Last Sacrifice (6)

by Richelle Mead

  Dimitri and I briefly locked eyes, and an uncanny sense told me he was recalling my words: You have to forgive yourself. If you canʹt, then you canʹt go on either. We canʹt. I glanced away from him, looking back at the happy couple so that he wouldnʹt see me tear up. God, I wanted what Mikhail and Sonya had. A happy ending. Forgiveness of the past. A bright future ahead.

  Jill sniffled beside me, and I put an arm around her. That small sound seemed to draw Mikhail back to our world. Still holding Sonya, he looked over at me.

  ʺThank you. Thank you for this. Anything you need. Anything at all—ʺ

  ʺStop, stop,ʺ I said, afraid I might choke up. Iʹd only just managed to blink away traitorous tears. ʺIʹm glad . . . glad to have done it, and well . . . it wasnʹt really me at all.ʺ

  ʺStill . . .ʺ Mikhail looked down at Sonya who was smiling at him through her tears. ʺYouʹve given me my world back.ʺ

  ʺIʹm so happy for you . . . and I want you to have this, to just enjoy this right now. But I have a favor. One more favor.ʺ

  Sonya and Mikhail exchanged glances in a knowing way. You never would have guessed theyʹd been apart for three years. She nodded, and he returned his gaze to me. ʺI figured thatʹs why he brought me here.ʺ He inclined his head toward Adrian.

  ʺI need you to get me into the hotel where the Alchemists are staying.ʺ

  The small smile on Mikhailʹs face dropped. ʺRose . . . I canʹt get you into any place. You being this close to Court is dangerous enough.ʺ

  I pulled the bracelet from my pocket. ʺIʹll have a disguise. They wonʹt know itʹs me. Is there a reason youʹd have to see the Alchemists?ʺ

  Sonya stayed in his arms, but his eyes were dark with thought. ʺTheyʹll have guardians near their rooms. We could probably pass ourselves off as relief.ʺ

  Dimitri nodded in agreement. ʺIf itʹs too different from their scheduled shift change, itʹll raise eyebrows . . . but hopefully youʹll have long enough to get in and find out what you need. The guardians are probably more worried about the Alchemists getting out than other guardians getting in.ʺ

  ʺAbsolutely,ʺ said Mikhail. ʺSo itʹs you and me, Rose?ʺ

  ʺYup,ʺ I said. ʺThe fewer, the better. Just enough to question Sydney and Ian. I guess everyone else waits here.ʺ

  Sonya kissed his cheek. ʺIʹm not going anywhere.ʺ

  Adrian had strolled over by now and given Jill a light, brotherly punch in the arm. ʺAnd Iʹm going to stay and hear how on earth you got involved with this, Jailbait.ʺ

  Jill mustered a smile for him. She had a pretty hardcore crush on him, and it was a sign of her stress that she didnʹt blush and go all weak-kneed. They started a conversation, and Dimitri gestured for me to follow him around the car, out of sight.

  ʺThis is dangerous,ʺ he said quietly. ʺIf that charm fails, you probably arenʹt going to get out of that hotel.ʺ There was an unspoken alive at the end of his words.

  ʺIt wonʹt fail. Sonyaʹs good. Besides, if weʹre caught, maybe theyʹll bring me back to Court instead of killing me. Imagine how much that will slow the elections.ʺ

  ʺRose, Iʹm serious.ʺ

  I caught hold of his hand. ʺI know, I know. Thisʹll be easy. We should be in and out in under an hour, but if we arenʹt . . .ʺ Man, I hated grim contingencies. ʺIf we arenʹt, then send Adrian to Court with Jill, and you and Sonya hide out somewhere until . . . I donʹt know.ʺ

  ʺDonʹt worry about us,ʺ he said. ʺYou just be careful.ʺ He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

  ʺLittle dhampir, are you—ʺ

  Adrian came strolling around the car, just in time to see that small kiss. I dropped my hand from Dimitriʹs. None of us said anything, but in that moment, Adrianʹs eyes . . . well, I saw his whole world come crashing apart. I felt sicker than if a fleet of Strigoi were around. I felt worse than a Strigoi. Honor, I thought. For real: the guardians should have taught it. Because I hadnʹt learned it.

  ʺLetʹs hurry,ʺ said Mikhail, walking over, oblivious to the drama that had just exploded beside him. ʺSonya says you guys have a ticking clock at Court too.ʺ

  I swallowed, dragging my eyes from Adrian. My heart twisted within my chest. ʺYeah . . .ʺ

  ʺGo,ʺ said Dimitri.

