Bloodlines Chapter Three

THE DRIVE TO PALM SPRINGS WAS AGONY.I was exhausted from macrocosm dragged out of bed, and heretofore when Keith took over the wheel, I couldnt run into a quietus. I had too such(prenominal) on my mind Zoe, my re commitation, the mission at mickle. My thoughts spun in circles. I bonnie cherished to fix all the problems in my life. Keiths driving did nothing to make me less anxious.I was also upset because my father hadnt let me say true(p)bye to my mom. Hed gone on and on nigh how we should only if let her sleep, solely I k unfermented the truth. He was afraid that if she knew I was leaving, shed try to stop us. Shed been furious after my stick up mission Id gone center(a) rough the domain alone, only to be returned with no clue as to what my future held. My mom had thought the Alchemists had used me badly and had told my dad it was just as come up they seemed to be done with me. I dont know if she really couldve stood in the way of tonights plans, only when I didnt essential to take my chances in case Zoe got move instead of me. I certainly hadnt expected a warm and fuzzy fare swell up from him, unless it felt strange leaving on such chatoyant terms with my sister and arrive.When dawn came, briefly turning the desert landscape of Nevada into a blazing sea of red and copper, I gave up on sleep alto peeher and decided to just power through. I bought a twenty-four-ounce cup of c move outee from a gas station and assured Keith I could drive us the rest of the way. He mirthfully gave up the wheel, scarcely rather than sleep, he bought coffee as well and chatted me up for the remaining hours. He was still departure strong with his new were-friends attitude, almost making me wish for his earlier animosity. I was determined not to give him any cause to doubt me, so I worked hard to smile and nod appropriately. It was agreeable of hard to do while constantly gritting my teeth.Some of the conversation wasnt so bad. I could handle business talk, and we had pile of details to still work out. He told me all he knew slightly the school, and I ate up his description of my future home. Amberwood Preparatory School was manifestly a prestigious place, and I idly wondered if maybe I could treat it as pretend college. By Alchemist standards, I knew all I compulsory for my telephone line, but something in me incessantly burned for much and more experience. Id had to learn to content myself with my own reading and research, but still, college or regular just being some those who knew more and had something to teach me had long been a fantasy of mine.As a senior, I would rescue off-campus privileges, and one of our first orders of business after securing fake IDs was to astonish me a car. acute I wouldnt be trapped at a boarding school tired of(p)e things a numeral more bear subject, even though it was obvious that half of Keiths enthusiasm for getting me my own transportation was to make sure I could shoulder any wo rk that came along with the job.Keith also teach me about something I hadnt realized but probably should see. You and that Jill girl are being enrolled as sisters, he express. What? It was a measure of my self-control that my hold on the car never wavered. Living with a vampire was one thing but being related to one?Why? I demanded.I apothegm him shrug in my periphery. Why not? It explains wherefore youll be around her so much and is a good excuse for you to be roommates. Normally, the school doesnt couple students who are different ages, but well your parents promised a hefty donation that make them change their natural policy.I was so stunned that I didnt even have my normal gut reaction to slap him when he concluded with his self-satisfied chuckle. Id known wed be living together but sisters? It was weird. No, not just that. Outlandish.Thats crazy, I said at last, still too shocked to come up with a more eloquent response.Its just on paper, he said.True. provided somet hing about being cast as a vampire relative threw my whole order off. I prided myself on the way Id learned to behave around vampires, but part of that came from the strict belief that I was an outsider, a business associate distinct and removed. Playacting as Jills sister destroyed those lines. It brought about a familiarity that I wasnt sure I was ready for.Living with one of them shouldnt be so bad for you, Keith commented, drumming his fingers against the window in a way that put my nerves on edge. Something about the too-casual way he spoke made me cogitate he was leading me into a trap. Youre used to it.Hardly, I said, choosing my treatments carefully. I was with them for a week at most. And actually, most of my time was spent with dhampirs.Same difference, he replied dismissively. If anything, the dhampirs are worse. Theyre abominations. Not human, but not full vampires. Products of unnatural unions.I didnt