A/N: I hope you like this!
Don't forget to review at the end, thanks! :D
~vampireangelxx~
*Chapter 2* ~Rose's perspective~
"Roza, Rose, we're here." Dimitri's lovely voice murmured, waking me up.
"Hmm? What?" I mumbled groggily, still half-asleep.
"I said we're here." I heard a smile in his voice.
I quickly sat up, my eyes snapping open immediately. I glanced out the window—I had the window seat—and saw that he was right.
We were here. I just didn't know where it was.
"It's so beautiful out there," I said, stifling a yawn. "I wonder where we're at."
"Welcome to Russia, Roza," Dimitri said, his lips suddenly at my ear.
"Russia?" I exclaimed, shocked. Out of all the places in the world, I didn't expect him to take me to Russia! The place where he was born!
He laughed. "I'll get our luggage," He stood up. He'd packed for me and him, though I'd yet to see what clothes he'd packed for me…
I stood up too, and we exited the airplane.
We walked toward the heart of the city, and the buildings were gorgeous…they were unlike the buildings in the States. It was as if they were made of art.
I was gazing around the area when Dimitri said, "We need to rent a car. Stay here, Rose, I'll be back."
"Okay," I said absently, waving him away. I was still awed by the colorful buildings…then I forced myself to snap out of it. I leaned against the building, waiting for Dimitri.
Then I saw a Honda drive up to the curb, and I saw Dimitri at the wheel. I opened my door and got in the passenger seat.
"So, where are we headed to?" I asked as I buckled my seatbelt.
"Well, I was going to keep it a surprise from you, but I might as well tell you. We're going to visit my family."
I actually wasn't that surprised…I'd kind of figured that from him. I smiled. "I had wanted to meet your family for a long time, so I'm not surprised that you're taking me to them." I said casually.
"Of course you're not." He smiled, unintentionally making my heart race like he always did.
Dimitri eventually parked the car in front of a brick house. We got out and walked up the path to the front door.
Before we got to the door though, the door suddenly swung open and a girl who appeared to be around my age ran out, throwing her arms around Dimitri. Without a doubt, I knew she was one of his sisters.
"Dimka! Oh my gosh! I can't believe you're visiting us! I'M SO HAPPY!" She practically screamed. Dimitri laughed.
"This is Rose," He gestured to me. "Rose, this is my sister Viktoria."
"Hi, Rose!" She let go of Dimitri, and hugged me abruptly but quickly. Before I could hug her back, she let go. "Any friend of Dimitri's is our friend," She grinned. I grinned back.
"C'mon, let's go inside! Mom's going to be so happy that you're here, Dimka! Oh, and so will Sonya, and Karolina! We didn't expect this!" We stepped inside the house. Before I could take in the house, I heard running footsteps coming from the hall upstairs.
And then a woman who looked like she was in her thirties, shouted, "Dimka! Oh my goodness!"
She threw her arms around him, and Dimitri laughed. "I missed you too, Karolina, where's Mom and Sonya?"
"Oh they're out shopping." She let go, and she noticed me. "Who's this? Oh, wait, I know who you are, you're Rose! Rose Hathaway. Dimka's told us a lot about you in his letters."
"And when we mean a lot, we mean a lot. We have fifty letters worth that's all about you," Viktoria muttered in my ear. "I'm not even joking."
I blushed furiously. In a much appreciated effort to change the subject, Karolina said, "Let's not stand here in the front hall. Let's go to the living room."
We followed Karolina into the living room. I sat down next to Viktoria on one couch, and Dimitri sat down next to Karolina on the other.
Then the front door opened, and a really old, really thin dhampir woman walked through the front door. She muttered a string of words I couldn't understand—but I knew it was Russian—to Karolina.
She sighed and replied back in Russian. Then she said in English, "Rose, this is Yeva, our grandmother."
"Hello," I said politely, even though she scared the crap out of me. I swear, I saw Yeva roll her eyes. Karolina shot her a scolding look. Yeva promptly ignored her and went straight to the rocking chair in the corner, giving me a narrow-eyed look for some reason.
Then two dhampir women walked through the door—I knew they were Sonya and Dimitri's mom—holding groceries. Dimitri shot up and took one of the bags that Sonya had been holding and walked into the kitchen. Sonya looked speechless.
