Blood Promise Chapter Thirty

Alberta was waiting for me in the front office of the guardians administrative building. Albertas role as captain here was remarkable considering the lower numbers of women in our ranks. She was in her fifties and one of the toughest women Id met. Her sandy hair was showing most gray, and years of working bring outdoors had wea on that pointd her skin.Welcome stick out, ruddiness, she verbalise, standing up at my approach. She for certain didnt hug me, and her manner was business resembling, plainly the fact that she used my first name was a generous gesture for her. That, and I thought I power saw a sm in each(prenominal) spark of relief and happiness in her eye. Lets go to my office.Id never been in that respect. Any disciplinary issues I had with the guardians were usually languageed in committee. Unsurprisingly, the office was spotless, everything arrange with military efficiency. We sat on opposite sides of her desk, and I braced myself for an interrogation.Rose, she said, leaning toward me. Im going to be blunt with you. Im not going to give you lectures or take up any explanations. Honestly, since you arent my student anymore, I dont ware the right to ask or tell you anything.It was like what Adrian had said. You can lecture, I told her. Ive al miens respected you and want to strike what you wipe out to secern.The ghost of a grin flashed on her face. All right, here it is. You screwed up.Wow. You werent kidding about bluntness.The reasons dont up virgule. You shouldnt convey left. You shouldnt wear dropped out. Your education and training are excessively valuable-no matter how much you debate you bang-and you are too talented to risk throwing a elan your future.I well-nigh laughed. To tell you the truth? Im not sure what my future is anymore.Which is wherefore you need to alumnus.But I dropped out.She snorted. Then drop back inI-what? How?With paperwork. Just like everything else in the world.To be honest, I hadnt known what Id do formerly I got back here. My immediate c oncern was Lissa-to be with her and make sure she was okay. I knew I couldnt officially be her guardian anymore, that Id figured once we were to beginher, no one could blocking her from hanging out with a friend. Id be her hired bodyguard, so to speak, winning of like what Abe had. And in the meantime, Id bum around campus like Adrian.But to enroll again? I I missed a month. Maybe more. My days were scattered. It was the first week of May, and Id left near the end of March, on my birthday.What was that? Five weeks? Almost six? You missed ii years and managed to catch up. I retain faith in you. And tear down out if you have trouble, graduating with low grades is better(p) than not graduating at all.I tried to imagine myself back in this world. Had it real only been a little over a month? Classes day-after-day intrigue how could I just go back to that? How could I snuff it to that life after seeing the way Dimitris family lived, after beingness with Dimitri and losing him-again.Would he have said he passionateness me? I dont know what to say, I told Alberta. This is kind of a lot to take in.Well, you should decide quickly. The sooner youre back in class, the better.Theyll really let me? That was the part I found a little unbelievable.Ill let you, she said. No way am I letting someone like you kibosh away. And now that Lazar is gone well, things are crazy around here. No ones going to give me much trouble in filing the paperwork. Her wry smile slipped a little. And if they do give us any trouble Ive been do to understand that you have a benefactor who can pull a hardly a(prenominal) favors to smooth everything over.A benefactor, I repeated flatly. A benefactor who wears flashy scarves and gold jewelry?She shrugged. No one I know. Dont tear down know his name-only that hell imperil to withhold a considerable donation to the school if you arent let back in. If you want in.Yeah. Deals and unrelentingma il. I was pretty sure I knew who my benefactor was. Give me some time to think about it. Ill decide soon-I promise.She frowned, thoughtful, and hence gave a sharp nod. All right.We both stood up, and she walked me toward the buildings entrance. I glanced over at her. Hey, if I do graduate do you think theres ever any way I could be in line to be Lissas guardian officially again? I know theyve already picked out people for her and that Im in, ah, a bit of disgrace.We stopped by the outer doors, and Alberta counterweighted a hand on her hip. I dont know. We can for sure try. The situations gotten a lot more complicated.Yeah, I know, I said sadly, recalling Tatianas high-handed actions.But, like I said, well do what we can. What I said about graduating with low grades? You wont. Well, perchance in math and science-but thats out of my control. Youll be the best among the novices, though. Ill work with you myself.Okay, I said, realizing what a concession that was on her part. Thank y ou.I had just stepped outside when she called my name. Rose?I caught the door and glanced back. Yeah?Albertas face was