Eek! AC in the upstairs of my house went off on Thursday during the day, and then the power went off during a storm Thursday night and now none of our AC works even though the power is back on. Very hot! Disclaimer: I did not write the Bloodlines series or affiliated characters.

"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."–Tim Notke

CPOV

Tate drags me around making notes until around 1 am. We still have classes tomorrow, but she's reluctant to leave. Tate has always been a bigger partier than me, but she's hardly reckless and she wouldn't throw away her grades for it, lucky for me. I'm barely awake enough to change into sleep wear when we get home. Falling into bed, I murmur something about intel to Tate before I drift off.


Tate wakes me with a cup of coffee large enough to fit the contents of the coffee pot into and a chirpy, "Morning." I groan and take the travel cup as I sit up. Stumbling around, I pull on my clothes and take large gulps of the coffee between every other movement I make. I have enough time before my first class to go to the library, so I cap the coffee cup and head out.

Once I get there, I spread out my homework from yesterday and begin working. I have about half an hour before I have to be at Psychoanalysis and the Visual, so I feel pretty confident about getting most of my homework done. The work is mostly for AP Hebrew, but some of it is for Sex Crimes, Sex Panic. I finish five pages, glance at the clock, finish two more, glance again. By the time I'm done with ten pages, it's time to go.

MPOV

I'm hacking into yet another Alchemist database when my alarms are triggered. Swiveling around, I look at the camera screen and curse when I see the lilies. Standing, I grab my main computer and wipe the hard drive of the security system before packing and jumping out of the back window. I'm surprised by the lack of warning I had about the Alchemists being in the area, it isn't a big town and word travels fast. "Freeze!"

Alchemists step out in front of me, guns raised, I turn and find the other Alchemists closing the ring behind me. Cursing, I raise my arms in surrender. Two Alchemists holster their guns and come forward. One holds me while the other removes the backpack from my possession before zip-tying me. I'm led to the front of the house and to a black panel van. I'm roughly shoved in and my captors climb in after me. "It's taken you years to finally get me into the back of your little van and even then, you had to pull in every tactic to get me here."–I laugh and am surprised it comes out more cold than nervous.–"Good luck keeping here." Sharp pain pinches the base of my neck and I welcome the darkness.


I wake feeling like I haven't slept in days, but can't bring myself to close my eyes. Speaking of eyes, mine aren't seeing anything, no matter how hard I squint. "Marcus Finch. Welcome to Re-Education, are you ready to purge yourself of the darkness?" Light flashes through the room and I have to squint to see. Not blind, just in a dark room. Once I've adjusted to the brightness, I cast a look around. Concrete floor and walls. A makeshift shower, toilet, and sink. The rest of the room is bare. "Marcus? Are you ready to begin cleansing yourself?"

I glare. "Go to hell." Two people. Two people I know got through this. Neither had their tattoo sealed. I can do this.

"Marcus, it isn't so bad once you rid yourself of the darkness. The light won't bother you anymore if you let us help."

"Help? You mean fuck with my brain? No way in hell."

CPOV

My phone rings during lunch of the fifth day back at school. "Marcus?"

"No, not Marcus." It's a male caller though.

"Who is this?"

"I'm a friend of Marcus', I'm helping Zoe with her…mission."

"Then why are you calling me? If I recall correctly, I'm an emergency only contact."

"Look, is Marcus with you? You're his girlfriend right?"

"No, he's not with me, why? What's going on?"

"I've been trying to reach him for the past three days and he isn't answering. I tried Sabrina and a few other contacts. If he's running, maybe he'll pick up if you call."

"He's not answering? That…that doesn't make any sense. He'd answer your calls if you're who you say you are. His…what do you call it?"

"Underground organization."

"Yeah. His underground organization and revealing the Alchemists means practically everything to him. There's no way he wouldn't answer calls from you guys or his CIs."

"Fair enough. What now?"

"Call Sydney, you have her number?"

"I've heard of her, but her contact info is much harder to find than yours."

Despite myself, I grin. "Yeah, well I'm not a wanted fugitive and wife to a Moroi prince. I'll give her a call and tell you what she finds. Ask Zoe too."

"Yeah."

After the guy hangs up, I drop down into the seat behind me and take a moment to collect myself. Marcus isn't answering anyone's calls. Even I know what that means, but I still have to try to see if Syd can reach him. "Hey Syd, I need a favor."

"Sure. What's up?"

"Marcus isn't answering anyone's calls. Can you try to reach him?"

"How long has it been?"

"Three days."

"I'll try."

I hear what she left unsaid. She knows she won't be able to reach him, just like we all know. "Thanks. Call me back shortly." I'm restless, my leg jumps and I find I can't sit still. It takes about five minutes for Syd to call me back.

"Sorry Carly. I hacked one of the Alch databases and found that a new Re-Ed victim has been brought in."

"Victim?"

"My words, not theirs."

"You think it might be Marcus?"

"Maybe. It would make sense, Marcus tells people when he's going dark so that stuff like this doesn't happen."

"He's been off the grid for years though. He knows how to hide."

"I know, but there's a chance the Alchemists got lucky. They're losing people, especially the younger ones."

"Because of you?"

"Yeah and curiosity. They know Marcus is sabotaging them on occasion and they need a victory."

"How do we get him?"

"Working on it. I told Adrian, he's going to see if Lissa can spare anyone. Talk to the other Alchemists. I'll try to get info on the other Re-Ed centers and, if nothing else, you have Adrian and me to help."

"Thank you."

"It's the least I can do."

"Thank you."

"Hey, you forget he's my friend too."

"You'd help anyway."

"I would."

Hanging up, I call the unknown number from earlier. "I got info."

"Where is he?"

"Re-Education."

Duh duh duh. Marcus *finally* got caught by the Alchemists. What will happen to him now? Also, more book suggestions would be great (getting a novella on Tues, but I'd like something a bit longer to read). Thanks!

R&R

Ciao