Shadow Promised (ON HOLD)

Chapter 8: Last Will and Testament

Chapter 8

The next few days passed by in a haze. Lissa was off doing her royal duty and much to my disappointment she had asked once more for me not to accompany her. Even to Dimitri's disappointment he too was asked not to go with her. Without having the bond to check up on her and having Dimitri at my side and not with Lissa had my nerves all a bit shaky. This must have been what everyone meant about relying too much on the bond.

So Dimitri and I tailed Christian for the next few days and he was getting irritated at having our company. I could also tell that he too was a bit worried about Lissa.

On the fifth day of no Lissa and the shock of Tasha's escape attempt wearing off, Christian did something unexpected. Well at least to me it was.

We were walking around campus in a determined way and as he led us the guardian's station was a bit confused. Until he turned to me and looked grim.

"You don't have to come in if you don't want to." He stated and turned to walk inside. I didn't meet Dimitri's eyes but I could feel tension rolling off of him. Well maybe that wasn't all to do with our sudden visit to Tasha Ozera's jail cell. I had been ignoring the fact that Adrian had kissed me and in doing so I had been ignoring actually being alone with Dimitri for more than a few minutes. I knew he thought I was just apprehensive over Lissa's absence but the truth was I felt guilty. I didn't have time to process and bitch myself out again as the guardian on duty immediately recognized Christian. Then she took me in and her eyes widened.

"Are you sure it's a safe idea that she go in?" Said the guardian in what she thought was a whisper to Christian. He just shrugged and the guardian looked uneasy as she allowed us to travel into the depths of the prison. It seemed incredible that just a few weeks ago Dimitri had occupied these cells…heck it seemed unreal that just a few weeks ago I too had occupied these cells and pulled off an escape. I felt it bit smug that I had succeeded in my escape but Tasha had failed. But it was no time to give myself glory for something illegal.

Tasha Ozera used to be someone I envied. I used to have a profound amount of respect to her and the beliefs she fought so hard to stand behind. Never in a million years would I have realized that the same woman who had once bought me a silk dress for Christmas and tried to have a family with Dimitri would be the one who had killed Tatiana Ivashkov and shot two bullets into my own chest.

She sat in a cell on a small cot and I was surprised to see a pair of handcuffs connecting her to the bed. Apparently her escape attempt had made her a bigger target. I still didn't understand how murder didn't earn those handcuffs but hey…maybe I didn't want to.

She looked at her nephew with pure love and vulnerability and it was apparent that Christian didn't share the same emotions. He kept his face neutral but I knew it pained him. Then her eyes caught site of me and a rage and bloodthirsty look crossed her features. I was scared of some lousy Moroi so I stood my ground. Then a look of sorrow played around in her eyes as she stared at Dimitri.

"Dimka…I didn't think I would ever see you again."

Dimitri didn't look phased by her choice of words but he wore that warrior look that was hard to not mistake and glared daggers at his old friend, "That's Guardian Belikov to you. Only friend can call me such names and you are no friend of mine."

His voice was like ice water and Tasha seemed a bit stunned. But again she looked at me and her lips snarled, "You filthy little blood whore! You should be dead!"

I was about to jump to threw the bars and strangle the bitch when Christian stepped in front of me.

"Enough!" His voice was booming and for once I was a little scared of him myself.