gentle something Id never seen before. Im sorry, she said. Sorry for everything that happened. And that none of us could do anything about it.I saw in her eyes then that she knew about Dimitri and me. I wasnt sure how. Maybe shed heard it after the battle maybe shed guessed beforehand. Regardless, there was no chastisement in her face, only fair sorrow and empathy. I gave her a brief nod of acknowledgment and went outside.I found Christian the next day, but our conversation was brief. He was on his way to meet with some of his trainees and was running late. But he hugged me and seemed genuinely happy to have me back. It showed how far wed come, considering the antagonistic relationship wed had when we first met.About time, he said. Lissa and Adrian get the market share on worrying about you, but theyre not the only ones. And someone needs to put Adrian in his place , you know. I cant do it all the time.Thanks. It kills me to say this, but I missed you too. No ones sarcasm compares to yours in Russia. My amusement faded. But since you mentioned Lissa-No, no. He held up his hand by way of protest, face hardening. I knew you were going to go there.Christian She loves you. You know that what happened wasnt her fault-I know that, he interrupted. But it doesnt mean it didnt hurt. Rose, I know its in your disposition to rush in and say what everyone else is afraid to, but please not this time. I need time to figure things out.I had to bite back a lot of comments. Lissa had mentioned Christian in our talk yesterday. What had happened between them was one of her biggest regrets-probably the thing she hated Avery the most for. Lissa precious to approach him and make up, but hed kept his distance. And yes, he was right. It wasnt my place to rush in-yet. But I did need them to fix this.So I respected his wishes and simply nodded. Okay. For now.My brave out words make his smile go a little. Thanks. Look, Ive got to head off. If you ever want to show these kids how to kick ass the old-fashioned way, come by sometime. Jill would pass out if she saw you again.I told him I would and let him go on his way, seeing as I had places to be. No way was I unblemished with him, though.I had a dinner date with Adrian and Lissa, up in one of the lounges in guest housing. Talking to Christian had made me late, and I hurried by dint of the buildings lobby, barely taking note of my surroundings.Always in a rush, a voice said. Its a wonder anyone can get you to stop moving.I came to a halt and turned, my eyes wide. MomShe stood leaning against the wall, gird pass, with her cropped auburn hair as curly and messy as ever. Her face, weathered like Albertas from being out in the elements, was alter with relief and-love. There was no anger, no condemnation. I had never been so happy to see her in my life.I was in her arms in an instant, resting my h ead on her chest even though she was shorter than me.Rose, Rose, she said into my hair. Dont ever do this again. delight.I pulled back and anticipateed at her face, astonished to see tears spilling from her eyes. I had seen my overprotect tear up in the wake of the attack on the school, but never, never had I seen her outright cry. Certainly not over me. It made me want to cry too, and I uselessly tried to dry her face with Abes scarf.No, no, its okay. Dont cry, I said, taking on an odd role reversal. Im sorry. I wont do it again. I missed you so much.It was true. I love Olena Belikova. I thought she was kind and wonderful and would cherish the memories of her comforting me about Dimitri and always going out of her way to feed me. In other life, she could have been my mother-in-law. In this one, I would always regard her as a kind of foster mother.But she wasnt my real mother. Janine Hathaway was. And standing there with her, I was happy-so, so happy-that I was her daughter. She wasnt perfect, but no one was, as I was learning. She was, however, good and brave and fierce and compassionate-and I think she understood me more than I realized some time. If I could be half the woman she was, my life would be well spent.I was so worried, she told me, recovering herself. Where did you go-I mean, I know now you were in Russia but why?I thought I swallowed and again saw Dimitri with my transfix in his chest. Well, there was something I had to do. I thought I had to do it on my own. I wasnt sure about that last part now. True, I had accomplished my goal on my own, but I was realizing now how many people loved me and were with me. Who knew how otherwise things aptitude have turned out if Id asked for help? Maybe it would have been easier.I have a lot of gather upions, she warned.Her voice had toughened, and I smiled in smart of myself. Now she was back to the Janine Hathaway I knew. And I loved her for it. Her eyes flitted to my face and then to my neck, and I s aw her stiffen. For a panicked moment, I wondered if Oksana had missed heal one of the bite marks.The thought of my mother seeing what Id lowered myself to in Siberia made my heart stop.Instead, she reached out and touched the bright