Last Sacrifice Chapter Twelve

DIMITRI AND I BOTH FROZE as the shock of that name crash us. Sydney, glancing between our faces, gave us a alter smile.I borrow it you live on who that is?Of course, I exclaimed. She was my t separatelyer. She went crazy and dark Strigoi.Sydney nodded. I know.My look widened further. Shes not shes not the unrivaled who had an affair with Lissas dad, is she? Oh dear God. That would be cardinal of the most unexpected developments in the rollercoaster that was my life. I couldnt til now lead off to process the effects of that.no(prenominal) correspondingly, she said. The depict was opened several eld before she was added as the beneficiarywhich was salutary when she turned eighteen. So, if were assuming the account was created nearly the time the baby was born, so she would substantiate been flair also young. Sonyas be want a relative.My earlier astonishment was giving way to excitement, and I could see the same thing happening to Dimitri. You mustiness moder ate records close to her family, he said. Or if not, round Moroi probably does. Whos close to Sonya? Does she shed a sister?Sydney shook her head. No. Thatd be an obvious choice, though. Unfortunately, she has other family rafts of it. Her pargonnts both came from giant families, so she has lots of cousins. Even some of her aunts are the indemnify age.We nookie look them up, right? I asked. A peak of anticipation was running th high-strung me. I honestly hadnt expected this overmuch information. True, it was sm altogether, however it was something. If Sonya Karp was related to Erics mistress, that had to be something we could track.T here(predicate)s a lot of them. Sydney shrugged. I mean, yeah, we could. Itd arrest a long time to find everyones life history, and flat thenespeci eithery if this was covered up repletewed have a rough time finding discover if any of them is the woman were looking for. Or even if any of them know who she is.Dimitris voice was low and c onceitful when he spoke. One person knows who Jane Doe is. Sydney and I both looked at him expectantly.Sonya Karp, he replied.I threw up my hands. Yeah, provided we cant talk to her. Shes a lost cause. Mikhail tan spent over a year hunting her and couldnt find her. If he cant, then were not going to be able to.Dimitri turned international from me and stared forbidden the bring forwarddow. His br cause eyes tilt with sorrow, his suppositions momentarily far off from us. I didnt entirely understand what was happening, nevertheless that peaceful moment in the librarywhere Dimitri had smiled and shared in the daydream of an ordinary lifehad vanished. And not just the moment. That Dimitri had vanished. He was congest in his fierce mode, carrying the weight of the orbit on his shoulders again. At fail, he sighed and looked back at me. Thats because Mikhail didnt have the right associations.Mikhail was her boyfriend, I pointed bulge out(p). He had much(prenominal) connect ions than anyone else.Dimitri didnt acknowledge my comment. Instead, he grew pensive again. I could see turmoil behind his eyes, some inner war. At last, it must have been decided.Does your phone have reception out here? he asked her.She nodded, reaching into her purse and handing him her phone. He held it a moment, looking resembling it cause him contri stille agony to touch it. At last, with another sigh, he s in any cased up and headed for the door. Sydney and I ex potpourrid questioning looks and then both followed him. She lagged behind me, having to toss immediate payment on the table and grab her laptop. I emerged outside just as Dimitri finished dialing a number and put the phone to his ear. Sydney joined us, and a moment later, the person on the other end of the line must have answered.Boris? asked Dimitri.That was all I understood because the rest was a cosmic string of rapid Russian. A strange sensation spread over me as he spoke. I was confused, lost because of the l anguage entirely at that place was more than that. I felt chilled. My pulse raced with fear. That voice I knew that voice. It was his voice and to date not his voice. It was the voice of my nightmares, a voice of coldness and cruelty.Dimitri was playing Strigoi.Well, playing was in truth too gentle of a word. Pretending was a fall apart way to describe it. Whatever it was, it was lovely damned convincing.Beside me, Sydney fr sustained, unless I didnt bet she was experiencing what I was. She had never known him as Strigoi. She didnt have those horrible memories. His change in demeanor had to be obvious, scarce as I glanced at her face, I realized she was focused on follo allureg the conversation. Id forgotten she knew Russian.Whats he saying? I whispered.Her frowned deepened, either from the conversation or me distracting her. He he sounds same(p) hes talking to individual he hasnt spoken to in a while. Dimitris accusing this person of slacking off while hes been away. She fell silent, go along her own mental translation. At one point, Dimitris voice rose in anger, and both Sydney and I flinched. I turned to her questioningly. Hes mad virtually having his imprimatur questioned. I cant tell, only when now it sounds the like the other persons groveling. I valued to know every word, but it had to be hard for her to translate to me and beware at the same time. Dimitris voice returned to normal levelsthough still filled with that terrible menaceand among the flurry of