Vampire Academy Chapter 9

NINEI SNAPPED INTO HER MIND, once again holding and straight finish experiencing what went on around her.She was sneaking into the chapels attic again, confirming my worst fears. same(p) suffer time, she met no resistance. Good God, I belief, could that priest be some(prenominal) worse ab verboten securing his own chapel?Sunrise literature up the stained-glass window, and Christians silhouette was framed against it he was sitting in the window seat.Youre late, he told her. Been waiting a while.Lissa pulled up wizard of the rickety chairs, brushing frame off it. I proposed youd be tied up with Headmistress Kirova.He shake his head. Not oft to it. They suspended me for a week, thats any. Not a handle(p) its hard to sneak step to the fore. He waved his hands around. As you gutter see.Im move you didnt put down more(prenominal) time.A patch of sunlight lit up his crystal- bad midsections. Disappointed?She looked shocked. You set mortal on fireNo, I didnt. Did you s ee any burns on him?He was covered in flames.I had them chthonic control. I kept them off of him.She sighed. You shouldnt develop done that.Straightening out of his lounging position, he sat up and leaned toward her. I did it for you.You attacked someone for me?Sure. He was talent you and Rose a hard time. She was doing an okay job against him, I guess, solely I figured she could use the bandagingup. Besides, thisll shut anyone else up or so the only fox affaire, too.You shouldnt rent done that, she repeated, smell forward. She didnt come how to feel roughly this generosity. And dont act give c be it was all for me. You ilkd doing it. Part of you motivationed to salutary because.Christians smug expression dropped, replaced by one of uncharacteristic surprise. Lissa king non be psychic, and she had a startling ability to read people. sightedness him off guard, she continued. Attacking someone else with in entirelyt jointtation is forbidden and thats exactly wh y you urgencyed to do it. You got a thrill out of it.Those rules are stupid. If we utilize magic as a weapon instead of aver age for perfervid and fuzzy shit, Strigoi wouldnt keep killing so many of us.Its wrong, she express firmly. supernatural is a gift. Its peaceful.Only because they say it is. Youre repeating the party line weve been cater our whole lives. He stood up and paced the small space of the attic. It wasnt always that way, you realize. We apply to fight, right along with the guardians centuries ago. Then people started operateting scared and stopped. figure it was safer to unspoiled handle. They forgot the attack spells.Then how did you fuck that one?He crook her a smile. Not e veryone forgot.Like your family? Like your parents?The smile disappeared. You dont know anything somewhat my parents.His face darkened, his eyes grew hard. To most people, he might halt appeared shivery and intimidating, but as Lissa studied and admired his features, he on the spur of the moment seemed very, very vulnerable.Youre right, she admitted softly, after a moment. I dont. Im sorry.For the second time in this meeting, Christian looked astonished. Probably no one apologized to him that often. Hell, no one yet talked to him that often. sure no one ever listened. Like usual, he quickly false into his cocky self.For appropriate it. Abruptly, he stopped pacing and knelt in former of her so they could look each other in the eye. Feeling him so close make her hold her breath. A dangerous smile curl his lips. And really, I dont get why you of all people should act so outraged that I used ?forbidden magic.Me ?of all people? Whats that supposed to mean?You atomic number 50 p coiffure all innocent if you loss and you do a moderately level-headed job but I know the truth.What truth is that? She couldnt cover her uneasiness from me or Christian.He leaned even closer. That you use compulsion. All the time.No, I dont, she said immediately.Of course you do. Ive been assembly awake at shadow, trying to figure out how in the world you two were able to rent out a place and go to high school without anyone ever scatty to meet your parents. Then I figured it out. You had to be using compulsion. Thats worryly how you broke out of here in the first place.I see. You mediocre figured it out. Without any proof.Ive got all the proof I conduct, just from observation you.Youve been watching me spying on me to prove Im using compulsion?He shrugged. No. Actually, Ive been watching you just because I give care it. The compulsion thing was a bonus. I saw you use it the other day to get an extension on that math assignment. And you used it on Ms. Carmack when she wanted to shake up you go through with(predicate) more testing.So you assume its compulsion? perchance Im just really good at convincing people. There was a defiant none in her vocalize understandable, considering her fear and anger. Only she delivered it with a toss of her hair which if I didnt know any better might have been considered annoyeratious. And I did know better?right? Suddenly, I wasnt sure.He went on, but something in his eyes told me hed detect the hair, that he always detect boththing slightly