A big thank-you to everybody that reviewed. Im happy to say that most people liked the story so far, apart from the odd one or two readers. Thats fair enough, I like hearing your true thoughts. Positive or negative. I welcome them all.
However, I did say that this was a rose and dimitri story, and I meant that. All may not be as it seems, it was only the first chapter, after all.
I am a big rose and dimitri fan, and all of my stories end up with them being together, just like this one will. Its just that I always have them get back together straight away, and I want this one to be different. I had to make something drastic happen to change rose's loyalties to liss, or else I dont think rose would ever have had the courage to really leave Lissa. How everything gets sorted out though, is a mystery... for the time being.
Anyway. Thank-you- again for all of your reviews, they really do mean alot :)
Chapter 2.
I woke up, after the most restless nights sleep I had ever experienced, thats if I actually managed to get any sleep at all.
The image of Dimitri's face, as he stepped away from Lissa, had haunted my nightmares, making them ten times as worse.
I had managed to snap my self out of her head, immediately. It tore at my shredded heart, making it almost impossible to breath. This was, by far, the worse pain imaginable. Betrayl.
My eyes were sore and heavy, and my throat hurt like a bitch, from all of the crying that had occured throughout the night. I was naked in my bed, the towel that I had been wrapped up in last night, laid beside my bed, on the floor. I hadnt even had the will to get dressed. Insted I had crumpled into a ball, threw my cover over my head and hid from the outside world. I was so stupid, to think that they actually cared about me. `They come first` And Dimitri was certainly putting Lissa first now. There would be no chance of him throwing himself in front of me now, It would be her, all her, everything is about her. I hate her for it. I hate them the both of them.
I glanced at the alarm clock, on my bedside cabinet, and was shocked to see that it was half past eleven. I had no idea that it was so late in the day. I jumped up off the bed, and quickly dressed, realising that I only had half an hour to get to my meeting with Hans and Tatiana. I was very eager to get this over and done with. I wanted to get the hell out of here, and I would not be coming back.
I rushed through the front door and walked as quickly as I could. I walked straight into the cafe. I was starving and really needed something to eat, or else I would not be a happy rose. I grabbed two cereal bars and a hot chocolate. Then I started to make my way out.
"Rose" I heard an annoying voice call. I turned my head to my right, and wished I hadnt. It was Tasha Ozera that had shouted me. She was sitting at a table, along with the princess- I wouldnt even say their name again, they were nothing to me now- Christian, Guardian Belikov, and my good friend Eddie. He looked up and smiled at me as I made my way over. I smiled back at Eddie, then turned on my guardian mask and clenching my teeth together. I really did not want to be here right now.
"Hey Tash" I said, as I stood by the end of the table. "Oh Rose. You look like hell. Are you okay sweetie?" she asked. I smiled, my biggest fake smile.
"Im good. Just a little tired" I told her, only half telling the truth. I was tired, very tired infact. I had been awake for the most part of the night. But I was not good, I was as far from good as you could get. "I didnt get much sleep last night." Christian chuckled. "I bet you didnt" he teased, wagging his eyebrows. I laughed, a little. I couldnt help it. We'd always had a love/hate relationship. I didnt answer though. Let them take that as they may. Although im pretty sure that they wouldnt give a shit.
"Im sorry to cut this short, but I have a meeting to get too" I announced. Eddie looked up at me. "Meeting? What meeting? I havent heard anything about a meeting" he said, so serious. He always took himself so seriously, ever since spokane where we had lost Mason. Eddie blamed himself for being weak and letting himself get bitten. Where as I blamed myself, and I always would.
"Its not public knowledge yet Eddie, dont worry about it" I told him. He sat back down, eyeing me intently. I shifted nevously, I didnt want to be here, I wanted to be anywhere but here.
"Whats going on rose?" he asked. I smiled at him. "Nothings going on Ed" I told him, ignoring the curious gazes coming from everybody else. "Im sure it will come out in the next few days, but Im not permitted to say for now. Im sorry" I told him.
"What? What arent you permitted to say" he asked, while everybody else's head switched between me and Eddie as the conversation continued. "Like I said... I really cant say. If I told you, I would have to kill you" I teased. He didnt say anything. Probably wondering if I was being serious or not. I laughed. "Chill out Eddie. I'll see you later, okay?" I said, turning away and hurrying off before anybody else could stop me. I could feel a very small tugging at the bond, but I refused to acknowledge it. They were scum, and they meant nothing to me now. I walked to Hans office as fast as I could.
"Hey Hans" I said, when he'd told me to enter.
