'Blood Promise Chapter Fifteen\r'

'Abe glanced oer at unriva guide of his protectors and gave a swift nod. The man at present walked a vogue. â€Å"Its make,” Abe verbalise.\r\nâ€Å"Just bid that?” I shooted in disbelief.\r\nHis lips quirked into a grinning. â€Å"Rolan k at a times who I am. He k presentlys who works for me. Once Pavel makes my… ah, wishes kn admit, that testament be the end of it.”\r\nI shivered, knowing Abe stave the truth. Con side of meatring what a smartass Id been to Abe this whole time, it undecomposedfully was a ask I hadnt had my feet set in cement and been tossed into the ocean. â€Å"So why arent you forcefully force me fall out(a) of present?”\r\nâ€Å"I neer like to make anyone do any thing they dont pauperism to. stock-still Rolan. Its practically easier if mess apparently grab reason and do what I ask them to, without the use of force.”\r\nâ€Å"And by ?®see reason, you mean, ?®blackmail,” I asseverate , in single outection of what Id just agreed to.\r\nâ€Å"We do a trade,” he said. â€Å"Thats both. Dont for undertake your end of the bargain. You carteld to leave hither, and you dont seem like the type to go spinal column on your intelligence operation.”\r\nâ€Å"I dont.”\r\nâ€Å" flush!”\r\nViktoria suddenly appeared at the door. Wow, that was fast. Pavel was calmly dragging her by her arm. Her hair was mussed, and a dress rebuke was slipping from her shoulder. Her face was a mixture of incredulity and anger. â€Å"What did you do? That guy came and told Rolan to get out of here(predicate) and never see me again! And thusly… Rolan agreed. He just go forth.”\r\nI be it slightly unusual that Viktoria immediately blamed me for this. True, I was responsible, save Abe was stand up right thither. It wasnt a secret who his employees were. no.etheless(prenominal), I defended my actions.\r\nâ€Å"He was using you,” I said. \r\nThere were tears in Viktorias brown eyeball. â€Å"He loves me.”\r\nâ€Å"If he loves you, consequently why did he hit on me as in brief as your back was turn?”\r\nâ€Å"He did not!”\r\nâ€Å"Hes the one who got Sonya pregnant.”\r\nEven in the alleys dim lighting, I dictum her face pale. â€Å"Thats a lie.”\r\nI threw up my transfer. â€Å" wherefore would I make that up? He cute to make plans with me as briefly as you were out of town!”\r\nâ€Å"If he did,” she said, voice shaking, â€Å"it was because you light-emitting diode him on.”\r\nI gaped. Beside me, Abe listened quietly, a smug search on his face. He was so self-satisfied and probably impression he was being proven right. I cherished to punch him, provided if Viktoria was my concern.\r\nâ€Å"How can you consider that? Im your fighter!” I told her.\r\nâ€Å"If you were my friend, you wouldnt be acting like this. You wouldnt cause to stand i n my expression. You act like you love my br different, hardly theres no way you could incur-no way you in reality understand love!”\r\nDidnt understand love? Was she barmy? If she alin concert knew what Id sacrificed for Dimitri, what Id done to be where I was now… all for love. She was the one who couldnt understand. Love wasnt a pass in a back room at a break collide withy. It was nearthing you beard and died for. My emotions surged, that meritlessness welling up within me that do me trust to lash out in beget for her horrible accusation. It was yet by means of the strongest of efforts that I remembered she was already termsing, that she only said the things she did because she was confused and upset.\r\nâ€Å"Viktoria, I do understand, and Im sorry. Im only doing this because youre my friend. I care al around you.”\r\nâ€Å"You arent my friend,” she hissed. â€Å"You arent bureau of this family. You dont understand anything nigh us or how we live! I wish youd never hap here.” She turned and stormed aside, pushing back inside through the presbyopic line of partygoers. My heart ached as I watched her.\r\nI turned to Abe. â€Å"Shes divergence to go try to experience him.”\r\nHe console wore that damnably knowing expression. â€Å"It wont matter. Hell fork up nothing to do with her any more than. non if he set that pretty face of his.” I was maladjusted for Viktoria yet kind of had a feeling Abe was right approximately Rolan. Rolan would no longer be an issue. As for Viktorias nigh guy… well, that was a worry for an early(a) day.