Last Sacrifice Chapter Twenty-two

YOURE AWFULLY HAPPY. I blinked and found Sonya staring at me. The CR-V and smooth stretch of I-75 hummed around us, the outside telltale(a) little except Midwestern plains and trees. Sonya didnt check up onm quite as creepy crazy as she had foul at school or even at her house. Mostly, she still ripe implementmed scattered and confused, which was to be expected. I hesitated before answering exactly fin tout ensembley decided there was no reason to hold back.Lissa passed her twinkling monarch test.Of course she did, said Victor. He was staring out the window absent from me. The tone of his voice suggested Id just wasted his time by maxim something that was a given. Is she okay? asked Dimitri. Injured?Once, that would have sparked jealousy in me. straightaway, it was just a sign of our shared concern for Lissa.Shes fine, I said, wondering if that was entirely true. She wasnt physically injured, moreover after what shed seen well, that had to leave scars of a different type. The back door had been quite a surprise too. When shed seen a small(a) crowd by the head start door, shed thought it meant only a few people were up that late to see the candidates. Nope. Turned out everyone was just waiting out back to see the victors. True to her promise, Lissa hadnt let it faze her. She walked out with her head held high, smiling at her on learners and fans as though she already owned the crown.I was growing sleepy just Lissas triumph kept me smiling for a long time. Theres something tiring about an endless, unknown stretch of highway. Victor had disagreeable his eyes and was leaning against the glass. I couldnt see Sydney when I twisted around to check on her, meaning she also had decided on a nap or was just lying down. I yawned, wondering if I dared risk sleeping. Dimitri had urged me to when we left Sonyas house, knowing that I could use more than the couple hours Sydney had given me.I tipped my head against the seat and closed my eyes, falling instantly asleep. The blackness of that sleep gave way to the notion of a tone dream, and my heart leapt with both panic and joy. After living through Lissas test, spirit dreams suddenly had a sinister feel. At the same time, this might be a chance to see Adrian. And it was.Only we appeared somewhere entirely unexpected Sonyas garden. I stared in wonder at the clear blue sky and the brilliant flowers, nearly overlooking Adrian in the process. He wore a dark green cashmere pinny that made him blend in. To me, he was more gorgeous than any of the gardens other wonders.AdrianI ran to him, and he lifted me easily, spinning me around. When he placed me back on my feet, he studied the garden and nodded in approval. I should let you resolve the place more often. You have good taste. Of course, since youre dating me, we already knew that.What do you mean, pick the place? I asked, lacing my hands bunghole his neck.He shrugged. When I reached out and sensed you were sleeping, I summoned the drea m but didnt feel akin mentation up a place. So I left it to your subconscious. Irritably, he plucked at the cashmere. Im not dressed for the occasion, though. The sweater shimmered, soon replaced by a crystallise gray T-shirt with an abstract design on the forward. Better?Much. He grinned and kissed the top of my forehead. Ive missed you, little dhampir. You can spy on Lissa and us all the time, but the best I get are these dreams, and honestly, I cant figure out what schedule youre on.I realized that with my spying, I knew more about what had just happened at Court than he did. Lissa took her second test, I told him.Yup. His expression verified it. He hadnt known about the test, probably because hed been sleeping. When?Just now. It was a tough one, but she passed.Much to her delight, no doubt. Still that keeps buying us time to clear you and get you home. not sure Id want to come home if I were you, though. He looked around the garden again. West Virginias a lot better than I thought.I laughed. Its not West Virginiawhich isnt that bad, by the way. Its Sonya Karps I froze, unable to believe what Id nearly said. Id been so happy to see him, so at ease Id let myself screw up. Adrians face grew very, very serious.Did you say Sonya Karp?Several options played out in my head. Lying was the easiest. I could claim this was some place Id been a long time ago, like maybe shed taken us on a battlefield trip to her house. That was pretty flimsy, though. Plus, I was sound offing the look on my face screamed guilt. Id been caught. A pretty lie wouldnt fool Adrian.Yes, I said finally.Rose. Sonya Karps a Strigoi.Not anymore.Adrian sighed. I knew you staying out of trouble was too good to be true. What happened?Um, Robert Doru restored her.Robert. Adrians lip curled in disdain. The two spirit users hadnt gotten along well. And just because I feel like were marching into full-fledged Crazy Territorywhich means something, coming from meIm press release to take a guess that Victor Dashkov is also with you.I nodded, wish desperately then that someone would wake me up and get me away from Adrians interrogation. Damn it. How could I have slipped up like this?Adrian released me and walked around in small circles. Okay, so. You, Belikov, the Alchemist, Sonya Karp, Victor Dashkov, and Robert Doru are all hanging out in West Virginia together.No, I said.No?Were, uh, not in West Virginia.Rose Adrian halted his pacing and strode back over to me. Where the hell are you then? Your old patch, Lissaeveryone thinks youre safe and sound.I am, I said haughtily. Just not in West Virginia.Then where?I cant I cant tell you. I hated saying those words to him and seeing the look they elicited. Part of its for safety. Part of its because well, um, I dont actually know. He caught hold of my hands. You cant do this. You cant run off on some crazy whim this time. Dont you get