Chapter One : It's Your Life, I'm Just Living In It.
It's up to you what you can do.
You're left with all your choices
You're in the clear, another cheer.
Would quiet all the voices.
But it's your life.
And I certainly wouldn't.
Tell you what to do.
It's your life.
And I realise you're.
Living out your dreams.
I know just what you think.
You're on the brink of being someone.
Close to the top, but will you flop?
'Cause you forgot where you came from.
If I would've known what I know today.
I guess I wouldn't have it any other way.
If I would've known what I know today.
I guess I wouldn't have it any other way.
But it's your life.
And I certainly wouldn't.
Tell you what to do.
It's your life.
And I realise you're.
Living out your dream.
-.- -.- -.- -.- -.- -.-
Lissa, Christian, Eddie and I had been living in the Royal Court for almost a full year now. Usually, Royal Moroi – which Christian and Lissa were, had 2 Guardians each but because Lissa and Christian had been invited to stay at the Royal Court under the watchful eye of Queen Tatiana, there was only need for one each from the Academy and one more each from the Court. 2 years ago, almost 3 now, Queen Tatiana had proposed to Lissa that she should come live in the Royal Court to learn the ways of Politics and all that other boring Royal stuff, as well as going to a nearby Moroi College, Lehigh.
Lissa had only agreed to live at the Court when had Tatiana relented to letting Christian come as well, although I knew her real plans were to try and play Match Maker with Adrian and Lissa claiming that Vasilisa's grown into a very promising young woman. She has a very serious, very dedicated nature that will cure some of Adrian's recklessness. And being together will allow them to continue examining their unusual magical situation. All of that blew into the wind when Christian and Lissa's relationship only strengthened and my relationship with Adrian started, much to Queen Tatiana's dismay. On a number of occasions, Tatiana had shown her dislike of me and my non-existent – at the time – affair with Adrian, telling me that Adrian Ivashkov is not going to run off with some cheap dhampir girl, so you might as well rid yourself of that delusion right now. If it was up to me, I'd pack you up and send you off to some blood whore commune. You'd probably fit in well. The only reason why I wasn't palmed off onto some other Moroi was because of the Shadow-Kissed bond that I share with Lissa.
Rose! Lissa used our bond to yell into my head, I quickly pulled out of Adrian's hold on me and noted that the feelings coming through the bond were excitement not fear or terror. I slowed my pace and pulled Adrian along with me, my relationship with him wasn't the same as what I'd always thought my mature ones would be, I wasn't with him because I loved him, although I did – in a way, it was for the companionship. It wasn't like what I had with Dimitri – who'd left St. Vladimirs Academy to protect Tasha Ozera, Christian's Aunt, and for a chance to father children – something I could never do, with him it was all passion and unadulterated love.
"What's wrong?" I asked, automatically scanning the room for any danger, I sat on the couch when I couldn't find any. Adrian sat down next to me, wrapping his arms around me and pulling my legs over his lap. Ever since we'd started dating, he'd always made sure he was touching me in some way.
"Nothing's wrong" She said, somewhat startled. "Tasha Ozera has invited us to stay with her for the Summer Holidays." I froze but quickly recovered myself and tried to smile.
"That's... That's great," I gave her a tight smile and tried to distract myself by tracing the natural lines on Adrian's hand, his other hand ran the length of my leg – always seducing, always caring. It was so Adrian.
"We leave tomorrow, is that enough time for you to pack?"
"Um... Well..." I looked to Adrian and Eddie for help, even though neither of them new about my love for Dimitri, I just hoped they'd see my urgency and wouldn't question it too much.
Seeing my expression, Eddie spoke up, though not in my favor "You have to go Rose, Lissa's your Moroi, wherever she goes, you go."
I sighed but nodded, They come first, the words that had been drilled into me from my first day of Guardian training rang in my head. "It should be plenty of time"
"Yay!" Lissa chimed in her always cheerful attitude.
"Are you coming?" I asked Adrian, hoping he would say yes – but also wishing he wouldn't. I wanted him there for moral support and for confidence but I wasn't ready to have the Dimitri conversation with him yet, hell not even Lissa knew about it.
"I would, little dhampir, but I am needed here for Tatiana." I grumbled as I got up from the couch and made my way to my room. Lissa and I shared a 2 bedroom suite, but because Queen Tatiana wouldn't allow her and Christian to live together, they had nightly sleep overs and I've spent most of my nights in Adrian's suite, which was conveniently located only 2 doors away from Lissa – it was where we were when she had yelled for me.
