Spirit Bound Chapter Twenty-Two

I DIDNT TAKE THE GUYS advice and tear off pop out of in that location, though I didnt exactly sit on the front step either. I lingered nearby in a cluster of cherry trees, figuring it would solely be a matter of time before the assembly finish and muckle spilled out the doors. After several minutes passed and nonhing happened, I flipped into Lissas take c ar and discovered things were exempt in full force. Despite Tatiana declaring twice now that the session was over, tidy sum were sleek over tie-uping or sowhat and controversy in groups.Tasha was standing in whiz such group with Lissa and Adrian, reservation bingle of the impassi peerlessd speeches she was so great at. Tasha might non be as coldly calculating as Tatiana was when it came to political moves, hardly Tasha did cause a keen sense of ripples in the system and recognized opportunities when they came. She was against the age-lowering statute. She was for command Moroi to fight. Neither of those was redeemting her very far, so she jumped on the near topper thing Lissa.Why are we arguing among ourselves close how best to sweep away Strigoi when we john save them? Tasha put 1 arm around Lissa and single around Adrian, drawing them both forward. Lissa excuse wore her serenely confident verbal expression, but Adrian looked ready to bolt if given half a chance. Vasilisawho, by the way, is indeed being denied her fair voice here, thanks to an archaic lawhas shown that Strigoi raise be brought digest.That hasnt been proven, exclaimed one man in the crowd.Are you kidding? asked a char beside him. My sister was with the group that brought him back. She says hes definitely a dhampir. He was even out in the sunTasha nodded in approval at the woman. I was there as well. And now we break two spirit users un limitd of doing this for early(a) Strigoi.As very much as I respected Tasha, I wasnt all(prenominal) with her on this. The amount of force outnot to mention effort knobbed in the stakingthat Lissa had required with Dimitri had been staggering. It had even temporarily hurt the bond. That didnt symbolize she couldnt do it again. Nor did it mean she wouldnt indispensableness to again. She was just naively compassionate teeming to dangle herself into the line of fire to help early(a)s. alone I knew the to a greater extent force out a spirit user wielded, the quicker theyd travel down the alley to insanity.And Adrian well, he was al virtually a nonissue here. Even if he urgencyed to go staking Strigoi, he didnt have the cast of healing power it would take to fix oneat least not now. Its wasnt uncommon for Moroi to use their elements in different ways. Some fire users, analogous Christian, had skilled control of erupt itself. Others could only use their magic to, say, warm the air in a room. Likewise, Lissa and Adrian had their strengths with spirit. His greatest healing triumph was mending a fracture, and she still couldnt locomote dr eams, no matter how much she practiced.So, really, Tasha had one spirit user capable of saving Strigoi, and that one could hardly transform legions of those monsters. Tasha did carry outm to recognize this a little.The Council shouldnt be wasting time with age laws, she continued. We need to sink our resources into purpose more spirit users and recruiting them to help save Strigoi. She fixed her gaze on someone in the crowd. Martin, didnt your br new(prenominal) masturbate false against his will? With enough work, we could bring him back to you. Alive. Just wish you knew him. Otherwise, hes just going to get staked when guardians find himand of course hell be slaughtering innocents along the way.Yeah, Tasha was practiced. She could paint a good image and nearly brought that Martin guy to tears. She didnt really mention people whod turned Strigoi willingly. Lissa, still standing with her, wasnt sure how she felt about the idea of a Strigoi-saving spirit army, but she did recogn ize how this was all part of several other plans Tasha hadincluding one to get Lissa voting by rightss.Tasha played up Lissas abilities and character, scoffing at what was clearly an outdated law from an era that never could have fore markn this situation. Tasha make headway pointed out that a full Council of twelve families would send a gist to Strigoi everywhere about Moroi unity.I didnt want to hear any more. Id let Tasha wield her political magic and peach more to Lissa later. I was still so agitated about what had happened when Id yelled at the Council that I couldnt stand to see that room anymore. I left her mind and returned to my own, yelping when I saw a face right in front of mine.Ambrose hotshot of the best-looking dhampirs on the planetafter Dimitri, of courseflashed me a gleaming, movie-star smile. You were so still, I thought maybe you were trying to be a dryad.I blinked. A what?He gestured to the cherry trees. Nature spirits. Beautiful women who be vex one with tr ees.Im not sure if that was a compliment or not, I said. But its good to see you again.Ambrose was a true oddity in our culture a male dhampir who had neither taken guardian vows nor pass along off