Runaway Rose
Chapter One
"You don't get it do you? I'm done. I've been done for years!" I shouted, throwing the closest thing I could find- in this case, a tv remote- at his head. I propped Brylie's head up on my shoulder, making sure she didn't wake up. Rider advanced, his drunken state making him stumble and trip over the disastrous mess that was our floor . I backed away as he grabbed the hammer from the table swinging it with an obvious miss; I grabbed Mika's hand and ran out of the house. I heard the door slam but didn't look back, helping Mika into my Ford Explorer I buckled him into the seat, quickly strapping Brylie into her carseat as well. I heard the door open and hit the banister with a sickening crash. I reached for the key on my necklace and ripped it off, breaking the metal clasp as I did, jumping over the glove box I shoved the key into the ignition and floored it out of the drive way, but not fast enough, Rider grabbed the passenger seat door and swung it open, leaving him flying around trying to get in. I slammed on the brakes and leaned over, prying his fingers off of the door, I shoved my foot down on the gas with that the door shut and we were off. Leaving Rider and his abuse behind us.
Mika looked up at the rear veiw mirror, "Momma where are we going?" I looked back at my three year old son and smiled, his dark brown hair and eyes reminded me so much of his father it hurt.
"We're visiting some old friends baby, we'll be there in a few hours it's okay, just go to sleep." After getting a good distance away from the house I pulled into a gas station. I got out of the car, walking to the trunk and popping it open, I unzipped one of the large duffel bags that I'd managed to get into the truck while Rider was out at the bar, its contents held Mika's favorite blanket and one of Bylie's sleeper. After successfully changing and arranging the back seat into somewhat of a mobile nursery we were on the road again, heading to the place I swore I would never go back to.
…
I pulled up to the court gates around four in the morning, we'd been on the road for two days and the kids were getting fussy. Mika looked over at the castle like buildings, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open, the same reaction I had when the Academy had me and my third grade class come here for the first time. I remembered it fondly, it was the first time I'd gotten Lissa to prank a teacher, she'd put super glue on Stan Alto's bus seat, demobilizing him while I painted the back of his head blue. I drove up to the guardian station where I saw someone I didn't expect to see: Eddie Castile. Boy he'd grown up, the boyish face he had when I had left was now trimmed into a scruffy bearded man who wore a plan black guardian outfit. He was talking to a female guardian I didn't know, when he looked up. Shock registered first, then he excused himself from the woman, walking up to the car. I rolled down the window giving him my best smile. "Sup Castile?" I said, in my most normal voice, as if I'd never left.
"Is this some sick joke, where's Ashton?" He said, looking around him, then back at me. "Rose, Rose Hathaway, the girl who disappeared." his voice had gotten a lot deeper sense the last time I'd seen him, I nodded, waiting for the reaction. His smile stretched half way to Canada, he flung open the door and pulled me out, Squishing me into a giant bear hug. I tapped his shoulder, basically saying; 'Can't breathe'. He let go, the smile still being on his face. "Were the hell have you been, I remember coming back from a mission and everyone was said that you were gone no explanation, not that I didn't expect it, Rose is kind of an impulsive soul." He leaned against the door, running a hand through his shaggy hair. I just shrugged my shoulders as if it were expected.
"I'm back now that's all that matters." I said, with a breathless laugh. I heard Brylie start fussing in the back and ducked under Eddie's arm, opening the door I let the girls out of their seats, picking Brylie up and turned back to a shocked Eddie.
"Hathaway's a mom, thought I'd never see the day." He said, smiling down at Mika. "Hello, I'm Guardian Castile." He said, holding out a hand, Mika took it in his small hand, shaking it like a business man, just like his father. Eddie must have noticed, because he gave me a glance. "He sure does look a lot like.." I cut him off.
"Me." I said, I knew he didn't get buy it, it was written all over his face. Eddie laughed, looking at Brylie in my arms.
"Rose has been getting busy." He commented, I gave him a light glare. He chuckled, holding up his hands. "What're you doing back here anyways?" He asked, holding his finger out to Brylie, she gripped it with her tiny hands, examining it closely. He laughed.
