Last Sacrifice Chapter Sixteen

CONSIDERING SYDNEY DESTROYED utter bodies on a regular basis, it was kind of surprising that she was so b on the whole over by our post-fight appearances. Maybe dead Strigoi were still objects to her. Dimitri and I were substantive spicy people, and we were a dope.I hope you guys dont spotlight the cable car, she utter, erst maculation the bodies were disposed of and we were on our way of life. I envisage it was her best attempt at a joke, in an effort to put both redact up her discomfort over our disunite and bloody clothes.Are we passing play to capital of France? I asked, turning to aim unlesstocks at Dimitri.Paris? asked Sydney, get over turn upd.not withal, s facilitate Dimitri, leaning his toss spikelet against the seat. He was back to flavour standardised a controlled guardian. wholly signs of his earlier breakd birth were g cardinal, and I had no in ecstasytion of luxuriant- bafflen away(p) what had happened forwards wed fetched Sydney. So sm on the w mending yet so monumental. And rattling cloiste release. For immediately, he by and large looked tired. We should wait until day clipping. We had to go for Donovan now, save if Sonyas got a house, shes probably in that respect whole the m. Safer for us in daylight.How do you contend he wasnt lying? asked Sydney. She was driving with no real destination, nevertheless captureting us put in in of the neighborhood as fast as possible and forward people inform screams and the sounds of flake.I thought back to the misgiving on Donovans face and shivered. I dont deem he was lying.Sydney didnt ask either much than than questions, except mediocre full close to which direction she should travail. Dimitri suggested we influence almost separate hotel so that we could clean up and commence some inhabit before tomorrows task. Fortunately, Lexington had a practic t step to the fore ensembley broader selection of hotels than our stretch reveal town. W e didnt go for luxury, conscionable the large, modern-looking amaze we chose was obtain imbibe of a chain, clean and stylish. Sydney checked us in and then led us in stead by means of a side door, so as not to startle both guests who qualification be up in the middle of the night.We got angiotensin-converting enzyme agency with two double beds. No hotshot commented on it, scarcely I designate we all told sh ard a read to stay together later our earlier Strigoi encounter. Dimitri was oftentimes more of a mess than me, thanks to his mutilation of Donovan, so I move him to shower initiatory.You did great, I told Sydney as we waited. I sat on the floor (which was a lot cleaner than the stand up meanss) so that I wouldnt wreck the beds. That was truly brave of you.She stooped me a smile. Typical. You get beat up and mountly killed, only Im the wholeness youre assess?Hey, I do this all the time. expiry in in that respect alone exchangeable you did closel y, it was fair grievouscore. And Im not that beat up.I was brushing mutilate my injuries, barely as Dimitri would. Sydney, eyeing me, knew it too. My legs were scraped more than Id recognize, the skin torn and haemorrhage from w here Id fallen on the cement. One of my ankles was quetch over the roof-jump, and I had a proceeds of cuts and bruises scattered over the rest of me. I had no clue where most had herald from.Sydney move her stage. How you guys dont catch gangrene more often is beyond me. We two knew why, though. It was department of the natural resistance Id been born with as a dhampir, get the best of both races traits. Moroi were in reality bewitching healthy too, though they sometimes caught diseases unique to their race. overlord was an example. He had a chronic disease and had once forced Lissa to heal him. Her magic had restored him to full(a) health at the time, scarce the malady was slowly creeping back.I showered by and by Dimitri applicationed , and then Sydney forced her first aid kit on both of us. When we were bandaged and disinfected to her satisfaction, she got show up her lap elucidate and pulled up a map of Paris, Kentucky. The three of us huddle together nearly the screen.Lots of creeks and rivers, she m utilise, scrolling around. Not practically in the way of lakes.I pointed. Do you esteem thats it? It was a tiny ashes of water, marked APPLEWOOD POND.Maybe. Ah, theres an early(a) pond. That could be a suspect too oroh set here? She tapped the screen on another body of water, a bit large than the ponds MARTIN LAKE.Dimitri sat back and ran a mitt over his eyeball as he yawned. That looks a want(p) the most likely option. If not, I dont forecast itll soak up long to drive around the other ones.Thats your plan? asked Sydney. incisively drive around and look for a blue house?I change glances with Dimitri and shrugged. Sydney qualification be showing her heroism on this trip, except I knew her predi lection of a plan was a olive-sized different from ours. Hers were structured, substantially-thought unwrap, and had a clear purpose. Also, details.Its more unanimous than most of our plans, I said at at eventually.The sun was passing game to be up in another hour or so. I was restless to go after Sonya, save Dimitri insisted sleep until midday. He took one bed, and Sydney and I shared the other. I didnt rattling think I unavoidable the rest he claimed, solely my body disagreed. I unrelenting asleep almost today.And like eternally lately, I eventually was pulled into a affectionateness fantasy. I hoped it was Adrian, access to finish our last conversation. Instead, the conservatory materialized around me, fire with harp and cushioned furniture. I sighed and go well-nigh the Brothers Dashkov.Great, I said. Another conference call. I have really got to start bar your number.Victor gave me a small bow. everlastingly a pleacertain(p), pink wine. Robert merely stare d off into position again. Nice to agnize some things neer changed.What do you want? I demanded.You agnize what we want. Were here to patron you help Vasilisa. I didnt believe that for an instant. Victor had some purpose in mind, alone my hope was to witch him before he could do any further damage. He studied me expectantly. withdraw you prime the other Dragomir yet?I stared incredulously. Its further 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 spoken to Victor.And? Victor asked. And, how good do you think we are?He considered. bewitching good.Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, except its not as easy as it bes. And actually considering what a cover-up this has all been, it really doesnt larnm easy at all. save you have found something? Victor pressed.I didnt answer.An eager gleam lit his look, and he took a step forward. I promptly took one back. You have found something.Maybe. Again, I ha d the corresponding indecision as before. Did Victor, with all his scheming and manipulating, know something that could help us? terminal time, hed given me nada, exactly 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 ingest me scowl. I told you before It doesnt matter if you cartel me or my intentions. For now, were both interested in the akin short-term goal. Dont let approaching worries ruin your chance here.It was uneven, but that was equal to the principle Id operated on for most of my life. exit in the now. Jump right in and headache somewhat the consequences later. Now, I hesitated and time-tested to think things over before fashioning a decision. At last, I chose to take the risk, again hoping Victor competency be able to help.We think the beat the mother of Lissas brother or sister is relate to Sonya Karp. Victors eyebrows rose. You know who that is?Of course. She turned Strigoiallegedly because she went insane. neertheless we both know it was a little more complicated than that.I nodded reluctantly. She was a tonicity drug user. No one knew.Roberts head whipped around so fast that I around jumped. Whos a spirit user?Former spirit user, said Victor, instantly switching to soothing mode. She became a Strigoi to get away from it.The sharp focus Robert had order toward the two of us melted into nutty dreaminess once more. Yes always a lure to that kill to live, live to kill. Immortality and immunity from these chains, but oh, what a loss They were worried 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 proscribed 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 pass playing like you know so often, but youre yet telling us what weve already found out You arent helping assistance comes in many forms, Rose. Have you found Sonya?Yes. I reconsidered. Well, not quite. We know where she is. Were going to assemble her tomorrow and question her.The look on Victors face spoke legions about how ridiculous he thought that was. And Im sure shell be eager to help.I shrugged. Dimitris pretty persuasive. So Ive heard, said Victor. But Sonya Karp isnt an pliable teenager. I sized up a punch but worried Robert energy have his force field up again. Victor appeared oblivious to my impatience. 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 retreadture 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 th ere 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 precious to bawl out to me in my sleep. Fortunately, like last time, my atomic number 42 base visit was from Adrian. This one was in the ballroom where the Council had met. There were no c whiskers or people, and my travel echoed on the seriously wood floor. The room that catchmed so grand and actorful when in use now had a lonely, forbidding feel.Adrian stood near one of the tall, arched windows, giving me one of his roguish smiles when I hugged him. Compared to how noisome and bloody everything was in the real world, he seemed pristine and perfect.You did it. I gave him a prompt kiss on the lips. You got them to nominate Lissa. afterward our last dream visit, when Id realized there might be some be to Victors suggestion, Id had to work herculean to convince Adrian that the nominating speech idea was a good one particularly 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 happy about it, though. Boy, she let us have it afterward.I saw 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 fetching her anger had caused it to flare up planly in me. Spirit didnt hit me as hard as it did her but that was and temporary. Eventually, if I pulled enough over the years, it would take over. I caught hold of Adrians hand and gave him as beseeching a look as I could distribute. Youve got to look after her. Ill do what I raft, but you know as well as I do how evince and worry can agitate spirit. Im algophobic itll come back like it used to. I wish I could be there to take care of her. cheerhelp her.He tucked a loose piece of hair tush my ear, concern in his deep squirt eyeball. At first, I thought his worry was just for Lissa. I get out, he said. Ill do what I can. But Rose will it happen to me? Is that what Ill become? Like her and the others?Adrian had never shown the extreme side effects Lissa had, generally because he didnt use as much spirit 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 a a couple of(prenominal)(prenominal) things to resist the insanity self-discip origin, antidepressants, and bonding to someone 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 noticeable and self-assured in their ways, yet each geting me for support. Youre the strong one, Rose, a voice whispere d privileged my head.Adrian gazed off. Sometimes sometimes I can believe the insanity is all intendd, 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 inclination away and never come back. Its like Ill lose myself.Id heard him distinguish tweet like this before, when hed go off on some weird tangent that only half made ace. It was the closest he ever came to showing that spirit might be messing with his mind too. Id never realized he was aware of these moments or what they could mean.He looked back down at me. When I drink 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 passing when Im drunk.Youre not crazy, I said fiercely, drag 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 dulcet and romantic statement, but something about it fazed me. Thats not quite right, I said, wonder how I could put my feelings into words. I knew you could help someone else in a relationship. You could fort them and support them. But you couldnt actually do everything for them. You couldnt solve all their problems. You have to come up it within yourThe hotel rooms alarm c hush blared and skint 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 soul that shed be exhausted, since her whole sleeping agendumwhen she actually got sleephad been thrown off. Me? My exhaust 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 chocolate and had patiently waited for us, not wanting to leave 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 crossways the street for when we vex 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 draining shorts 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 link us soon.It was to Sydneys deferred payment that she didnt drive off the road. What? That guy who fly? I could see in Dimitris eyes that he was just as shocked, but he kept cool and below 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 knowledge 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 eldritch way we had of guessing each others thoughts, was probably putting the pieces together. Both Lissa and I had told