Author's note: Hey guys! Another computer update! :)
So, I hope I got Rose and her gang right, since I read VA 6 months ago and can't exactly remember everything about them :D
I'm trying not to feel bad because damonforever86, Sam1405, Lilietje99 and TheHappyLol (from 10th August) will be away. But I know they'll start fangirling when they see all these new chapters!
Those of you who stay, I promise to write many new chapters and keep us all occupied. I might start that One-shots series soon ;)
And new chapters will be exciting, full of action!
Hmm, who to mention?
HopperIvashkinator and CherrySlushLover - I love you guys and miss your reviews!
Totalbooknerd13 - your reactions and reviews keep me going!
TheHappyLol - you alcoholic, I'll miss you!
KeepCalmAndDream - I know you're with me, so don't worry and take it easy!
KyKat - welcome, new reviewer! And thank you for your support :)
rose - all you questions will be answered very soon! and you are lucky - in my country Mortal Instruments aren't going to be in cinemas at all! And I'll try for VA, but I'm not sure! And the book... I ordered it, but it'll be here by January. :(
Hope you all like this and I love you all! :)
After the spirit dream with Sydney ended, I couldn't go back to sleep. Why?
Well, first of all, Sydney didn't manage to tell me what was wrong, and something was seriously wrong. Her aura and her face showed that she was upset. She didn't tell me something, and I didn't know what it was.
Second, someone woke her up at 6 AM. That had to be important, and only remembering that Zoe was in the house with Sydney stopped me from going there myself.
Third, I had problems with spirit. The darkness made my mood instantly change and I felt annoyed.
And fourth, I wasn't used to getting up this early. Usually I got up around 11, and at college days around 8. Thankfully, today wasn't a college day.
I remembered I had homework. The class wasn't until tomorrow, so I had plenty of time. God, Sage started influencing me. I actually didn't want to do my homework at the last moment.
And soon I had an idea. I was supposed to paint something that didn't exist, and I decided to paint something that people just thought didn't exist.
"Hopper! Lily! Come here," I called.
Soon my monsters were in front of me, both on a stool, posing for my homework.
This was cheating - I was supposed to imagine something and paint it. I had my imagination alive, in front of me.
And yeah, I was a part of that imagination too. I lived in a hidden world, often having to pretend that I was something I wasn't. Being a Moroi - a mortal vampire was hard enough. Not being able to feel the sun's comforting heat without injuring myself was harder, but I got used to that. Being rejected and laughed at by those same vampires I was supposed to belong with was another difficulty. I never liked school because I was different from others. I had big, green eyes and I could see colors around people. I had major headaches when I was a kid and had mood changes.
While others played sports, I was visiting doctors and looking at my parents' faces - mom's worried and dad's disappointed looks. I dreamed about things that became real. I didn't know and I wasn't able to heal until Lissa showed me how. And I could and did live with the fact that I was weird... But what hurt the most was being constantly looked at with pity after my teachers realised I wasn't going to specialize. And that pity ever since, made me so angry. Everyone "handled" me only because I had money and because of my royalty status. No girl ever, not even Rose, cared for me because of me, because of who I was. Even Rose cared only for my money.
And then Sydney happened. I thought my good looks, my sarcasm, my wealth or royalty status would get her to love me. I really counted on those things. But when I met her, all those things flew out the window. She knew exactly what she wanted to see. She wanted to see what was beneath my shields. Without even trying, she just broke them all. And in the end, she fell in love with what was underneath. In front of her, I didn't have to pretend to be something I wasn't. She just took all of me and dealt with it. And she never treated me like a child. Rose treated me as if she was superior. Everyone did, except for my flame in the dark.
Soon my homework was done.
On the canvas were Hopper on the left side, brown like Sydney's eyes, and on the right side stood Lily, watching Hopper with adoration. I noticed how they were bigger now - they were still little dragons, but they weren't babies anymore.
Without even thinking, I added the most beautiful face on Earth above them, smiling and looking at them motherly. A little bit of purple here and there, blonde hair that I was never able to capture perfectly and my signature, and the picture was done.
Hopper and Lily just climbed into my lap, smiling, when my phone started ringing.
Unknown caller. "Yeah?" I answered carefully, hoping this wasn't my dad, but Sage.
"Adrian," a familiar voice said. "Where are you?"
I raised an eyebrow. I definitely wasn't expecting this person. "Rose? Why do you sound like you've been running?"
Rose growled. "Are you in Palm Springs?"
"Yeah," I answered after a second, remembering she knew about Jill. I didn't have to pretend I was in LA.
She sighed in relief. "Thank God. I need you to come to the airport. Now."
"What?" I almost yelled. Lowering my voice a bit, I said, "Are you crazy? It's not even 7 AM yet!"
