Shadow Kiss Chapter 27

Twenty-sevenNONE OF THE OTHERS appeared to meet spy our absence. More fend forians, as promised, had shown up, and we now had roughly fifty. It was a verit adapted army, and only(prenominal)placemuch as with the Strigoi, the numbers were unprecedented, a locating from old European legends of great big battles between our races. We had more guardians on campus, and some had to stay hind end to protect the school. A lot of my classmates had been drafted for that duty, precisely about decennary or so (including me) were accompanying the new(prenominal)s to the countermine.An hour before departure, we met again to go over the plan. There was a large chamber border on the far expression of the cave, and it made the most sense for the Strigoi to be there so they could creative speak outer out right away once night came. We were breathing out to flack from both ends. Fifteen guardians would go in from each side, accompanied by triple Moroi each. Ten guardians would remain at each intrigue to cumber back any escaping Strigoi. I was assigned to watch the entrance on the far side. Dimitri and my mformer(a) were part of the groups actually release inside. I wished desperately that I could cause been with them, further I knew I was lucky to be along at all. And on a mission homogeneous this, every job was important.Our little army set out, moving at a brisk pace to cover the tail fin miles. We figured that it would take a little over an hour, and there would soundless be enough twenty-four hour period for the competitiveness and return trip. No Strigoi would be stati unmatchabled outside on guard duty, so we could reach the caves undetected. Once our pot were inside, however, it was almost a given that the Strigois superior hearing would immediately alert them to the attack.There was little converse as we approached. No unmatchable matt-up analogous chatting, and most rag was of a logistical nature. I walked with the novices, and every once in a while, Id glance over and meet Dimitris eyeball. I felt like there was an invisible bond between us now, so thick(p) and intense that it was a wonder everyone couldnt see it. His face was battle-serious, alone I motto the smile in his eye.Our group split when we reached the adjoiningst entrance to the cave. Dimitri and my breed were personnel casualty in here, and as I gave them one operate glance, my odourings had little to do with my earlier romantic interlude. Everything I felt was touch on, worry Id never see them again. I had to remind myself that they were tough both of the scoop out guardians out there. If anyone would come out of this, it was them. I was the one who involve to be careful, and as we walked the half-mile more or less the mountains base, I carefully placed my emotions in a small compartment in the back of my mind. Theyd arouse to stay there until this was over. I was in battle mode now and couldnt let my feelings distract me.Whe n we were almost to our entrance, I caught a silvery flash out of the corner of my eye. Id been keeping the assorted ghostly images that lived outside of the wards away, but this was one I valued to see. Glancing over, I axiom mason. He s as well asd there, saying nothing, wearing his perpetually wretched expression. He still seemed unusually pale to me. As our group passed by, he held up one hand, as a farewell or benediction, I didnt be.At the caves entrance, our group split up. Alberta and Stan were leading the group in. They s alsod poised at the entrance, time lag for the exact time theyd agreed upon with the other group. Ms. Carmack, my magic teacher, was among the Moroi going in with them. She looked nervous but determined.The moment came, and the adults disappeared. The rest of us stood there, line up in a ring around the cave. Gray clouds hung in the sky. The cheerfulness white had begun its descent, but we still had awhile.This is going to be easy, murmured Mered ith, one of three other girls in the senior class. She spoke uncertainly, more to herself than to me, I think. A slam dunk. Theyll take out the Strigoi before any of them realize it. We wont have to do anything.I hoped she was right. I was ready to fight, but if I didnt have to, itd mean everything had gone as planned.We waited. There was nothing else to do. Every split second felt like an eternity. therefore we heard it the sounds of fighting. Muffled cries and grunts. A a few(prenominal) screams. All of us tensed, bodies so rigid we nearly snapped. Emil was our draw on this, and he stood closest to entrance, stake in hand and sweat forming on his brow as he peered into the darkness, ready for any sign of a Strigoi.A few minutes into it, we heard the sound of footsteps running toward us. Our lay on the line were ready. Emil and another guardian drew closer to the entrance, ready to jump in and kill the take to the woodsing Strigoi. plainly it wasnt a Strigoi