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Chapter 4 guys!
Vin stood and walked over to the counter and scribbled something down on a piece of paper. He grabbed the keys and briskly walked back over to me. He handed me the paper that contained his house and his cell number. He then unhooked some of the keys I wouldn't need. He only left two; the key to the car and the key to his house.
"Why do I need your house key?" I asked with immense curiosity in my voice.
"In case you would like to come back. Or you need something else." He said while he cupped my face and stroked his thumbs across my smooth cheek skin.
And with that, he leaned forward and gently crushed his lips against mine. I was so taken aback I was frozen, not breathing. He must have taken the stillness as a sign to continue; because my lips were pried open and his tongue entered my mouth. I thought about biting it off, but I could not due to my catatonic state.
He stepped away from me and let his hands slide down around my wrists. That was the most human contact I had had since I last saw Dimitri, and with that my heart gave a heave and skipped a beat.
"You shouldn't have kissed me Vin. I am terribly sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. I just don't think I can be in a relationship….I don't want to hurt you. But I would love to be friends. I'm sorry; if you want the keys back and for me to leave just say so."
I waited for an answer but there was nothing but silence and his ragged breathing. He then looked up into my eyes with all the understanding in the world and released my hands. Stepping back a few strides he took in my face, my body, and my existence as if he were seeing me for the last time. Who knew, maybe it would be.
"Please, don't apologize for something I did. Keep the keys and my number; I don't want what happened to taint our newly forming friendship. I understand your mission now. The one that was taken from you was the man you loved. I can see why it would be hard for you to move on. No closure, I know how you feel and I don't resent the choice you made."
He was quiet for a while and then he picked back up in the same caring and understanding tone, "I don't know how many weapons you brought with you, from the looks of it not many. There are some in the trunk of the car and an address in the GPS system if you need more."
I looked down at my feet, inhaled a deep breath, and then glanced over at the clock. 6:14 AM, almost time for me to make my departure. I turned around and gave Vin a smile.
"Thank you, for everything." I stated. I walked over to him and gave him a quick hug and stepped back.
"Please call me if you need any help. I'll always be there." He sighed.
I nodded and moved to the living room. I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked back into the kitchen entrance. I looked over at the clock, 6:30 AM, I could see a bit of light peeking in through the bottom of the curtain.
Vin walked over and placed a hand on my shoulder; he turned me around and led me out of the apartment. He walked with me to the car, it was a 20 second walk but it felt like a lifetime. He opened the door for me, gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek and wished me luck.
I slid into the drivers' seat and strapped in. He closed the door and waved as I backed out of the spot. Leaving the parking lot I glanced in the rearview mirror back at Vin. I drove on, out of his life with only this car to remember him by.
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I had a few hours to kill until the banks opened. The money from Adrian still resides in my bag; so I could get some food to pass the time. I mulled my food options over and I decided to go to the diner that was a block from the bank.
As I pulled into Nadine's I got my wallet out of my bag and took out a crisp $20. As I hopped out of the car I checked myself over in the glass reflection. I took my ponytail out and let my thick deep brown hair cascade down my shoulders. It was wavy from being put up wet.
Dimitri always loved my hair like this; thinking of his strong fingers tangled within my hair made my heart squeeze out a painful thump. Shaking my hair out and retying it I stalked off into the diner.
Once inside I was greeted by an old, fat, redheaded lady whose nametag read Sue Ellen.
"Just you today sugar?" She stated in an overly jolly tone.
"Yup, just me. Is it possible to get a booth in the back?"
"Sure thing sugar. We don't get a lot of people, so feel free to sit where you like." She smiled and walked away. I figured she only sat those who were incompetent and weren't capable of placing one foot in front of the other.
As I walked back to the empty booth in the back of the diner I noticed all eyes were on me. Strange, yet familiar; the people in the diner reminded me of all the students of St. Vlads. Looking and gossiping.
I situated myself in the very corner of the booth and looked at the menu that lay on the table. My waiter appeared, smile on her face; she was about my height. She had a short blonde bob with side swept bangs. Light blue eyes that looked like Greek rooftops. And fair skin that was dusted with very light tan freckles. Well, the part that wasn't obscured by her peach colored diner uniform.
"Hi doll, I'm Holly and I'll be your server for today. Can I get you started with a drink?" She licked the tip of her pen and placed it on the paper pad.
"I'll have a cup of coffee black with sugar. And I'm actually ready to order food." I said giving her a smile.
"Well what'll it be?" She asked.
"I'll have oatmeal pancakes with a side of hash browns and eggs." No telling when I would be eating next. Might as well make this meal count.
She smiled and said it would be a few minutes and she would return with my coffee in a moment. I sat back and drew shapes on the table with my fingers and found myself searching for Lissa's mind.
Success! I thought as I felt the familiar tug at the back of my head. I fell into her. She was sitting in an empty classroom; Adrian was looking at her with an odd look on his face.
"God! I'm concentrating and I can't get in. Maybe it really is one way. She hasn't been asleep so dream walking is a bust. Adrian, what am I going to do?!?!" Lissa stated with a sob in her throat.
He walked over and placed a hand on her back. Rubbing comforting circles along her spine, "Don't worry, you'll figure it out. It just takes some time. The only reason why it's easier for her is because you have more of yourself to her. Never give up; it'll be the key to saving her." He stated confidently.
"We need to find her! We can help her; she needs to know she's not alone." Lissa stood and exited the room leaving an Adrian behind that was deep in thought. Lissa walked down an empty corridor about to round the corner she heard familiar voices.
Risking a glance she saw it was Alberta and Stan deep in conversation. They seemed to be whispering out something urgent, and very private. Why they weren't in the Guardian office I don't know; but Lissa was getting good information and I'm glad I decided to drop in.
"So, I believe this incident with Rose Hathaway leaving the school is not just a coincidence, Stan. We all know Dimitri got taken by that Strigoi….and seeing as how no one was present during the trainings, we have no idea what was going on between Rose and himself. I mean, this behavior is just not condoned within the Guardian world." Alberta stated.
"Yes I do agree with you, it does seem rather odd that a student would randomly leave a few weeks before graduation. Even if said student was the infamous Rose. The main thing we need to focus on is keeping the wards up and getting replacements in so we can look for Dimitri. He was on the inside of one of the most heavily guarded academy's' and he ranked very high. He knows an awful lot about our grounds." Stan stated hinting at something.
Alberta seemed to catch on because she was nodding the whole time he spoke. She inhaled a deep breath and began speaking again. This time her words seemed to be less urgent and more relaxed.
"Yes, as much as I respect Dimitri he does need to be silenced before more innocent Moroi blood is shed. I shall call Janine tonight. I'll ask if she will partake in this excursion. I will also inform her of her daughter."
Stan looked out into the distance and inhaled. Opening his mouth he was cut off by Alberta.
"As much as I would like to think this is wrong I do feel sorry for Rose. For her to leave her unofficial charge Lissa behind takes a lot of courage, or love. After we catch Dimitri will shall hold him until we retrieve the Hathaway girl and let them speak there farewells. However, it might break her more. Seeing someone you care for in Strigoi form is no easy thing."
She gave a shutter that was barely noticeable. Stan just stood with his hands behind his back and nodded. They shook hands and parted. Lissa immediately turned in the direction she came and ran down the corridor. "I have to tell Adrian!" she stated.
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