Spirit Bound Chapter Twenty-Six

MAYBE IT WAS SOMEONES SICK sense of humor, save I finish up in Dimitris swellway-vacated cell.I had come quietly after that guardian laid the charges in front me. In fact, Id become comatose because to a fault often of what hed state was im practical to process. I couldnt even squ atomic number 18ly stun to the circumstances astir(predicate) me. I couldnt feel kayoedrage or indignation all everyplace the accusation because I was still stuck on the slice ab come knocked out(p) of the closet Tatiana universe dead.Not exactly dead. Murdered.Murdered?How had that authorizeed? How had that happened around here? This coquette was atomic number 53 of the most secure places in the world, and Tatiana in particular was al agencys reticentby the same group that had descended on Dimitri and me so quickly. Unless shed left Courtand I was pretty certain(p) she hadntno Strigoi could drive killed her. With the constant threats we faced, mangle among dhampirs and Moroi was alm ost unheard of. Sure, it happened. It was inevitable in any society, scarce with the way ours was hunted, we r arely had time to turn on each other (shouting in Council meetings aside). That was part of why Victor had been so condemned. His crimes were intimately as mischievous as subjects got.Until now.Once I got past the impossible idea of Tatiana cosmos dead, I was able to ask the real question why me? Why were they accusing me? I was no lawyer, but I was pretty sure calling rough bingle a sanctimonious bitch was non big(a) express in a struggle.I tried occurting more(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) details from the guards outside my cell, but they remained hard-faced and silent. After do my express cacophonic from shouting, I slumped onto the bed and went to Lissas mind, where I was certain Id get more information.Lissa was frantic, trying to get answers from any unitary she could. Christian was still with her, and they stood inside the foyer of champion of the administrative buildings, which was filled with a flurry of activity. Dhampirs and Moroi a same(p) ran everywhere, some frightened of this parvenu government instability and others hoping to contemplate advantage of it. Lissa and Christian stood in the center of it all, like leaves swept on in a storms fury.While Lissa was now technically an adult, she had still always been under the wing of some adept-time(a) soulfulness at Courtusually Priscilla Voda, and occasionally even Tatiana. neither of them was available now, for obvious reasons. While many royals respected her, Lissa had no real source to turn to.Seeing her agitation, Christian clasped her hand. Aunt Tasha will deal whats going on, he state. Shell turn up curtlyer or later. You survive she wont allow anything happen to rosebush.Lissa k natural in that location was a bit of uncertainty in that statement but didnt mention it. Tasha might non want anything to happen to me, but she certainly wasnt all- co mpelling.LissaAdrians voice caused both Lissa and Christian to turn around. Adrian had comely entered, a immense with his mother. Adrian played as though he had literally gone straight from my bedroom to here. He wore yester sidereal days clothes, slightly rumpled, and his hair was styled with none of his usual care. By comparison, Daniella looked polished and put together, the perfect picture of a businesswoman who hadnt lost her femininity.At last Here were pack who might retain answers. Lissa rushed over to them gratefully.Thank God, Lissa said. No one will tell us whats happened besides that the queen is dead and Rose is locked up. Lissa looked up at Daniellas face pleadingly. arrange me theres been some anatomy of mistake.Daniella patted Lissas shoulder and gave as comforting a look as she could manage, given the circumstances. Im afraid not. Tatiana was killed last iniquity, and Rose is their main suspect.solely she would never drop done that exclaimed Lissa.Christi an joined her in just fury. Her yelling at the Council that day isnt enough to convict her for hire. Ah, Christian and I had the same line of reasoning. It was almost scary. Neither is crashing the Death Watch.Youre right. Its not enough, concur Daniella. But it doesnt make her look good either. And patently, they throw off other examine they say nurtures her guilt.What attractive of evidence? Lissa demanded.Daniella morose apologetic. I dont get. Thats still part of the investigation. Theyll have a hearing to present the evidence and question her where or sos, possible motives that kind of thing. She glanced around at the citizenry rushing by. If they even get that far. This kind of thing it hasnt happened in ages. The Council gains absolute control until a impudently monarch is elected, but theres still going to be chaos. People are afraid. I wont be surprised if the Court goes under martial law.Christian sullen to Lissa, entrust on his face. Did you see Rose