who came out. It was Abby Badica. She was scraped up and dirty, but otherwise, she was alive. Her face was emotional and streaked with tears. At first, she screamed when she cut all of us. Then she realized who we were and collapsed into the arms of the first person she could tucker to Meredith.Meredith looked surprised, but she gave Abby a hug of reassurance. Its okay, Meredith utter. Everythings okay. Youre in the sun.Gently, Meredith unwrapped Abby and led her to a nearby tree. Abby sat at its base, hide her face in her hands. Meredith returned to her impersonate. I wanted to comfort Abby. I think we all did, but it would have to wait.A minute later, another Moroi came out. It was Mr. Ellsworth, the teacher Id had in fifth grade. He too looked worn, and his do showed puncture marks. The Strigoi had utilise him for feeding but hadnt killed him yet. Nonetheless, despite what horrors he must have faced, Mr. Ellsworth was calm, his eyes alert and watchful. He recognized the situation and im mediately stepped out of our circle.Whats going on in there? asked Emil, his eyes on the cave. Some of the guardians had earpieces, but I imagined in the midst of battle, it was hard to report back.Its a mess, say Mr. Ellsworth. tho were acquiring away in both directions. Its hard to come apart whos fighting who, but the Strigoi are distracted. And somebody He frowned. I cut someone using fire on the Strigoi.None of us answered. It was too complex to ride crop up into right now. He seemed to realize that and withdrew to sit near a still-sobbing Abby.Two more Moroi and a dhampir I didnt know before long joined Abby and Mr. Ellsworth. Each time someone came out, I prayed that it would be Eddie. We had five victims so far, and I had to assume that others were escaping at the entrance closest to the school.several(prenominal) minutes passed, though, and no one else came out. My shirt was drenched, soaked through and through with(predicate) with sweat. I had to shift my hold on the stake every once in a while. My grip was so tight that my fingers were locking up. Suddenly, I saw Emil flinch. I realized he was getting a gist through his earpiece. His face showed intense concentration, and then he murmured something back. Looking up at us, he pointed at three novices.You take them back to the school. He gestured at the refugees, and then turned toward three of the adult guardians. Go in. Most of the prisoners have gotten out, but our people are trapped. Theres a stalemate. The guardians moved in without hesitation, and a few moments later, the novices and their charges took make.That left four of us, two adults Emil and Stephen and two novices, me and Shane. The tension around us was so thick, we could barely breathe. No one else was coming out. No more reports were being made. Emil glanced up and looked alarmed. I followed his gaze. More time had passed than I realized. The sun was significantly lower. Emil suddenly flinched again as another message c ame through.He looked at all of us, his face devild. We need more in there to cover the tend on the other end. It doesnt sound like weve lost many. Theyre just still having trouble with the retreat.Many, hed said. non any. That meant wed lost at least one person. I felt cold all over.Stephen, you go in, said Emil. He hesitated, and I could read his dilemma like a book. He wanted to go in too, but as the leader for this side, he was supposed to stay stationed here until the last possible moment. He was on the verge of disobeying those orders, I realized. He was considering going in with Stephen and going Shane and me out here. Yet, at the same time, he couldnt bring himself to leave two novices here alone, should something unexpected happen. Emil exhaled, and he looked us over. Rose, go with him.I didnt fade a moment. existing Stephen, I slipped into the cave, and immediately, that nauseous feeling rolled over me. It had been cold outside, but it was colder still as we moved de eper. It was also darker. Our eyes could handle a fair amount of it, but it soon became too much. He flipped on a small light attached to his jacket.I wish I could tell you what to do, but I dont know what well find, he told me. Be ready for anything.The darkness in front of us began to fade. The sounds grew louder. We picked up the pace, glancing in all directions. Suddenly, we found ourselves in the large chamber shown on the map. A fire burned in one corner one the Strigoi had made, not anything magical that was providing the light. Looking around, I immediately saw what had happened. fate of the wall had fallen in, creating a pile of stones. No one had been grim under it, but it had almost entirely blocked the opening to the other side of the cave. I didnt know if magic had caused it, or if the fighting had. perchance it had been a coincidence. Whatever the reason, seven guardians including Dimitri and Alberta were trapped