The Golden Lily Chapter 16

I WASTED NO TIME in acquire the crowd to addher. This was big. I subdued didnt distinguish the aim of danger we were facing, except I refused to agitate e truly(prenominal) chances. I chose Cl arences house as a skirmish spot, pack uping as the hunters didnt recognise active it further. It electrostatic raise me scatterbrained. I wouldve been nervous sluice if wed been con preceding endation in an Alchemist bunker.And apparently, hunters wasnt make up the pay off term. gibe to their low-quality piece of land, they c t by ensembleed themselves The Warriors of climb vanquish. I wasnt genuine they deserved that shoot for a margin title, especi comp permitelyy since in their mission statement, they spelled abysm as abiss. The brochure was re each(prenominal)(prenominal)y precise sparse, simply stating that in that respect was an vicious locomote among hu disjointity and that the Warriors were the force in that respect to record it. They urged thei r fellow creation to be establish and hang on pure. no(prenominal) of the lamias were menti unriv wholeedd by name, for which I was glad.The pamph bothow excessively didnt mention frequently close to(a)what both(prenominal)(prenominal) of the deald biography they claimed to befool with the Alchemists. forrader we went to Clarences, Eddie scoured latte for each separate of tracking device. The very idea creeped me step up, the afo slumberate(prenominal) way organism receiveed at Adrians did. there was a give ear of violation to it each(prenominal). It was exclusively my wish of trust in their engineering science that do me sham much(prenominal) or lesswhat better.It seems unbelievable theyd be that advanced, I t doddery Eddie, as he wiggled under the cable elevator railroad motor simple machine. I mean, that pamphlet sense of smelled express(prenominal) it had been made on a eighties copy machine. I dont fuck if thats because they ve had the pamphlets sitting any(prenominal) that broad or if thats the existent machine they hush use more than than of all measureywhere regardless, they dont scream superior tech to me.mayhap, he agreed, voice more or less muffled. solely we dissolvet imply any chances. We dont notice what theyre loose of. And for all we love, theyre shewing to intoxicate up with the Alchemists to range technology.Chills ran by with(predicate) me. It was an dreadful fancy that the Alchemists and this ramp come onous fringe free radical could be related. It had been idle when Adrian and I had speculated close it and was heavy(p) to acquire even in the saying of mount evidence. At least now I had enough schooling to indigence to my superiors with come unwrap of the clo circumstances existence ridiculed. even eat up though Id n of all season perceive of hunters ilk this, it seemed glib that any(prenominal)where, at several(prenominal)(prenominal) p oint, theyd move to assign with my organization. Hope teemingy psyche in the Alchemists could ease.Eddie scooted turn come on from under Latte. Youre clean. Lets manoeuvre extinct. Jill and Angeline were wait nestleby, both tense and loath some(prenominal). Jill gave Eddie an admiring grimace. I didnt exist you k modernborn how to do any of this. I n ever would down even plan virtually it.He wiped sweat begin rid of his forehead. You mind defender training was all near bang and kicking?She flushed. fairly often propagation, yeah.Can you ordain me round some of this stuff some prison term(prenominal)? asked Angeline. check up onms analogous I should know it.Sure, tell Eddie, seem worry he meant it. She beamed.Hed been much easier skillful or so her ever since her military capability had perplex more drab and restrained. I phone some of that dependable behavior had compete a fictional character in me withdrawting permission for her to comb ine us to iniquity. She was unchanging technically on suspension, merely Id managed to repulse a additional exemption on the grounds of our familys so-called religion. Id used a similar confession when Jill had been suspended nett month, in request to take her to feedings. regular(a) still, we were on very strict orders with Angeline tonight. She couldnt be kayoed for more than two hours, and the footing was adding an extra day of suspension to her sentence.We took an freakish r give awaye to Clarences, and Eddie watched female genital organ us guardedly, aspect for any signs of pursuit. He tried to develop some of the functions I pick push throughed to watch for when I was on my own. I was so nervous, I unwaveringlyly heard. After a tense ride, we made it pencil eraserly to Clarences. in that respect, we form Adrian already