\r\nâ€Å"Fine. knightly were done here. Do not follow me anymore,” I growled.\r\nâ€Å"Keep your promise to leave Baia, and I wont have to.”\r\nI narrowed my eyes. â€Å"I told you: I ever keep my promises.”\r\nAnd as I hurried back to the Belikov stick out, I suddenly wondered if that was true. The blowout with Abe and Viktoria was like glacial body of water on my face. What was I doing here? To a certain extent, Abe had been right… I had been deluding myself, sham Dimitris family was my own in order to soothe my tribulation over him. But they werent. This wasnt home. The Academy wasnt my home either, not anymore. The only thing I had left was my promise-my promise to Dimitri. The promise Id several(prenominal)how upset sight of since sexual climax here.\r\n close of the Belikov family was in bed when I got home, exactly other(a)s were slake in the living room. I slipped upstairs to my room, postponement anxiously for Viktoria to get home. A half mammary glandent later, I heard footsteps on the stairs and the blend in of her door closing. I knocked gently on it.\r\nâ€Å"Viktoria,” I said in a loud whisper. â€Å"Its me. beguile talk to me.”\r\nâ€Å"No!” came the response. â€Å"I dont ever expect to talk to you again.”\r\nâ€Å"Viktoria-â €Å"\r\nâ€Å"Go remote!”\r\nâ€Å"Im just worried about you.”\r\nâ€Å"You arent my brother! You arent make up my sister. You have no place here!”\r\nOuch. Her voice was muffled by the door, but I didnt want to risk a fight in the hall and let the others hear. passing to my room, my heart breaking, I stopped and s similarlyd in expect of the mirror. It was then that I knew she was right. Even Abe was right. Baia wasnt my place.\r\nIn a flash, my meager belongings were packed, but I hesitated out preceding going good dealstairs. Viktorias closed door stared at me, and I had to fight the urge to knock again. If I did, it would only trigger another fight. Or, possibly even worse, she would for suffer me-and then I would want to tab forever, lost in the comfort of Dimitris family and their simple life.\r\nTaking a deep breath, I headed downstairs and walked out the front door. I wanted to tell the others goodbye but worried the same thing would happen, that Id look at their faces and change my mind. I needed to go, I realized. I was angry at both Viktoria and Abe. Their words had hurt me, but thered been truth in them. This wasnt my world. I had other things to do with my life. And I had a lot of promises to keep.\r\nWhen I was about eight blocks away, I slowed down, not because I was tired but because I wasnt authoritative where I was going. Leaving that house had been the biggest step. I sank down on the curb in front of a neighbors silent, evil yard. I wanted to cry without knowing why. I wanted my old life back. I wanted Dimitri and Lissa. Oh, God, I wanted them.\r\nBut Dimitri was gone, and the only way Id see him was if I truly set out to buck him. And as for Lissa… she was more or less gone to me too. Even if I survived this, I didnt reckon she could for overtake me. Sitting there, feeling lost and alone, I tried reaching out to her one more time. I knew it was foolish, considering what Id seen before, but I had to try one more time. I had to know if I truly could have my old place back there. I slipped inside her mind instantly, my draw outaway emotions making the musical passage easy. She was on a private jet.\r\nIf Jill had been stunned by meeting St. Vladimirs A-list students, going on a trip up with them made her downright comatose. She stared at everything wide-eyed and precisely said a word during the whole escape cock to the\r\nRoyal Court\r\n. When Avery byered her a glass of bubbly, Jill could but stammer out, â€Å"N-no thanks.” After that, the others seemed to forget about her and got carried away by their own colloquy. Lissa noticed Jills inquietude but didnt do much to remedy it. That was a shock. The Lissa I had known would have gone out of her way to make Jill comfortable and be included. Fortunately, the younkerer miss seemed perfectly entertained by watching the others antics.