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The sword fell out of my hands, landing with a loud clatter on the wooden floor. I followed,
collapsing on all fours, wanting to cry but still unable to.
Dimitri's arms wrapped around me as he helped me up. Voices swarmed around us, and one by
one, I recognized people I knew and trusted. He started to tug me toward the door, but I refused
to move just yet. I couldn't. My hands clutched his shirt, crumpling the fabric. Still keeping one
arm around me, he smoothed my hair back away from my face. I leaned my head against him,
and he continued stroking my hair, murmuring something in Russian. I didn't understand a
word of it, but the gentle tone soothed me.
Guardians were spreading throughout the house, examining it inch by inch. A couple of them
approached us and knelt by the bodies I refused to look at.
"She did that? Both of them?"
"That sword hasn't been sharpened in years!"
A funny sound caught in my throat. Dimitri squeezed my shoulder comfortingly.
"Get her out of here, Belikov," I heard a woman say behind him, her voice familiar.
Dimitri squeezed my shoulder again. "Come on, Roza. It's time to go."
This time, I went. He guided me out of the house, holding onto me as I managed each agonizing
step. My mind still refused to really process what had happened. I couldn't do much more than
follow simple directions from those around me.
I eventually ended up on one of the Academy's jets. Engines roared around us as the plane lifted
off. Dimitri murmured something about coming back shortly and left me alone in my seat. I
stared straight ahead, studying the details of the seat in front of me.
Someone sat beside me and draped a blanket over my shoulders. I noticed then just how badly I
was shivering. I tugged at the edges of the blanket.
"I'm cold," I said. "How am I so cold?"
"You're in shock," Mia answered.