Last Sacrifice Chapter Five

GETTING away(predicate)door(a) FROM DIMITRI WASNT vindicatory ab footstep up our rocky romantic past. Id meant it when I said I didnt penury him buildting in trouble beca delectation of me. If the guardians found me, my fate wouldnt be that such(prenominal) different from what Id already been facing. however Dimitri? Hed been making baby move toward acceptance. Sure, that was uprisely much destroyed now, only when his chance for a support wasnt over. If he didnt want to live at Court or with pityings, he could go aimb hotshot to Siberia and re maneuver to his family. Out in that location in the midsection of nowhere, hed be hard to find. And with how ab appear that community was, theyd go to a set of trouble to dissemble him if almost unmatchable ever did try to hunt him d induce. Staying with me was emphatic whollyy the wrong option. I just needed to convince him.I enjoy what youre destineing, Dimitri said, after(prenominal) wed been on the road for mor e or less an hour.We hadnt spoken much, both of us lost in our own positions. After a few to a greater extent country roads, wed in the long break reveal do it to an interstate and were making good clock toward well, I had no idea. Id been principaling step up the window, pondering all the disasters around me and how I alone could fix them. Huh? I glanced over at him.I thought there tycoon be the underageest hint of a grimace on his lips, which fillmed absurd considering this was probably the worst situation hed been in since universe re entrepotd from his Strigoi state.And it wont work, he added. Youre throwning how to commence away from me, probably when we crimsontually give way for petrol. Youre thinking maybe youll pass on a chance to run finish up then.The crazy thing was, I had been thinking truly much along those lines. The old Dimitri was a good dividener on the road, scarcely I wasnt so sure as shooting I worryd having his old ability to prete nd my thoughts tush as well.This is a waste of cadence, I said, gesturing around the motorcar.Oh? You stand better things to do than flee the people who want to lock you up and execute you? Please dont tell me again that this is too dangerous for me.I glared. Its about more than just you. racecourse away shouldnt be my altogether c formerlyrn. I should be helping clear my name, non hiding in whatever remote place youre undoubtedly victorious me to. The answers are at Court.And you generate tons of friends at Court who will be workings on that. Itll be easier on them if they receipt youre safe.What I want to fill out is why no one told me about thisor, I mean, why Lissa didnt. Whyd she hide it? Dont you think Id keep been more helpful if Id been ready?We did the dateing, not you, Dimitri said. We were white-lipped if you knew, you might give away that something was up.I would have never toldnot intentionally, no. solely if you were tense or anxious well, your guards can plectrum up on those kinds of things.Well, now that were out, can you tell me where were release? Was I adjust? Is it some crazy, remote place? noanswer.I narrow my eyes at him. I hate not creation in the loop.That tiny smile on his lips grew a little bigger. Well, I have my own personal theory that the more you dont notice, the more your curiosity is probable to make sure you stick around with me.Thats ridiculous, I replied, though really, it wasnt all that unreasonable of a theory. I sighed. When the hell did things get so out of control? When did you big cats start being the masterminds? Im the one who comes up with the wacky, impossible plans. Im hypothetical to be the general here. Now Im barely a lieutenant.He started to theorise something else only when then froze for a few present moments, his manifestation instantly taking on that wary, lethal guardian look. He swore in Russian.Whats wrong? I asked. His attitude was contagious, and I immediately forgot all t houghts of crazy plans.In the planetary flash of headlights from oncoming traffic, I could see his eyes dart up to the rearview mirror. We have a tail. I didnt think it would happen this soon.Are you sure? It had grown dark, and the number of cars on the highway had increased. I didnt know how allone could mend one suspicious car among that many, besides well he was Dimitri. He swore again and emergently, in a maneuver that make me grab the dashboard, he cut sharply across two lanes, barely misfireing a minivan that expressed its annoyance with a lot of honking. There was an exit properly wing there, and he just barely made it without clipping the exit ramps rail. I heard more honking, and when I looked affirm, I byword the headlights of a car that had made just as crazy a move to embody us onto the exit.The Court must have gotten the word out more or less disruptive, he said. They had someone go overing the interstates.Maybe we should have taken bear roads.He shook h is head. Too slow. None of it would have been an issue once we switched cars, but they found us too soon. Well have to get a new one here. This is the biggest city well hit forrader the Maryland border.A sign said we were in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and as Dimitri skillfully drove us fine-tune a busy, commerce-filled road, I could see the tail mirroring everything we did. What exactly is your plan to get a new car? I asked warily.Listen carefully, he said, ignoring my oral sex. It is very, very important that you do exactly as I say. No improvising. No arguing. There are guardians in that car, and by now, theyve alerted every former(a) guardian around herepossibly even the human guard.Wouldnt the police catching us create a few problems?The Alchemists would sort it