Blood Promise Chapter Twenty-Four

Avery was a spirit user.Oh s dispatch.I sat nates floor on the bed, my mind reeling. Id n constantly stick discovern it coming. Hell, no whiz had. Avery had made a good show of being an post user. Each Moroi had a very low level of control in each element. Shed just scarcely done enough with air to make it seem like that was her specialization. No one had questioned her further because honestly, who would accept ever expected another spirit user around? And since she was surface of school, she had no reason to be tested any more or forced to demonstrate her ability. No one was there to call her on it.The more I thought roughly it, the more the little signs were there. The charming personality, the way she could talk stack into anything. How many of her interactions were spirit controlled? And was it possible was it possible that Adrians attraction had been want on her part? I had no reason to feel happy about that, just well, I did.More to the point, what did Avery want with Lissa? Avery compelling Adrian into desire her wasnt too out there. He was good-looking and came from an important family. He was the queens great-nephew, and although family members of the current monarch could never acquire the throne immediately afterward, hed have a good future, one that would ever so hold off him in the highest circles of society. however Lissa? What was Averys game there? What did she have to gain? Lissas behavior all made sense now-the uncharacteristic partying, unearthly moods, jealousy, fights with Christian Avery was pushing Lissa all over the edge, causing her to make horrible choices. Avery was using some sort of compulsion to spin Lissa out of control, alienating her and putting her life in danger. Why? What did Avery want?It didnt matter. The why wasnt important. The how was, as in how I was way out to get out of here and spinal column to my best friend.I looked d sustain at myself, at the delicate silk dress I wore. Suddenly, I hated it. It was a sign of how Id been, bleached and useless. I hastily took it off and ransacked my clo grade. Theyd taken away my jeans and T-shirt, but Id at least been allowed to keep my hoodie. I put on the green sweater dress, seeing as it was the sturdiest thing I had, skin senses moderately more capable. I slipped the hoodie on over it. It embarrassingly made me feel like a badass warrior, but I did feel more competent. Sufficiently dressed for action, I returned to the living room and started that walk that tended to help me mobilise better-not that I had any reason to believe I was going to acquire up with new ideas. Id been trying to for days and days with no luck. Nothing was going to change.Damn it I yelled, imprint better with the outburst. Angry, I flounced into the desk chair, amazed that I hadnt simply thrown it against the wall in my frustration.The chair wobbled, ever so slightly.Frowning, I stood up and looked at it. Everything else in this place was state-of-the-ar t. Odd that Id have a incorrect chair. I knelt down and examined it more closely. There, on one of the stagecoachs, was a crack near where the leg united with the seat. I stared. All of the furniture here was industrial strength, with no obvious fall ints. I should make love, seeing how persistent Id beat this chair against the wall when I runner arrived. I hadnt even dented it.Where had this crack come from? Slamming it over and over had done nothing.But I hadnt been the completely one to hit it.That very first day, Id fought with Dimitri and come after him with the chair. Hed taken it from me and thrown it against the wall. Id never paid attention to it again, having given up on breaking it. When Id later tried cracking the window, Id used an end table because it was heavier. My strength hadnt been able to pervert the chair-but his had.I picked up the chair and immediately slammed it into that diamond-hard window, half-hoping I might kill two birds with one stone. Nope. s ome(prenominal) remained intact. So I did it again. And again. I lost track of how many times I slammed that chair into the glass. My mickle hurt, and I knew despite my recovery, I still wasnt at full strength. It was infuriating.Finally, on what felt like my gazillionth try, I looked at the chair and saw the crack had grown bigger. The progress renewed my go out and strength. I hit and hit, ignoring the pain as the wood bit into my hands. At long last, I comprehend a crack, and the leg broke off. I picked it up and stared in amazement. The break hadnt been clean. It was splintered and neat. Sharp enough to be a pastime? I wasnt sure. But I knew for a fact that wood was hard, and if I used enough force, I might be able to