"Ready to go, Rose?" my charge and best friend called from the other room. I sighed and grabbed my suitcase off of the bed. I was in for a long month. "Yeah," I called down to the living room. "I'm coming."
Thirty seconds later I was down the stairs of the large mansion we lived in and into the living room where Lissa and her husband, Christian waited by the door, suitcases in hand. I walked up behind Lissa and took the suitcase from her hand. She smiled back at me. "Don't worry, Rose. I've got this." She took her hand and held it to the large bump in her abdomen. I shook my head. "I won't want you hurting yourself. I can handle it. Where are the other bags?"
Lissa pointed out the door to the hedged driveway. "Ryan's taking the out to the car now. So were set to go whenever your ready." Ryan was Lissa's other guardian. A cute, twenty-something guy with curly brown hair and eyes so brown, they could be black. Truthfully,I had always been just a little attracted to him. So had lots of other girls. On his days off we can hear moans from his bedroom, but we all just ignore it.
I bit my lip. "I'm all ready," I told her. Lissa scrunched her eyebrows together, worried. "Are you sure you're fine Rose? You've been acting weird since I told you we're going to visit Tasha."
"Have I?" I asked, faking innocence. "Sorry, guess I'm just not used to new places." Lissa rolled her eyes, but let it go. "Okay, Rose. You know I'm here if you need to talk about anything, right?"
I opened my mouth to reply, but Christian interrupted me. "I have an idea," he said. "Let's cool it on the girl dramas and get on the road. It's a long drive."
"Oh cool it, Sparky," I tell him. "Don't get your panties in a knot." He made a face at me so I stuck my tongue out at him. Lissa patted her stomach. "I don't know if I'm ready for a third child," she said to her baby bump. "Your daddy and Auntie Rose are almost too much for me to bare as it is." Christian and I roll our eyes. "Whatever Liss," I say. Then we exit the house. After the door closes, Christian turned around and locked it. "Well," He says to the house. "See ya again in a few weeks, old chap." Me and Lissa laugh then we all walk to the sleek, black SUV where Ryan, Lissa's other guardian sat in the driver's seat, both hands on the wheel. "Hurry up," he called through the open window as he honked the horn twice.
I shoved the suitcases in the back and climbed into the seat in the very back, so I could lie down and sleep on the long drive.
"When are we picking up Kyle?" I ask nobody in particular. "Were not," Ryan called back. "Tasha and Christian decided that four guardians are going to be enough."
I sat up. "Four?" Poking my head up and over the back seats, I saw Ryan nod, his curls bobbing. "Me, you, Belikov, and O'Brien." I squinted my eyes, confused. "Who's O'Brien?"
"The little ones guardian," he said. This only confused me further. "What little one?" Ryan sighed. "Really, Rose? Your best friend and charge is Tasha's niece in-law and you don't know this?"
"Cut the crap and tell me, Ryan." In the rear view I saw Ryan roll his eyes. "Tasha's kid." The words stung deep and buried themselves into my heart and brain. Tasha's kid? Does that mean Dimitri's kid too? Dimitri and Tasha's kid? Yuck. That thought made me want to wash my brain out. He's only been gone two years. Did he really get started that early when he got to her? After he left me...
I answered the door to my dorm room. It was a week after the attack. In the outline of my doorway stood Dimitri, my 6'7 tanned and ripped mentor (slash) lover. His chin-length brown hair was tied back into a pony tail at the nape of his neck. His brown duster hung to the floor.
"Something wrong, Comrade?," I asked. It wasn't normal for him to come to my dorm for anything unless it was really important. He hesitated for a minute, shifting his weight to the other foot. "Rose...," he began. "I... I can't." In my brain I knew what he was talking about, but my heart needed confirmation. "What are you talking about?" Dimitri sighed and took a step towards, until he was a mere breath away. "I can't be with you. I've thought about it over and over again. I... I know what I said, but... I lied. I didn't mean to lie- but I did. I still love you, but it's too hard right now. I can't do this to you or myself. I don't want to ruin either of our reputations. In a few years maybe we can be together... so people don't think things happened while you were still underage."
"But they did," I remind him. "I know... Just listen to me, Rose. I've accepted Tasha's offer. I'm going to be her guardian. It's too hard to be here with you." I clenched my teeth. "It didn't seem to hard to be here with me when we were in the cabin!" Dimitri closed his eyes and when he opened them I saw tears shining. "I love you, Rose. Don't forget that. We can't be together right now though."
"Maybe...," I told him. Though the statement about to come from my mouth tore me apart, I had to say it- just to see what he would say. "Maybe we just shouldn't be together. Ever." Dimitri looked down. "Okay."
I wanted to scream in outrage. He was willing to let me go just like that? No fight, no arguing, no... anything. Just okay! Well, that wasn't okay.
"Well, fine then, Belokiv. I guess this is good bye." I had to fight to keep the tears from my eyes. I didn't want Dimitri to think I was weak or childish. Dimitri opened his mouth then hesitated. "Goodbye, Rose." At that, I turned my back to him and walked away.