words, I heard Sonya Karp and Montana.Hes communicate about Ms. KarSonya? I murmured. She hadnt been my teacher for a long time. I king as well call her Sonya now.Yeah, said Sydney, eyes still on Dimitri. Hes askinger, tellingthis person to locate someone else and see if he can find Sonya. This person She paused to listen again. This person hes asking about sounds like he knows a lot of plenty in the area she was last seen in.I knew people in this context meant Strigoi. Dimi tri had risen quickly in their ranks, take a firm stand his will and power over others. Most Strigoi operated solo, rarely endureing(a) in groups, but even the lone ones recognized threats and more dominant Strigoi. Dimitri was working his inter-group communications, just as hed said earlier. If any Strigoi had heard about his faultingand believed itthey wouldnt have been able to pass the news quickly, not with their disorganization. As it was, Dimitri was already having to play leapfrog to find sources who knew other sources who might know Sonyas location.Dimitri grew shoddy and angry again, his voice becomingif possiblemore sinister. I shortly felt trapped, and even Sydney looked s kickd now. She swallowed.Hes telling this guy that if he doesnt enamor answers by tomorrow night, Dimitris going to find him and rip him apart and Sydney didnt put out finishing. Her eyes were wide. Use your imagination. Its pretty terrible. I decided then that I was kind of glad I hadnt heard all of the conversation in English.When Dimitri finished the call and returned Sydneys phone, that mask of malice melted from his face. Once again, he was my Dimitri, Dimitri the dhampir. Dejection and despair radiated off him, and he slumped against the cafes wall, staring upward into the sky. I knew what he was doing. He was trying to calm himself, seize control of the emotions that had to be warring within him. Hed just done something that might give us clues we needed but it had been at a terrible cost to himself. My fingers twitched. I cute to put a comforting arm around him or at to the lowest degree pat his shoulder so hed know he wasnt alone. But, I held back, suspecting he wouldnt like it.At last, he turned his discern back to us. Hed regained his controlat least on the outside. Ive sent someone to ask about her, he said wearily. It might not work out. Strigoi are just the type to restrict a database. But they do occasionally keep an eye on one another, if only for th eir own self-preservation. Well find out soon if there are any falters.I wow. thank you,I said, fumbling at the words. I knew he needed no thanks, but it felt necessary to me.He nodded. We should get back to the Keepers unless you intend this is a safe orient to stay?Id rather stay off civilized radar, said Sydney, moving toward the truck. Besides, I privation my car keys back.The depend upon back felt ten times longer. Dimitris mood filled up the whole cabin, almost suffocating us with its despair. Even Sydney could feel it. Shed permit him drive again, and I couldnt decide if that was a good or self-aggrandising thing. Would the bridle-path distract him from his Strigoi torment? Or would his agony distract him from the road and put us off in a ditch? Fortunately, we run into it back safe and sound and found two of the Keepers waiting for us in the lot, a Moroi woman and a human guy who both looked fierce. I still couldnt shake the strangeness of both races being battle- ready. I wondered if these two were a couple.Back in the camp, we found the communal balefire ablaze and people sitting out around it, some feeding and some just socializing. Id learned at breakfast that the fire was eer there for those who wanted to bond but that plenty of families kept to their own households as well.We went back to Raymonds house, but only Sarah and Joshua were there. She was cleaning up dishes, and he sat restlessly in a lead. As soon as he caught sight of me at the door, he sprang up, radiant smile on high-beam again.Rose Youre back. We were starting to worry I mean, not that anything had happened to younot with your skillsbut that maybe youd just left us.Not without our car, said Sydney, placing the truck keys on the table. The CR-Vs were sitting there already, and relief flooded her face as she snatched them up.Sarah offered us leftovers, which we lowerd, having stocked up on snack food at Rubysvilles muck up station. Well, she said, if youre not going to eat, you might as well join the others out at the fire. Jess McHale might sing tonight if they can get her to booze enough, and drunk or sober, that woman has the finest voice Ive ever heard.I in brief met Dimitri and Sydneys eyes. I admit, I was a little curious to see how this state of nature group partied it up, even though moonshine and folk songs werent truly my start choice of entertainment. Dimitri still wore that haunted look from the phone call.I had a suspicion he would have been content to isolate himself in our room, but when Sydney said shed go to the fire, his response came automatically Ill go too. I knew ostentationaneously what he was doing. His Strigoi days tormented him. Talking to Strigoi tormented him. And maybeno, sure enoughhe wanted to hide away and try to block it all out, but he was Dimitri. Dimitri protected those who needed it, and even if listening to house songs wasnt exactly life-threatening, it was still a semi-dangerous situation for a ci vilian like