I stood up and helped Dimitri's mom with one of the bags she held. "Oh, thank you," she said gratefully. I smiled. I set the bag on the kitchen counter, where the other bags were.
I glanced around the room and saw Dimitri having a conversation with Sonya in Russian. They were both leaning against the counter.
I turned around and saw that Dimitri's mom was staring at me curiously.
"I'm—" I began.
"Rose. Yes, I know. I'm Olena, Dimka's mother. It's so nice to finally meet you, Rose. Dimka's told us a lot about you." She held out her hand and I shook it.
"Let me guess, the letters? All fifty of them?" I smiled, but still blushed pretty badly.
She nodded, and smiled. "Yes. Did Viktoria tell you? I wouldn't be surprised."
"Yeah, she did. So, this is a nice home you have." I said in a not-so-subtle way to change the subject.
"Thank you, Rose."
"So, have you lived here all your life? Or what?"
"Yes. I had all my children here. They grew up here, you know." She said thoughtfully.
"Wow."
"Are you hungry, Rose?"
"Not really. Besides, I don't want to be an inconvenience." I said.
"Oh, nonsense! You're family, Rose, and you most certainly would not be an inconvenience. Now, you have to eat something or I'll be worried sick." She really did look concerned. I sighed but half-smiled.
"Okay, okay, I'll eat something. I just don't know what you guys have." I shrugged.
"Oh, we have a variety, but would you like to try some black bread?"
"Sure. It sounds good."
"Just don't ask what's in it," Sonya said suddenly.
"Why? What's in it?" I asked, a little warily.
"You don't want to know, Roza. Believe me; if we told you, you'd be sick immediately." Dimitri said.
"Sick enough to throw up?"
He nodded.
"Dimka, she's already looking green just at the thought of it! Don't do that to her," Olena chastised.
Dimitri grinned. "Sorry, Roza,"
I waved his apology off. The world spun. I felt really nauseous all of a sudden. I glanced out the window. It was already night. "What…what time is it?" I managed in a whisper. Dimitri's smile faded immediately. He was alert.
He came over to me, and placed his hands on my shoulders and looked me straight in the eye, all serious. He was quiet for a moment as he studied me.
Then Olena said, "It's past seven o'clock. What's wrong?" She said worriedly.
"Oh. Crap. They're coming. I can feel it. Literally."
"Who's—" Sonya began.
"Strigoi, I can't explain right now, since obviously I don't have time, but we need to be prepared. Crap," I groaned as the nausea increased.
Dimitri straightened and instantly went into battle mode.
Then the glass sliding doors shattered, and three Strigoi entered in the house. Dimitri already had his stake out. But the Strigoi didn't fight him.
Then before I could react, one of the Strigoi grabbed me by the neck so fast I almost didn't see it. The other Strigoi held my legs.
"Don't attack," The Strigoi who'd grabbed me warned Dimitri. "Otherwise, she's dead."
But Dimitri still crouched to attack. "Dimitri, don't! Don't attack," I said as calmly as I could manage.
"What do you want with her?" Dimitri said darkly as he reluctantly straightened and gripped his stake harder.
The Strigoi gripped my neck a little tighter. I choked but could still—barely—breathe. "Oh, I'm not giving that away. You'll have to see," the Strigoi chuckled maliciously.
Unfortunately, I was in a position even I couldn't escape.
Then I saw ten—ten?—more Strigoi walk out in front of me, apparently assembling into a position where they could stop Dimitri and his family—well, his family who was in the room, which was only Olena and Sonya—from ruining whatever plans the Strigoi who was holding me—I assumed he was the leader—had.
I braced myself for the worst. I met Dimitri's stricken gaze, and tried to manage a smile before whatever was going to happen happened.
Then I felt the Strigoi sink his teeth into my neck. I screamed, not expecting this, not at all.
I tried to struggle but I might as well have been kicking a brick wall for all the good it was doing me.
"ROZA!" I heard Dimitri shout.
I felt myself fade off into the blackness, but before I could go completely, I felt some sort of liquid trickle down my throat. I had no choice but to swallow.
My last thought before I vanished into the blackness was,
Dimitri, I love you...
A/N: PHEW! I finally finished this chapter! But I must admit I'd procrastinated on this chapter... *whistles innocently* hahaha…Anyway, I hope you like this, and don't forget to review! Thank you! Oh, and sorry for the cliffhanger, but alas, it needed to happen. ^_^
~vampireangelxx~
