Last Sacrifice Chapter Twenty-three

THE FEW SECONDS OF SILENCE that followed seemed to stretch appear to eternity. Everyone was confused, each for tot all toldy different reasons. Jills initial surprise had been laced with excitement, scarcely as she st bed around from face to face, her smile faded and faded until she looked as bewildered as the rest of us.Whats going on? asked a new phonate. Moments later, Emily Mastrano appeared beside her daughter. Emily glanced at me and Sydney with curiosity and then gasped when she saw the third member of our group. Sonya Emily jerked Jill back, her face filled with panic. Emily wasnt keep backian-fast, only I admired her responsiveness.Emily ? Sonyas voice was very small, on the verge of cracking. It its me truly me Emily tried to tug the man inside as headspring n constantlytheless stopped when she got a good look at Sonya. Like anyone else, Emily had to ac receiveledge the obvious. Sonya had no Strigoi features. Plus, she was out in broad daylight. Emily faltered an d opened her mouth to speak, hardly her lips couldnt quite manage it. She finally glowering to me.Rose whats going on?I was affect that she would regard me as an authority, some(prenominal) because wed only met once and because I honestly wasnt reliable what was going on either. It took me a few attempts to set my voice. I appreciate I remember we should come inside Emilys gaze fell back on Sonya. Jill tried to push forward to see what all the drama was roughly, but Emily continued blocking the door, still not totally convinced it was safe. I couldnt blame her. At last, she gave a slow nod and stepped away to give us access.Sydneys look flicked toward the car, w here(predicate) Victor, Robert, and Dimitri were waiting. What virtually them? she asked me.I hesitated. I wanted Dimitri to be with me to drop the bombshell, but Emily might only be able to lotle one matter at a clipping here. Moroi didnt move over to run in royal circles to know who Victor Dashkov was or w hat he looked like. Our trip to Las Vegas had been proof of that. I move my head at Sydney. They can wait.We settled into the familys living room and receiveed the guy whod answered the door was Emilys husband, John Mastrano. Emily went through the motions of move outering us beverages, like this was a perfectly ordinary visit, but the look on her face confirmed she was still in bruise. She handed us glasses of water like a robot, her face so pale she might throw off been Strigoi.John rested his hand on Emilys once she sat down. He kept giving us wary looks, but for her, he was all affection and concern. Whats going on? Emilys eyes were still dazed. I dont know. My cousin is here but I dont disc all over how She looked back and forth at me, Sydney, and Sonya. How is this possible? Her voice shook.It was Lissa, wasnt it? exclaimed Jill, who undoubtedly knew this relatives sordid history. She was understandably shockedand a little nervousbut excitement was number 1 to stir. I heard what happened with Dimitri. Its true, isnt it? Lissa can heal Strigoi. She save him. She saved Jill turned toward Sonya, enthusiasm wavering a little. I wondered what kind of stories shed heard rough Sonya. She saved you.Lissa didnt do it, I verbalize. Another, uh, spirit user did.Jills face lit up. Adrian? Id forgotten closely her crush on him.No manyone else. Its not important, I added hastily. Sonyas well, shes Moroi again. Confused, though. not quite herself.Sonya had been drinking in the sight of her cousin but now turned to me with a wry, knowing smile. I can speak for myself, Rose.Sorry, I said.Emily turned to Sydney and frowned. Theyd been introduced, but no more. Why are you here? Emily didnt have to say what she really meant. She wanted to know why a human was here. Are you a feeder?No exclaimed Sydney, jumping up from her spot beside me on the loveseat. I had never seen her filled with such outrage and disgust. Say that again, and Ill walk veritable(a) o ut out of here Im an Alchemist.She was met with blank stares, and I pulled Sydney back down. Easy, girl. I dont cipher they dont know what Alchemists are. Secretly, I was glad. When Id first discovered the Alchemists, Id tangle like I was the last soul in the world to find out. It was nice to know others were out of the loop too. Keeping things simple for now, I explained to Emily, Sydneys been helping us.Tears brimmed in Emilys blue eyes as she turned back to her cousin. Emily Mastrano was one of the most stunning women Id ever met. Even tears were beautiful on her. Its really you, isnt it? They brought you back to me. Oh God. Emily rose and walked over to hold her cousin in a deep embrace. Ive missed you so much. I cant believe this.I almost entangle like crying, too, but severely reminded myself that we had come with a mission. I knew how startling this all was. We had just turned the Mastrano familys world upside down and I was about to complicate things even more. I hated to do it. I wished they could have the time they needed to adjust, to celebrate the miracle of having Sonya back. But the clock at tapand on my life storywas ticking.We brought her I said at last. But theres another reason were here.I dont know what tone my voice conveyed, but Emily stiffened and stepped back from Sonya, sitting down beside her husband. Somehow, in that moment, I think she knew why we were