The Window
At first it felt like the world froze at the sound of that vicious word. Fear crawled its way up my spine. But then all at once the world sped up into hyper drive.
"Move! Move! Move!" I shouted franticly into the radio.
All twelve of my team flew into action. I ran, with my silver stake out, straight for the Strigoi closest to me. My adrenaline was pumping like mad. I launched myself through the air and slammed into the Strigoi. We plummeted to the ground and rolled several feet. I quickly jumped up to face my opponent.
I came face to face with a very lethal looking Strigoi. He was a solid 6'4" and bulky with muscle. He looked to be in his late 20's when he was turned from being a dhampir. He knew how to fight and was angrily snarling at me. He was not happy to see me. Seething I looked square into his cold red-rimmed eyes.
We combatively circled each other. His sharp pointed teeth bared and long razor sharp claws out ready to cause as much damage as possible to me. He aggressively lunged and took a swipe at my face, but I was quick enough to dodge the sharp claws. With my right leg I did a brutal roundhouse kick and caught him hard upside the head. He stumbled slightly, but recovered just as fast.
Taking a hostile fighting stance, he was ready to get down to business. I could see his blood lust that drove his thirst. He was craving to rip me apart. Faster than I thought possible he charged fiercely at me again. He barely caught me by the arm, but with my leather duster he couldn't get to skin. I yanked my arm free and swiped out with my foot catching his leg. He went down hard, face first onto the ground.
He rolled so fast I missed as I wildly flung myself to land on top of him. Spinning to face him we threw random punches and kicks with blinding speed, some landing painfully hard. We were well matched as we fought the murderous dance. As he furiously stormed towards me I dodged and struck out with my foot smashing it into the back of his knee. He crashed to the ground with the sound of a crack, screaming out in pain and for just a few seconds he hesitated.
I found my opening. I instantly jumped onto his back and rapidly brought my arm back, in one swift powerful motion I stabbed my stake deep into his back. I watched as my silver stake drove through his body directly into his heart. He screamed an ear-piercing shriek shuddering under my weight and suddenly he was still. I yanked my stake out of his back. Dark red almost black blood covered my stake. I jumped up to ready myself for more, but one look around and I saw my team had effectively removed the threat.
Catching my breath I took out my cell and made a call to the alchemist. Within a few moments I had explained the situation and hung up. About fifteen minutes went by and I saw a car heading our direction. I had my team move the bodies to the side of the house so no one would see them. The car slowed and parked.
I watched as a beautiful blonde stepped out of the 2007 Black Cadillac SRX. It was easy to see the car did not belong here and for that matter neither did the blonde. She briskly walked in my direction, uneasily looking around.
As she passed under a street lamp she was briefly lit up and I saw her tattoo and knew she was the alchemist. I stepped out from the side of the house and she walked directly to me. She was stunningly beautiful, but still didn't compare to Rose. I shook off that thought as I approached her.
We talked for a brief moment. She was all business. She pulled out a potion from her small silver bag and within seconds the bodies were nothing but ash. She turned around to look at me once, and with a small nod, she walked away.
My team dispersed to our post once again and I looked at my watch. Wow, time had flown by and now it was almost 3 AM. Things got eerily quiet after that. I was definitely on high alert and sleep was not an issue while the residue of adrenaline still coursed through my veins.
This is why I need to bring Rose and the Princess home. They are not safe. I am confident that I'm doing the right thing. As I thought things through I realized that Rose and Vasilissa would be dead or captured right now had we not been here. If Rose knew how close they came tonight she would be devastated. She would feel like she failed to protect her charge. While that may be the case, I don't want to her to feel inadequate and shatter her confidence. She is going to need strength, fortitude and encouragement in order to become the best she can be. I decided never to tell her how dangerously close it truly came tonight.
The cat made his second appearance of the night as it slinked its way through the back yard and up to the pet door. He stopped at the door and with yellow eyes he scanned the yard. He spotted me and hunched his back and hissed, once again, with his fur standing on end. Again I couldn't help the smile as I watched his territorial display. He turned and slipped into the door.
