Chapter 4: My Side of Things

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy.

This is probably the only time we will hear from Tasha. Hope you like.

TPOV

It had been nearly a month since they'd locked me up in the dungeon of the royal court. The only reason I knew the date is that Christian would tell me when he came to visit. Even after what I'd done he still came to see me. It wasn't often, but once in a while he'd show up. His sporadic visits were the only thing that kept me from going insane in here. Although some would argue that I was already insane, but truly I wasn't. It's just that no one wanted to listen to my side of things.

Queen Tatiana was standing in the way of progress. She needed to be removed from the throne. No one else was going to do it so I had to. Moroi were weak. They were just comfortable sitting around in their fancy houses letting the dwindling number of guardians duke it out for them. Queen Tatiana had allowed our society to become lazy and co-dependant and I was tired of it as were many others who were too chicken to voice their opinions. Moroi needed to get off their asses and learn offensive magic to protect themselves from the growing number of Strigoi.

It was true that at the time of her death I hadn't known she had been having secret magic training classes for royal Moroi. Even so she completely allowed the dhampir graduation age law to be passed without even blinking an eye. Our world needed a change and my plan had been a success for the most part. Getting Tatiana out of the way made room for Lissa to become the new Queen. She was much more proactive and easier to manipulate. I had her right where I wanted her ready to do my bidding. The only snag had been Rose's bandwagon of supporters. If it weren't for them she would have been tried, convicted and executed and no one would have been the wiser. No other Dhampir had followers like she did.

I hadn't counted on Abe getting his hands on C4 and my own nephew, the Princess and Lord Ivashkov breaking her out of prison. Who does that? I should have guessed that Lissa would never let her bond mate get executed, but the others? I didn't understand their motivation. They were Royal Moroi who had everything going for them. If they'd been implicated in her escape they'd have lost all credibility especially Lissa.

In truth I didn't really hate Rose. She was a great Guardian and we needed people like her. She proved useful in getting Lissa elected Queen and she did find the long lost Dragomir heir and all. I had to give her credit there even if she totally screwed up my nicely laid plan. She could have been part of the revolution if I hadn't needed a scape goat. She was going to be sacrificed for the greater good. Everyone knew she held resentment for Tatiana. She'd proved that on more than one occasion publicly. That's what gave me the idea to steal her stake and use it. That and now that Dimitri was back to his Dhampir state she was the only thing standing in the way of him being with me.

It didn't take me long to figure out why he had refused my offer back in January. I'd offered him everything. I'd even offered him the chance to have a family. Most Dhampir men never get the chance to have children. At first I thought maybe he'd thought being Guardian to the last Dragomir was more prestigious than being Guardian to the tainted Ozera family, but after he was taken and turned I realized it was so much more than that.

When Rose left to hunt him down and kill him I knew. I knew they were involved and it killed me. He'd been a lifelong friend of mine and I'd always had feelings for him. He'd always been very kind to me and we'd always enjoyed each other's company. I can't deny that I'd always hoped it would turn into more. To learn that he'd fallen in love with his seventeen year old student whom he'd known for only months was devastating. They were both Dhampirs. What type of relationship could they possibly have had? It was highly frowned upon, not to mention the age difference. She couldn't even give him children for God's sake. What did he see in her? Sure she was young and beautiful, but she was a child.

I'd been distraught when Christian informed me that Dimitri had been turned. It had felt like a part of me died with him. It was the part of me who'd always hoped that he'd change his mind and be with me. When Lissa turned him back I was in shock, but I came to see him in hopes that maybe he hadn't returned Rose's feelings and that what she'd had was just a school girl crush. I was overjoyed when he seemed to want nothing to do with Rose, but when I spoke with him I could tell he had lied to her. I knew he was still in love with her despite what he'd said. That is when I decided to get rid of her. Framing her for Tatiana's murder was perfect. If it hadn't been for her friends breaking her out she never would have come to the conclusion that I was the murderer and I wouldn't have had to take Mia hostage and I wouldn't have had to pull that trigger. The only thing I felt truly guilty for is that I almost killed Lissa. She was finally in the position to become Queen and I nearly screwed that up.

I guess I had Rose to thank for that as well. If she hadn't have taken the bullet for Lissa then all the work I'd done would have been for nothing. At least now I could say that my life wasn't a total waste. I'd done what I'd set out to accomplish. Lissa was Queen and the Moroi world was in for a change. I'd started out thinking Rose would be the sacrifice, but I guess it turned out that it was me. A heavy price to pay, but well worth it if paved the way for generations to come.

I was startled out of my thoughts by a chair being slid across the concrete floor. My downward spiraling mood brightened for a minute. Christian must be here or so I thought. To my utter astonishment it was the one person I had wished would visit, but I never thought would come.

"Dimka," I breathed in awe of his beautiful face. He didn't look happy. I grasped the bars of the cell and dragged myself to my feet. They'd been starving me so I couldn't use my magic. It was hell, but preferable to the straight jacket and blindfold they'd used for the first few days.

"Dimka please say something," I pleaded sadly reaching out for him. Surely he'd understand why I did what I did. He'd been my friend for too long to abandon me now. I thought he'd keep his distance, but the fact that he had come here to see me brought hope to my lonely heart.

He stared back at me with his deep chocolate eyes. He had his guardian mask on so I couldn't read his emotions. I didn't know if that was a good thing or not.

"I've been cooped up in here for a month. How are things on the outside?" I asked trying to coax him into speaking.

"Do you mean how is the woman I love recovering from the bullet you put in her heart?" he spat. I'd never heard so much venom in his voice before. The murderous look on his face caused me to stumble back in surprise.

"Dimka I'm sorry about Rose. I didn't…" I started to apologize, but he cut me off.

"Don't you dare say her name," he growled grabbing the bars of the cell so hard they rattled. I backed up further. I'd never been afraid of him before. He came off all bad ass, but he was usually so kind and gentle. Being Strigoi had changed him. He was hardened and a little insane if you ask me. He never would have showed his emotions like this before.

"What are you sorry for Tasha? Sorry she didn't get executed when you framed her for murder or sorry the bullet you put in her didn't finish the job!"

"Dimka you have to believe me. I never meant…."

"Save it for someone who cares."

"You used to be my friend," I pleaded.

"That was before you tried to take away my reason for existing." His voice was maniacal as he tightened his grip on the bars.

"You are the most evil, vile thing I've ever known and believe me I have known evil. I've been evil. I will make sure that they lock you away in Tarasov in a padded cell for the rest of your pitiful existence. Death is far too good for someone like you." My jaw dropped at his harsh words.

" If you ever come near Rose or Lissa again I will murder you with my own bare hands," he roared letting go of the bars and sweeping out of the room his duster flowing behind him. I lay down on the hard jail cell cot and for the first time since I'd been locked up I put my head in my hands and cried. I'd just lost the only friend I'd ever had.

So did everyone enjoy the angry Russian? I know I did. How many inches of snow did you get? We have 22. I have been stuck in the house all day. No work yay for snow days=)