to get over among humans. Female dhampirs often chose not to join the guardians in order to centralise on raising families. Thats why we were so rare. But men? They had no excuse, as far as most people were c at a timerned. Rather than hang around off in disgrace, however, Ambrose had chosen to stay and simply work for the Moroi other way. He was essendially a servanta high-class one who served drinks at elite parties and gave massages to purple women. He also, if rumors were true, served Tatiana in physical ways. That was so creepy, though, I promptly put it out of my mind.You too, he told me. But if you arent communing with nature, what are you doing?Its a long tarradiddle. I physical body of got thrown out of a Council meeting.He looked impressed. Literally thrown out?Dragged, I guess. Im surprised I havent seen you around, I m utilise. Of course, Ive kind of been, um, distracted this finally week.So Ive heard, he said, openhanded me a sympathetic look. Although, I actually have been away. Just got back put up night.Just in time for the fun, I muttered.The guileless look on his face told me hadnt heard about the decree yet. What are you doing now? he asked. This doesnt look interchangeable punishment. Did you finish your sentence?Something alike(p) that. Im kind of waiting for someone now. Was just going to hang out in my room.Well, if youre killing time, why dont you come see Aunt Rhonda?Rhonda? I scowled. No offense, but your aunty didnt really impress me with her abilities last time.None taken, he said cheerfully. But shes been wondering about you. And Vasilisa. So, if youre just hanging aroundI hesitated. He was right that I had nothing better to do right now. I was stuck on options with both Dimitri and the Councils idiotic resolutions. Yet Rho ndahis fortune-telling Moroi auntwasnt someone I really wanted to see again. Despite my slick words, the truth was that in retrospect, some of Rhondas predictions had come true. I just didnt like what theyd been.Fine, I said, trying to look bored. Make it fast.He smiled again, like he could see through my ruse, and led me off to a building Id been to once before. It housed a luxurious salon and spa frequented by royal Moroi. Lissa and I had had our nails done there, and as Ambrose and I wound our way through it to Rhondas lair, I felt a strange pang within me. Manicures and pedicures they seemed like the most trivial things in the world. But on that day, theyd been wonderful. Lissa and I had laughed and grown impendent just before the school was attacked and everything fell apart.Rhonda told fortunes in a back room that was far from the busy spa. Despite the seedy emotional state of it, she did a pretty brisk business and even had her own receptionist. Or, well, she used to. This time, the desk was empty, and Ambrose led me straight through to Rhondas room. It looked exactly the same as before, like being inside a heart. Everything was red the wallpaper, the decorations, and the cushions covering the floor.Rhonda herself sit on the floor, eating a cup of yoghourt, which seemed terribly ordinary for someone who allegedly wielded mystical powers. Curly black sensory hair cascaded around her shoulders, qualification the bouffant gold hoops in her ears gleam. arise Hathaway, she said happily, setting the yogurt aside. What a nice surprise.Shouldnt you have seen me coming? I asked dryly.Her lips twitched with amusement. Thats not my power. grimy to interrupt your dinner, Ambrose said, gracefully folding his muscled body as he sat down. But Rose isnt easy to catch hold of.I see not, she said. Im impressed you got her to come at all. What stomach I do for you today, Rose?I shrugged and sank down beside Ambrose. I dont know. Im only here because Ambrose talke d me into it.She didnt moot your last edition was very good, he said.Hey I shot him a chastising look. Thats not exactly what I said.Last time, Lissa and Dimitri had been with me. Rhondas tarot card had shown Lissa crowned with power and lightno surprise. Rhonda had said Dimitri would lose what he valued most, and he had his soul. And me? Rhonda had bluntly told me that Id kill the undead. Id scoffed at that, knowing I had a aliveness of Strigoi-killing ahead of me. Now I wondered if undead meant the Strigoi part of Dimitri. Even if I hadnt operate the stake, Id certainly played a major role.Maybe another reading would help the other one make more sense? she offered.My mind was putting together another fraud psychic joke, which was why it was so astonishing when my mouth said, Thats the problem. The other one did make sense. Im hydrophobic Im afraid of what else the cards will show.The cards dont make the future, she said gently. If somethings meant to be, itll be, regardless of whether you see it here. And even then well, the future is always changing. If we had no choices, thered be no point in living.See now, I said flippantly, thats the kind of faint gypsy response I was hoping for.Roma, she corrected. Not gypsy. Despite my snark, she still seemed to be in a good imagination. Easygoing attitudes mustiness have run in their family. Do you want the cards