Authors Note: Piper, Phoebe, and Paige are owned by Warner Brothers and Spelling Entertainment.
Authors Note 2: There is some sexual content, but its just a glaze over what really happens. Nothing to graphic.
Chapter 7
It's been a week since the last attack and hopefully the last, though deep down, I knew it would be the end of it. I could feel it in my bones. Something big was not far off. I just hope that the guardians and some of the Moroi will be ready for another another battle.
Looking back to our little mini battle, we wouldn't have made it if it was just us, but thankfully we had the sisters who took out the Strogoi with their magical powers. I don't know how I will ever thank them.
There are so many questions-I wish that they had stayed to ask them, but I knew that they had a fight of their own to deal with. I couldn't ask them to stay and fight this too! Just them being here could change a great many things and it would probably take a very long time to make things right again. Perhaps things would have been different if they would did stay. Maybe they could have taken a majority of the Strogoi out and we could take care of the rest. Possibilities!
I suppose if we knew how to use offensive magic, we could deal with them on our own, but Dimitri was on the fence about using magic all – you just don't know what you'd be getting yourself into. Since Lissa was crowned queen, many Moroi have been practicing. Some where already using when Tatiana was in power, though it was forbidden at the time.
When Strogoi started to really become an issue, Tasha started a moment amongst the Moroi's, many started because of her, even one of our friends, Mia, who was learning magic, though I hadn't heard from her much since the attack. I don't even know if she made it or not.
but if she were a Strogoi now, she'd have no need for it. It was definitely a real possibility that she was. It would explain a lot that's been happening recently. For all I know, she could just be biding her time to get her hands on Dimitri and get rid of me once and for all. But then again, I really don't know if she is a Strogoi or not. I guess I got a lot of time on my hands to do a lot of thinking – to much thinking!
My other threat at the moment was our new friend Katie. For the most part, she was trustworthy, an amazing cook, and very friendly. What more could you want in a friend, she was that and more! What irked me about her, she was interested in Dimitri. She's constantly flirting with him! Lissa keeps reminding me that Katie is our friend and not a threat at all and that we protect her family. Family and friends don't back-stab!
I'll give her the benefit of the doubt on some things. She's friends with the sisters. I wonder if they'd come back and change things. You know, go back in time, to stop the attack on court. Hell, if I could go back, I'd change things the night that Dimitri was taken away from me – the moment that he was changed. Then he wouldn't have to have all those horrible memories to deal with. I know it still bothers him. I hear him talking in his sleep, apologizing to his victims. It breaks my heart. I want nothing more than to take that away from him. He doesn't deserve to go through that. Damn Strogoi!
"Okay, now pay attention..." Dimitri's voice brought me to attention.
I'd almost forgotten where we were, I was so lost in my thoughts. Things were beginning to come back to me – the real world. We were working out in the gym. It was the first time since everything happened, that we got a chance to do this. It was like when Dimitri was my teacher and I was just the student falling in love with him for the first time. The others were downstairs.
Just remember how she feels when she sees or hears you two together and how much it puts her through!
I thought you were sleeping!
I couldn't sleep with your LOUD thoughts!
Oops, sorry!
It's all right! We should talk about Katie. You know you shouldn't be jealous!
And why not?
Katie does like Dimitri but she knows that you're with him and she's not going to interfere.
Did she tell you that?
Actually she did. She thought you didn't like or trust her.
She did?
Boy was I feeling guilty! I didn't want to feel that way, but my jealous side was coming out more and more when she was around us.
It's not going to happen, so stop worrying!
If only we could see the future...Or go back to the past...
If we could just go to the past, we could avoid all of this. It'd also be worth seeing the future too, to see, to know the outcome of everything but I know that Phoebe's power isn't always a guarantee. Anything we do, might change the future.
My advice, stop obsessing over Katie and the past.
It beats being stuck in this building day in and day out! I'm going CRAZY in here! I need to get out, get fresh air, go see some people besides you guys! I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!
Hmmm! I'll get back to you on that.
What? What are you talking about? She wasn't answering me. I wonder what she had planned now?
