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I SPRANG UP FROM THE bed, relieved that I didn’t fall over My head still hurt, but I no longer felt dizzy, which hopefullyat an alarm clock as I left Sonya’s bedroom, I saw that I’d been in Lissa’s head for a few hours Her test had been far more extensive than I’d realized
In the living rooht Victor and Robert stood there, in the flesh, taking in the surrounding details Even Robert seemed to be with useverything in his calculating way, Robert’s attention was fixed on Sonya His eyes bugged out in astonishment Dimitri, meanwhile, hadn’t altered his position near Sonya or put away the stake at her throat It was clear froarded the brothers as a new threat and was trying--i He seemed relieved to see one perfectly still within her chains, which I didn’t like at all ItHer red eyes narrowed
The whole situation was tense and dangerous, but a tiny part ofsatisfaction as I studied Victor s had been deceptive Just as I could shift er and healthier in those visits than he actually was in real life Age, disease, and life on the run were taking their toll Dark shadows lined his eyes, and his graying hair seeard and tired, but I kneas still dangerous
"So,’ I said, hands on hips "You ed to find us’
"There’s one lake in this town,’ said Victor "One blue house Maybe you had trouble with those directions, but for the rest of us, it wasn’t that difficult’
"Well, if you’re so s to stall as I frantically thought about what my plan was I’d wanted to capture Victor and Robert but didn’t kno Since we had to split our attention between them and Sonya, Dimitri and I couldn’t team up I wished we had leftover chain Aside fro the brothers, ould also specifically need to restrain their hands to reduce their ability to use ic
"Since you’re so smart,’ countered Victor, "I assumed you’d have already obtained the needed inforestured toward Sonya "She’s not exactly forthco’
Victor’s eyes fell on her "Sonya Karp You’ve changed since I last saw you’
"I’ to kill you all,’ Sonya snarled "And consume you one by one Normally, I’d start with the hulanced at Die "I think I’ll save you two for last and drag out your suffering’ She paused and almost comically added, "You’ve annoyed h some boot camp and learn all the same threats? It’s a wonder you don’t cackle too’ I turned back to Victor "See? Not that easy We’ve tried everything Beating it out, torturing it out Sydney went through the names of all her relatives No reaction’
Victor studied Sydney in detail for the first time "So Your pet Alchemist’
Sydney didn’tsoerous cri his stare unflinchingly
"Young,’ Victor ine it’s the only way you could manipulate her into this little escapade’
"I’m here by choice,’ replied Sydney Her expression stayed calm and confident "No one manipulated me’ Abe’s blackmail wasn’t really relevant at theme with your not-funny couseful to offer, then get out of here and let us wait until hunger weakens Sonya’ And by get out of here, Ito leave so that I can knock your heads together and drag you back to the guardians
"We can help,’ said Victor He touched his brother lightly on the ar his eyes from Sonya to Victor "Your methods were destined to fail If you want answers, there’s only one way to--’
Sonya ht next to her, but he’d also been keeping an eye on the rest of us And of course, I’d been completely focused on the Victor dra Sonya could have hoped for
With crazy Strigoi strength, she bucked up from the chair The chain rapped around her over and over, but her quick h to snap the chain in two places The rest still encircled her, but I knew perfectly well even one opening was enough for her to eventually bust out Distracted or not, Dimitri was on her in a flash, and a second later, so was I She was flailing in the chair, using every bit of her strength and speed to shake off the chains If she got loose, I knew she’d put up another fierce fight Di the sa to re-restrain her? The chain could probably be rebound, but we’d need to unwind it and start over, which would be next to iht not be able to take her down a second tiht, but Sonya e so her against a flat surface like the floor would have been ht against us, and we struggled to get a good position on the chair Dimitri had his stake-- I’d setus soe, and I clung to the hope we ht tire her out Probably not We’d break first My aching head was proof enough that I wasn’t in peak condition
I saw a flash ofoff new alar toward us--and he had a silver stake in his hand The sight was so bizarre and unexpected that I was slow to alert Diish mind suddenly kicked back to life, it was too late
"No!’ I shrieked, seeing Robert raise the stake "Don’t kill her!’
