Spirit Bound Chapter Nineteen

argon YOU CRAZY? I ASKED.He gave me the a want wordless look he eternally did when I asked that question.I sighed and receivek again. A lay issuey? Thats pushing it, plain for you. People plainly died Guardians. Priscilla Voda. no. to workforcetion, hoi polloi had scarce play along abide from the dead. Probably best to leave that crush out out. This isnt the time to total trashed and play beer pong.I expected Adrian to hiter that it was al panaches a heavy time for beer pong, save now he remained serious. Actually, its because tribe died that in that locations loss to be a companionship. Its not a kegger type. perchance partys not even up the right word. Its a He frowned, grasping at speech. A special event. An elect(ip) unity. totally olympian parties are elite ones, I pointed out.Yeah, unless not both royal is invited to this. Its the well, elite of the elite.That really wasnt helping. AdrianNo, listen. He contact that familiar movement of his th at indicated frustration, running his fall done his hair. Its not so oft a party as a ceremony. An quondam(a), previous(a) tradition from I dont cope. Romania, I approximate. They call it the Death Watch. just now its a way to mention the dead, a private thats been passed on through the oldest bloodlines.Flashbacks of a destructive secret monastic order at St. Vladimirs came back to me. This isnt about Mana issue, is it?No, I swear. Please, Rose. Im not all that into it either, exclusively my moms making me go, and Id really wish it if you were t here(predicate) with me.Elite and bloodline were sample words to me. Will there be otherwise dhampirs there?No. He then added quickly, but I do arrangements for some people youll approve of to be there. Itll make it better for both of us.Lissa? I guessed. If always there was an esteemed bloodline, hers was it.Yeah. I just ran into her at the medical center. Her reply was a rope like yours.That made me smile. It also p iqued my interest. I cherished to disgorge to her more round(predicate) what had happened during her visit to Dimitri and knew shed been avoiding me because of it. If termination to some silly royal ritual or what incessantly it was could grow me to her, then so much the better.Who else?People youll like.Fine. Be mysterious. Ill go to your cult meeting.That earned me a riposte smile. Hardly a cult, little dhampir. It really is a way to ease up last respects to the people kil guide in that fight. He reached out and ran a hand along my cheek. And Im glad God, Im so glad you werent one of them. You dont know. His vocalisation caught, the flippant smile trembling for a chip in the lead stabilizing again. You dont know how worried I was. Ein truth minute you were asleep(p), every minute I didnt know what had happened to you it was agony. And even after I perceive you were okay, I kept asking everyone at the medical center what they knew. Had they rulen you fight, did you bunk hurtI felt a lump in my throat. I hadnt been competent to rule Adrian when Id returned, merely I should keep sent a message, at least. I squeezed his hand and getk to make a wit of something that really wasnt funny. Whatd they say? That I was a badass?Yeah, actually. They couldnt s exit lecture just about how amazing you were in battle. Word got back to Aunt Tatiana too about what you did, and even she was impressed.Whoa. That was a surprise. I started to ask more, but his succeeding(prenominal) words brought me up utterly.I also watchd you were yelling at whatsoeverone you could to scrape out about Belikov. And that you were beating down the guardians doors this morning.I looked away. Oh. Yeah. I Look, Im sorry, but I had toHey, hey. His voice was heavy and earnest. Dont apologize. I understand.I looked up at him. You do?Look, its not like I didnt expect this if he came back.I glanced back at him hesitantly, studying his serious expression. I know. I come back w hat you verbalise before.He nodded, then gave me some other rueful smile. Of course, I didnt actually expect any of this to work. Lissa tried to explain the magic she utilise but good God. I dont think I could ever do anything like she did.Do you accept? I asked. Do you believe hes no longer Strigoi?Yeah. Lissa verbalize hes not, and I believe her. And I saw him from a distance out in the sun. But Im not sure its a good idea for you to try to see him.Thats your jealousy talking. I had suddenly no right to sound accusing, considering the way my heart was all obscure up everywhere Dimitri.Of course its jealousy, said Adrian nonchalantly. What do you expect? The fountain love of your life comes backfrom the dead, no less. Thats not something Im really worked up about. But I dont blame you for encountering confused.I told you beforeI know, I know. Adrian didnt sound particularly upset. In fact, there was a amazingly patient tone in his voice. I know you said him plan of atta ck back wouldnt affect things between us. But saying one thing before it happens and then actually having that thing happen are deuce different things.What are you getting at? I asked, kind of confused.I want you, Rose. He squeezed my hand more tightly. Ive always cherished you. I want to be with you. Id like to be like other guys and say I want to take care of you too, but well. When it comes down to it, youd believably be the one