(December 21)
Jasmine was standing next to her mustang that was sitting in the parking lot. She is thinking to herself that her mustang needs a good bath. She turned her head to find Rosie hurrying to where Dimitri was waiting beside a Honda Pilot. Rose said, "I know." I know. Sorry, I am 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? " Seeing Dimitri and Rose's heads snapped up, they noticed Jasmine standing next to a van. Dimitri could notice that Jasmine was wearing black leather boots, skin tight blue jeans, and a black leather jacket. Jasmine's hair wasn't in a French braid and paired with dark sunglasses. Dimitri thought Jasmine was beautiful. I understand why people mistake Jasmine for Roza.
Rose said, "Sissy!" Run over and hug Jasmine. Jasmine hugs Rosie back. Dimitri said, "When did you get back?" Jasmine said about an hour ago. Captain Alberta told me to give this to you and hand Dimitri a note. Dimitri opened and read it. Dimitri said, "You are coming with us." Jasmine smiled at Dimitri and said, "Yes! That's what it looks like. "
Dimitri said, "Come on." Jasmine said, "Are we riding in that Honda Pilot?" Dimitri said, "What is wrong with my car?" Jasmine said, "Nothing! I just thought you might ride something with style. She pulled the keys out of her front pocket. Dimitri saw Jasmine's key in her hand. Rose smiled. Dimitri said, "I'm driving!" Jasmine said, "You might pack my grandmother's car somewhere." Rose started laughing. Dimitri just looked at Jasmine.
Jasmine and Rose started heading for the Mustang. Rose said, "Can I have the front seat?" Jasmine said, "Yeah, I have been awake for a few days. Rose said, "You look tired." Jasmine said, "Jet-lag." Jasmine sat back in the backseat and closed her eyes. Dimitri gets in the driver's seat and finds the key lying on the dashboard. Dimitri put on his seat belt and told both to put their seat belts on. Jasmine had already fastened her seat belt and closed her eyes. Rose put her seat belt on.
Rose's mood promptly shot up past "cheerful" and went straight to "ecstatic" with her sister and Dimitri together. Rose asked, "How far away is it?" Dimitri said, "Five hours." Jasmine said, "Wake up when we get there." Yawning! 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? " Actually, both of you are just going to him, not them. Since this is a special case, and he's doing us a 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 Guardian Council, the group of people who assigned guardians to Moroi and decided 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 he... 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 he finds out Jasmine's power?" Dimitri said, "I have to explain to Jasmine before meeting him."
Silence fell in the car. Jasmine whimpered in sleep and said, "Don't touch me." Rose reached back and said, "Everything is fine." Jasmine keeps whimpering. Rose said, "Shh!" "Sleep, sissy." Dimitri could hear the way Rose spoke to her sister. Part of him wants Jasmine to speak to him like that. Rose said, "I wish her nightmare would stop." "Let Sissy get a good night's sleep and find some peace." Dimitri said, "Peace will come." "Give it time and the nightmares will go away. "
Rose turns to look at Dimitri. He saw his bottomless dark eyes. His shoulder-length brown hair was tied back at the nape of his neck. With great restraint, Rose forced me to breathe 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?" They didn't realize Jasmine woke up. Rose asked, "Could we listen to something from 1980?" Dimitri changes the change station. Rose just looked at Dimitri and thought of something. Jasmine used the remote and made the radio start 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, holding the remote to the radio. Dimitri said, "Baby girl! He put his handout on for the remote. Jasmine sits up and puts the remote for the radio in his hand. Jasmine said, "Both of your faces were priceless." Rose reached into the backseat and hit Jasmine.
Dimitri knew this ride is fun now both girls are awake.
(Badicas Attack)
Arthur and the family that he protected lived in a small town along I-90, near Billings. I split the general Moroi opinion 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 draw 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 restaurant along the way, and between that and stopping to buy gas. It was around noon when we arrived. They built the house in a rambler style, all on 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 of members of a royal family.
Dimitri, Rose, and Jasmine's boots were sinking through the few inches of smooth snow. They started 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.
Jasmine stops walking and gets a weird feeling. started looking around, like something was wrong! 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 it was the layers of down in her parka coat.
Jasmine bent down, put her hand in the snow, and closed 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. looked down at the icy sidewalk, then glanced back at the driveway, covered in a sheet of snow, broken only by our footprints.
Jasmine started speaking in Russian, "Strigoi and humans working together." Dimitri looked down at Jasmine and said, "Are you sure?" Jasmine said, "Yes! That's what I saw. But what would they need to use humans for? " Dimitri said, "Don't know. Is that a new power? Jasmine said, "Yes! I see pictures in my head from past events. " Dimitri said, "we will talk about this later!" Rose said, "English!" Jasmine stands up and said, "Not now!" Dimitri could see Jasmine eyes had turn bright gold.