last n ight? Was she with you?Lissa fr declareed. No. I think she was in her room. The last time I saying her was the day before yesterday.Daniella didnt look happy about that. Thats not going to help. If she was alone, then she has no alibi.She wasnt alone.Three sets of eyeball turned in Adrians direction. It was the first time hed spoken since first calling to Lissa. Lissa hadnt focused on him too much yet, meaning I hadnt either. Shed only observed his little appearance when he arrived, but now she could see the little details. annoy and distress had left their marks, making him look older than he was. When she tuned in to his aura, she saw the usual gold of a spirit user, but it and its other colors were muddied and tinged with shabbiness. on that point was a flickering there too, a warning of spirits instability taking hold. This had all come about too quickly for him to react, but I suspected hed hit the cigarettes and liquor as soon as he had a free people moment. It was how A drian coped with this sort of thing.What are you saying? Daniella asked sharply.Adrian shrugged. She wasnt alone. I was with her all night.Lissa and Christian did a good affair of maintaining neutral expressions, but Daniellas face registered the shock that any parent would have upon hearing about her childs sex life. Adrian noticed her reaction as well. economize it, he warned. Your morals, your opinions none of it matters right now. He gestured toward a group of panicky people running by, screaming about how Victor Dashkov must have surely come to Court to kill them all. Adrian shook his head and turned back to his mother. I was with Rose. That proves she didnt do it. Well deal with your motherly disapproval about my love life later.Thats not what worries me If they do have hard evidence and you get mixed up in this, you could be under skepticism too. The composure Daniella had entered with was beginning to crack.She was my aunt, cried Adrian incredulously. Why on earth would R ose and I kill her?Because she disapproved of you dating. And because Rose was upset over the age ruling. This came from Christian. Lissa glared, but he merely shrugged. What? Im just stating the obvious. Someone else would if I didnt. And we all heard the storiespeople have been making up things that are extreme even for Rose. A strong comment indeed.When? asked Daniella, clutching Adrians sleeve. When were you with Rose? When did you get there?I dont know. I dont remember, he said.She tightened her grip. Adrian Take this seriously. This is going to make a huge expiration on how things proceed. If you got there before Tatiana was killed, then you wont be tied to it. If you were with Rose afterwardThen she has an alibi, he interrupted. And theres no problem.I hope thats true, murmured Daniella. Her look didnt seem focused on my friends anymore. The wheels in her head were spinning, her thoughts jumping up as she tried to think how best to protect her son. I had been an brush up trodden case for her. He was, understandably, a red-alert emergency for her. Were still going to have to get you a lawyer. Ill talk to Damon. I have to reckon him before the hearing tonight. And Rufus will have to know about this too. Damn. Adrian arched an hill tip at that. I had the impression Lady Ivashkov didnt swear very often. We have to find out what time you were there.Adrian still wore his distress around him like a cloak and looked as though he might magnetic dip over if he didnt get nicotine or alcohol soon. I dislike to see him like that, particularly over me. There was strength indoors him, no question, but his natureand the sketchy effects of spiritmake coping with this hard. Yet, through his agitation, he managed to pull up a retrospect to help his frantic mother.There was someone in the building anteroom when I came in a janitor or something, I think. No one at the front desk, though. Most buildings usually kept a rung member around for emergencies or concierg e services.Daniellas face lit up. Thats it. Thats what well need. Damon will find out the time you were there so that we ass get you free and clear of this.And so he can defend me if things turn lamentable?Of pattern, she answered swiftly.What about Rose?What about her?Adrian still looked ready to fall apart, but there was seriousness and focus in his green eyes. If you find out Aunt Tatiana was killed before I was there, and Rose is thrown to the wolves alone, will Damon be her lawyer?His mother faltered. Oh, well, darling Damon doesnt really do that sort of thing.He will if you ask him to, said Adrian sternly.Adrian, she said wearily, you dont know what youre talk about. They say the evidence against her is bad. If our familys shown supportingIts not like were supporting murder You met Rose. You liked her. sess you look me in the eye and say its okeh for her to go in with whatever half-assed defense they dredge up for her? Can you?Daniella blanched, and I