Run Away
Cypress A. Posthumus

Summary: Dimitri hadn't realized there was a lust spell on Rose's necklace that night. Seven years afterward, the bond was quiet and had been for a painful amount of time. Rose and Dimitri had searched Russia for Lissa to no avail and returned to the academy. Now, Rose is determined to find her best friend, at any cost to herself.
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy or any of its characters. All characters, places, and things - unless otherwise stated – are that of Richelle Mead.


I

As Rose woke up, the Montana sun was just disappearing into the horizon. The sky had hues of purple, pink, and various blues and grays. Rose sat up in the bed. The air of their room chilled her skin, which pucked everywhere visible. Rose reached up with both hands and rubbed them against her bare arms. Dimitri was still asleep, snoring slightly. His cell phone sat on the night stand, the screen had lit up. Rose contemplated whether or not to pick it up, but she decided against it. Instead she slipped out of the bed and grabber her morning necessities to shower. Her guardian outfit had been hung on the bathroom door prior to the whole ordeal last night. I felt like such a child. Rose thought as she made her way to the bathroom. She didn't bother to close the door all the way, hoping that maybe Dimitri would at least be awake when she got out of the shower. The shower was short, just long enough to wash her long hair and spread soap over her body. Rose shut off the water and yanked her towel off of the back of the toilet. She covered her body and went to close the door. It clicked shut and she began to dry off. She put on her under clothing, slacks, socks, and tank top, then she flipped her hair forward to squeeze water out of her locks. Once that was finished she brushed her hair upside down and flipped it back over her shoulders to be brushed into a ponytail. The back of her neck showed molnija marks, but Rose had long since gotten over them. After she had gotten them done, Dimitri asked how she felt and she told him it wasn't worth it if it wasn't helping save Lissa. Rose brushed her teeth hastily and pulled on the black button-up shirt over her tank top. The bathroom door slowly opened and Dimitri's head came in through the empty space. He flung the door open and gave a tired grin in her direction.

"Rosemarie," his accented voice was tired, "You should button your shirt and tuck it in." He helped himself to buttoning her shirt, but when it came to tuck it into her pants, Rose had swatted his hands away. She called him perverse and passed him slowly in the small doorway, making sure to stare him in the eye.

Rose picked up on of her boots and shoved her foot in it. She laced its hooks and tied a double knot, then did the same with the other. Rose stood up straight and stretched, standing on her tip-toes. She dropped her arms to her sides and then went over to stand in front of the bathroom door, which was now closed and occupied by Dimitri. Rose knew that Dimitri wouldn't worry when she left - he knew that she had first shift in the commons, then morning training with novices, but she felt the need to inform him today. She stood outside, awkwardly leaning against the door frame. The door flung open and the light shut off, Rose almost fell, but caught herself. Dimitri was ready to catch her, just in case her equilibrium was off.

"I'm on morning shift again," she said and shrugged a bit. Dimitri nodded and gave her a hug, before he let go, Rose said, "I want you to talk to Kirova about us leaving. We're going whether or not she approves of it." Dimitri squeezed her tightly and let go. Rose backed up to look at him, even after she grew more, he towered over her like she was a small child.

A smile played on his features as he thought of what Rose had told him while she was half asleep. "Sure thing. Go, you're going to be late." Dimitri helped her put her coat on and ushered her out the door, where they chatted for a few minutes before they broke off and Rose decided she really should hurry, before she turned on her heel, she pecked his lips, but as she ran down the hall she shouted "see you later, comrade" and waved at him awkwardly. Dimitri watched her go and decided he should get ready for the day as well.

As Rose made her way to the commons, some Royal Moroi girls were gossiping about a student that no one seemed to like. It reminded her of when she and Lissa had gotten back and there were rumours going around like a wildfire. Rose shot a stern glance their way, but they didn't seem to notice. Rose shook her head side to side slightly and continued walking. The commons was quiet that morning, most of the Moroi had already left, seemingly, the Novices were all there. The tables were separated with some only boys, some only girls, but there was one table where only a few of each gender mingled. Rose took a position against the wall, she stared blankly into the emptiness that was the commons. A few giggles from the girls echoed and a few shouts from the guys. At one point, the "boys only" table had been getting rowdy, but Rose shouted at them to knock it the hell off, for the most part, they obeyed.

The rest of the day seemed to be a blur for Rose. It was now lunch and she traded shifts with another guardian, though she couldn't remember his name at the moment. Dimitri sat in the staff lounge, Rose joined him. He noticed her and looked up, he could tell something was bothering her, but he didn't want to get himself in trouble and ask about it. Since there were now strict rules addressing guardians in relationships, Rose and Dimitri weren't allowed to show their affection for each other, but both agreed that they wouldn't. They both saw it as a distraction and unprofessional of them, so they kept to themselves, mostly.