respond right away and instead pretended to be deeply interested in the road ahead. What he said was true, by Alchemist teaching. Id been raised trust that both races of vampires, Moroi and Strigoi, were dark and wrong. They needed blood to survive. What kind of person drank from another? It was disgusting, and just thinking about how Id curtly be ferrying Moroi to their feedings made me ill. scarcely the dhampirs that was a trickier matter. Or at least, it was for me now. The dhampirs were half human and half vampire, created at a time when the twain races had mingled freely. Over the centuries, vampires had pulled away from humans, and both of our races now concord that those kinds of unions were taboo. The dhampir race had persisted against all odds, however, in spite of the fact that dhampirs couldnt reproduce with each other. They could with Moroi or humans, and plenty of Moroi were up to the task.Right? asked Keith.I realized he was perfect(a) at me, waiting for me to agree with him about dhampirs being abominations or maybe he was hopi ng I would disagree. Regardless, Id been quiet for too long.Right, I said. I mustered the standard Alchemist rhetoric. In some ways, theyre worse than the Moroi. Their race was never meant to exist.You scared me there for a second, Keith said. I was watching the road but had a sneaking suspicion hed just winked at me. I thought you were going to defend them. I shouldve known better than to believe the stories about you. I can totally get why youd want to gamble at the glory but man, that had to have been harsh, trying to work with one of them.I couldnt explain how once youd spent a exact time with Rose Hathaway, it was easy to forget she was a dhampir. Even physically, dhampirs and humans were virtually indistinguishable. Rose was so full of life and passion that sometimes she seemed more human than I was. Rose certainly wouldnt have meekly accepted this job with a simpering, Yes, sir. Not wish well me.Rose hadnt even accepted being locked in jail, with the weight of the Moroi go vernment against her. Abe Mazurs blackmail had been a catalyst that spurred me to ease her, but Id also never believed that Rose had committed the murder theyd accused her of. That certainty, along with our fragile friendship, had driven me to break Alchemist rules to help Rose and her dhampir boyfriend, the formidable Dimitri Belikov, elude the authorities.Throughout it all, Id watched Rose with a kind of wonder as she battled the world. I couldnt invidia someone who wasnt human, but I could certainly envy her strength and refusal to back down, no matter what.But again, I could hardly tell Keith any of that. And I still didnt believe for an instant, disrespect his sunny act, that he was suddenly okay with me coming along.I gave a small shrug. I thought it was worth the risk.Well, he said, seeing I wasnt going to offer anything more. The next time you decide to go rogue with vampires and dhampirs, get a little backup so you dont get in as much trouble.I scoffed. I have no intent ion of going rogue again. That, at least, was the truth.We reached Palm Springs late in the afternoon and got to work immediately with our tasks. I was dying for sleep by that point, and even Keith despite his talkativeness looked a little worn around the edges. But wed gotten the word that Jill and her entourage were arriving tomorrow, leaving very little time to put the remaining details in place.A visit to Amberwood Prep revealed that my family was expanding. Apparently, the dhampir coming with Jill was enrolling as well and would be playing our brother. Keith was also going to be our brother. When I questioned that, he explained that we needed someone local to act as our legal guardian should Jill or any of us need to be pulled from school or granted some privilege. Since our fictitious parents lived out of state, getting results from him would be faster. I couldnt fault the logic, even though I found being related to him more repulsive than having dhampirs or vampires in the family. And that was saying a solidification.Later on, a drivers license from a reputable fake ID maker declared that I was now Sydney Katherine Melrose, from South Dakota. We chose South Dakota because we figured the locals didnt see too many licenses from that state and wouldnt be able to spot any flaws in it. Not that I expected there to be. The Alchemists didnt associate with people who did second-rate work. I also liked the picture of great deal Rushmore on the license. It was one of the few places in the United States that Id never been.The day wrapped up with what I had most been sounding forward to a self-gratification to a car dealer. Keith and I did almost as much haggling with each other as we did with the salesman. Id been raised to be practical and go forward my emotions in check, but I loved cars. That was one of the few