I know, poor Tad. I liked him, but that was necessary for the purpose of the story. Sorry =/
Chapter 4 was fun to write! No reason, really, but I liked it. Oh, answering talkygirl, yes, everyone knows Rose's innocent and her name's clean, but she didn't go back because she felt she didn't have a place there anymore. DxRLOVER54321 asked me to put more details. Anyone has any suggestions, like what kind of detail I should add?
Everyone, thank you so much for the kind words. They warm my heart ^^
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but the plot and a few characters!
4
I gave the mirror one last look before flying down the stairs in my black cocktail dress. It was simple, but stylish with only one shoulder strap, clinging to my body and stopping mid-thigh. My hair was loose in long waves, the way I liked it, with a diamond flower garnish above my left ear. Completing my look, diamond rings Abe had given me my last birthday and black heals I used every time I had to go somewhere fancy.
I was all alone in the living room with no idea where everybody could be. My father's house was entirely furnished in dark tones of brown that gave off a sober feeling. I noticed a strange wallet whose owner I couldn't identify on the coffee table. It was partially opened, letting me see a piece of paper nearly falling from it.
No one was around. I bit my lip, curiosity taking the best of me, and reached for the wallet. What I saw made my heart clench. The piece of paper was a photograph of a toddler laughing in his mother's arms while a man was behind them and had an arm around her waist. They seemed so happy together, so carefree.
"It was Andre's birthday. Dimitri took that pic."
My heart leapt as it always did by the mention of him. I turned around to face Mikhail. He'd silently walked into the living room and I was too distracted to pay attention to it.
"I didn't know you were close to them. I mean, you obviously are, since you have a picture of Lissa's family and everything." I handed him his wallet, struggling not to blush with the embarrassment of being caught in the act.
"We got closer after you were gone. Lissa wanted to know more of your time in jail." He looked at the photo in his hands. "They seem happy, don't they?"
He said it as if it was something they tried so hard to accomplish. Was he trying to make me feel guilty?
"Yeah, Sparky actually looks cute".
He smiled at me, but it was sad. I tried to hold my tears, because I'd be damned if I Iet anyone see me cry. Mikhail fixed his gaze on me, trying to get a read, but thankfully a squeal took us out of our bubble.
"Ro!" I heard as Emel threw herself in my arms. I picked her up in her sweet baby blue dress and pecked her nose.
"Look who's beautiful tonight. I bet you're going to break a lot of hearts."
She giggled, burying her face in the crook of my neck.
"No, mommy, you are."
My parents and brother decided to show up, after all, just in time to make us charmingly late. Janine had a champagne dress and straightened hair with pearl rings. She looked gorgeous. I think love does that to people.
Cahil drove and I called shotgun. Because Mikhail was with us we were driving the black SUV that would fit us all, since Emel had to go in the baby seat. It was a pleasant drive. My mom was talking quietly with Emel, most likely sharing girls secrets (I would have never believed it if I hadn't seen it myself). The rest of us just talked.
Sometimes I couldn't believe how my parents got me into stuff like these. It was a beautiful buffet and all, but an art gallery opening was simply off my plate. I tried convincing myself that I was only here because I was Abe's guardian, but seriously, who was I fooling? If I ever said no to one of my dad's social events, the mobster might surface and he would simply drag my sorry butt along. Besides, Alev was my friend and I'd told her I'd come.
The room was large and had a high ceiling. Everything was in a golden and sparkling decoration, highlighting the paintings along the walls on both sides. "Mas que nada" by the Black Eyed Peas was playing as waiters in tailored suits served guests. Men looked solemn in their perfect tuxedos and women glittered in expensive dresses.
I was completely out of my element, holding onto Emel's small hand for dear life. My parents and brother had mingled in the crowd and Mikhail had been spotted by a fellow guardian, so it was just my girl and I. Suddenly, I crossed eyes with a red headed woman and her eyes nearly bulged out of her face.
"Rose!" she cried and came running to me, leaving behind a bewildered guest who'd been talking to her.
She hugged me fiercely and then lowered to Emel's level to hug her as well.
"Alev, you look stunning!" I said, genuinely happy to see her. She was wearing this different dress with a fitted black skirt and the upper part loose and imitating a peacock's colors. Her ginger hair was in a stylish bun.
"Why, thank you, but what did you think of my paintings?"
Straight to the point, as usual.
"Uh, they looked... really nice."
"Which one?"
"All of them." I quickly lied.
She sighed. "Have you at least seen any of them? At all?"
I bit my lip, looking at her innocently. "Not really."
