I'd made it back to Clarence's house in Palm Springs in record time. Guardians swarmed the outside of Clarence's house. I hurried out of the car and up the front lawn. A Guardian held out a hand to stop me from entering until he saw the lily on my cheek, he then waved me on and I ran inside. It was crowded in the living room and I had to push my way through. Finally, I made it to the centre and came face-to-face with Dimitri. He looked up,
"Sydney," He said, a slight Russian accent lacing his words. "Have you heard any more from Adrian?"
"No. I haven't. Where's Jill?" I asked impatiently. Dimitri pointed towards the balcony. I pushed my way through the throng of Dhampirs and stumbled outside. A figure with curly brown hair spun around, tears streaming down her face.
"Sydney!" Jill rushed to me and threw herself into my arms. I caught her out of surprise. "Thank God you're here. I couldn't stand being in there anymore. I needed to concentrate but, I can't get a feel for him," Jill looked up at me, eyes wide in fright. "I think he's been knocked out. Sydney I'm scared." I pulled the young girl back to me and held her close.
"I'm scared too," I pulled back and stared into her eyes. "We will get Adrian back. We're not going to lose him. Not to any Strigoi." Jill looked away and bit her lip. I knew her well enough to know she was about to tell me something.
"Jill...what is it? What do you know?" I grabbed ahold of her shoulders and held on firmly. I wasn't going to let her go until she told me what she knew.
"The Strigoi that took him? They're not just any Strigoi. He knows them pretty well." Her voice caught on the last words. I could feel the blood drain from my face.
"Jill. Who are they? Who are the Strigoi that took Adrian?" I gave her shoulders a firm shake.
"He sent me a message through the bond after he'd been attacked while on the phone with you, not to tell anyone. Not until you showed up. You're here now, so I can tell you," Jill took a deep breath and looked me squarely in the eyes. "He was taken by his parents. His mom turned Strigoi and escaped from prison. She turned his dad and now they're going to turn him." She shrieked that last part. Everyone inside had heard and all turned to look at Jill. Dimitri pushed his way through and paused in the doorway, Rose and Lissa at his side.
"Did I just hear you say they're going to turn Adrian?" Dimitri demanded. Jill cowered a little and I stepped protectively in front of her.
"You heard correct," My voice shook as I said it. "His parents are going to turn him. An immortal family." My voice was no louder than a whisper.
"Sonya and I have been trying to reach Adrian through Spirit dreams." Lissa said.
"Spirit dreams? Wha- Oh. That's right. Spirit users can communicate with people through their dreams. Have you had any luck at all reaching him?"
Lissa's face fell, her eyes shining with tears, "No. Not yet. We'll keep trying though."
I felt dizzy and sick. My hands were clammy and my face slick with sweat. I turned away and clenched my shaking hands together. His parents were Strigoi and were going to turn him. I pulled out my phone, dialling a number.
"Who are you ringing?" Rose asked. I held up a finger as the phone rang and someone answered on the other end,
"Hello?"
"Ms. Stanton? This is Sydney Sage. The Alchemists should know that Adrian Ivashkov has been kidnapped from his home," I took a deep breath before I spoke again. "He was taken by Strigoi. More importantly, his parents." I was met with silence. "Ms. Stanton?"
"I'm here. We've already been informed of Mr. Ivashkov's kidnapping, but we were never informed that it was his own parents that took him. Are you quite certain it was his parents, Miss Sage?"
Oh, I was certain, and I said as much, "Quite certain, ma'am. Jillian Mastrano Dragomir was my informant."
"How does the Dragomir girl know he was taken by Strigoi?" She asked. I hesitated before answered and looked over at Jill.
"You can tell her Sydney. They should know." Jill said earnestly. I gave her an encouraging smile.
"Jill has a psychic bond with Adrian. During the attack at the Moroi Court. The target was not the queen herself, but her sister; Jill. They'd succeeded in assassinating Jill but, unfortunately for them, Adrian, being a Spirit user, brought her back from the dead, thus creating their bond. She watched the whole of Adrian's kidnapping unfold through the bond and immediately told the Guardians here; Dimitri Belikov and Rose Hathaway. They began contacting every available Guardian within fifty miles and have begun planning a raid and rescue."
"How were you informed of this?" Ms. Stanton asked.
"Guardian Belikov rung me, but it was Jill who told me. I returned as quickly as possible to help with the rescue." What I didn't tell her was that I had actually already been on my way back to Palm Springs to confess my true feelings for Adrian, when I'd spoken to Dimitri and Jill.
"Have you made any contact with Mr. Ivashkov?"
