Richelle Mead owns the VA and Bloodlines series.
Ugh. Longest. Chapter. Ever. Okay, maybe not, but it felt like it. I hope you enjoy it though. Seriously, I made you wait forever for it! Lol.
"He tasted my blood," the recording that sounded like me said for the fourth time that hour. "We never spoke about it, but it happened. We had sex afterwards."
A chill crept up my spine as I listened to my voice saying such vulgar things. A picture of the vampire who'd done those things to me flashed onto the wall from a projector that must have been lodged in the ceiling. I pulled my legs up onto the mattress Dr. Alvarez had brought in for me recently and wrapped my arms around myself. The vampire was tall and physically attractive—dark brown hair, such green eyes—but the things he'd done to me... I felt all mixed up about him. I knew he was dangerous and had hurt me, that's what Dr. Alvarez and the other Alchemists—what my own voice!—had told me, but he was also... familiar. I couldn't remember him exactly, Dr. Alvarez said I'd repressed those memories, but my initial reaction to his photo was not fear. It should have been, but it wasn't. That scared me more than anything. But I was still healing, still purging the darkness that had encamped in my soul. I had more work to do before I would truly be free of the evil he'd done to me.
The picture flashed off and the lights, which had been dimmed, became brighter. I could hear the voices outside the door even before the guards opened it. Dr. Alvarez was here, but she wasn't alone.
"Hello, Sydney," the woman said kindly as she walked into my room. "I hope you're doing well today."
As I assured her I was a man walked into the room behind her. And not just any man.
"Dad," I said, quietly, then winced internally. I should probably have addressed him as sir. Thankfully he didn't seem too concerned with my lack of respect.
"Sydney." He turned to Dr. Alvarez. "Make sure everything is set up upstairs. I want her tattoo touched up one more time before we leave." She nodded and threw me a quick smile before hurrying from the room. Then my father's attention was back on me. "The divorce hearing is this afternoon. We'll touch up your tattoo to make sure you're ready to face the outside world. After the hearing you'll be brought back to finish your reeducation." He paused briefly, taking in my appearance. "We'll have someone help you make yourself presentable. Follow me."
I simply nodded and followed him out into the hall.
###
The trip to the courthouse was long, but it was nice to be allowed outside in the sun. I knew my father and my sister were in the car with me, but I found I had nothing to say to them. I was much more interested in the watching the scenery go by. I hadn't seen the sky in so long. Zoe whispered something to my father about me acting strange, but he didn't seem concerned. Why should he be? I was on the road to recovery, exactly as I should be. I'd atone for my sins yet.
Even though I spent the trip glancing out the window and playing with the cross necklace hanging around my neck, nothing really caught my attention until we neared the courthouse. A flash of strawberry hair on the corner. A flicker of a memory of a girl. But then the memory and the hair was gone and my father was pulling into a parking garage.
"Let's go, girls," Dad said, getting out of the car and straightening his suit. "You remember what's on the line, don't you?"
"Our careers," Zoe said beside me. "Mom doesn't understand our duty as Alchemists."
"No, she doesn't." Dad turned to me. "What about you, Sydney? Do you know what you're supposed to do?"
"Explain to the judge how much improved my life is because of you're dedication to my education. How I've gotten to travel the world with you."
"Good," he approved. "You're tattoos have been touched up to prevent you from accidentally mentioning the Alchemists or our work, but as long as we prove your mother negligent and incapable of providing for you, we should be fine, even with a civilian judge. It shouldn't be too difficult, not when your mother has not a dime to her name."
He gave a short bark of a laugh that made Zoe flinch, before he motioned for us to follow him into the building. There were a number of men and women in suits outside the courthouse when we arrived. They all had their lily tattoos covered up, just as we did, but I could still tell they were Alchemists. Dad had told Zoe in the car how they'd be there to make sure everything went smoothly. He didn't want Mom making a scene when he was granted custody. But one of the faces stood out as familiar.
"Ian," Dad barked, clapping a hand on the boy's shoulder. "It's good of you to be here for this. I'm sure Sydney appreciates your support."
Ian smiled at my father, but it faded slightly when he turned to me. "Hello, Sydney. I hope you're feeling... better. Zoe."
She smiled at him, an odd expression on her face when she glanced back at me. I thanked Ian for coming, the way Dad expected me to. When we all turned to go inside I caught sight of another flash of red hair. This time I was close enough to see it was a girl, the back of her head at least. She was walking away quickly with a tall boy beside her. He had long black hair and suddenly my thoughts were flashing to football and coffee. An odd thing to think about.
"Sydney?"
I blinked and turned to see Ian beside me. My father and Zoe were walking ahead of us, but Zoe was looking back at me with a worried expression.
"Sydney," Ian said again. "We need to go inside now."
"Of course."
Turning to follow my family into the building I noticed a thin man, a little older than Carly probably, walking up to us. His hair was slicked back and he looked nervous, but the dull shine of a lily on his powdered cheek proved he was right where he was supposed to be. Assigned to watching out for me and my family. I really wasn't sure why, but he stopped in front of me, blocking my path to the entrance.
