A/N Thank you so much for your suggestions, tips and reviews. I will try to follow them. I have made this chapter longer. Enjoy.
Chapter 3
Sydney's POV
I bit the hand on my mouth and tried to get free but he..it held on me with his other arm. I twisted and saw red eyes staring at me. I shuddered. Strigoi. Alchemists had been faulty.
He clutched my throat. I kicked and screamed but all in vain.
I tried to concentrate and a reddish yellow ball appeared in my right hand and I threw it at him. I did not wait for him to recover and another fire ball glowed in my hand, this time bright blue. I aimed at his head.
"Aaaaah" He shouted, his hair catching fire. This was such a Deja vu. I fell down and dragged myself away from him. I felt around for my purse and found it at my left side. I tried to open the zip but my hands were shaking very badly. Finally, it opened. I took out my alchemist kit and quickly made a chemical. I threw it at the burning strigoi. I could not let him burn down the house.
His screaming stopped abruptly and his body started shimmering and then at last vanished.
I was sweating and breathing heavily.
"What the hell just happened?" I whispered to myself.
Trying to collect my breath, I wiped the tears that were falling down my cheeks.
Shaking, I got up and picked up my purse.
I quickly decomposed the second body, the one for which I had come.
Getting out of the basement was not easy as there were no stairs. I tried to do a levitation spell and hit my head two times on the ceiling before finally getting out. I rushed out of the house, tripping many times, but I did not have the energy to make another fire ball. I got into my car and drove away.
When I had calmed myself I realised that something was quite wrong.
I just couldn't place my finger on it. I filed it away for later. Right now I just wanted to be next to my baby. I needed her.
Rest of the drive I tried to compose myself. I couldn't let Taylor see me like this.
I stopped in front of our home and parked the car. Taking deep breaths I got out. With a quick spell I cleaned my clothes and smoothed them.
Tired, I sleepily walked to the door and rang the bell. I heard voices and then Taylor opened the door and grinned at me. I felt a smile forming on my face too.
I kissed her and hugged her tight. My eyes were filling and I blinked rapidly.
"Mamma, why is your neck all red."
My hand touched my neck and I winced with pain.
" Ah...darling , its nothing, mommy just tied her scarf a little tight.
Her hand softly brushed against my neck and I closed my eyes and breathed her scent. She was my anchor.
I went to bed and tried to sleep but couldn't. As soon as I closed my eyes I felt like I was suffocating.
I took out a magazine and started reading it. I remembered my previous musing and decided that something was truly wrong. Just like it had been with Keith's accident, my conscience said.
The strigoi had never once tried to drink my blood and instead it had tried to choke me to death.
I shuddered. Someone wanted me killed.
I decided that sleep was going to evade me tonight. I can go on my night time patrol, I thought.
I dressed in an artfully faded blue jeans and a full sleeve black high neck sweater. I wrapped a red scarf around my neck to hide the marks. I wanted to mix with the crowds.
I went to Taylor's room and put a spell on her to alert me if anything went wrong with her.
Locking the door , I grabbed my purse and went out in the night air.
It was lightly snowing but the streets were bursting with human population...and moroi and dhampirs.
I checked the narrow alleys. I knew the regular moroi and dhampirs in my area and then went to check on their favourite haunts.
I rubbed my hands and blew warm air on them. I had to stop wearing gloves after the one time I had accidently caught them on fire. Taylor had been horrified and I had to suffer from the pain of burning.
I had gotten used to the russian cold but I missed the Palm Springs heat...and many more Palm Springs...things.
I entered a night club and surveyed.
The place was packed as usual. I spotted two moroi that I knew. They were accompanied by two dhampir bodyguards. I nodded at them.
I circled the room and made notes for my report.
Suddenly I spotted a bright lime green waistcoat across the room. The face was hidden in the shadows but I recognised him.
The Snake. Abe Mazur.
I tried to turn away before he saw me but there was no space. He looked over and saw me. Oh no! His eyes went wide and then he started walking towards me.
I did a teleporting spell.
I saw the Snake's jaw drop as my surroundings shimmered and then I found myself in my bedroom. I sighed and sat on my bed, my head hung.
Today was the 2nd worst day of my life. Abe Mazur had seen me.
Maybe he will think that it was a trick of light and he had imagined me there?
Huh, who was I trying to fool? If one thing Abe was not, it was an idiot, well except in the clothing department. He had directly looked in my eyes and saw my horrified expression.
By now my body was exhausted due to the number of spells I had done in the last few hours. The teleporting one had really drained me.
I fell on my bed and my eyes closed on their own accord.