"No," I lied. I'd actually managed to get a hold of him while I was driving back to Palm Springs. "But the other Spirit users; Sonya Karp and Moroi queen Vasilisa Dragomir, have been trying to contact Adrian through Spirit dreams, but to no avail. They can't get a hold of him."
"The Alchemists shall assist in the search and safe return of Mr. Ivashkov. May I please speak with Guardian Belikov so we can discuss strategies?"
"Yes. Yes, of course. Thank you ma'am." I passed the phone over to Dimitri who took it and began conversing with Ms. Stanton. I let out a shaky breath and turned to the others.
"The Alchemists are going to help us find Adrian."
"Thank you Sydney. We're going to need all the help we can get." Sonya said. Rose was frowning at me,
"When Dimitri got off the phone with you he said it sounded like you were driving." My face felt hot and I watched as the expressions on Sonya's and Lissa's faces transform as they read my aura.
"You were coming back for someone?" Sonya asked. Wearily, I nodded my head.
"Who?" Sonya pressed.
"Adrian." I said his name so quietly that Rose had to ask the question again,
"Who were you coming back for?"
"Adrian. I was coming back for Adrian, okay?" I sat down on one of the deck chairs.
"Adrian? Why would you co- Oh." Rose said at the same time that Jill said, "Hah! I knew it! I knew it!"
Dimitri walked back over and handed me my phone. Just as I closed my fingers around it, it rang. I looked at the screen; Adrian's name appeared on the screen. I pressed the answer button and pressing the speaker button, held the phone up to my ear.
"Adrian?" I asked anxiously. A voice answered, but it wasn't Adrian's. This voice was familiar, but now there was an icy edge to it.
"Hello Sydney. Pleasure to talk to you again." I flinched as I recognised the voice.
"Nathan."
"Clever girl. You remembered. I have someone here who wants to talk to you. But, before I hand the phone over, let's have a little chat. Shall we?" He laughed when I didn't answer. "There's a good girl. Now, listen and listen carefully. Tell your little friends not to bother looking for my son. You send any Guardians out to find us, and Adrian here will die a quick and painful death." Adrian's dad must have done something because Adrian's broken and pained cry echoed out through the phone's speaker for everyone to hear. "Did you hear that? Of course you did. Don't forget Miss Sage. No Guardians are to come looking, or your lover here dies. Is that understood?"
"Y-yes." I stammered. Adrian's dad laughed and I heard the sound of the phone being passed over.
"Sydney?"
"Adrian!" I cried out. My hands were slippery and shaking. I nearly dropped the phone. "Adrian? Are you okay?"
"You sound as if you're worried about me Sage?" Came his response. It sounded like he was trying to be his usual witty self, yet not quite making it.
"There's no time for your smartass remarks Adrian!" I growled. "We need to know where you are. If you know but can't tell us over the phone, send a message to Jill through the bond and she can tell us." There was silence on Adrian's end of the phone, and then Jill spoke,
"He's in San Diego. They have a house there. He's in the basement. They've got him chained up!" Dimitri and Rose turned and ran back inside, determination on their faces. Jill looked over at me, a knowing look in her jade green eyes. "There's something he wants to tell you Sydney, but he wants you to take him off speaker. He wants to tell only you." I pressed the speaker button again and put the phone to my ear,
"Adrian?" I whispered.
"Sydney. The Guardians won't get here in time. My parents will have already turned me by then. I need to tell you something. It's important and you're going to listen," He paused for just a moment. "Sydney Sage, I love you. So much. I just want you to know that." With that he hung up and left me sitting back on the deck chair on Clarence's balcony. He'd said it. I stared down at the phone, then clutched it too my chest.
"I love you too." I whispered quietly as a tear slid down my cheek. I breathed deeply and stood up. "Let's go and bring Adrian home."
Sonya, Jill, Lissa and I went back inside the house. Jill and I joined the Guardians and the Alchemists who had just arrived from towns nearby, while Sonya and Lissa went to go and see if they could try contacting Adrian again. The Dhampirs and Alchemists were working together on a plan. After hearing enough of the plan, I got up and walked out of the living room and into the kitchen. I needed to do something. I couldn't just stand around. Adrian was still out there and could already have been turned. A thought hit me and again I pulled out my phone, dialling another familiar number.
"Ms. Terwilliger? It's Sydney Sage. I need your help. Please come and bring ingredients and your spell book. We've got work to do." I said. I rattled off Clarence's address and hung up. Humans using magic was wrong. Completely wrong. I apparently had an affinity for it. I didn't want to use it. But if it helped find Adrian, well...I needed Ms. Terwilliger's help to use it. The Guardians and Alchemists were all still working on the plan to rescue Adrian, so I rushed outside and waited for Ms. Terwilliger. When she arrived, I hurried over to her car and helped her with all the things we needed.
