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I walked around outside. Just really having fun kicking stones around. It cleared my mind and I gave little concentration to it. I focused on all the questions floating around it in my head. While kicking the stones and thinking, I realized that not many people were around. I thought that was kind of weird. It was only around dinner.
Most people are either hanging out and enjoying the night air, or heading one way or the other. I didn't see why no one should be around. I found it odd, but didn't think much of it. I focused on my thoughts and just decided to keep my guard up. My strength was slowly returning and I knew I could fight off anything that would be at Court. I thought about Eddie first.
I knew it had to be someone in the meetings. Sydney was still here. She was helping when she could. Abe kept her around just in case we needed her. I didn't think she was needed, but Abe did he own thing. It runs in the family, I realized. Adrian seemed to have some feelings towards her. I could tell and he made it obvious. We had started talking vaguely before the attack.
I hadn't seen him much either since then. I knew he was assisting in the training sessions but other than that he wasn't really seen. He had dropped his party ways and only drank and smoked to keep spirit away. Other than that he had changed. I had hurt him. Bad. Eddie was closer to him than I was right now. I knew he would have mentioned it at least once.
"Eddie wouldn't go after her." I sighed. "Not after knowing someone else he was friends with liked her." He had too much respect for his friends that he wouldn't take Sydney away. Sydney seemed to return Adrian's feelings anyway. She hid hers more but I could tell. I only realized that I had missed that much, after I awoke. I had missed everything. I don't regret what I did. It's my job. To protect Lissa. I didn't want her to use spirit, but I wish I hadn't been in a coma for that long.
"Focus, Rose. Focus." I ordered myself. "Think." From what I knew I figured it would probably be someone he knew well. Knowing Eddie, it would be a friend. Mia maybe? Or Jill? Mia seemed more his sister after Spokane. But you never know. I apparently missed a lot. He could have developed feelings during the training sessions. I would have to keep an eye on him. His guardian face doesn't help. He doesn't show emotion much. Unless he really isn't guarding, but even then he still keeps an eye out. Especially around Jill. Hmm. Maybe her? Who knows.
"Rose?" The voice startled me. I had my back to whoever it was. I spun on my heels, swiftly, and faced the figure that stood before me.
"Ambrose?" Yup. It was Ambrose. He stood before me, looking way better since the last time I saw him. "How are you?"
"Better than I have been in a while." I could still see the worry lines etched into his skin and the bags under his eyes. I could tell he was only keeping up appearances for Court and for his clients.
"That's good. I heard you were helping out in the training sessions?" I asked. He had apparently been helping Eddie with the Moroi, but I didn't want to say that out in the open.
"Yeah. It keeps my mind off of things." He replied vaguely. Tatiana's death hit him hard. Especially her funeral. I still felt guilty, that Lissa and everyone had used her funeral as a diversion to help me escape. "Never thought I would be helping in guardian training again. Then again, I never thought I would lose Tatiana either. Not like this." He frowned. I didn't really know what to say, so I didn't. I let him gather himself before he continued. "So what is the famous Guardian Rose Hathaway doing out and about alone during this time of night?" I grinned knowing it was only dinner time. He matched my grin with one of his own.
"I could ask you the same thing." I smirked. "I was out here to think. It's peaceful and cool out here, almost calming." I didn't mention it but I thought it was kind of ironic that I thought it was that, considering everything that has happened at Court.
"This is the place where I come to think too. I guess we have that in common. We seem to meet up here frequently." I didn't catch on until I realized that this was the place that Ambrose and I met near the Council building where I was tricked into giving my credentials, in order to help with the age law discussions. We also met here when I got kicked out for disrespecting Tatiana about the age law, and discussed it with Ambrose. I did have two key factors in my unscheduled meetings with Ambrose; Tatiana and the age law. Two things that angered me more than I thought possible.
"I see your point." I said still smiling.
"Well, I'll leave you to your thinking. I was just passing by this time. Just to warn you, I reserved this spot between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m." Ambrose said stubbornly.