I walked into my bedroom and quickly turned on Adrian, I faintly heard Lissa call about no distractions but I wasn't listening. "If you can't come, will you dream walk to me?"
"Of course, Rose, why are you so anxious about meeting Tasha? You've met her before." He put his hands to my face before he kissed my forehead.
"I'm not anxious... I just don't want to be away from you for that long" I whispered, it was mostly true, although I wasn't in love with Adrian the same way that I was with Dimitri, I still had serious feelings for the guy and being away from him for weeks on end made me sad.
"Little Dhampir' Adrian murmured, I brought him to my lips and gave him a long kiss which he instantly returned. After a few minutes I pulled away.
"I need to pack"
"Okay" he said giving me a quick peck that turned into another kiss, and another... and another. Ahem I heard sound in my mind, I don't hear packing. I pushed Adrian away from me this time and moved over to my closet to find my suitcase. He lounged across my bed and watched me pack stuff for every occasion into my bag.
It took me nearly an hour to have everything packed, by the time I was finished it was almost time for dinner. I followed Christian, Lissa and Adrian with Eddie to the feeders for them to get their daily fill.
"Ah Rose, I trust you and Adrian are doing well?" Queen Tatiana murmured, everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and swept into low bows – including myself.
"Yes, Your Majesty, very well." I murmured back to her, she grumbled and walked off to a feeder that was free. I was surprised to see her in the feeding quarters, Tatiana had her own blood source, he was dhampir and also her secret lover, Ambrose was his name, no one knew any of this, it was a secret that Lissa had told me. I had met Ambrose before and if I was being completely honest, he was one of the hottest dhampir's I had ever seen – with the exception of Dimitri.
"What was that about?" asked Adrian as he came up and hugged me, I quickly pushed him away. Tatiana was still in the room and if I wanted to be taken seriously around here, I had to act professionally. I quickly explained this to him when I saw his reaction.
As soon as we were out of the feeding area and on our way to the cafeteria, Adrian stopped me. I was about to question him when his lips made contact with mine, I started kissing him back for a few seconds before I could taste the blood, quickly I pushed him away from me – wiping my mouth on my sleeve.
"Yuck! I can still taste the blood" Even though I was half vampire, blood didn't appeal to me like it did to Moroi, the human side of me overtook that and I only fed on food rather than other people.
"Oh, sorry, I'll go brush my teeth and meet back up with you." I watched Adrian leave, happy that he wasn't surrounded by his usual cloud of smoke, I had convinced him to give that up – although I couldn't get him to stop drinking so much, but I was happier that he had at least cut back some of his bad habits.
I had just sat down to my chicken burger when I felt someone behind me, defensively I spun around, ready to pin them to the ground, but it was only Adrian.
After we sat back down, he kissed me again, I let my eyes close and responded naturally to it, tasting spearmint rather than blood – for that, I was very grateful. "Better?" He asked.
"Much" I mumbled, connecting our lips again, deepening the kiss this time.
"Excuse me? Some people are trying to enjoy their meals" I heard Lissa's voice say, mocking disgust though through the bond I could feel her amusement and genuine happiness for my happiness.
"You've already eaten" I mumbled, picking what I didn't like from my burger.
"No, I've already drank. I'm still hungry though." she clarified, I shrugged and mumbled whatever.
It only took us half an hour to eat and then we were back to our suites.
"Stop pacing, little dhampir, and come to bed" I stopped in my pacing to shoot a soft glare at Adrian, I was getting nervous, it was less than 8 hours before I would be leaving to go stay at Tasha Ozera's home for a full month. Dimitri would be there, and Adrian wouldn't.
I stopped walking suddenly and climbed onto the bed, Adrian gave me a triumph smirk and leaned forward to kiss me, at the last minute I pulled back – an urgent look on my face.
"Are you sure you can't come to Tasha's house?" I ran my hand through his stylish mess of hair and looked deeply into his green eyes – which were by far his best feature.
"I'm sorry, hun, I can't." I frowned at him but otherwise let it drop, even if Adrian couldn't be there, at least Lissa would be.
I laid down further in the bed and hugged myself against his chest, it wasn't the same as when I had hugged Dimitri, his chest was so broad and muscular whereas Adrian's was well sculpted but leaner. It was comforting and a kind of sanctuary.
"Good night" I mumbled, falling into a sleepy haze.
"Good night Rose" he whispered, kissing the top of my head. I leaned up to kiss his lips once before I laid back against him, falling unconscious almost instantly. It's okay, tomorrow will be fine, the next month will be tolerate-able, keep your eye on the job at hand. Protect Lissa.