"Glad to see you're taking an interest in your magical talents." She said. I rolled my eyes.
"Let's cut to the chase. Adrian's missing and I'm going with the Guardians to find him. I need my own weapons. And you're going to help me make them." I turned and walked inside, Ms. Terwilliger hurrying after. Inside, I sought out Rose.
"Rose?" She turned around and smiled, then looked over my shoulder. I followed her gaze and saw she was looking at Ms. Terwilliger. My teacher was looking around the room. Her gaze settled on me and Rose. She moved through the crowd and stood in front of us. "Rose? This is my History teacher Ms. Terwilliger. Ma'am? This is Guardian Rose Hathaway." They shook hands and Ms. Terwilliger smiled at Rose. Rose looked at me in confusion and opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by another voice.
"You have magic." Said Sonya standing behind Ms. Terwilliger, wonder shone in her eyes. My teacher turned around and grinned at Sonya.
"Jackie Terwilliger. And yes, I have magic," Ms. Terwilliger gestured at me. "As does young Sydney." Rose stood there looking dumbfounded.
"Humans using magic? But that's...thats'-"
"Absurd? Preposterous? Impossible? Completely and utterly wrong?" I finished for her. Rose could only nod her head.
"But not entirely unheard of." Sonya said. I turned and looked at her. "What? I've met a few humans who use magic. Plus, well, her aura gave it away. All humans who use magic basically have the same colours in their aura; green, blue, with just a hint of yellow. If I look closer at yours Sydney, I can still see the yellow and purple, they're brighter than ever, but I can also see hints of blue and green."
"Huh, interesting," Was all I said. I turned to Ms. Terwilliger. "Come on. We have spells to make. We can use the spare room." I turned to Sonya and Rose, "Let me know when we're ready to go." They both nodded their heads and I showed Ms. Terwilliger the way to the spare room.
Once we were safely in the spare room, Ms. Terwilliger asked me what spells I wanted to make. I told her I wanted more of the Fire Amulets; the ones I'd made and then used on a Strigoi a while back. It had surprised me when it worked, and now that I knew it worked, well, I was going up against more Strigoi and the amulets were the greatest weapon I could need. We immediately set to work, putting all our concentration and effort into the amulets. Sometime later Jill came in; I looked up at her just as I was putting the finishing touches on the last one.
"They're getting ready." She said, my heart missed a couple of beats. This was it. We were going to rescue Adrian.
"Good thing we're finished here. I'll be out in a minute." Jill nodded and turned away, walking back down the hallway. I began putting the amulets in my purse. I was glad I had a spacious purse; otherwise all the amulets wouldn't fit.
"I have to go," I said to Ms. Terwilliger. "Thank you for your help. I appreciate it."
"You're welcome dear. Do you remember the incantation?"
I nodded, "Yes. I remember." Ms. Terwilliger patted my shoulder.
"Go bring him home." She was smiling. I smiled in return and sliding my purse up onto my shoulder, I turned and walked out of the room. In the living room, everyone was preparing to leave. A hand touched my shoulder and I spun around. It was Jill.
"Bring him home. Alive." She said.
"I will. Have you felt anything more from him?" I asked. She shook her head.
"Just little flashes of the basement. And pain. A lot of pain." Jill's jade green eyes filled with tears. I pulled her into a hug. "Please bring him home Sydney. I don't him to be in any more pain." She murmured against my shoulder.
"I promise on my life; we will find Adrian and we will bring him home. Alive and safe." Over her shoulder, I saw Dimitri walk up to me. I pulled away from Jill and looked up at Dimitri's tall form.
"Are you ready? The first round of Guardians have already left. They'll be scouting the area. We'll be leaving as soon as they ring." And right at that moment, a phone rang. A quick murmured conversation.
"Let's go." Shouted one of the Guardians. Dimitri turned back to me,
"You'll be riding with me, Rose, Eddie and Angeline," He put a hand on my shoulder. "You sure you want to do this?" I glared at him.
"Of course I want to do this. Am I scared? Yes. I want to bring Adrian back. Alive." I turned to Jill. "We'll be home soon. Keep an eye on Adrian through the bond and ring us of any changes." She nodded solemnly. I turned back to Dimitri. Rose, Eddie and Angeline had appeared and stood a little behind him. I hoisted my purse further up on my shoulder.
"Let's go destroy some Strigoi and bring Crazy Boy home." I'd flinched when I'd said we'd destroy the Strigoi, knowing full well, that they were Adrian's mom and dad. I turned towards the front door, and the five of us walked out of the house and off to San Diego. To go and rescue Adrian Ivashkov.