Chapter One:
The Escape
Great! I'm in jail for something I didn't even do. I need to find Lisa's sibling. The best part is that the dead Queen Tatiana which is the person I'm accused of killing is the one who wrote me a note. It said that i had to find Lisa's sibling, so Lisa can "find her spot in the council so she can have the power she deserves". How in hell am I supposed to do that?
As for my love life... well what can I say I'm not even sure of it myself? Dimitri my former mentor and lover told that "love fades, his has".
But when the Queen's guardians -who by the way are the best of the best- came to arrest me, and put me in this hellhole he threw himself in front of me and fought for me. So with him i don't know what's going to happen next. As for Adrian I love him, and he'll do anything for me i know that, but my love for him isn't the same as my love for Dimitri. With Dimitri it feels right and we have a connection that I definitely don't have with Adrian. I thought i could forget my feelings for Dimitri and finally allow myself to love Adrian as he deserves, and I was ready to do it, but then when I saw Dimitri and every time I see him my feelings come back.
"Miss Hathaway, you have a visit" Said one of the guardians in charge of keeping me locked up. I turned around and my eyes fell on Dimitri. What is he doing here?
"Rose" was the only word he said and it was enough to make me feel hot all over. His face had that guardian blank look but his eyes as always spoke legions. Right now i could see that he still loves, those feelings haven't left. As much as he wants to deny it they are still there. I almost melted. "What do you need?" I asked flatly. Even though I'm under the impression that he still loves me I'm not going to pledge my feelings to him because it's his turn to do it. He hurt me way too much for that. After staring at me for what I thought was at least a minute instantly he turned around and asked the guardians if we could have a little privacy. The guardians looked at each other and took one big step forward. It wasn't much but better than nothing, and surprising. Then once again Dimitri turned towards me, and walked until he was inches from my cell's bars. "Come" he asked. So I went and stood inches from the bars too. Let me tell you if these danm bars weren't there we would be almost touching. For a moment all we did was gaze into each other's eyes and I felt the electric current kick in between, and I could tell it was going through him too.
"Rose I know you didn't kill the Queen, and I need to know if you have any idea who did this to frame you" he asked and slipped right back to his guardian blank face.
"Why do you think I didn't do it?" I asked.
"Rose... I know what you are capable of doing, and this isn't you. Also, you are too smart to have left all the evidence in the crime scene" he said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. It's true though I wouldn't have done it like this, it's way too messy.
"No I don't know who could have done this." Actually I had an idea who might have done it. Victor Dashkov is the only person I can think of that had reasons to kill the queen, but I'm not sure.
"You're lying" Ugh! Why was he able to know when i was lying? Why? "Tell me the truth Rose I want to help" My eyes widen at that last part. He wants to help me!
"Dimitri please don't insist i have reasons not to tell at least not while I'm in this place" I answered hoping he'd drop the conversation.
"But I want to help! Is there anything I can do?" I feel like I can trust him. I have always been able to trust.
"Can I trust you?" I asked i hope i don't regret what I'm going to do next...
"Of course you can" Okay here I go. I leaned as close as i could towards him. He automatically did the same. I grabbed his hand in mine and with the other hand put the note as discreetly as possible in his, and then let his hands go. He read the note. Stared at me for a minute, and gave me the note back. "We need to get you out of here" he whispered so that only I could hear the words. I didn't want to have him involved in this, but even with everything that happened he's the only person that I know I can truly and fully trust. All the sudden he gripped my arms it didn't hurt but we were so close to close. "I'm going to get you out of here, but do you have any idea where to go?"
"I think the best place to start is Las Vegas" I said. I don't want him to get in more trouble especially after Reece finally declared he was a dhampir once again. He nodded. Then all he did was turn around, and before he exited he shoot me one last look, and left. The guardians took back their regular positions, and so everything went back to how it was before Dimitri came. I wonder how he got in in the first place considering what happened about two weeks ago…
I went back to the small poorly comfortable bed in this place. And I let myself open to Lisa. She was with Christian.
