done anything yet so she wasn't going to try to kill him yet.
Dimitri all but flipped to the next page, eager to see what would happen,
TWENTY-FOUR
IN SPITE OF ALL THE training I'd received, all the lessons on Strigoi habits and how to defend against them, I'd never ever actually seen one. It was scarier than I'd expected.
"That is the problem," Alberta shook her head. She wished they could prepare their students better
This time, when she swung at me again, I was ready. Sort of. I dodged back, slipping out of reach, wondering what chance I had. I remembered Dimitri's joke about the mall. No silver stake. Nothing to cut her head off with. No way to set her on fire.
"Well that is the case mostly," Dimitri shook his head. He and everyone ells hoped that Rose would survive
Running seemed like the best option after all, but she was blocking my way. Feeling useless, I simply backed down the hall as she advanced on me, her movements far more graceful than they'd ever been in life. Then, also faster than she'd ever moved in life, she leapt out, grabbed me, and slammed my head against the wall. Pain exploded in my skull, and I felt pretty sure that was blood I tasted in the back of my mouth.
The room grew tenser
Frantically, I fought against her, trying to mount some kind of defense, but it was like fighting Dimitri on crack.
"Okay if she wasn't in that situation that would have been funny," Karolina shook her head, everyone agreed with her
"My dear," murmured Victor, "try not to kill her if you don't have to. We might be able to use her later." Natalie paused in her attack, giving me a moment to back up, but she never took her cold eyes off me. "I'll try not to." There was a skeptical tone in her voice. "Get out of here now. I'll meet you there when I'm done."
"What are they planning, she will kill him as well," Victoria shook her head. She can't imagine a man loving power so much that he would let his own daughter turn just to escape.
"Perhaps he knows something we do not. All his other plans were rather well thought out," Ivan said worried
"I can't believe you!" I yelled after him. "You got your own daughter to turn Strigoi?" "A last resort. A necessary sacrifice made for the greater good. Natalie understands." He left. "Do you?" I hoped I could stall her with talking, just like in the movies.
"It could work," Alberta said "But it's risky,"
"Hopefully someone shows up and saves her," Abe said worried as well. He didn't want his daughter to die like that
I also hoped my questions would hide how utterly and completely terrified I was. "Do you understand? God, Natalie. You…you turned. Just because he told you to?" "My father's a great man," she replied. "He's going to save the Moroi from the Strigoi." "Are you insane?"
"Yes," everyone said at the same time
I cried. I was backing up again and suddenly hit the wall. My nails dug into it, as though I could dig my way through. "You are a Strigoi." She shrugged, almost seeming like the old Natalie. "I had to do it to get him out of here before the others came. One Strigoi to save all of the Moroi. It's worth it, worth giving up the sun and the magic." "But you'll want to kill Moroi! You won't be able to help it." "He'll help me stay in control.
"How?" that everyone wanted to know. They didn't understand how Victor could believe he would be able to control his strigoi daughter
If not, then they'll have to kill me." She reached out and grabbed my shoulders, and I shuddered at how casually she talked about her own death. It was almost as casual as the way she was no doubt contemplating my death. "You are insane. You can't love him that much. You can't really—" She threw me into a wall again, and as my body collapsed in a heap on the floor, I had a feeling I wouldn't be getting up this time.
Janine grabbed Abe's hand in fright, she hated the idea that her child might die there. Dimitri began reading faster stressed out as well.
Victor had told her not to kill me…but there was a look in her eyes, a look that said she wanted to. She wanted to feed off me; the hunger was there. It was the Strigoi way. I shouldn't have talked to her, I realized. I'd hesitated, just as Dimitri had warned.
"Well that is the first strigoi she has ever seen so it makes sense that she would hesitate," Alberta nodded
And then, suddenly, he was there,
Everyone let out a breath of relieve
"Thank you," Abe and Janine said at the same time
charging down the hallway like Death in a cowboy duster. Natalie spun around. She was fast, so fast. But Dimitri was fast too and avoided her attack, a look of pure power and strength on his face. With an eerie fascination, I watched them move, circling each other like partners in a deadly dance. She was stronger than him, clearly, but she was also a fresh Strigoi. Gaining superpowers doesn't mean you know how to use them.