her. People get these goofy looks on their faces when you talk to them. And not just any people youre able to do it to Moroi. Probably dhampirs, too. immediately thats crazy. I didnt even know that was possible. Youre some anatomy of superstar. just virtually kind of evil, compulsion-abusing superstar. It was an accusation, but his tone and presence radiated the same flirtatiousness she had.Lissa didnt know what to say. He was right. Everything hed said was right. Her compulsion was what had allowed us to dodge authority and get along in the world without adult help. It was what had allowed us to convince the bank to let her topple into her inheritance.And it was considered every bit as wrong as using magic as a weapon. Why not? It was a weapon. A in good order one, one that could be abused very easily. Moroi children had it drilled into them from an early age that compulsion was very, very wrong. No one was taught to use it, though every Moroi technically had the ability. Lissa had just sort of stumbled into it deeply and, as Christian had pointed out, she could wield it over Moroi, as well as gentlemans gentlemans and dhampirs.What are you vent to do indeed? she asked. You going to turn me in?He shook his head and smiled. No. I think its hot.She stared, eyes widening and shopping center racing. Something about the shape of his lips intrigued her. Rose thinks youre dangerous, she blurted out nervously. She thinks you might have killed the fox.I didnt know how I felt about creation dragged into this bizarre conversation. Some people were scared of me. Maybe he was too.Judging from the amusement in his voice when he communicate, it appeared he wasnt. People think Im unstable, but I tell you, Rose is ten times worse. Of course, that adverts it harder for people to fuck with you, so Im all for it. Leaning back on his heels, he finally broke the intimate space between them. And I sure as fossa didnt do that. Find out who did, though?and what I did to Ralf wont seem uniform anything.His gallant offer of creepy vengeance didnt exactly reassure Lissa?but it did thrill her a little. I dont want you doing anything like that. And I noneffervescent dont know who did it.He leaned back toward her and caught her wrists in his hands. He started to say something, indeed stopped and looked down in surprise, running his thumbs over faint, barely in that location scars. Looking back up at her, he had a grotesque for him kindness in his face.You might not know who did it. just now you know something. Something you arent talking about.She stared at him, a swirl of emotions playing in her chest. You cant know all my secrets, she murmured.He glanced back down at her wrists and then release d them, that dry out smile of his back on his face. No. I guess not.A feeling of peace settled over her, a feeling I thought only I could bring. Returning to my own head and my room, I sat on the floor staring at my math book. Then, for reasons I didnt really get, I slammed it shut and threw it against the wall.I spent the rest of the night brooding until the time I was supposed to meet Jesse came around. Slipping downstairs, I went into the kitchen a place I could visit so long as I kept things brief and caught his eye when I cut through the main visiting area.Moving past him, I paused and whispered, Theres a lollygag on the fourth floor that nobody uses. Take the stairs on the other side of the bathrooms and meet me there in five minutes. The toss on the door is broken.He complied to the second, and we found the lounge dark, dusty, and deserted. The drop in guardian numbers over the years meant a lot of the residence hall stayed empty, a sad sign for Moroi society but terrib ly snug right now.He sat down on the phrase, and I lay back on it, putting my feet in his lap. I was still vex after Lissa and Christians bizarre attic romance and wanted nothing more than to forget about it for a while.You really here to study, or was it just an excuse? I asked.No. It was real. Had to do an assignment with Meredith. The tone in his voice indicated he wasnt happy about that.Oooh, I teased. Is working with a dhampir beneath your royal furtherm animal? Should I be offended?He smiled, showing a mouth full of perfect white dentition and fangs. Youre a lot hotter than she is.Glad I make the cut. There was a sort of a heat in his eyes that was turning me on, as was his hand sliding up my leg. But I needed to do something first. It was time for some vengeance. Mia must too, since you guys let her hang out with you. Shes not royal.His finger playfully poked me in the calf. Shes with Aaron. And Ive got lots of friends who arent royal. And friends who are dhamps. Im not a total asshole.Yeah, but did you know her parents are practically custodians for the Drozdovs?The hand on my leg stopped. Id exaggerated, but he was a sucker for gossip and he was notorious for scatter it.Seriously?Yeah. Scrubbing floors and stuff like that.Huh.I could see the wheels turning in his dark blue eyes and had to hide a smile. The seed was planted.Sitting up, I moved closer to him and arrange a leg over his lap. I wrapped my arms around him, and without