The Indigo Spell Chapter Ten

THE NEXT MORNING, I sought tabu Ms. Terwilliger before class to give her a recap of yesterdays adventures. She leaned against her desk, sipping a cappucci nary(prenominal)as I spoke. Her expression grew darker as the story progressed, and she sighed when I intercepted.Well, thats unfortunate, she tell. Im glad you were fitting to pose the St super title- opener girl, that that kills our lead on Veronica until the conterminous full moon. It could be too late by then.Youre true thithers no other scrying circuit? I asked.She shook her head. Most that I could take on would alert her that I was find outing for her. There is unity that might block out me season Im using it . . . only if it also might not be able to penetrate any shielding shes using to hide herself.Its close up worth a enterprise, isnt it? I asked. The warning bell rang, and students began trickling into the classroom. She shot me a smile as she straightened up.Why, Miss Melbourne, I n perpetu all toldy t hought Id image you suggesting such things. But youre right. Well talk well-nigh it this afternoon. Its approximatelything Id like you to see.That anti-magic gut understanding started to rear its ugly head . . . and then pointped. Somewhere, against my wishes, Id gotten caught up in every told of this. I was too concerned now roughly Veronicas other victims to hand attention to my usual worries. In Alchemist eyes, using magic was bad. In my eyes, passing innocents in danger was worse.With no other critical perspectives to contend with, I found that the day flew by. When I rejoined Ms. Terwilliger for our independent study, I found her jam-packed up and waiting for me to arrive. Field trip, she told me. We need to counterfeit on this at my place. A wistful look crossed her features. Too bad we laughingstockt stop at Spencers.Caffeine and magic didnt mix, which was another upright reason for staying outside from the arcane. I started to point out that since I wasnt accom plishmenting any magic, I didnt sport the same restrictions. A moment later, I decided that would be mean. Ms. Terwilliger had enough divergence on with a bloodthirsty sister on the loose. She didnt need to be taunted too.The cats were waiting at the door when we arrived at her house, which was jolly terrifying. Id never seen all of them at once and counted thirteen. I had to assume that exit was by design.I have to feed them first-class honours degree, she told me as they swarmed at her feet. because well yield to work.I nodded wordlessly, thinking her plan was a good oneness. If those cats werent ply soon, it seemed likely they would turn on us. I didnt like our odds.Once they had intellectual nourishment to distract them, Ms. Terwilliger and I went to her workshop. There was slight I could do further observe. Magic often demand that the person doing the go be the one to put in all the labor. I assisted with a little measuring, but that was closely it. Id seen her d o a couple of quick, flashy spells in the past but never anything of this magnitude. It was clear to me that this was a very, very virile feat. She had nothing to link her to Veronica, no hair or picture. The spell required the caster to use the image in her mind of the person existence sought. Other components, herbs and oils, helped enhance the magic, but for the most part, the work was all on Ms. Terwilliger. Watching her prepare triggered a mix of emotions in me. Anxiety was one, of way of life, but it was paired with a secret fascination at seeing approximatelyone with her strength cast a spell.When everything was in place, she spoke the incantation, and I more(prenominal)(prenominal) or less gasped as I tangle power surge up in the room. Id never sensed it from another person before, and the intensity nearly knocked me everywhere. Ms. Terwilliger was thoroughgoing(a) at a spot a few feet in presence of her. After several long moments, a glowing dot appeared in the air. It grew bigger and bigger, routine into a flat, shimmering disc, which hung there like a mirror. I stepped backward, half-afraid the disc would stop expanding and consume the room. Eventually, it stabilized. Tense silence surrounded us as she stared at that glowing surface. A minute passed, and then the oviform began to shrink and shrink until it was gone. Ms. Terwilliger sank with exhaustion and caught the side of her table for support. She was sweating heavily, and I handed her some orange juice wed had ready.Did you see anything? I asked. Thered been nothing visible to me, but maybe only the caster could see what the spell revealed.She shook her head. nary(prenominal) The