Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy.
This chapter is dedicated to CaRiNeSs who guessed correctly what would happen in her review. Well done! xx
Chapter 11:
'Dreaming is an act of pure imagination, attesting in all men a creative power, which if it were available in waking, would make every man a Dante or Shakespeare.' -H.F. Hedge
'Dreams are excursions into the limbo of things, a semi-deliverance from the human prison.' -Henri Amiel
I was in the academy gardens. The sun was out and there was a feeling of tranquility yet I was clothed in a floor length, blood red dress with a deep neckline, which cinched at my waist before flowing out gently to brush the grass. There was only one person who could imagine this sort of scene – Adrian. And, a minute later, he stepped out from the trees, a frown on his normally carefree face.
When he saw me relief flooded his features and he gathered me up into a bone crushing hug. I hugged him as well, taken aback by how much I had missed him. Finally, we broke apart. "Little Dhampir! Where are you? What happened? Are you okay? I've missed you, and Lissa's worried sick? Have you-" I cut him off before he became hysterical.
"Adrian, calm down! I'm not sure where we're being kept; only that it's a large house, probably a mansion, that's three hours from where we were ambushed. Whether it's three hours on foot or by car- I don't know. We're all alive, but the guardians are injured and weaponless, and as I've just been beaten into a bleeding mess, I'm pretty much useless."
Tears started to leak from my eyes as I remembered what the strigoi had said to me. 'the others don't need to feed from your friends yet, and I want to have a little fun before I finish up with you.' And my breath hitched as I told him "they're going to kill us Adrian. You need to tell Kirova not to come for us, and that Lissa is the one they want so she needs to be protected. Keep her safe for me Adrian, please."
He hugged me fiercely and kissed my forehead. "I'll keep her safe until you escape Rose. Don't give up yet – we'll find you, I promise." As he finished speaking the academy began to fade and I clung to him, not wanting to go back to the reality of being trapped and beaten. He gave me a small smile and another hug before saying, "You're waking up Little Dhampir. But try not to worry. I'll be here as soon as you fall asleep again, and I'll pass the information on to the guardians. Keep fighting." as the dream ended.
'The moment when you first wake up in the morning is the most wonderful of the twenty-four hours. No matter how weary or dreary you may feel, you possess the certainty that, during the day that lies before you, absolutely anything may happen. And the fact that it practically always doesn't, matters not a jot. The possibility is always there.' -Monica Baldwin.
When I opened my eyes I found I was cradled against Dimitri's chest. He was asleep, but tense, his arms holding me protectively which caused me to smile, simply enjoying the feeling of security. As if we were bonded, he woke shortly after I did, he eyes looking directly into mine. A small smile formed on his lips when he saw me awake, but it didn't alleviate the guilt in his eyes as he took in what was probably my very battered face. Reaching up to stroke his cheek and reassure him, I winced when the pain in my ribs intensified, and he flinched, seeing the pain in my face.
"It's okay." I whispered to him. "It's not your fault. Please don't blame yourself." I traced the outline of his lips, and he kissed my fingers before replying.
"I can't help it Roza, I should have done more, should have protected you better, I should-" His voice cracked, and I placed my fingers over his mouth to stop him.
"No. Listen to me Dimitri. It is not your fault. I made the choice. I got my but kicked." I pulled his face down until we were eye level. "You are not responsible, or in any way to be blamed for what happened. Please, believe me." He nodded and sighed, but the guilt stayed in his eyes. As our gazes held and intensified someone cleared their throat.
