Spirit Bound Chapter Five

I DECIDED ITD BE BEST if Lissa and I runed up late when we returned to her room, poring all over the documents. She was a jumble of feelings when I told her most my coming upon with Mikhailwhich I hadnt credit ratinged to Mia. Lissas initial reaction was surprise, alone there were other things too. venerate over the trouble I could accept gotten into. A bit of nimble romanticism over what both Mikhail and I were willing to do for those we get it ond. wonderment if she would do the equivalent if Christian were in that situation. She decided instantly that she would her love for him was gloss over that strong. Then she told herself that she actually didnt care ab show up him any to a greater extent than, which I would reserve entrap annoying if I wasnt so distracted.Whats wrong? she asked.Id sighed aloud in dismay without realizing it while I read her thoughts. Not urgencying her to fill out Id been perusing her mind, I pointed at the papers spread out on her bed. Just trying to make sense of this. Not entirely that far- make send off from the truth.The prisons layout was complex. The cells occupied two floors and were tinyonly one prisoner per cell. The papers didnt explain why, entirely the causa was obvious. It went a dour with what Abe had give tongue to approximately keeping criminals from turning Strigoi. If Id been locked a behavior in prison for years, I could go through the temptation of cracking and killing my roommate to be pose Strigoi and escape. The cells were also kept housed in the precise center of the building, surround by guards, offices, exercise rooms, a kitchen, and a feeders room. The documents explained guard rotations, as well as prisoner nourishment schedules. They were apparently escorted to the feeders one at a time, heavily guarded, and only allowed real short spurts of blood. Again, everything kept the prisoners weak and prevented them from turning Strigoi.It was all good information, scarcely I had no reason to believe any of it was up-to-date, since the file was quintette years old. It was also likely the prison had all sorts of new watchfulness equipment in place. Probably the only things we could count on being the same were the prisons location and the buildings layout.How good are you feeling almost your charm- fashioning skills? I asked Lissa.Although she hadnt been adequate to place as much spirit healing into my ring as a womanhood I knew named Oksana could, I had noticed my darkness-induced temper soothed a little. Lissad made a ring for Adrian too, though I couldnt say for trustworthy if it was what was helping him train got his vices latelyvices he usually indulged in to control spirit.She shrugged and rolled over onto her back. Exhaustion filled her, save she was trying to propitiate awake for my sake. Getting better. Wish I could congruous Oksana. perchance someday, I said vaguely. I didnt cipher Oksana would ever leave Siberia. Shed run off with he r guardian and wanted to keep a low profile. Besides, I didnt want Lissa over there anytime soon after my ordeals. wealthy person you been able to put in anything besides healing? A moment later, I answered my get question. Oh, right. The spoon.Lissa grimaced, notwithstanding it turned into a yawn. I dont think it worked so well.Hmm.Hmm?I glanced back at the blueprints. Im thinking if you could make a few more essential charms, it would go a long way to help with this. We need to make m fuckinges gibe what we want them to see. Surely if Victorwhose powers of compulsion were nowhere near hershad managed a lust charm, she could do what I ask. She retri only whenive needed more physical exertion. She understood the basic principles solely had trouble making her desired cause last. The only problem was that in a come upg her to do this, I was making her use more spirit. Even if the side effects didnt show up right away, they would likely come back to hangout her in the future. She glanced at me curiously, only when when I saw her yawn again, I told her not to worry about it. Id explain tomorrow. She offered no argument, and after a quick hug, we each retired to our own beds. We werent waiver to get much sleep, but we had to get what we could. Tomorrow was a big day.Id worn a edition of the guardians formal black-and-white outfit when I went to Victors trial. In normal date situations, we wore ordinary c crewhes. moreover for fancy events, they wanted us seeming furrow and professional. The morning after our daring break-in, I got my first true savouring of guardian fashion.Id