"Sydney," the man smiled shakily, " so good to see you again. I'm Jordan Matthews, we met once before."
Despite his prompt, I had no idea who he was. Matthews didn't seem upset with me for forgetting him, though. He smiled again, ignoring the strange look he was getting from Ian.
"I wanted to wish you luck in there," he said quietly, leaning closer. I didn't know what he was doing, and I started to step back, hoping to put some distance between me and this strange man, but then he whispered, "Centrum permanebit."
"Sydney?" Ian asked, looking between us, a concerned look on his face. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes," I told him and the man smiled again before going back to the rest of his group. It was a strange encounter, but he hadn't done anything threatening. He'd just whispered a Latin phrase to me, and a strange one at that. The center will hold. It was familiar, but I had no idea where I'd heard it before. His pronunciation was poor and I couldn't help but wonder where he'd learned it, since it was obvious he couldn't speak Latin himself.
As this curiosity began to spin in my head I realized Ian was still watching me, waiting for me to enter the courthouse and join my father and sister. Shame tumbled through me. I was concentrating on things that had nothing to do with my Alchemist duties. I shook off my remaining curiosity about the mysterious man, and his even more mysterious message, and followed Ian inside.
My mother and older sister, Carly, were already waiting inside when we got there. Dad looked annoyed and Zoe looked like she might be sick, but I felt fine. I knew what I needed to do and I'd do it. Duty was important, and my duty needed to be first and foremost to the Alchemists.
Ian sat beside me as we waited for the judge. The room was big and entirely empty, save for my family and Ian. None of the Alchemists would be allowed in, since this was a family affair.
"Sydney," Ian whispered, scooting closer to me. "Listen, I don't know what exactly you're into, but whatever it is, I want you to stop. I haven't said anything to anyone yet, but I will unless you promise me right now." He looked so serious as he spoke, I couldn't help but pay attention. "You..." he lowered his voice until it was just a breath. "You know what you did to me did at the reeducation bunker." He gestured to his cheek, which held a faint pink tone to it. "Whatever occult practices that vampire forced you into, you need to give it up and dedicate yourself to the Alchemists completely."
The word vampire sent a shiver through me and I nodded. This was part of the penance Dr. Alvarez had told me I'd need to pay. She'd warned me I'd have to work hard to earn back the trust of those I'd hurt with my betrayal. Ian was the first of many I'd need to prove my loyalty to.
"I have sinned against my own kind and let my soul become corrupted," I admitted. "But I am ready to have the darkness purged. I have committed myself back to the Alchemist cause, Ian. I was shrouded in darkness, but now I am doing my penance and I will devote myself one hundred percent to my duty. The way an Alchemist should."
"Sydney?" Ian looked at me as if he didn't recognize me. I wasn't sure why. I'd purged the darkness and cleansed my soul. Ian should recognize me more now than he had before, but he almost looked startled by my assurances that I was now on the right path. Dr. Alvarez said it would be difficult for people to trust me again. Maybe it would take more than words to prove my loyalty to Ian. He looked around me to Zoe, sitting next to us. "What's wrong with her?" he whispered.
Zoe scooted closer, looking over her shoulder to where our father stood, speaking to his lawyer. Her voice was low when she finally turned back around and spoke to Ian, her fingers twisting in her lap. "It's whatever they did to her. In reeducation. It made her..." She gestured to me with a wave of her hand. "Like this now."
Ian looked thoughtful for a moment, considering this. Of course reeducation had made me like this now. That was what it was for, to help save my soul from the darkness that had lodged itself inside of me. Now I was back on track.
"Well, her attitude is a good sign," he said, but looked worried for some reason. Did he really not believe my soul was pure?
"I will continue to do penance for my sins," I assured him. "And I will do the work God created the Alchemists for. I have sinned against my own kind and let my soul become corrupted, but I am ready to have the darkness purged."
Ian's mouth hung open and he turned back to Zoe. "What's wrong with her?" he hissed quietly. "It's like she's a broken record."
Zoe shrugged helplessly, her eyes watery. Did she not believe me either? I had sinned terribly against my own people, against my own family. But I'd sworn to continue to walk the path of redemption until I was forgiven for my sins.
"I don't know. She's been talking like that ever since we picked her up this morning. Or just staring at nothing." She bit her lip and checked over her shoulder again to look at our father. "Dad thinks she's doing well, but... Ian, look at her. What did they do?"
Ian opened his mouth, but I cut him off. "They have helped me purge my soul of evil. They have helped me see the darkness for what it truly is. I am ready to have the darkness purged."
Zoe blinked a few times. She looked sad and I had no idea why. This was a good thing. Ian looked speechless, his mouth hanging open again.
"I was sick, but now I'm better. Thanks to you, Zoe. I am ready to have the darkness purged."
"Will you stop saying that!" Zoe cried, looking upset. I couldn't understand what could be upsetting her so much, but I kept quiet, not wanting to bother her further.
