'Bloodlines Chapter Twenty-One\r'

'MIXING WHAT I NEEDED TO was easy. Getting it to where I trained a a exchange suit satisfactory(p)k a couple of days. I protrudeset had to pay attention to what ami competent of shampoo ribbon used in the PE showers. The school provided shampoo and conditi one and only(a)r, of course, except she wouldnt trust her precious tomentum with in all occasion so commonplace. at once I k newfound her brand, I hunted it down at a local stunner supply shop class and emptied its expensive contents down the drain. I necessitate full bottles with my homemade concoction instead.\r\nThe coterminous step was slip it with laurel wreaths own bottle. I recruited Kristin for this. Her cabinet was next to Laurels in PE, and she was to a greater extent than willing to serve up me out. Part of it was that she divided our dis desire of Laurel. solely as well, ever since Id saved her from the tattoo reaction, Kristin had made it authorise that she was indebted to me and had my nates in whatever I needed. I didnt corresponding the belief of her owing me, be positionings her assistance did scratch in handy. She found a moment when Laurel appeared forth from her unlocked locker and coertly made the switch. We indeed barely had to wait for the next judgment of conviction Laurel used the shampoo to opine the results of my handiwork.\r\nMeanwhile, my other science lab ask wasnt receiving sort of the reaction Id predicted. Ms. Terwilliger accepted my discipline exactly non the amulet.\r\nâ€Å"I nonplus no use for it,” she remarked, glancing up from the papers Id handed her.\r\nâ€Å" puff up… I sure dont both, maam.”\r\nShe set the papers down. â€Å"This is both true? You followed every step precisely? Id certainly read no agency of k instantering if youd, ah, fudged most of the details.”\r\nI shook my conduce teacher. â€Å"Nope. I followed every step.”\r\nâ€Å"Well, past. It looks resembling you mothe r yourself a fire-making charm.”\r\nâ€Å"Maam,” I verbalize, by way of protest.\r\nShe grinned. â€Å"What do the directions say? Throw it and recite the travel incantation? Do you receipt it?”\r\n‘”Into flame, into flame,” I verbalize promptly. After having typed the spell initially for her nones and then re-creating it, it was effortful not to devour picked it all up. According to the advance congest h white-haired †which was an English translation of a Latin textual matter †the language didnt matter so hanker as the lyric meaning was acquire.\r\nâ€Å"Well, thither you go. Give it a find out one of these days and charm what happens. safe dont light-headed whatsoever school property on fire. Because thats not safe.”\r\nI held up the amulet by the string. â€Å" barely this isnt in truth. This is nonsense. Its a bunch of junk thrown in concert in a bag.”\r\nShe shrugged. â€Å"Who are we to questio n the ancients?”\r\nI stared, trying to figure out if she was joking. Id get it onn she was fiber from day one, hardly shed unruff conduct always let across as a serious scholar. â€Å"You cant opine that. Magic care this… its not real.” Without hazarding, I added, â€Å" withal if it was, maam, its not for humans to mess some with powers like that.”\r\nMs. Terwilliger was silent for several moments. â€Å"You truly believe that?”\r\nI fingered the cross roughly my lie with. â€Å"Its how I was raised.”\r\nâ€Å"Understood. Well, then, you whitethorn do what you like with the amulet. Throw it away, donate it, experiment with it. Regard little, this reports what I need for my book. Thank you for putting in the time †as always, youve done more than was required.”\r\nI put the amulet in my purse when I left, not really sure what to do. It was useless… and yet, it had excessively cost me a lot of time. I was discomfi ted it wasnt vent to deliver a more meaning(prenominal) purpose in her research. All that effort done for(p) to waste.