hit a Strigois heart. It wouldnt kill one, but the blow would stun. I didnt get laid if itd be enough to get me out of here, but it was all I had now. And it was a hell of a lot more than Id had one hour ago.I sat back on the bed, recovering from my booking with the chair and tossing the makeshift transfix back and forth. Okay. I had a weapon now. But what could I do with it? Dimitris face flashed in my minds eye. Damn it. There was no question about it. He was the obvious target, the one Id have to deal with first.The introduction suddenly clicked feed, and I looked up with alarm. Quickly, I shoved the chair into a gloomy corner as panic raced through me. No, no. I wasnt ready. I hadnt fully convinced myself to station him. It was Inna. She carried a tray but didnt wear her usual subservient expression. The brief look she gave me was filled with hate. I didnt know what she had to be pissed off about. It wasnt like Id caused her any damage.Yet.I strode over like I was going to examine the tray. Lifting the lid, I saw a ham sandwich and french fries. It looked good-I hadnt eaten in a darn -but the adrenaline running through me had shoved any appetite I might have to the background. I glanced back up at her, smiling sweetly. She sh ot me daggers.Dont hesitate, Dimitri had always said.I didnt.I jumped at Inna, throwing her so hard against the floor that her head slammed back. She looked dazed, but quickly recovered and tried to fight back. I wasnt drugged up this time-well, not much-and my years of training and natural strength finally showed themselves again. I pressed my body against her, protectorship her firmly in place. Then, I produced the stake Id had concealed and pressed those sharp points against her neck.It was like being back in the days of pinning Strigoi in alleys. She couldnt see that my weapon was a chair leg, but the sharp points got her attention as I dug them into her throat.The code, I said. What is the code?Her only response was a guide of obscenities in Russian. Okay, not a surprise, considering she probably didnt understand me. I flipped through the meager Russian-English dictionary in my head. Id been in the country long enough to pick up some vocabulary. Admittedly, it was equivalent to a two-year-olds, but even they could communicate.Numbers, I said in Russian. Door. At least, thats what I hoped I said.She said more bad-mannered things to me, her expression defiant. It really was the Strigoi interrogation all over. My stake bit harder, drawing blood, and I forcibly quiet myself. I might question whether I had the strength to pierce a Strigoi heart with this, but severance a humans vein? Cake. She faltered a little, apparently realizing the same thing.Again, I attempted my broken Russian. Kill you. No Nathan. Never What was the word? The church service came back to me, and I hoped I had it right. Never aeonian life.It got her attention. Nathan and eternal life. The things most important to her. She bit her lip, still angry, but her tirade had stopped.Numbers. Door, I repeated. I pushed the stake in harder, and she cried out in pain.At last she spoke, rattling off a series of digits. Russian verse were something I had memorized pretty solidly, at least. The y were essential for addresses and phone numbers. She cited seven numbers.Again, I said. I made her cite it three times and hoped I had it. But there was more. I was pretty sure the outer door had a different code. Numbers. Door. Two. I felt like a caveman.Inna stared, not quite getting it.Door. Two. understand glinted in her eyes, and she looked mad. I think shed hoped I wouldnt realize the other door had its own code. More discriminating with the stake made her scream seven more numbers. Again, I made her repeat them, realizing I had no way to know if she was telling me the truth at least until I tried the numbers. For that reason, I refractory to keep her around.I felt guilty about what I did next, but these were desperate times. In guardian training, Id been taught both to kill and to incapacitate. I did the latter this time, slamming her head back against the floor and rendering her unconscious. Her expression went slack, her eyelids drooping. Damn. I was reduced to hurting teenage humans.Standing up, I moved to the door and punched in the first set of numbers, hoping I had them right. To my complete and utter astonishment, I did.The electronic lock clicked, but before I could open the door, I just barely made out another click. Someone had unlocked the outer door.Shit, I muttered.I pulled away from the door immediately, picked up Innas unconscious body, and hurried to the bathroom. I set her in the ad valorem tax as gently as possible and had just shut the