Last Sacrifice Chapter Twenty-five

WE COULD ALREADY hark footsteps th down the stairsing through the house and knew we were seconds from the army downstairs heading up to the second floor. The three of us backed forth, and to my surprise, it was Sydney who reacted first.Get unwrap. Ill distract them.Her distracting them would akinly fair(a) mean momentarily blocking their management until they pushed her aside, clean those tautological seconds could make a huge difference. Still, I couldnt stand the thought of abandoning her. Dimitri had no such reservations, particularly when we comprehend feet on the stairs.Come on he sh give awayed, grabbing hold of my arm.We raced down the h solely to the farthest bedroom, master key and Roberts. average onward we entered, I yelled back to Sydney, Get Jill to Court I dont establish intercourse if she heard because by the sounds of it, the guardians had reached her. Dimitri immediately capable the rooms nonpareil large windowpane and looked at me knowingly. As al ways, we rented no vocal communication.He jumped break through first, no doubt wanting to take the full brunt of whatever jeopardy waited below. I immediately followed. I dropped onto the first floors roof, slid down it, and then make the wideer drop to the ground. Dimitri caught my arm, steadying my landingsolely not before iodine of my ankles twisted slightly in on itself. It was the same adept that had taken the brunt of the fall eruptside Donovans, and I winced as pain twinge through me, pain I then promptly ignored.Dark figures travel toward us, e witness to squeezeher from evening shadows and hidden spots around the backyard. Of course. Guardians wouldnt in effect(p) hump busting down a door. Theyd also dupe the place staked out. With our natural rhythm, Dimitri and I fought back-to-back against our attackers. Like usual, it was hard to incapacitate our foes without killing them. Hard, only requirement if we could manage it. I didnt want to kill my own people, people who were just doing their job to apprehend fugitives. The long dress didnt do me any favors either. My legs unbroken stingting caught in the fabric.The others go away be out any minute, Dimitri grunted, slamming a guardian to the ground. We bespeak to movethere. That gate.I couldnt respond but followed his choose as we do our way to a door in the ring while still defending ourselves. Wed just taken out the backyard police squad when more spilled from the house. We slipped through the gate, emerging onto a quiet side pathway flanking the Mastrano house, and ran. It short became clear, however, that I couldnt keep up with Dimitri. My mind could ignore the pain, but my body couldnt make my injured ankle work properly.Without missing a beat, Dimitri slid his arm around me, helping me run and take the weight tally the ankle. We turned off the road, cutting through yards that would make it more uncontrollablebut not impossiblefor them to track us.We derrieret outrun t hem, I said. Im fall us down. You need toDo not say leave you, he interrupted. Were doing this together.Snick, snick. A flowerpot near us suddenly exploded into a pile of dirt and clay.Theyre shooting at us, I said incredulously. Theyre very shooting at us With so a great deal hand-to-hand training, I always felt like guns were cheating. precisely when it came to hunting down a queen-killing murderer and her accomplice? Honor wasnt the issue. Results were. other bullet zinged by, dangerously close. With a silencer, said Dimitri. Even so, theyll be cautious. They dont want the neighborhood idea its under attack. We need c all over. Fast. We mightve been literally dodging bullets, but my ankle wouldnt last much longer.He made another sharp turn, completely immersing us in suburban backyards. I couldnt look behind us, but I heard shouting voices that let me know we werent free yet.There, said Dimitri.Ahead of us was a dark house with a large glass terrace reminiscent of Sonyas. T he glass door was open, though a screen stop the way inside. Dimitri tugged on its latch. Locked. precisely a screen was hardly a deterrent for us. Poor, trusting family. He took out his stake and slashed a long, vertical line that we hastily slipped through. Immediately, he jerked me to the side, out of view. He tramp a finger to his lips, retention me close to his body, shattering me in his warmth.Seconds later, we precept guardians coming through and searching the yards. Some kept moving on in case wed run farther. Others lingered, investigating places that made good hiding spots as the evening grew darker and darker. I glanced at the screen. The cut had been clean, not an obvious hole, but it was still something our pursuers might notice.Sensing this as well, Dimitri cautiously moved off into the living room, doing his best to avoid windows and keep out of sight. We cut through to the kitchen and found a door leading to the garage. In the garage was a red Ford Mustang.Two c ar family, he murmured. I was hoping for that.Or theyre out for a walk and about to make love home when they notice a SWAT team in their neighborhood, I whispered. The guardians wont let themselves be seen. We began searching for obvious key locations. At last, I found a set hanging on the side of a cupboard and scooped them up.Got em, I said. Since I had the keys, I think Dimitri actually would necessitate let me jump into the drivers seat. Thanks to my right ankle, however, I had to toss him the keys. The cosmos had a sick sense of humor.Will they spot us in this? I asked, as Dimitri opened the garage door and backed out. Its, uh, a bit flashier than our usual stolen car profile. It was also awesome. Sydney, car