spell was unable to touch her mind. Her shielding mustiness be too strong.Then we cant do anything until next month. I felt my stomach drop. I hadnt realized until that moment how much Id been hoping this spell would work. So much of my life involved problem solving, and I felt lost(p) when I ran out of options.You and Adrian can keep warning the other girls, express Ms. Terwilliger. Color was starting to return to her face. At the very least(prenominal), it might long-winded Veronica down.I looked at the time on my cell phone. This spell had taken longer than I thought. I dont think we can do a round trip to Los Angeles today. Ill get him tomorrow, and well see if we can finish off the list.Once I was convinced she wouldnt pass out from magic exertion, I made motions to leave. She stopped me as I was about to locomote out the door.Sydney?I glanced back, suddenly uneasy. The problem with having so many an(prenominal) commonwealth call me by nicknames was that when someone called me by my actual name, it usually meant something spartan was happening.Yes?We keep talking about warning others, but dont forget to look after yourself as well. Keep studying the book. Learn to protect yourself. And keep the charm on.I touched the garnet, hidden under my shirt. Yes, maam. I will .Marcuss promised textual social function came as I was driving back to school, telling me to edge him at a nearby arcade. I knew the place and had actually been to its adjacent mini-golf course once before, so I had no difficulty heading everywhere there. Marcus was waiting for me righteous inside the door, and thankfully, Sabrina wasnt around wielding a gun.I hadnt fagged a develop out of time in arcades and didnt really understand them. They but meshed with my fathers style of education. For me, it was a mass of sensory all overload that I wasnt quite a ready for. The smell of slightly burnt pizza alter the air. Excited children and teenagers darted back and forth between games. And everywhere, everything seemed to be flashing and beeping. I winced, thinking maybe my dad had been on to something in avoiding these places.This is where were going to question covert activities? I asked in disbelief.He gave me one of his movie star smiles. Its not an easy place for peop le to spy on you. Besides, I havent played Skee-Ball in years. That game is awesome.I wouldnt know.What? It was tolerant of nice to picture him by surprise again, eve if it was for something so trivial. Youve been missing out. Spot me some money for tokens, and Ill show you. Apparently, being an on-the-run renegade leader didnt pay well.He found the Skee-Ball machines instantly. I bought him a cupful of tokens and handed them over. Have at it.He promptly put a token in and threw his first ball. It landed completely outside of the rings, making him scowl. You dont waste any time, I remarked.His eyes were on the game as he made his plump for throw, which again missed. Its a survival tactic. When you spend enough time on the run . . . hiding out all the time . . . well, you take emolument of these moments of freedom. And when pretty girls spirit you away.How do you know were free? How can you be so sure the Alchemists havent been watching me? I asked. I was pretty sure I wasnt bei ng watched and mostly precious to test him.Because they wouldve showed up on that first day.He had a point. I put my hands on my hips and tried to be patient. How long are you going to play? When can we talk?We can talk now. His next ball hit the ten-point ring, and he whooped with joy. I can talk and throw. Ask away. Ill give you as many shocking secrets as I can.Im not easily shocked. But I wasnt going to waste this opportunity. I glanced around, but he was right. No one was going to eavesdrop in this noisy place. We could barely perk individually other as it was. Whatd you do to get kicked out of the Alchemists?I didnt get kicked out. I left. This round ended, and he put in his next token. Because of a Moroi girl.I froze, unable to call back what Id witnessd. Marcus Finch had started his great rebellion . . . because hed been involved with a Moroi? It rang too close to my own situation. When I didnt verbalise anything, he glanced over and took in my expression.Oh. Oh. No, no thing like that, he said, realizing my thoughts. Thats not a extraction sluice I would cross.Of course not, I said, hoping I was doing a good job at hiding my nervousness. Who would?He re off-key to the game. We were friends. I was assigned to Athens, and she lived there with her sister.That derailed me. Athens . . . you were in Athens? That was one of the places I wanted to