Vampire Academy Chapter 14

FOURTEENI CONTINUED SPYING ON LISSA over the next couple of days, printing mildly guilty each time. Shed al focuss hated it when I did by accident, and now I did it on purpose.Steadily, I noticeed as she reintegrated herself into the royal ability players iodine by unmatchable. She couldnt do group urgency, scarcely catching one person alone was reasonable as effective, if slower. And re bothy, a lot didnt wishing to be compelled to start hanging break with her again. Many werent as shallow as they depended they remembered Lissa and standardizedd her for who she was. They flocked to her, and now, a month and a half afterward our return to the Academy, it was give care shed never left at all. And during this rise to fame, she advocated for me and rallied against Mia and Jesse. adept morning, I tuned into her while she was getting ready for breakfast. Shed spent the last xx minutes blow-drying and straightening her hair, virtually intimacy she hadnt done in a while. Na talie, sitting on the hit the hay in their fashion, watched the process with curiosity. When Lissa moved on to makeup, Natalie finally spoke.Hey, were going to watch a movie in Erins room after school. You going to get in? Id always made jokes roughly Natalie creation boring, nevertheless her friend Erin had the temper of dry wall.Cant. Im going to help Camille bleach Carlys hair.You sure spend a lot of time with them now.Yeah, I guess. Lissa dabbed mascara across her lashes, instantly making her look look bigger.I apprehension you didnt like them any more(prenominal).I changed my mind.They sure confabulatem to like you a lot now. I mean, not that anyone wouldnt like you, entirely once you came back and didnt talk to them, they seemed okay ignoring you too. I heard them talk about you a lot. I guess thats not surprising, because theyre Mias friends too, but isnt it unearthly how much they like you now? Like, I hear them always h archaic to see what you want to do befor e they make plans and stuff. And a mob of them are defending Rose now, which is really crazy. Not that I study any of that stuff about her, but I never would amaze thought it was possible Underneath Natalies rambling was the seed of suspicion, and Lissa picked up on it. Natalie probably never would come dreamed of compulsion, but Lissa couldnt risk free questions turning into something more. You inhabit what? she interrupted. Maybe I lead swing by Erins after all. I bet Carlys hair wont result that long.The get througher derailed Natalies produce of thought. Really? Oh wow, that would be great. She was telling me how sad she was that youre not around as much anymore, and I told herOn it went. Lissa continued her compulsion and return to popularity. I watched it all quietly, always worrying, even so though her efforts were starting to reduce the stares and prattle about me.This is going to backfire, I whispered to her in church one day. Someones going to start wondering and asking questions.Stop being so melodramatic. Power shifts all the time around here.Not like this.You dont recollect my winning personality could do this on its own?Of course I do, but if Christian spotted it right away, then mortal else will My words were interrupted when deuce guys farther down the pew shortly exploded into snickers. Glancing up, I saw them looking right at me, not even b early(a)ing to hide their smirks.Looking away, I tried to ignore them, dead hoping the priest would start up soon. But Lissa re morose their looks, and a sudden vehemence flashed across her face. She didnt say a word, but their smiles grew smaller under her obtuse gaze. signalise her youre sorry, she told them. And make sure she believes it.A moment later, they practically brutal all over themselves apologizing to me and begging for forgiveness. I couldnt believe it. Shed used compulsion in public in church, of all places. And on two tribe at the same time.They finally exhausted thei r supply of apologies, but Lissa wasnt finished.Thats the trounce you can do? she snapped.Their eyes widened in alarm, both terrified that theyd furious her.Liss, I verbalise quickly, touching her arm. Its okay I, uh, accept their apologies.Her face all the same radiated disapproval, but she finally nodded. The guys slumped in relief.Yikes. Id never felt so relieved to have a service start. Through the bond, I felt a sort of dark sitisfaction coming from Lissa. It was uncharacteristic for her, and I didnt like it.Needing to distract myself from her troubling behavior, I studied other heap as I so often did. Nearby, Christian openly watched Lissa, a profuse look on his face. When he saw me, he scowled and turned away.Dimitri sat in the back as usual, for once not scanning each corner for danger. His attention was turned inward, his expression almost pained. I nonoperational didnt know why he came to church. He always seemed to be grappling hook with something.In the front, t he priest was talking about St. Vladimir again.His spirit was strong, and he was very gifted by God. When he touched them, the c snagpled walked, and the blind could see. Where he walked, flowers bloomed.Man, the Moroi needed to get more canonises Healing cripples and blind people?Id bury all about St. Vladimir. Mason had mentioned Vladimir bringing people back from the dead, and it had reminded me of Lissa at the time. Then other things had distracted me. I hadnt thought about the saint or his shadow-kissed guardian and their bond in a while. How could I have overlooked this? Ms. Karp, I realized, wasnt the only other Moroi who could heal like Lissa. Vladimir could too.And all the while, the masses gathered to him, loving him, eager to follow his teachings and hear him vaticinate the word of GodTurning, I stared at Lissa. She gave me a puzzled look. What?I didnt get a chance to elaborate I dont even know if I could have formed the words because I was whisked back to