Hey guys! Sorry it's been such a busy month, but I have CH14 here! And I hope you enjoy it. :)

DISCLAIMER: VA AND BL ARE NOT MINE.

ADRIAN'S POV

I'd be lying if I said she wasn't the most beautiful girl in the entire room, good lord—in the entire freaking country! It was as if she radiated sunlight. She was so bright, so dazzling, so painfully beautiful, I could not help but stare at the marvelous sight that Sydney Sage was. Her golden hair was pulled up very elegantly, with a few strands of hair framing her mask-covered face. The scarlet dress hugged the curves I didn't even know she had hidden under her 'serious' clothes. It was incredible how she made it look elegant, sexy and sophisticated all at the same time. It was a marvelous sight indeed.

"Adrian? Did you see a ghost or something?" I could hear Christian asking with a smile, trying to recapture my attention, "If it is a ghost, then it must be a pretty ghost, because by God, you look mesmerized."

I turned to Christian.

'Do I really look like an idiot?' I thought, turning back to where Sage was, 'If I do, it must be because of the smile plastered on my face.' She wasn't there anymore.

"It wasn't," I said instead to Christian, with the ghost of a smile, "I just thought I saw someone."

"I know that smile," he said, sounding serious all of a sudden. I quickly looked at him again; his aura had turned a pale pink, as he stared off to where Lissa was, speaking with some royals. He had the hint of a smirk on his face, and he shoved his hands in his pockets. "I've had it myself. It's the smile you get when you have seen something that has rendered you speechless, something whose beauty has taken your breath away, something that gives you hope." He looked at me with understanding written all over his face.

I was surprised that I couldn't agree with him more. She was all of what he mentioned. A beacon of hope, my beacon of hope. It was so weird to admit this, especially because I had only known her for a short period of time. I looked up to her because she was strong and so intelligent, even if she was kind of uptight. But all in all, I had to accept that I did admire her, and even like like her, maybe not romantically—who am I kidding? Yes, romantically. But it would be stupid to start liking her just because she was nice to me. It was probably in her job description to be nice and diplomatic towards Moroi even if they disliked us. But she was different somehow.

'Adrian Ivashkov, you are losing your mind. She is a human and she would never like you back, and even if she did, it would be wrong,' I recited to myself.

"Anyway," Christian said, regaining the snarky tone and the smirk, "I'm off to go to Lissa now. It's been a while, and I'm not evil enough to leave her alone at the claws of the royal wolves much longer."

He stalked off and I was left at the bar, searching for the blonde alchemist again.

CHRISTIAN'S POV

"Thanks—", Adrian started, but something behind me seemed to distract him. A lot of things distracted him, and I was getting used to it, but they were usually bad things. However, I noticed the creeping look in his eyes, and the silent smile he had, which was on the verge of exploding. I turned around to look at what he was looking at.

I knew exactly what—in this case who—Adrian was looking at.

It was the Alchemist, Sydney Sage. She was so—changed, for the lack of words, in a good way though. She wore a dress as red as blood, a shade that made her skin look pale, but unmistakably bright and pure. I could easily see why Adrian would be attracted to her, thought it would create a problem if he hooked up with a human, and an even bigger problem seeing as she was also an Alchemist.

"Adrian? Did you see a ghost or something?" I asked, trying not laugh, knowing exactly who he was looking at, "If it is a ghost, then it must be a pretty ghost, because God, you look mesmerized."

He turned to look at me again, the smile he had tried to hold back won out finally.

It slowly but surely plastered itself on his face. He stared back at where the Alchemist was, but she wasn't there anymore.

"It wasn't," he replied with a smirk, "I just thought I saw someone."

I got it now just by the way he looked at her, he liked liked her. Anyone with eyes could have seen that from miles away.

