"That girl was lying to me,' he growled. "Every day, all these reports about how quiet and boring it was in West Virginia. I wonder if they even made it to that town. I have to go talk to her.'
"Good luck,' said Adrian, pulling a cigarette out and lighting it. Apparently, in my absence, the dating contract he'd jokingly made up that said he would "cut back' on his vices didn't apply. "I don't think her cronies or the guardians are going to let you near her.'
"Oh, I'll get to her,' said Abe. "She's got a lot of answers. If she hid them from those other idiots, then good for her. But she's going to tell me.'
A sudden thought sparked into Lissa's mind. "You have to talk to Ian. That guy with the Alchemists. He knows the man in the picture--er, I mean, the guy Eddie killed.'
"You're certain?' asked Abe.
"Yes,' said Adrian, surprising them all. "Ian definitely had a reaction. He's also got a crush on that Sydney girl.'
"I saw that too,' said Lissa.
"She seems kind of uptight.' Adrian frowned. "But maybe their kind go for that.'
"That crush might actually be useful,' mused Abe. "You women don't know the power you wield. Have you seen that guardian your aunt's dating? Ethan Moore?'
"Yes,' groaned Christian. "Don't remind me.'
"Tasha is pretty hot, though,' noted Adrian.
"That is not cool,' said Christian.
"Don't get so huffy,' said Abe. "Ethan's a palace guard. He was there the night of the murder--which could be very useful to us if she can keep him interested.'
Christian shook his head. "Those guards already testified. It won't matter. Ethan's told what he knows.'
"I'm not so sure,' said Abe. "There are always things that occur off the official record, and I'm positive the guards were all debriefed with strict orders on what to reveal and not to reveal. Your aunt might be charming enough to find out something for us.' Abe sighed, still looking very unhappy at the sudden upsetting of his orderly plans. "If only Sydney had been charming enough to talk her way out of that interrogation so that I could go interrogate her. Now I've got to break through those Alchemists and the guardians to get to her and figure out where Rose is. Oh, and you do actually have to go to your test, princess.'
"I thought that was just a line you used to find me,' Lissa said.
"No, they want you.' He gave her directions to the test. It was in the building she'd had the second test in. "All of you go together and then get a guardian to walk you back. Don't leave your room until Janine or Tad come by.' Tad was one of Abe's henchmen. "No more surprise attacks.'
Lissa wanted to argue that she most certainly wasn't going to put herself under house arrest but decided it was best to just let Abe go for now. He hurried off, still radiating agitation, and she and the guys turned toward the testing site.
"Boy, is he pissed,' said Adrian. "Do you blame him?' asked Christian. "He just lost membership in the evil mastermind club. His brilliant plan fell apart, and now his daughter's missing when he thought she was somewhere safe.'
Adrian stayed pointedly silent.
"I hope she's okay,' sighed Lissa, a knot forming in her stomach. "And what in the world does Jill have to do with any of this?'
Nobody had an answer for that one. When they reached the testing site, Lissa found a situation almost identical to before. Lots of spectators lining the hall. Guardians blocking the door. More people than ever were cheering her name as she approached, some who were "common' Moroi and others who were royals whose candidates were out of the running. A number of nominees hadn't passed the fear test, so those families had switched their loyalties.
Again, Lissa was ushered into the room alone. Her heart began to pound when she saw the same old woman. Were more terrible images to come? Lissa couldn't see the chalice, but that was no guarantee of safety. There was no extra chair, so Lissa simply stood in front of the old woman.
"Hello,' Lissa said respectfully. "It's nice to see you again.'
The woman grinned, showing those missing teeth. "I doubt that, but you say it very convincingly. You have politics in your blood.'
"Thank ... you ...' said Lissa, unsure if she'd been complimented or not. "What would you like me to do for this test?'
"Just listen. That's all. It's an easy one.'
A twinkle in the woman's eye made Lissa think this would not be easy.
"All you have to do is answer a question for me. Answer correctly, and you're through to the vote. And won't that be entertaining.' The old woman seemed to say those last words more to herself than Lissa.
"Okay,' said Lissa uneasily. "I'm ready.'
The woman sized Lissa up and seemed to like what she saw. "Here it is then: What must a queen possess in order to truly rule her people?'
Lissa's mind went blank for a moment, and then a jumble of words popped into her head. Integrity? Wisdom? Sanity?
"No, no, don't answer,' said the old woman, watching Lissa carefully. "Not yet. You have until tomorrow, at this same time, to think about it. Come back with the right answer, and you'll have passed the trials. And ...' She winked. "It goes without saying you won't talk to anyone about this.'
Lissa nodded, rubbing the small tattooed spot on her arm. She'd get no help with the answer from anyone else. Lissa left the room, turning the question over and over in her mind. There were too many answers to a question like that, she thought. Any of them could--
Movement in my reality instantly snapped me out of her head. I half expected Sonya to come bursting into our tent, but no, that wasn't what had caught my attention. It was a much smaller motion ... and something infinitely more powerful.