Shadow Kiss Chapter 6

SIXTHERE HAD ONLY BEEN THREE other witnesses to what had happened protrude on the quad. Yet, unsurprisingly, e precise iodine seemed to bed about it when I re false to the commons later on. Classes were d oneness, tho plenty of students moved about in the corridors, off to study or retake tests or whatever. They tried to hide their glances and whispers, only when they didnt do a very good job. Those who do eye contact with me either gave me tight-lipped smiles or immediately looked away. Wonderful.With no psychical link to Christian, I had no clue where to find him. I could mavin that Lissa was in the depository library and figured that would be a good place to showtime looking. On my way on that point, I heard a guys representative call out behind me.Took things a bit far, didnt you?I turned slightly and apothegm Ryan and Camille walking several steps cover. If Id been a guy, the appropriate response would have been, You mean with your mom? Because I was not a guy, thoug h, and because I had manners, I exclusively said, Dont spot what youre talking about.Ryan hurried to catch up with me. You know exactly what I mean. With Christian. I heard that when Stan attacked, you were just like, Here, take him, and walked away.Oh good God, I groaned. It was prominent enough when everyone was talking about you, exclusively why did the stories always end up changing? That is not what happened.Oh yeah? he asked. Then why did you captivate called in to see Alberta?Look, I said, not feeling so well mannered anymore, I just messed up the attackyou know, kind of like you did before when you werent paying attention in the hall?Hey, he said, flushing slightly. I ended up absorbting in on that I did my part.Is that what theyre calling getting killed directly?At least I wasnt a whiny bitch who ref apply to fight.I had just about calmed down after speaking with Dimitri, but now my irritability was rising already. It was like a thermometer ready to burst. You kno w, maybe instead of criticizing others, you should pay more attention to your own shielder duties. I nodded toward Camille. She had thus far been quiet, but her face showed me she was eating all of this up.Ryan shrugged. I can do both. Shanes farther behind us, and the area ahead is clear. No doors. Easy. He patted Camilles shoulder. Shes safe.Its an easy place to secure. You wouldnt do so well in the real world with real Strigoi.His smile faded. Anger glinted in his eyes. Right. The way I hear it, you didnt do such a great job out there either, at least not as far as Mason was concerned.Taunting over what had happened with Stan and Christian was one thing. But implying that I was at fault for Masons death? Unacceptable. I was the one whod kept Lissa safe for two years in the human world. I was the one who had killed two Strigoi in Spokane. I was the only novice at this school with molnija marks, the little tattoos given to guardians to mark Strigoi kills. Id known there had been s ome whispers about what had happened to Mason, but no one had ever actually said anything to me. The belief of Ryan or anyone else prizeing I was to blame for Mason dying was too often. I goddam myself plenty enough already without their help.The thermometer broke.In one smooth motion, I reached past him, grabbed Camille, and swung her up against the wall. I hadnt thrown her hard enough to hurt her, but she was clearly startled. Her eyes widened in shock, and I used my forearm to pin her, pressing it against her throat.What are you doing? exclaimed Ryan, peering back and forth between our faces. I shifted my stance slightly, quiesce adjudgeing the pressure on Camille.Furthering your education, I said pleasantly. Sometimes places arent as easy to secure as you think.Youre crazy You cant hurt a Moroi. If the guardians find out Im not, I argued. I glanced toward her. Am I hurting you? Are you in extreme pain? at that place was a hesitation therefore she gave as much of a shake of her head as she could manage.Are you uncomfortable?A small nod.See? I told Ryan. Discomfort isnt the same thing as pain.Youre insane. allow her go.Im not done, Ry. Pay attention because heres the point Danger can come from anywhere. Not just Strigoi or guardians dressed up like Strigoi. Keep acting like an arrogant asshole who thinks he knows everything I pressed my arm in a little harder, still not enough to affect her external respiration or cause real pain and you miss things. And those things can kill your Moroi.Okay, okay. Whatever. Please, stop it, he said. His voice swerveed. There was no more attitude. Youre scaring her.Id be panic-stricken too, if my life was in your hands.The scent of cloves alerted me to Adrians presence. I also knew that Shane and a few others had come to watch. The other novices looked uncertain, like they wanted to pry me off but were panic-stricken of getting Camille hurt. I knew I should let her go, but Ryan had just made me so angry. I needful to prove a point to him. I needed to get him back. And really, I didnt in time feel sorry for Camille either since I was sure shed done her fair address of gossiping about me too.This is fascinating, said Adrian, his voice as lazy as usual. But I think youve made your point.I dont know, I said. The tone of my voice managed to be both sweet and be at the same time. I still dont think Ryan gets it.For Gods sake, Rose I get it, cried Ryan. Just let her go.Adrian moved around me, liberation over to beneathpin beside Camille. She and I were pressed close together, but he managed to squeeze in so that his face was in my line of sight, almost beside hers. He wore that goofy simper he normally had, but there was something serious in his dark green eyes.Yes, little dhampir. Let her go. Youre done here.I wanted to tell Adrian to get away from me, that I would be the one to theorise when this was finished. Somehow, I couldnt get the words out. A part of me was en loved at his i nterference. The