Chapter 9
We had an assembly tonight. It was the first of November and that meant that we were celebrating All Saints Day. Lissa wanted to know if I needed something to wear. I told her that I would improvise, the queen would be visiting tonight and probably embarrass Lissa, but there was nothing I could do about that. For the first time, I had permission to go, which was kind of exciting because I had been staring at the inside of my room's walls for way too long. When I arrived at the gym Dimitri was already there. He was wearing a T-shirt and loose running pants as opposed to his usual jeans. It was a good look for him. Really good. I forced myself to look away from him. He positioned me so that we stood facing each other on the mat and crossed his arms. "What's the first problem you'll run into when facing a Strigoi?" "You mean apart from their strength and speed, they will probably be bigger than me." Dimitri nodded. "That makes it difficult but not impossible. You can usually use a person's extra height and weight against them." He turned and demonstrated several maneuvers, pointing out where to move and how to strike someone. Going through the motions with him, I gained some insight into his moves and movements. I needed to learn from him so I could bring down Strigoi Dimitri, I was not changing anything big this time. I wanted to go to Russia alone and meet his family and the other Spirit users, I also wanted to meet my father and save Sonya Karp.
I absorbed Dimitri's techniques quickly and couldn't wait to actually use them against him, when I was proficient I would change them into my own, I needed to learn his moves. But he should not know all mine yet. Near the end of our time together, he let me try. "Go ahead," he said. "Try to hit me." I grinned at him, not needing to be told twice. I think I surprised him because we fought in earnest, no one backing down, I made sure to study his moves but never kept mine consistent. What people often did was fall into a pattern, I knew enough fighting styles to keep it fresh and different. Dimitri was good, really good, and no matter what I tried he was always ready to block me. I was frustrated but it was exhilarating to find someone that could meet me blow for blow. Until he managed to catch me off guard and knock me on my back, pinning me there, we both were breathing hard. "If you could fight, why ask me to train you?" "Because what I know, I learned on my own and I needed different opponents to practice on. For that, I needed to learn your moves." He was still holding me down. "So you can defeat me?" He asked me. "No, or maybe yes, so I can be a better guardian. But I just heard you were the best here, and I wanted someone to spar with, someone who would not let me win in the first 5 minutes. A challenge." He nodded. "A worthy opponent." He smiled. The skin on his fingers was warm as he clutched my wrists. His face hovered inches from mine and his legs and torso were actually pressing against mine. Some of his long brown hair hung around his face and he appeared to be noticing me too, almost like he had that night in the lounge.
He smelled so good and it had been so long ago since I have been held and kissed properly by a guy. Breathing became difficult for me, and it had nothing to do with the workout or my lungs being crushed. "So you got any other moves to show me." I really loved that line in the movie. Dimitri's lips twitched, and for a moment I thought I would get one of the smiles he rarely gave anyone, the kind that lit up his face. Then with visible effort, he pushed the smile back and once more became my tough-love-mentor. He shifted off me, leaned back on his heels, and rose. "Come on. We should go."
I got back on my feet and followed him out of the gym. He didn't look back as he walked, but I grinned. It was awesome just to use that line and see his reaction for myself. I went back to my room to get ready to meet the Queen. The problem was there was nothing in Rose's closet that would be considered formal. I found some sort of black knee-high dress but it was too short and tight, using magic to alter it a bit and added a sweater that I changed the color of slightly so it looked more formal. Was the best I could do. I did summon black flats from the trunk. I would need to go through the clothes there later. After a quick shower, I headed off across the campus to the reception. Despite the looming stone walls, fancy statues, and turrets on the outsides of the buildings the Academy's insides were quite modern. We had Wi-Fi, fluorescent lights, and just about anything else technological you could imagine. The commons in particular looked pretty much like the cafeterias all schools seemed to have. Simple rectangular tables, soothing taupe walls, and a little room off to the side where our meals were served. Someone had at least hung formal black-and-white photos along the walls in an effort to decorate it, but I didn't really consider pictures of vases and leafless trees art. Not when I could do so much better.
Tonight, however, someone had managed to transform the normally boring commons into a bona fida dining room. Vases spilling over with crimson roses and delicate white lilies. Glowing candles. Tablecloths made of -- blood-red linen. The effect was gorgeous. It was hard to believe this was the same place where I usually ate chicken patty sandwiches. It looked fit for, a queen. The tables had been arranged in straight lines, creating an aisle down the middle of the room. We had assigned seating and naturally, I couldn't sit anywhere near Lissa. She sat in the front with the other Moroi; I was in the back with the novices. But she did catch my eye when I entered and flashed me a smile. She borrowed a dress from Natalie. Blue--silky and strapless and it looked amazing with her pale features. Who'd know Natalie owned anything so good?
