Chapter Nine

Rose

I stood in the middle of my home for the next month, the Elliot Bay Grand Suite at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle. Adrian has really overdone this whole thing, but I knew it was a battle I would not win with him. I mean, do we really need all of this?

A 55-inch flat screen, two couches, two double beds- though I was thankful we didn't have to share- a bathroom that could hold twenty people easily, and a spectacular view of the bay?

Okay. I'll admit it, I'm in freaking love with this room, this view, but it isn't worth what we, he, is paying for it.

"Little Dhampir," Adrian called for me from the living room- yes, it is separate.

Turning away from the view, I headed toward the living area. Adrian held a box in his hands, his smile radiant as he set it down and looked for something to cut through the tape. Looking at him now, I felt an ache in my chest. I hadn't been the only one to have a complete makeover while in Spokane, but Adrian's new look hit far too close to someone else I know.

Someone I am about to hunt down.

His once thick sable brown locks were gone, replaced with a crew cut- low fade on the sides, and just long enough on top to comb over- with blond highlights giving him closer to a sandy blond look.

That wasn't the worst part though, no, that would be his eyes. With the assistance of colored contacts, they were now a gorgeous hazel green instead of the dark piercing emerald I have come to know and love.

He reminded me so much of Eddie that I couldn't look at him for too long, "What's up?"

"They just dropped off my shipment," he began pulling items out of a large box, "Phones. Bluetooth earpieces…" he continued to list off everything, setting each piece on the table in order. "Your clothes should be here by tomorrow, but we can go to the local mall if you need something sooner."

"No, we should be fine, I can hide out here until then, besides, I want to take a week to walk around in the daylight, get a feel for the area before I start the hunt."

"Alright," he moved his hand to run through his hair, grunting when he realized, again, that it is no longer long enough for him to do that. "I'm going to head downstairs for a smoke, you want to come or…"

"No, I think I am going to take a hot bath."

"Oh," the corner of his mouth lifted into his signature crooked smile, eyes shimmering with humor, "can I join?"

"Nice try." Playfully I shoved at his chest and laughed him off, "I'll see you when you get back."

"Is that any way to treat your, husband?" his hand covered his heart in mock hurt.

"Wouldn't know," I shrugged, spinning on my heel I headed for the bathroom.

Stripping out of my travel clothes, I laid out the pair of sweatpants and singlet from my backpack and ran the hot water as high as it would go. Sitting on the edge of the tub, I waited for it to fill, taking in my reflection in the mirror across from me. If I didn't know that it was, in fact, myself that I was looking at, I wouldn't recognize the woman in front of me.

My brown, almost black, hair had been colored to a vibrant red, which actually looked amazing. I had always wondered what I would look like had I got Mom's hair color and not my fathers. The reality is far better than my imagination. Yet, the color wasn't the most dramatic change, the length was. Before it flowed down my back, stopping about midway, now, it is as short as Moms.

If Dimitri were here I bet he would lose his mind, hell, I am about ready too.

"Your hair is a dead give away. Not even, Belikov would be able to recognize you like this." Adrian had told me, and I have to agree. Though a part of me says Dimitri will know me anywhere, no matter what physical changes I make. He would see past the hair color and cut, and the icy blue contacts that laid in my eyes. He knows my heart, my soul, that is something you can't alter or hide.

Sinking into the boiling water, I let the heat relax me. Today had been rough, and it is going to get worse before it gets better, but I have faith in myself and Adrian to make this new journey work.

On our drive, we discussed many things, most importantly, where we would go once this was over. Though I hadn't given a ton of thought to what will happen after I find Eddie.

Neither of us wanted to go back into the folds of the Moroi society. He has grown tired of his father's disappointment and shaming, and since I will not graduate, I couldn't go back. The best course of action would be to branch out on our own, make a life in the human world.

Where? I don't know.

How? I don't know that either.

But Adrian had made sure we would have the documents needed to get us started in the human world. Birth certificates and Marriage License in our new names. Transcripts from High School and Junior College. He even secured an offshore bank account with a lot of money in it in case it took longer than planned to hunt Eddie and move on.

He also opened up to me about himself. He told me about the first time he started seeing auras, how he thought he was losing his mind. The battles he had in his younger days, depression and anxiety overruling his mind to a point he didn't want to live anymore. All the nights he snuck his father's thirty-year-old scotch into his room just so he could sleep for a few hours.

The more he talked, the more I realized just how complex he really is. By looking at him you would easily peg him as a spoiled Royal who never experienced a hard day in his life. Only he has. A lot of them. He was a terrified child with no one to care that he was hurting so much. No one caught on to the reason behind his outburst in school, or his lack of willpower to do anything stemmed from such a dark place. He has never been shown love or acceptance from anyone.

I would change that for him. I will show him the love and loyalty of family. I would stand beside him, holding him through the darkness, because I know what it is like to battle it alone.

"Rose, you okay in there?"

Blinking a few times at the sound of his voice I came back to the here and now. The water had gone cold and my skin pruney, I must have really zoned out.

"Yeah, be out in a second."

Toweling off and dressing, I met Adrian back in the living room. He laid relaxed on the couch in a pair of sweatpants and a 'Pink Floyd' t-shirt. I don't recall ever seeing him in something so….comfortable before.

"I ordered dinner from the Restaurant downstairs," he motioned toward the silver dome on the table, "Grilled chicken, sauteed veggies, and seasoned potatoes, plus something special for dessert."

"It smells wonderful, thank you, Adrian," with one arm over his shoulder I gave him a small hug before digging into my meal.

The chicken was to die for, dusted with Italian seasonings, and perfectly cooked, my taste buds danced with happiness. Leaving most of the veggies on the plate, I polished off the potatoes and waited for my dessert.

