek for their awesome reviews and constructive criticism. You are amazing and I love you for giving me ways to improve my story.

Jemily 145

Disclaimer: Richelle Mead owns Bloodlines.

I woke up the next morning to the warmth of sunlight on my face. My eyes slowly opened and I promptly proceeded to take in my surroundings.

I was in Adrian's bedroom, and I was lying on his bed. With a jolt, I realized I wasn't the only person in Adrian's bed. Adrian was beside me, and he was holding me close to his chest.

The gears in my head turned slowly until all I could think was:

Adrian and I had SLEPT together.

How could this have happened? Had I Really slept with Adrian last night or just slept with him in his bed?

No, I thought. I had just slept with him. Nothing else had happened.

Calm down, Sydney, I scolded myself.

Counting to ten, I attempted to clear my head.

Suddenly, the past day's events came tumbling back: Jill taking me shopping; my date with Adrian; Ms. Terwilliger's vision; my nightmare; and Adrian and I's spirit dream. All of these events had taken place in the past 24 hours.

Sydney, I chastised myself. How could you not remember everything? You woke up and all you could think was:

Did I SLEEP with Adrian?

How could you forget the significance of that vision?

God, had I seriously been thinking about Adrian instead of focusing on the problem at hand? What was wrong with me?

I know, my internal voice said. You're putting your relationship with Adrian before everything else.

No, no, not! I'm Sydney Sage! I don't do things like that.

Then, prove it, my internal voice said. You can start by putting thoughts of Adrian aside and planning a way to stop that vision.

My internal voice was right. I had to put my relationship with Adrian on hold. The vision proved that a lot was at stake here with my Alchemist duties. Well, a lot WOULD be at stake if I didn't stop that vision from coming true. In order to stop the vision, I had to stop Jill from being killed by the assassins. Since the assassins would be lead by Keith Darnell, I had to find Keith and put an end to the assassins' mission. But first, I had to get out of bed with Adrian and start formulating a plan.

Glancing over at Adrian, I realized that he was still asleep.

"Adrian, wake up," I said, as I got out of bed. I shook Adrian's unconscious form until his eyes fluttered.

"Sage," Adrian murmured dreamily. "Some night we had last night, eh?"

Adrian reached up, and tugged on my arm.

"Sage, why are you up so early? Come on, get back in bed."

For a wild moment, I considered crawling back into bed with Adrian. I could lay with him again, and forget all of the woes of the world.

"No, Adrian," I said. "I can't get back into bed with you. We have to get up and start planning a way to stop Keith. Come on!"

I detached Adrian's hand from my arm and pulled on it.

Adrian frowned, clearly disappointed that he couldn't coax me to get back in bed with him.

"Okay, Sage," Adrian said with a sigh. "Calm down. I'm getting up."

Adrian carefully took off the covers and slowly got out of bed.

I crossed my arms over my chest. Adrian knew I was in a hurry to start making plans. Yet, he still got out of bed slowly just to push my buttons.

Typical Adrian, I thought, always trying to push my buttons even at the most inappropriate of times.

"Come on, Adrian," I said, taking his hand. "We have to start planning NOW."

"Wow, slow down, Sage. Don't you want to get dressed first," Adrian asked.

"What," I said. "Oh."

Yeah. I was still wearing the red dress from the night before.

"I would love to," I said "but I don't have anything to wear."

I frowned.

"Here," Adrian said, getting out of bed. Adrian went to his closet and found some shorts and a T-shirt.

"You can borrow these," Adrian said, proffering me his clothes.

Our hands brushed as Adrian gave me the clothes. Adrian's touch sent tingles up my spine. When I looked up, I saw in Adrian's green eyes that he felt the tingles, too. Gazing away from his green eyes, I took in Adrian's tousled hair and that smirk that both amused and irritated me at the same time. Adrian's face was so handsome that, in that moment, I desperately wanted to kiss him. I wanted to run my hands through Adrian's hair and ...

Sydney, get a grip on yourself, my internal voice scolded. Focus on the task at hand: planning a way to find and stop Keith.

"Right," I said. "I'll get dressed."

Going to the bathroom, I quickly took off my red dress. Glancing up, I realized that if I had to, I could take a shower. Adrian had plenty of shampoo and soap, and he wouldn't mind if I used his bathroom.

No, Sydney. Jill's life is on the line here, my internal voice said. You have no time for a shower.

Understanding the urgency of the matter, I quickly changed and splashed cold water on my face.