A head table sat on a dais at the front of the room, where all ooh and ahh and watched the Queen and other royals eat dinner. Guardians lined the walls, as stiff and formal as statues. Dimitri stood among them. His eyes stared straight ahead as if focusing on nothing and everything in the room at once. When the time came for the royals' entrance, we all stood up respectfully and watched as they walked down the aisle. I recognized no one except for Victor Dashkov, who was walking slowly with a cane. Once the royals walked in, four solemn guardians with red-and-black pin-striped jackets entered, and everyone but the guardians sank to their knees in a silly show of loyalty. Moroi monarchs were chosen by previous monarchs from within the royal families. The King or Queen couldn't choose one of his or her own direct descendants, and a council from the noble and royal families could dispute the choice with enough cause. That was what I read in the books now catching up to everything happening around me.
Queen Tatiana followed her guards, wearing a red silk dress and matching jacket. She was in her early sixties and had dark gray hair bobbed to her chin and crowned with a tiara. She moved into the room slowly, like she was taking a stroll, four more guardians at her back. She moved through the novices' section fairly quickly though, she did nod and smile here and there. Dhampirs might just be the half-human, illegitimate children of the Moroi, but we trained and dedicated our lives to serving and protecting them. The likelihood was strong that many of us gathered here would die young, and the queen had to show her respect for that.
When she got to the Moroi section, she paused longer and actually spoke to a few students. It was a big deal to be acknowledged, mostly as a sign that someone's parents had gotten in good with her. Naturally, the royals got the most attention. She didn't really say much to them that was all that interesting, mostly just a lot of fancy words. "Vasilisa Dragomir." My head shot up and I knew that this would happen. I did not like it but I acknowledged that there was nothing could do about it. "We heard you had returned. We are glad to have the Dragomir back, even though only one remains. We deeply regret the loss of your parents and your brother, they were among the finest of the Moroi, and their deaths were a true tragedy. You have an interesting name," she continued. "Many heroines in the Russian fairy tales are named Vasilisa. Vasilisa the Brave. Vasilisa the Beautiful. They are different young women, all having the same name and the same excellent qualities: strength, intelligence, discipline, and virtue. All accomplish great things, triumphing over their adversaries. Likewise, the Dragomir name commands its own respect. Dragomir kings and queens have ruled wisely and justly in our history. They have used their powers for miraculous ends. They have slain Strigoi, fighting right alongside their guardians. They are royal for a reason."
She waited for a moment letting the weight of her words sink in. I could feel the mood changing in the room, as well as the surprise and shy pleasure creeping out from Lissa. Sorry Liss that would not last longer, I cringed, but I also knew she would get back at her. But for now, I needed to sit down and shut up. "Yes, you are doubly named with power. Your names represent the finest qualities people have to offer and hearken back in time to deeds of greatness and valor." She paused a moment. "But, as you have demonstrated, names do not make a person. Nor do they have any bearing on how that person turns out." And with that verbal slap in the face, she turned away and continued her procession. Lissa's absolute mortification was felt strongly through the bond and I briefly considered hexing the Queen.
I had to sit impatiently through dinner, so I could go to my friend and call the queen all kinds of names just to see Lissa smile again. When the post-dinner reception followed. Lissa made a beeline for the doors leading out to the courtyard and I followed as quickly as I could. But I was delayed a bit having to weave around and avoid the mingling and socializing people. Lissa wandered outside to an adjacent courtyard, one that matched the Academy's grand external style. A roof of carved, twisting wood covered the garden, with little holes here and there to let in some light, but not enough to cause some damage to Moroi. Tree leaves now gone for the winter, lined the area and guarded paths leading out to other gardens, courtyards, and the main quadrangle. A pond, also emptied for the winter, lay in a corner, and standing over it was an imposing statue of St. Vladimir himself. Carved of gray rock, he wore long robes and had a beard and mustache. Rounding a corner, I stopped when I saw Natalie had beaten me to Lissa.
