OK IN THIS STORY ROSE HAS BEEN CLEARED OF ALL THE CHARGES AND LISSA'S SIBLING HAS BEEN FOUND. IT WAS MIA.
IT TAKES PLACE A WEEK AFTER ALL THE CHARGES HAVE BEEN DROPPED...
PLEASE REVEIW AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK...
RPOV...
Jumping out of the shower I wrapped a towel around my self and stand in front of the mirror looking at my reflection... I barely recognize the face staring back at me. My eyes seem hollow and lifeless. At the tender age of 19 I seemed to have lived a lifetime. The things that use to hold value to me no longer appeal to me. Yes I still love Lissa, she is still the most important person , along with Dimitri. Ah, Dimitri... just the thought of his name sends a shooting pain right into my heart...as the words play over in my mind ... Love Fades... And if I'm honest he is right love does fade. But when you meet the one person in life, that understands you, that you connect with on every level. The one person that you would sacrafice it all for, Well that's not just love.
When you are in each others presence and feel that gravitol pull toward them, even when you try to ignore it. When you don't need any words, it only takes one look into that person's eyes to see a thousand messages pass between you. When the world screams forbitten, but just one look, one kiss, and all dout leaves your mind.
No matter how much you deny, or fight the pull, how much you wish you could just walk away or hate them, you can't. Truth be told.
You just can't fight Destiny...
Signing to my self, I walk out of my bathroom and dress in a black wife beater shirt and black cargo pants, tying the straps on my black combat boots,
I stand and grab my black leather jacket and head out the door. Yes I know alot of black, But its also the guardian attire, as well as reflecting my mood.
No longer is the girl I use to be here. I'm much more quiet and reserved. Can you blame me. Oh my thoughts are still crazy and sarcastic as ever, but I keep that to myself...
Walking thru the hallway, I make my way out of the building and to the cafe I'm meeting Abe at... My mobster father who I've come to cherish deeply.
As I step into the cafe, I can see and hear alot of hushed whispers and some faces on edge. Tension is building in the atmosphere as mori, and guardians look at everything else but in my direction. Taking a deep breathe and lowering my head to avoid any confrotation I ask the host if Abe Mazur has arrive. She smiles at me and said,
" Right this way Guardian Hathaway" as she leads me to a private room...
Sitting at the table is all my close freinds and family. Along with Dimitri and his mother and grandmother. Yeva stands and walks over to me grabbing me into a fierce hug.
" All is not lost, warrior. Your journey is just begun. I'm sorry about the way my grandson has been treating you, but don't give up on him just yet." she whispered in my ear,
then kissed my cheek.
I look into her eyes and force a tired smile and say, " I'm to tired to fight anymore Babashuka, I have already given up."
She just continues to look into my eyes, not saying a word. Then a lone tear escapes as she nodds her head and turns to sit down, with a look of anger as she glances at Dimitri.
"Roza, its so good to see you again" Olena said, as I turned to embrace her.
" It's good to see you again Olena. How are the girls" I asked
" This is from Victoria, and well they are all doing well, we will talk soon, come you must be hungry" she smiled sweetly at me, as she handed me a letter from viki.
I took a seat next to Abe and my mother. Since I was arrested my mother and I have grown much closer. We had a long talk, where I confessed everything I have been thru and done, since my two year abesence from when Liss and I was returned St. Vlads... Since then A bond has formed between the both of us. Things weren't perfect, but they where alot better and still improving...
Lifting my head I looked at everyone at the table, and felt a little nervous about the fact I was about to tell them all I was leaving court. I needed a new start. There was no way I was gonna be allowed to guard Liss. Plus I knew she would be well taken care of. She had Christain and Dimitri, to look after her. They where the only ones I trusted enough to leave her with... Of course Abe and my mother knew I was leaving. We had made arrangements for me to live and Guard Abe...
My eyes fell upon everyone for a few seconds before moving on to the next person, I met Dimitri's eyes and a conflick was brewing... He seemed pained and regretful...
To tired to really care, I hid my emotions behind a mask of indiference and moved my eyes over the rest of my family... They knew I had an annocement to make...