Exiting the bathroom, I found Adrian in his bedroom once more. Like me, Adrian had decided to get dressed. He wore a shirt that matched his green eyes and black shorts. Adrian smirked when he saw me.

"Nice outfit, Sage," Adrian commented. "The baggy clothes look really suits you."

I looked down. With a start, I realized that I'd been in such a rush to plan our next move that I hadn't realized what I was wearing. Baggy black shorts and a huge gray T-shirt covered my body. My dress was slung over one arm.

At any other time, I would have looked sheepishly at such a ridiculous outfit. However, I didn't really have time right now for trivial things.

"Adrian, come on," I said. "We need to talk about the vision."

Sighing, Adrian led me into the kitchen and turned on the coffeepot.

"Here, I'll make the coffee," I said.

"No, Sage," Adrian said firmly. "You're already wound up, and we haven't even started talking about our plans. Just sit down, relax, and start thinking while I brew coffee."

"Okay," I said. I blew out a breath to calm myself as I took a seat at the kitchen table.

"Well," I said. "I think the next best move is to visit Keith at the Re-Education center he was put in after the tattoo incident. I need to see what he knows about the assassins. If Keith has any information, I'll get it out of him. Hopefully, Keith will know the location of the assassins, if he's in league with them. If this is the case, I'll be able to contact the Alchemists and the Moroi government. Teams of guardians would be sent out to hunt down the assassins and hopefully, deal with the problem."

"Sounds good," Adrian said. "Wait, Sage, you told me that Re-Education centers are in top-secret locations. How will we know which Re-Education center Keith is in and where it is?"

"No, Adrian. Not we, I. I don't know where the centers are, which is a compromising obstacle I'll face soon enough. First, I need to go back to Amberwood, log onto the Alchemists' database, and see what I can find. There's not much on Re-Education in our files, but I can at least try to dig up something."

"Okay, but wait. What do you mean there's no we? I'm not going with you because why," Adrian demanded, his forehead creasing in anger.

"You can't come, Adrian," I said.

"But I can help you! I could compel the information out of Keith. Plus, we both know Keith hates you, and there's no way Keith would give you information like that."

"Yes, but you'd still be in danger, Adrian," I said. "Also, Alchemists don't let Moroi into Re-Education facilities."

"But I could use spirit ..."

"I know," I said "to disguise your appearance. But, if you're discovered as your true self in one of those Re-Education centers, who knows what would happen."

"Sage, are you questioning my ability to use magic? I'm a good spirit user. We wouldn't be caught and if I did get caught somehow, you could deny ever knowing me."

"No, Adrian. I couldn't deny ever knowing you because you're with me on my main Alchemist mission in Palm Springs."

"Well, either way, I don't care about the risks. Wherever you go, I go. So, come on, Sage. I told you I'd be there to support and help you through anything. I meant that. I want to help you, now."

"Yes, but if something goes wrong, I'd be powerless to help you," I said.

"No, you wouldn't. Sage, you have your own tricks up your sleeve," Adrian said with a sly grin.

"You mean, my magic," I asked.

"Yes, what else," Adrian asked.

"Adrian, you don't understand! I can't use magic in a Re-Education center. If the Alchemists caught me, I'd probably be confined in one of the Re-Education cells, or worse."

"Sage, we have to do this together. Our combined magic could help us succeed on this mission. Plus, we'd have each other's backs," Adrian reasoned "and I know you'd feel safer having me there."

That last part of Adrian's speech was given with a triumphant grin. Adrian was winning this argument, and he knew it.

"Fine," I caved. "You can come."

"Great," Adrian said with a smirk. "I knew you'd see reason."

"Don't push it," I said.

"Right," Adrian said, handing me my coffee.

I settled back in my seat. "You know, Adrian," I said "I need to go back to Amberwood; find the location of the Re-Education center; and make excuses for both of our departures. Oh, also, we have to get someone to fill in for me while I'm gone. A lot of work has to be done."

"I know, Sage," Adrian said. "I'm sure you'll get everything done soon. You always do. Just let me know if you need any more help from me. But, please, Sage, drink your coffee. The last thing we need right now is you going through caffeine withdrawal."

"Good point," I said, eagerly sipping my coffee.

A-N

Hey, guys. We have so many unanswered questions to deal with here. Where's the Re-Education center? What will be Sydney and Adrian's alibi to leave the gang in Palm Springs? Will Keith give them answers? Plus, who will be replacing Sydney in Palm Springs after she leaves?

All questions will be answered in due time.

So, please, continue reading and reviewing!

You read and review, I write.

XXX

Jemily 145