Chapter Ten
We looked at each other with blank expressions, knowing what was coming next. We didn't think it would be so soon; and like Greg said, he just had to do his job, it wasn't personal.
"Well." Was all he said, and stared straight forward as I turned the music off, the mood shifting to serious mode. I puffed a breath out, nervous for what was to come next knowing that it could be bad or not.
The door opened and I finally saw the driver. It was a human. The look on his face was pure terror, and then I saw the bruise marks on his skin, and knew this was a job he was forced to do. A job of security.
"This way miss." He said in a weak voice and gestured me out of the car. I looked around and notice we drove into a parking garage; it was damp and musty and had a far smell of rust.
I couldn't get up because my hands and feet were still bound, but I didn't want any help, so I lifted my legs out and hopped away like a little bunny. I felt like a retard. My hands were bouncing up and down with each jump and eventually Greg appeared at my side and cut the tape at my feet.
"You can't get far, so don't try to." He said solemnly, not looking me in the eyes. He led me down a dark hall only lit every few meters with a dull lamp. I had this deep bad feeling in the pit of my stomach that this was a bad idea.
When the next lamp appeared I saw blood spatter along the walls and it took everything to hold in my tears because I knew where we were. Suddenly I became nauseous and ready to fight; even though my hands were bound.
We finally reached the end of the hall and stopped as Greg knocked; waiting for a reply. The whole time we were silent. I was taking deep breaths, eyes closed, trying not to personally stab Greg with the bobby pin in my hair.
The door slowly creaked open by a Strigoi and I backed up ready to kill and get into a fight. He looked at me and a grinned appeared on his face. I didn't recognize this Strigoi but I knew I didn't like him.
"Come on in." We both stepped into the door, but the Strigoi block our entrance. "Only Rose." Why he knew my name I was perplexed. And why only me, I didn't want to know. For some reason I felt a little more comfortable around Greg than this guy.
I looked at Greg and walked but the Strigoi. He was walking so close to me that he could count the hairs on my head. "Want to back up buddy?" I sternly pressed him, not darning to look at him since I didn't have a weapon to defend myself, or even to hold.
"Why? I hear your good with guys." He came closer and whispered into my ear. A Strigoi. Whispering into my ear. I've really seen and heard everything now.
I elbowed him in the gut and pivoted to face him just as he jump towards me. I ducked just in time not to be Strigoi lunch. I looked around for something to break this bound or for a weapon. Nothing. We were in another long hallway.
Creepy Strigoi was about to pounce again when a blaring voice yelled from the end of the hall, "Chase stop it. You know he'll have your head if you damage her." We turned to see a Strigoi woman with a scolding hand on her hip, and walked away like she was annoyed of these childish games.
"Bitch." I heard him mutter under his breath. "Come on, keep moving." He pushed me foreword until we reached another large door in the end of the hall, but this time we just walked right in.
This room was large and grand, like a ballroom in a fairytale castle. There was a fireplace at the end of the room; which was weird since fire kills a Strigoi, but it was there. In front of the fireplace was a large chair, and the scene reminded me of Beauty and the Beast. I couldn't see who was in the chair, only the elbow resting on the armrest dignified that it was occupied.
We finally made it to the fireplace to see who was in the chair. None only than my prince charming: Dimitri. I sucked in my breath and tears prickled my eyes. He looked... the same but different. His eyes were red and he was unusually pale, but he was still my Dimitri. He had a sort of odd look on his features. His hair was still the same, and his muscles were still tense and chiselled. God, I missed him. Slowly a tear ran down my cheek and Dimitri looked up at me.
"Leave." He dismissed the Strigoi known as Chase, not once did his deep red piercing eyes leave mine. As soon as Chase, left silence filled the room except the crackling of the fireplace.
Dimitri stood up, but keeping his eyes on mine. Soon his eyes trailed over my body. He came so close it hurt. He went around me and breathe in the scent of the shampoo. I heard him whisper, "I've missed you." I knew I wasn't intended to hear it, but it hurt to have heard it.
I turned to face him and our lips were so close to touching. It took everything I had not to kiss him. I knew he was bad now. I had to kill him like he wanted; I love him.
But that's the hard part; it's that I do love him. I always will, and seeing him after all this time, even like this, makes it nearly impossible to kill him. Our love burns like a fire that won't ever burn out.
He looked at me with sad red eyes, and I realized that every time I look into his eyes I'll be reminded of the way he was turned. The blonde Strigoi taking revenge and sucking his life away from him; the way his new life as a Strigoi began. I am Rose Hathaway, I kill Strigoi, not love them. I backed away and the anger on his face was so apparent he could have had smoke coming out of his ears.
"Sorry if I'm not like right man for you anymore, Rose." He snarled and reached for the door next to the fireplace. What I saw next send me to me knees.
Dimitri threw the unconscious Ty at my feet.