further delay, thoughts of Mia disappeared as his testosterone kicked in. He kissed me eagerly sloppily, even pushing me against the back of the couch, and I relaxed into what had to be the first enjoyable physical activity Id had in weeks.We kissed like that for a long time, and I didnt stop him when he pulled off my shirt. Im not having sex, I warned between kisses. I had no intention of losing my virginity on a couch in a lounge.He paused, opinion about this, and finally decided not to push it. Okay.But he pushe d me onto the couch, lying over me, still kissing with that same fierceness. His lips traveled down to my neck, and when the frizzly points of his fangs brushed against my skin, I couldnt help an excited gasp.He raised himself up, looking into my face with open surprise. For a moment, I could barely breathe, recalling that rush of cheer that a vampire bite could fill me with, wondering what itd be like to feel that while making out. Then the old taboos kicked in. Even if we didnt have sex, giving blood while we did this was still wrong, still dirty.Dont, I warned.You want to. His voice held excited wonder. I can tell.No, I dont.His eyes lit up. You do. How hey, have you done it in the first place?No, I scoffed. Of course not.Those gorgeous blue eyes watched me, and I could see the wheels spinning behind them. Jesse might flirt a lot and have a big mouth, but he wasnt stupid.You act like you have. You got excited when I was by your neck.Youre a good kisser, I countered, though it wasnt entirely true. He drooled a little more than I would have preferred. Dont you think everyone would know if I was giving blood?The realization seized him. Un little you werent doing it before you left. You did it while you were gone, didnt you? You fed Lissa.Of course not, I repeated.But he was on to something, and he knew it. It was the only way. You didnt have feeders. Oh, man.She found some, I lied. It was the same line wed fed Natalie, the one shed spread around and that no one except Christian had ever questioned. Plenty of humans are into it.Sure, he said with a smile. He leaned his mouth back to my neck.Im not a blood whore, I snapped, pulling away from him.But you want to. You like it. All you dhamp girls do. His teeth were on my skin again. Sharp. Wonderful.I had a feeling hostility would only make things worse, so I defused the posture with teasing. Stop it, I said gently, running a fingertip over his lips. I told you, Im not like that. But if you want something t o do with your mouth, I can give you some estimations.That peaked his interest. Yeah? Like wha ?And that was when the door opened.We sprang apart. I was ready to handle a fellow student or even possibly the matron. What I was not ready for was Dimitri.He burst in the door like hed expected to find us, and in that horrible moment, with him angry like a storm, I knew why Mason had called him a god. In the blink of an eye, he crossed the room and jerked Jesse up by his shirt, nearly holding the Moroi off the ground.Whats your name? barked Dimitri.J-Jesse, sir. Jesse Zeklos, sir.Mr. Zeklos, do you have permission to be in this part of the dorm?No, sir.Do you know the rules about phallic and female interactions around here?Yes, sir.Then I suggest you get out of here as fast as you can before I turn you over to someone who will punish you accordingly. If I ever see you like this again Dimitri pointed to where I cowered, half-dressed, on the couch I will be the one to punish you. And it will hurt. A lot. Do you understand?Jesse swallowed, eyes wide. None of the bravado he usually showed was there. I guess there was usually and then there was being held in the grip of a really ripped, really tall, and really pissed-off Russian guy Yes, sirThen go. Dimitri released him, and, if possible, Jesse got out of there faster than Dimitri had burst in. My learn then turned to me, a dangerous glint in his eyes. He didnt say anything, but the angry, disapproving message came through loud and clear.And then it shifted.It was almost like hed been taken by surprise, like hed neer noticed me before. Had it been any other guy, I would have said he was checking me out. As it was, he was definitely studying me. Studying my face, my body. And I suddenly realize I was only in jeans and a bra a forbidding bra at that. I knew perfectly well that there werent a lot of girls at this school who looked as good in a bra as I did. Even a guy like Dimitri, one who seemed so focused on duty and training and all of that, had to appreciate that.And, finally, I noticed that a hot flush was spreading over me, and that the look in his eyes was doing more to me than Jesses kisses had. Dimitri was quiet and hostile sometimes, but he also had a dedication and an intensity that Id never seen in any other person. I wondered how that kind of power and effectuality translated into?well, sex. I wondered what itd be like for him to touch me and shitWhat was I cerebration? Was I out of my mind? Embarrassed, I covered my feelings with attitude.You see something you like? I asked.Get dressed.The set of his mouth hardened, and whatever hed just felt was gone. That