colors of the cashmere scarf, her face filled with wonder as much as shock. This this is Ibrahims scarf its a family heirloomNo, it be aches to this mobster guy named AbeI stopped as soon as the name crossed my lips. Abe. Ibrahim. Hearing them both out loud made me realize how similar they were. Abe Abe was short for Abraham in English. Abraham, Ibrahim. There was only a slight variation in the vowels. Abraham was a common enough name in the U.S., but Id heard Ibrahim only once before, spoken in scorn by Queen Tatiana when referring to someone my mother had been involved withMom, I said disbelievingly. You know Abe.She was still touching the scarf, eyes filled with emotion once more-but a different kind than shed had for me. Yes, Rose. I know him.Pleas e dont tell me Oh, man. Why couldnt I have been an illegitimate half-royal like Robert Doru? Or even the mail-mans daughter? Please dont tell me Abe is my fatherShe didnt have to tell me. It was all over her face, her expression dreamily recalling some other time and place-some time and place that had undoubtedly involved my conception. Ugh.Oh God, I said. Im Zmeys daughter. Zmey Junior. Zmeyette, even.That got her attention. She looked up at me. What on earth are you talking about?Nothing, I said. I was stunned, trying desperately to assimilate this new piece of data into my worldview. I summoned a picture of that sly, bearded face, trying to hunt down family resemblance. Everyone said my facial features were like my moms when she was younger but my coloring, the dark hair and eyes yes, that was the same as Abes. Id always known my father was Turkish. That was Abes mystery accent, the one not Russian but still foreign to my ears. Ibrahim must be the Turkish version of Abraham.How? I asked. How in the world did you get involved with someone like that?She looked offended. Ibrahim is a wonderful man. You dont know him like I do.Obviously. I hesitated. Mom you must know. What is it that Abe does for a living?Hes a businessman. And he knows and does favors for a lot of people, which is why he has the influence he does.But what kind of business? Ive heard its illegal. Its not oh God. Please tell me he isnt selling blood whores or something.What? She looked shocked. No. Of course not.But he is doing illegal things.Whos to say? Hes never actually been caught for anything illegal.I swear, you almost sounded like you were trying to make a joke. I never would have expect her to defend a criminal, but I knew better than most how love could drive us to crazy acts.If he wants to tell you, hell tell you. End of story, Rose. Besides, you certainly keep your share of secrets too. You two have a lot in common.Are you kidding? Hes arrogant, sarcastic, likes to intimidate people , and-oh. Okay. Maybe she had a point.A small half-smile played upon her lips. I never really expected you to meet this way. I never expected you to meet, period. We both thought itd be best if he wasnt in your life.A new thought occurred to me. It was you, wasnt it? You hired him to find me.What? I contacted him when you went missing but I certainly didnt hire him.Then who did? I wondered. He said he was working for someone.Her lovestruck, reminiscent smile turned wry. Rose, Ibrahim Mazur doesnt work for anyone. Hes not the kind of someone you can hire.But he said wait. Why was he adjacent me? Are you saying he was lying?Well, she admitted, it wouldnt be the first time. If he was following you, it wasnt because anyone was making him or paying him. He did it because he wanted to. He wanted to find you and make sure you were okay. He made sure all his contacts knew to look out for you.I replayed my brief history with Abe. Shadowy, taunting, infuriating. But hed driven out into the night to get me when Id been attacked, been adamant in his goal to get me back to school and safety, and had apparently gifted me with an heirloom because he thought Id get cold on my way home. Hes a wonderful man, my mother had said.I supposed there were worse fathers to have.Rose, there you are. Whats taking so immense? My mom and I turned as Lissa entered the lobby, her face lighting up when she saw me. Come on both of you. The foods going to get cold. And you wont believe what Adrian got.My mom and I exchanged a quick look, neither of us needing to speak. We had a long conversation forward of us, but it would have to wait.I have no idea how Adrian had arranged it, but when we got to the lounge, there was Chinese food set up. The Academy almost never served it, and even then, it just never tasted right. But this was the good stuff. Bowls and bowls of sweet-and-sour chicken and egg foo young. In a corner garbage can, I saw some restaurant takeout cartons with an address in Misso ula printed on the side.How the hell did you get that here? I demanded. Not only that, it was still warm.Dont question these things, Rose, said Adrian, loading up his plate with pork fried rice. He seemed very cheering with himself. Just roll with it.Once Alberta gets your paperwork settled, well eat like this every day.I stopped