Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, just the storyline.

AN: I'd apologise for the lateness but then I would have to do that for practically every post I ever made. So instead I promise to try and do better.

Chapter 12

Sydney's POV

He laughs again and kisses me. "I'll see if I can find Lissa."

"You do that."

"Bye Honey Dew. Bye Hopster."

Hopper squeaks and tries to follow Adrian as he walks out the door only to be pushed back.

"No buddy. Stay. Stay. Good boy. See ya Sage! Don't get into any trouble when I'm gone!"

"Bye!"

Breathe out.

Ok. Time to work on that project...

I pulled the stones and the letter back out, starting to get a better feel for the crystals, only for Hopper to start tugging on my pants leg. I sigh and pop him up next to me on the desk.

"You can stay up here if you can be quiet for a little while. You can do that can't you? Maybe take a nap?" He squeals before curling up and starting to snore. "Good boy."

I turn back to what I was doing.

Hmmm...I think I'll try to infuse each crystal with magic first and see how much they will take before then seeing how long it will last. I pick them up, curling them in my hands and feeling the energies they give off. One of these has to work. It just has to.

I call upon the magic inside me and begin to feel the rush as I transfer it into the crystals. They all begin to glow.

I'm finally getting somewhere.

Adrian's POV

"Hey Liss, how's life?"

She hugs me as I come through the door and I almost automatically look for her golden aura before remembering I could no longer see it. I had tried to stop looking but old habits tend to die hard. I also constantly caught myself looking for Sydney's brilliant yellow and purple one that always seemed to grow brighter whenever we were together.

I tried to hide the burst of sadness I felt at the loss but I'm sure Lissa saw it.

"I'm good, busy, but good. How about you? You look a little...sad."

"It's just the pills and all. I mean, it's great not to have the so out of control emotions all the time, but I miss the rush, you know? And all the colours."

She smiles sadly at me. "Have you been thinking of stopping them?"

"No," I say loudly, thinking of what Sydney would have to say to that. Or my great-aunt who happens to reside in my head whenever the pills aren't there to keep her out. "No. I'm just finding it a little hard. That's all."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep," I shake off any remnants of sadness and, instead, think of Sydney in our room playing with Hopper.

"Ok then...so...how's your art going?"

"I asked you a question first?"

She sighed. "I already answered that but if you want more detail; my queenly duties are keeping me busy and aren't exactly exiting. Rose is in the kitchen as usual, eating all my food. And Christian is doing something or other. Now your turn."

"Hahaha. I thought it was her day off."

"It is, but Dimitri's with Christian at the moment and you know Rose."

"Ah." I turn to face the kitchen. "Hey Little Damphir!"

A muffled 'hey' comes from the kitchen.

"So..?" She asks, leading me into the living room.

"Ok, ok. It's going great. My professors are impressed. I'm getting good marks."

"Do you have any pictures?"

"Uh." I look down, suddenly nervous for some reason. Has she ever seen my work? What will she think? "Sure."

I grab my phone and open up the folder which holds pictures of most of my art projects and hand it over to her.

"Wow." She looks up and shouts to Rose. "Get in here!"

"I'm eating!"

"Now Rose!"

"Ugh, someone better be dying in there."

"Better. Though, I guess, if you don't wanna see Adrian's artwork..."

"Gimme gimme gimme!"

Rose runs into the room and plops herself down on the couch next to Lissa.

They take their time flicking through the pictures as I try to hide my nervousness by fixing my hair. I keep an eye on their faces though. So far so good.

"These are amazing Adrian, I can't believe you haven't – "

"What? What is it?" I ask panicked, trying to remember if there was something on that phone that would warrant such a reaction.

"Uh, just that...um." Rose turns the phone to face me and I see a collection of golden lilies bursting through a bunch of thorned, wilted red roses. Forgot about that one. "Is this symbolic in any way? You know, the wilted roses and all?"

I shrug as if it's no big deal. "Nah, just thought it would look cool."

She still looks a little unsure. "Ah, cool then."

"Come on Rose, stop hogging the phone. I want to see the rest!"

The finish off the photos.

"They are brilliant Adrian!"

"Thanks Cousin"

"I especially like the one of the little dragon sitting on top of the pie. That was cute as!"

I didn't feel the need to mention that it was a demon, not a dragon, but everyone has their own artistic interpretation, right? Besides, with how religious Lissa was I'm sure she'd freak a little over the idea that I painted a 'cute' demon.

"I like the cool one, with all the red and gold?"

"The one with the swirls?"

"Yeah, that one."

I move to grab the phone but freeze when Rose asks "Who was your model?"

"My model?"

"For the painting with the fire? You know, where the chick is surrounded by flames in that smokin' hot red dress? I could have sworn she looks familiar. I just can't see her face."

"Oh yeah, that one." I thought for a second on what I could use to deflect their attention, after all there was a reason the beautiful woman in the painting looked so familiar to her. "That one was just a practice image to put in my portfolio. It's amazing how much time you have in the day when give up drinking and smoking."

"Wait. You gave up smoking? When did this happen?"

"Seriously? Have you seen me smoking since I got here?"

"Huh. Nope. I guess I just didn't notice."

I laugh. "Too busy sucking face with the Cradle Robber?"

"Shuddup." Rose Laughs. "Speaking of romance...you interested in anyone? I know of a certain someone who has the hots for you..." she says, singing the last bit. Obviously she was talking about fellow spirit user Nina Sinclair who, I've been told, has been asking about me.

I wink at her and try to look indifferent. "I'm turning over a new leaf remember. No booze, no smokes, no chicks..."

They both give me a look that should have sent me six feet under.

"Suuuuure," Rose said rolling her eyes.

"What about chicks?" Christian asks from the door to the lounge room. Huh, didn't even hear him come in.

"Adrian here," Rose starts sarcastically. "Is apparently giving up women."

Christian snorted. "Sure he is. By the way. I need to talk to you guys more about using magic defensively. I have some people convinced but a lot are still being stubborn jack-asses."

This was interesting. I decided to comment before the girls. "What points do you need help on?"

"I need ways for all of the elements to be able to defend themselves and assist dhampirs not just fire. Except that is the only one I really have experience with."

"Have you talked to Sage about it? I'm sure she'd have some good ideas." She's also begun to experiment with all the different elements lately and should know of a few things that work, although fire has always been her favourite. Water came in close though. Then again, it always made her happy when she messed up my hair with wind. Cold wind.

"Talk to the alchemist? About magic?"

Oh yeah. "If it's to help get rid of strigoi, I'm sure she'd help."

"Maybe you can ask her at dinner?"

"At dinner?" Damn, there goes my semi-romantic plans with Sage and our hopefully sleeping demon baby.

"Yeah, we – Lissa, Rose and I – decided that beings Sydney doesn't really know many people here other than us, and she's doing so much for us, that we couldn't just let her eat all alone all the time."

"Ah." That was a nice thought, but... "I'm sure she wouldn't mind having tonight by herself."

"I insist," Lissa says nodding her head.

Great.

Maybe tomorrow night?