A/N: I would like to say a big THANKS to all you who reviewed/put me on alerts/favorites and say that you all are totally awesome for being patient!! I admit I was totally mean for leaving the last chapter at a cliff-hanger, but fear no more here's the next chapter for those who kindly asked for more. Hope you like :)
Disclaimer: Normal disclaimers still apply so I don't own anything Richelle Mead does although I do own my own creativity.
Chapter Three
IF SOMEONE HAD ASKED ME if I believed in life after death, then I would've kindly invited them to my personal morgue; or what I liked to call a personal tour in the minds of Rose Hathaway.
I killed my fair share amount of Strigoi; some can go unaccountable sure, and I watched my best friend Mason die right before my eyes.
God, I've seen so many corpses and most were traumatizing, but with my life? And me being shadow-kissed? I was a perfect example of life after death; after all I literally died and came back to life thanks to Lissa, and, recently I had discovered that I could actually see life after death.
That's how I found out about Dimitri. Mason's ghost had come to warn me about how Dimitri had been turned into a Strigoi.
I would have given anything for the clocks to turn back and I constantly dwelled on the past, but staring at the situation I was in now? I was terrified for my own life.
It was like death continued to follow me. Maybe I was a death magnet, or maybe death found me intriguing, I don't know, your guess is as good as mine. But did I see my death coming? No not really, but I can certainly see that death had found me…because I was staring right at it.
My head started spinning and every second he moved closer felt like a force of pressure squeezing out every last bit of my brain cells, it was excruciating.
It felt like my head was going to explode, but I had to try and block it out because I had to prepare myself for the worst, so I couldn't let anything distract me.
I was standing by the entrance of campus at the wrought iron gates in a killer red-dress and high heels; no silver stake, no witnesses and certainly no back up. And I couldn't erase the thought that this outfit may very well be the last outfit I would ever get to wear.
I had to admit though; I'd probably take a few casualties with me, if they had seen me in this dress.
I jerked my head around in an attempt to check if anybody was near, but there was no-one. It was almost as if this particular area was closed off to the likes of students, teachers or even bystanders. Damn! I wanted to scream, but that would be a total waste of time, and breath, so I instantly dismissed it. I was alone, well not totally.
It was just me and Dimitri.
What shocked me the most was I realized there was completely no-one standing on guard. Shit, where was everybody? I thought to myself. It was kind of odd because there was almost always someone on guard duty, especially by the wrought iron gates. Great! The guardians sure had picked an awesome time to go on break.
I thought of running but something inside of me stopped me and I froze.
Dimitri stood there on the other side of the gates with an expression mixed with lust and curiosity.
He was wearing his usual long brown jacket that to me, had always resembled a duster, and his head was slightly tilted. I noticed his eyes assessed me like I was something to eat. Well, in any other situation I would've thought that was so cliché, but with him being a Strigoi and all, it was probably best to keep that one to myself.
I certainly didn't want to give him any ideas; because well, he did literally devour his victims, and I assumed I would just be adding fuel to the flame.
He tilted his head again and abruptly I felt self conscious.
"I knew that dress will do you justice—although you never did need a dress to define your beauty." He said finally and honestly? A few months ago I would've melted if I heard him compliment me like that, and I admit I felt like his compliment would send me running in to his arms, almost like I was hoping for it.
And I know how pathetic it may sound, but I almost lived for those compliments. He's not your Dimitri; he's a monster my voice of reason chanted.
I wrapped my arms over me as if to cover myself because he made me feel nervous and I wished he would stop staring at me like that. God, could he be anymore obvious? Normally I would've killed for this situation to take place, but it wasn't the same as I would've hoped for, especially now that he was a Strigoi.
He must've sensed that there was something wrong with my mood and his face fell curious.
"What's the matter, you don't like the dress? I could get you something else." He said calmly.
I furrowed my eyebrows and I was starting to get annoyed. I wanted to say that the dress was fine, but him staring like that, wasn't. And knowing that the dress came from a monster and not a gift from Adrian. I didn't know how I felt; more relieved to know that Adrian didn't force me out on a date; shocked to know that Dimitri still dressed me like a doll. Ugh! I was confused.
Shit! I should've known how Dimitri worked by now, but it was something Adrian would do too so it wasn't totally my fault.
Seriously, my brain wasn't functioning well at all lately, due to the fact that Dimitri was out there plotting my death and taunting me with letters, but now I was staring at the core of it. Dimitri's eyes looked like they were lost in a trance.
