Not that tonight's raid was probably going to help matters. I had no clue how the Warriors would react or if there might be some lethal retaliation in store. I supposed the guardians and Alchemists had taken that into consideration. I wondered bitterly if any of them would share their opinions on it with me.
"I know better than to offer to heal you," Adrian told me, as we squeezed past a group of guardians. "Grab a seat in the living room, and I'll get you some ice." I started to say I could get my own, but my ankle was growing increasingly painful. With a nod, I left him and made my way to the living room. A couple of unknown guardians were there, along with a beaming Clarence. To my surprise, Eddie and Angeline were also in there, sitting side by side - and holding hands?
"Sydney!" he exclaimed. He immediately released Angeline's hand and hurried over to me, astonishing me with a hug. "Thank God you're okay. I hated having to leave you there.
That wasn't part of the plan. I was supposed to have gotten you out with Sonya."
"Yeah, well, maybe next time, someone can fill me in on the plan," I said pointedly.
Eddie grimaced. "I'm sorry about that. I really am. We just..."
"I know, I know. Didn't think I'd go along with it, were afraid something would go wrong, etc., etc."
"I'm sorry."
I didn't entirely forgive him, but I was too tired to push the matter much further. "Just tell me this," I said, lowering my voice. "Were you just holding hands with Angeline?" He blushed, which seemed ludicrous after the fierceness I'd seen him pull off back at the compound. "Er, yeah. We were just... talking. I mean, that is... I think we might go out sometime.
Not at school, of course, since everyone thinks we're related. And probably not anything serious. I mean, she's still a little out there, but she's not as bad as I used to think. And she was really great in that battle. I feel like maybe I should get my head out of the fantasy with Jill and try some normal dating. If you'll let me borrow your car." I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. "Sure," I said. "Far be it for me to stop a budding romance." Should I tell him Jill might not be such a fantasy after all? I didn't want to meddle. Eddie deserved to be happy, but I couldn't help but feel a little bad that I'd told Jill he might be interested.
I hope I hadn't made things more complicated.
Adrian returned with a bag of ice. I sat down in an armchair, and he helped position the ice on my ankle after I propped it up on a footstool. I relaxed as the ice began numbing the pain and hoped I hadn't broken anything.
"Isn't this exciting?" Clarence asked me. "Finally, you were able to see the vampire hunters for yourselves!"
I wasn't sure I'd describe the night with that much enthusiasm, but I did have to concede a point to him. "You were right," I said. "I'm sorry for not believing you sooner." He gave me a kind smile. "It's all right, my dear. I probably wouldn't have believed a crazy old man either."
I smiled in return and then thought of something from earlier. "Mr. Donahue... you said when you encountered the hunters before that a human named Marcus Finch intervened on your behalf."
Clarence nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes. Nice young man, that Marcus. Certainly hope I run into him again someday."
"Was he an Alchemist?" I asked. Seeing Clarence's puzzled look, I tapped my cheek. "Did he have a tattoo like mine?"
"Like yours? No, no. It was different. Hard to explain." I leaned forward. "But he did have a tattoo on his cheek?"
"Yes. Didn't you see in the picture?"
"What picture?"
Clarence's gaze turned inward. "I could've sworn I showed you some of my old pictures, back when Lee and Tamara were young... ah, such good days those were." I worked hard to stay patient. Clarence's moments of coherence were sometimes hard to get a hold of. "And Marcus? You have a picture of him too?"
"Of course. A lovely one of the two of us. I'll find it one day and show you." I wanted to ask him if he'd show it to me now, but with his place so crowded, it didn't seem like the right time.
Dimitri arrived shortly thereafter, along with the last of the guardians who'd been at the compound. Dimitri immediately asked about Sonya, who I'd learned was resting in her bedroom.
Adrian had offered to heal her, but Sonya had had enough clarity of mind to refuse him, saying she simply wanted blood and rest and a chance for the drugs to wear off naturally.
Once Dimitri got this report and could rest easy about Sonya, he came straight to me, looking down from his lofty height at where I sat with my ice. "I'm sorry," he said. "I know you must have heard by now what happened."
"That I was sent into a dangerous situation with only half the information I needed?" I asked. "Yeah, I heard all about that."