Last Sacrifice Chapter Twenty

YOU SHOULD SLEEP. Sydneys soft voice nearly made me leap taboo of my skin, proving that notwith stand up man in Lissas mind, I could still stay alert. I tuned foul to Sonyas dark accompaniment room. Aside from Sydney, ein truth function was quiet and at peace.You sapidity resembling the walking dead, she continued. And I dont say that lightly.Ive got to stay on watch, I project tongue to.Ill watch. You sleep.Youre not trained equal me, I pointed kayoed. You might miss something.Even I wouldnt miss Strigoi beating down the door, she replied. Look, I watch along you guys ar tough. You dont pee to convince me. save I attain a feeling things are exhalation to bond harder, and I dont want you passing pop at some crucial moment. If you sleep now, you can relieve Dimitri later.Only the on the wholeude of Dimitri made me give in. We would need to relieve all(prenominal) other eventually. So, reluctantly, I crawled into Sydneys bed on the floor, giving her all sorts of i nstructions that I nonplus back she rolled her eyeball at. I fell asleep almost forthwith and wherefore woke up just as quickly when I hear the sound of a door closing.I immediately sat up regenerate, expecting to absorb Strigoi busting down the door. Instead, I found sunshinelight creeping in through the windows and Sydney watching me with amusement. In the living room, Robert was sitting up on the couch, guide his eyeball. victor was bygone. I saturnine to Sydney in alarm.Hes in the bathroom, she express, anticipating my question.That was the sound Id comprehend. I exhaled in relief and stood up, surprised at how even a a couple of(prenominal) hours of sleep had energized me. If I only had food, Id be ready for anything. Sonya didnt have any, of course, only when I settled for a glass of water in the kitchen. As I stood at that place drinking, I noticed that the Dashkov brothers had made themselves at stead coats hanging on hooks, car keys on the counter. I qui etly grabbed moderate of the keys and abuseed for Sydney.She came in, and I slipped her the keys, trying not to let them rattle.Do you still bop about cars? I murmured.In one exquisite look, she told me that was a pitiable and insulting question. Okay. taper you go do a grocery process? Were going to need food. And whitethornbe on your way out, you can, um, nock authorized their car has engine trouble or something? Anything that commemorates it here. But not something obvious, homogeneous slashed tires.She put the keys in her pocket. Easy. Got any food requests?I approximation about it. Something with sugar. And c impinge onee for Dimitri.Coffees a given, she verbalize. winner tempoped into the kitchen, his typically unconcerned appearance making me recollect he hadnt heard me instructing Sydney to sabotage his car. Sydneys getting groceries, I utter, hoping to distract him before he might notice the missing keys. indigence anything?A feeder would be nice, unless b arring that, Robert has an especial propensity for Cheerios. The apple cinnamon smorgasbord. He grinningd at Sydney. I never feeling Id go across the daylight an Alchemist would be an errand girl. Its charming.Sydney opened her mouth, no disbelieve to make some biting comment, and I quickly shook my head. Just go, I utter.She went, and master soon re rancid to Roberts side. Convinced the brothers wouldnt be going anywhere in full daylight without a car, I decided it was time to pit on Dimitri. To my surprise, Sonya was awake. She sat cross-legged on the bed with him, and the two stave in hushed tones. Her hair was disheveled from both sleep and fighting, scarce otherwise, she showed no cuts or bruises from the battle. Dimitri had been the same later on(prenominal)wards his trans recoilation, escaping terrible burns. The power of a Strigoi delayoration healed all injuries. Between my skinned legs and pseudo-concussion, I kind of wished individual had transformed me from a Strigoi.Sonya turned from Dimitri as I entered. A sequence of emotions passed across her casing. Fear. Astonishment. Recognition.Rose? There was hesitancy in the word, like she wondered if I was a hallucination.I forced a smile. Its cheeseparing to chink you again. I chose not to add, none that youre not trying to suck the carriage out of me.She averted her eyes down to her hands, studying her fingers like they were magical and wonderful. Of course, after macrocosm a monster, maybe having her old hands back really was wondrous. The day after his change, Dimitri hadnt entermed quite so touchy, entirely hed sure as shooting been in shock. That was as well when hed grown depressed. Was she? Or did she want to turn again, as Victor had suggested?I didnt sleep together what to say. It was all so strange and awkward. Sydney went for groceries, I told Dimitri lamely. She also stayed up so that I could sleep last night.I sleep together, he said with a small smile. I got up once to check on you.I mat up myself flushing, somehow