Chapter Ten

I was nervous about our date and I hoped rose would be surprised. I got dressed at my mother's house and then made my way to Rose's front door. I wanted to give Rose a date like no other and seeing as Rose and the community were a little old fashioned which I really liked, I had to court her correctly.

I rang the doorbell and Abe answered, he looked at me like I was crazy

"Dimitri what are you doing?"

"I have come to court your daughter and with permission would like to take her on a date" I could tell he was happy that I was being a gentleman and he decided to play along

"Please come in, I am sure Rose will be ready soon"

No sooner than he had said that Rose came down the stairs. She looked magnificent like a painting come to life. I could tell she was nervous but she gave me a bright smile and made her way to my side

"Roza you look beautiful" I said handing her a little wild flower, I knew they were her favorite

"Thank you Dimitri you look rather handsome yourself"

"Shall we go?" I asked her holding out my arm for her to take

"Belikov don't make me get my shot gun!"

"Daddy" Rose was mortified

"Don't worry honey" I reassured her "All first dates and meeting with fathers go that way its tradition"

She gave me another dazzling smile kissed Abe on the cheek and away we went.

We walked for around fifteen minutes before we came to a building with bright lights and advertising everywhere, on entering I heard her gasp and then she gave a little squeal

"Really?" she said so excited

When my sister Sonya read my mother's letter in regards to skill and trade, she had taken a walk to see what the community needed. She had approached Mikhail with her ideas and both Abe and Mikhail had made it happen. Within days my sister had become the proud owner of a small cinema.

It wasn't like the mass chains you would see in a major mall; this was brilliant like taking a step back in time. There were three movies showing, each different in their own right. We lined up and waited our turn for tickets

"What would you like to see Roza?"

"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" I was surprised with her choice but ecstatic, it happened to be one of my favorite movies of all time. We got our tickets and lined up for some sweets.

The cinema was indeed quiet busy and as we listened to the chatter around us, I could tell that my sister would have a viable business, I couldn't thank my lucky stars enough that Rose had chosen me.

Next we headed off to a little coffee shop, the owner a small, balding man gave Rose a huge hug when he saw her and started talking to Rose in what I assumed to be native Turkish. He showed us to some seats and then disappeared. Ten minutes later he bought out a few dishes none of them I recognized.

Rose introduced me to her favorite dishes, we were chatting animatedly when the Strigoi alarm sounded. It seemed like they had a low jack on Rose because the minute we had stepped out of the little shop we were surrounded.

I shoved Rose behind me and started to fight, she was helping me as best she could her dress was a bit of a hindrance but they kept coming. Soon we were joined by more Guardians; I was checking my Roza was alright she had been using a massive amount of magic when I was attacked from behind. I heard Rose scream then I knew no more.

I awoke to blinding lights, I felt fine just had a slight headache

"How do you feel Dimka?" turning my head to the sound of her voice I saw my mother she looked like she hadn't slept for a month of Sundays

"Roza where's Roza?" I asked her franticly whilst ripping back the covers "Did they take her?"

"No Dimka she ran off and nobody has seen her since" she whispered

Just then Abe and Mikhail walked in

"Ah Dimitri how are you feeling?" Abe asked

I didn't answer him I couldn't I was terrified for her, Babushka walked in the door not long after

"You know where she is Dimka and only you will find her, you just need to look within yourself" she said cryptically

"Yeva if you know where Rose is you better tell me now, we cannot find her on the monitors" Abe commanded

I wasn't listening, I was too busy paying attention to the hum in my head, and it was like something was pulling me toward something what though? I was sitting thinking of the places I knew Rose loved and then there I was sitting in a little black box hurtling through space, I didn't even stop to think on how I knew this I was just up and running.

I knew everyone was following me but I didn't stop or wait I just headed for the little rock in the clearing. I stuck my hand in the rock and it sprang apart. Sprinting down the steps I almost tripped and fell.

I ran at the little simulator and yanked open the door, and there was Rose crying covered in blood. She didn't move, didn't look at me and I could see why Rose had slit her wrist and was slowly bleeding out. I snatched her up and started running back toward the infirmary shouting for help along the way. Abe, Mikhail and Alberta all following me as I ran.

I raced into the infirmary and placed her on the bed I previously occupied, the doctor rushed in and started to stitch up her wrist

"She has lost a lot of blood and the bags won't help, she will need live blood" she was saying

The whole time Rose was crying and mumbling under her breath, I hadn't been listening in my haste to get her to help but now I could make out what she was saying, she was mumbling my name over and over again.

Just like before I had a buzzing in the back of my mind, then like Rose was whispering in my ear I could hear her clear as a bell, no I couldn't hear her I was her.

She was thinking of the attack of what had happened, over and over again the scene replayed, a little brown haired Strigoi rushing me from behind and breaking my neck. There was no mistaking the sound and my body falling to the ground dead. How the hell was I alive?

I felt an arm shaking me and looking up I saw Babushka

"I died, how am I alive?" I asked

"She saved you Dimka; she bought you back she loved you too much to let you go"

"What?, Rose doesn't love me, she has only known me for around a month" I stated

"Rose has watched you for almost two years Dimitri" Alberta said quietly "That's why she knows you so well, your friends too"

By this time Rose had been sedated and was being fed through a nasal gastric tube Mikhail was attached to a line as well, he was feeding her and as long as he stood close gravity would do its thing.

I stood looking at Roza lying in the bed she was so pale and still her body temp was low as well, I started stripping off and once I had reached my jeans

"Dimitri what the hell are you doing?" Abe gasped

The doctor just looked at me nodded in approval and kept going about her work, I slid into the bed and pulled Rose into my arms Jesus she was so cold like hugging and ice burg. I hissed at the contact but settled down with her and closed my eyes. In the back ground I could hear the doctor and Abe talking. I didn't listen I didn't care, I had my Roza in my arms and I would never let her go in fact I would kill anyone who tried to separate us.