It had been a few days after the Strigoi attack and the shocking truth my mother had told me about my blood. Yet, here I stood, on the front lawn of Clarence's house, suitcases being loaded into a car, as I said goodbye to the friends I was leaving. My replacement, my sister Zoe, had arrived the day before and was already, reluctantly, getting to know Jill. My mom was waiting by the car, arms folded loosely across her stomach. Recently, my mom had told me the reason behind my undrinkable blood; she'd been forcefully turned Strigoi when she was pregnant with me and had been restored back to human by Spirit user Robert Doru. Leaving me with an infinitesimal amount of Moroi and Strigoi blood in my system. My parents had kept this from me until my mom had decided to tell me. Yet, despite this shocking news, I had forgiven my mom and was now on my way back to Utah just as planned. After some events that involved one Royal Moroi; Adrian Ivashkov, I'd asked to be either re-assigned or sent home for a while. Things between Adrian and me were awkward again. Mainly because I had had a go at him for not leaving me alone like I'd wanted when my mom had told me, and also because I didn't reciprocate his feelings. Not too long ago, Adrian had confessed his feelings for me leaving me shocked and confused. He'd also kissed me. Relationships between Moroi and humans were taboo. They'd once mingled, but the Moroi had since kept themselves hidden away from the humans. I'd rejected Adrian and it had left things between us awkward. Adrian had then held a party, later telling me that it was his birthday. There was alcohol involved and to this day, I still don't know the full details of what happened that night. I'd only drunk that night to just let go and try to act like a normal human being instead of a human keeping a secret world of vampires hidden from vampires. There weren't any rules against Alchemists drinking, we just didn't do it on account that we believed in keeping ourselves pure and good. It was a religious belief. And an important one at that. Though, there was one time I saw an Alchemist drinking.
It was hard, really, saying goodbye to everyone. Especially Jill. Jill was a fifteen year old Moroi. We'd recently discovered that she was a member of the almost extinct Dragomir bloodline, through illegitimate means. Her sister; eighteen year old Vasilisa Dragomir, was the recently crowned Moroi queen. Therefore, making Jill a princess. Vasilisa's father; Eric Dragomir had had an affair with dancer Emily Mastrano, and that had lead to Jill being conceived. During a recent attack at the Royal Moroi Court, Jill had been killed but had been brought back from the dead by Adrian, creating a psychic bond between the two.
Surprising me, Jill wrapped me up in a hug.
"Goodbye Sydney. I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you too Jill." It was Eddie's turn to hug me goodbye. Eddie was an eighteen year old Dhampir; a half human, half vampire guardian, trained to protect the Moroi from the evil, undead vampires; Strigoi.
"I'll miss you and you're weirdness," I let out a little laugh. "And I promise I'll look out for Zoe, Jill and Angeline." Angeline Dawes was a Dhampir. She'd been raised with the Keepers; a group of Moroi, Dhampirs and humans living in the middle of nowhere, abiding by the old ways. She'd left them and had come to stay at Amberwood Prep; the posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California.
"I'll miss you too Eddie." Eddie moved off and Angeline gave me an awkward hug, telling me she'd keeping training with Eddie and protect both Jill and my younger sister Zoe. I gave her a smile as everyone else came in to bid me farewell. The only one not with the group was Adrian. I looked around but couldn't see him.
"W-where's Adrian?" I asked. No one had an answer for me, so instead I asked them to tell him I said goodbye. And after another round of goodbye hugs, I was in the car and off back home.
My mom and I had been on the road for about three hours when a car that was behind us starting beeping at us. I swivelled around in my seat to see who was beeping at us. It was just some random driver trying to make us go faster. Finally, the driver got more impatient and swerved out and around us before speeding off into the distance.
"Absolutely no patience, whatsoever," Mom scoffed and turned to briefly look at me. "Might want to get some sleep, Sydney. We've got a bit of a drive ahead of us." I nodded my head and pulled out my IPod, slipping the earpieces into my ears.
"Just wake me after a while, so I can do some driving and you can get some sleep."
