Shadow Rider (Vampire Academy Fanfic)

Chapter 46 - Rose

All of us were rushing towards Lissa's safety room; the Royal Guard carrying Lissa, while Mikhail and Dimitri carried an unconscious Casimir. Mom and Abe joined us on the way.

When we reached the safety room, I scrutinised the Royal Guard. I didn't think there were spies among them, but I wasn't taking any chances. I prodded Dimitri. 'I don't want them in here.'

He nodded, marching the Royal Guard out with a resigned expression. Mikhail joined him.

'Rose,' Abe began, grabbing my arm, 'the Court will need a directive.'

'Yes,' I agreed. 'The Strigoi could attack at any moment. Can you stand in for Lissa while she and Casimir recover?'

'Of course.' Abe considered for a moment. 'Since they are both safe, I'll have Sergei prepare our defence. All guardians should be at the walls.'

I nodded. 'Okay. Go. We'll come as soon as we can.' Mom shot me one last look before hurrying out with my father.

That left me, Sonya, Christian, and our two unconscious leaders. Sonya looked shaken, but determined. But Christian...he was a mess. He was worrying himself sick about Lissa, and at the same time it looked like he could kill someone. I took his hand.

'Christian...she'll be okay. She's safe now.'

Christian pulled his hand from mine, shaking his head. 'How were we not prepared for this, Rose?' he exploded. 'Andrey fucking Tarus! I can't believe we just thought he'd given up.'

'We didn't think that!' I wiped a hand over my sweaty forehead. 'We knew he'd attack again. We just didn't know when!'

'We should have been more careful,' Christian snapped, dropping his gaze to where Lissa was lying, on a simple double bed, next to Casimir.

Lissa's safety room was small, greyish - none of the furniture had any sharp edges. It was safety first. I sighed, knowing I couldn't console Christian. Because he was right. Yes, we should have been more careful. But the Strigoi issue had consumed us lately, and no doubt had Andrey Tarus taken advantage of that.

I eyed Lissa's sleeping form. Even in sleep, she looked concerned. I wondered why Andrey Tarus wanted her and Casimir alive. If he wanted to overthrow the Moroi government, why not just have them killed right there during the speech? What was the point in kidnapping them? Leverage? Blackmail?

I'd long since given up on trying to understand Andrey Tarus' motives. He was just like Victor Dashkov. He had messed up beliefs and agendas - he was just crazy. I didn't even want to understand him. I was done with that. I simply wanted him dead.

And whatever Andrey's plans had been with Lissa and Casimir - they had failed. That had to mean we had the upper-hand right now. Even though the Strigoi attack was looming on the horizon. But here came the tricky part. We'd only been able to save Lissa because of Ash's warning. And Ash had gotten that warning from Thanatia. So...how the hell did Thanatia know there were traitors within the Court's walls, in the Royal Guard itself? Thanatia who had been kidnapped by...Strigoi. Or had Andrey Tarus managed to attack the Strigoi, and kidnapped Thanatia himself? If that was the case - why hadn't he had her killed? How did she manage to escape?

Then I realised - I'd managed to escape Andrey Tarus. But I sure as hell hadn't managed it on my own.

Ugh - it was all just so confusing!

Thankfully, I didn't really have to think about it much more. Ash had found Natia. He was bringing her home. She would explain everything.

I was so on edge, but in fact, time passed quietly, uneventfully. Hours ticked by, but Lissa and Casimir remained unconscious.