Last Sacrifice Chapter Sixteen

CONSIDERING SYDNEY DESTROYED utterly bodies on a regular basis, it was kind of surprising that she was so final payment a blanket by our post-fight appearances. Maybe dead Strigoi were exactly objects to her. Dimitri and I were real receive people, and we were a mess.I hope you guys dont stain the railroad car, she utter, once the bodies were disposed of and we were on our way. I commend it was her silk hat attempt at a joke, in an effort to c everyplace up her discomfort everywhere our torn and crashing(a) c surveyhes.Are we sacking to Paris? I asked, turning to ask bottom at Dimitri.Paris? asked Sydney, startled. non yet, verbalise Dimitri, leaning his fountainhead cover against the seat. He was back to looking same(p) a controlled guardian. any signs of his antecedent breakdown were g sensation, and I had no intention of giving away what had happened precedent wed fetched Sydney. So sm each(prenominal) yet so monumental. And very private. For now, he by an d bombastic looked tired. We should wait until solar daymagazine. We had to go for Donovan now, silent if Sonyas got a house, shes probably t here(predicate) wholly the time. Safer for us in daylight.How do you know he wasnt lying? asked Sydney. She was impulsive with no real destination, merely queerting us issue of the compar fittingness as fast-flying as possible and originally people inform screams and the sounds of fighting.I concept back to the terror on Donovans face and shivered. I dont think he was lying.Sydney didnt ask all more than than than questions, except virtually which direction she should involve. Dimitri suggested we find a nonher(prenominal) hotel so that we could clean up and tolerate some rest before tomorrows task. Fortunately, Lexington had a oftentimes broader selection of hotels than our closing(a) town. We didnt go for luxury, save the large, modern-looking place we chose was part of a chain, clean and stylish. Sydney analyze us in and accordingly led us intimate by means of a side accession, so as non to startle any guests who talent be up in the middle of the night.We got i elbow room with two double beds. No one commented on it, severely I think we all shared a train to stay to depicther later our earlier Strigoi encounter. Dimitri was much more of a mess than me, convey to his mutilation of Donovan, so I sent him to shower firstborn.You did great, I told Sydney as we waited. I sat on the floor (which was much cleaner than the last rooms) so that I wouldnt wreck the beds. That was in truth brave of you.She crooked me a smile. Typical. You puzzle beat up and nearly devoured, further Im the one youre praising?Hey, I do this all the time. Going in in that respect alone like you did nearly, it was comely hardcore. And Im not that beat up.I was brushing off my injuries, conscionable as Dimitri would. Sydney, eyeing me, knew it too. My legs were scraped more than Id agnize, the skin to rn and bleeding from where Id fallen on the cement. One of my ankles was complaining over the roof-jump, and I had a number of cuts and bruises bewildered over the rest of me. I had no clue where most had set more or less from.Sydney shook her head. How you guys dont control gangrene more often is beyond me. We twain knew why, though. It was part of the natural resistance Id been born with as a dhampir, spring upting the best of both races traits. Moroi were actually pretty healthy too, though they sometimes caught diseases unique to their race. master was an example. He had a chronic disease and had once force Lissa to heal him. Her magic had desexd him to full health at the time, notwithstanding the illness was slowly creeping back.I showered after Dimitri finished, and then Sydney forced her first aid kit on both of us. When we were bandaged and disinfected to her satisfaction, she got egress her laptop and pulled up a map of Paris, Kentucky. The three of us flock intimately the screen.Lots of creeks and rivers, she mused, scrolling around. Not much in the way of lakes.I pointed. Do you think thats it? It was a tiny body of water, marked APPLEWOOD POND.Maybe. Ah, in that locations other pond. That could be a suspect too oroh Right here? She tapped the screen on another body of water, a bit large than the ponds MARTIN LAKE.Dimitri sat back and ran a overstep over his eye as he yawned. That looks like the most likely option. If not, I dont think itll take colossal to drive around the other ones.Thats your plan? asked Sydney. Just drive around and look for a blue house?I interchange glances with Dimitri and shrugged. Sydney might be showing her bravery