Friday, May 17, 2019

Spirit Bound Chapter Twenty-Four

THE reality GRINNED. YOU MAKE that sound uniform a bad thing.I made a scene and get a li conduct rearward up into the techno-bag with new appreciation. Whats way out on?Im the messenger. I equitable string errands for Mr. Mazur.Is that a nice way of verbalise you spy for him? Find come on every singles dirty secrets so that he peck use them against throng and hang on playing his plot of lands? Abe swallow the appearance _or_ semblanceed to k direct everything nigh every adeptespeci consentaneousy royal politics. How else could he manage it with divulge having eye and ears everywhere? Say, at Court? For all I knew, he had my room wired with microph iodins.Spyings a harsh word. I nib the guy didnt deny it. Besides, he pays well. And hes a good boss. He turned from me, job done, hardly gave one conk warning. Like I verbalizeits sequence sensitive. Read the none as soon as you can.I had half a mind to throw it at the guy. I was pro unyieldingting used to the nous of beingness Abes daughter, exclusively that didnt say of I expected to get tied up in both(prenominal) wacky scheme of his. A bag of hardware seemed foreboding.Nonetheless(prenominal), I hauled it back to my suite and emptied the contents onto my bed. in that respect were a few sheets of paper, the top one being a typed c over letter.Rose,I foretaste shade was able to get this to you in a timely manner. And I hope you werent too mean to him. Im doing this on behalf of nighone who essentials to speak to you closely an urgent study. However, its a conversation that no one else must hear. The laptop com fixer and sa checkite modem in this bag will spare you to exact a private discussion, so pertinacious as youre in a private location. Ive included step-by-step instructions on how to configure it. Your showdown will take place at 7 a.m. on that point was no name at the bottom, entirely I didnt need one. I set the letter down and stared at the jumble of stack s. Seven was less than an hour away.Oh, come on, elder man, I exclaimed.To Abes credit, the accompanying papers did put one across very basic directions that didnt withdraw a computer engineers insight. The precisely problem was, there were a weed of them, detailing where each cord went, what password to log in with, how to configure the modem, and so on. For a moment I considered ignoring it all. Yet when close toone alike(p) Abe used the word urgent, it made me think peradventure I shouldnt be so headlong in my dismissal.So, bracing myself for some technical acrobatics, I set to following his instructions. It took almost the entire time I had, save I managed to hook up the modem and camera and access the secure program that would allow me to video-conference with Abes mysterious contact. I finished with a few minutes to spare and waited the time out by staring at a black window in the middle of the screen, wondering what Id gotten myself into.At but seven, the window c ame to life, and a fami prevaricatorbut unexpected mettle appeared.Sydney? I takeed in surprise.The video had that resembling, nearly jerky feel most Internet feeds had, but nonetheless, the face of my (kind of) friend Sydney Sage make a faced back at me. Hers was a dry-hu more thand smile, but that was typical of her.Good morning time, she utter, stifling a yawn. From the state of her chin-length blond hair, it was likely shed righteous gotten out of bed. heretofore in the poor resolution, the golden lily tattoo on her cheek gleamed. All Alchemists had that alike tattoo. It consisted of ink and Moroi blood, imparting Moroi good health and longevity to the wearer. It also had a bit of compulsion entangled in to keep the Alchemists secret society from revealing anything they shouldnt about vampires.Evening, I verbalise. Not morning.We can lay out your messed-up unholy schedule some other time, she said. Thats not what Im here for.What are you here for? I asked, silent astonished to see her. The Alchemists did their jobs almost reluctantly, and while Sydney liked me seemter than most Moroi or dhampirs, she wasnt the type to take a shit friendly phone (or video) calls. Wait you cant be in Russia. Not if its morning I tried to think about the time change. Yes, for humans over there, the sun would be down or about to be even up now.Im back in my native country, she said with mock grandeur. Got a new post in immature Orleans.Whoa, nice. Sydney had hated being assigned to Russia, but my impression had been she was stuck there until finishing her Alchemist internship. Howd you manage that?Her small smile turned to an expression of discomfort. Oh, well. Abe, um, kind of did me a favor. He made it happen.You made a deal with him? Sydney must have really hated Russia. And Abes influence must have really been deep if he could mask