Vampire Academy Chapter 14

FOURTEENI CONTINUED SPYING ON LISSA everywhere the next couple of days, feeling mildly guilty each time. Shed always scornd it when I did by accident, and now I did it on purpose.Steadily, I watched as she reintegrated herself into the royal power players one by one. She couldnt do group destiny, but catching one person alone was unspoilt as effective, if slower. And re eithery, a smoke didnt convey to be compelled to start hanging out with her again. Many werent as sh on the wholeow as they seemed they remembered Lissa and want her for who she was. They flocked to her, and now, a month and a half after our return to the Academy, it was the likes of shed never leftfield(p) at all. And during this rise to fame, she advocated for me and ral be against Mia and Jesse.One morning, I tuned into her while she was getting ready for breakfast. Shed spent the last twenty transactions blow-drying and straightening her hair, aroundthing she hadnt done in a while. Natalie, sitting on t he bed in their room, watched the process with curiosity. When Lissa moved on to makeup, Natalie in the long run spoke.Hey, were going to watch a movie in Erins room after school. You going to diminish? Id always made jokes about Natalie being boring, but her friend Erin had the personality of dry wall.Cant. Im going to champion Camille bleach Carlys hair.You sure spend a lot of time with them now.Yeah, I guess. Lissa dabbed mascara crossways her lashes, instantly reservation her eyes look bigger.I thought you didnt like them any much.I changed my mind.They sure seem to like you a lot now. I mean, non that anyone wouldnt like you, but once you came back and didnt speech to them, they seemed okay ignoring you too. I heard them talking about you a lot. I guess thats not surprising, because theyre Mias friends too, but isnt it weird how very much they like you now? Like, I hear them always waiting to see what you want to do in advance they make plans and stuff. And a bunch of them are defending Rose now, which is really crazy. Not that I trust any of that stuff about her, but I never would have thought it was possible underneath Natalies rambling was the seed of suspicion, and Lissa picked up on it. Natalie probably never would have dreamed of compulsion, but Lissa couldnt take chances innocent questions turning into something more. You know what? she interrupted. Maybe I will swing by Erins after all. I bet Carlys hair wont take that long.The offer derailed Natalies train 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 t over-the-hill herOn it went. Lissa continued her compulsion and return to popularity. I watched it all quietly, always worrying, blush though her efforts were starting to reduce the stares and gossip about me.This is going to backfire, I mouth to her in church one day. Someones going to start wondering and asking questions.Stop being so melodramatic. P ower shifts all the time around here.Not like this.You dont telephone my winning personality could do this on its own?Of course I do, but if Christian spotted it right outside(a), then someone else will My words were interrupted when two guys farther down the pew suddenly exploded into snickers. Glancing up, I saw them looking right at me, not even bothering to hide their smirks.Looking away, I seek to ignore them, suddenly hoping the priest would start up soon. hardly Lissa re glum their looks, and a sudden fierceness flashed across her face. She didnt say a word, but their smiles grew smaller under her heavy gaze.Tell her youre sorry, she told them. And make sure she believes it.A moment later, they practically fell 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 people at the same time.They in conclusion exhausted their supply of apologies, but Lissa wasnt finished .Thats the best you can do? she snapped.Their eyes widened in alarm, both scare that theyd angered her.Liss, I verbalize quickly, touching her arm. Its okay I, uh, accept their apologies.Her face still 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 bother myself from her troubling behavior, I studied other people as I so often did. Nearby, Christian openly watched Lissa, a tip overd look on his face. When he saw me, he scowled and turned away.Dimitri sat in the back as usual, for once not scanning every corner for danger. His attention was turned inward, his expression almost pained. I still didnt know why he came to church. He always seemed to be wrestling with something.In the front, the priest was talking about St. Vladimir again.His spirit was strong, and he was truly gifted by God. When he touched them, the crippled walked, and the covert could see. Where he walked, flowers bloomed.Man, the Moroi needed to get more saints Healing cripples and blind people?Id forgotten all about St. Vladimir. stonemason had mentioned Vladimir bringing people back from the dead, and it had reminded me of Lissa at the time. thence 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 accomplished, 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 preach 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 prison almost as soon as I stood up at the end of the service.Back in my r oom, I went online to enquiry St. Vladimir but turned up nothing useful. Damn it. stonemason 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 dust-covered 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 oral sexed them out. I needed to look at them, but how? I couldnt ask the priest. How would he react if he give out students were going up there? Itd put an end to Christians lair. But maybemaybe 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 heading 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 lone(prenominal)? Want some company?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 slip down to my butt.Get your hands off my ass before I break your face, I told him, dork away. In doing so, I only bumped into Anthony.Come on, Anthony said, I thought you didnt have a problem pickings 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 her too? Miles asked Mason. You dont want to share?Say one more word about her, and Ill rip your head off.Why? Shes just 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 remark you later, Ashford.When they were gone, I turned on Mason. ? drum up 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 treated likea girl.You are a girl. And I was just trying to help.I looked at him and saw th e earnestness on his face. He meant well. No point in being a bitch to him when I had so many an(prenominal) other people to hate lately.Wellthanks. Sorry I snapped at you.We talked a little bit, and I managed to get him to spill 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 opening 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 wanted 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 lady friend because when I imagined someone holding me and whispering 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.Feeling a little guilty, I shifted my conversation to a more flirty title and watched Masons glow increase.I leaned beside him on the wall so our arms just touched and gave him a trifling smile. You know, I still dont approve of your whole 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 principle 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 admit 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 quash the urge to smack him over the use of damsels. Then prove it. Do me a favor just be cause its ?the right thing to do. Sure, he said immediately. Name it.I need you to get a nitty-gritty 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 smoldering look I could manage. He caved. What do you want me to tell him?Tell him I need St. Vladimirs books. The ones in storage. He needs to sneak them to me soon. Tell 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.