Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy/ Bloodlines.

Chapter 8- Remembering Dreams

"ADRIAN!" Sydney yelled. I don't know where I was at. The power had been cut off; Sydney wasn't in the same room as me. I think I was in the kitchen, getting a drink while Sydney was in the bedroom. I was painting, it was recent and it since my muse finally returned my feelings I wanted to draw it out. It had taken me weeks to get a mental picture and a couple of sketches, but I found the perfect one. It was a mixed of my AYE t-shirt and hers. The full back ground was the heart half on fire, then in the middle of it a pirate skeleton standing with his motorcycle on his left, his leg on the foot rest.

"SYDNEY! Are you okay?" As far as I knew no one was in the house, that this was a natural occurrence. She sounded panic, I didn't know why. I grabbed a candle and lit it, I walked into the room. She was pin-straight I couldn't exactly figure. I went to hand her the candle she still didn't move.

"We're not back on this are we?" I questioned, I placed it in front of her.

"I am not tainting you; it's called trying to mend our lines. You can simply take a simple candle so you can see." She shook her head, but still didn't move.

"Adrian." Her eyes moved they darted to her right shoulder.

"Sage, what are you trying to tell me?" I walked closer, and was going to touch her shoulder. Her voice had stopped me.

"Don't touch me."

"Sage, I am not going to hurt you." I don't know what had come over her. But I knew this wasn't the real her. She said she was okay with dating me, 'course it was twice as difficult when her sister came into the picture. Zoe soon caught on, and threatens Sydney. Any credit was to go to Zoe, anything Sydney was to find she had to tell Zoe or Zoe would make a simple phone call and get Sydney taken away from me.

I couldn't let that happened. I knew Sydney was already terrified with the idea of re-education. I do not know exactly what happens with that, but her expression was enough to know I needed to protect her from that. Zoe had still looked at me the way other Alchemist do. Didn't let up, that we work together, or that I am in love with her sister. I think that made it worst, she knew our relationship would ruin the family name.

Part of me knew she wouldn't turn in her own sister, but the other half hardly knew her and expected she would do such that thing. Plus I knew she wasn't going to do it, because ultimately she had to make sure Jill wasn't to be noticed. A Moroi- Alchemist relationship would bring a lot of attention to Palm Springs that we do not need.

Sydney just stood there, looking straight at me. I studied her body; I then realized her body was at an awkward stance. Someone was behind her, that she didn't want me to know about. I tried coming up with a plan, it could be one of our enemies. Or at least another one; an Alchemist wouldn't hide behind someone, would they? There more of business type act, hiding isn't a thing with them. I went to go touch her again, this time though I was reaching for her hand. I was planning on moving her out of the way to see who was behind her. But before I could that person moved out from behind her. It was her sister, smiling at me. It's not one of those friendly smiles; of course, it was like I know something you don't know smile or the evil smile look.

"Hello, Adrian." She moved her hands, one that was holding a gun the other a phone. Great, was she going to rat us out? Or was that she got tired of waiting for us to slip up, and wanting to see something. Her sister is messed up in the head somewhere.

"Zoe." I stood next to Sydney as Zoe moved in front now pointing the gun to my head. She moved it back and forth between us.

"Now, one press of a button and Stanton will be on the phone, and Sydney here…will be taken in re-education." She waved the phone, and left the gun to my head.

"You can't do that! We've followed every rule you've placed!" Sydney yelled, Zoe pressed a button and started talking to Stanton. I couldn't hear what Stanton was saying, but Zoe didn't let up on her end.

"Ma'am, the evidence shows that Mr. Ivashkov has been tipping off where Jill has been for weeks."

"NO! HE HASN'T!" Sydney yelled, she pointed the gun at Sydney but above her heart.

"Yes, Ma'am that was…. Well ma'am she doesn't believe it… why, because he has helped her figure a lot of things out. She can't believe he has turned on her." Sydney was quiet, afraid her sister might actually shoot her.

