I knew I couldn't make a scene in the diner, Dimitri had planned it well. He always thinks of everything, always planning. He knows me to well, I already knew this but the reminder wasn't all that pleasant. If I was going to get out of this, I would have to be creative.
"I have to use the toilet, excuse me." I say as nonchalantly as I could.
"Okay"
Once in the bathroom I quickly assess the situation. One basin, three stalls and one window. The window was up high, too high to simply climb out.
I climbed up the center divider between the stalls closest to the window and took a second to decide my next move, I don't know how I'm going to get out this, all I know is that I can't stay here while everyone back at court is risking their necks. I take a deep breath, and jump.
I almost couldn't believe it when my hands caught the window ledge, with one hand I undid the latch and then carefully pulled myself out. Thank god Dimitri made me do all those weights back at St. Vlads. Once I was out, I jumped to the ground trying to make as little sound as possible. I still didn't doubt Dimitri would come looking for me if I didn't return soon.
Dimitri made us walk to the diner for breakfast in case something happened and Sydney needed the car. Therefor I had no means for a fast escape. The only option left was the forest. I sliped my shoes off and started making my way into the trees, I didn't want to think what would happen if i couldn't navigate my way to the hotel.
"Excuse me. Young lady, are you alright?" it took me a while to register that the kind looking human women was talking to me. I saw that she was standing by a car, with a worried expression on her face. This could be my way back to Sydney, I turned on the tears to make myself look as miserable as possible.
"My boyfriend in there just told my he was seeing another woman. He was the only one with a car now I'm stranded out here. I come from Georgia." I say as I sob. I'm painfully aware of my time ticking away.
"You poor girl, here let me give you a ride." She says in such a pitiful tone that it made me feel a little bad for deceiving her.
"Oh thank you so much, can you take me to the motel?" I almost whisper.
"Of course sweetie, I'm Charlie." Charlie says as she gets in the car.
"I'm rose" I whisper with a small smile
Not long after leaving the diner I see Dimitri speeding towards the motel, he could be a problem.
"Oh my god, that was him. He's going to be at the motel I don't think I can face him yet. Can you just drop me off down the street a bit?" I say
"Anything you want rose."
After Charlie drove off, leaving just down the street from the motel I start jogging there. Hopefully Dimitri will expect what I was planning on doing before changing the plan. Sure enough when I peak around the corner I see him running into the forest, searching for me.
I didn't have long to get Sydney and get on the road. When I Sydney opens the door after me knocking so many times, I think thought she was dreaming.
"Rose?" she says in a disbelieving tone.
"Yeah, it's me. Look, we have to get on the road. No time to explain, just please, trust me." I say as I start packing her few possessions.
"okay rose, you know I trust you." I thought I heard her say ' I wish I didn't' but I let it drop, I had too many other problems right now.
I quickly gathered the small amount of things that Sydney bought me and the very meager cash i had. As we got in the car Sydney just seemed to realize Dimitri wasn't with us.
"Please, let's just go." A gave her a look that told her that I dint want to talk about it.
"We can't just leave him here." I think she realized that she wasn't going to win this fight.
"He's resourceful, he'll think of something." I say while checking the clock on the dash board, it told me that we had to get going now.
"Do you know somewhere where we can go?"
"Sure" she says thoughtfully, I watched as she punched in Altswood, West Virginia into the GPS.
"Just once I wished you would right something like Florida." I say trying to lighten the mood.
"Altswood is just the closest thing the GPS can find, after there we will be heading to a… argh… small town." Sydney was the worst liar ever; I could tell she was lying almost faster than I would if she was Lissa.
"What do you reckon Zmey thinks about this?" Sydney was always so worried about Abe, I was so surprised when she agreed without even saying anything about him.
She gave me a half smile that looked more guilty than anything "Well, I was hoping you could have a father, daughter chat when we get back." She said sheepishly.
"Sure thing Sydney, I owe you one already." I say referring to not asking questions when we left.
"You should get some sleep. You're going to need where were going." She says
That should of set my alarms bells going, but I was too tired to care, it really hadn't been more than a few hours since I woke up, my second daring escape seemed to tire me out. Soon my eyelids were too heavy to keep open and I feel into a dreamless sleep.
I had been hoping to see Adrian but when I woke up all thoughts of my love life fled my mind. At first I thought Sydney had driven off the road.
"Where are we?" I say
"Altswood." She answers not meeting my eyes.
"Okay Sydney, what's going on?" I say in my best stop-messing-around voice.
This was it, the big explanation. The thing she's been hiding from me since we got in the car.
"the alchemists have knowledge about small villages that live on the edge of society, the like to think of themselves as people who still keep old traditions. Think of them as vampire Amish and they are against current politics." in a weird way this was probably the safest place for a accused queen killer who escaped jail, but the thought of living without electricity and laws frightened me a little.
"Okay, but why do you look so guilty?"
"well, they are a little…savage." she whispers.
"Sydney sage I am insulted. You don't think I can protect you?" I say in mock outrage.
"Of course you can, you the best i know. It's just that I feel like I'm doing something stupid." I couldn't help but think how far our relationship had come.
"There's only one way to find out, come on." I say trying to lift the mood.
When we got out of the car I saw a small dirt track leading into what looked like a very dense forest. I though Sydney was going to walk in the opposite direction towards the road, however I should of known that the little dirt track was exactly where she was leading me.