Okay, I had so many questions running through my mind and plenty of snarky comments but my mouth refused to talk.
"You truly are beautiful Rose, no matter what you wear." He said and I admit my heart fluttered for a second.
God, if I didn't know any better, I would say he was trying his hardest to impress me, that, and he totally was ignoring the fact that I drove a stake in his chest a few weeks ago in a brave attempt to try kill him, maybe last month didn't really happen or maybe this…none of this was happening right now.
I glared at him in bewilderment. I had no emotions, nothing but silence almost like someone had stolen my voice box.
He took a step forward and then smiled showing a hint of his fangs. He lightly brushed his hand on the gate but instantly jerked it back. I kind of felt relieved at that moment because it was an indication for my safety and I knew he couldn't hurt me so long as those gates stayed closed.
He chuckled. "Nothing to say? Hmph! I was expecting a full on verbal abuse by now, that may have included a fair amount of cussing…mostly on your part by the way, but this is a delightful reunion." He said slightly amused.
Ugh! He was teasing me now and I hated him for mocking me. That's it! I couldn't take it anymore. If I was going to die with dignity; then I was definitely going down Rose style and if verbal abuse is what he wanted, then I was the queen of cussing.
I stepped closer trying to put on my most dangerous I'm-going-to-kill-you glare, but I probably looked like a cute little puppy with my tail between my legs next to him, but I had to try.
"Disappointed? I'm sorry, how about where the fuck do you get off showing up unannounced? What are you, a fucking stalker now? Peeping Tom? All of the above? I don't know, take your pick!" I hissed at him.
He kept his smile there and I swear I would've loved to wipe that smirk off his face, I was more hurt than anything, but rage seemed to be my best stress release at this point.
His smile faded and contorted into something that could be passed for sincerity, but it was hard to detect with his impassive state.
"I'm sorry Rose; I promise I wasn't planning on visiting long. I needed to see you. I tried to hold out until you graduated but somebody tipped me off and I received some information about this journey you were about to undergo and I had to stop you, I told you Abraham is not a man you should be caught up with, he's dangerous, he's not one to be trusted."
Seriously? He shows up to the Academy just to tell me to stay away from my father?
I rolled my eyes. "Well geez thanks for the boring 'Zen lesson' I'll be sure to write that up in my notes, speaking of lessons. I blatantly recall that you were threatening to teach me a thing or two, say…what lesson are we up to now? Did I pass with flying colors or does it involve awakening me? Oh wait you already tried that but to no avail, and by the way how was your swimming lesson?" I shouted while gasping to take a breath.
Whoa! My mouth was running by itself and I couldn't stop it, but he totally deserved it.
"I forgive you Rose, and I hope that one day you would forgive me too. I would've done the same thing if I was in your position, but I want you to stay away from Abraham he's bad news," He said.
My eyes done a double take, did he just forgive me for trying to kill him? And better yet he wanted my forgiveness. Well this really is a delightful reunion, who would've guessed. I chuckled nervously. "You forgive me? Well fuck me dead why don't you? You've already taken my sanity, you want my forgiveness too?" I said bluntly.
A shadow casted in his eyes. "All I ever wanted was for you to be happy."
Ugh! The freaking nerve of this guy. Why did I have the feeling that Dimitri had changed? Almost like he wasn't Strigoi. But his garment was a confirmation of him being a monster, and his tone seem to have lightened making him sound sincere. I had that old feeling roil up in me once again and it was like I was with Dimitri but not with Dimitri kind of feeling.
"Happy? Well I've never been happier," I said sarcastically. "And what's with you and this Abraham guy anyway?" I said warily, I wasn't sure if he knew that I was Abe's daughter, but something in the back of my mind restricted me to tell.
His rage boiled up in his red eyes and his fist clenched to his sides.
"I just don't trust the man, and I don't want you to get hurt, that's all." He said and I had the feeling that there was more to it. I felt a chill crawl up my back when I saw him angry and maybe he saw fear in my eyes, because it almost looked like his expression softened.
I frowned. "What happened to you wanting to kill me? Change of plans, or is this your sick way of trying to awaken me?"
"I'm sorry Roza; you know I will never hurt you."
Damn it, why was he saying this? He was meant to be this Strigoi twisted animal and all I could see was the old-Dimitri's morals and traits seep out of his voice and I knew that he only used my Russian nickname when he was feeling particularly affectionate toward me.