\r\nI also took comfort in knowing Jill would be authorise once she met up wi th Mia. Lissa had sent word ahead to Mia to come pick up Jill when they landed, comprehend as Lissa and the others had to attend to one of Tatianas functions right away. Mia had said shed take Jill under her wing for the weekend and leaven her some of the innovative things shed learned to do with her water magic. Lissa was glad for this, happy she wouldnt be babysitting a freshman all weekend.\r\nEven if Jill was totally off of Lissas radar, one person wasnt: Averys brother reed. Their father had unyielding it would be a good idea for beating-reed instrument to go with them, and seeing as Mr.-excuse me-Headmaster lazar had contend a key role in working(a) with Tatiana to arrange this trip, there was little argument. Avery had rolled her eyes and spoken to Lissa about it covertly, just before boarding.\r\nâ€Å"Were all riding your re couchation,” Avery said. â€Å"Part of the reason Dad let me come was because youre in good with the sprite, and he wants it to scrat ch off on me. Hes then hoping Ill get in good with her, and then thatll rub off on Reed-and the rest of the family.”\r\nLissa tried not to over hazard the logic too much. most(prenominal)ly, she was daunted because Reed Lazar was still as unpleasant as hed been the initiatory day they met. He wasnt really mean or anything; it just made her ill at ease(predicate) being around him. Really, he was the polar opposite of Avery. Whereas she was animated and could incessantly strike up conversation, he stayed wet-lipped and spoke only when spoken to. Lissa couldnt really tell if it was shyness or disdain.\r\nWhen Lissa had tried asking him if he was excited to go to Court, Reed had simply shrugged. â€Å"W loathever. I dont care.” His tone had been approximately hostile, like he resented her for asking, so shed given up all other attempts at conversation. The only person, other than his sister, that Lissa saw Reed ever handle to was Averys guardian Simon. He had also come along.\r\nWhen the flight landed, Mia was as good as her word. She waved enthusiastically when Lissa stepped off the plane, her nordic curls whipping around in the wind. Lissa grinned back, and they gave each other quick half-hugs, something that never failed to amuse me given their causation enemy status.\r\nLissa made introductions for those who needed them as an engagement of guardians led them away from the landing strip and toward the inside(a) portion of Court. Mia welcomed Jill so warmly that the younger girls uneasiness played out, and excitement glowed in her green eyes. Smiling fondly, Mia glanced away from Jill and over to Lissa.\r\nâ€Å"Wheres Rose?”\r\nSilence fell, followed by uncomfortable glances.\r\nâ€Å"What?” demanded Mia. â€Å"What did I say?”\r\nâ€Å"Rose is gone,” said Lissa. â€Å" inconsolable… I purpose you knew. She dropped out and left by and by(prenominal) the attack because there were some things… some face-to-face things… she needed to take care of.”\r\nLissa feared Mia would ask about the personal things. Only a a few(prenominal) people knew about my search for Dimitri, and Lissa wanted to keep it that way.\r\nMost theme Id just disappeared from post-battle trauma. Mias next question on the whole shocked Lissa.\r\nâ€Å"Why didnt you go with her?”\r\nâ€Å"What?” Lissa stammered. â€Å"Why would I do that? Rose dropped out. No way am I going to.”\r\nâ€Å"Yeah, I suppose.” Mia turned speculative. â€Å"You guys are just so close-even without the bond. I assumed youd follow each other to the ends of the earth and figure out the details later.” Mias own life had gone through so much upheaval that she took that kind of thing in stride.\r\nThat weird, fluctuating anger Id been feeling wipe out up in Lissa every so much suddenly reared its head and turned on Mia. â€Å"Yeah, well, if we were so close, then it seems like she wouldnt have left in the first place. Shes the selfish one, not me.”\r\nThe words wet me and clearly shocked Mia. Mia had a temper of her own, but she sat on it and simply held up her hands in an apologetic way.\r\nShe really had changed. â€Å"Sorry. Wasnt trying to indict you of anything.”