Shadow Rider (Vampire Academy Fanfic)

Chapter 66 - Rose

I was returning from a practice session with the advanced guardian class when I suddenly got a phone call. So help me god - it was Sergei.

'Hathaway?'

'Uh...yes.'

'We just got a report from the Alchemists. I thought it might...interest you.'

I stared at the phone. Sergei sounded almost civil.

'What happened?'

'Well, it appears there's been a Strigoi killing somewhere in southwest Kentucky. The Alchemists were called in to clean things up...but they had some complaints to make. A dhampir was involved, and the local humans came close to discovering vampire bites.... Normally I would have let the Alchemists deal with it, but...they mentioned the dhampir's name.'

I immediately tensed, knowing where he was going. 'Thanatia?'

'Yes.'

'Is she...is she okay? Did they say?'

'She suffered no serious injuries. And like I said, the Alchemists handled it. But I just thought you should know.'

I started to question him, but then I realised that, maybe Sergei didn't hate me so much after all. Maybe he really just wanted to let me know that my friend was alright.

'You should tell this to Cas - I mean Lord Andrijevic too.'

Sergei snorted. 'Not likely. Feel free to tell him though.'

Okay - clearly his friendliness didn't extend that far. I wanted to chew him out for openly disrespecting a royal, but remembered that Casimir had compelled Sergei that one time. Clearly, Sergei wasn't one of Cas' many fans. I reigned it in and instead thanked him, returning his polite goodbye before ending the call.

I considered Natia's words for a moment, still holding the phone in my hand. She'd said she didn't want anyone to contact her. But...well - since when did I really go about doing as I was told?

I typed out a text.

Natia - we just got a report from the Alchemists. What part of "staying out of trouble" did you not understand? Tell me what the hell is going on and I'll consider not coming after you.

/Rose

My thumb hovered over the "send" button, but then I hesitated. I reread my text, realising how accusatory it sounded. I'd been the one to send Natia out there; I'd even promised to let her go. I was jumping to conclusions, assuming Natia was out there picking any fight she could find, when in reality she could have ended up smack in the middle of something without meaning to. Of course, it was in her nature to protect those around her, but could I really blame her for that, when I was exactly the same?

I decided it was best to call her and find out what happened. Good grief - somewhere along the road, I'd managed to outgrow my impatience.

Naturally, Natia didn't answer. I sighed, and rewrote my text message.

Everything ok? Let me know if you need me.

/Rose

With that I turned my mind to other things, which was just as well, because Natia didn't reply to my message 'til the next day.

Everything under control - don't worry. Please don't tell Cas.

I sighed, frowning at that. I looked up - right at Cas, who was enjoying breakfast with Mia, Christian, and some other magic wielders. A part of me felt like he kinda deserved to know what was going on, especially since I could sense how much he cared and worried beneath that calm facade. But well, this was Natia's battle. Not mine. If she wanted to tell him, she would. I decided it was best not to interfere.

I turned back to my food, but just then, Casimir looked up, searching my eyes, as if he sensed my troubled thoughts in that uncanny way typical for spirit users. I cleared my features of any emotion, but knew I was too late. He frowned slightly, and I could practically see the wheels turning in that clever head of his. I fully expected him to march over to me, demanding answers, but Christian pulled his attention to him, and the moment diffused. Casimir put on a tight smile, nodding along to whatever Christian was saying. I watched them for a moment, trying to understand Casimir's behaviour. For a man with such an outward persona, he sure was difficult to read sometimes. But one thing was obvious.

Casimir may have been able to function fine without Natia - but that lustre, that glow in his eyes, it was gone. He was just going through the motions.

Still, I breathed a sigh of relief at having evaded yet another confrontation, wondering how long I could keep this up.

I was kinda hoping Natia would come home now.