a human organization. What did you fall through with(predicate) him in return? Your soul? Making a joke like that to som eone as religious as her wasnt very appropriate. Of course, I think she persuasion Moroi and dhampirs ate souls, so maybe my comment wasnt too out there.Thats the thing, she said. It was kind of an Ill let you know when I need a favor in the future arrangement.Sucker, I said.Hey, she snapped. I dont have to be doing this. Im actually doing you a favor by lectureing to you.why are you talking to me exactly? I cherished to question her more about her open-ended deal with the d ugly but figured that would get me disconnected.She sighed and brushed some hair out of her face. I need to ask you something. And I swear I wont tell on you I just need to know the truth so that we dont waste our time on something.Okay Please dont ask me about Victor, I prayed.Have you broken into any place lately?Damn. I kept my face perfectly neutral. What do you mean?The Alchemists had some records stolen recently, she explained. She was all business-serious now. And everyones going crazy attempt to fig ure out who did itand why.Mentally, I breathed a sigh of relief. Okay. It wasnt about Tarasov. Thank God there was one criminal offense I wasnt guilty of. Then the full meaning of her words hit me. I glared.Wait. You guys get robbed, and Im the one you suspect? I thought I was off your inclination of wrong creatures?No dhampir is off my list of evil creatures, she said. That half smile of hers had returned, but I couldnt tell if she was joking or not. It faded quickly, showing what a big deal this was for her. And believe me, if anyone could break into our records, you could. Its not smooth. Practically impossible.Um, thank you? I wasnt sure enough if I should feel flattered or not.Of course, she continue scornfully, they only stole paper records, which was stupid. Everythings backed up digitally nowadays, so Im not sure why theyd go digging through dinosaur filing cabinets.I could give her a lot of reasons why someone would do that, but rise uping out why I was her number-on e suspect was more important. That is stupid. So why do you think Id do it?Because of what was stolen. It was breeding about a Moroi named Eric Dragomir.Iwhat?Thats your friend, right? His daughter, I mean.Yeah I was almost speechless. Almost. You have files on Moroi?We have files on everything, she said proudly. But when I tried to think who could commit a crime like this and would be interested in a Dragomir well, your name popped into my head.I didnt do it. I do a lot of things, but not that. I didnt even know you had those kinds of records.Sydney regarded me suspiciously.Its the truthLike I said before, she told me, I wont turn you in. Seriously. I just command to know so that I can get people to stop wasting time on certain leads. Her smugness sobered. And, well, if you did do it I need to keep the maintenance off you. I promised Abe.Whatever it takes for you to believe me, I didnt do it But now I want to know who did. What did they steal? Everything on him?She bit her lip. Owing Abe a favor might mean shed go behind her own peoples backs, but she apparently had limits on how ofttimes shed betray.Come on If youve got digital backup, you have to know what was taken. This is Lissa were talking about. An idea came to me. Could you send me copies?No, she said swiftly. Absolutely not.Then please just a hint of what they were about Lissas my best friend. I cant let anything happen to her.I fully braced myself for rejection. Sydney didnt seem very personable. Did she have friends? Could she understand what I felt?Mostly bio stuff, she said at last. Some of his narration and observations wed made.Observ I let it go, deciding I really didnt want to know more than I had to about Alchemists spying on us. Anything else?Financial records. She frowned. Particularly about some large deposits he made to a bank account in Las Vegas. Deposits he went out of his way to cover up.Las Vegas? I was just there. Not that it was relevant.I know, she said. I byword some Witch ing Hour security tapes of your adventure. The fact that youd run off like that is part of why I suspected you. It seemed in character. She hesitated. The guy with you the tall Moroi with sombre hair is that your boyfriend?Er, yeah.It took a long time and great effort for her to concede the next statement. Hes cute.For an evil creature of the night?Of course. She hesitated again. Is it true you guys went there to elope?What? No These stories get to you guys too? I shake my head, almost laughing at how ridiculous this all was, but knowing I needed to get back to the facts. So, Eric had an account in Vegas he was moving money into?It wasnt his. It was some womans.What woman?No onewell, no one we can track. She was just down as Jane