now by ten Strigoi. No Moroi fire users had been c aught on this side, but the flashes of light coming through the opening in the cave-in showed me that they were still fighting on the other side. I saw bodies lying on the floor. Two were Strigoi, but I couldnt bring about out the others.The problem was obvious. Getting through the opening would require someone practically crawling. It would put the person in a vulnerable position. This meant these Strigoi needed to be taken out before the guardians could make their escape. Stephen and I were going to help even the odds. We came up from seat the Strigoi, but three of them feel us somehow and turned toward us. Two jumped Stephen, and the other came at me.Instantly, I kicked into battle mode. All the rage and frustration poured out through me. The cave made for close fighting quarters, but I was still able to evade him. In fact, the close space was to my advantage because the Strigoi, with his larger size, had trouble ducking and dodging. I stayed out of his reach mostly, though he did collar hold of me long enough to slam me against the wall. I didnt even feel it. I just kept moving, going on the offensive. I eluded his neighboring attack, got in some blows of my own, and, with my small size, managed to slip big money and stake him before his next hit. I pulled out the blade in one down motion and went to help Stephen. Hed taken out one of his attackers, and between us, we holy the last one.That left seven Strigoi now. No, six. The trapped guardians who were having difficulty in their pinned position had killed another. Stephen and I jerked the Strigoi closest to us out of the circle. He was a real one very old, very powerful and even with the two of us, he was hard to take down. At last, we did. With the Strigoi numbers reduced, the other guardians were having an easier time getting to the rest. They started freeing themselves from their trapped position, and their numbers alone were now an aid.When the Strigoi count was down to two, Alberta yell ed at us to start escaping. Our alignment in the populate had changed. We were now the ones surrounding the last two Strigoi. This left the path take for three of the guardians to escape via the way Id come in. Stephen, meanwhile, crawled through the hole to the other side. Dimitri staked one of the two Strigoi. ane left. Stephen stuck his head back in and shouted something to Alberta that I couldnt quite make out. She yelled something back without looking at him. She, Dimitri, and two others were closing in on the last Strigoi. Rose, yelled Stephen, beckoning.Follow orders. Thats what we did. I left the fray, scrambling through the hole more easily than he had, thanks to my smaller size. Another guardian immediately followed after me. No one was on this side of cave-in. The fight had either ended or moved on. Bodies showed that things had been intense, however. I saw more Strigoi, as well as a familiar face Yuri. I hastily looked away toward Stephen, who was support another gu ardian through. Alberta came next.Theyre drained, she called. It sounds like there are a few more blocking the retreat down here. Lets finish this before the sun comes up.Dimitri came last of all through the gap. He and I exchanged brief, alleviated glances, and then we were on the move. This was the long part of the tunnel, and we hurried down it, enthusiastic to get our remaining people out. At first, we encountered nothing, and then flashes of light indicated a fight up ahead. Ms. Carmack and my produce were fighting three Strigoi. My group unopen in, and in seconds, the Strigoi were down.Thats it for this group, my mother gasped out. I was grateful to see her alive too. But I think there are more here than we thought. I think they left some behind when they went to attack the school. The rest of our people that survived have already made it out.There are other branches in the cave, said Alberta. Strigoi could be hiding in there.My mother agreed. They could be. Some know th eyre overwhelmed and are just going to wait us out and escape later. Others may come after us.What do we do? asked Stephen. Finish them off? Or retreat?We turned to Alberta. She made a quick decision. We retreat. We got as many as we could, and the sun is dropping. We need to get back behind the wards.We took off, so close to victory, fueled by the disappearing light. Dimitri was beside me as we moved. Did Eddie get out? I hadnt seen his body, but I hadnt been paying much financial aid either.Yes, said Dimitri, breathing ragged. God only knew how many Strigoi hed fought today. We had to practically effectiveness him out. He wanted to fight. That sounded like Eddie.I remember this curve, my mother said as we move a corner. Its not much farther. We should see light soon. Thus far, we were only guided by the jacket lights.I felt the nausea only a split second before they attacked. At a T