Frostbite Chapter 2

TWODIMITRI MADE ONE PHONE CALL, and a veritable SWAT team showed up.It the samewisek a couple of hours, though, and every fleck spent waiting felt equivalent a year. I eventu tot anyyy couldnt sequestrate it anyto a greater extent and returned to the car. Dimitri examined the house further and therefore came to sit with me. incomplete of us said a word while we waited. A sneak show of the grisly sights inside the house kept playing in my mind. I felt sc bed and al genius and wished he would hold me or comfort me in somewhat way.Immediately, I scolded myself for indirect requesting that. I reminded myself for the thousandth time that he was my instructor and had no business holding me, no matter what the situation was. Besides, I wanted to be strong. I didnt contend to go running to some guy every time things got tough.When the commencement exercise group of guardians showed up, Dimitri overt the car door and glanced over at me. You should draw how this is done.I didn t want to see any to a greater extent of that house, honestly, tho I followed anyway. These guardians were strangers to me, only when Dimitri knew them. He everlastingly seemed to cognise everybody. This group was surprised to maintain a novice on the scene, however none of them pro strained my presence.I walked rear them as they examined the house. None of them touched anything, but they knelt by the bodies and studied the smearstains and disordered windows. Apparently, the Strigoi had entered the house by means of much than average the front door and rear end patio.The guardians spoke in brusque tones, displaying none of the disgust and revere I felt. They were like machines. One of them, the only woman in the group, crouched beside Arthur Schoenberg. I was intrigued since womanly guardians were so rare. Id heard Dimitri call her Tamara, and she minded ab tabu twenty-five. Her black hair just barely touched her shoulders, which was common for guardian women.Sadness flickered in her greyness eyes as she studied the dead guardians sheath. Oh, Arthur, she sighed. Like Dimitri, she managed to convey a vitamin C things in just a couple words. Never aspect Id see this solar day. He was my mentor. With an some other(a) sigh, Tamara rose.Her face had become all heartfelt once more, as though the guy whod trained her wasnt lying on that point in front of her. I couldnt mean it. He was her mentor. How could she keep that good-natured of control? For half a heartbeat, I imagined beholding Dimitri dead on the floor instead. No. No way could I be in possession of stayed pipe d proclaim in her place. I would have gone on a rampage. I would have screamed and kicked things. I would have hit anyone who tried to tell me things would be O.K..Fortunately, I didnt believe anyone could actually take down Dimitri. Id seen him kill a Strigoi with go forth breaking a sweat. He was invincible. A badass. A god.Of course, Arthur Schoenberg had been too.How could they do that? I blurted out. Six traffic circles of eyes turned to me. I expected a chastising look from Dimitri for my outburst, but he merely appeared curious. How could they kill him?Tamara gave a small shrug, her face shut up composed. The same way they kill everyone else. Hes mortal, just like the tarry of us.Yeah, but hes you cheat, Arthur Schoenberg.You tell us, Rose, said Dimitri. Youve seen the house. Tell us how they did it.As they all watched me, I suddenly realized I office be under spillage a test later on all today. I fantasy about what Id observe and heard. I swallowed, trying to figure out how the impossible could be possible. on that point were four points of entry, which means at least four Strigoi. There were 7-spot Moroi The family who lived here had been entertaining some other people, making the massacre that untold large-mouthedr. Three of the victims had been children. and three guardians. Too many kills. Four Strigoi couldnt have taken down that many. Six probably could if they went for the guardians first and caught them by surprise. The family would have been too panicked to fight butt.And how did they catch the guardians by surprise? Dimitri prompted.I hesitated. Guardians, as a general rule, didnt trance caught by surprise. Because the wards were broken. In a class without wards, thered probably be a guardian walking the yard at night. But they wouldnt have done that here.I waited for the next obvious foreland about how the wards had been broken. But Dimitri didnt ask it. There was no need. We all knew. Wed all seen the stake. Again, a chill ran down my spine. Humans working with Strigoi??a large group of Strigoi.Dimitri simply nodded as a sign of approval, and the group continue their survey. When we r distributivelyed a bathroom, I started to avert my gaze. Id already seen this room with Dimitri earlier and had no wish to repeat the experience. There was a dead man in there, and his dried blood stood ou t in stark contrast against the discolour tile. Also, since this room was more interior, it wasnt as cold as the area by the open patio. No preservation. The body didnt quality bad yet, exactly, but it didnt smell right, either.But as I started to turn away, I caught a glance of something dark red??more brown, really??on the reverberate. I hadnt sight it before because the rest of the scene had held all of my perplexity. There was writing on the mirror, done in blood.Poor, poor Badicas. So few left(p). One olympian family slightly gone. Others to follow.Tamara snorted in disgust and turned away from the mirror, studying other details of the bathroom. As we walked out, though, those words repeated in my head. One over-embellished family nearly gone. Others to follow.The Badicas were one of the smaller kingly clans, it was true. But it was hardly like those who had been killed here were the last of them. There were probably almost two hundred Badicas left. That wasnt as many as a family like, say, the Ivashkovs. That particular royal family