(December 1)
Jasmine was standing next to her mustang that was sitting park lot. Thinking to herself that her mustang needs a good bath. Turn her head to find Rosie hurrying to where Cowboy waiting beside a Honda Pilot. Rose said, " I know. I know. Sorry I late." Dimitri said, "you're late again."
Jasmine said, "Wow! Are you both going to ride in that? Where are you going to a soccer game?" Making both Dimitri and Rose head snapped up and noticed Jasmine stand next to a van. Rose said, Sissy! Run over hug Jasmine. Jasmine hugs Rosie back. Dimitri said, "when did you get back?" Jasmine said, "about an hour ago. Alberta told me to give this to you. Handing Dimitri a note. Dimitri open and read it. Dimitri said, "you are coming with us." Jasmine smiled at Dimitri.
Dimitri said, "Come on." Jasmine said, "Are we riding in that?" Point her finger at his car. Dimitri said, "What wrong with my car?" Jasmine said, " I just thought you might ride something with style. Pulled keys out of her front pocket. Dimitri saw Jasmine's key in her hand. Rose smiled. Dimitri said, "I driving!" Jasmine said, "Might pack that piece crap somewhere." Rose started laughing. Dimitri just looked at Jasmine.
Jasmine reached down and picking up her backpack. Started heading for the mustang. Rose said, "Can I front seat?" Jasmine said, "Sure! I sleep in the backseat. I have been up for almost two days." Rose said, "You do look tied." Jasmine said, "Jet-lag."
Jasmine sitting back and closing her eyes. Dimitri gets in the driver's seat and found the key laying on the dashboard. Putting seat-belt and tell both put their seat-belts on. Both Rose and Jasmine did what Dimitri told them to. Jasmine closes her eyes again and tried to relax.
Rose's mood promptly shot up past "cheerful and went straight to ecstatic to with sister and Dimitri together. Rose asked, "How far away is it?" Dimitri said, "Five hours." Jasmine said, "wake up when we get there." Yawning! Dimitri knew that Jasmine was Jet-lag. Let her sleep in the back seat.
Meanwhile, Rose and Dimitri talked. Rose asked, "don't they usually come to the academy? I mean, I'm all for the field trip. But why are we going to them?" Dimitri said, "actually, both of you, just going to him, not them. Since this is a special case's and he's doing us the favor. We're the ones making the trip." Rose asked, "Who is he?" "Dimitri said, "Arthur Schoenberg." Rose jerked her gaze from the road to Dimitri and said, Holy Shit!"
Rose remembers that Arthur Schoenberg was a legend. He was one of the greatest Strigoi slayers in living guardian history and used to be the head of the Guardians Council the group of people who assigned guardians to Moroi and made decisions for all of us. He'd eventually retired and gone back to protecting one of the royal families, the Badicas. Even retired, I knew he was still lethal. His exploits were part of our curriculum."
Rose asked in a quiet voice that wouldn't wake up Jasmine. Wasn't... wasn't there anyone else available?" Rose could see Dimitri hiding a smile. Dimitri said, "You'll be fine. Besides, if Art approves of you, that's a great recommendation to have on your record." Rose said, "what happens if found out Jasmine's power?" Dimitri said, "I have to talk to Jasmine before meeting him."
Silence fell in the car. Jasmine whimper in sleep and said, "don't touch me." Rose reached back and said, "everything fine." Jasmine whimper again. Rose said, "shh! Sleep sissy." Dimitri could hear the way Rose speak to her sister. Part of him what her talk to him like that. Rose said, "I wish her nightmare would stop and let her get a good night's sleep." Dimitri said, "give it time and nightmares go away. Peace will come."
Rose turns looking at Dimitri. Seeing his Bottomless dark eyes. Shoulder-length brown hair tied back at his neck. That hair felt like silk. I knew because I'd run my fingers through it when Victor Dashkov had ensnared us with the lust charm. With great restraint, I forced myself to start breathing again and look away.
"Rose said, "Thanks, Coach," Rose teased, snuggling back into the seat. "I'm here to help," Dimitri replied.
Rose said, "you know what would really help?" Dimitri said, "hmm?"