intersection, seven Strigoi jumped us. Theyd let the earlier party escape, but theyd been lying in wait for us, three on one side and four on the other. One guardian, Alan, never saw it coming. A Strigoi grabbed him and snapped Alans neck so quickly that it looked effortless. It probably was. It was such a mirror to what had happened to Mason that I nearly came to a standstill. Instead, I doubled back, ready to get into the fray.But we were in a narrow part of the tunnel, and not all of us could get through to the Strigoi. I was stuck in the back. Ms. Carmack was beside me, and she had enough visibility to light up a braces of the Strigoi, making it easier for those guardians in the fight to stake them.Alberta caught a glimpse of me and a couple other guardians. scrawl retreating she yelled.None of us wanted to leave, but there wasnt much we could do. I saw one guardian fall, and my heart lurched. I hadnt known him, but it didnt matter. In seconds my mother was on the Strigoi attacker, driving her stake through his heart.Then I lost sight of the fight as I rounded another co rner with the three guardians with me. Farther down the corridor, I saw faint purplish light. The exit. Faces of other guardians peered in at us. Wed made it. But where were the others?We ran to the exit, emerging into the air. My group clustered by the opening, anxious to see what had happened. The sun, I was dismayed to see, was nearly gone. The nausea hadnt left me, which meant Strigoi were still alive.Moments later, my mothers party came lachrymation down the hall. By the numbers, one more had gone down. But they were so close. Everyone around me tensed up. So close. So, so close.But not close enough. Three Strigoi lay in wait in one of the alcoves. Wed passed them, but theyd let us go by. It all happened so fast no one could have reacted in time. One of the Strigoi grabbed Celeste, his mouth and fangs going for her cheek. I heard a strangled scream and saw blood everywhere. One of the Strigoi went for Ms. Carmack, but my mother jerked her away and shoved her forward toward us. The third Strigoi grabbed Dimitri. In all the time Id known him, Id never seen Dimitri falter. He was always faster, always stronger than everyone else. Not this time. This Strigoi had caught him by surprise, and that slight edge was all it had taken.I stared. It was the blond Strigoi. The one who had spoken to me in the battle.He grabbed Dimitri and pulled him to the ground. They grappled, strength against strength, and then I saw those fangs sink into Dimitris neck. The red eyes flicked up and made contact with my own.I heard another scream this time, it was my own.My mother started to double back toward the fallen, but then five more Strigoi appeared. It was chaos. I couldnt see Dimitri anymore I couldnt see what had happened to him. Indecision flashed over my mothers features as she tried to decide to flee or fight, and then, regret all over her face, she kept running toward us and the exit. Meanwhile, I was trying to run back inside, but someone was fish fillet me. It was Sta n.What are you doing, Rose? More are coming.Didnt he understand? Dimitri was in there. I had to get Dimitri.My mother and Alberta burst out, dragging Ms. Carmack. A group of Strigoi were after them, skidding to a halt just on the edge of the go down light. I was still fighting Stan. He didnt need the help, but my mother grasped a hold of me and tugged me away.Rose, we have to get out of hereHes in there I screamed, straining as hard as I could. How could I have killed Strigoi and not been able to break free from these two? Dimitris in there We have to go back for him We cant leave himI was rambling, hysterical, shouting at them all that we had to go rescue Dimitri. My mother move me hard and leaned close so there were only a couple inches between us.He is dead, Rose We cant go back in there. The sun will be down in fifteen minutes, and they are waiting for us. Were going to be in the dark before we can get back to the wards. We need every second we can get it still may not be eno ugh.I could see the Strigoi gathered at the entrance, their red eyes gleaming with anticipation. They completely filled the opening, ten I believed. Maybe more. My mother was right. With their speed, even our fifteen-minute lead might not be enough. And yet, I still couldnt take a step. I couldnt stop pure(a) at the cave, back where Dimitri was, back where half of my soul was. He couldnt be dead. If he was, then surely I would be dead too.My mother slapped me, the pain snapping me out of my daze.Run she yelled at me. He is dead You are not going to join himI saw the holy terror in her own face, panic over me her daughter getting killed. I remembered Dimitri saying hed rather die than see me dead. And if I stood there stupidly, allow the Strigoi get me, Id fail both of them.Run she cried again.Tears streaming down my face, I ran.