ʺNo.ʺ Sydney leaned back against the wooden wall. ʺStrigoi are the Lost. Youʹre Tainted because you joined the modern world and left behind their backward ways for your own messed up customs.ʺ
ʺHey,ʺ I retorted. ʺWeʹre not the ones with overalls and banjos.ʺ
ʺRose,ʺ chastised Dimitri, with a pointed look at the door. ʺBe careful. And besides, we only saw one person in overalls.ʺ
ʺIf it makes you feel better,ʺ said Sydney, ʺI think your ways are better. Seeing humans mixing with all this . . .ʺ The pleasant and professional face she had shown to the Keepers was gone. Her blunt nature was back. ʺItʹs disgusting. No offense.ʺ
ʺNone taken,ʺ I said with a shiver. ʺTrust me, I feel the same way. I canʹt believe . . . I canʹt believe they live like that.ʺ
She nodded, seeming grateful I shared her view. ʺI like you guys sticking with your own kind better. Except . . .ʺ
ʺExcept what?ʺ I prodded.
She looked sheepish. ʺEven if the people you come from donʹt marry humans, you do still interact with them and live in their cities. These guys donʹt.ʺ
ʺWhich Alchemists prefer,ʺ guessed Dimitri. ʺYou donʹt approve of this groupʹs customs, but you do like having them conveniently stashed out of mainstream society.ʺ
Sydney nodded. ʺThe more vampires who stay off on their own in the woods, the better—even if their lifestyle is crazy. These guys keep to themselves—and keep others out.ʺ
ʺThrough hostile means?ʺ I asked. Weʹd been met by a war party, and sheʹd expected it. All of them had been ready to fight: Moroi, dhampir, and human.
ʺHopefully not too hostile,ʺ she said evasively.
ʺThey let you through,ʺ said Dimitri. ʺThey know the Alchemists. Why did Sarah ask about you bringing them things?ʺ
ʺBecause thatʹs what we do,ʺ she said. ʺEvery so often for groups like these, we drop off supplies—food for everyone, medicine for the humans.ʺ Again, I heard that derision in her voice, but then she turned uneasy. ʺThe thing is, if Sarahʹs right, they could be due for an Alchemist visit. That would just be our luck to be here when that happens.ʺ
I was going to reassure her that we only needed to lie low a couple days when an earlier phrase tugged at me. ʺWait. You said ‘groups like these.ʹ How many of these commune things are out there?ʺ I turned to Dimitri. ʺThis isnʹt like the Alchemists, is it? Something only some of you know about that youʹre keeping from the rest of us?ʺ
He shook his head. ʺIʹm as astonished by all of this as you are.ʺ
ʺSome of your leaders probably know about the Keepers in a vague way,ʺ said Sydney. ʺBut no details. No locations. These guys hide themselves pretty well and can move on a momentʹs notice. They stay away from your people. They donʹt like your people.ʺ
I sighed. ʺWhich is why they wonʹt turn us in. And why theyʹre so excited I might have killed Tatiana. Thanks for that, by the way.ʺ
Sydney wasnʹt apologetic in the least. ʺIt gets us protection. Such as it is.ʺ She stifled a yawn. ʺBut for now? Iʹm exhausted. Iʹm not going to be able to follow anyoneʹs crazy plans—yours or Abeʹs—if I donʹt get some sleep.ʺ
Iʹd known she was tired, but only now did the extent of it hit me. Sydney wasnʹt like us. We needed sleep but had the endurance to put it off if needed. Sheʹd been up all night and forced into some situations that were definitely outside of her comfort zone. She looked like she could fall asleep against the wall then and there. I turned to Dimitri. He was already looking at me.
ʺShifts?ʺ I asked. I knew neither one of us would allow our group to stay unguarded in this place, even if we were allegedly queen-killing heroes.
He nodded. ʺYou go first, and Iʹll—ʺ
The door was flung open, and both Dimitri and I nearly leapt up to attack. A dhampir girl stood there, glaring at all of us. She was a couple years younger than me, about the age of my friend Jill Mastrano, a student back at St. Vladimirʹs who wanted to be a Moroi fighter. This girl looked like she did too, just by her stance alone. She possessed the strong, lean build most dhampirs had, her whole body braced like it might tackle any one of us. Her hair was stick-straight to her waist, a dark auburn that had picked up gold and copper highlights from the sun. She had the same blue eyes as Joshua.
ʺSo,ʺ she said. ʺYouʹre the big heroes taking my room.ʺ
ʺAngeline?ʺ I guessed, remembering Joshua mentioning his sister.