mid-bite. How do you know about that?He merely winked. When you have nothing to do but hang out on campus all the time, you kind of pick things up.Lissa glanced between the two of us. Shed been in class all day, and we hadnt had much time to talk. Whats this?Alberta wants me to enroll again and graduate, I explained.Lissa nearly dropped her plate. Then do itMy mother looked equally startled. Shell let you?Thats what she told me, I said.Then do it my mother exclaimed.You know, mused Adrian, I kind of liked the idea of us going on the road together.Whatever, I shot back. You probably wouldnt let me drive.Stop this. My mother was firmly back to her old self, no grief over her daughters departure or wistfulness for a woolly-headed lover. You need to take this seriously. Your futures at spot. She nodded toward Lissa. Her futures at stake. Finishing your education here and going on to be a guardian is the-Yes, I said.Yes? she asked, puzzled.I smiled. Yes, I agree.You agree with me? I dont think my mom could ever recall that happening. Neither could I, for that matter.Yup. Ill take the trials, graduate, and become as respectable a member of society as I can. Not that it sounds like much fun, I teased. I kept my tone light, but inside, I knew I needed this. I needed to be back with people who loved me. I needed a new purpose, or else I would never get over Dimitri. I would never stop seeing his face or hearing his voice.Beside me, Lissa gasped and clasped her hands together. Her joy flooded into me. Adrian didnt wear his emotions as openly, but I could see he too was pleased at having me around. My mom still looked kind of stunned. I think she was used to me being unreasonable-which, usually, I was.Youll really stay? she asked.Good God. I laughed. How many times do I have to say it? Yes, Ill go back to school.And stay? she prompted. The full two and a half months?Isnt that implied?Her face was hard-and very mom like. I want to know for sure you arent going to up and run away again. Youll stay and finish school no matter what? Stay until you graduate? Do you promise?I met her eyes, surprised at her intensity. Yes, yes. I promise.Excellent, she said. Youll be glad you did this down the road. Her words were guardian-formal, but in her eyes, I saw love and joy.We finished dinner and helped stack dishes for the buildings cleaning service. While scraping uneaten food into a trash can, I felt up Adrian beside me.This is very domestic of you, he said. Its kind of hot, really. plentiful me all sorts of fantasies about you in an apron vacuuming my house.Oh, Adrian, how Ive missed you, I said with an eye roll. I dont suppose youre helping?Nah. I helped when I ate everything on my plate. No mess that way. He paused. And yes, youre welcome.I laughed. You know, its a good thing you didnt say much when I promised Mom Id stay here. I might have decided otherwise.Not sure if you could have stood up to her. Your mom seems like someone who gets her way a lot. He cast a covert look to where Lissa and my mom stood talking across the room. He lowered his voice. It must run in the family. In fact, maybe I should get her help on something. acquire a hold of illegal cigarettes?Asking her daughter out.I nearly dropped the plate I held. Youve asked me out tons of times.Not really. Ive made inappropriate suggestions and ofttimes pushed for nudity. But Ive never asked you out on a real date. And, if memory serves, you did say youd give me a fair chance once I let you clean out my trust fund.I didnt clean it out, I scoffed.But standing there, looking at him, I remembered that I had said that if I survived my quest for Dim itri, Id give Adrian a shot. I would have said anything to get the money I needed then, but now, I saw Adrian through new eyes. I wasnt ready to marry him by any stretch of the imagination, nor did I fully consider him reliable boyfriend material. I didnt even know if I wanted a boyfriend ever. But he had been a good friend to me and everyone else throughout all of this chaos. Hed been kind and steady, and yeah, I couldnt deny it even with a weaken black eye, he was still extraordinarily handsome.And while it shouldnt have mattered, Lissa had gotten it out from him that a lot of his infatuation with Avery had been compulsion-induced. Hed liked her and hadnt been ruling out a romanticistic attachment, but her powers had cranked up the intensity more than he actually felt. Or so he claimed. If I were a guy and all that had happened to me, Id probably say Id been under the influence of magic too.Yet from the way he looked at me now, I found it hard to believe anyone had taken my plac e for him in this last month or so.Make me an unfold, I said at last. Write it up, and give me a point-by-point outline of why youre a good would-be suitor.He started to laugh, then saw my face. Seriously? Thats like homework. Theres a reason Im not in college.I snapped my fingers. Get to it, Ivashkov. I want to see you put in a good days work.I expected a joke or a brush-off until later, but instead, he said, Okay.Okay? Now I felt like my