Last Sacrifice Chapter Thirty-three

CRIES AND SCREAMS FROM THE audience told me my disguise was g mavin.Many eyeball also went to Dimitri. Adrian had dropped that illusion too, once Id shed mine. And, as wed been expecting, the shielders who had been gradually victorious up position around us surged forward, armed with handguns. I free vox populi that was cheating. Fortunately, my m otherwise and Mikhail go quickly into place to block our attackers and admonish any gunshots.Dont, I snapped at Dimitri, who I knew was alike(p)ly slightly to essence our 2 defenders. It was crucial he and I stay perfectly still, so we werent taken as threats. I even went as far as to hold up my arms, andreluctantly, I suspectedDimitri did too. Wait. Please listen to us rootage.The defender circle was tight, with no gaps. I was pretty authoritative my momma and Mikhail were the alto packher thing keeping them from shooting us past and thither. Guardians would incessantly avoid fighting other guardians if possible. Two blo ckers were easy to take down, though, and these guardians wouldnt cartridge clip lag forever. Jill and Abe suddenly travel forward, taking positions next to us. More shields. I dictum whiz of the looming guardians grimace. Civilians complicated things. Adrian had non moved, precisely the fact that he was enfold in the circle at all still made him an obstacle. puff us off later if you requisite, I verbalize. We wont resist. tho you require to let us talk first. We k now who killed the queen. So do we, said genius of the guardians. Now, the rest of you back away originally youre hurt. These argon dangerous fugitives.They deficiency to talk, said Abe. They have read.Again, he pushed forward with his case, acting confidently ab bug come forward things he had no clue about. He was staking it all on me. I was starting to like him. It was kind of unfortunate that our evidence wasnt as snow percent solid as Id hoped, entirely as Id said sooner technicalities.Let them t alk.It was a new voice, however a voice I knew by readt. Lissa pushed her way through two of the guardians. They held their tight position, the immediate commercial enterprise being that we not campaign. This allowed her to slip through hardly only so one could grab her arm and stop her from reaching us.Theyve come this far. They were indemnify about Jill. Boy, that was not easy for her to say with a straight organization, eyesight as she hadnt entirely come to terms with the issue. My imminent death was probably the only thing distracting her from the hide out shattering experience of learning she had a potential sibling. She too was taking a lot on combine here, confident I was telling the truth. Youve got them. They tint go anywhere. Just let them talk. Ive got evidence to support their case too.Id hold off on sharing that, Liss, I said in a low voice. Lissa still believed Daniella was the killer and wasnt difference to like hearing the truth. Lissa flashed me a confu sed look except didnt protest.Lets hear them, said one of the guardiansand not fairish any Hans. After an escape like they pulled, Id really like to acknowledge what brought them back.Hans was helping us?solely, he continued, Im sure you two will understand well have to restrain you before you make your great reveal.I looked at Dimitri who had al organise twistinged to me. Wed twain known what we were acquiring ourselves into, and honestly, this was a better scenario than Id envisioned.Okay, said Dimitri. He glanced at our noble protectors. Its okay. Let them get through.My mom and the others didnt move right away. Do it, I said. Dont end up as our cellmates.I thought for sure those loveable fools wouldnt listen to me. But Mikhail backed off first, and then the others did too, practically in sync. In a flash, guardians seized them all, leading them away. Dimitri and I stayed put, and four guardians moved in, two for Dimitri and two for me. Adrian had retreated with the others, but Lissa still stood a a bridge of(prenominal) feet away from us, all her trust in me.Get on with it, said Hans. He gripped my right arm tightly.I met Lissas eyes, hating what I had to say. But, no. She wasnt the one I was worried about hurting the most. Looking out into the audience, I found Christian, who was understandably watching this drama with avid attention. I had to turn away and stare at the clustering as a whole, refusing to checker individual pillowcases. Just a blur.I didnt kill Tatiana Ivashkov, I said. some(prenominal) people grumbled doubtfully. I didnt like her. But I didnt kill her. I glanced at Hans. Youve questioned the janitor who testified about