other part of me thought he soundedreasonable.Let her go, he repeated.My eyes were all over Adrian now, not Camille. Suddenly, all of me decided he sounded reasonable. Completely reasonable. I needed to let her go. I moved my arm and stepped away. With a gulp, Camille darted behind Ryan, using him like a shield. I saw now that she was on the verge of tears. Ryan simply looked stunned.Adrian straightened up and made a dismissive gesture toward Ryan. Id get out of here before you really annoy Rose.Ryan, Camille, and the others slowly backed off from us. Adrian put his arm around me and hurried me away toward the library. I felt weird, kind of like I was waking up, but then, with each step, things grew clearer and clearer. I pushed his arm off me and jerked away.You just used compulsion on me I exclaimed. You made me let her go.Someone needed to. You looked like you were seconds away from strangling her.I wasnt. And I wouldnt have. I pushed open the library door. You had no right to do that to me. No right at all. Compulsion making people do what you wanted was a skill all vampires had to a very small degree. Using it was considered immoral, and most couldnt control it well enough to do any real damage. Spirit strengthened the ability, however, making both Adrian and Lissa very dangerous.And you had no right to tackle some poor girl in the hall just to soothe your own hurt pride.Ryan had no right to say those things.I dont even know what those things are, but unless Ive misjudged your age, youre too old to be throwing a tantrum over idle gossip.Throwing a My words fell in short as we reached Lissa working at a table. Her face and feelings told me trouble was coming. Eddie stood a couple feet away from her, leaning against a wall and watching the room. His eyes widened when he saw me, but he didnt say anything at my approach.I slid into the chair opposite Lissa.Hey.She looked up and sighed, then returned her attention to the textbook open in strawman of her. I wondered when youd turn up, she said. Did you get suspended?Her words were calm and polite, but I could read her underlying feelings. Annoyed. Even a little angry.Not this time, I said. Just got stuck with community service.She said nothing, but the irate mood I sensed through the bond remained unchanged.Now I sighed. Okay, talk to me, Liss. I know youre mad.Adrian looked at me, then her, and then me again. I feel like Im missing something here.Oh, great, I said. You went and busted up my fight and didnt even know what it was about.Fight? asked Lissa, confusedness joining her anger.What happened? repeated Adrian.I nodded to Lissa. Go ahead, tell him.Rose got tested earlier and refused to protect Christian. She shook her head, exasperated, and fixed me with an accusitory glare. I cant believe youre heavy(a) still mad enough to do something like that to him. Its childish.Lissa had jumped to the same conclusions as the guardians. I sighed. I didnt do it on purpose I just sat through a whole hearing on this crap and told them the same thing.Then what happened? she demanded. Why did you do it?I hesitated, unsure what to say. My reluctance to talk didnt even have anything to do with Adrian and Eddie overhearing though I certainly didnt want them to. The problem was more complex.Dimitri had been right there were people I could trust, and two of them I trust unconditionally him and Lissa. Id already held back from telling him the truth. Would I could I do the same with her? Although she was mad, I knew without a doubt that Lissa would always support me and be there for me. But just like with Dimitri, I balked at the idea of telling my ghost story. Also just like with Dimitri, it left me in the same contain crazy or incompetent?Through our bond, I felt her mind, pure and clear. There was no taint, no darkness, or sign of madness and yet, something tingled in the background. A slight stirring. Antidepressants took awhile to fully get into and out of ones system, but her magic was already waking up after one day. I thought back to my ghostly encounters, dredging up the memory of that sad, translucent Mason. How could I even begin to explain that to her? How could I bring up something as weird and fantastic as that when shed been trying so hard to get a little normality in her life and now faced the challenge of getting her magic under control?No, I realized. I couldnt tell her. Not yet especially when it suddenly occurred to me that there was still something else big I needed to let her know about.I froze, I said finally. Its stupid. Id been so cocky about being able to take out anyone, and then Stan I shrugged. I dont know. I just couldnt react. It its really embarrassing. And him of all people.Lissa studied me intently, looking for any sign of dishonesty. It hurt to think that shed mistrust me, exceptwell, I was actually lying. As Id told Dimitri, though, I could be a good liar when I wanted to be. Lissa couldnt tell .I wish I could read your mind, she mused.Come on, I said. You know me. Do you really think Id do this? Abandon Christian and work up myself look stupid on purpose just to get back at my teachers?No, she said finally. Youd probably do it in a way where you wouldnt get caught.Dimitri said the same thing, I grumbled. Im glad everyone has so much faith in me.We do, she countered. Thats why all of this is so weird.Even I make mistakes. I put on my brash, overconfident face. I know its hard to believe kind of surprises me myself but I pass judgment it has to happen. Its probably some kind of karmic way to balance out the universe. Otherwise, it wouldnt be fair to have one person so full of awesomeness.Adrian, blessedly still for a change, was watching the two of us talk, much as one would look back and forth at a tennis match. His eyes were narrow slightly, and I suspected he was studying our auras.Lissa rolled her eyes, but fortunately, the anger Id felt earlier lightened. She beli eved me. Her gaze