Sydney. He couldnt allow that. Plus, he knew Sydney would feel safer with both of us nearby.I started to say Id join them, but Joshua spoke before I could. Do you still want to see my cave? Theres a little luminosity left outside. Youll get a better view that way than if we have to use a torch.Id forgotten about my last conversation with Joshua and started to decline his offer. But then, something flashed in Dimitris eyes, something disapproving. So. He didnt want me going off with some young, good-looking guy. Was it legitimate concern about the Keepers? Was it jealousy? No, surely not the latter. Wed establishedmany, many timesthat Dimitri wanted no romantic connection with me. Hed even stood up for Adrian earlier. Was this some kind of ex-boyfriend thing? Back in Rubysville, Id believed Dimitri and I could be friends, but that wouldnt happen if he thought he could control me and my love life. Id known girls with exes like that. I wouldnt be one. I could hang out with whomever I wanted.Sure, I said. Dimitris musing darkened. Id love to.Joshua and I headed off, leaving the others behind. I knew part of my decision was to prove my independence. Dimitri had said we were equals, so far hed made an awful lot of decisions in this escape plan without me. It was small to feel like I had the upper hand for a change, and besides, I liked Joshua and was kind of curious to learn more about how his people lived. I dont think Sydney wanted me to leave, but Dimitri would look aft(prenominal) her.As Joshua and I walked, we passed plenty of Keepers out and about. Just like earlier, I legitimate a fair amount of stares. Rather than lead us floor the road to where his father lived, Joshua took me around the small mountain. It was still good-sized, but after living near the Rockies, everything in the Appalachians seemed small to me. I risk I was a mountain snob.Still, the mountain extended quite a ways, and we locomote far and farther from the Keepers main settlement. The forest grew thicker, the light growing scarce as the sun finally began sinking into the horizon.Im kind of on the outskirts, Joshua said apologetically. We keep growing and growing, and theres not much room in the towns center. I thought town was an optimistic term but didnt say so. Yeah. I was definitely a snob. But the caves keep going, so theres still space.Are they natural? I asked.Some are. Some are abandoned mining caves.Its pretty out here, I said. I liked all the deciduous trees. I might be homesick for Montana, but the wide leaves here were a sporty contrast to falle needles. And hey, at least you get lots of privacy, right?True. He smiled. I figured youd think it was I dont know. Too rustic. Or savage. You probably think we all are.His observation startled me. Most of the Keepers had been so fiercely defensive of their way of life that I hadnt thought anyone would even think an outsider would question itor that any Keeper would care if we did.Its just di fferent, I said diplomatically. A lot different from what Im used to. I felt a flash of homesickness for all the people and places I was now cut off from. Lissa. Adrian. Our other friends. Court. St. Vladimirs. I shook the opinion off quickly. I had no time to mope and could at least check on Lissa later.Ive been to human towns, continued Joshua. And other places the cloud live. I can see why youd like them. He turned a bit sheepish. I wouldnt mind electricity.Why dont you guys use it?We would if we could. Were just too far out, and no one really knows were here anyway. The lily-people say its better for hiding us.It hadnt occurred to me that they simply endured these conditions because they were forced to in order to conceal themselves. I wondered how many of their choices came from clinging to the so-called old ways and how much was influenced by the Alchemists. present we are, said Joshua, curl uping me from my musings.He gestured to a dark hole at ground level. The opening was big enough for an adult to enter.Nice, I said. Id detect earlier that some of the caves were set higher into the mountains and had watched their residents either climb the agitate bare-handed or use homemade ladders. An easy-access doorway seemed luxurious. Joshua looked surprised at my praise. in truth? in reality.Wed ended up losing too much daylight. He paused to light a torch, and then I followed him inside. We had to duck a little at first, but as we went deeper into the cave, the ceiling slowly expanded and opened up into a wide, rounded space. The floor was hard-packed dirt, the stone walls rough and jagged. This was a natural cave, but I could pick out the efforts made to civilize it. The floor had been cleaned and leveled, and I saw some stones and rocks in a corner that looked like theyd been gathered up to clear space. A couple pieces of furniture had already been moved in a narrow wooden c pilus and a mattress that looked like it could that hold one person.You pro bably think its small, said Joshua.It was original, but it was actually bigger than my dorm room at St. Vladimirs. Well yeah, but I mean, how old are you?Eighteen.Same as me, I said. This seemed to make him pretty happy. Having your own, um, cave at eighteen is pretty cool. It would have been armored combat vehicle still with electricity, Internet, and plumbing, but there was no need to bring that up.His low eyes practically shone. I couldnt assistance but notice what a pretty contrast