Dad came back over then and smiled at Ian, clapping him on the back again. "Ian, I'm glad you could make it. I know you care for Sydney, and I wanted you here to witness her amazing recovery."
Ian looked startled, but gave my dad a smile. "Of course. And she's..." He faltered and just stared at me a moment. "She's really doing well, isn't she?"
"Yes, she is," Dad said with a smile. "She's come around nicely."
"I am ready to have the darkness purged," I told them.
Zoe flinched away from me and Ian, too, looked upset. But Dad put a hand on my shoulder and smiled.
"Yes, you are," he said. "You're doing so well, Sydney. We'll have all this sorted out soon and then we can get you back so you can continue on your path to redemption."
Zoe's eyes went wide. "You're sending her back there? But look at her! You can't!"
"Zoe, I know you miss your sister," Dad said, harshly. "But this is all for her own good. You knew that when you turned her in. Don't forget that we're doing this to help her."
"But..." Zoe swallowed, her eyes flicking back and forth between me and our father. "I know that, sir. I just thought that... I mean, she looks better to me."
Dad sighed. "When you have more experience you'll understand how the darkness works, Zoe. She looks better, yes. But if we release her from reeducation too early she could fall back on old habits. We need to eradicate the darkness completely before she'll be ready to join our ranks again."
"I–I understand, sir," she murmured quickly and averted her gaze from us.
Dad turned back to Ian. "I hope you can forgive her sins one day, Ian. I know what she's done is disgusting, but I think you'd be a good influence in her life. You could help her on her path. Once she's been released from reeducation, of course."
"Of course, sir," Ian said with a small smile. But once Dad was gone he continued to look at me like something was wrong.
I understood that it would take a long while to be completely forgiven of my sins, and I would pay my penance until the day came that the darkness truly was purged from my soul. No matter how long that took.
I was ready to have the evil purged from my life.
###
The divorce hearing was in full swing when the judge, the Honorable Judge Dayton, asked the bailiff to escort me and my sisters from the room. I hadn't spoken to Carly in a long time and was pleased to see her, but as we made our way out to the hall she only frowned at me.
There were a lot of people waiting in the corridor outside the courtroom, mostly Alchemists, but the bailiff led us away from them, to a wooden door down the hall. Zoe followed him in and I was just about to join them when I saw someone standing at the end of the hallway. There were no Alchemists on that end and I glanced up to see who would be standing alone over there. And there he was.
The vampire who'd done such terrible things to me I couldn't remember any of them. Only...
"Adrian," I whispered to myself, my fingers reaching up of their own accord to touch the small wooden cross that hung at my collarbone.
I knew his name. I'd used it while speaking to Dr. Alvarez, but this was different. I wasn't saying his name as an identifier of the man who'd hurt me. I was saying his name like I'd been lost in the desert and he was water. He just stood there, watching me from the far end of the hall for a moment, before disappearing down another corridor.
My head was spinning. I knew that what the Alchemists told me was correct. For as long as I could remember I'd known vampires were evil, soulless creatures who lived on other people's misery. Their blood. But seeing this vampire... I couldn't help the sudden flash of want that rippled through me. I wasn't even entirely sure where it had come from. The Alchemists said he'd hurt me in the past. I, myself, had admitted what he'd done to me. That he'd made me believe that I loved him, all so he could have a chance to drink from me, to use me. But... something wasn't right about it. Even though I knew what the Alchemists said, what I'd said, I still wondered if maybe we'd all been wrong somehow.
This was the same terrifying string of thoughts I had when looking at his photo, only a thousand times worse. I couldn't trust my own mind. I was getting carried away. This was exactly what they'd said would happen. They'd told me I might get mixed up about the truth for awhile. That's why they'd played the recordings for me, my own voice telling me the truth as I'd lived it. They didn't want me to forget how he'd hurt me. But...
Seeing him... it all just seemed wrong. I remembered him a little, and seeing him had caused more memories to flash in my mind. Meeting him for the first time in... somewhere. Driving him around because he didn't have a car when we met. The hurt expression in his eyes when I'd walked alway from him the first time, and then all of the times after that. He hadn't pushed me to be with him, though he was persistent.
What was the truth? The Alchemists were my family, not the vampires. They must be correct, they always were. They'd helped me. But did they? I remembered how much I hated being locked in my room. I knew I needed to be there, for my own safety, but I hated it so much. It was awful in that room. Cold then hot, damp then humid. Drugs pumped in through the vents. Was that really the best way the Alchemists could help me?
Adrian would never treat me like that.
I wasn't sure where the thought had come from, but I was suddenly certain it was true. Adrian, vampire or not, would never put me in a situation as unbearable as the Alchemists had.
"Sydney?" Carly's voice pulled me away from my thoughts. "Go ahead," she said gently, motioning me into the room.
I glanced back at where I'd seen Adrian, but no one was there. Maybe I hadn't seen him, after all. Maybe this was all just my mind playing tricks on me. I'd have to ask Dr. Alvarez when I saw her. If nothing else, I was glad Carly had finally spoken to me.
