A.N: Hey Guys!!!!
Thank you so so much for those who reviewed. The Court stay will be divided in two chapters. don't you worry there is still plenty of action coming your way some you are not expecting *evil laugh*.
Anyways don't forget to review this chapter and tell me what you think or I'll turn strigoi lmao.
Love you guys,
Hugsies
Steffy =D
Chapter 9: Why Do We Always Hurt The Ones We Love by Dan Hill
We made it to the Court really late at night which meant the middle of the day in the Moroi world.
"Ozera and Guardian." Said Christian when we stopped at the portal giving his ID to the guards.
They nodded giving it back to him and one of them quickly glanced at me. His eyes widened slightly and his breath came out in a whooshing sound.
"I may be wrong but I think he knows who you are." Said Christian with a chuckle when the young guardian stayed frozen on the pavement.
"No shit Sherlock!" I laughed. "The guy almost had a stroke but I don't even remember him."
"Oh but believe me! Guys you meet usually remember you." He said seductively parking near the Courts main door.
"Well I don't remember making such a good impression on you" I said giving him a sidelong glance.
"Oh if I recall correctly I said people remember you." He winked "I never said if it was good or bad."
"True" I said winking back, then regretting it. I took our bags from the trunk as he looked at the piece of paper and keys the guard gave him.
When we made it to the room I sighed with relief which actually made Christian chuckle.
It really was a room organized for two persons as, adjacent to the main room, there was a small room with a little bathroom.
"It's a shame right? Now you'll have no excuse to look at my hotness" said Christian with a laugh.
"Yeah I think I'll survive… you're no Dwayne Johnson!" I snorted throwing his bag on top of his bed while taking my own into the smaller room.
"So you say…" he said trailing off.
I was starting to get my things off when there was a knock at the main door.
"See it's probably my booty call" He said laughing. "You had your chance" he added still laughing.
However his laugher stopped as soon as he opened the door. I frowned intrigued and walked warily into the main room
I froze when I saw Lissa walking into the room but she was looking at Christian so she didn't notice me straight away
"…reason for you to come now after 2 ye--" She stopped frozen as she caught my eyes.
"Hey…" I said with a shy smile the voice cracking under the emotion.
As soon as I spoke I felt some of the bond reconnect between us and it literally made my heart ache. I couldn't read her as clearly as I used to but I could read the tenor of her emotions.
Lissa walked to me without a word but I could feel her pain, her fear, her relief but most of all her fury and I did expect her slap when she did it.
"Lissa I---" I started to say as she raised her hand. I closed an eye expecting the second slap as I wouldn't respond or dodge it as I deserved at least that.
Her hand didn't connect with my face the second time around.
I looked up at her hand, surprised, and saw Christian's hand tightly gripping her wrist.
"Do not touch her ever again." He said jaw locked.
I looked at him like he had two heads as I would have never imagined, not even in a million years, that Christian would take my defense over Lissa's.
Lissa was still looking at me in such a daze that I was pretty sure she didn't even register what Christian said. But I mean believing your best friend was dead for almost 3 years and seeing her walking into the room like that was bound to destabilize even the sanest person alive.
"You can let go Chris" I said evenly. "It's not like I don't deserve much more" I said not able to conceal my guilt.
He reluctantly let go of her wrist as she came to crash in my chest sobbing.
"Oh Rose….Oh my Rose!" she said almost incomprehensibly with her face buried in my neck. "you're alive! And it's real , not the dream I'm having almost every night." She added sobbing even more.
"Yeah Liss I'm alive" I said hugging her back sitting with her on Christians' bed as she kept soaking my shirt with her tears.
"It was so painful to lose you" She said the face still in my neck while I gently rubbed her back. "And the pain never faded you know…Never! You were always there with me and I had this hole in my chest that never closed up."
"I know... I'm so sorry" I said sincerely.
Christian looked at me and pointed at the door. 'I'll be back' he mouthed.
I nodded and mouthed a 'thank you'.
He looked at me and smiled so nicely that it tightened my chest even more.
Lissa continued to sob in my shirt for 10 more minutes before finally looking at me.
She asked me about everything and I gave her a pretty condensated resume of my last 3 years. I told her that I didn't know about the plane accident since I was in Europe.