Doe.Original, I muttered. Why would he be doing that?That we dont know. Or really care about. We just want to know who broke in and stole our stuff.The only thing I know about that is that it wasnt me. Seeing her scrutinizing compute, I threw up my hands. Come on If I treasured to know about him, Id just ask Lissa. Or steal our own records.Several moments of quiet down passed.Okay. I believe you, she said.Really?Do you want me to not believe you?No, it was just easier than I thought convincing you.She sighed.I want to know more about these records, I said fiercely. I want to know who Jane Doe is. If you could get me other filesSydney shook her head. Nope. This is where I cut you off. You know too much(prenominal) already. Abe wanted me to keep you out of trouble, and Ive done that. Ive done my part.I dont think Abes going to let you go so easily. Not if you made an open-ended deal.She didnt acknowledge that, but the look in her brown look made me think she agreed. Good night, Rose. Morning. Whatever.Wait, IThe screen went black.Damn, I growled, shutting the laptop more forcefully than I should have. Every part of that conversation had been a shock, scratch line with Sydney and ending with someone stealing Alchemist records abou t Lissas father. Why would anyone care about a dead man? And why steal the records at all? To learn something? Or to try to efface information? If that last one was true, then Sydney was right that it had been a failed effort.I replayed it all in my head as I got ready for bed, staring at my denunciation while brushing my teeth. Why, why, why? Why do it? And who? I needed no more capture in my life, but anything involving Lissa had to be treated seriously. Unfortunately, it soon became clear I wouldnt figure out anything tonight, and I fell asleep with all those questions spinning around in my head.I woke up the next morning feeling a little less overwhelmedbut still short on answers. I debated whether or not to tell Lissa about what Id learned and finally decided I should. If someone was gathering information on her father, she had a right to know, and besides, this was hardly the same as rumors about hisA thought floor me in the middle of scrubbing shampoo into my hair. Id bee n too tired and surprised to string together the pieces last night. That guy at the Witching Hour had said Lissas protactinium was there a lot. Now Sydneys records describe that hed made large deposits into an account in Las Vegas. Coincidence? Maybe. But as time went on, I was starting not to believe in coincidences anymore.Once presentable, I set out toward Lissas side of Courtbut didnt get very far. Adrian was waiting for me down in my buildings foyer, slumped back into an armchair.Its early for you, isnt it? I teased, coming to a stop in front of him.I expected a smile in return, but Adrian didnt look particularly cheerful this morning. In fact, he appeared kind of bedraggled. His hair lacked its usual styling care, and his clothingunusually fancy for this time of daywas wrinkled. The scent of c sexual love cigarettes hung around him.Easy to be early when you dont get much sleep, he responded. I was up a lot of the night waiting for someone.Waiting foroh. God. The party. Id t otally disregarded the party his mother had invited me to. Abe and Sydney had distracted me. Adrian, Im so sorry.He shrugged and didnt touch me when I sat down on the arm of his chair. Whatever. I probably shouldnt be surprised anymore. Im starting to realize Ive been deluding myself.No, no. I was going to go, but then you wont believe whatSave it. Please. His representative was weary, his eyes bloodshot. Its not necessary. My mom told me she saw you over at Dimitris questioning.I frowned. But thats not why I missed the party. There was this guyThats not the point, Rose. The point is that you managed to make time for thatand a visit to his cell, if what I heard is true. Yet, you couldnt bother showing up at something you said youd do with meor even send a message. That was all you had to do regulate you couldnt go. I waited over an hour for you at my parents house before giving up.I started to say he could have tried to contact me, but honestly, why should he have? It wasnt his r esponsibility. I was the one whod told Daniella Id reckon him there. It was my fault for not showing up.Adrian, Im sorry. I clasped his hand, but he didnt squeeze back. Really, I meant to, butNo, he interrupted again. Ever since Dimitri came back no, scratch that. Ever since you became obsessed with changing him, youve been torn over me. No matter whats happened between us, youve never really given yourself over to our relationship. I wanted to believe what you told me. I thought you were ready but you werent.Protests rose to my lips, but once more, I stopped them. He was right. Id said Id give