Adrians POV

We had been sitting here for a few minutes already. It was time to take action.

No way in hell would I let them take her.

Not again. That wasn't even an option.

"What are we going to do?" Sydney asked in a whisper.

My eyes wandered around, praying for a miracle.

Valuable time had already passed.

And there it was.

I saw a big sign, advertising a bus company, on the other side of the road behind the gas station.

An arrow indicated, that there must be a long distant bus stop behind the building.

I smiled. That was it. The miracle I had been hoping for.

Well it wasn't really a miracle, but the small relief that washed over me gave me motivation to finally act.

On a board a bit further away I could see a time table, telling me there was a bus leaving in 10 minutes. At this point it didn't even matter what the destination was. It was an option. And the only one we had at that point.

"Okay listen Sydney. I have a plan" I said and she visibly relaxed instantly.

"Tell me" she said and so I did.

My plan included some complusion on my end and I didn't know how well it would work, mostly because I didn't know how many people it involved.

Plus I wasn't on a regular feeding schedule.

I didn't exactly feel weak, but I knew I wasn't feeling a hundred percent either.

But there was nothing I could do about that now so thinking positive, cause what else could I possibly do, it just had to work.

Best case scenario we would make it to the bus station undetected, worst case... I didn't allow my imagination to go there.

Positive thoughts. Than the rest would follow.

"Put this on your head" I told Sydney, removing the light shawl that was places around her neck.

"It's the only disguise we have right now" Sydney nodded and wrapped the shawl around her head like a turban.

"And wear this" I said, handing her my jacket.

She put it on and tied it into a knot at her waist.

"See that sign over there?" I asked pointing to the other side of the road.

Her eys followed my finger and she nodded

"Go there, I am meeting you around the corner. We'll take the bus that'll leave in a few minutes. I'll join you as soon as possible. But going there together will only attract attention. I'll use spirit to mask your appearance..."

"Mask my appearance?" Sydney asked.

"Yes. If everything goes as planned people will see a darkskinned girl walking across the street" I explained.

She frowned but didn't ask any further question.

She nodded and took a deep breath and with one last glance she released my hand and turned around.

I watched her cross the road, my heart beating vigorously.

I didn't dare to check up on the Achemists behind the truck, to worried it would attract more attention i could only hope I had acted fast enough before and they hadn´t seen uns leaving the gas station.

So I waited till Sydney vanished around the corner, intensly concentrating on her.

Like everytime I used spirit the feeling filled me with joy, only this time it was also shadowed by anxiety.

Sydneys POV

Saying I was nervous was an understatement. I was surprised my feet were even working normally and I didn't stumble and ended up on my butt.

I never had been a clumsy person, but my feet felt like pudding.

I trusted Adrian, no doubt about that. It was only that I couldn't imagine how he would change my appearance that made me nervous.

I didn't dare to turn around, too scared to attract any attention.

I fought the urge to run, trying to look as natural as I could as I crossed the road.

When I turned the corner my heart was in my mouth and I almost expect someone to grab me or at least call out for me.

But nothing happened.

I checked the departure board and found the bus Adrian had been talking about.

I searched through my bag for money and bought 2 tickets directly from the driver and expectedly looked around for Adrian.

Seconds passed and every one felt like an eternity.

I was checking my watch nervously. Only 1 minute left.

"It's time" the driver called.

"Just one more minute" I said one foot on the steps of the bus, the other one on the road.

He sighed heavily and mumbled something I couldn't understand but he sounded annoyed.

I didn't care.

My eyes were searching around. The bus station was busy and I checked for suspecious looking people. Which wasn't easy, cause what did that even mean exactly.

Where was he, did something happen to him?

"Lady, I really don't have time for this. I have a schedule to mantain" the driver exclaimed. Now obviously angry.

A glance at my watch told me the departure time had already passed.

"Just one more minute" I repeated.

"Please" I said, trying my most sweetest smile on him.

He didn't seem impressed at all and shook his head.

