Disclaimer:
I do not own any of the characters in this story. This is a part of the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead.
Please let me know your thoughts on my story and whether i should continue to write.
My Last Sacrifice
After they took me from the courtroom, I couldn't help but keep repeating in my mind, they execute traitors. Once they got me back in my cell, which happened to be the same cell Dimitri was in, I pulled out the letter from the late Queen Tatiana and read it again. I had to come up with a solution to get out of this mess. I needed to find Lissa's sibling and the Queen herself appointed me.
I was not allowed visitors, but Abe was able to come see me considering he was my attorney. Not that I wanted to see anyone anyways. I'm sure everyone thinks I did it, especially with all the evidence that the prosecutor had presented in the courtroom, only that there was too much evidence to make it look like I did it. I don't know who I can trust at the moment except for the person who actually gave me the letter. I know Ambrose is probably hurting right now but he needs to help me escape. I'm sure him and Rhonda can help me with a plan with Abe. Abe has his resources, but I have to make sure to tell him to not tell anyone else because I don't want anyone else involved. Once I get out of here, I will never return. Lissa doesn't need me, she already has Christian and Dimitri will always guard her. Adrian will find someone else; I am the odd wheel out. I always have been. I shouldn't have lived all those years ago. Lissa shouldn't have brought me back, but we didn't know the consequences of that until now. Look where we are now, I'm a haunted person and I'm also hunted. I'm sure everyone wants me dead, whether they are strigoi, moroi, dhampir or human. I am selfish enough to want to make it out there on my own; I will not bother my so-called friends with my burdens anymore. I love them enough to leave them and let them live a safer life with me protecting them on the outside.
As I'm thinking through my plans of escaping, Abe approaches. "Daughter, you look like you're going to get a hemorrhage thinking that hard." "Daddy, I'm scared and I don't know what I've done wrong to be in a world of so much hate. Why am I the most hated person on this planet? It doesn't even end with Strigoi. Moroi, dhampir and humans are all out to get me. Sometimes I wish I can go back to when I should have died and let it be it. Maybe there wouldn't be as much hatred in the world."
Abe looked like he was thinking hard too when he responded, "baby, it's not you. The world will be the same with or without you here. Although with you here, it makes my life more bearable. I don't know if I can go back to not having you in my life. Don't worry because I'll always take care of you." I nodded to my father and asked him to come towards me. I looked towards all the guards in the hallway to see if they would be able to hear and see what I'm about to do. Abe approached my cell closer and I hugged him. He returned my hug; we stood there for a minute just embracing like father-daughter. Then I whispered to him and said, "Dad, you need to talk to Ambrose and Rhonda and plan an escape for me. I need to be out of here soon. I just put a letter in your pocket. Do not read it until you are alone and do not show anyone what it says either. Please do not tell any of my friends or mom that I plan on escaping because I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything ever happened to them. I love you dad, tell mom I love her too." Then I stepped back and told him good night. Abe left and I went back to thinking of an escape plan.
I must have fallen asleep because I was pulled into an Adrian dream. I was still in the same outfit I was wearing and looked at my surrounding. We were back at the ski lodge where we first met. Adrian was standing exactly where I first met him. He was gorgeous in his own way, not in the Russian god way Dimitri was. As I thought that, I diverted my thoughts so I will not think of him. It hurt too much, especially when he told me, Love Fades.
"Adrian, I'm tired and cranky. Please not tonight" I plainly stated. I didn't want to deal with him; I don't want to deal with anyone. He looked hurt, but still approached. "Little dhampir, please, I miss you and just want to see you. Since they didn't allow me to come see you, this is the only way I get to see you." I have been avoiding him because of the escape I've been thinking about. I didn't want him to know. "I'm sorry Adrian. You lost your great-aunt and all I seem to be thinking about is my problems." I had to suck it up and help him tonight; I'll have to somehow find a way to block him.
"Adrian, come here" he approaches and hugs me. We both sit on the stairs and he leans into me. I tell him to lie down and he changes the scene from the ski lodge to a nice summer day at the beach. We're both sitting underneath a large umbrella and lying on a blanket. He's lying down with his head on my lap and I mindlessly stroke his hair. He closes his eyes and quietly sobs. I comfort him the only way I know how, I quietly hum a lullaby and he falls asleep. As he falls asleep, I wake up in my cell again. I don't know if I'll be able to go through that again.