embarrassed that Id been caught in weakness. You can rest too, I told him. Get some breakfast, and then Ill preclude an eye on everything. I have it on good authority that Victors going to have car trouble. Also that Robert really likes Cheerios, so if you want some, youre out of luck. He doesnt seem like the sharing type.Dimitris smile grew. Sonya on the spur of the moment lifted her head.Theres other spirit user here, she said, voice frantic. I can feel it. I remember him. She looked between Dimitri and me. Its not safe. Were not safe. You shouldnt have us around.Everythings fine, said Dimitri, voice so, so gentle. That tone was rare for him, but Id heard it before. Hed use it on me in some of my most desperate moments. Dont worry.Sonya shook her head. No. You dont understand. We were capable of terrible things. To ourselves, to others. Its wherefore I changed, to stop the madness. And it did, except it was worse. In its way. The things I did There it was, the same remorse Dimitri had felt. Half-afraid hed start heralding her t thrillher was no redemption for her either, I said, It wasnt you. You were controlled by something else.She buried her face in her hands. But I chose it. Me. I made it happen.That was spirit, I said. Its hard to fight. interchangeable you said, it can make you do terrible things. You werent thinking clearly. Lissa battles with the same thing all the time.Vasilisa? Sonya lifted her eyes and stared off into space. I think she was turn over through memories. In fact, despite her ramblings now, I didnt believe she was quite as unstable as shed been just before becoming Strigoi. Wed heard healings could change magnitude spirits madness, and I think Roberts transformation had lightened some of the darkness within her for now. Yes, of course. Vasilisa has it too. She turned to me in a panic. Did you suffice her? Did you get her out of there?I did, I said, trying to emulat e Dimitris gentleness. Lissa and I fled St. Vladimirs for a while, lead offly because of warnings from Sonya. We go away-hand(a) and then came back and, uh, were able to stop what was hunting her. I didnt think it was a good supposition for Sonya to know that the thingor rather, soulfulnesshunting Lissa was now sitting out in the living room. I took a step forward. And you can help Lissa too. We need to know ifNo, said Dimitri. No gentleness now in the warning look he gave me. Not yet.ButNot yet.I jab him a spot in return but said no much. I was all for giving Sonya her recuperation time, but we didnt have incessantly. The clock was ticking, and we had to find out what Sonya knew. I felt like Dimitri would have been able to give us this information immediately after hed been changed back. Of course, he hadnt been unstable beforehand, so hed kind of had an edge. Still. We couldnt play house in Kentucky forever.Can I see my flowers? asked Sonya. Can I go outside and see my fl owers?Dimitri and I exchanged glances. Of course, he said.We all locomote toward the door, and thats when I had to ask. Why did you grow flowers when you were like you were?She paused. Ive of all time grown flowers.I know. I remember. They were gorgeous. The ones here are gorgeous too. Is that why I mean, did you just want a pretty garden, even as a Strigoi?The question was unexpected and seemed to throw her off. I was about to give up on an answer when she finally said, No. I never thought about pretty. They were I dont know. Something to do. Id always grown flowers. I had to see if I still could. It was like a test of my skills, I guess.I met Dimitris eyes again. So. Beauty hadnt been part of her world. It was just like Id told him. Strigoi were notoriously arrogant, and it seemed the flowers had barely been a show of prowess. Growing them had also been a familiar raiment for her, and I recalled how Dimitri had read Western novels while Strigoi. Being Strigoi might em dus t someone their sense of goodness and morality, but old behaviors and hobbies remained.We took her out to the living room, interrupting a conversation between Victor and Robert. Sonya and Robert both froze, sizing each other up. Victor gave us one of his knowing smiles.Up and around. claim we found out what we need yet?Dimitri shot him a look similar to what Id received when asking about interrogation. Not yet.Sonya dragged her gaze from Robert and moved quickly toward the patio door, pa utilise when she saw our shoddy patch job. You broke my door, she said. verifying damage, I said. In my periphery, I think Dimitri rolled his eyes.Needing no management from us, Sonya opened the door and stepped outside. With a gasp, she came to a halt and stared upward. The sky was a perfect, cloudless blue, and the sun had crossed the horizon now, illuminating everything in gold. I went outside too, feeling the warmth of that light on my skin. Some of the nights imperturbability lingered, but we were in store for a hot day.Everyone else came out too, but Sonya was oblivious. She lifted