*Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy, Richelle Mead does!*
When I walked into Dimitri's bedroom, he looked relieved to see me. He was sitting up in his bed. "I didn't know you had left. When I woke up and you weren't here…" he trailed off. I could see how worried he had been.
I went over and sat next to him. He automatically wrapped his arms around me. "I'm sorry Comrade," I told him.
"It's okay," he said quietly. He kissed my forehead and made his way down to my lips.
It was a long sweet kiss, and for the first time, I was the one to break it. He looked at me concerned. "What's wrong Roza?" He asked me.
"I've been thinking. I think that we should put someone in the church. Someone who would be able to keep everyone calm and make sure everyone gets what they need," I told him.
"I could have Sonya do that," he told me. I could say he agreed with my idea. I just hoped that wouldn't change when I told him who I wanted in there.
"No offense, but I think with Sonya's hormones, and a baby on the way, a chapel full of the elderly, and the children might be a little too much for her to handle," I admitted.
"That's a valid point, but who did you have in mind?" He asked curiously.
"Viktoria," I told him not making eye contact.
He cupped my chin and pushed up so I would have to look him in the eye. "Why Viktoria?" He asked.
"Because she's only a sophomore. You know as well as I do that the in depth guardian classes don't start until their junior year. She will only have the basic training and we shouldn't risk someone that doesn't have the proper training. Also, if anyone can keep hundreds of people in line and calm, it's definitely Viktoria. She would even be able to keep the children occupied. She has had a lot of practice with Paul and Zoya," I pointed out.
Dimitri looked at me. I could tell he knew I was hiding something, but he couldn't find fault in my logic. I leaned against his chest while he thought about my suggestion. Almost an hour passed before he spoke. "Okay," he finally agreed.
"Okay?" I asked. I was sure I was going to have to argue for a while.
"I know you have a good reason for wanting Viktoria in there, and I'm sure you have a good reason for not telling me what it is," he told me. I saw a little pain in his eyes when he acknowledged that I was keeping something from him.
"It's not my reason to tell," I admitted. "I wish I could tell you, but I can't. I'm sorry." He watched me for a little longer. Then he nodded his head.
I really hate keeping secrets from him, but I wasn't going to betray Viktoria's trust.
He glanced at his watch. "Sunset is in an hour," he told me as he pulled me closer.
"I guess it's time," I said with a sigh as I pulled his head down so his lips could meet mine.
We didn't know exactly when Tasha and her army would get here, but we knew it wouldn't be that long after sunset. We had to get everyone who wasn't fighting to the chapel.
"I'll go wake up Sonya and Yeva. You get Karolina and Viktoria," he told me.
"What about Olena?" I asked.
"Knowing her, she's been up for hours," Dimitri said.
I nodded and we went off in opposite directions. I woke up Karolina first, because I knew she would need time to wake up Paul and Zoya. Then I went to Viktoria.
I shook her gently. "Viktoria," I said quietly.
She grumbled and rolled over, but didn't open her eyes. I shook her a little harder. "Viktoria!" She once again ignored me. Good God she's a deeper sleeper than I am. I pushed her and this time she woke up.
"What? What's going on?" She asked sleepily.
"You need to wake up. Today's the day," I told her. I knew she was sleepy. She went to sleep less than two hours ago.
"What? Oh! Am I fighting?" She asked nervously.
I shook my head. "No, we found another job for you. We need you in the church to keep everyone calm and help them if they need anything. We're also hoping you will be able to keep the children occupied with something," I told her.
She threw her arms around me. "Thank you! I wasn't sure if you would be able to get me out of it without telling him about it," she said. I didn't need to ask what 'it' was.
"I would never tell him anything that you told me not to," I told her. "Well not something that's serious like this."
She looked at me gratefully. "Rose I want you to know. You and Dimitri may not be married yet, but you are still like a sister to me," she told me through tears.
"You're like a sister to me too," I told her. I hugged her again briefly. "Now let's go. We have to get ready."
She was up in a heartbeat and we walked out of her room. We went down to the kitchen where Olena was preparing food. Dimitri was having a whispered conversation in Russian with her. I didn't interrupt or ask what they were saying. I already knew. They were telling one another to be careful. Olena had tears falling down her face.
She handed Viktoria a basket filled with food. "This is for the people at the church. There's a lot of food in there, but they can only eat when they get hungry. There won't be enough for everyone and they won't be able to leave," she told Viktoria in English. Viktoria nodded.
Slowly, but surely the church filled up as everyone in the dhampir community filtered in. We had almost fifty guardians to fight with us, but this was still going to be difficult. We stationed six novices outside the church and went to take our respective places. I grabbed Dimitri's hand and we watched the sun set.