AN: Sorry guys. I did mean to update twice last time, but fanfic has been acting weird and wouldn't let me upload. Thanks a bunch for the reviews, favs, and follows! To teddywashere: OMG your review is hilarious! Let's find out if Dimitri makes Rose his female wolf LOL. As always, review!
Rose and Dimitri are locked in each other's gazes as they wait for one or the other to strike first. Move. Rose commands herself. Move! But her muscles are not responding. For some unfathomable reason, the deadly Rosemarie Mazur is frozen and unsure of what to do. This is unlikely behavior of her. Of course she has felt fear plenty of times in fact she feels it every time she faces a werewolf. As her mentor, Stan, usually says she'd be a fool not to feel fear of death or become one of the damned. If only Stan were here, he'd scream at her to not hesitate and kill the beast. But if tales are true, Dimitri is incapable of being killed. In that case, nothing will stop him from drinking her blood and tearing her flesh.
However, Dimitri's domineering blood lust is for the second time in years forgotten as he enjoys watching Rose clearly struggle to keep her fear in. Her face is void of emotion as she faces the beast but her fluttering heart gives her feelings away. That young and pure heart is pounding against her chest, and he can smell the small bead of sweat running between the valley of her breasts. Licking his lips with a different kind of lust he thought he'd never feel again, Dimitri turns away and lowers his head as the transformation back to human begins.
Rose winces and grimaces at the sound of bones snapping as Dimitri shifts and lets out small groans and growls of pain and annoyance. Soon, the werewolf is gone replaced by a man, a muscular, tanned and very naked man on his fours. Even though the situation is too disturbing and serious, Rose can't help but appreciate the beauty of the man. The sight of his chiseled arms and sweaty skin makes Rose shiver. Disgusted with herself, Rose stalks towards the man ready to cut off his head. However, he surprises her by rising swiftly to his feet and showing the rest of his body.
Do not look down, Rose chants to herself as she steps back, and Dimitri steps forward. Do not look down. Keeping her eyes trained on his face, Rose keeps stepping backwards as the man, with a grin on his face, keeps stepping forward. His long legs make it easy to catch up to her, so their bodies brush against each other the silver armor stinging against his skin.
"How will you chain me if you keep stepping away?" Dimitri smirks and makes Rose jump a little at the sound of his faint yet very distinct Russian accent. "Well?" He extends his hands out to Rose.
"Eddie," Rose whispers keeping her eyes on his. "Chains."
Eddie and the other Guardians step out of their shock at seeing the ancient werewolf. Every Guardian and Christian lower their heads slightly as they are ashamed no one managed to react and help Rose. Regaining the use of his muscles, Eddie steps forward carrying shackles for Dimitri's hands and feet plus a brand new collar. When Eddie steps close to chain him, Dimitri glowers and growls at the young Guardian, who steps back with a frown on his face.
"Her," Dimitri nods his head towards Rose. "I want her to chain me. No one else will touch me but her."
"You are in no position to make demands," Christian snaps as he moves forward taking the chains from Eddie.
"I will do it," Rose whispers then clears her throat. "Burn the bodies. All of them. Stay alert in case the others return."
"They will not," Dimitri says with a satisfied smirk on his lips as the Guardians scatter to do as Rose commands.
She doesn't say anything as she chains Dimitri's hands all they while making sure to not touch him. When she is about to kneel and chain his feet, she grimaces as momentarily she forgot he is naked. Now she has the image of Dimitri's much endowed manhood engraved in her head. With a sigh and a slight blush, Rose calls a Guardian forward and orders he bring a cape or something to cover the prisoner.
"Do I make you uncomfortable?" Dimitri asks amused.
"You make me feel disgusted," Rose replies as the Guardian wraps a rag around Dimitri. Of course Rose is lying. She wouldn't be human if she didn't feel desires or any other emotion unlike the beasts. However, she will never admit to finding the werewolf attractive because that's just… disgusting and wrong.
"You wound me," he chuckles then turns serious lowering his gaze at Rose, who is chaining his feet. "Are you not wondering why I am still here?"
Why, yes she is. Ever since the wolves retreated, a nagging thought came to Rose's mind: Why did Dimitri not go with his beasts? He should and could have. Yet he stayed. But Rose has more important matters at the moment like making sure Dimitri is secured once again, all the bodies are disposed of, and the remaining Guardians arrive safely at Istanbul. Ignoring Dimitri's questions and attempt at conversation, Rose finishes chaining up his feet and rises to her feet with the collar in her hands. She stares up at the man unable to reach his neck.