out and make sure we ended up back with the Moroi.The Alchemists. I should have known theyd get involved. They were a secret society of humans who helped nourish Moroi and dhampir interests, safekeeping us out of th e mainstream human public. Of course, the Alchemists didnt do it out of kindness. They thought we were evil and unnatural and mostly wanted to make sure we stayed on the fringes of their society. An escape valved criminal like me would certainly be a problem they would want to help the Moroi with.Dimitris voice was hard and commanding when he spoke again, though his eyes werent on me. They were busy peter outning the sides of the road. No matter what you think of the choices everyones been making for you, no matter how unhappy you are with this situation, you knowI know you dothat Ive never failed you when our lives were at stake. You trusted me in the past. charge me now.I wanted to tell him that what he said wasnt all told true. He had failed me. When hed been taken down by Strigoi, when hed shown that he wasnt perfect, he had failed me by burst the impossible, godly image I had of him. But my life? No, he had of all time kept mine safe. Even as a Strigoi, Id never entirely been convinced he could kill me. The night the Academy had been attacked, when hed been turned, hed told me to obey him without question too. It had meant leaving him to fight Strigoi, but Id done it.Okay, I said quietly. Ill do whatever you say. Just remember not to talk down to me. Im not your student anymore. Im your equal now.He glanced away from the side of the road just long enough to give me a surprised look. Youve alship canal been my equal, Roza.The use of the affectionate Russian nickname made me too stupid to respond, but it didnt matter. Moments later, he was all business again. There. Do you see that movie area sign? I gazed down the road. There were so many restaurants and stores that their signs made a glittering haze in the night. At last, I saw what he meant. WESTLAND CINEMA.Yes.Thats where were going to meet.We were splitting up? Id wanted to part ways but not like this. In the face of danger, separating suddenly seemed like an awful idea. Id promised not to argue , though, and kept listening.If Im not there in a half hour, you call this number and go without me. Dimitri handed me a s centre piece of paper from his duster pocket. It had a phone number scrawled on it, not one I experience.If Im not there in a half hour. The words were so shocking that I couldnt help my testify this time. What do you mean if youre notahDimitri made an early(a) abrupt turn, one that caused him to run a red light and only narrowly miss a number of cars. More honking ensued, but the move had been too sudden for our tail to keep up. I saw our pursuers whiz past on the main road, brake lights flashing as they searched for a place to turn around.Dimitri had taken us into a mall park lot. It was packed with cars, and I glanced at the clock to get a grasp for human time. nigh eight oclock at night. Early in the Moroi day, prime entertainment time for humans. He drove past a few entrances to the mall and finally selected one, pulling into a handicap plaza. He was o ut of the car in one fluid motion, with me following just as quickly.Heres where we split up, he said jogging toward a set of doors. Move fast, but dont run when were inside(a). Dont attract attention. Blend in. Wind through it for a little spotlight then get out through any exit but this one. Walk out near a group of humans and then head for the theater. We stepped into the mall. GoAs though afraid I might not move, he gave me a small push toward an escalator opus he took forward on the main floor. There was a part of me that wanted to just freeze and stand there, that felt dumbfounded by the sudden onslaught of people, light, and activity. I soon pushed that startled part by and began heading up the escalator. Fast reflexes and instinctual reactions were part of my training. Id honed them in school, in my travels, and with him. Everything Id been taught about eluding someone came rushing back to my head. What I wanted to do more than anything was look around and see if I had a follower, but that would have definitely attracted attention. I had to imagine that, at most, we had a play off minutes lead on our pursuers. They would have had to turn around to get back to the mall and then circle to spot our car, presuming they figured out wed ka post(p) into the mall. I didnt think Harrisburg had enough of a Moroi presence to reference very many guardians on short notice. The ones they had would likely split up, some probing the mall and some guarding the entrances. This place had too many doors for the guardians to watch them all my escape choice would be pure luck.I walked as fast as I reasonably could, weaving through couples, families with strollers, and giggling teens. I envied that last group. Their lives seemed so easy compared to mine. I also passed the usual mall stores, their names registering but not much more Ann Taylor, Abercrombie, Forever 21 Ahead of me, I could see the center of the mall where several corridors bifurcate out. Id have a choice to make soon.Passing an accessories store, I ducked inside and pretended to look at headbands. As I did, I covertly glanced back out to the malls main section. I saw energy obvious. No one had halt no one had followed me into the store. Beside the headbands section was a headroom bin filled with items that obviously deserved to be on clearance. single item was a girly baseball cap, hot pink with a star done in rainbow rhinestones on the front. It was god-awful.I bought it, grateful the guardians hadnt taken away the meager cash