Spirit Bound Chapter Fourteen

THE LAST TIME TATIANA HAD wanted to yell at me, shed simply taken me to one of her private sitting rooms. It had make for a weird atmosphere, like we were at teatimeexcept people didnt usually scream at other people during teatime. I had no rationalness to believe this would be any different until I noticed my escort was jumper cable me to the main business buildings of the Court, the consecrates where all royal governing was conducted. Shit. This was more serious than Id thought.And indeed, when I was at long pass away ushered into the room where Tatiana waited tumesce, I uprisely came to a standstill and couldnt enter. Only a s luminosity touch on my spinal column from one of the withstanders with me kept me moving away. The place was packed.I didnt know for sure which room I was in. The Moroi rattling kept a bona fide throne room for their fag or queen, but I didnt animadvert this was it. This room was still heavily decorated, conveying an old-world royal feel, wit h painstakingly carved floral molding and shining gold understructuredleholders on the walls. on that point were rattling lit candles in them too. Their light reflected off the metallic decorations in the room. E verything glittered, and I felt like Id stumbled into a stage production.And really, I might as well have. Because after a flashs surveying, I complete where I was. The people in the room were split. Twelve of them sit at a long table on a dais at what was clearly meant to be the focal point of the room. Tatiana herself sit d protest at the middle of the table, with six Moroi on one side and quintuple Moroi on the other. The other side of the room was simply set with rows of chairsstill elaborate and padded with satin cushionswhich were to a fault filled with Moroi. The audience.The people sitting on any side of Tatiana were the tip-off. They were older Moroi, but ones who carried a regal air. El crimson Moroi for the eleven acting royal families. Lissa was not eigh teenthough she was roughly to be, I realized with a startand therefore had no spot tho. Someone was sitting in for Priscilla Voda. I was bearinging at the Council, the princes and princesses of the Moroi world. The oldest member of all(prenominal) family claimed the royal agnomen and an advisory spot beside Tatiana. Sometimes the eldest waived the spot and gave it to manyone the family felt was more capable, but the selectee was almost forever and a day at least forty-five. The Council elected the Moroi king or queen, a position held until death or retirement. In rare circumstances, with enough backing from the royal families, a monarch could be forcibly removed(p) from office.Each prince or princess on the Council was in turn advised by a family council, and glancing back at the audience, I recognized clusters of family members sitting to fascinateher Ivashkovs, Lazars, Badicas The very back rows appeared to be observers. Tasha and Adrian sat to fixateher, and I knew for a fact they werent members of the Royal Council or family councils. Still, seeing them set me at ease a little.I remained near the entrance to the room, shifting uneasily from foot to foot, wondering what was in store. I hadnt unless earned public humiliation Id apparently earned it in movement of the most important Moroi in the world. Wonderful.A gangly Moroi with patchy white hair stepped forward, around the side of the long table, and cleared his throat. Immediately, the hum of conversation died. privateness filled the room.This session of the Moroi Royal Council is now in order, he declared. Her Royal Majesty, Tatiana Marina Ivashkov, is presiding. He gave a slight bow in her direction and then discretely plunk for off to the side of the room, standing near few guardians who lined the walls like decorations themselves.Tatiana always dressed up at the parties I saw her at, but for a formal event like this, she was really channeling the queen look. Her dress was long-sleeved na vy silk, and a glittering crown of blue and white stones sat atop her intricately braided hair. In a beauty pageant, I would have written such gems off as rhinestones. On her, I didnt question for a moment that they were real sapphires and diamonds.Thank you, she say. She was also using her royal function, resonant and impressive, filling the room. We give be continuing our conversation from yesterday.Wait what? Theyd been discussing me yesterday too? I noticed then that Id wrapped my arms around myself in a salmagundi of protecting(prenominal) stance and immediately dropped them. I didnt want to look weak, no matter what they had in store for me.Today we will be hearing testimony from a newly made guardian. Tatianas sharp gaze fell on me. The whole rooms did. Rosemarie Hathaway, will you please come forward?I did, keeping my head high and posture confident. I didnt exactly know where to stand, so I picked the middle of the room, directly facing Tatiana. If I was termination t o be paraded in public, I