I woke up in the back seat four hours later, with Lissa shaking me. "Get up, Rose! We're here." I sat up groggily. "At Tasha's?" Lissa nodded. "Uh huh." I looked around. Even the baggage was already out of the SUV. "I slept through the whole trip?" She nodded again.
I got out and looked around. It was a large, gray stone house on top of a hill. There were no other signs of people for at least miles. From the from the drive way all you could see in the distance were trees. The sun sat high in the sky, illuminating several of the stone chimneys coming out of the house.
"Wow," I said, in awe. "It's beautiful." Lissa smiled a bright smile. Somewhere along the road she had put her long, platinum hair up into a ponytail. "I know! I think I'm going to love it here! What about you? You'll even get to see Dimitri again. I know it made you pretty sad when he left to go guard Tasha." I nodded. "Yeah. Great." I gave her a fake smile. I always had been pretty good at lying.
I had never told Lissa about Dimitri and I. At first it hurt too bad and after the pain was replaced by a dull numbness, I was too afraid she's be angry at me for keeping this from her.
Lissa ushered me into the house. "Every one's waiting for you!," she said. As I walked through the front door, my breath was stolen from me. The house was amazing. The walls were stone and the floors were the kind of hardwood you would see in a cabin. Large bay windows let light shine into the room. In the middle of the room you could see up both stories and a huge skylight illuminated the room further, leaving no need for lights in the daytime. Against one The kitchen and living room were separated by a stone breakfast bar. The kitchen was filled with the newest appliances, all stainless steel.
I jumped as someone put their hand on my shoulder. Quickly, I turned around to see who was behind me. Tasha laughed. "Sorry to startle you," she said. I felt a blush spread across my cheeks. "It's fine," I told her quietly. Tasha had hardly aged since I last say her over two years ago. She looked extremely well for a thirty-three year old. Her black hair was loose around her face. The scar from her battle with striogi was still evident and gnarled her otherwise pretty face. Instead of ruining her face though, it seemed to enhance her beauty. It was a battle scar, showing her strength too.
Tasha spread her arms out. "So, what do you think of my humble home?"
"It's... wow." Tasha laughed and picked up one luggage bag in each hand. "Follow me. I'll show you guys to your rooms." She walked through a doorway on the right side of the kitchen, which led into a, long hallway lined with doors. At the end of the hallway was a black, cast iron staircase. Up the staircase was another small room with a archway. Outside the room was a wide, square room. The middle of the room was lined with a black railing overlooking the downstairs. There was eight doors upstairs total, excluding the stair archway. She walked to the first door. Engraved in the door was a tree. "Guardian Garret, this will be you room." Ryan looked at the door. "Thank you Lady Ozera. I appreciate it."
"My pleasure," Tasha said, flashing him a smile. "You can go ahead and get settled in while I show the others their room." Ryan nodded and walked into the room carrying his baggage. I tried to get a glimpse of the room but he blocked my view.
We walked to the next door. "That's the bathroom," Tasha told us. We all nodded then continued on. Next we came to a door with a bird engraved into it. "Lissa, Christian- this is your room." Tasha put the bags she was carrying into that room. "Thanks a ton, Tasha," Christian said, smiling. "It's no problem, really. I'm so excited to have you guys come stay. You'll get to meet your cousin too! I don't think you've ever seen Devon, have you?" Tasha was practically bouncing up and down in excitement. Christian just shook his head. "Nope. Were is he?"
Tasha tossed her hand. "He's spending the night with my friend Susan and her son. Alex and Devon get a long really well."
"I can't wait to meet him!" Lissa said. Tasha smiled. "And I can't wait to meet this little one," she said, looking at Lissa's stomach. "I'm going to be a great aunt!"
Lissa laughed. "Well, were going to go get our stuff put away. Well down in a little bit. Okay?"
"That's fine. Dinners served at six."
"Okay! Thanks Aunt Tasha," Christian called from inside the bedroom. After that the door was shut and me and Tasha walked on. We had to pass quite a few doors and before long we were on the other side of the large hole in the floor. "Where are my bags?" I ask her. Tasha pointed down. "They got left in the car so I sent Dimitri out to get them. He should be in soon. I don't know what's taken him so long." As if on cue the front door opened and Dimitri's large frame came into view. "Tasha!" he called.
"Up here!" she yelled back. Dimitri walked across the room and disappeared from my sight, but you could hear his feet on the stairs. Then, Dimitri appeared in the archway that separates the stairs from us. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a white tee-shirt. His hair had grown and was now almost to his Adam's Apple but his face was still the same. Handsomely angled and perfectly framing his coca brown eyes. Still pretty good looking. No, not just good looking. He was hot. The kind of hot that makes you stop in the middle of the road and get hit by traffic. Dimitri audibly caught his breath, but Tasha didn't seem to notice. "Hurry up, Dimka! The poor girl needs her stuff!" He continued over to us. "Rose. It's been a while." He looked down at me, eyes wide. I nodded. "Yes. Yes it has, Belikov."
