Dignity and Freedom Immanuel Kant Free Essays

Kant’s speculations shift extraordinarily with that of different thinkers. He was a retributivist who accepted that it is okay to rebuff the miscreants as long as such discipline is commensurate or comparable to the heaviness of the wrongdoing that was finished. Discipline without legitimate reasons or avocations, for example, imprisoning somebody for unimportant robbery is (as per the Kant) unfair. We will compose a custom exposition test on Nobility and Freedom: Immanuel Kant or then again any comparative theme just for you Request Now He talked about discipline on the study of down to earth reasons which is interestingly with Jeremy Bentham’s hypothesis. Jeremy Bentham was an utilitarian scholar who thinks about discipline as shrewd (Robert, 2000). While Bentham bolsters recovery endeavors in detainment facilities Kant discovered such endeavors indecent. Kant further contended that such activities acted against ones individual balanced decisions. Kant rejects control of individuals in any event, when the causes and reasons are simply. He accepts that individuals ought to be permitted to purpose behind themselves and their choices ought to be regarded. Kant condemned different speculations in light of the fact that they were just theoretical and couldn't be material in reality. A few speculations contend that more prominent's benefit should be viewed as when acting, all things considered, such hypothesis would be superfluous to somebody whose intrigue is in opposition to the upkeep of the benefit of all. Speculative good frameworks ought not be utilized to decide the ethical activity since they are abstract. He dismissed Hume’s hypothesis on the perfect hypothesis of the psyche. To Kant, expository techniques ought not be utilized to clarify what is genuinely clear. He accepts that manufactured thinking includes relating ideas that are not legitimately identified with the subject idea. An earlier information can be utilized in the transcendentalism study. (Bayne, 2000) Kant condemns the utilitarian view seeing bliss as the most significant standard. He contradicts this view as it made provisos in contending that individuals essentially needs to accomplish bliss. Satisfaction most definitely is a result of feeling. Following Kant’s contentions, recognizing bliss as man’s last objective would resemble disregarding the way that individuals are balanced and can pick or design and envision their future. Kant depicts the clear cut basic methodology where he considers all to be creatures as tenants of an extraordinary spot in creation. Individuals have various necessities which should be fulfilled utilizing certain methods. He utilizes the term proverb to allude to goals or rule of activity. Individuals ought not act in a manner that depicts others essentially as necessary chore however as a conclusion to itself. In attempting to accomplish the adage individuals ought not utilize others as means. Individuals utilized should profit by the plan and their assent ought to be looked for. To him, obligations ought to be advantageous to individuals utilized during the time spent accomplishing the objectives. I concur with Kant’s hypothesis as all individuals ought to be treated with fairness and with deference. There are two kinds of goals. The speculative basic determines what we should do so as to accomplish an objective. The downright basic prompts supremacy since individuals are sane and can oversee their activities. Individuals should just follow up on sayings that can become ‘universal law’. To Kant, there are widespread good laws that are coherently essential. People’s activities ought to thusly be performed by the adequate all inclusive laws of profound quality. People should act as per a similar good laws (Robert, 2000). All individuals ought to be treated with moral regard. Misdirection ought not be considered in any event, when being applied for transgressors. To Kant, obligations can be great or flawed. Flawed obligations involve attempting to build up our abilities since they are given to us for a reason while immaculate obligations involve an obligation to other people. Kant dismissed the moral power achieved by convention and begat the cutting edge thought of self-governance. Independence is just the ability of a person to follow up for the benefit of his own. Self-sufficiency of the will is the capacity of the will to be a will in itself while the will alludes to the methods by which a proverb can turn into a general law. This lies conversely with the thought of Heteronomy which is acting in the wake of watching the different outcomes that an activity has created. He achieved the possibility of centrality of normal idea. Every individual can settle on free and self-sufficient decisions and they are constrained by soundness and the clear cut basic in their choices. Adherence to all out basic accommodates independent moral decision since individuals settle on their choices objectively. In interest for different adages all gatherings included profit by the game plan (Collins, 2000). To Kant, objects don't have esteem however man gives them esteem through their sane objectives and wants. Individuals have a natural worth or poise. They ought to along these lines demonstration in cooperative attitude out of a feeling of obligation and utilize the clear cut goal. What we provide for society returns to us and we should not to hurt others however work in guaranteeing that they profit by out activities. I concur with the thoughts introduced by Kant, gave the manner by which he had safeguarded the judiciousness of individuals. I additionally concur that there are all out basic laws or all inclusive proverbs which contain our moral guidelines. By the by, I was unable to concur that individuals are should be treated as finishes in themselves, for there are hard cases wherein one must regard somebody as an unfortunate chore. For example, if the main path for an individual to endure is to get an organ from somebody who is as of now passing on, wouldn’t it be balanced to take the organ and use it for the person’s advantage since its genuine proprietor is as of now biting the dust. Therefore, there may be cases wherein Kant’s hypothesis may fall flat or may not be of any utilization. Another renowned model is the circumstance that includes lying. It is a general adage for Kant that individuals must not lie. Notwithstanding, if there is an executioner at the entryway searching for someone in particular, whom by chance you know where, was stowing away; would it despite everything not be right to lie (Bass). 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Android Technology Essay

Android innovation is a kind of OSS (open source programming), which is a sort of programming promptly accessible with a source code that isn’t held elite by copyright laws. Android is made extraordinarily for cell phones and incorporates: programming that offers normal types of assistance for PC applications, middleware, which lets different applications run simultaneously or associate, and numerous other key applications like long range informal communication, games, and business modules. Android is designed according to Linux piece, the main working arrangement of free and open-source programming. In any case, Android is moving to expand the quantity of individuals with web get to by means of cell phones (PDAs). In August of 2005, Google bought the first programming engineer of Android. Android innovation incorporates the equipment gadgets, working frameworks, and PC programming dialects utilized by the Android telephone. Android engineers write in java language, which is the reason most of the open-source programming stack comprises of Java applications on a Java-based system that is object-arranged. The absolute most mainstream android items are HTC-EVO 4G and Droid X, 2, and Pro advanced cells just as one of it’s most recent turns of events, the Motorola XOOM, an Android tablet. Android keeps on advancing in its creation of more up to date programming, PDAs, and so on. Until this point in time, there are more than 200,000 applications offered for Android. Ultimately, Android innovation has improved portable innovation by shaping the Open Handset Alliance, a gathering of handset makers, specialist organizations, and chip makers whose objective is to frame the biological system for Android working frameworks. Android innovation has various potential advantages to potential purchasers. Android is controlled by open-source programming stack, which implies it is allowed to get and can be gotten to from the Internet. Actually, Google has out sourced codes of Android innovation on the web to be trialed. It safe to state that Google sees a significance in the clients acclimating themselves with the item before buying state a PDA, tablet, and so forth that comes outfit with Android innovation. In saying this, it is mistaken to state that Android makers don’t trust in client care. Another, advantage of Android is its push to expand the quantity of individuals with versatile web get to. An advantage of versatile access to the web calms the problem of attempting to discover a work area or holding up until one returns home to browse messages, Google gatherings, person to person communication locales that hold significant data, and so on. Android Technology is given in a wide cluster of items, for example, the Motorola Droid X. All the more explicitly, advantages of Droid X are advantages like: its 4. 