wished roughone would have tipped me off to wear guardian dismal and white. Whatever. Id show no fear, even in jeans and a T-shirt. I gave a small, proper bow and then met her eye directly, bracing for what was to come.Will you please area your name? she looked.Shed already done it for me, but I still said, Rosemarie Hathaway.How old are you?Eighteen?And how long have you been eighteen?A few months.She waited a couple moments to let it sink in, as though this were important information. Miss Hathaway, we understand that around that time, you withdrew from St. Vladimirs Academy. Is this correct?Thats what this was almost? Not the Vegas trip with Lissa?Yes. I offered no more info. Oh God. I hoped she didnt get into Dimitri. She shouldnt have known ab bulge(p) my relationship with him, but there was no telling what information could spread around here.You went to Russia to bunk Strigoi.Yes.As a type of personal revenge following the attack at St. Vladim ir s?Er yes.No one said anything, but my solution definitely caused a stir in the room. People shifted uneasily and glanced at their neighbors. Strigoi always inspired fear, and someone actively seek them turn up was still an curious concept among us. Oddly, Tatiana seemed very pleased by this confirmation. Was it going to be used as more ammunition against me?We would assume then, she continued, that you are one of those who believe in direct strikes against the Strigoi?Yes.Many had different reactions to the terrible attack at St. Vladimirs, she said. You arent the only dhampir who wanted to strike back against the Strigoithough you were certainly the youngest.I hadnt known ab erupt others going on vigilante spreeswell, aside from some reckless dhampirs in Russia. If that was the story about my trip she was willing to believe, that was fine with me.We have reports from both guardians and Alchemists in Russia that you were successful. This was the first time Id perceive the Al chemists mentioned in public, but of course theyd be a common emergence among the Council. ass you tell me how many you killed?I I stared in surprise. Im not sure, Your Majesty. At least I racked my brain. Seven. It might have been more. She thought so too.That might be a modest estimate compared to what our sources say, she far-famed grandly. Nonetheless, still an impressive number. Did you perform the kills by yourself?Sometimes I did. Sometimes I had help. in that respect were some other dhampirs I traveled with once in a while. Technically, Id had Strigoi help as well, but I wasnt going to mention that.They were keep mum to your age?Yes.Tatiana said no more, and as though receiving a cue, a woman beside her spoke up. I believed she was the Conta princess.When did you kill your first Strigoi?I frowned. Last December.And you were seventeen?Yes.Did you perform that kill yourself?Well mostly. A couple friends helped with distraction. I hoped they werent going to raise for mo re details. My first kill had occurred when Mason had died, and aside from the events surrounding Dimitri, that memory tormented me the most. save Princess Conta didnt want too many other details. She and the otherswho soon join in the questioningmostly wanted to know about my kills. They were slightly interested in knowing when other dhampirs had helped mebut didnt want to go into when Id had Moroi help. They also glossed over my disciplinary record, which I found baffling. The rest of my academic details were mentionedmy exceptional combat grades, how Id been one of the best when Lissa and I had run away our second-year year and how quickly Id made up for lost time to become top in my class again (at least as far as fighting went). They blathered also about how Id protected Lissa whenever we were out in the world alone and finally concluded with my exceptional trial scores.Thank you, Guardian Hathaway. You may leave.Tatianas dismissive voice left no room for interrogation. Sh e wanted me out of there. I was only too eager to comply, giving another bow, and then run out. I cast a quick glance at Tasha and Adrian as I did, and the queens voice rang out as I cleared the door, That concludes our session today. We will convene again tomorrow.I wasnt surprised when Adrian caught up with me a few minutes later. Hans hadnt ordered me to come back and work after the session, so I had decided to read that as freedom.Okay, I said, slipping my hand into Adrians. Enlighten me with your royal political wisdom. What was that all about?No clue. Im the last person to request about political stuff, he said. I dont even go to those things, but Tasha found me at the last minute and said to come with her. I slam she got a tip-off youd be therebut she was just as confused.Neither of us had said anything, but I realized I was leading him toward one of the buildings that housed commercerestaurants, shops, etc. I was starving all of a sudden.I got the impression this was part of something theyd already been talking aboutshe mentioned their