dating him a fair shot. Id even sunk into the comfortable role of his girlfriend, yet the whole time the whole time, part of me had been consumed with Dimitri. Id known it too but had kept living split lives. A weird flashback to my time with Mason popped into my head. Id led the same double life with him, and hed died for it. I was a mess. I didnt know my own heart.Im sorry, I said again. I really do want us to have something. Even to me, the words sounded so lame. Adrian gave me a knowing smile.I dont believe that. Neither do you. He stood up and ran his hand over his hair, not that it did any good. If you really want to be with me, then youve got to mean it this time.I hated seeing him so grim. I especially hated being the reason. I followed him to the door. Adrian, wait. Lets talk more.Not now, little dhampir. I need some sleep. I just cant handle playing this game right now.I could have gone after him. I could have tackled him to the ground. But it wouldnt have been deserving it because I had no answers to give him. Hed been right about everything, and until I could make up my own heterogeneous mind, I had no right to force a talk. Besides, considering the state he was in, I doubted any moreover conversation would have been productive.Yet as he started to step outside, I couldnt help my next words. forwards you goand I understand why you have totheres somethin g Ive got to ask you. Something thats not about us. It affectsit affects Lissa.This slowly brought him to a halt. Always a favor. With a world-weary sigh, he glanced at me over his shoulder. Make it fast.Someone broke into the Alchemists records and stole information about Lissas dad. Some of it was ordinary life history stuff, but there were some documents about him making secret deposits into a bank account in Las Vegas. Some womans bank account.Adrian waited a few moments. And?And Im trying to figure out why someone would do that. I dont want anyone snooping around her family. Do you have any idea what her dad would have been doing?You heard the guy at the casino. Her dad was there a lot. Maybe he had gambling debts and was paying off a loan shark.Lissas familys everlastingly had money, I pointed out. He couldnt have gotten into that much debt. And why would anyone care enough to steal that info?Adrian threw up his hands. I dont know. Thats all Ive got, at least this early in th e morning. I dont have the brain male monarch for intrigue. I cant really picture any of that being a threat to Lissa, though.I nodded, disappointed. Okay. Thanks.He continued on his way, and I watched him go. Lissa lived near him, but I didnt want him to think I was following him. When hed put enough distance between us, I stepped outdoors as well and started to head in the same direction. The faint sound of bells brought me to a halt. I hesitated, suddenly unsure where to go.I wanted to talk to Lissa and tell her what Sydney had told me. Lissa was alone for a change this was the perfect opportunity. And yet the bells. It was Sunday morning. Mass was about to start at the Courts church. I had a lie with about something, and in spite of everything that had happenedincluding with AdrianI had to see if I was right.So I sprinted off toward the church, going in the opposite direction of Lissas building. The doors were shut when I reached my destination, but a few other latecomers wer e trying to quietly slip in. I entered with them, pausing to get my bearings. Clouds of incense hung in the air, and my eyes took a moment to adjust from sunlight to candlelight. Since this church dwarfed St. Vladimirs chapel, it was packed with a lot more people than I was used to seeing at mass. Most of the seats were full.But not all of them.My hunch had been right. Dimitri sat in one of the back pews. A few guardians sat near him, of course, but that was it. Even in a crowded church, no one else had joined him on the bench. Reece had asked Dimitri if hed step inside the church yesterday, and Dimitri had gone one step further, axiom hed even go to Sunday services.The priest had already begun to speak, so I moved down Dimitris pew as quietly as I could. Silence didnt matter, though, because I still attracted a fair amount of charge from nearby people who were astonished to see me academic session next to the Strigoi-turned-dhampir. Eyes stared and several hushed conversations b roke out.The guardians had left some space near Dimitri, and when I sat beside him, the look on his face showed he was both surprised and not surprised by this.Dont, he said in a hushed voice. Dont startnot in here.Wouldnt dream of it, comrade, I murmured back. Just came for the good of my soul, thats all.He didnt need to say a word to convey to me that he doubted I was here for any holy reasons. I stayed quiet throughout the service, though. Even I respected