"One good thing about newly turned strigoi's," Alberta said still a little on edge.
Dimitri, however, knew how to use the ones he had. After both giving and receiving some vicious hits, he made his move. The silver stake flashed in his hand like a streak of lightning, then it snaked forward—into her heart.
At that everyone relaxed at that. Dimitri got a few smiles at that, happy that he had save Rose
He yanked it out and stepped back, his face impassive as she screamed and fell to the floor. After a few horrible moments, she stopped moving. Just as quickly, he was leaning over me, slipping his arms under my body. He stood up, carrying me like he had when I hurt my ankle. "Hey, Comrade," I murmured, my own voice sounding sleepy.
"Please let her not go to sleep," Abe and Janine begged at the same time
"You were right about Strigoi." The world started to darken, and my eyelids drooped. "Rose. Roza. Open your eyes." I'd never heard his voice so strained, so frantic. "Don't go to sleep on me. Not yet." I squinted up at him as he carried me out of the building, practically running toward the clinic. "Was he right?" "Who?" "Victor…he said it couldn't have worked. The necklace."
"She's really going to bring that up know," Olena said worried for her son and Rose
"Well he probably wouldn't have answered her in another situation," Karolina shook her head at Dimitri who agreed with her
I started to drift off, lost in the blackness of my mind, but Dimitri prompted me back to consciousness. "What do you mean?" "The spell. Victor said you had to want me…to care about me…for it to work." When he didn't say anything, I tried to grip his shirt, but my fingers were too weak. "Did you? Did you want me?" His words came out thickly. "Yes, Roza. I did want you. I still do. I wish…we could be together."
Janine wanted to glare at him but he did save her daughter so she decided to give him a pass. If he did anything ells to her he would be fair game again. While Abe just glared at him.
"Then why did you lie to me?" We reached the clinic, and he managed to open the door while still holding me. As soon as he stepped inside, he began yelling for help. "Why did you lie?" I murmured again. Still holding me in his arms, he looked down at me. I could hear voices and footsteps getting closer. "Because we can't be together."
"Okay I give them 2 books," Karolina whispered to Sonja
"I say 3, Dimitri is stubborn," Sonja shook Karolina's hand
"I say book 6," Yeva smiled at her two grand daughters
"Because of the age thing, right?" I asked. "Because you're my mentor?" His fingertip gently wiped away a tear that had escaped down my cheek. "That's part of it," he said. "But also…well, you and I will both be Lissa's guardians someday. I need to protect her at all costs. If a pack of Strigoi come, I need to throw my body between them and her." "I know that. Of course that's what you have to do." The black sparkles were dancing in front of my eyes again. I was fading out. "No. If I let myself love you, I won't throw myself in front of her. I'll throw myself in front of you."
"Aww," All the girls but Janine said at the same time.
"You know you are allowed to transfer to another Moroi," Alberta said looking at Dimitri
"Well know it wouldn't be needed, I'm not planning on dying," Ivan smiled
The medical team arrived and took me out of his arms. And that was how, two days after being discharged, I ended up back in the clinic.
"That is rather normal for her," Alberta shook her head, a small smile on her face
My third time in the two months we'd been back at the Academy. It had to be some kind of record. I definitely had a concussion and probably internal bleeding, but we never really found out. When your best friend is a kick-ass healer, you sort of don't have to worry about those things.
"Thank goodness for that," Abe and Janine said at the same time
I still had to stay there for a couple of days, but Lissa—and Christian, her new sidekick
"I'm not a sidekick," Christian glared at the book
—almost never left my side when they weren't in class. Through them, I learned bits and pieces about the outside world. Dimitri had realized there was a Strigoi on campus when they'd found Natalie's victim dead and drained of blood: Mr. Nagy of all people.
"Poor man," Alberta shook her head
A surprising choice, but since he was older, he'd been able to put up less of a fight. No more Slavic art for us. The guardians in the detention center had been injured but not killed.
"Thank goodness for that," The guardians in the room said at the same item
She'd simply slammed them around as she had me. Victor had been found and recaptured while trying to escape campus.
"That good," Tatiana said relaxed into her seat
I was glad, even though it meant Natalie's sacrifice had been for nothing. Rumors said that Victor hadn't seemed afraid at all when the royal guards came and carried him away. He'd simply smiled the whole time, like he had some secret they didn't know about.
