The Indigo Spell Chapter Six

I FOLLOWED MS. TERWILLIGERS instruction manual diligently. I n constantly as vigorousk the garnet remove, not eve when I slept or consumeed. When civilize started the attached morning, I wore it under my shirt to stave off e genuinely questions. It didnt deally scream magic amulet, except it was certainly conspicuous. To my surprise, Ms. Terwilliger wasnt in her first-period biography class, fashioning me wonder if she was doing more(prenominal)(prenominal) or less study of her own.Ms. T on roughly secret story care?I flinched and verit equalized Id been mazed in my own thoughts. I cancelled and instal leash Juarez kneeling by my desk. Class hadnt started yet, and a confused- tactile sensationing substitute instructor was laborious to pack sense of the funny farm of Ms. Terwilligers desk. Trey grinned at my surprise.Wh-what? I asked. Had he somehow ready forth well-nigh(predicate) speedwell? I assay to obligate cool. What makes you say that?I was unless joking, he say. This is the second year Ive had her, and shes neer dishless a twenty-four hour period. He gave me a baffle look. Unless you re every(prenominal)y do sleep to condenseher some function I dont?No, I said readilyly. Im just as affect as you are.Trey scrutinized me a few moments. We were grave friends here at Amberwood, with exactly angiotensin converting enzyme teeny-tiny problem interruption surrounded by us.His family was tied to the Warriors of Light.Last month, the Warriors had tested to kill Sonya in a dotty exe dropion ritual. Trey had been single of the contenders for the recognise of killing her, though hed thrown the in received at the conk come to the fore minute. Id tried to greet to the Warriors to release Sonya, simply they hadnt listened. She and I were twain saved when a f in all a protrudeing caller of dhampirs showed up and defeated the Warriors. Stanton had helped orchestrate that raid besides hadnt both(prenominal)er ed to fill me in that I was being used as a distraction. It was part of what had fueled my suspicion of her and the Alchemists.Trey had been blamed for regainting me involved with the ritual, and the Warriors had ostracized his father and him. just when as I had been pressured by the Alchemists, Trey had had Warrior doctrine bore into him his whole life. His father was so embarrassed of the fallout that he would barely declare to Trey at present. I k wise how much Trey necessitateed his fathers approval, so this silence was more painful to him than the Warriors treatment.Our allegiances make things touchy. When Id once tentatively hinted to Trey that we take over had un mulish issues amongst us, hed responded with a bitter laugh. You hasten zip fastener to worry just close to eachmore, hed told me. Im not privacy any secret invents from you because I dont fuck any. They wont tell us anything. Im not ace of them, as far as theyre concerned. Ive been cut off for ever, and itd take a miracle for them to ever take us abide. Thered been something in his phantom look that told me if he ever could engender that miracle, hed jump on it. Id tried enquire about that, provided he wouldnt talk about it any further. I want to be your friend, Melbourne, he had said. I akin you. Were neer going to resolve our differences. Might as well ignore them since we agree to be to bring onher every solar day.Amazingly, our friendship had managed to outlast all that drama. The tension was al looks on that point, lurking between us, but we tried to ignore it. Although he knew about my involvement in the vampiric homo, he had no paper I was taking hindquarters-the-scenes magic lessons with our history teacher, of course.If he thought I was lying about Ms. Terwilligers absence today, he didnt push the matter. He nodded toward the sub. This is going to be a blow-off day.I dragged my mind absent from magical intrigue. by and by being alkalischooled for most of my life, some move of the normal school world were a mystery. Whats that mean, exactly?Usually teachers go out subs a lesson plan, telling them what to do. I saw the unmatched Ms. Terwilliger left field. It said, Distract them. Trey shook his cutting edge in mock sympathy. I fancy you can kick the bucketle the wasted academician conviction. I mean, shell credibly say something a deal, trifle on platework. But no wizard will.He was right. I wasnt sure if I could relegatele this. Why wouldnt they?This attended to amuse him immensely. Melbourne, sometimes youre the exactly reason I cause to class. I saw her sub plan for your independent study, by the way. It said you didnt unconstipated substantiate to stick most. Youre complete to describe wild.Eddie, sitting nearby, overheard and scoffed. To the library?This do both of them laugh, but my mind was already s nog with possibilities. If I rattling didnt take a crap to persevere for my last class, Id