Than I saw a man walking torwards me, he visibly was in a hurry and my heart skipped a beat.

They were here, I was trapped and they were going to catch me.

"Get inside" the man said ushering me into the bus.

I was about to push him away from me, when his face changed.

His blond hair that reached his chin faded away and turned into a dark brown color, his brown eyes changed into an emerald green.

I blinked, unsure of what was happening right infront of my eyes.

"Adrian?" I said confused, looking in his beautiful face.

"We have to leave" he said and my body finally turned around and I climbed the stairs. He followed me quickly.

"Finally!" the busdriver exclaimed and closed the door right behind Adrian.

We found seats at the back of the bus where the drapes were falling over almost the complete window and sunk down.

I watched him and actually had to touch him to be sure it really was him.

"It's me" he said chuckling.

I was still watching him mesmerized.

"Are we good?" I than asked, everything else didn't matter right now.

A huge smile appeared on his face and I relaxed in my seat.

"Let's put some miles between them and us first, but it looks good" he said.

He got up and covered a few more windows with drapes and than closed ours completely.

The bus was almost empty.

A few people wer scattered throughout but not more than 10.

nobody paid attention to us despite the fact that we had delayed our departure.

The bus started moving and came to a hold at a traffic light.

We could see the gas station from a distance and to my horror there were even more people around our car now. The woman we had seen before was talking on the phone and I leaned even more back in my seat, eventhough I was sure they couldn't see us in the bus.

We sat like that for some time and Adrian was watching the road behind us from time to time.

After 20 minutes, that felt more like 2 hours he finally relaxed next to me.

"We are good" he stated and took my hand. My own hand felt safe and warm in his and he lightly brushed his thumb over my skin.

"How did you do that?" I asked after a while "Spirit?" I added and he nodded.

"Pretty cool huh?!" he asked with a wink and I cracked a smile.

"Pretty" I replied and he pulled me in his arm.

"Damn that was close... too close. We should have been more carefull. They probably had a few scouts in areas we might pass. And since we are not that far away from court..." he fell silent.

"By the way, did you get a chance to check the destination of the bus?" he asked.

"Philadelphia" I said and noticed a smile in his face.

"Perfect" he said "you know if we were not on the run... I know a beautiful little Bed & Breakfast on the way to court... Awww those memories. We spent some wonderful days there a while back" he said, a dreamy expression on his face.

Once again I wished I knew what he was talking about. It was nerver-racking.

"What will happen to the car? I asked, changing the topic and he chuckled.

"You and cars is something else. Only you would be worried about the well-being of a car in a situation like this" he said still laughing.

"I'm sure they'll take care of it. And make it go away somehow" he said.

Make it go away

That sentence lingered in my mind for some time and I started to comprehend what kind of power and or range the Alchemists really had.

Traffic was horrible and we spent the next few hours more standing than driving.

The sun was slowling setting and we shared a pack of cookies Adrian had bought at the gas station before our escape.

I normally would have refused to eat them, they were chocolate chip, but since we were trapped in this bus for some more hours I finally gave in.

They were delicious.

I normally wouldn't have endulged in something sugary like that and now was torn between the unpleasent feeling of the sugar that coated my teeth and the delicious taste in my mouth.

Adriand POV

It had been 2 days since Sydney let me drink her blood and I knew I had to get more blood soon. Very soon.

I didn't want to ask her. I knew she would do anything to help and would maybe even offer it voluntarily if she knew, but it still felt kind of wrong to me.

Well wrong wasn't the right word.

It felt amazing, mind blowingly good actually and I knew she had enjoyed it, too, but I still had some reservations.

I didn't know how the rest of our journey was going to be like and if we had to fight more obstacles until we finally reached court I needed to be as strong as possible.

I felt myself getting more and more weak, especially because I was thinking about it the whole time. I hadn't used too much spirit erlier, but it still had taken a toll on me.

Plus I didn't take as much blood from her as I would have from a feeder. It just wasn't enough.

I needed blood.

"Are you okay?" Sydney asked me after some time and I realized she must have watched me for a while now.