legacies Id picked up from my mom. She was a mechanic, and some of my best childhood memories were of working in the garage with her.I particul arly had a weakness for sports cars and vintage cars, the kinds with big engines that I knew were bad for the environment but that I guiltily loved anyway. Those were out of the question for this job, though. Keith argued that I needed something that could hold everyone, as well as any cargo and that wouldnt attract a propagate of attention. Once more, I conceded to his reasoning like a good little Alchemist.But I dont see why it has to be a station wagon, I told him.Our shopping had led us down to a new Subaru Outback that met most of his requirements. My car instincts told me the Subaru would do what I needed. It would handle well and had a decent engine, for what it was. And yetI feel like a association football mom, I said. Im too young for that.Soccer moms drive vans, Keith told me. And theres nothing wrong with soccer.I scowled. Does it have to be brown, though?It did, unless we wanted a used one. As much as I wouldve liked something in blue or red, the newness took preced ence. My fastidious nature didnt like the idea of driving someone elses car. I wanted it to be mine shiny, new, and clean. So, we made the deal, and I, Sydney Melrose, became the proud owner of a brown station wagon. I named it Latte, hoping my love of coffee would soon transfer to the car.Once our errands were done, Keith leave me for his apartment in downtown Palm Springs. He offered to let me stay there as well, but Id politely refused and gotten a hotel room, grateful for the Alchemists deep pockets. Honestly, I wouldve paid with my own money to save me from sleeping under the same roof as Keith Darnell.I ordered a light dinner up to my room, relishing the alone time after all those hours in the car with Keith. Then I changed into pajamas and decided to call my mom. Even though I was glad to be free of my dads disapproval for a while, I would miss having her around.Those are good cars, she told me after I began the call by explaining my trip to the dealership. My mother had a lways been a free spirit, which was an unlikely match for someone like my dad. While hed been teaching me chemical equations, shed showed me how to change my own oil. Alchemists didnt have to marry other Alchemists, but I was baffled by whatever forces had drawn my parents together. Maybe my father had been less uptight when he was younger.I guess, I said, knowing I sounded sullen. My mother was one of the few people I could be anything less than perfect or content around. She was a big advocate of letting your feelings out. I think Im just annoyed that I didnt have much say in it.Annoyed? Im furious that he didnt even talk to me about it, she huffed. I cant believe he just smuggled you out like that Youre my daughter, not some commodity that he can just move around. For a moment, my mother reminded me weirdly of Rose both possessed that unflinching tendency to say what was on their minds. That ability seemed strange and exotic to me, but sometimes when I thought about my own care fully controlled and reserved nature I wondered if maybe I was the weird one.He didnt know all the details, I said, automatically defending him. With my fathers temper, if my parents were mad at each other, then life at home would be unpleasant for Zoe not to mention my mom. Better to ensure peace. They hadnt told him everything.I hate them sometimes. on that point was a growl in my moms voice. Sometimes I hate him too.I wasnt sure what to say to that. I resented my father, sure, but he was still my father. A lot of the hard choices he made were because of the Alchemists, and I knew that no matter how stifled I felt sometimes, the Alchemists job was important. Humans had to be protected from the existence of vampires. Knowing vampires existed would create a panic. Worse, it could drive some weak-willed humans into becoming slaves to the Strigoi in exchange for immortality and the eventual corruption of their souls. It happened more often than we liked to admit.Its fine, Mom, I sa id soothingly. Im fine. Im not in trouble anymore, and Im in the U.S. even. Actually, I wasnt sure if the trouble part was really true, but I thought the latter would soothe her. Stanton had told me to keep our location in Palm Springs secret, but giving up that we were domestic wouldnt hurt too much and might make my mom think I had an easier job ahead of me than I likely did. She and I talked a little bit more before hanging up, and she told me shed heard from my sister Carly. All was well with her at college, which I was relieved to hear. I wanted desperately to find out about Zoe as well but resisted asking to talk to her. I was afraid that if she got on the phone, Id find out she was still mad at me. Or, worse, that she wouldnt speak to me at all.I