"I talked with Kirova," Dimitri started, he looked over to her and was almost surprised that she was already looking at him. "We're able to leave on Friday afternoon. They needed to find other guardians to take our positions." Rose nodded, her thoughts drifted to some other things, but Dimitri noticed she looked tired. He placed his hand on her left knee and he gave a few squeezes while almost massaging her knee.

"Do you think I can do it?" Rose asked, she turned to her lover again. "Do you think I can make the bond again?"

Dimitri was surprised, but told her, "Yes, Rose. You can and you will." Rose looked as happy as she'd been ever since Lissa got taken. Dimitri stared lovingly into her eyes, he missed seeing them sparkle like that, but now wasn't the time for sweet admiration. Lunch was nearly over and they both had afternoon training. Rose and Dimitri stood up at the same time, they started talking now, about where they were going to go first. Rose suggested that they check Montana and ask around if anyone had seen either Victor, Natalie, or Lissa. Dimitri agreed is was a good idea, but he had an inkling of doubt in the back of his brain. He suggested that while they're out, they can more thoroughly search the bigger party cities and the outlying cities. Their conversation died down as they approached the gym. A group of eight novices stood at the door, lined up against the wall like elementary school children.

Training went by smoothly, but Rose lectured them about several things. After training, Dimitri had night watch, but he stayed to help Rose clean up after their students, even after her large protests about him going so he doesn't get in trouble with someone. After they finished cleaning, Dimitri locked the gym and gave Rose a momentary hug and they went off in their separate ways. Rose knew where she was going, but she felt as if someone was watching her. It shouldn't be strange, Dimitri watched her all the time, but it was strange. Rose knew it wasn't Dimitri, it was no one. Rose looked around and made sure to keep on high alert. She decided it was nothing, that she was just being paranoid about leaving a place that she knew so well. Rose heard a noise and she jumped, then she saw a female student run through the trees and she could faintly hear the loud, drunken slurs of a party. Guardian Belikov will catch you. Rose smirked and turned back to her destination: home. At least, the dorm where Dimitri had residence since he stepped foot on these grounds as guardian. Rose was surprised when Kirova had not given it to someone else.

Rose sped up her walking pace and soon made it inside the building and into their room. She tried to kick off her boots, it was too uncomfortable, so she sat on the floor and unlaced them, then set them under the chair that sat between the doorway and their dresser. Rose slid out of her jacket and pants, pulling a pair of too-long polar fleece pajama pants onto her legs. She undid the buttons on her shirt and flung it onto the chair that her boots hid under. Rose lazily made her way to the bathroom, grabbed her brush, then plunked down on the bed. The springs squeaked. She laced her finger through the hair tie and pulled it out, taking a wad of hair with it. She tossed it onto the lower part of the bed, she didn't like the way the loose hairs felt. Rose pulled her hair over one shoulder and brushed, pulling hard and not taking care to free the knots properly, like Lissa had shown her and done for her many times. She threw her brush down on the bed, becoming frustrated with her hair and the knots she'd acquired throughout the day, then she remembered that she was supposed to try to talk to Lissa through the bond.

Rose sat up and decided to lean against the headboard. She took the pillow and put it in her lap. She closed her eyes and tried to get rid of all thoughts that weren't about Lissa. Rose tried to think clearly, but she couldn't. All of her thoughts were focused on leaving and getting out of the Academy, not finding Lissa. She felt a pang of guilt and opened her eyes. Rose stared at the bedspread and how her fingers rubbed against the seams of the pillowcase, but she wasn't focused. She was worried, scared, and tired. She put the pillow behind her back and slid down. Rose couldn't tell that sleep was overcoming her, but her body let it win. Rose's mind drifted, dancing over everything that she had done and had yet to do.

Dimitri returned a few hours after Rose had fallen asleep and he stood in the doorway to watch her for quite some time. He realized the door was still open and he technically wasn't in the room, so he closed the door and locked it behind him. Dimitri pulled off his boots, similar to how Rose had done. He hung his duster on the doorknob and changed into a pair of flannel pajama bottoms. Dimitri looked around their room as he thought, making sure they truly had everything for Friday. Mostly, they did, but Rose had forgotten their passports in the desk drawer. He left them there, but made sure to remind himself constantly that they needed to get their passports out of the desk on Friday. Dimitri spent the about two hours reading the rest of his book, but he constantly worried about Rose, about Lissa, for the most part. He kept getting distracted from his book, but managed to finish it. Dimitri set his book on the nightstand and turned off the dim lamp. Once again, he laid in bed, searching the crevices for answers, though he was truly wracking his brain for any information he may have gotten when Lissa was taken. Dimitri spent his last few waking moments searching for lost information within his brain.