"Will do." I flipped through my music trying to find something to listen to; when I remembered that Jill had made a playlist of everyone's favourite music. I clicked into the playlist and saw that there were multiple playlists, all labelled after each person; Jill, Eddie, Angeline, Adrian, even Dimitri, Sonya and Clarence had contributed. Despite myself, I smiled and started off with Clarence's playlist, making my way through each playlist. Eddie was into Rock and Heavy Metal, Angeline was into Rap, Pop and some Rock, Dimitri's was more tolerable; he was into the 80's and some Modern Rock, while Sonya was into the Girl Groups of the Fifties and Sixties. I already knew Jill's as I'd heard it being played while we had been roommates at Amberwood Prep. She listened to anything as long as it wasn't scary, angry music. I'd laughed when she'd said that.
After being on the road for about eight hours, I took control of the wheel while my mom slept. I'd plugged my IPod into the car's stereo and before pulling out back onto the road, I'd checked to see which playlist I was up to; I was halfway through Jill's and had Adrian's left. So, I'd continued listening to the rest of Jill's playlist and then started listening to Adrian's. His was...interesting. It seemed he had an eclectic taste in music, though he seemed to favour Classic Rock, Punk and Heavy Metal. There were some songs there that had me fighting back laughter. There were also others that had me turn up the volume and sing along.
I pulled up into the driveway of my parent's house and killed the engine. I reached over and gave mom's shoulder a rough shake. She jerked away and looked around.
"We're home." I said as I swung open my door. Mom sighed and swung open her door. I stepped out and headed around the boot of the car just as the front door to the house swung open.
Hey, Sydney. Hey, mom." My older sister Carly strolled out and pulled me in for a hug. "It's so good to have you home."
"It's good to be home." I gave Carly a warm smile. I reached for a suitcase but she swatted my hand away and then, looping her free arm with mine, we walked inside. Setting my suitcase in the hallway and our arms still looped together, Carly pulled me into the kitchen and sat me on one of the kitchen stools. She sat down opposite me and stared at me, grinning and an expectant look in her eyes.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked my eyebrows furrowing together.
"So. Who is he?" Carly was still staring at me expectantly.
"I have no idea what, or who, you are talking about?" It was true; I really did have no idea what she was on about.
"Don't be so coy," She laughed. "I know all about him. I know all about his feelings for you." My heart rate rose as panic set in. How could she know about Adrian's feelings for me? I'd never told anyone about it. Not my family, not my other family back at Amberwood, and certainly not the Alchemists. So how could Carly know?
"Hello? Sydney? Are you still in there?" Carly was waving her hand in my face. Blinking, I focused on her. She laughed. "You were a million miles away and looking scared." Her brow knitted together into a frown. She reached out and laid her hand on my arm. "Is everything okay? With you and Brayden?" Brayden? What did this have to do with Brayden? It took me a moment to realise she never asking about Adrian at all. She was asking about Brayden.
"Oh. Yeah. Everything's okay. Umm. Unfortunately, Brayden and I broke up a while ago." I shrugged my shoulders.
"Oh no! Oh, Sydney. I'm sorry. How are you dealing with it?"
"Don't be sorry. There wasn't anything you could do. And I'm dealing with it just fine. In fact, I had actually laughed when he broke up with me."
"You- you laughed?" Carly sputtered.
"He called me irresponsible. It was the first time anyone had ever called me irresponsible. And, it felt good to be called something other than responsible, diligent and exemplary." Carly just sat there, mouth open, staring at me like she didn't know who I was.
"He called you irresponsible? You?" She pointed at me and I nodded. "Why?" That was easy enough to explain.
"I'd had too much Alchemist work to do. Looking after the Moroi Princess and those that were there to help protect her."
"Wow. That's... you are so weird, you know that right?" I couldn't help but laugh and then sigh. "What is it Sydney? Is there something else?" Oh, there was. And I knew I could trust Carly with this, and she wouldn't tell anyone.
"One of the Moroi. Adrian Ivashkov," I looked up and met Carly's eyes, curiosity etched in her features. "Developed feelings for me. Feelings that have left me confused and scared."
"One of the vampires is in love with you?" She asked. I nodded my head and looked down. Carly tilted my head up. "How do you feel about him? Do you feel the same way?"