or not?Did I? She was right about one thingthe future would unfold with or without me seeing it in the cards. And even if the cards showed it, I probably wouldnt visualize it until afterward.Okay, I said. Just for fun. I mean, last time was probably a lucky guess.Rhonda rolled her eyes but said nothing as she began shuffling her tarot deck. She did it with such precision that the cards seemed to move themselves. When she finally stopped, she handed the deck to me to cut. I did, and she put it back together.We did three cards before, she said. Weve got time to do more if youd like. Five, perhaps?The more there are, the more likely it is that anything can get explained.If you dont believe in them, then it shouldnt be an issue.Okay, then. Five.She grew serious as she flipped out the cards, her eyes carefully studying them. cardinal of the cards had come out teetotum down. I didnt take that as a good sign. Last time, Id learned that it made seemingly golden cards well, not so happy.The first one was one the deuce of Cups, showing a man and a woman together in a grassy, flower-filled field while the sun shone above them. Naturally, it was upside down.Cups are tied to emotions, Rhonda explained. The Two of Cups shows a union, a perfect love and bloom of joyous emotions. But since its invertedYou know what? I interrupted. I think Im getting the hang of this. You can skip that one. I have a good idea what it means. It might as well have been Dimitri and me on that card, the cup empty and full of heartache. I really didnt want to hear Rhonda analyze what was already tearing my hea rt up.So she went on to the next one the Queen of Swords, also upside down.Cards like this refer to specific people, Rhonda told me. The Queen of Swords looked very imperious, with auburn hair and silver grey robes. The Queen of Swords is clever. She thrives on knowledge, can outwit her enemies, and is ambitious.I sighed. But upside downUpside down, said Rhonda, all of those traits get twisted. Shes still smart, still trying to get her way but shes doing it through insincere ways. Theres a lot of hostility and deception here. Id say you have an enemy.Yeah, I said, eyeing the crown. I think I can guess who. I just called her a sanctimonious bitch.Rhonda didnt comment and moved on to the next one. It was facing the right way, but I kind of wished it wasnt. It had a whole bunch of swords stuck in the ground and a woman tied and blindfolded to one. Eight of Swords.Oh, come on, I exclaimed. What is it with me and swords? You gave me one this depressing last time. It had shown a woman s agging in front of a wall of swords.That was the Nine of Swords, she agreed. It could always be worse.I have a hard time believing that.She picked up the rest of the deck and scanned through it, finally pulling out one card. The Ten of Swords. You could have drawn this. It showed a dead guy imposition on the ground with a bunch of swords driven through him. signal taken, I said. Ambrose chuckled beside me. Whats the nine mean?The nine is being trap. Unable to get out of a situation. It can also mean slander or accusation. Summoning courage to escape something. I glanced back at the queen, thought process of the things Id said in the Council room. Those would definitely count as accusations. And being trapped? Well, there was always the possibility of a lifetime of paperworkI sighed. Okay, whats the next one? It was the best-looking one in the bunch, the Six of Swords. It had a bunch of people in a boat, rowing off over moonlit water.A journey, she said.I was just on a journey. A f ew of them. I eyed her suspiciously. Man, this isnt, like, some kind of a spiritual journey is it?Ambrose laughed again. Rose, I wish youd get tarot readings every day.Rhonda ignored him. If it were in cups, maybe. But swords are tangible. Action. A true, out-and-about journey.Where on earth would I go? Did it mean I was traveling to the Academy like Tatiana had suggested? Or was it possible that, in spite of all my rule breaking and calling her royal stateliness names, I might actually get an assignment after all? One away from appeal?You could be looking for something. It may be a physical journey combined with a spiritual journey, she said, which sounded like a total way to cover her ass. This last one Her eyebrows create from raw stuff into a frown at the fifth card. This is hidden from me.I peered at it. The pageboy of Cups. Seems pretty obvious. Its a page with, um, cups.Usually I have a clear vision. The cards speak to me in how they connect. This ones not clear.The only thing thats not clear is whether its a girl or a boy. The person on the card looked vernal but had hair and an androgynous face that made the gender impossible to determine. The blue tights and tunic didnt help, though the sunny field in the background seemed promising.It can be either, Rhonda said. Its the lowest in rank of the cards that represent people in each suit King, Queen, Knight, and then Page. Whoever the page is, its someone honest and creative. Optimistic. It could mean someone who goes on the journey with youor maybe the evidence for your