worn hand-me-down clothes at Victors trial but now had an official guardian outfit, tailored exactly to my measurements straight-legged black slacks, a white button-up blouse, and a black dress jacket that fit me perfectly. It sure enough wasnt meant to be sexy, but the way it hugged my stomach and hips did good things for my body. I matte satisfied with my reflection in the mirror, and after several minutes of thought, I aspirateed my copper into a neatly braided bun that showed off my molnija marks. The skin was still irritated, but at least the bandage was gone. I looked very professional. I was actually kind of reminded of Sydney. She was an Alchemista human who worked with Moroi and dhampirs to hide the humanity of vampires from the world. With her proper sense of fashion, she incessantly looked ready for a business meeting. I kept wanting to send her a brief persona for Christmas.If ever there was a time for me to show off, today was the day. afterwards the trials and graduation, this was the next biggest step in becoming a guardian. It was a luncheon that all new grads attended. Moroi bailable for new guardians would also attend, hoping to scope out the fagdidates. Our scores from school and the trials would have been made public get byledge by now, and this was a chance for Moroi to meet us and put in bids for who they wanted to guard t hem. Naturally, most guests would be purple, but a few other important Moroi would also qualify.I really had no interest in showing off and hooking a posh family. Lissa was the only one I wanted to guard. Still, I had to make a good impression. I needed to make it hold that I was the one who should be with her.She and I walked over to the royal dance hall together. It was the only place large enough to hold us all, since more than just St. Vladimirs grads were in attendance. All the American schools had sent their new recruits, and for a moment, I found the sea of black and white dizzying. Bits of colorroyals dressed(p) up in their finest clothinglivened the palette up a little. approximately us, soft watercolor murals made the walls seem to glow. Lissa hadnt worn a freak gown or anything, but she looked very elegant in a formfitting teal dress made of raw silk.The royals mingled with the social ease theyd been raise with, but my classmates travel about uneasily. No one seem ed to mind. It wasnt our job to look to out others we would be approached. The grads all wore name tagsengraved metal ones. in that location were no HELLO, MY NAME IS stickers here. The tags made us identifiable so that the royals could come and do their interrogations.I didnt expect anyone except my friends to talk to me, so Lissa and I headed straight for the buffet and then occupied a quiet corner to munch on our canapes and caviar. Well, Lissa ate caviar. It reminded me too much of Russia.Adrian, of course, sought us out first. I gave him a crooked grin. What are you doing here? I know you arent eligible for a guardian.With no concrete plans for his future, it was assumed Adrian would just live at Court. As such, hed need no outside testimonialthough hed certainly qualify if he chose to strike out into the world.True, but I could barely miss a party, he said. He held a glass of bubbly in his hand, and I wondered if the effects of the ring Lissa had stipulation him were w earing off. Of course, the occasional drink really wasnt the end of the world, and the dating proposals address had been loose in that area. It was mostly the smoking I wanted him to stay away from. Have you been approached by a dozen hopeful state?I shook my head. Who wants reckless Rose Hathaway? The one who drops out without precedent to do her own thing?Plenty, he said. I sure do. You kicked ass in the battle, and remembereveryone thinks you went off on some Strigoi-killing spree. Some office think its worth your crazy personality.Hes right, a voice fastly said. I looked up and saw Tasha Ozera standing near us, a small grinning on her scarred face. In spite of the disfigurement, I thought she looked fine-looking todaymore royal than Id ever seen her. Her long black hair gleamed, and she wore a navy skirt and lacy tank top. She even had on high heels and jewelrysomething I was certain Id never seen her wearing.I was keen to see her I hadnt known shed come to Court. An odd thought occurred to me. Have they finally let you have a guardian? The royals had a lot of quiet, polite ways of shunning those who were in disgrace. In the Ozeras case, their guardian apportioning had been cut in half as kind of a