"On your knees," she commands sternly.
"I believe I like where this is going," Dimitri replies with a grin. "But you must say please."
Rose narrows her eyes as the fury burns inside her. Her ego is wounded. She froze in front of her Guardians and the Ozeras; she froze in front of Christian. Her reputation of badass and fearless huntress has been endangered because of him, so Rose is not in the mood for Dimitri's bull shit. In one swift movement, she hits the back of Dimitri's knees with the tilt of the sword. With his shackled feet and hands, Dimitri cannot stop the fall, so he ends up kneeling while Rose looks down at him with a satisfied and gleeful smirk on her pretty face. Much to Rose's surprise though, the werewolf merely laughs as she places the collar around his neck.
"Milady, you have no manners," he comments as Rose tightens the collar around his neck making the spikes draw blood, but he doesn't even wince enjoying the situation entirely too much. "That is how I like my women: wild and unmannered."
Rose scowls annoyed. "Theo," a Guardian steps forward with a torch in hand. "Keep him under surveillance."
Theo nods and pulls Dimitri up to his feet and leads him to where the destroyed carriage is. Sitting down on a rock nearby, Dimitri watches Rose. She moves from body to body setting them on fire not caring whether the person is alive or not. Frowning, Dimitri wonders if he will find his freedom here. He tries to recall his curse and the warnings the witch gave him. She failed to mention the ruthless and cold huntress before him. Perhaps the witch played him yet again or perhaps –
"Rose!" Christian steps out from the darkness with two Guardians carrying a bloodied man from deep within the forest. "We found Stan."
Rose hands the torch to Christian and rushes to her mentor's side. The Guardians set Stan down, and Rose kneels and quickly clasps Stan's hand in hers.
"Stan," Rose gives him a weak smile. "Hold on; you will be fine. We will get moving soon, and we will find you a healer."
Stan shakes his head weakly. "Rosemarie," he grins despite the pain on his bitten and mangled hip. This time Rose doesn't chastise him for calling her by her full name. "Let us not fool each other. I am a dead man. I have been bitten."
"No," Rose shakes her head adamantly as she fights back the tears. She will not cry. Not even if her heart is breaking because the man dying before her eyes has taught her to be strong despite the adversities. But it hurts terribly to watch the man who trained her to be the damn best and only huntress in Europe. Stan is the man who convinced her father to allow her to train to be a huntress five years ago. He was the first to believe in her potential to be deadly. He is the man who brought more deaths to the werewolves than Rose ever could. How can a legend be easily brought down? No. Stan Alto will recover; he is larger than life, or so Rose tells herself. "It is only a scratch."
Her mentor laughs then stops abruptly. "Stubborn as always," a sad smile breaks across his lips as he kisses Rose's hand leaving a dark mark of blood on her skin. "I will remember you like this Rosemarie. You have truly been the daughter I never had."
She bites her lower lip to keep the sobs inside. "It has been a pleasure to learn from you, Hunter Stan." She leans forward and kisses his bloodstained forehead.
"The pleasure has been mine, Huntress Rosemarie. Send my regards to your father, and the best of luck to you. I know you can set us free." With one last kiss to her hand, Rose removes her hand and stands up.
Christian, who is also feeling the stabbing pain of losing a great man, hands back the torch to Rose. She takes it and sets fire to her mentor. Stan doesn't make a sound as the flames engulf him. Even in his death bed, Stan is a badass. That thought forms a chuckle and a sob in the back of Rose's throat, so that what comes out of her mouth is a weird pained sound. Christian grabs Rose's hand unsure if she will take the comfort as she has always preferred to suffer alone. She surprises him by holding his hand tightly. Together, they watch as Stan Alto burns and turns into nothing more than ashes.
"Another loved one I must watch burn," Rose says through her teeth squeezing Christian's hand even tighter. "Another loved one I have lost because of him."
Both Christian and Rose turn to briefly glare at Dimitri, who is watching the entire scene with an emotionless mask seemingly lost in his own thoughts.
"You will put an end to this," Christian reassures her as they turn back to Stan's ashes.
"I do hope so," she mutters darkly as she finally lets go of Christian's hand. "Have all the bodies been burned?" Christian nods. "Then let us move. We cannot stay here all night."
The remaining horses are mounted by Rose, Christian, Eddie and Wes while Dimitri is forced to walk between them. Another seven or so Guardians on foot follow closely behind remaining alert if another attack happens. But just like Dimitri said, the wolves don't return. However it is a relief when they reach Istanbul, and the walls of the Mazur household come into view by the time the sun begins to rise in the horizon. To everyone's relief, death will soon be brought upon the beast.