The next few days few by quickly, I don't know where the time passed considering I had nothing else to do. Not once did I enter Lissa mind. I know she has tried several times to come see me but they won't let her in. I don't want to see them anyway. It'll just make what I'm doing harder. Abe finally came back, only this time, he brought Ambrose with him. "I'm surprised they let you come see me, Ambrose." "Well, Abe needed assistance, so he hired me to be his sidekick. I'm his legal assistance and being his assistance, I get to come visit you."
"Well, should we get to it?" Abe and Ambrose requested a private meeting room, guarded with magic so that no one can listen into our conversation. I was surprised at how willing they were going to let me go into a room with Abe and Ambrose. I guess they don't know anything about me. Oh well, anyways, we got to talking about our defense and then finally, the escape. Ambrose and Abe devised a plan – during one of these meetings that we have, they will have a charmed item that will make me look like Ambrose and walk out the door with Abe while Ambrose stays in the cell. Abe is getting Oskana to create the charms so that Ambrose will be me for a few hours until I get out and then Abe will come back for him. Abe will bring a feeder back with him looking as Ambrose and trade places with the real Ambrose and leave the feeder in the cell until further notice. He will find one that will have some resemblance in me so it wouldn't be hard to fake. Since Oskana is coming to court with her husband Mark, Oskana will be using compulsion on the feeder to make her think she's really me. She will be implanting some of my memories, ones without Dimitri, Adrian, Lissa, Christian, Eddie or Mia, so that even if they came, they will not be able to break her. She can just tell them she doesn't want anything to do with them.
After Abe and Ambrose left, I will have 2 days until they came back. Now is the time to say good-bye. I was given the opportunity to finally see my friends with my attorney and I took the opportunity. Lissa came as soon as Abe told her. Christian followed obediently like a loss puppy. Of course wherever Lissa went, Dimitri went. And where Dimitri went, Tasha followed. Adrian and my mom came as well. Lastly, Eddie and Mia showed up and we had a small gathering with my father an Ambrose. I'm guessing everyone's probably wondering why Ambrose is here, I didn't explain anything other than Abe telling them that Ambrose has been a great help in the defense and he's his assistance. Everyone thought it was weird. I had one hour to say goodbye to everyone. I started with Lissa.
"Liss, if anything should happen to me, I want you to know I love you more than anything. I'm sorry for everything I have ever put you through." I whispered to her quietly while everyone was talking amongst themselves. "I want you to know that I will always protect you, no matter where I am, whether I'm dead or alive." She looked at me and started crying. Christian saw and came over. I leaned over and hugged her and Christian together. "Chris, please take care of her. I don't know if I'll get through this alive, but please promise me that you'll love each other and embrace that love. You don't know what you have until it's gone." He stood up and came around and gave me a hug and I quietly sobbed into his shoulder. "Please Christian, I don't know what I would do if anything ever happened to Lissa." He assured me that he will love her to the fullest and will keep my promise. In return, he stated, "Please Rose, do not give up yet. Do not give up until we have found a way to save you." "Chris, I will never give up. I have plenty to live for and I will always cherish you my brother." We embraced in a hug again and I saw everyone looking at us.
I went to my mom next, "Mom, I love you more than anything. I'm sorry to have disappointed you. I'm sorry I wasn't a better daughter or a better Guardian. I do want you to you know that no matter what happens mom, I love you more than anything." I gave her a hug and moved on to Adrian.
"Adrian" he came over and hugged me. "Please Rose, do not say goodbye. I love you more than anything in this world. You are my world, without you, my sky will always be dark. Since you came into my life, you have brought the sun." I was stunned by what he said, so I whispered in his ears so only he will hear. "I love you too Adrian. I will never ask for a better man, but I don't know where and when my journey ends so I'm letting you know. No matter what happens, I want you to be happy. Please do not dwell on what happens to me, please live your life. Fulfill your destiny and become the man I know you are meant to be. Please do this for me, my love. I will always cherish our time together. Love you." I stepped away from him to Tasha.
"Tasha, I'm happy to have met you even thought we do not know each other very well. Take what is yours and keep fighting for what you believe." I gave her a hug and moved on to Eddie and Mia.