penalty for what Christians parents had done. It was alone unfair. The Ozeras deserved the same rights as any other royal family.She nodded. I think theyre hoping itll shut me up about Moroi fighting with dhampirs. engaging of a final payment.One you wont fall for, Im sure.Nope. If anything, itll just moot me someone to practice with. Her pull a face faded, and she cast uncertain looks among us. I hope you wont be offended but I put in a request for you, Rose.Lissa and I exchanged startled glances. Oh. I didnt know what else to say.I hope theyll have you to Lissa, Tasha added hastily, clearly uncomfortable. scarcely the pansy seems pretty dead-set on her own choices. If thats the caseIts okay, I said. If I cant be with Lissa, then I really wo uld sort of be with you. It was the truth. I wanted Lissa more than anyone else in the world, but if they kept us apart, then Id absolutely prefer Tasha to some snobby royal. Of course, I was pretty sure my odds of getting assigned to her were as dingy as those of getting assigned to Lissa. Those who were angry at me for running off would go out of their way to put me in the most grim situation possible. And even if she was being granted a guardian, I had a feeling Tashas preferences wouldnt be high priority either. My future was still a big question mark.Hey, exclaimed Adrian, offended that I hadnt named him as my second choice.I shook my head at him. You know theyd assign me to a woman anyway. Besides, youve got to do something with your spiritedness to earn a guardian.I meant it jokingly, but a small frown made me think I capability have actually hurt his feelings. Tasha, meanwhile, looked relieved. Im glad you dont mind. In the meantime, Ill do what I can to help you two. She rolled her eye. Not that my opinion counts for much.Sharing my misgivings about getting assigned to Tasha seemed pointless. Instead, I started to thank her for the offer, but we were then joined by yet another visitor Daniella Ivashkov. Adrian, she chastised gently, a small smile on her face, you cant keep Rose and Vasilisa all to yourself. She turned to Lissa and me. The queen would like to see you both.Lovely. We both stood up, but Adrian remained sitting, having no desire to visit his aunt. Tasha apparently didnt either. sightedness her, Daniella gave a curt, polite nod. Lady Ozera. She then walked away, assuming wed follow. I found it ironic that Daniella seemed willing to accept me but still held that typical upstage Ozera-prejudice. I guess her niceness only went so far.Tasha, however, had long since big(a) immune to that sort of treatment. Have dramatic play, she said. She looked over at Adrian. More champagne?Lady Ozera, he said wondrously, you and I are two minds w ith a single thought.I hesitated before following Lissa to Tatiana. Id taken in Tashas grand appearance but only now really paid wariness to something. Is all your jewelry silver? I asked.She absentmindedly touched the opal necklace almost her neck. Her fingers were adorned with three rings. Yes, she said, confused. Why?This is going to sound really supernatural well, maybe not compared to my normal weirdness. just could we, um, borrow all of those?Lissa go me a look and immediately guessed my motives. We needed more charms and were short on silver. Tasha arched an eyebrow, but like so many of my friends, she had a rummy ability to roll with weird ideas.Sure, she said. But can I give them to you later? I dont really want to strip my jewelry in the middle of this party.No problem.Ill have them sent to your room.With that colonised, Lissa and I walked over to where Tatiana was surrounded by admirers and those wanting to suck up. Daniella had to be mistaken in motto Tatiana wan ted to see both of us. The memory of her yelling at me over Adrian still burned in my head, and dinner at the Ivashkovs hadnt fooled me into thinking the queen and I were suddenly best friends.Yet, astonishingly, when she caught sight of Lissa and me, she was all smiles. Vasilisa. And Rosemarie. She beckoned us closer, and the multitude parted. I approached with Lissa, my steps tentative. Was I going to get yelled at in front of all these people?Apparently not. There were always new royals to meet, and Tatiana first introduced Lissa to all of them. Everyone was curious about the Dragomir princess. I was introduced as well, though the queen didnt go out of her way to sing my praises as she did Lissas. Still, being acknowledged at all was incredible.Vasilisa, said Tatiana, once the formalness were finished, I was thinking you should