be free to leave campus early. I could go into Los Angeles to look for Veronica and no. Adrian wasnt back. For a moment, I toyed with the report of investigation without his spirit magic, but Ms. Terwilligers warnings echoed with my mind. The hunt would have to wait.But I could legato look for Marcus Finch.Santa Barbara was ii hours away. That meant I had plenty time to drive up in that respect, do some investigating of Marcus, and still ottomanably make it back by the schools curfew. I hadnt intended to go look for him until this weekend but realized now that I shouldnt waste this opportunity. Ms. Terwilligers task weighed intemperately on me as well, but I couldnt do anything about it until Adrian returned tonight.Marcus Finch had been a mystery to me since the moment Id discovered he was an ex-Alchemist. Realizing that I major power actually retrieve some answers today made my heart horn in in overtime. It was hotshot thing to shadowy the Alchemists had been constit uteing out on me. It was an in all different matter to accept that I mogul be on the edge of having those suspicions confirmed. It was actually kind of terrifying.As the day progressed, I became more and more resolved to make the drive. I had to face this preferably or later, and I might as well get it over with. For all I knew, Marcus had simply been sight believeing in Santa Barbara and could be g sensation already. I didnt want to repeat the scrying spell if I could help it.Sure full, when I showed up for what would normally be my independent study at the end of the day, the sub ( feeling extremely worn-out out afterwards a day of following in Ms. Terwilligers footsteps) told me I was free to go. I thanked her and hurried off to my student re side of meatnce means, conscious of the c hasp that was now ticking. I didnt know exactly what Id be set about in Santa Barbara, but I aforethought(ip) to be prepared for anything.I changed out of my Amberwood uniform, opting for jeans and a plain black blouse. rest by my bed, I pulled out a monumental metal knock from underneath it. At first glance, the box looked wish a makeup kit. However, it had an intricate lock that required both a samara and combination. Inside was my Alchemist chemistry set, a assembling of chemicals that would likely get me kicked out of school if found since it looked like it was cap suitable of manufacturing extralegal drugs. And really, some of the compounds probably were beauteous questionable.I selected some basics. One was a polity that was usually used to dissolve Strigoi bodies. I didnt expect to encounter any Strigoi in Santa Barbara, but the compound could also be used to disintegrate metal bewitching handily. I chose a compeer new(prenominal) mixtures like sensation that could create a spy-worthy smoke screen and carefully masked them all up before slipping them into my courier bag. Then I locked the box again and slid it back under the bed. later a littl e consideration, I took a unintelligible breath and produced an new(prenominal)wise underground box. This was a new integrity in my collection. It contained various charms and potions Id made under Ms. Terwilligers instruction. stare at its contents, I matt-up my brook twist. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined Id have such a kit. When wed first met, Id that created charms under duress. Now I had several(prenominal) that Id willingly made, and if what shed said about her babe was true, Id need to start making more. With wide reluctance, I picked a variety of these as well and packed them up with the Alchemist chemicals. subsequently a moments consideration, I put a catch in my pocket for quick access.The drive to Santa Barbara was easy this time of day December had cooled off some of southerly calciums weather, but the sun was still out, making it seem warmer than it really was. And, as I herd up the coast, the forswear gave way to more temperate conditions. sou rce passel increased in the middle and Union parts of the state this time of year, making the landscape lush and green. I really did love Palm Springs and Amberwood, but there were times I wouldnt have minded(p) if Jills as householdment had taken us up here.Finding the Old Mission Santa Barbara wasnt difficult. It was a well-known tourist attraction and bonny easy to spot once you were nearby. The wandering(a) church looked exactly as it had in my vision save that it was lit by mid-afternoon sunshine rather than twilight. I pulled off to the side of the road in a residential neighborhood and gazed up at the beautiful stucco and terra-cotta masterpiece. I wished I had the time to go on a tour, but, as they so often did, my person-to-person desires had to take a backseat to a larger goal.Now came the more difficult part having to figure out where the studio apartment Id seen might be. The neighborhood I parked in provided a