Rose sighed again, starting to sound annoyed. "Please, Adrian. I called Sydney and she said you're the only one with a car." She paused for a second and told in a lower voice, "And Lissa is here with me. She is the queen, after all."
Now it was my turn to sigh. "Okay," I simply said. Lissa was my friend and the Moroi queen. I was supposed to be loyal to her or something. Rose played her cards wisely, knowing I had to obey.
"And bring Sydney," Rose shouted a moment before I shut her off.
So yes, Adrian Ivashkov was driving his Mustang at 7 AM, going to pick his girlfriend up before they went to his ex. Magnificent.
When I pulled up at Clarence's, Sydney was standing with Zoe. In that moment, I couldn't see anything that connected them except for their golden lilies.
"But it is the queen!" I heard Zoe say, her face flushed and her hands above her head.
"Listen to me now," Sydney said coldly, putting her hands on her hips, "You are going to stay here and prepare the house for them." Sydney's voice became soft. "I need you to help me, Zoe, and if you go with me, you won't be able to."
Zoe's Alchemist mask melted as she looked into her sister's eyes. She was wearing a beige skirt with a white button-up shirt, while Sydney wore an indigo (and I noticed, longer) skirt and a grey button-up shirt with an indigo flower on the left side. As the wind rustled her hair, I realised that she was never as beautiful as she was now. Defying all laws, but still being soft to her sister. Being a good girl, but still managing to look like a dangerous woman. An 18-year-old, but responsible for other people. A human, but also an angel.
As if she could hear my thoughts, Sydney turned towards me and her gaze melted all other thoughts. She was beautiful, and she was mine. She cared about me and I cared about her. We'd die for each other.
A silent conversation of loving words passed between us during a second and Sydney turned and hugged a confused Zoe.
"Good luck," Zoe whispered while Sydney said, "Thank you."
And in a moment, Sydney was sitting in my car, distracting me with that skirt.
Sydney rolled her eyes at me. "It's decent, and it still distracts you. How is that possible?" she asked, teasing me.
I smirked. "When it comes to you, nothing is impossible."
We both smiled and it was silent in the car until I spoke. "You didn't finish that sentence in the spirit dream."
Sydney sighed and turned her head away from me, as if she was looking at something outside. A quick glance at her aura showed that she was afraid and deeply worried about something.
"Can we just have this conversation later?" Sydney said, her voice trembling.
She wasn't the type that ran away from things and prolonged them.
"Just tell me what happened!" I said, my voice rising. I fought the urge to kick something. "You know you can trust me."
Sydney was silent for another moment, watching me change shifts. "It's about blood," she finally whispered. "My blood."
I frowned. "Did Abe try..." I started, but Sydney interrupted me.
"No. Adrian, please just wait a little longer. Please." she whispered, her voice barely audible, her eyes closing.
I took her hand and squeezed it gently. I was so worried about her, but I knew I shouldn't push it. I could wait that much for her. "Just a little longer," I carefully said.
And then I noticed that we were at the airport. Rose was coming towards the car, all in black, glorifying, her hair rustling on the wind. I quickly pulled my hand away and Sydney made a hurt expression, obviously thinking I did it because of Rose.
"Do you want to tell them?" I whispered, even though they couldn't hear us.
Realisation hit her eyes and she shook her head.
Lissa was walking, her hand in Christian's arm. She was laughing at something he said and only the crown was missing - she looked like a real queen with her neat blonde hair and her light green dress. Christian wore a navy blue shirt and a pair of black trousers. He looked like his usual pyromaniac self and his eyes were full of adoration for Lissa.
Then I noticed Dimitri behind them, surveying their surroundings. I thought Rose looked dangerous, but compared to him she looked like a child. His long hair was in a ponytail and with that black duster he looked deadly, but a bit old-fashioned too. I didn't feel jealous anymore, and the feeling was wonderful.
Sydney was already getting out and I followed her lead. She ran towards Rose and hugged her. That meant that she definitely didn't mind her being dhampir, and I smiled.
"You don't look a day older than 15," Christian said and smirked. I was satisfied with that awkward hug men share, and laughing, I hugged Lissa and picked her up from the ground.
She squeaked and we both laughed. I heard Rose saying something like "prettier" to Sydney and she blushed.
Dimitri came closer to me and started to say something, but I stopped him by hugging him. Yeah, that was awkward. He was so shocked that I started chuckling.
"I'm... glad to see you too, Adrian," Dimitri stammered. I nodded at him and then I stopped in track.
Rose was coming towards me, and she was very nervous.
"Adrian," she said in a very high tone.
"Rose," I said grinning and I saw Sydney smile too, behind Rose.