She narrowed her eyes, not liking that I knew who she was. ʺYes.ʺ She studied me unflinchingly and didnʹt seem to approve of what she found. That sharp gaze flicked to Dimitri next. I expected a softening, expected her to fall prey to his good looks the way most women did. But, no. He received suspicion as well. Her attention turned back to me.
ʺI donʹt believe it,ʺ she declared. ʺYouʹre too soft. Too prim.ʺ
Prim? Really? I didnʹt feel that way, not in my battle-scarred jeans and T-shirt. Looking at her attire, I could maybe understand the attitude, though. Her clothes were clean, but her jeans had been around a while, both knees worn to threads. The shirt was a plain, off-white tank top that had a homemade feel. I didnʹt know if it had originally been white. Maybe I was prim by comparison. Of course, if anyone deserved the title of prim, it would be Sydney. Her clothes wouldʹve passed at a business meeting, and she hadnʹt been in any fights or jail-breaks recently.
Angeline hadnʹt even given her a second glance, though. I was getting the feeling Alchemists were in a strange category around here, a different type of human from the ones who intermarried with the Keepers. Alchemists brought supplies and left. They were almost a type of feeder to these people, really, which boggled the mind. The Keepers had more respect for the types of humans my culture looked down on.
Regardless, I didnʹt know what to say to Angeline. I didnʹt like being called soft or having my battle prowess called into question. A spark of my temper flared, but I refused to cause trouble by getting in a fight with our hostʹs daughter, nor was I going to start making up details about Tatianaʹs murder. I simply shrugged.
ʺLooks are deceiving,ʺ I said.
ʺYes,ʺ Angeline said coolly. ʺThey are.ʺ
She stalked over to a small chest in the corner and pulled out what looked like a nightgown. ʺYou better not mess up my bed,ʺ she warned me. She glanced over at Sydney, sitting on the other mattress. ʺI donʹt care what you do to Pauletteʹs.ʺ
ʺIs Paulette your sister?ʺ I asked, still trying to put this family together.
There didnʹt seem to be anything I could say that wouldnʹt offend this girl. ʺOf course not,ʺ Angeline snapped, slamming the door as she left. I stared at it in astonishment.
Sydney yawned and stretched out on her bed. ʺPaulette is probably Raymondʹs . . . eh, I donʹt know. Mistress. Concubine.ʺ
ʺWhat?ʺ I exclaimed. A Moroi married to a human and having an affair with a Moroi. I wasnʹt sure how much more I could take. ʺLiving with his family?ʺ
ʺDonʹt ask me to explain it. I donʹt want to know any more about your twisted ways than I have to.ʺ
ʺItʹs not my way,ʺ I retorted.
Sarah came shortly thereafter to apologize for Angeline and see if we needed anything else. We assured her we were fine and thanked her profusely for her hospitality. Once she was gone, Dimitri and I set up sleeping shifts. I would have rather we both stayed on alert, particularly since I felt pretty sure Angeline would slit someoneʹs throat in their sleep. But, we needed rest and knew weʹd both react promptly if anyone came busting down our door.
So, I let Dimitri take the first watch while I snuggled into Angelineʹs bed and tried not to ʺmess it up.ʺ It was surprisingly comfortable. Or, maybe I was just that tired. I was able to let go of my worries about execution, lost siblings, and vampire hillbillies. Deep sleep wrapped around me, and I began to dream . . . but not just any dream. It was a shifting of my inner world, the sense of being both in and out of reality. I was being pulled into a spirit-induced dream.
Adrian!
The thought excited m
e. Iʹd missed him and was eager to talk to someone directly after all that had happened at Court. There hadnʹt been much time to talk during my escape, and after this bizarre backwoods world Iʹd stumbled into, I really needed some piece of normality and civilization around me.
The dreamʹs world began to form around me, growing clearer and clearer. It was a location Iʹd never seen, a formal parlor with chairs and couches covered in lavender paisley cushions. Oil paintings lined the walls, and there was a large harp in the corner. Iʹd learned long ago that there was no predicting where Adrian would send me—or what heʹd make me wear. Fortunately, I was in jeans and a T-shirt, my blue nazar hanging around my neck.
I turned around anxiously, looking for him so that I could give him a giant hug. Yet, as my eyes searched the room, it wasnʹt Adrianʹs face I suddenly found myself looking into.
It was Robert Doruʹs.
And Victor Dashkov was with him.
