Spirit Bound Chapter Eight

AFTER THE BITCHING ID produce to Abe ab expose always breathing period of play out to remote, crappy institutionalises, I should pick up been unrestrained ab pop out the prospect of going to Sin City. Alas, I had a fewer reservations some my next epic trip. First of entirely, someplace handle Las Vegas was the culture place I would expect a semi-crazy recluse to be. From the bits and pieces Id let outd, Robert had dropped off the microwave radar and wanted to be al pair offless. A busy, tourist-fill city didnt re totallyy fit that description. Second, cities a want(p) that were perfect feeding grounds for Strigoi. Crowded. Reckless. Low inhibitions. Very easy for hatful to disappearespecially when most of them were out at night.Part of me was real it had to be a trick on achievers part, scarcely he swore up and run through that it was true. So, with no other leads, Las Vegas became our next destination. We didnt permit much measure to debate the matter anywa y, geting the guardians would be searching Fairbanks for us. Admittedly, Lissas ch ramifications had altered our appearances luxuriant that they wouldnt be looking for population with our descriptions. They knew what superscript looked like, though, so the sooner we were out of Alaska, the unwrap.Unfortunately, we had a slight problem. winner has no ID, express Eddie. We canfult moderate him on a plane.It was true. All of Victors possessions had been seized by prison authorities, and in the middle of alter surveillance and taking out one-half a dozen guardians, wed scantily had clip to go searching for his personal stuff. Lissas compulsion was phenomenal, unchanging she was tucker after wielding so much at the prison. Besides, guardians would likely be honoring the airport.Our friend Bud the car lease twat provided the solution. He hadnt been stimulate to collar his car returned with all the scratches from Eddies daredevil driving, yet seemly interchange had ultimately stopped the humans muttering about renting to a wad of kids. It was Victor who mentality of an alternative plan and suggested it to Bud.Is at that place a orphic airport nigh? With flights we king charter?Sure, state Bud. notwithstanding it wont be cheap.Its not an issue, I s wait on.Bud eyed us askance. Did you jest ats rob a bank or something?No, still we were packing a lot of currency. Lissa had a trust fund that doled her out monthly money until she was eighteen, as well(p) as a high-limit credit rally. I had a credit shake of my own, leftover from when Id sweet-talked Adrian into funding my Russian trip. Id let go of the rest of my as practices, like the huge bank account hed set up. that, wrong or not, Id obdurate to keep one card on hand, barely in courting of emergency.This was certainly an emergency, so we utilize the card to pay for part of the cliquish planes cost. The pilot couldnt take us as far as Las Vegas, solely he could take us to Sea ttle, where he was able to connect us with another pilot he knew who could go the rest of the way. More money.And Seattle again, I mused, respectable forrader the plane took off. The little feeds interior had a set of four seats, two on individually side facing each other. I sat next to Victor, and Eddie sat across from him. We figured that was the go around tutelar configuration.What about Seattle? asked Eddie, puzzled.Never mind.Little private jets arent nearly as fast as big commercialized ones, and our trip took a king-sized part of the day. During it, I continued asking Victor about his brothers occasion in Las Vegas and finally got the answer I wanted. Victor would have had to regulate us eventually, but I think hed gotten a sadistic proclaim out of pro capaciousing the answer.Robert doesnt peppy in Las Vegas proper, he explained. He has a subtile housea cabin, I supposeout by departure Rock Canyon, miles outside the city.Ah. Now that was more what Id expected. Lissa stiffened at the mention of a cabin, and I felt unease finished the bond. When Victor had kidnapped her, hed taken her to a cabin in the woods and tortured her there. I gave her as still a look as I could. It was magazines like these I wished the bond worked both ways so that I could truly give her comfort.So well go out there?Victor snorted. Certainly not. Robert set his privacy too much. He wouldnt let strangers summon to his home. But hell come to the city if I ask.Lissa eyed me. Victor could be setting us up. He had lots of supporters. Now that hes out, he could call them instead of Robert to pertain us.I gave her a tiny nod, again wishing I could act O.K. through and through the bond. Id thought of this as well. It was imperative we never drop dead Victor alone to make unsupervised calls. And actually, this plan to meet in Las Vegas itself do me tactile sensation better. For our own safety from Victors henchmen, it was better to be in the city than out in the midway of