"How have you been?" he asked. I gave the standard, "Good. You?"
"Very well." I gave him a fake smile. "That's good. Thank you for bringing me up my suitcase. I had better get settled in now."
"Tasha smiled. "Okay. Dinner's served at six. You guys have free reign of the house and yard, so do what you'd like and have fun."
"I will. Thanks a lot, Tasha." Then I went into the white door. Engraved in the door was a fish. I closed it behind me and looked around the room. It was like a hotel suite, complete with a mini fridge. The walls were stone and had a fire place filled with wood and above it was a large flat screen- probably 50". The floor was white carpeted and completely stain free. The back wall wasn't actually a wall, but rather an extremely large window that covered entire space where a wall should be. Outside I could see a large expanse of forest. Past the forest was a cliff hanging over a large body of water. The sun was on the verge of setting.
The bed was against the left wall and on either side was a wooden nightstand. In one corer of the room there was also a jacuzzi.
I ran to the bed and jumped on it. To my surprise I sunk right in. I rolled around I the bed for about five minutes, enjoying the soft and suppleness of the mattress and the satin sheets. "God! These people know how to live!" I shouted.
I got my stuff put away and glanced at the clock. It was only five-thirty. I plopped myself onto the couch, grabbed the remote, and began flipping through the channels. There was nothing good on. At all.
Sighing, I rose to my feet and left the room. I stopped outside my door for a second then went back in and got my iPod off the dresser where I left it. Then I went downstairs. On the back porch was a a round, black table. I sat in one of the chairs. After setting an alarm on my iPod for six, I put in the headphones and closed my eyes, allowing the music to take me. When I opened my eyes again Ryan was sitting in the chair across from me.
"What time is it?" I ask him as I sit up straight and pull the headphones out. Ryan looked down at his wrist. "Five forty-three."
"And how long have you been sitting there, watching me like your contemplating killing me?"
Ryan looked up at me and smiled. The dimples in his cheeks came out and made him look a lot cuter than usual. "You look better when you smile," I told him. He looked over me. "You always look good."
"Well, duh. I'm Rose- fucking- Hathaway. I'm naturally awesome." Ryan rolled his eyes. "You know Rose- we're off duty while we're here for the most part. Maybe, if your into it, we could, ya know, hang out a little bit."
"I'll consider it."
"You should."
"I will."
"Good," he said, rising to his feet. "In the mean time, though, I can wow you with my gentleman charm." He held his hand out to me. I took it and rose. "For the last two years I've thought you somehow managed to evade my subucubus-like good looks and charm." Ryan shook his head. "Never, Hathaway. I just repressed my attraction until we got some time when we didn't have to spend all our energy on guarding Vasilisa."
"You remind me so much of Adrian all of the sudden," I said. He looked at me. "Well, that's not so bad. He's good looking, rich, and get's all the ladies."
"Yeah, but he's also crazy," I reminded him. Ryan shrugged. "The costs are nothing compared to the benefits."
"I guess..." Then we walked hand-in-hand (jokingly) into the house and to the dining room. Lissa looked at me, eyebrows raised. I shook my head and smiled.
Dimitri- I noticed painfully- sat at the head of the table. To his right the seat was empty was pushed out and to his left was Christian. Next to Christian was Lissa. Tasha was absent for about a minute before she came in through the swinging door that lead to the kitchen. "Rose! Guardian Garret! Good, you guys are here. I'll bring out the dinner. Have a seat anywhere." Then she went back into the kitchen.
I sat at the other end of the table and Ryan took the seat left of me, next to the seat that was pushed out, Tasha came back out, carrying a large tray. On the tray was turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn. The was also two large pitchers. One was clear and the other was white.
"This smells great, Aunt Tasha," Christian said, licking his lips. Tasha put the platter down in the middle of the table then sat in the seat next to Dimitri. I had to force myself not to look away.
"So, Rose," Tasha said, engaging conversation. "I saw you walk in with Guardian Garret. Is something going on there?" Dimitri almost choked on the drink he had just taken. "What!," I exclaimed. "No! Were both Lissa's guardians. That wouldn't be right"
"And you can just call me Ryan," Ryan interjected. Tasha laughed and nodded. Lissa and Christian looked at each other. Dimitri did nothing but wipe up the water he had spit out moments ago.
"Yes sir, Ryan," Tasha said. "And by the way- I don't think it would be so bad, you two dating. I know you both take your job very seriously from what Christian has told me. Also, Rose, I've heard you haven't even had a boyfriend since you graduated! Your too pretty to live a life like that. Just because you have a job doesn't mean you can't have a life."
I laughed. "Trust me Tasha, I plenty happy being single." That was a lie though. There was one man I'd even give up guarding Lissa for- and he was sitting right across form me. And at that moment he lifted his head up and looked right at me.