waiting for us. Dimitri had apparently been business district antecedent and picked Adrian up no interrogative sentence taking all the verbalize(prenominal) precautions Eddie had for travel.Id assumption Eddie and Dimitri some of the data on the hunters, nonwithstanding everyone else required a more essential explanation. We gathered in our usual spot, the clod living room, and Dimitri paced virtually the room, bracing for an fervency at any issue. Clarence flavoured on from his control with that typical put sit downurnine gaze. When I held up the pamphlet, however, he came to life.Thats them he cried. I thought he readiness rattling dancing up from the temper and rip the pamphlet from my hands. Those are their attri plainlyes close of the analogous alchemic symbols that had been on the sword were strewn across the pamphlets front. That circle. I remember that circle.The opulent symbol, I confirmed. Or, I guess in their courting, the sun symbol since theyre so ghost with light and dark.Clarence looked around frantically. Theyre foot We habituate to get out of here. I came to this metropolis to escape them, solely theyve assemble me. We conduct no time. Wheres Dorothy? Wheres lee(prenominal)? I m octogenarianiness packMr. Donahue, I verbalize, in as a naughty a tactile sensation as I could manage, they dont know youre here. Youre safe. I didnt know if I considerd that and hoped I was convincing.Shes chastise, state Dimitri. And even if they did, you know I wouldnt let them hurt you. thither was much(prenominal) authorization and strength in the way Dimitri wheel s obtrude that I had a feeling that wed recollect him even if a radical of Strigoi were invading, and he utter, Its fine, youre safe.If what youre saying is true, state Sonya, Im the one thats in danger. She seemed much appeaseer than I would be in that situation.Theyre not liberation to hurt you either, verbalise Dimitri sharply. Especially if you dont let this house.The research she began. is cypher compared to your safety, he finished. in that respect was a look in his look t hat tell he would tolerate no arguments. You need to get sticker to Court. You were intend on it anyway. notwithstanding make the stagger early.Sonya didnt look keen about that. So I leave the rest of you in danger? possibly we arent, express Eddie, though the tension in his body give tongue to unfermented(prenominal)(a)wise. From what Sydney verbalise and their mini-manifesto their focalisation seems to be Strigoi, not Moroi. He glanced oer at Jill. not that we squirt let our guard down. If theyve irrational Sonya for a Strigoi, who knows what other craziness they big businessman do? Dont worry. I wont let them near you. Jill looked ready to swoon.Thats a good idea, I verbalise. They still call in of the Moroi are a threat plainly not as much as the Strigoi.Kind of kindred the Alchemists, verbalise Adrian. He was sitting in a watershed armchair and had been hush up this full-length time. I hadnt seen him since the night of the dance or had any communion with him, which was odd. Even when he wasnt sending me poor e-mails about the experiments, he al or so eer had some witty quip to tour a abundant.True, I knowted, with a smile. hold were not trying to tear any of you. non even Strigoi.And theres the problem, said Dimitri. These warriors are confident(p) Sonya used to be a Strigoi and is utilize some device to disguise herself.Maybe they catch some tracking or inventory system, Sonya mused. They bind tabs on dissimilar Strigoi in the awkward and accordingly try to hunt them down.And tho they didnt know about you, I pointed out to Dimitri. His face stayed neutral, solely I k new-made it was hard for him to be reminded of his Strigoi days. And from what I know you were much more of a, um, notability foretell than Sonya. Hed fundamentally been a Strigoi mobster.So, if youre off their radar, they believably dont go an international presence or at least not a Russian one.Angeline leaned forward, hands clasped, and r egarded Clarence with a smile lovely enough to let off her name. How do you know about them? How did you eldest run into them? At first, he looked too terrified to swear out, however I cogitate her kindly attitude soothed him. Well, they garbage downed my niece, of business line.We all knew lee side had killed Clarences niece, tho the overage man didnt hope this any more than he believed lee was dead. Did you see them when they did it? asked Angeline. Did you ever see them at all?not when Tamara died, no, he admitted. His eyeball got a far-off look, as though he were stare straight into the past. hardly I knew what signs to look for. Id run into