Drumming my fingers against the steering wheel it felt like any other day. Just sitting outside waiting for my charge to lock up her martial arts studio, the radio played softly in the background and I nodded my head along with the deep voiced country musician.
An odd feeling niggled at the back of my mind, like a cold sweeping sensation sending a shudder through my entire body. Without even thinking my hand reached out and brushed against the channel button, clicking it over to a pop station. I didnt know the artist or the song but something in the melody, the way I could imagine a women dancing along, enjoying the sounds made my chest tighten slightly. I try so hard, generally I do it well, but sometimes... sometimes my memories come flooding back, she comes flooding back into my mind. Her dark, flowing hair, deep mesmerising brown eyes, her gentle musical laugh, the way it felt when her hand brushed my arm and even the way her lips felt brushing against my own, igniting a fire inside me that felt like it would burn me from the inside out.
The slamming of the passenger side door brought me back to reality with a jolt, my eyes opened and I looked at the women sitting in the passenger seat, She was looking at me strangely, her crystal blue eyes flicking down to the radio and then back to me.
"Dimka? I didnt know you listened to this kind of music?" She arched an eyebrow at me.
I just shrugged before turning the station back to the country one I had been enjoying and started the engine, managing to push all my memories and emotions to the back of my mind. Those would wait until I was locked away in my room back at the house.
Two days later I sat on my bed, staring out of the large bay windows, my thoughts were a million miles away.
Its been two years, two long miserable years since I was at Saint Vladimirs. Since I was with her. I could remember my time before that, after Ivan was killed and I became withdrawn, anti-social and even a little depressed. I didnt think anything was more important than my duty, than protecting those that I had sworn to protect. I ran my fingers lightly over the back of my neck, even though I couldnt feel it I knew it was there, my promise mark. The tattoo that symbolised my life long commitment to protecting the Moroi.
Why then, didnt my heart believe it anymore?
My time at saint Vladimirs, even though it was only 6 months, had completely changed me. She completely changed me. Somehow she got through my walls, the barricades I had built to keep everyone out, to keep everything hidden inside me.
Somehow her enthusiasm, her undeniable charm and risk taking, her joy of life managed to break down everything I had built up. She found a way into my heart changing everything I believed. I wanted to put her first, I wanted to protect her always, she made me challenge every belief I ever held, I started wondering wether everything I had been raised to believe was wrong, how could I throw myself infront of a moroi when I only ever wanted to protect her?
It was wrong. I know it was wrong... but why?
Why was loving someone so wrong?
Knocking on my door bought me out of my thoughts, I glanced at the door and sighed before getting up to open it.
"Dimka, someones at the door for you, its a guardian...A royal guardian. He wouldnt tell me who he is or why he wants you." Tasha said, her arms crossed over her chest and a light scowl on her face.
I arched an eyebrow, I wasnt expecting anyone, especially not one of the queens guardians...
I made my way to the door to see a tall, broad shoulder man. His blonde hair was short but the fringe reached his eyebrows. His eyes were a deep green, he reminded me a little of Adrian Ivashkov a royal Moroi and royal pain in my ass.
"Can I help you?" I asked stopping just infront of the doorway and leaning slightly on the frame.
"Guardian Dimitri Belikov?"
I nodded.
"Her majesty Queen Vasillissa Dragomir requests your immediate presence." He spoke formally, handing me a folded white sheet of paper as he did so.
Lissa wants to see me? Why?
I took the note and unfolded it without saying a thing.
Dear Guardian Belikov
I realise its been a long time, too long in my opinion. But something has happened and I need your help, Its urgent. It involves Rose.
Queen Lissa.
I stared at the note for a moment. Somethings happened? Its urgent? Rose?
Roza... had something happened to her? Was she ok? Was she in trouble?
The guardian infront of me shifted uncomfortably, clearing his throat lightly.
"Give me a second, Ill grab my things and be right out." I replied turning and heading back into the house before he could utter a word.
"Dimka? What did he want?" Tasha questioned as I walked into the living room. She was sitting on the couch, I could tell she had been waiting for me because the tv wasnt on and she didnt have a book or anything else.
"Ive been summoned by the queen, Im leaving now to go and find out why." I replied as I swiped my wallet and phone from the coffee table. "You'll be alright here on your own?" I asked.
She looked hesitant, as though she wanted to argue but nodded her head.
"Ill let you know whats going on once I find out myself." I said as I headed off to my room to pack a small bag.
The whole 5 minutes it took me to pack my mind was in a frenzy. Lissa had never asked me for anything, as far as I knew she didnt know about Roza and I, unless Rose had told her after I left... I didnt know. Why was she asking for me now?
I said goodbye to Tasha and made my way out to the van where the guardian was waiting in the drivers seat, the engine running quietly.
We drove in silence all the way to the airstrip where a small private jet sat waiting on the runway. I followed him up the stairs and into the plush white interior.
"Queen Dragomir." I bowed as soon as I spotted her sitting inside. Her pale heart shaped face, with long platinum blonde hair spilling over her shoulders. Her jade green eyes appraised me and she smiled, but I could see a saddness in her eyes that I Couldnt explain.
"Dimitri, its so good to see you again, and you know I prefer my friends to call me Lissa." She spoke quielty as she stood up and hugged me.
I wasnt expecting a welcome like that, she was the queen after all and I hadnt seen her in 2 years...
"Its good to see you Belikov." A deeper, slightly sarcastic voice sounded behind her.
I glanced over her shoulder and saw Christian Ozera, his black as night hair flipping over his eyebrows and his blue eyes staring at me intently. He had his trademark smirk on his face, he wouldnt be Christian without it.
"Lord Ozera." I nodded at him and smiled.
It was actually really good to see them both, I hadnt even realised how close I had gotten to them while I was at Saint Vlads, I actually thought of them as my friends.
As we all sat down and buckled our belts the small plane ascended into the night sky, its engine roaring until we reached a safe altitude and the seatbelt sign clicked off.
"So what do you need me for?" I asked, figuring it would be better to get straight to the point, I wanted to know what was wrong with Rose.
Lissa and Christian exchanged looks before Lissas jade green eyes locked onto mine.
"We know about your past... with Rose... We know that you both loved eachother and that you left. Rose hasnt been the same since then DImitri, she changed after you left. I honestly thought that with time she would go back to being herself and for a moment there she was but she still cried at night, she still had a vacant, distant look in her eyes sometimes. She refused to use the gym at court, or any gym really. She said she would train outside."
She paused as she tilted her head slightly, I felt as though she wasnt looking at me... she was looking around me...
"You miss her too... I can see it in your aura that you miss her... even when I just say her name the colour changes from pale yellow to a deep red..." her voice trailed off as her eyes went glassy. Christian touched her shoulder which seemed to bring her back, she shook her head slightly and sent a small smile his way.
"Two days ago we were out shopping, We were attacked by a large group of strigoi and Rose..."
Her voice broke and she clenched her eyes closed. I felt my heart stutter, I thought I knew exactly what she was going to say.
"Rose is... dead?" I asked, my voice sounding strangled. It couldnt be true, she couldnt be gone... I swear my heart stopped as I waited for her to respond.
Lissa shook her head, her eyes glistening with tears and he lips trembled as she pushed out the words in a whisper... "Shes strigoi."