Shadow Rider (Vampire Academy Fanfic)

Chapter 43 - Thanatia

My body felt so heavy. With every dragging step, I felt myself growing more and more heavy, and I had to put in more and more effort to keep myself going. I had been walking for most of the day, and eventually I'd had to leave my things behind...my weapons, my food.

I was freezing. I had lost too much blood. I was sick from poisoned food and water. My wounds were getting worse by the second. I was beginning to accept the fact that I would die soon. I hated the feeling. Was it really this easy to lose the fight, the fire within me? Was I gonna give up so easily?

I'd never see Casimir again. I'd never see anyone again. I'd never get to kiss Ash again. I wouldn't get to tell him how much I liked him, how he saved me from becoming a person without a soul. He challenged me, forced me to feel, to be more than just a weapon. Now he'd lose me without knowing the truth. All he would know is that I hated him, or didn't care for him at all. Why had we parted on such terms? Why hadn't I been more careful?

I wanted to cry, but I my body was so dry that I couldn't produce any tears. I just wanted to lie down and fall asleep. Yeah, I would do that. I deserved it. I had given it my all, and it still wasn't enough. And I hadn't I done enough? I'd saved many people, I'd rid the world of countless Strigoi, I had helped the Moroi Court with advance training. I could thank myself for my own service. I was done.

But as soon as I was about to sit down, I heard a distant, whooshing sound. I quit the pity speech and channeled the last of my consciousness into alertness. Then I heard the whooshing sound again. And I knew what it was.

Cars.

Bypassing cars, surely not too far away?

Bunny had been right. I was close. I had to keep going. I tapped into Casimir's mind, trying to lend strength from his feelings, from his thoughts. He was standing with the Queen - everyone was gathered in her room. They were preparing for something...for a speech. She was finally going to announce the course of action. She was going to announce war.

But far behind them, all around them, standing by the walls...the Royal Guard. They were in the periphery of Casimir's vision, but he wasn't looking at them. He didn't notice the glances they shared, the mean glint that flared up in their eyes whenever they looked at Casimir or Vasilisa.

What had Andrey Tarus said?

...in the end it won't matter much anyway. We have plenty on the inside.

They did. They had several in the Royal Guard, and I doubted that was the last of the spies, of the assassins.

They were all gathered. The Queen, Christian, Casimir, Rose, Dimitri. They had each other. I just hoped it was enough. But I played just as important a part in this. I had to alert them.

I was so focused on Casimir that I wasn't present at all in my own body. So when a voice spoke to my actual self, I was so startled I stumbled on a rock and toppled over.

I passed out.

-

'Oh dear, oh dear!'

Someone was shaking me.

'Young lady - oh! Please say you are okay! I'll call an ambulance!'

My eyes snapped open. I found myself staring right into an old woman's withered face. I grabbed her arm.

'Where are we?' I demanded.

'Just on the outskirts of the forest,' the woman wailed, frightened. 'I was collecting berries when I saw you. You need to go to the hospital, honey.' She reached for her phone again.

I shook my head, trying to sit up. But my world instantly grew hazy, my vision blurred.

'No,' I moaned, trying to grab the phone from the old woman. 'I can't go to the hospital. There's no time. No time...'

'Just lie down, honey. I'll call an ambulance and they'll help you, okay?'

'No!' I snapped, trying to clear my head from the wooziness that was slowly filling it. 'There is no time, lady. Please, I-'

'Shh, honey, relax now.'

A buzzing noise filled my ears. My vision didn't clear. The wooziness became thicker. I tried to persuade the woman, but my voice was slurred and weak.

No. Please no. I'm not ready to die.

I couldn't hear the old woman's cooing anymore. She was probably on the phone already. Sadly, she wouldn't be able to save me on time.

I closed my eyes, and was just about to accept defeat when a strong, male voice cut through the buzzing noise, penetrating my skull.

'Don't worry, mam. I'll take it from here.'

'But - sir! She must be taken to a hospital!'

'I know. I won't let her die. I give you my word. You hear that, Natia? I won't let you die.'

'Ash...' I mumbled, trying to see him, but I was blind. I fumbled around for his arm. 'Ash.'

'Yes. I'm here.'

'Ash!' The urgency rushed back into me. 'Ash!'

'Yes! What's happening, Natia?' He sounded scared now.

I grabbed his shirt. 'Ash, you...call Rose. There is danger...' my voice was faltering, but I had to tell him, even if it killed me. 'Enemies in the Royal Guard. They want to kill the Queen. They want to overthrow the Moroi Court. Tell Rose now!'

'What?' Ash exclaimed, but I had no strength left. I gave in.