I didn't think I'd get any reviews and I got some. Thanks so much you guys ROCK!!!
I want to put a disclaimer out there. I am not the biggest Tasha fan, but her character is great in this story, it just fit with my story, which came to me in a dream by the way. Also Lissa is a little OOC, but she may get to redeem herself in this story or its sequel, yes I plan on having a sequel for this story, but I haven't outlined it yet just thought of the plot. So don't hate me I really do like Lissa, but in this story she's annoying.
BTW I chose Los Angeles for this story since I live in the LA area and we write what we are comfortable with, but some stuff might be made up so to all you Angelinos things might not be exact to the LA area.
Richelle Mead owns Vampire Academy not me. This story will have many new characters that all come from my imagination : )
Rose POV
We land, get our luggage, and head out towards ground transportation. No freaking way Tasha got us a limo. I was utterly shocked. Christian had a smirk on his face like he knew some secret and I was the kid not invited to join the cool club in the neighborhood. He was annoying me more than normal if that is possible. My stomach growled since it was almost our lunch time.
"Don't worry Rose we are close to home and we can eat as soon as we get in, I have food in the house." Tasha stated with her standard smile.
Wow was I really getting a clue? OK so a house I guess that rules out boat, apartment, RV and/or mobile home.
We get in the limo and I can't help, but smile. "Rose if I am anything I am not poor." Tasha smiled her kindest smile showing her fangs. At least she's calling me Rose now, yes!
She was being so nice. Yep I am sure Dimitri never told her about me, just probably convinced her he couldn't leave Lissa and his duty came first. Knowing Dimitri this was 100% believable. I can't believe that she would be so nice to me if she knew the real reason Dimitri turned her down was because of me.
Just thinking about him I got suddenly more depressed, if that's possible.
Tasha noticed my mood change. "What's wrong Rose?"
"Oh nothing just curious where we are going?"
"Didn't Christian tell you all about your new home?"
Pyro was looking out the window and just starts laughing to himself, idiot!
"No sorry pretend I know nothing, because really I know NOTHING!"
"Sorry Tasha, I was so busy packing it must have slipped my mind." He just smirks and looks at me, jerk. I may run out of adjectives for him before the day is over, ugh!
"Well Rose I moved from Minneapolis not too long ago to a beach house in Manhattan Beach. See I met someone. His name is Urie Kozlov. He has a 10 year old daughter, her name is Natalia. He is a widower, is Moroi and is the love of my life." She kept smiling like a junior high school girl who was talking about her crush.
OMG she was in love, I recognized that look as one I used to have. Winch.
Well this is news, maybe we can be friends since I know she no longer pines for my soul mate, not that it really matters, he's gone. I was sad again dammit.
Wait did she just say beach house and Manhattan Beach, if I wasn't in a limo I would so be doing my happy dance right now, YAHOOOO!!! I love the beach.
"Wow that's just WOW!" I was speechless.
"Glad you're happy. It's a rather large house and Urie bought the apartment building next door as an investment. We plan on getting married soon, but haven't set a date. Urie and Natalia his daughter will be joining us from Russia tomorrow night so get ready for a full house." She's still smiling like a love drunk teenager. No wonder she seems so happy to me, I finally get it.
I can't help but smile her happiness seems contagious. Pyro even seems more upbeat. Maybe my life won't suck so much…things are looking up, marginally.
We pull up and I am in awe. The sea air smells great, ahhhhhh! The house is 3 stories and YES it's on the beach, but not in a bad way. It's pretty exclusive I can tell it's an upscale neighborhood not one of those crazy beach areas with lots of tourists and homeless. "WOW" I guess it's my word of the day.
The driver helps get our bags inside on the ground floor. The house is amazing. It has 7 bedrooms 5 full baths and 2 half baths for guests, plus more. The bottom level had a small gym/rec room (yes), two small bedrooms that share a jack and jill bath and a 4 car garage. To me this seemed like the guardian wing, Tasha explained that when Urie and Natalia move in there will also be 2 guardians that come with them, sweet some guarding partners!
The second level which I later realized was mine and Christian's wing had two bedrooms each with its own bath, a big game/theater room with a full bar and a half bath for entertaining and a balcony. The top and final level had 3 bedrooms, the first a master with master bath, and two smaller bedrooms that share a jack and jill bathroom, a kitchen, dining and living rooms, another half bath for guests and a big balcony as well. It was amazing!
"You like it Rose?" Tasha asked smiling her famous fangy smile.
"OMG Tasha I love it. It's just amazing….WOW!" I couldn't help it I gave her a big hug! She didn't seem upset she hugged me back and seemed please.
"So I guess life doesn't suck so bad huh B?" Pyro finally speaks.
"It's getting better definitely." I give him a small smile and he actually smiled back at me. Yes maybe we won't kill each other by September.
"Rose let me show you to your room." Tasha grabbed my hand and pulled me along. Pyro lagged behind.
The room was breathtaking to say the least. It had a queen size four poster bed in a medium wood tone, a blue and brown comforter set with desk and dresser/mirror combination in the same matching wood as the bed. I had a laptop and the closet was walk-in with a closet organizer.
The bathroom was simple and the same color tone matching the room. All the walls were a nice tone of brown and the carpet was also light. It was elegant, stylish and best of all relaxing, my own personal getaway. I could really get used to this!