"I'm worried for Rose. How do you think she's holding up?" I could feel her worry through the bond.
"Don't worry she's fine. Meanwhile we have to find out who did this to her." He said with the smile he only gave Lisa. The slid an arm around her waist, and pulled her towards him to kiss her… Okay time to get out.
As I left her mind, I fell asleep or at least halfway.
"Little Dhampir!" said Adrian "I hate not being able to see you" Why does he have to be like that?
"Me too" I smiled. It's true. "Adrian?" I said as I walked towards him, grabbed his hands in my own, and gave him a light kiss.
"mhm?" I was going to tell him about the note, but I decided not to.
I already got Dimitri involved. I can't have someone else know.
"Listen I need you to trust that I'm going to do the right thing -
I started saying.
"Are you breaking up with me?" he asked and all the emotions he had earlier were gone, they were replaced by sadness, jealousy, and hatred.
"No" as I said that he relaxed. " I want you to trust m,e and not worry about me for whatever happens next. Promise me that" I replied with what I thought was a guardian blank face like the one Dimitri put on so often. "And please don't ask any questions"
He gave me a wary look "Rose ..." he thought about what he was going to say for what seemed like a lifetime "don't get in trouble at least not more that you already are, and yes I promise, as long as that doesn't imply you dying." He looked very serious and worried especially at the last part.
"It's going to happen either way" We all knew that was going to happen eventually, and with what's going to happen next there is even more chances of me dying.
"Don't say that. It's not going to happen" He said it so confidently, but we both know it is going to happen. "I won't let it happen. I… I'm the heir to the throne" Wait what? My eyes widened in surprise. That was impossible! He is not ready for that I don't think he'll ever be. How could the queen think of that?
"How is that possible?" I said in amazement.
"Well Mom and I are the heirs to the throne. She isn't going to have a problem accepting my decision" That's what? Wow.
"Adrian you believe me, but everyone else doesn't" I said. It's true he might agree to that, but if there is a bigger majority then I still die no matter what. "Majority takes it" He slid one arm around my waste and pulled me closer to him so that our bodies are pressed together, and kissed me a hard passionate kiss. He pulled back "Rose, nothing is going to happen to you." With that he left. Finally I was able to sleep.
"Rose Hathaway follow us" I heard someone say, I and immediately stood up. It was Mikhail. He was the one talking. He opened the door to my cell with five other guardians around us.
"Where are we going?" I asked Mikhail. It's the first time they have taken me out of this place since I was convicted for murderer.
"You are going to court"
"Am I going to trial?" If I was that would be fast. Mikhail once told me that the waiting for trial was usually long, and it's only been a week.
"No not yet this is unusual, the judge wants to speak with you, Mr. Belikov, Princess Dragomir, Prince Ozera, Prince Ivashkov, and Mr. Eddie." He said looking at me as if I already knew that. That was weird… unless… no I doubt it.
When we got to court Mikhail took me a room and turned to the other guardians and said "I can take it from here"
"We can't just leave her with one you alone. She's too dangerous" said the guardian in the middle.
"She is, but either way she won't be able to escape this building is full of guardians" All the guardians looked at each other and the middle one said "Okay but we will stay outside the doors." Mikhail just nodded as we went in. The in the room was Dimitri standing next to Lisa who was sitting down with Christian in a red couch with Eddie standing next to him, and by a window that was facing to the garden in the back of this building was Adrian. When Mikhail and I walked into the room Lisa and Christian stood up, and turned around just like everyone else did. Simultaneously Lisa came running, and gave me a huge bear hug. When she stepped away Adrian was behind her. He grabbed me by the waist and kissed me "I missed you" he whispered as I got out of the embrace. It felt wrong with him especially when Dimitri was behind him. "We only have 10 minutes" he said. I nodded.
"There is a back door behind the desk." Mikhail whispered.
"And there's a car waiting for you guys at the entry of this building" said Adrian.
"You're not coming?" I asked. I was relieved because I don't want to have Adrian involved or anyone else.
"No only you, Lisa, Christian, , and Eddie are going to accompany you" He flinched when he mentioned Dimitri.