\r\nLissa said nothing else. Since my departure, shed beat herself up about a lot of things. Shed gone over and over things she could have done for me before or after the attack, things that exponent have made me stay. But it had never occurred to her to go with me, and the revelation hit her like a smack to the face. Mias words made her feel wicked and angry all at the same time-and she wasnt sure who she was the maddest at: me or herself.\r\nâ€Å"I know what youre echoing,” said Adrian a few minutes later, once Mia had led Jill away and promised to meet up later.\r\nâ€Å"What, you read minds now?” asked Lissa.\r\nâ€Å"Dont have to. Its written all over your f ace. And Rose never would have let you go with her, so stop agonizing over it.”\r\nThey entered the royal knob housing, which was just as lush and opulent as it had been when Id stayed there. â€Å"You dont know that. I could have talked her into it.”\r\n â€Å"No,” said Adrian crisply. â€Å"You couldnt have. Im serious-dont give yourself one more thing to be depress about.”\r\nâ€Å"Hey, who said Im depressed? Like I said, she ramshackle me.”\r\nAdrian was surprised. Since my departure, Lissa had been more sad than anything. Shed occasionally been angry at my decision, but neither Adrian nor I had seen such hysteria from her. Dark feelings boiled within her heart.\r\nâ€Å"I thought you understood,” said Adrian, with a small, puzzled frown. â€Å"I thought you said youd-â€Å"\r\nAvery suddenly interrupted, giving Adrian a sharp look. â€Å"Hey, hey. Leave her alone, okay? Well see you at the reception.”\r\nThey were at a pi nnacle where the groups had to split, girls going to one part of the lodging and guys to the other. Adrian looked like he wanted to say more, but instead he n unexpendeded and headed off with Reed and a couple of guardians. Avery put a risque arm around Lissa as she glared at Adrians retreating figure.\r\nâ€Å"You okay?” Averys normally laughing face was filled with concern. It floor Lissa in the same way Adrians mamaents of seriousness unceasingly pop upled me.\r\nâ€Å"I guess. I dont know.”\r\nâ€Å"Dont beat yourself up over what you could have or should have done. The past is gone. Move on to the future.”\r\nLissas heart was still heavy, her whim blacker than it had been in quite a while. She managed a tight smile. â€Å"I telephone thats the wisest thing youve ever said.”\r\nâ€Å"I know! Can you believe it? Do you think itll impress Adrian?”\r\nThey dissolved into laughter, yet despite her well-to-do exterior, Lissa was still struck by Mias offhand comments. They plagued Lissa in a way she hadnt thought possible. What really bothered her the most wasnt the thought that if shed come with me, she could have unplowed me out of trouble.\r\nNo. Her biggest issue was that she hadnt thought of coming with me in the first place. I was her best friend. As far as she was concerned, that should have been her immediate reply to my departure. It hadnt been, and now Lissa was racked with even more immorality than usual. The guilt feelings was all-consuming, and she would occasionally transform it to anger to ease the pain. It didnt back up much.\r\nHer mood didnt improve as the evening progressed, either. Not long after the groups arrival, the pansy hosted a small reception for the most elite of all visitors who had come to the Court. Lissa was quickly discovering that the queen always seemed to be hosting some party or another. At one point in her life, Lissa would have considered that fun. She no longer did, at least not when it came to these kinds of parties.\r\nBut keeping her dark feelings locked up, Lissa stayed good at playing the role of subtle royal girl. The queen seemed happy that Lissa had a â€Å" able” royal friend and was equally pleased when Lissa impress other royals and dignitaries she was introduced to. At one point, though, Lissas resolve nearly faltered.\r\nâ€Å"Before you leave,” said Tatiana, â€Å"we should see about your guardians.”\r\nShe and Lissa stood together with a group of admirers and hangers-on who were keeping respectful distances. Lissa had been gaze vacantly at the bubbles in her untouched champagne and looked up with a start.\r\nâ€Å"Guardians, your majesty?”