"I know that smile," I said, as I thought of Lissa, and searched for her automatically. I shoved my hands in my pockets, I had never spoken about how I felt towards Lissa with anyone, but now I was going to. "I've had it myself. It's the smile you get when you have seen something that has rendered you speechless, something whose beauty has taken your breath away, something that gives you hope." I looked at him, expecting him to understand me. If this was anywhere close to what he felt, then he would understand me.

He stared blankly at the distance, suddenly pensive. I smirked at the thought of Adrian falling in love again, this time with a human. Of all people in the world, a human, nonetheless, an Alchemist. But hey, everyone has their tastes.

"Anyway," I said, smirking, "I'm off to go to Lissa now. It's been a while, and I'm not evil enough to leave her alone at the claws of the royal wolves much longer."

I left Adrian in the bar to look for Lissa. She was surrounded by her ring of guardians. This was going to be such a fun night.

ADRIAN'S POV

It didn't take long to find Sage, she was hanging out near Lissa, her and... Jailbait?

Well, at least if Jailbait was there, it wouldn't be too awkward to approach them with her also being there. I walked up to where they were; a few other royals with their masks on recognized me and greeted me, before I quickly brushed them away with the excuse of having to take a call outside because it was too crowded here.

I put on my mask before the group saw me. My mask was a simple red one with black, bold carvings in it and I got closer to where they stood. Sage's back was facing me, so she didn't see me when I approached, but Jailbait and... Rose, did.

"Ladies," I greeted them when I was closer, "Having fun?"

Sage turned around, and time stopped. It just stopped, I swear.

Her eyes looked more golden than ever, complemented by the golden lily tattooed over her left cheek. Her skin was bright and pale and shiny and looked so silky. She looked as delicate as a lily petal, but stronger than a rose with thorns.

"Adrian... hi, um, we just got here," Jailbait said shyly, "We got here a bit late trying to help Sydney get ready."

"Well," I started as I stared at Sage, "I can see it was worth it. She looks breathtaking."

Sage blushed furiously, and stared at her feet.

"I must ask, who's responsible for such an amazing work of art?" I asked smiling, still staring at Sage.

"That would be Jill and I," Rose replied. I didn't really know what was there in her aura. Maybe regret? Begging for forgiveness? Wanting to make it right? She continued, "But mostly it was Sydney's doing, she's responsible for her own beauty."

"I couldn't agree more," I said, trying not to sound too flustered because of Rose's presence, "But Sydney here is getting uncomfortable," I said, as I saw her aura and I gallantly offered my hand for a dance. "Let's dance, Sage, shall we?"

"I'm not uncomfortable, I'm just..." Sage answered, obviously uncomfortable. "I'm fine," she said, as she crossed her arms.

"I'm just going to keep on insisting, Sage." I stood closer to her. By this point, Jill and Rose had already left us. "Don't make this any harder. Plus, our masks are a pair, it would be weird for people not to see the masks as a pair, and I insist," I whispered to her with a mocking smile.

She considered then and replied hesitantly, "Just one dance."

She placed her hand on mine and I grabbed it as she followed me to the dance floor. The music was a classical set played by the quartet on stage. It would involve dancing really close. I took her hand in mine and asked for her permission with my eyes to place my other hand on her waist. She nodded, and then took a heavy breath before placing her free hand on my shoulder, letting it out as she started following my lead. I imagined that this must be tough for her, but she was doing great so far.

"Sage, you make me so happy just by accepting this dance." I exaggerated my joy, and she smiled a bit at that, and then I whispered to her, "I'm also glad you wore the dress, I was sure you wouldn't, but you did and it suits you."

"I wasn't going to come to the dance, but Jillian and Rose came to my room, and forced me to once they saw I was not dressed."

"Well, I'm glad they did," I said, as I made her turn out and then back, "Because I would have regretted not seeing you in that dress, you make it look even more beautiful."

At this point, Sage was almost as red as the dress. It was adorable.

"Don't do that."

"What? Compliment you? But it's true."

"It's not right, stop it."

She started to pull away, but I held on to her hand.

