Dimitri

18

It was dark but I heard the familiar voices.

"I can't make out anything through the blindfold, but I know that voice. It's... that guardian. Spiridon."

He pulled the blindfold off and now I knew why my markings had burned and almost killed me.

"Oh, no."

"Oh, no," what?"

"Oh, no," who. The bad guy's Victor Dashkov."

"Welcome, Vasilisa. How was the dance? It's officially tomorrow, and, as promised, we have much to talk about."

He walked behind her, I slightly growled.

"Forgive me if I don't make eye contact. I've seen you in action."

"Why are you doing this?"

"My dear, the simple truth is, I need you to heal me. Testing you with the animals was misguided, but earth-magicking the cement and shattering Andrea's ankle was supremely clarifying."

"You're forgetting something. My bond with Rose and Andrea is practically a psychic GPS."

"Ah, yes, but the necklace gift that I gave to Andrea is bathed in a very expensive love charm, and she is a little too preoccupied to be of much use to you."

I glared as I felt Rose's hand in mine.

"That's what you think, mother... Victor wants her to heal him."

"You were my family's most cherished friend. Why didn't you just ask me."

Her fear rolling onto me, I wanted to reach out and help her but if he found out he could hurt her.

"How touching... genuinely, my darling, but a chronic disease like my Sandovsky's needs continual healings, and then there is the other matter."

"The physical toll on me."

"Yes, Spirit users take their power from their own essence. To heal another requires giving part of oneself, and it can destroy one over time."

"You want me to give up my life for yours."

"I won't let that happen."

"What's going on."

"He wants her to trade her life for his."

I felt Rose's hand tighten, I kept my concentration while guiding them to the right roads.

"Basically. But, you see, my dear, I am much more important than you, and the Moroi need a strong leader, but my disease means that I cannot occupy my rightful place upon the throne. But you shouldn't bother your pretty little head about all this royal intrigue."

"Guess what, Victor. The spirit in this pretty little head isn't going to heal you. You can't make me."

"Bring in Kenneth."

"Do you know somebody named Kenneth?"

"No."

I looked around, her eyes guiding me to what's happening. We're getting closer, the bond is helping.

"Your compulsion won't work on Kenneth. He's blind, but he's one of the Moroi's most ingenious air users."

He had on a grey suit, and black glasses. You could see the wrinkles of age on his face, he looked to be dressed in a tailored suit.

"Shall we begin?"

He grabbed her head and started to take her air, I felt the air being sucked out of my lungs. After she screamed they let her go.