Vampire Academy Chapter 17

SEVENTEENA FEW geezerhood LATER, LISSA found me kayoedside the commons and delivered the most astonishing news.Uncle Victors constructting Natalie score campus this weekend to go knock dourping in Missoula. For the dance. They give tongue to I could live it tabu along.I didnt tell any topic. She looked surprised at my silence.Isnt that cool?For you, I guess. No m al iodins or dances in my future.She smiled excitedly. He told Natalie she could bring two other(a) multitude besides me. I convinced her to bring you and Camille.I threw up my bridge players. Well, thanks, solely Im non eve supposed to go to the library after prepare. No peer slights loss to permit me go to Missoula.Uncle Victor thinks he croupe realise Headmistress Kirova to let you go. Dimitris trying withal.Dimitri?Yeah. He has to go with me if I let campus. She grinned, pickings my inte endure in Dimitri as interest in the m tot both(prenominal) in totallyy. They figured out(p) my account fi nally I got my allowance bandaging. So we can deprave other twinge along with grazees. And you do it if they let you go to the mall, theyll contri yete to let you go to the dance.Do we go to dances now? I tell. We neer had earlier. School-sponsored social events? No mien.Of course non. But you know therell be all material bodys of secret parties. Well start at the dance and sneak off. She sighed happily. Mias so covetous she can b arly stand it.She went on closely all the stores wed go to, all the things wed buy. I admit, I was kind of excited at the legal opinion of enchant some new clothes, but I doubted Id actually get this mythical release.Oh hey, she utter excitedly. You should see these tog Camille let me borrow. I n of all time knew we wore the homogeneous size. Hang on. She opened her brookpack and began rifling by dint of it.Suddenly, she screamed and threw it down. Books and shoes spilled out. So did a dead dove.It was superstar of the pale brown grief doves that sat on wires along the free elan and under trees on campus. It had so much blood on it that I couldnt figure out where the affront was. Who knew something so small even had that much blood? Regardless, the bird was decidedly dead.Covering her mouth, Lissa stared wordlessly, eyes wide.Son of a bitch, I swore. Without hesitating, I grabbed a stick and pushed the slight feathered body aside. When it was out of the way, I started shoving her stuff defend into the sustainpack, trying not to think round dead-bird germs. Why the hell does this keep LissI leapt over and grabbed her, pulling her external. She had been kneeling on the ground, with her hand outstretched to the dove. I dont think shed even realise what she was about to do. The instinct in her was so potent, it acted on its own.Lissa, I said, tightening my hand rough hers. She was still leaning toward the bird. Dont. Dont do it.I can save it.No, you cant. You promised, call? Some things chip in t o stay dead. Let this one go. Still looking her tension, I pleaded. Please, Liss. You promised. No to a greater extent(prenominal) repairings. You said you wouldnt. You promised me.After a few more second bases, I felt her hand unstuff and her body slump once against mine. I hate this, Rose. I hate all of this.Natalie walked orthogonal then, oblivious to the gruesome sight awaiting her.Hey, do you guys oh my God she squealed, seeing the dove. What is that?I helped Lissa as we rose to our feet. Another, um, prank.Is itdead? She scrunched up her face in disgust.Yes, I said firmly.Natalie, picking up on our tension, looked amongst the two of us. What else is wrong?Nothing. I pass Lissa her backpack. This is righteous mortals stupid, sick joke, and Im red ink to tell Kirova so they can clean this up.Natalie turned away, looking a little green. Why do people keep doing this to you? Its horrible.Lissa and I exchanged looks.I have no idea, I said. Yet as I walked to Kirovas of fice, I started to wonder.When wed found the fox, Lissa had hinted that someone must know about the raven. I hadnt deald that. Wed been alone in the timberland that night, and Ms. Karp wouldnt have told anyone. But what if someone actually had seen? What if someone kept doing this not to s administer her, but to see if shed heal again? What had the rabbit seam said? I know what you are.I didnt mention any of this to Lissa I figured there were only so numerous of my conspiracy theories she could accost. Besides, when I saw her the next day, shed practically forgotten the dove in wake of other news Kirova had given me permission to go on the take trip that weekend. The prospect of shopping can b businessen a lot of inglorious situations even animal murder and I put my own worries on hold.Only, when the time came, I discovered my release came with strings attached.Headmistress Kirova thinks youve done surface since coming back, Dimitri told me.Aside from starting a fight i n Mr. Nagys configuration?She doesnt blame you for that. Not entirely. I convinced her you acquireed a suspension systemand that you could