So, it seems as though you guys are really liking the chapters that I'm trying to post weekly, and I'm really happy to hear that. My sister/beta, DragonGirl323, has been doing a fabulous job of editing these chapters and helping me learn from my past mistakes, so I really appreciate what she's doing for me. She truly is an amazing person, so if you guys want to read some Final Fantasy fanfics, you know where to head to! She has some amazing works.
As mentioned before, I'm going to try and keep updating them weekly, but if it happens that I'm swamped with school or work, then it may take some time, but it WILL be posted shortly.
Also, I've made this Facebook page in hopes to attract more people to read my stories and get more notice about when I update and such, so here is my link:
(Facebook dot com)/ #! / MortalParalight (remove the spaces and please fill in the blanks that are written there, i.e.. (Facebook dot com) is the address of Facebook)
So now, without further ado, please READ AND REVIEW!
Disclaimer = I don't own Vampire Academy or anything mentioned in here!
Chapter 10
Darkness
Adrian's Point of View
Never in my life had I woken up from a spirit dream this shocked before.
To see Rose in such a state, enduring such trauma, it was horrible. I knew that if we didn't arrive and save her soon, our Rose would be gone...physically, mentally, and emotionally. She was probably broken now. It was hard to come back from something like this happening to you. But we would help her, no matter what.
When I opened my eyes, I saw bright lights in front of us and my car door was opened to reveal a worn out gas station. It was also pitch black outside, meaning Strigoi could easily get a hold of us. Were we safe here? Looking around, there were a few other stores surrounding the gas station plaza with dim light emanating from all the windows, indicating that we were safe for the being.
Dimitri was the only one in the car at the moment. The others must have stepped out either for a bathroom break, getting gas or just breathing some fresh air, which was desperately needed after being in the car for so long and because of all the tension that surrounded us.
Once Belikov's eyes fell on me, relief seemed to wash over him. "You're awake. How is she? Is she alright?" I knew he would go straight to that topic, but no one could blame him, or anyone else if they were in his place the minute my eyes opened. They wanted to know if Rose was alive.
Shaking my head, he looked panicked. "She's getting worse. It took a long time to get to her because she's so weak and…horrified. What they're doing to her is horrible. And…Rose was unstable in the dream. Very unstable," I explained, my words making him shake in anger toward the Strigoi who were doing this to Rose.
And again, I couldn't blame him. I was surging with boiling anger myself that wanted to burst out of me, but it wasn't just directed at the Strigoi. It was also directed to Lissa. Seeing her would make all of that pent up anger in me blow, which meant I had to try and avoid her until my anger died down.
"Has she any—"
Suddenly, Belikov's voice faded into the back of my mind, his words meaningless when Lissa came into view, walking in front of Christian and Alberta. Guardian Hathaway was nearly done putting gas in the car, but my eyes were centered on Lissa. Rose's words kept replaying in my mind.
Why did Lissa have to tell me that...? Why does she believe that I can't protect her...? Rose had said while tears fell down her face in the dream. I... I thought she knew... I would always risk my life for hers... Why can't she see that...?
Yes, why couldn't Lissa see that? Was she that blinded by her own guilt to see that Rose was suffering to the point of death for her? Rose was right. This was all an act. Rose was doing this all for nothing.
Lissa saw me and started rushing toward me as I got out of the car, my anger starting to rise slowly but surely. "How is she? Is she alright? Please tell me Rose is alright..." Lissa pleaded, looking me straight in the eyes. All she could think of was her fake concern for Rose. "Please, Adrian! You have to tell me that she's still alright! Please!"
That drove me over the edge.
Lissa's right... I can't protect anyone... I get everyone killed... I can't be a guardian...
Rose believed that she couldn't protect anyone, all because Lissa had planted that thought in her head and no one was saving her now.
Lissa's right...
Oh, that was a load of bullshit. This girl in front of me, the last Dragomir of her family, was definitely wrong. My hand clenched into a fist and, out of anger, I swung at her face.
What I hadn't expected—or maybe I did, but didn't realize it right away—was Christian taking the fall for her. He quickly stepped in front of Lissa, causing my fist to collide with his shoulder.
It would have been a perfect aim for Lissa's cheek had Christian not stepped in and made the shot meaningless. Out of nowhere, Guardian Hathaway had my arms pinned my back, restraining me as I struggled, trying to get to Lissa.
"What the hell has gotten into you?!" Christian explained, shielding Lissa from me. It didn't look like my shot had hurt him at all, but his girlfriend was definitely in shock at my violent outburst.
Still struggling, a growl emanated from deep in my chest when I spoke for the first time since being inside the car. "You don't care for Rose. You don't care about what happens to her! You only care about your precious life and she's ready to throw hers away for nothing! She trusted you to remain faithful to her and believe that she would protect you with everything she has and you just threw it away with that crap that you told her!" I shouted, my thoughts turning dark and angry.
"That's not true! I trust her with my entire life! Rose is more important to me than anything else in this world! She and Christian are my life!" Lissa said, quickly defending herself and, in her tone, somehow a part of me felt that she was being sincere and truthful.
Nonetheless, my anger rose again. "You have no idea what kind of trauma she's going through right now because she believes she can't protect anyone! Ever since you've met Rose, you've basically taken her for granted, haven't you?!"
"No! I would never—"
"You dare lie to me…" Actually, her aura told me that she was confused about this matter, not sure if she had taken Rose for granted or not. But something was taking over my emotions, making me angrier than ever. "Ever stop to think that Rose is about to be awakened because she isn't telling him what he wants to hear? Because she's too damn loyal to you to risk your life, she's about to become the undead! All for you!"