my priso n house almost as soon as I stood up at the end of the service.Back in my room, I went online to research St. Vladimir but turned up nothing useful. Damn it. Mason had skimmed the books in the library and said there was little there. What did that leave me with? I had no way of learning more about that dusty old saint.Or did I? What had Christian said that first day with Lissa?Over there, we have an old box full of the writings of the blessed and crazy St. Vladimir.The storage room above the chapel. It had the writings. Christian had pointed them out. I needed to look at them, but how? I couldnt ask the priest. How would he react if he found out students were going up there? Itd put an end to Christians lair. But peradventuremaybe Christian himself could help.It was Sunday, though, and I wouldnt see him until tomorrow afternoon. Even then, I didnt know if Id get a chance to talk to him alone.While straits out to practice later, I stopped in the dorms kitchen to grab a granola bar . As I did, I passed a couple of novice guys, Miles and Anthony. Miles whistled when he saw me.Hows it been going, Rose? You getting lonely? Want some accompany?Anthony laughed. I cant bite you, but I can give you something else you want.I had to pass through the doorway they stood in to get outside. Glaring, I pushed past, but Miles caught me around the waist, his hand sliding down to my butt.Get your hands glum my ass before I break your face, I told him, jerking away. In doing so, I only bumped into Anthony.Come on, Anthony said, I thought you didnt have a problem taking on two guys at the same time.A new voice spoke up. If you guys dont walk away right now, Ill take both of you on. Mason. My hero.Youre so full of it, Ashford, said Miles. He was the bigger of the two and left me to go square off with Mason. Anthony backed off from me, more interested in whether or not thered be a fight. there was so much testosterone in the air, I felt like I needed a gas mask.Are you doing he r too? Miles asked Mason. You dont want to get by?Say one more word about her, and Ill rip your wellspring off. wherefore? Shes reasonable a cheap blood Mason punched him. It didnt rip Miles head off or even cause anything to break or bleed, but it looked like it hurt. His eyes widened, and he lunged toward Mason. The sound of doors opening in the hall caused everyone to freeze. Novices got in a lot of trouble for fighting.Probably some guardians coming. Mason grinned. You want them to know you were beating up on a girl?Miles and Anthony exchanged glances. Come on, Anthony said. Lets go. We dont have time for this.Miles reluctantly followed. Ill abide by you later, Ashford.When they were gone, I turned on Mason. ?Beat up on a girl?Youre welcome, he said drily.I didnt need your help.Sure. You were doing just fine on your own.They caught me off guard, thats all. I could have dealt with them eventually.Look, dont take being pissed off at them out on me.I just dont like being trea ted likea girl.You are a girl. And I was just trying to help.I looked at him and saw the earnestness on his face. He meant well. No point in being a bitch to him when I had so many other people to hate lately.Wellthanks. disconsolate I snapped at you.We talked a little bit, and I managed to get him to utter some more school gossip. He had noticed Lissas rise in status but didnt seem to find it strange. As I talked to him, I noticed the adoring look he always got around me splay across his face. It made me sad to have him feel that way about me. Guilty, even.How hard would it be, I wondered, to go out with him? He was nice, funny, and reasonably good-looking. We got along. Why did I get caught up in so many messes with other guys when I had a perfectly sweet one here who precious me? Why couldnt I just return his feelings?The answer came to me before Id even finished asking myself the question. I couldnt be Masons girlfriend because when I imagined someone jibeing me and whisperi ng dirty things in my ear, he had a Russian accent.Mason continued watching me admiringly, oblivious to what was going on in my head. And seeing that adoration, I suddenly realized how I could use it to my advantage. sensation a little guilty, I shifted my conversation to a more flirty flare and watched Masons glow increase.I leaned beside him on the wall so our arms just touched and gave him a lazy smile. You know, I still dont applaud of your upstanding hero thing, but you did scare them. That was almost worth it.But you dont approve?I trailed fingers up his arm. No. I mean, its hot in prescript but not in practice.He laughed. The hell it isnt. He caught hold of my hand and gave me a knowing look. Sometimes you need to be saved. I think you like being saved sometimes and just cant receipt it.And I think you get off on saving people and just cant admit it.I dont think you know what gets me off. Saving damsels like you is just the honorable thing to do, he declared loftily.I s ubjugate the urge to smack him over the use of damsels. Then prove it. Do me a favor just because its ?the right thing to do. Sure, he said immediately. Name it.I need you to get a message to Christian Ozera.His eagerness faltered. What the ? You arent serious.Yes. Completely.RoseI cant talk to him. You know that.I thought you said youd help. I thought you said helping ?damsels is the honorable thing to do.I dont really see how honors involved here. I gave him the most burn look I could manage. He caved. What do you want me to tell him? secern him I need St. Vladimirs books. The ones in storage. He needs to sneak them to me soon. promulgate him its for Lissa. And tell himtell him I lied the night of the reception. I hesitated. Tell him Im sorry.That doesnt make any sense.It doesnt have to. Just do it. Please? I turned on the beauty queen smile again.With hasty assurances that hed see what he could do, he left for lunch, and I went off to practice.