Chapter 10
DPOV
I made my way to the ski lifts in a rush. The sky was darkening fast and I needed to find Roza before the storm got any worse. Snow was coming down in heaps and the burst of wind only made it that much colder.
I made it to the lifts and saw the line to go up the mountain had been blocked off due to the storm. I would have to speak with the operator to explain the situation to allow myself and the other guardians access to the mountain. I knocked on the small wooden cabins door. I heard a bit of scuffling around before the door opened. He was an older gentleman and short for moroi standards, with dusting of gray scruff around his tight lips.
"The lifts are closed," he said before I could speak, his voice tired from a long day. "Can't you see the storm is hitting."
"I am afraid you will have to open the lift back up for myself and a few guardians making their way here now," I said trying to maintain composure despite the worry sinking into my gut. "There are two students unaccounted for. Queen Tatiana's great nephew Adrian Ivashkov, and Rosemarie Hathaway."
At the mention of the queens nephew the man's eyes widened and he seems to straighten up.
"Of course, of course." The said as he quickly grabbed a set of keys hanging on the wall and made his way to unlock the entrance to the lifts. The second the door was open I briskly slid past the man just about ran to the first available seat when a figure caught my eye riding a lift down from the mountain. It was Adrian. Alone.
"Ivashkov!" I yelled as I made my way to him.
"Leave me alone Belikov, I am not in the mood to deal with you," Adrian muttered darkly as he stood from the lift and started making his way to exit. I caught him just before he could make his way to the exit and grabbed him by the shoulder spinning him around.
"Where is Rose?" I demanded the calm façade leaving me. Adrian's face was hard with anger, as he tried in vain to pry my hand from his shoulder.
"What do mean where is she? She went running after you as always," he spat. The smell of alcohol was pungent on his breath.
"She is not with me. I have not seen her since she was with you at the top of the mountain. The Dragomir's haven't been able to find her anywhere at the lodge. The last place anyone has seen here was with you." I watched as Adrian's anger melted into confusion and then worry.
"After you showed up she went took off to catch up with you. That is the last time I have seen her." I dropped my hand from his shoulder as a fresh wave a panic washed over me. "You're sure she is not at the lodge? Maybe you just haven't run into her yet." Adrian said trying sound convincing. I think more for himself than for I.
"No a group of other guardian are searching the lodge. If she had been found they would have radioed me. I have to go." I said and turned around making by way get on the lifts. "Another group of guardians are headed this way to search the mountain. Stay here until they arrive so they will know you are accounted for."
"Wait! I will go too. I might be able to see her aura to help find her." Ardian said following me to the lifts, wobbling slightly as he did so.
"No Ivashkov. You are clearly drunk and won't be able to help." Adrian looked like he was about to protest. "I don't have time to argue. It will be faster if I go without you. The storm is already getting worse," I said as I noticed the wind picking up and the snow coming down in thick waves.
With that I got on the lift and began making my way up the mountain, leaving Adrian there looking lost and disheartened. But I didn't have time to think about Adrian. Roza was lost somewhere in this storm and I was going to find her.