"Needed a change of scenery." I said, smiling down at Mika who was kicking at the air.
"Well the group is all still here, even Jill." He said, a smile in his voice when he said her name I looked up at him with the 'look'. He laughed, holding up a ringed finger. "Last January, you still owe us a wedding gift." I was shocked, little Jill Jailbait was married.
"I'm so happy for you." I said, smiling. He nodded signaling for the guardian at the booth to open the gates.
"If you plan on staying for a while you'll need to go see the housing office, they basically give away rooms now, that's down the main street then just park your car in guardian headquarters, tell them Sergeant Castile allows it, they'll let it slide. Then just make your way down the side street from there and Amanda should help you." He smiled once more down at Brylie then back up at me. "We'll have to get everyone together later for dinner or something." I nodded, not looking forward to seeing everyone all at once. A thought occurred to me, and I put a hand out on his shoulder, "When you say everyone.." I asked, looking down and Mika then back up at Eddie, who nodded.
"Yeah Rose, he's here, He spends most of his time around Lissa." I slumped my shoulders, expecting that.
Court had expanded sense I'd last been there, it use to just be one main street then buildings, this was basically like a town now. But guardian HQ was in the same place it's always been. After parking and verifying with an unhappy older guardian I got the kids into the stroller and set off down the street.
It wasn't long after I had Brylie that I got my figure back, my body is like a rubber band, it stretches then it snaps right back to its normal skinny curvy state, I was wearing a leather jacket on top of my Kiss tank top, with my dark wash skinny jeans and high top plain black converse. My hobo bag was flung over one shoulder while I pushed the stroller; on my wrist were two bracelets that had Mika and Brylie's names inside of a little silver heart on each. My Rayban's sat on top of my head while I pushed the door to the housing open.
As I walked in a burst of warm air hit me, it wasn't cold outside but it wasn't exactly warm either. I had Brylie in a pink GAP jacket with a little cowboy type dress; she had on fuzzy pink socks that I found rummaging through her diaper bag the other day. Marcella wore a print sweatshirt with black leggings and UGGS. As I walked up to the front desk a lady with light brown hair looked up from her glasses and smiled. "Can I help you?" She asked, her voice was feathery light I could barely hear her.
"Uh I'm looking for Amanda…Eddie sent me." I said, not sure of her last name. She nodded and took out a big book.
"I'm Amanda, Castile sent you so I presume this is his favor." I shrugged lightly nodding. What favor? She looked down at the two in the stroller and smiled. "Yours?" I nodded smiling down at them as well. "They're adorable."
"Thanks." I said, placing my hand on the counter. "So how does this all work? Do I have to pay or something?" I reached for my wallet but she shook her head.
"No you're covered, I'll get you your key and there should be a nursery in there are you familiar with the Guest housing? I nodded, remembering how Lissa and me would get sent there when Tatiana favored Lissa, Amanda disappeared in the back to fetch the key. Minutes later she arrived back holding a silver key and a pack of papers. Handing them to me she explained. "The papers are just for general information; we need them by the end of the week." I nodded, thanking her. I heard the door chime as someone walked in, turning to leave I saw who it was, I froze.
"Viktoria?" I asked, staring at the young woman in front of me, who was, until just then rifling through a stack of documents that were thrown up in the air when she heard my voice. Her brown eyes widened and her arms were around me in a millisecond.
"Roza?! Oh my God Roza!" She screamed, her Russian accent was heavier than Dimitri's use to be, but still just barely there. It hurt to be called that, I hugged her back regardless. Viktoria's eyes were still wide when she pulled back and looked down at my legs where Mika was holding on tightly. Viktoria was far from dumb, she knew right when she saw that face that this was Dimitri's son, I didn't blame her I'd seen pictures of him, they looked like twins. Viktoria looked up at me then back down at Mika, then over at Brylie who was more like Rider, with her hazel eyes like mine and blackish hair. Viktoria stepped back, examining me for any more information. "Let me show you to your room." She said, pulling on my arm, I followed, pushing the stroller.