I needed to get it together, but my heart was saying something else and I so badly wanted to open the gate and let him in. No, no, no don't think like that, he's not Dimitri. I chanted silently.
My eyes started welling up with moisture; slightly clouding my vision. Damn it Rose! Keep it together. I thought and then inhaled a huge amount of air.
"Last time I checked, you were the only one who hurt me the most." I said in a shaky voice and a lump formed in the back of my throat. I was trying my hardest to suck up my tears to prevent myself from crying.
"I know, and I'm sorry but I had to see you, I needed to see you." He said as his eyes throbbed into me like open wounds, it was as if I could see right through him and my Dimitri was there struggling to get to the surface, but I knew it was just wishful thinking.
I looked away. "Well I wished you never did, and I don't ever want to see you again." I whispered and lowered my head to the ground
"You don't mean that, I know you don't because you won't look into my eyes…look at me Rose." He demanded.
No don't look at him, whatever you do don't look at him.
"No! I hate you and if you don't leave then you give me no choice but to try and kill you." I threatened still not looking at him. I was slightly clueless to how I would accomplish such a thing, but at least my high heels could be mistaken for a stake, but it won't kill him, it'll probably make him more annoyed than anything.
"Look at me Rose." He repeated and I flinched for a second, I wanted to look at him but everytime I did, I was reminded of the monster who held me captive back at Galina's estate.
"No!" I said in a sob and squeezed my eyes shut. "I hate you and I wish you never came into my life!" I said and tears started streaming down my cheeks and I was crying now. I hated crying and especially in front of someone but I couldn't help it, so much for sounding badass.
"Look at me, please Roza." He pleaded and with that, I slowly raised my head and stared right into his red Strigoi-eyes to look at him. Damn it! He used the sexy-please-voice.
"I want you Roza, I want us to be together, come with me. I have Galina's estate and I can't enjoy it by myself."
I shook my head. "I—I can't I…" I stuttered, and that's when something crossed my mind. I wanted to know the one thing that was hanging on the tip of my tongue ever since he was taken away from me and turned into this unnatural being, I wanted to know if he loved me. So I had to ask.
"Why do you want me?" I asked him and my heart raced a marathon. I didn't know what I would do if he was able to say that he loved me, even as a Strigoi. But I wanted to hear those three words badly, I wanted to believe that my Dimitri still existed.
"I'll take care of you Roza, you can trust me, just come with me now and we could be free." He said and he totally ignored my question. Typical, it was just typical of him to brush that question off, could he really say he loved me? Or would he just say it out of reason just to get what he wants. Ugh! that question was killing me, and I for sure as hell wasn't going to let it hang in the air.
"Dimitri! Tell me why you want me!" I demanded and I grew impatient.
He hesitated and then said. "I want you because...my heart needs you, I just want you Roza, we belong together." He pleaded.
I wanted to believe him so bad, but I knew he was just saying that so he can have me, awaken me or whatever he intended on doing. Damn it! That was still not the answer I was hoping to hear, so I shook my head again.
"I'm sorry, but I don't want you anymore, I've moved on." I said lamely and I backed away a little.
Dimitri's fist clenched to his sides and his jaw muscle tightened. "I don't believe you!" He hissed.
I glanced away from him. "I'm with Adrian now, that's who…that's who I thought was meeting me here. He is what I want." It wasn't completely a lie because I was expecting to meet Adrian for our first date. Although wanting Adrian was an exaggeration, but if I said it enough times then maybe it would be true.
"I know when you're lying, Rose. You're doing it now!" He said in a voice that was scarcely frigid and I flinched.
Then abruptly I heard several hisses coming out of his mouth followed by a few amount of cussing in Russian and he looked annoyed. I only learnt a few swear words while I was in Russia but his tone was barely audible so I only made out the phrase 'son of a bitch' and repetively some other words but I only caught the word Suka said like Soo-kah; which if I remember correctly meant bitch.
I managed to see past his pretence and I was surprised that his mouth was just as foul as mine, only his could go unnoticeable and I had to admit, swear words sure sounded sexier in Russian No! Dimitri's a Strigoi, Dimitri's a Strigoi. I thought to myself.
I jumped at the ring of my name. "Rose! Rose!" I heard a familiar voice calling after me and I could hear the panic in her voice. I turned to see who it was and to add to my horror, it was my mother. I quickly wiped any trace of my tears and smiled half-heartedly toward my mother.
