Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Academy.

Ch. 10 Resolution

I returned home, and instantly went to Lissa's room. She opened when I knocked. "What are you going to do now?" she asked me quietly as I came in.

I sat down on her bed, and told her the friar's plan. She was completely aghast at the mention of the drug, and stared at the vial in shock when I showed her. "It's called the Sleeping Death potion in Romanian," she said, gingerly setting it down. "It's very potent. If something goes wrong… you'll be in a coma for the rest of your life."

I didn't want to tell her that that was one of my fears. That if the drug worked too well on me, I would never wake up. "Friar James had no other plan," I confided. "You're the only one who knows."

"The letter that the friar sent must be on its way to Dimitri in St. Petersburg," Lissa murmured. "That's quite a distance."

"Since he just sent it off, I'm guessing that Dimitri will receive it in two days. Couriers do travel pretty quickly," I offered. I sobered quickly. "But if he reaches me a day or two after the potion's worn off…

You're taking the potion past midnight on Wednesday? Lissa asked. I nodded. Today's Tuesday. Dimitri should receive the letter Thursday, when everyone discovers that you are "dead." She cringed over the word "dead."

I understood why. I had died once, those years ago in the carriage accident that had killed Lissa's family. She couldn't bear the thought of me taking the Sleeping Death potion, and perhaps never waking up again. She'd only been able to bear being alone – and becoming the Dragomir princess – for the past few years because I had always been at her side. If I died, she would be on her own. She wouldn't be able to take it anymore. I shied away from those thoughts.

Because I had already been brought back from the dead, was it possible for me to be brought back a second time? This question echoed in both our minds. She tried to shake off the gloomy thoughts and continued. If all goes well, you'll wake Saturday morning. Dimitri should be here by then, and be able to take you away.

"But where on earth will I go?" I wondered.

Lissa shrugged. If Friar James' letter gets to Dimitri, then Dimitri would know.

I sighed and stood up. "I have to talk to my parents about…marrying Adrian."

She regarded me sympathetically with her big green eyes. Good luck, Rose. Sympathy beat out to me through our bond, and I sighed.

I had a feeling I would need it. A lot of good luck, and even that wouldn't help me.

Father and Mother were both in the parlor again, but they were doing leisurely activities. Mother looked up at my approach, and put down her needlework.

"What have you decided?" Father asked coolly. That stung. He once would've greeted me with affection and happiness. Just a few days ago, he had told me that if I had spoken to him before the official celebration… That was something. Now, he treated me as a stranger.

"I beg your pardon," I answered, kneeling. "Forgive me. I will marry Adrian, as you wish."

Even as I spoke, I felt cold. I was lying. I wouldn't be married to Adrian. But the distance between me and my parents had grown too great. If I had to run away with Dimitri to protect our love, so be it.

Father's face lit up and he turned to Mother. "Our stubborn daughter has finally listened to reason." A Moroi maid was standing in the doorway, and he gestured to her. "Adrian is now home, recovered from his injuries. Send him a message, and tell him that the wedding will be in two days. We will skip the usual courtship this time." The maid curtsied and left. Father turned back to me, a smile on his face. "We've planned your wedding for quite a while, so it will be grand."

"Whatever you think is best," I answered, but I was dismayed. I wouldn't even have planned my own wedding, if I had intended on marrying Adrian.

Most young brides didn't organize the wedding. It was their fathers and future fathers-in-law who sent out invitations, and the mothers and mothers-in-law who arranged the wedding. However, the brides usually had some involvement in the planning. But I had no involvement whatsoever.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll find something suitable to wear," I murmured, curtsying.

"Mother ordered the most beautiful bridal gown for you," Father assured me. He turned to her, and I was sad by the happy expression on his face. He was so eager to see his only child married off to secure the Mazur-Ivashkov alliance. I wondered what the terms of the alliance entailed. "When will it be ready?"

"Because you decided to have her married off so quickly, I had to order a gown that was already made, and have embellishments added to it," Mother said crossly. "By tomorrow."

"Excellent," Father said. He turned to me, looking proud. I felt sick. "You will be wed to Lord Ivashkov at last. You couldn't find a better man anywhere. I am sure that he will fix his bad ways once he is married."

I doubt he would, unless he's married to that girl… Sydney, I thought. Was it really just two days ago that I'd seen Adrian confess his love for the mysterious lily girl? It felt like a lifetime ago. I smiled at Father, keeping my true emotions off my face. "I hope so. Please excuse me." I curtsied again and left the parlor.

I spent the rest of the day and Wednesday with Lissa. She seemed even more nervous than me about the plan.

On the night I was to take the poison, I stayed up long past midnight with Lissa. "I'm still scared," she whispered.

"Nothing bad can happen," I assured her. Privately, I was scared. I had done plenty of scary things in my time – including fighting off a band of ten Strigoi with two guardians at my side. That was pretty life-threatening. But this… it was even worse. I was deliberately taking a poison that was very strong. If I didn't wake up…

"Everything will be okay," I tried to assure her. "Just don't let my parents know what's going on."

"Of course not," Lissa managed, with a very wan smile. We hugged, and I could feel how terrified she was for me.

"See in you a few days," I whispered. I waved my farewells to her, and went to my room.

I shut the door behind me, and dressed in a simple red silk gown. I pulled the vial out from under the bed before I lay down on the bed, staring at the little vial.

Oh, God, I thought. Here is the vial. What if it doesn't work? That thought was terrifying in its own right. "And what if this poison really kills me?" I murmured, staring at the vial. "It's supposed to be a drug, but it's also a poison. Lissa called it the 'Sleeping Death.' What if I wake in the tomb before Dimitri comes for me. Will I die of suffocation there? I'll be left alone, with only my fears for company. And what if there are ghosts?"

I knew there were ghosts. Because of my shadow-kissed bond with Lissa - and two Strigoi kills - I had been able to periodically see ghosts. I was terrified I would see them if I woke before Dimitri came for me. Or…what if Dimitri couldn't get the Friar's letter, and jumped into drastic action? I shuddered away from that thought.

"And yet… I have no choice. If I wake tomorrow, I will be married to Adrian. Neither of us wants to be married. I won't be married for sure tomorrow. There's no other way for me to see Dimitri again otherwise. The feud will never be solved," I whispered to myself.

There was no way out. But I loved Dimitri. I would do anything to be with him again. Our love was worth fighting for, despite the odds against us. My parents. The queen's hunt for him. My impending marriage. The future Mazur-Ivashkov alliance Father had been planning most of my life. Despite my love for Dimitri, this was the most daunting choice I'd ever had to make. If I didn't take the drug, I would be married to a man I couldn't stand more than a friend. You will see Dimitri again soon. I saw his face in my mind again, and uncorked the vial.

"Dimitri, Dimitri. Here's a drink. I drink to you."

I drank the drug and collapsed onto my bed. The vial slipped from my hand and the last thing I registered was the sound of glass shattering before sweet dark waters pulled me under.