3 inch clear presentation taking into account pocket-sized home performance center quality, the capacity to control your home’s Frontpoint security framework, a propelled 8 super pixel camera with double glimmer that catches pictures and records HD recordings, and a HDMI yield that is fit for associating with your home HD TV to see your HD recordings. At last, every item conveying Android innovation has it’s own little advantages whether that’s programming, extended battery life, and so forth. The potential advantages of this sort of innovation exceed any potential entanglements. As indicated by Marguerite Reardon in her CNET news story Living with Technology: Google Android and the Wireless Future, â€Å"much of the software’s achievement will be dictated by what others in the environment decide to do with it† (Reardon 1). This implies advantages can be unending, on the grounds that with android innovation you get what you put in, as platitude as that sounds, the more applications you add to your gadget the more adequate you and your cell phone will be. Like every single other headway in innovation, Android innovation is a change of what preceded it (Linux part). Because of nature of it being another and energizing sort of innovation, individuals have started to voice point of view on lawful, social, moral, and security states of items including the product. To begin with, to clear up any disarray Google just has rights to the product or working framework; it isn't there employment to flexibly the construct or make gadgets. Rights to fabricate telephones/advanced cells and different gadgets utilizing Android working frameworks fueled by Google are organizations like LG, HTC, Samsung, and Motorola. Likewise, specialist organizations like Verizon and T-Mobile just give wireless help; they don’t produce the telephones or compose the product that is placed into them. This is something that finds individuals napping when they see these gadgets being sold at nearby Verizon and T-Mobile stores. The fundamental determinant of social viewpoints is input whether that’s as an audit or letter. Portable innovation authority Ian Fogg had this to state, â€Å"Android offers some key preferences. Handset producers can get an advantage, a snappier beginning, in light of the fact that they’re utilizing Android as a base, they can even now separate with programming, and they get the upside of having similarity with all the applications out in the Android commercial center. † taking something like a phone and embeddings Android innovation exponential improves the user’s capacity to associate with others dependent on various applications and just by activating web get to. Assessments of Ethical gauges as far as Android innovation go connected at the hip with assessments of its security arrangements. Initially, so as to enact the product you should buy an information plan, which is charged month to month notwithstanding the complete expense of the gadget itself. This standards out the outdatedness of the product, in light of the fact that in spite of the fact that it is openly reachable it isn't in free and functional condition without an information plan. This is a component of Android innovation that society rewards; having the option to principle restrictiveness underlines the significance, security, and honesty of the organization. Additionally, as far as points of view on morals and security, telephones have in put GPS gadgets that signal where the telephone is, in the event that it is ever to lost or taken. Finally, morals are based on cultural needs and coming through with them. One of the numerous pre-introduced application that accompanies an Android gadget is an application called â€Å"places†. This application permits individuals to find vital â€Å"places†: service stations, ATM’s, and eating offices in their region with simply the pinch of a catch. Probably the greatest deterrent that caused a minor mishap for Google’s Android during the start of its development was its nonappearance of Bluetooth API (application programming interface). Ken Dulaney, a Gartner examiner, brought up that in spite of the fact that there was no Bluetooth API, â€Å"Android’s halfway help for headsets would reduce some concernsâ€Å" (Ruffolo 1). In any case, it didn’t remove every potential issue. Dulaney proceeded by saying, â€Å"one of the significant symptoms of the missing Bluetooth API †and of the open source stage when all is said in done †is that the Android-based handhelds will experience the ill effects of genuine fracture over the different merchants utilizing the stage, [ultimately] complicat[ing] the improvement process† (Ruffolo 1). However, these weren’t hindrances that couldn’t have been survived. The creator discusses how even Apple had issues with the iPhone in its assembling stages; every one of that was required was the ideal opportunity for engineers to develop and their item to additionally develop. Android innovation is an open-source programming that has made various prospects with its numerous potential advantages, for example, applications, portable web access, and developing fame/steadfastness. It has gotten positive input from people in general as far as applications and programming that apply to legitimate, social, moral, and security points of view. Finally, in spite of the fact that it is clear that minor set backs have happened in the creating of items with Android innovation, time will permit them to develop and improve from phases of experimentation.

Discovering Essay Topics For Children

Discovering Essay Topics For ChildrenIn general, children who want to succeed at school are given an opportunity to write essays about the topics of their interest. In fact, students are encouraged to get involved in writing about the topics they are interested in. This is very helpful for students who want to put their passion for reading to work in order to write the best essay they can write.However, a child can write about his or her own unique essay if he or she is provided with the proper guide. To learn how to generate a list of essay topics, you need to learn how to handle these different topics. For example, when your child wants to talk about her favorite flower, you must learn how to write in such a way that she is writing about her hobby instead of her work. The same idea applies when your child wants to talk about her favorite movie, book, or artist.As you can see, writing about your own essay is very easy. But when a child wants to write about her favorite flower, readi ng about the flower might be enough to inspire her. This means that you need to be able to read and understand literature that pertains to flowers. Since all the topics on the topic will be relevant to the flower, the information will be contained in the text. With this information, the child can look for her inspiration.Reading literature is important when a child is in third grade or up in a class like English or Science class. In these classes, students read literature about various subjects. At first, they might seem very difficult to understand, but this is not true at all because when they study how stories are told correctly, they can easily identify common ideas.When a child writes about her special interest, the topic will not only be easy to understand, but it will also be short and sweet. Reading is much more challenging than writing and students will often end up making short stories that do not have enough content to provide information. For example, if a child writes a bout Star Wars, she will probably forget that this is not a real story and therefore, she won't be able to learn about other related subjects that will come later on. In addition, she will be missing out on any tips that the author might give on how to write the best short story.When a child wants to write about her favorite book, it's not only difficult to do, but it's also boring. Children will usually avoid talking about their favorite subject. Instead, they will try to write about their hobbies and activities that they enjoy doing. In this case, they will not be talking about a certain book, but rather about the main character in the book.It is important for the child to learn how to recognize a specific topic. Sometimes, when a child tries to write about her favorite flowers, they will not be able to identify the topic accurately. As a result, they will write about a specific flower without being able to recognize what type of flower she is talking about.Therefore, when a child wants to write her own essay, it is necessary for her to study the different topics that pertain to the flower that she wants to write about. In this way, she will not just recognize the flowers, but she will also be able to know which flower to talk about. In this way, writing about her favorite flower is much easier.