Dimitri cautiously approached the front door, and Rose and Jasmine followed behind him. 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 sealed. Further examination showed scuffs along the door's edge, as though I had forced it 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. Dimitri touched the door's handle. It jiggled a little. It had broken.
Finally, Dimitri said quietly, "Jasmine, me and Roze, 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 into her jacket and pulled out the stake with her right hand. In her left hand, a ball of fire appeared. Then they both made the gentlest of movements as Dimitri pushed on the barely held door and they disappeared inside.
Dimitri went first, with Jasmine behind him. I told her to stay calm and keep her eyes open. Jasmine slows her breath and tries to stay calm while moving through the house. Dimitri keeps going to the back of the house. Jasmine stops hearing voices, turning her head to the living room and stepping inside. The horrible scene was so surreal as Jasmine saw a child-sized lying on the floor looking up at her. Jasmine's heart cried for the child; the tears began to fill her eyes and fall down her cheeks. Jasmine fell to her knees. The flame died in her hand. Jasmine reached up and closed the child's eyes. Jasmine speaks softly, "I'm so sorry that we didn't get to you in time." You can rest now. "
Jasmine started hearing and seeing 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. Jasmine's next child's body was discovered when Dimitri came rushing into the living room and discovered Jasmine's next child's body. Rushing to Jasmine's side and discover Jasmine eyes gone full white.
Knowing Jasmine was in a trance like Rose was when she slipped into Vasilisa's mind. Rose rushed to Jasmine's side and asked, "What is happening?" Dimitri said, "It trance. "Like you slip into Vasilissa's head. " Rose looked at Jasmine, worried. Jasmine's consciousness soon returned and she started blinking. Jasmine's eyes were still gold and not the normal light brown eyes.
Dimitri reached his hand to the side of Jasmine's face, slowly turning her face to look at him. Rose and Dimitri could see the tears falling from Jasmine's eyes. Dimitri said, "What happened?" Jasmine said, "A human male broke the ward with a silver stake in the backyard by a gate." They attack in the dead of night and the middle of shift changing. They caught them fully off and most of them were sleeping. Strigoi's 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 inside while 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 shakes and keeps crying. Dimitri pulled Jasmine to his chest and said, "Everything will be alright." Reaching down, he picked Jasmine's silver stake off the floor and put it into his coat pocket.
Rose gets up, moving through the house. started searching for a message written on a mirror and found in the bathroom. Rose started reading the message in the mirror.
"Poor Badicas, so few left.
One royal family is nearly gone.
Soon more will follow them. "
Rose yelled, "Dimitri." Dimitri said, "Where are you?" Rose said, "In the bathroom." Dimitri came into the bathroom. Rose pointed at the mirrow. Dimitri turns his head to find the message in the mirror. Rose said, "This changes everything!" Dimitri said, "Yes." I want you to take Jasmine back to Mustang and put her in the backseat and wait for me to return.
Rose turned around and walked back to Jasmine.
Dimitri reached into his pocket, got his cellphone, and called SWAT team showed up.
(Mustang talk)
It took a couple of hours, though, and every minute spent waiting felt like a year. Rose watched Jasmine sleep. Dimitri speak, "Jasmine has changed, and grown over these three months. Her power is growing stronger. 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 to be test animals in a lab?" Dimitri said, never going to happen.
When Jasmine's cellphone rang. Dimitri reached into the backseat and grabbed up Jasmine's backpack. Start looking through it to find the loud ring. Opening the top, and found a laptop, file, journal, and notebooks. Going through the front pockets and until 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! Watch me." Dimitri watched Rose open the message. Start reading it. Rose said, It's Damon! Dimitri said, "What does it say?" Rose turns her cellphone around and shows Dimitri. Dimitri started reading it. Thinking to himself that Jasmine home for less than a day and wants her. Dimitri grabbed Jasmine's cellphone and deleted the message, close cellphone and putting back in the backpack.
Do you suppose Damon will realize that Jasmine doesn't have same feeling for him like he does for her." Dimitri said, "Maybe! Jasmine might have a crush on someone else?" Rose said. Dimitri said, "maybe!" Rose said, Yes! But who?" Dimitri said, "Good question? " Rose said, "Do you think it could be Eddie or Christian?"
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 find 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."
(Hours later)
When the first group of guardians showed up, Dimitri opened the car door and glanced bacj at Rose. Dimitri said, "Come on! Roza. Rose said, "What about sissy?" Dimitri said, "Let baby girl sleep. She needs it." Dimitri and Rose walked back in the house to find guardians were strangers to Rose, but Dimitri knew them. He always seemed to know everybody. I surprised this group 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. It intrigued me, 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. Her face had become all businesslike once more, as though the guy who'd trained her wasn't lying there in front of her. Rose 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 asked, "Please tells us how you came up with that?" Rose said, "There were seven Moroi in the family with the three guardians with making their ten. The strigoi must have been watching the house for days. Like a vanned point from the tree line out back yard. 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 or was sleep.