fierceness sobered me up and made me forget about my own disturbing reaction. I immediately pulled my shirt back on, uneasy at seeing his badass side.Howd you find me? You following me to make sure I dont run away?Be quiet, he snapped, leaning down so that we were at eye level. A janitor saw you and reported it. Do y ou have any idea how stupid this was?I know, I know, the whole probation thing, right?Not just that. Im talking about the stupidity of getting in that kind of touch in the first place.I get in that kind of business office all the time, Comrade. Its not a big channel. Anger replaced my fear. I didnt like being treated like a child.Stop calling me that. You dont know even know what youre talking about.Sure I do. I had to do a report on Russia and the R.S.S.R. last year.U.S.S.R. And it is a big deal for a Moroi to be with a dhampir girl. They like to brag.So?So? he looked disgusted. So dont you have any respect? Think about Lissa. You make yourself look cheap. You live up to what a lot of people already think about dhampir girls, and it reflects back on her. And me.Oh, I see. Is that what this is about? Am I hurting your big, bad male pride? Are you terrified Ill ruin your reputation?My reputation is already made, Rose. I set my standards and lived up to them long ago. What you do with yours remains to be seen. His voice hardened again. direct get back to your room if you can manage it without throwing yourself at someone else.Is that your subtle way of calling me a slut?I hark the stories you guys tell. Ive heard stories about you.Ouch. I wanted to yell back that it was none of his business what I did with my body, but something about the anger and disappointment on his face made me falter. I didnt know what it was. Disappointing someone like Kirova was a non-event, but DimitriI remembered how proud Id felt when he praised me the last few times in our practices. Seeing that disappear from him?well, it suddenly made me feel as cheap as hed implied I was.Something broke deep down of me. Blinking back tears, I said, Why is it wrong to?I dont know, have fun? Im seventeen, you know. I should be able to enjoy it.Youre seventeen, and in less than a year, someones life and death will be in your hands. His voice still sounded firm, but there was a gentleness ther e too. If you were human or Moroi, you could have fun. You could do things other girls could.But youre saying I cant.He glanced away, and his dark eyes went unfocused. He was thinking about something far away from here. When I was seventeen, I met Ivan Zeklos. We werent like you and Lissa, but we became friends, and he bespeak me as his guardian when I graduated. I was the top student in my school. I paid attention to everything in my classes, but in the end, it wasnt enough. Thats how it is in this life. One slip, one distraction? He sighed. And its too late.A inflation formed in my throat as I thought about one slip or one distraction costing Lissa her life.Jesses a Zeklos, I said, suddenly realizing Dimitri had just thrown around a carnal knowledge of his former friend and charge.I know.Does it bother you? Does he remind you of Ivan?It doesnt question how I feel. It doesnt matter how any of us feel.But it does bother you. It suddenly became very obvious to me. I could read hi s pain, though he all the way worked hard to hide it. You hurt. Every day. Dont you? You miss him.Dimitri looked surprised, like he didnt want me to know that, like Id uncovered some secret part of him. Id been thinking he was some aloof, antisocial tough guy, but maybe he kept himself apart from other people so he wouldnt get hurt if he lost them. Ivans death had clearly left a permanent mark.I wondered if Dimitri was lonely.The surprised look vanished, and his standard serious one returned. It doesnt matter how I feel. They come first. Protecting them.I thought about Lissa again. Yeah. They do.A long silence fell before he spoke again.You told me you want to fight, to really fight. Is that still true?Yes. Absolutely.Rose?I can give lessons you, but I have to believe youre dedicated. Really dedicated. I cant have you distracted by things like this. He gestured around the lounge. washbasin I trust you?Again, I felt like crying under that gaze, under the seriousness of what he ask ed. I didnt get how he could have such a powerful effect on me. Id never cared so much about what one person thought. Yes. I promise.All right. Ill teach you, but I need you strong. I know you hate the running, but it really is necessary. You have no idea what Strigoi are like. The school tries to swot you, but until youve seen how strong they are and how fast?well, you cant even imagine. So I cant stop the running and the conditioning. If you want to learn more about fighting, we need to add more trainings. Itll take up more of your time. You wont have much left for your homework or anything else. Youll be tired. A lot.I thought about it, about him, and about Lissa. It doesnt matter. If you tell me to do it, Ill do it.He studied me hard, like he was still trying to decide if he could believe me. Finally satisfied, he gave me a sharp nod. Well start tomorrow.