"He knew something," Ivan said worried
Inasmuch as it could, life returned to normal after that. Lissa did no more cutting. The doctor prescribed her something—an anti-depressant or anti-anxiety drug, I couldn't remember which—that made her feel better.
Christian and Tatiana smiled relieved
I'd never really known anything about those kinds of pills. I thought they made people silly and happy. But it was a pill like any other, meant to fix something, and mostly it just kept her normal and feeling stable.
"That is all it need to do," Tatiana and Alberta said at the same time
Which was a good thing—because she had some other issues to deal with. Like Andre. She'd finally believed Christian's story, and allowed herself to acknowledge that Andre might not have been the hero she'd always believed him to be.
"That took her long enough," Christian shook his head. Tatiana shook her head, she was really not liking Christian
It was hard on her, but she finally reached a peaceful decision, accepting that he could have had both good and bad sides, like we all do. What he'd done to Mia saddened her, but it didn't change the fact that he'd been a good brother who loved her. Most importantly, it finally freed her from feeling like she needed to be him to make her family proud.
Tatiana shook her head disappointed at Lissa
She could be herself—which she proved daily in her relationship with Christian.
Christian smiled happy
The school still couldn't get over that. She didn't care. She laughed it off, ignoring the shocked looks and disdain from the royals who couldn't believe she'd date someone from a humiliated family. Not all of them felt that way though.
Tatiana glared at that, Lissa was not acting like she should
Some who had gotten to know her during her brief social whirlwind actually liked her for her, no compulsion necessary. They liked her honesty and openness, preferring it to the games most royals played. A lot of royals ignored her, of course, and talked viciously about her behind her back. Most surprising of all, Mia—despite being utterly humiliated—managed to wiggle back into the good graces of a couple of these royals.
"Vultures," Christian and Abe said at the same time
It proved my point. She wouldn't stay down for long. And, in fact, I saw the first signs of her revenge lurking again when I walked past her one day on the way to class. She stood with a few other people and spoke loudly, clearly wanting me to hear. "—perfect match. Both of them are from completely disgraced and rejected families." I clenched my teeth and kept walking, following her gaze to where Lissa and Christian stood.
"Wow I'm surprised that Rose didn't punch her again," Janine said impressed
They were lost in their own world and formed a gorgeous picture, she blond and fair and he blue-eyed and black-haired. I couldn't help but stare too.
"That probably would make an interesting picture," Adrian said looking at Christian who was blushing
Mia was right. Both of their families were disgraced. Tatiana had publicly denounced Lissa, and while no one "blamed" the Ozera's for what had happened to Christian's parents, the rest of the royal Moroi families continued to keep their distance. But Mia had been right about the other part too. In some ways, Lissa and Christian were perfect for each other. Maybe they were outcasts, but the Dragomir's and Ozera's had once been among the most powerful Moroi leaders.
Tatiana shook her head. She didn't approve of the two but Rose was right, those two families were once very powerful
And in only a very short time, Lissa and Christian had started shaping one another in ways that could put them right up there with their ancestors. He was picking up some of her polish and social poise; she was learning to stand up for her passions. The more I watched them, the more I could see an energy and confidence radiating around them.
That shocked everyone, Christian the most.
"Wow that is going to be an interesting," Ivana and Dimitri said at the same time.
They weren't going to stay down either. And I think that, along with Lissa's kindness, may have been what attracted people to her. Our social circle began to steadily grow. Mason joined, of course, and made no secret of his interest in me.
Abe and Dimitri glared at the book for that
Lissa teased me a lot about that, and I didn't yet know what to do about him. Part of me thought maybe it was time to give him a shot as a serious boyfriend,
Abe and Dimitri glared again
even though the rest of me yearned for Dimitri. For the most part, Dimitri treated me just like anyone would expect of a mentor. He was efficient. Fond. Strict. Understanding. There was nothing out of the ordinary, nothing that would make anyone suspect what had passed between us
"Good," Janine and Abe said at the same time
—save for an occasional meeting of our eyes. And once I overcame my initial emotional reaction, I knew he was—technically—right about us. Age was a problem, yes, particularly while I was still a student at the Academy. But the other thing he'd mentioned…it had never entered my mind. It should have. Two guardians in a relationship could distract each other from the Moroi they were supposed to protect. We couldn't allow that to happen, couldn't risk her life for our own wants. Otherwise, we'd be no better than the Badica guardian who'd run off.
