I know it's slow moving at the moment, but the pace picks up in the next chapter. I had to get some of these parts out of the way. Stick with me, please! And thanks again for the reviews! You guys keep me glued to my computer.
My life sucked. Bad.
Of course, almost everyone says that at some time or another, but I had a genuine reason to feel that way. Because somehow, the rules of the universe exploded and the impossible happened.
I sat down on my bed and held my head in my hands, wishing to god the piece of plastic was lying. But I knew it wasn't. I was pregnant.
I took my anger out on the snow globe Lissa had given me for Christmas last year, the one depicting a park in Portland we'd loved. I hurled the globe at the far wall where it shattered into a million pieces.
"Like my life," I groaned bitterly. It just didn't add up. Two dhampirs couldn't procreate. We were hybrids. Similar to mules, though I've always hated the comparison. So how the hell was I pregnant?
I got up and paced around my tiny room. Confusion hit me and mixed with nausea, a combination that didn't sit well with me. Should I tell Dimitri? Of course I should. But there was this annoying part of me that whispered my fears of him not loving me. What if he didn't believe me?
I looked over at my clock. 9 "am," Sunday morning. A trickle of relief made its way into my exhausted head—Sunday was my day off from the field experience. I knew I wouldn't be able to function today, let alone put on a face for Lissa and deal with a possible attack from the guardians.
Lissa. I hadn't checked in on our bond since earlier last night. Only too happy to shut down my thoughts, I reached out to her to see where she was. And like that, I snapped into her head.
Lissa sat at our usual table in the cafeteria eating breakfast with Christian. Camille Conta beckoned Lissa over to her table, but Lissa made a gesture toward Christian and gave a helpless shrug. Truth be told, she didn't feel like putting up with the royal drama. And where the hell was Rose?
I could feel Lissa's anxiety and worry for me, and guilt flooded through me, knowing I was responsible for it. I was about to snap back into my own mind when something caught my, or rather Lissa's, attention. A familiar figure was approaching her table.
Adrian Ivashkov plopped down next to Lissa and gave her a big hug.
"Adrian," Lissa said, surprised. Through the bond I could feel her happiness at seeing him; she'd missed him and the research they'd been doing on spirit and its powers. Christian eyed Adrian distrustfully.
"Hey there, cousin. How've you been?" Adrian asked as he stole Christian's plate and started to finish off his leftover potatoes.
"Okay, I guess. How was court?"
"Boring. And speaking of boring, where's Rose? It's too quiet without her." Adrian asked, looking around.
"Probably sleeping. She hasn't been feeling well," Lissa admitted.
"Shame. I actually miss her running commentary sometimes," Christian said as he pulled his food back from Adrian and threw it in the trash. Adrian frowned.
"Have you talked to her at all?" Adrian asked. He didn't even try to hide his concern. Lissa pitied him for his crush on me—for some reason she couldn't understand, I seemed to have lost my flirty attitude and stopped hitting on every guy that looked my way.
"Hey!" I thought to myself. She would pay for that later.
"Not since last night," Lissa said truthfully.
"She's probably fine. Just being Rose," Christian shrugged, trying to keep Lissa from worrying too much. But Liss couldn't help it—that was just who she was.
"Well, I'm going to go talk to her," Lissa said, standing up to go. Christian just watched. "Are you coming?"
"Liss, maybe she wants to be on her own right now," Christian said cautiously. I mentally thanked him.
"I'll go with you," Adrian said quickly, rising as well. Christian stared at him with his icy blue eyes. I could feel resentment suddenly spring up in Lissa's mind. God, did he care about Rose at all?
I jumped back into my own head and quickly ran to find some sweats. I wouldn't put it past Adrian to break in, and I didn't want them to find me in the mess I'd been in—rumpled, tear stained shirt and jeans to match. Through the bond I could feel them coming closer. I quickly shut off my light and jumped into bed, just 10 seconds before I heard Lissa's timid knock. I stayed where I was, hoping they'd leave. I didn't want to hurt Lissa, but now wasn't the time to talk to her. She knocked again, louder this time. I slowed my breathing.
Bang Bang Bang. "Rose, I know you're awake. Open the door." Adrian. Of course.
"Go away," I called, hoping to sound groggy from sleep.
"Rose, please let us in," Lissa pleaded. I felt her concern spike through the bond. My resolve began to falter and I threw the covers back, until I saw the test on my desk and the box on my floor, along with the shattered snow globe.
"Lissa, I don't feel good. I'll come by later," I said.
"Tell me what's wrong!" Lissa yelled in frustration through the door.
This was getting us nowhere. I felt tears begin to push behind my eyes, a feeling I was quickly growing familiar with. I stayed silent.
"Rose?" Lissa asked softly. I bit my pillow to keep from sobbing. After a minute, I felt Lissa turn, dejected, from my door, Adrian in tow. Once I knew she left the dorms, I let the tears spill out again. This act was getting old really fast.