journey.Whatever optimism or truth Id had in the cards pretty much disappeared with that. Given that shed just said about a hundred things it could be, I didnt really consider it authoritative. Usually, she noticed my skepticism, but her attention was still on the card as she frowned.But I just cant tell. Theres a cloud around it. Why? It doesnt make sense.Something about her confusion sent a chill down my spine. I always told myse lf this was fake, but if shed been making it all up well, wouldnt she have made something up about the Page of Cups? She wasnt putting on a very convincing act if this last card was making her question herself. The thought that maybe there was some mystical force out there blocking her sobered up my misanthropic attitude.With a sigh, she looked up at last. Sorry thats all I can tell you. Did the rest help?I scanned the cards. Heartache. An enemy. Accusations. Entrapment. Travel. Some of it tells me things I already know. The rest leaves me with more questions.She smiled knowingly. Thats how it usually is.I thanked her for the reading, secretly glad I didnt have to pay for it. Ambrose walked me out, and I tried to shake off the mood Rhondas fortune had left me in. I had enough problems in my life without let a bunch of stupid cards bother me.You going to be okay? he asked when we finally emerged. The sun was climbing higher. The Royal Court would be going to bed soon, ending what ha d been a turbulent day. I I wouldnt have brought you if Id known how much it would upset you.No, no, I said. Its not the cards. Not exactly. Theres a bunch of other things going on one you should probably know about.I hadnt wanted to bring up the decree when wed first run into each other, but as a dhampir, he had a right to hear about what had happened. His face was perfectly still as I spoke, save for his dark brown eyes, which grew wider while the story progressed.Theres some mistake, he said at last. They wouldnt do that. They wouldnt do that to sixteen-year-olds.Yeah, well, I didnt think so either, but they were apparently serious enough about it to throw me out when I, um, questioned it.I can just imagine your questioning. altogether thisll do is make more dhampirs drop out of the guardians unless, of course, being that young makes them more open for brainwashing.Kind of a sensitive area for you, huh? I asked. After all, he too was a guardian drop-out.He agitate his head. Sta ying in this society was nearly impossible for me. If any of those kids do decide to drop out, they wont have the powerful friends I did. Theyll be outcasts. Thats all thisll do. each kill off teens or cut them off from their own people.I wondered what powerful friends hed had, but this was hardly the time to learn his life history. Well, that royal bitch doesnt seem to care.The thoughtful, distracted look in his eyes suddenly sharpened. Dont call her that, he warned with a glare. This isnt her fault.Whoa. Cue surprise. Id almost never seen sexy, magnetised Ambrose be anything but friendly. Of course its her fault Shes the supreme ruler of the Moroi, mobilise?His scowl deepened. The Council voted too. Not her alone.Yeah, but she voted in support of this decree. She swayed the vote.There must have been a reason. You dont know her like I do. She wouldnt want this kind of thing.I started to ask if he was out of his mind but paused when I remembered his kind with the queen. Those r omantic rumors made me queasy, but if they were true, I supposed he might have legitimate concern for her. I also determined it was probably best that I didnt know her the way he did. The number marks on his neck certainly indicated some sort of intimate activity.Whatevers going on between you is your business, I told him calmly, but shes used it to burlesque you into thinking shes someone she isnt. She did it to me too, and I fell for it. Its all a scam.I dont believe it, he said, still stone-faced. As queen, shes put into all sorts of hoodlum situations. There must be more to itshell change the decree, Im certain of it.As queen, I said, imitating his tone, she should have the ability toMy words fell off as a voice spoke in my head. Lissas.Rose, youre going to want to see this. But you have to promise not to cause any trouble. Lissa flashed a location to me, along with a sense of urgency.Ambroses hard look shifted to one of concern. Are you okay?Iyeah. Lissa needs me. I sighed . Look, I dont want us to fight, okay? Obviously weve each got different views of the situation but I think we both agree on the same unwrap point.That kids shouldnt be sent off to die? Yeah, we can agree on that. We smiled tentatively at each other, and the anger between us diffused. Ill talk to her, Rose. Ill find out the real story and let you know, okay?Okay. I had a hard time believing anyone could really have a heart-to-heart with Tatiana, but again, there might be more to their relationship than I realized. Thanks. It was good seeing you.You too. Now gogo to Lissa.I needed no further urging. Along with the sense of urgency, Lissa had passed one other message through the bond that sent my feet flying Its about Dimitri.