  ʺRemember,ʺ I murmured to him. ʺTalking to him is my responsibility. Not yours.ʺ

  I followed Mikhail to his car, slipping on the charmed bracelet. Before getting inside, I cast a quick glance back. Jill and Sonya were speaking together, Dimitri stood alone, and Adrian was taking out a cigarette, his back to them all.

  ʺI suck,ʺ I said dismally, as Mikhail started the car. It was ineloquent but pretty much summed up my feelings.

  He didnʹt respond, probably because it wasnʹt relevant to our task. Either that, or he was still too wrapped up in the renewal of his own love life. Lucky bastard.

  It didnʹt take long to reach the hotel. There were guardians around, covertly placed so as not to draw human attention. None of them stopped us as we walked inside. One even gave Mikhail a nod of recognition. They all looked at me like . . . well, like they didnʹt recognize me. Which was good. With so many guardians helping at Court, new faces were to be expected, and mine didnʹt look like Rose Hathawayʹs. No one was concerned.

  ʺWhich rooms are they in?ʺ Mikhail asked a guardian who was standing in the lobby. ʺWeʹre supposed to relieve that shift.ʺ Mikhailʹs manner was perfectly self-assured, enough that the guardian—while a little surprised—seemed to think this must be okay.

  ʺOnly two of you? There are four up there.ʺ

  I saved us on that one. ʺThey want more back at Court. Things are getting out of hand, so just two are being assigned here now.ʺ

  ʺProbably all we need up there,ʺ agreed the guardian. ʺThird floor.ʺ

  ʺQuick thinking,ʺ Mikhail told me in the elevator.

  ʺThat was nothing. Iʹve talked myself out of much worse.ʺ

  The rooms were easy to spot because a guardian stood outside them. The rest are inside, I realized, wondering if that would be a problem. But, with that same authoritative attitude, Mikhail told the guy that he and the others had been recalled to Court. The guardian summoned his colleagues—one from each Alchemistʹs rooms, though we couldnʹt tell whose was whose—and they gave us a brief status report before leaving, including who was in which room.

  When they were gone, Mikhail looked to me. ʺSydney,ʺ I said.

  Weʹd been given key cards and walked right into Sydneyʹs room. She sat cross-legged on her bed, reading a book and looking miserable. She sighed when she saw us.

  ʺWell, what is it now?ʺ

  I took off the bracelet, letting my illusion vanish.

  There was no jaw dropping or raised eyebrows from Sydney. Just a knowing look. ʺI should have guessed. Are you here to free me?ʺ There was a hopeful note in her voice.

  ʺUm, not exactly.ʺ I hated that Sydney was going to get punished, but smuggling her out wasnʹt part of the plan now. ʺWe need to talk to Ian, and itʹs probably best if youʹre there. He knows something important. Something we need.ʺ

  That got the raised eyebrow. She pointed at the door. ʺThey wonʹt let us talk to each other.ʺ

  ʺThey arenʹt out there,ʺ I said smugly.

  Sydney shook her head ruefully. ʺRose, you really do scare me sometimes. Just not for the reasons I originally thought you would. Come on. Heʹs next door, but youʹll have a hard time getting him to talk.ʺ

  ʺThatʹs where youʹll help,ʺ I said, as we walked into the hall. I slipped the bracelet back on. ʺHeʹs totally into you. Heʹll help if you ask.ʺ

  As Iʹd guessed, Sydney was completely oblivious to Ianʹs crush. ʺWhat! He does not—ʺ

  She shut her mouth as we entered Ianʹs room. He was watching TV but jumped up when he saw us. ʺSydney! Are you okay?ʺ

  I shot her a meaningful look.

  She gave me a pained one in return and then turned her attention back to Ian. ʺThey need your help with something. Some information.ʺ

  He turned his gaze
on us, and it immediately went colder. ʺWe answered your questions a hundred times.ʺ

  ʺNot all of them,ʺ I said. ʺWhen you were at Court, you saw a picture on the table. Of a dead man. Who was it?ʺ

  Ianʹs lips went into a straight line. ʺI donʹt know.ʺ

  ʺI saw—er, that is, we know you recognized him,ʺ I argued. ʺYou reacted.ʺ

  ʺI actually saw that too,ʺ admitted Sydney.

  His tone turned pleading. ʺCome on, we donʹt need to help them anymore. This whole hotel-prison thing is bad enough. Iʹm sick of their games.ʺ

  I didnʹt blame him, really, but we needed him too much. I glanced at Sydney beseechingly, telling her that only she could get us through this.

  She turned back to Ian. ʺWhatʹs the deal with the guy in the picture? Is it . . . is it really horrible? Something secret?ʺ

  He shrugged. ʺNo. I just donʹt want to help them anymore. Itʹs irrelevant.ʺ

  ʺWill you do it for me?ʺ she asked sweetly. ʺPlease? It might help me get out of trouble.ʺ Sydney was no master of flirting, but I think just the fact she came close to it astonished him. He hesitated for several moments, glanced at us and then back to her. She smiled at him.