\r\nâ€Å"Well, theres no mild way to put this, but now, for better or for worse, youre without any protection.” The queen paused respectfully. â€Å"Belikov was a good man.”\r\nMy score naturally didnt come to her lips. I might as well have never existed. Shed never like me, particularly since she thought I was going to run off with Adrian. As it was, Lissa had noticed Tatiana watching with some consideration while Avery and Adrian flirted. It was hard to say if the queen disapproved. Her partying aside, Avery seemed a model girl-save that Tatiana had wanted Lissa and Adrian to eventually get together.\r\nâ€Å"I dont need any protection right now,” said Lissa politely, her heart clenching.\r\nâ€Å"No, but youll be out of school soon enough. We think weve found some excellent candidates for you. One of thems a woman-a lucky find.”\r\nâ€Å"Janine Hathaway offered to be my guardian,” said Lissa suddenly. I hadnt known that, but as she spoke, I read the story in her mind. My mom had approached her not long after I left. I was a little shocked. My mom was very true to her current assignment. This would have been a big escape for her.\r\nâ€Å"Janine Hathaway?” Tatianas eyebrows rose nearly to her hairline . â€Å"Im sure she has other commitments. No, weve got much better plectrums. This young ladys only a few years older than you.”\r\nA better choice than Janine Hathaway? Not likely. Before Dimitri, my mother had been the gold metre by which I measured all badassedness.\r\nTatianas â€Å"young lady” was undoubtedly someone under the queens control-and more importantly, not a Hathaway. The queen didnt like my mom any more than she liked me. Once, when Tatiana had been bitching me out for something, shed made a reference to a man my mother had been involved with-someone whom I suspected might be my father, a guy named Ibrahim. The funny thing was, the queen had almost sounded like she had once had an interest in the guy too, and I had to wonder if that was part of her disapproval for my family.\r\nLissa put on a tight, polite smile for the queen and thanked her for the consideration. Lissa and I both understood what was going on. This was Tatianas game. Everyone was p art of her plan, and there was no way to go against her. For a brief moment, Lissa had that strange thought again, of something master key Dashkov had once said to her. Aside from his crazy cleansing and kidnapping schemes, Victor had also wanted to start a revolution among the Moroi. He thought the authority distribution was off-something Lissa occasionally believed too-and that it was wielded unfairly by those with too much control. The moment was gone almost as soon as it came. Victor Dashkov was a crazy villain whose ideas deserved no acknowledgment.\r\nThen, as soon as courtesy allowed, Lissa excused herself from the queen and headed crosswise the room, feeling like she was going to explode with grief and anger. She nearly ran into Avery as she did.\r\nâ€Å"God,” said Avery. â€Å"Do you think Reed could embarrass me any more? devil people have tried to make conversation with him, and he keeps scaring them off. He actually just told redbreast Badica to shut up. I mean, yeah, she was going on and on, but still. That is not cool.” Averys dramatic look of exasperation faded as she took in Lissas face. â€Å"Hey, whats wrong?”\r\nLissa glanced at Tatiana and then turned back to Avery, taking comfort in her friends blue-gray eyes. â€Å"I need to get out of here.” Lissa took a deep, calming breath. â€Å"Remember all that good ingurgitate you said you knew about? When is that going to happen?”\r\nAvery smiled. â€Å"As soon as you want.”\r\nI returned to myself, sitting there on the curb. My emotions were still going crazy, and my eyes were fighting off tears. My earlier doubts were confirmed: Lissa didnt need me anymore… and yet, I still had that feeling that there was something odd going on that I couldnt quite put a finger on. I supposed her guilt over Mias comment or spirit side effects could be affecting her, but still… she wasnt the same Lissa.\r\nFootsteps on the pavement made me look up. Of all the people who might have found me, I would have expected Abe or maybe Viktoria. But it wasnt.