Blood Promise Chapter Twenty-Seven

I didnt recognize the guy Sydney sent to meet us when we re sufferingd Novosibirsk, except he had the same prosperous tattoo that she did. He was sandy-haired and in his thirties-and human, of course. He looked competent and trus tworthy, and as I leaned once over against the car, he laughed and spoke to the elderly couple handle theyd been best friends forever. in that respect was a professional and assure air ab show up him, and soon they were smiling too. Im non sure what he told them, maybe that I was his wayward daughter or something, exclusively they app bently tangle good enough to leave me in his hands. I supposed with their jobs, the Alchemist charm in action.When the old man and woman drove off, his demeanor shifted slightly. He didnt depend as cold as Sydney initi each(prenominal)y had, but there was no laughing or joking with me. Hed be issue distinctly businesslike, and I couldnt supporter but think of the stories of men in black, the people who cleaned up af ter extrater peace of mindrial encounters in order to keep the origination ignorant of the truth.Can you walk? he asked, eyeing me up and down.Unclear at this beat, I replied.It turned out I could, just not very well. With his help, I eventu all toldy ended up at a town house over in a residential part of the city. I was bleary-eyed and b arely able to stay on my feet by that point. There were other people there, but none of them registered. The barely thing that mattered was the bed manner someone took me to. I mustered enough strength at that point to cut in free of the arm supporting me and do a face-plant chasten in the middle of the bed. I fell asleep instantly.I awoke to b regenerate sunshine cream my room and voices speaking in hushed tones. Considering anything that Id been through, I wouldnt have been surprised to see Dimitri, Tatiana, or even Dr. Olendzki from the Academy there. Instead, it was Abes bearded face that looked down at me, the light making all of his jewelry gleam.For a result, his face blurred, and all I proverb was dark, dark water-water that threatened to wash me away. Dimitris exit words echoed in my head Thats what I was supposed to say Hed understood that I wanted to hear that he warmthd me. What would have happened if wed had a few moments more? Would he have tell those words? Would he have meant them? And would it have mattered?With the same resolve Id mustered before, I parted the waters swirling in my mind, ordering myself to push parenthesis last night as long as I could. I would drown if I thought around it. Now I had to swim. Abes face came cover into focus.Greetings, Zmey, I said weakly. Somehow, him being here didnt surprise me. Sydney would have had to tell her superiors about me, who in turn would have told Abe. Nice of you to slither on in.He agitate his head, wearing a rueful smile. I think youve outdone me when it comes to sneaking around dark corners. I thought you were on your way buttocks to Monta na. future(a) time, make sure you write a few more details into your bargains. Or just pack me up and send me back to the U.S. for real.Oh, he said, thats on the dot what I intend to do. He kept smiling as he said it, but somehow, I had a get holding he wasnt joking. And on the spur of the moment, I no longer feared that fate. Going home was starting to sound good. degree and Oksana walked over to stand beside him. Their front man was unprovided for(predicate) but welcome. They smiled too, faces melancholy but relieved. I sit up in bed, surprised I could move at all.You healed me, I said to Oksana. I save hurt, but I dont feel like Im going to die, which I have to think is an improvement.She nodded. I did enough to make sure you werent in immediate danger. I figured I could do the rest when you woke up.I shook my head. No, no. Ill recover on my own. I always hated it when Lissa healed me. I didnt want her wasting the strength on me. I also didnt want her inviting reputations s ide effects.LissaI jerked the covers off of me. Oh my God I have to set up home. Right now.Immediately, three pairs of arms blocked my way.Hold on, said homer. You arent going anywhere. Oksana only healed you a little. Youre a long way from being recovered.And you so far havent told us what happened, said Abe, eyes as shrewd as ever. He was someone who require to know everything, and the mysteries around me probably drove him crazy.Theres no time Lissas in trouble. I have to get back to school. It was all coming back to me. Lissas erratic behavior and crazy stunts, driven by some kind of compulsion-or super-compulsion, I supposed, seeing as Avery had been able to shove me out of Lissas head.Oh, now you want to go back to Montana? exclaimed Abe. Rose, even if there was a plane waiting for you out in the other room, thats a twenty hour trip, at minimum. And youre in no condition to go anywhere.I shook my head, still trying to get on my feet. After what Id faced last night, this g roup wasnt that much of a threat-well, maybe Mark was-but I could impregnablely start throwing punches. And yeah, I still wasnt sure what Abe could do.You dont get it Someones trying to kill Lissa or hurt her orWell, I didnt really understand what Avery wanted. All I knew was that Avery had somehow been compelling Lissa to do all sorts of reckless things.She had to be amazingly