The Indigo Spell Chapter One

THIS WASNT THE FIRST TIME Id been pulled divulge of bed for a authoritative mission. It was, however, the first time Id been subjected to such a personal line of questioning. are you a virgin?Huh? I rubbed my sleepy eyes, undecomposed in case this was exclusively intimately sort of bizarre dream that would disappear. An urgent phone call had dragged me step to the fore(p) of bed five minutes ago, and I was having a little spat adjusting.My history teacher, Ms. Terwilliger, leaned closer and borrowed the question in a stage whisper I said, are you a virgin?Um, yes. . .I was fully kindle directly and glanced uneasily near my dorms lobby, making sure no one was around to witness this crazy exchange. I didnt hold lynchpin to worry. Aside from a bored-looking desk accompaniment on the far side of the room, the lobby was empty, probably because no sane person would be up at this time of night. When Ms. Terwilligers call had woken me, shed demanded I strike her here for a l ife-or-death matter. Getting interrogated ab step up my personal life wasnt quite what Id expected.She stepped ass and sighed in relief. Yes, of course. Of course youre a virgin.I narrowed my eyes, faint- copted if I should be glumended or non. Of course? Whats that supposed to mean? Whats sledding on?She immediately snapped back to attention and pushed her wire-rimmed glasses up the span of her nose. They were al centerings slipping down. No time to explain. We have to go. She grabbed hold of my arm, that I resisted and stayed where I was.Maam, its three in the morning And then, just so shed fancy the severity of the situation On a school night.Never mind that. She turned in the direction of the desk attendant and called across the room, Im taking Sydney Melrose with me. Mrs. Weathers can deliberate with me any(prenominal)what the cur a couple of(prenominal) tomorrow.The attendant looked startled, but she was just round college student whod been hired to sit at that pl ace overnight. She was no match for the formidable Ms. Terwilliger, with her tall, gangly stature and bird exchangeable face. The original authority trammeling girls in my dorm was the security guard outside, but he simply nodded in a friendly way when Ms. Terwilliger dragged me past. It made me esteem just how m any girls shed abducted in the middle of the night.Im in my pajamas, I told her. It was the live protest I could offer as we reached her car, which was parked in a rouse lane. She drove a red Volkswagen Beetle with flowers painted on the sides. Somehow, this didnt surprise me in the least.Youll be fine, she said, fishing car keys out of her massive velvet purse. somewhat us, the desert night was cool and silent. Tall palm trees created dark, spider a corresponding shapes against the sky. Beyond them, a full moon and smattering of stars glittered. I wrapped my arms around myself, touching the soft fabric of my microfleece robe. Underneath it, I had on full-length striped pajamas paired with fluffy beige slippers. The ensemble worked well in my snug dorm room but wasnt exactly practical for a Palm Springs night. But then, sledding out in pajamas wasnt really practical in any place.She unlocked the car, and I stepped gingerly inside, having to dodge empty paper coffee cups and old issues of Utne Reader. My neat sensibilities cringed at that kind of mess, but it was the least of my worries right now.Ms. Terwilliger, I said, once we were driving through the suburban streets. Whats going on? Now that we were out of the dorm, I hoped shed start talking sense. I hadnt forgotten her life-or-death colour and was beginning to grow nervous.Her eyes were on the bridle-path ahead of us, and lines of worry marked her angular face. I need you to cast a spell.I froze as I tried to process her row. Not long ago, this proclamation wouldve sent me into protests and fits of revulsion. Not that I was comfortable with it now. Magic all the same freaked me out. Ms. Terwilliger taught at my private spirited school, Amberwood Prep, by day and was a witch at night. She said I, too, possessed a natural affinity for magic and had managed to teach me some spells, despite my outgo efforts to resist. I actually had a few good reasons for needinessing to avoid anything arcane. Aside from inborn beliefs about magic being wrong, I simply didnt want to get caught up in any more supernatural affairs than I had to. I already spent my days as part of a secret society that kept vampires secret from the human world. That and my schoolwork were enough to keep anyone busy.Nonetheless, her magical training had gotten me out of some dangerous situations recently, and I was no longer so quick to dismiss it. So, her suggesting I perform magic wasnt the weirdest thing going on here.Why would you need me for that? I asked. There were few cars out, but occasionally, passing headlights would cast a ghostly light over us. Youre a million times more powerful. I cant ca st a section of the things you can.Power is one thing, she admitted. But there are other limitations and factors at work here. I cant cast this particular spell.I crossed my arms and slouched back in the seat. If I kept focusing on the practical aspects, I could ignore how worried I was growing. And it couldnt have waited until morning?No, she said gravely. It could