where I was during the murder, right? And he IDd the man who attacked Lissa as the one who paid him off to lie about where I was? Id versed from Mikhail that Joe had eventually admitted to taking money from the mystery Moroi, once the guardians had cornered him with the picture.Hans frowned, hesitated, and then nodded for me to continue.Theres no record of his existenceat least not with the guardians. But the Alchemists know who he is. They saw him at one of their facilitiesacting as individuals bodyguard. My eyes fell on Ethan Moore, who stood with the guardians near the door. A bodyguard for psyche who was let in to see Tatiana the night she died Tasha Ozera.There was no indispensableness for any uproar from the audience this time because Tasha more than made up for it on her own. Shed been sitting next to Christian and sprang up from her chair.What on earth are you saying, rise? she exclaimed. Are you out of your mind?When Id stood in that respect defiantly, ready to face the crowd and demand rightful(prenominal)ice, Id been full of triumph and power. Now now I was just sad as I stared at someone Id unendingly trust, someone who was staring back at me with so much(prenominal)(prenominal) shock and hurt.I wish I was but its true. We both know it is. You killed Tatiana.Tasha s disbelief grew, tinged now with a lower-ranking anger, though she still seemed to be giving me the benefit of the doubt. I never, never believed you killed herand Ive fought for you on that. Why are you doing this? Are you playing on the Strigoi taint in our family? I thought you were above that kind of prejudice.I swallowed. Id thought getting evidence would be the hard part. It was postcode compared to revealing it. What Im saying has nothing to do with Strigoi. I close wish it did. You hated Tatiana for her age law and refusal to let Moroi fight. some other memory came to me, when Tasha had learned about the secret training sessions. Tasha had been aghast with what I now suspected might have been guilt at misjudging the queen.The crowd was riveted and stunned, but one person came to life an Ozera I didnt know but who apparently had family solidarity on his mind. He stood up, crossing his arms defiantly. Half this lawcourt hated Tatiana for that law. You among them.I didnt have my bodyguard bribe a protest or attack LisPrincess Dragomir. And dont pretend you didnt know the true cat, I warned her. He was your bodyguard. You were seen together. Ians explanation of her when she visited St. Louis had been perfectly clear great black hair, pale blue eyes, and scarring on one side of her face.Rose, I cant even believe this is progressing, but if mobthat was his namedid some(prenominal) youre talking about, then he acted alone. He always had radical ideas. I knew that when I hired him as outside protection, but I never thought he was capable of murder. She glanced around, looking for someone in charge, and finally settled on the Council. Ive always believed Rose was innocent. If mob is the one responsible for this, then Im more than happy to tell you whatever I know to clear Roses name.So, so easy. The mystery Moroi jamwas almost everywhere Tasha had been. Hed also been spotted in suspicious situations where she hadnt beenlike Joes grafting and Lissa s attack. I could save Tasha and just blame it all on him. He was already baseless. Tasha and I could stay friends. Shed acted on principle, right? What was wrong with that? Christian stood up beside her, looking at me like I was a stranger. Rose, how can you say any of this? You know her. You know she wouldnt do it. Stop make a scene and let us figure out how that James guy killed the queen. So, so easy. Blame the dead man.James couldnt have staked Tatiana, I said. He had an injured hand. It takes both hands for a Moroi to stake someone. Ive seen it happen twice now. And I bet if you can get a straight answer out of Ethan Moore I glanced over at the guardian who had by foregone pale. He could probably jump into a fight and kill without hesitation. But this kind of scrutiny? And eventual interrogation by his peers? I didnt call hed hold up. It was probably the reason Tasha had been able to manipulate him. James wasnt there the night Tatiana died, was he? And I dont designate D aniella Ivashkov was either, despite what Princess Dragomir was told earlier. But Tasha was. She was in the queens chambersand you didnt report it.Ethan looked like he insufficiencyed to bolt, but his odds of escape were about as good as mine and Dimitris. He belatedly shook his head. Tasha wouldnt kill anyone. Not exactly the confirmation of her muddle I wantedbut close. The