Last Sacrifice Chapter Fourteen

THE KEEPERS HAD MIXED REACTIONS to us leaving. They were usu wholey glad to call in outsiders go, peculiarly since we had Sydney with us. But after the fight, they held me up as close to material body of superhero and were enchanted by the idea of me marrying into their family. Seeing me in action meant some(prenominal) of the women were jump to eye Dimitri now withal. I wasnt in the mood to assimilate them flirt with himespecially since, according to their courtship rules, I would app arently render to be the i to battle it out with some(prenominal) prospective fiancee.Naturally, we didnt promulgate the Keepers our exact plans, plainly we did mention wed standardisedly be encountering Strigoiwhich caused quite a reaction. around of that reaction was excitement and awe, which continued to boost our reputations as uncivilized warriors. Angelines response, however, was totally un anticipate.Take me with you, she said, grabbing a grasp of my arm, just as I get weavin ged cumulus the fo expect path toward the car.Sorry, I said, save a littler weirded out after her earlier hostility. We lose to do this al maven.I brush off help You measuring rod me but you saw what I can do. Im exhaustively. I could take a Strigoi.For all her fierceness, I knew Angeline didnt have a clue virtually what shed be facing if she ever met an actual Strigoi. The few Keepers who caliber molnijamarks spoke little virtually the encounters, faces grave. They unders excessivelyd. Angeline didnt. She excessively didnt realize that any noviciate at St. Vladimirs in the secondary school could belike take her out. She had new(a) potential, true, but it removeed a lot of work.You might be adapted to, I said, non wanting to hurt her feelings. But its just non possible for you to come with us. I would have lied and given her a vague Maybe sometime, but since that had led Joshua to thinking we were semi-engaged, I distinguishable Id better not.I expect more tha n boasts some her battle prowess. Wed noticeing she was regarded as one of the outgo young fighters in the compound, and with her pretty looks, she had set of admirers likewise. A lot of it had gone to her head, and she liked to talk nearly how she could beat anyone or anything up. Again, I was reminded of Jill. Jill also had a lot to learn about the true meaning of battle but was still eager to embark on in. She was quieter and more cautious than Angeline, though, so Angelines next direction caught me off guard.Please. Its not just the Strigoi I want to try out the world. I take up to peck something else outside of this place Her voice was pitched low, out of the range of the opposites. Ive in so far been to Rubysville twice, and they say thats nothing compared to other cities.Its not, I agreed. I didnt plane assume it a city. Please, she begged again, this time her voice trembling. Take me with you.Suddenly, I felt dismal for her. Her brother had also shown a lit tle longing for the outside world, but nothing like this. Hed joked that electricity would be nice, but I knew he was happy enough without the perks of the modern world. But for Angeline, the situation was much more direful. I besides knew what it was like to feel trapped in ones animation and was legitimately sorry for what I had to say.I cant, Angeline. We have to go on our own. Im sorry. I really am.Her blue look shimmered, and she raced off into the woods sooner I could see her cry. I felt horrible after that and couldnt term of enlistment thinking about her as we do our farewells. I was so distracted, I even let Joshua hug me goodbye.Getting back on the route was a relief. I was glad to be away from the Keepers and was ready to source into action and start helping Lissa. Lexington was our root step. We had a six-hour drive in movement of us, and Sydney, per usual, seemed ada cosmost that no one else was exit to drive her car. Dimitri and I made futile protests, fina lly giving up when we realized that if we were going to be facing Strigoi soon, it was probably best we rest and conserve our strength. The extend for Donovanthe Strigoi who allegedly knew Sonyawas only where he could be order at night. That meant we had to make it to Lexington sooner sunrise, so we wouldnt lose him when he went to his daytime lair. It also meant wed be face-off Strigoi in the dark. Certain that little would happen on the driveespecially one time we were out of West VirginiaDimitri and I agreed we could doze a little, seeing as neither of us had had a full nights sleep. compensite though the lulling of the car was soothing, I drifted in and out of restless sleep. by and by a few hours of this, I simply settled into the trancelike land that brought me to Lissa. It was a good thing in addition Id stumbled into one of the biggest types facing the Moroi. The nominating speech process to elect the new king or queen was about to begin. It was the first of many s teps, and e preciseone was excited, given how rare monarch elections truly were. This was an event none of my friends had expected to see anytime soon in our lives, and considering recent events well, we all had especial interest. The future of the Moroi was at stake here.Lissa was sitting on the knock against of a direct in one of the violet ball dwells, a Brobdingnagian sweeping space with vaulted ceilings and gold detailing everywhere. Id been in this egregious room before, with its murals and elaborate molding. Chandeliers glittered above. It had held the graduate luncheon, where newly made defenders put on their best faces and hoped to attract a good assignment. Now, the room was set like the Council chamber, with a long table on one side of the room that was set with twelve chairs. Opposite that table were rows and rows of other chairswhere the audience sat when the Council was in session. Except, now there were about four times as many chairs as usual, which probably explained the need for this room. Every single chair was filled. In fact, people were even standing, clusteringing in as best they could. Agitated- looking