blind drunk in spirit to not only manage those feats but also keep it hidden from Lissa and Adrian. Shed even created a false aura to hide her golden one. I had no idea how that magnitude of power was possible, particularly considering that Averys fun-loving personality could hardly be called insane. Whatever her scheme, Lissa was at risk. I had to do something.Removing Abe from the equation, I looked up at Mark and Oksana pleadingly. Its my bondmate, I explained. Shes in trouble. Someones trying to hurt her. I have to go to her-you understand why I have to.And I saw in their faces that they did understand. I also knew that in my situation, theyd try exactly the same thing for each other.Mark sighed. Rose well help you get to her, but we cant do it now.Well contact the school, said Abe matter-of-factly. Theyll take care of it.Right. And how exactly would we do that? Call up Headmaster Lazar and tell him his party-girl daughter was actually corrupting and positive people with psychic powers and that she needed to be locked up for Lissas and everyone elses good?My lack of an answer seemed to make them think theyd convinced me, Abe in particular. With Oksanas help, youd probably be in good enough condition to leave tomorrow, he added. I can book a morning flight the conterminous day.Will she be all right until then? Oksana asked me gently.I I dont know What could Avery do in two days time? Alienate and embarrass Lissa further? Horrible things, but not permanent or life threatening. Surely, surely shed be okay that long, right? Let me seeI saw Marks eyes widen slightly as he agnise wh at I was about to do. Then I saw nothing in the room anymore because I was no longer there. I was in Lissas head. A new set of sights settled in around me, and for half a second, I thought I stood on the span again and was looking down into black waters and a cold death.Then I gained a grip on what I saw-or rather, what Lissa saw. She was standing(a) on the ledge of a window in some building on campus. It was nighttime. I couldnt tell offhand which building it was, but it didnt matter. Lissa was on what appeared to be the sixth floor, standing there in high heels, laughing about something while the dark ground threatened below. Behind her, I heard Averys voice.Lissa, be careful You shouldnt be up there. hardly it had the same double meaning that permeated everything Avery did. Even as she said those words of caution, I could feel a reckless drive in spite of appearance Lissa, something telling her that it was okay to be where she was and not to worry so much. It was Averys compul sion. Then, I matte that b pelt alonging of my mind, and the annoyed voice.You again?I was forced back out, back to the bedroom in Novosibirsk. Abe was freaking out, apparently thinking Id gone into some catatonic fit, and Mark and Oksana were attempting to explain to him what had happened. I blinked and rubbed my head as I gathered myself, and Mark breathed a sigh of relief.Its much stranger watching someone do that than it is doing it myself.Shes in trouble, I said, attempting to get up again. Shes in trouble and I dont know what to doThey were right in saying there was no way on earth I could get to Lissa anytime soon. And even if I followed Abes innuendo and contacted the school I didnt know for sure where Lissa was at or even if anyone there would believe me. I thought about jumping back in and trying to read Lissas location from her mind, but Avery would likely throw me out again. From what I had briefly matt-up, Lissa didnt have her cell ring on her-no surprise. There were fixed rules about having them in classes, so she usually left hers in her dorm room. further I knew someone who would have his. And who would believe me.Does anyone have a phone? I asked.Abe gave me his, and I dialed Adrians number, surprised I had it memorized. Adrian was mad at me, but he cared about Lissa. He would help her, no matter his grudge toward me. And he would believe me when I tried to explain a crazy, spirit-induced plot.But when the other end of the line picked up, it was his voicemail that answered, not the man himself. I know how devastated you must be to miss me, his cheery voice said, but leave a message, and Ill try to ease your agony as soon as possible.I disconnected, feeling lost. Suddenly, I looked up at Oksana as one of my crazier ideas came to mind.You you can do that thing where you actively go in someones mind and touch their thoughts, right? Like you did to me?She grimaced slightly. Yes, but its not something I like to do. I dont think its right.Can yo u compel them once youre in there?She looked even more disgusted. Well, yes, of course the two things are actually very similar. But reaching in someones mind is one thing and forcing them into some unwanted behavior is an entirely different matter.My friend is about to do something dangerous, I said. It could kill her. Shes being compelled, but I cant do anything about it. The bond wont let me actively reach her. I can only watch. If you could reach inside my friends head and compel her out of dangerOksana shook her head. Supposing morals werent an issue, I cant reach into someone whos not actually here-let alone someone Ive never met.I raked a hand through my hair, panic setting in. I wished Oksana knew how to walk dreams. That would at least give her the