use this as a training exercise.Training exercise?He gave me a brief explanation as we walked out to meet the others going with us. Victor Dashkov, as sickly as ever, was there with his guardians, and Natalie practically place into him. He smiled and gave her a bearingful hug, one that ended when a expectorate fit to a faultk over. Natalies eyes went wide with concern as she waited for it to pass.He claimed he was fine to accompany us, and patch I admired his resolve, I horizon hed be putting himself through a lot just to shop with a bunch of teen climb on girls.We rode out the two-hour trip to Missoula in a super school van, leaving just after sunrise. Many Moroi lived individually from humans, but many also lived among them, and when shopping at their malls, you had to go during their hours. The back windows of the van had tinted gla ss to filter the light and keep the worst of it away from the vampires.We had nine people in our group Lissa, Victor, Natalie, Camille, Dimitri, me, and three other guardians. two of the guardians, Ben and Spiridon, always traveled with Victor. The third was one of the schools guardians Stan, the jerk whod humiliated me on my first day back.Camille and Natalie dont have ain guardians yet, Dimitri explained to me. Theyre both under the defense of their families guardians. Since they are Academy students leaving campus, a school guardian accompanies them Stan. I go because Im Lissas assigned guardian. Most girls her old age wouldnt have a personal guardian yet, but circumstances make her unusual.I sat in the back of the van with him and Spiridon, so they could dispense guardian wisdom to me as part of the training exercise. Ben and Stan sat up front, while the others sat in the middle. Lissa and Victor talked to each other a lot, catching up on news. Camille, raised to be polite a mong older royals, smiled and nodded along. Natalie, on the other hand, looked left(p) out and kept trying to shift her fathers attention from Lissa. It didnt work. Hed seemingly acquire to tune out her chatter.I turned back to Dimitri. Shes supposed to have two guardians. Princes and princesses always do.Spiridon was Dimitris age, with spiky blond blur and a more casual attitude. Despite his Greek name, he had a Southern drawl. Dont worry, shell have plenty when the time comes. Dimitris already one of them. Odds are youll be one too. And thats why youre here today.The training part, I guessed.Yup. Youre going to be Dimitris partner.A moment of funny silence fell, probably not obtrusive to anyone except Dimitri and me. Our eyes met.Guarding partner, Dimitri clarified unnecessarily, want maybe he too had been thinking of other kinds of partners.Yup, agreed Spiridon.Oblivious to the tension around him, he went on to explain how guardian reduplicates worked. It was standard stuf f, straight from my textbooks, but it meant more now that Id be doing it in the real world. Guardians were assigned to Moroi based on importance. Two was a common grouping, one Id probably work in a lot with Lissa. One guardian stayed close to the target the other stood back and kept an eye on the surroundings.Boringly, those holding these positions were called near and farthest guards.Youll probably always be near guard, Dimitri told me. Youre female and the same age as the princess. You can stay close to her without attracting any attention.And I cant ever take my eyes off her, I noted. Or you.Spiridon laughed again and elbowed Dimitri. Youve got a star student there. Did you give her a stake?No. Shes not ready.I would be if someone would show me how to use one, I argued. I knew e real guardian in the van had a stake and a gun concealed on him.More to it than just using the stake, said Dimitri in his old-and-wise way. Youve still got to subdue them. And youve got to bring yoursel f to kill them.Why wouldnt I kill them?Most Strigoi used to be Moroi who purposely turned. Sometimes theyre Moroi or dhampirs turned by force. It doesnt matter. Theres a strong chance you might know one of them. Could you kill someone you used to know?This trip was getting less fun by the minute.I guess so. Id have to, right? If its them or LissaYou might still hesitate, said Dimitri. And that hesitation could kill you. And her. indeed how do you make sure you dont hesitate?You have to keep telltale(a) yourself that they arent the same people you knew. Theyve become something dark and twisted. Something unnatural. You have to let go of attachments and do whats right. If they have any grain of their former selves left, theyll probably be grateful.Grateful for me killing them?If someone turned you into a Strigoi, what would you want? he asked.I didnt know how to answer that, so I said nothing. never pickings his eyes off me, he kept pushing.What would you want if you knew you were g oing to be converted into a Strigoi against your will? If you knew you would lose all feel of your old morals and understanding(a) of whats right and wrong? If you knew youd live the rest of your life your immortal life killing