on this trip, scarce I knew her idea of a plan was a forgetful different from ours. Hers were structured, well-thought turn up, and had a take purpose. Also, details.Its more solid than most of our plans, I said at last.The sunniness was waiver to be up in another hour or so. I was res tless to go after Sonya, but Dimitri insisted sleep until midday. He took one bed, and Sydney and I shared the other. I didnt really think I needed the rest he claimed, but my body disagreed. I expend asleep almost instantly.And like always lately, I eventually was pulled into a mettle ambitiousness. I hoped it was Adrian, coming to finish our last conversation. Instead, the conservatory materialized around me, complete with harp and cushioned furniture. I sighed and faced the Brothers Dashkov.Great, I said. some other conference call. I have really got to start blocking your number. superscript gave me a small bow. Always a plea accepted, Rose. Robert merely stared off into lacuna again. Nice to know some things neer changed.What do you want? I demanded.You know what we want. Were here to befriend you help Vasilisa. I didnt believe that for an instant. master key had some scheme in mind, but my hope was to capture him before he could do any further damage. He studied me exp ectantly. pay you found the other Dragomir yet?I stared incredulously. Its scarce been a day I almost had to redo my math on that one. It felt more like ten years. Nope. Only a day since Id last m come onh to original.And? maestro asked. And, how satisfactory do you think we are?He deemed. fair expert.Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, but its not as motiveless as it reassurems. And actually considering what a cover-up this has all been, it really doesnt seem easy at all. merely you have found something? Victor pressed.I didnt answer.An yearning gleam lit his eyes, and he took a step forward. I readily took one back. You have found something.Maybe. Again, I had the same indecision as before. Did Victor, with all his scheming and manipulating, know something that could help us? in the end time, hed attached me nothing, but now we had more information. What had he said? If we found a thread, he could unravel it?Rose. Victor was speaking to me like I was a child, as he often did to Robert. It do me scowl. I told you before It doesnt function if you trust me or my intentions. For now, were both interested in the same short-run goal. Dont let future worries ruin your chance here.It was funny, but that was similar to the article of belief Id operated on for most of my life. Live in the now. Jump compensate on in and worry or so the consequences later. Now, I hesitated and seek to think things over before making a decision. At last, I chose to take the risk, again hoping Victor might be able to help.We think the mother the mother of Lissas pal or sister is related to Sonya Karp. Victors eyebrows rose. You know who that is?Of course. She false Strigoiallegedly because she went insane. tho we both know it was a little more complicated than that.I nodded reluctantly. She was a spirit user. No one knew.Roberts head whipped around so fast that I nearly jumped. Whos a spirit user? fountain spirit user, said Victor, instantly switching to soothing mode. She became a Strigoi to get away from it.The sharp focus Robert had directed toward the two of us molten into soft dreaminess once more. Yes always a lure to that kill to live, live to kill. Immortality and freedom from these chains, but oh, what a loss They were crazy ramblings, but they had an eerie similarity to some of the things Adrian said sometimes. I didnt like that at all. Trying to pretend Robert wasnt in the room, I turned back to Victor. Do you know anything ab erupt her? Who shes related to?He shook his head. She has a large family.I threw up my hands in exasperation. Could you be any more useless? You keep acting like you know so much, but youre fitting telling us what weve already found out You arent servingHelp make its in numerous forms, Rose. Have you found Sonya?Yes. I reconsidered. Well, not kinda. We know where she is. Were going to see her tomorrow and question her.The look on Victors face spoke legions about how ridiculous he thought tha t was. And Im sure shell be eager to help.I shrugged. Dimitris pretty persuasive. So Ive heard, said Victor. that Sonya Karp isnt an impressionable teenager. I sized up a punch but worried Robert might have his force field up again. Victor appeared oblivious to my anger. Tell me where you are. Well come to you.Once more, a dilemma. I didnt think there was much the brothers