geek that she was, would take love it. I bit my lip, still guilty that wed left her behind. I tried to push the thought out of my head for now.It is, agreed Dimitri. But other cars will be driving down the street. Some guardians will still be searching the yards, and so me will be guarding the Mastranos. They dont have infinite numbers. They cant watch everything at once, though theyll certainly try.I held my pinch anyway as we drove out of the subdivision. Twice, I thought I spotted stealthy figures by the side of the road, but Dimitri was right they couldnt ratification every car in a busy suburban neighborhood. The dark also obscured our faces.Dimitri remembered the way wed driven in because a few turns later, we were merging onto the freeway. I knew he had no destination in mind, except foraway. With no obvious indications that wed been followed, I shifted my body and stretched out my throbbing leg. My chest had that light, nebulous feeling you got when too much adrenaline was pumping through you.They turned us in, didnt they? I asked. Victor and Robert called us in and then took off. I should have kept watch.I dont know, Dimitri said. Its possible. I precept them just before I talked to you, and everything seemed fine. They wanted to go w ith us to find Jill, but they knew it was only a matter of quantify before we turned them over to the authorities. Im not affect they came up with an escape plan. They could have used the feeding as a distraction to call the guardians and get rid of us.Crap. I sighed and pushed my hair back, indirect request I had a ponytail holder. We shouldve gotten rid of them when we had the chance. Whatll happen now?Dimitri was silent for a few seconds. The Mastranos will be questi 1d extensively. Well, all of them will, really. Theyll lock Sonya up for investigation, like me, and Sydney will be shipped back to the Alchemists.And what will they do to her?I dont know. But Im guessing her helping vampire fugitives wont go over well with her superiors.Crap, I repeated. Everything had fallen apart. And what are we going to do?Put some place in the midst of us and those guardians. Hide somewhere. Wrap up your ankle.I gave him a sidelong look. Wow. Youve got everything planned out. non really, h e said, a small let down on his face. Thats the easy stuff. What happens after that is going to be the hard part.My knocker sank. He was right. Provided the Mastranos werent indicted by Moroi authorities for helping criminals, Emily now had no one forcing her to acknowledge Jills heritage. If Sydney was being hauled back to her own peoplewell. She couldnt help either. I was going to have to tell someone else, I realized. The attached sentence I made contact with Adrian, Id have to divulge the truth so that my friends could do something about Jill. We couldnt sit on this secret any longer.Dimitri took the next exit, and I tuned back into the world. Hotel? I asked.Not quite, he said. We were in a busy, commercial area, not far from Ann Arbor, I thought. One of the Detroit suburbs. Restaurants and stores lined the road, and he turned us toward a twenty-four-hour superstore that promised to carry everything. He ballparked and opened his door. Stay here.ButDimitri looked meaningfull y at me, and I glanced down. Id come away from our fight more scuffed up than I realized, and the dress had torn. My ragged behavior would attract attention, as would my limping. I nodded, and he left.I spent the time turning over our problems, cursing myself for not having found a way to turn in the brothers once Robert had restored Sonya. Id been bracing myself for betrayal in the practice of some magical attack. I hadnt expected something as simple as a call to the guardians. Dimitri, ever the efficient shopper, returned soon with two large protrudes and something slung over his shoulder. He tossed it all in the backseat, and I peered back curiously. Whats that? It was long and cylindrical, covered in canvas.A tent.Why are we I groaned. No hotel, huh?Well be harder to find at a campground. The car will curiously be harder to find. We cant get rid of it quite yet, not with your foot.Those poor people, I said. I hope their car insurance covers theft.Back on the freeway, we soon left the urban sprawl, and it wasnt long before we saw advertisements for campgrounds and RV parks. Dimitri pulled over at a place called Peaceful Pines. He negotiated with the man functional in the office and produced a number of crisp bills. That was another ground we couldnt get a hotel, I realized. Most required credit cards, and Sydney had had all those (in fake names, of course). We were living off cash now.The clerk gave us directions along a gravel road that led to a spot on the opposite end of the campground. The place was busy with vacationing families, but no one paid much attention to us. Dimitri made sure enough to park as close to a cluster of trees as possible, in cabaret to obscure the car and its plates. Despite my protests, he wouldnt let me help with the tent. He claimed he could do it faster without me and that I should stay off my feet. I started to argue until he began assembling the tent. My jaw dropped a little as I watched how quickly he put it together. He didnt even need the directions. It had to be some cast of record.The tent was small and sturdy, giving us both room to sit and lie, though he had to hunch just a little when we were sitting. Once inside, I got to see the rest of his purchases. A pass around of it was first aid. There was also a flashlight he propped up, a kind of makeshift lamp.Let me see the ankle, he ordered.I stretched out my leg, and he pushed my dresss skirt up to my knee, fingers