Last Sacrifice Chapter One

I DONT LIKE CAGES. I dont blush handle leaving to zoos. The first time I went to hotshot, I almost had a claustrophobic attack looking at those poor animals. I couldnt imagine any creature living that way. Sometimes I even felt a little bad for criminals, condemned to intent in a cell. Id certainly never expected to spend my life in genius.solely lately, life seemed to be throwing me a lot of social functions Id never expected, because hither I was, locked away.Hey I yelled, gripping the steel bars that isolated me from the domain of a function. How gigantic am I going to be here? Whens my tally? You cant keep me in this dungeon foreverOkay, it wasnt exactly a dungeon, not in the dark, rusty-chain sense. I was inside a diminutive cell with plain walls, a plain floor, and well plain everything. Spotless. Sterile. Cold. It was actually more depressing than any musty dungeon could have managed. The bars in the doorway felt cool against my skin, hard and unyielding. Fluoresce nt lighting made the metal gleam in a way that felt harsh and dirty to my eyes. I could see the shoulder of a man standing rigidly to the side of the cells entrance and k current there were probably four more guardians in the mansion out of my sight. I also knew none of them were going to answer me concealment, plainly that hadnt stopped me from constantly demanding answers from them for the last two days.When the usual silence came, I sighed and slumped back on the cot in the cells corner. Like everything else in my new home, the cot was colorless and stark. Yeah. I squarely was first to wish I had a real dungeon. Rats and cobwebs would have at least outpouringn me roughlything to watch. I stared upward and immediately had the disorienting touch sensationing I ceaselessly did in here that the ceiling and walls were destruction in around me. Like I couldnt breathe. Like the sides of the cell would keep coming toward me until no space remained, pushing out all the air I sa t up abruptly, gasping. Dont stare at the walls and ceiling, Rose, I chastised myself. Instead, I looked d declare at my clasped hands and tried to figure out how Id gotten into this mess.The initial answer was obvious somebody had framed me for a crime I didnt commit. And it wasnt petty crime either. It was murder. Theyd had the audacity to accuse me of the highest crime a Moroi or dhampir could commit. zero(prenominal), that isnt to say I havent killed before. I have. Ive also done my fair share of rule (and even law) breaking. Cold- blooded murder, however, was not in my repertoire. Especially not the murder of a queen.It was professedly nance Tatiana hadnt been a friend of mine. Shed been the coolly calculating ruler of the Moroia race of living, magic- using vampires who didnt kill their victims for blood. Tatiana and I had had a rocky relationship for a number of reasons. nonpareil was me dating her great-nephew, Adrian. The new(prenominal) was my disapproval of her pol icies on how to fight off Strigoithe evil, undead vampires who stalked us all. Tatiana had tricked me a number of times, exactly Id never wanted her dead. Someone evidently had, however, and theyd left(p) a trail of evidence leading the right way to me, the worst of which were my fingerprints all over the silver stake that had killed Tatiana. Of course, it was my stake, so naturally itd have my fingerprints. No one seemed to think that was relevant.I sighed again and pulled out a tiny crumpled piece of paper from my pocket. My only reading material. I squeezed it in my hand, having no need to look at the words. Id long since memorized them. The notes contents made me question what Id whopn about Tatiana. It had made me question a lot of things.Frustrated with my own surroundings, I slipped out of them and into someone elses my best friend Lissas. Lissa was a Moroi, and we shared a psychic link, one that let me go to her mind and see the knowledge base through her eyes. All Mor oi wielded some type of elemental magic. Lissas was spirit, an element tied to psychic and healing powers. It was rare among Moroi, who usually used more physical elements, and we provided understood its abilitieswhich were incredible. Shed used spirit to bring me back from the dead a hardly a(prenominal) years ago, and thats what had forged our bond.Being in her mind freed me from my cage but offered little help for my problem. Lissa had been go bading hard to prove my innocence, ever since the hearing that had laid out all the evidence against me. My stake being used in the murder had only been the beginning. My opponents had been quick to remind everyone about my antagonism toward the queen and had also found a witness to testify about my whereabouts during the murder. That testimony had left me without an alibi. The Council had decided there was enough evidence to send me to a full-fledged trialwhere I would receive my verdict.Lissa had been trying desperately