I of course left many things aside, like my living conditions while hunting, the grief I felt seeing my friends fall during this war, I also hid the amount of battle scars I had or the reality of my involvement with Christian as I didn't think that telling her 'oh by the way I had sex twice with your ex fiancé and it was so good' would help me with the 'get back together' plan.
"Wanna go for a walk?" I asked as I wanted a change from the interrogation.
Lissa nodded still looking into my face intensely.
"Are you sure you're okay Rose?" She asked worried.
"I'm more than fine" I said kissing her forehead quickly. "Let me just change my top and we'll be on our way." I added forcing a smile.
Lissa didn't change at all physically in the last three years. The only noticeable change was her hair as now it was only about shoulder length.
We were walking for about 5 minutes, arms intertwined when we heard a voice calling 'Princess' behind her and even after all these years I knew who it was…Stan Alto.
As we turned around his mouth popped open with recognition.
"Close your pie hole Alto you look like a moron." I said with a grin.
"Hath…Hathaway?" He shook his head. "Oh my god Rose you're alive!" He said and I could hear genuine relief.
"See and people said you were slow!" I said as even after 3 years away I still felt on the defensive around him.
"He is my guardian Rose…" Whispered Lissa in my ear.
"Your guardian?" I asked looking at her surprised. "What did you do wrong to get him?" I asked seriously.
"Silly Rose." She chuckled "he is my guardian along with Eddie and they are very good plus Stan is rather cool actually." She added with a slight shrug.
"Not in my world" I mumbled looking to a still dumbfounded Stan but he didn't look as impressive as before. It was maybe because I was an adult now who fought a constant war for the last 3 years. He was not my teacher anymore, he was my fellow dhampir. Someone I was pretty sure I could kick his ass. I was almost 22 and fully trained to the best combat techniques in the world. He was maybe a 31 year old guardian full of energy and effective but I was sure I could take him.
I could see that Stan was about to retort something when I was pulled full force into a major bear hug.
"Rose…" Said the deep manly voice.
I chuckled. "It's good to see…well to feel you Ed." I said hugging him back.
He didn't let go for a while and I could see, over his shoulder, Christian looking at me intensely.
"Let me have a good look at you" I said getting out of his grip resting my hands on his wide shoulders.
"Well aren't you dashing!" I said with a smile. "Maturity made you even hotter" I said with a wink. In fact Eddie didn't change much but he did get buffer.
"Well you aren't bad yourself Rose…Smoking hot actually!" He said wiggling his eyebrows.
Yeah that's because you don't see my battle scars I thought unconsciously touching my bangs to make sure it was where it was supposed to be.
"Oh yeah you are hot" said Stan with a grin.
Christian glared at him and I had to clear my throat for him to look down.
Eddie took my hand. "Come on let's have a beer" he said excitedly.
I thought it was the perfect way to give Christian and Lissa some alone time even if it broke my heart. But I knew that the bar, at least the one the guardians went to, only rarely received moroi and certainly no Royals.
"Of course!" I said with a cheery tone. "Joining us Alto?" I asked with a husky voice.
"You bet I'll join" he said coming to stand at the other side of me.
"Lissa" I said hugging her tight. "I'll see you in the morning" as I promised to go get breakfast in her room.
"Chris" I waved "I'll see ---"
"Awww I'd love to join too" he said way too cheerily to sound true. I knew him too well.
"Really...?" I asked warily. "Do you really want to?"
"Of course!" He said with laugher so fake it actually made me laugh as I could see he just loved to strangle me right on the spot.
"You know what… me too!" Said Lissa excited by the idea.
"All right let's go" said Eddie really cheered to have the whole group reunited for once.
"That's gonna be fun" groaned Christian sliding between Alto and me.
"I mean dude really?!" I whispered exasperated.
"I have to do what I have to do" he said evasively.
I wanted to kick his ass right on the spot but the little scene went unnoticed so I'd better drop it but I'd have a word with him later that was for sure.
When we made it to the bar they were kind enough to sit at a table in the corner so people wouldn't notice me straight away.
I was starting to regret my impulsive decision to come here. I did it on a whim to get Lissa back together with Christian and I really didn't think about my own 'dead' status that I did enjoy to some extent.
