Thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, alerted and favorited! :) ILY, seriously. :p
This chapter is going to contain Dimitri-Rose moments, and that is inclusive of a kissing scene, so yeah --- read on and kindly review after. HAHA. :))
Also, I hope this will satisfy you since this is the longest chapter out of all the chapters so far. :D
Credits go to the incredible Richelle Mead! :)
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CHAPTER 10: ALONE TIME: DISTURBED
"Princess," Dimitri gave a slight bow of his head as a sign of respect to Lissa.
"What are you doing here?" She asked him.
"Headmistress Kirova wanted to talk to you and she asked me to look for you. I went to your room and apparently, you weren't there, so I decided to try Miss Hathaway's room." He said with his 'guardian mask' perfectly in place. "And it is already past curfew time, Princess, so you should really go back to your room before you get in trouble."
"I better get going then, Rose. I'll talk you tomorrow, alright?" She gave me a hug before she went with Dimitri.
They took about several steps already when he turned around and told me, "By the way, Rose, practice later this morning will be cancelled. Meet me at the gates after your last class and don't be late."
I slammed my door. "Damn it," I cursed.
But I couldn't help but think about what Dimitri was up to his sleeves now. Why did he suddenly want me to meet up with him and at the gates? Was he out of his mind?!
Oh this was so messed up already. Again, let me go back to my unsolved list of misfortunes.
Dimitri forgot me. Check.
I'm pregnant and my baby's father does not know he is the damned father. Check.
Dimitri is a Moroi and a moron. Check.
And here's a new thing added to list: The father of my baby thinks I'm pregnant with his brother's child. Damn.
With nothing else left to do, I decided to take a long, hot shower to relax my body and mind. I was wearing my pajamas and made myself comfortable on my bed as the only light illuminating my room was the lamp on my bed stand. I didn't know how long I was staring into space. The only thing I remembered was I was praying that may I have a dream about Dimitri – a sweet and good one, for that matter. The next thing I knew after my vision went black was I was in it and he was sitting down on the bed with a Western book in hand.
The cabin. Dimitri. And it was sunrise.
Was God being so generous that he was actually answering my prayers?
"Dimitri, what are you doing here?" I asked as I slowly walked towards him.
He shifted his attention from his book to me and when he saw me he gave out one of his rare smiles that I so loved before he returned to reading his book.
"Seriously, Comrade, you're choosing your book over me?" By the time I said that, I was already sitting down at the right side of my Royal god.
He looked at me from the corner of his eye. I should know – I was staring at him the entire time. His eyes clearly showed a look of amusement. He slowly placed his book down and held my right hand in between his two hands. I enjoyed our little momentum, so I slowly looked up at him as he gave me one of those loving looks he used to give me before the night of the attack.
I closed my eyes as I leaned towards him, hoping he would get what I was doing. Unfortunately, the only thing he did was a let out one of his rarely-heard laughs. It was rich and melodious and it made me fall in love with him even more.
I frowned, or more like pouted. "What are you laughing at?"
He gently pinched my nose. "Oh, nothing, you're just so cute, Roza."
Damn. How I miss that nickname of his for me. 'Roza' was my Russian name and he only used it when he was feeling affectionate.
"You mean, you remember me?" I had my hopes high when I asked him that question.
"How could I ever forget such a beautiful lady like you? You are like the epitome of perfection." He snaked his arm around my waist and I did not mind.
The next thing he did was completely unexpected yet I loved it. Time stopped as he brought his mouth down to mine and brushed it against my lips. It was slow at first but it came exhilarating and deep. But not deep enough to be considered a make out session.
I was the one who broke the kiss because I ran out of breath, but what I saw next completely ruined the moment.
I was no longer staring at Dimitri's beautiful features nor was I in the cabin anymore. I was staring into the devil's: Adrian's and we were sitting underneath a big oak tree in who knows where that was. I didn't care. I was pissed off because he intruded my amazing previous dream.