her hands upward, as though maybe she could grab fall in of the sun and wrap it in her arms. Its so beautiful. She finally looked external and met my eyes. Isnt it? live with you ever seen anything so beautiful?Beautiful, I reiterated. For some reason, I felt both happy and sad.She walked around her yard, examining every plant and flower. She touched the petals and inhaled their fragrance. So different she kept saying to herself. So different in the sun Several especially caught her attention. These dont open at night Do you see it? Do you see the colors? Can you smell that?The questions didnt seem to be for anyone in particular. We watched, all of us kind of hypnotized. At last, she settled into the patio chair, happily gazing around, lost in sensory overloadin that bang that had been denied to her as a Strigoi. When it became obvious she wasnt leaving for a while, I turned to Dimit ri and repeated Sydneys advice about him taking a turn at quiescence while we waited for Sonya to recover. To my surprise, he in truth agreed.Thats smart. Once Sonyas able to talk, well need to move. He smiled. Sydneys spell into a battle mastermind.Hey, shes not in charge here, I teased. Shes just a soldier.Right. He lightly brushed his fingers against my cheek. Sorry, Captain.General, I corrected, genetic my breath at that brief touch.He gave Sonya a kind good day before disappearing into the house. She nodded, but I dont know if she really heard. Victor and Robert brought out two woody kitchen chairs and set them in the shade. I chose a spot on the ground. Nobody spoke. It wasnt the weirdest thing Id ever experienced, but it was certainly strange.Sydney returned later with the groceries, and I briefly abandoned the group to check in with her. Victors keys were lying back on the counter, which I took as a good sign. Sydney unloaded an assortment of food and handed me a box o f a dozen donuts.Hope thats enough for you, she remarked.I made a face at her presumption but took the donuts anyway. Come on outside when youre done, I told her. Its like the barbecue of the damned. Except theres no grill.She looked puzzled, but when she joined us later, she seemed to get what Id been saying. Robert brought out a bowl of Cheerios, but neither Sydney nor Victor ate. I gave Sonya a donut, the first thing that took her attention from her yard. She held it in her hands, turning it over and over.I dont know if I can. I dont know if I can eat it.Of course you can. I recalled how Dimitri had regarded food uncertainly too. Its chocolate-glazed. unattackable stuff.She took a tentative, rabbit-sized bite. She chewed it a billion times and finally swallowed. She closed her eyes briefly and sighed. Such sweetness. Slowly, she continued taking more tiny bites. It took forever for her to get halfway through the donut, and at that point, she finally stopped. Id polished off thr ee donuts by then, and my impatience to accomplish something was growing. Part of it was still the crabbiness from spirit, and part of it was just my continual restlessness to help Lissa. Sonya, I said pleasantly, fully certified of how pissed off Dimitri was going to be at me defying his instructions. We treasured to talk to you about something.Mm-hmm, she said, gazing at bees hovering around some honeysuckle.Is there a relative of yours someone who, uh, had a muff a while ago ?Sure, she said. One of the bees flew from the honeysuckle to a rose, and she never looked away. Lots.Articulate, Rosemarie, remarked Victor. Very articulate.I bit my lip, knowing an outburst would flabbergast Sonya. And probably Robert too.This would be a secret baby, I told her. And you were the beneficiary on a bank scotch that took care of the baby an account paid for by Eric Dragomir.Sonyas head whipped toward me, and there was no dreamy absentmindedness in her blue eyes now. A hardly a(prenomi nal) seconds passed before she spoke. Her voice was cold and hardnot a Strigoi voice, but definitely a back off voice. No. I dont know anything about that.Shes lying, said Robert.I didnt need any powers to figure that out, scoffed Sydney.I ignored both of them. Sonya, we know you know, and its really important we find this baby er, churl. Person. Wed made guesses on the age but werent 100 percent sure. You said you were worried about Lissa earlier. This will help her. She needs to know. She needs to know she has another family member.Sonya turned her attention back to the bees, but I knew she was no monthlong watching them. I dont know anything. There was a panic in her voice, and something told me that maybe I shouldnt push this after all. I couldnt secure if she was afraid or on the verge of rage.Then why were you on the account? This came from Victor.I dont know anything, she repeated. Her voice could have made icicles form on the ornamental trees. Nothing.Stop lying, snappe d Victor. You know something, and youre going to tell us.Hey I exclaimed. Be quiet. You dont have interrogation rights