As agreed, we decided to return to the hotel to further discuss this. Although I really thought what Robert had told them was already pretty self-explanatory. At this point, I was wondering if they just wanted some tips about how to actually go about doing the staking. I knew this was my only chance to get Victor to safety, but I wanted to do it without Rose, Lissa, Eddie, and Adrian suspecting me of purposely letting Robert and Victor get away because I had a reputation to keep. That's when I remembered that Rose had said something–wait, no she didn't; I just intruded into her mind–about Dimitri sending her letters about hunting her down. I looked through my phone for his number, hoping Dimitri would pick up, but more importantly, that he still had his phone. I went to the bathroom to make my call in private. I listened to the phone ring and finally, someone picked up.
"Hello," answered Dimitri's cool voice on the other end.
"Dimka," I started, putting a hard edge to my voice," Still looking for Rose?"
"Have you been following her?" he asked amused.
"Sort of, yes, for you," I replied stiffly, "I know how much she means to you, so...I've left her for you to deal with."
"I've had my spies too," he said, I could hear the relish in his voice.
My heart stopped. I should have known that Dimitri would be so resourceful. Had his spies seen me turn back? I hoped to God they hadn't.
"Las Vegas, right?" he continued, oblivious to the panic I was feeling at this moment.
"Yes," I replied, slightly relieved.
"Will you be there?" he asked.
Would I? How could I? He would know immediately. Not by sight, but by scent.
"No, I have something else I have to deal with first," I said.
"Mmm, pity, we'll have to meet again when you're done," suggested Dimitri.
As with everything that came out of Strigoi Dimitri's mouth, this sounded like a command, but nonetheless, it was probably as close to a suggestion a Strigoi could get.
"Yes, good bye," I said hanging up.
My heart was still pounding in my chest; I couldn't believe how close I was to being found out. I wondered if Dimitri already knew, he seemed to have connections everywhere. But so what if he knew? Would he have the courage to kill me? Or would he turn me back? Obviously, courage was the wrong word, of course Dimitri had the courage...but I couldn't think of another word that could describe what he was going to feel in killing me or–I gave up on my thoughts and left the bathroom, returning swiftly to the table.
"Are you heading off soon, Rose?" I asked casually.
"Yea, now," nodded Rose, "We were just waiting for you to come back."
"I'm sorry, I won't be coming," I said, earning me a variety of disappointed looks.
Rose started off disappointed, but that disappointment and concern faded to apathy. Lissa, Adrian, Eddie, and well everybody else except Robert was genuinely concerned, disappointed, or a combination of the two. Robert just looked angry. I could feel the darkness growing inside of him again. In him mind I reassured him, "I'm not going back on my word. I just want to avoid any confrontation with Belikov, who's been stalking Rose. It will be the perfect distraction; I'll follow close behind, so you will never be in any real danger and in that chaos, I'll get you and Victor out of there."
Robert's face relaxed and the darkness faded into me again.
"Hey, my pretty little dhampir, do you think Rose and Eddie can handle four Moroi?" asked Adrian as I rose to leave.
"It's just to the hotel, what a two minute walk? You shouldn't get into any trouble then, right?" I
laughed.
Adrian shrugged, a little doubtful.
I left, finding a hiding place near the diner so I could watch as they came out. It was easy to follow them without being noticed because, well, the Strip was so crowded and Rose and Eddie had bigger things to worry about than me following them.
It wasn't long before they reached a hotel and were attacked by Dimitri and two other Strigoi, who died almost immediately. Rose and Eddie were fighting Dimitri together, once they had gotten rid of the extra baggage, but Rose, at some points looked like she was fighting Eddie too. Lissa, Adrian, Victor and Robert ran to a different part of the hotel to distance themselves from the fight, I followed them, in a way, to keep them safe, but in another, to keep my promise. Honestly, two Moroi were not that powerful, so Adrian and Lissa did absolutely nothing useful to keep Victor and Robert from running away. I followed Robert and Victor so that I could still protect them if any Strigoi happened to attack out of nowhere. I felt a little guilty leaving Adrian and Lissa behind unprotected, mostly Adrian, but I had done so many things wrong that it didn't even matter by this point.
Once out of Lissa and Adrian's view, I emerged, escorting them to Robert's house on the outskirts of Las Vegas.
"Thank you Mirabelle," smiled Victor weakly.
"I made a promise to Robert for his troubles and I never go back on my word. I don't deserve your thanks, he does," I said, diverting his gratitude towards Robert.
"Yes, but if we had been attacked, I wouldn't have been any use," added Robert.
I smiled, "Do you need anything else? Did you want me to stick around for a little longer?"
Robert shook his head, "We'll see you late. Keep in touch."
"Feeders?" I asked reassuring that they really didn't need me.
"We'll handle that ourselves," smiled Victor.
I nodded and returned to St. Vladimir's.