I could feel Lissa's, nerves and she shuffled around in her seat.
My mother grabbed my hand under the table to reassure me, and gave me a small smile as she nodded her head...
"Well I have an annocement to make, which I'm sure you have been made aware of." I paused as I took a deep breathe... " I'm leaving court" I said and waited...
Lissa emotions gripped me as anger, fear and hurt ,as well as understanding and then the thought crossed her mind that she would come with me.
I looked at her as tears, flowed down her face. She was realizing I was leaving her.
" You won't let me go with you, will you" she asked hoping against all odds that I would assure her that she could come with me...
I walked around the table and kneeled in front of her, taking her hand in mine.
" Liss, no you can't , You know you have to stay here, You will be Queen soon." I said as gently as I could.
She grabbed me into a bone crushing hug and sobbed in my shoulder as she clung to me.
" Please don't leave me Rose" she begged...
" I"ll never truly leave you Liss, plus I will always be here in your heart and head and watching over you" I said trying to lock down my emotions as I soothe her hair.
" Hey you can always call me and write" I said trying to cheer her a little. " I need this Liss, I have to rebuild my life, please try and understand that"
She took a deep breathe as she realized I was right, she wanted me to be happy inspite of her desire to have me stay with her.
"Promise me you will keep in touch" she said in a stern voice.
I gave her a small smile and kissed her cheek and whispered " I'll always keep in touch with you, Your my sister liss, I love you."
" Your my Sister to rose, and I love you to" she said just as quiet...
" Where are you gonna go " asked Christain...
I released Liss and we both sat down again as I answered, " I'm gonna go and gaurd Abe"
"When do you leave" Adrain asked firmly...
Abe responded " Tonight" everyone fell quiet just staring down at the table... I felt someone staring at me as I lifted my eyes, and saw Dimitri looking at me with an intense stare. Trying to read my emotions, get any clues as to why. I gave nothing in return. I turned away as a waitress came to take are orders...
After eating we all went are seperate ways. I walked up to Adrain and asked " Would you like to take a walk with me."
He simply nodded his head as we walked out toward a beautiful garden overlooking the lake... We sat down on a bench staring at the water...
" Adrian, I know... I know that... I'm sorry" I said quietly...
" I know Rose, I know" He said just as quiet as he held me close to him and kissed my cheek...
We sat in silence for a long time, after about an hour he broke and said, " Well, I can always visit your dreams" he tryed joking...
I reached my hand to his face and said, " Be happy Adrain, don't wait or hope for me." I kissed his lips softly and walked away...
As I made my way back to my room I looked up and saw Dimitri, standing outside my door. I felt my heart squeeze in pain, but hide any sign of hurt as I came closer.
He shuffled around on his feet and cleared his throat and said, " Can I speak to you for a moment" I looked up at him and said, " Sure" as I opened my door to my room. We both stepped in side as I took a seat on the chair, and he sat on the bed...
I waited for him to say something, as he just sat there looking at his hands, and in a quiet voice he said, " Why'
"What do you mean" I asked knowing but trying to play dumb...
" Why are you leaving Rose" he said more firmly now... trying to avoid his question I said, " Can I ask a favor from you."
Immediatly his guard was up and he tensed. I laughed inwardly, without humor thinking he can't even be normal with me, much less have a conversation.
" It 's nothing bad, matter of fact it would be easy for you, I just want you to take care of Lissa." I said feeling even more drained.
" Why are you leaving rose" he asked with controled anger...
I started to feel some of the darkness come over me as I took a few breathes and counted to ten in my head to calm myself down...
"What do you want me to say Dimitri" I said brokenly... " Lissa needs you, You can't leave her.." he said firmly...
As always, it was Lissa, he never said anything other than Lissa needs this or that.
" Lissa has you and Christain, even Adrain, plus I will still pull the darkness away from her" I said controling my anger...
" What about you, what are you gonna do with all that darkness, she won't be able to heal it out of you" he said thinking he won...
I already had Osanka making me healing charms to heal the darkness, Abe was paying her quite well for that, but he didn't need to know that...
