Shadow Rider (Vampire Academy Fanfic)

Chapter 26 - Rose

Lissa & CO were waiting for us when we got back. Their faces visibly paled when the bodies were wheeled away. Casimir tore off towards us, launching himself at his guardian. Lissa was looking at me expectantly, but I needed to talk to Thanatia. I wanted to volunteer for the rescue mission. Dimitri stood silently by my side, no doubt thinking the same thing. He slid his hand into mine, gazing deep into my eyes. I realised, with a sense of déjá vu, that we'd been in this situation before. I'd lost him then. No way was I losing him again.

Thanatia took charge as if Sergei wasn't there.

'I know that all you want to do right now is grieve but...they have eleven of your people. We can't afford anymore of our people being turned into Strigoi. Don't you want revenge?'

Dimitri and I stepped forward. Casimir was a given. Christian lit a fire in his palm. But none of the others answered.

Thanatia exploded.

'You cowards!' she screamed, glaring accusingly at Sergei. 'They're waiting for us! We have to save them!'

Sergei spoke then. 'Has it occurred to you that this was an act of retaliation?'

'Yes, it has,' Thanatia replied, as if Sergei had said something stupid. 'It may very well be. But it doesn't matter. They'd do this sooner or later anyway.'

Just then, Ash stepped up to Thanatia, looking proud of himself. 'I've asked the guardians who were supposed to go on the raid - you know, the one that never happened - to join us. They all said yes.' He beamed at her.

She nodded at him, switching her gaze to Casimir. 'Call the good ones,' she said.

Sergei's face was turning red again. I decided to speak up. 'Sergei, you're the boss around here, everyone knows that. But this is ridiculous. Thanatia is not making us do this, we're volunteering on our own. Just let us go.'

I was sorry to have the entirety of his anger directed at me, but I was kinda used to it. I simply waited.

Finally, he shook his head, saying, 'Go on then. Thanatia may take charge.'

Thanatia nodded her respects. She explained what she and Ash had discovered; the cave, the markings, and shared with us her suspicions and her plan.

'No fighting shall take place in the caves,' she was saying. 'It's too dark in there, the Strigoi will have the advantage with their enhanced eyesight. I alone will enter the cave through the entrance in the lake, and I'll lure them out. Then you'll attack them in the forest.

The sun wasn't due in several hours, but Thanatia wanted to go right away, fearing that the Strigoi would waste no time in turning their prisoners. She split us into two teams. The biggest team was to wait by the entrance in the woods. She put Ash in charge of them. Thanatia, Casimir, Rhonda, Mia, Dimitri and I were going to the lake. Dimitri and I were backup just in case any Strigoi came out through the lake entrance. As soon as the plans were made, we were off.

We parked far away from the beach, covering the remaining distance on foot. Thanatia marched us to a stop, peering around in the darkness. 'The cave entrance must be around here...somewhere.'

We tensed, our eyes following her pointing finger. Who knew how long she'd have to swim in the underwater tunnels? We were thankfully equipped with walkie-talkies, and she'd contact us as soon as she made it out of the water.

'Okay,' she began, as she chucked her cloak and most of her weapons, 'Cas, I want you to create a bubble with your shield. Rhonda will fill it with air. Try to keep the air bubble going as long as you can. Mia, give me a boost with the water currents. When I'm out of your reach, and the bubble bursts, I'll have to make it out of the water on what's left of my oxygen supply. It shouldn't take too long, but if I'm not out after thirty minutes have passed, I'm probably dead.' She said it matter-of-fact, as if she didn't care whether she lived or not.

Casimir was in immense pain, but said nothing. He knew just as well as I did that there was no way to dissuade her.

Thanatia closed her eyes and took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself. Her eyes flew open then. 'Let's do this,' she said.

The Moroi went to work, Casimir and Rhonda forming the air bubble, Mia forming the waves and currents that would carry Thanatia faster to her goal. Thanatia entered the water slowly, walking in until she was shoulder-deep. Then, she disappeared under the surface of the lake.