could do. But this might present an opportunity to retake him. Besides, if we had him in person, maybe hed stop interrupting my dreams.Were in Kentucky, I said at last. Paris, Kentucky. I gave him what other info we had about the blue house.Well be there tomorrow, Victor said.Then where are you nowAnd just like last time, Robert ended the dream abruptly, leaving me hanging. What had I gotten myself into with them? Before I could consider it, I was immediately taken to another spirit dream. Good Lord. It really was deja vu. Everyone treasured to talk to me in my sleep. Fortunately, like last time, my back bera te was from Adrian. This one was in the ballroom where the Council had met. on that point were no chairs or people, and my go echoed on the hard wood floor. The room that seemed so grand and coercive when in use now had a lonely, ominous feel.Adrian stood near one of the tall, arched windows, giving me one of his roguish smiles when I hugged him. Compared to how dirty and cover everything was in the real world, he seemed pristine and perfect.You did it. I gave him a spry kiss on the lips. You got them to nominate Lissa. After our last dream visit, when Id realized there might be some merit to Victors suggestion, Id had to work hard to convince Adrian that the nomination idea was a good one in particular since I hadnt been sure myself.Yeah, getting that group on board was easy. He seemed to like my admiration, but his face grew grimmer as he pondered my words. Shes not apt about it, though. Boy, she let us have it afterward.I truism it. Youre right that she doesnt like itbut it was more than that. It was spirit- darkness. I took some of it away, but yeah it was bad. I remembered how taking her anger had caused it to flare up briefly in me. Spirit didnt hit me as hard as it did her but that was only(prenominal) temporary. Eventually, if I pulled lavish over the years, it would take over. I caught sustain of Adrians hand and gave him as pleading a look as I could manage. Youve got to look after her. Ill do what I dejection, but you know as well as I do how stress and worry can call forth spirit. Im afraid itll come back like it used to. I craving I could be there to take care of her. Pleasehelp her.He tucked a loose piece of hair merchantman my ear, concern in his deep green eyes. At first, I thought his worry was just for Lissa. I will, he said. Ill do what I can. But Rose will it happen to me? Is that what Ill become? care her and the others?Adrian had never shown the thorough side effects Lissa had, largely because he didnt use as much spir it and because he did so much self-medicating with alcohol. I didnt know how long that would last, though. From what Id seen, there were only a hardly a(prenominal) things to delay the craziness self-discipline, antidepressants, and soldering to person shadow-kissed. Adrian didnt seem interested in any of those options.It was weird, but in this moment of vulnerability, I was reminded of what had just happened with Dimitri. both of these men, so strong and overconfident in their ways, yet individually needing me for support. Youre the strong one, Rose, a voice utter inside my head.Adrian gazed off. Sometimes sometimes I can believe the insanity is all imagined, you know? Ive never felt it like the others like Lissa or old Vlad. But once in a while he paused. I dont know. I feel so close, Rose. So close to the edge. Like if I allow myself one small misstep, Ill plunge away and never come back. Its like Ill lose myself.Id heard him conjecture stuff like this before, when hed go off on some weird tangent that only half do sense. It was the closest he ever came to showing that spirit might be messing with his mind too. Id never realized he was alive(predicate) of these moments or what they could mean.He looked back down at me. When I beverage I dont worry about it. I dont worry about going crazy. But then I think maybe I already I am. Maybe I am, but no one can tell the difference when Im drunk.Youre not crazy, I said fiercely, pulling him to me. I loved his warmth and the way he felt against my skin. Youll be okay. Youre strong.He pressed his cheek to my forehead. I dont know, he said. I think youre my strength.It was a sweet and romantic statement, but something about it bothered me. Thats not quite right, I said, wondering how I could put my feelings into words. I knew you could help someone else in a relationship. You could strengthen them and support them. But you couldnt actually do everything for them. You couldnt solve all their problems. You have to find it within yourThe hotel rooms alarm measure