Id had on me when arrested. They probably figured it wasnt enough to return anyone. I also bought a ponytail holder, all the dapple so far keeping an eye on the stores doorway. Before leaving, I bound my hair up as much as I could with the holder and then be sick on the hat. There was something silly about being reduced to disguises, but my hair was an easy way to ID me. It was a deep, almost-black brown, and my lack of any new haircut had it hanging to my mid-back. In fact, between that and Dimitris height, we would have made a very conspicuous pair walking through here.I merged back into the shoppers and soon reached the malls center. Not wanting to show any hesitation, I took a left toward Macys. As I walked, I felt slightly discompose at the hat and wished Id at least had time to find a more stylish one. Minutes later, when I patched a guardian, I was glad Id made such a quick fashion choice.He was near one of those carts you always see in the center of malls, guise to be interested in cell phone covers. I recognized him first because of his stance and the way he was managing to act interested in a zebra print phone cover while simultaneously searching around him. Plus, dhampirs could always distinguish each other from humans with finis enough examination. For the most part, our two races appeared pretty identical, but I could spot one of my own.I made sure not to look right at him and felt his eyes pass over me. I didnt know him, which meant he probably didnt know me either. He was likely going off a photo hed seen once and expected my hair to be a big giveaway. Keeping as casual an air as I could, I moved past him at a leisurely pace, glancing in windows that kept my back to him but sent no obvious messages that I was on the run. All the while, my heart pounded in my chest. Guardians could kill me on sight. Did that pass to the middle of a mall? I didnt want to find out.When I was clear of the cart, I picked up my pace a little. Macys would have its own outside door, and now it was just a gamble to see whether or not Id made a good call coming in this direction. I entered the store, went down its escalator, and headed toward the main floor exitpassing a very nice selection of cute berets and fedoras. I paused near them, not because I planned on upgrading my hat, but because it allowed me to fall in step just loafer a group of girls who were also exiting.We left the store together, and my eyes quickly adjusted to the change in light. There were lots of people around, but I again saw nothing threatening. My girls stop to chat, giving me an opportunity to get my bearings without appearing totally lost. To my right, I spotted the busy road Dimitri and I had come in on, and from there, I knew how to get to the movie theater. I exhaled in relief and cut across the set lot, still watching my surroundings. The farther I walked from the mall, the less crowded the parking lot became. Lampposts kept it from being totally dark, but there was still an eerie feel as things grew quieter and quieter. My initial impulse was to head right for the road and take the sidewalk directly to the theater. It was well lit and had people. But a moment later, I decided it was too conspicuous. I was pretty sure I could cut across parking lots much more quickly to get to the theater.It proved truekind of. I had the theater in sight when I realized I had been followed after all. Not far ahead of me, the shadow of a parking lamps post didnt cast correctly. The shadow was too broad. Someone was behind the pole. I doubted a guardian had coincidentally picked this spot in the hopes Dimitri or I would come by. Most likely it was a scout whod seen me and circled ahead for an ambush.I kept walking, trying not to obviously slow down, though every brawn in my body was tensing for attack. I had to be the one who attacked first. I had to be in control.My moment came, seconds before I suspected my ambusher would have made his move. I leapt out, throwing himit turned out to be a dhampir I didnt recognize against a nearby car. Yup. Id surprised him. Of course, the surprise was mutual when the cars alarm went off, blare into the night. I winced, trying to ignore the shrieking as I punched my wrapped on the left side of his jaw. I had to make the most of having him pinned.The deposit of my fist knocked his head against the car, but he took it admirably, promptly pushing back in an eff ort to free himself. He was stronger, and I did stumble a little, but not enough to lose my balance. What I lacked in strength, I made up for in speed. I dodged each attempt at me, but it brought me little satisfaction. That stupid car alarm was still going strong, and it was eventually going to attract the attention of other guardians or human authorities.I dashed around the side of the car, and he gave chase, stopping when we were on opposite sides. It was like two kids playing keep-away. We mirrored each other as he tried to anticipate which direction Id go. In the plunge lighting, I saw something surprising tucked into his belt a gun. My telephone line ran cold. Guardians were trained to use guns but rarely carried them. Stakes were our weapon of choice. We were in the business of killing Strigoi, after all, and guns were ineffective. But against me? Yeah. A gun change his job, but I had a feeling hed hesitate to use it. A car alarm could be blamed on someone accidentally ge tting too close, but a gunshot? That would elicit a call to the police. This guy wouldnt fire if he could help itbut he would if he ran out of options. This needed to end soon.At last I made a move toward the front of the car. He tried to tapdance me, but then I surprised him by springing onto the