" Why do you care, what more do you want from me, I have given all I can . I have chased you half way around the world, to keep my promise to you, I failed.
Only to return and find out you where still undead. Then I broke Victor out because I found out there was a slim chance to save you. I risked the lives of people I love and care about to save you. Only to bring you back, so that you can despise me... You can barely even look at me without disgust showing on your face...
You have made it perfectly clear on how you feel... I get it... I won't chase you anymore, I give up..." I said the last words in a whisper...
" I have to move on, I can't stay here and do that... I can't stand the thought of you hating me, or being on edge every time I'm in the same room as you.
All my life it has been about everyone else, they come first. But right now I need time for me. I would never be allowed to guard Lissa. The truth be told I am the only one to blame for that... But I wouldn't change a thing. If I had to do it all over again I would...
I just need to be able to look back on it all and not feel the gut wrenching pain I feel... Maybe one day I can look back on what we had and smile at the memories, but right now I just want to forget ." I spoke with an even tone... as he flinched...
" I'm so sorry...' I cut him off with the wave of my hand. then said. " I forgave you along time ago Dimitri, there's nothing to forgive, just find your peace, be happy , move on, have kids... just... find what makes you happy and hold on to it.." I finished...
Not giving him a chance to say anything more I stood up and said, " Look um... I need to be somewhere. I have to take care of some last minute things so .." I trailed off...
That was the last time I saw or spoke to Dimitri. Its been five years, since I have seen any of my freinds and family at court...
I still check on liss all the time but we don't speak as much... she became queen a year after I left . I still pull the darkness away from her, but I learned to chanel it into fighting...
Adrain and Mia married a few months back and are now expecting there first child... Christain and lissa got married two years ago and had twin boys...
they are still in love and going strong..
As for Eddie, well he was sent to guard Tasha, and about six months after I left we met up. Abe and my mother got maried and live happily together since I left court..
I became a hunter if you will, Along with a group of others... We got enlisted into the elite.
The elite is a group of guardians and mori that is sort of a brotherhood. We get sent into jobs that most guardians would retrieve from...
We all protect each other... Only the strongest are enlisted. Those that don't make the cut get there memory erased and sent back to are vampire world.
As of now we have a total of 24 in are group. They are a mixture of guardians and mori . We are the best of the best...
Are base is located on a private island 400 miles away from cuba. It is protected by wards and charms of invisiblity to the human and vampire world...
Only a few high clearace Mori even know we exist... and they have swore to secrecy. Lets put it this way, even the queen doesn't know we exist...
Are commander along side myself is Tasha... I know who would have thought we would be such good friends...
I lead and train the recruits with Eddie and Pavel. Tasha is the one that chooses who to even invite to possible join the brother hood.
We all serve a purpose here, some are computer techs, others are weapons detial, cooks, and othe things.. however none of us are normal so to speak...
We are all deadly...
The problem with new recruits is that we would have to break every thing they where taught down and start them from scratch...
The motto 'they come first" does not apply here at all... we are equals. Each mori here was capable of kicking a seasoned guardians ass, and then some...
Are motto was " only the strong survive" it was now ingrained into our heads as well as tatooed in are shoulders in chinese symbols...
I stood behind a one way mirror as I watched eddie and pavel greet the new recruits... I could see them but the could not see me...
As always they watched there surrounding and where on edge...
A few fimilar faces stood out among the group of guardians and mori, but only one made my heart jump...
There in all his 6'7 glory stood the russian God himself... It shouldn't surprise me that he got drafted to join. Dimitri always was deadly and skilled...
He was older but it only made him even better. His shoulder lenght hair was pulled back into his famous ponytail at the back of his neck...
He had a goat tee, that was well groomed. It gave him more of an edge and made him even more sexy...
"Tasha, Why didn't you tell me he was recruited" I asked. she had come into the room soundlessly and always tryed to figure out how I knew she was there...
it was sort of a challenge to everyone here to try and catch me off guard... till this day it has yet to be accomplished...