Not realizing Jasmine wake up. Using the remote and making the radio started playing Toby Keith - Whiskey Girl. Rose and Dimitri stared down at the radio. Jasmine started giggling. Dimitri glanced in the rear mirror to find Jasmine giggling to herself hold the remote to the radio. Dimitri said, "Jazz! Hand it over." Put his handout for the remote. Jasmine sits up and puts the remote to the radio in his hand. Jasmine said, "Both of your faces were funny." Rose reached into the backseat hit Jasmine.
Dimitri knew this ride is fun now both girls are awake.
(Three hours later)
Arthur and the family he protected lived in a small town along I-90, not far from Billings. The general Moroi opinion was split on places to live. Some argued that big cities were the best since they allowed vampires to be lost in the crowds; nocturnal activities didn't raise so much attention. Other Moroi, like this family, opted for less populated towns, believing that if there were fewer people to notice you, then you were less likely to be noticed.
Rose and Jasmine convinced Dimitri to stop for food at a twenty-four-hour diner along the way, and between that and stopping to buy gas. It was around noon when we arrived. The house was built in a rambler style, all one level with gray-stained wood siding and big bay windows that were tinted to block sunlight, of course. It looked new and expensive, and even out in the middle of nowhere, it was about what I'd expected for members of a royal family.
Dimitri, Rose, and Jasmine get out of the mustang. Rose and Jasmine's boots sinking through the few inches of smooth snow. They walking to the house crunching on the gravel of the driveway. The day was still and silent, save for the occasional breath of wind. Dimitri, Rose, and Jasmine walked up to the house, following a river rock sidewalk that cuts through the front yard. I could see him sliding into his business model, but his overall attitude was as cheery as mine. We'd all taken a kind of guilty satisfaction in the pleasant car ride.
Rose's foot slipped on the ice-covered sidewalk, and Dimitri instantly reached out to steady me. Rose had a weird moment of DEJAVU, flashing back to the first night we'd met, back when he'd also saved me from a similar fall. Freezing temperatures or not, his hand felt warm on my arm, even though the layers of down in my parka coat. Dimitri said, "are you okay."
Jasmine stops walking and getting wield feeling. Looking around like something wrong! Dimitri asked, "what wrong?" Jasmine bent down, put her hand in the snow, and close her eyes. Start seeing a flash of images. Rose said, "Haven't these people ever heard of salt?" Dimitri's expression became tense and alert. He turned his head, eyes searching the broad, white plains surrounding us before settling back on the house. Dimitri studied the building for almost a full minute. Looks down at the icy sidewalk, then glanced back at the driveway, covered in a sheet of snow broken only by our footprints.
Jasmine started Russian speaking, (Стригои и люди работают вместе!) (Meaning: Strigoi and Humans working together!) Dimitri looked down at Jasmine and saying, (Уверены ли вы?)( Meaning: Are you sure?) Jasmine said, (Да! Это хочет, чтобы я видел. Но зачем им использовать людей?)(Meaning Yes! That wants I seen. But why would they need to use humans for?)
Dimitri said, (Не знаю. Это новая сила?)(Meaning: Don't know. Is that new power?) Jasmine said, (Да. Смотри в моей голове картинки из прошлых событий)(Meaning :Yes! See pictures in my head from past events.) Dimitri said, (мы поговорим об этом позже!)(Meaning: we talk about this later!)
Jasmine nod. Rose said, "English!" Jasmine said, Not now! Jasmine stands up.
Dimitri cautiously approached the front door, and we followed. Dimitri stopped again, this time to study the door. It wasn't open, but it wasn't entirely shut either. It looked like it had been closed in haste, not sealing. Further examination showed scuffs along the door's edge, as though it had been forced at some point. The slightest nudge would open it. Dimitri lightly ran his fingers along where the door met its frame, his breath making small clouds in the air. When Dimitri touched the door's handle it jiggled a little, like it had been broken.
Finally, Dimitri said quietly, Jasmine fellow me and Rose, go wait in the car."
"Rose said what?"
"Dimitri said Go!"
Dimitri and Jasmine stood where they were, not moving until Rose slipped back into the car, closing the door as softly as possible. Dimitri said flame up! Jasmine reached in her jacket and pulled out the stake with her right hand. In her left hand, a ball of fire appeared. Then they both gentlest of movements, Dimitri pushed on the barely held door and they disappeared inside.