Rose raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her hips. She looked at me from her height, and she was hilarious, so I started laughing.
"Over me, huh?" she said. "I didn't believe it when Dimitri told me."
I shook my head. "What, you thought I'd be stuck on you forever?"
Rose crossed her arms over her chest and turned away. "No," she said quietly. "That's good for you."
Dimitri started laughing and pulled her into an embrace. "Roza," he said gently. "Not very guy can be in love with you."
They started walking away and I heard Rose say, "But Dimitri, I want to know who she is! Why didn't he ask me?"
I raised an eyebrow. How did Rose know that I was in love with someone else? She couldn't know it was Sydney...
Sydney's voice stopped the train of my thoughts. "Queen Vasilisa," she said in her business-like tone. "I am very honoured to be able to meet you." She bowed in front of Lissa. I couldn't believe it.
Christian couldn't either. "If she calls me 'Lord Ozera', I am going to arrest her." he said and I started laughing.
"Sydney," I gently said and she turned her head towards me. Lissa was looking at her like she was a cute puppy. She kind of looked like a lost puppy, and I fought the urge to put my arm around her waist and introduce her properly.
"You don't have to be formal." I said and shook my head.
Sydney's eyes widened and she started to say, "But- Adrian- The queen-"
One look at her and she stopped talking.
"You can call me Lissa," Lissa said gently and touched Sydney's arm. Christian raised an eyebrow when she didn't react and muttered, "Well, she's a tough one."
Lissa turned towards me. "I heard of your dance at Sonya's wedding. I think it's so romantic!" She started jumping around.
Sydney and I froze. When Christian saw Sydney's horrified expression, he smirked. "Maybe not so tough," he muttered and I punched him in the arm.
"Hey! What was that for?" he said.
"Shush, pyro," I said through a laugh.
"That was..." Sydney started, seeing Lissa's expectation of elaboration.
"Forced, Lissa," I said and sighed. "I apologized, like, a million times."
Sydney smiled. "Apology accepted. Thank God, I didn't have problems with my superiors."
"They really hate us that much?" Lissa asked.
Sydney just nodded. I sent her a warm look, trying to tell her that these guys were my friends and that she could be more at ease with them.
Christian started asking Sydney something about fire users and Lissa asked about Jill, so I tuned them out.
I could hear Dimitri saying to Rose, "Roza, aren't you happy that he is happy? Do you remember how he was after you broke his heart?"
Well, that was more interesting even than Sydney talking about Clarence taking naps every afternoon.
"I just want to know, Dimitri. If she is some uptight Moroi, like I'd expect..."
"What, Roza?" Dimitri said in a serious voice. "I don't understand what is your problem. Why do you care so much?"
"Jill was very mysterious on the phone. Something weird is going on. I can smell t from a mile away." Rose said harshly.
"Or you are just jealous," Dimitri simply said.
"I'm not!" Rose said in a tone that, I was sure, even Sydney could hear. "I'm just worried. If he uses that girl, or if that girl uses him like I did... I'd never be able to forgive myself."
Dimitri sighed. "Roza. Don't blame yourself. Let Adrian live his life."
"But I need to take care of him! He is naive and... a child." Ouch. That hurt.
Rose and Dimitri came back after that, and Rose was looking very angry.
"Sydney," she said and Sydney immediately turned towards her. "I need you to find us all a place to live at."
"You are going to live here?" Sydney said, startled.
"Yes, for a while." Rose said harshly and Sydney immediately turned all business-like again.
"We have two rooms at Clarence's. I guess Christian and Lissa could sleep in one room, but if you want to guard them both, I'd suggest for Dimitri to sleep with Christian."
Rose nodded and then I noticed many bags behind them.
"Oh my God. How is everything going to fit in my car?" I said and put my hands on my temples.
"Poor Ivashkinator," Sydney said and a moment later realised what she said. Everyone was looking at her with widened eyes.
"What?" Rose said. "You named a car? And his name is... hybrid of his," and she turned towards me, "surname? What the hell?"
Sydney was blood-red by then. "Well, it's his car, after all.." she said quietly.
"Sydney loves cars," I said quickly, trying to direct all attention towards myself. "In another life, she'd be a mechanic."
"Well, she is definitely an interesting Alchemist," Christian said.
Sydney sighed in relief, but Rose watched her with narrowed eyes. "So," she said slowly. "You two hang out or what?"
"Yes," I said in the same time Sydney said, "No."
We looked at each other and I said, "Actually," while Sydney said, "It's not..."
Sydney put her hand over her mouth and nodded at me.
"We are business associates or something," I said dumbly.
"Or something," Rose echoed.
How the hell were we going to keep our relationship a secret?