Dimitri asked, "How did they catch the guardians by surprise?" Rose said, "Because the wards was 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 to whisper in Rose's ear. "Good idea uses the information that gets from Jasmine as our own." Rose smiled at Dimitri.
Rose, Dimitri walked back to the car to check on Jasmine and go back into the mustang. 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. Vasilissa was the only one left." Dimitri said, "Vasilissa is back at the academy. Rose said, "Need to back the academy to portent Vasilissa." Rose said, "the message was a warning. The leader of Strigoi wants us to find it. Dimitri said, "I think you're 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. Rose said, maybe right. Rose fastened her seat belt and tried to sleep well. Dimitri drive back to Academy as Jasmine sleeps the entire way back to the academy.
"Dimitri thought how stronger Jasmine's powers had grown over the three months. Recall that Jasmine didn't go back light brown eyes, they went bright gold. Remember that night in Portland, Jasmine's eyes change gold. Could that be the sign of her magic? The information that Jasmine had was useful and thinking it might harder to hind her from the world." Dimitri looked in the mirror to check on Jasmine and the road. Still watching her sleeping in peace until the nightmares come again.
(Library)
When we got back to St. Vladimir's Academy around midnight, and everyone knew about the massacre. The vampiric school day had just ended. Dimitri ordered both of us to immediately Rose to your dorm room and Jasmine to the Tower and get some sleep. Dimitri, of course, looked alert and ready to take on anything.
Dimitri headed off to consult with other guardians about the attack, and we promised him we go straight to bed. But both Rose and Jasmine had their fingers crossed behind their backs. Instead, Rose and Jasmine turned toward the library once Dimitri was out of sight. We needed to see Vasilissa. Rose feels through bond told us that was where Vasilissa was. Rose and Jasmine heading to the library running as fast legs could care for them. Their pitch-black along the stone walkway that crossed the quad from Rose dorm to the secondary school's main building. Snow completely covered the grass and someone had meticulously cleared the sidewalk of all ice and snow. It reminded Rose of the poor Badicas' neglected home.
The commons building was enormous and gothic-looking, more suited to a medieval movie set than a school. Inside, that air of mystery and ancient history continued to permeate the building: elaborate stone walls and antique paintings warring with computers and fluorescent lights. Modern technology had a foothold here, but it would never dominate. As Rose and Jasmine slipping through the library's electronic gate, we immediately headed for one of the back corners where geography and travel books. Sure enough, we found Vasilissa sitting there on the floor, leaning against a bookcase.
Rose said, "look what I found?" Vasilisa looking up from an open book propped up on one knee. She brushed a few strands of pale hair out of her face. Vasilisa said, Welcome home, Jazz. Vasilisa's boyfriend, Christian, lay on the floor near her, his head propped up on her other knee. He greeted Rose with a nod at Rose. Jasmine walked up and glanced down at Christian said, What up Pyro? Christian stared up and seen Jazz looking down at him. Give one of his smiles.
Vasilisa asked, "when did you get back?" Jasmine said, "earlier. But Rosie and I had to leave to take Qualifiers. But Captain Alberta, stop me from visiting you sooner and told me. I had to my Qualifiers today with Rose and Dimitri. Vasilissa said, that is sweet of you Jazz. Jasmine gives a small smile. Christian knew something wrong. Rose could feel the tension and fear in her; it sang through the bond.
Vasilissa said, "They're saying there were six or seven Strigoi. And that humans helped them break the wards." Jasmine said, "it true! Rose leaned her head back against a shelf and Jasmine put her head on Rose's leg, laying down like Christian. Rose put a hand on Jasmine's shoulder. Christian said, "Really! I figured that was just a bunch of hyped-up paranoia." Rose said, "No! We were there."
Lissa's eyes widened, shock coursing into us from here. Even Christian, the poster child for smart-ass, looked grim. If not for the horribleness of it all, I would have taken satisfaction in catching him off guard. Christian said, "You're joking!" Rose started playing with Jasmine's hair. Lissa asked, "softly is something wrong?" Are you both okay? Rose looked up from Jasmine with a worried look on her face. Vasilisa looked back down at Jasmine.
Vasilissa knew Rose might worry about something and wasn't ready to say what it was. Christian and Vasilissa watched Jasmine, watching tears from her eyes. Christian said, "what wrong?" Rose said, "I worried about Jazz's power growing stronger." Christian asked, "like how?" Jasmine said, "I can see and hear an echo from the past. I have been thinking that not fire user. Because I haven't declared a magic like Liss."
Christian said, "Your powers growing that is understanding that you are element and biggest secret that we all must keep hind until it time show the world. If you haven't declare your magic. Maybe your could be a spirit user." Vasilisa could understand Rose would worry about Jasmine.
Jasmine looked at Lissa with pain in her eyes. Vasilisa looked at Jasmine with love and understanding in her eyes.