last session.It was closed. want tomorrows. No one knows what theyre discussing.Then why make this one public? It didnt seem fair that the queen and Council could pick and choose what they shared with others. Everything should have been public.He frowned. Probably because theyre going to hold a suffrage soon, and thatll be public. If your testimony plays some role, then the Council may want to make sure other Moroi witnessed itso that everyone understands the decision when it comes. He paused. But what do I know? Im no politician.Makes it sound like its already decided, I grumbled. Why have a vote at all? And why would I have anything to do with government?He opened the door to a small cafe that sold light lunch foodburgers and sandwiches. Adrian had been raised with fancy restaurants and gourmet food. I think he preferred that, but he also knew I didnt like always being on display or being reminded that I was with a royal from an elite family. I appreciated that hed known Id just want something habitual today.Nonetheless, our being together earned us a few curious glances and whispers from the diners patrons. At the school, wed been a source of speculation, but here at Court? We were a main-stage attraction. Images were important at Court, and most dhampir-Moroi relationships were carried out in secret. Us being so openespecially considering Adrians connectionswas scandalous and shocking, and people werent always discreet with their reactions. Id heard all sorts of things since returning to Court. One woman had called me shameless. Another had speculated aloud why Tatiana hadnt simply dealt with me.Fortunately, most of our audience was content to stare today, making them easy to ignore. There was a small line of thought on Adrians forehead as we sat down at a table. Maybe theyre voting to make you Lissas guardian after all.I was so astonished that I couldnt say anything for several seconds wh en the waitress abruptly appeared. I finally stammered out my order and then stared at Adrian with wide eyes.Seriously? The session had been an examination of my skills, after all. It made sense. Except No. The Council wouldnt go to the trouble of holding sessions for one guardian assignment. My hopes fell.Adrian gave a shrug of acknowledgment. True. But this isnt an ordinary guardian assignment. Lissas the last of her line. Everyoneincluding my aunthas a special interest in her. Giving her someone like you whos I gave him a grievous look as he grasped for a word. Controversial could upset some people.And thats why they actually wanted me there to describe what Ive done. To convince people in person that Im competent. Even as I spoke the oral communication, I still didnt dare believe them. It was too good to be true. I just cant count on it, seeing as I seem to be in so much trouble with the guardians.I dont know, he said. Its just a guess. Who knows? Maybe they do think the La s Vegas thing was just a harmless prank. There was a bitter tone in his voice over that. And I told you that Aunt Tatiana was glide path around to you. Maybe she wants you as Lissas guardian now but needs to make a public display to justify it.That was a startling thought. But if I do get to come with Lissa, what are you going to do? Get respectable and come to college too?I dont know, he said, green eyes thoughtful as he sipped his drink. Maybe I will.That was also unexpected, and my conversation with his mother returned to my mind. What if I was Lissas guardian in college and he was with us for the next quad years? I was fairly certain Daniella had thought wed be splitting up this summer. Id thought so too and was surprised to feel how relieved I was that I might get to stay with him. Dimitri always left my heart full of pain and longing, but I still wanted Adrian in my life.I grinned at him and rested my hand on his. Im not sure what Id do with you if you were respectable.He li fted my hand to his lips and kissed it. Ive got some suggestions, he told me. I didnt know if it was his words or the feel of his mouth on my skin that sent shivers through me. I was about to ask what those suggestions were when our interlude was interrupted by Hans.Hathaway, he said, one eyebrow arched as he stood over us. You and I have some very different intellections about the definition of punishment.He had a point. In my mind, punishment involved easy things like lashings and starvation. Not filing.Instead, I replied, You didnt tell me to come back after I saw the queen.He gave me an anger look. I also didnt tell you to go off on a playdate. Come on. Back to the vaults.But I have a BLT climaxYoull get your lunch break in another couple hours like the rest of us.I tried to repress my outrage. They hadnt been feeding me bread crusts and water during my work detail, but the food hadnt tasted much better. Just then, the waitress returned with our food. I grabbed the sandwich b efore she even set the plates down and wrapped it in a napkin. Can I take it to go?If you