light against my skin. I shivered as a sense of deja vu swept me. It seemed to be happening to me a lot lately. I thought back to all the times he had helped me with other injuries. We could have been right back in St. Vladimirs gym. He gently tried and true the ankles mobility and did a little poking and prodding. His fingers never ceased to amaze me. They could break a mans neck, bandage a wound, and slide sensually across bare skin.I dont think its broken, he said at last. He lifted his hands, and I noticed how warm Id been while he touched me. Just sprained.That kind of thing happens when you keep jumping off roofs, I said. Jokes were my old standby to hide discomfort. You know, we never practiced that in our training.He smiled and took out fertilization material, wrapping the ankle until it was supported and stabilized. After that, he producedA bag of frozen peas?Dimitri shrugged and rested the bag on my ankle. The coolness instantly made me feel better. Easier than buying a full bag of ice.Youre pretty resourceful, Belikov. What else do you have stashed away?The rest of the bags contents turned out to be blankets and some food. I gave him a big grin when I saw hed gotten me sour cream potato chips and a bar of chocolate. I loved that he remembered such little details about me. My smile worn out(p) when another problem quickly popped up.You didnt buy any clothes, did you?Clothes? he asked, like it was a foreign word.I gestured to my torn dress. I cant wear this for long. What am I going to do? Mak e a toga out of a blanket? Youre such a guy, never thinking of this stuff.I was thinking of injury and survival. Fresh clothings a luxury, not a necessity.Not even your duster? I asked slyly.Dimitri froze for a moment and then swore. Hed had no need to wear his coat indoors at the Mastranoshonestly, he didnt need to outside eitherand had left it there in the ensuing fight.Dont worry, comrade, I teased. Plenty more where that came from.He spread blankets over the tents floor and primed(p) back on them. There was a look of woe on his face that was just about comical. Raids, bullets, criminals no problem. A missing duster? Crisis. Well get you another one, I said. You know, once we find Jill, clear my name, and save the world.Just those things, huh? he asked, making both of us laugh. But when I stretched myself out beside him, both our faces sobered.What are we going to do? I asked. Tonights most democratic question.Sleep, he said, clicking off the flashlight. Tomorrow well get a ho ld of Abe or Tasha or someone. Well let them handle it and get Jill where she needs to be.I was surprise how small my voice sounded when I spoke. I feel like we failed. I was so happy back there. I thought wed done the impossible, but it was for nothing. All this work for nothing.Nothing? he asked in astonishment. What we did this is huge. You found Lissas sister. Another Dragomir. I dont think you still really understand the weight of that. We had almost nothing to go on, yet you pushed forward and made it happen.And I unconnected Victor Dashkov. Again. Well, the thing about him is that he doesnt stay hidden for long. Hes one of those people who always has to be in control. Hell have to make a move eventually and when he doeswell get him.The smile returned to my lips, though I knew he couldnt see it. And I thought I was the optimistic one here.Its contagious, he replied. Then, to my surprise, his hand found mine in the dark. He fastened our fingers together. You did good, Roza. Very good. Now sleep.We touched in no other way, but his hand held all the warmth in the world. This was hardly a hone moment, like in the library, but our familiar connection and the understanding between us burned brighter than ever, and it felt good. Right. Natural. I didnt want to sleep. I just wanted to stay there and savor being with him. It wasnt cheating, I decided, thinking of Adrian. It was just enjoying this closeness.Still, sleep was essential. We worked out a schedule where each of us took shifts. He would stay awake now while I rested, and I had a feeling if I didnt sleep, he wouldnt either when the shift modification came. I closed my eyes, and it wasnt my heart I had to slow down this time. It was my mind, the hamster single-foot that went nowhere trying to figure out what to do next. Just get Jill to Court. Just get Jill to Court. That was all that mattered. Wed contact someone who could reach Jill. Dimitri and I would lie low, everything would soon fix itself.T hank God.I spun around, not even realizing Id fallen into a spirit dream. I was back in Sonyas tend with all its sunshine and color, and she sat back in a chair, flavor expectant.I was afraid youd be up all night, watching your back, she continued.I would if I had my choice, I replied, strolling over to her. She wasnt quite whom Id expected to see in my dreams, but at least Id made contact with the outside world. I wore the black-and-white dress here, but unlike reality, it was clean and intact. Dimitri thinks were in a secure locationthough hes awake, of course.Of course. There was a glimmer of entertainment in her eyes, but it was brief.Where are you? I asked. Did the guardians put you in holding?They didnt get me, she said smugly. You were their priority, and a little compulsion made sure they didnt see me. I took off I hated to leave Emily, though.I empathized but was too excited at Sonyas escape. Good news, finally. But you can get Jill to Court. Youre free.Sonya looked at m e as those Id just spoken French. I cant get to Jill.I frowned. Is she under that much security?Rose, said Sonya. Jill isnt with the guardians at all. Victor and Robert took her.