nowhere.Seeing as Ive been so helpful, said Victor, I have the right to chouse what you want with my brother. He glanced at Lissa. Looking for essence lessons? You had to have make some slender investigative work to have out about him.You have no right to know about our plans, I retorted sharply. And seriously? If youre keeping atomic function 82 of whos been the most helpful here, we are totally beating you on the score-card. Youve got a ways to go to catch up after what we did at Tarasov.Victors unaccompanied response was a small smile.Some of our flight time took place at night, which meant it was early morning when we landed in Las Vegas. The safety of sunlight. I was impress to externalise how crowded the airport was. The private one in Seattle had had a fair amount of planes, but the Fairbanks airport had nearly been deserted. This gaffe was chock-full of little jets, many of them screaming luxury. I shouldnt have been surprised. Las Vegas was the vacatio n secern of celebrities and other wealthy people, many of whom probably couldnt lower themselves to fly commercial with ordinary passengers.There were taxis there, sparing us the ordeal of another rental car. But when the driver asked us where we were going, we all stayed silent. I turned to Victor.The middle of the city, right? The Strip?Yes, he ensured. Hed been certain Robert would want to meet strangers someplace very public. Somewhere he could easily flee.The Strips a big place, said the driver. You got any place in particular or should I just drop you off in the middle of the street?Silence pelt over us. Lissa shot me a meaningful look. The Witching Hour?I considered it. Las Vegas was a favorite place for some Moroi. The bright sun made it less appealing for Strigoi, and the windowless casinos created comfortable, dark atmospheres. The Witching Hour was a hotel and casino wed all heard of. While it had plenty of human customers, it was actually owned by Moroi, so it had l ots of clandestine features to make it a massive getaway for vampires. Feeders in back get ons. Special Moroi-only lounges. A fair number of guardians on patrol.GuardiansI shook my head and glanced sideways at Victor. We cant take him there. Of all the hotels in Las Vegas, the Witching Hour was the outlive wed want to go to. Victors escape had to be breaking news all over the Moroi world. victorious him into Vegass largest concentration of Moroi and guardians was probably the worst thing we could do at this point.In the rearview mirror, the drivers face looked impatient. It was Eddie who finally piped up. The Luxor.He and I were in the backseat, with Victor mingled with us, and I peered over. Where did that come from?It puts distance between us and the Witching Hour. Eddie all of a sudden looked a little sheepish. And Ive always wanted to stay there. I mean, if youre coming to Vegas, why not stay in a pyramid?You cant tarnish that logic, said Lissa.The Luxor it is, I said to the driver.We rode in silence, all of uswell, draw off for Victorstaring at the sights in awe. Even in the daytime, the streets of Las Vegas were abundant with people. The young and glamorous walked side by side with gray-haireder corresponds from set America, whod probably saved and saved to make this trip. The hotels and casinos we passed were huge, flashy, and inviting.And when we reached the Luxor yup. It was just like Eddie had said. A hotel shaped like a pyramid. I stared up at it when we got out of the car, trying hard not to let my jaw drop like the starry-eyed tourist I was. I paid the driver and we headed inside. I didnt know how great wed be staying, but we definitely takeed a room as our base of operation.Stepping into the hotel was like beingness back in the night-clubs in Saint Petersburg and Novosibirsk. Flashing lights and the overwhelming scent of smoke. And preventative. Noise, noise, noise. The slot machines beeped and rang, chips fell, people yelled in dismay or delight, and the low thrum of talk fill up the room like humming bees. I grimaced. The stimuli grated on my senses.We passed through the casinos edge to get to the front desk, where the attendant didnt even blink at three teenagers and an old man getting a room together. I had to imagine that around here, they saw it all. Our room was average-size, with two double beds, and someway wed lucked out with an amazing view. Lissa stood at the window, entranced by the sights of people and cars on the Strip below, but I jumped straight to business.Okay, call him, I lucid Victor. Hed settled down on one of the beds, hands crossed and grammatical construction serene, as though he truly were on vacation. Despite that contented smile, I could see the fatigue etched on his face. Even with his profligate refill, the escape and long trip had been exhausting, and the effects of his slowly returning ailment were naturally taking a toll on his physical strength.Victor immediately re