"What the hell?!" I shouted; like really shouted.
"Ow," Adrian said as he covered his ears.
"Don't you 'ow' me, Adrian Ivashkov. Didn't I tell you not to enter my dreams?!" My voice became less sharp by now. Adrian uncovering his ears proved that.
"Well, actually, your exact words were 'Ivashkov, don't enter my dreams tonight.' I checked the time before I entered your dreams and the clock read 1:37, so it's a brand new day, Little Dhampir and it isn't night any longer." Ugh. Was he really an idiot?
I blurted out my thoughts. "Are you really that dumb or your just simply bored?"
"The latter sounds better." He had a smug look on his face.
I rolled my eyes at him. But a thought suddenly entered my mind.
"Adrian, could you do me a favor?" I inquired.
He smiled. "Why, anything for you, my dear. Plus, it's rare for Rose Hathaway to ask a favor."
"Oh, whatever. I have a mission for you to do. Check Dimitri's aura tomorrow." I said in a very forthright manner.
He gave me a perplexed look. "Why do you want me to do that?"
I couldn't tell him the truth, it might crush him, so I just said, "It's for a little research that I'm doing."
He didn't look impressed at first, but he bought the half-lie half-truth thing I just said. "If you say so."
"Oh, and Adrian, I'm sorry for acting like a bitch one second and being a whole new person the next." I needed to tell him somehow that I couldn't stick to just one emotion because of the hormones which will get worse, I assumed.
He sighed. "Is it because of Belikov?"
"Huh?"
"Is it that he forgot you the reason why you are like a total stranger – somewhat – already?" Wow. I didn't know Adrian could read through the lines – as harsh as that may sound, but whatever.
"Not entirely. I've just been pretty stressed out lately." I explained.
"Let's just talk some other time, little Dhampir. You're about to wake up and don't worry, I'll check Belikov's aura for you later on." He said before he faded into the pitched–black environment.
Adrian was right. I did wake up – only to puke my guts out. Damn. I slightly peeked out of my bathroom door and looked at the clock which hanged above my door and it read '1:49.' Ugh, the day only began for an hour and forty–nine minutes, but my morning sickness was already attacking me.
After I was done with the whole disturbing crap, I brushed my teeth because I felt really filthy after vomiting whatever I vomited.
I lay back down on my bed, trying to sleep again, but somehow, I couldn't. Then I recalled my dream – the one before Adrian screwed things up. It was wonderful, almost perfect even. Too bad it was only a dream and who knows if it still has a chance of happening in reality. But how I miss Dimitri's lips on mine. The way I felt whenever his arms around me was just unexplainable. He made me felt secure and worry-free – as if nothing in this world would go wrong as long as we were right by each other. Sadly, that's no longer how things function now.
I sat up from bed and leaned against the headboard. I then placed my hand over my not–yet– showing stomach.
"Hey," I whispered. "Your father is Dimitri Ivashkov. Though he's widely known as Dimitri Belikov. I love him so much, baby, he loved me just as much too. He forgot me and the knowledge he has in mind is that you're the child of his brother, Adrian. Help me mommy out, alright? I'm really sorry if I wouldn't be the best mom you could ever have, but I'll try to. I love you."
A few tears rolled down my cheeks as I was talking to my unborn baby. There were no guarantees if his father would know about him or her. I wanted to tell him so badly he was the father, but I don't know where to start. I don't know how to explain to him everything since he does not even remember that we had a romantic affair. I don't know how to explain to him now that he only thinks of me as his student.
All the thinking probably exhausted me because the next moment, I was waking up to the sound of my alarm clock going wild. I looked out at the window and it was already daytime in the vampire world.
I hit the snooze button on my alarm clock and got ready to go down to meet Lissa and the rest.
"Hey, Rose." Lissa greeted me as I sat down on the chair besides hers with a ham and cheese sandwich and orange juice in my tray.
"Hey, Liss," I greeted back. I gave a slight nod at the three other people in the table to acknowledge their presence. Christian, Eddie and Avery.