bathroom door when I heard the main door open. I felt the telltale nausea that signaled a Strigoi was nearby. I knew one of the Strigoi could note a human, and I hoped shutting her away would be enough to mute Innas scent. I emerged from the hall and prepare Dimitri in the living room. I grinned at him and ran into his arms.Youre back, I said happily.He held me briefly and then stepped back. Yes. He seemed slightly pleased at the greeting, but soon his face was all business. Have you made your c losing?No hello. No how are you feeling? My heart sank. This wasnt Dimitri.I have more questions.I went over to the bed and lay down in a casual way, just like we always did. He followed a few moments later and sat on the edge, looking down at me.How long will it take? I asked. When you awaken me? Is it instantaneous?Once more, I launched into an interrogation session. Honestly, I was running out of questions, and at this point, I didnt really want to know the intricacies of becoming Strigoi. I was becoming more and more agitated with each passing moment. I had to act. I had to make use of my fleeting opportunity here.And except before I could act, I had to reassure myself that this really wasnt Dimitri. It was stupid. I should know by now. I could see the physical changes. Id seen his coldness, the brutality. Id seen him come fresh from a kill. This wasnt the man Id loved. And yet for that one fleeting moment priorWith a sigh, Dimitri stretched out beside me. Rose, he interrupted , if I didnt know better, Id say you were stalling for time. Yeah, even as a Strigoi, Dimitri knew how I thought and schemed. I realized if I was going to be convincing, I had to stop vie dumb and remember to be Rose Hathaway.I put on a look of outrage. Of wrinkle I am This is a big deal. I came here to kill you, and now youre asking me to join you. You think this is easy for me to do?Do you think its been easy for me to wait this long? he asked. The only ones who get choices are Moroi who willingly kill, like the Ozeras. No one else gets a choice. I didnt get a choice.And dont you regret that?No, not now. Now that Im who I was meant to be. He frowned. The only thing hurt is my pride-that Nathan forced me and that he acts as though Im indebted to him. Which is why Im being kind enough to give you the choice now, for the involvement of your pride.Kind, huh? I looked at him and felt my heart breaking all over again. It was like hearing the password of his death once more. I suddenl y grew afraid I might cry. No. No tears. Dimitri always talked about prey and predators. I had to be the predator.Youre sweating, he said suddenly. Why?Damn, damn, damn. Of course I was sweating. I was contemplating staking the man I loved-or thought Id loved. And along with sweat, I was sure I was giving off pheromones of my agitation. Strigoi could tint all of those things, too.Because Im scared, I whispered. I propped myself up and stroked the edge of his face, trying to memorize all of his features. The eyes. The hair.The shape of his cheekbones. In my imagination, I overlaid the things I remembered. Dark eyes. Tanned skin. Sweet smile. I I think Im ready, but its I dont know. Its such a big thing.Itll be the best decision of your life, Roza.My breathing was growing rapid, and I prayed hed think it was because of my fear of being turned. Tell me again. One more time. Why do you want to awaken me so badly?A slightly weary look crossed his face. Because I want you. Ive always tr easured you.And thats when I knew. I finally realized the problem. Hed given that same answer over and over, and each time, something about it had bothered me. Id never been able to pinpoint it, though. Now I could. He wanted me. Wanted me in the way people wanted possessions or collectibles. The Dimitri Id known the one Id fallen for and slept with that Dimitri would have said he wanted us to be together because he loved me.There was no love here.I smiled at him. Leaning down, I kissed him gently. He probably thought I was doing it for the reasons I always did, out of attraction and desire. In truth, it was a goodbye kiss. His mouth answered mine, his lips warm and eager. I held out the kiss a little longer, both to fight back the tears leaking out of my eyes and to lull him into an unsuspecting state. My hand closed around the chair leg, which Id hidden in my hoodie pocket.I would never forget Dimitri, not for the equilibrium of my life. And this time, I wouldnt forget his lesson s.With a speed he wasnt ready for, I struck out and plunged the stake through his chest. My strength was there-sliding the stake past the ribs and straight into his heart.And as I did it, it was like piercing my own heart at the same time.