here.You didnt seem to be doing a very good job.Just keep out up, okay? I looked back at Sonya, replacing my glare with a smile. Please, I begged. Lissas in trouble. This will help her. I thought you said before that you wanted to help her?I promised said Sonya. Her voice was so low, I could barely hear it.Promised what? I asked. Patience, patience. I had to remain calm. I couldnt risk a breakdown.She squeezed her eyes shut and raked her hands through her hair violently, almost like a child about to have a tantrum. Promised not to tell. Promised not to tell anyone I had the urge to run over and shake her. Patience, patience, I repeated to myself. Dont upset her. We wouldnt ask you to break your promise if it wasnt important. Maybe maybe you can get in touch with this person Who had she promised? Erics mistress? And see if its okay to tell us? Oh for Gods sake, s aid Victor irritably. This is ridiculous and getting us nowhere. He glanced at his brother. Robert?Robert hadnt done untold so far today, but at Victors command, Robert leaned forward. Sonya?Still obviously distraught, she turned to look at him and her face went still. check us what we need to know, said Robert. His voice wasnt kind so much as smooth and lulling, with a faintly sinister touch. Tell us who and where this child is. Tell us who the mother is.This time, I did jump to my feet. Robert was using compulsion on her to get the answers. Sonyas eyes stayed locked on him, but her body began to shake. Her lips parted, though no sound came out. A tangle of thoughts swirled in my mind. want would get us what we needed to know, but something told me, it wasnt rightSonya stopped me from any more pondering. She shot up almost as quickly as I had. She was still staring at Robert, but no longer in that transfixed, hypnotized way. Shed broken the compulsion, and now now she was pisse d. The features that had been scared and fragile earlier were filled with fury. I had no magical senses, but after being with Lissa, I knew raging spirit when I saw it. Sonya was a bomb, about to explode.How dare you she hissed. How dare you try to compel me?Plants and vines near Robert suddenly sprang to life, growing to impossible heights. They reached out, tangled themselves around his chairs legs, and pulled. The chair toppled over, Robert along with it. Victor moved to help his brother, but Robert was already taking matters into his own hands. regain remarkably fast, he narrowed his eyes at Sonya, and she went flying backward, slamming against the wooden fence. Air users could do that trick sometimes, but this wasnt air blowing her back. This was spirits telekinetic abilities. He on the face of it possessed them outside of dreams too. Lovely.Id seen spirit users battle it out before, when Avery Lazar and Lissa had gone one on one. That hadnt been pretty, particularly since m ore than this exterior psychic phenomena had occurred. Avery had actually dug into Lissas mindand mine. I didnt know Robert or Sonyas full skill set, but this couldnt end well.Dimitri I yelled, springing toward Sonya. I didnt exactly know what I was going to do, but tackling her seemed like a sound plan. From what Id observed, a push-down list of spirit involved eye contact with the target.And sure enough, when I managed to grappler her to the ground, she struggled half- heartedly but mostly fought to keep her gaze on Robert. He screamed in sudden alarm, looking down at his own body in terror. Sonya was planting visions into his head. His expression hardened. He had to know it was an illusion, and a few moments later, he looked up, having broken her spell like shed broken his earlier compulsion.Dimitri came tearing out the door at that point, just as Robert used his mind to head one of the chairs toward Sonya. Of course, I was on top of her, so the chair hit me in the back. Dimitr i picked up pretty quickly what was going on and ran toward Robert, attempting the same tactic as me. Victor, possibly thinking his brother was in corporeal danger, tried to pry Dimitri away, which was futile. More vines began to reach toward Robert, and I realized limiting Sonya wasnt all that useful. Get him inside I yelled to Dimitri. Get him away from herDimitri had already guessed that and began dragging Robert toward the door. Even with Victor interfering, Dimitris strength was enough to get Robert out of there and back into the house. As soon as her target was gone, all the energy seemed to fade out of Sonya. She made no more efforts to fight me and collapsed to the ground. I was relieved, having feared shed turn on me once Robert was gone. Tentatively, still on guard, I helped Sonya sit up. She leaned against me, weak as a rag doll, and cried into my shoulder. some other breakdown.After that, it was a matter of damage control. In order to keep the spirit users apart, Dimit ri had taken Robert to the bedroom and left Victor with him. Robert seemed as purposeless out as Sonya, and Dimitri deemed the brothers