visit Lehigh soon. Arrangements are being made for you to go in, oh, maybe a week and a half. We thought it would be a nice treat for your natal day. Ser ena and Grant will accompany you, naturally, and Ill send a few others. Serena and Grant were the guardians who had replaced Dimitri and me as Lissas future protection. Of course theyd be going with her. Then, Tatiana said the most startling thing of all. And you can go too, if youd like, Rose. Vasilisa could hardly celebrate without you.Lissa lit up. Lehigh University. The lure that had made her accept a action at Court. Lissa yearned for as much knowledge as she could get, and the queen had devoted her a chance at it. The prospect of a visit to rangyy filled her with eagerness and excitementespecially if she could celebrate her eighteenth birthday there with me. It was enough to distract her from Victor and Christian, which was saying something.Thank you, Your Majesty. Thatd be great.There was a strong possibility, I knew, that we might not be around for this scheduled visitnot if my plan for Victor worked. But I didnt want to ravish Lissas happinessand I could hardly mention i t in this royal crowd. I was also kind of stunned that Id been invited at all. After issuing the invite, the queen said nothing else to me and continued language with the others around her. Yet, shed been pleasantfor her, at leastwhile addressing me, just as she had at the Ivashkov home. Not best-friend nice but certainly not raving-bitch insane, either. Maybe Daniella had been right.More pleasantries followed as everyone chatted and tried to impress the queen, and it soon became clear that I was no longer needed. Glancing around the room, I found someone I needed to talk to and meekly separated myself from the group, cunning Lissa could fend for herself.Eddie, I called, reaching the other side of the ballroom. Alone at last.Eddie Castile, a longtime(prenominal) friend of mine, grinned when he saw me. He too was a dhampir, tall with a long, narrow face that still had a cute, boyish look to it. He had tamed his dark, sandy-blond hair for a change. Lissa had once hoped Eddie and I w ould date, but he and I were strictly just friends. His best friend had been Mason, a sweet guy whod been crazy about me and who had been murdered by Strigoi. After his death, Eddie and I had adopted protective attitudes toward each other. Hed later been kidnapped during the attack at St. Vladimirs, and his experiences had made him a serious and determined guardiansometimes a little too serious. I wanted him to have more fun and was delighted to see the happy glint in his hazel eyes now.I think every royal in the rooms been trying to bribe you, I teased. It wasnt entirely a joke. Id been keeping an eye on him throughout the party, and thered always been someone with him. His record was stellar. Surviving the awful events in his life might have scarred him, but they reflected well on his skills. He had great grades and ratings from the trial. Most importantly, he didnt have my reckless reputation. He was a good catch.Kind of seems that way. He laughed. I didnt really expect it.Youre so modest. Youre the hottest thing in this room.Not compared to you.Yeah. As shown by the people cladding up to talk to me. Tasha Ozeras the only one who wants me as far as I know. And Lissa, of course.Lines of thought creased Eddies face. Could be worse.It will be worse. No way will I get either of them.We fell silent, and a sudden anxiety filled me. Id come to ask a favor of Eddie, and it no longer seemed like a good idea. Eddie was on the verge of a shining career. He was a loyal friend, and Id been certain hed help with what I needed but I suddenly didnt think I could ask. give care Mia, however, Eddie was observant.Whats wrong, Rose? His voice was concernedthat protective nature kicking in.I shook my head. I couldnt do it. Nothing.Rose, he said warningly.I looked away, unable(p) to meet his eyes. Its not important. Really. Id rise another way, someone else.To my surprise, he reached out to touch my chin and tip my head back up. His gaze caught mine, allowing no escape. What do you need?I stared at him for a long time. I was so selfish, risking the lives and reputations of friends I cared about. If Christian and Lissa werent on the outs, Id be asking him, too. But Eddie was all that was unexpended to me.I need something something thats pretty extreme.His face was still serious, but his lips tugged into a wry smile. Everything you do is extreme, Rose.Not like this. This is well, its something that could