  Ian caved. ʺI meant what I said. I donʹt know who he is. He was with a Moroi woman over in the St. Louis facility one day.ʺ

  ʺWait,ʺ I said, derailed. ʺMoroi come to your places?ʺ

  ʺSometimes,ʺ said Sydney. ʺJust like we came to yours. Some meetings happen in person. We donʹt usually hold your people prisoner, though.ʺ

  ʺI think this guy was like her bodyguard or something,ʺ Ian said. ʺShe was the one there on business. He just followed and stayed quiet.ʺ

  ʺA Moroi bodyguard?ʺ

  ʺNot uncommon for those that canʹt get guardians,ʺ said Mikhail. ʺAbe Mazur is proof of that. Heʹs got his own army.ʺ

  ʺI think of them more as a mafia.ʺ My joke aside, I was getting confused. Despite the widespread disdain about learning to fight, sometimes Moroi did have to hire Moroi security because they just couldnʹt obtain a guardian. Someone like Daniella Ivashkov wouldnʹt have that problem. In fact, I was pretty sure sheʹd be entitled to two guardians if she stepped outside protective borders—and sheʹd made it clear she didnʹt think Moroi should fight. Why would she travel with Moroi protection when she could have better trained guardians? It made no sense. Still . . . if youʹd killed a queen, you probably did all sorts of unorthodox things. They didnʹt have to make sense. ʺWho was she?ʺ I asked. ʺThe woman?ʺ

  ʺI didnʹt know her either,ʺ said Ian. ʺI just passed them while they were on their way to something. A meeting, maybe.ʺ

  ʺDo you remember what she looked like?ʺ Something. We needed something. This was on the verge of falling apart, but if Ian could identify Daniella, we might just be set.

  ʺSure,ʺ he said. ʺSheʹs easy to remember.ʺ

  The ensuing silence irritated me. ʺSo?ʺ I asked. ʺWhat did she look like?ʺ

  He told me.

  The description was not what I had expected.

  THIRTY-TWO

  SYDNEY AND HER FRIENDS werenʹt happy that we werenʹt going to take them with us.

  ʺI would,ʺ I told her, still reeling from what Iʹd learned from Ian. ʺBut getting us in and out has been hard enough! If we step outside with you, weʹll all be busted. Besides, soon it wonʹt matter. Once we tell everyone at Court what we know and clear my name, the guardians wonʹt need you anymore.ʺ

  ʺItʹs not the guardians Iʹm worried about,ʺ she replied. She used that blasé tone of hers, but I could see a glint of legitimate fear in her eyes—and I wondered who she was referring to. The Alchemists? Or someone else?

  ʺSydney,ʺ I said hesitantly, despite knowing Mikhail and I needed to get out of there. ʺWhat did Abe really do for you? There has to be more than just the transfer.ʺ

  Sydney gave me a small, sad smile. ʺIt doesnʹt matter, Rose. Iʹll deal with whatever comes. Just go now, okay? Go help your friends.ʺ

  I wanted to say more . . . to find out more. But Mikhailʹs expression told me he agreed with her, and so, with brief farewells, he and I left. When we got back to where the others were waiting in the parking lot, I saw the situation hadnʹt changed much. Dimitri was pacing, no doubt restless at being out of the action. Jill still stood near Sonya, as though seeking protection from the older woman, and Adrian stayed away from all of them, barely sparing a glance when Mikhailʹs car pulled up.

  When we told the group what weʹd learned, however, that got a reaction from Adrian.

  ʺImpossible. I canʹt believe that.ʺ He stamped out a cigarette. ʺYour Alchemist pals are wrong.ʺ

  I could hardly believe it either, yet I had no reason to think Ian would lie. And honestly, if Adrian was having a hard time with this, there was no telling what he would have thought if weʹd told him who our previous suspect was. I stared off into the night, trying to come to terms with who had murdered Tatiana and framed me. It was hard even for me to believe. Betrayal was harsh.