safe enough to leave alone. Sonya collapsed on the couch, and after both Dimitri and I had tried to calm her down, we stepped away while Sydney held the Moroi womans hand.I briefly recapped what had happened. Dimitris face grew more and more incredulous as I did.I told you it wasnt time he exclaimed. What were you thinking? Shes too weakYou call that weak? And hey, I was doing fine It wasnt until Victor and Robert got involved that things went to hell.Dimitri took a step toward me, anger radiating off him. They should never have gotten involved. This is you, acting senseless again, jumping in foolishly with no thought of the consequences.Outrage shot through me in return. Hey, I was trying to make progress here. If being rational is sitting around and doing therapy, then Im happy to jump over the edge. Im not afraid to get in the game.You have no idea what youre saying, he growled. We were stand closer now, hardly any space left between us as we engaged in our battle of wills. This may have set us back.This set us forward. We found out she knows about Eric Dragomir. The problem is she promised not to tell anyone about this baby.Yes, I promised, piped up Sonya. Dimitri and I turned as one, realizing our argument was fully visible and sonic to Sonya and Sydney. I promised. Her voice was very small and weak, pleading with us.Sydney squeezed her hand. We know. Its okay. Its okay to keep promises. I understand.Sonya looked at her gratefully. Thank you. Thank you.But, said Sydney carefully, I heard that you care about Lissa Dragomir.I cant, interrupted Sonya, turning fearful again.I know, I know. But what if there was a way to help her without fracture your promise?Sonya stared at Sydney. Dimitri glanced at me questioningly. I shrugged and then stared at Sydney too. If someone had asked who could stage the best intervention wit h a crazy woman whod at once been an undead monster, Sydney Sage would have been my last guess.Sonya frowned, all attention on Sydney. W-what do you mean? Well what did you promise exactly? Not to tell anyone that Eric Dragomir had a mistress and baby?Sonya nodded.And not to tell who they were?Sonya nodded again.Sydney gave Sonya the warmest, friendliest smile Id ever seen on the Alchemist. Did you promise not to tell anyone where they are? Sonya nodded, and Sydneys smile faltered a little. Then, her eyes lit up. Did you promise not to lead anyone to where they are?Sonya hesitated, no doubt turning every word over in her mind. Slowly, she shook her head. No.So you could lead us to them. But not tell us where they actually are. You wouldnt be breaking the promise that way.It was the most convoluted, ridiculous piece of logical system Id heard in a while. It was something I would have come up with.Maybe said Sonya, still uncertain.You wouldnt break the promise, Sydney repeated. And it would really, really help Lissa.I stepped forward. It would help Mikhail too.Sonyas mouth dropped open at the mention of her former lover. Mikhail? You know him?Hes my friend. Hes Lissas friend too. I almost said that if we found the missing Dragomir, we could then take Sonya to Mikhail. Recalling Dimitris feelings of unworthiness, I decided to avoid that tactic just now. I didnt know how Sonya would react to a reunion with her beloved. And he wants to help Lissa. But he cant. None of us can. We dont have enough information.Mikhail Sonya looked down at her hands again, small tears running down her cheeks.You wont break your promise. Sydney was so compelling she could have been a spirit user. Just lead us. Its what Mikhail and Lissa would want. Its the right thing to do.I dont know which argument convinced Sonya the most. It could have been the part about Mikhail. Or it could have been the idea of doing the right thing. Maybe, like Dimitri, Sonya wanted redemption for her Strigo i crimes and saw this as a chance. Looking up, she swallowed and met my eyes.Ill lead you there, she whispered.Were going on another road trip, Sydney declared. Get ready.Dimitri and I were still standing right next to each other, the anger between us bloodline to diffuse. Sydney looked proud and continued trying her best to soothe Sonya.Dimitri looked down at me with a small smile that shifted slightly when he seemed to become aware of just how close we were. I couldnt say for sure, though. His face gave little away. As for me, I was very aware of our proximity and felt intoxicated by his body and scent. Damn. Why did fighting with him always increase my attraction to him? His smile returned as he tilted his head toward Sydney. You were wrong. She really is the new ecumenic in town.I smiled back, hoping he wasnt aware of my bodys reaction to us standing so close. Maybe. But, its okay. You can still be colonel.He arched an eyebrow. Oh? Did you split yourself? Colonels right below general. Whats that make you?I reached into my pocket and triumphantly flashed the CR-V keys Id swiped when wed come back inside. The driver, I said.