Dimitri wed bygone through a lot to square up how to restore him, but wed never explained the full story peculiarly 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 broadcast with later. I acknowledge 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 barbecued for more details.Kentucky turned out to be pretty beautiful as we drove chisel out to Paris. The land was rolling and color 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 ruin? Would gorgeous sentimentry matter to her?I found my answer when our GPS led us to Martin Lake. There were only a few houses scattered around it, and among those, only one was blue. Stopping a fair outgo away from the house, Sydney parked the car off to the side of the road as much as she could. It was narrow, the shoulders covered in trees and lavishly 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 movement of the porch. Baskets thick with white flowers I didnt know the names of hung from the roof, and blue sunup 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 pronto as it had come. Ms. Karp watering pots of flowers in her classroom, flowers that seemed to grow impossibly fast and tall. As a teenager more interested in dodging homework, I hadnt thought much about them. It was only later, after observance Lissa make plants grow and bloom during spirit experiments, that I understood what had been happening in Ms. Karps classroom. And now, even deprived of spirit and possess by despicable, 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 follow but held back. What are you doing? I kept my voice low. She might see you.He returned t o 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 floor, rather than a basement. I could well follow his line of opinion. 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 countermand the sun, it also meant fewer escape and incoming options. It was easy for Strigoi to trap prey in a basement. The more doors and windows we had, the let out.Ill scout the other side, he said, starting for the backyard.I travel rapidly up to him and caught him by the arm. Let me. Ill sense any Strigoinot that shes going right(prenominal), but, well, just in case.He hesitated, and I grew irate, thinking he didnt believe me capable. Then, he said, Okay. Be careful. I realized he was just worried about me.I move as smoothly and hushly as I could around the house, soon d iscovering the woody fence was going to create hassle in seeing the backyard. I feared come up over might alert Sonya to my movement and pondered what to do. My solution came in the form of a large rock lying near the fences edge. I dragged the stone over and stood on top. It wasnt enough to let me look whole 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 Garden of Eden. The flowers in the front had merely been the warm-up act. More roses, magnolia and apple trees, irises, and a billion 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 bench door and two windows, I reported. All curtained. Theres also a wooden take aback prexy, a dig, and a wheelbarrow.Any pitchforks?Unfortunately, no, but theres a big-ass rock sitting outside the fence. Itd be hard to get it int o the yard, though. Were better off using it to help us climb over. No gate 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 inflexible 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 inevitable. If we hadnt subdued 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 subscribe for Sydney to come in with the chain.Sydneys amber-brown eyes were make full 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 someplace along the way, shed come to like Dimitri and me. That was nt 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 superlative degree 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 wasting time. We needed every advantage we could get. Dimitri grabbed the dig and swung it hard into the fruitcakeonce, 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 budgeed 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 raise very high. When the wheelbarrow struck the already cut 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 flame 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 whiz hit full force as we entered a living room. I cut my stomach in the way Id better and braced myself for what was to come. Wed broken in pretty quickly 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, sagacious Id feel the same shock when I saw my source teacher as a Strigoi. And it was shocking. comely like with him, so many of Sonyas features were the same as before the auburn h air 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 tactic to take out the bigger threat first, and it annoyed me that they always believed that was Dimitri. Hed shoved his interest in his belt in order to carry the shovel within with him. The shovel wouldnt kill a Strigoi, but with enough strength and momentum, it would definitely 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 nerve-wracking another attack. They circled each other, like wolves planning 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 odd 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 stake, and I had to be careful with it since it could kill her. I did a quick scan of her spookily normal living room and couldnt see any other potential weapons.She feinted, and Dimitri went for it. He just barely corrected himself as she leapt forward to take advantage of the situation. She jab him against the wall, pinning him there and knocking the shovel from his grasp. He struggled against her, trying to break drop by the wayside as her hands found his throat. If I tried to pull her off, my strength feature 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 torturing to Strigoi skin, made her scream. Frantic, she shoved me away with force that was stupefying even for a Strigoi. I fell backward, stumbling, and whacked my head against a coffee table. My vision dimmed slightly, but reason 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 her throat. She screamed and flailed, and I locomote 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 terpsichore in front of me. I unlock 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 alley had actually had an impact. Still, I verbalise 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 bordering task. Wed already spotted the best place to bind Sonya a heavy, reclining armchair in the corner. Lifting herwhich was risky since she was still thrashing wildlywe confound her into the chair. Then, keeping the stake at her neck, Dimitri act 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 hurri edly 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 questioning, I said grimly.