"What do you mean Lisa, Eddie, Christian?"
"We are going with you, there is no way you going alone. I am not missing an opportunity to get of this place" Christian hissed.
"No I don't want to put you in more trouble or worse" I snapped. They knew what I meant about worse.
"Rose" Lisa said
"NO it is out of the question" I immediately replied.
"You promised you would let me go with you in any other crazy adventure"
I hated when she was right especially about this.
"Alright you can com Christian as well. Dimitri and Eddie… you choose whether you're coming or not."
"Yes" said Dimitri I let myself get a little excited about that.
"Hell yeah" said Eddie with a grin. Adrian came towards me, pushed my hair to the side and hooked on a necklace on my neck. Then took my hand, and swirled me around so that our faces were inches apart. "This was charmed by Lisa and me with spirit. You already know what it does but remember some guardians are immune to it." He kissed my forehead "Please be careful and come back" He said as he kissed me for the last time, and he shot a look to Dimitri. I knew he was jealous because Dimitri was coming. Dimitri showed no indifference at all. That sort of bugged me I don't know why I was expecting him to be a tiny bit jealous.
"Alright then Rose you need to do one last thing" Mikhail said "overpower me". So I threw a punch at him that made him bleed. "I'm sorry" I told him. I really was he has been very good to me. "Alright go" said Adrian. Then when we started to go to the backdoor "No wait" said Dimitri. "Let , Lissa, Eddie, and Christian go out first and meet us inside the car. Like that no life will be endangered"
"He's right" I answered. When they left Dimitri and I started heading out when the guardians that were in front of the door Mikhail and I came through, barged into the room. They recognized me. "Run" Dimitri said "Run". And like that we started running as fast as we could, and the others were following behind. We stopped and did what we did best back to back we fought them. Dimitri took two down being careful not to kill them, but making sure they were knock out. Then he took down another one. I took down the other two left. Before any other could come we started running to the car once again. The car was a Porsche Cayenne GT. The two front seats were empty. Dimitri and I took the front seats.
"Where are we going?" asked Lisa.
"Las Vegas" I answered.
"Las Vegas?" she asked surprised.
"Yes" I slide my arm through the space on top of the arm rest between my seat and Dimitri's and gave Lisa the note. "Read it" Dimitri gave me a side glance. I could tell he was wondering if I thought it was the right moment to give it to her. I just nodded. Through the bond I felt Lisa shocked, angry, disappointed, and excited all at the same time.
"How is this possible? My parents love each other. Rose are you sure this is right? Of course it is the queen sent it to you. How is this possible?" she asked as she showed the paper to Christian.
"I don't know Liz,1I don't know" I answered "But what I do know is that we need to find him or her" We need to get Lisa to enter the quorum.
"Well I know how he had a kid—" Christian said with one of those 'sexy grins' that Lisa loved so much.
"Christian don't start not now this is big! I have a brother or a sister. Rose, we need to find him or her, but why are we going to Vegas?"
"Liz when we went to Vegas, Adrian and I were at a casino, and the manager told us you father used to gamble, and well had fun…I also have a friend I met in Siberia that told me that some files on your father were stolen." If only we're lucky, and find the man. "We have to lie low, and not bring much attention to us."
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" she asked. She was pissed, and I understand why. I just couldn't tell her it would be devastated her.
"We'll talk later" I said hoping she would drop the subject.
"Do you have any idea where we're going to be staying at?"
"I don't know… yet" I answered as grabbed my cell dialed Abe's phone number, and called.
"Hello? — "
"Hey Dad"
"Rose what are you doing?" Oops he knew. Man things got around fast.
"Old Man I need your help it's very important"
"Important enough to risk it?" I knew what he meant breaking out of prison is deffinately not going to be good in my record. Which if I get out of this mess alive will not allow me to be Lisa's guardian.
"Believe me it is"
"You better have an explanation. What do you need?"