"Ma'am… How I led to figuring out that it was Mr. Ivashkov? Well I followed him to places and they were always meeting up with the enemies of the Queen." She wasn't going to send Sydney to re-education. She was sending me away, possible jail. I guess that's better than Sydney going, at least she would be safe from anyone else figuring out about us.

"She's right Stanton!" I yell, Zoe smiled and placed the phone in my direction.

"Behind Sydney's and everyone back I was seeing the enemy. I was tired of being in Palm Springs, I figured if Jill was to be killed I could go back home." My head fell, and Sydney touched my arm. She understood what I was doing. Everything was for her, I might be sent to life in prison. They won't listen to Jill or Eddie or even Sydney. I just admitted it myself, that's the greatest evidence against myself.

"You see ma'am?" The phone was too Zoe's ear again and the gun was pointed back at my head.

"Well hurry ma'am I don't know how long I can hold him. I've only got a gun, and he is evil. I don't know what he can do." She hung up the phone, and placed it in her pocket.

"That made her believing me so. Much. Easier Ivashkov."

"Maybe I could change her mind, and say that you had gone rouge, and Sydney was going to turn you in and you came up with this plan to show how much power you poses."

"Why would Stanton listen to evil?"

"Because she has met me."

"It's not that simple." Zoe said sitting on my bed; she waved the gun as she thought about it.

"Well, anyways it goes. It's my word against yours, and Sydney here will agree with me or I will show her all the evidence that you guys are together." She grabbed a packet out of her back pocket, it was small envelope. She through it at our feet, I went to reach for it.

"No you don't. Sydney you pick it up." The gun was back on me as Sydney picked it up and opened it. It was pictures, pictures of Sydney and me. In the car, having dinner, her in my apartment.

"These show I might be doing business with him. Not we have a relationship greater than that."

"You see, that will lead up to the ultimate set pictures. The pictures that have you guys making out. I've hid them, so even my closes sister will not find them."

"You've been spying on us?! We've had a deal. Don't ask don't tell."

"You see those pictures were before that deal. I haven't been taking pictures after that. Figure with me off your back, giving a little distance you guys would do things. I didn't want to see that." She made a face.

"I was just as shocked when I saw you first kiss him. You're a good actress Sydney. Acting like you weren't consumed with evil. I've even heard about you dancing with him at the evil wedding. I've heard you didn't like that happen, you didn't like being there. But oh! You were so brave in dancing with him. You took one for the team. OH! If Stanton only knew! All these lies! About how you were trying to protect me from being in the alchemist. Ah. I can't believe I fell for it. You just wanted to be in a place to show that you were comfortable with them. Got tired of lying to dad. Priceless. What would he think when his little prize daughter was in love with a Vampire?"

Zoe is totally crazy, how they let her in the business? I will never know. I couldn't get my mind wrapped around they were even related. They were so different, from each other.

"Oh! And you know what tops it off? You went on a date with an alchemist! You know really liked him in the end? Was that to cover your ass?" Sydney was staring at her sister. I could tell she was holding back a few tears. I knew I had to do something else. I couldn't go to prison; Zoe might turn in Sydney after I leave. There would be no fights; I wouldn't be a problem in the matter when they come to get her.

"Zoe, why?"

"Why! WHY?" Zoe placed the gun on the bed, and walked over to her sister. Zoe placed a hand on Sydney's shoulder.

"I am trying to protect you. You see him being away, your feelings might change. He could be using his powers to make you love him."

"I am not!" I said I walked a little closer.

"You won't do anything. One touch of me, and I'll send Sydney packing. All the way to re-education." She then turned back her attention to Sydney.

"You see Sydney. People think highly of you. Being brave, it won't be so easy saying you're against them. Hell I might be replaced."

"Are you trying to tell me you're doing this for my own good?" Sydney whispered.

"Of course."

"That is crazy-"

"Crazy is you loving him! Why couldn't you find a better man? You had to fine one that was closes to you. Ian was a good man, so is any human man. Instead you had to go for the first thing you saw. Are you that desperate to not be a virgin anymore?"