went to bed feeling melancholy, wishing I could have poured out all my fears and insecurities to my mom. Wasnt that what normal mothers and daughters did? I knew she wouldve welcomed it. I was the one who had trouble letting myself g o, too wrapped up in Alchemist secrets to be a normal teenager.After a long sleep, and with the morning sunlight streaming through my window, I felt a little better. I had a job to do, and having subroutine shifted me out of feeling sorry for myself. I remembered that I was doing this for Zoe, for Moroi and humans alike. It allowed me to center myself and push my insecurities aside at least, for now.I picked up Keith around noon and flock us outside of the city to meet Jill and the recluse Moroi whod be helping us. Keith had a lot to say about the computerized axial tomography, whose name was Clarence Donahue. Clarence had lived in Palm Springs for tercet years, ever since the death of his niece in Los Angeles, which had apparently had quite a traumatic effect on the man. Keith had met him a couple of times on past jobs and unplowed making jokes about Clarences tenuous grip on sanity.Hes a few pints short of a blood bank, you know? Keith said, chuckling to himself. I bet hed be en waiting age to use that line.The jokes were in poor taste and stupid to boot but as we got closer and closer to Clarences home, Keith eventually became very quiet and nervous. Something occurred to me.How many Moroi have you met? I asked as we pulled off the main road and turned into a long and winding driveway. The house was straight out of a Gothic movie, box-shaped and made of gray bricks that were completely at odds with most of the Palm Springs architecture wed scene. The only reminder that we were in southern California was the ubiquitous typewriter ribbon trees surrounding the house. It was a weird juxtaposition.Enough, said Keith evasively. I can handle being around them.The confidence in his tone sounded forced. I realized that despite his brashness about this job, his comments on the Moroi and dhampir races, and his judgment of my actions, Keith was actually very, very uncomfortable with the idea of being around non-humans. It was understandable. Most Alchemists we re. A large part of our job didnt even involve interacting with the vampiric world it was the human world that needed tending. Records had to be covered up, witnesses bribed. The majority of Alchemists had very little contact with our subjects, meaning most Alchemists knowledge came from the stories and teachings passed down through the families. Keith had said hed met Clarence but made no mention of spending time with other Moroi or dhampirs certainly not a group, like we were about to face.I was no more excited to hang around vampires than he was, but I realized it didnt scare me nearly as much as it once would have. Rose and her companions had given me a tough skin. Id even been to the Moroi Royal Court, a place few Alchemists had ever visited. If Id walked away from the heart of their elegance intact, I was certain I could handle whatever was inside this house. Admittedly, it wouldve been a little easier if Clarences house didnt look so much like a creepy haunted manor from a horror movie.We walked up to the door, presenting a united front in our stylish, formal Alchemist attire. Whatever his faults, Keith cleaned up well. He wore khaki shorts with a white button-up shirt and navy silk tie. The shirt had short sleeves, though I doubted that was helping much in the heat. It was early September, and the temperature had been pushing ninety when I left my hotel. I was equally hot in a brown skirt, tights, and a cap-sleeved blouse scattered with tan flowers.Belatedly, I realized we kind of matched.Keith lifted his hand to knock at the door, but it opened before he could do anything. I flinched, a bit unnerved despite the assurances Id just given myself.The guy who opened the door looked just as surprised to see us. He held a cigarette pack in one hand and appeared as though hed been heading outside to smoke. He paused and gave us a once-over.So. Are you guys here to convert me or sell me siding?The disarming comment was enough to help me shake off my anxie ty. The speaker was a Moroi guy, a little older than me, with dark brown hair that had undoubtedly been painstakingly styled to look messy. Unlike Keiths preposterously over-gelled attempts, this guy had actually done it in a way that looked good. Like all Moroi, he was pale and had a tall, lean build. Emerald green eyes analyze us from a face that could have been sculpted by one of the classical artists I so admired. Shocked, I dismissed the comparison as soon as it popped into my head. This was a vampire, after all. It was ridiculous to admire him the way I would some hot human guy.Mr. Ivashkov, I said politely. Its nice to see you again.He frowned and studied me from his