some boundaries. After several minutes, the tension in Dimitris body eased a little. Hed grown wary when I joined him but must have eventually decided Id be on good behavior. His concern shifted off of me and focused on the singing and the praying, and I did my best to watch him without being obvious.Dimitri used to go to the schools chapel because it brought him peace. He had always said that even though the killing he did destroyed evil in the world, he still felt the need to come think about his life and seek forgiveness f or his sins. Seeing him now, I realized that was truer than ever.His expression was exquisite. I was so used to seeing him hide emotions that it was a bit startling for him to suddenly have a host of them on his face. He was indifferent in the priests words, his gorgeous face completely focused. And I realized he was taking everything the priest was aspect about sin personally. Dimitri was replaying all the awful things hed done as a Strigoi. From the despair on his face, youd think that Dimitri himself was responsible for all the sins of the world the priest spoke of.For a moment, I thought I saw hope on Dimitris face too, just a spark of it mixed in with his guilt and sorrow. No, I realized. Not hope. Hope implies that you think you have a chance at something. What I saw in Dimitri was longing. Wistfulness. Dimitri wished that by being here in this holy place and listening to the messages conveyed, he might find redemption for what he had done. Yet at the same time, it was clear he didnt believe that was possible. He wanted it but could never have it as far as he was concerned.Seeing that in him impairment me. I didnt know how to react to that kind of bleak attitude. He thought there was no hope for him. Me? I couldnt imagine a world without hope.I also never would have imagined Id quote back a church lesson, but when the rest of the crowd stood up to take communion, I found myself saying to Dimitri Dont you think that if God can supposedly forgive you, its kind of egotistical for you not to forgive yourself?How long have you been waiting to use that line on me? he asked.Actually, it just came to me. Pretty good, huh? I bet you thought I wasnt paying attention.You werent. You never do. You were watching me.Interesting. To know that I was watching him, would Dimitri have had to have watched me watching him? It boggled the mind. You didnt answer my question.He kept his eyes on the communion line while penning his answer. Its irrelevant. I dont have to forg ive myself even if God does. And Im not sure He would.That priest just said God would. He said God forgives everything. Are you calling the priest a liar? Thats pretty sacrilegious.Dimitri groaned. I never thought Id take joy in tormenting him, but the frustrated look on his face wasnt because of his personal grief. It was because of me being impertinent. Id seen this expression a hundred times on him, and the familiarity of it change me, as crazy as that sounds.Rose, youre the one being sacrilegious. Youre twisting these peoples faith for your own purposes. Youve never believed in any of this. You still dont.I believe that the dead can come back to life, I said seriously. The proof is sitting right next to me. If thats true, then I think you forgiving yourself isnt that much more of a leap.His gaze hardened, and if he was praying for anything right then, it was that the communion process would speed up so that he could get out of here and away from me. We both knew he had to wait this church service out. If he ran out, it would make him look Strigoi.You dont know what youre talking about, he said.Dont I? I hissed, leaning closer. I did it to ingest home my point, but all it did (for me, at least) was give me a burst view of the way the candlelight shone on his hair and how long and lean his body was. Someone had apparently decided he could be trusted to shave, and his face was smooth, showing its wonderful, perfect lines.I know exactly what Im talking about, I continued, trying to issue how his presence affected me. I know that youve been through a lot. I know that you did prankish thingsI saw them. But its in the past. It was beyond your control. Its not like youre going to do it again.A distant, haunted look crossed his face. How do you know? Maybe the monster didnt leave. Maybe theres still something Strigoi lurking in me.Then you need to defeat it by moving on with your life And not just through your chivalrous pledge to protect Lissa. You need to l ive again. You need to open yourself up to people who love you. No Strigoi would do that. Thats how youll save yourself.I cant have people engaging me, he growled. Im incapable of loving anyone in return.Maybe you should try instead of just feeling sorry for yourselfIts not that easy.Da I just barely stopped myself