When Rose and her company reach the pure silver gates to the Mazur household, she turns Oscar to face her company.
"Remember your orders," Rose reminds the Guardians and Christian. Once they nod in understanding, Rose turns to face ahead again.
"Who goes there?" One of the Guardians posted at the entrance asks.
"Lady Rosemarie Hathaway Mazur," Rose introduces herself rolling her eyes. Foolish pleasantries, she thinks to herself. As if they do not already know who I am or who we have brought.
And what she hates the most is having to address herself as 'lady.' As she is the only daughter of Ibrahim Mazur, and he doesn't have a wife, the title has gone to Rose who would much rather introduce herself as huntress. But the lords, despite allowing her to be part of the hunters, do not recognize her officially as one unlike Christian.
"Hunter Christian Ozera," Christian follows to introduce himself. "My Guardians and prisoner Dimitri Belikov."
The Guardian's eyes bug out of his sockets as he takes in the sight of the chained Russian. Shaking his head immediately, he gives the order for the gates to be opened and allow the crowd in. Once inside, the gates are sealed shut, but neither Rose nor Christian or the Guardians relax. Their duty will not be done until Dimitri is gone and done with. The vassals of Ibrahim Mazur stop their duties to stare at the shackled beast. Some of the vassals run wanting to get out of the way of the beast in case he escapes while others throw pebbles at the beast and taunt him.
"What a warm welcome," Dimitri murmurs as he tries to keep himself from breaking his chains again and ripping them all apart as the rocks hit his back, arms, and face.
"Only the best for you," Christian sneers.
More pebbles and insults later, Dimitri and his jailers stand at the front gates of the Mazur castle. The doors open and out walks Lord Mazur flanked by Pavel, Mazur's personal Guardian. Abe Mazur is a man in his early forties with dark hair and beard, wears much gold, and a scarf with a golden snake stitched on it. Abe doesn't acknowledge Dimitri as his eyes are solely on his only and beloved daughter. He inspects her for injuries, and when he is satisfied his dear daughter is safe, he grins finally able to breathe again. The Guardians and hunters are not the only ones that had a rough night. Abe didn't sleep as he kept glancing out the window. Upon hearing the howls nearby, Abe almost went out to find his daughter, but Pavel practically locked him up. Now, he is glad Pavel stopped him because his dear daughter looks extremely proud of herself.
Rose grins satisfied as she climbs off the horse. Once she is by her father's side, he throws his arm around her and beams proudly at her. To Rose, public displays of affection were embarrassing but since the tragedy of five years ago, she has learned to appreciate those who are alive and the affection they give.
"What did I tell you, Old Man?" Rose smirks as the jerks her chin in the direction of the prisoner. "I told you I would successfully bring him."
Abe squeezes her shoulder. "That you did. Congratulations. Though I can tell success came with fatalities." He is not trying to criticize his daughter; Abe is merely stating the fact that out of the twenty Guardians he sent along with her, only four returned and who knows how many more Ozera lost.
"We were attacked," Rose nods choosing her words carefully. She wants to keep the part where Dimitri ordered the wolves away, and he decided to stay. The Guardians and Christian know not to mention that part either, if they are asked. "Stan… he's gone."
"I am sorry Rose," Abe's smile falters as he watches his daughter's face fall. "He will be missed. A banquet will be served tonight to pay tribute to him and those who gave their lives for your safe return and of course, Christian's." The smile returns to Abe's lips as he regards the young hunter. "It is an honor to have you in my household."
"The honor is mine, Lord Mazur," Christian climbs off the horse and bows his head at Abe. "My father, Lord Ozera, sends his regards and best wishes."
"Thank you. I, too, send my regards to your father. I do hope you will stay with us for a while."
"I would be honored," Christian bows once again and steps aside motioning for Eddie and Wes to bring Dimitri forward. "I must stay as well to see that the beast is done with."
Abe finally seems to notice Dimitri. "This is the famous Dimitri Belikov," he steps forward and regards the werewolf with an unreadable expression. "I hear your death cures all of those who are infected."
"Perhaps," Dimitri replies with a slight shrug.
"I suppose there is only one way to find out: by killing you." Abe practically growls taking Dimitri by surprise. Sure, people have wanted him dead for a long time, but they have never shown as much… passion like Mazur.