Only minutes later I heard noises coming from the open window. My hearing is extremely good, a benefit of being a dhampir, so I listened to what sounded like crying or whimpering from the window. Within a minute I saw movement in the shadow of the room crossing the window. A scream rang out of the window. Then I heard a sweet voice calling "Liss…. Liss wake up."
The screaming dropped off to a whimper and I heard a moan "Andre …. Oh God."
"Lissa, you aren't there anymore, wake up." The sweet voice said soothingly. "It's okay, everything's okay."
"I had that dream" the Princess said.
"Yeah. I know." her sweet voice carried down to my ears.
I closed my eyes and just listened to the sound of her voice in the wind. It was as beautiful as her picture, and I was hoping she would continue. A lamp light flickered on and a minute later she spoke again.
"When did we last do a feeding?... There was a long pause. "It's been like… more than two days, hasn't it? Three, why didn't you say anything?"
"You were busy. I didn't want to-" the Princess said.
"Screw that, come on let's do this." She stood up and I could see her standing in front of the window.
The nature of the conversation was dawning on me. That's how they have survived. Rose has been feeding her.
"Rose-" The Princess said in an unsure tone.
"Come on. It'll make you feel better." And she tilted her head back her long hair slid off her shoulders and her neck was completely exposed. I watched as the Princess stepped up to her hesitated and then bit into Rose's neck. She hissed and cried out in pain and then moaned in the sensation of pleasure in the endorphin rush.
I watched with utter fascination and amazement. I have never seen someone be so self sacrificing. To let the Princess feed from her for two years? I was stunned to say the least. I almost can't comprehend the level of dedication it would take to give up your own dignity for the sake of your Moroi. The bond between them must be much greater than the average Moroi and guardian.
The Princess held Rose in a loving embrace and laid her down gently on to what must have been the bed. I heard her say, "You okay?"
Rose's response was mumbled so I really didn't catch it but it sounded like: "Yeah….. I'm fine." No she wasn't. If those Strigoi would have gotten any closer, they both would be dead because of her weakness. But the princess did need to feed. Rosemarie was only looking out for her.
The cat had jumped onto the windowsill and was staring down at me. As I stared up at him, I saw him fluff his fur and crouch down, twitching his tail. Suddenly Rose came into full view of the window. The cat had moved away from her and she was looking out the window for the thing that had caught the cat's attention.
I hadn't realized that I had stepped out from the tree. I was so engrossed in the things that were happening in front of me that I hadn't noticed I was visible. The street lamp flickered on and I was in plain sight. Rose and I stared at each other for a moment, but she jerked back from the window. She saw me step back into the shadows and then she was gone.
In that brief moment when I saw her in the dim light for the first time she took my breath away. The pictures of her didn't even come close to doing her justice. I was thirty feet away and I could tell she was a goddess. I can't imagine how exquisite she must be up close.
My mind snapped out of it and realized she was probably going to make a run for it now. So I sent the word out through the radio. We were going in, they would run. I moved in closer to the building and saw through the kitchen window another shocking scene. The Princess was using compulsion on the housemate to get his keys. Well… at least I knew where they were headed.
I ran in the direction of the car calling out orders on the way. We all moved into position. As the girls ran out the front door headed in the direction of the car, I circled around the block and came at them from the front. Everyone else was in pursuit from every direction. We were closing in. I watched from the corner as the Princess supported Rose as they ran. She had to be weak and dizzy from the endorphin rush still in her system.
Rose stumbled a few times but she seemed very determined. They were only twenty feet away from the car. Before they could get any closer, I stepped out and had them blocked just ten feet from the car. Rose stopped and grabbed the Princess forcing her behind her.
She snarled at me, "Leave her alone….. Don't touch her."