"Why are they both so stubborn," Karolina shook her head
I'd told Dimitri once that my own feelings didn't matter. She came first. I just hoped I could prove it. "It's too bad about the healing," Lissa told me. "Hmm?" We sat in her room, pretending to study, but my mind was off thinking about Dimitri. I'd lectured her about keeping secrets, but I hadn't told her about him or about how close I'd come to losing my virginity. For some reason, I couldn't bring myself to tell.
"Makes sense, Lissa did have a lot to deal with and rose probably didn't want to put more stress on her," Ivan nodded.
She dropped the history book she'd been holding. "That I had to give up the healing. And the compulsion." A frown crossed her face at that last part. The healing had been regarded as a wondrous gift in need of further study; the compulsion had met with serious reprimands from Kirova and Ms. Carmack.
"Make sense, one can be used for good, but the other is bad," Tatiana nodded agreeing with the book
"I mean, I'm happy now. I should have gotten help a long time ago—you were right about that. I'm glad I'm on the medication.
"That is good," Christian said happy that Lissa was feeling better. But he wondered how Lissa would be effected not being able to use her powers, he couldn't imagine himself without his flames
But Victor was right too. I can't use spirit anymore. I can still sense it, though…I miss being able to touch it."
Adrian looked down, he knew what Lissa was talking about. He felt like that every time he was drunk or high, but it helped with the dark thoughts
I didn't entirely know what to say. I liked her better like this. Losing that threat of madness had made her whole again, confident and outgoing, just like the Lissa I'd always known and loved. Seeing her now, it was easy to believe what Victor had said about her becoming a leader.
Tatiana smiled proudly. Christian and Alberta also nodded happy that Lissa would be acting normal again. Dimitri, Ivan and his family just hoped that Rose would be okay now too
She reminded me of her parents and of Andre—how they used to inspire devotion in those who knew them. "And that's another thing," she continued. "He said I couldn't give it up. He was right. It hurts, not having the magic. I want it so badly sometimes." "I know," I said. I could feel that ache within her. The pills had dulled her magic, but not our bond.
"So the bond was made with her powers but it isn't maintained with it," Abe said worried. He didn't want his daughter to get in harm's way but he knew that she was a dhampir and danger was her live. But he as a father hated seeing her in danger.
"And I keep thinking about all the things I could do, all the people I could help." She looked regretful. "You have to help yourself first," I told her fiercely. "I don't want you getting hurt again. I won't let you." "I know. Christian says the same thing."
"You two are too alike," Alberta smiled at Christian who just shook his head. He hated the idea that he and Rose were alike
She got that dopey smile she always did when she thought about him. If I'd known what idiots being in love would make them, I might not have been so keen to get them back together.
That shocked Christian. While Tatiana just glared at Christian. Adrian smiled at his great aunt, her aurora was still too easy to read, he knew what her plans were but he also knew that it wasn't going to happen.
"And I guess you guys are right. Better to want the magic and be sane than to have it and be a lunatic. There's no middle ground."
"There is a middle ground," Yeva said with a small smile
"What do you mean?" Tatiana asked intruded
"Rose is the middle ground, the books should show you all that," Yeva smiled looking at Abe and Janine. Yeva was rather existed to finish the books, she knew that her grandson and Zmey was in for a wrought time
"No," I agreed. "Not with this." Then, out of nowhere, a thought smacked me in the head. There was a middle ground. Natalie‟s words reminded me of it. It's worth it, worth giving up the sun and the magic. The magic.
"That is not what I meant," Yeva shook her head when Christian and Tatiana glared at her
Ms. Karp hadn't become Strigoi simply because she'd gone crazy. She'd become Strigoi to stay sane. Becoming Strigoi cut a person completely off from magic. In doing that, she couldn't use it. She couldn't feel it. She wouldn't want it anymore. Staring at Lissa, I felt a knot of worry coil within me. What if she figured that out? Would she want to do it too?