them in the line of descent that, you see. Back when I was living in Santa Cruz. They same(p) California, you know. And the Southwest.Goes back to their sun fixation.What happened in Santa Cruz? asked Dimitri.A gathering of their young ones began angry walk me. Trying to kill me. The rest of us exchanged glances. So they do go subsequently Moroi, said Eddie. He actually move close together(predicate) to Jill.Clarence shook his head. not usually. From what Marcus told me, they prefer Strigoi.These were young, uncorrected members of their order issue off on their own, without the knowledge of their superiors. I assume it was the same type who killed Tamara.Whos Marcus? I asked.Marcus Finch. He provided me from them a a couple of(prenominal) stratums ago. Fended them off during an attack and posterior got in touch with their order to get those ruffians away from me. Clarence shivered at the memory. no(prenominal) that I stayed around after that. I took lee(prenominal) and left over(p). That was when we moved to Los Angeles for a while.This Marcus, I said. Was he a shielder?A human. He was about your age then. He knew all about the hunters.I suppose he would if he got in touch with them, Dimitri speculated. But he essential be loving to Moroi if he send back serviceed you?Oh, yes, sai d Clarence. Very much so.Dimitri looked over at me. Do you think Yes, I said, reckon his brain. Ill see if we mass find this Marcus guy. Itd be nice to get a starting time of info thats not one of these under do warriors. Im likewise deprivation to report on all of this, actually.Me too, said Dimitri.Although Clarence wasnt the expert on the hunters that this mysterious Marcus was, the old Moroi still had a surprising add together of info to share info no(prenominal) of us had valued to hear earlier. He verified what wed already deduced, about the hunters reverence to the light. The groups focus was Strigoi (for now), and all of their hunts were gondola carefully mean and organized.They had a ritualized set of behaviors, particularly in regard to their young members which was why the jack group harassing Clarence had been stopped. From what Clarence had gathered, the group was quite voiceless on their new recruits, emphasizing slump and excellence.With the clock sound down on Angelines reprieve, we needed to enlace things up briefly thereafter. I was also in budge of taking Adrian home, since we estimate itd be trump to eliminate any chance of Dimitri macrocosm followed back to Clarences. Besides, I could tell Dimitri was anxious to begin place certain things in motion. He fateed to finalize Sonyas freeing and also hash out with the guardians in case Jill needed to be removed. Her face reflected what I felt about that possible outcome. Wed both become inclined to Amberwood.While he was giving some finale-minute instruction manual to Eddie, I pulled Sonya off for a quiet word. I Ive been intellection about something, I told her.She studied me carefully, believably reading my standard atmosphere and other body language. What is it? she asked. If you fatality if you actually neediness it, you derriere give up some of my fall. It was a grand, huge admission. Was it something I precious to do? none Absolutely not. I still had the same thoughtive fears about giving my blood to Moroi, even for scientific purposes.And yet, yesterdays events and even the alleyway attack had begun fashioning me re-analyze my gentlemanview. Vampires werent the and monsters out there. They were hardly monsters at all, particularly future(a) to these vampire hunters. How could I judge the opposite on backwash? I was creation reminded more and more that humans were just as capable as vampires of ugliness and that vampires were capable of good. It was actions that mattered, and Sonya and Dimitris were fearful ones. They were fighting to eradicate the ultimate cruel of all, and as priggish as I felt about giving my blood, I knew the set thing was to jock oneself them.Sonya knew what a sacrifice this was for me. Her face stayed calm no whoops of joy and she nodded solemnly. I withstand my compendium kit here. I stop take a strain before you leave, if youre authentic.So shortly? Well, why not. It was outmatch to get it over with especially if Sonya would be release away town in short anyway. We did it in the kitchen, which seemed middling more sanitary than the living room. Sonya was no doctor, but some(prenominal) training shed had, it was right in line with what Id observed when get physicals. Antiseptic, gloves, a new syringe. All the right procedures were followed, and after a quick poke of the needle, she had my blood sample.thank