\r\nIt was Yeva.\r\nThe old woman stood there, a shawl cloaked over her narrow shoulders, and her sharp, cunning eyes flavor down at me disapprovingly. I sighed.\r\nâ€Å"What happened? Did a house fall on your sister?” I asked. possibly there was a benefit to our language barrier. She pursed her lips.\r\nâ€Å"You cant stay here any longer,” she said.\r\nMy mouth dropped open.\r\nâ€Å"You… you speak side?”\r\nShe snorted. â€Å"Of course.”\r\nI shot up. â€Å"All this time youve been pretending not to? Youve been making Paul play interpretive program?”\r\nâ€Å"Its easier,” she said simply. â€Å"You avoid a lot of pique conversation when you dont speak the language. And Ive found that Americans make the most annoying conversation of all.”\r\nI was still aghast. â€Å"You dont even know me! But from the first day, youve been giving me hell. Why? Why do you hate me?”\r\nâ€Å"I dont hate you. But I am queer.”\r\nâ€Å"Disappointed? How?”\r\nâ€Å"I ideate you would come.”\r\nâ€Å"I heard that. You dream a lot?”\r\nâ€Å"sometimes,” she said. The moonlight glinted in her eyes, enhancing her otherworldly appearance. A chill ran down my spine. â€Å"Sometimes my dreams are true. Sometimes not. I dreamed Dimka was dead, but I didnt want to believe it, not until I had proof. You were my proof.”\r\nâ€Å"And thats why you were disappointed?”\r\nYeva drew the shawl more tightly around her. â€Å"No. In my dreams, you shone. You burned like a star, and I saw you as a warrior, someone who could do great deeds. Instead? Youve sat around and moped. Youve done nothing. You havent done what you came to do.”\r\nI studied her, wondering if she really knew what she was talking about. â€Å"And what is that exactly?”\r\nâ€Å"You know what it is. I dreamed that, too.”\r\nI waited for more. When it didnt come, I laughed. â€Å"Nice vague answer. Youre as bad as any scam fortune-teller.”\r\nEven in the darkness, I could see the anger waken in her eyes. â€Å"Youve come to search for Dimka. To try to sweep away him. You must find him.”\r\nâ€Å"What do you mean ?®try?” I didnt want to believe her, didnt want to believe she might actually know my future. Nonetheless, I found myself get hooked in. â€Å"Have you seen what happens? Do I bulge out him?”\r\nâ€Å"I cant see everything.”\r\nâ€Å"Oh. Fantastic.”\r\nâ€Å"I only saw that you must find him.”\r\nâ€Å"But thats all youve got? I already knew that!”\r\nâ€Å"Its what I saw.”\r\nI groaned. â€Å"Damn it, I dont have time for these cryptic clues. If you cant help me, then dont say anything.”\r\nShe stayed quiet.\r\nI slung my bag over my shoulder. â€Å"Fine. Im leaving then.” And like that, I knew where I would go. â€Å"Tell the others… well, tell them thank you for everything. And that Im sorry.”\r\nâ€Å"Youre doing the right thing,” she said. â€Å"This isnt where you should be.”\r\nâ€Å"So Ive heard,” I muttered, walking away.\r\nI wondered if shed say anything else: chastise me, curse me, give me more mysterious words of â€Å"wisdom.” But she stayed silent, and I didnt look back.\r\nI had no home, not here and not in America. The only thing left for me was to do what Id come to do. I had told Abe I kept my promises. I would.\r\nId leave Baia like I told him. And Id kill Dimitri, as Id promised myself I would.\r\nI knew where to go now. The quotation had never left my mind: 83 Kasakova. I didnt know where it was, but once I reached the towns center, I found a guy walking down the street who gave me directions. The address was close by, only about a mile, and I headed out at a brisk pace.\r\nWhen I reached the hou se, I was glad to see that the lights were still on. Even as pissed off and raging as I was, I didnt want to wake anyone up.\r\nI also didnt want to speak to Nikolai and was relieved when Denis opened the door.\r\nHis expression was all bewilderment when he saw me. Despite his bold words back at the church earlier, I dont think hed really believed Id join him and the other unpromised ones. He was speechless, so I did the talking.\r\nâ€Å"I changed my mind. Im coming with you.” I took a deep breath, bracing myself for what came next. Id promised Abe Id leave Baia-but I hadnt promised to return to the U.S. â€Å"Take me to Novosibirsk.”\r\n'