Dimitri snapped his fingers. I blinked a few times. I guess I must have stopped moving and hadn't realized it. "What's the matter?"
"Lissa and I were talking..."
Moving the punching bag out of the way, Dimitri had a curious look on his face and asked, "What about?"
"A lot of things..."
"Like what?" Dimitri asked peculiarly.
"The past...the future...you know..."
Leaning closer, Dimitri gave me a knowing look, and wondered aloud, "Did you want to see the future? Our future? Or was it something else?"
"Kinda...but its' more than that.." I was vague, I knew it.
A smile spread on his handsome face. I think he knew! He always seemed too! "Are you worried about us?" He leaned even closer to me. "You're jealous of Katie, aren't you?" He was teasing me now. I could see it in his eyes. Damn him! And to top it off, he was close, very close, and we hadn't been with each other since the night we got here. My heart was beating faster, my breathing faster, my body screaming I WANT HIM! The things he does to me and he doesn't have to do anything! OH MY! Of course he knew it and moved away from me with a smile on his face!
"No, I don't know...maybe...I was curious about what becomes of the Strogoi." And that part was true, I did want to know about all of it, but I didn't tell him I was thinking about going back to the past. I'm sure I could do all kinds of damage.
Without any kind of warning, Dimitri pulled me to him and planted one of those kisses that made me forget everything except him. I wrapped my gloved hands around him, pulling him to me. I didn't care where we were, I just wanted him, all of him, but he pulled away. I couldn't help giving him a petulant look, feeling like a child. I hated when he teased me like that, leaving me wanting more. UGH! "Stop worrying. I'm not going anywhere, Roza – I love you!"
I looked up in his dark eyes, I could see nothing but love there. My heart melted in one of those Aww moments. I smiled at him all dopy like! Okay – you're forgiven! "I love you, too!"
We kissed again but he pulled back. UGH! I wish he'd stop doing that. "Now let's get to work out."
I got something else mind. "Okay, fine, but you own me!"
Dimitri just laughed. "Yeah! I know!"
I started punching the bag once again, but I couldn't get that kiss out of my mind. It got me going! I wanted more! I couldn't get myself to pay attention and I think he knew it! He was watching me closely.
"You're not paying attention."
"Kinda hard not to!" I smirked at him. I don't know how he could be all business like after a kiss like that! He had to be feeling the same way! "You can't just kiss me like that and expect me not to keep thinking about it!" Oh and I was thinking about that and all the possibilities that come along with a hot kiss like that!
EWWW!
Whoops! I got to learn to lock that door when it comes to Lissa. Sorry! I closed and locked the door tightly! Hey wait...I unlocked the door. Lissa, what are you planning?
You'll see...I have to work out the kinks.
Kinks?
Just you never mind. Lissa shut me out again!
I wish she'd just get it over with and tell me!
"There will be time for that later." Dimitri gave me sexy smile. "Let's get back to work!"
Yes! You do owe me for that kiss and I would collect later! I signed. I knew he wasn't to get back into training, but I wasn't so much into it now, but the faster we could get out of here, the better!
"Good! Good!" He was watching me closely, scrutinizing ever punch of the bag and then walked behind me, whispered in my ear, "Good, good!" Oh hello! That sent shivers through me. I wanted him so badly. That kiss was still having an affect on me. "Hit the bag, Rose!" I'll hit something, alright, and it ain't gonna be this damn bag! He moved back and continued watching me for a few more minutes. "To work on that energy, let's move to the stair climber." I'd be using the bag for about a half and when I wasn't doing that, I was weaving and ducking when the bag came at me.
It'd been awhile since I exercised, my body was screaming at me as I moved over to the stair climber. I dreaded that thing more than I realized it. Slowly, I stepped up on the machine and situated myself with it and moved up and down, repeating the motions. I saw that Dimitri moved over to the treadmill, pushed some buttons and started to run. Oh how I wished that I could be on the treadmill, it was so much easier.
When you get done, hurry up and come down to B! I think we might be able to help you. At least Katie can!
