I stood just at the base of the Lincoln Monument. I watched Reece closely as he walked back to his guardian and left. He looked back at me and smiled maliciously before turning around and following his guardian. I was extremely tense. Had it not been for Adrian holding my hand I probably would have pounced on Reece.
"Hey Rose, what's wrong?" Lissa asked. I shook my head and looked at her. "Nothing Liss, nothing." I assured her. She looked at me with doubt in her eyes. I could feel through the bond that she was starting to get tired, an affect of the spirit using and the fact that we were on an alternate schedule than usual.
"I wonder what is going on back at Court. I wonder if they're revolting yet." Adrian teased with a thoughtful tone in his voice. I shot a sideways glance at him. "I don't think they'll be happy, but hey they can't try me again, so it really doesn't matter what people say." I told him. He chuckled. "At least you're out now. No more jail cell." He said. "Yeah." I sighed.
I had a flash of Dimitri coming to see me. His promise to me. "When you get out of this place, I promise to give you a chance. Even if it means me regretting what I did every minute that I am with you. But I will try. For your benefit. Because I do love you. No matter what you feel." He had said to me. I felt horrible right about now. I was holding Adrian's hand, reminding me of my commitment to him, but I had already fucked up because I had given in to my desire for Dimitri less than two days ago.
"Adrian, I need to tell you something." I told him. He looked at me with those jade eyes and I couldn't breathe. "Yes?" He asked expectantly. I was going to tell him about Dimitri, but I just couldn't. At least not now. "I've really missed you." I said instead. He smiled his signature sloppy half smile. "I've missed you more." He said, kissing my hand. I smiled. We reached the plane and boarded. Only three of the six guardians had boarded this time, accompanied by Abe. Adrian and Lissa were allowed to fly back with us since I was no longer a threat.
When the doors closed and we took off I couldn't stop thinking about Dimitri. How was I going to tell him, or Adrian. I had basically been involved with them both. Cheating I guess. I was a terrible girlfriend. I looked at Adrian sitting beside me. He was sleeping already. He looked so peaceful, so solemn. I hated keeping secrets from him, but I couldn't tell him. At least not until we were alone.
I moved out of the seat, being very careful not to wake him. I went to sit by Lissa, but when I realized she was asleep as well I just went to sit back down. I thought about going to talk to Abe, but from the sounds of the snoring behind my seat, I could only guess that he was also asleep. So, I sat back and closed my eyes.
I was more tired than I had thought because I fell asleep quickly. I was dreaming of being at the ski lodge where Adrian and I had first met last year. I had hated him at first, but had finally come around the more time we had spent together. I leaned against the banister outside. I felt someone rub against my back and rest their chin against my shoulder. I could smell clove cigarettes and knew that it was Adrian.
"What brings you here little dhampir?" He whispered in my ear. I looked up and sighed. "Old memories I guess." I replied. I could feel his lips against my neck. "What brings you here?" I asked in return. "You." He said. I smiled faintly. I was still feeling guilty about not telling him about Dimitri. I had to tell him. This was the most private place.
"Adrian when I told you I missed you earlier, well that was definitely not a lie, but it wasn't what I had wanted to tell you." I confessed. I turned to face him. He looked me right in the eyes. "Rose you can tell me anything. But I have a feeling I already know who this is about. Belikov right?" He said. I looked at him guiltily. I nodded. "How did you know?" I asked, my head hung, looking down at the wooden balcony floor. He lifted my chin and looked at me intensely.
"Rose when I heard Belikov had been the first one to see you I knew you would have something to say to him. I mean you still love him I know that, but I also know that you love me too." He reassured me. He was way too nice to me sometimes. Overlooking all the things I do wrong. "But Adrian I kissed him and he promised me he would give me another chance. He still loves me too. But I just can't do it. Not now." I sobbed.