"No she wouldn't," everyone said at the same time. They couldn't imagine that Lissa would make a decision like that.
No, I quickly decided. Lissa would never do that. She was too strong a person, too moral. And so long as she stayed on the pills, her higher reasoning would keep her from doing something so drastic. Still, the whole concept prodded me to find out one last thing.
"Well that concept would have bothered me too," Dimitri and Ivan said looking at each other.
The following morning, I went to the chapel and waited in one of the pews until the priest showed up. "Hello, Rosemarie," he said, clearly surprised. "Can I help you with something?" I stood up. "I need to know more about St. Vladimir. I read that book you gave me and a couple others." Best not to tell him about stealing the ones in the attic.
"Smart," everyone nodded smiling, they all wanted to figure out what would happen to Lissa if she never went on the pills and they wanted to know how Rose was the middle ground as Yeva put it.
"But nobody told how he died. What happened? How did his life end? Was he, like, martyred?" The priest's bushy eyebrows rose. "No. He died of old age. Peacefully."
Everyone had small smiles on their faces happy that Lissa had a chance
"You're sure? He didn't become Strigoi or kill himself?" "No, of course not. Why would you think that?" "Well…he was holy and everything, but he was also kind of crazy, right? I read about it. I thought he might have, I don't know, given into that." His face was serious. "It's true he fought demons—insanity—his whole life. It was a struggle, and he did want to die sometimes. But he overcame it. He didn't let it defeat him." I stared in wonder. Vladimir wouldn't have had pills, and he'd clearly continued to use magic. "How? How did he do that?" "Willpower, I guess. Well…" He paused. "That and Anna." "Shadow-kissed Anna," I murmured. "His guardian."
"How is Rose going to keep her from killing herself or turning?" Tatiana asked worried.
"Wait and see," Yeva smiled. Her daughter and grandchildren looked at her and shook their heads. They knew that smile and they didn't like it one bit.
The priest nodded. "She stayed with him. When he grew weak, she was the one who held him up. She urged him to stay strong and to never give in to his madness." I left the chapel in a daze. Anna had done it. Anna had let Vladimir walk that middle ground, helping him to work miracles in the world without meeting a horrible end. Ms. Karp hadn't been as lucky. She hadn't had a bound guardian. She hadn't had anyone to hold her up. Lissa did.
Alberta shook her head. She knew the girls were close and she knew that Rose would keep Lissa save but she never thought that Rose would be the one to keep Lissa sane and strong. Dimitri and Abe felt rather proud of Rose.
Smiling, I cut across the quadrangle toward the commons. I felt better about life than I had in a very long time. We could do this, Lissa and me. We could do it together.
Alberta smirked she was glad that the two girls would be together through the tough times. Dimitri and Ivan smiled and shook their heads, they knew and understood how Rose felt.
Just then, I saw a dark figure out of the corner of my eye. It swooped past me and landed on a nearby tree. I stopped walking. It was a raven, large and fierce-looking, with shining black feathers. A moment later, I realized it wasn't just a raven; it was the raven. The one Lissa had healed.
"So is the bird bonded to her too," Christian asked trying to keep his smile of his face.
"There is a possibility," Adrian chuckled
No other bird would land so close to a dhampir. And no other bird would be looking at me in such an intelligent, familiar way. I couldn't believe he was still around. A chill ran down my spine, and I started to back up. Then the truth hit me. "You're bound to her too, aren't you?" I asked, fully aware that anyone who saw me would think I was crazy.
"By know they all believed that she was crazy so she had no problem," Adrian chuckled as Dimitri and Abe glared at him
"She brought you back. You're shadow-kissed." That was actually pretty cool. I held out my arm to it, half hoping it'd come land on me in some sort of dramatic, movie-worthy gesture. All it did was look at me like I was an idiot, spread its wings, and fly off. I glared as it flew off into the twilight. Then I turned around and headed off to find Lissa. From far away, I heard the sound of cawing, almost like laughter
Everyone chuckled at that.
"And that is that," Dimitri said closing the book. Everyone just looked at each other not knowing what to say. Abe and Janine nodded at each other before looking at Dimitri. Olena and Alberta saw the look and got up and stood between the three.
"Let's all act like grownups and talk," Alberta said looking between Abe and Dimitri. Dimitri took a deep breath before looking at Abe and Janine.