"You going to school here now, Avery?" I asked her as I took a hold of my sandwich.
"I guess you could say that," she said as she drank her cup of coffee.
I first took a bite of my sandwich before I asked her, "what classes are you in?"
"Same as Lissa's." I did not like the thought of Lissa and Avery being together for more than thirty minutes without me, but it's not like I can do anything about it.
Or can I?
An idea came into my mind and I hurriedly finished my sandwich.
"Whoa, calm down, Rose. There's still plenty of time before the bell rings." Eddie told me, pretty shocked at how a girl with my size could eat so fast.
But, hey, I've got no time to lose.
I then drank down my glass of orange juice and turned to Christian. "Christian, from now on, Dimitri would take my place in the field experience to guard you because Kirova is asking me to run some errands."
Everyone at the table gave me astonished look. That's right. I forgot to explain it to Lissa last night since we were interrupted.
"Aren't you glad you're no longer stuck with me, Fire Boy?" I teased the pale-looking Christian. He was probably scared of the thought of a big badass Guardian sticking with him for the entire week.
"As much as I hate you, Rose, I think I'd prefer you better than Belikov." He said in an almost inaudible voice which made a smile form on my lips.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to it." I said as I stood up and walked over to Lissa.
I gave her a kiss on the cheek and whispered, "I'll explain everything to you later. I need to go look for someone right now."
And so off I went to search him and him. There was a difference between the two boys. The first one was someone I love yet dread to see. Dimitri. The second was, let's just say, just another boy. Adrian.
I ended up in the Guardian's dormitory and I was sitting on the couch in the lobby.
"Miss Hathaway, what are you doing here?" A Guardian who taught elementary novices, Jean, asked. She was also one of the three guardians along with Yuri and Dimitri who I fought with during the pop-Strigoi attack test the afternoon before the attack.
"I'm waiting for Di --- I mean, Guardian Belikov. I have some important things to say to him." I explained with a small smile.
"Oh, well, you're just in time. I saw Guardian Belikov come out from his room not less than five minutes ago." She told me with a smile.
A difference between Dimitri and her: Jean knew how to loosen up and she does not have her 'Guardian mask' on when conversing with a novice.
"I'll just wait for him," She gave me a simple nod before she walked off – probably to the elementary building since classes were about to start in fifteen to twenty minutes.
About two minutes after Jean left, I breathed in the intoxicating scent of Dimitri. His scent I would have known anywhere. In short, his aftershave.
"Dimitri, I need to talk to you." I told him bluntly.
He took in my appearance. I was wearing knee-length pants and a plain white tank top with a t-shirt hoodie over it. I was wearing black chucks to complete my attire too.
"Let's sit down." He said as he motioned me back towards the seats in the lobby.
I followed him like a puppy, keeping my head held high.
"It's about Lissa." I said.
He gave somewhat a quizzical and worried look. "What about Princess Dragomir?"
"I need you to keep an eye on her during her classes because I don't feel too comfortable knowing her and Avery are going to be together without me watching. And you're probably the only person I could trust enough to watch out for her for me." I explained.
He gave a small nod. "Who is Avery?"
"I don't know. I do know she's the cousin of Adrian. She's a Royal too. Her family name is Lazar." I told him, giving out what I knew about Avery. "She has a long brown hair and blue gray eyes. She's quite a beauty, but Lissa's prettier than her. I think you'll know she's Avery once you see her."
His 'Guardian mask' was slowly fading away as I described Avery to him. It was in one way or another replaced with an amused look. "You care about Princess Dragomir a lot, don't you?"
"She's like a sister to me." The thought of Lissa made me smile.
Don't get it wrong, I'm not a homo or anything; not bi either. I was a straight little lady. Heck, I'm about to become a mother. I just loved Lissa since she's like the sister I never had.
"By the way, change of topic, why do you want to meet up with me at the gates this afternoon?" I asked him.