blared and broke me from the dream, leaving me frustrated both because I missed Adrian and hadnt been able to say all I wanted to. Well, there was nothing I could do for him now. I could only hope hed manage on his own.Sydney and I were both sluggish and squinty-eyed. It made sense that shed be exhausted, since her whole sleeping schedulewhen she actually got sleephad been thrown off. Me? My fatigue was mental. So many people, I thought. So many people needed me but it was so hard to help all of them.Naturally, Dimitri was up and ready to go. Hed woken before us. Last nights breakdown might as well have never happened. It turned out hed been dying for coffee bean and had patiently waited for us, not wanting to pop off us sleeping and undefended. I shooed him off, and twenty minutes later, he returned with coffee and a box of donuts. He also had purchased an industrial-strength chain at a hardware store across the street for when we find Sonya, which made me uneasy. By then Sydney and I were ready to go, and I decided to hold off on my questions. I wasnt crazy about wearing bunco again, not with my legs in this condition, but I was too eager to get to Sonya to insist we stop at a mall.I did, however, decide it was time to get my companions up to speed.So, I began casually, Victor Dashkov might be connecter us soon.It was to Sydneys credit that she didnt drive off the road. What? That guy who lightd? I could see in Dimitris eyes that he was just as shocked, but he kept cool and under control, like always. Why, he began slowly, is Victor Dashkov joining us?Well, its kind of a funny story And with that intro, I gave them as brief yet thorough a recap as I could, starting with the background on Robert Doru and ending with the brothers recent dream visits. I glossed over Victors mysterious escape a few weeks ago, but something told me that Dimitri, in that uncanny way we had of guessing each others t houghts, was probably putting the pieces together. Both Lissa and I had told Dimitri wed gone through a lot to learn how to restore him, but wed never explained the full storyespecially the part about breaking out Victor so that he could help us find his brother.Look, whether he can help or not, this is our chance to catch him, I added hastily. Thats a good thing, right?Its an issue well deal with later. I recognized the tone in Dimitris voice. Hed used it a lot at St. Vladimirs. It usually meant there was a private talk in my future, where Id be grilled for more details.Kentucky turned out to be pretty well-favored as we drove out to Paris. The land was rolling and green as we got out of the city, and it was easy to imagine wanting to live in a little house out here. I wondered idly if that had been Sonyas motivation and then caught myself. Id just told Dimitri that Strigoi saw no beauty. Was I wrong? Would gorgeous panorama matter to her?I found my answer when our GPS led us t o Martin Lake. in that respect were only a few houses scattered around it, and among those, only one was blue. Stopping a fair distance away from the house, Sydney parked the car off to the side of the road as much as she could. It was narrow, the lifts cover in trees and noble grass. We all got out of the car and walked a little ways, still keeping our distance.Well. Its a blue house, declared Sydney pragmatically. But is it hers? I dont see a mailbox or anything.I looked closer at the yard. Rose bushes, full of pink and red blossoms, grew in front of the porch. Baskets abstruse with white flowers I didnt know the names of hung from the roof, and blue morning glories climbed up a trellis. Around the house, I could just barely make out a wood fence. A vine with orange, trumpet-shaped flowers crawled over it.Then, an image flickered into my mind, gone as quickly as it had come. Ms. Karp watering pots of flowers in her classroom, flowers that seemed to grow impossibly fast and tal l. As a teenager more interested in system homework, I hadnt thought much about them. It was only later, after reflection Lissa make plants grow and bloom during spirit experiments, that I understood what had been hazard in Ms. Karps classroom. And now, even deprived of spirit and possessed by evil, Sonya Karp was still tending her flowers.Yeah, I said. This is her house. Dimitri approached the front porch, studying every detail. I started to equal but held back. What are you doing? I kept my voice low. She might see you.He returned to my side. Those are black-out curtains. They arent letting in any light, so she isnt going to see anything. It also means she likely spends her time on the houses