The next day I woke up, and for a second, I forgot all about my memory loss and was surprised not to wake up in my own bed. I scrambled to my feet and ran up to the window and looked out at the sunny landscape and then I remembered. I was in Palm Springs. I had forgotten nine months of my life. Oh wow. I got dressed and did my hair before I strolled to the kitchen where all the others were, laughing and talking. It was weird. A human, a dhampir, a moroi and an alchemist, enjoying each-others company. That was something you rarely saw, if ever. I joined in on them but I noticed that Sage and Eddie looked sadder as soon as I set foot in the room. They had probably forgotten, if only just for a second, about my state and the tragedy that surrounded us at the moment. It dragged me to the bottom of my misery. It wasn't a good feeling, to know that you were a constant reminder of someone else failure. It drained me. I just wanted everything to feel alright. I wanted everything to be good. Everyone in the room kept on talking even though my friends glanced at me all the time. I poured myself a cup of coffee and leaned against a counter, looking out over the room. After a minute of peaceful loneliness with my own thoughts, Sage walked over to me and leaned against the counter next to me.
"How are you?", She asked and looked at me with a concerned look.
"Now that you're asking, not very well. I guess I'm still processing everything.", I said truthfully. Everything felt out of place and I felt like I was sick.
"I can understand that. Nine months of lost time is a lot to take in.", She muttered and looked around the room. I put away my cup of coffee and crossed my arms on my chest.
"It's overwhelming.", I spoke and studied her face and the tattoo that was on her cheek. It glimmered in the dim light of the kitchen. She turned her head and looked at me, right in my eyes.
"I promise I will get your memories back.", She spoke with such passion that I suddenly realized something, she had purple streaks in her aura. Hidden among the sea of yellow were the small streaks of purple that meant passion and drive. It surprised me a bit. She just didn't seem like that kind of person.
"I know you will.", I said and looked in her eyes. She seemed to doubt for a second, I don't know if it was doubt in her ability to fix this, or doubt in my faith in her, but somehow she seemed unsure.
"I just, I don't want to turn my back on you since you never did when I was kidnapped. Eddie told me that you never stopped looking. You kept on going, even when it was hopeless and you nearly turned insane, you decided to never give up on finding me.", She turned her eyes away and looked down at the floor. "Thank you for saving me." She seemed so shy. It was sweet, and she reminded me more of the alchemist girl that helped Rose long ago. She seemed like the one my damaged brain could remember.
"Don't even think about it. I probably had my reasons, and I would probably still think they were good enough reasons to follow a girl across the country.", I smiled and she looked up at me, a sparkle in her eye and a small smile playing on her lips. Dorothy and Clarence walked out of the room, probably for a feeding or something. Me, Eddie, and Sage all stood in silence for a couple of minutes and I finally felt like I was okay. I felt almost happy. And that was when all hell broke loose. Bursting in the room came the witches. I had been told they were called Evelyn and Laura and they looked scary as hell. Castile immediately went into guardian mode and Sage stood herself between me and the witches. Evelyn smiled. It was the creepiest thing I have ever seen.
"Missed me?", She asked Sage who didn't respond. Instead, she looked angry. "How's your boyfriend, from what I remember, I managed to make a good sweeping on him before you left."
"Don't say another word.", Sage growled. She was terrifying. I quickly made a mental note to myself to never ever under any circumstances piss Sage off to this level. She scared the crap out of me.
"Did I hit a nerve?", Evelyn looked innocent even though she remained her battle stance. Sage didn't answer this time either, she just flung a fricking lightning bolt from her fingers and Evelyn ducked right before it hit her in the stomach. I backed away a step, just to not get in the line of fire. Eddie took Sage's attack as a cue to tackle Laura to the ground and trapping her so she couldn't move. I backed another step. I didn't want to die. Evelyn just laughed the entire time.
"Remember a teeny tiny little detail? I trained you. I know your whole repertoire.", She then proceeded to do some kind of spell that made it impossible for Sage to move her feet. She growled in frustration and when Evelyn sent away a fire bolt through the air, Sage had to do some kind of matrix move and lean back while her feet still was stuck. She did some other spell and released her feet and then threw another lightning bolt. The fight went on like that for a while, they kept deflecting each other's attacks, while I stood in a corner feeling useless. Or, it was really more than that. I was panicked. I didn't know how to fight, I knew how to party and small talk. None of those skills came in handy in real life combat unfortunately, so I just stood there, watching. Waiting for an order or a window where I could assist in some kind of way. I felt so helpless and pathetic. Eddie was wrestling Laura on the floor while Sage and Evelyn tore the kitchen apart with their spells, while I was scared. Everyone seemed to have forgotten about me too. Sage was filled with rage and that was the thing that powered her right now. She didn't even hesitate to use magic like alchemists should, she just kept on going, red hot rage pushing her forward. It was a scary thing to watch. To see someone consumed by such a strong emotion. While I stood there, mesmerized by the strong emotions in her aura, I didn't notice how Laura broke free and knocked Eddie unconscious with a single flick of her wrist. She ran up to me, and before I had time to think, she put an arm around my neck and a pair of glowing fingers floating in the air above my exposed skin.