mom had earlier, when Id quickly agreed with her.Yep. Im going to go back to my room right now to start drafting my assignment.I stared incredulously as he reached for his coat. I had never seen Adrian survive that fast when any kind of labor was involved. Oh no. What had I gotten myself into?He suddenly paused and reached into his coat pocket with an exasperate smile. Actually, I already practically wrote you an essay. Nearly forgot.He produced a piece of folded paper and waved it in the air. You have got to get your own phone. Im not going to be your secretary anymore.What is that?Some foreign guy called me earlier said my number was in his phones memory. Again, Adrian eyed Lissa and my mom. They were still deep in conversation. He said he had a message for you and didnt want me to tell anyone else. He made me write it out and read it back to him. Youre the only person Id do that for, you know. I think Im going to mention it when I write up my dating proposal.Will you just hand it over?He gave me the note with a wink, sketched me a bow, and then said goodbye to Lissa and my mom. I kind of wondered if he really was going to go write up a dating proposal. Mostly, my attention was on the note. I had no doubt who had called him. Id used Abes phone to dial Adrian in Novosibirsk and had later told Abe about Adrians financial involvement in my trip. Apparently, my father-ugh, that was still an unreal thought-had decided that made Adrian trustworthy, though I wondered why my mom couldnt have been used as a messenger.I unfolded the note, and it took me a few seconds to decipher Adrians writing. If he did write me a dating proposal, I really hoped he would type it. The note readSent a message to Roberts brother. He told me there was nothing I could bye that would make him reveal Roberts location-and believe me, I have much to bring home the bacon. But he said as long as he had to spend the rest of his life in there, then the information would die with him. Thought youd like to know.It was hardly the essay Adrian had made it out to be. It was also a bit cryptic, but then, Abe wouldnt want its contents easily understandable to Adrian. To me, the meaning was clear. Roberts brother was original Dashkov. Abe had somehow gotten a message to victor in whatever horrible, remote prison house he was locked away in. (Somehow, it didnt surprise me that Abe could pull that off.) Abe had no doubt attempted one of his trades with Victor in order to find out where Robert was, but Victor had refused. No surprise there e ither. Victor wasnt the most helpful of people, and I couldnt entirely blame him now. The guy was locked up for life in there-in prison. What could anyone offer a condemned man that would really make a difference in his life?I sighed and put the note away, somehow touched that Abe had done this for me, as futile as it was. And again, the same argument came to mind.Even if Victor had given up Roberts location, what did it matter? The farther I got from the events in Russia, the more ridiculous it became to even consider turning a Strigoi back to his original form. Only true death could free them, only deathMy moms voice saved me before I could begin reliving the bridge scene once more in my head. She told me she had to leave but promised wed talk later. As soon as she was gone, Lissa and I made sure everything was set in the lounge before heading off to my room. She and I still had a lot of talking to do too. We went upstairs, and I wondered when theyd move me out of guest housing an d back to the dorm. Probably whenever Alberta finished with the red tape. It still seemed impossible to accept that I was going to be able to return to my old life and move on from all that had happened in the last month or so.Did Adrian give you a love note? Lissa asked me. Her voice was teasing, but through the bond, I knew she still worried about me grieving for Dimitri.Not yet, I said. Ill explain later.Outside my room, one of the building attendants was just about to shock on the door. When she saw me, she held out a thick padded envelope. I was just bringing this to you. It arrived in todays mail.Thanks, I said.I took it from her and looked at it. My name and St. Vladimirs address were printed in neat writing, which I found odd, since my arrival here had been sudden. There was no return address, but it bore Russian postmarks and delivery through world(a) overnight mail.Do you know who its from? Lissa asked once the woman was gone.I dont know. I met a lot of people in Russia. It could have been from Olena, Mark, or Sydney. Yet something I couldnt quite explain set my senses on high alert.I tore open one side and reached in. My hand closed around something cold and metallic. I knew before I even pulled it out what it was. It was a silver stake.Oh God, I said I rolled the stake around, running my finger over the inscribe geometric pattern at its base. There was no question. One-of-a-kind. This was the stake Id taken from the vault in Galinas house. The one Id Why would someone send you a stake? asked Lissa.I didnt