Blood Promise Chapter Twenty-Four

Ain truth was a savour user.Oh shit.I sat brook shoot on the bed, my mind reeling. Id never envisionn it coming. Hell, no angiotensin converting enzyme had. Avery had strive a good show of being an air user. Each Moroi had a very low level of control in separately element. Shed just provided done enough with air to make it seem standardized that was her specialization. No one had inquireed her further because honestly, who would adopt ever expected a nonher scent user some? And since she was aside of school, she had no crusade to be time-tested any much(prenominal) or forced to demonstrate her ability. No one was on that point to call her on it.The much I thought slightly it, the more the little signs were thither. The charming personality, the dash she could talk people into any involvement. How many of her interactions were spirit controlled? And was it possible was it possible that Adrians love had been compulsion on her part? I had no reason to feel happy ab out that, however well, I did.More to the point, what did Avery loss with Lissa? Avery compelling Adrian into liking her wasnt too out there. He was good- porting 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 subsequentlyward, hed admit a good future, one that would un residuumingly go for him in the highest circles of society. but Lissa? What was Averys game there? What did she have to actualize? Lissas behavior all made sense now-the uncharacteristic partying, weird moods, jealousy, fights with Christian Avery was pushing Lissa everywhere the edge, causing her to make horrible choices. Avery was using roughly sort of compulsion to spin Lissa out of control, alienating her and putting her biography in danger. Why? What did Avery want?It didnt matter. The why wasnt important. The how was, as in how I was going to get out of here and back to my best friend.I l ooked d give birth at myself, at the delicate silk dress I wore. Suddenly, I hated it. It was a sign of how Id been, weak and useless. I hastily took it discharge and ransacked my closet. 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, feeling moderately more cap fit. I slipped the hoodie on over it. It hardly made me feel like a badass warrior, but I did feel more competent. Sufficiently dressed for action, I returned to the backing room and started that pacing that tended to help me think better-not that I had any reason to believe I was going to come up with new ideas. Id been laborious to for days and days with no luck. Nothing was going to change.Damn it I yelled, feeling better with the outburst. Angry, I flounced into the desk president, amazed that I hadnt simply thrown it against the wall in my frustration.The direct wobbled, ever so slightly.Frowning, I stood up and looked at it. Everything else in this place was state-of-the-art. Odd that Id have a defective chair. I knelt down and examined it more closely. in that respect, on one of the legs, was a tumble near where the leg joined with the seat. I stared. All of the furniture here was industrial strength, with no obvious joints. I should screw, seeing how long Id sidestep this chair against the wall when I first arrived. I hadnt even deform it.Where had this crack come from? Slamming it over and over had done nothing.But I hadnt been the only 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 essay cracking the window, Id used an end table because it was heavier. My strength hadnt been able to damage the chair-but his had.I break aparted up the chair and immediately slammed it into that diamond- hard window, half-hoping I might scratch off two birds with one stone. Nope. both(prenominal) remained intact. So I did it again. And again. I lost track of how many generation I slammed that chair into the glass. My hands hurt, and I knew despite my recovery, I dumb 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 ordain and strength. I hit and hit, ignoring the pain as the wood berth into my hands. At long last, I heard a crack, and the leg broke off. I picked it up and stared in amazement. The break hadnt been clean. It was splintered and sharp. Sharp enough to be a empale? I wasnt accepted. 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 sack out 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 instant ago.I sat back on the bed, recovering from my battle with the chair and tossing the makeshift stake 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 helping hand with first.The adit suddenly clicked vindicated, and I looked up with alarm. Quickly, I shoved the chair into a dark corner as panic raced through me. No, no. I wasnt pay back. I hadnt fully convinced myself to stake him. It was Inna. She carried a tray but didnt snap her usual subservient view. 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 while -but the epinephrine running through me had shoved any appe tite I might have to the background. I glanced back up at her, smiling sweetly. She shot me daggers.Dont hesitate, Dimitri had continuously tell.I didnt.I jumped at Inna, throwing her so hard against the floor that her interrogation slammed back. She looked dazed, but quickly recovered and tried to fight back. I wasnt medicine up this time-well, not much-and my years of training and natural strength in the end showed themselves again. I pressed my body against her, keeping 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 delve them into her throat.The code, I said. What is the code?Her only response was a string of obscenities in Russian. Okay, not a surprise, considering she probably didnt understand me. I flipped through the hardscrabble Russian-English dic tionary 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 impolite things to me, her expression defiant. It really was the Strigoi interrogation all over. My stake bit harder, drawing blood, and I forcibly restrained myself. I might question whether I had the strength to pierce a Strigoi heart with this, but sever a humans vein? Cake. She faltered a little, apparently realizing the same thing.Again, I assay my broken Russian. Kill you. No Nathan. Never What was the word? The church serve well came back to me, and I hoped I had it right. Never eternal life.It got her attention. Nathan and eternal life. The things more or less 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, natty off a series of digits. Russian numbers were something I had memorized passably solidly, at least. They were essential for addresses and phone numbers. She cited sevener numbers.Again, I said. I made her say it three times and hoped I had it. But there was more. I was pretty sure the outer verge had a different code. Numbers. Door. Two. I felt like a caveman.Inna stared, not quite getting it.Door. Two. catch glinted in her eyes, and she looked mad. I think shed hoped I wouldnt realize the other door had its own code. More cutting 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 decided 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 ren dering her unconscious. Her expression went slack, her eyelids drooping. Damn. I was reduced to hurting teenage humans.Standing up, I move to the door and punched in the first set of numbers, hoping I had them right. To my complete and expose astonishment, I did.The electronic lock clicked, but before I could open the door, I just barely made out another click. somebody 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 tub as gently as possible and had just shut the bathroom door when I heard the main door open. I felt the blabbermouth nausea that signaled a Strigoi was nearby. I knew one of the Strigoi could smell a human, and I hoped shutting her away would be enough to mute Innas scent. I emerged from the house and found 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 finding?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?in one case 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 yet 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 earlierWith 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 playing dumb and remember to be Rose Hathaway.I put on a look of outrage. Of course I am This is a big deal. I came here to kill you, and now youre ask me to join you. You think this is tardily 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 volitionally 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 sake of your pride.Kind, huh? I looked at him and fel t my heart breaking all over again. It was like hearing the news of his death once more. I suddenly grew mysophobic I might cry. No. No tear. Dimitri always talked about course 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 smell 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 revere 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 cute 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 wou ld never forget Dimitri, not for the rest of my life. And this time, I wouldnt forget his lessons.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.