I sat in a way to force Christian to sit beside Lissa and I was forced to face him.
Stan paid the first round, Eddie the second and Christian the third. The conversation was very agreeable and light. Who would have thought that Stan was actually a joker? He made me chuckle a couple of time.
"So Rose…Now that you're legal and all that…What about dinner?" Asked Stan only half joking.
I discreetly looked at Christian who was so eager to hear my answer and that when I heard myself talk without even realizing.
"Yeah why not that could be fun." I said trying to sound flirty.
Christian's eyes narrowed slightly as he stood up excusing himself for a bathroom break.
He came back from behind me and did something I never expected him to do. There was a lot I would have expected from him but trying to hurt me and humiliate me in public was not one of them.
He walked to stand behind me.
"Hey guys check out her scar, so cool" he said removing my bang out of the way before I slapped his hand away.
I felt Lissa pity as I avoided their eyes. I just wanted to hurt Christian I couldn't believe he did that to me! I didn't deserve such a childish and hurtful behavior.
However his plan backfired as they had only curiosity in their eyes.
"How did you get that one?" Asked Stan sitting straight to have a better look.
Christian came to sit back in front of me but I refused to acknowledge his presence.
"Battle scar" I said with a fake chuckle.
"Oh do you have lots of them?" Asked Stan even more curious.
"Some…" I said cocking my head on the side.
"Oh really…" he grinned. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours." He added wiggling his eyebrows.
That made me burst into laugher along with Eddie and Lissa. As for Christian even if I didn't look straight to him I saw him pick up his beer and drink it in one go.
"Ok maybe I'm twisted but…I actually find that this scar suits you…It's sexy." Said Eddie uncomfortably.
"I agree!" Said Stan seeming sincere.
"I second that" said Lissa with a warm smile.
"Oh good lord…" Mumbled Christian standing up going for another drink.
"So you hunted then?" Asked Eddie.
I looked at them not really sure I wanted to say much but Christian blew it all.
"Yeah I did in Europe for a while." I said trying to give as little info as I could.
"You joined some Nomers there?" Asked Stan.
I nodded slightly surprised to hear him talk about the Nomers.
Christian was back already but I kept ignoring him but I was still getting frustrated that he kept ignoring Lissa.
"Have you met 'the bloody'?" Stan asked with some reverence in the voice. "I've heard the man is scary, totally incontrollable."
My blood froze in my veins. I knew 'the bloody' reputation since well… it was me and I also knew that some of the missions I took part of where pretty suicidal as we said nobody is more dangerous than someone who has nothing left to lose, right?
I blushed furiously and Christian gave a sarcastic snort.
"Oh she knows the 'bloody' alright.." He said staring at me. "It's her!" He added locking eyes with me.
I had my beer in the hand and almost threw it to his face.
"No shit!" Eddie and Stan said simultaneously.
I nodded and turned to show my neck to Stan.
He brought his chair closer to mine to look at my neck. "WOW…Two Verenatio" he said with reverence and that was something almost improbable.
"I can't believe you're the bloody" said Eddie in a daze.
I winked trying to hide my discomfort as I could feel Lissa's wonder but I was pretty sure that either Eddie or Stan would fill her in on the blanks.
"Do you have something in the morning?" asked Stan eagerly. "I'll be training and I would love for us to get physical "he added with a clear double meaning.
"Yeah I would love that!" I said and it was sincere. Stan had a killer reputation and he had some fantastic fighting skills plus I needed the training and a way to let out my anger and pain.
If I were honest I was not that angry against Christian I was mostly disappointed, and hurt I really couldn't see his motive for trying to humiliate me like that.
I muffled a yawn. "Well guys I'm sorry but it was a long drive and…"
"Of course you should go to bed Rose." said Lissa actually feeling content to have an excuse to leave the bar too as she didn't feel comfortable in this kind of environment.
Stan and Eddie nodded. I was sure they would stay for a couple more beers. They probably had the morning off tomorrow.
"I'll see you guys for training" I said standing up closely followed by Christian. "No it's ok I've got a key too" I said coolly.
"Yeah I know but it was a long drive for me too and I drank a bit" he said pointing to the beer bottles.
I shrugged hugged Lissa tight, waved to the boys, and left the bar without a word with Christian following close behind.