answer and instead pulled out the envelopes next item a small note card. There, in handwriting I knew all too well, wasYou forgot another lesson Never turn your back until you know your enemy is dead. Looks like well have to go over the lesson again the next time I see you-which go away be soon.Love, D.Oh, I said, nearly dropping the card. This is not good.The world spun for a moment, and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. For the hundredt h time, I ran through the events of the night Id escaped from Dimitri. Every other time, my emotions and attention were always on the look on his face when I stabbed him, the sight of his body falling into that black water. Now my mind summoned up the details of the struggle. I recalled how his last-minute dodge had interfered with my shot at his heart. For a moment out there, I hadnt thought Id gotten the stake in hard enough-until Id seen his face go slack and watched him fall.But I really hadnt gotten the stake in hard enough. My first instinct had been right, but things had happened too fast. Hed fallen and then what? Had the stake been loose enough to fall out on its own? Had he been able to pull it out? Had the rivers impact knocked it out? All those practice dummies, all for nothing, I muttered, recalling how Dimitri had drilled me over and over to plunge a stake into the chest so it would get past the ribs and into the heart.Rose, exclaimed Lissa. I had a feeling this wasnt the first time shed said my name. Whats going on?The most important staking of my life and I had messed it up. What would happen now? Looks like well have to go over the lesson again the next time I see you-which will be soon.I didnt know what to feel. Despair that I hadnt released Dimitris soul and effectuate the promise Id secretly made to him? Relief that I hadnt killed the man I loved? And always, always that question Would he have said he loved me if wed had a few moments more?I still had no answers. My emotions were running crazy, and I needed to put them on hold and analyze what I knew here. prime(prenominal) two and a half months. Id promised my mom two and a half months. No action until then.Meanwhile, Dimitri was still out there, still a Strigoi. As long as he was loose in the world, there would be no peace for me. No closure. Looking at that card again, I realized I would have no peace even if I tried to ignore him. I understood the cards message.Dimitri was coming for m e this time. And something told me that I had blown my chance at being turned Strigoi. He was coming to kill me. What had he said when I escaped the manor? That there was no way we could both be live(a) in the world?And yet, maybe we couldWhen I didnt answer her right away, Lissas worry grew. Your face is freaking me out a little. What are you thinking?Do you believe in fairy tales? I asked, looking up into her eyes. Even as I said the words, I could imagine Marks disapproval.What what kind of fairy tales?The kind you arent supposed to redundancy your life on.I dont understand, she said. Im totally lost. Tell me whats going on. What can I do?Two and a half months. I had to stay here for two and a half months-it seemed like forever. But Id promised my mom that I would, and I refused to be rash again-particularly with the stakes so high now. Promises. I was drowning in promises. Id even promised Lissa something.Did you mean it before? You want to go with me on my next crazy quest? N o matter what?Yes. There was no uncertainty or disinclination in the word, no wavering in her steady green eyes. Of course, I wondered if shed feel the same way later when she found out what it was we were going to do.What could anyone offer a condemned man that would really make a difference in his life?Id pondered that earlier, trying to figure out what could get Victor Dashkov to talk. Victor had told Abe there was nothing anyone could offer that would make him give up the information about his brothers alleged ability to restore Strigoi. Victor was serving a life censure no bribe could matter to him anymore. But one thing could, I realized. Freedom. And there was only one way to achieve that.We were going to have to break Victor Dashkov out of prison.But I decided not to mention that to Lissa quite yet.All I knew for now was that I had a fleeting shot at saving Dimitri. Mark had said it was a fairy tale, but I had to take the chance. The question was how long did I have until D imitri came to kill me? How long did I have to figure out if the impossible was actually possible? That was the real issue. Because if Dimitri showed up before I had a chance to find the calculus in this story-Victor-things were going to get ugly. Maybe this whole Robert thing was one big lie, but even if it wasnt well, the clock was ticking. If Dimitri came for me before I could get to Victor and Robert, Id have to fight him again. No question. I couldnt wait for this magical cure. Id have to kill Dimitri for real this time and lose any chance I might have to bring back my prince. Damn.Its a good thing I work well under pressure.