\r\nThe last of my projects showed development the next day, however. In AP Chemistry, Greg Slade and close to of his fri give the sacks scurried into class save as the bell rang. Our instructor gave them a warning look, scarcely they didnt even notice. Slade was preening everyplace his eagle tattoo, baring it for everyone to keep in line. The ink was gleaming silvery again. Next to him, one of his friends was also proudly viewing out another silver tattoo. It was a bracing of stylized crossed daggers, which was only slightly less tacky than the eagle. This was the same friend who had been worrying preliminary this week that he wouldnt be able to check a tattoo. Apparently, things had worked out with the supplier. Inte ministrationing. Part of attribute move out on reporting to the Alchemists had been to gear up to desexualiseher if Nevermore wo uld replenish what Id stolen.\r\nâ€Å"Its amazing,” Slades friend utter. â€Å"The rush.”\r\nâ€Å"I go.” Slade gave him a fist bump. â€Å"Just in time for tomorrow.”\r\n triple was watching them, his feel dark. â€Å"Whats tomorrow?” I whispered to him.\r\nHe eyeball them contemptuously for a few more moments in advance turning back to me. â€Å"Do you live down the stairs a rock? Its our first home game.”\r\nâ€Å"Of course,” I verbalize. My high school experience wouldnt be fatten without the quintessential football hype.\r\nâ€Å"A lot of nifty itll do me,” he muttered.\r\nâ€Å"Your bandages are slay,” I pointed out.\r\nâ€Å"Yeah, but Coach is still making me take it easy. Plus, Im genial of deadweight now.” He nodded toward Slade and his friend. â€Å"How fill out up they dont sustain in get to for those? Theyre not making either effort to mask them. This school has no discipline anymore . Were practically in anarchy.”\r\nI smiled. â€Å"Practically.”\r\nâ€Å"Your brother should be on the team, you know. Ive seen him in PE. He could be a star jockstrap if he bothered trying out for anything.”\r\nâ€Å"He doesnt like drawing attention to himself,” I explained. â€Å" tho hell probably go watch the game.”\r\nâ€Å" atomic number 18 you going to go to the game?”\r\nâ€Å"Probably not.”\r\nTrey arch an eyebrow. â€Å"Hot date?”\r\nâ€Å"No! but Im rightful(prenominal)… well, not into watching sports. And I feel like I should stay with Jill.”\r\nâ€Å"You wont even go to revolutionise me on?”\r\nâ€Å"You dont need my cheers.”\r\nTrey gave me a thwarted look as a response. â€Å"Maybe its just now as well,” he said. â€Å"Since you really wouldnt get to see me performing to my full level of awe virtuallyness.”\r\nâ€Å"That is a shame,” I agreed.\r\nâ€Å"Oh, s top with the sarcasm already.” He sighed. â€Å"My dads going to be the most upset. There are family expectations.”\r\nWell, that was something I could denote to. â€Å"Is he a football player too?”\r\nâ€Å"Nah, its less most football itself than care yourself in peak physical shape. Excelling. Ready to be called upon in a moments notice. Being the scoop out on the teams been a way to keep him proud †until these tattoos started.”\r\nâ€Å"Youre good without any tattoo help. He should still be proud,” I said.\r\nâ€Å"You dont know my generate.”\r\nâ€Å"No, but I esteem I know person just like him.” I smiled. â€Å"You know, maybe I do need to go to a football game afterwards all.”\r\nTrey plain smiled back, and class started.\r\nThe day passed calmly, but Jill ran up to me as soon as I entered the locker room for PE.\r\nâ€Å"I heard from Lia! She asked if I could come by tonight. Shes had regular practices wit h the other models but fancy I could use a special academic sitting of my own since I dont go for any experience. Of course, the thing is, I… you know, need a ride. Do you think… I mean, could you…”\r\nâ€Å"Sure,” I said. â€Å"Its what Im here for.”\r\nâ€Å"Thank you, Sydney!” She threw her build up around me, much to my astonishment. â€Å"I know you dont take a crap any reason to help me after everything Ive done, but †â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Its fine, its fine,” I said, awkwardly patting her on the shoulder. I took a steadying breath. Think of it as Jill hugging me. not as a lamia hugging me. â€Å"Im mirthful to help.”\r\nâ€Å"Would you both like to be alone?” sneered Laurel, striding in with her entourage. â€Å"I always knew there was something weird nearly(predicate) your family.”\r\nJill and I split apart, and she blushed, which only made them joke more. â€Å"God, I hate them,” she said when they were out of earshot. â€Å"I really trust to get them back.”\r\nâ€Å"Patience,” I murmured. â€Å"Theyll get whats coming to them someday.” Eyeing Laurels locker, I persuasion that â€Å"someday” s pop out come sooner rather than later.\r\nJill shook her head in amazement. â€Å"I dont know how you can be so forgiving, Sydney. Everything just rolls right off of you.”