"First things first," Adrian stood, picking up a small package off of the work desk, "here."

Skeptically, I eyed the box from every angle. There were no markings or shipping labels, so I was curious as to where it had come from. Pulling at the tape on the top, and opening the two flaps, I found another small box inside. Lifting the lid of the second package, "Adrian…"

"It's not what you are thinking," he laughed, "I had been doing a lot of reading, researching if you will before we left about ways to assist with the darkness. I made contact with a lovely woman in Siberia who told me about healing charms. She said she charms her husbands ring with healing power to help maintain his shadows."

"You found another bonded pair?" Turning on the couch, I looked at him in shock, "Adrian this is huge!"

"I know," he nodded, smiling wide along with me, "she doesn't like people to know, they live in a small town, so people don't really bother them much. But she couldn't help but answer my email."

"How did you find her to begin with?"

"Through a family friend," he shrugged. "I don't know how well it will work, Lissa is better at healing than I am, but I figured even if it's only a little, I couldn't hurt," he slipped the silver ring on my finger, fitting perfectly. I couldn't really feel anything, but then again I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking for.

"Thank you, Adrian," I pulled him into a tight hug, "This is insane, I can't believe you found another pair."

"She said if we ever in the area she would be willing to meet with us."

"That would be amazing!"

"I knew you would think so, so when this is over, I hope to take you there."

My brows rose into my hair, "Really?"

Nodding, he smiled, "But, let's get through your vigilante mission here, and we talk more about that," bringing both hands down on his thighs in a quick slap, he rose from the couch again, "Now, the best part of the day." Picking up a white box from the kitchen, he sat it on the coffee table and lifted the lid, "Birthday donuts."

I looked at the dozen chocolate covered donuts, tears welling in my eyes. I tried blinking them back as I whispered a barely audible thank you. I have no idea as to why the sight of fried dough made me feel like someone just gut punched me in my feelings, but I couldn't stop the waterfall. Hot liquid flowed down my cheeks, leaving cold tracks in their wake.

"Rose, I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"

"No, no, you're fine, Adrian, I don't know why I am crying over this," I laughed softly, swatting away the tears, "Thank you, really, it's great."

"I know you really didn't want to celebrate your birthday at all, but Auntie always said, 'even if you don't have a party, everyone deserves a cake on their birthday', and I know how much you love donuts, so I figured this was just as good."

"Better, so much better."

"Happy Birthday, Little Dhampir," lifting the box he set it on my lap and placed a kiss on my hair, "Now, action, comedy, or romance?" he asked while grabbing the remote and flipping on the TV.

"Action," I deadpanned.

"Oh, how about all three, they have Deadpool," he clicked on the title before I could clear my mouth of the gooey goodness. "You will love this."

"I'll take your word for it," I mumbled.

I polished off half the box of donuts before the movie even began. Adrian had gone to his bed and pulled the blanket off, bringing it to the couch. Snuggling into his side, he laid the blanket over us and we watched as 'Deadpool' murdered a dozen people on the bridge.

Laying here with him, like this, should feel weird, right? Even if he is now my pretend husband, I shouldn't feel comfortable cuddling with him. In the back of my mind, I can't help but feel like I am cheating on Dimitri. That being this close to Adrian is wrong and unethical when I am in love with another man.

But you left him, remember, 'Love fades, Comrade,' that's what you said.

Shaking my head I told that voice to shut up. My mouth may have said one thing, but my heart sure as hell feels the opposite. I would never stop loving him, he will always be the only one who holds my heart. No matter how far I go, no matter how much time passes, Dimitri Belikov is, and always will be, my forever. I just hope and pray that he, in time, moves on and lives a happy life.

I know I jumped ship rather quickly with this whole mission. I know I should have taken more time to think things through, make an actual plan, but I reacted out of anger. Whether it was anger at Dimitri, or the darkness conducting that train, I don't know for sure, but my mind was overloaded with indignation and I didn't stop to think. I acted.

Much like the old Rose would.

Maybe Dimitri was right. Maybe I still have a ways to go before I leave my childish ways behind me. Old Rose, the one who took the Princess away from the Academy, never stopped to think about the consequences of her actions, only the here and now.

I thought I had made progress after Mason died. Realizing had I alerted the proper authorities, IE. Dimitri and Alberta, we may have saved them all. Instead, I ran off after him with Christian, and we were all held hostage, ending with one of us not making it back home.

So, I guess not, considering I fled the Academy in search of a ghost, with only the spirit of my oldest friend to guide me in the right direction. Not my best move. But one I have to keep rolling with now. I can't go back. I can't start over. I have made my choices and I will live with them.

Still, it doesn't mean I should cozy up to Adrian like this. He isn't a fill-in or overall replacement for Dimitri. Lifting my head, I looked up to him. His head laid back on the couch, eyes closed and a small smile played on his lips. He looked peaceful, relaxed, and I didn't want to disturb that.

As carefully as possible, I detangled myself from the blankets and tucked them around him. Stepping back, I watched him for a few moments, before retreating to my own bed.

Staring up at the stark white ceiling, I drew a deep breath and closed my eyes. Sleep now. Figure things tomorrow. It is a small goal, but right now that is about all I can handle.

Another deep breath and I let go for the night.

Author's Note:

For the record, I do know that 'Deadpool' was not around during the actual time of the books, but have you ever seen that movie? OMG, I love it! haha.

Anyways, thank you for reading and reviewing, as well as the faves and follows.

Question: If you could live inside a book or movie, what would it be, and why?

No doubt, VA, because come on, Adrian...Dimitri...need I say more?

I love you guys! Have a wonderful week!

Dream