She mock-punched me on the shoulder before her eyes brightened with a sharp glint. "You'll have to make it up to me, then."
Before I could say anything else, my eyes caught a glimpse of someone staring at me intently. I turned to see who it was and felt the blood vanish from my face. No, no. We were in Istanbul, what the hell was that man doing here? Stan Alto was looking at me like he'd seen a corpse walk out of the grave. And I guess that was pretty much what it looked like.
Mikhail appeared out of nowhere and immediately noticed something was wrong. He followed my nervous eyes to Stan and understanding blossomed on his face. He marched up to my former teacher, putting a fake smile on, and shook his hand. Stan looked startled, but turned to Mikhail to acknowledge him. I think they knew each other back from the United States. I gave a silent sigh, relieved.
Emel and Alev were curious about my strange and sudden behavior, but I just shook my head. There would be time to explain later.
Before I could make a quiet escape, Stan started to steal glances at me. Suspicious, skeptic and, yes, a little scared glances. I bet he thought if anyone was going to come back from the dead to haunt him, it sure would be me. Hadn't it been for my dread of recognition, it might have been funny.
I had to do something before he decided to overcome his fear and confront me.
They were within ear range, so I turned to Emel and Alev and started to speak in Turkish. In reality, I was letting a string of curse words out of my mouth, unable to stop myself, even if Emel's eyes widened and Alev laughed, shaking her head. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Stan frown. He knew me as student; back then I hadn't been willing to learn much besides fighting techniques so I failed every attempt to learn a new language. Surely this couldn't be Rose Hathaway – the deceased Rose Hathaway – speaking Turkish right in from of him. Slowly, he seemed to dismiss me as something worth his attention. Stan was probably convincing himself of what a great coincidence it was to find someone who resembled so much the girl who hassled him throughout her school life.
I didn't waste any time and did a quick getaway, pulling both Emel and Alev by their hands with me. I had to thank dad later for forcing me into taking Turkish lessons.
"You never repeat any of those things I said, you hear me, kiddo? I saw someone who really bothered me, but I know that's no excuse."
Emel just nodded, eyes wide. I kneeled in front of her after we exited the room and looked her in her eyes.
"Do you forgive me, baby?"
She threw her small hands around my neck.
"Of course I do, Ro."
I stared warily at the door to the room we'd come from, thinking about Stan Alto in there. I felt a chill run through my body.
Man, that was close.
...
I didn't want to, but I was forced into it, since my mother decided to side with the dark force. After being dragged by my parents to the art gallery, Alev dragged me with her to her celebrating party in a way for me to "make it up to her" and relax from my tense encounter with Alto. I said I couldn't go because of Emel, but my mother, generous soul she was, assured me she would look after her and put her to bed. Cahil pushed Mikhail to go with me, asserting I needed protection (like a guardian needed protection from a guardian) and that was it.
Music was blasting as we walked into the dance club. I was uncomfortable and with an uneasy feeling since the whole Stan Alto situation. Mikhail, who was now rubbing my arms in a soothing manner, had told me Stan left the Academy to guard a Moroi who'd been attending the exhibit.
Alev said something, but I could not pick a single word out of the noise. She rolled her eyes and practically shouted into my ear:
"I have someone I want you to meet."
I flinched at her shouting and turned to her.
"Not sure I'm up to any more stimulating meetings tonight." I shouted back.
She laughed. "Come on! Like a friend of mine could represent any danger to your mysterious character!"
Alev knew nothing about my past before I came to Turkey, but she already knew more about me than most people. She knew I was Abe's daughter and that was something hardly known.
"Ok, but that friend of yours better be harmless."
We both laughed and made our way to the dance floor with Mikhail trailing behind us. The whole place was dark and colored lights twinkled around us, making it impossible to see anything right. Alev led us to the DJ booth where what I thought was a woman, maybe her friend, was talking to a man.
"That's my friend talking to the DJ", Alev told me, confirming my thoughts.
We walked over to them and I noticed the woman was a Moroi. She was wearing a beautiful red dress with a V-neck.
The woman turned around, somehow alerted, even though I was sure she couldn't have heard us with the blasting music.
Then our eyes met and I was flabbergasted with her piercing blue eyes. This couldn't be happing, man, what a shitty life. Twice in a day? What were the odds?
My heart was frozen in its tracks.
"I know I said she was harmless, but she'll fry your ass if you piss her off. Fire user, you know." Alev said like it was news.
With bulging eyes and looking completely dumbstruck, Tasha Ozera was staring right back at me.
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