  ʺThe motives are there . . .ʺ I said reluctantly. Once Ian had described whom heʹd seen, a dozen reasons for the murder clicked into place. ʺAnd they are political. Ambrose was right.ʺ

  ʺIanʹs ID is hard evidence,ʺ said Dimitri, as shocked as the rest of us. ʺBut there are a lot of other holes, a lot of pieces that donʹt fit into it.ʺ

  ʺYeah.ʺ One in particular had been bothering me. ʺLike why I was set up for the fall.ʺ

  No one had an answer for that. ʺWe need to get back to Court,ʺ Mikhail said at last. ʺOr Iʹm going to be missed.ʺ

  I cast Jill what I hoped was an encouraging smile. ʺAnd youʹve got to make your debut.ʺ

  ʺI donʹt know which is crazier,ʺ said Adrian. ʺThe killerʹs identity or Jailbait being a Dragomir.ʺ His words to me were cold, but the look he gave her was gentle. Crazy as the news was, Adrian hadnʹt had that hard of a time believing Jillʹs parentage. He was jaded enough to believe in Ericʹs infidelity, and those telltale eyes sealed the deal. I think hearing what Ian had told us was hurting Adrian more than he was letting on. Finding out the person responsible for his auntʹs murder was someone he knew had to intensify the pain. Finding out about me and Dimitri couldnʹt help matters either.

  Much to Mikhailʹs dismay, Sonya offered to stay behind while the rest of us went to Court. We couldnʹt bring both cars, and his only held five. She considered herself the least useful in this endeavor. With much hugging, kissing, and tears, she promised Mikhail theyʹd see each other again, once this mess was sorted out. I hoped she was right.

  My charm would obscure my face enough to get me through the gate. But Jill was a trickier problem. Her kidnapping was hot Moroi news, and if she was recognized by any of the gate guardians, we would be stopped then and there. We were gambling that the guards would be too harried to notice her like they would Dimitri and me. That meant Dimitri took priority for disguising—requiring Adrianʹs help. Adrian wasnʹt quite as adept with illusion as Sonya was, but he understood enough of it to make Dimitriʹs appearance altered to the eyes of others. It was similar to how heʹd used spirit during my jail escape. The question was whether or not Adrian would actually do it for us. He hadnʹt said a word to anyone about what heʹd seen between me and Dimitri, but the others must have felt the sudden rise in tension.

  ʺWe have to help Lissa,ʺ I told him, when he didnʹt respond to the request. ʺTimeʹs running out. Please. Please help us.ʺ I wasnʹt above groveling, if that was what he needed.

  Fortunately, it wasnʹt. Adrian took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a brief moment. I was certain he wished he had something stronger than cigarettes. At last, he nodded. ʺLetʹs go.ʺ

  We left Sonya with the keys to the second car, and she stood there with shining eyes, watching as we drove off. Dimitri, Mikhail, and I spent most of the journey analyzing the our data collection. The woman Ian had described couldnʹt have done everything weʹd been pinning on the murderer.

  I was sitting in the backseat with Adrian and Jill, leaning forward
and checking things off on my fingers. ʺMotive? Yes. Ability? Yes. Paying off Joe? Yes. Access to Tatianaʹs chambers . . .ʺ I frowned, suddenly thinking of what Iʹd overheard while with Lissa. ʺYes.ʺ

  This earned me a surprised glance from Dimitri. ʺReally? That was one piece I couldnʹt figure out.ʺ

  ʺPretty sure I know how she did it,ʺ I said. ʺBut the anonymous letter to Tatiana doesnʹt make sense. Not to mention obscuring Lissaʹs family—or trying to kill her.ʺ Or trying to frame me.

  ʺWe might be dealing with more than one person,ʺ said Dimitri.

  ʺLike a conspiracy?ʺ I asked, startled.

  He shook his head. ʺNo, I mean, someone else had a grudge against the queen. But not someone whoʹd go as far as to kill her. Two people, two agendas. Probably not even aware of each other. Weʹre mixing up the evidence.ʺ

  I fell silent, turning over his words. It made sense, and I picked up on the nuance that by someone, he meant Daniella. Weʹd been right about reasons sheʹd dislike Tatiana—the trainings, the age law not being hardcore enough, encouraging spirit . . . But that hadnʹt been enough for murder. An angry letter, bribery for her sonʹs safety? Those were the kinds of actions Lady Daniella Ivashkov took. Not staking.

  In the ensuing silence, I heard soft words between Jill and Adrian, whoʹd been having a conversation while the rest of us plotted strategy.

  ʺWhat do I do?ʺ Jill asked him in a small voice.

  His answer was swift and sure. ʺAct like you deserve to be there. Donʹt let them intimidate you.ʺ

  ʺWhat about Lissa? Whatʹs she going to think of me?ʺ

  Adrian hesitated only a moment. ʺDoesnʹt matter. Just act the way I told you.ʺ

  My stomach sank, listening to him give her such earnest, kind advice. Rowdy, smug, and flippant . . . he was all those things. But his heart was good. The heart Iʹd just broken. I knew I was right about his potential. Adrian was great. He could do great things. I just hoped I hadnʹt set him back. At least I hadnʹt had to tell him his mother was a murderer . . . but still.