Lissa's eyes widened and her hand flew up to her mouth, her eyes brimming with fresh tears now. She couldn't believe it. All of those hours, just wondering what was going to happen to Rose, and we finally found out. But it wasn't what we were expecting. It wasn't what Lissa was expecting.
"Wh…what…?" Alberta stammered, completely taken off guard by this news.
I couldn't see Belikov's face right now, but I knew it must be raging. Everyone else was shocked into silence. Even Guardian Hathaway's movements stopped. She was too stunned.
Nodding, my eyes turned back to Lissa, who now had Christian's arms wrapped around her and her head on his chest, sobbing uncontrollably. "You wallow in your so called guilt while she's enduring all of this for you… Oh no, she doesn't care about the punches, broken fingers, dislocated bones, or even the fact that she has trouble breathing because of her broken ribs! For some reason, she cares only about your safety! Yet, you don't even give a shit about everything she had to do for you over the years!" I exclaimed, keeping my rage filled gaze locked on Lissa.
"That's enough," Christian said, his voice barely above a whisper, but still audible. I could see Lissa's aura get darker, but not out of anger, it was out of sorrow and true guilt.
"You know, she even had to witness a woman, and a pregnant one at that, get killed in front of her," I spat viciously.
Lissa's face turned toward me and her eyes widened a little. No one was expecting that twist. Guardian Hathaway was obviously way too shocked at this turn of events that she even let me go. Shrugging out of her grip, I took one step toward Lissa, keeping my gaze fixed on her.
"You didn't see that woman's face when she was dead. But I did. And you know what her only emotion was? Hatred. Hatred toward Rose for not saving her. Gabriel killed that woman's family and then came back and killed her and the unborn child right in front of Rose. Can you even begin to imagine how Rose feels right now, or do you even care? Rose believes that their deaths are on her head. Ever thought that what she's going through right now is all for you? And just for you? No one else? So think about that next time you're about to hurt Rose like you did."
Lissa stared at me and couldn't quite comprehend the words that I had just spoken. Her expression was of complete shock, shame, and guilt. And she should feel that way. Especially after everything that happened…
Guardian Hathaway broke me from my stare when she punched the gas machine and screamed loudly, not out of pain, but out of rage. "How dare he?! He's hurting her and we're just standing here! What the hell are we waiting for?! God…that son of a bitch. When I find him, I swear to God that I will slowly rip him to pieces, first starting with his—"
"Janine!" Alberta said, snapping Guardian Hathaway out of her rant. Janine looked at her, but continued to pace. Finally getting a good look at Dimitri, he was just…still. Shocked and still. I'd never seen him like this, so defeated. "This is no time to act this way. We know that our time is running out, but we have to stay calm for Rose. Do you think she would want you to lose it like this? No, she wouldn't and you know that." Alberta looked in Guardian Hathaway's eyes and, somehow, Janine stopped.
I mean, she really just stopped moving and froze in place. All of her anger diminished—I think—and she looked away. And even in my periphery, I saw a few tears falling down her face. No one had ever seen her cry. Well, I know for sure that I hadn't. But it was only because of everything going on right now and I couldn't blame her.
Guardian Hathaway sat on the curve of the pump station, placed her head in her hands, and began sobbing, her angry expression melting away. Alberta walked over to her, knelt down, and stroked Janine's hair softly, trying to calm her as much as possible.
"I just want my daughter back…" Guardian Hathaway said, her voice pained and broken. Rose had such an influence on her…on everyone.
"We'll get her back. I promise you that we will, Janine," Alberta said, her voice soft.
"How? We don't even know where she is and… Oh my God…" Janine started saying and buried her face in her hands again.
The darkness finally left me and my mind began returning to normal. It seemed as though Lissa was aware that something had been wrong with me. What had made me say all of that? Seeing Rose in such pain and despair? Probably… She'd been so affected. And then something came to mind. Something important that I had failed to mention.
"She's in Bozeman, Montana. I got an address while she was being tortured," I said, meeting everyone's gazes. They looked hopeful now, to hear that Rose might be alright. "It looked like some normal home. She's being held in a normal guestroom, not in a basement."
"Give me the address, now." Belikov was all business right now. Telling him the address, he punched it into the GPS and his eyes widened with what he saw. "She's an hour and a half away. We can get there in at least an hour if we hurry."
Everyone exchanged glances, then rushed into the car, not another word being said. Guardian Hathaway had regained her guardian mindset and her face was now determined, no longer tearful. Alberta was just as focused and looked ahead at the task ahead of us: to save Rose. Christian had an arm around Lissa and Lissa… Well, she was shocked and guilt ridden. All because of me.
What had come over me? Sure, I was angry, but not enough to snap like that. Especially not at her, someone so pure as Lissa. I knew that she was already guilty and felt horrible enough and this… Well, what just happened was a lot. Did she deserve it? Maybe. Lissa and Rose had been friends since the beginning of time basically and this whole horrific turn of events was a large awakening for Lissa.
But my mind turned back to the objective: to get Rose out of that Strigoi den safely.
Hold on, Rose, we're coming. Stay strong. Stay alive. For me.
What did you guys think of this one? It's really getting into the thick of the plot (or part of the plot, seeing as there are MANY more chapters to come), so I hope that you guys are still enjoying this. So, without further ado, please REVIEW and leave me a comment about your opinion about this story!
Mortal-paralight
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