here. I could see in her eyes that she was afraidas if shed been dreading this type of visit for years, as if shed imagined it a hundred times.I pushed forward. We know we know about Eric Dragomir.No, said Emily, her voice an odd mixture of harshness and desperateness. Her obstinate manner was remarkably similar to Sonyas initial refusal to aid us. No. We are not doing this. The instant Id seen Jill, the instant Id recognized those eyes, Id known we had the aright place. Emilys wordsmore importantly, her lack of a denialconfirmed it.We have to, I said. This is serious.Emily turned to Sonya. You promised You promised you wouldnt describeI didnt, said Sonya, but her face wore its earlier doubt.She didnt, I said firmly, hoping to reassure them both. Its hard to explain but she kept her promise.No, repeated Emily. This isnt happening. We cannot talk about this.What whats going on? demanded John. Anger kindled in his eyes. He didnt like seeing strangers upset his wife.I directed my words to Emily. We have to talk about this. Please. We need your help. We need her help. I gestured to Jill.What do you mean? asked Jill. That earlier eager spark was gone, cooled by her mothers reaction.Its about your I came to a stop. Id rushed into this, ready to find Lissas sibling her sister, we now knewwith little thought of the implications. I should have known this would be a secret from everyoneincluding the child in question. I hadnt considered what a shock this would be to her. And this wasnt just some random stranger. This was Jill. Jill. My friend. The girl who wa s like a little sister to all of us, the one we looked out for. What was I about to do to her? Looking at John, I realized things were worse still. Did Jill think he was her father? This family was about to be shaken to its core and I was responsible.Dont cried Emily, jumping up again. Get out All of you I dont want you hereMrs. Mastrano I began. You cant pretend this isnt real. You have to face it.No she pointed to the door. Get out Get out, or Ill Ill call the police Or the guardians You Realization flashed over her now that the initial shock of seeing Sonya had faded. Victor wasnt the only criminal Moroi would be on guard for. Youre a fugitive A murdererShe is not said Jill, leaning forward. I told you, Mom. I told you before it was a mistakeGet out, repeated Emily.send us away wont change the truth, I said, forcing myself to stay calm.Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on? Johns face was flushed red, angry and defensive. If I dont have an answer within thirty seconds, Im calling the guardians and the police.I looked over at Jill and couldnt speak. I didnt know how to say what I needed to, at least not tact wide of the marky. Sydney, however, didnt have that problem.Hes not your father, she said bluntly, pointing at John.There was a slight pause in the room. Jill almost looked disappointed, like shed hoped for more enkindle news.I know that. Hes my stepdad. Or, well, my dad as far as Im concerned.Emily sank back on the couch, burying her face in her hands. She seemed to be crying, but I was fairly sure she could jump up at any moment and call the authorities. We had to get through this fast, no matter how painful. Right. Hes not your biological father, I said, feel steadily at Jill. The eyes. How had I never noticed the eyes? Eric Dragomir is.Emily made a low keening sound. No, she begged. Please dont do this.Johns anger morphed back to the confusion that seemed to be so in fashion in this room. What?That no. Jill slowly shook her he ad. Thats impossible. My father was just just some guy who ran out on us.In some ways, that wasnt far from the truth, I supposed. It was Eric Dragomir, I said. Youre place of their family. Lissas sister. Youre I startled myself, realizing I had to look at Jill in a whole new way. Youre royal house.Jill was always full of energy and optimism, operating in the world with a naive hope and charm. But now her face was grim and sober, making her look older than her cardinal years. No. This is a pasquinade. My dad was a lowlife. Im not no. Rose, stop. Emily. I flinched at the sound of Sonyas voice, surprised to hear her speak. I was more surprised at her expression. Authoritative. Serious. Determined. Sonya was younger than Emily bywhat? Ten years, if I had to guess. But Sonya had fixed her cousin with a stare that made Emily look like a naughty child. Emily, its time to give this up. You have to tell her. For Gods sake, you have to tell John. You cant keep this buried anymore.Emily looked up and met Sonyas eyes. I cant tell. You know what will happen I cant do that to her.none of us know what will happen, said Sonya. But things will get worse if you dont take control now.After a long moment, Emily finally looked away, complete(a) at the floor. The sad, sad look on her face broke my heart. And not just mine.Mom? asked Jill, voice trembling. Whats happening? This is all a big mix-up, right?Emily sighed and looked up at her daughter. No. You are Eric Dragomirs daughter. Rose is right. John made a small, strangled sound but didnt interrupt his wife. She squeezed his hand again. What I told you both over the years it was true. Mostly. We did just have a brief relationship. Not a cheap one, exactly. But brief. She paused and glanced over at John this time, her expression softening. I told you He