"No, I don't feel the same way he does. I like him, that's about it. He's a good person, crazy, but a good person. And he ruined our friendship by declaring those feelings. Now, I'm confused. I don't know what to think anymore. It's wrong for our kinds to be together. Especially as I'm an Alchemist. It's wrong. It's unnat-"
"It's wrong. It's unnatural, "Carly rolled her eyes. "You're starting to sound like dad. The Alchemists have brainwashed you Sydney. You need to leave the Alchemists. Live a normal life. If, you have feelings for Adrian, which you're probably denying to yourself, to Adrian, and to everyone, then act on it. Don't let the Alchemists tell you who you can't and can't fall in love with. So what if he's a vampire. He's Moroi, not Strigoi. There's a difference. Be with Adrian, Sydney. Be happy. You still have your free will. Use it, and go back to Palm Springs, and to Adrian. Love him. I know you have the ability to love." I pulled away from Carly and stood up.
"Why does everyone think I should be with Adrian? I don't have feelings for him." Yet as I said those words, I felt an empty, hollow, aching feeling in my chest. I turned and stalked out of the kitchen, but was stopped in the doorway by my mom. She was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossing and was glaring at me.
"Oh, how I hate your father and those bastards, right now," She stood up straight and uncrossed her arms. "Carly's right. Go to Adrian. Love him. And don't let anything get in your way. Especially your father and those nutcases." I began protesting but mom held up a hand. "Don't even think about it Sydney Katherine Sage. Do not lie. Not to me. I was listening in on the conversation. When you were talking about Adrian, I could see the light in your eyes shine brightly. Brighter than the sun." She dropped a set of keys in my hand. I looked down at them then back up at my mom and then twisted around to look at Carly. They were both smiling encouragingly at me. My thoughts spun around and around inside my head, leaving me dizzy and breathless. Could I really do it? Could I really leave the Alchemists and be free to love whomever I wanted? The answer was simple; yes. Yes, I could. For so long I'd tried to deny it. I really had. But those months getting to know Adrian and left me falling for him. The Alchemists couldn't choose my future for me. Only I could. And thanks to my mom and Carly, I'd finally come to my senses; I, Sydney Katherine Sage, am in love with Adrian Ivashkov. I closed my fingers over the car keys and raced out to the car. I shoved the keys in the ignition and after starting the car and reversing the car down the driveway; I sped back towards Palm Springs... and Adrian Ivashkov.
I'd only been back on the road about an hour when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled over and pulled my phone out of my pocket.
"Hello?"
"Sydney?" A slightly accented voice asked.
"Dimitri?" Why was Dimitri ringing me? Was something wrong?
"You need to get back here. Right now." Dimitri sounded anxious.
"I was already on my way back. What's going on?" There were sounds coming from the background and someone else spoke back to me.
"Sydney? It's Jill. You need to hurry. It's Adrian." My blood became like ice and my heart rate increased, pounding painfully against my ribs. Something had happened to Adrian. "Sydney? Are you still there?"
It took me a while to process what Jill had said and to find my voice again. "Yeah. I'm here. What happened? Is he okay?" My voice had dropped to a whisper.
"He's not okay," A pause as Jill cried out in agony. "Sydney. He's been taken by Strigoi. He's in so much pain."
"Does he have his phone with him?"
"Yes." I hung up and dialled Adrian's phone. It rang twice before he picked up.
"Hello?" Adrian sounded groggy. Thank God, he's still alive.
"Adrian? It's Sydney. Are you okay? Where are you?"
"Sage? I don't know where I am. I was taken by Strigoi. They've been feeding off of me." I flinched. He sounded scared.
"I'm on my way back to Palm Springs. Just hold on Adrian. We'll find you. I promise. And when we do, you and I need to talk." He never got a chance to answer, because I heard scuffling on his end, and then I heard him scream out in pain. "Adrian? Adrian!" I hung up and re-dialled Dimitri. He picked up on the first ring.
"I managed to get hold of Adrian. He had his phone with him," I peeled out back onto the road and slammed my foot down on the accelerator. "I'll be in Palm Springs soon. Then we're going to get Adrian back." I hung up and concentrated on my destination.