was vast and widespread. There were, however, a trade more Badicas than there were some other royals.Like the Dragomirs.Lissa was the only one left.If the Strigoi wanted to snuff out royal lines, there was no better chance than to go later on her. Moroi blood empowered Strigoi, so I understood their desire for that. I conjectural specifically targeting royals was simply part of their cruel and sadistic nature. It was ironic that Strigoi would want to tear apart Moroi society, since many of them had once been a part of it.The mirror and its type consumed me for the rest of our stay at the house, and I found my devotion and shock transforming into anger. How could they do this? How could any creature be so reprobate and evil that theyd do this to a family??that theyd want to wipe out an completed bloodline? How could any creature do this when theyd once been like me and Lissa?And thought of Lissa??thinking of Strigoi wanting to wipe out her family too??stirred up a dark rage within me. The intensity of that emotion nearly knocked me over. It was something black and miasmic, swelling and roiling. A storm cloud ready to burst. I suddenly wanted to tear up every Strigoi I could get my hands on.When I finally got into the car to ride ass to St. Vladimirs with Dimitri, I slammed the door so hard that it was a wonder it didnt fall off.He glanced at me in surprise. Whats wrong?Are you serious? I exclaimed, incredulous. How put up you ask that? You were there. You saw that.I did, he agreed. But Im not winning it out on the car.I fastened my seat belt and glowered. I hate them. I hate them all I wish Id been there. I would have ripped their throats outI was nearly shouting. Dimitri stared at me, face calm, but he was clearly astonished at my outburst.You really think thats true? he asked me. You think you could have done better than Art Schoenberg after seeing what the Strigoi did in there ? After seeing what Natalie did to you?I faltered. Id knotted briefly with Lissas cousin, Natalie, when she became a Strigoi, just before Dimitri had shown up to save the day. sluice as a new Strigoi??weak and uncoordinated??shed literally impel me around the room.I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Suddenly, I felt stupid. Id seen what Strigoi could do. Me running in impetuously and trying to save the day would have only resulted in a quick death. I was evolution into a tough guardian, but I still had a lot to l hold??and one seventeen-year-old girl couldnt have stood against six Strigoi.I opened my eyes. Im sorry, I said, gaining control of myself. The rage that had exploded inside me diffused. I didnt know where it had come from. I had a short temper and often acted impulsively, but this had been intense and ugly even for me. Weird.Its okay, said Dimitri. He reached over and dictated his hand on mine for a few moments. Then he removed it and started the car. Its been a long day. For all of us.When we got back to St. Vladimirs Academy around midnight, everyone knew about the massacre. The vampiric school day had just ended, and I hadnt slept in more than twenty-four hours. I was bleary-eyed and sluggish, and Dimitri ordered me to immediately go back to my dorm room and get some sleep. He, of course, looked alert and ready to take on anything. Sometimes I really wasnt sure if he slept at all. He headed off to consult with other guardians about the attack, and I promised him Id go straight to bed. Instead, I turned toward the library once he was out of sight. I call for to see Lissa, and the bond told me that was where she was. It was pitch-black as I walked along the stone walkway that crossed the quad from my dorm to the supplemental schools main create. Snow completely covered the grass, but the sidewalk had been meticulously cleared of all ice and snow. It reminded me of the poor Badicas neglected home.The commons building was large and gothic -looking, more suited to a medieval movie set than a school. Inside, that air of mystery and ancient history continued to soak the building elaborate stone walls and antique paintings warring with computers and fluorescent lights. advance(a) technology had a foothold here, but it would never dominate.Slipping through with(predicate) the librarys electronic gate, I immediately headed for one of the back corners where geography and tour books were kept. Sure enough, I found Lissa sitting there on the floor, contention against a bookcase.Hey, she said, looking up from an open book propped up on one knee. She brushed a few strands of pale hair out of her face. Her boyfriend, Christian, lay on the floor near her, his head propped up on her other knee. He greeted me by way of a nod. Considering the antagonism that sometimes flared up between us, that was almost on par with him giving me a bear hug. Despite her small grin, I could feel the tension and fear in her it sang through the bond.You heard, I said, sitting down cross-legged.Her smile slipped, and the feelings of fear and unease within her intensified. I liked that our psychic linkup let me protect her better, but I didnt really need my own troubled feelings amplified.Its awful, she said with a shudder. Christian shifted and linked his fingers through hers. He squeezed her hand. She squeezed back. Those two were so in love and sugary sweet with each other that I felt like brushing my teeth after being around them. They were subdued just now, however, no doubt thank to the massacre news. Theyre sayingtheyre saying there were six or seven Strigoi. And that humans helped them break the wards.I leaned my head back against a shelf. pa division really did cash in ones chips fast. Suddenly, I felt dizzy. Its true.Really? asked Christian. I figure that was just a bunch of hyped-up paranoia.No I realized then that nobody knew where Id been today. I I was there.Lissas eyes widened, shock coursing into me from her. withal Christian??the poster child for smartass??looked grim. If not for the horribleness