view that was similar to the one Id observed in the spell. The angles werent exact, however, and this street only contained houses. I was almost certain the studio Id seen had been in an apartment construct. Keeping the mission in view, I drove a few more streets over and found what Id hoped for several blocks containing apartment complexes.One looked too nice to have what Id seen. The studio had seemed pretty bare bones and run beat. The other two makes on the street looked like more likely candidates. I drove to each one and walked virtually their grounds, toilsome to imagine what the angle might be when viewed from a higher window. I wished Id had a chance to actually look down to the pose lot in the vision. It would have disposed(p) me a better idea of the foundation. afterwards much thought, I in the long run deduced the studio had been on the third or fourth floor. Since one of the buildings only had two floors, that gave me a pretty positive bumble on the correct place.Stepping interior the building made me glad Id packed hand sanitizer in my bag. The halls looked like they hadnt been swept in over a year. The walls were dirty, their paint chipped. Bits of altercate sat on the floor. Cobwebs hung in some of the corners, and I prayed spiders were the only creepy-crawly inhabitants. If I saw a roach, I was probably going to bolt. The building had no lie desk I could make inquiries at, so I flagged down a middle-aged fair sex as she was leaving. She paused, regarding me warily.Hi, I said, hoping I looked non-threatening. Im trying to find a friend of mine, but I dont know which apartment he lives in. Maybe you know him? His name is Marcus. He has a blue stain on his face. Seeing her blank look, I reiterate the question in Spanish. Comprehension showed in her expression, but once shed heard my sinless question, her only response was a truncated engineershake. I didnt rase have time to show her Marcuss picture.I spend the neighboring half hour doing the like thing whenever I saw res idents going in or out. I stayed distant this time, preferring a brightly lit public landing field to the dingy interior. Some of the people I talked to were a little sketchy, and a couple of jest ats looked me over in a way I definitely didnt like. I was about to give up when a jr. boy approached me. He appeared to be about ten and had been playing in the parking lot.I know the computerized axial tomography youre flavor for, he told me in English. But his names not Marcus. Its Dave.Considering how difficult Marcus had been to find, I wasnt entirely strike hed been using another name. Youre sure? I asked the boy. I showed him the picture. This is the guy?He nodded eagerly. Thats the one. Hes real quiet. My mom says hes probably doing bad things.Great. Just what I needed. Do you know where he lives?The boy pointed upward. At the top. 407.I thanked him and went back inside, heading up to the fourth floor on stairs that creaked the entire way. The apartment was near the end of th e hall, next to one that was blasting obnoxious music. I knocked on 407 and didnt get a response. Not sure if the occupant had heard me, I knocked more loudly and received the same result.I eyed the doorknob, considering melting it with my Alchemist chemicals. Immediately, I mustinesser outd the thought. Even in a disreputable building like this, a neighbor might be concerned to see me open frame into an apartment. I didnt want to attract any attention. This situation was getting increasingly frustrating, and I couldnt spend all day here.I ran finished my alternatives. Everyone said I was so smart. Surely there was some consequence here that would work? Waiting around in the hall wasnt an option. There was no telling how commodious it could take for Marcus or Dave to show up. And honestly, the less time spent in the dirty hall, the better. If only there was some way to get inside that didnt involve actually destroying Thats when the solution came to me. I groaned. It wasnt one I liked, but it would get the job done.I went back outside and waved hello to the boy as he practiced jumping off the steps. Was Dave home? he asked.No.The boy nodded. He usually isnt.That, at least, would be reformatory for this next crazy plan. I left the boy and walked around the side of the building, which was mercifully deserted. There, clinging to the outmost wall, was the most rickety fire escape Id ever seen. Considering how rigid California safety standards were, I was astonished that this hadnt been reported. Of course, if it had, it didnt seem likely this buildings owner wouldve been quick to act, opinion from the rest of the conditions Id seen.Double checking that no one was around, I stood in the fire escapes shadow, hoping it more or less concealed me. From the messenger bag, I produced one of my charms a necklace made of agate and crow feathers. I slipped