He smiled at me. I mean... Hans. He actually shocked me. He must be as excited about these raids as I was. Together we left the building and started towards the queens building. The guardians that were already stationed there already knew that we was coming, Tatiana had informed them already, and she already knew the reason why we were coming. Apparantly, Hans had informed her about out idea, and we were here to here the verdict- so to speak.
Hans and I bowed in front of her, as we entered her room. She nodded her head in appreciation and smiled, genuinely.
"Im glad you could make it" she said. "Ive been going through your proposal, and I must say that I am all in favour of it. We will step up training sessions, for the guardians who will be involved with the raids, and we will have to work closely with Mr Belikov" she said. I think I winced right about then, and it definately did not go un-noticed. Tatiana raised her eyebrows in question. I sighed.
"Im not comfortable around guardian Belikov anymore" I told her, which surprised her. She knew how close we had been and that he was the reason why I had left the academy to go to russia.
"I know that I have to work along side him for the time being" I continued. "But I also want to avoid him for as long as possible. Is... is he going on the raids?" I asked, fearing the answer. She looked at me... well, stared actually.
"No. He's not going" she finally answered me. "We still need to keep him under close observation. I do truely believe that he is a dhampir again. But there is no saying how he will handle being faced with a strigoi again" she admitted. I smiled in relief. "Great" I said.
"I also dont want him to know that I am involved in any of this, at least not straight away" I told her. "I know that I have to hear everything, so I was thinking about getting Adrian to charm a ring for me, to change my appearance. It will be hard for me to see guardian Belikov, but at least he'll not know who I am, so he will not feel the need to speak to me." She was speechless. I laughed internally. She loved to talk as much as I did.
"M... may I ask what as brought this on?" she inquired. I swallowed the lump that had begun to form in my throat. I looked towards Hans, not knowing if I should tell the truth or not. Nervously, I turned back to Tatiana.
"Im persuming you know my history with Guardian Belikov?"
"I know that he was your mentor Rose. I know your close friends, thats why you risked it all for him." she said. I shifted my feet, uncomfortably, and looked at her, square in the eye.
"It was abit more than that" I admitted. Then I told her everything that had happened between us, and I mean everything. Including the kiss with the princess last night. I had had to tell her the truth, I wanted a huge favour from her- with her keeping my identity a secret, in return for that... she wanted my reasons for it. Judging by her expression-which was surprisingly sympathetic- she understood my request.
"Im sorry Rose. I had no idea" Hans said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I shrugged my shoulders. "Im sure i'll get over it, one day" I lied. "Which is also the reason why I am handing my resignation in. I am no longer Lissa's guardian. If and when I return. I will request to be a guardian that does the patrols and guards everybody. I feel like I can no longer protect the princess. I hope you can understand that, your majesty.
"I can Rose, and for what its worth... I am truely sorry for your pain. After everything that you girls have been through together, I cant believe it has come to this. I cant believe that Vasilisa sunk so low" She said, looking confused. "And I will agree to your request." I thanked her. For the first time, I could actually see why Adrian loved his aunt. She wasnt so bad, once you got passed the bitch part of her.
Half an hour later, I was knocking on Adrians front door, with permission from Tatiana to tell him about the raids, and that she had given me permission to change my identity.
My name- while I was still here, was going to be `Guardian Rebecca Cross` I was the team leader, who had been sent here from England. Hans was going to introduce me at the meeting for all guardians that we had planned for tomorrow. Everybody was going to be told that I had requested a new charge, and had moved out of the country. Finally, to my surprise, there would be a ball, right before we left. Were everybody was allowed to attend, especially those that were going on the raids. We would have to go on the stage at the end of the night, to be thanked for our bravery and wished luck for our safe return.
The queen was actually quite devious- I liked it. She thought it would be hillarious for me to pull my ring off on the stage, to reveal the true me. She said that even though Lissa had betrayed me in such a deceitful way, she would be hurt when I `left` court. That remained to be seen. So I had told Tatiana that I would make a decision on the night.
"Little Dhampir" Adrian sang, when he finally answered the door. "Ive been expecting you" he said.
"You have?" He nodded. And showed me inside, taking my jacket for me.
I sat down on one of the couches and he sat beside me.
I just got off the phone with my aunt. She told me everything." he said, in a calm voice. "Im so sorry Rose" he said. I shrugged my shoulders again.
"Its not your fault" I said. Desperately fighting the tears that wanted to fall. He pulled me to his chest, and I couldnt fight them anymore. I sobbed as he held me tightly, running his fingers through my hair, while I clutched at his shirt.
"Hey... come on" he said, in such a soothing voice. "They are not worth your tears. You deserve so much better Rose.