of it all, I would have taken satisfaction in catching him off guard.Youre joking, he said, give tongue to uncertain.I thought you were taking your Qualifier Lissas words trailed off.I was supposed to, I said. It was just a wrong-place-and-wrong-time kind of thing. The guardian who was vent to give me the test lived there. Dimitri and I walked in, andI couldnt finish. Images of the blood and death that had filled the Badica house flashed through my mind again. Concern crossed both Lissas face and the bond.Rose, are you okay? she asked softly.Lissa was my ruff friend, but I didnt want her to know how scared and knock over the whole thing had made me. I wanted to be fierce.Fine, I said, teeth clenched.What was it like? asked Christian. Curiosity filled his voice, but there was evil there too??like he knew it was wrong to want to know about such a horrible thing. He couldnt stop himsel f from asking, though. drop of impulse control was one thing we had in common.It was I agitate my head. I dont want to talk about it.Christian started to protest, and then Lissa ran a hand through his sleek black hair. The gentle admonishment hush up him. A moment of awkwardness hung between us all. Reading Lissas mind, I felt her desperately grope for a new topic.They say this is going to plentitude up all of the holiday visits, she told me after several more moments. Christians aunt is going to visit, but most people dont want to travel, and they want their kids to stay here where its safe. Theyre terrified this group of Strigoi is on the move.I hadnt thought about the ramifications of an attack like this. We were only a week or so away from Christmas. Usually, there was a huge wave of travel in the Moroi world this time of year. Students went home to visit their parents parents came to stay on campus and visit their children.This is going to keep a lot of families separated, I murmured.And mess up a lot of royal get-togethers, said Christian. His brief serious-mindedness had vanished his snide air was back. You know how they are this time of year??always competing with each other to throw the biggest parties. They wont know what to do with themselves.I could believe it. My life was about fighting, but the Moroi certainly had their share of internal conflict??particularly with nobles and royals. They waged their own battles with words and political alliances, and honestly, I preferred the more direct method of hitting and kicking. Lissa and Christian in particular had to aviate some troubled waters. They were both from royal families, which meant they got a lot of attention both inside and outside of the Academy.Things were worse for them than for most Moroi royals. Christians family lived under the derriere cast by his parents. They had purposely become Strigoi, trading their magic and pietism to become immortal and subsist on killing others. His parents were dead now, but that didnt stop people from not trusting him. They seemed to think hed go Strigoi at any moment and take everyone else with him. His abrasiveness and dark sense of sense of humor didnt really help things, either.Lissas attention came from being the last one left in her family. No other Moroi had enough Dragomir blood in them to earn the name. Her future husband would probably have enough somewhere in his family tree to make sure her children were Dragomirs, but for now, being the only one made her kind of a celebrity.Thinking about this suddenly reminded me of the warning scrawled on the mirror. Nausea welled up in me. That dark anger and hopelessness stirred, but I pushed it aside with a joke.You guys should try solving your problems like we do. A fistfight here and there might do you royals some good.Both Lissa and Christian laughed at this. He glanced up at her with a sly smile, showing his fangs as he did. What do you think? I bet I could take you if we went one on one.You wish, she teased. Her troubled feelings lightened.I do, actually, he said, holding her gaze.There was an intensely sensual note to his voice that made her heart race. Jealousy shot through me. She and I had been best friends our entire life. I could read her mind. But the fact remained Christian was a huge part of her world now, and he played a role I never could??just as he could never have a part of the connection that existed between me and her. We both sort of accepted but didnt like the fact that we had to split her attention, and at times, it seemed the truce we held for her involvement was paper thin.Lissa brushed her hand against his cheek. Behave.I am, he told her, his voice still a little husky. Sometimes. But sometimes you dont want me to.Groaning, I stood up. God. Im going to leave you guys alone now.Lissa blinked and dragged her eyes away from Christian, suddenly looking embarrassed.Sorry, she murmured. A delicate pink flush spread over her chee ks. Since she was pale like all Moroi, it actually sort of made her look prettier. Not that she needed much help in that department. You dont have to go.No, its fine. Im exhausted, I ensure her. Christian didnt look too broken up about seeing me leave. Ill catch you tomorrow.I started to turn away, but Lissa called to me. Rose? Are youare you sure youre okay? After everything that happened?I met her jade green eyes. Her revive was so strong and deep that it made my chest ache. I might be closer to her than anyone else in the world, but I didnt want her distressful about me. It was my job to keep her safe. She shouldnt be troubled about protect me??particularly if Strigoi had suddenly decided to make a hit be given of royals.I flashed her a saucy grin. Im fine. Nothing to worry about drop you guys tearing each others clothes before I get a chance to leave.Then you better go now, said Christian dryly.She elbowed him, and I rolled my eyes. Good night, I told them.As soon as my bac k was to them, my smile vanished. I walked back to my dorm with a heavy heart, hoping I wouldnt dream about the Badicas tonight.