guardians bringd among the herd, keeping them out of doorways and making sure the bystanders were arranged in a way that allowed for optimal security.Christian sat on one side of Lissa, and Adrian sat beside Christian. To my pleasant surprise, Eddie and Mia sat nearby too. Mia was a Moroi friend of ours who had gone to St. Vladimirs and was nearly as hardcore as Tasha about Moroi needing to defend themselves. My beloved father was nowhere in sight. None of them spoke. intercourse would have been difficult among the buzzing and humming of so many people, and besides, my friends were too awestruck by what was about to happen. thither was so much to see and experience, and none of them had realized just how big the crowd would be. Abe had said things would move fast once Tatiana was buried, and they certainly had.Do you know who I am?A loud voice caught Lissas attention, just hardly carrying above the din. Lissa glanced down the row, a few seats away from Adrian. Two Moroi, a man and a woman, sat side by side and were looking up at a very angry woman. Her hands were on her hips, and the knap velvet dress she wore seemed outlandish next to the couples jeans and T-shirts. It also wasnt going to hold up so well once she stepped outside of air conditioning.A glare twisted her face. I am Marcella Badica. When that didnt get a reaction from the couple, she added, Prince Badica is my brother, and our late queen was my third cousin twice removed. in that location are no seats left, and someone like me cannot stand against the wall with the rest of that mob.The couple exchanged glances. I guess you should have gotten here earlier, bird Badica, said the man.Marcella gaped in outrage. Didnt you just hear who I am? Dont you know who your betters are? I insist you give up your seats.The couple still seemed unfazed. This session is open to everyone, and there werent assigned seats, farthermost time I checked, said the woman. Were entitled to ours as much as you are.Marcella turned to the guardian beside her in outrage. He shrugged. His job was to protect her from threats. He wasnt going to chuck out others from their chairs, particularly when they werent breaking any rules. Marcella gave a haughty humph before play sharply and stalking away, no doubt to harass some other poor soul.This, said Adrian, is going to be delightful.Lissa smiled and turned back to analyze the rest of the room. As she did, I became aware of something startling. I couldnt testify simply who was who, but the crowd wasnt composed entirely of royalsas most Council sessions were. There were tons of commoners, just like the couple sitting near my friends. Most Moroi didnt bother with Court. They were out in the world, living their lives and trying to survive eyepatch the royals pranced around at Court and made laws. B ut not today. A new leader was going to be chosen, and that was of interest to all Moroi.The move and chaos continued for a while until one of the guardians finally declare the room to be at capacity. Those outside were outraged, but their cries were quickly still when the guardians closed the doors, sealing off the ballroom. Shortly thereafter, the eleven Council members took their seats, andto my shockAdrians father, Nathan Ivashkov, took the ordinal chair. The Courts herald yelled and called everyone to attention. He was someone whod been chosen because of his remarkable voice, though I constantly wondered wherefore they didnt just use a mike in these situations. More old-world traditions, I supposed. That, and excellent acoustics.Nathan spoke once the room settled down. In the absence of our beloved queen He paused looking down mournfully to offer a moment of remark before continuing. In anyone else, I might have suspected his feelings were faked, particularly after see ing him grovel so much in front of Tatiana. But, no. Nathan had loved his prickly aunt as much as Adrian had.And in the wake of this terrible tragedy, I will be lead the upcoming trials and elections.Whatd I tell you? muttered Adrian. He had no fuzzy pith for his father. De- lightful.Nathan droned on a bit about the importance of what was to come and some other points about Moroi tradition. It was obvious, though, that like me, everyone in the room really precious to get down to the main event the nominations. He seemed to realize that too and sped up the formalities. Finally, he got to the good stuff.Each family, if they choose, may have one nominee for the crown who will take the tests all monarchs have endured since the beginning of time. I thought that beginning of time part was a bold and probably unverified exaggeration, but whatever. The only exclusion is the Ivashkovs, since back-to-back monarchs from the same family arent allowed. For candidacy, terzetto nominations are required from Moroi of royal blood and proper age. He whence added some stuff about what happened in the event more than one per intelligence was nominated from the same family, but even I knew the chances of that occurrent were non-existent. Each royal house wanted to get the best receipts here, and that would involve a unified standing behind one candidate. pleasant everyone understood, Nathan nodded and gestured grandly to the audience. Let the nominations begin.For a moment, nothing happened. It kind of reminded me of when Id been back in school, when a teacher would say something like, Whod like to show up their paper first? Everyone kind of waited for someone else to get things going, and at last, it happened.A man I didnt recognize stood up. I nominate Princess Ariana Szelsky.Ariana, as princess, sat on the Council and was an expected choice. She gave a gracious nod to the man. A second man, presumably from their family, also stood and gave the second nomination. The thi rd and final nomination came from another Szelskya very unexpected one. He was Arianas brother, a world traveler who was almost never at Court, and also the man my mother guarded. Janine Hathaway was most likely in this room, I realized. I wished Lissa would look around and find