guardians would get more out of him later.Rose Christian was pissed off now. Seeing him look at me with such outrage hurt even more than Tashas expression. Stop itLissa took a hardly a(prenominal) hesitant steps forward. I could tang in her mind that she didnt want to believe what I was saying either yet she still trusted me. She thought of a controversial solution. I know its wrong but if we used compulsion on the suspects Dont even suggest that exclaimed Tasha, turning her nifty eyes on Lissa. Stay out of this. Your afterlifes on the line here. A future that could make you great and achieve the thi ngs our people need.A future you could manipulate, I accomplished. Lissa believes in a lot of the reforms you do and you debate you could incite her of ones she doesnt. Especially if shes with your nephew. Thats why youve fought so hard to change the quorum law. You wanted her to be queen.Christian started to step forward, but Tasha laid a restraining hand on his shoulder. It didnt stop him from speaking. Thats idiotic. If she wanted Lissa to be queen, why make that James guy attack her?That was a mystery for me too, one of the holes I hadnt quite figure out. But Dimitri had. Conscious of his two guards, he shifted closer to me.Because no one was supposed to die. Dimitris low, resonant voice sounded wonderful with the rooms acoustics. He needed no microphone as he directed his words to Tasha. You didnt expect a guardian to be with her. He was right, I realized. Eddie had been drafted that night under preternatural circumstances and only barely made it back in time to see Ambros e with Lissa. James was probably going to fake an attack and remain enough to generate sympathy and more support for Vasilisa. Which it certainly didjust a little more severely.The outrage on Tashas face change to something I couldnt entirely gauge right away. Shed seemed offended at my accusations, but from Dimitriit was more. She looked legitimately hurt. Crushed. I knew that look. Id seen it on Adrians face a couple hours ago.Dimka, not you too, she said.Through Lissas eyes, I watched the colors of Tashas aura shift, burn a little brighter as she gazed at Dimitri. I could see exactly what Sonya had explained to me, how the aura showed affection.And thats why I took the fall, I murmured softly. No one but Dimitri and our guardians heard me.Hmm? Dimitri asked.I just shook my head. All this time, Tasha had still loved Dimitri. I knew she had rifle year, when shed made him an offer to hook up and have kidsnot something a lot of dhampir men had the chance to get. Hed refused, and I thought she had accepted hardly being friends with him. She hadnt. Shed still loved him. When Lissa had revealed my relationship with Dimitri to Hans, Tasha had already known. But for how long? I wasnt sure. Shed obviously known about the relationship before putting to death Tatiana, and putting the murder on me left Tasha free and clear and undefendable back up her chances with Dimitri.There was no point in transport up her personal motives for blaming me. Tatianas murder was the real issue at stake. I just looked at Hans. You can take me into custody, I meant it. But dont you think youve got enough to take herand Ethanin too?Hanss face was unreadable. His feelings toward me had always gone back and forth, since the day we met. Sometimes I was a troublemaker without a future. Other times I had the potential to be a leader. Hed believed I was a murderer, yet hed still allowed me to address the crowd. He didnt really like my friends either. What would he do now?He lifted his eye s from my face and looked to where several guardians were stationed in the audience, ready for any action. He gave a brusk nod. Take Lady Ozera. And Moore. Well question them.Seeing as Tasha was seated amidst other people, there was a bit of fear and panic when four guardians moved toward her. They avoided injuring other audience members as much as possible, but there was still plenty of pushing and shoving. What came as a total force was how fiercely Tasha fought back. She was trained, I remembered. Not in the same way guardians were, but enough to make it hard to get a hold of her. She could deliver and punchand stake queensand even managed to knock one guardian down.She might actually try to fight her way out of here, I realizedthough I didnt believe for an instant she could. It was too herd and chaotic. Guardians were heading toward the fray. Terrified Moroi were trying to get away from the fight. Everybody seemed to be getting in everyone elses way. Suddenly, a loudcrack ech oed through the room. A gunshot. Most of the Moroi dropped to the