swear, she actually cringed away. I dont think she was used to such fierce resoluteness from her devil-may-care son. And though his words were perfectly sane, there was kind of a crazy desperation in his voice and attitude that was a little scary. Whether that was caused by spirit or just his own emotion, I couldnt say.I Ill speak to Damon, Daniella said at last. Shed had to swallow a a few(prenominal) times before actually getting the words out.Adrian let out a deep breath and some of that fury went with it. Thank you. She scurried away, run into the crowd and leaving Adrian alone with Christian and Lissa. The two of them looked only a little less stunned than Daniella had.Damon Tarus? Lissa guessed. Adrian nodded.Whos that? asked Christian.My moms cousin, said Adrian. The family lawyer. A real shark. good-hearted of sleazy too, but he can pretty much get anyone out of anything.Thats something, I suppose, mused Christian. But is he good enough to employment this so-called hard evidence?I dont kno w. I really dont know. Adrian inattentively reached for his pocket, the usual cigarette spot, but he had none today. He sighed. I dont know what their evidence is or how Aunt Tatiana even died. All I heard was that they demonstrate her dead this morning.Lissa and Christian exchanged grimaces. Christian shrugged, and Lissa turned back to Adrian, taking on the role of messenger.A stake, said Lissa. They found her in bed with a silver stake through her heart.Adrian said nothing, and his expression didnt really change. It occurred to Lissa that in all this talk about innocence, evidence, and lawyers, everyone had kind of overlooked the fact that Tatiana had been Adrians great-aunt. He hadnt approved of some of her decisions and had made cumulation of jokes about her behind her back. But she was still his family, someone hed known his stainless life. He had to be feeling the pain of her death on top of everything else. Even I felt a little conflicted. I despised her for what shed don e to me, but Id never wanted her dead. And I couldnt help but remember that shed occasionally spoken to me like I was a real person. Maybe it had been faked, but I was pretty sure shed been sincere the night shed stopped by the Ivashkovs. Shed been weary and thoughtful, mostly just concerned about bringing peace to her people.Lissa watched Adrian go, sympathy and sorrow flooding through her. Christian gently tapped her arm. Come on, he said. Weve found out what we needed to know. Were just in the way here.Feeling helpless, Lissa let him lead her outside, dodging more panicked crowds. The orange of a low sun gave every finger and tree a golden, warm feel. There had been a lot of people out when we returned from the warehouse with Dimitri, but it was nothing compared to this. People were buzzing with fear, locomote to pass the news. Some were already in mourning, clad in black, with crying on their faces. I wondered how much of that was real. Even in the midst of catastrophe and cr ime, royals would be scrambling for power.And each time she heard my name, Lissa would grow more and more angry. It was the bad anger too, the kind that felt like black great deal in our bond and often made her lash out. It was spirits curse.I cant recall this she exclaimed to Christian. I noticed, even if she didnt, that he was hurriedly taking her somewhere where there werent people. How could anyone think that about Rose? Its a set up. It has to be.I know, I know, he said. He knew spirits danger signs too and was trying to calm her down. Theyd reached a small, grassy area in the shade of a large great black-backed gull tree and settled onto the ground. We know she didnt do it. Thats all there is to it. Well prove it. She cant be punished for something she didnt do.You dont know this group, grumbled Lissa. If someones out to get her, they can make all sorts of things possible. With only the faintest awareness, I drew a little of that darkness from her into me, trying to calm he r down. Unfortunately, it just made me angrier.Christian laughed. You forget. I grew up around this group. I went to school with this groups kids. I know thembut were not panicking until we know more, okay?Lissa exhaled, feeling much better. I was going to take too much darkness if I wasnt careful. She gave Christian a small, provisional smile.I dont remember you being this reasonable before.Its because everyone has different definitions of reasonable. Mines just misunderstood, thats all. His voice was lofty.I think you must be misunderstood a lot, she laughed.His eyes held hers, and the smile on his face transformed into something warmer and softer. Well, I hope this isnt misunderstood. Otherwise, I might get punched.Leaning over, he brought his lips to hers. Lissa responded with no swing or thought whatsoever, losing herself in the sweetness of the kiss. Unfortunately, I was swept along with it. When they pulled away, Lissa felt her heart rate