"I know you're both together now. I wondered how long it was going to take before you embraced each other." I winked at them. "No matter what happens to me, take care of the rest of them. I love them and I love you both. Please make sure to keep Lissa and Christian safe." They both pulled me into a hug, Mia sobbing and Eddie trying to stay strong. He whispered to me, "Mia and I will keep them both safe. Rose, do not give up yet. I know I was mad after your stunt with Victor, but I love you like a sister and I wouldn't ask for anyone else to be my sister. I love you." I gave them both kisses on their cheeks and turned to Ambrose.
"Ambrose, to the man who has lost everything and the person you loved the most. I'm sorry. I understand what you are feeling, but remember that there's nothing in the world that can replace that love. She will be waiting for you if she was your true love." I stated simply, hoping that Dimitri will get my drift. The room was quiet as I made my way to Abe.
"Dad" I gave him a hug. "I didn't know what a mushy man you were." I snickered and everyone joined in and giggled. "I love you, thank you for believing in me. Thank you for following me around Russia and thank you for everything you have given me. I wish I got to you know before all this drama happened. I wished you were there from the start because I would have loved to have both you and mom to help me. I wish we had more time together." He hushed me as he embraced me in a bone crushing hug. "Shhhh daughter." He was tearing up and everyone can hear. "I love you more than anything in this world. I wish I can make everything better and take all the bad things out of your life. I wish I was able to make all the monsters go away and hold you like my baby girl. One day, I will make it up to you and do that sweetheart. One day." He gave me a kiss on the forehead and my mother came over and we had a family hug. I saved Dimitri for last because I don't have much to say to him.
I turned to Dimitri at last and I approached him. Once I got close enough, I stopped. I address him as he wanted me to, formally. "Guardian Belikov." I choked up. "I wish you the best. Thank you for your words of wisdom that you have taught me. I'm sorry to have put your talented training to waste. I'm sorry to disappoint you." As I looked at him, various emotions passed through his eyes as his face held his Guardian mask. "I thank you for the time you have given me and I want to honor your request you have asked of me. I wish you every happiness." As I said those he broke down and stepped up to hug me. "Dimitri, I will always love you" I whispered and stepped away. Just as I was done, there was a knock at the door telling us that they had to leave. Lissa came and hugged me again saying, "I'll find a way to get the evidence to free you Rose."
Lissa and Christian walked out, followed by Dimitri and Tasha. Dimitri gave me one last look, a look of love and longing. As soon as I saw it, he masked it with his perfect guardian mask again. Adrian followed after he gave me a passionate kiss. Mia and Eddie came and gave me hugs, said farewell and left. My mom, Abe and Ambrose were the last to leave. I gave my parents hugs again and they walked me back to my cell before heading off. Ambrose was the last to leave. He gave me a message stating, tomorrow was the day. He and my father were coming back around morning, human time. During that time, there were less guards and it was easier to escape. I nodded telling him I understood. We gave hugs and he departed.
Today was an emotional day. I've been working on my blocking, both Adrian and Lissa. I know they do not like it but, I have to do it. I had mentioned this to Abe before so he's asking Oskana to charm something to block the two of them. That will help when I'm on the run.
Tomorrow couldn't come fast enough. Abe already has taken care of everything, has alias setup for me along with car and credit cards and cash, lots and lots of cash. He told me not to worry about it. He's making up for lost time. He said they found my double already and is in the transformation phase. Oskana is erasing her memory as we speak and she is implanting some of my memories into her. Ok course Oskana knew my memories because she brushed my mind on several occasions. It was time, our hour was up and it's time to leave. Ambrose and I both slip on our rings and we hugged each other, stating farewell. My dad came and gave me a hug and kiss on the forehead. "I love you Rose, and I will do anything and everything to protect you. I will see you again." I wish I had more time with my father. I looked up at him like a daughter to her father and said, "Daddy, I will always love you. I promise we will see each other again. I just wish we had more time together. Our time is too short. I love you dad."
Since Ambrose was Abe's assistance, he was able to get out of the court to go and investigate, which will make it easy on me to get out. The guards came and lead Ambrose to the cell while Abe and I walked out of prison. I kept walking, directly to the car that Abe and described to me. It was parked right where he said it would be parked. All the stuff was already in there. I got into the driver's seat and drove off. I approached the checkpoint and was waived through right away. I got out of court as fast as possible and kept driving. I had one place in mind, Las Vegas is where I'm starting.