then lifted from my face to someone beyond me. I felt the happy, golden emotions that signaled Christians presence.My loyal bodyguard returns, he declared, pulling up a chair. He glanced at Lissa. Are you done yet? do with what? she asked.He inclined his head toward me. Giving her a hard time about how she threw me into the deadly clutches of Alto.Lissa blushed. She was already feeling a little bad about jumping on me, now that Id defended myself sufficiently. Christians flippant, knowing observation just made her feel more foolish.We were just talking about it, thats all.Adrian yawned and slouched back in his chair. Actually, I think Ive figured it all out. This was a scam, wasnt it? A scam to s explosive charge me off since Im always talking about you being my guardian. You thought if you untrue to be a bad guardian, I wouldnt want you. Well, its not going to work, so theres no point in risking anyone elses life.I was grateful he didnt parent the incident in th e hall. Ryan had absolutely been out of line, but as more time passed, it became harder and harder for me to believe Id snapped like that. It was like something that had happened to someone else, something that Id simply been watching. Of course, I seemed to be snapping over everything lately. Id been mad about getting Christian, mad about the guardians accusation, mad about Oh, right. It was probably time for me to drop the bomb.So, um theres something you guys should know.Four sets of eyes even Eddies turned to me.Whats wrong? asked Lissa.There was really no easy way to tell them, so I just pushed forward. Well, it turns out that Victor Dashkov was never found bloodguilty of what he did to us. Hes just been locked up. But theyre finally going to have an official trial in another week or so.Lissas reaction to hearing his spot was similar to mine. Shock shot through the bond, followed immediately by fear. A slide show of images flashed through her mind. The way Victors sick ga me had made her hesitation her sanity. The torture his henchman had subjected her to. The bloody state shed found Christian in after hed been attacked by Victors hounds. She clenched her fists on the table, knuckles going white. Christian couldnt sense her reaction the way I could, but he didnt need to. He moved his hand over hers. She barely noticed.But but She took a deep, steady breath, fighting to stay calm. How could he not be guilty already? Everyone knows. They all saw.Its the law. They supposedly have to give him a fighting chance.There was confusion all over her, and slowly, she came to the same realization that I had last night with Dimitri. Sowait are you saying theres a chance they aptitude not find him guilty?I looked into her wide, frightened eyes and couldnt bring myself to tell her. Apparently, my face said it all.Christian slammed his fist against the table. This is bullshit. Several people at other tables glanced over at his outburst.This is politics, said Adrian . People in power never have to play by the same rules.But he nigh killed Rose and Christian cried Lissa. And he kidnapped me How can there be any question?Lissas emotions were all over the place. Fear. Sorrow. Anger. Outrage. Confusion. Helplessness. I didnt want her delving into those dark feelings and hoped desperately that shed move around calm again. Slowly, steadily, she did but then I started getting angry again. It was like Ryan all over.Its a formality, Im sure, said Adrian. When all the evidence is in, there probably isnt going to be much of a debate.Thats the thing, I said bitterly. Theyre not going to have all the evidence. We arent allowed to go.What? exclaimed Christian. Then whos testifying?The other guardians who were there. We apparently cant be trusted to keep the whole thing quiet. The queen doesnt want the world to know that one of her precious royals might have done something wrong.Lissa didnt seem to take offense at me trashing royals. But were the reason he s on trial.Christian stood up, glancing around as though Victor might be in the library. Im going to go take care of this right now.Sure, said Adrian. I bet going in there and kicking down the door will change their minds. Take Rose with you, and you guysll make a really good impression.Yeah? asked Christian, clenching the back of his chair and fixing Adrian with a stormy glare. You have a better idea?Lissas calmness began to waver again. If Victor was free, would he come after us again?If he gets loose again, he wont stay that way for long, I said. Ill make sure of it. certain there, said Adrian. He seemed to find all of this funny. Even you couldnt get away with a royal assassination.I started to tell him that Id practice on him first, but then Eddies sharp voice interrupted my thoughts.Rose.Instinct born from years of training instantly kicked into place. I looked up and immediately saw what hed noticed. Emil had just entered the library and was see for novices, taking notes. I shot up out of my chair, taking a position not far from Eddie that gave me a view of Christian and most of the library. all-fired it. I had to get a grip, or Id end up proving Ryan right. Between my brawl in the hall and now this Victor thing, I was completely neglecting my guardian duties. I might not even need Mason to fail this.Emil hadnt seen me sitting and socializing. He strolled by, glanced at us, and made a few notes before mind off to scout the rest of the library. Relieved at escaping my close call, I tried to gain control of myself. It was hard. That black mood had seized me again, and listening to Lissa and Christian rage over Victors trial wasnt really helping me relax. I wanted to go over there and weigh in. I wanted to yell and rant and share my own frustration. But that wasnt a luxury I had as a guardian. My first duty was to protect Moroi and not give into my own impulses. Over and over, I repeated the guardian mantra They come first.Those words were really starti ng to annoy me.