"I'm sorry, Sage," I said quickly before she stepped away, "It won't happen again if you're uncomfortable with it. Forgive me for it, but please continue dancing with me. Don't leave, please."

She let out a sigh and continued dancing. I shouldn't have pushed her this far. It was a miracle she was even here, especially seeing that she was dancing with a Moroi. I wondered if she felt disgusted or if she felt that it was just morally wrong? Or both?

"Let's talk about something else?" I asked her.

"About what?"

"I don't know, about... stuff."

"There are quite the amount of... stuff, to talk about."

"I know," I paused, waiting for her eyes to light with interest, "Have you considered my offer on helping you for the spirit studies?"

"I... haven't," she replied quietly, "Too much has happened lately, and I would have to ask my superiors for their approval. And also remember I'm on probation for helping out Rose on her mission. I don't know if they will approve or if they... have other plans for me."

"You're not going to be sent to re-education, Sage," I told her as confidently as I could, perfectly knowing what she was talking about, "I'm sure they're over-thinking this whole... situation."

"I—I don't know Adrian," she paused, "But if it solely depended on me, I would help you by studying it."

I smiled at that. At least she was telling me that she would willingly study spirit to help me, and not just because she was interested in spirit. I then noticed that there was almost no space in between us.

SYDNEY'S POV

Rose, Jillian and I arrived to the hall shortly after the party had officially started. I was wearing my red, feathered mask, but I was still easily recognized by my lily tattoo. We followed Rose until she saw the group where Lissa and her ring of guardians were standing, and we stood close to them.

We saw how the ring of guardians opened up to let Christian go inside with Lissa. I turned my back to the hall with Rose and Jillian in front of me, facing the door in case I wanted to leave quickly.

However, when someone approached us, I knew exactly who he was just from the way he smelled and spoke.

"Ladies," he said, "Having fun?"

I turned around to face him; he was closer than I thought. He was still wearing the black tuxedo with red vest, and he also wore a red mask with black patterns, which suspiciously reminded me of mine. He was still looking impeccably handsome.

"Adrian... hi, um, we just got here," Jillian said in a shy tone, "We got here a bit late trying to help Sydney get ready."

"Well," Adrian paused, "I can see it was worth it, she looks breathtaking."

I could feel how I obviously blushed from head to toes, and I could only stare at my feet to avoid looking at him. How dare he?

"I must ask, who's responsible for such an amazing work of art?" I could hear how Adrian asked them mockingly, feeling his stare on me.

"That would be Jill and I," Rose added, "But mostly it was Sydney's doing, she's responsible for her own beauty."

"I couldn't agree more," Adrian said, "But Sydney here is getting uncomfortable," I raised my head and saw Adrian's hand asking me for a dance. "Let's dance, Sage, shall we?"

"I'm not uncomfortable, I'm just..." I started to say, but couldn't find any proper words to describe how I was feeling, "I'm fine." I crossed my arms to make it clear I didn't want to dance.

"I'm just going to keep on insisting, Sage," He got closer to me, pleading with his eyes for a dance. I didn't notice when Rose and Jillian left us alone. "Don't make this any harder. Plus, our masks are a pair, it would be weird for people not to see the masks as a pair, and I insist." He whispered, smirking.

People were already watching us, and they had seen our masks. I may not like Moroi, and I am certain I have never danced with one before, but my dislike towards them will possibly never outshine my sense of respect, and it would be completely disrespectful to just leave him there hanging and refusing him.

"Just one dance," I stated.

I placed my hand on his opened hand hanging mid-air, and followed him to the dance floor. It was classical music, the one that involved close contact dancing. The thought of it made me nervous. We finally stopped, and he held my hand in his, and he stared at me. I quickly understood that he was asking for permission to place his other hand on my waist. I nodded, and took a deep breath as I placed my free hand on his shoulder. Then we started dancing. Just a few weeks ago, I was on a mission that involved being on the run with two dhampirs and several Moroi, and today, I was dancing with one. What are you doing, Sydney?