She chuckled and said, " I will catch you one day, but honestly would it have made any difference if I told you a head of time" she finished in a serious tone..
I signed to myself and said, ' Tasha the last time I saw him, he couldn't even barely stand to be in the same room as me, how do you think this is gonna be now"
" Rose alot has changed in the last five years, plus we don't know if he will even make the cut" she said in a comforting tone...
" Oh I'm sure he will make the cut ... I'm just not sure he'll want to stay when he finds out I'm here" I replyed in a dry tone..
"Well lets not jump to conclusions, oh and by the way, you and eddie have a mission. Nothing to big just some important Royal needs to be rescued.
make sure to plant a different memory" she called out as she walked out to greet the recruits...
I made my way to my quarters and suited up in are milartary uniforms... of course all black... with also black head gear, covering are identity...
I armored my self with the norm, guns, knives, throwing disk, my blessed sword given to me by sensi Chung before he died...
In truth are suits looked like ninja suits, only are eyes where revealed.. but we also had dark glasses that allowed us to have night vision when in dark areas...
Placing my glasses on I walked in and met the group... they all turned and looked me over but didn't have a clue as to who I was...
I walked over to Eddie, Tasha and Pavel... they knew never to reveal my name when I was in uniform...
" Hey Boss" called eddie Tasha and Pavel nodded in my direction... I returned the gesture and turned and looked over the recruits...
They where a group of 15 staring at me waiting for more information... one from within the group spoke...
" Who the hell are you" called an ignorant seasoned guardain... I smiled to my self knowing he was in for a rude awakening... but I remained quiet...
" This is are team leader, you will show her respect guardian..."
" Chris... Chris Conner" he said with a smirk... yes I have heard of him. He made alot of kills and was considered the best in are world...
"Well Guardian Chris Conners, lets see what you are really made of. Think you can beat her." asked Eddie... tasha and Pavel smirked as they knew what was coming...
" Not a problem but I'll go easy on her, since I don't want to hurt are 'leader' " he said in an arogant way...
Eddie looked at me and said, " Try not to put any bruisies on him, or any broken bones. We need to see what he is capable of before you ruff him up..." then left to go and get suited up...
I stepped onto the mat and waited for him to make the first move... He crotched down into a fighting stance, first mistake buddy... I thought as I stood in a relaxed stance... with my hands behind my back...
" Well are you gonna just stand there boss" he said taunting me...
I simply gestured with my hand to come on and returned to my relaxed pose... hands still behind my back...
He lunged forward with a right hook that I simply side stepp. He jumped back and regained his balance as he tryed to kick my legs out from under me...
I simple turned out of his reach and was behind him before he registered I had even moved... I tapped his shoulder with two fingers to aware him I was behind him..
he swiftly turned around and lunged his body toward mine. Again I step to the side as he face plants into the floor... he growled in frustration and turned over to face me as I whisper in his ear, " My turn Conner"
I back up and give him a chance to get to his feet... he once again shifts into his fighting stance... I quickly realize that more people have joined in watching...
conner makes his move toward me lashing out toward my face, I grabb his hand before it comes near my face and place my other hand on his chest...
my palm is flat against his chest as I push him back with only little force, he flys back ten feet landing on his backside...
I feel another person behind me throw a punch to my head as I lean to the side turning my head looking at the fist in what seemed like slow motion...
as he retracts back missing my head... I turn my body around to face the new attacker and its Dimitri...
taking the same stance as before, I wait for his attack, I am impressed he moves much quicker than conner and his attacks are much more refined and skilled... It always did amaze me how someone so tall could be so graceful... But all his moves are fimilar to me as I know them by heart...
I dodge all his attacks as he trys to land blow after blow coming up empty... I see eddie enter and know the time for games is over as we have to leave...
I quickly make my move in two simple stepps. I grabb his arm, as electric current shoots thru out my body, and bring it behind his back . I once again place my other palm flat agaisnt his back and give a slight push, he plunges forward but I brake his fall before he hits the floor, I help him steady himself. then bow, I turn and walk toward the exit...
DPOV...
