Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
I shot up out of bed, but I couldn't catch myself in time. I rolled over quicker than I thought I ever could, off the bed, landing on the ground with a hard thud. I groaned and laid there for a moment. Right now, all I wanted to do was sleep, but apparently, my alarm clock thought otherwise.
I pulled myself up by my hands, my legs not working yet, holding onto my bedside table knob. I slammed my hand down on the clock groggily, cringing when I heard a series of snaps coming from within the clock. I didn't think that the court would be providing my sixth alarm clock this week, for some reason.
I pulled myself up fully and rubbed my eyes. Five thirty in the morning was not a very good time for me.
I dragged myself into the shower, feeling instant relief from drowsiness when the hot water pierced my back.
Oksana, Olena, Viktoria, Sonya and Alicia went home yesterday. I cried when they left for the plane, much to Dimitri's amusement, though I could tell that he liked that I cared so much about his family.
I still hadn't given Dimitri an answer to his question. As soon as I had comprehended what he meant by asking me to marry him, I was pulled away by my familiar paramedics to do another check up on me. I assured them in my daze that it would hopefully be the last time I would ever have a spirit related severe head ache, but they were still insistent on making sure I was okay by medical standards.
I was back on duty in no time, but that meant getting up at this time to get outside and look for Strigoi, as if they could get through the hundreds of wards that were set around the court. But still, I knew it was possible, by experience, for Humans to work with Strigoi and get them in.
I slid out of the shower and instantly press the towel to my face before cold drips of water made me cold again. I changed into my guardian outfit, one of my favourite outfits.
There was a quick knock at my door as soon as I emerged from the bathroom, still towel drying my hair. I looked through the keyhole before opening the door.
"Liss? What's going on?" I asked. "What the hell are you doing up at this time?"
She pushed past me gently to stand in the middle of the room.
"Please, come in." I joked as I closed the door.
Lissa smiled at me. "Still grumpy? Or have you had your happy pills?" she asked.
I stuck my tongue out at her and went back into the bathroom, grabbed my hairbrush, and came back out, brushing my hair.
"What's going on?"
She dug in her pocket for a moment, and then pulled out a crumpled piece of paper, opening it slowly.
"I was hoping to catch you before you went on duty…" she started, then handed me the paper.
I looked at the page. She had photocopied a small section off the bottom of a guardian schedule. Each of these schedules lasted two weeks before it was changed.
Thompson, Larry – All week, 3.30am – 9.00pm
Belikov, Dimitri – (Mon-Fri) 9.00am – 10.00pm (Sat-Sun) OFF
Hathaway, Rosemarie – (Tues-Saturday) 6.30am – 11.30pm (Sun-Mon) OFF
I looked at Lissa. "I know my schedule," I said slowly. "Thanks for bringing it round, anyway."
She sighed impatiently and snatched the paper from my hands. "You and Dimitri have Sunday off together."
She looked at me like I was missing something obvious.
"Yeah…." I trailed off.
She sighed again. "Do you know what Sunday is?"
My eyes flashed to my calendar and back, but in my brief glance, I saw nothing obvious written down for Sunday.
"Yes," I lied.
She raised an eyebrow. "Really? Tell me, then."
I stumbled and muttered. "Happy….Birth-Christ-Easter?"
She smiled, but kept her 'serious' face. "Dimitri's birthday?"
"That's what I said." I told her.
She laughed. "Of course you did."
I rolled my eyes, but then something caught me. "Dimitri's birthday? Really? He…he never told me."
"I only found out cause Olena told me. She's so nice."
"Yeah she is." I agreed. "Is there a reason you brought it up? You know he would have told me if he wanted to make a big deal out of it. And besides, I doubt any Moroi would want too."
She cleared her throat.
"Except you. And maybe Adrian. And Christian would just be dragged along…"
She rolled her eyes. "Dimitri is one of the best guardians we have. Celebrating his birthday is the least we can do for him."
I gathered my hair in my hands at the back of my head and slid a hair tie over the bundle.
"Unless he didn't want you to make a big deal out of it, in which case you would be torturing him." I noted thoughtfully, running what I had said through my head a second time to make sure it made sense.
She smiled. "He'd forgive me."
"Cause that's what matters." I said sarcastically as I collapsed on my bed to do up my shoes.
"Rose." She warned. "Olena gave me permission, so don't be going all negative. You've never let me celebrate your birthday. I couldn't try in secret cause you will always know. Let me do it, just this once!"