they made against his tanned skin. I dismissed the thought immediately. I wasnt here for a boyfriend. But apparently, I was the only one who believed that. Joshua suddenly took a step forward.You can stay if you want, he said. The other Tainted would never find you here. We could get married, and then when we had kids, we could build a loft like my parents andThe word married had me moving toward the entrance as shocked and panicked as I would be by a Strigoi bam. Except, I usually had fair warn ing before those.Whoa, whoa, slow down. No. I hadnt seen a proposal coming. We just metThankfully, he didnt come closer. I know, but sometimes thats how it is.What, marriages between people who hardly know each other? I asked incredulously.Sure. Happens all the time. And seriously, just in this short of time, I already know I like you. Youre amazing. Youre beautiful and obviously a good fighter. And the way you carry yourself He shook his head, awe on his face. Ive never seen anything like it.I wished he wasnt so cute and nice. Having offensive guys profess their adoration was a lot easier to deal with than one you liked. I remembered Sydney saying I was a hot commodity here. Scorching was more like it, apparently.Joshua, I really like you, but, I added hastily, seeing hope fill his features, Im too young to get married.He frowned. Didnt you say you were eighteen?Okay. Age was probably not a good argument around here. Id seen how young people had kids back in Dimitris home-town. In a place like this, they probably had child marriages. I assay another angle.I dont even know if I want to get married. This didnt faze him. He nodded in understanding. Thats smart. We could live together first, see how we get along. His serious preparation turned back into a smile. But Im pretty easygoing. Id let you win every argument.I couldnt help it. I laughed. Well, then, Im going to have to win this one and tell you Im just not ready for any of it. Besides, Im already convolute with someone.Dimitri?No. Another guy. Hes back at the Tainted Court. I couldnt even believe I was saying that.Joshua frowned. Why isnt he here protecting you then?Because thats not how he is. And I can take care of myself. Id never liked the assumption that I needed rescuing. And look, even if he wasnt in the picture, Im leaving soon anyway. It would never work out between you and me.I understand. Joshua looked disappointed but seemed to be taking the rejection okay. perhaps when youve got ever ything sorted out, youll come back.I started to tell him not to wait for me and that he should just marry someone else (despite how ridiculous it was at his age), but then I realized that was a pointless comment. In Joshuas fantasies, he could probably marry someone else now and then add me on to his serail later, like Sarah and Paulette. So, I just simply said, Maybe. Groping for a change in subject, I searched for anything to distract us. My eyes fell on the chair and a leafy pattern carved into it. Thats really neat.Thanks, he said, locomote over. To my relief, he didnt pursue the earlier topic. He ran his hand lovingly over the ornately carved wood. The design looked like braided leaves. I did it myself.Really? I asked in true surprise. That thats amazing.If you like it His hand moved, and I feared there was a kiss or embrace coming. Instead, he reached into his shirt easy lay and produced a finely carved wooden bracelet. It was a simple, sinuous design, the true marvel bei ng how narrow and delicate it was to all be one piece. The wood had been polished to brilliance. Here. He handed me the bracelet.This is for me? I ran my finger along the smooth edge.If you want it. I made it while you were out today. So youll remember me after you leave.I hesitated, wondering if accepting this would be promote him. No, I decided. Id made my views on teenage marriage clear, and anyway, he looked so nervous, I couldnt stand the thought of hurting his feelings. I slipped it onto my wrist.Of course Ill remember. Thank you.From the happy look on his face, taking the bracelet made up for my earlier refusal. He showed me a fewer more details around the cave and then followed my suggestion to join the others at the fire. We could hear the melody echoing through the trees long before we made it back, and while it was hardly my style, there was something warm and friendly about this communitys way of life. Id never been to spend camp, but I imagined this was what itd be like.Sydney and Dimitri sat near the groups edge. They were quiet and watchful, but everyone else sang, clapped, and talked. Again, I was stunned at how easily dhampirs, humans, and Moroi could all be involved with one another. Mixed couples were everywhere, and onea human and Moroiwere openly do out. Every so often, when he kissed her neck, hed also bite and take some blood. I had to glance away.I turned back toward my friends. Sydney noticed me and looked relieved. Dimitris expression was unreadable. Like always, the others eyes followed my movement, and to my surprise, I saw open jealousy on some of the guys faces. I hoped they didnt think Joshua and I had been off getting peeled in the cave. That was hardly the reputation I wanted to leave behind.I have to talk to Sydney, I told him over the noise. I decided itd be best to keep my distance before any rumors started, and truthfully, Sydney looked like she wanted me by her side. Joshua nodded, and I turned