her, but Lissa was too focused on the proceedings. aft(prenominal) everything Id been through, I suddenly had a desperate longing to see my mother.With three nominations, Nathan state, Princess Ariana Szelsky is entered as a candidate. He scrawled something on a piece of paper in front of him, his motions full of flourish. Continue.After that, the nominations came in rapid succession. Many were princes and princesses, but others were respectedand still upper-levelmembers of the families. The Ozera candidate, Ronald, was not the familys Council member, nor was he anyone I knew. Hes not one of Aunt Tashas ideal candidates, Christian murmured to Lissa. But she admits hes not a moron.I didnt know much about m ost of the other candidates either. A couple, like Ariana Szelsky, I had a good impression of. There were also a couple Id always found appalling. The tenth candidate was Rufus Tarus, Daniellas cousin. Shed married into the Ivashkovs from the Tarus family and seemed delighted to see her cousin declared a nominee.I dont like him, said Adrian, making a face. Hes always telling me to do something useful with my life.Nathan wrote down Rufuss name and then involute up the paper like a scroll. Despite the appearance of old geezer customs, I suspected a secretary in the audience was type up everything being said here on a laptop.Well, declared Nathan, that concludesI nominate Princess Vasilisa Dragomir.Lissas head jerked to the left, and through her eyes, I recognized a familiar figure. Tasha Ozera. Shed stood and spoken the words loudly and sure-footedly, glancing around with those ice-blue eyes as if daring anyone to disagree.The room froze. No whispers, no shifting in chairs. effec tive utter and complete silence. Judging from the faces, the Ozera familys nominee was the second-most astonished person in the room to hear Tasha speak. The first, of course, was Lissa herself.It took a moment for Nathan to get his mouth working. Thats notBeside Lissa, Christian suddenly stood up. I second the nomination.And before Christian had even sat down, Adrian was on his feet. I confirm the nomination. all eyes in the room were on Lissa and her friends, and then, as one, the crowd turned toward Nathan Ivashkov. Again, he seemed to have trouble finding his voice.That, he managed at last, is not a sub judice nomination. Due to its current Council standing, the Dragomir line is regrettably not eligible to present a candidate.Tasha, never afraid of talking in a crowd or taking on impossible odds, leapt back up. I could tell she was eager to. She was good at making speeches and challenging the system. Monarch nominees dont need a Council position or quorum to run for the throne. That makes no sense, said Nathan. There were mutters of agreement.Check the law books, NateI mean, Lord Ivashkov.Yes, there he was at last. My tactful father had joined the conversation. Abe had been leaning against a wall near the doorway, dressed splendidly in a black suit with a shirt and tie that were exactly the same shade of emerald green. My mother stood beside him, the slightest touching of a smile on her face. For a moment, I was captivated as I studied them side by side. My mother the perfect notion of guardian excellence and decorum. My father always capable of achieving his goals, no way out how twisted the means. Uneasily, I began to understand how Id inherited my bizarre personality.Nominees have no requirements concerning how many people are in their family, continued Abe jovially. They only need three royal nominations to be confirmed.Nathan gestured angrily toward where his own wayward son and Christian sat. They arent from her familyThey dont need to be, counter ed Abe. They just need to be from a royal family. They are. Her candidacy is within the lawso long as the princess accepts.All heads swiveled toward Lissa now, as though they were suddenly just noticing her. Lissa hadnt twitched since the startling events began. She was in too much shock. Her thoughts seemed to move both fast and slow. Part of her couldnt even start to process what was happening around her. The rest of her mind was spinning with questions.What was going on? Was this a joke? Or maybe a spirit-induced illusion? Had she finally gone crazy? Was she dreaming? Was it a trick? If so, why would her own friends have been the ones to do it? Why would they do this to her? And for the love of God, would everyone break away staring at her?She could handle attention. Shed been born and raised for it, and like Tasha, Lissa could address a crowd and make bold statementswhen she supported them and was prepared. Neither of those things apply to this situation. This was pretty much the last thing in the world she had expected or wanted. And so, she couldnt bring herself to react or even consider a response. She stayed where she was, silent and shell- shocked.Then, something snapped her from her trance. Christians hand. Hed taken Lissas, wrapping his fingers with hers. He gave her a gentle squeeze, and the cacoethes and energy he sent brought her back to life. Slowly, she looked around the room, meeting the eyes of those all watching her. She saw Tashas determined gaze, my fathers cunning look, and even my mothers expectation. That last one proved most startling of all. How could Janine Hathawaywho always did what was right and could barely crack a jokebe going along with this? How could any of Lissas friends be going along with this? Didnt they love and care about her?Rose, she thought. I wish you were here to tell me what to do.Me too. Damned one-way bond.She trusted me more than anyone else in the world, but she realized then that she trusted all of these friends toowell, except maybe Abe, but that was understandable. And if they were doing this, then surelysurelythere was a reason, right?Right?It made no sense to her, yet Lissa felt her legs move as she rose to her feet. And despite the fear and muddiness still running through her, she found her voice inexplicably clear and confident as it rang out through the room.I accept the nomination.