What is it?
Can't tell you, its a surprise.
"Let's move to the tread mill."
I'll be there as soon as we're done.
Dimitri and I moved to the treadmill. He set it and I started running at a light speed and after a few minutes, he sped the thing up!The longer I was on the treadmill running, the harder it seemed that I was working myself, and my body was telling me to slow down. I was beginning to wonder when I would be done. I glanced at Dimitri a few times, but he didn't seem to notice anything. I kept on going until he finally told me to stop. I stood there, trying to catch my breath.
"Why don't you take a break and we can resume later if you want."
Late would be good. Tomorrow would be better. We'd been at this for at least an hour or more. I was ready to rest and relax for awhile and then collect that debt. I stepped of the treadmill slowly and steadily. Dimitri was right there next to me in case I needed him, but I didn't.
"What are you going to do?"
"I think I'm gonna run on the track and maybe take a dip in the pool."
It wasn't a real pool. It was one of those indoor therapeutic pools. It gave us the illusion that we were really swimming. I hadn't had a chance to use it but Dimitri and Christian used it a few times since we've been here. I'd much rather swim in a real pool, but it was all we had, and I couldn't complain about that!
"I will see you later!" I gave him a smile that said everything that I was thinking and feeling and more.
"You can count on that." He winked me!
I headed for the exit and down the stairs to the elevator at the end of the hallway. It was a long wait and very quiet, make that eerily quiet, but I didn't let it bother me and pressed the button, waiting for the doors to open. After a moment, I heard the ding, and the door opened it, I stepped inside, and pushed the button and watched the door close in front of me. It seemed like it took forever, but the doors opened again, and I stepped out into the hallway.
I'm heading to take a shower and I'll be there in a few.
I glanced at the door of the loft the girls were in, I could hear them talking about what they were planning, but they stopped talking. I'm sure they heard me outside the door.
Nice try, Rose, you're gonna have to wait!
I groaned inwardly. I was curious no doubt about it, but I wasn't going to fight them on it. No point in doing that when there was so much going on in our world, which we knew nothing about. With a sigh, I glanced over at the other loft and saw Christian reading a book on the sofa; he seemed to be doing that a lot more lately, though I knew he'd rather be outside doing other things. It won't be long, I keep reminding myself. We're going to be out of this place and living our lives. Being in this place reminds of a book that that I just finished reading called Flowers in the attic. Aside from some differences, we were much like they were, caged in the attic, starved out the outside world, but in the end, they walked out free, and never looked back at that life.
As I walked into the loft, I glanced at Christian, he seemed so quiet, so peaceful, I didn't want to bother him and quietly headed to the bathroom. When I arrived, I turned the light on and glanced at myself in the mirror. Man, I really needed to get out of here and do something. I didn't care what it was, I had to get out of here!
I was beginning to develop dark circles under my eyes. If I had to admit to myself, I wasn't really all that happy to be here but I was glad that I was with the people I loved the most. With a sigh, I tore away from the mirror, turned the the shower on, stripped, and stepped in, letting the hot water run down me, thinking about what the girls had planned.
Quickly, I washed up, turned the water off, and dried off, then headed into the bedroom. To my surprise, there were clothes already sat out for her. Of course, Lissa picked it out. It was nothing that I would ever pick myself, a short plaid skirt and a white top. And to my horror, lacy bra and panties! Oh wait, might not be so bad with Dimitri in mind. The whole outfit reminded me of a school girl look.
I thought you might like that.
I hadn't realized she was listening in again. I dressed quickly, never responding to Lissa. I wouldn't really need to, she knew everything that I was thinking and feeling. I slipped the black heels on. I was starting to feel, dare I say, sexy. Suddenly I had the urge to do something with my hair and make up and headed back in the bathroom.
I grabbed a brush and the dryer and began to try my hair. When I was finished, it was soft, silky and shiny. My hair was definitely getting along and realized just how nice it was to actually do something with my hair. I was kinda feeling like my old self and less depressed. Once I was finished with my hair, I brushed my teeth, then I reached for my make up bag.