The bailiff left us to ourselves and went back to the courtroom, telling us the judge would be in to speak to us individually.
"I missed you," Carly told me as we went to sit beside Zoe. "Both of you."
Zoe's eyes widened as she stared at our sister, but didn't say anything. I wasn't sure what to say. Carly hugged me tightly, wrapping her arms around my shoulders, needing no prompting. "Sydney, are you okay? They didn't hurt you, did they? Zoe? What about you?"
Zoe shook her head, but I couldn't answer quite as easily. I knew I should say no, the Alchemists hadn't hurt me. They were helping me. But some of their techniques felt an awful lot like hurting. Carly watched me work over her question in my mind before frowning.
"The Alchemists are helping me to purge the darkness from my soul and repent my sins," I explained, even though I wasn't as certain of these convictions as I had been ten minutes ago.
Zoe let out a sigh and slumped back into the bench we were all waiting on, but Carly looked concerned.
She glanced back to make sure the door was closed, then spun around with a frightening urgency. "Hurry! Before anyone comes to check on us."
To say I was startled when Carly called out was an understatement, but it was nothing compared to what I felt when Marcus Finch crept through the door leading to the judge's chambers. I hadn't thought about him in so long, but now I remembered the ex-Alchemist and all of the treachery he and his men committed daily. This was no friend of the Alchemists, so what was he doing here?
"Hello, beautiful. I take it from your expression you remember me," he smiled, then turned to grin at Zoe. "Hello to you, too, little one. Just as pretty as your sisters. I'm Marcus." He held out his hand to her, but she didn't shake it. Actually, Carly pushed his hand away before Zoe even had the chance to consider it.
"Stop flirting and let's do this already." She glared at him, but she looked more nervous than angry as she glanced back at the door. "We don't have time to waste."
Marcus rolled his eyes. "There's this thing called being polite, Princess. I was just trying to be nice before I pull out the big needle and scare them."
"What's going on?" Zoe demanded, jumping up from her seat and pushing past Marcus. Carly caught her before she could get to the door. "Let me go. Who is this guy?"
"This is Marcus," she said, spinning Zoe to face him. "He's an Alchemist. He's here to..." She glanced up at him for a moment and he nodded. "He just wants to make sure your tattoo will keep you from mentioning anything, you know... supernatural."
"They already did that. And he doesn't look like an Alchemist," Zoe squeaked. She wasn't wrong. Marcus was wearing ripped jeans and a hoodie. No Alchemist would be caught dead looking like that at an event like this, and his indigo tattoo—as well as the gold one underneath—was covered up. Zoe, looking like a terrified animal about to flee, pulled her arm away from Carly. "What would you know about it, anyway? You're with Mom!"
If Zoe's accusation was meant to startle Carly, it didn't work. My older sister just stared down at our younger sister fiercely. "I'm with you," she said, grabbing Zoe's shoulders. "I'm here to make sure you two are safe. That's it. And Marcus is a friend who is here because I asked him to be."
I had no idea what was going on, but I was pretty sure I needed to just keep my mouth shut. Ever since seeing Adrian in the hallway—and after Marcus showing up I was certain I had seen him—my head was feeling a little clearer. Or, I was beginning to remember things clearer. I was still confused as ever. I remembered that Marcus was a good man, but he was a traitor to the Alchemists. But he was only trying to prevent them from hurting people the way they'd hurt me. They'd hurt me. Hadn't they?
No, Adrian had.
But I wanted to see Adrian again, and get as far away from the Alchemists as possible. Why would I want that if he'd hurt me?
"Sydney?" Zoe said, trying to get my attention. "Come on, Sydney! Snap out of it!"
"Hmm?" I asked, turning to face her. She was looking at me with this heartbreakingly lost expression, but I didn't know why.
"I don't know what to do!" she cried suddenly, hunching against Carly in defeat. She looked completely deflated. "She's not right. You see it don't you?" Carly nodded and Zoe's face crumpled.
"It's alright," Marcus said gently. He kept his distance, trying to put Zoe at ease. "I'm going to help her, Zoe. Sydney will be fine, but I need to give her a shot."
"A shot?" Zoe sounded terrified and I remembered how, when she was younger, I'd had to help Mom hold her while her pediatrician gave her a shot. She hated needles. Getting the tattoo on her cheek must have been awful for her.
"The tattoo," I realized, turning to Marcus. "You're going to break the compulsion in the tattoo."
He startled for a moment, then smiled. At Carly. "See?" he said.
"The magic must be working," she said, looking amazed. "Just like Adrian said it would."
"Adrian!" Zoe cried, and they both took a step forward, shushing her. She waved her arm in protest. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! What does Adrian have to do with anything? How do you even know him?"
She was glaring at Carly and Marcus, but they seemed unfazed. Carly took her hand and held it, even when Zoe tried to pull back. "Zoe, please. Trust me."
"I..." She looked to me, on the verge of tears, before turning back to Carly. "I don't know what's right anymore. You're talking about going against Dad and the Alchemists. About magic and needles and Adrian! How am I supposed to trust you?"