The whole house had a nice, elegant casual feel. Funny it kind of reminded me of the inside décor of the Cullen house in Twilight.
Lissa loves that movie and makes me watch it over and over again….I flinched a little feeling guilty I haven't thought of Lissa in a while. I will have to check in on her later, make sure she got settled into the Royal Court OK.
Tasha must have noticed my sudden mood swing. "Don't worry you can change anything you don't like. I just wanted it to be ready to sleep in when we arrived." Tasha said a little concerned.
"Oh no Tasha it's beautiful. I'm sorry something just reminded me of Lissa and I got a little sad. Really it's wonderful I can't thank you enough." Tasha gave me a small smile of understanding. Christian's smile faded and he headed off to his room I could tell he didn't like our subject matter change.
"That's going to be a problem." I say looking at Tasha.
"Don't worry Rose I think he's just hurt how Lissa acted after they broke up. I truly believe he has gotten over her, but it just hurts how she's been acting." I just give her a small smile. I agree about Lissa's behavior, but I am NEVER going to admit it to Tasha.
"There are two sides to every story." I state and follow Tasha to the 3 rd floor to eat, I am starved. We don't mention it again and I think we are both thankful.
Christian POV
I think Rose was truly shocked how awesome our house was. Did she really think we are poor? I mean we are Royal and we inherited my parent's money and my Dad and Tasha got a lot of money from my Grandparents. Plus Tasha owns a few Krav Maga Israeli Fighting studios in the Southland so we have a constant stream of income.
Not to mention that Urie is loaded. I can't wait until Rose meets him and Natalia. If Rose thinks she is the sassy one she'll be shocked when she meets her match when Natalia gets here and ultimately lives with us. Hah, it will be so entertaining I better stock up on popcorn.
I join Tasha and Rose for lunch. Rose looks shell shocked, pretty cool to catch my badass guardian off guard. I am loving it. I also love my new nickname for Rose…B. It stands for several things like badass, bitch of coarse, and most of all beautiful.
Rose was always the hot girl in school, but in the last few days I have noticed more and more that she is just so beautiful. Wait did I just call Rose beautiful…ugh why is this happening to me. I can't see Rose this way. Oh well at least I have Melanie to keep my mind off those scary thoughts.
I can't wait until Rose meets Melanie. If Natalia will drive Rose crazy Melanie my new kind of girlfriend is going to kill her. She's pretty annoying, but she serves her purpose as my rebound gal to get over Lissa. Plus she is very cute and her Dad and family are really cool. Just that fact that she will drive Rose crazy is worth putting up with her.
Speaking of Lissa she has changed so much I can't believe what she turned into, Royal and all the annoying adjectives that go with that, UGH!!! It's best we broke up I could never live in that world and never will be accepted. What the queen and all the Royals don't realize is that the vampire world is changing and they are not going to be happy.
In LA we have so many friends and allies, Tasha loves it here and the Moroir/Dhampir community is awesome. I guess what they say is correct, "people in California are just more laid back", more my style.
"Wow look at that view." Rose was staring out the big windows at the ocean while Tasha prepared lunch. I know she's shell shocked she can't stop saying WOW! Now I am really happy I didn't tell her about this place her reaction is priceless, some more material to torture her with later. Life just got so interesting with Rose as my guardian, hehehehe (evil laugh).
"Hey Rose I think I'll buy you a dictionary for a late graduation present. There are so many other words you can use rather than WOW." At first she blushed then her eyes narrowed and she got that I am going to kill you look. She threw the remaining of her 3rd sandwich at me, yuck mayo on my forehead. OK B is for bitch right now. At least she didn't punch me.
Man can she eat, not sure where she puts all that food?
"You are so going to pay for that B." I just glare at her and go to clean myself up.
As I am wiping myself off I can't help but think of Rose as my guardian. She thinks she's being punished which is partially true when it comes to the Queen. What she doesn't realize is that Abe Rose's Dad, Urie, and Tasha are all good friends with powerful ties and this was mostly to protect Rose.
Protecting the last Dragomir is a very risky job and Rose would be in constant danger. The amazing thing about Rose is that she was totally OK with that. I don't think Lissa ever realized how truly selfish Rose was when it came to her and her safety. Most Royals don't appreciate their guardians, which is pretty sad. Tasha raised me and taught me better.
I smile looking at her and she just gives me a confused look. Abe was adamant about protecting Rose and being able to spend time with her and Tasha went along. He and Urie arranged it with some deal with the Queen, plus the Queen was looking for an out to get rid of Rose without looking like the bitch she is.
I get why Abe wanted to protect Rose, but it's kind of weird how much Tasha wants to protect her. Hmmm maybe she feels she owes it to Dimitri to protect her since her and Dimitri were such close friends? Dimitri was always very protective of Rose being her mentor and all, yeah that must be why.
They asked me and I went along with it no problem, Rose is pretty cool and we have some good past with killing those Strigoi, even though lately we haven't had much love. I don't' really blame Rose for that, it was all Lissa, Rose just followed suite I am sure. Not to mention she is one of the best guardians out there. So I guess win win for everyone.
Just then the door bell rings. Wonder who that can be?
OK who could be at the door? I can give you a small clue they are new characters I have come up with and they are great, typical LA types.