increase and her cheeks flush.What exactly was that the definition of? she asked, reliving how his mouth had felt.It means Im downcast, he said.She looked away and nervously plucked at some of the grass. Finally, with a sigh, she looked back up. Christian was there ever was there ever anything between you and Jill? Or Mia?He stared in surprise. What? How could you think that?You exhausted so much time with them.There is only one person I have ever wanted, he said. The steadiness of his gaze, of those crystal risque eyes, left no question as to who that person was. No one else has ever come close. In spite of everything, even with AveryChristian, Im so sorry for thatYou dont have toI doDamn it, he said. leave you let me finish a sentNo, Lissa interrupted. And she leaned over and kissed him, a hard and powerful kiss that burned through her body, one that told her there was no one else in the world for her either.Well. Apparently Tasha had been right I was the only one who could bring them back together. I just som ehow hadnt expected my flummox to play a role.I pulled away from her head to give them some privacy and save myself from watching them make out. I didnt begrudge them their moment. There was nothing either could do for me right now, and they deserved their reunion. Their only course of action was to wait for more information, and really, their method of passing time was a lot healthier than whatever Adrian was probably doing.I lay down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. There was nothing but plain metal and neutral colors around me. It drove me crazy. I had nothing to watch, nothing to read. I felt like an animal trap in a cage. The room seemed to grow smaller and smaller. All I could do was replay what Id learned via Lissa, analyzing every word of what had been said. I had questions about everything, of course, but the one thing that stuck with me was Daniella mentioning a hearing. I needed to know more about that.I got my answerhours later.Id fallen into sort of a numb haze by then and almost didnt recognize Mikhail standing(a) in front of my cell door. I leapt from my bed to the bars and saw that he was unlocking the door. Hope surged through me.Whats going on? I asked. atomic number 18 they letting me go?Im afraid not, he said. His point was proven when, after opening the door, he promptly put my hands in cuffs. I didnt fight it. Im here to take you to your hearing.Stepping into the hall, I saw other guardians gathered. My own security detail. A mirror of Dimitris. Lovely. Mikhail and I walked together, and mercifully, he spoke along the way instead of maintaining that awful silence that seemed to be common treatment for prisoners.Whats the hearing exactly? A trial?No, no. Too soon for a trial. A hearing decides whether youre going to trial.That sounds kind of like a waste of time, I pointed out. We emerged from the guardians building, and that fresh, damp air was the sweetest thing Id ever tasted.Its a bigger waste of time if you go to a full-fle dged trial, and they put one over there was no case to stand on. At the hearing, theyll lay out all the evidence they have, and a judgeor, well, someone acting as a judgewill decide if you should have a trial. The trial makes it official. Thats where they pass the verdict and dole out the punishment.Whyd they take so long for the hearing? Whyd they make me wait in that cell all day?He laughed, but not because he thought it was funny. This is fast, Rose. Very fast. It can take days or weeks to get a hearing, and if you do go to trial, youll stay locked up until then.I swallowed. Will they move fast on that too?I dont know. No monarchs been murdered in almost a hundred years. People are running wild, and the Council wants to establish order. Theyre already making huge plans for the queens funerala giant spectacle thatll distract everyone. Your hearing is also an stress to establish order.What? How?The sooner they convict the murderer, the safer everyone will feel. They think this ca se against you is so solid, they want to rush it through. They want you to be guilty. They want to bury her subtile her killer is moving toward justice, so that everyone can sleep easy when the new king or queen is elected.But I didnt I let my denial go. There was no point.Ahead of us, the building that housed the courtroom loomed. It had seemed gloomy the first time Id been here for Victors trial, but that had been owing to fear of the memories he sparked in me. Now now it was my own future on the line. And apparently not just my own futurethe Moroi world was watching and waiting, hoping I was a villain who could be safely put away forever. Swallowing, I gave Mikhail a nervous look.Do you think do you think theyll accuse me to trial?He didnt answer. One of the guards held the door open for us.Mikhail? I urged. Will they really put me on trial for murder?Yes, he said sympathetically. Im pretty sure they will.