"Because you have to know I would never do anything to hurt you or Sydney. The Alchemists gave her something to make her... well, a little loopy, but if you let me give her this shot she'll be herself again. Don't you want the real Sydney back?"
"I want you to do it," I said before Zoe could voice her opinion. It was like part of me—the part that remembered Marcus and Adrian and being locked in that tiny, uncomfortable cell—was rushing forward. I wanted the compulsion in my freshly inked tattoo broken. Maybe then I'd be able to see things clearly, instead of feeling torn down the middle. Part of me knew the Alchemists were bad news, but the other part couldn't seem to break away. I wanted to do my duty, but I also wanted to be as far away from them as possible. It was like I was becoming two different people and it was beginning to give me a headache.
I leaned forward, dropping my head into my hands. "Please, Marcus. It's like I can't think straight. Please."
When I glanced up I saw Zoe's eyes go wide, then narrow. "You've been speaking in Alchemist propaganda all day, why are you suddenly so sensible? And you expect me to trust you? When you've been playing me and Dad, making us think you're getting better when really you've been planning to run away with Adrian—"
"Zoe, does she sound better when she's talking about purging the darkness from her soul?" Carly argued. "You just said it yourself. She's not right. The Alchemists injected her with compulsion and it's making her sick. We have to help her." Then she turned to Marcus and nodded. "Go ahead."
He didn't hesitate, even when Zoe began to argue again. He knelt by my side and produced the syringe, waiting just long enough to meet my eyes, before injecting it into my tattooed cheek. It stung, but the pain in my head eased up immediately, so it was a fair trade.
I closed my eyes and leaned back against the bench trying to sort through everything. Impossible, since now I was having a much easier time remembering my time in Palm Springs and after that, when I'd been locked away in reeducation. It was all coming at me so fast I couldn't decide how I felt about any of it.
Adrian saving me from Lee and the Strigoi, or trying to, anyway. Adrian taking self defense classes with me after I was attacked. Adrian carrying me out of Ms. Terwilliger's burning house. Adrian being there even when I pushed him away over and over again.
"Sydney?"
It was Zoe's soft voice calling out to me, but when I glanced up it was Carly and Marcus who were leaning over me.
"I'm okay," I said, sitting up. "I'm alright. Much better now." I turned to Marcus, resting my hand on his forearm. "Thank you."
"This is what I do, remember? Or did you really think I was all talk, no action?" he teased.
Before I could say anything else, like ask about Adrian or what Marcus was doing here with Carly, of all people, Zoe stepped forward.
"Sydney?" she said softly, taking a small step forward. "Are you... Are you okay?"
I gave her a small smile, but was feeling too overwhelmed to do more than that. "I'm fine."
Zoe's face crumbled and she launched herself at me, kneeling on the ground beside the bench. "Oh, Sydney!" she cried. "I thought I'd messed up! I thought they'd hurt you, like permanently, and I'd let them. I'd caused it!"
I hugged her back. "No, no. It wasn't your fault. It's your tattoo. They used it to compel you into following their orders. You were so new... You didn't have any choice."
"I did!" she insisted. "I knew they'd do something to you if I told, but I was so mad at you. I guess it could have been," she shuddered, "compulsion too, but I was jealous and mad and I actually thought that if Dad knew about Adrian he'd love me more, you know? Because I was the good daughter." Her eyes welled up. "You must hate me so much!"
"Zoe," Carly whispered, sounding sad.
"It's okay. I'm okay now," I said, trying to reassure them both. "We can talk about this later, but Zoe, I don't blame you. For anything. No matter what happened, what's important is that we stick together now, okay?"
She sniffed and pulled away, nodding. "But is it true?" she asked, sounding scared. "About the tattoos?" She reached up and brushed the tips of her fingers against her lily.
"It is. Do you want Marcus to break your tattoo? So you can see the difference for yourself?"
Zoe swallowed, roughly, and shook her head. "Will it make me turn against the Alchemists?"
"No, I promise," I said, reaching out to take her hand. "Whatever you want to do, you'll still be able to do it. But if the Alchemists did put compulsion in your tattoo, then you'll have the choice to follow their orders or not. It will be completely up to you."
She turned the information around in her head for a moment before her eyes flicked back to mine, wide and innocent. "Will it hurt?"
I smiled and pulled her back so I could hug her. "Just a sting. I'll hold your hand if you want me to. Carly will, too."
Carly kneeled down beside us and pulled us both into a hug. "Of course."
When Zoe agreed to breaking her tattoo, Marcus pulled out another syringe. He made it as quick as possible, seeing how tense Zoe was about the whole process. But once it was over, my sister looked up at me and, for the first time in a long time, I could see the real her. The Zoe who had a mind and opinion of her own. I could see her re-processing recent events, without the Alchemist compulsion tinting things. Tears bubbled up from her eyes and she buried her face in my shoulder.
"Oh, Sydney, I'm so sor-sorry!"