TEN
WHEN YOUR BOYFRIEND IS A dream-walker, you pick up a few lessons. One of the most important is that doing physical things in dreams feels exactly like doing them in the real world. Say, like kissing someone. Adrian and I had shared a number of dream-kisses intense enough to spark my body wanting to try a whole lot more. Although Iʹd never actually attacked someone in a dream, I was willing to bet a punch here would feel just as painful as a real one.
Without hesitation, I lunged toward Victor, uncertain as to whether I should sock him or choke him. Both seemed like good ideas. Turned out, I did neither. Before I could reach him, I slammed into an invisible wall—hard. It both blocked me from him and bounced me back at the impact. I stumbled, tried to regain my footing, but instead landed painfully on the ground. Yup—dreams felt just like real life.
I glared at Robert, feeling a mix of both anger and uneasiness. I tried to hide that last emotion. ʺYouʹre a spirit user with telekinesis?ʺ
Weʹd known that was possible, but it was a skill neither Lissa nor Adrian had mastered yet. I really didnʹt like the idea that Robert might have the power to throw objects around and create invisible barriers. It was a disadvantage we didnʹt need. Robert remained enigmatic. ʺI control the dream.ʺ
Victor was looking down at me with that smug, calculating expression he excelled at. Realizing what an undignified position I was in, I leapt to my feet. I kept a hard stance, my body tense and ready as I wondered if Robert would keep the wall up continuously.
ʺAre you done with your tantrum?ʺ asked Victor. ʺBehaving like a civilized person will make our talk so much more pleasant.ʺ
ʺI have no interest in talking to you,ʺ I snapped. ʺThe only thing Iʹm going to do is hunt you down in the real world and drag you back to the authorities.ʺ
ʺCharming,ʺ said Victor. ʺWe can share a cell.ʺ
I winced.
ʺYes,ʺ he continued. ʺI know all about what happened. Poor Tatiana. Such a tragedy. Such a loss.ʺ
His mocking, melodramatic tone sparked an alarming idea. ʺYou . . . you didnʹt have anything to do with it, did you?ʺ Victorʹs escape from prison had triggered a lot of fear and paranoia amongst the Moroi. Theyʹd been convinced he was coming for them all. Knowing the truth about the escape, Iʹd dismissed such talk and figured heʹd simply lie low. Now, remembering how heʹd once wanted to start a revolution among the Moroi, I wondered if the queenʹs murderer actually was the most evil villain we knew.
Victor snorted. ʺHardly.ʺ He put his hands behind his back as he paced the room and pretended to study the art. I again wondered how far Robertʹs shield extended. ʺI have much more sophisticated methods to accomplish my goals. I wouldnʹt stoop to something like that—and neither would you.ʺ
I was about to point out that messing with Lissaʹs mind was hardly sophisticated, but his last words caught my attention. ʺYou donʹt think I did it?ʺ
He glanced back from where heʹd been studying a man with a top hat and cane. ʺOf course not. Youʹd never do anything that required that much foresight. And, if what Iʹve heard about the crime scene is true, youʹd never leave that much evidence behind.ʺ
There was both an insult and a compliment there. ʺWell, thanks for the vote of confidence. Iʹve been worrying about what youʹd think.ʺ This earned me a smile, and I crossed my arms over my chest. ʺHow do you guys even know whatʹs happening at Court? Do you have spies?ʺ
ʺThis sort of thing spreads throughout the Moroi world quickly,ʺ said Victor. ʺIʹm not that out of touch. I knew about her murder almost as soon as it happened. And about your most impressive escape.ʺ
My attention mostly stayed on Victor, but I did cast a quick glance at Robert. He remained silent, and from the blank, distracted look in his eyes, I wondered if he was even aware of what was being said around him. Seeing him always sent a chill down my spine. He was a prominent example of spirit at its worst.