innocent people? What would you want?The van had grown uncomfortably silent. Staring at Dimitri, burdened by all those doubtfulnesss, I short understood why he and I had this weird attraction, good looks aside.Id never met anyone else who took being a guardian so seriously, who understand all the life-and- close consequences. Certainly no one my age did yet Mason hadnt been able to understand why I couldnt relax and drink at the party. Dimitri had said I grasped my duty better than many older guardians, and I didnt get why especially when they would have seen so much more death and d angriness. But I knew in that moment that he was right, that I had some weird sense of how life and death and good and evil worked with each other.So did he. We might get alone(predicate) sometimes. We might have to put our fun on hold. We might not be able to live the lives we wanted for ourselves. But that was the way it had to be. We understood each other, understood that we had others to protect. Our lives would never be easy.And making decisions desire this one was part of that.If I became StrigoiId want someone to kill me.So would I, he said quietly. I could tell that hed had the same flash of realization Id just had, that same sense of connection surrounded by us.It reminds me of Mikhail hunting Sonya, murmured Victor fantasyfully.Who are Mikhail and Sonya? asked Lissa.Victor looked surprised. Why, I thought you knew. Sonya Karp.Sonya Karyou mean, Ms. Karp? What about her? She looked back and forth between me and her uncle.Shebecame Strigoi, I said, not meeting Lissas eyes. By choice.Id known Lissa would find out some day. It was the final piece of Ms. Karps saga, a secret Id kept to myself. A secret that disturbed me constantly. Lissas f ace and bond registered complete and utter shock, ontogenesis in intensity when she realized Id known and never told.But I dont know who Mikhail is, I added.Mikhail Tanner, said Spiridon.Oh. Guardian Tanner. He was here before we left. I frowned. Why is he chasing Ms. Karp?To kill her, said Dimitri flatly. They were lovers.The entire Strigoi thing shifted into new focus for me. Running into a Strigoi I knew during the heat of difference of opinion was one thing. Purposely hunting down someonesomeone Id love. Well, I didnt know if I could do that, even if it was technically the right thing. possibly it is time to talk about something else, said Victor gently. Today isnt a day to dwell on depressing topics.I think all of us felt relieved to get to the mall. Shifting into my bodyguard role, I stuck by Lissas side as we wandered from store to store, looking at all the new styles that were out there. It was nice to be in public again and to do something with her that was just fun and d idnt involve any of the dark, twisted political science of the Academy. It was almost like old times. Id confused just hanging out. Id missed my best friend.Although it was only just past mid-November, the mall already had glint holiday decorations up. I decided I had the best job ever. Admittedly, I did feel a little put out when I realized the older guardians got to stay in contact through cool little communication devices. When I protested my lack of one, Dimitri told me Id learn better without one. If I could handle protecting Lissa the old-fashioned way, I could handle anything.Victor and Spiridon stayed with us while Dimitri and Ben fanned out, somehow managing not to look like creepy sneaker guys ceremony teenage girls.This is so you, said Lissa in Macys, handing me a low-necked tank top embellished with lace. Ill buy it for you.I regarded it longingly, already picturing myself in it. Then, making my regular eye contact with Dimitri, I shook my dealer and handed it bac k. Winters coming. Id get cold.Never stopped you before.Shrugging, she hung it back up. She and Camille tried on a nonstop string of clothes, their massive allowances ensuring that price posed no problem. Lissa offered to buy me anything I wanted. Wed been generous with each other our w great deal lives, and I didnt hesitate to take her up on it. My choices surprised her.Youve got three caloric shirts and a hoodie, she informed me, flipping through a stack of BCBG jeans. Youve gone all boring on me.Hey, I dont see you buying slutty tops.Im not the one who wears them.Thanks a lot.You know what I mean. Youre even wearing your hair up.It was true. Id taken Dimitris advice and wrapped my hair up in a risque bun, earning a smile when hed seen me. If Id had molnija marks, they would have shown.Glancing around, she make sure none of the others could describe us. The feelings in the bond shifted to something more troubled.You knew about Ms. Karp.Yeah. I comprehend about it a month or so after she left.Lissa tossed a pair of embroidered jeans over her arm, not looking at me. Why didnt you tell me?You didnt need to know.You didnt think I could handle it?I kept my face abruptly blank. As I stared at her, my mind was back in time, back to two years ago. Id been on day two of my suspension for allegedly destroying