to get peoples attention and entice them Id been framed. She was having trouble finding anyone who would listen, however, because the entire Moroi Royal Court was consumed with preparations for Tatianas elaborate funeral. A monarchs finis was a big deal. Moroi and dhampirshalf- vampires like mewere coming from all over the world to see the spectacle. Food, flowers, decorations, even musicians The full deal. If Tatiana had gotten married, I doubted the event would have been this elaborate. With so much activity and buzz, no one cared about me now. As far as most people were concerned, I was safely stashed away and unable to kill again. Tatianas murderer had been found. conscionableice was served. Case closed.Before I could get a move in picture of Lissas surroundings, a commotion at the jail jerked me back into my own head. Someone had entered the area and was speaking to the guards, asking to see me. It was my first vi tantaliseor in days. My heart pounded, and I leapt up to the bars, hoping it was someone who would tell me this had all been a horrible mistake.My visitor wasnt instead who Id expected.Old man, I said wearily. What are you doing here?Abe Mazur stood before me. As always, he was a sight to behold. It was the middle of summerhot and humid, seeing as we were right in the middle of rural pop but that didnt stop him from wearing a full suit. It was a flashy one, perfectly tailored and adorned with a brilliant purple silk tie and unified scarf that just seemed like overkill. Gold jewelry flashed against the dusky hue of his skin, and he looked like hed recently trimmed his short black beard. Abe was a Moroi, and although he wasnt royal, he wielded enough influence to be.He also happened to be my father.Im your lawyer, he said cheerfully. Here to give you legal counsel, of course.You arent a lawyer, I reminded him. And your last second base of advice didnt work out so well. That was mean of me. Abedespite having no legal training whatsoeverhad defended me a t my hearing. Obviously, since I was locked up and headed for trial, the outcome of that hadnt been so great. But, in all my solitude, Id come to realize that hed been right about something. No lawyer, no matter how good, could have saved me at the hearing. I had to give him credit for stepping up to a lost cause, though considering our sketchy relationship, I still wasnt sure why he had. My biggest theories were that he didnt confide royals and that he felt paternal obligation. In that order.My performance was perfect, he argued. Whereas your compelling speech in which you said if I was the murderer didnt do us any favors. Putting that image in the judges head wasnt the smartest thing you could have done.I ignored the barb and crossed my arms. So what are you doing here? I know its not just a fatherly visit. You never do anything without a reason.Of course not. Why do anything without a reason?Dont start up with your circular logic.He winked. No need to be jealous. If you work har d and put your mind to it, you might just inherit my brilliant logic skills someday.Abe, I warned. Get on with it.Fine, fine, he said. Ive come to tell you that your trial might be moved up.W-what? Thats great news At least, I thought it was. His expression said otherwise. Last Id heard, my trial might be months away. The uncorrupted thought of thatof being in this cell so longmade me feel claustrophobic again.Rose, you do realize that your trial will be about identical to your hearing. Same evidence and a guilty verdict.Yeah, but there must be something we can do before that, right? Find trial impression to clear me? Suddenly, I had a good idea of what the problem was. When you say moved up, how soon are we public lecture?Ideally, theyd like to do it after a new king or queen is crowned. You know, part of the post-coronation festivities.His tone was flippant, but as I held his dark gaze, I caught the full meaning. Numbers rattled in my head. The funerals this week, and the elect ions are right after Youre saying I could go to trial and be convicted in, what, practically two weeks?Abe nodded.I flew toward the bars again, my heart pounding in my chest. Two weeks? Are you serious?When hed said the trial had been moved up, Id figured maybe it was a month away. Enough time to find new evidence. How would I have pulled that off? Unclear. Now, time was rushing away from me. Two weeks wasnt enough, especially with so much activity at Court. Moments ago, Id resented the long stretch of time I might face. Now, I had too little of it, and the answer to my next question could make things worse.How long? I asked, trying to control the trembling in my voice. How long after the verdict until they carry out the sentence?I still didnt entirely know what all Id inherited from Abe, but we seemed to clearly share one trait an unflinching ability to deliver bad news.Probably immediately.Immediately. I backed up, nearly sat on the bed, and then