"Stop it or I snap this pretty boy's neck.", Laura said, a cold tone in her voice. It was like ice, sharp and freezing. Sage and Evelyn stopped fighting and Sage looked overwhelmed. She shot a glance at Eddie who was laying on the ground before looking directly at Laura who was behind me.
"What do you want from me?", Sage asked calmly. Evelyn smiled.
"We want you to come with us, without fighting.", She answered her. Sage just scoffed.
"Don't you think I would try to flee again?", She seemed so confident.
"Of course you would try to flee, don't be silly.", Evelyn sighed. "But we have a solution for that. We'll just sweep you. Again.", Sage looked scared. And angry.
"Never.", She simply said and I let out a whimper as Laura pressed harder against my neck. It was getting harder to breathe. Sage flinched and looked over at me.
"I think you might want to reconsider your decision.", Evelyn said sweetly and Sage bit her lip. She seemed to think and Laura loosened her grip a bit so that I could breathe properly. I decided that this was my chance.
"Don't even think about going with th-", I was cut off by a punch in my side delivered by Laura. It hurt like hell and I lost my breath for a second.
"I don't think she has much of an option if she wants to save you and the little dhampir.", Evelyn looked at me innocently. I hated her. Sage seemed to give up since she lowered her hands and sighed.
"No, don't!", I managed to say before Laura punched me again and I wheezed for air.
"I have to Adrian.", She said sadly. I couldn't let her do this. I couldn't let her walk away with the enemy.
"No you don't, please.", I said and prepared myself for the punch against my ribs, but just when Laura raised her hand, Evelyn stared her down until she settled with it clutching my arm.
"This is my choice. I failed to save you before, I will not do that again.", She seemed steady. She was not going to waver one bit about this. She had decided and there was no turning back. I blinked away a few tears. Why was I feeling so strong about this?
"Alright then, do we have a deal?", Everything about Evelyn made hatred blossom inside of me. Sage nodded. "Deal."
"Great. And as for you, Ivashkov,", Evelyn started. "You will not look for her. You will leave her be so we won't have any more incidents like this. If this happens again, I'm afraid we'll have to kill you all. Including the girl. Got it?", She asked and looked at me sternly.
"No.", I spoke, silent like a whisper. That earned me a scared look form Sage and an amused one from Evelyn.
"Aren't you a brave one?", She said and fixed me with her gaze. Her smile was a little tight around her eyes. I could spot the irritation that was inside of her.
"You can't have her. You can't own a person.", I hissed. Evelyn just laughed.
"Adrian, I have decided. Just, accept it. Don't put yourself in any more danger.", Sage pleaded. I looked her straight in the eyes and shook my head once. I was never going to stop fighting.
"Are you two done bickering?", Evelyn asked and right then, another woman burst through the door. She flung Laura against a wall and with a snap of her fingers, Laura fell asleep. This new woman looked a lot like Evelyn, only with lighter hair and a different taste in fashion. I felt like I knew her name. Evelyn looked like an animal trapped in a cage for a second before she pulled it together and smirked.
"Well if it isn't my little sister. Hello Jaclyn.", She said. Wait, So Evelyn was older than this Jaclyn? It looked like the opposite.
"Hi Evelyn. It's been a while.", This Jaclyn woman said and put herself between Sage and Evelyn. Sage quickly moved so she was stood in front of me, shielding me with her body.
"Yes indeed. It has.", Evelyn said.
"Tell me, why are you harassing my former student and a moroi?", Jaclyn asked sweetly. Evelyn scoffed.
"You know very well why I need her, don't try to deny it.", the older woman smiled at that.
"Yes, I'm aware. But that doesn't mean that you are allowed to erase people's memories however you feel like.", Jaclyn was angry.
"Watch me.", Evelyn said and her smile grew even bigger. Jaclyn just looked disappointed and then they both threw lightning bolts that collided and threw everyone down on the ground. I looked over at Sage who looked at me with an equally surprised glance. What the hell. How would this end? Sure, we had three against one, but Evelyn was strong. Scary strong. The witches got up on their feet again and Evelyn and Jaclyn kept on fighting while Sage kept an eye on me and I ducked. I didn't want to get in the line of fire. This was insane. The lightning-, and occasionally fire-, bolts were flying around the room and Sage shielded us more than once. At first, she had tried helping Jaclyn but after a stern look from the older woman, she backed off and resorted to watching and protecting me. I felt like a child. I couldn't do anything. Suddenly the fighting stopped. Both women were standing, breathing hard, and looking at each other. Just looking. They were tired and probably weak, but I was still fascinated that they could just stop. It looked weird.
