Moving Objects

Chapter 25

Croft produced three glasses and set them down on the desk, pouring the liquid into the glasses, pouring considerably less in one. Croft handed the one with less to me, giving me a firm look that said that this wasn't to leave the room, and then handing one to Dimitri.

"I can assure you that we will help make things right," Croft pledged as he sat down, sipping from his glass. Dimitri looked at him as he sat down, holding the glass in his hand but looked discouraged.

I tried to relax and let my mind wander to his, visualizing his energy. I was starting to keep a closer eye on him, almost like how Adrian would watch aura's. Dimitri's was dark and swirling, his negative emotions hovering over him. I pulled some of it out of him, trying to replace it with calmer and happier emotions.

Dimitri stiffened and threw me a look, making me shrink back in my seat slightly. I thought maybe the uplifting emotion may help him, but it was clear he didn't want the help. Croft noticed our interactions and cleared his throat, quickly going into detail about possibilities that he could make work for Dimitri.

Croft made it clear that he wasn't going to let Dimitri get a shit position because he was turned doing his job. Dimitri barely said more than five words the whole time we were there.

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Dimitri was silent as we walked home, but lately, home started to feel less welcoming. I unlocked the door and wandered in, waiting for Dimitri to follow. I hesitantly brushed him with my mind. If he was angry and upset earlier, his energy was suffocating. It was like he was literally being suffocated by his guilt about what he had done as a Strigoi.

"Lissa invited us to Christmas dinner. Do you want to go?" I asked, plugging in the kettle and pulling out two mugs. Dimitri walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table with a sigh.

"Maybe, I don't know."

I looked over my shoulder to see him resting his elbows on the table, texting someone on his phone. I ripped open four packets of hot chocolate and dumped them into the cups, trying to think of something that might engage him. Maybe a workout would help? So, I voiced a few ideas as the kettle came to a boil.

"Maybe we could go to the gym? Get you around other Guardians, show them that you are not a threat to anyone anymore? Or maybe we could go do something in Court? We could go to that bakery down the street like we used to?" I said as I poured the hot water into my cup, stirring it with the chocolate.

Dimitri set his phone down on the table and the screen lit up. I didn't mean to look but my heart thumped in my chest. The picture of me that was on the lock screen was gone, replaced with a blank, default picture. It shouldn't have bothered me as much as it did, but sometimes you can't change what bothers you. I averted my eyes and sipped on my hot chocolate, focusing on the rich taste, while Dimitri sat at the table, face in his hands. I put his cup down in front of him and placed my hand on his shoulder, hoping to comfort him, but he shook it off.

"It'll be ok, Comrade. I promise," I said softly, returning to my cup.

"I don't want your empty promises."

I tensed up and turned to face him, my brows knit together. "Pardon me?"

Dimitri lifted his head to look up at me, his eyes dark and hard. "I said I don't want your empty promises. I've already seen what your promises entail."

I took a deep breath and leaned against the counter, gnawing at my lip as I thought his words over. "And what promise was empty?"

Dimitri stood up, "The one we made to each other at the Academy! The one where we would free each other's souls if either of us had been turned! And look what happened there!"