Analysis Of The Poem Sasuke - 1280 Words

Sasuke! A girl with long blonde hair tied back in two pigtails wearing a long white dress cried. Her wide cerulean eyes wavered as her lover walked toward her. What are you doing here? You know you can t be here. She said, stepping forward slightly. She stared into the eyes of the man in front of her. His raven hair framing his pale face, that glistened in the moonlight. Sasuke reached out his hand, taking her hand in his own. He crouched on one knee, and kissed the girl s hand lightly. I will never leave your side, no matter the danger, Naruko. Naruko frowned, feeling the emotions and hearing his thoughts. She fell to her knees, still holding on to Sasuke s hand. But you must! It s too dangerous here! She cried. Forget†¦show more content†¦He walked toward the main room of the orphanage to speak with Iruka. He knocked on the door, waited for an answer, and then opened the door. He smiled. Good morning, Iruka. He said. A brown haired man with a large scar on the bridge of his nose, tan skin and brown eyes, looked over his shoulder at Naruto. The man smiled brightly at the teen. Good morning, Naruto, did you eat breakfast yet? Naruto shook his head. I m going to do that on the way to school with Gaara. He promised me ramen. Naruto grinned. Iruka gave him a look. He sighed, shaking his head. All right, Naruto, I heard you re planning on moving out. Iruka said. Naruto s eyes widened. His gaze softened and he averted it to the floor. He nodded his head. Y-Yeah, I am. Iruka sat in his desk, he smiled softly at Naruto. He encouraged the boy s independence, but there was no need to hurry when it came to finding a place to live. He knew Naruto hated being a burden, but he was never a burden to the orphanage. He wasn t a burden to Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi. They loved him. There s no need to rush, Iruka replied, still smiling. The kids love you and they want you to stay here until you ve graduated. You have plenty of time until then. Naruto smiled back, nodding his head. A knock on the door caught his attention. Naruto turned around to see a red haired teen that was just a little bit taller than Naruto. He had dark rings around his deep sea-green eyes

The System Of Sex Education Essay - 1034 Words

Joshua Deselles English 1015-106 Mrs. Fleming 12/2/16 The System of Sex Education Abstinence education should be a part of sex education in schools because it is the best way to avoid the risks of unsafe sex. Children are only taught how to have sex, and they believe the pullout method is effective. Some children are not ready for sex, but they do it anyway because they are not told to wait. Abstinence should be taught as part of sex education because sexual transmitted disease, teen pregnancy, and abortion rates would decrease. Sex education in schools teach children about safe sex and contraceptive methods for teen girls. Teens learn about sex in school, and they believe it is safe to have sex if they use condoms. Sex is safer with condoms, but teens don’t realize they can be at risk for sexually transmitted diseases if the condom fail. Teens are not aware of all the ways they can get STDs. â€Å"Annually, 3 million teenagers contract STDs; STDs afflict roughly one in four teens who are sexually active† (Rector). Teens can contact STDs by oral, anal, and vaginal sex, but teens believe oral sex is safe. Children have oral sex and contract STDs because they oral sex is safe. Most males refuse to wear condoms because they take the feeling away. In high school, children are more mature and less likely to engage in sexual activity because others are doing it. Middle school children are immature, and they think it is funny to learn about sex; sex education class makes themShow MoreRelatedThe Curren t System Of Sex Education1308 Words   |  6 PagesIt is clear that the current system of sex education that California provides for its minors is inadequate. Presently, California’s education model includes instruction on STDs and the prevention of their contraction, contraception, or methods of preventing pregnancy, and the option to abandon one’s child after the mother gives birth (California Department of Education). Said topics are certainly of import to the general population, and should therefore not be rejected altogether, but the list isRead MoreAmerica s Sex Education System1292 Words   |  6 Pageswho wants to change the sex education system in Lubbox. Lubbox is a town that has the highest teen pregnancy and STI rates in the country. Lubbox teaches abstinence only sex education which is clearly not working. Shelby tried to convince the school and others to teach kids a comprehensive sex education. Lubbox is a very conservative and Christian town which means that most people believe that sex is only something for straight married couples. Abstinence only sex education in schools follows theseRead MoreInfluence Of The On Sex Education1058 Words   |  5 Pagesabout sex is regarded as taboo and removed from the public (Steinfeld, 2014). Even homosexuality was considered as a crime until 1997 and a mental illness until 2001. Culture influences China was culturally influenced by Confucius. There is one saying that goes: â€Å"Lust is the worst of all wicked things; Filial piety is the best of all good things (Steinfeld, 2014).† According to Steinfeld’s (2014) opinion, Chinese tend to discuss sex more privately and schools focused more on exams than sex educationsRead MoreThe Positives and Negatives Aspects of Single-Sex Schooling and Mixed-Sex Schooling903 Words   |  4 Pagesthe single sex and mixed schools’ issue has been discussed and debated in the UK more than in any country in the world. In the last four decades, in Great Britain, the total number of single-sex schools has reduced steeply. However, demand for single sex education for some courses is rising recently(Archer,2004,P.50). This essay will investigate whether coeducational schools are better than single sex schools or not. There are a number of advantages to both single-sex and mixed-sex schools butRead MoreSexual Education in Public Schools760 Words   |  3 PagesSexual education has long been a topic of debate among many different in our American society.  The public schools system offers sexual education or sex ed to all students, and offer parents the option to exclude their children from these class rooms.  Discussions to making these classes mandatory has drawn some positive supports and negative supports in the forum disputes of sex education topic.  Due to the high number of teen pregnancies (As of 2012, the teen birth rate was 29 births per 1,000 teenRead MoreSingle Sex Classrooms Helps Increase Self Esteem973 Words   |  4 PagesSingle Sex Education is considered to be a teaching system that has been implemented in schools all over world, from long ago and little still today. That means that girls and boys are instructed in separate schools or classrooms. How does single-sex educati on benefits students? That is the question that some parents make themselves when their sons enter school. Researches demonstrate that single sex classrooms helps increase self esteem; offer an environment that students feel more confortable inRead MoreThe Ethical Principles Of Support Contraception1232 Words   |  5 Pagesgreater good. The education system is trying to aid the student who are sexually active by educating the minors. Young adults are targeted because of reasons like peer pressure and hormonal changes. It is helpful that the education system was able to notice that the students need help at such a young age especially when for some, turning to their parents or family members is not an option. The ethical principle of nonmaleficence is important and plays a key role because the education system is not tryingRead MoreThe Problem Of Single Sex School Essay963 Words   |  4 PagesSingle-sex school From the beginning, God has created Adam and Eve and made them live together this was an important lesson for the people, to learn how to live together in an equal and fair society. Nowadays, many people do not prefer this method. Also, there are many problems that can hinder them to lead a happy life. Many parents face a big problem to choose a school for their children because of the huge number of types of school. Those types can vary from private, governmental, single-sexRead MoreShould Sex Education Be Taught?1269 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Teaching only about abstinence is like teaching ‘a driver s education course in which teachers show students grisly photos of traffic accidents but never tell them to stop at red lights or buckle their seat belts’ (Wagle). Sex education is often a hot topic of debate within the States, where high school teens often receive some form of sexual education. However, the quality of this information varies from state to state a nd even district to district. Although there are many different definitionsRead MoreSingle sex schools or Coed schools1395 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ Single sex schools have many benefits and are as equally good as coeducation schools. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Single Sex Schools or Coeducation Schools It is a controversial topic that between single sex schools and mixed schools has been ongoing for a long time. Some people think sex-segregated schools have similar impact on juvenile’s achievement as coeducational schools. This essay will explain why I disagree with this statement. In my perspective, although

Last Sacrifice Chapter Thirteen Free Essays

string(52) " hand as they walked, his grip warm and reassuring\." â€Å"IT’S NOT FUNNY!’ â€Å"Youre right,’ agreed Sydney. â€Å"It’s not funny. It’s hilarious. We will write a custom essay sample on Last Sacrifice Chapter Thirteen or any similar topic only for you Order Now ’ We were back at Raymond’s house, in the privacy of our room. It had taken forever for us to get away from the fireside festivities, particularly after learning a terrible fact about a Keeper custom. Well, I thought it was terrible, at least. It turned out that if someone wanted to marry someone else around here, the prospective bride and groom each had to battle it out with the other’s nearest relative of the same sex. Angeline had spotted Joshua’s interest from the moment I’d arrived, and when she’d seen the bracelet, she’d assumed some sort of arrangement had been made. It therefore fell on her, as his sister, to make sure I was worthy. She still didn’t like or entirely trust me, but proving myself a capable fighter had shot me up in her esteem, allowing her to consent to our â€Å"engagement.’ It had then taken a lot of fast-talking to convince everyone– including Joshua–that there was no engagement. Had there been, I’d learned, Dimitri would have had to stand in as my â€Å"relative’ and fight Joshua. â€Å"Stop that,’ I chastised. Dimitri leaned against one of the room’s walls, arms crossed, watching as I rubbed where Angeline had hit my cheekbone. It was hardly the worst injury I’d ever had, but I’d definitely have a bruise tomorrow. There was a small smile on his face. â€Å"I told you not to encourage him,’ came Dimitri’s calm response. â€Å"Whatever. You didn’t see this coming. You just didn’t want me to–‘ I bit off my words. I wouldn’t say what was on my mind: that Dimitri was jealous. Or possessive. Or whatever. I just knew he’d been irritated to see me friendly with Joshua †¦ and very amused at my outrage over Angeline’s attack. I abruptly turned to Sydney, who was just as entertained as Dimitri. In fact, I was pretty sure I’d never seen her smile so much. â€Å"Did you know about this custom?’ â€Å"No,’ she admitted, â€Å"but I’m not surprised. I told you they’re savage. A lot of ordinary problems are settled by fights like that.’ â€Å"It’s stupid,’ I said, not caring that I was whining. I touched the top of my head, wishing I had a mirror to see if Angeline had taken a noticeable chunk of hair. â€Å"Although †¦ she wasn’t bad. Unpolished, but not bad. Are they all that tough? The humans and Moroi too?’ â€Å"That’s my understanding.’ I pondered that. I was annoyed and embarrassed by what had happened, but I had to admit the Keepers were suddenly way more interesting. How ironic that such a backward group had the insight to teach everyone to fight, no matter their race. Meanwhile, my own â€Å"enlightened’ culture still refused to teach defense. â€Å"And that’s why Strigoi don’t bother them,’ I murmured, recalling breakfast. I didn’t even realize what I’d said until Dimitri’s smile dropped. He glanced toward the window, face grim. â€Å"I should check in with Boris again and see what he’s found.’ He turned back toward Sydney. â€Å"It won’t take long. We don’t all need to go. Should I just take your car since I only have to go a little ways?’ She shrugged and reached for her keys. We’d learned earlier that Sydney’s phone could pick up a signal about ten minutes from the village. He was right. There really was no reason for us all to go for a quick phone call. After my fight, Sydney and I were reasonably safe. No one would mess with me now. Still †¦ I didn’t like the thought of Dimitri reliving his Strigoi days alone. â€Å"You should still go,’ I told her, thinking fast. â€Å"I need to check in on Lissa.’ Not entirely a lie. What my friends had heard from Joe was still weighing on me. â€Å"I can usually still keep track of what’s going on around me at the same time, but it might be better if you’re away–especially in case Alchemists do show up.’ My logic was faulty, though her colleagues were still a concern. â€Å"I doubt they’d come while it’s dark,’ she said, â€Å"but I don’t really want to hang out if you’re just going to stare into space.’ She didn’t admit it, and I didn’t need to say anything, but I suspected she didn’t want someone else driving her car anyway. Dimitri thought her coming was unnecessary and said as much, but apparently, he didn’t feel like he could boss her around as much as me. So, they both set out, leaving me alone in the room. I watched them wistfully. Despite how annoying his earlier mockery had been, I was worried about him. I’d seen the effect of the last call and wished I could be there now to comfort him. I had a feeling he wouldn’t have allowed that, so I accepted Sydney’s accompaniment as a small victory. With them gone, I decided I really would check in with Lissa. I’d said it more as an excuse, but truthfully, it beat the alternative–going back out and socializing. I didn’t want any more people congratulating me, and apparently, Joshua had read my â€Å"maybe’ and acceptance of the bracelet as a real commitment. I still thought he was devastatingly cute but couldn’t handle seeing his adoration. Sitting cross-legged on Angeline’s bed, I opened myself to the bond and what Lissa was experiencing. She was walking through the halls of a building I didn’t recognize at first. A moment later, I got my bearings. It was a building at Court that housed a large spa and salon–as well as the hideout of Rhonda the gypsy. It seemed weird that Lissa would be going to get her fortune told, but once I got a glimpse of her companions, I knew she was up to something else. The usual suspects were with her: Adrian and Christian. My heart leapt at seeing Adrian again–especially after the Joshua Incident. My last spirit dream had been too brief. Christian was holding Lissa’s hand as they walked, his grip warm and reassuring. You read "Last Sacrifice Chapter Thirteen" in category "Essay examples" He looked confident and determined–though with that typically snarky half-smile of his. Lissa was the one who felt nervous and was clearly bracing herself for something. I could feel her dreading her next task, even though she believed it was necessary. â€Å"Is this it?’ she asked, coming to a halt in front of a door. â€Å"I think so,’ said Christian. â€Å"That receptionist said it was the red one.’ Lissa hesitated only a moment and then knocked. Nothing. Either the room was empty or she was being ignored. She held up her hand again, and the door opened. Ambrose stood there, stunning as always, even in jeans and a casual blue T-shirt. The clothing hugged his body in a way that showed off every muscle. He could have walked straight off the cover of GQ. â€Å"Hey,’ he said, clearly surprised. â€Å"Hey,’ said Lissa back. â€Å"We were wondering if we could talk to you?’ Ambrose ever so slightly inclined his head toward the room. â€Å"I’m kind of busy right now.’ Beyond him, Lissa could see a massage table with a Moroi woman lying face down. The lower half of her body had a towel over it, but her back was bare, shining in the dim lighting with oil. Scented candles burned in the room, and a calming kind of New Age music played softly. â€Å"Wow,’ said Adrian. â€Å"You don’t waste any time, do you? She’s only been in her grave a few hours, and you’ve already got someone new.’ Tatiana had finally been laid to rest earlier in the day, just before sunset. The burial had had much less fanfare than the original attempt. Ambrose gave Adrian a sharp look. â€Å"She’s my client. It’s my job. You forget that some of us have to work for a living.’ â€Å"Please?’ asked Lissa, hastily stepping in front of Adrian. â€Å"It won’t take long.’ Ambrose looked my friends over a moment and then sighed. He glanced behind him. â€Å"Lorraine? I have to step outside. I’ll be right back, okay?’ â€Å"Okay,’ called the woman. She shifted, facing him. She was older than I’d expected, mid-forties or so. I guess if you were paying for a massage, there was no reason not to have a masseuse half your age. â€Å"Hurry back.’ He gave her a dazzling smile as he shut the door, a smile that dropped once he was alone with my friends. â€Å"Okay, what’s going on? I don’t like the looks on your faces.’ Ambrose might have radically deviated from a dhampir man’s normal life, but he’d had the same training as any guardian. He was observant. He was always on the lookout for potential threats. â€Å"We, uh, wanted to talk to you about †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Lissa hesitated. Talking about investigations and interrogations was one thing. Carrying them out was another. â€Å"About Tatiana’s murder.’ Ambrose’s eyebrows rose. â€Å"Ah. I see. Not sure what there is to say, except that I don’t think Rose did it. I don’t think you believe that either, despite what’s going around. Everyone’s talking about how shocked and upset you are. You’re getting a lot of sympathy over having been tricked by such a dangerous and sinister â€Å"friend.† Lissa felt her cheeks flush. By publicly condemning me and renouncing our friendship, Lissa was keeping herself out of trouble. It had been Abe and Tasha’s advice, and Lissa knew it was sound. Yet, even though it was an act, she still felt guilty. Christian stepped to her defense. â€Å"Back off. That’s not what this is about.’ â€Å"What is it about then?’ asked Ambrose. Lissa jumped in, worried Christian and Adrian might upset Ambrose and make it difficult to get answers. â€Å"Abe Mazur told us that in the courtroom, you said or, uh, did something to Rose.’ Ambrose looked shocked, and I had to give him points for being convincing. â€Å"Did something? What does that mean? Does Mazur think I, like, hit on her in front of all those people?’ â€Å"I don’t know,’ admitted Lissa. â€Å"He just saw something, that’s all.’ â€Å"I wished her good luck,’ said Ambrose, still looking offended. â€Å"Is that okay?’ â€Å"Yeah, yeah.’ Lissa had made a point to talk to Ambrose before Abe could, fearing Abe’s methods would involve threats and a lot of physical force. Now, she was wondering if she was doing so great a job. â€Å"Look, we’re just trying to find out who really killed the queen. You were close to her. If there’s anything–anything–at all you’ve got that can help us, we’d appreciate it. We need it.’ Ambrose glanced curiously between them. Then, he suddenly understood. â€Å"You think I did it! That’s what this is about.’ None of them said anything. â€Å"I can’t believe this! I already got this from the guardians †¦ but from you? I thought you knew me better.’ â€Å"We don’t know you at all,’ said Adrian flatly. â€Å"All we know is you had lots of access to my aunt.’ He pointed at the door. â€Å"And obviously, it didn’t take you long to move on.’ â€Å"Did you miss the part where I said that’s my job? I’m giving her a massage, that’s it. Not everything is sordid and dirty.’ Ambrose shook his head in frustration and ran a hand through his brown hair. â€Å"My relationship with Tatiana wasn’t dirty either. I cared about her. I would never do anything to hurt her.’ â€Å"Don’t statistics say most murders happen between close people?’ asked Christian. Lissa glared at him and Adrian. â€Å"Stop it. Both of you.’ She looked back at Ambrose. â€Å"No one’s accusing you of anything. But you were around her a lot. And Rose told me you were upset about the age law.’ â€Å"When I first heard about it, yeah,’ Ambrose said. â€Å"And even then, I told Rose there was some mistake–that there must be something we didn’t know. Tatiana would have never put those dhampirs in danger without a good reason.’ â€Å"Like making herself look good in front of all those terrified royals?’ asked Christian. â€Å"Watch it,’ warned Adrian. Lissa couldn’t decide which was more annoying: her two guys teaming up to spar against Ambrose or them throwing barbs at each other. â€Å"No!’ Ambrose’s voice rang throughout the narrow hall. â€Å"She didn’t want to do that. But if she didn’t, worse things were going to happen. There are people who wanted–still want–to round up all the dhampirs who don’t fight and force them into it. Tatiana passed the age law as a way to stall that.’ Silence fell. I’d already learned this from Tatiana’s note, but it was shocking news to my friends. Ambrose kept going, seeing he was gaining ground. â€Å"She was actually open to lots of other options. She wanted to explore spirit. She approved of Moroi learning to fight.’ That got a reaction from Adrian. He still wore that sardonic expression, but I could also see faint lines of pain and sorrow on his face. The burial earlier must have been hard on him, and hearing others reveal information you hadn’t known about a loved one had to hurt. â€Å"Well, I obviously wasn’t sleeping with her like you were,’ said Adrian, â€Å"but I knew her pretty well, too. She never said a word about anything like that.’ â€Å"Not publicly,’ agreed Ambrose. â€Å"Not even privately. Only a few people knew. She was having a small group of Moroi trained in secret–men and women, different ages. She wanted to see how well Moroi could learn. If it was possible for them to defend themselves. But she knew people’d be upset about it, so she made the group and their trainer keep quiet.’ Adrian gave no response to this, and I could see his thoughts had turned inward. Ambrose’s revelation wasn’t bad news, exactly, but Adrian was still hurt at the thought that his aunt had kept so much from him. Lissa, meanwhile, was eating the news up, seizing and analyzing every piece of info. â€Å"Who were they? The Moroi being trained?’ â€Å"I don’t know,’ said Ambrose. â€Å"Tatiana was quiet about it. I never found out their names, just their instructor.’ â€Å"Who was †¦ ?’ prompted Christian. â€Å"Grant.’ Christian and Lissa exchanged startled looks. â€Å"My Grant?’ she asked. â€Å"The one Tatiana assigned to me?’ Ambrose nodded. â€Å"That’s why she gave him to you. She trusted him.’ Lissa said nothing, but I heard her thoughts loud and clear. She’d been pleased and surprised when Grant and Serena–the guardians who had replaced Dimitri and me– had offered to teach Lissa and Christian basic defense moves. Lissa had thought she’d simply stumbled onto a progressive-thinking guardian, not realizing she had one of the pioneers in teaching combat to Moroi. Some piece of this was important, she and I were both certain, though neither of us could make the connection. Lissa puzzled it over, not protesting when Adrian and Christian threw in some questions of their own. Ambrose was still clearly offended by the inquisition, but he answered everything with forced patience. He had alibis, and his affection and regard for Tatiana never wavered. Lissa believed him, though Christian and Adrian still seemed skeptical. â€Å"Everyone’s been all over me about her death,’ said Ambrose, â€Å"but nobody questioned Blake very long.’ â€Å"Blake?’ asked Lissa. â€Å"Blake Lazar. Someone else she was †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ â€Å"Involved with?’ suggested Christian, rolling his eyes. â€Å"Him?’ exclaimed Adrian in disgust. â€Å"No way. She wouldn’t stoop that low.’ Lissa racked her brain through the Lazar family but couldn’t peg the name. There were just too many of them. â€Å"Who is he?’ â€Å"An idiot,’ said Adrian. â€Å"Makes me look like an upstanding member of society.’ That actually brought a smile to Ambrose’s face. â€Å"I agree. But he’s a pretty idiot, and Tatiana liked that.’ I heard affection in his voice as he spoke her name. â€Å"She was sleeping with him too?’ Lissa asked. Adrian winced at the mention of his great-aunt’s sex life, but a whole new world of possibilities had opened up. More lovers meant more suspects. â€Å"How did you feel about that?’ Ambrose’s amusement faded. He gave her a sharp look. â€Å"Not jealous enough to kill her, if that’s what you’re getting at. We had an understanding. She and I were close– yes, â€Å"involved’–but we both saw other people too.’ â€Å"Wait,’ said Christian. I had the feeling he was really enjoying this now. Tatiana’s murder was no joke, but a soap opera was definitely unfolding before them. â€Å"You were sleeping with other people too? This is getting hard to follow.’ Not for Lissa. In fact, it was becoming clearer and clearer that Tatiana’s murder could have been a crime of passion, rather than anything political. Like Abe had said, someone with access to her bedroom was a likely suspect. And some woman jealous over sharing a lover with Tatiana? That was perhaps the most convincing motive thus far–if only we knew the women. â€Å"Who?’ Lissa asked. â€Å"Who else were you seeing?’ â€Å"No one who’d kill her,’ said Ambrose sternly. â€Å"I’m not giving you names. I’m entitled to some privacy–so are they.’ â€Å"Not if one of them was jealous and killed my aunt,’ growled Adrian. Joshua had looked down on Adrian for not â€Å"protecting’ me, but in that moment, defending his aunt’s honor, he looked as fierce as any guardian or Keeper warrior. It was kind of sexy. â€Å"None of them killed her, I’m certain,’ said Ambrose. â€Å"And as much as I despise him, I don’t think Blake did either. He’s not smart enough to pull it off and frame Rose.’ Ambrose gestured to the door. His teeth were clenched, and lines of frustration marred his handsome face. â€Å"Look, I don’t know what else I can say to convince you. I need to get back in there. I’m sorry if I seem difficult, but this has been kind of hard on me, okay? Believe me, I’d love it if you could find out who did that to her.’ Pain flashed through his eyes. He swallowed and looked down for a moment, as though he didn’t want them to know just how much he’d cared about Tatiana. When he looked up again, his expression was fierce and determined again. â€Å"I want you to and will help if I can. But I’m telling you, look for someone with political motives. Not romantic ones.’ Lissa still had a million more questions. Ambrose might be convinced the murder was free of jealousy and sex, but she wasn’t. She would have really liked the names of his other women but didn’t want to push too hard. For a moment, she considered compelling him as she had Joe. But no. She wouldn’t cross that line again, especially with someone she considered a friend. At least not yet. â€Å"Okay,’ she said reluctantly. â€Å"Thank you. Thank you for helping us.’ Ambrose seemed surprised at her politeness, and his face softened. â€Å"I’ll see if I can dig up anything to help you. They’re keeping her rooms and possessions locked down, but I might still be able to get in there. I’ll let you know.’ Lissa smiled, genuinely grateful. â€Å"Thank you. That’d be great.’ A touch on my arm brought me back to the drab little room in West Virginia. Sydney and Dimitri were looking down at me. â€Å"Rose?’ asked Dimitri. I had a feeling this wasn’t the first time he’d tried to get my attention. â€Å"Hey,’ I said. I blinked a couple of times, settling myself back into this reality. â€Å"You’re back. You called the Strigoi?’ He didn’t visibly react to the word, but I knew he hated hearing it. â€Å"Yes. I got a hold of Boris’s contact.’ Sydney wrapped her arms around herself. â€Å"Crazy conversation. Some of it was in English. It was even scarier than before.’ I shivered involuntarily, glad that I’d missed it. â€Å"But did you find out anything?’ â€Å"Boris gave me the name of a Strigoi who knows Sonya and probably knows where she is,’ Dimitri said. â€Å"It’s actually someone I’ve met. But phone calls only go so far with Strigoi. There’s no way to contact him–except to go in person. Boris only had his address.’ â€Å"Where is it?’ I asked. â€Å"Lexington, Kentucky.’ â€Å"Oh for God’s sake,’ I moaned. â€Å"Why not the Bahamas? Or the Corn Palace?’ Dimitri tried to hide a smile. It might have been at my expense, but if I’d lightened his mood, I was grateful. â€Å"If we leave right now, we can reach him before morning.’ I glanced around. â€Å"Tough choice. Leave all this for electricity and plumbing?’ Now Sydney grinned. â€Å"And no more marriage proposals.’ â€Å"And we’ll probably have to fight Strigoi,’ added Dimitri. I jumped to my feet. â€Å"How soon can we go?’ How to cite Last Sacrifice Chapter Thirteen, Essay examples

Last Sacrifice Chapter Thirteen Free Essays

string(52) " hand as they walked, his grip warm and reassuring\." â€Å"IT’S NOT FUNNY!’ â€Å"Youre right,’ agreed Sydney. â€Å"It’s not funny. It’s hilarious. We will write a custom essay sample on Last Sacrifice Chapter Thirteen or any similar topic only for you Order Now ’ We were back at Raymond’s house, in the privacy of our room. It had taken forever for us to get away from the fireside festivities, particularly after learning a terrible fact about a Keeper custom. Well, I thought it was terrible, at least. It turned out that if someone wanted to marry someone else around here, the prospective bride and groom each had to battle it out with the other’s nearest relative of the same sex. Angeline had spotted Joshua’s interest from the moment I’d arrived, and when she’d seen the bracelet, she’d assumed some sort of arrangement had been made. It therefore fell on her, as his sister, to make sure I was worthy. She still didn’t like or entirely trust me, but proving myself a capable fighter had shot me up in her esteem, allowing her to consent to our â€Å"engagement.’ It had then taken a lot of fast-talking to convince everyone– including Joshua–that there was no engagement. Had there been, I’d learned, Dimitri would have had to stand in as my â€Å"relative’ and fight Joshua. â€Å"Stop that,’ I chastised. Dimitri leaned against one of the room’s walls, arms crossed, watching as I rubbed where Angeline had hit my cheekbone. It was hardly the worst injury I’d ever had, but I’d definitely have a bruise tomorrow. There was a small smile on his face. â€Å"I told you not to encourage him,’ came Dimitri’s calm response. â€Å"Whatever. You didn’t see this coming. You just didn’t want me to–‘ I bit off my words. I wouldn’t say what was on my mind: that Dimitri was jealous. Or possessive. Or whatever. I just knew he’d been irritated to see me friendly with Joshua †¦ and very amused at my outrage over Angeline’s attack. I abruptly turned to Sydney, who was just as entertained as Dimitri. In fact, I was pretty sure I’d never seen her smile so much. â€Å"Did you know about this custom?’ â€Å"No,’ she admitted, â€Å"but I’m not surprised. I told you they’re savage. A lot of ordinary problems are settled by fights like that.’ â€Å"It’s stupid,’ I said, not caring that I was whining. I touched the top of my head, wishing I had a mirror to see if Angeline had taken a noticeable chunk of hair. â€Å"Although †¦ she wasn’t bad. Unpolished, but not bad. Are they all that tough? The humans and Moroi too?’ â€Å"That’s my understanding.’ I pondered that. I was annoyed and embarrassed by what had happened, but I had to admit the Keepers were suddenly way more interesting. How ironic that such a backward group had the insight to teach everyone to fight, no matter their race. Meanwhile, my own â€Å"enlightened’ culture still refused to teach defense. â€Å"And that’s why Strigoi don’t bother them,’ I murmured, recalling breakfast. I didn’t even realize what I’d said until Dimitri’s smile dropped. He glanced toward the window, face grim. â€Å"I should check in with Boris again and see what he’s found.’ He turned back toward Sydney. â€Å"It won’t take long. We don’t all need to go. Should I just take your car since I only have to go a little ways?’ She shrugged and reached for her keys. We’d learned earlier that Sydney’s phone could pick up a signal about ten minutes from the village. He was right. There really was no reason for us all to go for a quick phone call. After my fight, Sydney and I were reasonably safe. No one would mess with me now. Still †¦ I didn’t like the thought of Dimitri reliving his Strigoi days alone. â€Å"You should still go,’ I told her, thinking fast. â€Å"I need to check in on Lissa.’ Not entirely a lie. What my friends had heard from Joe was still weighing on me. â€Å"I can usually still keep track of what’s going on around me at the same time, but it might be better if you’re away–especially in case Alchemists do show up.’ My logic was faulty, though her colleagues were still a concern. â€Å"I doubt they’d come while it’s dark,’ she said, â€Å"but I don’t really want to hang out if you’re just going to stare into space.’ She didn’t admit it, and I didn’t need to say anything, but I suspected she didn’t want someone else driving her car anyway. Dimitri thought her coming was unnecessary and said as much, but apparently, he didn’t feel like he could boss her around as much as me. So, they both set out, leaving me alone in the room. I watched them wistfully. Despite how annoying his earlier mockery had been, I was worried about him. I’d seen the effect of the last call and wished I could be there now to comfort him. I had a feeling he wouldn’t have allowed that, so I accepted Sydney’s accompaniment as a small victory. With them gone, I decided I really would check in with Lissa. I’d said it more as an excuse, but truthfully, it beat the alternative–going back out and socializing. I didn’t want any more people congratulating me, and apparently, Joshua had read my â€Å"maybe’ and acceptance of the bracelet as a real commitment. I still thought he was devastatingly cute but couldn’t handle seeing his adoration. Sitting cross-legged on Angeline’s bed, I opened myself to the bond and what Lissa was experiencing. She was walking through the halls of a building I didn’t recognize at first. A moment later, I got my bearings. It was a building at Court that housed a large spa and salon–as well as the hideout of Rhonda the gypsy. It seemed weird that Lissa would be going to get her fortune told, but once I got a glimpse of her companions, I knew she was up to something else. The usual suspects were with her: Adrian and Christian. My heart leapt at seeing Adrian again–especially after the Joshua Incident. My last spirit dream had been too brief. Christian was holding Lissa’s hand as they walked, his grip warm and reassuring. You read "Last Sacrifice Chapter Thirteen" in category "Essay examples" He looked confident and determined–though with that typically snarky half-smile of his. Lissa was the one who felt nervous and was clearly bracing herself for something. I could feel her dreading her next task, even though she believed it was necessary. â€Å"Is this it?’ she asked, coming to a halt in front of a door. â€Å"I think so,’ said Christian. â€Å"That receptionist said it was the red one.’ Lissa hesitated only a moment and then knocked. Nothing. Either the room was empty or she was being ignored. She held up her hand again, and the door opened. Ambrose stood there, stunning as always, even in jeans and a casual blue T-shirt. The clothing hugged his body in a way that showed off every muscle. He could have walked straight off the cover of GQ. â€Å"Hey,’ he said, clearly surprised. â€Å"Hey,’ said Lissa back. â€Å"We were wondering if we could talk to you?’ Ambrose ever so slightly inclined his head toward the room. â€Å"I’m kind of busy right now.’ Beyond him, Lissa could see a massage table with a Moroi woman lying face down. The lower half of her body had a towel over it, but her back was bare, shining in the dim lighting with oil. Scented candles burned in the room, and a calming kind of New Age music played softly. â€Å"Wow,’ said Adrian. â€Å"You don’t waste any time, do you? She’s only been in her grave a few hours, and you’ve already got someone new.’ Tatiana had finally been laid to rest earlier in the day, just before sunset. The burial had had much less fanfare than the original attempt. Ambrose gave Adrian a sharp look. â€Å"She’s my client. It’s my job. You forget that some of us have to work for a living.’ â€Å"Please?’ asked Lissa, hastily stepping in front of Adrian. â€Å"It won’t take long.’ Ambrose looked my friends over a moment and then sighed. He glanced behind him. â€Å"Lorraine? I have to step outside. I’ll be right back, okay?’ â€Å"Okay,’ called the woman. She shifted, facing him. She was older than I’d expected, mid-forties or so. I guess if you were paying for a massage, there was no reason not to have a masseuse half your age. â€Å"Hurry back.’ He gave her a dazzling smile as he shut the door, a smile that dropped once he was alone with my friends. â€Å"Okay, what’s going on? I don’t like the looks on your faces.’ Ambrose might have radically deviated from a dhampir man’s normal life, but he’d had the same training as any guardian. He was observant. He was always on the lookout for potential threats. â€Å"We, uh, wanted to talk to you about †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Lissa hesitated. Talking about investigations and interrogations was one thing. Carrying them out was another. â€Å"About Tatiana’s murder.’ Ambrose’s eyebrows rose. â€Å"Ah. I see. Not sure what there is to say, except that I don’t think Rose did it. I don’t think you believe that either, despite what’s going around. Everyone’s talking about how shocked and upset you are. You’re getting a lot of sympathy over having been tricked by such a dangerous and sinister â€Å"friend.† Lissa felt her cheeks flush. By publicly condemning me and renouncing our friendship, Lissa was keeping herself out of trouble. It had been Abe and Tasha’s advice, and Lissa knew it was sound. Yet, even though it was an act, she still felt guilty. Christian stepped to her defense. â€Å"Back off. That’s not what this is about.’ â€Å"What is it about then?’ asked Ambrose. Lissa jumped in, worried Christian and Adrian might upset Ambrose and make it difficult to get answers. â€Å"Abe Mazur told us that in the courtroom, you said or, uh, did something to Rose.’ Ambrose looked shocked, and I had to give him points for being convincing. â€Å"Did something? What does that mean? Does Mazur think I, like, hit on her in front of all those people?’ â€Å"I don’t know,’ admitted Lissa. â€Å"He just saw something, that’s all.’ â€Å"I wished her good luck,’ said Ambrose, still looking offended. â€Å"Is that okay?’ â€Å"Yeah, yeah.’ Lissa had made a point to talk to Ambrose before Abe could, fearing Abe’s methods would involve threats and a lot of physical force. Now, she was wondering if she was doing so great a job. â€Å"Look, we’re just trying to find out who really killed the queen. You were close to her. If there’s anything–anything–at all you’ve got that can help us, we’d appreciate it. We need it.’ Ambrose glanced curiously between them. Then, he suddenly understood. â€Å"You think I did it! That’s what this is about.’ None of them said anything. â€Å"I can’t believe this! I already got this from the guardians †¦ but from you? I thought you knew me better.’ â€Å"We don’t know you at all,’ said Adrian flatly. â€Å"All we know is you had lots of access to my aunt.’ He pointed at the door. â€Å"And obviously, it didn’t take you long to move on.’ â€Å"Did you miss the part where I said that’s my job? I’m giving her a massage, that’s it. Not everything is sordid and dirty.’ Ambrose shook his head in frustration and ran a hand through his brown hair. â€Å"My relationship with Tatiana wasn’t dirty either. I cared about her. I would never do anything to hurt her.’ â€Å"Don’t statistics say most murders happen between close people?’ asked Christian. Lissa glared at him and Adrian. â€Å"Stop it. Both of you.’ She looked back at Ambrose. â€Å"No one’s accusing you of anything. But you were around her a lot. And Rose told me you were upset about the age law.’ â€Å"When I first heard about it, yeah,’ Ambrose said. â€Å"And even then, I told Rose there was some mistake–that there must be something we didn’t know. Tatiana would have never put those dhampirs in danger without a good reason.’ â€Å"Like making herself look good in front of all those terrified royals?’ asked Christian. â€Å"Watch it,’ warned Adrian. Lissa couldn’t decide which was more annoying: her two guys teaming up to spar against Ambrose or them throwing barbs at each other. â€Å"No!’ Ambrose’s voice rang throughout the narrow hall. â€Å"She didn’t want to do that. But if she didn’t, worse things were going to happen. There are people who wanted–still want–to round up all the dhampirs who don’t fight and force them into it. Tatiana passed the age law as a way to stall that.’ Silence fell. I’d already learned this from Tatiana’s note, but it was shocking news to my friends. Ambrose kept going, seeing he was gaining ground. â€Å"She was actually open to lots of other options. She wanted to explore spirit. She approved of Moroi learning to fight.’ That got a reaction from Adrian. He still wore that sardonic expression, but I could also see faint lines of pain and sorrow on his face. The burial earlier must have been hard on him, and hearing others reveal information you hadn’t known about a loved one had to hurt. â€Å"Well, I obviously wasn’t sleeping with her like you were,’ said Adrian, â€Å"but I knew her pretty well, too. She never said a word about anything like that.’ â€Å"Not publicly,’ agreed Ambrose. â€Å"Not even privately. Only a few people knew. She was having a small group of Moroi trained in secret–men and women, different ages. She wanted to see how well Moroi could learn. If it was possible for them to defend themselves. But she knew people’d be upset about it, so she made the group and their trainer keep quiet.’ Adrian gave no response to this, and I could see his thoughts had turned inward. Ambrose’s revelation wasn’t bad news, exactly, but Adrian was still hurt at the thought that his aunt had kept so much from him. Lissa, meanwhile, was eating the news up, seizing and analyzing every piece of info. â€Å"Who were they? The Moroi being trained?’ â€Å"I don’t know,’ said Ambrose. â€Å"Tatiana was quiet about it. I never found out their names, just their instructor.’ â€Å"Who was †¦ ?’ prompted Christian. â€Å"Grant.’ Christian and Lissa exchanged startled looks. â€Å"My Grant?’ she asked. â€Å"The one Tatiana assigned to me?’ Ambrose nodded. â€Å"That’s why she gave him to you. She trusted him.’ Lissa said nothing, but I heard her thoughts loud and clear. She’d been pleased and surprised when Grant and Serena–the guardians who had replaced Dimitri and me– had offered to teach Lissa and Christian basic defense moves. Lissa had thought she’d simply stumbled onto a progressive-thinking guardian, not realizing she had one of the pioneers in teaching combat to Moroi. Some piece of this was important, she and I were both certain, though neither of us could make the connection. Lissa puzzled it over, not protesting when Adrian and Christian threw in some questions of their own. Ambrose was still clearly offended by the inquisition, but he answered everything with forced patience. He had alibis, and his affection and regard for Tatiana never wavered. Lissa believed him, though Christian and Adrian still seemed skeptical. â€Å"Everyone’s been all over me about her death,’ said Ambrose, â€Å"but nobody questioned Blake very long.’ â€Å"Blake?’ asked Lissa. â€Å"Blake Lazar. Someone else she was †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ â€Å"Involved with?’ suggested Christian, rolling his eyes. â€Å"Him?’ exclaimed Adrian in disgust. â€Å"No way. She wouldn’t stoop that low.’ Lissa racked her brain through the Lazar family but couldn’t peg the name. There were just too many of them. â€Å"Who is he?’ â€Å"An idiot,’ said Adrian. â€Å"Makes me look like an upstanding member of society.’ That actually brought a smile to Ambrose’s face. â€Å"I agree. But he’s a pretty idiot, and Tatiana liked that.’ I heard affection in his voice as he spoke her name. â€Å"She was sleeping with him too?’ Lissa asked. Adrian winced at the mention of his great-aunt’s sex life, but a whole new world of possibilities had opened up. More lovers meant more suspects. â€Å"How did you feel about that?’ Ambrose’s amusement faded. He gave her a sharp look. â€Å"Not jealous enough to kill her, if that’s what you’re getting at. We had an understanding. She and I were close– yes, â€Å"involved’–but we both saw other people too.’ â€Å"Wait,’ said Christian. I had the feeling he was really enjoying this now. Tatiana’s murder was no joke, but a soap opera was definitely unfolding before them. â€Å"You were sleeping with other people too? This is getting hard to follow.’ Not for Lissa. In fact, it was becoming clearer and clearer that Tatiana’s murder could have been a crime of passion, rather than anything political. Like Abe had said, someone with access to her bedroom was a likely suspect. And some woman jealous over sharing a lover with Tatiana? That was perhaps the most convincing motive thus far–if only we knew the women. â€Å"Who?’ Lissa asked. â€Å"Who else were you seeing?’ â€Å"No one who’d kill her,’ said Ambrose sternly. â€Å"I’m not giving you names. I’m entitled to some privacy–so are they.’ â€Å"Not if one of them was jealous and killed my aunt,’ growled Adrian. Joshua had looked down on Adrian for not â€Å"protecting’ me, but in that moment, defending his aunt’s honor, he looked as fierce as any guardian or Keeper warrior. It was kind of sexy. â€Å"None of them killed her, I’m certain,’ said Ambrose. â€Å"And as much as I despise him, I don’t think Blake did either. He’s not smart enough to pull it off and frame Rose.’ Ambrose gestured to the door. His teeth were clenched, and lines of frustration marred his handsome face. â€Å"Look, I don’t know what else I can say to convince you. I need to get back in there. I’m sorry if I seem difficult, but this has been kind of hard on me, okay? Believe me, I’d love it if you could find out who did that to her.’ Pain flashed through his eyes. He swallowed and looked down for a moment, as though he didn’t want them to know just how much he’d cared about Tatiana. When he looked up again, his expression was fierce and determined again. â€Å"I want you to and will help if I can. But I’m telling you, look for someone with political motives. Not romantic ones.’ Lissa still had a million more questions. Ambrose might be convinced the murder was free of jealousy and sex, but she wasn’t. She would have really liked the names of his other women but didn’t want to push too hard. For a moment, she considered compelling him as she had Joe. But no. She wouldn’t cross that line again, especially with someone she considered a friend. At least not yet. â€Å"Okay,’ she said reluctantly. â€Å"Thank you. Thank you for helping us.’ Ambrose seemed surprised at her politeness, and his face softened. â€Å"I’ll see if I can dig up anything to help you. They’re keeping her rooms and possessions locked down, but I might still be able to get in there. I’ll let you know.’ Lissa smiled, genuinely grateful. â€Å"Thank you. That’d be great.’ A touch on my arm brought me back to the drab little room in West Virginia. Sydney and Dimitri were looking down at me. â€Å"Rose?’ asked Dimitri. I had a feeling this wasn’t the first time he’d tried to get my attention. â€Å"Hey,’ I said. I blinked a couple of times, settling myself back into this reality. â€Å"You’re back. You called the Strigoi?’ He didn’t visibly react to the word, but I knew he hated hearing it. â€Å"Yes. I got a hold of Boris’s contact.’ Sydney wrapped her arms around herself. â€Å"Crazy conversation. Some of it was in English. It was even scarier than before.’ I shivered involuntarily, glad that I’d missed it. â€Å"But did you find out anything?’ â€Å"Boris gave me the name of a Strigoi who knows Sonya and probably knows where she is,’ Dimitri said. â€Å"It’s actually someone I’ve met. But phone calls only go so far with Strigoi. There’s no way to contact him–except to go in person. Boris only had his address.’ â€Å"Where is it?’ I asked. â€Å"Lexington, Kentucky.’ â€Å"Oh for God’s sake,’ I moaned. â€Å"Why not the Bahamas? Or the Corn Palace?’ Dimitri tried to hide a smile. It might have been at my expense, but if I’d lightened his mood, I was grateful. â€Å"If we leave right now, we can reach him before morning.’ I glanced around. â€Å"Tough choice. Leave all this for electricity and plumbing?’ Now Sydney grinned. â€Å"And no more marriage proposals.’ â€Å"And we’ll probably have to fight Strigoi,’ added Dimitri. I jumped to my feet. â€Å"How soon can we go?’ How to cite Last Sacrifice Chapter Thirteen, Essay examples