"Rose? Who were you talking to?" My mother asked and I looked back toward the gates and Dimitri had disappeared. Great! Now I looked like a nut job talking to myself. I realized that Dimitri must've sensed someone was coming and now I knew why he was swearing.
"Mom? What are you doing here?" I asked as my eyes scanned the area to see where Dimitri had disappeared to.
My mother had told me that she would stay here at the Academy and see me graduate, but for the last couple of days she had some business to attend to so I never did ask, I was just happy to have her around as often as she could.
I noticed her staring at my outfit and her eyes assessed me like she was disgusted and now I felt like a hooker on heels, only the famous mother-of-the-year Janine Hathaway could make me feel cheap and not to mention ten times smaller; considering how I was a few feet taller than her.
"I've been looking all over for you, have you forgotten about our training? And what the hell are you wearing? You look like a…" She didn't finish her sentence but she didn't have to, her eyes said it all.
Damn! And here I was starting to think that our relationship had actually moved forward, but with the way her eyes were assessing me now? Well if I intend on defending my honor, I'd say that our relationship will be definitely moving somewhere and I most certainly knew it'll be staggering back three steps.
"Like what mom? A blood whore! Well yeah, your only daughter has turned into a blood-whore because she wears really short dresses. It's what you want to say right?" I shouted.
And honestly? If she had of known that Dimitri—Strigoi Dimitri to be exact had already made me one; when I was held at Galina's estate back in Russia. She would be outraged. Better yet, she'll go mental, but I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of what she had always thought of me anyway and I certainly didn't want the 'I told you so' speech.
"Well I don't no what to think of you these days, and what's this nonsense about you and Ivashkov? First you try and stake him to death and now you're dating him! Did I not teach you anything about morals or is this your way of getting attention, because it's working." She said muttering through her teeth and then lowered her voice as if she thought someone was listening, well someone was and that was Dimitri.
"Oh well gee, thanks mom for the moral support. What happened to trusting me?" I asked slightly annoyed at her distrust and her scrutinizing eyes. God, she sure knew how to make me feel like shit.
"Well is it true?" She glared at me with a hand on her hip.
"No! Well Yeah...I did kind of nearly drive a stake into him but I swear I'm not dating Adrian, and what is it any of your business anyway? Since when did you ever have a say in my life? You lost that right when you shipped me off to this stupid Academy, and besides I'm not doing anything you haven't already done, all I'm doing is following in your footsteps. Abraham sure told me a thing or two and I sure sound more innocent next to your reputation." I taunted, well it was a complete lie and I wasn't prepared for her to take me down so I thought to myself. Two can play this game and I saw her face drop.
She swiped me across my face with her hand to slap me. Ouch! That freaking hurt. Okay, I had to admit I totally deserved that.
"You watch your mouth you stupid little girl! You have no right to speak to me like that!" She said in her motherly superiority stance.
I held my hand on my cheek. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to..." I apologized but she cut me off mid-sentenced.
"Shut up Rose and get dressed, you're late for training!" She managed to say and walked away.
I was angry at her, and more at myself for letting her get the best of me. I wanted to punch something, anything and better yet I was angry at Dimitri for disappearing without saying anything and I wondered where the hell he was hiding. Well, wherever he was I knew without a doubt that he heard everything. But something at the back of my head told me that this was not the last time I was going to see him.
I sighed. If there was anything out there for my instant stress release, then training with my mom would be it, after all I needed to take my anger and frustration out on someone, and she was the perfect object.
I gave one last glance at the empty space by the gates and made my way to my dorm. I quickly changed out of the dress placing it neatly on to my bed and threw on a tank top and grey sweatpants.
I retrieved my duffel bag and headed for the gym with an awesome Hathaway frown on. I wanted to forget about the early events that had happened lately, especially my encounter with Dimitri and I was ready and waiting to spar; hopefully if I was lucky I could land a black eye on my mom this time round; that's only if the God's were good to me.
****
A/N: Richelle Mead is in the stage of second revisions for her fifth book Spirit Bound so the processing is coming along great, but we still have to hold out for May 18th 2010...it's too long!! So I hoped you enjoyed my story in the meantime ;)
The 'Who can't die in Spirit Bound' poll is CLOSED!! but everyone voted our beloved Dimka...so hope Richelle Mead heard that lmaooo
P.S: Don't forget to review, because my story can't continue!! Continuous Review's call for continous chapters, and faster updates!!