"We're going out for a change of… panorama." I gave out one of my melodious chuckles and that earned me a look from Dimitri. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, you just seemed so geeky and nerdy when you said panorama when you could have just used view or surroundings." I explained to him as a small smile formed at the corner of your lips. "Glad to see you smile again, Comrade."
But fun was cut when someone decided to intrude our little chit-chat.
"Ah, little Dhampir, it's good to find you."
It was Adrian.
Then at the mere sight of Adrian plus knowing that Dimitri was just in front of me, I remembered what occurred last night. Dimitri mistakenly thought Adrian was the father. I glanced over at Dimitri and my face, trust me, gave the wrong emotion. I showed nervousness and worry. I didn't know why.
Dimitri sighed as his Guardian mask was back on. He took a glance at Adrian and slightly nodded in order to acknowledge his presence before he turned back at me. "Well, Rose, I better get going. Mr. Ozera needs me to look out for him. Don't forget about our agreement about our training this afternoon."
I wanted to stop Dimitri right at that moment, but I knew better than to do that. So, I just stupidly nodded and said, "of course."
"What was that all about?" Adrian asked as soon as Dimitri was out of sight.
"What do you mean what was that all about?" I asked him since his question was way too vague.
"The whole agreement about your training this afternoon." He said as he drew quotation marks with his fingers in the air.
"Now, that big Moron, is between him and me." Since he loved calling me 'little Dhampir' so much, why don't I just call him 'big Moron' since it suits him better than 'big Moroi.'
He grinned. "Look at that, you made a pet name for me. How sweet."
I scoffed. "How sweet, you ass!"
"You never tasted me, little Dhampir, but if you want, I'm free anytime." Talk about sordid.
"No, thank you, Adrian. I have my eyes set on someone else." I let out a smirk.
"Oh, whatever, I came here to look for you and luckily, he was here too and about your favor last night…" He was talking about my dream. "…well, I don't know what the heck Belikov's aura is since I can't see it which is the first time. It seems like it's blocked. Something's blocking it."
Or someone, I told myself mentally.
I sighed. "So much for experiment. Thanks anyways, Moron, I better get going now or I'll be late."
Then, I swish swooshed out the Guardian's building slash dormitory.
The day went by very slow. God, Stan was being a pain in the ass with all of his lecture about the difference between real vampires and fictional vampires. He included in his discussion hit vampire book series. Books such as Twilight, True Blood, Vampire Diaries, House of Night and all those other books. He slowly discussed them. When it comes to Stan, by the way, I take in his thorough explanation as a time-consuming explanation. I was falling asleep the entire time, but I tried my best to keep my eyes wide open because I did not want to go to detention. Not today. I was too lazy to walk.
On the bright side, Stan's class was my last call. So when the bell which signaled dismissal rang, I felt so elated. School was over and I was going to see Dimitri again. But was Fire Boy joining us – considering he was my charge and now Dimitri's?
Well, I should find out for myself.
I went back to my room only to put my school things. I grabbed my white Prada purse which Mia sent to me via packaging during my birthday a month and a week ago. And trust me when I say that we had a lot of fun that night.
I only placed my cellphone, a black pen since Dimitri texted me to bring one, a handkerchief and a pain killer in case I start to have a freakishly unwanted headache not due to pregnancy. When I had all those things, I walked brusquely to the gates, only to see Dimitri waiting there with the Honda care we used when we were on our way to visit Arthur Schoenberg.
It took every bit of me to stop giving a comment about how I miss that car and how many memories it brought back.
"You good to go?" Dimitri asked me.
"Yep," I said with a nod.
"Let's go then," He said as he opened the door for me.
The old Dimitri didn't do this gesture. I guess there are some good things and traits about this new Dimitri in front of me. But, I still prefer the other Dimitri better and I always will any day.
The ride was pretty silent and it was somewhat comforting. Somewhat. It was just like the car ride before, only this time I was pretty sure I was the only one having thoughts about romantic tensions going on. So, I decided to break off the silence.