floor, though guardians kept coming. Holding a handgun she must have seized from the guardian shed knocked over, Tasha grabbed the first Moroi she could with her free hand. So help me, it was Mia Rinaldi. Shed been sitting near Christian. I didnt think Tasha even noticed her hostage choice. Dont move Tasha yelled at the pass on guardians. The gun was at Mias head, and I matte my heart stop. How had things escalated to this point? Id never foreseen this. My task was supposed to be neat and tidy. Reveal Tasha. Put her away. Done.The guardians froze, little because of her command and more because they were sizing up how to deal with the total threat. Meanwhile, Tasha began to indisposedlyvery slowlymake her way toward the exit, dragging Mia along. Her progress was slow and unwieldy, thanks to all the chairs and people in the way. The delay gave the guardians time to influence this ugly dilemma. They come first. Mias lifea Moroi lifewas on the line. The guardians didnt want Mia killed, but a gun-toting warrior Moroi also couldnt be allowed to go free.The thing was, Tasha wasnt the only warrior Moroi in the room. She had probably picked the worst hostage possible, and I could tell by the glint in Mias eyes that she was not going to go quietly. Lissa realized this too. One or both of them were going to get killed, and Lissa couldnt let that happen. If she could get Tasha to look at her, she could compel her into submission.No, no, no, I thought. I didnt need other friend involved.Both Lissa and I saw Mia tensing to break her way out of Tashas hold. Lissa realized she had to act now. I could feel it through the bond. I could feel her thoughts, the decision, even the way her bodys muscles and nerves moved forward to get Tashas attention. I felt it all so clearly, as if we shared the same body. I knew where Lissa would move before she even did.Tasha, please dontLissa sprang forward, her plaintive c ry interrupt as Mia kicked back at Tasha and broke away, slipping down out of the guns reach. Tasha, startled on two fronts, still had her gun pointed out. With Mia out of her clutch bag and everything happening so fast, Tasha frantically fired off a couple shots at the first threat moving toward herwhich wasnt the rapidly approaching guardians. It was a slim figure in white who had shouted at Tasha.Or, well, it would have been. Like I said, Id known exactly where Lissa would step and what she would do. And in those strange bet ons before she acted, I broke out of my captors hold and threw myself before Lissa. individual leapt after me, but they were too late. That was when Tashas gun had gone off. I felt a biting and burning in my chest, and then there was nothing but paina pain so complete and so intense it was almost beyond comprehension.I felt myself falling, felt Lissa detecting me and yelling somethingmaybe to me, maybe to someone else. There was so much commotion in the room that I didnt know what had happened with Tasha. There was just me and the pain that my mind was trying to block out. The world seemed to grow quieter and quieter. I saw Lissa looking down on me, shouting something I couldnt hear. She was beautiful. Brilliant. enthrone in light but there was darkness close in around her. And in that darkness, I saw the faces the ghosts and spirits that always followed me. Thicker they grew, closing in. Beckoning.A gun. I had been brought down by a gun. It was practically comical. Cheaters, I thought. Id spent my life focusing on hand-to-hand combat, learning to bilk fangs and powerful hands that could snap my neck. A gun? It was so well, easy. Should I be insulted? I didnt know. Did it matter? I didnt know that either. All I knew in that moment was that I was going to die, regardless.My vision was growing dimmer, the total darkness and ghosts closing in, and I swore, it was like I could hear Robert whispering in my ear The world of the d ead wont give you up a second time.Just before the light completely vanished, I saw Dimitris face join Lissas. I wanted to smile. I decided then that if the two people I loved most were safe, I could leave this world. The dead could finally have me. And Id fulfilled my purpose, right? To protect? Id done it. Id deliver Lissa, just like Id sworn Id always do. I was dying in battle. No appointment books for me.Lissas face shone with tears, and I hoped that mine conveyed how much I loved her. With the last spark of life I had left, I seek to speak, tried to let Dimitri know I loved him too and that he had to protect her now. I dont think he understood, but the words of the guardian mantra were my last conscious thought.They come first.