away. Id taken two ste ps when a fist suddenly came right toward my face.Id had no defenses up and just barely had the presence of mind to turn my head and catch the blow on my cheek, rather than end up with a broken nose. After the initial surprise, all my training kicked in. I quickly sidestepped out of the line of attack and put my form into a fighters stance. The music and singing stopped, and I turned to face my attacker.Angeline.She stood in a way similar to my own, fists clenched and eyes completely honed in on me. Okay, she said. Its time to find out how unsentimental you really are.What it was time for was someonesay, like, a parentto come and take out her off and punish her for punching guests. Amazingly, no one moved or tried to stop her. Nothat wasnt quite true. One person stood up. Dimitri had sprung to action the instant he saw me in danger. I expected him to come pull Angeline away, but a group of Keepers hastily moved to his side, saying something to him that I couldnt hear. They didnt try to physically restrain him, but whatever they said, it kept him where he stood. I would have demanded to know what theyd told him, but Angeline was coming at me again. It looked like I was on my own.Angeline was short, even for a dhampir, but her whole body was packed with strength. She was pretty fast too, though not fast enough to get that second hit in on me. I neatly dodged it and kept my distance, not wanting to go on the offensive with this girl. She could probably do a fair amount of damage in a fight, but there was a sloppy no, more like roughedge to it. She was a scrapper, someone whod done a lot of brawling but without any formal training.Are you insane? I exclaimed, moving out of the way of another assault. Stop this. I dont want to hurt you.Sure, she said. Thats what you want everyone to think, right? If you dont actually have to fight, then theyll all go on believing those marks are real.They are real The insinuation that Id faked my tattoos sparked my temper, but I refused to get drawn into this ridiculous scuffle.Prove it, she said, coming at me again. Prove youre who you say you are.It was like a dance, keeping away from her. I could have done it all night, and a few dismayed cries from the campaign demanded we get on with it.I dont have to prove anything, I told her.Its a lie then. Her breathing was heavy now. She was working a lot harder than me. Everything you Tainted do is a lie. Not true, I said. Why was Dimitri letting this go on? Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of him, and so help me, he was smiling.Meanwhile, Angeline was still continuing her tirade as she tried to hit me. You all lie. Youre all weak. Especially your royals. Theyre the worst of all.You dont know them at all. You dont know anything about them.She might be able to carry on a conversation, but I could see her growing increasingly frustrated. If not for the incident I was pretty sure shed hit me in the back, I would have taken the noble approach and simply walked away. I know enough, she said. I know theyre selfish and spoiled and dont do anything for themselves. They dont care about anyone else. Theyre all the same.I actually agreed with Angeline about some royals but didnt like the generalization. Dont talk about things you dont understand, I snapped. Theyre not all like that.They are, she said, delightful to see me angry. I wish they were all dead.It was hardly enough to touch on me into offense mode, but the comment did cloud my thoughts enough that I let her get through my guard, just a little. I never would have let that happen with a Strigoi, but Id underestimated this wild girl. Her leg snaked out just enough to hit my knee, and it was like tossing a spark into gasoline. Everything exploded.With that hit, I stumbled slightly, and she pushed her advantage. My battle instincts took over, and I had no choice but to strike back before she could hit me. People began cheering now that the fight was really going. I was on offense, trying to subdue her, meaning the physical contact had jumped up exponentially. I was still better than her, no doubt, but in trying to get to her, I put myself in her range. She landed a few blows on me, nothing serious, before I was able to take her to the ground. I expected that to be the end, but she pushed back against me before I could fully restrain her. We rolled over, and she tried to take the dominant position. I couldnt allow that and managed a punch on the side of her face that was a lot harder than the earlier one.I thought that would be the end of the fight. My hit had knocked her off me, and I started to stand, but then that little bitch grabbed my hair and jerked me back down. I twisted out of her holdthough Im pretty sure she took some hair away with herand this time managed to fully pin her, throwing all my weight and strength into it as I pressed down. I knew it had to be painful but didnt really care. Shed started it. Besides, this skirmish had gone beyond defe nse. Pulling someones hair was just playing dirty.Angeline made a few more attempts to break away, but when it became clear she couldnt, those around us began go and cheering. A few moments later, that dark and furious look vanished from Angelines face, replaced by resignation. I eyed her warily, not about to let down my guard.Fine, she said. I guess its okay. Go ahead.Huh? Whats okay? I demanded.Its okay if you marry my brother.