"I would probably be passed out somewhere then. Why would you be up at that time?" I was confused. I didn't understand why so late.
"It's about the time when the sun is at its highest. This spot gives me great access to sit in it. We never get to enjoy the sun because of Moroi complications. So when I get the chance I stay in it as along as possible." Ambrose stated.
"I agree. I wish things could be different. I love the sun as well. Life doesn't seem to be fair, does it?" I asked. Ambrose shook his head and glanced at the ground. I did wish things could be different. In so many ways. I wish Tatiana was alive for Ambrose's sake. I wish I hadn't been shot. I wish Lissa had fewer problems to worry about. I wish I had fewer problems to worry about. The list just goes on
and on.
"It's not fair." He sighed. "Anyway, I have to be somewhere for a client, so I need to go. It was good seeing you Rose. I hope we can meet up soon."
"I hope so too." Was all I could say. I didn't really know how he felt. I guess I understood, a little, how I thought I lost Dimitri. I hadn't known I was going to get him back then, and I thought I wouldn't survive. I was strong somewhat on the outside, after I isolated my feelings from myself. I can tell now that Ambrose has done the same thing. I don't know how to help him but I felt like I should. I guess it's another thing going on my list.
"See you around." Ambrose said. I nodded in agreement, before he turned and headed towards the business area of Court that held stores and spas.
I turned in the other direction. I again didn't really know where I was headed but I had to keep moving. I finally stopped when I realized that I had made it all the way across Court by the garages. I didn't really care either. It's not like I didn't have time to kill. I thought back to my first dilemma. Eddie. I figured there wasn't much more I could do about him without watching him.
I figured his was just the easiest thing for me to worry about. I still needed to figure out how to help Lissa and her battle with the Council. I needed to figure out what happened with Lehigh. I figured I would focus on that next. I needed some insight. I didn't remember much from that night. I was still blurry on the details. I actually didn't remember most of that day. I remembered waking up in Dimitri's arms. I loved waking up to him. He's been gentler with me. Thinking I am breakable or something. I probably was after the attack.
"Focus, Rose. Focus." I repeated to myself.
From what I have heard from Eddie and Dimitri, a lot had gone down that day. A lot I still didn't understand. I remembered the numbers. I remembered the losses. The how still confused me. Eddie and Dimitri could only place so much to jog my memory. I needed to talk to one or the other. Both would be best, but I didn't know how busy Eddie was these days.
I decided I would start with Dimitri. His shift should have been over by now. He was probably at the apartment over in the permanent housing, and was probably wondering where I was. He knew I wandered and it helped clear my head. He didn't really seem to mind. He was just curious by nature. I cut across the Court quickly. It was still deserted. I didn't really worry about it, I was starting to notice some Moroi and Dhampirs here and there.
Oddly enough, the Dhampirs looked like they were guarding the Moroi they walked with. Maybe it was just those particular guardians. Either way, that was something I would have to ask Lissa. Or Dimitri. Or Eddie. Actually I would probably ask whoever I ran into first. I would probably ask Christian if I ran into him, weird enough.
"Watch it, Hathaway." I looked up from the ground, and was staring into the hazel eyes of Eddie Castile. I hadn't realized that I was about to run into him. I stopped in front of him and looked him up and down. It wasn't in a checking him out, kind of way, it was a guardian assessing way. He was doing the same.
"Hey, Eddie. I didn't think you would be done already." I said meeting his eyes.
"Yeah. We finished a little while ago. Mia and Jill dragged me along to go to dinner with Adrian." Did I sense something when he said Mia's name? "I only agreed when Mia said he was paying." No definitely not. Was it Jill's name he was saying differently?
"Getting you to actually eat with Moroi. That was quite an accomplishment for them." It was true. Eddie was always on guard. Ever since Spokane. He never ate with everyone else. When we were at St. Vlad's he would glance around while eating. Just making sure, I suppose. Otherwise, he would always eat at another time when he knew he could let his guard down somewhat. Knowing Eddie he was still looking around while he was eating.