"Please sister, stop this.", Jaclyn begged. Evelyn just shook her head.
"I can't. I need her and you know why.", For a split second, both women looked equally sad, but soon Evelyn plastered on a wicked smile and looked cocky.
"There must be another way Evelyn.", Jaclyn pleaded. "I can help you."
"There isn't! Ever since that day, I have searched and searched for another way, but there isn't any! I need her powers little sister.", Evelyn looked like she had run out of hope. She looked devastated.
"We will find a way. She wouldn't want it to be like this.", Wait a second, who was 'she'? We were missing a whole chunk of information here. Or at least me and Sage.
"THERE IS NO OTHER WAY!", Evelyn yelled. Tears was streaming down her face. "Don't talk to me about her wishes, I already know that I'm doing the wrong thing.", She said. She looked straight at Jaclyn. "I already know.", She whispered.
"Then please let me help. You don't have to sweep them.", Evelyn was still negotiating and I was watching with fascination. Who was this girl and what had happened to her? Obviously something horrible. Something Evelyn didn't want to talk about. She obviously knew the girl well, she was so protective about her.
"That's the thing, I think I do. She would never help me otherwise.", Evelyn had by this point dropped her arms to her sides instead of having them battle ready. Through all this conversation, she hadn't looked at us once. Not until now anyway. She looked straight at me and the look in her eyes was heart breaking. It looked like she had lost faith in everything good in the world. She looked like she had lost grip of everything. She looked like me. That scared me. When I looked in her eyes, I saw the misery that had up until recently always been lurking around the corners in my mind. Always waiting to jump me and knock me unconscious. It was there, in her eyes. Exactly like in my own during my fits of spirit induced insanity. She had jumped over the edge. She seemed to notice this too.
"You understand, right?", She asked me, sounding like a little girl who just wanted some hope in this horrible place. Sage immediately stiffened and prepared herself for an attack which didn't come. I decided to speak the truth.
"I don't understand what have happened to you in your life, but I do understand what you're feeling.", I said and got up on my feet for real.
"How?", She asked and looked curious. This situation had took a turn to the better. Or at least I hoped it was better.
"Honestly? I've been through a bunch of crap, and my mind isn't exactly making it any better.", I knocked lightly on my head to show that I was all sorts of crazy.
"I just want to fix everything.", She whispered and I nodded.
"You can't fix everything, the universe doesn't work that way.", I said and put my hands in my pockets.
"But I can't sit around doing nothing.", She said and looked at me like I was crazy. To be fair, I was.
"You can always try.", I shrugged. "We all have different ways to cope with difficult things, but none of that ways should be kidnapping a teenage girl and erasing her memory."
"I had to. For Megan.", She said and then looked like she was about to break down in even more tears. What had happened to this Megan? Suddenly, her face shifted and she went from sadness to rage in the blink of an eye.
"I WANT HER BACK!", She screamed and threw a lighting bolt directly towards my face. I panicked and froze in my position, watching it approach me as if it was in slow-motion. Sage on the other hand, reacted instantly and threw herself between the lighting and me while putting on some kind of invisible shield which you could hear shatter as it got hit. Sydney fell to the ground with an horrible scream and for a split second I was consumed with fear. She didn't move. She lied there, completely still, for a minute, before my brain understood what had happened and moved to her side. During this time, Jaclyn knocked Evelyn out and went and checked on both Eddie and Laura. I sat by Sydney's side, petrified. I looked for her pulse and was instantly relieved when I found it. She was alive. Her eyes fluttered open and she sat up on the hard kitchen floor. She put a hand on her arm and her face was filled with pain.
"I think it's broken. I landed on it.", She muttered and wrinkled her fore head.
"Do you want me to fix it?", I asked. I figured she wouldn't like it if I did something without her permission.
"Please don't.", She said and looked a bit scared for a split-second. "It's just a broken bone, it will heal in time.", She stated. Her fear for my magic left me puzzled. Did she see a difference between moroi magic and the magic she had just practiced? It was the same thing except it came from different sources. I sighed and got up on my feet. Someone else might need my healing. I walked over to Eddie who was waking up.
"Feeling okay?", I asked. Eddie just rose to his feet, brushed of his clothes, and nodded.
"I'm feeling alright. What happened?", He asked.
"Honestly, I got kind of lost by the end.", I answered. I didn't have a clue why Evelyn suddenly snapped. This called for some investigation.
A/N: Yay another long chapter! We are closing in on this story's ending, and for those of you that are waiting for some Sydrian-moments, I can tell you that I saved some of the best for last. So yay, hope you liked this chapter and I hope you'll continue reading. I love everyone who keeps reviewing, you guys are the best!