felt a new surge of adrenaline. Immediately? So. Two weeks. In two weeks, I could be dead.Because that was the thingthe thing that had been hanging over my head the moment it became clear someone had planted enough evidence to frame me. People who killed queens didnt get sent to prison. They were executed. Few crimes among Moroi and dhampirs got that kind of punishment. We tried to be civilized in our justice, exhibit we were better than the bloodthirsty Strigoi. But certain crimes, in the eyes of the law, deserved death. Certain people deserved it, toosay, like, treasonous murderers. As the full tint of the future fell upon me, I felt myself shake and tears come dangerously close to spilling out of my eyes.Thats not right I told Abe. Thats not right, and you know itDoesnt matter what I think, he said calmly. Im simply delivering the facts. Two weeks, I repeated. What can we do in two weeks? I mean youve got some lead, right? Or or you can find something by then? Thats your specialty. I was rambling and knew I sounded hysterical and desperate. Of course, that was because I felt hysterical and desperate.Its going to be difficult to accomplish much, he explained. The Courts preoccupied with the funeral and elections. Things are disorderlywhich is both good and bad.I knew about all the preparations from watching Lissa. Id seen the chaos already brewing. determination any sort of evidence in this mess wouldnt just be difficult. It could very well be impossible.Two weeks. Two weeks, and I could be dead.I cant, I told Abe, my voice breaking. Im not meant to die that way.Oh? He arched an eyebrow. You know how youre supposed to die?In battle. One tear managed to escape, and I hastily wiped it away. Id always lived my life with a tough image. I didnt want that shattering, not now when it mattered most of all. In fighting. Defending those I love. Not not through some planned execution.This is a fight of sorts, he mused. Just not a physical one. Two weeks is still two weeks. Is it bad? Yes. But its better than one week. And nothings impossible. mayhap new evidence will turn up. You simply have to wait and see.I hate waiting. This room its so undersize. I cant breathe. Itll kill me before any executioner does.I highly doubt it. Abes expression was still cool, with no sign of sympathy. Tough love. Youve fearlessly fought groups of Strigoi, yet you cant handle a small room?Its more than that Now I have to wait each day in this hole, knowing theres a clock ticking down to my death and almost no way to stop it.Sometimes the greatest tests of our strength are situations that dont seem so obviously dangerous. Sometimes surviving is the hardest thing of all. Oh. No. No. I stalked away, pacing in small circles. Do not start with all that noble crap. You sound like Dimitri when he used to give me his deep life lessons.He survived this very situation. Hes surviving other things too.Dimitri.I took a deep breath, calming myself before I answered. Until this murder mess, Dimitri had been the biggest complication in my life. A year agothough it seemed like eternityhed been my instructor in high school, training me to be one of the dhampir guardians who protect Moroi. Hed accomplished thatand a lot more. Wed fallen in love, something that wasnt allowed. Wed managed it as best we could, even finally coming up with a way for us to be together. That hope had disappeared when hed been bitten and move Strigoi. It had been a living nightmare for me. Then, through a miracle no one had trustd possible, Lissa had used spirit to transform him back to a dhampir. But things unfortunately hadnt quite returned to how theyd been before the Strigoi attack.I glared at Abe. Dimitri survived this, but he was horribly depressed about it He still is. About everything.The full weight of the atrocities hed committed as a Strigoi haunted Dimitri. He couldnt forgive himself and swore he could never love anyone now. The fact that I had begun dating Adrian didnt help matters. After a num ber of shadowy efforts, Id accepted that Dimitri and I were through. Id moved on, hoping I could have something real with Adrian now.Right, Abe said dryly. Hes depressed, but youre the picture of happiness and joy.I sighed. Sometimes talking to you is like talking to myself pretty damned annoying. Is there any other reason youre here? Other than to deliver the terrible news? I would have been happier living in ignorance.Im not supposed to die this way. Im not supposed to see it coming. My death is not some appointment penciled in on a calendar.He shrugged. I just wanted to see you. And your arrangements.Yes, he had indeed, I realized. Abes eyes had always come back to me as we spoke thered been no question I held his attention. There was nothing in our banter to concern my guards. But every so often, Id see Abes gaze flick around, taking in the hall, my cell, and whatever other details he found interesting. Abe had not earned his reputation