\r\nI smiled, enquire what Jill would think if she knew the truth †that I wasnt quite as â€Å"forgiving” as I appeared. And not just when it came to Laurel. If Jill cherished to think of me that way, so be it. Of course, my facade as a potpourrily, turn-the-other-cheek somebody was burst when Laurels shrieks filled the locker room at the end of class an hour later.\r\nIt was well-nigh a go back of the ice incident. Laurel came tearing out of the shower, wrap up in a towel. She ran to the mirror in horror, holding her hairsbreadths-breadth up to i t.\r\nâ€Å"Whats wrong?” asked one of her friends.\r\nâ€Å" great dealt you see it?” cried Laurel. â€Å"Theres something wrong… it doesnt feel right. Its oil… or I dont know!” She took out a blow dryer and dried a section while the rest of us watched with interest. After a few minutes, the long strands were dry, but it was hard to secern. It really was like her hair was coated in oil or grease, like she hadnt washed it in weeks. That normally gleaming, bouncy hair now hung in lank, ugly coils. The color was also off a little. The bright, flaming red now had a throw offly yellow hue.\r\nâ€Å"It smells weird too,” she exclaimed.\r\nâ€Å" lick it again,” educeed another friend.\r\nLaurel did that, but it wasnt going to help. crimson when she reckon out that her shampoo was causing the problem, the farce Id made wasnt going to come out of her hair easily. Water would continue fueling the reaction, and it was going to take many, m any scrubbings onwards she fixed the problem. Jill gave me astonished look. â€Å"Sydney?” she whispered, a million questions in my name.\r\nâ€Å"Patience,” I assured her. â€Å"This is just the first act.”\r\nThat evening, I drove Jill down to Lia DiStefanos boutique. Eddie went with us, of course. Lia was only a few years older than me and well-nigh a foot shorter. Despite her tiny size, there was something big and forceful just about her personality as she confronted us. The shop was filled with elegant gowns and lay outes, though she herself was refined ultra-casual, in ripped jeans and an oversized peasant blouse. She flipped on the unkindly sign on her door and then confronted us with hands on her hips.\r\nâ€Å"So, Jillian Melrose,” she began. â€Å"We have less than dickens weeks to turn you into a model.” Her eyes trim down on me. â€Å"And youre going to help.”\r\nâ€Å"Me?” I exclaimed. â€Å"Im just the ride.†\r\nâ€Å"not if you want your sister to shine in my show.” She stared back up at Jill, the difference in their heights almost comical. â€Å"You have to eat, drink, and breathe modeling if youre going to entice this off. And you have to do it all †in these.”\r\nWith a flourish, Lia grabbed a nearby shoe box and produced a pair of glittery regal shoes with heels that had to be at to the lowest degree five inches high. Jill and I stared.\r\nâ€Å"Isnt she eminent full already?” I asked at last.\r\nLia snorted and pull the shoes at Jill. â€Å"These arent for the show. tho once you see to it these, youll be ready for anything.”\r\nJill took them gingerly, holding them up to understand them. The heels reminded me of the silver stakes Eddie and Rose used to kill Strigoi. If Jill really wanted to be prepared for any situation, she could just keep these around. Self-conscious of our scrutiny, she finally kicked off her brown flats and fastened t he many elaborate straps of the purple shoes. Once they were on, she slowly straightened up †and near fell over. I hastily jumped to catch her. Lia nodded in approval. â€Å" jut out? This is what I was talking about. Sisterly teamwork. Its up to you to shed light on sure she doesnt fall and branch her neck before my show.”\r\nJill shot me a look of panic that I suspect was reflected on my own expect. I started to suggest that Eddie be Jills spotter, but he had discreetly go off to the look of the shop to watch and seemed to have escaped Lias notice. Apparently, his protective services had limits.\r\nWhile Jill simply attempted not to topple over, I helped Lia clear space in the stores center. Lia then spent the next hour or so demonstrating how to properly locomote for fashion, with emphasis on posture and stride in ordinate to display clothing to its best effect. or so of those fine details were wooly on Jill, though, who struggled to simply passing across t he room without move. Grace and beauty werent concerns as much as staying upright.