We wait for Sydney to reply.
The phone beeps and my dad grunts at me to check it. His face is a hard wall of anger and I know better than to try to talk to him. I open the phone and almost drop it.
I love you. See you soon.
All the bubbles of worry for Sydney that had been rising rebelliously in my head disappear. How could she say this to a dark creature of the night. Disgust wells up in my head and I imagine herself kissing Adrian Ivashkov. All those times she said she was studying with that history teacher, she must have been with him. Celebrated her birthday with him! What must they have done in their car for their precious phone to drop. I imagine the unthinkable and strangely feel betrayed by Sydney.
"Zoe." My dad's voice breaks me out from my train of thoughts, "What you did was very right." He grunts, but I can pick out some pride in his voice and my heart surges.
I must have looked so surprised because my dad chuckles, although there's no humor in it.
"I may have overlooked your abilities as your sister was so skillful in hiding her taint." I feel bitter suddenly. He finds a way to compliment her in the most twisted ways. But all my thoughts of hate are wiped out by superiority over Sydney as he says, "I'll have to give you more opportunities. You may be very useful to us."
Despite the way he worded it, it's definitely a compliment and I have to struggle not to grin smugly. Sydney would be so jealous. I don't give into that urge and instead keep my face solemn and respectful.
"Yes, thank you sir." I nod and again, dad grunts in approval.
Before I say anything else, I hear a car rolling in and I quickly duck. Sydney is here.
But she isn't alone.
Eddie, the dhampir is with her.
In a moment of slight panic, I go through the plan in my head. The parking lot is a long rectangle with bushes located on the long side where the cement dips for the cars to come into the lot. Keep following that side of the rectangle and there are trees where Sydney can escape. To trap her, there is a group of 5 Alchemists hidden at the point where the trees meet the cement of the lot and another group at the opposite end. Then, there is the group of 7 who will attack Sydney's car directly. Finally, there is a group of the high officials, including my dad, simply here to oversee how things go. I am with them, just looking; although I am the one who made this happen.
Eddie and Sydney get out of the car. They don't know anything yet. But in less than a second, Eddie's guardian instincts take over and he senses the attacking Alchemists group. But he's too late. The Alchemists were hiding at a bush right next to the place where Sydney got off and by the time Eddie makes sense of their number, strength, and skill, they're already on them.
As skilled of a guardian Castile is, there are just too many Alchemists, and our plan is too well thought out. Fear as well as determination visibly fills Sydney as her and Eddie start running. The back Alchemist group starts running as well as the front. The two realize they are trapped. Then, they hide behind a dense patch of rocks and bushes. It is night, so we cannot see them but they will have to come out at one point.
I watch with impassive detachment as I was taught to as my father calls out, "Sydney! Sydney, I know you're here somewhere. If you have any commen sense or decency left, come out and surrender."
I know her well enough that she won't back down so easily. My dad tries again.
"It'll be a lot easier on you if you do, " my dad continued. "And as for that... boy. We don't need him. He can just go if you come with us." Then he lowers his voice, as if he is ashamed for what he has to say. "Is that him?"