not.Something about the emotional state of her articulatio sent chills down my spine, and I fell silent as we proceed our drive. We were headed outside of the city and suburbs, into the wilds of the true desert. The farther we drove from civilization, the darker it became. Once we were off the freeway, there were no streetlights or houses in sight. Spiky desert shrubs created dark shapes along the side of the road that put me in mind of crouching animals, ready to pounce. Theres no one out here, I thought. And no one back at Amberwood knows youre here either.I shifted uneasily as I recalled her virgin question. Was I going to be a sacrifice in some unholy ritual? I wished that Id thought to bring my cell phone not that I could have told my organization, the Alchemists, that I was spending so much time with a magic user. And not just any magic user one who was teaching me to induce one too. Better to risk being sacrificed than face the Alchemists wrath.Twenty minutes later, Ms. Terwilliger finally pulled to a stop along the side of a dusty one-lane road that seemed to be a direct route to nowhere. She got out of the car and motioned for me to do the same. It was colder here than it had been back at Amberwood. Looking up into the night sky, I caught my breath. unloose of the city lights, the stars were now out in full force. I could see the Milky Way and a dozen constellations usually hidden to the naked eye. woolgather later, she said curtly. We need to hurry, before the moon progresses much further.A moonlight ritual, a barren desert, virgin sacrifice . . . what had I just foolishly walked into? The way Ms. Terwilliger pushed me into magic always annoyed me, but I never thought she posed a threat. Now I berated myself for being so naive.She tossed a duffle bag bag over one shoulder and headed off into a desolate stretch of land, dotted with rocks and scraggly vegetation. Even with the brilliant celestial display there wasnt much light out here, yet she walked purposefully, as though she knew exactly where she was going. I dutifully followed, wincing as I crossed the rocky ground. My fuzzy slippers had never been intended for this sort of terrain.Here, she said when we reached a down(p) clearing. She carefully set down the duffel bag and knelt to rifle through it. Thisll do.The desert that was so unmercifully hot in the day became cold at night, but I was windlessness sweating. Probably my own anxiety had more to do with that than the temperature or to a great extent pajamas. I retied my robe more tightly making a perfect knot. I found that kind of detail and routi ne soothing.Ms. Terwilliger produced a large prolate mirror with a scalloped silver frame. She set it down in the middle of the clearing, glanced up at the sky, and then shifted the mirror over a little. answer here, Miss Melbourne. She pointed to a spot opposite her, on the other side of the mirror. Sit there and make yourself comfortable.At Amberwood, I went by the name of Sydney Melrose, sort of than my true one, Sydney Sage. Ms. Terwilliger had gotten my made-up name wrong on the first day of class, and it, unfortunately, stuck. I followed her directions, not that I could really get all that comfortable out here. I was pretty sure I could hear some large animal scuffling out in the brush and added coyotes to my mental list of dangers I face out here, right below magic use and lack of coffee.Now then. Lets get started. Ms. Terwilliger peered at me with eyes that were dark and frightening in the desert night. Are you wearing anything metal? You need to take it off.No, I oh. W ait.I reached around my neck and unfastened a delicate gold chain that held a small cross. Id had the necklace for years but had recently stipulation it to someone else, for comfort. Hed given it back to me recently, by way of our mutual friend Jill Mastrano Dragomir. Even now, I could picture the irate look on her face as shed stormed up to me at school and thrust the cross into my hand without a word.I stared at the cross now as it gleamed in the moonlight. A queasy feeling welled up in the pit of my stomach as I thought about Adrian, the guy Id given it to. Id done so before he professed his love for me, something that had caught me totally off guard a few weeks ago. But maybe I shouldnt have been so surprised. The more I looked back and I did so all the time the more I began to recall telltale signs that should have tipped me off to his feelings. Id just been too blind to notice at the time.Of course, it wouldnt have mattered if Id seen it coming or not. Adrian was totally u nsuitable for me, and it had nothing to do with his many vices or potential course into insanity. Adrian was a vampire. True, he was a Moroi one of the good, living vampires but it made no difference. humankind and vampires couldnt be together. This was one point the Moroi and Alchemists stood firmly together on. It was still amazing to me that Adrian had voiced those feelings to me. It was amazing that he could all the same have them or that hed had the nerve to kiss me, even if it was a kiss that had left me dizzy and breathless.Id had to reject him, of course. My training would allow nothing less. Our situation here in Palm Springs forced the two of us to constantly be together in neighborly situations, and it had been rough since