fetching care of me.I laughed in infract of myself. Some days I think youre in more peril from yourself than anyone else. You smell like cigarettes, you know.Hey, I eat never, ever said I was perfect. And youre wrong. Youre belike the close to dangerous thing in my life.AdrianWait. With his other hand, he pressed his fingers all over my lips. besides listen. Itd be stupid for me to think that your old boyfriend coming back isnt going to rich person any arrange on you. So do I like you wanting to see him? No, of course not. Thats instinct. But t heres more, you know. I do believe that hes a dhampir again. Absolutely. ButBut what? Adrians words had me more curious than ever now.But just because he isnt a Strigoi doesnt mean its entirely gone from him. Hold on. Adrian could see my mouth opening in outrage. Im not saying hes evil or means to be evil or anything like that. But what he went through Its huge. Epic. We really dont know much about the changing process. What issuance did that kind of life have on him? Are there crazy parts of him that competency suddenly lash out? Thats what Im worried about Rose. I know you. I know you arent going to be subject to help yourself. Youll have to see him and talk to him. But is it safe? Thats what no one knows. We dont know anything about this. We dont know if hes dangerous.Christian had said the same thing to Lissa. I examined Adrian designly. It sounded like a convenient excuse to honor Dimitri and me asunder. Yet, I saw truth in those copious green eye. He meant it. He was n ervous about what Dimitri might do. Adrian had also been honest about being jealous, which I had to admire. He hadnt ordered me not to see Dimitri or tried to dictate my behavior. I liked that too. I extended my hand and laced my fingers with Adrians.Hes not dangerous. Hes sad. Sad for what hes done. The guilts killing him.I female genitalia imagine. I probably wouldnt forgive myself either if I suddenly realized Id been viciously killing people for the last four months. Adrian pulled me to him and kissed the top of my head. And for everyones sakeyes, even hisI really foretaste he is exactly the way he was. Just be careful, okay?I will, I said, kissing his cheek. Inasmuch as I ever am.He grinned and released me. Thats the best I can hope for. For now, Ive got to head back to my parents for a little bit. Ill come back for you at four, okay?Okay. Is there anything I should wear to this secret party? straightlaced dress clothes are fine.Something occurred to me. If this is so elite a nd prestigious, how are you going to get a deplor up to(p)ly dhampir like me in?With this. Adrian reached for a start hed set down upon entering. He handed it to me.Curiously, I opened the pocket and gaped at what I saw. It was a robe, one that just covered the top half of the face around the eyes. It was intricately worked with specious and green leaves and bejeweled flowers.A mask? I exclaimed. Were wearing masks to this thing? What is this, Halloween?He winked. See you at four.We didnt actually put on the masks until we arrived at the Death Watch. As part of the secret nature of it all, Adrian said we didnt want to call any perplexity to ourselves while going to it. So we walked across the Courts grounds dressed upI wore the same dress Id worn to dinner at his parentsbut not getting much more notice than the twain of us popularly did when we were together. Besides, it was late, and a lot of the Court was getting ready for bed.Our term surprised me. It was one of the bu ildings that non-royal Court workers lived in, one that was very near Mias. Well, I supposed the last place youd look for a royal party would be at the home of a commoner. Except we didnt go to any of the apartments inside. Once we stepped into the buildings lobby, Adrian indicated we should put our masks on. He then took me over to what appeared to be a janitors closet.It wasnt. Instead, the door opened to a staircase leading down into darkness. I couldnt see the bottom, which put me on high alert. I instinctively wanted to know the details of every situation I entered. Adrian seemed calm and convinced(p) as he headed down, so I took it on faith he wasnt leading me to some sacrificial altar. I hated to admit it, but curiosity over this Death Watch thing was temporarily taking my mind off Dimitri.Adrian and I eventually reached another door, and this one had two guards. Both men were Moroi, both masked like Adrian and me. Their postures were stiff and defensive. They said nothing b ut simply looked at us expectantly. Adrian said a few words that sounded like Romanian, and a moment later, one of the men unlocked the door and gestured us inside.Secret password? I murmured to Adrian as we swept past.Passwords, actually. One for you and one for me. Every guest has a singular one.We stepped into a narrow tunnel lit only by torches engraft in the walls. Their dancing flames cast fanciful shadows as we passed by. From far ahead, the low murmur of conversation reached us. It sounded surprisingly normal, like any conversation youd hear at a party. Based on Adrians description, Id half-expected to hear chanting or drums.I shook my head. I knew it. They keep a medieval dungeon under the Court. Im surprised there arent chains on the walls.Scared? Adrian teased, clasping moderate of my hand.Of this? Hardly. I mean, on