"He is a good man!" Sydney attacked her sister, they fell to the floor. Zoe didn't have much training in fighting, so she had the down hand in this one. I could tell she was trying to get to the gun. I raced to the bed and picked it up. Sydney was sitting on her sister's back while her head was in her hands. Bending Zoe's back a little.

"Aw, look. He wants to protect you, Sydney. How pathetic? Apparently he can too only go for the only person who knows who he is. Because hiding that he is an evil creature is a hard thing to do."

"Sydney get off of her." Sydney got up and stood next to me. Zoe laid on the floor, blood trail down her lip. I handed Sydney the gun, and found something to tie Zoe up. I didn't own any rope, or a tie. The next best thing was Zoe's shoelaces. I tied one of them around her ankle, the other around her wrist. Sydney grabbed the pictures and stuffed them in her pocket.

I grabbed a few pieces of clothing, and began to walk out. Sydney followed.

"They'll find you! And you know it Sydney! They always get their man!" Zoe yelled as we walked out the door, into the car. I drove Sydney to the school, she was going to pack and meet be in the back of the school. But when we pulled up to the building; Eddie, Jill, and Angeline was already out, with two bags packed. We both knew Jill saw what was going on, we had hoped for that. I parked the car, and got out of it.

"Sydney I am so sorry. I should've kept an eye on Zoe." Eddie said. Neil wasn't in sight, and I was grateful for that. I wasn't for sure if he would cover us up. Jill, Eddie, and Angeline sure would though.

"It's okay Eddie. It was only a matter of time before she turned one of us in. We just didn't expect her to lie about it." Jill handed me luggage, and hopper, he was back in stone.

"I'll miss you guys." Sydney then hugged everyone. One day we managed to get away from Zoe and made a plan from whatever reason me and Sydney had to run. They knew that; I wouldn't be happy if Sydney had to run and that I would be more comfortable with being with her. Plus I wouldn't let her leave if it came down to it without me. We were going to head to the keepers.

Angeline managed to get a message to her family about Sydney and me. Without telling them our names; Angeline let us read the letter. She just said we needed a place to hide, and that she recommended them. She also didn't go into depth as to why we needed a place to hide. But her parents sent her a letter back saying we're welcome anytime. And that they're finding us a place to stay.

Angeline made it sound like we would live there forever. Sydney nor I wanted that, we weren't like the keepers. We just happened to fall in love with the other. I wouldn't go in the extent to say everyone should be that way. I do believe in letting people love who they want though. The human world doesn't need to know about us. One it might cause everyone to try to kill us. That's the reason for the Alchemist.

"I've called a secret place where we leave messages to them for people who left. If they needed help. Anyways I've called my parents and left them a message they should have it by morning. They'll know you are coming. And to warn you Adrian, since Sydney doesn't have a living family, there. They might have a stand in guy for you to fight. To show you deserve her."

"How am I supposed to do that? I don't have that kind of training, they don't know my powers or of them, and they don't know where together. What am I supposed to do?"

"Adrian they aren't that stupid. They'll be able to tell. Use compulsion, besides. Once they realize you're a moroi they might go easy on you. MIGHT, is the key word. Try to outsmart them." I was ready to fight whoever put Sydney in trouble. But to fight just to show I am worth it. A little stupid. I placed the bags in the back of the car. Eddie handed me a new license plate.

"Here man, I went to get you a new one. Zoe knows yours by heart. They'll be looking for that license plate. It might also help if you get a new car." He started placing it on the bumper. I walked back to Jill, and patted her back.

"Jailbait. Keep in touch okay? Have Angeline tell you the number, call at least once a week, until we can fix everything. To let me know you're okay. Okay?" She nods, and wraps an arm around my waist in a semi hug. I haven't called her jailbait for a while. Maybe since I got with Sydney, I couldn't pinpoint exactly when though. She let go, and back off. We all stood in awkward silence until Eddie appeared, from behind the car.

"I'll get ahold of Rose. Hopefully even Lissa. I'll see what they can do about this. Maybe they can help with having them back off. I don't know, but I know they'll help. They owe both of you." I nod, and walk back to the car. We tried just having it between all of us, but I knew once anything happened. Eddie might do that. I didn't mind; hopefully it would get us out of there quicker. Sydney followed a few moments later. I handed her hopper.

