So before I begin writing, I just want to once again thank everyone who is reviewing! I know I have said this before, but it really brings a smile to my face to see all of them. So thank you! Anyway, please enjoy and review! If I remember correctly, we left off with Rose falling asleep... :D
-GuardianRoseHathaway
Chapter Ten
Dimitri had his callused hands covering my eyes as he led me through a hallway and down the stairs. My other senses were heightened as I tried to feel my way along without my sight.
"Can't you just tell me where we are going?" I complained. Dimtri chuckled softly, and my heart fluttered. He had such an entrancing laugh.
"No, it is a surprise, Roza," Dimitri answered. I grimaced. I hated surprises and he knew it. As a matter a fact, I could swear everyone knew it after the last time they tried to surprise me. My birthday had included a toss in the pool; and then the throwing of multiple people into aforementioned pool. Lissa had smiled serenely from the sidelines, watching as I picked up various people and tossed them in. That is, until I started over to her.
Her light green eyes had widened and she had put her hands in front of her, as if to ward me off. I smiled recklessly.
"Liss, you know I am way stronger than you," I reminded her. She started to answer, but instead a different voice spoke.
"Yes, but I'm not, and I think Rosie needs to join her wet friends in the pool." I had been so focused on Lissa that I had let my surroundings slip away.
Mason tucked me under his arm. I planned to make my escape when he tossed me; maybe if I threw my body into it I would land on the other side. But instead of letting go of me to throw me in, Mason predicted my thoughts and jumped in with me in his arms.
The flashback ended, leaving me with a peculiar sense. Had that really happened? But of course it had... I tripped over the lip of a door, making me focus again. And then the blindfold was whipped off.
I had about three seconds to take in the scene before me. All of the smiling faces, the decorations, the cake. And noticeably there was no pool. But then it all disappeared, to be replaced by a white sand beach with aquamarine waves rolling in and out.
I could tell that this was another one of those Adrian dreams. I also had a pretty good idea what was coming. Adrian was going to be asking questions, and I had to think up some answers quickly.
I tried to remember everyone who had been at that meeting in Lissa's suite so that I wouldn't come up with a brilliant lie and have it squashed by Adrian. And then Adrian himself appeared from behind a shade of trees, and for a moment I forgot all of my problems.
He looked so hot, with his hair purposely messy and his clothes more laid back then usual. I walked forward to give him a hug, but he stopped me, his face unusually somber.
"Rose, where the hell are you?" he asked. I shrugged, trying to think of the last location I had seen through the tinted windows of Victor's car.
"I'll be completely honest for once and say I have no fucking idea. V-" I cut myself off. I still hadn't figured out a plan.
"Well, do you know where you are headed?" Adrian asked, a hint of frustration coloring his tone. I hesitated. Should I tell him?
I knew there was no way I could tell him and he wouldn't follow me. And if I was honest, it would be nice to have someone around who I actually liked. I decided to deflect the question for a moment so I could think it through.
I sidled up next to him and threw my arms around his neck, my body pressed up against him. My mouth was grazing his ear as I spoke.
"Aren't you happy to see me?" I whispered huskily.
I expected Adrian to succumb to my feminine charm, but he pulled away with a pained look on his face.
"Rose, this is serious!" Adrian yelled. I was taken aback. He must be really worried.
"Look, I am okay. I was not kidnapped or anything, I can fight for myself, and if things get bad I can always run," I said, trying to soothe him. But it seemed as if my words had the opposite affect.
"Who are you with that things could get bad enough you would have to run?" Adrian asked slowly. I bit my lip. "Rose!" he yelled. I shrugged.
"I don't think I should tell you that because I know you would tell everyone else and everyone, including you, would completely flip out. So for the time being, they are unknown," I told him. He threw his hands up into the air, exasperated.
"Oh, that is just great. Yes, of course, let's just say something like that and not tell me what you meant, because by all means I should get a little less sleep at night!" he spat. I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I didn't want to hurt him, but if I was going to tell him anything he would have to promise me not to tell anyone else.
"Adrian, how are things at court?" I asked quietly, once again trying to deflect the question. Adrian looked wearily at me.
"Everyone is in a panic because the supposed murderer of the queen is out on the loose again. Everyone is getting questioned to see if they know anything. We were all taken up before the councel and-" I cut him off.
"I saw Lissa being questioned, so I kind of got the jist of that. What are they planning on doing about it?" I asked.