ʺWhy do you care?ʺ I demanded. ʺAnd why the hell are you bothering me in my dreams?ʺ
Victor continued his pacing, pausing to run his fingertips along the harpʹs smooth, wooden surface. ʺBecause I have a great interest in Moroi politics. And Iʹd like to know whoʹs responsible for the murder and what their game is.ʺ
I smirked. ʺSounds like youʹre just jealous someone else is pulling the strings besides you for a change. No pun intended.ʺ
His hand dropped from the harp, back to his side, and he fixed his sharp eyes on me, eyes the same pale green as Lissaʹs. ʺYour witty commentary isnʹt going to get you anywhere. You can either let us help you or not.ʺ
ʺYou are the last person I want help from. I donʹt need it.ʺ
ʺYes. Things seem to be going quite well for you, now that youʹre a hunted fugitive and on the run with a man that many still believe is Strigoi.ʺ Victor gave a calculated pause. ʺOf course, Iʹm sure you donʹt mind that last part so much. You know, if I found you two, I could probably shoot you and be welcomed back as a hero.ʺ
ʺDonʹt bet on it.ʺ Rage burned through me, both at his insinuation and because heʹd caused so much trouble for Dimitri and me in the past. With great force of will, I replied in a low, deadly voice: ʺI am going to find you. And you probably wonʹt live to see the authorities.ʺ
ʺWe already established murder isnʹt in your skill set.ʺ Victor sat down in one of the cushioned chairs, making himself comfortable. Robert continued standing, that out-of-it expression still on his face. ʺNow, the first thing we need to do is determine why someone would want to kill our late queen. Her abrasive personality is hardly motivation, though Iʹm sure it didnʹt hurt. People do things like this for power and advantage, to push their agendas through. From what I hear, Tatianaʹs most controversial action recently was that age law—yes, thatʹs the one. The one making you scowl at me like that. It stands to reason that her murderer opposed that.ʺ
I didnʹt want to comply with Victor at all. I didnʹt want a reasonable discussion with him. What I wanted was some indication of where he was in real life, and then, I wanted to take a chance on slamming into that invisible wall again. Itʹd be worth the risk if I could do some damage. So, I was a bit surprised when I found myself saying, ʺOr, whoever did it wanted to push something worse through—something harsher on dhampirs. They thought her decree was too soft.ʺ
I admit, catching Victor Dashkov off guard was one of the greatest joys of my life. I had that satisfaction now, seeing his eyebrows rise in astonishment. It wasnʹt easy proposing something a master schemer like him hadnʹt already considered. ʺInteresting,ʺ he said at last. ʺI may have underestimated you, Rose. Thatʹs a brilliant deduction on your part.ʺ
ʺWell, um . . . it wasnʹt exactly my deduction.ʺ
Victor waited expectantly. Even Robert snapped out of his daze and focused on me. It was creepy.
ʺIt was Tatianaʹs. I mean, not her deduction. She said it directly—well, that is, the note she left for me did.ʺ Why was I rambling in front of these guys? At least I surprised Victor again.
ʺTatiana Ivashkov left you a note with clandestine information? Whatever for?ʺ
I bit my lip and turned my attention over to one of the paintings. It showed an elegant Moroi woman with those same jade green eyes most Dashkovs and Dragomirs shared. I suddenly wondered if perhaps Robert had formed this dream in some Dashkov mansion from their childhood. Movement in my periphery made me instantly turn back to the brothers.
Victor rose and took a few steps toward me, curiosity and cunning all over him. ʺThereʹs more. What else did she tell you? She knew she was in danger. She knew this law was part of it . . . but it wasnʹt the only thing, was it?ʺ
I remained silent, but a crazy idea began forming in my mind. I was actually considering seeing if Victor could help me. Of course, in retrospect, that wasnʹt such a crazy notion, considering Iʹd already busted him out of prison to get his help.
ʺTatiana said . . .ʺ Should I say it? Should I give up the secret even Lissa didnʹt know? If Victor knew there was another Dragomir, he might use that knowledge for one of his schemes. How? I wasnʹt sure but had long learned to expect the unexpected from him. Yet . . . Victor knew a lot of Moroi secrets. I would have enjoyed watching him and Abe match wits. And I didnʹt doubt that a lot of Victorʹs inside knowledge involved the Dragomirs and Dashkovs. I swallowed. ʺTatiana said that there was another Dragomir. That Lissaʹs dad had an affair and that if I could find whoever this is, itʹll give Lissa her power back on the Council.ʺ
When Victor and Robert exchanged shocked looks, I knew my plan had backfired. Victor wasnʹt going to give me insight. Instead, Iʹd been the one to just yield valuable information. Damn, damn, damn.
He turned his attention back to me, his expression speculative. ʺSo. Eric Dragomir wasnʹt the saint he so often played.ʺ
I balled my fists. ʺDonʹt slam her dad.ʺ
ʺWouldnʹt dream of it. I liked Eric immensely. But yes . . . if this is true, then Tatiana is right. Vasilisa technically has family backing, and her liberal views would certainly cause friction on a Council that never seems to change their ways.ʺ He chuckled. ʺYes, I can definitely see that upsetting many people—including a murderer who wants to oppress dhampirs. I imagine he or she wouldnʹt want this knowledge to get out.ʺ
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