She instantly changed him into the 'dragon' he was. He looked up at her, and snuggled in her lap. I drove off. I couldn't remember exactly what Sydney had said, these Keepers were. I know I had at least leave Cali. For it. She was going to take over from then. She looked out the car, watching each tree pass by, watching her make shift family become smaller.

"I can't believe we actually have to do this." She said, looking over at me.

"We've known Zoe would do something. Maybe not as soon as she had. But we can't hide anymore." I placed my hand on her lap.

"Maybe we could stop, and I'll let you drive? We could get there quicker." Sydney knew how to drive, and fast I may add. Especially if it was in face of danger. I could do it to, I mean, I just didn't know where I had to go.

We were a few miles away from the school by now, before she decided she would take the wheel. I pulled over, and picked up Hopper as we switched places. I watched, as she sped through everything she could. Sunset was going fast. I didn't think that running away together would be in this type of situation in the sunset. But I would take this sun set. Because I was with her, because this was the only way to make sure we stay together. I wasn't fixing to lose her, I wasn't fixing to go through that pain I did with Rose. I wasn't.

I ended up going to sleep, because the next thing I knew she was parking the car, on the edge of a forest. She scanned the woods, and got out of the car. Hopper was back in stone, I placed him in my pocket.

"What do we do from here?" I questioned, walking in front of the car. It was mid noon, I could tell from how high the sun was.

"I think we need to walk some in the woods. We can tell them the Leader is waiting for us. If he is not with them, and go back to the car and get our things. They'll hide the car, so we need our things." She walked further into the woods. I didn't see any auras, so I followed. We must've walked at least half a mile, before I saw one. I stopped and waited, Sydney was now behind me.

She knew I saw someone, and yelled into the emptiness.

"The leader is expecting us! We just wanted him we are here! And head back to our car to get our things!" One by one, auras started appearing. Then faces became of them. One was smiling at us.

"Ah. Sydney. Take us to the car. We'll help you get your things. You're family until otherwise noticed." That was creepy. We led them back to the car and they wouldn't even let us grab the bags. The bags were nothing special, they were just backpacks. I knew we could hold them, ourselves, and Sydney seemed to fine that weird too.

We followed the leader back to the little village they have. We got all eyes, when people saw us. Whispers were all I could here. Sydney was in front of me, she wasn't looking at me and I felt a little hurt. She hasn't really said a word since we had to leave to me.

I focused on the whispers. Most contain that it's the 'Lilly-girl' again, why she is bringing another runaway, and that guy is cute. This place was discussing, dirt everywhere. These people seem like the last time they took a shower was a week ago. Of course they didn't smell, so it could've been because they live around dirt. We walked clear out of the village, and into more woods.

He last stopped, in front of an empty cave. I looked around it; I hope this isn't where I would be staying.

"We'll have beds, and other things for you to make your house, coming in the morning. But for now, you'll be staying with my son. He lives some ways down. He wanted to be far as possible for the town. He likes his freedom. His name if you do not recall is Joshua and I am Raymond. My wife's name is Sarah if you need anything we're the people to talk to." He proceeds down a few more miles down. It wasn't until we could see the building Raymond started talking again.

"He was going to live inside that cave. But he figured if he could build his house it would mean more." Raymond knocked on the door. He waited for a response. It took a while, but someone answered.

"Josh. Your quests have arrived. Make them feel at home." Joshua opened the door, bigger and let us in. Raymond followed, standing near the door as if he would walk away when he had the chance.

"Hey, guys. Take a seat." He pointed to the old sofa, in the middle of the room. The guys that took our bags showed up and placed them near the door and walked away.

"So your names?"

"Oh, uh well I am Sydney and this is Adrian." He nods, and his father walks away, leaving us.

"Oh, great. How's Angeline?! God I miss her. How's Rose? How's everything?"

"Hey, you do remember me?"

"Duh, my father thinks I forgot. Everything, well not everything. I still remember when Angeline fought Rose."