"Didn't really eat. Wasn't that hungry." Eddie shrugged. Typical Eddie.
I grinned. "I see. So are you enjoying your training sessions? I mean they must get a little boring after a while." I questioned nonchalantly.
"Not really. Seeing all the magic getting tossed around was definitely cool. I mean I got to see some pretty neat things happening. Adrian and Christian have actually been helping me out. Mia has literally become my second in command. Have you ever heard her yell? She can be the new Court Herald. She quiets the room with one word. Jill has been really shy the past few weeks but recently started getting into the sessions." I knew right when he said Jill's name that there was something there.
I didn't know how Jill felt, but I knew Eddie liked her. Of course his emotionless guardian face wouldn't show much. He did seem to lessen it around me. Honestly I think the only reason he did was because I was a Dhampir too. Tonight I think he was being extra careful only because I wasn't at full strength yet. I really tried to hide my weakness but everyone seemed to see right through my façade.
"Yeah, I heard that Jill has been starting to take charge. You might want to watch out for Mia though, if you stand too close to her you might lose your hearing."
"True. I really need my hearing lead this group." He smiled. We remained silent for a few moments before I remembered why I needed to talk to him.
"Hey, have you noticed anything strange around here recently?" I asked.
"What do you mean?" He looked confused.
"I mean things being out of the ordinary around here. Anything different?"
"Nothing that I've noticed. Why? Are you okay?" Eddie looked into my eyes, and put his hand on my shoulder.
"Yeah. I'm fine. I just haven't been able to think." I stated. It wasn't a lie.
"About what?"
"A lot of things." I avoided his eyes.
"Still on Lehigh?" He sighed.
"Yeah, I just don't see how things add up there." Things didn't add up there. I was at the back of the group, yet for some reason they got to me first? Dimitri and Eddie claimed that there was one entry point, but for some reason we left a clearing for them to get me? Why?
"Dimitri and I have told you everything we know. The guardians who noticed the Strigoi first, were the ones to get killed. So we couldn't get any information on what direction they came from. We know that there was one group of them. They usually attack from all sides when they group up. This time they didn't. We don't know everything. It all happened too quickly."
I wish I still had my shadow-kissed abilities. I'm glad I didn't have to deal with spirit side effects anymore but I do know the good parts. Taking spirit away from Lissa. Having a bond. Knowing every second of every day where she is, if she is alright. Getting answers from ghosts. Controlling ghosts. These things had consequences, yes, but they did help me out a lot when being a guardian and helping Lissa.
"Yeah. I know. It's still bugging me though. Nothing I've faced—we've faced happened like this. Left so open-ended." The thoughts were whirling around in my head. The questions from my other problems were mixing in with these. I couldn't think. The world started to shift through my eyes.
Everything started to get blurry. I felt my heart racing and I couldn't speak or move. Everything was spinning. I closed my eyes, and felt Eddie's hands on my shoulders. I wasn't paying attention but I believe he asked a question. Probably if I was alright. I felt him push my body in a direction. He was guiding me somewhere. I didn't know where.
All I focused on was trying to control my heart rate and breathing, hoping to not fall on my face, or collapse. I just needed to figure out what was happening. My headache returned with full force. I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. All I could think about was the pain now. My breathing was rapid and uneven. I couldn't open my eyes. I don't know if I tripped or if I collapsed but the next thing I knew I was on the ground lying on my back.
Eddie had turned me over. I couldn't register what he was saying. I knew he was speaking to me, but that was it. I couldn't even manage to tell him not to let Lissa heal me. I didn't think she would, but I had doubt in my mind with her. She cared too much. The headache increased into a multitude of pain. I think I blacked out from the pain because I didn't remember moving from the ground.
I would just like to tell all of you that I will be uploading the next two chapters by tomorrow...I haven't had any internet and I have had writer's block for the longest time...There will be no more procrastination by me uploading...I will be uploading at least once a week...Thanks for the support!