ached for the hotels phone, but I shook my head. Liss, let him use your cell. I want a record of this number.She gingerly handed the phone over, as though he might contaminate it. He took it and gave me a nigh-angelic look. I dont suppose I could have some privacy? Its been so long since Robert and I have talked.No, I snapped. The cuttingness in my express take aback even me, and it occurred to me Lissa wasnt the only one suffering from all the spirit used today.Victor gave a small shrug and began dialing. Hed told us on one of the flights that he had Roberts number memorized, and I had to take it on faith that that was who he was calling. I also had to hope Roberts number hadnt changed. Of credit line, even if Victor hadnt seen his brother in years, Victor had only been imprisoned a short man and had probably kept tabs on Robert beforehand.Tension filled the room as we waited while the phone rang. A moment subsequently, I heard a vocalise answer through the phones speakertho ugh I couldnt make out the exact words.Robert, said Victor pleasantly, its Victor.This received a unhinged response on the other end. I only could hear half of the conversation, but it was intriguing. Victor first had to spend a lot of time convincing Robert that he was out of prison. Apparently, Robert wasnt so removed from Moroi society that he was out of touch with current news. Victor told him that the details would be revealed later and then began making his pitch for Robert to come meet us.It took a long time. I got the smell that Robert lived in fear and paranoia, which reminded me of Ms. Karp when shed been in the advanced stages of spirits insanity. Lissas behold stayed fixed on the scene outside the window during the entire call, but her feelings mirrored tap fear that this could someday be her fate. Or mine as well, if I siphoned away spirits effects. The image of the Tarasov sign flashed briefly through her mind WARNINGNOW ENTERING PRISONER AREA (PSYCHIATRIC).Victors voice turned surp climbly cajoling as he spoke to his brother, gentle even. I was reminded uneasily of the old days, before wed known about Victors demented plans for Moroi domination. bottom then, hed treated us kindly too and had practically been a penis of Lissas family. I wondered if at some point hed been sincere or if it had all been an act.Finally, after almost twenty minutes, Victor convinced Robert to come see us. The unin propoundigible words on the other end of the phone were filled with anxiety, and at this point, I felt convinced that Victor truly was talking to his crazy brother and not one of his accomplices. Victor set up a dinner meeting at one of the hotels restaurants and at last disconnected.Dinner? I asked when Victor set the phone down. Isnt he discerning about being out after dark?Its an early dinner, Victor replied. Four thirty. And the sun wont go down until almost eight.Four thirty? I asked. Good God. Are we getting the senior citizen special?But he mad e a good point about the time and sun. Without the safety of Alaskas nearly nonstop pass light, I was starting to feel suffocated by the pressure of sunrise and sunset boundaries, even though it was summer here. Unfortunately, a safe early dinner still meant we had hours to pass.Victor leaned back on the bed, munition behind his head. I think he was attempting an blithe air, but my guess was that it was actually exhaustion driving him to seek the beds comfort. treat to try your luck downstairs? He glanced over at Lissa. musical note users make remarkably good card players. I dont have to describe you how good you are at reading people. She made no response.Nobodys expiration this room, I said. I didnt like the idea of us all being cooped up here, but I couldnt risk an escape attempt or Strigoi lurking in the casinos dark corners.After showering the dye from her hair, Lissa pulled up a president by the window. She refused to get any closer to Victor. I sat cross-legged on the second bed, where there was plenty of room for Eddie to sit too, but he remained upright against a wall, in perfect guardian pram as he watched Victor. I had no doubt Eddie could maintain that lay out for hours, no matter how uncomfortable it got. Wed all been trained to endure harsh conditions. He did a good job at looking stern, but every once in a while, Id catch him studying Victor curiously. Eddie had stood by me in this act of treason but still didnt know why Id done it.Wed been there a few hours when someone knocked at the door. I leapt up.Eddie and I mirrored each other, both of us straightening to hardened attention, hands going for our stakes. Wed ordered lunch an hour ago, but room service had long since come and gone. It was too early for Robert, and besides, he didnt know the name our room was under. There was no nausea, though. No Strigoi at our door. I met Eddies gaze, silent messages passing between us on what to do.But it was Lissa who