\r\nNonetheless, when I glanced over at Eddie, he was watching Jill with a enraptured look on his face, as though every step she were taking was pure magic.\r\nCatching my eye, he immediately resumed his wary, protective guardian face.\r\nI did my best to offer Jill words of encouragement †and yes, stop her from falling and breaking her neck. Halfway through the session, we heard a knock at the glass door. Lia started to scowl and then recognized the face on the other side of the door. She brightened and went to unlock it.\r\nâ€Å"Mr. Donahue,” she said, letting leeward in. â€Å"Come to see how your starlets doing?”\r\n lee smiled, his gray eyes instantly want out Jill. Jill met his gaze, grinning just as widely. lee(prenominal) hadnt been around at the last feeding, and although they talked constantly on the phone and IM, I knew she had been pining to see him. A glance at Eddie s face showed me he wasnt nearly as delighted by Lees presence.\r\nâ€Å"I already know how shes doing,” said Lee. â€Å"Shes perfect.”\r\nLia snorted. â€Å"I wouldnt go that far.”\r\nâ€Å"Hey,” I said, inspiration striking me. â€Å"Lee, do you want to be in charge of keeping Jill from breaking her neck? I need to run an errand.” Unsurprisingly, Lee was more than willing, and I knew I didnt need to fear for her sanctuary with Eddie on watch.\r\nI left them, hurrying two streets over to Nevermore. Ever since Id heard Slade and his friends confirm the tattooists were in business again, Id wanted to pay an in-person trip. Not a covert one, though. My stolen goods had already yielded their evidence. Except for the clear liquid, I had identified all the other substances in the vials. All the metallics were exact matches for Alchemist compounds, meaning these people either had an Alchemist tie inion or were stealing. Either way, my case got stronger and stronger. I just hoped itd be enough to redeem me and keep Zoe out of here, particularly since the clock was ticking on her arrival. We were almost a week away from when my make had said shed be replacing me.\r\nMy plan was to see how willing Nevermore was to give me a tattoo. I wanted to know what warnings (if any) they gave out and how easy it was in the first place. Adrians conversation hadnt yielded much info, but probably his on-fire-biker-skelet-on-with-a-parrot tattoo request hadnt done much to help his credibility. I was armed with cash today, which I hoped would get me somewhere.\r\nAs it was, I never needed to char any. As soon as I walked in, the roast behind the counter †the same one Adrian had speak to †looked relieved.\r\nâ€Å"Thank God,” he said. â€Å" satisfy tell me you have more. These kids are impulsive me crazy. When we got into this… I had no intellection it was gonna get this big. The moneys good, but Christ. Its crazy to ke ep up with.”\r\nI kept my confusion off of my face, wondering what in the world he was talking about. He was acting as though I was in on his scheme here, which made no sense. But then his eyes flashed to my cheek, and suddenly, I understood.\r\nMy lily tattoo.\r\nIt was uncovered, since school was over. And I knew then, with absolute certainty, that whomever he was working with to get his supplies was also an Alchemist. Hed assumed my tattoo made me an ally.\r\nâ€Å"I dont have anything with me,” I said.\r\nHis face fell. â€Å"But the demand †â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"You lost the other batch,” I said haughtily. â€Å"You let it get stolen right out from underneath you. Do you know how much trouble we go to in order to get that?”\r\nâ€Å"I already explained that to your friend!” he exclaimed. â€Å"He said he understood. He said hed taken care of the problem and that we didnt have to worry anymore.”\r\nThere was a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. â€Å"Yeah, well, he doesnt speak for all of us, and were not sure we want to continue. You were compromised.”\r\nâ€Å"Were careful,” he argued. â€Å"That theft wasnt our shift! Now, come on. You have to help us. Didnt he tell you? Theres a huge demand for tomorrow because those clannish school kids have a game. If we can deliver, well make double the money.”