his declaration. For me, it wasnt just the awkwardness of our new relationship. I . . . well, I missed him. Before this debacle, he and I had been friends and spent a lot of time together. Id gotten utilize to his smirky smile and the quick bante r that always flowed between us. Until those things were gone, I hadnt realized how much I relied on them. How much I needed them. I matt-up empty inside . . . which was ridiculous, of course. Why should I care so much about one vampire?Sometimes it made me angry. Why had he washed-up such a good thing between us? Why had he made me miss him so much? And what had he expected me to do? He had to have known it was impossible for us to be together. I couldnt have feelings for him. I couldnt. If wed lived among the Keepers a group of uncivilized vampires, humans, and dhampirs maybe he and I could have . . . no. Even if I had feelings for him and I firmly told myself I didnt it was wrong for us to even consider such a relationship.Now Adrian utter to me as little as possible. And always, always, he watched me with a haunted look in his green eyes, one that made my heart ache and Ah What is that?I squirmed as Ms. Terwilliger dumped a bowl full of dried leaves and flowers over my head . Id been so fixated on the cross and my memories that I hadnt seen her coming.Rosemary, she said matter-of-factly Hyssop. Anise. Dont do that. Id reached up to pull some of the leaves out of my hair. You need that for the spell.Right, I said, getting back to business. I set the cross carefully on the ground, trying to clear my mind of green, green eyes. The spell that only I can do. Why is that again?Because it has to be done by a virgin, she explained. I tried not to grimace. Her words implied that she was not a virgin, and even if that made sense for a forty-year-old woman, it still wasnt a thought I wanted to spend a lot of time on. That, and the person were looking for has protect herself from me. But you? You she wont expect.I looked down at the shining mirror and understood. This is a s exclaiming spell. Why arent we doing the one I did before?Not that I was eager to repeat that spell. Id used it to find someone, and it had involved me staring into a bowl of water for hours. Still, now that I knew how to do it, I knew I could perform it again. Besides, I didnt like the idea of walking into a spell I knew nothing about. Words and herbs were one thing, but what else might she ask of me? Endanger my soul? Give up my blood?That spell only works for someone you know, she explained. This one will help you find someone youve never met before.I frowned. As much as I didnt like magic, I did like problem solving and the puzzles magic often presented intrigued me. How will I know who to look for, then?Ms. Terwilliger handed me a photograph. My eyes had adjusted to the phantasma, and I looked into the face of a pretty young woman. There was a striking resemblance between her and my teacher, though it wasnt initially obvious. quite an than Ms. Terwilligers dull brown hair, this womans was dark, nearly black. She was besides much more glamorous, dressed in a black satin evening gown that was a far cry from Ms. Terwilligers usual hippie attire. Despite those oste nsible differences, the two women shared the same high cheekbones and aquiline eyes.I glanced back up. Shes related to you.Shes my older sister, Ms. Terwilliger confirmed, her voice unco flat. Older? I wouldve guessed this woman was at least ten years younger.Is she missing? I asked. When Id scried before, it had been to find a kidnapped friend.Ms. Terwilligers lips twitched. Not in the way youre thinking. From the immortal duffel bag, she produced a small leather book and opened it to a marked page. Squinting at where she indicated, I could make out handwritten Latin words describing the mirror and herbal concoction shed dumped on me. Following that were directions on how to use the spell. No bloodletting, thankfully.It sounds too simple, I said suspiciously. Id learned that spells that only had a few steps and components usually required a lot of mental energy. Id passed out from the other scrying spell.She nodded, guessing my thoughts. It takes a lot of focus more than the las t one. But, as much as you dont want to hear this, your strength has grown enough that youll probably have an easier time than before.I scowled. She was right. I didnt want to hear that.Or did I?Part of me knew I should refuse to go along with this madness. Another part of me worried shed abandon me in the desert if I didnt help. And still another part was insanely curious to see how this would all work.Taking a deep breath, I recited the books incantation and then set the picture in the middle of the mirror. I repeated the incantation and removed the picture. Leaning forward, I stared into the shining surface, trying to clear my mind and let myself become one with the darkness and moonlight. A hum of energy coursed through me, much more quickly than I expected. Nothing changed in the mirror right away, though. Only my demonstration peered back at me, the poor lighting dulling my blond hair, which looked terrible both from sleeping on it and having a bunch of dried plants hanging i n its strands.The energy continued to build in me, growing surprisingly warm and exhilarating. I closed my eyes and sank