"Well I am going to Vegas. I need a place to stay with four more people, and lie low for a couple of days"
"Rose, you aren't going gambling are you?" I tell him I need to lie low, and he thinks I'm going to Vegas to gamble. What the hell is that?
"Of course not"
"Okay. Around what time are you going to get there?" Good question I look at the clock and its 12:30 P.M
"At around one in the morning."
"All right. I'm going to make a call, and then call you back"
"Hey dad"
"Yes?"
"Thank you"
"Not a problem. Bye" And so he hung up.
Chapter 2:
Trip to Las Vegas
"Got something for me old man?" I said as I answered the phone in a humorous way.
"You will be staying in a house I have rented in Vegas. You can stay there as long as you'd like, but be careful."
"Yea yea… Remember I've gotten in this sort of situation a couple times already. I know how to deal with this. Get to the point old man"
"Here's the address 101 Melrose Boulevard." I know how to get there. I mean I have never been there before but I know where it is.
"ok thanks"
"I hope this is the last time you get into this situation" he said as he hung up on me. I turned my face so that I looked at Dimitri who instantly looked at me. For a heartbeat I felt like the old Dimitri was back. Honestly he is but doesn't let it out, and THAT pisses me off. I know he still has feeling for me. I'm convinced he does. I can feel it.
"I know how to get there." I was hoping he would let me drive because surely I have my permit and I know where it is.
"What? You want to drive there?" he asked
"Yea that would be a good idea" Was he letting me?
"No" What?
"No?" my temper was kicking in.
"No"
"What the hell! What? you think you're the only who knows how to drive here?" I was pissed; super pissed.
"No, but I'm still not going to let you drive Rose. I'm not scared for us I'm scared for the people around us" He said it like I was some threat. He stopped in one of the rest stops to get gas. We both got out of the car. I walked up to him, and as I was standing inches from him. We locked eyes and all of the sudden I remembered the cabin…
"Why did you help me?" I know he was going to say that what he did, he did it for Lisa. He swore to her that he would live the rest of his life by her side protecting her, but I don't know why I had a feeling he did it for me initially.
"I did it because…" I saw him struggling for words which I would be happy to give them to him. You still love, because you still care about me… "I just did it" ugh! Why did he have to be like that? That's such a Dimitri thing to say. "Are you hungry?" This is so cliché before the whole strigoi thing happened Dimitri would make me talk the stuff that troubled me but when I did the same to him he would avoid the question.
"Yes comrade, are you?" he nodded, as we got back into the car. He pulled in a Burger King. "Liz we are going to eat something do you guys want to come?" They looked at each other and then "No it's okay can you bring Eddie a Double Stalker?" I nodded as Dimitri and I left to fast food restaurant. He ordered a salad, and a Double stalker and water. I just ordered a double stalker meal with French fries and a coke. We sat at a table that was right in front of the car of course, we need to make sure there is no danger. I grabbed the burger and ate it fast. I'm not going to say anything. It's his turn to start the conversation f he wants too. I wish he does.
"Rose" he said as I looked up at him surprised. He did start the conversation just like he used too back in the academy grounds. "Do you have any idea who killed the queen?"
"Well I have a theory" I slowly said.
"What was your theory? Who do you think it is?" he asked and I saw a glimpse of worry for me in his eyes.
"Well I think it's Victor Dashkov"
"Why do you think it's him? What did he do to you?" He gave the same look he gave me when the guardians were about to take me, and I refused for his own good.
"Well…" I should tell him what I did to save him from being strigoi, but all the sudden I felt somewhat nervous.
"Go on" He pushed a little. If he knew that would he give in to what we used to have? If he does that sounds more like some charity case. And I am not that.
"Alright so… I broke into Tarasova and well I sort of helped him escape…" Why am I getting so nervous? I'm confessing to him what I did to save him, and bring him back, but then he rejected me.
"Why did you do that?" Is he seriously asking why? I gave my best "are you serious look". Since he didn't show any sign of understanding I needed to elaborate.