As soon as I walked into the main room I walked to the small one.
"OK you can unload now." Said Christian seriously looking at me with expectation.
I turned around to look at him. It was even worse since he knew it would infuriate me but he did it anyways. I didn't even know what I could say since no words could make it better.
I shook my head. "Good night" I said wearily turning my back at him.
"No not like that!" He shouted.
I turned around again I didn't expect his outburst.
"No Rose don't look at me like that please" He said and I could hear sadness and remorse. "Shout at me, threaten me! Do anything but not that look Rose please…" He took a step toward me.
I sighed and walked into the room locking the door behind me.
Christian tried to open it with insistence.
How dare he! I thought laying on the bed curling into a ball.
He knocked. "Come on Rose open the door." He said in a begging tone. "Let's talk about it. I'm sorry Rose…Really I shouldn't have done what I did but…." He stopped.
I heard a sigh and a light thud.
"Rose…" He whispered as I guessed now the light thud was his forehead connecting with the door. "Open up to me, don't shut me down. I need to see you Rose….I….Wait." He said a bit more excitedly.
I hear the little music hinting me on the fact that he was turning on his laptop.
"We're going to play to the magic Radio again except that I'll be cheating with that one, since I'm picking it" he said from behind the door.
I sighed but kept my mouth shut.
"Here…" He said after a little while probably looking for a specific song on his itunes. "So magic radio…" He said solemnly. "Can you tell me what the overly jealous and exceedingly moronic Christian Ozera think of Rose Hathaway?" He asked sounding so serious.
At that instant the song What you don't know by Monrose started to play softly behind my door. And that was probably the one of the song I would never have guessed.
What you don´t know
Is that your scars are beautiful
What you don´t know
Is that your imperfections are what make me whole
What you don´t know Is how
I spiral down Cause
I can´t speak whenever you´re around
And it´s not like me to hide behind a wall
And it´s not like me to fear the fall
What you don´t know
Is that I lay awake
Wishing you were here tonight
What you don´t know
That I loved you long before we were alive
Cause how would you know, how could you know
So now I´m gonna tell you everything
What you don´t know
I have studied the way you walk
What you don´t know
Is I´ve already kissed you in the shadows of my heart
What you don´t know
Is that you´re poetry
If you turn around there´s someone you won´t see
And it´s not like me to hide behind a wall
What you don´t know
is that I lay awake
Wishing you were here tonight
What you don´t know
Is that I loved you long before we were alive
Cause how would you know, how could you know
So now I´m gonna tell you everything
What you don´t know
What you don´t know
What you don´t know
Is when the morning the sun collide
The morning comes
This time I won´t be afraid to try
What you don´t know
is that I lay awake
Wishing you were here tonight
What you don´t know
That I loved you long before we were alive
Cause how would you know,
how could you know So now I´m gonna tell you everything
What you don´t know
I didn't even realized that I had some quiet tears falling down my face. I dried them quickly with the back of my hand but stayed on the bed.
It was only guilt talking and it was so long he connected physically with another human, he was confusing physical desire with stronger feelings. It was pretty common actually but I was sure that as soon as I would manage to get him alone with Lissa he'd realize his mistake and get back to his old ways.
He waited a little while without a noise behind the door.
''Rose…Come on I opened up to you here.'' He said and I could here the anguish in his voice. ''Open the door…Open to me. Let me look into your deep brown eyes that I long for''
I just turned around to look at the door but didn't talk and clearly didn't intend to open the door. I had to push him away for Lissa, for me, and for himself. He clearly didn't know what was good for him and I needed to show him the good direction.
I hear him sigh with exasperation. ''I'll wait here'' he said with sadness. ''I'll stay the back on this door till you at least say a word'' he said stubbornly. ''Please…I…I need you Rose.''
''I need you too'' I whispered so low I knew it was impossible for him to hear. ''That's because I need you so much that we'll have to stay away…For your sake and mine'' I added on the same hush tone in order to keep myself from running to him and kiss him senseless.
I closed my eyes concentrating only on the beating of my heart counting them to shut the world down…His heart broken plea. I finally drifted into sleep after 476 beats of this heart that was surprisingly and wrongly beating for the moroi behind that door.