be assigned. I went to St. Petersburg instead, but I always unbroken hoping that, maybe, maybe, Id get reassigned to Greece. Or sluice Italy. I was nearly babbling, but he didnt seem to notice.Whats defame with St. Petersburg? Aside from the high Strigoi count.Whats wrong is that it wasnt Athens or Rome. My dad specifically requested that I not be assigned to either place. He thought itd be too distracting.Marcus paused again to give me a long, direct look. There was sympathy in his expression, as though my entire annals and family drama were playing before his eyes. I didnt want him to feel vicious for me and wished I hadnt said anything. I cleared my throat.So tell me about this girl in Athens.He took the hint. Like I said, she was a friend. So funny. Oh, man. She cracked me up. We used to hang out all the time but you know how thats kind of frowned upon.I almost laughed at his subtle joke. resistant of? That was an under groundment. Field Alchemists werent supposed to interact with Moroi unless it was absolutely necessary for some seam matter or related to stopping and covering up Strigoi. My situation was a little unique, since my mission actually required me to talk to her on a daily basis.Anyway, he continued. Someone noticed, and I got a lot of unwelcome attention for it. Around the same time, I started hearing all these rumors . . . like about Alchemists holding Moroi against their will. And even some Alchemists interacting with the Warriors.What? Thats impossible. We would never work with those freaks. The idea of Moroi prisoners was outlandish, but it was that second part that truly stumped me. I couldnt even process it. He might as well have said the Alchemists were working with aliens.Thats what I thought. He threw another ball, looking supremely glad when it scored thirty points. But I kept hearing whispers, so I started asking questions. A lot of questions. And, well, thats when things really went bad. Questions dont always go over so well especially if youre a nuisance about them.I thought about my own experience. Thats certainly true.So thats when I walked. Or, well, ran. I could see the signs. Id crossed a line and knew it was only a matter of time before I had a one-way ticket to re-education. another(prenominal) new round started, and he gestured me forward. Want to give it a try?I was still stunned enough by his before oral communication that I stepped forward and took a ball. The Alchemists were logical, organized, and reasonable. I knew there were Alchemists who wished we could do more to fight the Strigoi, but there was no way o ur group would work with trigger-happy zealots. Stanton told me we only tolerate the Warriors. That were unsloped keeping an eye on them.Thats what I was told too. He watched me line up a shot. Theres kind of a learning curve to this, by the way. It may take you a few I threw and hit the fifty-point ring. Marcus could only stare for a few seconds, his earlier smirk vanishing.You said youd never played he exclaimed.I havent. I threw another fifty pointer.Then how are you doing that?I dont know. Fifty points again. You just base your force on the balls weight and distance to the ring. Its not that hard. This is kind of a boring game, really.Marcus was still dumbstruck. Are you some kind of super-athlete?I nearly scoffed. You dont need to be an athlete to play this.But . . . no . . . He looked at the rings, then at me, and then back to the rings. Thats impossible. Ive been playing this since I was a kid My dad and I used to go to our towns carnival over and over in the summer, and Id spend at least an hour playing this each time.Maybe you should have made it 2 hours. I tossed another ball. Now tell me more about the Warriors and the Alchemists. Did you ever get any proof?It took him several moments to tune back into the conversation. No. I tried. I even got cozy with the Warriors for a while thats how I met Clarence. My group has found a few dark secrets about the Alchemists and salvage other Moroi from the Warriors, but we were never able to make a nexus between the two groups. He paused dramatically. Until now.I picked up the next ball. This sublunar activity was helping me analyze his startling words. What happened?It was a fluke, really. Weve got a computerized tomography working with us now who just left the Alchemists and broke his stain, he explained. He said it like it was no big deal, but I still couldnt shake how uneasy intermission the tattoo made me feel. Hed overheard something that matched up to something Sabrina uncovered. Now weve just g ot to get the evidence linking it all.How are you going to tweak