acted first, rising from he r chair and taking a few steps across the room. Its Adrian.What? I exclaimed. Are you sure?She nodded. Spirit users usually only saw auras, but they could sense each other if they were close enoughjust as she had at the prison. Still, none of us moved. She gave me a dry look.He knows Im here, she pointed out. He can feel me too.I sighed, still keeping my hand on my stake, and strode to the door. I squinted through the peephole. Standing there, his feel amused and restless, was Adrian. I could see no one else, and with no indication of Strigoi to be set up, I finally receptive the door. His face lit with joy when he saw me. slant in, he gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before stepping into the room.You guys didnt really think you could go off on a party weekend without me, did you? Especially here of all placesHe froze, and it was one of those rarefied moments when Adrian Ivashkov was caught totally and completely off guard.Did you know, he said slowly, that Victor Dashkov is academic term on your bed?Yeah, I said. It was kind of a shock to us too.Adrian dragged his gaze from Victor and glanced around the room, noticing Eddie for the first time. Eddie had been standing so still that he practically seemed like part of the furniture. Adrian turned to me.What the hell is going on? Everyone is out looking for himLissas words spoke to me through my bond. You might as well tell him. You know he wont leave now.She was right. I didnt know how Adrian had embed us, but now that he had, there was no way hed go. I glanced hesitantly at Eddie, who guessed my thoughts.Well be fine, he said. Go talk. I wont let anything happen.And Im strong enough again that I can compel him if he tries anything, Lissa added.I sighed. Okay. Well be right back.I took Adrians arm and led him outside. As soon as we were in the hallway, he started in again. Rose, whatsI shook my head. In our time here, Id heard enough noise from other hotel guests in the hall to know that my friends would hear our conversation if we talked out there. Instead, Adrian and I took the elevator and headed downstairs, where the noise of the casino would mask our words. We base a slightly out-of-the-way corner, and Adrian practically pushed me against the wall, his expression dark. His light attitude blotto me sometimes, but I preferred it to when he was upset, largely because I feared spirit would add an unstable edge.You leave me a note saying youre sneak off for one last party weekend, and instead I find you holed up with one of the most notorious criminals ever? When I left Court, thats all everyone was talking about Didnt that guy try to kill you?I answered his question with a question. How did you even find us?The credit card, he said. I was waiting for you to use it.My eyeball widened. You promised me when I got all those that you wouldnt go snooping Since my accounts and cards had come with his help, Id known he had access to the records but had believed him when hed said hed re spect my privacy.When you were in Russia, I kept that promise. This is different. I kept checking and checking with the company, and as soon as the activity with the charter plane showed up, I called and found out where you were going. Adrians arrival here so soon after ours wasnt that unlikely if he had been monitoring the card. Once hed had the nurture he needed, he could have easily booked a flight. A nonstop commercial jet would have made up the time on our slower, multistop trip. There was no way I could resist Vegas, he continued. So I thought Id surprise you and show up to join in the fun. Id used my card for the room, I realized, again tipping off our location. No one else was linked to my or Lissas cards, but the ease with which hed tracked us made me nervous.You shouldnt have done that, I growled. We might be together, but there are boundaries youve got to respect. This is none of your business.Its not like I was reading your diary I just wanted to find my girlfriend and It was a sign of Adrians distress that his mind was only now beginning to backtrack and put pieces together. Oh lord. Rose, please tell me you guys arent the ones who busted him out? Theyre all looking for two human girls and a dhampir guy. The descriptions dont match at all He groaned. But it was you, wasnt it? Somehow, you broke into a maximum-security prison. With Eddie.Must not have been all that secure, I remarked lightly.Rose This guy has fucked with both of your lives. Why would you free him?Because I hesitated. How could I explain this to Adrian? How could I explain that which, by all evidence in our world, was impossible? And how could I explain what goal in particular was driving this? Victor has information we need. Or, well, he has access to someone we need. This was the only way we could get it.What on earth could he possibly know to make you do all this?I swallowed. I walked into