Carly joined in the hug again, gently stroking Zoe's hair back. "We all have a lot to talk about later," she said with a pointed look at me, "but for now I'm just glad you're both alright."
I could only imagine the questions Carly had for me, considering she was here with Marcus... and Adrian!
"Where's Adrian?" I asked, looking up at Marcus who was watching me and my sisters hug it out. I hadn't even untangled myself from Carly and Zoe when the door to the judge's chambers cracked open.
"Hey, Sage."
Those hauntingly green eyes smiled at me as he entered the room, closing the door behind him. His usually messy style looked a little more styled and gelled today and he was wearing slacks with a pressed blue button down. He looked courthouse appropriate.
I jumped to my feet, feeling the strangest mix between a pull toward him and the urge to run the other way. At least now I had sense enough to know which one was real. I took a few steps, closing the distance between us and he watched me carefully, seeing how I'd react. I closed my fingers into a fist, hating the leftover fear I felt. I didn't reach for him and he didn't reach for me, but we were here. Together. That was enough at the moment.
"Are you...?"
"I'm alright." I smiled, but it was forced. I was emotionally drained right now and I still had no idea what Adrian and Marcus were doing here. "The Alchemists did their worst and I survived. But... What's the plan?"
"Just get the judge to grant custody to Mom," Carly said from behind me. I dragged my eyes away from Adrian long enough to see she was standing beside Marcus, her arm draped around Zoe's shoulders. Zoe was staring at Adrian, and I wasn't sure if she looked more confused or afraid, but she didn't look happy.
"Then we're taking you out of here before the Alchemists get to you," Adrian added. "Right before the trial's over excuse yourself to the restroom. Marcus and I will be waiting."
"What about Zoe?" I asked, feeling a little panicky at the prospect of leaving her.
"She'll be with me and Mom. You'll be safe," Carly said, squeezing Zoe's shoulders. "We'll get you both out and then Marcus will seal your tattoos so the Alchemists can't hurt either of you again."
"I don't understand," Zoe said with a shake of her head. "The Alchemists... Dad..." She touched her tattooed cheek, looking perplexed. "I don't know what I'm supposed to think."
"Don't worry," Carly said. "We'll explain. But I need you to trust me for now. Can you do that, Zo? Please?"
It was almost strange, seeing my older sister taking charge of a situation this way. Never before in my life had I seen Carly in control like this, but here she was, leading a rescue mission with my friends and boyfriend. It suited her.
Zoe nodded, looking determined. "I trust you, but I want an explanation later—from both of you," she said, looking at me.
"I'll tell you anything you want to know once we're out of here," I promised. It seemed to pacify her for the time being, but I knew there was going to have to be a huge discussion about everything I knew about the Alchemists and Dad.
Adrian and Marcus turned to leave quickly after that so no one would notice them. I wanted to sit and talk to him, to tell him I loved him, but that I was still processing everything, only there was no time. I could tell he understood, because he threw me a patient look, like he was longing to have the tear filled reunion I'd imagined for so long. Then he was gone, disappearing into the judges chambers that I assumed had another exit into the hallway. And not a moment too soon either since just a minute or two later the bailiff opened the door, ushering Judge Dayton into his chambers and calling Carly in.
###
It's stressful enough watching your parents get divorced in front of you. But it's a whole other level when your Dad is a narcissistic Alchemist and you've just told the judge that he isn't fit to raise a child.
I wasn't sure what Carly and Zoe had told him, but I'd expressed myself quite clearly when Judge Dayton called me into his chambers.
"What was your childhood like?"
A nightmare, unless my father was away on a business trip.
"Why is that?"
He's neglectful. And that's on a good day.
"Which of your parents would Zoe benefit most from living with?"
Mom. Not even a question. She could teach her empathy and compassion and generosity, words that aren't even in my father's vocabulary.
It was hard. Going against my father's will. Harder than I expected it to be. Marcus had broken my tattoo, but I'd been following my father's commands for far longer than I'd been tattooed. And I knew it had to be a million times worse for Zoe. She still hadn't allowed herself to see what Dad was really like. I just hoped that, with her tattoo broken, she trusted me and Carly enough to follow the plan.
I still wasn't sure what would come next. The judge made us all go back to the courtroom while he deliberated, and I was so nervous my palms were sweating. I kept looking to Carly, trying to figure out when I should excuse myself. Not to mention how worried I was that Zoe would tell Dad Adrian was here. I couldn't even imagine what would happen if she did. There were ten Alchemists outside the courtroom, most of them probably armed. And my dad and Ian were sitting right beside me. I didn't think anyone would do anything stupid in a public place, but all it would take is one slip up and Adrian could be in serious trouble.
Finally, after several anxious minutes, Carly caught my eye and winked. I reached over and squeezed Zoe's hand, but only briefly. Looking nervous was the last thing I needed right now. My dad would see right through it.
"May I be excused to the restroom?" I asked quietly, pulling my father away from a very one sided conversation with Ian. I felt a little bad for the guy. He looked grateful for the reprieve.
"The judge will be back in a moment."