"Passion seems to run in your family," Dimitri voices his thoughts out loud. "Your daughter has made very clear what she wants to do to me." He grins as he recalls Rose's rant the remaining of the trip of how she will cut him in several tiny pieces then set fire to his putrid body. "Of course they are not the same things I want to do to her." He winks at Rose whose jaw twitches in outrage.
"How dare you speak of my daughter in that manner?" Abe suddenly turns red with rage and punches the werewolf's nose. Dimitri chuckles quietly as blood falls down his face before the wound heals itself. "She will be respected. Get him out of my sight!" Mazur roars at the Guardians.
"Relax Old Man," Rose says though she would have liked to have punched the werewolf herself. "He likes to talk."
"He will be dead by this time tomorrow." Abe glares after Dimitri as he is taken down to the dungeons. "In the meantime, you all rest. Tonight, we feast and toast in memory of Stan and those who died last night."
Rose and Christian nod and leave to their chambers. Before they part ways, Rose asks Christian to meet her in the garden in an hour. Once in her chambers, Rose bathes and trades her huntress attire for a red dress that clings to her skin beautifully without making her look like a whore. She lets her long dark brown hair down and heads out to meet Christian. By the time she reaches the gardens, Christian is waiting.
"You look very handsome," Rose grins as she sits next to him on the metal bench by the rose bushes which she was named after. Of course she used to hate the damn flowers and would stomp them as a child. Now, she tends to them in place of her mother.
"You look sad," Christian replies as he watches Rose touch the roses lovingly and delicately. Her face is soft for the first time in, well, ever. But just as quickly as the look came to her, it disappeared.
"He is hiding something," Rose doesn't acknowledge Christian's comment as she gets to the point of their meeting.
Since the wolves retreated and Dimitri asked if she was wondering why he had not fled, the doubt nagged Rose to no end. Why would he stay? At Istanbul, he is facing death. He had the chance to leave and keep slaughtering people, yet he commanded his wolves away and stayed. What is more, he allowed himself to be chained. What does Dimitri want in Istanbul? Rose has a vague idea, but she needs confirmation or rather denial.
"I agree," Christian nods interrupting Rose's deep thoughts.
He, like Rose, agreed to keep part of last night's attack a secret. If Abe or any of the lords find out about Dimitri's odd behavior, they will all go into full panic mode wondering what he is up to. They will finally listen to Lady Tatiana Ivashkov's crazy ideas to form an underground city where everyone can hide from the beasts. It is cowardly and extreme, so he supported Rose fully when she commanded the Guardians to keep the exact details to themselves. Their oaths to protect their lords bound them to keep the secret, so Rose trusts them.
"We must find out what he wants," Rose bites her lip and turns to look at Christian. "We have to talk to him."
Orders are to leave the prisoner be once he reaches his destination for security purposes. Besides the only interaction Dimitri can have is with the sword. Christian sighs and nods. After years of friendship with Rose, he knows better than to try to talk her out of something. She's more stubborn than anyone he's ever met perhaps more than Lissa, who must simply get her way when it comes to banquets' decorations. He rises to his feet and follows Rose back inside.
"How will we talk to him?" Christian asks as both head down to the dungeons being careful as to not acquire too much attention but of course Rose's dress is like a beacon. Before he can comment on that, Rose lets out a very unlady like snort.
"You forget who I am." She grins.
"Of course," Christian rolls his eyes but as always is impressed by how easily Rose can bend the rules without giving much regard to her reputation. Then again, her reputation is exactly why she is one of the most coveted ladies in Istanbul and, well, anywhere. Not that Christian covets her; his heart belongs to Lady Lissa Dragomir.
"Eddie," Rose calls out snapping Christian out of his lovesick thoughts. "Are you on duty alone?"
"No. The others are posted at the entrance."
"But you are alone outside his cell?"
"Yes," Eddie frowns. "What are you up to Rose?"
"We need to speak to him," Rose says with urgency though still giving him a small smile as he also seems to know her well.
Eddie sighs. "I cannot convince you not to do this, can I?"
"No," she grins and steps forward knowing Eddie will give her what she wants. "Besides could you deny this face?" Rose pouts her lips and bats her long eyelashes at Eddie, who visibly flustered gulps.
Pulling out his keys, Eddie glances around to make sure no one is coming. Before opening the prisoner's cell, he hands Christian a crossbow loaded with three silver arrows. Eddie then follows to open the door and let Christian into Dimitri's cell followed by Rose all the while wondering what business the two of them have with the beast.