I pulled the powder foundation out of the bad and with the kabooki brush, brushed along my face. When I was finished with that, I put some eye shadow on my eye lid, then some eye liner, mascara and finally a little bit of blush and lip stick. I was looking good, not quite as pale.
I stared at myself a little while longer and smiled at myself. I was really feeling good. I flipped the light off and headed out of the loft, excited.
I'm coming!
Good we're just about done!
I stood outside the door, hearing them talking again about how excited they were about what they were going to do. It made me wonder what exactly they were up to. They were careful what they spoke about.
The door swung open and I realized Lissa had opened it. She was dressed in a white mini and a pink top. Her hair and make up done just perfectly, yet it made her look naturally beautiful. I glanced over at Katie as I entered the loft, care to keep myself steady. Katie was dressed up as well, black slacks and a black top. Her make up light and natural, but it definitely made her pretty. I knew that Lissa had helped her with her look.
"Hey, you made it," Katie greeted with a smile, making feel welcome. "You look..."
"Great..." Lissa finished. It was as if they were reading each others thoughts. Perhaps they were, with the magic flowing through each off them.
After having the talk with Lissa, I didn't feel so bad about Katie. I understood that it was difficult for her being the only one not in a relationship. I know how hard that is to want something so bad and you weren't able to have it. I hoped that some day she found a guy of her own!
"So what's going on?" Now that I was here, I was more curious than I had been before.
On the table, there was a bowl an some ingredients beside it. Were we making a potion? Or going to do some kind of spell. What had they been planning.
"Your quess is right." Lissa had answered my thoughts. Finally I could read her thoughts, she was thinking about ways to get out of this building, but I didn't realize she was going to use magic to do it. I wondered if Katie had enough power to do it. God...I hoped so! I really had to get out of here even if just for a little while.
"When you said that you wanted out," Lissa spoke bringing me out of my revery, "I thought maybe if there was a way we could go, we could just go for a little while, and Katie suggested we use magic to do it." I could feel Lissa reading my thoughts. There had to be away to shut that off for a little while. The door idea didn't seem to be working.
"Well, I don't know if I have that much power, but maybe with Lissa's help, we can do this. Katie spoke up quickly, though reassuringly. I was beginning to feel this was a real possibilities.
"If we've learned anything," Lissa replied with a smile, "anything is possible!"
Damn! I wish she'd stop that. "So..." I walked closer to the table, I could hear the heels hit the floor. That was a sound I wasn't really used to. "What do we do?" I stopped in front of the table. Lissa stood beside me.
"As you know, I studied with the sisters' for awhile and they taught me many of their spells and potions, and there is a potion that I'm thinking of might work." Katie gathered a few of the ingredients and began to put them into the bowl in front of her.
"What will this do?" I wondered.
"This will give us a temporary identity," replied Katie as she glanced up at me. "This is a simple easy way for us to do what we set out to do." The burner below the bowl started warming up the liquid up in the bowl. She started a slow, counterclockwise stirring motion for a few moments, and then set the spoon down, and the liquid exploded. She smiled, I guess that meant the potion was ready. "This might not taste the best..." I watched as she placed a turkey baster into the hot liquid, squeeze the top of it, and the amber liquid sucked up into the baster, and she pulled the baster out of the liquid, and squeezed the liquid into a juice glass. "Who wants to go first?"
"I will." Lissa took the glass and drank it down, making a face. "That tasted like..." She kept the last part of herself. I wasn't going to back down. She handed the glass back to Katie and she repeated everything with the baster, and handed me the glass. I downed the liquid, not giving myself a chance to really taste it. Then Katie did the same when it was her turn.
"Ok..." Katie snapped her fingers and she smiled again. "It worked."
I glanced at Katie and she was now tall with dark curly hair, dark eyes, looked a little oriental, and probably my size. If it wasn't for the oriental look, she could have probably passed for me. I glanced back at Lissa, she was of average height, pixie red hair, and of course she's stay the same size. She looked much like a girl we knew when we left school the first time.