"Please, sir?" I asked, trying not to roll my eyes at his total lack of concern for my basic human needs.
He sighed and waved me off. "Fine. Zoe, go with her and be quick about it."
Once we were in the hallway I let out a breath.
"Do you really trust these guys?" Zoe whispered as we made our way to the restroom.
"Yes."
I didn't hesitate, despite the confusion I was still feeling. I trusted Adrian with my life. And after this, I trusted Marcus just as much. Zoe didn't look completely convinced, but she followed me into the bathroom just the same.
Adrian and Marcus were leaning against the counter when we walked in. They both looked anxious.
"Sage," Adrian smiled, looking like wanted to pull me to him, but then he glanced towards Zoe, his lips pressing together in a thin, serious line. "Thank you."
She nodded and then shrugged, clearly uncomfortable. She'd never liked Adrian, which was odd because most people couldn't seem to help but like him. He even looked friendly with Marcus and they'd hated each other when I'd first introduced them.
"So here's the plan." Marcus jumped up, rifling through his messenger bag. He pulled out two thin rope bracelets, a cluster of leaves braided into the design. "Put these on. They'll protect you from the spell Deborah and Carly are going to cast."
I froze, hand outstretched to take the bracelet. "What?"
"Spell!" Zoe chirped. "What spell? What are you talking about?"
"Zoe, please," I said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, just trust us." But then I spun on Adrian. "My mother and sister are casting a spell?" He nodded and gave me an I'll explain later look. "What kind of spell?"
"The kind that will leave everyone in this building who isn't wearing one of these bracelets," he tugged his sleeve up to show a rope tied around his own wrist, "very sleepy for about five minutes."
"A sleeping spell?" I knew they existed, but I'd never come across one that could be protected against, or that worked on this scale. "We're just going to run while everyone's passed out? What happens when they wake up? They're not stupid."
"We're running," Adrian said, moving closer to me. Zoe took a small step back, toward the door, but we both ignored her. Too fixed on each other to see anyone else. "I'm getting you some place safe and then we'll worry about the rest. Jackie's actually got an idea about keeping the Alchemists off our tail once we're out. I'll explain it to you later."
"Jackie?" Zoe asked, confusion filling her features, then something akin to anger. "Terwilliger? As in your teacher?"
"I'll explain, I promise." I couldn't give her anymore right now. "Please, put on your bracelet."
Adrian helped me put mine on after I helped Zoe with hers. His fingers brushed a trail of sparks over the inside of my wrist as he knotted the rope securely. My breath caught and I had the annoying urge to run away again, when I knew what I should want was to throw myself at him and never let go. I couldn't help but flash back to that stupid audio loop from my cell.
Vampires are evil. Vampires will hurt you. And then my own voice telling me, Adrian bit a girl once. She wasn't a feeder, he met her in a club when they were drunk. He used her. He used me.
"I'm going to text Carly and let her know we're good to go," Marcus said, already typing on his phone. Adrian glanced away from me a second to roll his eyes at the comment and I gave him a questioning look, trying to push away all thoughts of reeducation. He just smirked and shook his head. I guess that was something else he'd have to explain later. "Alright," Marcus went on, "we're all set. Just hang out for a few minutes while they do their thing."
"And what if it doesn't—"
"Sydney?" A voice called from the hallway, causing us all to jump. Eyes wide, we could only watch as the door cracked open and Ian entered. "Zoe? Are you... Oh."
Ian looked shocked to see Adrian and Marcus standing in the women's room. He panicked at first, jumping like he'd seen a ghost, but quickly put his Alchemist mask back in place, his eyes narrowing.
"He's here." His voice was accusing and he glared at Adrian in a way that made me think he might try to attack him. "What's he doing here? Sydney, are you alright? I'll get someone—" He began to turn, but I called him back.
"No!" I exclaimed. "I'm fine. Ian, please, let me explain." His jaw worked as he looked from me to Adrian and then Marcus. I could tell he was itching to run and get an Alchemist for backup, but he only nodded, waiting for me to convince him not to.
"I know you have no reason to believe me, I know you probably think I'm corrupted just like the others do, but please, Ian. If nothing else, believe this. The Alchemists were hurting me in reeducation. I can't go back there. I won't!"
I could feel the press of tears against the back of my eyes. Zoe stepped closer to comfort me, a show of solidarity I wasn't prepared for and it nearly undid my resolve not to cry. Ian looked uncertain of what to do next.
"If the Alchemists are treating you unkindly," he said slowly, "then we can file a complaint. I'll find a way to help you if it's that bad. But don't run off with this vampire just because you feel you have no way out."
"I love him!" I shook my head, hoping he'd understand. But I only had to distract him long enough for my mom to cast the sleeping spell. "I'm leaving with him because I love him."
"Sydney, he's a vampire..."
"At this point, I'd leave with a Strigoi if it kept me from going back to reeducation! I can't stay here. Ian, even if you wanted to file a complaint on my behalf, there's no one to complain to! And even if you did it anyway, you'd just be giving them a reason to investigate your loyalty to the cause too. Believe me, they'll find a reason to throw you in reeducation with me if they think you might cause them trouble." I stepped closer to him, placing a hand on his elbow. "Please, don't tell anyone I'm running."