It's been Five long years since I seen her... I have not heard anything about her... I know that Lissa has spoke to her on rare occasions but, she never called from a known number. She would give Lissa little to no information about her where abouts... Everytime we tryed tracing the number it was a false location...
Since the talk she had with me I realized my mistake with her. How could I have let the best thing in my life slip out of my reach... I should have told her the truth.
I should have told her I still love her... but as I sit hear five years later alone in my room holding the only picture I have of her, drowning in her memories...
Her smile, her snarky remarks... her passion, her fierce and loyalty to the ones she loves... the feel of her warm soft lips...
I can't help but feel lost and empty with out her... God I'm so sorry... she probably has moved on... maybe she married or has kids...
Just that thought alone clenches my heart to think I could have stopped her maybe from leaving... If I would have stopped wollowing in self pity...
I can't change the past as I sign to my self. I have to keep moving forward... She asked me to move on , find love, have kids... In spite of every dam thing I said to her. every time I pushed her away, and hurt her, she still in the end wanted me to be happy... God, even I could admitt I didn't deserve her...
I reached over to my laptop and reopened the email I received a few days ago... It was an invitation to possiblely be recruited to a organization called the elite...
Over the years we heard rumors about a secret team called the elite but not much else... I always disreguarded the rumors as nothing more than just that, rumors...
But as I looked over the email I decided to accept the offer... As I moved the mouse over and hit the accept button, seconds later another email poped up from the same elite group saying...
We are pleased that you accept are invitaition, however there are no guarantess that you will make the team. Please know that to be offered an invitation alone is a great honor and sign of your ability...
Please arrive promtly at Jfk airport in new york on 8/31/2010, at 8;00p.m. sharp...check in to gate 38a Tell no one of your invitation, We will know if you do... you will be given futher instruction apon your arrival.
" Only The Strong Survive"
the elite brotherhood...
these messages will be erase from your p.c in ten seconds...
Sure enough ten seconds later any sign that I even received a message was erased from my laptop...
I turned back to my room and took a look around. I had nothing much to show for, except a few clothes and personal items...
grabbing my suitcase and duffel bag I packed my belongings...
I had already made Lissa aware that I was leaving, I told her that I wanted to take time off, that I needed to see my family. At first she was trying to stop me from leaving, but she knew I needed to get away... she told me she knew I was probably not gonna return.
I didn' t stop her from thinking otherwise...
After I finished packing my belongings I went to Guardian Headquarters and signed out for the last time... I was wished good by others there as I left the building...
I jumped into my mustang and made my way to New York J.F.K. airport... I found the gate number I was to be at the following day, then made my way back to my car..
I found a near by hotel and rented a room for the night... I ate the take out I got , then showered and settled down for the night as I pulled out a book and read...
I must have fallen asleep not long after as I woke up to the sun starting to set... looking over at the night stand I had two hours to get ready and make my way back to the airport... I dressed quickly and was out the door with my things heading for the airport... I decided to eat in the airport before heading to the gate...
" All passengers arriving for gate 38a, please make your way to this gate number now" I had just finished eating when the annoucement was made...
I arrived there and a mori asked.. " Name and passport" I handed her my information without saying a word...
" Welcome and congratlations on the invitation. I hope you make the team Guardian Belikov..." she finished as she handed me back my passport.
She placed her eye on the scanner and the door opened... she gestured me thru the door. As i made my way thru the door shut behind me and locked...
I walked futher thru the narrow hallway leading to the plane and was greated by another host. To say the plane was large would be an understatement.
The host directed me to a door, "This will be your private suite throught out the duration of your flight. If you look to your left there is a set of stairs leading to the lounge.
food and refreshments will be available there... the duration of the flight will be 14 hours and 29 minutes .. please place your thumb her and signature" she said as she held out a electronic pad. I placed my thumb on the screen as it scanned. Then grabbed the electronic pen and signed my name onto the screen...
The screen flashed and a picture and all my information came up... when I was born, where I went to school, ss, everything about my life...
"Thank you, Guardian Belikov. If you need anything futher please push the call button in your suite,and enjoy your flight." she said politely and turned and walked away...