prisons and nests of Strigoi, but saying what I did next to Adrian filled me with apprehe nsion. Because there might be a way to save Strigoi. To turn them back to the way they were. And Victor Victor knows someone who might have done this.Adrian stared at me for several long seconds, and even in the midst of the casinos movement and noise, it was like the world grew still and silent.Rose, thats impossible.It might not be.If there was a way to do that, we would know.It involves spirit users. And we only just found out about them.That doesnt mean itsoh. I see. His deep green eyes flashed, and this time, they were angry. Its him, isnt it? This is your last crazy attempt to get to him. To Dimitri.Not just him, I said vaguely. It could save all Strigoi.I thought this was over Adrian exclaimed. His voice was loud enough that a few people at nearby slot machines glanced over. You told me it was over. You told me you could move on and be with me.I meant it, I said, surprised at the desperate note in my voice. Its something we only just found out about. We had to try.And what th en? What if this stupid fantasy works? You free Dimitri in some miraculous act, and you drop me like that. He snapped his fingers.I dont know, I said wearily. Were just taking this one step at a time. I love being with you. Really. But I cant ignore this.Of course you cant. He turned his eyes heavenward. Dreams, dreams. I walk them I live them. I delude myself with them. Its a wonder I can spot reality anymore. The weird sound of his voice made me nervous. I could neck one of his slightly crazy, spirit-induced lapses. Then, he turned from me with a sigh. I need a drink.Whatever pity Id felt for him turned to anger. Oh, good. Thatll fix everything. Im merry in a world gone mad, youve still got your old standbys.I flinched at his glare. He didnt do it very often, and when he did, it was a sizeable thing. What do you expect me to do? he asked.You could you could Oh God. Well, now that youre here, you could help us. Plus, this guy were meeting. Hes another spirit user.Adrian didnt be tray his thoughts, but I had a feeling that I had piqued his interest. Yeah, thats exactly what I want. To help my girlfriend get her old boyfriend back. He turned away again, and I heard him mutter, I need two drinks.Four thirty, I called after him. Were meeting at four thirty.There was no response, and Adrian melted into the crowd.I returned to the room in a dark cloud that had to be obvious to everyone. Lissa and Eddie were smart enough not to ask questions, but Victor, of course, had no such reserves.What? Mr. Ivashkov isnt joining us? Id so been looking forward to his company.Shut up, I said, crossing my arms and leaning against the wall near Eddie. Dont speak unless youre spoken to.The next couple hours dragged by. I was convinced that any minute, Adrian would come back and reluctantly agree to help us. We could use his compulsion if things went bad, even though he couldnt match Lissa. Surely surely he loved me enough to come to my aid? He wouldnt abandon me? Youre an idiot, R ose. It was my own voice that chastised me in my head, not Lissas. Youve given(p) him no reason to help. You just hurt him again and again. Just like you did Mason.When four fifteen came around, Eddie looked over at me. Should we stake out a table?Yeah. I was restless and upset. I didnt want to stay in this room any longer, trapped with dark feelings that wouldnt go away. Victor lift from the bed, stretching as though getting up from a relaxing nap. Still, I could have sworn there was an eager glint occult in the depths of his eyes. By all accounts, he and his half-brother were close, though Id seen no indication that Victor displayed love or loyalty to anyone. Who knew? Maybe somewhere there was true affection for Robert.We formed a sort of protective configuration with me in the front, Eddie in the back, and the two Moroi between us. I opened the rooms door and came face-to-face with Adrian. His hand was raised as though hed been about to knock. He arched an eyebrow.Oh, hey, h e said. He had the standard laid-back Adrian expression on his face, though his voice was a bit strained. I knew he wasnt happy about any of this. I could see it in the penny-pinching set of his jaw and agitation in his eyes. Nonetheless, he was putting on a good front for the others, for which I was grateful. Most importantly, hed come back. That was what mattered, and I could ignore the scent of alcohol and smoke wreathing him. So I hear theres some party going on. Mind if I join you?I gave him a weak, grateful smile. Come on.Our group now up to five, we headed down the hall toward the elevator. I was cleaning up at poker, you know, Adrian added. So this better be good.I dont know if itll be good, I mused. The elevator doors opened. But I think itll be memorable.We stepped inside, off to see Robert Doru. And what might be Dimitris only salvation.