Moving Objects

Chapter 21

I smiled at her and turned my attention back to the road, watching the sun deep below the horizon.

We got back to Court relatively quick and Eddie and Lissa were waiting for us, Lissa looking as casual as possible. If you didn't know she was royalty, you wouldn't have guessed it. Eddie was in casual clothes as well, wanting to be here as Dimitri's friend, not his guarding partner.

I helped Olena out of the car and then turned to Yeva, but she glared at my hand, helping herself out of the van. She stopped in front of me, taking my right hand and brought it up to her cheek. It was an odd gesture before she let go and followed her daughter to Lissa.

Lissa knew who Olena was and it seemed that Olena knew who Lissa was too. They embraced and I could see the expression on Lissa's face as she rested her chin on the older woman's shoulder. This was not something she ever thought she would need to do, to see the family of her Guardian after they had fallen. I watched the rest of the family join Olena, Lissa formally introducing herself before asking Jensen and Huston to assist them with their luggage, picking up pieces herself.

I trailed behind, carrying the last of the luggage to the accommodations Lissa set up for the Belikovas. Vika hung back, making small talk with me, but I could tell she wanted to say more. My mind was elsewhere though, unable to keep to the task at hand. It seemed like too much to bear at the time.

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Dad dropped a pile of books in front of me, spilling them across the mahogany. I looked up at him and pursed my lips as he sat down in front of me. He was trying to keep my mind busy, and he was succeeding, but at the same time, I wanted to punch him.

"I don't think I can do any more theory today," I grumbled but he laughed, pushing books towards me. "Ahh, but this is about Spirit, not about our abilities, my dear. I figured it would be best if you learn more."

I grumbled and rolled my eyes again, pulling a book towards me while Lissa sat down beside me, pulling one to her. It was nice that she was here. It was one of the rare Saturdays that Lissa came home from school, and she was more than excited to spend the day in the library. What a nerd.

I sighed and thumbed through the old text, skimming the pages as I went. It was mostly just talking about Saint Vladimir and Shadow-Kissed Anna, but not much else. I reached the end of one in a half hour and pulled another towards me, couching when I flipped through it and it stirred up a cloud of dust.

"Oh. My. God."

I looked over at Lissa as she stood up, her mouth gaped open as she looked at me and then Dad. Dad had a brow raised at her as he lounged in his chair, his hand on the page he was reading.

"What is it?"

Lissa swallowed and spun the book around, shoving it towards him. He stood up and leaned over the table, his eyes moving across the page before slowing, then looking up to me.

"Anyone want to let me know what the big deal is?"

Dad looked at Lissa and then back to me. "It sounds like a myth...but it's recorded here that there is a way to restore a Strigoi."

I felt my eyes bug out of my head and my heart start to race. What?! How was that even possible. I jumped up and looked over the book but was disappointed. It wasn't in English. I looked to Lissa and Dad again, frowning. Dad realized that I couldn't read it and spoke.

"It says that one who gives life can restore the undead to their original state with a charmed stake of all five elements. It's in Russian," he explained, running his finger under the passage as he spoke. I sat back down and muddled it over.