Reaction to Frostbite

Chapter 20 - Dimitri

Given they dug straight into the next chapter, Dimitri kept control of the book.

We NEEDED AN ESCAPE PLAN, and we needed it fast. Unfortunately, my only ideas called for things that really weren't under my control. Like us being left completely alone so we could sneak off. Or having stupid guards whom we could easily fool and slip away from. At the very least, we should have been sloppily secured so that we could break free. None of that was happening, though. After almost twenty-four hours, our situations hadn't really changed.

The guardians grew concerned as they know how important it is to find them sooner rather than later, especially since it would have been unlikely that either Moroi had fed soon before leaving. Soon the Moroi and dhampir would grow weak and there was no way that two dhampir could carry two Moroi and a dhampir, at least one person will have to be left behind if they don't escape soon.

We were still prisoners, still securely bound. Our captors stayed vigilant, almost as efficient as any group of guardians. Almost. The closest we got to freedom was heavily supervised- and extremely embarrassing- bathroom breaks.

Kirova jumped in and stupidly asked why they didn't try escaping during a bathroom break. It was one of Abe's guardians who stated that chances are there is at least one guard with the remaining captives at all times and that they wouldn't risk the Moroi being hurt, evident in the fact they stopped fighting once a gun was pointed at Mia.

The men gave us no food or water. That was rough on me, but the human and vampire mix made dhampirs hardy. I could handle being uncomfortable, even though I was fast reaching a point where I would have killed for a cheeseburger and some really, really greasy french fries.

Alberta was trying to lighten the mood by saying perhaps it is good that she's being denied food, before long she really will kill in order to get food. It lightened the mood a little, very little, but soon they grew serious again. They all just hoped that Rose, or someone, would find a way to get them out and to safety again soon.

For Mia and Christian...well, things were a little harder. Moroi could go weeks without food and water if they were still getting blood. Without blood, they could manage a few days before getting sick and weak, so long as they still had other sustenance. That was how Lissa and I had managed while living on our own, since I hadn't been able to feed her every day. Take away food, blood, and water, and Moroi endurance dropped through the floor. I was hungry, but Mia and Christian were ravenous.

Christian subconsciously licked his lips and immediately hated himself for it. These are your friends he mentally chastised. You finally have friends, you will not hurt them he kept repeating. The Queen grew weary of whether Christian would be able to go the distance or if he would turn willingly just like his parents had. She tried to keep her face impassive to hide her thoughts but she kept slipping. It was making a few in the room uncomfortable but unable to say so, she is the Queen after all.

Already, their faces looked gaunt, their eyes almost feverish. Isaiah made matters worse during his subsequent visits. Each time, he would come down and ramble on in his annoying, taunting way. Then, before leaving, he'd take another drink from Eddie. By the third visit, I could practically see Mia and Christian salivating.

Christian just stared at the floor, face growing red as the Queen mumbled a comment that he knew was along the lines of shaming him and his family. He was really hoping they're either saved by guardians, or that he helps find a way out of there, if for no other reason than to stick it to the Queen and anyone else who judges him for his parents' actions.

Between the endorphins and lack of food, I was pretty sure Eddie didn't even know where we were. I couldn't really sleep under these conditions, but during the second day, I started nodding off now and then.