"Well, at this point they are planning on sending a few times of guardians out to look for you in predesignated locations. Places you have been or might want to return to. The Academy is on high alert, and they are sending a group there. They are sending a group to Russia to keep an eye out. They are sending a group to Spokane-" I interuppted again.
"Why the fuck would I want to go back to Spokane?" I hissed. Some of the worst memories were from there; my first two Strigoi kills and Mason's death had been the result of a trip there.
"Look, I am just telling you what they said. The last group is going to Vegas," he said. My eyes widened and I cursed. His eyes widened hopefully.
"Is that where you are going, Rose?" he asked.
"If I tell you anything, then you have to promise... no, swear that you will keep the information to yourself. Otherwise I am going to leave you in the dark like the rest of them," I said, although inside I corrected myself. It wasn't as if I purposefully left them in the dark. Adrian hesitated.
"Rose, I think that there are a lot of people who want to know that. Lissa, Christian, and a few other people are waiting for me right now so I can tell them what you said," he told me.
This new, responsible, somber, serious Adrian was really getting on my nerves. And I missed the old Adrian, who was easy going about everything. I turned away with a careless shrug.
"All right, I won't say anything," Adrian said, putting a hand on my shoulder. I turned back around.
"Swear it, Adrian. And if you break that swear I will come back and pummel the crap out of you," I warned. He nodded.
"I swear."
"Fine, I am going to Las Vegas." I watched his reaction, but he kept a poker face.
"And who are you with?" he asked. I bit my lip. "Little Dhamphir, how bad could it be?" he asked, more relaxed now that he knew where I was going.
"Fine. Victor and Robert are with me, along with a few other spirit users," I mumbled. Adrian's eyes flashed, and that ease was gone again.
"You are with Victor. And Robert. And some other spirit users?" he asked slowly, as if he had to have heard me wrong. I nodded.
"Victor Dashkov and his spirit using brother, Robert." Again, I nodded.
"And some other spirit users?" he asked. I rolled my eyes.
"Jeez, I knew all that alcohol was bad for you, but I think it has literally fried your brain. Yes. Victor and Robert got me out of jail and are currently taking me to Las Vegas to... take care of some things," I said vaguely. Adrian shook his head, with his lips pressed tightly together.
"No. You are not going to just tell me you are "taking care of some things." What things?" he demanded. I frowned.
"Some things that will help everyone in the end." Adrian once again shook his head. And then he looked straight into my eyes.
"Tell me."
"I am looking for Lissa's sib- sister," I told him without thinking. And then I realized what had happened.
"You used compulsion on me!" I accused him. But it appeared he was in too much shock for him to even come up with some response. His eyes were wide as he stared at me.
"Lissa has a sister?" he asked deadpan. I nodded.
"Or, at least that is what Victor said," I told him, finally just deciding to let him in on everything. It was a little too late now, and would the details really matter? He knew the important part.
I sat down on the beach, lazily stretching my legs in front of me. After a moment, Adrian sat down beside me.
"And you believe him?" Adrian asked. After a long moment, I nodded.
"Yes, I do. And anyways, it is more than I have to go on. Look, Adrian, your aunt left me a note which I got through Ambrose. It told me about Lissa's sibling, but nothing else. No details, nothing. Just telling me I had to find this person, because it could give Lissa a spot on the councel," I told him. And for the second time that... day? evening?... Adrian was actually surprised. Like, majorly surprised.
"My aunt wrote you a letter telling you about Lissa's long lost sibling?" he asked. I nodded. "And Victor broke you out of jail to help you?" he asked. Again, I nodded. I was starting to realize how absolutely insane it all sounded, which was echoed by Adrian a few moments later.
"Holy shit." I nodded, for once keeping my own mouth shut and letting someone esle do the talking. "Jesus, Rose, you really got yourself into a mess here. My aunt, Victor... And you are heading to Las Vegas?" Adrian confirmed. I nodded.
There was something going on behind that pretty face of his, but I couldn't quite figure out what. And before I could ask him about it, I felt a tug away.
"You are waking up, little damphir," Adrian told me with a grin on his face. And before anything else could be said or done, I was awake.
I couldn't quite figure out what had woken me up. But I knew that I had to check in on Lissa to see what Adrian told them. And I had to check now.
So there is chapter ten! Wow, ten chapters I can't believe it. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed! Hopefully another chapter will be coming later today, but we will have to see. I have my first job interview today, and I am babysitting later... If I am not too tired when I get home, I will update. Anyway, again I hope you enjoyed. Please review!