long-distance capability. All of these spirit powers seemed to be one off from each other, each having some additional nuance. Someone who could dream walk might be able to take the next step and visit someone awake.An even crazi er idea came to me. This was a groundbreaking day. Oksana you can reach into my mind, right?Yes, she reaffirmed.If I if I was in my bondmates head at the time, could you reach into me and then reach into her mind? Could I, like, be the link between you guys?Ive never heard of anything like that, murmured Mark.Thats because weve never had this many spirit substance abusers and shadow-kissed around before, I pointed out.Abe, understandably, looked completely lost.A shadow fell over Oksanas face. I dont knowEither it works or it doesnt, I said. If it doesnt, then theres no harm done. But if you can reach her through me you can compel her. She started to speak, and I cut her off. I know, I know you think its wrong. But this other spirit user? Shes the one whos wrong. All you have to do is compel Lissa out of danger. Shes ready to jump out a window Stop her now then Ill get to her in another day or so and fix things.And by fix things, I meant ruin Averys pretty face with a black eye.In m y bizarre life, Id grown pretty used to people-especially adults-rejecting my outlandish ideas and proclamations. Id had a hell of a time convincing people that Victor had kidnapped Lissa and an equally hard time making the guardians believe the school was under attack. So when situations like this happened, part of me almost expected resistance. But the thing was, as stable as they were, Oksana and Mark had been pushing with spirit for most of their lives. Crazy was kind of par for the course for them, and after a moment, she didnt argue any further.All right, she said. Give me your hands.Whats going on? asked Abe, still totally clueless. I took a tenuous amount of satisfaction in seeing him out of his league for a change.Mark murmured something to Oksana in Russian and kissed her on the cheek. He was warning her to be careful, not condemning her for her choice. I knew hed want the same thing if she were in Lissas place. The love that flashed between them was so complicated and so strong that I nearly lost my resolve to do this. That kind of love reminded me of Dimitri, and if I allowed myself to think about him for even a moment more, I was going to relive last nightI clasped Oksanas hands, a knot of fear coiling in my stomach. I didnt like the idea of someone being in my head, even though that was a hypocritical sentiment for someone who was constantly traveling into her best friends mind. Oksana gave me a small smile, though it was open-and-shut she was as nervous as me.Im sorry, she said. I hate doing this to peopleAnd then I felt it, the same thing that had happened when Avery pushed me out. It was like the actual physical angiotensin-converting enzyme of someone touching my brain. I gasped, looking into Oksanas eyes as waves of heat and cold ran through me. Oksana was in my head. Now go to your friend, she said.I did. I pore my thoughts into Lissa and found her still standing on the windows ledge. Better she was there than on the ground, but I sti ll wanted her off and back in the room before something bad happened. That wasnt for me to do, however. I was the taxi, so to speak. Oksana was the one who had to literally talk Lissa off the ledge. Only I had no indication the other woman had come with me. When Id jumped to Lissas mind, Id lost that sense of Oksana. No more tickling of the mind.Oksana? I thought. Are you there?There was no response-not from Oksana, at least. The answer came from a very unexpected source.Rose?It was Lissas voice that spoke in my mind. She froze her position in the window and abruptly cut off whatever shed been laughing about with Avery. I felt Lissas terror and confusion as she wondered if she was imagining me. She peered around the room, her eyes passing over Avery.Avery recognized something was going on, and her face hardened. I felt the familiar sense of her presence in Lissas mind and wasnt surprised when Avery tried to shove me out again.Except-it didnt work.Avery kicking me out in the past had always felt like an actual shove. I got the impression that when she tried it now, it felt like hitting a brick wall to her. I wasnt so easy to push around anymore. Oksana was with me somehow, lending her strength. Avery was still in Lissas line of sight, and I saw those adorable blue-gray eyes go wide with shock that she couldnt control me.Oh, I thought. Its on, bitchRose? Lissas voice was there again. Am I going crazy?Not yet. But you have to get down, right now. I think Averys trying to kill you.Kill me? I could feel and hear Lissas incredulity. Shed never do that.Look, lets not argue it for now. Just get out of the window and call it good.I felt the impulse in Lissa, felt her shift and start to put one foot down. Then it was like some core part of herself stopped her. Her foot stayed where it was and slowly began to grow shiftingThat was Avery at work. I wondered if Oksana, lurking in the background of this bond, could overpower that compulsion. No, Oksana wasnt active here. H er spirit powers had somehow gotten me into actively communicating with Lissa, but she was remaining passive. Id expected to be the bridge and thought Oksana would