nodded. And I told you the past didnt matter to me. Never affected how I felt about you, about Jill. But I never imagined Me neither, she agreed. I didnt even know who he was when we first met. It was back when I lived in Las Vegas and had my first job, dancing in a show at the Witching Hour.I felt my eyes go wide. No one seemed to notice. The Witching Hour. My friends and I had been to that casino while hunting for Robert, and a man there had made a joke about Lissas father being interested in showgirls. I knew Emily worked in a Detroit ballet company now it was why they lived in Michigan. Never would I have guessed that shed started as a feather-and-sequin-clad dancer in a Las Vegas show. But why not? She would have had to start somewhere, and her tall, graceful frame would lend itself well to any type of dancing.He was so sweet and so sad, Emily continued. His father had just died, and hed come to sort of drown his sorrows. I understood how a remnant would devastate him, but now well, I really understand. It was another loss to his family. The numbers were dropping. She frowned thoughtfully and then shrugged. He was a good man, and I think h e truly loved his wife. But he was in a dark, low place. I dont think he was using me. He cared about me, though I doubt what happened between us would have in other circumstances. Anyway, I was fine with the way things ended and was content to move on with my life until Jill came along. I contacted Eric because I thought he should knowthough I made it clear I didnt expect anything from him. And at that point, knowing who he was, I didnt want anything. If Id let him, I think he would have acknowledged you, had a role in your life. Emilys eyes were on Jill now. But Ive seen what that world is like. apostrophize life is politics and lies and backstabbing. In the end, the only thing Id accept from him was money. I still didnt want that. I didnt want to feel like I was blackmailing himbut I did want to make sure your future was secure.I spoke without thinking. You dont really live like youre using that money. I regretted the words as in short as they were out. Their home was perfectly nice, hardly the depths of poverty. But it also didnt match the funds Id seen moved around in those bank accounts.Im not, said Emily. Its on hand for emergencies, of course, but mostly I set it all aside for Jill, for her future. To do whatever she wants.What do you mean? asked Jill, aghast. What kind of money are you talking about?Youre an heiress, I said. And royalty.Im not any of those things, she said. She was frantic now, looking around at all of us. She reminded me of a deer, ready to bolt. Theres a mistake. Youve all made some mistake.Emily stood up and walked over to Jills chair, kneeling on the floor before it. Emily clasped her daughters hand. It is all true. And Im sorry you have to find out like this. But it doesnt change anything. Our lives arent going to change. Well go on just like we have before.A range of emotions raced over Jills featuresespecially fear and confusionbut she leaned down and buried her face against her mothers articulatio humeri in acceptance. Okay. It was a touching moment, and again, I almost felt like crying. Id had my own share of family drama and parental issues. Like before, I wanted the Mastranos to have this momentbut they couldnt.You cant, I told them. You cant go on like before. Jill Jill has to go to Court.Emily jerked away from Jill and stared at me. Only a second ago, Emily had been full of grief and distress. Now, I saw intense anger and ferocity. Her blue eyes were stormy, fixing me with a lemonlike glare. No. She is not going there. She is never going there.Jill had already visited Court before, but both Emily and I knew that I wasnt referring to some casual sightseeing trip. Jill had to go with her true identity. Well maybe true wasnt the right word. Illicit royalty wasnt part of her nature, at least not yet. She was who shed always been, but her name had changed. That change had to be acknowledged, and the Moroi Court would be shaken.She has to, I urged. The Courts getting corrupted, and the Dragomir family has to play its part to help fix things. Lissa has no power alone, not without a family quorum. All the other royals theyre trampling her. Theyre going to push laws that wont help any of us.Emily still knelt by the chair, as though shielding Jill from my words. And thats exactly why Jill cant go. Its why I wouldnt let Eric acknowledge her. I dont want Jill involved. That place is poison. Tatianas murder is proof. Emily paused and gave me a sharp look, reminding me that I was the chief suspect. Apparently we werent past that yet. All those royals theyre vicious. I dont want Jill turning into one of them. I wont let her turn into one of them.Not all royals are like that, I argued. Lissas not. Shes trying to change the system.Emily gave me a bitter smile. And how do you think the others feel about her reform? Im sure there are royals who are happy to see her silencedroyals who wouldnt like to see her family reemerge. I told you Eric was a good man. Sometimes I dont think its a coinci dence their family has died out.I gaped. Thats ridiculous. But I suddenly wasnt so sure.Is it? Emilys eyes were on me, as though guessing my doubts. What do you think theyd do if another Dragomir came forward? The tidy sum who oppose Vasilisa? What