Chapter EIGHT: Where The Hell is She?
Lissa POV
Pain. Fear. Confusion. All suddenly hit me like tidal waves. But it wasn't my pain, fear, or confusion, oh no Rose! We hadn't followed her home because she seemed hesitant around us, almost scared, and if she saw us, well that would have been bad. I let my thoughts flow into hers, hands tied behind my back, thick rope biting into my skin, no, not my hands, Rose's. A man sitting across the room, but I know better that's not just a man.
Not a man at all really, he's a Strigoi, "Dimitri!" I screamed.
He came running, stake drawn, "What's wrong Princess?"
"Not me, Rose. A Strigoi got her!" I was on the verge of crying. Christian came then, he took me in his arms and told me everything well be okay. "Not yet, but I'll make it. I need a phone, I need Adrian's help," Christian flinched when I said I needed Adrian Ivashkov, but nodded and pulled out his phone. The first time he didn't answer, the second no answer, but finally on the third try his hung over slurred voice answered. "Rose has never wanted anything from you, but she needs you now. Can you help or not?"
"Lissa, you know I'd do anything for Rose. What does she need? Oh, and by the way, where the HELL are you two? Everyone's worried, then Belikov and Christian disappear too. Did they find you?"
I cut him off, "Adrian, shut up! Christian and Dimitri are here and we're all fine at the current moment. I did something bad though, I wiped Rose's mind a couple weeks after we got here. And, well, Strigoi have found this a perfect time to get back at her mom. They've captured her, I don't know where they are, but she might. Can you dream walk to her and figure it out?"
"Oh, God. Hold on, " I heard silence on the other end for a couple minutes, "I can't. She's not sleeping, she's tired though, and she's almost there. I just can't get a strong enough hold. Where are you? I'm coming. I want to help; it'll be easier in person then over the phone anyway. I promise I won't tell anyone."
He's right, so I told him where to find us then went on to my next call, "Hello, this is Guardian Hathaway. How can I help you?" Rose's mother is always so formal.
"Hello, Guardian Hathaway, it's Lissa Dragomir. Before you say anything just listen, okay?" I told her all of what happened, the accident, the memory erasing, and the Strigoi. She was silent the whole time, "Are you still there?" it was deathly silent for another minute.
"Yes, I'm here, and I'm coming. You don't know how many Strigoi are there and she's my daughter, I need to be there. You tell me where you are right now!" I've never heard her like this.
"That's why I was calling. And, I'm sorry." I told her where she could find us. She said she'd take some vacation time and be here as soon as she could. A few hours later Adrian was pounding on the door. You could tell he was trying desperately to become as sober as possible.
"Hey, Adrian. It'll be all right, Rose is tough, she may not be able to fight, but she's not going to give up," I don't know if that true, but I have to believe. I have to trust that Rose is still her hard- headed, stubborn, smart- ass self because, I don't know what I'll do if anything happens to her. It will be my fault; if she dies it'll be my all fault.
Adrian could sense the emotional storm raging through me and hugged me, "I know, we'll get her back. We have to. If we don't who am I going to bug the crap out of and call my little Dampir?" he squeezed tight.
"Hello, Adrian. Nice to see you again," Christian said curtly. Adrian let go of me and put his hands up. As if to say 'I don't want to steal your girlfriend'. Christian, who still doesn't have much self-esteem, snaked his arm around me and kissed my check. Adrian chuckled and left the room.
"Christian, not this again! Please!" I sighed, exasperated.
"I'm sorry, Liss, I just can't help it. I'm sorry," he repeated.
"It's okay," I laughed and kissed him.