jump to Lissas mind and compel her. The situation was reversed, though, and I didnt actually have compulsion powers. All I had was legendary wit and powers of persuasion.Lissa, you have to fight Avery, I said. Shes a spirit user, and shes compelling you. Youre one of the strongest compulsion users I know. You should be able to fight her.Fear answered me. I cant I cant compel right now.Why not?Because Ive been potable.I mentally groaned. Of course. That was why Avery was always so quick to supply Lissa with alcohol. It numbed spirit, as demonstrated in Adrians frequent indulgences. Avery had encouraged the drinking so that Lissas spirit abilities would weaken and give her less resistance. There were a number of times Lissa hadnt been able to gauge exactly how much Avery was drinking in retrospect, Avery must have been doi ng a fair amount of faking.Then use ordinary entrustpower, I told her. Its possible to resist compulsion.It was true. Compulsion wasnt an automatic ticket to world domination. Some people were better at resisting it than others, though a Strigoi or spirit user certainly complicated matters.I felt Lissa build up her resolve, felt her repeat my words over and over, that she had to be strong and step back off the ledge. She worked to push away that impulse Avery had implanted, and without knowing how, I suddenly found myself pushing on it as well. Lissa and I joined our strength together and started shoving Avery out.In the physical world, Avery and Lissas gazes were locked as the psychic struggle continued. Averys face showed hard concentration that suddenly became overlaid with shock. Shed noticed me fighting her too. Her eyes narrowed, and when she spoke, it was me she addressed and not Lissa.Oh, Avery hissed, you do not want to mess with me.Didnt I?There was a rush of heat and tha t feeling of someone reaching into my mind. Only it wasnt Oksana. It was Avery, and she was doing some serious investigation of my thoughts and memories. I understood now what Oksana meant about it being invasive and a violation. It wasnt just looking through someones eyes it was spying on their most intimate thoughts.And then, the world around me dissolved. I stood in a room I didnt recognize. For a moment, I thought I was back in Galinas estate. It certainly had that rich, expensive feel to it. But no. After a moments examination, I realized this wasnt the same at all. The furnishings were different. Even the vibe was different. Galinas home had been beautiful, but there had been a cold, impersonal feel to it. This place was inviting and clearly well loved. The plush vomit up had a quilt thrown haphazardly in its corner, as though someone-or maybe two someones-had been cuddling underneath it. And while the room wasnt messy, exactly, there were disunited objects-books, framed pho tos-that indicated this room was actually used and wasnt just for show.I walked over to a small bookshelf and picked up one of the framed photos. I nearly dropped it when I saw what it was. It was a picture of Dimitri and me-but I had no fund of it. We stood arm in arm, leaning our faces together to make sure we both got in the shot. I was grinning broadly, and he too wore a joyous smile, one Id hardly ever seen on him. It softened some of the protective fierceness that usually alter his features and made him look sexier than Id ever imagined. A piece of that soft brown hair had slipped his ponytail and lay on his cheek. Beyond us was a city that I immediately recognized Saint Petersburg. I frowned. No, this was definitely a picture that couldnt exist.I was still studying it when I heard someone walk into the room. When I saw who it was, my heart stopped. I set the photo back on the shelf with shaking hands and took a few steps back.It was Dimitri.He wore jeans and a casual red T- shirt that fit the lean muscles of his body perfectly. His hair was down loose and slightly damp, like hed just gotten out of the shower. He held two mugs and chuckled when he saw me.Still not dressed? he asked, shaking his head. Theyre going to be here any minute.I looked down and saw that I wore plaid flannel pajama bottoms and a tank top. He handed me the mug, and I was too stunned to do anything but take it. I peered into it-hot chocolate-and then looked up at him. There was no red in his eyes, no evil on his face. Only gorgeous warmth and affection. He was my Dimitri, the one whod loved and defend me. The one with a pure heart and soulWho whos coming? I asked.Lissa and Christian. Theyre coming for brunch. He gave me a puzzled look. Are you okay?I looked around, again taking in the comforting room. Through a window, I saw a backyard filled with trees and flowers. Sunshine spilled through onto the carpet. I turned back to him and shook my head. What is this? Where are we?His con fused expression now turned into a frown. Stepping forward, he took my mug and set his and mine on the shelf. His hands rest on my hips, and I flinched but didnt break away-how could I when he looked so much like my Dimitri? This is our house, he said, drawing me near. In Pennsylvania.Pennsylvania are we at theRoyal courtyard?He shrugged. A few miles away.I slowly shook my head. No thats not possible. We cant have a home together. And definitely not so pie-eyed to the others. Theyd never let us.If in some crazy world Dimitri and I lived