Eventually I began to calm down. I felt stupid, I hadnt meant to lose it in front of Adrian. He didnt deserve that. Me, crying for my lost love- a love that wasnt him. My life was certainly a fucked up place to be right about now.
"Im sorry Adrian" I told him.
"Nothing to be sorry about. I cant believe this. After everything you have done for them" He sighed and shook his head. Then he stood up and left the room. A few minutes later he returned with a cup of chocolate for me, and a beautiful ring. It had a ruby in it, which was surrounded with small diamonds. He sat down with the ring clasped tightly in between his hands. He closed his eyes and began to concerntrate. Infusing the ring with spirit. His stunning face lined, with the determination that shone from him. After a few moments his face relaxed and he opened his eyes.
I hugged him tight and kissed his cheek. "Thank you so much, Adrian" I said, as he handed me the ring and I placed it on my finger.
My hair suddenly shortened, slightly. going from my waist, to half way down my back- at least it was still long though. The colour started to lighten too. I stood up and walked to the mirror, and I gasped. I loved the image. My hair still had some dark parts, but it was streaked a blonde and caramel colour, with some bright red slashes through it. My eyes were no longer the brown colour that I liked so much. They were now a dark blue shade. Finally, my clothes... I laughed. I had on a pair of skinny leather pants that hugged my ass perfectly, and a red corset style top, edged with black lace. I looked hot. I turned back to Adrian and raised my eyebrows. He chuckled.
"Sexy as hell" he said, in a teasing way. I laughed. "What. Wasnt I before?" I pouted, playfully. "You have always been sexy to me Rose. But you know how I like to play dress up with you" he said, wagging his eyebrows.
"Come on" he said, taking my hand, and pulling me through the front door.
I laughed again. "Where are we going?" I asked.
"Shopping of course. We cant leave court, but we can shop around here. Its pretty useless changing your appearance, and then you walking around in Rose clothes. My aunt told me to get you a whole new wardrobe" He said. He had a point, I hadnt thought about that. "Weve had your room cleared out, and your belongings have been moved to a new room. Insted of room 6, your now in room 18, that way if anybody stops by, it really will look like you've left." I smiled at him.
"What did I do to deserve a friend like you?" I told him. He laughed, as we walked through the store.
We chatted about everything, mainly the raid. He was worried for me, obviously. But he was also scared that I would not come back, once we had fulfilled this mission. However... I simply didnt know the answer to that just yet, only time could tell.
After we had finished shopping and taken all of my bags back to my new room, Adrian treated me to dinner at the restraunte. It was nice. Two friends eating together and joking together. I didnt think anything could spoil this moment for me... Boy was I wrong. The princess walked in, hand in hand with Christian, Followed by Belikov and Tasha. Belikov had a pained look on his face. I saw Tasha place a comforting hand on his shoulder. I turned away and restarted conversation with Adrian.
When we had eaten our food and drank our wine, we stood up to leave, unfortunately we had to pass their table on the way out. Adrian kept his cool completely, even when Christian stopped him.
"Hey. Have you heard about Rose?" he said, to Adrian. It thought it was funny that I was standing right here, and they didnt even realise it. Adrian nodded his head.
"Why? Why would she not want to be my guardian anymore?" I heard the princess sob. I risked a quick glance at her, she looked dreadful. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying, but I refused to show any sympathy to her, Or Dimitri, who looked just has hurt. They had brought it on themselves.
"I dont know Liss" Christian finally spoke. "Maybe she just needed a break. Im sure she'll be back soon though, she wouldn't stay away from you for too long" he cooed, as if he was talking to a fucking baby- for godsake.
When she had calmed down enough Christian looked up for the first time. His eyes fell on me, and then he flicked them towards Adrian, who was grinning like the cat who got the cream.
"Who's this?" he asked Adrian.
"Oh right sorry" Adrian said. "Everybody... This is Guardian Rebecca Cross. She's here- at court at the request of the queen." he told them. "Theres a meeting tomorrow which she must attend. Im sure you have had your presence requested by now" He said, inclining his head in Belikovs direction. Belikov didnt say anything out loud, just a small bob of his head.
"Very good. Im sorry, but I must escort Becca to her room now" he informed them, then he spun on his heel and walked away, with me right next to him.
"Goodnight Little dhampir" he said, as we reached my door. He kissed my knuckles and let my hand fall to my side.
"Goodnight Adrian. Thanks again... for today" I said. I hugged him and then walked into my bedroom and closed the door as he walked down the corridor.
I quickly stripped my clothes and put on a nightshirt, then I climbed into my bed, and fell asleep instantly.
There it is. ooooooh. what did you think.
What for the next chapter. Rose's pov and continue more into the story, or do Dimitri's pov.
Dont forget to review please. Good or bad. :)