It took a long time—longer than I even thought we had, but the spell still didn't seem to be working—before Ian grit his teeth and nodded his head. It was a shock that he'd agreed to my plea. Ian was usually so straight laced. A perfect Alchemist. But when his expression softened and he leaned closer, I had the odd thought that, maybe he did actually care for me the way he thought he did.
"Do what you need to do, but Sydney, someday," he said softly, "I want to know what happened to you in reeducation. Because that... How you were in the courtroom. It wasn't an act, was it?"
I didn't say anything and he took a deep breath, the horrified look still in his eyes.
"What did they do? And how are you okay now?"
I hesitated and then went with my gut. "If you really want to know I'll make sure someone gets in touch."
"No, Sydney, I can't. I don't..." He looked more startled by this than to find me escaping with a Moroi.
"Relax," I told him. "No one is forcing anything on you. But if you want to know what happened I'll have someone explain it to you. Then you can make whatever decision you need to make. Just give me a chance to get out of here first. Than I'll make sure you know the truth."
Ian crossed his arms over his chest and a scowl appeared on his face as he looked at Adrian. "And who's truth is that? This vampire's?"
"No," I said firmly and his eyes flew back to me. "It's mine. I'll tell you everything I've discovered about the Alchemists if you want to know it, and it has nothing to do with him."
"She's right," Marcus said from beside me. "We can tell you everything. And trust me, I don't even like him that much," he said, jerking his thumb in Adrian's direction. "But it's not him you have to worry about hurting Sydney right now. So please, let us go and don't tell anyone. If you can do that, I'll make sure you know everything."
Ian looked Marcus over like he hadn't noticed him before. "And who are you?"
I could feel Adrian tense beside me, but Marcus was patient enough.
"My name's Marcus and I used to be an Alchemist." He tapped his tattooed cheek, even though it was covered up. "Until I discovered what they were really like."
Ian gaped in astonishment, but we didn't have time to explain. "Let us go, and we'll explain everything, I promise," I told him.
It took another moment, but finally he nodded and stepped aside, giving us room to leave through the bathroom door. We weren't exactly ready to go yet, but any moment now...
"Thank you. I'll be in touch soon, I promise."
Ian nodded, opening his mouth to say something, when all of a sudden his eyelids drooped and his body slumped forward. The sleeping spell. Mom and Carly must have finally cast it. Thankfully, Adrian stepped forward to grab him before he could hit his head. He placed him on the floor, out of the way of the door.
"Deborah?" Adrian called as we made our way out into the hall.
A moment later my mom and Carly were making their way out of the courtroom. Mom grabbed me and Zoe in the same huge bear hug. It was odd that Mom had that sort of strength, because she wasn't usually so strong. In fact, I never would have guessed she'd be able to pull off a spell like the one she just had. Or that Carly would have been able to help.
"My girls!" Mom murmured, pulling back and placing a hand on each of out cheeks. "Are you both okay? Sydney, did they hurt you?"
"I'm fine, Mom," I smiled at her.
Zoe was staring at Mom like she'd just seen her for the first time. "Mommy?" she said softly, burying her face in our mom's shoulder.
Mom pulled her closer, cradling her like when she was a baby. "Oh, shush, sweetie. Don't cry. I know nothing makes sense right now, but it's all okay. You'll see."
"Marcus?" a voice called from by the exit of the courthouse. I turned to see Matthews, the Alchemist who'd stopped me on the steps earlier. The one who'd said... Centrum permanebit. It was a warning to let me know what Adrian and the others were planning. I hadn't realized, but it didn't matter now. The plan worked with or without my knowledge of it.
"Your people are waiting out back with the car," Matthews said to Adrian. "The guards are all out like a light, but you need to hurry."
"What about the hearing?" I asked my mom quickly. "Zoe...?"
"The judge granted custody to me," Mom smiled over Zoe's hair. "Your dad was in there arguing the decision, but that's not making him look any better. When everyone wakes up they won't realize any time has passed and Zoe, Carly and I are going to walk right out the front door, then we'll head someplace safe, just in case. But you need to go, Sydney." Her smile faded as she looked at me. "You have to go now. Stay with Adrian and keep safe, okay? We'll be in touch soon."
I nodded, feeling Adrian grab my hand. He tugged me toward the door Matthews had come in, but I kept watching my mom and sisters. They were now conferring quietly with Marcus and Matthews. I could see the braided rope circling his wrist as he gestured them back into the courtroom.
"Come on, Sage," Adrian said softly, tugging me toward the exit.
Than we were off, quickly making our way to the double doors at the end of the hall. We pushed through them, leaving sleeping bodies in the hall behind us. The afternoon sun was bright in the sky, reflecting blindingly off the sidewalks.
The wind was strong and whipped my hair around my head and I could practically taste the freedom it brought with it. My freedom.
Finally.