Dimitri went first with Jasmine behind him. Telling her to stay calm and keep her eyes open. Jasmine slows her breath and tries to stay calm while moving through threw house. Dimitri keeps going to the back of the house. Jasmine stops turning to the living and stepping inside of the room.
The horrible scene was so surreal as Jasmine saw child-size laying floor looking up at her. Making her heart cry the child. The tears beginning filling her eyes and felling down her cheeks. Jasmine fell to her knees. The flame died in her hand. Jasmine reached up and close the child's eyes. Jasmine speak softly I'm so sorry that we didn't get to you in time. You can rest now.
Jasmine started hearing the echo of the pass. The screams and different images started flashing in front of Jasmine's eyes. Making her feel the pain from the attack. Dimitri came into the living room and found Jasmine's next child's body. Rushing to Jasmine's side and seeing that her eyes had gone white.
Knowing Jasmine was in a trance like Rose does when she slipped into Vasilisa's mind. Rose came to Jasmine said, "what happening?" Dimitri said, "it trance. Like when you slip in Valissa head." Rose looked at Jasmine worried. Jasmine's consciousness returns and started blinking. Jasmine eyes of gold and not normal light brown eyes.
Jasmine turn and looked at Dimitri. Seeing the tears felling from her eyes. Dimitri said, "what happen?" The human broken the ward with a silver stake in the backyard by at gate. They attack in the dead of the night, in the middle of shift changing. Catching them fully off guard and most of them were sleeping. They have been watching from the tree line at the back of the house for days.
Dimitri asked, "how many were there?" Jasmine said, "six came in three stayed outside. The leader said to leave a message behind." Rosa said, "where is the message?" Jasmine said, "A mirror! The leader said, "maybe see it now."Jasmine shaking and keep crying. Dimitri pulled Jasmine to his chest and saying everything will be alright. Reaching down, picking Jasmine's silver stake off the floor and put it into his coat pocket.
Rose gets up moving through the house. Looking for a message and finding it in the mirror in the bathroom.
Rose started reading the message in the mirror.
Poor, poor Badicas. So few left.
One royal family is nearly gone.
Others to follow.
Rose calling out Dimitri. Dimitri came into the bathroom and looked at the mirror. Rose said, "this changes everything!" Dimitri said, "Yes. Take Jasmine back to the car and put her in the backseat to rest. Stay with her and wait for me to return to the car. Rose turned around walked back to Jasmine. Dimitri made one phone call and a veritable SWAT team showed up.
It took a couple of hours, though, and every minute spent waiting felt like a year. Rose watched Jasmine sleep. Dimitri said, "Jazz has changed, and grown over these three months." Rose said, "my little sister is stronger by far. I worry about her what is going to happen to her. Will they understand her or going be test animals in a lab." Dimitri could see the love that Rose had Jasmine and worried for her. Dimitri wants to hold Rose in his arms and make her worries go away. Remember that keep Valissa and Jasmine safe. Could get his feeling get in away of his job.
When Jasmine's cellphone started to ring. Dimitri reached into the backseat and grabbed up Jasmine's backpack. Start looking through it to found the loud ring. Opening the top and found a laptop, file, and notebooks. Going through the front pockets and found it. Opening and found that text from Damon. Stop ringing to keep from waking Jasmine up.
Rose said, "Whom texting her?" Dimitri said, "we can't read people's text messages." Rose reached over grabbed the cellphone and said, "Bullshit! Just watch me." Dimitri watched Rose open the message. Start reading it. Find out that Damon wants to talk to her. Asking her to call him to let him know. When are you coming home? Please call me. I miss you.
Dimitri said, "What does it say?" Rose turns her cellphone around and shows Dimitri. Dimitri started reading it. 'Thinking to himself home for less a day and want her." Dimitri grabbed Jasmine's cellphone send a text back. Can't talk now. Taking care of busy. Talk later. Sending the message. Close cellphone and putting back in the backpack. Rose said, "what did you just do send a text using her cellphone?" Dimitri said, "I didn't do anything." Rose smile know that was a lie.