I sighed in defeat. It was almost impossible to deny her. "Fine. Whatever. But I don't want to be held responsible."
She smiled. "Thanks, but there is a reason why I'm telling you this." She said.
I looked up at her. "I can't just be on the guest list?"
She shook her head. "Nope. We need someone who knows Dimitri really well. I bet there is no one closer to him than you right now."
"What about his own mother?"
"She's across the country. I don't know why she didn't stay for his birthday."
I shrugged.
"But anyway, we need your help. You have inside access to him." She paused.
"Really? You couldn't have phrased that any better?" I asked sarcastically.
"Sorry, but, no-" She shook her head. "Look, we need you for this party we're throwing for him. What would be his type of party? How could you distract him before the party, then lead him there in a totally awesome way? Or a Rose way, maybe?"
"Okay, first thing's first. A totally awesome way is a Rose way." I clarified.
She laughed as I continued. "You might want to go for…western. Cowboys and stuff…but not in a way that looks too real, with, you know, people bashing each other and making out. Replace that with music that revolves around the whole idea, maybe.
"And I'll work on the plan."
She cracked a smile. "Western?"
I shrugged. "It's his thing."
I looked at the clock. I had five minuted before I had to leave. Lissa watched me, and then looked at the clock too.
"You have to go?" she asked.
I nodded. I would walk slowly.
She was grinning from ear to ear. "Thank you so much! It'll be awesome! You'll see!"
I rolled my eyes. "You really think you can do it in five days?"
She cracked a smile. "Watch me."
***Interval***
I walked around the corridors for a full two and a half hours before Dimitri's shift even started. I didn't see him for three hours after that, and that was only a glimpse in the window. He was walking around outside. I doubted he saw me.
Though as I was walking around near the front office, I was approached from behind. I turned around quickly and saw Adrian grinning at me.
"It's super hard to catch you by surprise nowadays." He noted.
"Part of the job description."
"I suppose." He said. "Would have been nice to do something different around here, don't you think. I know it was dangerous and life threatening and whatever before but…it's boring now. There's nothing to do!"
I rolled my eyes.
"You have lost all sense of humour, rose. Lighten up, would ya? Nothing's gonna attacked ya here."
"Also standing around forever waiting for something to wrong…that's part of the job description. Literally. When on duty, thou shall not have fun."
He laughed. "Apparently. Walk with me?"
I did as he instructed, not taking it as 'fun', but as an order from a royal. If I was caught gasbagging with Adrian it would not be good for me, no matter what the danger risk was.
"How is Denis?" I asked.
"Good. He loves it here, and he loves that he has a home, has a family. He's super happy."
"That's good."
"Caring?"
I looked at him sideways. "He's Lissa's brother and a good friend of mine. Of course I care."
"But not like you care for me?" he asked lightly.
I punched his arm softly.
"Did you talk to Lissa?" he asked.
I nodded. "Came in my room this morning."
"And your okay with Lissa letting out her…artistic skills?"
I laughed. "Jealous?"
He shook his head. "No. Definitely not."
"She'll do a good job."
He half smiled. "Oh, I know that."
HEY!
Ready for the awesomeness that is the next instalment in the Last Sacrifice series by Lauren Edwards? I think you are!
For those of you who have gone to this book before going to The Last Sacrifice – Their choice, I advise you to read the last book, but it's a free country I guess.
Anyway! I will not, I repeat, will not be posting on Wednesday night and Thursday night. On those nights I am dressing up in a moustache and turban and acting as an Indian Edward Cullen. Yes, you read right.
I am involved in my school's talent show on both those nights. One dance, and one act. Should be fun. Hell nervous though.
A bit about my act? Just because I love it so dearly.
An Indian vampire named Edward Cullen comes to school one day and realises that he loves the dunce of the class, Bella Swan. She can not get a sentence out without twirling her hair around her hair, and saying like so many times she looses her train of thought. We also mixed in the line "Why do you look like cedric diggory off harry potter" when OMG, A geeky harry potter runs across the stage.
Edward then trips over with Bella on his back in the forest. Then an even geekier James and Laurent step in and try to kill her. Then there is this big fight scene with Voldemort and Harry where Harry gives voldemort a wedgie…
And they live happily ever after.
Feel my pain? I also broke my foot :( But it's all better now! :)
So yes, get ready for awesomeness!
Lauren :)