together, wed have to do it in secret-somewhere remote, like Siberia.You insisted, he said with a small smile. And none of them care. They accept it. Besides, you said we had to live near Lissa.My mind reeled. What was going on? How was this possible? How could I be living with Dimitri-especially so near Moroi? This wasnt right and yet, it felt right. Looking around, I could see how this was my home. I could feel the love in it, feel the connection Dimitri and I had to it. But how could I actually be with Dimitri? Wasnt I supposed to be doing something else? Wasnt I supposed to be somewhere else? Youre a Strigoi, I said at last. No youre dead. I killed you.He ran a finger along my cheek, still giving me that rueful smile. Do I look like Im dead? Do I look Strigoi?No. He looked wonderful and sexy and strong. He was all the things I remembered, all the things I loved. But you were I trailed off, still confused. This wasnt right. There was something I had to do, but I still couldnt remember. What happened?His hand returned to my hip, and he pulled me into a tight embrace. You saved me, he murmured into my ear. Your love saved me, Roza. You brought me back so that we could be together.Had I? I had no memory of that, either. But this all seemed so real, and it felt so wonderful. Id missed his arms around me. Hed held me as a Strigoi, but it had never felt like this. And when he leaned down and kissed me, I knew for sure he wasnt a Strigoi. I didnt know how I could have ever deluded myself back at Galinas. This kiss was alive. It burned at bottom my soul, and as my lips pressed more eagerly into his, I felt that connection, the one that told me there was no one else in the world for me except him.Only, I couldnt have the feeling that I wasnt supposed to be here. But where was I supposed to be? Lissa something with LissaI broke the kiss but not the embrace. My head rested against his chest. I really saved you?Your love was too strong. Our love was too strong. Not even the undead could keep us apart.I wanted to believe it. Desperately. But that voice still nagged in my head Lissa. What about Lissa? Then, it came to me. Lissa and Avery. I had to save Lissa from Avery. I jerked away from Dimitri, and he stared in surprise.What are you doing?This isnt real, I said. This is a trick. Youre still Strigoi. We cant be together-not here, not among the Moroi.Of course we can. There was hurt in his deep brown eyes, and it tore at my heart. Dont you want to be with me?I have to go back to LissaLet her go, he said, approaching me again. Let all of it go. Stay here with me-we can have everything we ever wanted, Rose. We can be together every day, wake up together every morning.No. I stepped further back. I knew if I didnt, he would kiss me again, and then Id truly be lost. Lissa needed me. Lissa was trapped. With each passing second, the details about Avery were coming back to me. This was all an illusion.Rose? he asked. There was so much pain in his voice. What are you doing?Im sorry, I said, feeling on the verge of tears. Lissa. I had to get to Lissa. This isnt real. Youre gone. You and I can never be together, but I can still help her.You love her more than me?Lissa had asked me almost the same thing when Id left to hunt Dimitri. My life was doomed to always be about choosing between them.I love you both, I replied.And with that, I used all of my will to push myself back to Lissa, wherever she was , and tear away from this fantasy. Honestly, I could have spent the rest of my days in that make-believe world, being with Dimitri in that house, waking up with him each morning like hed said. But it wasnt real.It was too easy, and if I was learning anything, it was that life wasnt easy.The bm was excruciating, but suddenly, I found myself looking back at the room at St. Vladimirs. I focused on Avery who was staring me and Lissa down. Shed pulled out the memory that anguished me most, attempting to confuse me and tear me from Lissa with a fantasy of what I wanted more than anything else in the world. Id fought Averys mind trap and felt pretty smug about it-despite the ache in my heart. I wished I could communicate directly with her and make a few comments about what I thought of her and her game. That was out of the question, so instead, I threw my will in with Lissas once more, and together, we stepped down off the ledge and onto the rooms floor.Avery was visibly sweating, and wh en she realized shed lost the psychic tug of war, her pretty face turned very ugly. Fine, she said. There are easier ways of killing you off.Reed suddenly entered the room, looking as hostile as ever. I had no idea where hed come from or how hed know to show up right then, but he headed straight toward Lissa, hands reaching out. That open window loomed behind her, and it didnt take a genius to conjecture his intentions. Avery had tried to get Lissa to jump by using compulsion. Reed was just going to push her.A mental conversation flew between Lissa and me in the infinite of a heartbeat.Okay, I told her. Heres the situation. Were going to have to do a little role reversal.What are you talking about? Fear flooded her, which was understandable, seeing as Reeds hands were seconds away from grabbing her.Well, I said, I just did the psychic power struggle. Which means youve got to do the fighting. And Im going to show you how.