Wow she is incredible. Fierce, protective and impressive. I put my hands out in a calming gesture trying to show her I meant no harm. But she was in full protective mode. I started to say that I wasn't going to hurt them, but I took a step forward and she attacked.
Her coordination and balance was off no doubt from the bite. I swatted her away easily. She wobbled and was unable to catch her footing, and she was about to fall. Without a second thought, I reached out and grabbed her bringing her back up to steady her.
The instant my hand touched her skin I felt a tingle jolt through me. My heart skipped a beat. I couldn't pull my eyes away. I felt like we were the only two people in the universe. Then my eyes caught sight of the blood on her neck. She reached up with a hand and came away with the sticky red blood covering her fingers. Her eyes snapped to mine and her face flushed. She brought her hair forward to cover the mark.
My eyes locked on hers. She had such a passion burning in her eyes I could see the defiance, the anger and the determined look to protect her Moroi at all costs. She jerked away from me. I immediately felt the loss of contact. My mind was reeling. I didn't know what to think. My heart was beating so hard it felt like it would jump out of my chest, but I held my guardian mask in place. I had to do my duty.
I watched as something unsaid passed between Rose and the Princess. Even without talking they seemed to understand each other. The conversation looked one sided with Rose answering unspoken statements from Vasilisa. Abruptly Rose sagged against the Princess for support. She had given in. She wouldn't put up any more of a fight.
I bowed to the Princess and Rose saying, "My name is Dimitri Belikov," My slight Russian accent showing in my voice. "I've come to take you back to St Vladimir Academy Princess."
As we went back to their residence to collect their things I couldn't stop watching her. She was beyond beautiful. The photos didn't do her justice. I thought I was obsessed before. My feelings that I thought didn't exist, had increased ten-fold.
My internal struggle waged its own battle. Knowing that she is young and a student my mind told me one thing but my heart…. I put my guardian mask up on the outside, but on the inside I was hers. All she had to do is take me.
We got in one of the SUV's and drove to the airport. As soon as we boarded the plane, Rose rushed to sit next to the Princess, and I immediately could see the wheels turning in Rose's head. I told the guardians to separate them because I knew Rose was starting to form a plan. But as soon as we took off, the hope in her eyes dimmed and then disappeared all together. Dejected and alone she stared out the airplane window.
After a little while, I couldn't help but go over and sit next to her. She tensed, but I relaxed being next to her, smelling her wonderful sent and feeling her body heat so close to me. "Were you really going to attack all of us?" No answer. I decided to take a different approach. "Doing that…protecting her like that- it was very brave." I paused, debating on what to say. "Stupid, but still brave." Ugh. I just called her stupid. I'm stupid- kill me now. "Why did you even try it?"
She looked at me, and retorted, "Because I'm her guardian." I contained a sigh. The conviction in her voice was awe-inspiring. Looking into that stunning face, seeing the fire burn and flash in her beautiful brown eyes and hearing her tense voice, she was just so incredible it took all the control I have in me to resist the urge to touch her. I decided it would be best if I moved, so I went to sit at the front of the jet, where there was no temptation.
I thought she was going to be nicer and this was going to be easier. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm the evil Russian that just captured her. This was never going to be 'easy' anyway. It's forbidden, I'm a guardian, and she a student. It can never be. I decided right then and there, that I would not let my emotions run rampant. I would hold it back and never act on anything. But my love and admiration would always be there for her, always burning, no matter what stood in front of us.
As we flew in the direction of the Academy I couldn't help but think about the worn folder on my desk in my room. I was actually grateful that I was lucky enough to have it handed to me. Without that I would have never found her.
I knew in my heart that I was not the one who captured her, she had captured my heart and she would be the love of my life. The one I could never have. It was time to lock those feelings away along with the worn folder. Forever.
Well, there's the last chapter. There will be a small epilogue but nothing like a new story being posted. I'll have it up soon, promise. Remember to PM dpower and tell her how much you love this story. I know I enjoy that, and I know she will too. Please Review!
