"No!' exclaimed Dimitri. He still held Sonya against him, but his gentle expression turned hard at Victor's words. "Are you crazy? Didn't you see what just happened?'
Victor arched an eyebrow. "Yes. I noticed.'
"She's in no condition to answer anything! She's in shock. Leave her alone.'
"Don't act like she's the one who's suffering here,' snapped Victor. Turning back to Robert, Victor helped his brother stand and go toward the couch. Robert barely managed it, his legs trembling and then giving way as he sat down. Victor put an arm around Robert. "You'll be all right. Everything's all right.'
"Will he be?' I asked uncertainly. Robert didn't look like he was in all that good of shape. My earlier thoughts about spirit users saving Strigoi continued growing unrealistic. "He ... he did it before and recovered, right? And Lissa's fine.'
"Robert was much younger--as is Vasilisa,' replied Victor, patting Robert's shoulder. "And this is hardly a simple spell. Doing it even once is monumental. Twice? Well, you and I both know how spirit works, and this feat takes a toll on both body and mind. Robert has made a great sacrifice for you.'
He had, I supposed. "Thank you, Robert,' I said. The words came hesitantly to my lips. Robert didn't seem to hear.
Dimitri stood up, lifting Sonya easily in his arms. She was still crying, but her sobs were quieter now.
"She needs to rest,' he said gruffly. "Believe me, you have no idea what's going on inside her right now.'
"Oh, I believe you,' I said.
"You're idiots,' snapped Victor. "Both of you.'
It was a wonder Dimitri's glare didn't pin Victor to the floor. "No interrogation yet.'
I nodded my agreement, not knowing what else to do. When Lissa had changed Dimitri, she'd taken on a fierce, similarly protective attitude. He might not have been the one to change Sonya, but he was the only one here who had any idea what she was going through. I knew he'd had a hard adjustment and that the initial effects of the restoration had been disorienting. That wasn't even taking into account the subsequent depression.
He swept past all of us, taking Sonya to her bedroom. Sydney watched them go and then glanced over to the sofa, where Victor still had his arm wrapped around his brother. The Alchemist met my eyes wonderingly.
"I heard ... but I didn't believe.'
"Sometimes,' I told her, "I still don't. It goes against every rule of the universe.' To my surprise, she touched the small gold cross around her neck. "Some rules are bigger than the universe.'
Victor rose from the couch, apparently satisfied Robert was resting. I tensed up. Miracles aside, he was still a criminal, one I intended to capture. He took a step toward me, pitching his voice low.
"Sorry to interrupt Metaphysics 101, but you need to listen to me,' he said. "Be careful, Rose. Very careful. A lot rests on you now. Don't let your pet wolf keep you from finding out what Sonya knows.'
"But he's right,' I exclaimed. "Its been five minutes! What she went through ... what they both went through ... well, it's kind of a big deal. Literally life-changing. He had to recover too and adjust to being saved. Once she does, she'll help us.'
"Are you sure?' he asked, narrowing his eyes. "Will she think she's been saved? You forget: Belikov was turned against his will. She wasn't.'
"W-what are you saying? That she's going to try to become Strigoi again?'
He shrugged. "I'm saying get your answers soon. And don't leave her alone.'
With that, Victor turned and headed toward the kitchen. He soon returned with a glass of water. Robert drank it greedily and then fell into a heavy sleep. I sighed and leaned against a wall near Sydney, totally worn out. I still hurt from the earlier fight.
"What now?' asked Sydney.
I shook my head. "I don't know. We wait, I guess.'
Dimitri returned a little while later and spared a small glance for Robert. "She's sleeping too,' he told me. "The transformation ... it's difficult.' I could see a haunted look in his eyes and wondered what memory was tormenting him now. The memory of being changed? The memory of being Strigoi?
"I don't think we should leave Sonya alone,' I said. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Victor smirk. "Someone should stay with her in case she wakes up. She won't know what's going on.'
Dimitri didn't answer for a few seconds as he scrutinized me. He knew me well enough to sense there might be something else on my mind. Fortunately, he couldn't find a fault in my logic.
"You're right. Do you mind sitting with her?' he asked Sydney.
I groped for something to say. No, no. Not Sydney. If Sonya did turn on us, we needed someone else on guard--someone who could fight back. Sydney, probably guessing my problem, saved me from lying to Dimitri--or from telling him the truth about my concerns.
"She doesn't know me. It might make things worse when she wakes up. Besides ...' Sydney put on that disgusted expression that Alchemists excelled at. "I don't really feel that comfortable with someone who was a monster five minutes ago.'
"She's not Strigoi,' he exclaimed. "She's absolutely, completely Moroi again!' Even I felt a little cowed by the harshness of his voice, but I wasn't entirely surprised at his vehement reaction. He'd had a hard time convincing others he'd changed. His face softened a little. "I know it's hard to believe, but she really has changed.'
"I'll stay with her then,' I said.
"No, no.' Dimitri shook his head. "Sydney's right about one thing: Sonya might be confused. It's better if someone's there who understands what's happened.' I started to argue that I was the only one Sonya really knew but then decided I'd rather stay with the brothers. They seemed harmless now, but I didn't trust them. Dimitri apparently didn't either. He took a few steps forward and leaned down, speaking only an inch from my ear.
"Keep an eye on them,' he murmured. "Robert's down right now but might recover sooner than we think.'
"I know.'
He started to turn, then glanced back at me. His commander face had softened into something thoughtful and awestruck. "Rose?'
"Yeah?'
"That ... was that what it was like when Lissa changed me?'
"More or less.'
"I didn't realize ... it was ...' He struggled for words. It was uncharacteristic. "The way that light filled the room, the way she changed. Seeing that life emerge from death ... it was ...'
"Beautiful?'
He nodded. "Life like that ... you don't--no, you can't waste it.'
"No,' I agreed. "You can't.'
I saw something shift in him then. It was small, just like in the alley, but I knew then another piece of the Strigoi-trauma had peeled away.