I had been watching out the window, lost in my own thoughts.

"Of course" I said, pulling her closer to me "We just pulled a Houdini on the Alchemists. How can I not be okay right now?" I asked winking at her.

No need to worry her I thought.

She raised an eyebrow "you don't look like that" she replied.

"Is something worrying you? I mean besides the obvious?" she continued.

"I know everything is not going like we planned, but I'm sure we'll be okay. We'll make it to court and than... well than we... thing will get better" she said.

She didn't exactly say it as a question but an invisible questionmark was lingering at the end of that sentence.

I nodded. And it was true. I believed once we made it to court it would get easier. We could move freely there, sheltered from the alchemists and we would have the time and means to work on Sydneys memory loss and come up with a plan to secure her life.

My concern was the rest of our journey.

"I know. All will be fine" I agreed, kissing her hair.

She looked up at me again.

"What is it?" she asked "there is something you are not telling me".

She knew me so well.

"It is nothing for you to worry about" I said gawky.

"It's the blood, isn't it?" she than surprised me by saying.

"I'm fine Sydney. Don't worry" I replied not even believing myself. She shook her head.

"Why didn't you say something?" she asked, her eyes looked worried.

"Because I'm fine" I repeated.

"Adrian, I think I told you the last time, that I want to help. And I mean it. I am here" she said and I turned away, looking out the window again.

I wasn't able to watch her. I was too afraid my eyes would betray me, letting her know how the thought of drinking from her made me feel.

"Look at me" she said gently, one hand on my cheek, turning my head around to watch her.

"It's wrong" I whispered, looking into her eyes.

"Helping you is never wrong" she replied and I chuckled softly.

"You know... the end doesn't always justify the means" I said.

She raised an eyebrow and opened her mouth to say something but closed it again.

She thought about it for a moment.

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself?" she than asked.

"I'm not sure, probably both of us" I admitted with a chuckle.

Our eyes met and hers were filled with longing and desire.

I gasped and I think that was what made me change my mind in the end.

God, she was really going to kill me one of these days.

She shifted in my arm, leaning her head against my chest, offering her neck to me.

I brushed away a few strands of hair and like the last time I hesitated.

Not because I didn't want to, because honestly it was all I really wanted in this moment.

And how could I not? It had been one of the best feelings in my whole life, drinking from her, the person I desired and loved.

No, I still felt like I was taking advantage of her.

She pressed herself closer to me and watched me expectedly, her puls was quicker now, I could feel and hear it.

I checked our surroundings. Nobody was sitting very close to us and I sighed, feeling my willpower more and more fading away.

"It's okay Adrian. I want this" she whispered, closing her eyes.

Sydneys POV

I need this

I thought but was too embarrassed to actually say that out loud and admit it.

I felt his breath on my neck and his arms around me.

Goosebumps appeared on my whole body, making me feel like wax in his hands.

How could a person make you feel so good, so safe. I trusted him completely.

My heart started to beat faster.

One, because he was so close and second, I was going to feel that utter bliss again.

My head started spinning and my body almost trembled in anticipation.

Somewhere deep inside of me a voice warned me, that this was crossing a border, that he probably was right when he said the end didn't always justify the means, but I pushed it away.

I wanted that feeling again, that feeling that only he could give me.

And eventhough I knew it was because of the endorphins that spread in my body when he drank from me, I remembered how our bodies, no our souls had seem to merge together and that was something I knew was only possible with him.

His lips where on my skin now and he softly brushed along my neck.

Once, twice, than a gentle kiss.

Than his teeth pierced my skin and I suppressed a pained groan that had formed automatically.

It was only a nanosecond, than my body relaxed into his and I forgot that we were in a bus and that people where somewhere around us. There was only Adrian.

Adrians POV

She tasted like everything good in this world and even better.

Her body against me was squirming in pleasure and I actually had to put my hand in front of her mouth to stop her from making sounds of delight.

She softly bit my finger and I almost lost it.