"Lissa, you look like Jocelyn..." Jocelyn helped us keep our profiles low until she was in a horrible accident, which I think was not accidental. Her help is what kept us safe. But then again, we wouldn't have been able to be with Christian or Dimitri.
"What?" Lissa looked surprised.
"Here..." Katie handed her a mirror, it also seemed like it came out of nowhere.
Lissa took the mirror and held it up in front of her to see what I was talking about. "It's like she's really here again! Wow. Amazing!"
"I don't think Jos would have any problem with it." Jocelyn was so full of life and always so happy. She was really like a pixie, if they existed. Who am I kidding, they probably do.
"It's your turn." Lissa handed me the mirror and all I could think about was having blonde hair, not that I'd have the courage to dye my hair blonde, but I could certainly live out my fantasy of having blonde hair. To my surprise, I had blonde bob, blue eyes. I was as pretty as Lissa.
You've always been pretty. If not more!
Right...
I set the mirror down at looked at my body, it was pretty much the same though, the clothes really made made the look.
"What about Dimitri and Christian," I wondered. "They're gonna know we're not here."
"A sleeping spell." Katie had said as she put the bowl in the sink and the ingredients away. "Christian has already been asleep for awhile."
WHAT? Was he sleeping just before I went to take a shower?
"Yes!" Lissa said, feeling guilty. "I hate that it has to be this way."
I could feel just how guilty she was feeling, because I was feeling it myself. I really didn't want to lie to Dimitri, but I know he wouldn't go along with this, and I definitely wanted this to work out. It had to. Otherwise, we'd be stuck here until we heard from my parents, whenever that would be.
Suddenly, we heard the elevator come to life. Dimitri must be done with his workout and swim. My nerves were on edge now. I didn't know if it was mine or if it was Lissa, or even both, but I had to sit. I was beginning to shake. Katie snapped her fingers and we were back to ourselves again.
"Are you okay?" Katie asked worriedly.
"I just need to sit." I quickly pulled the chair out and sat down. It still didn't help me. Lissa sat down next to me and we looked at each other.
Look at me...
I nodded and swallowed hard. I suddenly felt better. Damn her, she glamoured me into feeling better.
I'm sorry.
I didn't like it, but what could I do.
Just look at it this way, we're doing this as an experiment, and if it goes awry, we don't have to tell them, but if it does, we can tell them, and we can go out enjoy ourselves instead of being stuck in this place...we're draining ourselves in this place...If this will work, we can have some sort of a life no matter how long the war outside lasts. It won't all be in vain.
I nodded again. She made some sense.
"I found a deck of cards." Katie tossed it onto the table and hurried over to the table. Lissa dealt them out to us just Dimitri walked into the loft. He shut the door behind him.
"Hey, what's up?" Dimitri said, I could tell he was in a good mood, till our eyes met. It was as if we were back at the school and it was the dance – the lust spell, but it was more than that, it was exactly what we were feeling and it allowed us to fulfill that, though Dimitri removed the necklace, thus removing the spell. I blinked a few times, yep, he was looking at me like he'd looked at me so long ago. Lust. That's what he was feeling now and certainly me as well. I'd momentarily forgotten about Lissa and Katie and I had to get myself together.
I pushed the feeling aside, "How was the swim?" If they hadn't been there, I think we would have recreated that lustful spell moment right here, right now. I knew my cheeks were turning read at the thought.
"Great!" It took a moment for Dimitri to reply. "You three look like you're going somewhere." He took his eyes off of me and glanced at Lissa and Katie. I think he knew something was going on, just couldn't figure it out.
Oh, he don't know what we're doing...he just thinks you look hot! She laughed at me.
No! It could be that simple. Did I look hot? I knew I looked good. I dared to glance at him and realized Lissa was right. Dimitri was trying to cover the evidence by holding a towel out in front of him. Hmmm, maybe this outfit really be useful.
"I'm just gonna go..." Dimitri hurried off down the hallway and I heard the door shut. I wanted to go after him and I started to, but Lissa stopped me.
"Don't you want to go out and have a little fun?"