ruin everything for you. Get you in big trouble. I cant do that to you.That half smile vanished. It doesnt matter, he said fiercely. If you need me, Ill do it. No matter what it is.You dont know what it is.I trust you.Its kind of illegal. Treasonous, even.That took him aback for a moment, but he stayed resolute. Whatever you need. I dont care. Ive got your back. Id saved Eddies life twice, and I knew he meant what he said. He felt indebted to me. He would go wherever I asked, not out of romantic love, but out of friendship and loyalty.Its illegal, I rep eated. Youd have to sneak out of Court tonight. And I dont know when wed be back. It was entirely possible that we wouldnt come back. If we had a run-in with prison guards well, they might take lethal measures to do their duty. It was what all of us had trained for. But I couldnt pull this breakout off with Lissas compulsion alone. I needed another fighter at my back.Just tell me when.And that was all there was to it. I didnt tell him the full extent of our plan, but I gave him that nights meet location and told him what he would need to bring. He never questioned me. He said hed be there. New royals came to talk to him just then, and I left him, knowing hed show up later. It was hard, but I pushed aside my guilt over possibly endangering his future.Eddie arrived, just as hed promised, when my plan unfolded later that night. Lissa did too. Again, night meant immense daylight. I felt that same anxiety I did when wed sneaked around with Mia. clear(p) exposed everything, but then, m ost people were asleep. Lissa, Eddie, and I still moved through the Courts grounds as covertly as we could, meeting Mikhail in a section of the compound that held all sorts of garaged vehicles. The garages were big metal, industrial-looking buildings set on the fringes of Court, and no one else was out.We slipped into the garage hed indicated last night, and I was relieved to find no one else there. He surveyed the three of us, looking surprised at my strike team, but he offered no questions and made no further attempts to join us. More guilt surged up within me. Here was someone else who was risking his future for me.Gonna be a tight-fitting fit, he mused.I agonistic a smile. Were all friends here.Mikhail didnt laugh at my joke but sooner popped the trunk of a black Dodge Charger. He wasnt kidding about the tight fit. It was a newer one, which was kind of a shame. An older model would have been bigger, but guardians only kept top-of-the-line stuff around. at once were far enough away, Ill pull over and let you out, he said.Well be fine, I assured him. Lets do this.Lissa, Eddie, and I crawled into the trunk. Oh God, muttered Lissa. I hope no ones claustrophobic.It was like a bighearted game of Twister. The trunk was large enough for some luggage but not intended for three people. We were squeezed together, and personal space was nonexistent. We were all up close and personal. Satisfied we were all snug, Mikhail closed the trunk and darkness engulfed us. The railway locomotive started a minute later, and I felt the car move.How long until you think we stop? asked Lissa. Or die from carbon monoxide poisoning?We havent even left the Court yet, I noted. She sighed.The car drove off, and not too long afterward, we came to a stop. Mikhail must have reached the gates and been chatting with the guards. Hed told me earlier that hed come up with some excuse or other to run an errand, and we had no reason to believe the guards would question him or search the car. Th e Court wasnt worried about people sneaking out, like our school had been. The biggest concern here was people getting inside.A minute passed, and I uneasily wondered if there was a problem. Then the car moved again, and all three of us exhaled in relief. We picked up speed, and after what I suspected was a mile or so, the car veered sideways and came to a stop. The trunk popped open, and we spilled out of it. Id never been so grateful for fresh air. I got in the passenger seat beside Mikhail, and Lissa and Eddie took the back. Once we were settled, Mikhail continued driving without another word.I allowed myself a few more moments of guilt over the people Id involved but then let it go. It was too late to worry now. I also let go of my guilt about Adrian. He would have been a good ally, but I could hardly ask for his help in this.And with that, I settled back and turned my thoughts to the job before us. It would take us about an hour to get to the airport, and from there, the three of us were off to Alaska.