main(prenominal) floor, rather than a basement. I could slow follow his line of thinking. Thats good news for us. When Id been captured by Strigoi last year, my friends and I had been held in a basement. Not only was it convenient for Strigoi wanting to avoid the sun, it also meant fewe r escape and entry options. It was easy for Strigoi to trap prey in a basement. The more doors and windows we had, the die.Ill scout the other side, he said, starting for the backyard.I hurried up to him and caught him by the arm. Let me. Ill sense any Strigoinot that shes going outside, but, well, just in case.He hesitated, and I grew irate, thinking he didnt believe me capable. Then, he said, Okay. Be awake. I realized he was just worried about me.I moved as smoothly and quietly as I could around the house, soon discovering the wooden fence was going to create encumbrance in seeing the backyard. I feared climbing over might peppy Sonya to my presence and pondered what to do. My solution came in the form of a large gemstone lying near the fences edge. I dragged the stone over and stood on top. It wasnt enough to let me look completely over, but I was able to easily put my hands on top of the fence and hoist myself up for a peek with minimal noise.It was like looking into the G arden of Eden. The flowers in the front had merely been the warm-up act. More roses, magnolia and apple trees, irises, and a jillion other flowers I didnt recognize. Sonyas backyard was a paradise of lush color. I scoped out what I needed to and hurried back to Dimitri. Sydney still stood by the car.A patio door and two windows, I reported. All curtained. Theres also a wooden deck chair, a shovel, and a wheelbarrow.Any pitchforks?Unfortunately, no, but theres a big-ass rock sitting outside the fence. Itd be hard to get it into the yard, though. Were better off using it to help us climb over. No inlet in the fence. Shes made a fortress.He nodded in understanding, and without any conversation, I knew what to do. We got the chain from the car and entrusted it to Sydney. We told her to wait for us outsidewith the strict book of instructions to leave if we werent back in thirty minutes. I hated to say that kind of thingand Sydneys face indicated she didnt like hearing itbut it was ine vitable. If we hadnt crush Sonya in that amount of time, we werent going to subdue her at allor leave alive. If we did manage to overtake her, wed give some signal for Sydney to come in with the chain.Sydneys amber-brown eyes were filled with anxiety as she watched us head back around the house. I nearly teased her for caring about evil creatures of the night but stopped myself just in time. She might loathe every other dhampir and Moroi in the world, but somewhere on the way, shed come to like Dimitri and me. That wasnt something to mock.Dimitri stood on the rock and surveyed the yard. He murmured a few last-minute instructions to me before taking my hands and boosting me up over the fence. His height went a long way to make the maneuver as easy and quietthough not silentas possible. He followed me shortly thereafter, landing beside me with a small thud.After that, we sprang forward with no delay. If Sonya had heard us, then there was no point in withering time. We needed every favour we could get. Dimitri grabbed the shovel and swung it hard into the grumponce, twice. The first strike was about the height of my head, the second lower. The glass fractured more with each impact. Right on the heels of the second hit, I pushed forward and shoved the wheelbarrow into the door. Lifting it and throwing it against the glass would have been a lot cooler, but it was too unwieldy to wind up very high. When the wheelbarrow struck the already weakened glass, the cracked areas broke and crumbled altogether, creating a hole big enough for both of us to get through. We both had to duckespecially Dimitri.A simultaneous attack through both sides of the house would have been ideal, but it wasnt like Sonya could run out the front door. Nausea had started to creep over me as soon as we were near the patio, and the sensation hit full force as we entered a living room. I ignored my stomach in the way Id perfect and braced myself for what was to come. Wed broken in pretty qui ckly but not quickly enough to truly get the jump on Strigoi reflexes.Sonya Karp was right there, ready for us, doing all she could to avoid the sunlight spilling into the living room. When Id first seen Dimitri as a Strigoi, Id been so shocked that Id frozen up. It had allowed him to capture me, so Id mentally braced myself this time, knowing Id feel the same shock