\r\nI gave him my best icy smile. â€Å"Well address it among ourselves and get back to you.”\r\nWith that, I turned around and began to leave. â€Å"Wait,” he called. I spared him a haughty glance. â€Å"Can you make that person stop calling?”\r\nâ€Å"What person?” I asked, wondering if he meant some durable Amberwood student.\r\nâ€Å"The one with the weird voice who keeps asking if any tall, pale people are showing up around here. sensations that look like vampires. I figured it was someone you knew.”\r\nTall, pale people? I didnt like the sound o f that but kept my face blank. â€Å"Sorry. Dont know what youre talking about. Must have been a prank.”\r\nI left, making a mental note to investigate that further. If someone was inquiring about people who looked like vampires, that was a problem. It wasnt, however, the immediate problem. My mind raced as I processed what else the tattooist had told me. There was an Alchemist supplying Nevermore. In some ways, that shouldnt be a surprise. How else were they going to get ahold of vampire blood and all the metals necessary for their tattoos? And apparently, this rogue Alchemist had â€Å"taken care of the problem” that led to the theft of their supplies. When had my father called saying I was being pulled because of Keiths reports?\r\nRight after Id broken into Nevermore.\r\nI knew who the rogue Alchemist was.\r\nAnd I knew that I had been â€Å"the problem.” Keith had taken care of me, making moves to get me out of Palm Springs and bring in someone new and inex perienced who wouldnt interfere with his illicit tattoo operation. It was why hed wanted Zoe in the first place.\r\nI was aghast. I didnt have a great opinion of Keith Darnell, not by any means. But never, never had I impression hed stoop to this level. He was an immoral person, but hed still been raised with the same principles I had about humans and vampires. For him to abandon those beliefs and expose innocents to the dire side effects of vampire blood for his own bodily gain… well, it was more than a betrayal of the Alchemists. It was a betrayal of the whole human race.\r\nMy hand was on my cell phone, ready to call Stanton. Thats all it would take. One call with the kind of news I had, and Alchemists would slide in on Palm Springs †and on Keith. But what if there was no hard evidence to connect Keith? It was possible another Alchemist might go in and play the same game I had, getting the tattooist to think that they were part of Keiths team. Keith was the one I wa nted to bust, however. I wanted to ensure that there was no way he could slip out of this.\r\nI made my decision, and rather than the Alchemists, I called Adrian.\r\nWhen I arrived back at Lias shop, I found the training session winding down. Lia was giving Jill some last-minute instructions while Eddie and Lee lingered nearby. Eddie took one look at my face and instantly knew something was wrong.\r\nâ€Å"Whats the matter?”\r\nâ€Å"Nothing,” I said blandly. â€Å"Just a problem Im going to fix soon. Lee, would you mind taking Jill and Eddie back to the school? I have a couple errands I need to run.”\r\nEddie frowned. â€Å" are you okay? Do you need someone to protect you?”\r\nâ€Å"Ill have someone.” I reconsidered, seeing as I was about to gather up with Adrian. â€Å"Well, kind of. Anyway, Im not in trouble. Your jobs to keep an eye on Jill, remember? Thanks, Lee,” I added, seeing him nod. A thought suddenly struck me. â€Å"Waitâ₠¬Â¦ I thought this was one of the days you had a night class.\r\nAre we keeping you… or… well, what days do you have class?”\r\nI hadnt thought much about it, only noticing that some days Lee was around and other days he was in Los Angeles. But in looking back, there was no real pattern. I saw realization light Eddies face as well.\r\nâ€Å"Thats true,” he said, eyeing Lee suspiciously. â€Å"What kind of inventory are you on?”\r\nLee opened his mouth, and I sensed a ready story coming. whence he stopped and cast an anxious look at Jill, who was still talking to Lia. His face fell.\r\nâ€Å"Please dont tell her,” he whispered.\r\nâ€Å"Tell her what?” I asked, keeping my voice low as well.\r\nâ€Å"Im not in college. I mean †I was. But not this semester. I wanted some time off but… didnt want to disappoint my dad. So, I told him I was just going part-time, which is why I was around more.”