can eat it before we get back. His voice was skeptical, seeing as the vault was pretty close. Clearly, he was underestimating my ability to land food.In spite of Hanss disapproving expression, I gave Adrian a kiss goodbye and a look that told him maybe wed continue our conversation. He gave me a happy, knowing grin that I only saw for a second before Hans ordered me away. True to my expectations, I managed to get the sandwich down before we arrived back at the guardians building, though I did feel a little nauseous for the next half hour or so.My lunchtime was almost dinnertime for Lissa, out in the human world. Returning to my miserable punishment, I cheered up a little at the joy running through her via our bond. Shed spent the whole day on her campus tour of Lehigh, and it was everything shed hoped it could be. She lambd it all. She loved the beautiful buildings, the grounds, the dorms and especially the classes. A glimpse at the course catalog opened up a world of subjects that even St. Vladimirs superior education hadnt offered us. She wanted to see and do everything that the school had to offer.And even though she wished I was there, she was still excited about the fact that it was her birthday. Priscilla had given her some elaborate jewelry and had promised a fancy dinner that night. It wasnt exactly the type of celebration Lissa had hoped for, but the thrill of her eighteenth birthday was still intoxicatingespecially as she looked around at the dream school shed be attending soon.I confess, I felt a pang of jealousy. Despite Adrians theory about why the queen had called me in today, I knewas did Lissathat the odds of me going to college with her were still probably nonexistent. Some petty part of me couldnt understand how Lissa could therefore be excited about it if I wasnt going to be along. Childish of me, I know.I didnt have long to sulk, though, because once all the touring was done, Lissas entourage returned to the hotel. Priscilla told them they could clean up for an hour or so before heading to dinner. For Lissa, this meant more fighting-practice time. My brooding mood immediately turned irate.Things got worse when I realized that earlier in the day, Serena had told Grant about Lissa and Christians desire to defend themselves. He apparently thought that it was a good idea too. It would figure. Lissa had two progressive guardians. Why couldnt she have gotten some stodgy, old-school person who would be horrified at the thought of a Moroi even thinking about fighting off a Strigoi?So, while I sat helpless and unable to smack sense into any of them, Lissa and Christian now had two instructors. Not only did this mean more learning opportunities, it also meant Serena had a competent partner to demonstrate certain moves with. She and Grant sparred, explaining maneuvers while Lissa and Christian watched wide-eyed.Fortunately (well, not for Lissa), she and I soon noticed something. The guardians didnt know the true agent Lissa was interested in fighting. They had no ideahow could they have?that she wanted to go hunt and bet on a Strigoi in the feeble hope of bringing him back to life. They thought she just wanted to learn basic defense, something that seemed very sensible to them. So that was what they taught.Grant and Serena also made Lissa and Christian practice on distributively other. I suspected there were a couple reasons for this. One was that Lissa and Christian didnt have the skill to do much damage to each other. The second reason was that it amused the guardians.It did not amuse Lissa and Christian. There was still so much tension between them, both sexual and angry, that they resented being in such close contact. Grant and Serena stopped the two Moroi from doing any more fount punching, but simple dodges often meant brushing against each other, fingers sliding against skin in the modify of the action. Every once in a while, the guardians would have someone play Strigoiputting Lissa or Christian on the offensive. The two Moroi welcomed this to a certain consequence after all, direct attacks were what they wanted to learn.But, when Christian (playing Strigoi) lunged at Lissa and pushed her into a wall, learning offense suddenly didnt seem like such a good idea to her. The maneuver pressed them right up to each other, his arms holding hers. She could smell him and feel him and was overwhelmed by the fantasy of him just holding her there and snog her.I think you two should go back to basic defense, said Grant, interrupting her traitorous feelings. He sounded like he was more worried about them pain sensation each other than the possibility that they might start making out.It took Lissa and Christian a moment to even register his words, let alone part from each other. When they did, both avoided eye contact and returned to the couch. The guardians launched into more examples of how to avoid an attacker. Lissa and Christian had seen this so many times that they knew the lesson by heart, and their