that off?Actually, youre going to pull it off.He spoke just as I was releasing another ball. My shot went wide, missed the rings and even the machine entirely. The ball bounced off the wall and landed at the feet of some startled girls. Marcus retrieved the ball and gave them an apologetic smile, which made them gush about how it was no problem at all. As soon as they were gone, I leaned toward Marcus.What did you register?You heard me. You want to join our group? You want to break your tattoo? He looked annoyingly smug. Then this is all part of the process.I never said I wanted to do any of those things I hissed. I just wanted to find out more about them.And I bet youd really love to know if there are factions in the Alchemists working with the Warriors.He was right. I did want to know that.He caught hold of my hand. Sydney, I know this is a lot to take in. I dont rap music you for doubting, and thats exactly why w e need you. Youre smart. Youre observant. You question. And just like me, those questions are going to get you in trouble if they havent already. Get out now while you can on your own terms.I just met you Im not breaking away from the group that raised me. I pulled my hand back. I was unforced to hear you guys out, but now youve gone too far.I turned and headed toward the door, unwilling to listen anymore. Yet as I walked away, his words crawled over me. Even though Id been forgiven for my involvement with Rose, my record still probably had a black mark. And even though I hadnt pushed hard about Marcus Finch, had even bringing him up raised Stantons suspicions? How long until little things added up?I pushed open the doors and stepped out into bright sunlight. It chased away the darkness of what Id just heard. Marcus was right behind me and touched my shoulder.Sydney Im sorry. Im not trying to scare you. That self-assertive attitude was gone. He was deadly earnest. I just sense s omething about you . . . something that resonates with me. I think were on the same side, that we want the same things. Weve both(prenominal) gotten close to the Moroi. We want to help them without being lied to or used.I eyed him warily. Go on.Please, hear us out.I thought I just did.You heard me out, he corrected. I want you to meet the others and hear their stories. Theyll tell you more about what they went through. Theyll tell you about this. He tapped his tattoo. And when you hear more about that task . . . well, I think youll want to do it.Right. The big, mind-blowing thing thats going to unveil an Alchemist-Warrior conspiracy. He remained serious, which bothered me more than if hed suddenly revealed this to be one big joke. So, what? Youre going to get the others, and well all have an arcade day?He shook his head. Too dangerous. Ill acquire them in some other place and then tell you where to meet us, but its got to be last minute again. Cant risk detection.I cant go on som e epic road trip, I warned. No one cares much about LA trips, but traipsing all over the state is going to get that unwanted attention you were talking about.I know, I know. Itll be close. I just have to make sure its secure. He was back to his excited, cheery self. Will you do it? Come join us?In spite of myself, I was curious. Even though I refused to believe in any connection between the Warriors and the Alchemists, I wanted to find out what leads this group thought they had. I also just wanted to see this mysterious group of his, period. What had Adrian called them? Marcuss Merry Men? And, of course, there was the tattoo. Marcus kept alluding to its secrets but still hadnt given me the details.Ill do it, I said at last. On one condition.Name it.I want to bring someone with me, I said. You can trust him, I swear. But after Sabrina pulled a gun on me, you have to understand why Id be a little nervous about walking into your clique.Marcus looked like he might almost consider it but then suddenly recoiled. Not Adrian?No, no. This guys a dhampir. No one whod be interested in turning you over to the Alchemists, especially if you really are working to protect Moroi. You aver youve got a good feeling about me? Then trust me that you have nothing to worry about with him. Hed just be there to make me feel a little safer.You have nothing to worry about with us, Marcus said. We wont hurt you.I want to believe you. But I dont quite have that same good feeling you have yet.He didnt say anything right away and then burst into laughter. Fair enough. Bring your friend. He shook my hand, as though we were sealing some great bargain. Ill be in touch later with the details. You wont regret it, Sydney. I swear it.