the Rose Hathaway Scale of Scariness, this is barely aWe emerged out of the hall before I could finish. An expansive room with vaulted ceilings interpen etrate out before us, something that boggled my spatially challenged brain as I tried to recall just how far underground wed gone. Wrought-iron chandeliers holding lit candles hung from the ceiling, dramatis personae the same ghostly light the torches had. The walls were made of stone, but it was a very artful, pretty stone gray with reddish flecks, polished into smooth round pieces. Someone had wanted to keep the Old World dungeon retrieve but calm have the place look stylish. It was a usual line of royal thinking.Fifty or so people were mill about around the room, some huddled in free radicals. Like Adrian and me, they wore formal clothes and half masks. All the masks were different. Some had a floral theme like mine, while others were decorated with animals. Some simply had swirls or geometric designs. tied(p) though the masks only covered half the guests faces, the sketchy lighting went a long way to obscure any other identifying features. I scrutinized them carefully, h oping I might pick out details that would give soulfulness away.Adrian led me out of the entryway and over toward a corner. As my view of the bailiwick expanded, I could see a large fire pit in the middle of the room, embedded in the stone floor. No fire burned in it, but everyone kept well away. For a moment, I had a disorienting flash of deja vu, thinking back to my time in Siberia. Id been to a type of memorial ceremony there toothough precisely one with masks or passwordsand everyone had sat around a bonfire outdoors. It had been in Dimitris honor, as all those who had loved him sat and told stories about him.I tried to get a better look at the fire, but Adrian was intent on keeping us behind the bulk of the crowd. Dont encounter attention to yourself, he warned.I was just looking.Yeah, but anyone who looks too close is going to realize youre the shortest person here. Itd be pretty obvious youre a dhampir. This is elite old blood, remember? I frowned at him as much as I cou ld through the mask. But I thought you said youd made arrangements for me to be here? I groaned when he didnt answer. Does making arrangements mean just sneaking me in? If so, those guys were kind of crap security.Adrian scoffed. Hey, we had the right passwords. Thats all it takes. I stealer, borrowed them off my moms list.Your moms one of the people who helped organize this?Yup. Her branch of the Tarus familys been deep inside this group for centuries. They apparently had a really vainglorious ceremony here after the school attack.I turned all of this over in my mind, trying to decide how I felt. I hated when people were obsessed with status and appearances, yet it was catchy to fault them wanting to honor those who had been killedparticularly when a majority of them had been dhampirs. The Strigoi attack on St. Vladimirs was a storehouse that would forever haunt me. Before I could ponder much further, a familiar sensation swept me.Lissas here, I said, looking around. I could fee l her nearby but didnt spot her immediately in the sea of masks and shadows. There.She stood apart from some of the others, wearing a rosehued dress and a white and gold mask with swans on it. Through our link, I felt her searching for anyone she knew. I impulsively started to go to her, but Adrian held me back, telling me to wait while he retrieved her.What is all this? she asked when she reached me.I figured youd know, I told her. Its all top secret royal stuff.Too top secret for me, she said. I got my invite from the queen. She told me it was part of my heritage and to keep it to myself, and then Adrian came and said I had to come for your sake.Tatiana invited you in a flash? I exclaimed. Maybe I shouldnt have been surprised. Lissa would have hardly undeniable sneaking in like I did. I figured soul would have made sure she got an invitation, but Id assumed it had all been Adrians doing. I glanced around uneasily. Is Tatiana here?Likely, said Adrian, voice annoyingly casual. As usual, his aunts heading didnt have the same impact on him that it did the rest of us. Oh, hey. Theres Christian. With the fire mask.I didnt know how Adrian spotted Christian, aside from the not-so-subtle mask metaphor. With his height and dark hair, Christian easily blended in with the other Moroi around him and had even been chatting with a girl stand up nearby, which seemed out of character. No way did he get a legit invite, I said. If any Ozeras had been deemed special enough to come to this, Christian wouldnt have been one of them.He didnt, agreed Adrian, making a low gesture for Christian to join us. I gave him one of the passwords I stole from Mom.I gave Adrian a startled look. How legion(predicate) did you steal?Enough to permit us come to attention.A mans booming voice rang out through the room, halting both Adrians words and Christians steps. With a grimace, Christian returned to where hed been standing, cut off from us now on the other side of the room. It looked lik e I wouldnt have the chance to ask Lissa about Dimitri after all.Without any direction, the others in the room began forming a go around around the fire pit. The room wasnt big enough for us to make a single-layered circle, so I was lock away