earlier attraction gave way to frustration.Lissa was too genteel to say anything, but after fifteen minutes of Serena and Grant showing how to block with your arms and dodge someone reaching for you, Christian finally spoke. How do you stake a Strigoi?Serena froze at Christians words. Did you say stake?Rather than being shocked, Grant chuckled. I dont think thats anything you need to worry about. You want to focus on getting away from a Strigoi, not getting closer.Lissa and Christian exchanged an uneasy look.I helped kill Strigoi before, Christian pointed out. I used fire at the schools attack. Are you saying thats not okay? That I shouldnt have done it?Now Serena and Grant traded glances. Ha, I thought. Those two werent as progressive as I thought. They were coming from a defense point of view, not offense.Of course you should have, said Grant at last. What you did was amazing. And in a similar situation? Sure. You wouldnt want to be helpless. But thats the pointyou have your fire. If it came down to you fighting a Strigoi, your magics going to be the way to go. You already know how to use itand itll keep you safely out of their range.What about me? asked Lissa. I dont have any figure of magic like that.Youll never get close enough to a Strigoi for it to be a problem, said Serena fiercely. We wont let you.Besides, added Grant with amusement, its not like we just go around handing out stakes. I would have given anything for them to go take a look in her suitcase right then.Lissa bit her lip and refused to make eye contact with Christian again, for fear of giving away their intentions. This was not going correspond to their crazy plan. Christian again took the lead.Can you at least demo it? he asked, exhaustingand succeedingto look like someone just seeking the sensational and exciting. Is it hard to do? It seems like all you have to do is ai m and hit.Grant snorted. Hardly. Theres a bit more to it than that.Lissa leaned forward, clasping her hands together as she followed Christians lead. Well, then dont worry about teaching us. Just show us.Yeah. Lets see. Christian shifted restlessly beside her. As he did, their arms brushed, and instantly they moved apart.Its not a game, Grant said. Nonetheless, he walked over to his coat and produced his stake. Serena stared incredulously.What are you going to do? she asked. Stake me?He gave that small chuckle of his and searched the room with his sharp eyes. Of course not. Ah. There we are. He walked over to a small armchair that had a decorative pillow. He lifted it up and tested its width. It was fat and thickly filled with some sort of dense stuffing. He returned to Lissa and gestured for her to stand. To everyones astonishment, he handed her his stake.Locking his body into a rigid position, he gripped the pillow hard between his hands and extended it out a couple feet in bm of him. Go ahead, he said. Aim and hit it.Are you crazy? asked Serena.Dont worry, he said. Princess Voda can afford the incidentals. Im proving a point. come to the pillow.Lissa hesitated only a few more moments. An excitement that seemed unusually intense filled her. I knew shed been anxious to learn this, but her desire for it seemed higher than before. Gritting her teeth, she stepped forward and awkwardly tried to impale the pillow with her stake. She was cautiousfearing shed hurt Grantbut there was no need for her to worry. She didnt even budge him, and all she managed with the stake was a slight snagging of the fabric on the surface. She tried a few more times but achieved little more.Christian, being who he was, said, Thats all you can do?Glaring, she handed him the stake. You do better.Christian stood, snarky smile disappearing as he studied the pillow critically and sized up his blow. As he did, Lissa glanced around and saw the humor in the guardians eyes. Even Serena had rel axed. They were making their point, proving staking wasnt an easy thing to learn. I was glad, and my opinion of them rose.Christian finally made his move. He did actually pierce the fabric, but the pillow and its stuffing proved too much to break through. And again, Grant wasnt shaken at all. After more failed attempts, Christian sat down again and handed the stake back. It was kind of fun to see Christians cocky attitude shot down a little. Even Lissa enjoyed it, despite her own frustration over how difficult this was becoming.The stuffings got too much resistance, Christian complained.Grant handed his stake to Serena. What, and you think a Strigois body is going to be easier to get through? With muscles and ribs in the way?Grant got back into his position, and without hesitation, Serena struck with the stake. Its point burst through the other side of the pillow, coming to a halt just in front of Grants chest as tiny fluffy pieces of stuffing drifted to the ground. She jerked it ou t and handed it to him like it had been the simplest thing in the world.Both Christian and Lissa stared in amazement. Let me try again, he