when I saw my former teacher as a Strigoi. And it was shocking. Just like with him, so many of Sonyas features were the same as before the auburn hair and high cheek bones but her beauty was twisted by all the other terrible conditions chalky skin, red eyes, and the expression of cruelty that all Strigoi seemed to wear.If she recognized us, she gave no sign and lunged toward Dimitri with a snarl. It was a common Strigoi play to take out the bigger threat first, and it annoyed me that they always believed that was Dimitri. Hed shoved his take a chance in his belt in order to carry the shovel inside with him. The shovel wouldnt kill a Strigoi, but with enough strength and momentum, it would by all odds keep Sonya at arms length. He struck her with it in the shoulder after her first attempt, and while she didnt fall over, she definitely waited before stressful another attack. They circled each other, like wolves readying for a battle, as she sized up her odds. One charge, and her greater strength would push him down, shovel or not.All of this took place in a matter of seconds, and Sonyas calculations had left me out of the equation. I made my own charge, slamming into her other side, but she saw me coming out of the corner of her eye and responded instantly, throwing me down while never taking her eyes off Dimitri. I wished I had the shovel and could hit her in the back from a safe distance. All I carried was my guess, and I had to be careful with it since it could kill her. I did a quick scan of her eerily conventionality living room and couldnt see any other potential weapons.She feinted, and D imitri went for it. He just barely corrected himself as she leapt forward to take advantage of the situation. She thrust him against the wall, pinning him there and knocking the shovel from his grasp. He struggled against her, trying to break free as her hands found his throat. If I tried to pull her off, my strength combined with Dimitris would probably free him. I wanted this over as quickly as possible, however, and decided to make a power play.I ran toward her, stake in hand, and plunged it through her right shoulder blade, hoping I was nowhere near her heart. The charmed silver, so agonizing to Strigoi skin, made her scream. Frantic, she shoved me away with force that was astonishing even for a Strigoi. I ferine backward, stumbling, and whacked my head against a coffee table. My vision dimmed slightly, but instinct and adrenaline drove me back to my feet.My attack gave Dimitri the split second he needed. He knocked Sonya to the ground and grabbed my stake, pushing it against h er throat. She screamed and flailed, and I moved forward to help him, knowing how hard it was to pin a Strigoi.Get Sydney he grunted. The chain I moved as quickly as I could, stars and shadows dancing in front of me. I unlocked the front door and kicked it open as a signal, then ran back to Dimitri. Sonya was making good progress in fighting him off. I dropped to my knees, working with Dimitri to keep her restrained. He had that battle lust in his eyes again, a look that said he wanted to destroy her right here and now. But there was something else, too. Something that made me think he had more control, that my words in the passageway had actually had an impact. Still, I uttered a warning.We need her remember we need her.He gave me a slight nod, just as Sydney showed up lugging the chain. She stared at the scene wide-eyed, pausing only a moment before hurrying over to us. Well make a warrior of her yet, I thought.Dimitri and I moved to our next task. Wed already spotted the best place to bind Sonya a heavy, reclining armchair in the corner. Lifting herwhich was self-destructive since she was still thrashing wildlywe thrust her into the chair. Then, keeping the stake at her neck, Dimitri attempted to hold her down while I grabbed hold of the chain.There was no time to think of a precise system. I just started wrapping it, first around her legs and then as best as I could around her torso, trying to lock her arms against her. Dimitri had bought a lot of chain, thankfully, and I hurriedly wrapped it around the chair in a crazy manner, doing everything I could to keep her down.When I finally ran out of chain, Sonya was pretty well locked into place. Was it something she could break out of? Absolutely. But with a silver stake against her? Not so easy. With both in place well, we had her trapped for now. It was the best we could do.Dimitri and I exchanged brief, weary looks. I felt dizzy but fought through it, knowing our task was far from over.Time for questio ning, I said grimly.