Fun...I sure as hell could have could have a little fun in that shower with Dimitri. I was so tempted. I actually stood up. "Give me a few and we can go. It won't take long." I didn't even stay, I hurried down the hallway and stood in front of the door, and knocked on it. "Dimitri...it's me." He opened the door and pulled me in, and pushed me up against the door, closing it, kissing me hard. Oh hot damn!
Dimitri kissed me along the column of my neck, down my breast, and he knelt down in front of me, lifted up the skirt, and pulled down my panties, stood up again, and we were making love. It wasn't sweet nor was it sensual, it was hot, quick, and oh my god...I let go! I didn't realize I screamed out. I heard him laugh. I knew what he was thinking, what he said to me back at that hotel so long ago. He could do that and more!
I definitely needed to dress like this more often to spice things up. I definably could dress like this more often. He ran his hands through my hair again, and kissed me harder, and pulled back. Damn him. He backed away closer to the shower and stripped and beckoned me into the running shower. As temping as it was, and believe me, I wanted it, I just kissed him again. "Later." And I walked out the door. I knew he was smirking at me. I stopped out in the hallway and checked my hair and make up in the hallway mirror. Surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I didn't glance back or I would have taken him up on his offer.
When I came from the hallway, the girls were discussing the spell that they'd use. I stopped short when I was beginning to feel guilty for lying to him. I wish we could take them with us. I think they'd enjoy themselves once the shock wore off. "Can't we just tell them?"
"I know you want to tell them, I do too, but let us have this day..." Lissa came up to me. "Are you scared?"
Oh just a little. Not so much about going out but what it will do to our relationships. I don't want to ruin what we have with them.
"We don't have to do this," Katie reassured me. "We can do this another time."
"It's not that I don't want to do it." I said. "I do want to do this, but I want them with us."
"It's just a test..." Katie had said. "If it works out, we can do it again, if not, we don't have to say anything."
That was just what Lissa said.
"But hopefully things will be back to normal and we won't have to rely on magic," Lissa continued. I know she wanted to get back to her thrown. I wanted things back too.
I swallowed hard and nodded. I didn't realize Dimitri had come up behind me, putting his arms around my waist and pulling me close to him. "There's more of that..." He kissed my neck. Oh how I wanted that. I could really stay here and be with him all day long. I felt guilty, but nodded at Katie.
"I call upon the powers above, make Dimitri slumber deep." Katie chanted silently.
I could feel Dimitri release me and begin to fall but I quickly turned and caught him before he hit the floor. We carried him over to the sofa, clumsily. "I'm sorry, Dimka." I didn't call him that very often unless I was feeling guilty. "Sleep well and dream about me when I'm gone!" I kissed him on the forehead, and then stood up. "Let's do this before I chicken out."
Katie snapped her fingers and we had changed out appearances. "Do we have somewhere in mind?" she asked.
"Where ever!" I said. "Somewhere we can dance."
"The Warehouse in New York!" Lissa proclaimed.
"Hold hands..." We took each others hands. "We call upon the ancient powers, let us soar through the air, our destination awaits." Suddenly, we disappeared and reappeared in an alley behind the nightclub that we were sent to. It was dark of course. The music was loud though.
"We are here" Wow what a ride. I really hadn't expected that would work. I heard something, a scream perhaps, but I couldn't be sure. "Did you hear that?" I strained to here and I know I heard it.
"I can't here anything," Katie said. Of course she wouldn't with human ears.
"I heard it." Lissa nodded. "Two girls."
We rushed down the alley and came upon two vampires, one big and one small, drinking blood from those two young girls. We didn't have long, we had to take action.
"Katie, take the small one..." I glanced at the vampires. "Hey!" I tried to distract them. Stupid, but effective. The strogoi's threw down the girls like rag dolls and walked towards us and walked under a street lamp. Oh hell! I glanced at Lissa, shocked expressed on her face. I glanced back at the two vampires who we knew.
I can't believe it! Lissa cried. Don't hurt her.
We won't.
We have to save her!
I wanted that more than anything but I really didn't know if it was possible.
TBC