able to nonplus behind other Moroi as I watched the spectacle. Lissa stood by me, but her attention was fixated across from us, on Christian. She was disappointed that he hadnt been able to join us.this night we come to honor the hard liquor of those who died fighting the spectacular evil that has plagued us for so long. This was the same man who had called us to attention. The disconsolate mask he wore glittered with silver swirls. He wasnt anyone special that I recognized. It was probably safe to assume that he was someone from an important bloodline who happened to have a good voice for bringing people together. Adrian confirmed it.Thats Anthony Badica. They always recruit him as an emcee.Anthony seemed more like a religious leader t han an emcee right now, but I didnt want to answer back and attract anyones notice.Tonight we honor them, continued Anthony.I flinched as just about everyone around us repeated those words. Lissa and I exchanged startled looks. Apparently, there was a script we hadnt been told about.Their lives were interpreted from us too in brief, continued Anthony.Tonight we honor them.Okay, this script might not be so hard to follow after all. Anthony kept talking about how terrible the calamity was, and we repeated the same response. The whole idea of this Death Watch still weirded me out, but Lissas sadness permeated the bond and began to affect me too. Priscilla had always been good to herand well-mannered to me. Grant might have only been Lissas guardian a short time, but he had protected her and helped her. In fact, if not for Grants work with Lissa, Dimitri might still be a Strigoi. So, slowly, the gravity of it all began to hit me, and even if I thought there were better ways to mourn , I appreciated the acknowledgment the dead were getting.After a few more refrains, Anthony gestured someone antecedent. A woman in a glittering emerald mask came forward with a torch. Adrian shifted beside me. My darling mother, he murmured.Sure enough. Now that hed pointed it out, I could distinctly make out Daniellas features. She tossed her torch into the fire pit, and it lit up like the Fourth of July. Someone must have doused that wood with either flatulence or Russian vodka. Maybe both. No wonder the other guests had kept their distance. Daniella melted into the crowd, and another woman came forward holding a tray with flamboyant goblets. Walking around the circle, she handed a cup to each person. When she ran out, another woman appeared with a tray.As the goblets were distributed, Anthony explained, Now we will toast and subscribe to the dead, so that their liven will move on and find pacification.I shifted uncomfortably. People talked about restless spirits and the d ead finding peace without really knowing what that meant. Being shadow-kissed came with the ability to see the restless dead, and it had taken me a long time to gain control so that I didnt see them. They were always around me I had to work to keep them obstruct out. I wondered what Id see now if I let down my walls. Would the ghosts of those killed the night of Dimitris attack be hovering around us?Adrian sniffed his cup as soon as he got it and scowled. For a moment, I felt panic until I sniffed mine too. Wine. Thank God, I whispered to him. From your face, I thought it was blood. I recalled how much he hated blood that wasnt straight from the source.Nah, he murmured back. Just a bad vintage.When everyone had their wine, Anthony raised his cup over his head with both hands. With the fire behind him, it gave him an almost sinister, otherworldly look. We jollify to Priscilla Voda, he said.We drink to Priscilla Voda, everyone repeated.He brought the goblet down and took a sip. So d id everyone elsewell, except for Adrian. He gulped half his down, bad vintage or not. Anthony raised his cup over his head again.We drink to James Wilket.As I repeated the words, I realized James Wilket was one of Priscillas guardians. This crazy group of royals really was present respect to dhampirs. We went through the other guardians one by one, but I kept my sips small, wanting to keep a level head tonight. I was pretty sure that by the end of the name list, Adrian was faking his sips because hed run out.When Anthony accurate naming all who had died, he held his cup up again and approached the blinding fire, which had begun to make the small room uncomfortably hot. The back of my dress was growth damp with sweat.To all those lost by the great evil, we honor your spirits and hope they will move on in peace to the next world. He then dumped the remainder of his wine into the flames.All this talk of spirits lingering in the world certainly didnt go along with the usual Christia n afterlife beliefs that dominated Moroi religion. It made me wonder just how old this ceremony really was. Once more, I had an urge to drop my barriers and see if any of this had really drawn ghosts to us, but I feared what Id find. Besides, I quick got distracted when everyone else in the circle began dumping their wine into the fire as well. One by one, going clockwise, each person approached. All was silent as this happened, save for the crackling in the fire pit and switching of logs. Everyone watched respectfully.When my turn came, I fought hard not to tremble. I hadnt forgotten that Adrian had sneaked me in here. Lowly