cars hood (because honestly, at this point, it wasnt like the alarm could get any louder). In my split second of advantage, I threw myself off the car and onto him, knocking him flat to the ground. I land on top of his stomach and held him down with all my weight while my hands went around his neck. He struggled, trying to throw me off, and nearly succeeded. At last, the lack of air won out. He stopped moving and hide into unconsciousness. I let go.For a brief moment, I had a flashback to our escape from Court, when Id used the like technique on Meredith. I saw her craft on the ground all over again and felt that same pang of guilt. Then, I shook it off. Meredith was okay. Meredith was nt even here. None of that mattered. All that mattered was that this guy was out of commission, and I had to get out of here. Now.Without looking to see if others were coming, I tore off across the parking lot toward the theater. I stopped once I had some distance between me and the wailing car, using another car as cover. I saw no one near the guy yet, but over by the parking lots front, close to the mall, there seemed to be some activity. I didnt stick around to get a closer look. Whatever it was, it couldnt be good for me.I reached the theater a couple minutes later, breathless more from fear than exhaustion. Running endurance was something I had built up a lot of, convey to Dimitri. But where was Dimitri? Theatergoers mingled around, some giving my disheveled state an odd look, as they either waited for tickets or discussed what movie theyd just seen. I saw no sign of Dimitri anywhere.I had no watch. How long had passed since wed parted? Surely not a half hour. I walked around the theater, staying obscured in the crowd, searching for any indication of Dimitri or more pursuers. Nothing. Minutes ticked by. Uneasily, I reached into my pocket and stirred the piece of paper with the phone number. Leave, hed told me. Leave and call the number. Of course, I had no cell phone, but that was the least of my problems right nowRoseA car pulled up at the curb where others were dropping people off. Dimitri was careen out the drivers side window, and I nearly fell over in relief. Well, okay, not nearly. In reality, I didnt waste a moment in hurrying over to him and hopping into the passenger seat. Without a word, he hit the gas and got us away from the theater and back to the main road.We said nothing at first. He was so wound up and on edge, it seemed the slightest innervation would make him snap in half. He drove as fast as he could without attracting police attention, all the while glancing into the rearview mirror.Is there anyone behind us? I asked at last, as h e drove back onto the highway.It doesnt look like it. Itll take them a while to figure out what car were in.I hadnt paid much attention when Id entered, but we were in a Honda Accord another ordinary-looking car. I also noticed that there was no key in the ignition.Did you hotwire this car? I then rephrased my question. Did you err this car?You have an interesting set of morals, he observed. Breaking out of jail is okay. But steal a car, and you sound totally outraged.Im just more surprised than outraged, I said, leaning back against the seat. I sighed. I was afraid well, for a moment there, I was afraid you werent coming. That theyd caught you or something.No. Most of my time was spent sneaking out and finding a suitable car.A few minutes of silence fell. You didnt ask what happened to me, I pointed out, a little miffed.Dont need to. Youre here. Thats what counts.I got in a fight.I can tell. Your sleeve is ripped.I glanced down. Yup, ripped. Id also lost the hat in my mad dash. N o big loss. Dont you want to know anything about the fight? His eyes stayed on the road ahead of us. I already know. You took down your enemy. You did it fast, and you did it well. Because youre just that good.I pondered his words for a moment. They were matter-of-fact, all business and yet, his statement brought a tiny smile to my lips. Okay. So what now, General? Dont you think theyll scan reports of stolen cars and get our license plate number?Likely. But by then, well have a new carone they wont have any tip about.I frowned. How are you pulling that off?Were meeting someone in a few hours.Damn it. I really hate being the last one to know about everything.A few hours put us in Roanoke, Virginia. Most of our drive had passed uneventfully up until that point. But as the city came into view, I noticed Dimitri watching the exit signs until he found the one he wanted. Turning off the interstate, he go along checking for a tail and found none. We reached another commerce-filled roa d, and he drove to a McDonalds that stood out clearly from the rest of the businesses.I dont suppose, I said, that this is a solid food break?This, he responded, is where we catch our next ride.He drove around the restaurants parking lot, his eyes scanning for something, though I didnt initially know what. I spotted it a fraction of a second before he did. In the far corner of the lot, I saw a woman leaning against a tan SUV, her back to us. I couldnt see much of her except that she wore a dark shirt and had tousled blonde hair that almost touched her shoulders.Dimitri pulled into the spot next to her vehicle, and I was out of ours the second he hit the brake. I recognized her before she even turned around.Sydney? The name came out as a question, though I knew for sure it was her.Her head turned, and I saw a familiar facea human facewith brown eyes that could turn yellow-brown in the sun and a faint gold tattoo on her cheek.Hey, Rose, she said, a rueful smile playing on her lips. She held up a McDonalds bag. Figured youd be hungry.