said.By the time Priscilla called them to dinner, there wasnt a pillow in that hotel room left untouched. Boy, she was going to be surprised when she got the bill. Lissa and Christian hacked away with the stake while the guardians looked on with a superior air, confident their message was being delivered. Staking Strigoi was not easy.Lissa was finally getting it. She realized that in some ways, piercing a pillowor a Strigoiwasnt even about understanding the principle. Sure, shed heard me talk about lining your shot up to get to the heart and miss the ribs, but this was more than knowledge. A lot of it was strengthstrength she physically didnt have yet. Serena, though seemingly petite, had spent years building up her muscle and could get that stake through practically anything. One hour-long lesson wouldnt give Lissa that kind of strength, and she whispered as much to Christian when the throng went out to dinner.Youre quitting already? he asked, voice equally low as they rode in the backseat of an SUV. Grant, Serena, and a third guardian were there too, but they were deep in discussion.No Lissa hissed back. But Ive got to, like, train before I can do it.Like lift weights?I I dont know. The others were still talking to each other, but Lissas topic was too dangerous for her to risk them hearing. She leaned close to Christian, unnerved yet again at how his closeness and familiarity affected her. Swallowing, she tried to keep her face impassive and arrive to the topic. But Im just not strong enough. Its physically impossible.Sounds like youre giving up.Hey You didnt make it through any of the pillows either.He flushed slightly. I almost got through that green one.There was but anything in itI just need more practice.You dont need to do anything, she shot back, fighting to keep her voice serenity through her anger. This isnt your fight. Its mine.Hey, he snapped, eyes glittering like pale blue diamonds, youre crazy if you think Im going to just let you go and riskHe cut himself off and actually bit his lip, as though will alone wasnt enough to stop him from talking. Lissa stared at him, and both of us began wondering how he would have finished. What wouldnt he risk? Her putting herself in danger? That was my guess.Even without talk, he spoke volumes with his expression. Through Lissas eyes, I saw him drinking in her features and trying to hide his emotions. At last, he jerked away and broke that intimate space between them, getting as far from her as he could.Fine. Do whatever you want. I dont care.Neither of them spoke after that, and since it was lunchtime for me, I returned to my own reality and welcomed a filing breakonly to be informed by Hans that I had to keep working.Come on Isnt it lunchtime? You have to feed me, I exclaimed. Thats just beyond cruel. At least throw me some crumbs.I did feed you . Or, well, you fed yourself when you inhaled that sandwich. You wanted your lunch break then. You got it. Now you keep working.I slammed my fists against the endless piles of paper before me. Cant I at least do something else? Paint buildings? Haul rocks?Im afraid not. A smile distorted the corners of his lips. Theres a lot of filing we need done.How long? How long are you going to punish me?Hans shrugged. Until someone tells me to stop.He left me alone again, and I leaned back in my chair, forcibly trying not to flip the table in front of me over. I thought it would make me feel momentarily better, but it also meant Id have to redo the work Id done. With a sigh, I returned to my task.Lissa was at dinner when I tuned back into her later. It might have technically been in honor of her birthday, but really, it was all royal conversation with Priscilla. That was no way to spend a birthday, I decided. Id have to make this up to her whenever I earned freedom. Wed have a real party, and Id be able to give her my birthday present gorgeous lash boots that Adrian had helped me acquire back at school.Being in Christians head might have been more interesting, but since that wasnt an option, I returned to my own and mulled over my earlier talk with Adrian. Was this punishment finally going to end? Was an official royal decree going to put me and Lissa together at last, despite the guardians popular policy? exhausting to figure it out was like being on a hamster wheel. A lot of work. No progress. But it got me through the dinner conversation, and before I knew it, Lissas group was getting up and heading for the restaurants door. It was dark out now, and Lissa couldnt help but feel the weirdness of being on a human schedule. Back at school or the Court, this would be the middle of the day. Instead, they were now heading back to their hotel and would be going to bed. Well, probably not right away. I had no doubt that if Lissa and Christian could get over their current hu ff, theyd be back to stabbing more pillows. As much as I wanted those two dating again, I couldnt help but think they were a lot safer apart.Or maybe not.The group