Dimitri zipping pockets until came in the top. Pulled out the notebooks, and open them. Found they the full of information elements. Going to the first notebook and started reading until the Swat team showed up. Rose asked, "what are they for?" Dimitri said, "information on the elements that Jasmine could found out while in Russia." Rose said, "I didn't know Jazz could speak Russian?" Dimitri said, "Yes! One of her classes that she had to take while in the program."
When the first group of guardians showed up, Dimitri opened the car door and glanced over at Rose. Dimitri said, "you should see how this is done." Rose said, "what about Jazz?" Dimitri said, "let her sleep." Rose followed anyway. These guardians were strangers to Rose, but Dimitri knew them. He always seemed to know everybody. This group was surprised to find a novice on the scene. But none of them protested my presence.
Rose walked behind them as they examined the house. None of them touched anything. They knelt by the bodies, studied the bloodstains and broken windows. Apparently, the Strigoi had entered the house through more than just the front door and back patio.
The guardians spoke in brusque tones, displaying none of the disgust and fear I felt. They were like machines. One of them, the only woman in the group, crouched beside Arthur Schoenberg. I was intrigued since female guardians were so rare. I'd heard Dimitri call her Tamara, and she looked about twenty-five. Her black hair just barely touched her shoulders, which was common for guardian women.
Sadness flickered in her gray eyes as she studied the dead guardian's face. "Oh, Arthur," she sighed. Like Dimitri, she managed to convey a hundred things in just a couple of words. "Never thought I'd see this day. He was my mentor." With another sigh, Tamara rose. Her face had become all businesslike once more, as though the guy who'd trained her wasn't lying there in front of her. I couldn't believe it. He was her mentor. How could she keep that kind of control?
Rose said, "there were four points of entry." The female guardian turns to Rose and tells us how you came up with that? Rose said, "There were seven Moroi in family with the guardians. The strigoi had been watching the house for days. Like a vanned point from the tree line out back. Learning when the shift change would it happen."
Dimitri realizing that Rose using the information that Jasmine saw." Rose said, "four Strigoi couldn't have taken down that many. Six or more probably could have. If they went for the guardians first and caught them by surprise. The family would have been too panicked to fight back."
Dimitri asked, "how did they catch the guardians by surprise?" Rose said, "Because the wards were broken. The female guardian asked, "how was ward get broken?" Rose said, "Strigoi can't touch the silver stake, no Moroi or dhampir would do it. That would leave humans to do for them. The other guardians realized Rose was on to something.
Dimitri said Humans working with a large group of Strigoi. Female guardians said, "that changes everything that we know." Dimitri simply nodded as a sign of approval, and the group continued their survey. Dimitri leans down whisper in Rose's ear. Good idea uses the information that gets from Jasmine as our own. Rose smiled at Dimitri.
Rose and Dimitri walking back to the car to check on Jasmine. Getting back in the mustang and getting inside. Both turn and looking back seat found that Jasmine still sleeping.
Rose said Oh! Shit. When the idea popped into Rose's mind. Dimitri turn looked at Rose's face and could see Rose knew something. Rose said, "the Badicas were one of the smaller royal clans." Dimitri said, " Yes!" Rose said, "The Strigoi wanted to snuff out royal lines. There was no better chance than to go after smaller ones first. Like the Dragomir's. Lissa was the only one left." Dimitri said, "Valissa is back at the academy. Rose said need to back the academy to portent Lissa."
Rose said, "the message was a warning. The leader of Strigoi wants us to found it. Poor, poor Badicas. So few left. One royal family is nearly gone. Others to follow. Dimitri said, "I think your right they showing something new."
Dimitri started the mustang. "Dimitri said, "It's been a long day. For all of us. You need to get sleep." Rose looked in the backseat making sure Jasmine still sleeping. When we got back to St. Vladimir's Academy. Rose said, "maybe right. Rose fastened her seat belt and tried to sleep well Dimitri drive back to Academy. As Jasmine sleeps the whole way back to the academy.
"Dimitri thought how stronger Jasmine powers had grown from the three months. Getting to see Jasmine in a trance like Roza. Remembering Jasmine didn't go back light brown eyes they went gold. Remember the that night in Portland Jasmine eyes change gold. Could that be sign of her magic. The information that Jasmine had was useful and thinking it might harder to hind her from the world." Looking in the mirror to check on Jasmine and the road. Still seeing her sleeping.