it? Theyll kill you if they find you.Its not a crazy whim Were doing something important. Som ething thats going to second all of us.Something you cant tell me, he guessed.Its better if youre not involved, I said, squeezing his hands tightly. Better if you dont know the details.And in the meantime, I can rest free knowing youve got an elite team at your back.Adrian, please Please just trust me. Trust that Ive got a good reason, I begged. He let go of my hands. I believe you think youve got a good reason. I just cant imagine one that justifies you risking your life.Its what I do, I said, surprised at how serious I sounded. Some things are worth it.Pieces of static flickered across my vision, like TV reception going bad. The world started to fade. Whats going on? I asked.He scowled. someone or somethings waking me up. Probably my mom checking in for the hundredth time.I reached for him, but he was fading away. Adrian Please dont tell anyone Anyone.I dont know if he heard my pleas or not because the dream completely disappeared. I woke up in the car. My immediate reaction wa s to swear, but I didnt want to give away the idiotic thing Id done. Glancing over, I nearly jumped out of my seat when I saw Sonya watching me intently.You were having a spirit dream, she said.Howd you know?Your aura.I made a face. Auras used to be cool, but now theyre just starting to get annoying.She laughed softly, the first time Id heard her do so since being restored. Theyre very illuminating if you know how to read them. Were you with Vasilisa?No. My boyfriend. Hes a spirit user too.Her eyes widened in surprise. Thats who you were with?Yeah. Why? Whats upon?She frowned, looking puzzled. A few moments later, she glanced up toward the front seat, where Dimitri and Robert sat, and then studied me in a scrutinizing way that sent chills down my spine.Nothing, she said. Nothings wrong.I had to scoff at that. Come on, it sure seemed likeThere Sonya all of a sudden turned from me, leaned forward, and pointed. Take that exit.We were nearly past that exit, and Dimitri had to do some fancy maneuveringkind of like in our escape back in Pennsylvaniato strike it. The car jerked and lurched, and I heard Sydney yelp pot me.A little warning next time would be helpful, Dimitri noted.Sonya wasnt listening. Her gaze was totally fixated on the passage wed pulled off onto. We came to a red light, where I caught sight of a cheery sign WELCOME TO ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN. The spark of life Id seen in her moments ago was gone. Sonya had returned to her tense, almost robotic self. condescension Sydneys clever negotiating, Sonya still seemed uncomfortable about this trip. She still felt guilty and traitorous. Are we here? I asked eagerly. And how long were we on the road? Id hardly notice the drive. Id stayed awake for the first part of it, but the rest had been a blur of Lissa and Adrian.Six hours, said Dimitri.Go left at that second light, said Sonya. Now right at the corner.Tension built in the car. Everyone was awake now, and my heart raced as we pushed deeper and deeper i nto suburbia. Which house? Were we close? Was one of these it? It was a fast drive but seemed to stretch forever. We all let out a collective breath when Sonya suddenly pointed.There.Dimitri pulled into the driveway of a cute brick house with a perfectly shortened lawn. Do you know if your relatives still live here? I asked Sonya.She said nothing, and I realized we were back to promise territory. Lockdown mode.So much for progress. I guess theres only one way to find out, I said, unbuckling my seatbelt. Same plan?Earlier, Dimitri and I had discussed who would go and who would stay behind if Sonya got us to the right place. Leaving the brothers behind was a no-brainer. The question had been who would guard them, and wed decided Dimitri would while Sydney and I went with Sonya to meet her relativeswho were undoubtedly in for a shocking visit.Same plan, agreed Dimitri. You go to the house. You look less threatening.HeyHe smiled. I said look.But his reasoning made sense. Even at ease, there was something powerful and intimidating about Dimitri. Three women going up to the door would freak these people out lessespecially if it turned out Sonyas relatives had moved. Hell, for all I knew, shed purposely led us to the wrong house.Be careful, Dimitri said, as we got out of the car.You too, I replied. That got me another smile, one a little warmer and deeper.The feelings that stirred in me flitted away as Sonya, Sydney, and I walked up the sidewalk. My chest tightened. This was it. Or was it? Were we about to reach the conclusion of our journey? Had we really found the last Dragomir, against all odds? Or had I been played from the commencement exercise?I wasnt the only one who was nervous. I could feel Sydney and Sonya crackling with tension too. We reached the front step. I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.Several seconds later, a man answeredand he was Moroi. A promising sign.He looked at each of our faces, no doubt wondering what a Moroi, a dhampir, and a h uman were doing at his door. It sounded like the start of a bad joke.Can I help you? he asked.I was suddenly at a loss. Our plan had covered the big hurtle find Erics mistress and love child. What wed say once we actually got there wasnt so clear. I waited for one of my companions to speak up now, but there was no need. The Moroi mans head suddenly whipped to my side as he did a double take.Sonya? he gasped. Is that you?Then, I heard a young female voice behind him call, Hey, whos here? Someone squeezed in beside him, someone tall and slimsomeone I knew. My breath caught as I stared at waves of unruly light brownish hair and light green eyeseyes that should have tipped me off a long time ago. I couldnt speak.Rose, exclaimed Jill Mastrano. What are you doing here?