Moroi werent allowed, let alone dhampirs. What would they do? Declare the space violated? Mob me? Cast me into the fire?My fears proved unfounded. No one said or did anything unusual as I poured out my wine, and a moment later, Adrian stepped forward for his turn. I melted back beside Lissa. When the entire circle had gone up, we were led into a moment of s ilence for the departed. Having witnessed Lissas kidnapping and subsequent rescue, I had a lot of dead to ponder. No amount of silence would ever do them justice.Another unspoken signal seemed to pass through the room. The circle dispersed, and the tension lifted. People again fell into small chatty groups, just like at any other party, though I did see tears on the faces of some.A lot of people must have liked Priscilla, I observed.Adrian turned toward a table that had mysteriously been arrange during the ceremony. It sat against the back wall and was filled with fruit, cheese, and more wine. Naturally, he poured a glass.They arent all crying for her, he said.I find it hard to believe theyre crying for the dhampirs, I pointed out. No one here even knew them. non original, he said.Lissa quickly caught his meaning. Most of the people who went on the rescue would have been guardians assigned to Moroi. They couldnt all be Court guardians.She was right, I realized. Wed had too many pe ople with us at the warehouse. Many of these Moroi had undoubtedly lost guardians that theyd make out close to. Despite the disdain I often had for these types of royals, I knew some had probably formed legitimate friendships with and attachments to their bodyguards.This is a lame party, a voice suddenly said. We turned and saw that Christian had finally made his way over to us. I couldnt tell if we were supposed to be having a funeral or summoning the devil. It was kind of a half-assed attempt at both.Stop it, I said, surprising myself. Those people died for you last night. Whatever this is, its still out of respect for them.Christians face grew sober. Youre right.Beside me, Id felt Lissa light up inside when she saw him. The horrors of their trial by ordeal had brought them closer together, and I recalled the tenderness theyd shared on the ride back. She offered him a warm look and got a tentative smile in return. Maybe some good would come of all that had happened. Maybe theyd b e able to fix their problems.Or maybe not.Adrian broke into a grin. Hey. Glad you could make it.For a moment, I thought he was speaking to Christian. Then I looked and saw a girl in a peacock mask had joined us. With the mingling people and masks, I hadnt noticed that she was purposely standing near us. I peered at her, seeing only blue eyes and golden curls before I finally recognized her. Mia.What are you doing here? I asked.She grinned. Adrian got me a password.Adrian apparently got passwords for half the party.He seemed very joyous with himself. See? he said, smiling at me. I told you Id make this price your while. The whole gangs here. Nearly.This is one of the weirdest things Ive ever seen, said Mia, glancing around. I dont see wherefore it has to be a secret that the people who got killed were heroes. Why cant they wait for the group funeral?Adrian shrugged. I told you, this is an ancient ceremony. Its a holdover from the Old Country, and these people think its important. F rom what I know, it used to be a lot more elaborate. This is the overhaul version.It occurred to me then that Lissa hadnt said a single word since wed noticed Christian had come with Mia. I opened myself to the bond, feeling a flood of jealousy and resentment. I still maintained Mia was one of the last people Christian would be involved with. (Okay, it was hard for me to imagine him involved with anyone. His getting together with Lissa had been monumental.) Lissa couldnt see that, though. All she saw was him continually hanging out with other girls. As our conversation continued, Lissas attitude grew frostier, and the friendly looks hed been giving her began to fade.So is it true? Mia asked, oblivious to the drama unfolding around her. Is Dimitri really back?Lissa and I exchanged glances. Yes, I said firmly. Hes a dhampir, but no one believes it yet. Because theyre idiots.It just happened, little dhampir. Adrians tone was gentle, though the topic clearly made him uncomfortable too. You cant expect everyone to get on board with it right away.But they are idiots, said Lissa fiercely. Anyone who talks to him can tell hes not a Strigoi. Im pushing for them to let him out of his cell so that people can actually see for themselves.I wished she would push a little harder for me to get to see him, but now wasnt the time to talk about that. Eyeing the room, I wondered if some people would have trouble accepting Dimitri because of his role in the deaths of their loved ones. He hadnt been in control of himself, but that wasnt enough to bring back the dead.Still uncomfortable around Christian, Lissa was growing restless. She also wanted to leave and check on Dimitri. How long do we have to stay here? Is there more toWho the hell are you?Our little practice bundling turned as one and found Anthony standing by us. Considering most of us were here illicitly, he could have been speaking to anyone. But, based on where his gaze was fixed, there was no question who he meant.He was talking to me.