I was a little over whelmed with how quickly everything was happening, but I hide it well with my guardian mask. As I opened the door to my suite I could hear others going thru the same thing that was told to me. I closed the door behind me and took in the room...
There was a queen size bed, small bathroom and shower. with a small table and chair next to a small window. A plasma t.v., with a small fridge with waters and soft drinks inside.
everything seemed to be very ultra modern and up scaled..
I was throughly shocked, if i didn't hear the engines on the plane you would think your where in a small apartment.
" Please take a seat, as we began are departure" was said over the intercome...
I watched out the window as we took to the sky, and rose above the clouds... I stayed in my suite for several hours then made my way to the lounge...
I pressed my thumb to the scanner built into the wall as the glass door opened to the lounge. I saw alot more people than I was expecting.
" Hey belikov" called out a buddy... I made my way over to him and said, " Conners how you been man"
" I"ve been good, so I see you got an invitation as well, wonder what this is all about " He said...
" I'm sure I know as much as the rest" I said as I looked around.. I noticed not only guardians but also mori...
We sat and caught up for a while as other people came and went. I excused my self back to my suite after some time and settled in for the rest of the flight..
Hours later...
" Please take a seat as we decend, thank you for flying with us and welcome to the brotherhood"
Not long after we where ushered out of the plane into a large training room. There was a mirror that was most likely the kind they could see us but we couldn't see them... a few minutes passed and Eddie and Pavel walk into the room. I was definatly shocked now... why the hell was Eddie and Pavel here...
I thought Eddie was tasha's guardian and Pavel was Abe's...
" Hello, and welcome to the elite, some of you will make the cut and some of you won't... The things that we attempt to teach you will be much different than what you have been previously taught. Here at the elite are motto is not ' they come first ' are motto here is " Only the strong survive".
We are a secret group refered to as the brother hood. Here we are equals. We will attempt to train you for the next six weeks, those of you who do not make the cut will have your memory of even being invited as well as even being here erased. If any of you have a problem so far please make your way back to the plane." as eddie said that no one moved... " Those of you that do make the cut at the end of six weeks will be going into futher extensive training...
Your time hear will not always be pleasant, so make no mistake and think this is a vaction people. Those of you who wish to pull out at any time may do so.. Now here is one of or team leaders" As tasha walked thru the door... from the corner of my eye I saw a female with long dark hair leave, she seemed to not want to make her self known as she went down another corridor...turning my attenion back to Tasha..
" Hello and welcome, I'm sure you all have alot of questions, rest asure they will be answered in time. Here at the brother hood, we have two main team members,
I being one of them,That you will all have to answer to... make no mistake everyone hear is fully trained and deadly... Ah and here is the other team leader now."
I looked over as a person all decked out in what looked like a ninja suit with dark glasses made there way toward tasha. From the built you could tell it was a female...
but nothing else. She didn't speak and they didn't say her name...
Connor made a remark and you could tell that she was not amused in the least...
Eddie challenged conner to fight the female... and of course she didn't back out but she didn't say a word... He whispered something to her and left the building ...
She walked over to the middle of the room, her steps graceful and skilled. Yes she was not to be messed with...
She stood in a relaxed form with her hands behind her back as conner crotched into a fighting stance...
He tryed taunting her but she seems unmoved.. she only gestured him forward...
He lunged for her time and time again, but she simple side stepped his every move. before long he was on the floor. I quickly threw a punch behind her, to try and catch her off guard, she turned and looked at my fist like she was a mused... before I knew it she grabbed my arm and I was falling face first into the floor.
She grabbed me before I fell and steadied me, the shock that coursed up my arm tingling unnerved me. I had'n felt that since Roza. She quickly bowed head to me and left the building...
Could that have been Roza. As I watched her retreating form I relaized my heart was jumping out of my chest... but it couldn't be her. She would have said something right..
" So, that was a little entertainment for you guys, I hoped you enjoyed... please follow me as we lead you to your quarters. Your training starts tommorrow"
called out Tasha and she lead us out the building...