from swearing in a church. Nothing weve ever done has been easy Our life beforebefore the attack wasnt easy, and we made it through that We can make it through this too. We can make it through anything together. It doesnt matter if you put your faith in this place. I dont care. What matters is that you put your faith in us.There is no us. Ive already told you that.And you know Im not a very good listener.We were keeping our voices low, but I think our body language clearly indicated an argument. The other churchgoers were too distracted to notice, but Dimitris guardians were regarding us carefully. Again, I reminded myself about what Lissa and Mikhail had both said. Gett ing Dimitri angry in public was not going to do him any favors. The problem was, I had yet to say anything that didnt make him angry.I wish you hadnt come here, he said at last. Its really better for us to stay apart.Thats funny because I could have give tongue to you once said we were meant to be together.I want you to stay away from me, he said, ignoring my comment. I dont want you to keep trying to bring back feelings that are gone. Thats the past. None of thats going to happen again. Not ever. Its better for us if we act like strangers. Its better for you.The loving, compassionate feelings he had stirred within me heated upto fury. If youre going to tell me what I can or cant do, I growled in as low a tone as I could manage, then at least have the courage to say it to my faceHe spun around so quickly that he might have indeed still been Strigoi. His face was filled with what? Not that earlier depression. Not rage either, though there was a bit of anger. There was more, though a mingling of desperation, frustration, and maybe even fear. Underscoring all of it was pain, like he suffered from terrible, exquisite agony.I dont want you here, he said, eyes blazing. The words hurt, but something about it all thrilled me, just as his earlier agitation at my flippant comments had. This wasnt the cold and calculating Strigoi. This wasnt the defeated man in the cell. This was my old instructor, my lover, who attacked everything in life with intensity and passion. How many times do I have to tell you that? You need to stay away from me.But you arent going to hurt me. I know that.Ive already hurt you. Why cant you understand that? How many times do I have to say it?You told me you told me before you left that you love me. My voice trembled. How can you let that go?Because its too late And its easier than being reminded of what I did to you His control snapped, his voice echoing through the back of the church. The priest and those still taking communion didnt notice, b ut wed definitely gotten the attention of those in the back half of the church. A few of the guardians stiffened, and again, I had to repeat the warning to myself. No matter how furious I was at Dimitri, no matter how betrayed I felt that hed turned away from me I could not risk others thinking he was dangerous. Dimitri hardly looked like he was going to snap someones neck, but he was clearly upset, and one might confuse his frustration and pain for something more sinister.I turned from him, trying to calm my churning emotions. When I looked back, our eyes locked, power and electricity burning between us. Dimitri could ignore it all he wanted, but that connectionthat deep calling of our soulswas still in there. I wanted to touch him, not just with this brushing of my leg but with everything. I wanted to wrap him in my arms and hold him against me, reassuring him that we could do anything together. Without even realizing it, I reached toward him, needing that touch. He sprang up like I was a snake, and all of his guardians shot forward, braced for what he might do.But he did nothing. Nothing take out stare at me with a look that made my blood run cold. Like I was something strange and bad. Rose. Please stop. Please stay away. He was working hard to stay calm.I shot up, now as angry and frustrated as him. I had a feeling if I stayed, wed both snap. In an undertone, I murmured, This isnt over. I wont give up on you.Ive given up on you, he said back, voice also soft. Love fades. Mine has.I stared at him in disbelief. All this time, hed never phrased it like that. His protests had always been about some greater good, about the remorse he felt over being a monster or how it had scarred him from love. Ive given up on you. Love fades. Mine has.I backed up, the sting of those words hitting me as hard as if hed slapped me. Something shifted in his features, like maybe he knew how much hed hurt me. I didnt stick around to see. Instead, I pushed my way out of the gangpla nk and ran out the doors in the back, afraid that if I stayed any longer, everyone in the church would see me cry.

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