Oh I enjoyed this so much. I was feeling so close to her, it was so intimate.

It wasn't sex, but so much more intimite and better than any sexual adventure I have had in the past.

If someone would have told me that a year ago, I wouldn't have believed it.

But I would choose this over any meaningless encounter in a heartbeat.

She trusted me completely with her whole body, she put herself in my hands.

I had to remind myself over and over again where we were.

My arms held her close to me, my hands hungrily roaming over her body whilst she was still squirming against me.

My one hand held her throat against my mouth whilst the other one painted invisible patterns on the skin above her dress. The jacket she had been wearing had been removed a long time ago.

I was sure I wouldn't have been able to stop myself from undressing her, if we would have been alone.

My breath was coming fast now, too and met hers.

I was sure she was the most beautiful woman I had ever held in my arms.

At one point a woman a few seats away from us turned around, but turned back quickly when our eyes met for a split second.

I knew that was my sign that we had to stop. This was about to get out of control. It was now or never.

Any more of this and I might have had my way with her in this damn bus, not caring what anyone thought, but I was sure, that that wouldn't end well for the both of us.

My mouth left her neck regretfully and she slowly opened her eyes in confusion.

I smiled at her and a grin appeared on her face.

Still smiling, she closed her eyes again.

"I love you" she murmered and I carefully touched the spot where my teeth just had been a few seconds before. When I removed my fingers again the wound was gone.

"I love you more" I replied truthfully, kissing her gently on the lips.

She returned the kiss, but so late, that my lips were already leaving hers by that time.

"Thank you" I said caressing her beautiful face, brushing over her closed eyelids.

Her smile grew bigger and she giggled as a reply.

"I am serious Sage, I know you won't agree with me right now, but this is something we can't continue to do"

Her eyes opened slowly and she tried to focus on me, it obviously wasn't easy for her. She opened her mouth to reply but I stopped her.

"I know baby. I know" I said, knowing she was about to argue with me about that.

"I am grateful for this. More than grateful actually. And yes, it feels goood, but there are many other ways to make you feel good and I am going to show you all of them" I said with a wink.

I tugged on her dress, covering her up again and she sighed when my hands touched the delicate skin of her bare legs.

"More" she whispered and I groaned.

"I wasn't talking about right now" I said laughing "we are in a bus Sage" I continued, desperately wishing we were anywhere else.

"I don't care" she went on, pulling my head down to kiss me, her hands found their way under my shirt.

"As much as I want to believe you, you will... later" I said in between kisses.

She pouted and I shook my head in amusement.

"There are people around us" I continued with a smirk.

"So you won't touch me again?" she asked.

"Not today" I replied in dismay and the pout returned to her face again.

Sydneys POV

He was still holding me, his hands gently caressing me and I more and more found my way back to reality.

I still wanted him. I still wanted him to touch me and do so much more to me, because I always did, but the urgency slowly dissolved.

I could still feel the endorphins dancing in my body, a happy tingly feeling, making me smile and feel so much love, but I was thinking more clearly again, remembering where we were.

I quickly sat up, watching around to see if someone was watching us.

Adrian observed me with a grin on his face and when I had made sure nobody was actually staring at us I sat down in my seat again and leaned my head against him.

"Did someone see?" I asked in a hushed whisper

"No" he assured me "only me. For my eyes only" he went on.

The way he said that made my inside melt and my body wanting more. So much more.

"I can't wait to get to court" I said with a sigh.

He pulled me on his lap, so quick, that there wasn't any time for me to react.

Mostly because I was still a bit slow, still caught up in the haze his fangs had given me.

His strong arms were wrapped around me inhancing my happy feeling.

"Neither can I" he said, cupping my face and kissing me urgently.

It was agonizing. So sweet and yet I knew nothing would come out of it. Not now, not today.

Still I returned the kiss in the same manner, my hands got lost in his hair, gently tugging it.

The passion and longing I had felt before had returned in an instant.

I cursed the bus in that moment, the people around us, but mostly the Alchemists.