"Fine," Abe said before he and Janine walked out of the room. Dimitri, Ivan, Alberta and Olena followed after them
"She's a minor!" Janine yelled pointing at Dimitri. Dimitri had his eyes on Abe, who was glaring daggers at the dhampir.
"Nothing happened," Alberta said making sure that she stayed between Abe and Dimitri.
"Plus most of the things in the book hasn't happen yet. So I don't see the problem here," Olena said looking at Janine.
"They almost had sex and he admitted to loving her. This is a problem, he her mentor and 24. He has business falling in love with a 17 year old," Abe said crossing his arms over his chest. Abe's eyes were focused on Dimitri. Abe was trying to figure out what was the best way to take him down. Ivan looked between Abe and Dimitri.
"He's not going to be her mentor when they come back to the school," Abe said with no emotion. That shocked everyone. Dimitri froze, he knew what had happened to them in the book was wrong but he couldn't imagine not meeting Roza now. Ivan shook his head, he refused to allow that to happen.
"Wait no, he found them and judging from what happened in the book and what Alberta has said so far he is a good influence on Rose. You can't just kick him out. Who knows how that will change the future," Ivan said glaring at Abe and Janine. Abe shifted his eyes from Dimitri to Ivan, Ivan felt a shiver of fear over him but he refused to show it.
"He's right, and this is just the first book, can't we wait and see what will happen in them?" Olena asked worried, she knew how Zmey was and she didn't what him to go after her son. Janine huffed and looked at Abe who was glaring at the two boys.
"Fine we will wait but he better promise to leave Rose alone," Abe glared at Dimitri
"No," was all Dimitri said, that shocked everyone. Abe looked at Dimitri like he wanted a death wish
"What did you say?" Abe asked stepping closer to Dimitri.
"The books will say what happen, and then I will choose myself what I will do. I will be the one to train her," Dimitri answered him not backing down. Janine looked at Dimitri before nodding. She decided that book Dimitri hadn't done anything yet so she wasn't going to try to kill him yet.
"Abe," Janine said as she looked at Abe, she could see he was ready to do something.
"Abe!" she yelled snapping his graze away from Dimitri,
"Fine lets finish the other books before I kill him," Abe glared at Dimitri.
~~~~
Christian shook his head at Roza who was still on the floor with Lissa who was crying.
"Well, Sparkie when a man and woman love each other a lot…" Roza smiled at Christian
"You know that is not what I mean," He cut her off, making everyone laugh
"Well, you know how I hate rules. And this time being shadow kissed helped me break that rule that says dhampirs can't get dhampirs pregnant," Roza winked at me.
Did I get her pregnant?
I didn't know what to think, how was this possible, and how did being shadow kissed fixed this. How was it possible for me to have a family with Roza, how? That question kept relaying in my head, over and over. I could have a family with Roza. I could do the impossible with her. Oh, how I loved this girl I had never met before. The girl I got to know through reading a book from her point of view. Roza climbing back into my lap snapped me out of it. She was smiling down at me lovingly. I reached up and kissed her hard. I tried to convey my emotions through the kiss. Trying to tell her how happy it made me.
"Okay we don't need to see how the baby was made," Adrian snickered pulling the blond into his lap. Roza flipped him off, never taking her eyes off mine
"I love you," I whispered up to her. It felt like we were the only ones in the room. And for all, I cared we were.
"Love you, Comrade," She whispered down at me before kissing me again. the room seemed to be getting hazy around Roza, but thankfully she seemed to say in focus even as everything around her disappeared. I never wanted to take my eyes off of her.
"Brother it's time to get up," Victoria's voice reached me as she shook me awake. Opening my eyes I found myself still in my mother and sister's room. Sitting up I stretch before looking around.
"What time is it," I asked sadly. I didn't want to be here. I want to go back to where ever that vision or dream was. I longed to have Roza back in my arms.
"It morning. Come on let's get breakfast then we can continue to read the books. We're starting the second one remember," Victoria smiled down excitedly at me. I just nodded and followed her out of the room. Everything I saw seemed to be dull and boring. Taking a deep breath I put on my guardian mask and pushed forward. The faster we finished these books the faster I would get my Roza.