had hung out at the restaurant far past the normal dinner hour, so the lot was mostly empty as they walked across it. The guardians hadnt exactly parked in the back, but they werent near the main entrance either. They had, however, made a point of parking next to one of the street lamps illuminating the lot.Except it wasnt lit now. The light had been broken.Grant and Priscillas guardian noticed it right away. It was the kind of little detail we were trained to notice anything unusual, anything that might have changed. In a flash, the two of them had stakes out and were flanking the Moroi. It only took seconds for Serena and the guardian assigned to Christian to follow suit. That was something else we were trained to do. Be on guard. React. Follow your colleagues.They were fast. All of them were fast. But it didnt matter.B ecause suddenly, there were Strigoi everywhere.Im not entirely sure where they came from. Maybe theyd been behind the cars or on the parking lots edges. If Id had a bird-eyes view of the situation or been there myself with my nausea alarm, I might have had a better sense of it all. But I was watching the scene through Lissas eyes, and the guardians were going out of their way to block her from the Strigoi who seemed to have appeared out of thin air as far as she was concerned. about of the actions were a blur to her. Her bodyguards were shoving her around, trying to keep her safe as white, red-eyed faces popped up everywhere. She saw it all through a fear-filled haze.But before long, both of us could see people dying. Serena, just as fast and strong as shed been in the hotel room, staked a male Strigoi cleanly through the heart. Then, in return, a effeminate Strigoi leapt at Priscillas guardian and broke his neck. Lissa was distantly aware of Christians arm around her, pressing he r against the SUV and shielding her with his own body. The remaining guardians were also still forming a protective ring as best they could, but they were distracted. Their circle was falteringand they were dropping.One by one, the Strigoi killed the guardians. It wasnt for lack of skill on the guardians part. They were simply outnumbered. One Strigoi tore out Grants throat with her teeth. Serena was backhanded hard against the asphalt, landing facedown and not moving. And, horror of horrors, the Strigoi didnt seem to be sparing Moroi either. Lissapushing so hard against the SUV that it seemed as though she might become one with itstared wide-eyed as one Strigoi swiftly and efficiently ripped into Priscillas neck, pausing to drink her blood. The Moroi woman didnt even have time to register surprise, but at least there had been no real suffering. The endorphins dimmed the pain as the blood and life were drained from her body.Lissas emotions shifted into something beyond fear, somethi ng that hardly felt like anything at all. She was in shock. Numbed. And with a cold, hard certainty, she knew that her death was coming and accepted it. Her hand found Christians, squeezing it tightly, and turning toward him, she took small comfort in knowing the last sight she would see in life was the beautiful, crystalline blue of his eyes. From the look on his face, his thoughts were along similar themes. There was warmth in his eyes, warmth and love andTotal and complete astonishment.His eyes widened, focusing on something just behind Lissa. At that same moment, a hand grabbed Lissas shoulder and whipped her around. This is it, a small voice inside her whispered. This is where I die.Then, she understood Christians astonishment.She was facing Dimitri.Like me, she had that surreal sense of it being Dimitri yet not being Dimitri. So many of his features were the same and yet so many were different. She tried to say something, anything, but while the words formed on her lips, she j ust couldnt manage to get them out.Intense heat suddenly flared behind her, and a brilliant light lit Dimitris pale features. Neither Lissa nor I needed to see Christian to know he had produced a eggs of fire with his magic. Either the shock of seeing Dimitri or fear for Lissa had spurred Christian into action. Dimitri squinted slightly at the light, but then a cruel smile twisted his lips, and the hand resting on her shoulder slid up to her neck.Put it out, said Dimitri. Put it out or she dies.Lissa finally found her voice, even with her air cut off. Dont get wind to him, she gasped out. Hes going to kill us anyway.But behind her, the heat died. Shadows fell across Dimitris face once again. Christian wouldnt risk her, even though she was right. It hardly seemed to matter.Actually, said Dimitri, voice pleasant amid the grim scene, Id rather you two stay alive. At least for a little while longer.I felt Lissas face move to a frown. I wouldnt have been surprised if Christians did too , judging from the confusion in his voice. He couldnt even manage a snarky comment. He could only ask the obvious Why?Dimitris eyes gleamed. Because I need you to be bait for Rose.