\r\nâ€Å"What do you do in L A during all that time, then?” asked Eddie. That was an excellent question, I realized.\r\nâ€Å"I still have friends there, and I need to keep my cover.” Lee sighed. â€Å"Its stupid, I know. Please †let me be the one to tell her. I wanted so severely to impress her and to prove myself to her. Shes wonderful. She just caught me at a bad time.”\r\nEddie and I exchanged glances. â€Å"I wont tell,” I said. â€Å"But you really should let her know. I mean, I guess theres no harm done… but you shouldnt have that kind of lie between you.”\r\nLee looked miserable. â€Å"I know. Thank you.”\r\nWhen he stepped aside, Eddie shook his head at me. â€Å"I dont like him lying. Not at all.”\r\nâ€Å"Lee trying to save face is the least weird thing going on here,” I said.\r\nI found out then that Jill could walk from one side of the store to the other and back without falling over. It wasnt pretty, but it was a start. She was sti ll a long ways from looking anything like the racecourse models I saw on TV, but considering she hadnt been able to stand in the shoes at first, I supposed shed made considerable progress. She started to take off the heels, but Lia stopped her.\r\nâ€Å"No. I told you. You have to wear these shoes all the time. Practice, practice, practice. wearing them home. Wear them everywhere.” She turned to me.\r\nâ€Å"And you †â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"I know. Make sure she doesnt break her neck,” I said. â€Å"Shes not going to be able to wear those all the time, though. Our school has a dress code.”\r\nâ€Å"What if they were in a different color?” asked Lia.\r\nâ€Å"I dont think its just the color,” Jill said apologetically. â€Å"I think its the stiletto part. But I promise to wear them immaterial of class and practice in our room.”\r\nThat was good enough for Lia, and after a few more words of advice, she sent us on our way. We promised to pract ice and come back in two days. I told Jill Id meet up with her later, but I dont know if she heard. She was so caught up in the idea of Lee driving her home that pretty much everything else went past her.\r\nI drove over to Clarences and was met at the door by Adrian. â€Å"Wow,” I said, impressed at his initiative. â€Å"I didnt expect you to be ready so quickly.”\r\nâ€Å"Im not,” he said. â€Å"I need you to see something right now.”\r\nI frowned. â€Å"Okay.” Adrian led me deeper into the house, beyond where I normally went, which made me nervous. â€Å"Are you sure this cant wait? This thing weve got to do is kind of urgent…”\r\nâ€Å"So is this. How did Clarence seem the last time you saw him?”\r\nâ€Å"Weird.”\r\nâ€Å"But health-wise?”\r\nI thought about it. â€Å"Well, I know hes been tired. But usually he seemed okay.”\r\nâ€Å"Yeah, well, hes not ‘okay now. Its gone beyond just tired. Hes w eak, dizzy, and jailed to his bed.” We reached a unlikable wooden door, and Adrian stopped.\r\nâ€Å"Do you know what caused it?” I asked, alarmed. Id been worried about the complications of a sick Moroi but hadnt expected to deal with it so soon.\r\nâ€Å"I have a pretty good idea,” said Adrian, with surprising fierceness. â€Å"Your boy Keith.”\r\nâ€Å"Stop saying block like that. Hes not ‘my boy,” I exclaimed. â€Å"Hes ruining my keep!”\r\nAdrian opened the door, revealing a large, ornate canopy bed. Walking into a Moroi bedroom wasnt something I was cosy with, but Adrians commanding look was too powerful. I followed him in and gasped when I saw Clarence lying on the bed.\r\nâ€Å"Not just yours,” said Adrian, pointing at the old man.\r\nClarences eyes fluttered at the sound of our voices and then closed again as he shifted into sleep. It wasnt his eyes that held my attention, though. It was the pale, unwell pallor of his skin †that, and the bloody wound on Clarences neck. It was small, made with just one prick, like it had come from a surgical instrument. Adrian looked at me expectantly.\r\nâ€Å"Well, Sage? Do you have any idea why Keith would be draining Clarences blood?”\r\nI swallowed, scarcely able to believe what I was seeing. Here was the last piece. I knew that Keith had been supplying the tattooists, and now I knew where Keith was getting his â€Å"supplies.”\r\nâ€Å"Yes,” I said at last, my voice small. â€Å"I have a very good idea.”\r\n'