it over my head and recited a Greek incantation. I felt the warmth of magic run through me but saw no seemi ng(a) changes. Theoretically, I should be invisible for those who didnt know to look for me. Whether that had actually happened, I couldnt say. I supposed Id find out if soul came by and demanded to know why I was climbing into an apartment via the fire escape. one time I stepped onto it, I nearly change the plan. The entire fire escape squeaked and swayed. The scaffold was so rusty, I wouldnt have been move if it disintegrated beneath my feet. I stood frozen where I was, trying to work up the fortitude to go on. I reminded myself that this could be my one chance to find Marcus. The boy in the parking lot had confirmed he lived here. I couldnt waste this opportunity.I gulped and unplowed going, gingerly moving from floor to floor. When I reached the fourth, I stared down in amazement, inefficient to believe the fire escape was still intact. Now I had a new problem. Id figured out where Marcuss studio was, and it was one window over from the fire escapes landing. The exceed wa snt that great, but on the narrow shelf between them would feel like miles. every bit daunting was the fact that Id have to get through the window. It was shut, which made sense if he was in hiding. I had a couple magical amulets capable of melting glass, but I didnt trust myself to be able to use them on the narrow ledge which meant I had to see just how approximate my aim had become in PE. however conscious of the precarious fire escape, I took out a sensitive project of powder from my messenger bag. Sizing up the distance, I threw the firing hard toward the window, reciting a spell and missed. The pouch hit the side of the building, throwing up a dusty cloud, and began consume away at the stucco. I winced as the wall dissolved. The spell eventually burn down itself out but left a noticeable hole behind. It hadnt gone all the way through, and I supposed given the state of the building, no one would probably even notice.I had one pouch left and had to make it count. The pa ne was evenhandedly big, and there was no way I could miss this time. I threw hard and made contact. The powder smashed against the window. Immediately, a reply spread out and began melting the glass. It dripped down like ice out in the sun. Now, watching anxiously, I wanted the chemical reaction to go on for as long as possible. I needed a big enough hole to get through. Fortunately, when it stopped, I felt confident I could make it inside if I could get over there.I wasnt afraid of heights, but as I crept along the ledge, I felt like I was on top of a skyscraper. My heart was in my throat, and I pondered the logistics of surviving a four-floor drop. My palms began to sweat, and I ordered them to stop. I wasnt going to come all this way just to have my hands slip at the last minute.As it turned out, it was my foot that slipped. The world spun, and I agitatedally flung my arms out, just barely grabbing the inside of the window. I pulled myself toward it, and with a surge of adr enaline-fueled effort managed to hook my other leg inside. I took a deep breath and tried to quiet my malleus heart. I was secure. I was going to make it. A moment later, I was able to pull myself up and swing my other leg around the ledge, tumbling into the room.I landed on the floor, my legs weak and askew as I worked to steady my frantic breathing. That was close. If my reflexes had been a little slower, I wouldve found out exactly what four floors could do to the human body. While I love science, I wasnt sure that was an experiment I needed to try. Maybe being around dhampirs so much had helped improve my strong-arm skills.Once Id recovered, I was able to appreciate my surroundings. Here I was, in the exact same studio Id seen in my vision. Glancing behind me, I sized up the mission, substantiative I had the same vantage. Yup. Exactly the same. Inside, I recognized the mattress on the floor and the same meager belongings. Across the room, the door leash out had a number of very new, very state-of-the-art locks. Dissolving the outer doorknob wouldnt have done any good.Now what? I muttered. Id made it inside. I didnt have Marcus, but I theoretically had his apartment. I was unsure what I was looking for but might as well start somewhere.First, I examined the mattress, not that I expected much. It couldnt hide belongings like mine could. It could, however, hide rats and God only knew what else underneath it. I gingerly raise a corner, knowing I must be grimacing, but there was nada underneath alive or otherwise. My next target was a small, disorderly quite a little of habilitate. Going through someones dirty washables (because I assumed it was dirty, if it was sitting on the floor) wasnt much better than looking at the mattress. A whiff of fabric softener told me that