Di he could do Dimitri and I had created the perfect opportunity We were holding Sonya still, and with her chest vulnerable, Robert had a clean shot Frantically, I wondered what to do If I stopped hiht kill our only chance at finding out who--
Too late The stake plunged doith a force that astonishedDimitri, and I’d assumed the same would be true for soile But, no He still had to use two hands, but the stake went fir her heart
Sonya let out an intense screaht suddenly filled the room, just as an unseen force blastedthe pain The s and brace myself I squeezed my eyes shut but could still see starbursts Time slowed My heartbeat slowed
Then--it all stopped Everything The light The treh I’d i to bring my eyes back into focus and assess the situation I did my best to scra the same He looked like he’d also been knocked over but had caught the wall for support, rather than s flat out on the floor, and Victor rushed over to help him Sydney just stood frozen
And Sonya?
"Unbelievable,’ I whispered
Sonya was still in the ar back, it was obvious that she’d been blasted by the same force that had hit the rest of us The chains were still around her, but she’d stopped struggling On her lap was the silver stake Robert had held only le a hand out of the chain, just enough for her fingers to brush against the stake’s surface Her eyes widened onder--eyes that were a rich, azure blue
Robert had brought Sonya Karp back to life She was no longer Strigoi
When Lissa had saved Diivingit noithout the firsthand knowledge provided from Lissa, was still just as incredible Victor was preoccupied with Robert, but the rest of us couldn’t stop staring at Sonya in aive the slightest hint of her previous existence
There was none Her skin bore the typical Moroi paleness, but it was still filled with the ware of color--not like the Strigoi, ere coment Her eyes were bloodshot, but that was fro around her irises And the look in those eyesthere was no cruelty or malice They were not the eyes of someone who had just threatened to kill us all Her eyes were all shock and fear and confusion I couldn’t tear aze from her
ALissa restore Dimitri, some secret part of ain That was how miracles worked Once in a lifeti spirit to save Strigoi everywhere, talk that had faded when other drama--such as the e of spirit users had also made the idea unpopular, and besides, everyone knew the difficulties involved with a Moroi staking a Strigoi If trained guardians died fighting Strigoi, how could a Moroi stake one? Well, here was the answer: a subdued Strigoi A Moroi could uardian backup The possibilities , but he was old and frail Yet, if he had still done this, could any spirit user? He’d almost ain?
A
It started off as kind of a loail and rapidly grew in volume The noise snapped me to attention, but I didn’t exactly kno to respond Dimitri did His stake fell froan trying to free her from the chains She floundered at his touch, but her efforts no longer packed the supernatural strength of an undead e These were the motions of someone desperately, terribly afraid
I’d wrapped those chains pretty securely, but Dimitri had them off in seconds Once Sonya was free, he sat in the chair and pulled her to hiainst his chest and sob I sed Die of newborn babies flashed throughborn--or, in this case, reborn--into the world?
A sudden rabbed my attention Sydney’s eyes ide, and she was actually ?’ she cried "Don’t release her!’
Di her back "It’s okay, it’s okay,’ I said Sydney was the most stable factor in this whole operation I couldn’t have her freaking out "She’s not Strigoi Look Look at her She’s Moroi’
Sydney slowly shook her head "She can’t be I just saw her’
"It’s what happened to Dioi, do you? You trust him’ I released my hold on her, and she stayed put, her face wary
Looking down at the brothers, I realized theirs ht be a more serious situation than I had realized Robert, while not a Strigoi, looked pale enough to be one His eyes were vacant, drool escaping his partially openStrigoi restoration look easy He’d staked her like a pro, but obviously, there were a few side effects Victor was trying to support his brother andwords And on Victor’s facewell, there was a look of compassion and fear that I’d never seen before My brain didn’t entirely kno to reconcile it with e of hilanced up atinto a bitter smile "What, no witty quips now? You should be happy We’ve given you what you wanted You need answers froet theh price’
"No!’ exclaientle expression turned hard at Victor’s words "Are you crazy? Didn’t you see what just happened?’
Victor arched an eyebrow "Yes I noticed’
"She’s in no condition to answer anything! She’s in shock Leave her alone’
"Don’t act like she’s the one who’s suffering here,’ snapped Victor Turning back to Robert, Victor helped his brother stand and go toward the couch Robert barelyway as he sat down Victor put an ar’s all right’
"Will he be?’ I asked uncertainly Robert didn’t look like he was in all that good of shape My earlier thoughts about spirit users saving Strigoi continued growing unrealistic "Hehe did it before and recovered, right? And Lissa’s fine’