"I did what I did for you" and then a sob built in my throat "When I went to Siberia I met another spirit user and a shadow kiss. Yeva presented them to me Oksana and Mark. And well I met Abe in Siberia to… he's my dad… Well anyways I was told that there is a way to bring back strigoi…" I started to cry "but it wasn't 100% sure though. I was also told that Robert Doru did that once. So I figured out that the only way to get to him would be to… well… get Victor to tell me where her lives. Abe tried to get it out him but victor said there was nothing he wanted. So well that's when I concocted the plan to do the prison break." I felt so relieved to have told him this. I know I shouldn't have, but for once it felt good to let go. He sat next to me, and put his arms around me. At first I was surprised but then I looked into his eyes, and all I saw was love. So for now I decided to just melt in the touch. I put my head against his chest. Wow! How could I have confused this Dimitri with the strigoi Dimitri.
"Roza, why did you do that for me? Why didn't you just kill me?" he asked. He called me Roza! He only used that name when he felt particularly affectionate for me.
"Isn't it obvious" I said as I looked up. I knew he knew. "Dimitri I'm not going to confess my love for you again so you can just reject me like I'm some kind of bad thing" I knew what I said would hurt me but it was true. If he wants me he'll have to say it I'm not going to pledge my love for him, not again.
"I do love you; I have always had since the first time I laid eyes on you. I didn't use you—"that's when I got out of the embrace, and got up. My temper shot up.
"You do love? That's the biggest bullshit I have ever heard! Let me refresh your mind 'Love Fades, Mine Has'" I nearly screamed at him.
"Rose calm down, please. I'll explain when we get to Las Vegas" He said.
"The hell you will!" I felt the nausea kick in. "Strigoi they are here" that's all I said as we ran out. I pulled my stake out of my coat and took a strigoi down. I stared at Dimitri he already had two and was on his third one. He really was a god dead or undead. I let myself get distracted, and a strigoi grabbed me. I was kicking him and punching, but it was as if he didn't feel anything; And as his fangs was approaching my neck he said the last words I'll ever hear "Rose Hathaway your last breath is mine, I will take you back to—" and then someone staked him. It was Dimitri once again defending me. Dimitri immediately pulled me into his arms. I brought myself closer to him and hugged him as tight as I could "Are you alright?" he asked scared that something would have happened to me. I nodded. "Thank God you're alright" he said in relief as he hugged me tighter. I got the nausea again. "Strigoi's are back" I said and he instantly put himself in front of me protectively. I stood with him "Are you sure you can do this?" he asked me.
"Yes" and we automatically stood in back to back fighting position. Eddie was getting out of the car. "No stay in there and lock the doors!" I knew that Strigoi would break the doors open, but either way they were safer there. One strigoi came to me I threw as sloppy punch in the face. I got him to lose control for a heartbeat; it was enough to drive my stake through his heart. Anorther one came towards me and kicked him in the balls. He gave me hurt look. With a jump forward I kicked his thigh. He pushed me off easily and I stumbled back. He jumped towards me and we engaged in some kind of dance. He moved forward I moved back. I got a hold of his arm, and I pulled him against me having his face turned the opposite side. As I grabbed my stake and plunged it in his back and it hit the heart. He fell down and another one lunged at me. He could have had but adrenaline was pumping through my veins. I grabbed my stake once again and hurt him with it. He screamed in pain as I it took that opportunity, and staked him too. After that I killed two more easily. My nausea left me.
"Let's get back in the car and go" I told Dimitri. He threw me the keys.
"You're letting me drive?" I said a smile forming on my lips even after all that happened.
"Yes and don't make me regret it" He said a hint of a smile playing on his lips, and vanished right away. Which made me wonder if I was just my imagination playing tricks on my.
"I won't, comrade"
When we got into the car I felt Lissa worried and excited through the bond.
"You better tell me all the details when we get to Vegas" She said through the bond. Oh God if she really knew that we aren't together or at least I thought. I blocked her out of my head again. I stepped on the gas. We were going a hundred miles an hour. "Slow down Rose, we can't get a ticket"
Dimitri said as he put a hand on my leg that calmed me a little bit and slowed down to 75 miles per hour.