do you think theyd do if only one person stood between them and her familys power?Her implications were shocking yet, I knew they werent impossible. Glancing over at Jill, I felt an empty, sinking feeling in my stomach. What would I be subjecting her to? Sweet, innocent Jill. Jill wanted adventure out of life and could still barely talk to guys without blushing. Her desire to learn to fight was half-youthful impulse and half-instinct to defend her plenty. Stepping into the royal world could technically help her people toothough not in a way shed ever expected. And it would mean getting involved with the dark and sinister nature that sometimes filled the Court.Emily seemed to read my silence as agreement. A mix of triumph and relaxati on crossed her face, all of which vanished when Jill suddenly spoke up.Ill do it.We all turned to stare. Thus far, Id been regarding her with pity, thinking of her as a victim. Now, I was startled at how intrepid and resolved she looked. Her expression was still underscored with a little fear and shock, but there was a steel in her Id never seen before.What? exclaimed Emily.Ill do it, said Jill, voice steadier. Ill help Lissa and and the Dragomirs. Ill go with Rose back to Court.I decided mentioning the myriad difficulties of me getting anywhere near Court wasnt important just then. Honestly, I had reached a point where I was playing all of this by ear, though it was a relief to see Emilys fury shifted away from me.You will not Im not permit you near there.You cant make this choice for me cried Jill. Im not a child.And youre certainly not an adult, retorted Emily.The two began arguing back and forth, and soon John jumped in to support his wife. In the midst of the family bickerin g, Sydney leaned toward me and murmured, I bet you never thought the hardest part of finding your savior would be getting her mom to let her stay out past curfew. The unfortunate part about her joke was that it was kind of true. We needed Jill, and I certainly hadnt envisioned this complication. What if Emily refused? Clearly, keeping Jills heritage a secret was something shed been pretty adamant about for a while say, like, fifteen years. I had a feeling Jill wouldnt be beyond running away to Court if it came down to that. And I wouldnt be beyond helping her.Once more, Sonya jumped into the conversation unexpectedly. Emily, didnt you hear me? This is all going to happen eventually, with or without your consent. If you dont let Jill go now, shell go next week. Or next year. Or in five years. The point is, it will happen.Emily sank back against the chair, face crumpling. No. I dont want this.Sonyas pretty face turned bitter. Life, unfortunately, doesnt seem to care what we want. op erate now while you can actually stop it from being a disaster.Please, Mom, begged Jill. Her jade Dragomir eyes regarded Emily with affection. I knew Jill might indeed disobey and run offbut she didnt want to, not if she didnt have to.Emily stared into the distance, long-lashed eyes vacant and defeated. And although she was standing in the way of my plans, I knew she did it out of legitimate love and concerntraits that had credibly drawn Eric to her.Okay, said Emily at last. She sighed. Jill can gobut Im going too. You arent facing that place without me.Or me, said John. He still seemed bewildered but was determined to support his wife and stepdaughter. Jill regarded them both with gratitude, reminding me again that Id just turned a functional family dysfunctional. Emily and John coming with us hadnt been part of my plans, but I couldnt blame them and didnt see what harm theyd cause. Wed need Emily anyway to tell everyone about Eric.Thank you, I said. Thank you so much.John eyed me. We still havent dealt with the situation that theres a fugitive in our home.Rose didnt do it That fierceness was still in Jill. It was a setup.It was. I hesitated to speak my next words. Probably by the people opposing Lissa.Emily paled, but I felt the need for honesty, even if it reaffirmed her fears. She took a steadying breath. I believe you. Believe that you didnt do it. I dont know why but I do. She almost smiled. No, I do know why. Its because of what I said before, about those vipers at Court. Theyre the ones who do this kind of thing. Not you.Are you sure? asked John uneasily. This mess with Jill is bad enough without us housing a criminal.Im certain, said Emily. Sonya and Jill trust Rose, and so I do. Youre all welcome to stay here tonight since we can hardly head out to Court right now.I opened my mouth to say we most certainly could leave right now, but Sydney elbowed me sharply. Thank you, Mrs. Mastrano, she said, summoning up that Alchemist diplomacy. That would be g reat.I repressed a scowl. Time was still pressing on me, but I knew the Mastranos were entitle to make some preparations. It was probably better to travel in the daytime too. A rough check of my mental map made me think we could do the whole drive back to Court in one day. I nodded in agreement with Sydney, resigning myself to a sleepover at the Mastrano house. Thanks. We appreciate it. Suddenly, something occurred to me, summoning back Johns words. This mess with Jill is bad enough without us housing a criminal. I gave Emily as convincing and reassuring a smile as I could muster. We, um, also have some friends with us waiting out in the car