"Where are we going?" I asked him.
"Choteau." He answered.
Choteau is a city in Montana and the country seat of Teton Country, Montana. If I remember correctly, we were taught back in my first year of high school – before the running away with Lissa thing happened – that the namesake of Choteau County was Pierre Choteau Jr. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that was his name.
I didn't know what else to ask, so I just decided to lay back in my seat and I think I fell asleep right after that because when I opened my eyes next, it was because Dimitri's tender voice woke me up.
"Rose, we're here. Wake up, now." It was soothing, I must admit.
"I'm sorry," I grumbled. A little embarrassed that I fell asleep.
"It's alright," He said as he unbuckled my belt for me.
He stepped out of the car and I did the same thing. Nope, I did not wait for him to open the door for me again. I didn't want him to think was some damsel in distress because I certainly am not. I looked at where we were and apparently, we were in a coffee shop named 'Bean Around the World.'
We stepped inside the shop and I swear I fell in love with the smell of coffee. I suddenly craved for a frappuccino. The shop was different than Starbucks because here, it's not self-service then you sit down. It's you sit down then the waiters or waitresses ask for your order and serve you with it.
I ordered a caramel frappuccino while Dimitri ordered a ristretto. A ristretto is also called as a 'corto' and it is like a restricted coffee as it is more concentrated than a traditional espresso. Okay, enough coffee blabbers.
"Why did you bring me here aside from your earlier reason about a new panorama?" I teased him by using his previously–used noun.
"Well, we're doing your duty here." He said as he placed a about three to five stacks of stapled research papers which I suspected to be about the topic Stan chose.
I got a hold of one of the stacks and checked what the topic was all about. Well, surprise, surprise, karma is indeed a bitch… and so is Stan Alto.
The topic: Prince Sviatoslav I of Kiev.
Yep, he was the namesake of Dimitri's academy back in Russia. (AN: If you forgot about him, try to go check back the seventh chapter for a brief information about him)
Before I could start reading, the waitress served our drinks and the way she looked at Dimitri - she was obviously flirting with him. It took every ounce of energy I had in me not to knock off the daylight out of her. Daylight, technically, because we were in the human world.
I glared at her, but she didn't seem to see. So much for that. I took a sip of my frappuccino and damn, it tasted good.
I was about to read the first stack of paper Dimitri had printed out, but he cut me off with his mind–blowing question.
"Why do you hate me?"
I froze. "What?"
"You seem so uncomfortable around me and you seem to be building some sort of thick wall between the two of us. I don't get it at all. What did I do?"
It's now or never, a tiny voice in my mind said. "The only reason I kind of hate you is because I loved you back then."
I looked at his expression and his eyes grew kind of wider.
I decided to continue, "…and I still do, until now."
But fate seemed to be playing games with me because the next thing I was about to do was to explain to Dimitri that Adrian wasn't the father. Apparently, not anymore… because somebody yet again decided to disturb my alone time with Dimitri.
"Rose, it's so glad to see you!" Someone said from behind Dimitri as that person came over to give me a hug.
I faked out a smile as I slightly patted her. "You too, Tasha."
Yep, that's right. It was her.
Natasha Ozera.
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Alright, I'm evil. HAHAH. :)) But I'm like super inspired to write this chapter today since my dad just came home and I'm so darn HAPPY! HAHA. :))
SHOUT-OUT to my Twin: Hey you! HAHA :)) I didn't make Rose slap Dimitri or beat him, but I twisted the plot of the kiss since I spoiled it to you and I didn't like it. HAHAH. :)) I found it too plain.
Quite mean of me to leave you guys hanging there, right? HAHAH. PEACE. :D
Anyways, please review guys! LOL. And I'll only update after I get a more than a hundred total number of reviews. HAHAH. :))
REVIEW ARE APRPECIATED, NEEDED AND WANTED! LOL. :D
xo, ChristAineXtine