I hated the fact that she had been alone with Natalie, she was a bit of a Pshyco. "It wasn't right, don't let it bother you," Natalie told Lissa and I hurried over to her. "Kind of late for that." "She was wrong." "She's right," Lissa exclaimed. "My parents .... and Andre .... they would have hated me for what I did." "No, they wouldn't have," Natalie spoke in a gentle voice. I was just around the corner of them now, being pulled back and forth from my own head to Lissa's. I missed a bit of the conversation when I forced myself back into my own head. ".... You aren't the same as you were then. I'm not the same as I was then." I interrupted then. "You ok Lissa?" I pulled her to me stopping anything Natalie wanted to say. I felt the conviction she felt when she thought we were wrong and she was weak for running away. "Stop Lissa, we were not weak, we were compelled to leave. I am certain of it now. So whatever the Queen bitch thought was wrong." Natalie said that she was going to find her daddy and left. I spoke to Lissa about what I remember or read about Karp, same difference really. And she was shocked. "I think someone found out that Karp could heal, like you and that was why she always said someone was following her. Then I think someone saw you heal the raven. Then they went after you. Ms. Karp compelled us to leave so they could not get to you." Lissa looked at me wide-eyed.
"We need to keep looking at Vladimir and Anna, they were the same as you and me. I think the reason you haven't specialized was because your element is Spirit, like Ms. Karp and Vladimir. You can heal, your compulsion is out of this world and I bet you could do so many other cool things with your powers. So don't feel bad about anything the Queen Bitch said, we have enough crap to deal with as is." I hugged her tightly again and dispelled the privacy bubble around us. I was not going to risk eavesdroppers. Lissa nodded her head but it seemed that she was relieved "It's going to happen again, isn't it? She whispered to me. Her hands clutching the tree, began to tremble. "Not if you don't let it," "You haven't --" I asked her remembering the cutting and I focused on the bond to see if I could see darkness or whatever the hell Rose described but I think it required meditating and for that I need to be alone. "I haven't wanted to. I was upset after the fox, but it's been okay. I like staying out of the Royal business, but I miss seeing you. Everything's been alright. I like spending time with Christian." She blushed, and I wiggled my eyebrows. "Like like?" Her blush darkened and I smiled.
"If he makes you happy, then that is the only thing important." Then I heard laughter and the clatter of heels on the stone. Mia walked towards us with a few friends in tow, but no Aaron. Lissa felt embarrassed over what others must think of her now and kept thinking how her family would have hated her for running away. There were dark emotions churning in through the bond and I made a mental note to check that out tonight. She was not okay, and if I could pull that from her I would, I just don't know how yet. "What do you want?" I demanded trying to spare Lissa the grief. Mia smiled haughtily at Lissa and ignored me, taking a few steps forward. "Just wanted to know what it's like to be so important and so royal. You must be so excited that the queen talked to you." Giggles surfaced from the gathering group. I snapped and I regretted the words as soon as it crossed my lips. "At least the Queen knew her name, which is more than I can say for you and your wannabe royal act. Isn't your mother the maid at the Drosdov's?" Mia blanched as if I slapped her and Lissa gasped. Her friends looked at Mia shocked.
I read the conversation between Rose and Lissa and that she would take a swing at my parents but I did not let her family status slip before and having it aired out now was kind of mean. But she dashed away in tears and the guilt was heavy in my stomach. Lissa looked at me wide-eyed. "I should not have said that, that was mean." Another surprise for Lissa, old Rose did not care who she hurt. "She just makes me so irrationally angry." Just then Dimitri came out and it looked like he was looking for someone. Yeah probably me, to make sure I get my ass back to my room. I wanted to work on pulling the darkness from Lissa and for that, I needed to be alone. When Dimitri saw me he strode forward, shifting his attention from me to Lissa. I grabbed her hand one more time and squeezed it in support. "It will be ok, we will be just fine." But I could feel what she was feeling and I was actually afraid to let her be alone tonight. Not that I had much of a choice in the matter, but Rose did screw up my life a bit with her rebellious attitude and party-girl reputation. "Everything all right?" Dimitri asked standing beside me crossing his arms. "Fine." "I'm supposed to take you back to your dorm," Dimitri told me drily.
"You going to be ok, Liss?" She nodded. "I'm fine," I hesitated because I could feel the lie. "Let's go. Good night Princess." I left with Dimitri but I really did not want to leave her alone. I spotted Christian moving down the path we'd just come from. "Hey, are you on your way to Lissa?" I asked him quickly. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and gave me that look of bad-boy indifference. "What if I am?" Christian and I haven't had time to hang out so I did not know him personally just through the bond. "Rose, this isn't the time," Dimitri told me. "Don't leave her alone, ok. Not if you cannot help it." There was a surprise in both Dimitri and Christian's eyes but I ignored it, feeling better about leaving Lissa in his hands. I liked the way she felt when she was with him. And I liked Christian, his attitude and bad boy image are usually the type of guy that attracted me. But I was not Lissa in this universe so I would never go for him here. But it would have been easier if I did. Then Lissa and Adrian could have been together and the Queen wouldn't be such a bitch about it.