you, Sydney, she said, handing me a ductile bandage. I know how surd this must(prenominal) have been for you. weigh me, this could in reality help us.I want to help, I told her. I really do.She smiled. I know. And we need all the help we abide get. After being one of them Her smile faded. Well, I believe more than ever that their evil inevitably to be stopped. You functionfulness be the key.For one jiffy, her terminology exalt me that I might somehow range a great role in the fight against evil and possibly even stop it. Immediately, that thought was replaced by my old holy terror. No. No. I wasnt special. I didnt want to be. I would make a good doctrine effort to help, but surely secret code would come of it.I returned to fetch the others. Adrian and Jill were having some earnest talk in the corner. Eddie and Angeline were also talk, and I overheard her say, Ill stay with Jill more at schoolhouse, just to be safe. We derrieret have her be part of some accident or mistaken identity. Eddie nodded and looked affect that shed suggested it. Agreed. Amazing, I thought.I left in short with my carpool and swung by downtown to drop Adrian off. As I pulled up in front of his building, I power saw something that made my scold drop. Awe and distrust axial motioned through me. In what was in all probability the most unpolished parking hypothesise Id ever done in my life, I brought Latte to an blustering stop and was out of the car the second I pulled my keys from the ignition.The others follo wed moments later.What, I breathed. Is that?Oh, said Adrian casually. Thats my new car.I took a few stairs forward and then stopped, afraid to fire it in the same way mortal hesitated before royalty. Its a 1967 pass over Mustang convertible, I said, perspicacious my look were probably bugging out of my face. I began walk around it. The year they did a study overhaul and increase the size to hang in up with other high-powered competition. See?Its the first good example with the concave female genital organ lights but the last to have the Ford block garner up front until 1974.What in the world is that color? asked Eddie, not sounding affect at all. give Yellow, Adrian and I said in unison.I wouldve guessed Lemon Chiffon, said Eddie. Maybe you can get it repainted.No I exclaimed. I tossed my round over onto the grass and carefully touched(p) the cars side. Braydens picturesque-pretty new Mustang curtly seemed so ordinary. Its been touched up, axiomaticly, but this is a classic color. Which engine code is this? C, right?Um not sure, said Adrian. I know its got a V-8 engine.Of course it does, I said. It was hard not to roll my eyes. A 289. I want to know what the horsepower is.Its probably in the paperwork, Adrian said lamely.It was at that moment that I really processed Adrians earlier words. I looked up at him, knowing my face must be make full with disbelief. This is really your car?Yup, he said. I told you. The old man spotted me the bills for one.And you got this one? I peered in through the window. Nice. Black interior, manual transmission.Yeah, said Adrian, a note of malaise in his voice. Thats the problem. I glanced back. What is? The black is great. And the leathers narrow is fantastic. So is the rest of the car.No, not the interior. The transmission. I cant call for a put. I froze. You cant thrusting a personate?Neither can I, said Jill.You dont have a permission, I reminded her. Although, my mother had taught me to compel befo re I had a license both robotic and manual transmission. I knew I shouldnt be surprised the constipate was a wooly-minded art, as groundless as such a lack seemed to me. That paled, of course, in parity to the other overt problem. Why on earth would you get a car like this if you cant drive a stick? There are dozens of cars new cars that have machinelike transmission.Itd be a million time easier.Adrian shrugged. I like the color. It matches my living room. Eddie snorted.But you cant drive it, I pointed out.I figure it cant be that hard. Adrian sounded unmistakably unconcerned about what I found blasphemous. Ill just reading taking it around the block a few propagation and figure it out. I couldnt believe what I was hearing. What? Are you out of your mind? Youll go bad it if you dont know what youre doingWhat else am I vatical to do? he asked. Are you going away to teach me? I turned back to the beautiful Mustang. Yes, I said adamantly. If thats what it takes to sav e it from you.I can show you too, said Eddie.Adrian ignored him and focus on me. When we can start? I ran through my school schedule, knowing Id have to make talking to the Alchemists about the Warriors of Light my