as zmeythe serpentfor nothing. He was alw ays calculating, always looking for an advantage. It seemed my tendency toward crazy plots ran in the family.I also wanted to help you pass the time. He smiled and from under his arm, he handed me a couple of magazines and a book through the bars. Maybe this will improve things.I doubted any entertainment was going to make my two-week death countdown more manageable. The magazines were fashion and hair oriented. The book was The Count of Monte Cristo. I held it up, needing to make a joke, needing to do anything to make this less real.I saw the movie. Your subtle symbolism isnt actually all that subtle. Unless youve hidden a file inside it.The books always better than the movie. He started to turn away. Maybe well have a literary discussion next time. Wait. I tossed the reading material onto the bed. Before you go in this whole mess, no ones ever brought up who actually did kill her. When Abe didnt answer right away, I gave him a sharp look. You do believe I didnt do it, right? For all I knew, he did think I was guilty and was just trying to help anyway. It wouldnt have been out of character.I believe my sweet daughter is capable of murder, he said at last. But not this one.Then who did it?That, he said before walking away, is something Im working on.But you just said were running out of time Abe I didnt want him to leave. I didnt want to be alone with my fear. Theres no way to fix thisJust remember what I said in the courtroom, he called back.He left my sight, and I sat back on the bed, thinking back to that day in court. At the end of the hearing, hed told mequite adamantlythat I wouldnt be executed. Or even go to trial. Abe Mazur wasnt one to make idle promises, but I was starting to think that even he had limits, especially since our timetable had just been adjusted.I again took out the crumpled piece of paper and opened it. It too had come from the courtroom, covertly handed to me by AmbroseTatianas servant and boy-toy.Rose,If youre reading this, then so mething terrible has happened. You probably hate me, and I dont blame you. I can only ask that you trust that what I did with the age decree was better for your people than what others had planned. There are some Moroi who want to force all dhampirs into service, whether they want it or not, by using compulsion. The age decree has slowed that faction down.However, I write to you with a secret you must put right, and it is a secret you must share with as few as possible. Vasilisa needs her spot on the Council, and it can be done. She is not the last Dragomir. Another lives, the illegitimate child of Eric Dragomir. I know nothing else, but if you can find this son or daughter, you will give Vasilisa the power she deserves. No matter your faults and dangerous temperament, you are the only one I feel can take on this task. Waste no time in fulfilling it.Tatiana IvashkovThe words hadnt changed since the other hundred times Id read them, nor had the questions they always triggered. Was th e note true? Had Tatiana really written it? Had shein spite of her outwardly hostile attitudetrusted me with this dangerous knowledge? There were twelve royal families who made decisions for the Moroi, but for all intents and purposes, there might as well have only been eleven. Lissa was the last of her line, and without another member of the Dragomir family, Moroi law said she had no power to sit on and vote with the Council that made our decisions. Some pretty bad laws had already been made, and if the note was true, more would come. Lissa could fight those lawsand some people wouldnt like that, people who had already demonstrated their willingness to kill.Another Dragomir. Another Dragomir meant Lissa could vote. One more Council vote could change so much. It could change the Moroi world. It could change my worldsay, like, whether I was found guilty or not. And certainly, it could change Lissas world. All this time shed believed she was alone. Yet I uneasily wondered if shed wel come a half-sibling. I accepted that my father was a scoundrel, but Lissa had always held hers up on a pedestal, believing the best of him. This news would come as a shock, and although Id trained my entire life to keep her safe from physical threats, I was starting to think there were other things she needed to be protected from as well.But first, I needed the truth. I had to know if this note had really come from Tatiana. I was pretty sure I could find out, but it involved something I hated doing.Well, why not? It wasnt like I had anything else to do right now.Rising from the bed, I turned my back to the bars and stared at the blank wall, using it as a focus point. Bracing myself, remembering that I was strong enough to keep control, I released the mental barriers I always subconsciously kept around my mind. A great pressure lifted from me, like air escaping a balloon.And suddenly, I was surrounded by ghosts.