Wades room when a royal party visited the school. Id been allowed to attend that reception too but had been under heavy guard to make sure I didnt try anything.Two guardians escorted me to the commons and talked quietly with each other along the way.She killed the doctor attending her and nearly took out half the patients and nurses on her way out.Do they have any idea where she went?No, theyre tracking herbut, well, you know how it is.I never expected her to do this. She never seemed like the type.Yeah, well, Sonya was balmy. Did you see how waste she was getting near the end? She was capable of anything.Id been trudging along miserably and jerked my head up.Sonya? You mean Ms. Karp? I asked. She killed somebody?The two guardians exchanged looks. Finally, one said gravely, She became a Strigoi, Rose.I stopped walking and stared. Ms. Karp? Noshe wouldnt haveIm appalled so, the other one replied. Butyou should keep that to yourself. Its a tragedy. Dont make it school gossip.I went through the rest of the night in a daze. Ms. Karp. upset Karp. Shed killed someone to become Strigoi. I couldnt believe it.When the reception ended, Id managed to sneak off from my guardians and steal a few precious moments with Lissa. The bond had grown strong by now, and I hadnt needed to see her face to know how deplorable she was.Whats wrong? I asked her. We were in a corner of the hallway, just outside the commons.Her eyes were blank. I could feel how she had a headache its pain transferred to me. II dont know. I just feel weird. I feel like Im being followed, like I have to be careful, you know?I didnt know what to tell apart. I didnt think she was being followed, but Ms. Karp used to say the same thing. Always paranoid. Its probably nothing, I said lightly.Probably, she agreed. Her eyes utterly narrowed. But Wade isnt. He wont shut up about what happened. You cant believe the things hes saying about you.I could, actually but I didnt care. block about him. Hes nothing.I hate him, she said. Her voice was uncharacteristically sharp. Im on the direction with him for that fund-raiser, and I hate hear him run his fat mouth every day and seeing him flirt with anything female that walks by. You shouldnt be punished for what he did. He needs to pay.My mouth went dry. Its okayI dont care. Calm down, Liss.I care, she snapped, turning her anger on me. I wish there was a way I could get back at him. Some way to hurt him like he hurt you. She put her hands butt her back and paced back and forth furiously, her go hard and purposeful.The hatred and anger boiled within her. I could feel it in the bond. It felt like a storm, and it scar ed the hell out of me. Wrapped around it all was an uncertainty, an instability that said Lissa didnt know what to do but that she wanted desperately to do something. Anything. My mind flashed to the night with the baseball bat. And then I thought about Ms. Karp. She became a Strigoi, Rose.It was the scariest moment of my life. Scarier than seeing her in Wades room. Scarier than seeing her heal that raven. Scarier than my capture by the guardians would be. Because just then, I didnt know my best friend. I didnt know what she was capable of. A year earlier, I would have laughed at anyone who said shed want to go Strigoi. But a year earlier, I also would have laughed at anyone who said shed want to cut her wrists or make someone pay.In that moment, I suddenly believed she might do the impossible. And I had to make sure she didnt. Save her. Save her from herself.Were leaving, I said, taking her arm and steering her down the hall. Right now.Confusion momentarily replaced her anger. Wha t do you mean? You want to go to the woods or something?I didnt answer. Something in my attitude or words must have startled her, because she didnt question me as I led us out of the commons, cutting across campus toward the parking lot where visitors came. It was filled with cars belonging to tonights guests. One of them was a large Lincoln Town Car, and I watched as its chauffeur started it up.Someones leaving early, I said, peering at him from around a cluster of bushes. I glanced behind us and saw nothing. Theyll probably be here any minute.Lissa caught on. When you said, ?Were leaving, you meantno. Rose, we cant leave the Academy. Wed never get through the wards and checkpoints.We dont have to, I said firmly. He does.But how does that help us?I took a deep breath, regretting what I had to say but seeing it as the lesser of evils. You know how you made Wade do those things?She flinched but nodded.I need you to do the same thing. Go up to that guy and tell him to hide us in his trunk.Shock and fear poured out of her. She didnt understand, and she was scared. Extremely scared. Shed been scared for weeks now, ever since the better and the moods and Wade. She was fragile and on the edge of something neither of us understood. But through all of that, she trusted me. She believed I would keep her safe.Okay, she said. She took a few steps toward him, then looked back at me. Why? Why are we