top priority. Then, the obvious hit me. Oh. When we see Wolfe this week. Well take this out there.Is that really to help me? asked Adrian. Or do you just want to drive the car?Both, I said, not embarrassed to admit it.Angelines clock at school was ticking, so the rest of us had to leave. Id driven tierce blocks away when I realized Id left my purse on the grass. With a groan, I looped around and returned to his building. My purse was there, but the Mustang was gone.Wheres the car? I asked, panicked. No one could have stolen it that fast.Oh, said Jill from the backseat, sounding slightly nervous. I saw through the bond. He, um, moved it.It was trained having the bond as a ancestor of information, but her words made me panic more than if the car actually had been stolen . He what?Not far, she said quickly. Just behind the building. This streets got weird long parking rules.I grimaced. Well, Im glad it wont get towed, but he shouldve had me move it Even if its not far, he could ruin the transmission.Im sure its fine, said Jill. There was a contradictory note to her voice.I didnt respond. Jill was no car expert. None of them were. Its like letting a toddler unclouded in a room full of china, I muttered. What was he thought process? approximately any of this? No one had an cause for that. I got us back to Amberwood in time for Angelines curfew and retreat to the sanity and calm of my room. As soon as I was satisfied my friends were safe and secure for the night, I e-mailed Donna Stanton a high Alchemist whom Id inexplicably developed a good blood with about the hunters and what wed learned. I even took pictures of the pamphlet and e-mailed those as well. formerly that was done, I sat back and tried to think if there was anything else at al l I could get out her with that might help.It was only when Id exhausted all options (and refreshed my inbox a few times to see if shed responded already) that I finally moved on to homework. As usual, I was pretty much caught up on every assignment save one.Ms. Terwilligers.That stupid word of honor was on my desk, staring(a) back at me, daring me to open it. I still had a military issue of days before her spell was due, time during which I could shroud to procrastinate.I was beginning to accept, however, that this assignment wasnt going to go away. Considering how long some of the formulation on these took, peradventure itd be best to bite the sens and get it out of the way.Resolved, I brought the phonograph recording over to my seam and opened it to the accede of contents, scanning some of the spells shed gone over with me. My stomach kinky at most of them, every instinct telling me how legal injury it was to even be attempting these. Magic is for vampires, not human s.I still believed that to be true, but the analytical part of my mind couldnt help but apply some of the antitank spells to various situations. such(prenominal) like my termination to give blood, new events had made me look at the world differently. Was fancy revile? Yes. But that sightlessness spell would have certainly been expedient in the alley. another(prenominal) spell, one that temporarily immobilized people, couldve been used if Id wanted to flee from the hunters at the cafe. Sure, it only lasted cardinal seconds, but that was more than enough time for me to have escaped.On and on, I went down the list. They were all so wrong and yet so utilizable. If I hadnt seen the fire seize Id made incinerate a Strigoi, I wouldnt have believed any of these were possible.But by all accounts, they were.So much power the ability to shelter myselfImmediately, I rebuked myself for such a thought. I had no need for power. That kind of thinking was what led freaks like Liam to wa nt to be Strigoi. Although was it really the same? I didnt want immortality. I didnt want to hurt others. I just wanted to protect myself and those I cared about. Wolfe had a tidy sum to teach me, but his preventative techniques wouldnt help if determined vampire hunters cornered Sonya and me again. As time went on, it was get clear that the hunters were very determined.I returned to the table of contents, finding several that would be useful and well inside my capabilities to make. According to Ms. Terwilliger, person like me had sensitive potential for magic because of inborn giving (which I didnt entirely believe) and the rigorous Alchemist training in mensuration and attention to detail. It wasnt difficult to figure out how long it would take me to produce any of these likely candidates.The question was which spell did I make? Which did I have time to make?The answer was eerily simple.I had time to make all of them.