Chapter 10: Escape Plan
Rose's POV
Just Lissa's general plan intrigued me, so I really wanted to know what Abe could help us pull off. He was on the phone.
"I know how big this is, but I'll wipe your debt to me if you help me. This is very important, and if we succeed, we won't be breaking any major laws. No, I'm not desperate!" Abe lied on that last part. "Just do it. You owe me."
Abe hung up the phone and turned to look at us.
"So, what did you just pull off?" I asked.
"I'll have all of Tarasov's most current security information copied to my laptop within the next hour. Then we'll plan the escape from there." Abe said.
"You're very efficient. Maybe I should recruit you for all my crazy plans." I joked.
"Perhaps you should. Then you're reputation for almost all your plans working would be boosted to a reputation where all your plans work." Abe quipped.
"Alright, now how do we get out of the Academy?" I smirked.
"You all pile in my car and hope to God no one notices Rose's absence before we leave." Abe grinned.
"A reckless plan. My specialty." I smirked.
We all sprinted for Abe's car as fast as possible. Since it was night, school hours were probably going, and we didn't need any students or teachers stopping us.
"I want Rose in the front seat." Abe said. "The rest of you can get in the back."
Eddie opened my door and helped me into the car before he, Lissa, and Christian piled in the back. Abe slid into the driver's seat and started the car.
"A van, really? How much more mafia can you get?" I laughed.
"People in the mafia get their own cars—usually expensive. I usually just use the van in case I have to have a group of people—either mine or such as yourselves—in it. And I'm not in the mafia, I'm just a business man who bends the law a little." Abe said.
"That's what every mob boss says." I pointed out.
"I know." He smirked.
We were driving to the gate, almost home free. Then my mother stepped in the way of the van.
"Duck." Abe said.
I slid down in my seat.
"Abe, I already know she's in there. I saw her before she slid down." Mom said. "Bring her back, now."
"Sorry Janine, but I want joint-custody." Abe joked. "I'm going to take her so we can save her. But you can keep her boyfriend. Maybe you can have a talk with him about dating underaged girls and what requirements there are for marrying her."
"I'm eighteen. There's no such thing as custody at that point, and I can be with whoever I want." I said.
"But you're still a student, which makes the custody stay in effect until you're not anymore." Abe pointed out. "Besides, you were underaged when he slept with you."
"I dropped out." I countered.
"You're mother kept you enrolled." Abe argued.
"Abe..." Mom walked up to his window. "You can't take her unless I go with you."
"What, don't you trust my parenting skills?" Abe quipped.
"This isn't about parenting. It's about me not wanting to lose her, so I want to supervise and help you." Mom said.
"You haven't supervised me since before Rose was born." Abe scoffed.
"Abe..." Mom looked over at me.
"I know he's my father. It doesn't take much in the way of brains to realize how much we look and act alike. Plus, Kirova and the Queen have said his name to me before, and I know Ibrahim could be shortened to Abe. Then there's the fact that he's mentioned it in front of Lissa twice now, and I know what she knows." I rolled my eyes. "And the parenting jokes are really obvious. Now, can we cut through the bullshit and either take or leave Mom?"
My parents looked astonished at my reaction. Lissa just sighed while Christian and Eddie stayed quiet.
"I'd probably react with more emotion, but I'm currently having all my emotion drained out of me with every second we waste arguing." I said.
"I'd let you go, but you'll be too recognizable where we're going. I'm sorry, Janine." Abe said.
"I don't have to help with whatever illegal activities you're going to do, I just want to be in the general area and know what the Hell you're doing." Mom said.
"For God's sake, just bring her. If she knows I'm here, then it probably won't be long before the rest of the Academy finds out and locks us in." I groaned. "Get in the car, Mom."
She quickly obliged and slid into the seat next to Eddie.
"No more people." Abe said.
He drove off and didn't stop at the gate. The guardian at the gate looked shocked at Abe not having stopped, so word would probably get back to Kirova pretty quickly.
We were at a coffee shop two towns over within an hour. Abe booted up his laptop and checked something on it.
"Ah, here it is. Come look at these blueprints and make some plans." Abe gestured to me. "And there's plenty of additional documents and information if you need it."
I looked over the blue prints and came up with a crazy idea. I was sure I was going to do it as soon as some of the additional documents confirmed how possible it was.
"We could pose as feeders—Lissa and I. Eddie can pretend to be the delivery guy if we can get these transport papers printed and properly signed. We could also use Christian, but not in the prison itself. I want him in the parking lot where he could be prepared with fire power if we come out and have them following us." I said.
"And what will we be doing?" Abe asked.
"Mom already said she wasn't going to get in on the illegal activities, but it would be better to have her prepared as a getaway driver when we get outside. Then when we've gotten all the necessary information out of Victor, she can be the one who 'finds' him and turns him back in." I explained. "And you can pull some strings with your friends in high places if we get caught. Would you happen to have blackmail on the Queen?"
Abe smirked. "I do, but she has blackmail on me too. That's why she doesn't interfere in my business and I try not to interfere in hers."
"So it's settled." I said.
"But what if they figure out you're a Strigoi and stake you?" Mom questioned.
"There are risks with every job." I shrugged.
"Is it a risk you're willing to take?" Mom asked.
"Yes." I decided. "It is."
Abe suddenly got another call. He paled as he listened and hung up without much talking.
"What is it?" Lissa asked.
"The Academy knows Rose is gone and they had to notify the Queen—because of Rose's Strigoi nature. They're trying to postpone Dimitri's staking, but the Queen expects it to be done before she gets there." Abe said. "She's overseeing things herself, and has a search party looking for all of us."
"We'll have to make ourselves unrecognizable when we get to Tarasov. Good thing Lissa and I have strong compulsion." I said.
"How strong are your compulsion skills?" Lissa asked.
"You're in love with me and want to kiss me." I looked directly into Lissa's eyes.
"I love you, Rose." Lissa leaned in for a kiss.
I laughed and pushed her face away. "Feel what you normally feel."
Lissa blinked. "Did you... did you just..."
"It was cute and funny. Now let's focus." I calmed myself.
"That scares me." Christian said.
"It shouldn't. We both know I don't want her that way, and I won't have the power to control her if we get lucky with Robert." I smirked.
"Here's a thought; how are we getting Rose to Tarasov? It's daytime all the time in Alaska right now, and Rose is a Strigoi. Think that one through." Eddie said.
"Tarasov doesn't have any windows, and you just have to get me in without burning me, then you have to get me back to the car without burning me." I said.
"Because that's easy." Eddie snorted.
"What if you told them Rose was a feeder who thinks she's Strigoi, so you have to cover her from the sunlight. And then all you'd have to do from there is figure out how you're getting her in." Christian suggested.
"Just cover me with a big, thick blanket." I shrugged. "As long as the sun doesn't seep through, I'm fine." I said.
"And what if we have to run on the way out? You can't run under a blanket." Eddie pointed out.
"You can carry me." I scoffed. "You and Mason have proven multiple times that you can hold up my body weight for long periods of time, so running through a prison yard shouldn't be too hard."
"When did they prove that?" Lissa asked.
"They used to have contests to see who was stronger." I shrugged. "It was usually a tie."
"And you volunteered?" Christian snorted.
"They're hot and they're also my best guy friends. Do I really seem like I'd be opposed to the idea?" I laughed.
"No." Lissa agreed. "You don't."
"So the plan's settled?" I looked to Eddie for confirmation.
"It's settled." Eddie nodded.
We had a plan.