*Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy, Richelle Mead does!*
She turned Strigoi Rose. She turned Strigoi Rose. She turned Strigoi Rose. She turned Strigoi Rose. She turned Strigoi Rose. She turned Strigoi Rose. She turned Strigoi Rose. She turned Strigoi Rose. The thought hammered around in my head. No matter how hard I try, I cannot get those words out of my head. I've been sitting on the floor in the Belikov's living room, holding my head in my hands for hours, crying every now and then. I managed to tell Dimitri what happened and he in turn told his family. Most of his family was sitting in the living with expressions from horror to shock on their faces.
Tasha turned Strigoi. That was the one thing I thought she never would do. She tried so hard to fight the stigma that was created when Christian's parents willingly turned Strigoi. She was going to be executed for attempted treason. I guess she would rather turn Strigoi than die.
"I can't believe Tasha did this!" Olena said angrily. I had to keep reminding myself that Tasha had been a friend of the family. The Belikovs were hurting too.
I sobbed again as I remembered the rest of my conversation with Lissa.
"Lissa, who did she kill?" I asked her.
"Oh Rose, I'm so sorry," she sobbed. My heart clenched in my chest. I knew this was going to be bad.
"Lissa! Who was it?" I asked my voice hollow, but I already knew the answer. She still couldn't answer me. "Give the phone to Christian," I ordered her.
She handed the phone over. "Hello?" Christian asked. He sounded dead.
"Hey bro. How are you holding up?" I asked him.
"I'll be okay," he said his voice cracking.
"Christian I'm really sorry. About everything, but I need to know something," I told him.
"Eddie. She killed Eddie"
I couldn't stop sobbing. Eddie who escape Spokane with me. Eddie who guarded Lissa in the field experience as if it were the real thing. Eddie who was captured by Strigoi. Eddie who was rescued from Strigoi because of the debt I felt I owed to him and to Mason. Eddie, my best guy friend who I failed.
Eddie, so full of humor and life was dead. I couldn't believe it. The sobs racked through me again. Dimitri held me close to him and let me cry. He understood how much this hurt me. He wrapped a blanket around my shoulders.
When I had finally cried all of my tears, I let down the walls to the dead.
There were faces everywhere, but I didn't see the one I was looking for. "Eddie?" I called softly.
I was faintly aware of the Belikovs moving. "No. She's seeing if Eddie's in the land of the dead. She has that ability," Dimitri said to them quietly.
"How is that possible?" Olena asked.
"Because she's died and come back," Dimitri explained. "She can sense strigoi too." Once he made sure his family went back to their seats, he ran back to my side. I took strength from his presence.
Eddie appeared in front of me and I gripped Dimitri's hand. I knew my nails dug in, but he didn't complain. Eddie was a washed out color and looked really sad. He reminded me of Mason. Mason had always looked depressed, but he had come to me with a message I couldn't understand. I needed to make sure Eddie was okay. I needed to help him move on.
"Eddie I'm so sorry," I said. I didn't think I had any tears left to cry, but I was wrong. As tears streamed down my face, I asked, "Do you hate me?"
He shook his head. "I'm sorry this had to happen to you. After everything you've been through, you didn't deserve this. No one deserves this." I told him.
He shrugged. I got the message. There was nothing I could have done. If it wasn't him it would have been someone else. In a weird way I found that reassuring. I realized I was truly scared he would hate me for this.
"I tried hard to protect you Eddie, but I failed. When you were taken by Strigoi, you were the only reason we went on the rescue mission. I felt I owed it to Mason to keep you safe, but I couldn't even do that," I said to him sadly.
He shook his head at me frantically. "Is Tasha coming?" I asked him lifelessly.
He nodded wordlessly. "Is she coming alone?" I knew that was too much to ask for, but I had to know for sure. I didn't think she was stupid enough to come by herself. Eddie shook his head, confirming my doubts.
"How many?" I asked him quietly. I didn't know if I really wanted to know the answer, but I wanted to be prepared.
He held up two fingers on one hand and zero on the other. I knew he wasn't saying two. "Twenty?" I asked uncertainly. He nodded. "Is it possible she'll pick up some more on the way?" He nodded. I was quiet for a long time.
"How long?" I finally asked. He held up three fingers.
"Three days?" I asked in disbelief. He nodded, his sad expression deepening.
I stood up and pulled the blanket close to me and stood up. "I'm going to kill her Eddie. I promise I'm going to kill her for you," I promised. A ghost of a smile played on his lips as I tried to pull the walls back up. I leant on Dimitri for strength and though it took time and effort, I successfully got them up. I collapsed in Dimitri's arms, too exhausted to cry anymore. I felt safe in his arms. I knew whatever comes, we would face it together. We would either both survive or both die. There was no other option. I felt comfort at that. I snuggled into his chest. He helped me stand up and we walked to his bedroom. I fell asleep in his arms.
I knew what I had to do. I had to kill Tasha Ozera.