He wiped the tears from my face. "Don't cry. Please. I don't think I'll be able to stand it. I can't even imagine the situations you've been through. Losing your first love to Strigoi, and then bringing him back only to have him reject you. I just don't know how you've done it. Rose, you are my first everything. The first person I've actually fallen in love with, and the only one I ever will truly fall in love with. I can't even imagine what it would be like to think I'd lost you forever.
I was crying more and more with each loving word that came out of Adrian's mouth. He kissed me softly. "Talk to Belikov tomorrow. Tell him how you feel and then come and let me know what you decide. If you pick him I'll understand why. I won't be mad. I swear though I won't stop loving you." He told me. I looked at him and squeezed him. I held on to him like my life depended on it. "I don't deserve someone like you." I cried out.
He held me to him. "No Rose, I don't deserve you." He countered. I shook my head. "Oh Adrian. I love you." I kissed him and hugged him with all of my energy before he kissed the top of my head and smiled at me. "Time to go little dhampir." He sighed. And then he walked off and I woke up.
We were back at Court and I was feeling a little on the sick side. I had to talk to Dimitri today. Explain things to him and make a decision which would ultimately rip my heart in two no matter who I chose. We landed and when we all got off the plane a flood of people crowded around us. Some people shouted angrily. "How could they let you out?" One woman yelled. I shot her a nasty look which shut her up.
Abe and the guardians walked in front of Adrian, Lissa, and I. When we got away from the crowd Dimitri ran up to me and picked me up. "Oh Roza I'm so glad you're okay." He said into my ear. I smiled weakly. I looked back to see Adrian nod at me and walk towards his room. Lissa looked over at me and sent me a message through the bond. "Talk to him, it may be the only chance you get." She told me. I nodded and then she too walked towards her room.
Dimitri looked at me contently. I ran a hand over the top of my head. "Hey, um, can we please go back to my room. We need to talk." I asked. "Alright." He simply said. So we headed off towards my room. I remembered Lissa telling me that they had restricted my floor when she had come to visit me, but everything was back to normal. Even my room was clean and all my stuff in it's place.
"What is it Rose?" Dimitri asked, sitting down in a chair close to my bed. I sat on the bed facing him. "Remember what you promised me the day you came to visit me?" I asked, already knowing he did. "I wouldn't dare forget." He ensured me. I stared down at my hands. "Yes, well Dimitri, I, I can't believe I'm saying this but, I love Adrian." I could feel the heaviness in the air. "I see." He said, sounding a little disappointed.
"Well, I can't help who you love, but I guess you just realized that you had no need for me anymore." He said. My head shot up. "Dimitri I love you too! I can't get enough of you. I don't know what the hell is wrong with me! I love Adrian and I love you! I'm a horrible person, disloyal, untrustworthy, but god damn it I can't do this!" I hollered. He looked at me sympathetically.
He got up at stood in front of me. He pulled me to my feet and held me to him. His chin was resting on the top of my head. "Oh Roza, you are so spontaneous." He said. He bent his head down to kiss me, but I put my hand against his chest, slowly pushing him away. "I can't Dimitri." I was crying again. Dimitri looked towards my window. "Rose I don't care about your decision. I love you, always. And you may be with Adrian, but knowing that you will still love me is enough to keep me going forever."
I was astounded by his sudden acceptance. "But Dimitri," I stuttered. "Rose I will wait. Even if you never come back to me, I'll always be here for you, always defend you. No matter what." He promised. I hugged him once more before he kissed my cheek and left. I was sitting on the bed and pulled my knees up to my chest. I probably looked a mess. I went into the bathroom and showered. I put on fresh clothes and laid back down on my bed, curling into a ball.
I must've fallen asleep, because I woke up rubbing my eyes. It was completely dark outside now. I decided I should probably go see Adrian. I quickly brushed my teeth and combed my hair. I rushed out the door and over to Adrian's room. But I was horrified by what I found. Adrian was passed out on the floor with blood streaming from his head.