The next few days didn't seem to stray from Rose and Dimitri's routine at all. They had different shifts and watch hours, but for the most part their week remained the same. Thursday came and Rose still seemed to be hiding how upset she was. Dimitri had finished his night watch early because another guard was called and took his place, so he and Rose took to bed early. Dimitri set an alarm on his cell phone for two hours before they were to depart from the Academy.

Friday morning came quickly, Rose was already awake when Dimitri awoke. Rose was showered and dressed in black denim pants and a black racer back tank top. She sat on her side of the bed and waited for Dimitri to get ready, they were going to leave earlier than expected, but at least they could properly search Montana before they left to any of the other states or countries. Their morning was rushed amd soon they found themselves as a nice hotel for the night. Neither of them were tired, but they knew they needed to get onto a human sleeping schedule so they wouldn't seem strange for waking up at night. Rose had dreams of Lissa that night and Dimitri had dreams of the night of the dance. The night he and Rose expressed themselves to each other.

"Roza, Roza..." he gasped out. He closed his eyes as she swayed her hips on top of his. Their rhythm was incredible, but neither of them could formulate anything intelligent. Nor could they understand what made them become this way. Rose knew she shouldn't bite at his neck, but she did and every time she did, she thought back to how it felt when Lissa had fed off of her and how amazing it felt. Rose had no doubt that Dimitri had never felt such an incredible sensation before, but then again, maybe he had. Just not as a bite to the neck from a Moroi. Obviously, he hadn't been bitten by Strigoi, either. Dimitri placed his hand on the small of her back and flipped them over, as he leaned down to kiss her lips, she moved and went for his neck again.

"Roza, you really shouldn't," a deep rumble from his throat interrupted his sentence. Dimitri tried to gain some self control, but it was impossible. He tried to get back to what he was saying, but he couldn't, even though it had only been uttered just a moment ago.

The night was coming to an end and the sun began rising. Neither of the Dhampirs noticed it, neither of them were awake enough to even know. Dimitri clung to Rose's back, his hand on her thigh and his face smashed into her shoulder. Their bodies melded together perfectly. Rose could feel the warmth from Dimitri's body and rolled over so her front could warm up. The couple continued sleeping until about 10:30am, but Rose was still exhausted. They showered separately and then dressed to try to make it in time for breakfast at the hotel's buffet / diner.

"Where should we look first?" Rose quietly asked. For some reason, she felt she had to be extremely cautious. Rose had her guardian mask on, but she was wondering whether or not she should really get rid of it while they're looking for Lissa. Any Moroi or Strigoi could be watching them, anyone could be anywhere. "Should we go to a club and look? I don't think she would be there, though."

"Maybe we should look at small diners, motels, and gas stations." Dimitri said quietly. He knew Rose liked to go to the bar and get smashed, but he wouldn't allow her to. It could mean that they were both put into danger because of her drunken slurs or someone else's words to her. "It would be best to assume that she had stopped at places like that, rather than checking clubs..." He looked at Rose with care in his eyes. Dimitri's hands were around a small styrofoam coffee cup that he filled with regular coffee, black. No additives.

Rose nodded and continued to pull apart the maple bar she was slowly eating. Her fingers were covered in sticky residue from the icing, but she just licked it off. It left her hands sticky, but she figured she could wash them if it served too much of a problem. After Rose finished her food, Dimitri requested their check, he paid, and the two left. Rose and Dimitri made their way to their room in silence. After Rose and Dimitri gathered their jackets and let the lady at the front desk know that they might be back past the curfew the hotel has and rented a car from them, they drove around to small gas stations, motels, and grocery stores to inquire about Lissa and Victor Dashkov. No one had seen them or even heard of them, which made Rose's heart sink, but she knew that she couldn't give up anymore. Rose needed to find Lissa in exactly the way that any living creature needed to breathe.

Dimitri didn't say much at all throughout the trip. He wasn't sure what he could say that would encourage her. The sun began to set and the two made their way back to the hotel, returning far sooner than they expected. Rose curled up on the couch and watched the human news. No reports on missing persons, only sad things like war and things she considered to be completely irrelevant, like taxes and a car recall. Dimitri joined her on the couch and read another Western novel that he had brought along. Not long after, the two fell asleep. Dimitri had a dreamless night; Rose dreamed of Lissa, again. It seemed to be unending, each of her dreams were different and she couldn't tell meaning behind them, then again, she hadn't really given them a lot of thought.


Mostly, the first few chapters are filler chapters, so they will be slow. The plot should pick up in the next two. I'll try to update daily, maybe twice a day, if I have the time to. Other than that, please tell me what you think and if you see anything that isn't correct, something that is misspelled or doesn't make sense, let me know so I can fix it.

- Cy.