these clothes were, in fact, recently washed. They were ordinary guy clothes, probably a young guys clothes, which flare-up with Marcuss profile. Jeans. T-shirts. Boxers. As I sifted through the pile, I nearly started folding them and had to remind myself that I didnt want to leave any sign of my passing. Of course, the melted window was kind of a dead giveaway.A couple of person-to-person items sat nearby, a toothbrush and deodourant with a scent inexplicably called as sea Fiesta. Aside from a rickety wooden chair and the ancient TV, there was only one other form of comfort and entertainment in the barren room a battered copy of The backstop in the Rye. Great, I muttered, wondering what it said about a person who possess no other personal possessions. Marcus Finch is artsy-craftsy and self-entitled.The studios bathroom was claustrophobic and barely had enough space for a single shower stall, toilet, and dripping sink. Judging from the mildew on the floor, a good deal of peeing sprayed out when the shower was used. A large black spider scurried down the drain, and I hastily backed out.Defeated, I went to canvass a narrow jam door. After all my work, Id fo und Marcus Finch but hadnt actually found him. My search had revealed nothing. I had restrict time to wait for him, and honestly, if I were him and returned home to a melted window, I would readily walk out the door and never return. If he ran, Id have no choice but to adjudge scrying and AhhSomething jumped out at me as I opened the closet door and it wasnt a rat or a roach.It was a man.The closet was tiny, so it was a miracle he had even play inside. I had no time to demonstrate the spatial logistics, however, because his fist shot out and clipped me on the side of the face.In my life, Id been slammed up against brick walls and bitten by a Strigoi. Id never been punched, however, and it wasnt an experience I wanted to repeat. I stumbled backward, so surprised that I couldnt even react right away. The guy lunged after me, grabbing my upper arms and shaking me as he leaned close.How did you guys find me? he exclaimed. How many an(prenominal) more are coming? cark radiated thr ough the side of my face, but somehow, I managed to gather my senses. Last month, Id taken a self-defense class with a close to unstable Chihuahua breeder who looked like a pirate. Despite Malachi Wolfes unorthodox behavior, hed actually taught us some legitimate skills, and they came back to me now. I kneed my attacker in the stomach. His blue eyes went wide with shock as he released me and fell to the ground. It didnt keep him down for long, though. He scrambled back to his feet and came after me, but by then, Id grabbed the chair and was using it to keep him at bay the way a lion tamer would.Back off, I said. I just want to Ignoring my threats, the guy pushed forward and grabbed one of the chairs legs, pulling it away from me. He had me backed into a corner, and disdain some tricks Eddie had taught me, I wasnt confident in my own ability to throw a punch. Nonetheless, I put up a good fight when my attacker tried to grab me again. We struggled and fell to the floor. I kicked an d taloned like crazy, making things as difficult as possible. It was only when he managed to pin me with his entire body that my flailing got stifled. I had enough freedom to reach a hand into my pocket, however.Who sent you? he demanded. Where are the others?I didnt answer. Instead, I pulled out a small vial and flipped the cap off with one hand. Immediately, noxious yellow vapor with the concurrence of dry ice spilled out of it. I thrust it toward the guys face. He recoiled in disgust, and bust sprang into his eyes. The substance itself was relatively harmless, but its fumes acted as a kind of pepper spray. He let go of me, and with force play I didnt even know I had, I managed to roll him over and hold him down. I drove my elbow into his wrist, and he made a small complain of pain. With my other arm, I waved the vial with as much menace as I would a machete. This wouldnt fool him for long, but hopefully itd buy me some time to valuate my situation. Now that he was still, I was finally able to get a good look at him and was relieved to see Id at least achieved my goal. He had a young, handsome face with an indigo tattoo on his cheek. It was an abstract design that looked like a latticework of crescent moons. A faint silver gleam stabbing some of the blue lines.Nice to advert you, Marcus.Then, the most astonishing thing happened. through with(predicate) his watering eyes, hed been trying to get a good look at me too. wisdom appeared on his face as he blinked me into focus.Sydney Sage, he gasped. Ive been looking for you.I didnt have any time to be surprised because I suddenly heard the fathom of a gun, and a barrel affected the back of my head.Get off him, a voice demanded. And drop the smoke bomb.