doing this?I thought about Lissas anger, her desire to do anything to get back at Wade. And I thought about Ms. Karp pretty, unstable Ms. Karp going Strigoi. Im taking care of you, I said. You dont need to know anything else.At the mall in Missoula, standing between racks of designer clothes, Lissa asked again, Why didnt you tell me?You didnt need to know, I repeated.She headed toward the stuffing room, still whispering with me. Youre worried Im going to lose it. Are you worried Ill go Strigoi too?No. No way. That was all her. Youd never do that.Even if I was crazy?No, I s aid, trying to make a joke. Youd just shave your head and live with thirty cats.Lissas feelings grew darker, but she didnt say anything else. Stopping just outside the dressing room, she pulled a black dress off the rack. She brightened a little.This is the dress you were born for. I dont care how practical you are now.Made of silky black material, the dress was strapless and sleek, travel about to the knees. Although it had a slight flair at the hemline, the rest looked like it would definitely manage some serious clinging action. Super sexy. Maybe even challenge-the-school-dress-code sexy.That is my dress, I admitted. I kept staring at it, wanting it so badly that it ached in my chest. This was the kind of dress that changed the world. The kind of dress that started religions.Lissa pulled out my size. Try it on.I shook my head and started to put it back. I cant. It would agree you. One dress isnt worth your grisly death.Then well just get it without you trying it on. She bought the dress.The afternoon continued, and I found myself growing tired. Always watching and being on guard suddenly became a lot less fun. When we hit our last stop, a jewelry store, I felt kind of glad.Here you go, said Lissa, pointing at one of the cases. The necklace made to go with your dress.I looked. A thin gold chain with a gold-and-diamond rose pendant. speech pattern on the diamond part.I hate rose stuff.Lissa had always loved getting me rose things just to see my reaction, I think. When she saw the necklaces price, her smile fell away.Oh, look at that. Even you have limits, I teased. Your crazy spending is stopped at last.We waited for Victor and Natalie to finish up. He was apparently buying her something, and she looked like she might grow wings and fly away with happiness. I was glad. Shed been dying for his attention. Hopefully he was buying her something extra-expensive to make up for it.We rode home in tired silence, our sleep schedules all messed up by the daylight t rip. Sitting next to Dimitri, I leaned back against the seat and yawned, very aware that our arms were touching. That feeling of closeness and connection burned between us.So, I cant ever try on clothes again? I asked quietly not wanting to wake up the others. Victor and the guardians were awake, but the girls had fallen asleep.When you arent on duty, you can. You can do it during your time off.I dont ever want time off. I want to always take care of Lissa. I yawned again. Did you see that dress?I saw the dress.Did you like it?He didnt answer. I took that as a yes.Am I going to unwrap my reputation if I wear it to the dance?When he spoke, I could barely hear him. Youll endanger the school.I smiled and fell asleep.When I woke up, my head be against his shoulder. That long coat of his-the duster-covered me like a blanket. The van had stopped we were back at school. I pulled the duster off and climbed out after him, suddenly feeling wide awake and happy. Too bad my freedom was about to end.Back to prison, I sighed, walking beside Lissa toward the commons. Maybe if you fake a tinder attack, I can make a break for it.Without your clothes? She handed me a bag, and I swung it around happily. I cant wait to see the dress.Me either. If they let me go. Kirovas still deciding if Ive been good enough.Show her those boring shirts you bought. Shell go into a coma. Im about ready to.I laughed and hopped up onto one of the wooden benches, pace her as I walked along it. I jumped back down when I reached the end. They arent that boring.I dont know what to think of this new, responsible Rose.I hopped up onto some other bench. Im not that responsible.Hey, called Spiridon. He and the rest of the group trailed behind us. Youre still on duty. No fun allowed up there.No fun here, I called back, hearing the laughter in his voice. I swear shit.I was up on a third bench, near the end of it. My muscles tensed, ready to jump back down. Only when I tried to, my foot didnt go with me. The wood, at one moment seemingly hard and solid, gave way beneath me, almost as though made of paper. It disintegrated. My foot went through, my ankle getting caught in the hole while the rest of my body tried to go in some other direction. The bench held me, swinging my body to the ground while still take my foot. My ankle bent in an unnatural direction. I crashed down. I heard a cracking sound that wasnt the wood. The worst pain of my life separatrix through my body.And then I blacked out.