greater height. I know you. How do I know you?We I started to say met but realized that wasnt quite right since we hadnt been formally introduced the last time I had seen him. Hed simply been present when Stanton and I had been hauled to the Moroi Court for questioning. We ran into each other last month. At yo ur Court.Recognition lit his eyes. Right. The Alchemist. He thought for a moment and then surprised me when he pulled up my name. With everything else that had been going on when I was at the Moroi Court, I hadnt expected to make an impression. Sydney Sage.I nodded, trying not to look flustered at the recognition. Then I realized Keith had frozen up beside me. Hed claimed he could handle being around Moroi, but apparently, that meant staring gape-mouthed and not saying a word. Keeping a pleasant smile on, I said, Keith, this is Adrian Ivashkov.Adrian, this is my colleague, Keith Darnell.Adrian held out his hand, but Keith didnt shake it. Whether that was because Keith was still shell-shocked or because he simply didnt want to touch a vampire, I couldnt say. Adrian didnt seem to mind. He dropped his hand and took out a lighter, stepping past us as he did. He nodded toward the doorway.Theyre waiting for you. Go on in. Adrian leaned close to Keiths ear and spoke in an ominous voice. If . You. Dare. He poked Keiths shoulder and gave a Muhahaha kind of monster laugh.Keith nearly leapt ten feet in the air. Adrian chuckled and strolled off down a garden path, lighting his cigarette as he walked. I glared after him though it had been kind of funny and nudged Keith toward the door. Come on, I said. The chill of air conditioning brushed against me.If nothing else, Keith seemed to have come alive. What was that about? he demanded as we stepped into the house. He nearly attacked meI shut the door. It was about you looking like an idiot. And he didnt do a thing to you. Could you have acted any more terrified? They know we dont like them, and you looked like you were ready to bolt.Admittedly, I kind of liked seeing Keith caught off guard, but human solidarity left no question about which side I was on.I did not, argued Keith, though he was patently embarrassed. We walked down a long hallway with dark wood floors and trim that seemed to absorb all light. God, what is wron g with these people? Oh, I know. They arent people.Hush, I said, a bit shocked at the vehemence in his voice. Theyre right in there. Cant you hear them?Heavy French doors met us at the end of the hall. The glass was frosted and stained, obscuring what was inside, but a low murmur of voices could still be heard. I knocked on the door and waited until a voice called an entry. The anger on Keiths face vanished as the two of us exchanged brief, commiserating looks. This was it. The beginning.We stepped through.When I saw who was inside, I had to stop my jaw from dropping like Keiths had earlier.For a moment, I couldnt breathe. Id mocked Keith for being afraid around vampires and dhampirs, but now, face-to-face with a group of them, I suddenly felt trapped. The walls threatened to close in on me, and all I could think about were fangs and blood. My world reeled and not just because of the groups size.Abe Mazur was here.Breathe, Sydney. Breathe, I told myself. It wasnt easy, though. Abe represented a thousand fears for me, a thousand entanglements Id gotten myself into.Slowly, my surroundings crystallized, and I regained control. Abe wasnt the only one here, after all, and I made myself focus on the others and ignore him.Three other people sat in the room with him, two of whom I recognized. The unknown, an elderly Moroi with thinning hair and a big white mustache, had to be our host, Clarence.Sydney That was Jill Mastrano, her eyes lighting up with delight. I liked Jill, but I hadnt thought Id made enough of an impression on the girl to warrant such a welcome. Jill almost looked like she would run up and hug me, and I prayed that she wouldnt. I didnt need Keith to see that. More importantly, I didnt need Keith reporting about that.Beside Jill was a dhampir, one I knew in the same way I knew Adrian that is, Id seen him but had never been introduced. Eddie Castile had also been present when I was questioned at the Royal Court and, if memory served, had been in some trouble of his own. For all intents and purposes, he looked human, with an athletic body and face that had spent a lot of time in the sun. His hair was a sandy brown, and his hazel eyes regarded me and Keith in a friendly but wary way. Thats how it was with guardians. They were always on alert, always watching for the next threat. In some ways, I found it reassuring.My survey of the room soon returned me to Abe, who had been watching and seemed amused by my obvious avoidance of him. A sly smile spread over his features.Why, Miss Sage, he said slowly. Arent you going to say hello to me?