into it. I felt like I was floating in the moonlight, like I was the moonlight. I couldve stayed that way forever.Do you see anything?Ms. Terwilligers voice was an unwelcome interruption to my blissful state, but I obediently opened my eyes and looked into the mirror. My reflection was gone. A silvery gray mist hung in front of a building, but I knew the mist wasnt physical. It was magically produced, a mental barrier to keep me from seeing the image that lay beyond it. Strengthening my will, I pushed my mind passed that barrier, and after a few moments, the mist shattered.I see a building. My voice echoed oddly in the night. An old Victorian house. Dark red, with a traditional covered porch. There are hydrangea bushes in front of it. Theres a sign too, but I cant read it.Can you tell where the house is? My teachers voice seemed very far away. Look around it.I tri ed to pull back, to extend my hallucination beyond the house. It took a few moments, but slowly, the image panned out as though I were watching a movie, revealing a neighborhood of similar houses, all Victorian with wide porches and creeping vines. They were a beautiful, perfect piece of history set in the modern world.Nothing exact, I told her. Just some quaint residential street.Go back further. See the larger picture.I did, and it was like I drifted up into the sky, looking down upon the neighborhood the way some soaring bird would. The houses extended into more neighborhoods, which eventually gave way to industrial and commercial areas. I continued moving back. The businesses became more and more densely packed. to a greater extent streets crisscrossed between them. The buildings grew taller and taller, eventually materializing into a familiar skyline.Los Angeles, I said. The house is on the outskirts of Los Angeles.I heard a sharp intake of breath, followed by convey you, Mi ss Melbourne. That will be all.A hand suddenly waved across my field of vision, shattering the city image. Also shattered was that state of euphoria. I was no longer floating, no longer made of light. I came crashing down to reality, down to the rocky desert landscape and my stuffy pajamas. I felt exhausted and shaky, like I might faint. Ms. Terwilliger handed me a thermos full of orange juice, which I drank greedily. As the nutrients hit my system and strengthened me, I began to feel a little better. Intense magic use depleted blood sugar.Does that help? I asked, once Id downed the thermos. A nagging voice inside me started to chastise about how many calories were in orange juice, but I ignored it. Was that what you wanted to know?Ms. Terwilliger gave me a smile that didnt extend to her eyes. It helps, yes. Was it what I wanted? She stared off into the distance. No, not exactly. I was hoping youd name some other city. Some city far, far away.I picked up my cross and refastened it a round my neck. The familiar object brought on a sense of normality after what Id just done. It also made me feel guilty, looking back on the euphoric high the magic had given me. Humans werent supposed to wield magic and they certainly werent supposed to enjoy it. Running my fingers over the crosss surface, I found myself thinking of Adrian again. Had he ever worn it? Or had he just kept it around for luck? Had his fingers traced the crosss shape like mine often did?Ms. Terwilliger began gathering her things. When she stood up, I followed suit. What does it mean exactly, maam? I asked. That I saw Los Angeles?I followed her back toward the car, and she didnt answer right away. When she did, her voice was uncharacteristically grim. It means that shes much closer than I would like. It also means, whether you want to or not, youre going to have to work on improving your magical skills very, very quickly.I came to a halt. Suddenly, I felt angry. Enough was enough. I was exhausted and ac hed all over. Shed dragged me out here in the middle of the night and now had the presumption to make a statement like that when she knew how I felt about magic? Worse, her words frightened me. What did I have to do with this? This was her spell, her cause. Yet, shed given the directive with such force, such certainty, that it almost seemed as though I was the reason wed come out here to this wasteland.Maam I began.Ms. Terwilliger spun around and leaned toward me so that there were only a few inches between us. I gulped, swallowing whatever outraged words Id been about to utter. Id never seen her look like this. She wasnt scary, not exactly, but there was an intensity Id never seen before, far different from the usual scattered teacher I knew. She also looked . . . frightened. Life or death.Sydney, she said, in a rare use of my first name. Let me assure you that this is not some trick on my part. You will rectify upon your skills, whether you like it or not. And its not because I m cruel, not because Im trying to fulfill some selfish desire. Its not even because I hate seeing you waste your ability. then(prenominal) why? I asked in a small voice. Why do I need to learn more?The wind whispered around us, blowing some of the dried leaves and flowers from my hair. The shadows we cast took on an ominous feel, and the moonlight and starlight that had seemed so divine earlier now felt cold and harsh.Because, Ms. Terwilliger said. Its for your own protection.