"She fought Rose. While she was on the run? She thought you guys are together?" I asked it was hard not to imagine that happening. Plus when Rose fought she tried to do damage… I couldn't help but laugh. I have to agree –as a girl's point of view- this guy had what it takes. He was pretty good looking, and he was high up I command.

"What?" He questioned, I was too busy laughing to answer.

"He was dating Rose at the time, she was here." Realization hit his face.

"You're the guy she was talking about."

"Hold there. She probably wasn't. The guy that was with her… you see now they're together. She dumped me once she was safe back at the palace. Its most likely she was talking about him."

"She told me she had a boyfriend and that it wasn't him."

"Well… boyfriend yes. Reason of not getting with you, him."

"Well…" he said before he pulled up a chair. "Anyways it goes, we didn't get the girl."

"I am over her. She didn't love me; I thought I was in love with her. But I know realize that it wasn't true. She's happy where she is at. You should be happy for her."

He sighed and looked up at us. He smiled and pointed to the back room.

"I've only have one extra bedroom. It's yours if you want for the night. I have extra blanket for whoever is going to sleep in here." Sydney shook her head.

"We'll both just sleep in the room. We won't have you having extra work. Adrian?" She wanted to know what I thought about it. Um… I was good sleeping on the sofa. I thought she was mad at me, I just couldn't tell. Plus she tried as much as she could not have us in the same room, to sleep in.

"If okay with you. I know how you are." She nods, and he nods, getting up.

"The village will be celebrating your comings. So we might want to start heading down there. They'll want you to be there." He said walking back in with a coat on.

"The bedroom is on your left in the hall. If you want to go ahead and put your bags in there." He continued. Sydney grabbed our bags, and walked in there. She can back out with a jacket on. I wasn't so sure how cold it would get. I didn't bother getting one. We followed him back to the village. The sun was already starting to go down.

When we got back to the village there was a small fire and a big pot. Everyone was circling it. Sydney and I sat next to each other, and Raymond went next to his family. Every eye was on us, I guess the big talk of it. Wanting to know us.

They waited until sunset, to start the actual celebration. They passed around plates and drinks. Telling folklore stories and laughing. They nevered once asked, why we were here, or what led us to come back. It was pitch black when Joshua decide to leave to gathering. And asked if we wanted to leave. Sydney and I were happy to leave.

We both felt weird, being with them. The way they are, and the way they act. I get that many of them, like the way they leave the others I can tell were happy with the life they had, but that spark they wanted more. Possible pumping…

I followed Sydney in the bedroom, as she sat on the bed. She placed her head in her hands. I sat next to her and rubbed her back.

"I never thought I would be back at this place. I hated it before, why did I think I would actually like this place the second time?" She whispered, and then looked up at me.

"Because it's for a good cause."

"The alchemist will find us here. If they visit while we're in the village. It is all over."

"Why would they visit?"

"Because they supply us food." Joshua said when he walked in the door. Did this guy ever heard of knocking.

"Sorry, I just wanted to give you two extra blankets. It does get cold at night, but that bed has about five blankets. You can take one of them if you need it." He placed the blankets on the bed, and walked out of the room. I got up and started making my bed in the chair. I moved the chair close to the bed so I could stretch my legs out and not be at an odd angle. Sydney moved back some of the blankets and got under them.

The only light that had been on when we walked in was a gas lamp. Sydney waited till I was relaxed and turned off the light. Silence fell over us, and I stared off to space. I thought Sydney was asleep before she asked, "Adrian… do… do you… want to sleep in the bed? You know, that could hurt you back."

"I don't want to step over your boundaries you've created."

"It's fine." I got up, as she moved the other half of the bed down. I slide in next to her and she flipped over to look at me. The only light that shines was the moonlight. I could on see the outline of her figure, and I think she could see less on me. She reached for my hand and intertwined our fingers, and closed her eyes. Falling to sleep.

-End of Chapter-

Hello Readers. Like I said in the last chapter, this is a memory for Adrian and Sydney and will last… 3? Of HIS chapters. Thank you for reading –J.