"Sage, you make me so happy by accepting this dance." Adrian did an over-dramatic interpretation of his probable happiness. I couldn't avoid smiling at that. He whispered, "I'm also glad you wore the dress. I was sure you wouldn't, but you did and it suits you."

"I wasn't going to come to the dance," I said, trying to brush off the effect of his raspy voice being whispered in my ear, "But Jillian and Rose came to my room, and forced me to once they saw I was not dressed."

"Well, I'm glad they did," He said, almost smiling and making me turn outwards, and then back to him, "Because I would have regretted not seeing you in that dress, you make it look even more beautiful."

I'm sure I couldn't have blushed any more than I already had. It was either because I was embarrassed, or annoyed that he kept on saying I looked great.

"Don't do that." I said seriously.

"What? Compliment you? But it's true."

"It's not right, stop it."

This was it, he was taking it too far. I started pulling away, but he grabbed my hand again and pulled me to him.

"I'm sorry, Sage." He pleaded with his eyes for forgiveness, with not a hint of deceit. "It won't happen again if you're uncomfortable with it. Forgive me for it, but please stay dancing with me. Don't leave, please."

I sighed. How is it that I ended up dancing with a Moroi? This was wrong in so many ways, even if it was just a dance. I shouldn't even interact with them. This was just on a whole different level now.

"Let's talk about something else?" He asked, out of the blue.

"About what?"

"I don't know, about... stuff."

"There are quite the amount of... stuff, to talk about." I immediately thought of architecture, cars, coffee, Rome...

"I know," Adrian paused, intently staring at me. "Have you considered my offer on helping you for the spirit studies?"

"I... haven't," He took me by surprise with that question. "Too much has happened lately, and I would have to ask my superiors for their approval. And also remember I'm on probation for helping out Rose on her mission. I don't know if they will approve or if they... have other plans for me."

"You're not going to be sent to re-education, Sage. I'm sure they're over-thinking this whole... situation." He spoke with confidence, as though he knew foe certain I wouldn't ever end up there.

"I—I don't know Adrian," I said hesitantly. They probably would if they heard me saying what I was going to say next, "But if it solely depended on me, I would help you by studying it."

Adrian smiled at that, and I noticed how the space between us was close to nonexistent. I was getting terribly used to his smile and his presence. It was so morally and ethically wrong. It made me wonder if I really deserved the re-education. I was drifting off these beliefs, of course I deserved if. And dancing with a Moroi was nowhere near helping my case, even if this same Moroi saved my life from Strigoi.

"I... I need to go," I said hastily and tore away from him.

I headed to the door as fast as I could without running. I heard him calling my name several times, but I didn't stop to care. I shouldn't have come.

Outside the hall, there were gardens with different colored roses in each one. I was almost certain they hadn't been here before when we had come in. I must have taken the wrong doors to exit the hall, and instead I had come to the gardens. There was no exit except for the same door I had come from, but Adrian was already there. I was trapped.

"Sage," Adrian yelled as he followed me to the gardens and stood behind me, "Did I say something wrong? Did I... did I offend you in anyway?"

I turned around and saw him. He looked flustered, as if a thousand things were going through his head at the same time.

"No, Adrian," I told him almost on the verge of crying, "Just understand me, this is extremely difficult to me. I have exceeded the quota of how much I can handle in a day. You did nothing wrong, it's just... me."

"And you have been excellent, Sydney." He looked hurt, but he also looked as though he understood what I was going through. "You are a real Alchemist and a really, really brave one. Hell," He exclaimed raising his hands above his head, "The bravest Alchemist that has existed for doing what you just did. I'm sure no one could have done it better than you did."

He smiled lightly and then added, "Come on. I'll take you to your room, okay?"

I gave him a small smile and nodded.

Downfall from here. Expect the unexpected. ;)

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