Firstly-Sorry for the late UD! It's been crazy recently and I spent a lot of time trying to get out a good chapter for my other fic, My Saving Grace, it's difficult to have two on the go! Anyhoo, somebody did ask for a bit more Rose/Dimitri stuff, so I've added in a little moment for them because I felt like I was neglecting their relationship...So here it is! Enjoy :)
"You sure you don't want me to come to the airport?" Dimitri asked as we walked hand-in-hand through a boulevard in Central Park. It was just before dusk and the sun was setting, sparkling pinpricks through the trees and making what had already been a wonderful night even more magical. I smiled at him.
"I'm sure," I said, shaking my head at him. He was absolutely the sweetest man I'd ever met, but I'd been able to tell through the last couple weeks he was getting stressed. He told me he was having issues with a work matter, and from the strained way he looked when he talked about it, I hadn't brought it up. I grinned sideways at him.
"Plus, you know what they say." He quirked an eyebrow.
"No, what do they say? I never tire of these American idioms." I rolled my eyes at him.
"You know…How absence makes the heart grow fonder?" I teased, and he rolled his eyes back.
"One of the stupider of your idioms, I have to say."
"It's true!" I protested. He shook his head.
"I don't think so, but we'll see," I suppose, he drawled. I gave him my best hurt look.
"You mean you won't miss me?" I asked teasingly. His face fell.
"I didn't mean it like that! He exclaimed. Roza, I don't need a week away from you for my heart to grow fonder," he said quietly, and gave me a rare, full breathtaking smile. "That happens every time I see you," he finished, his beautiful chocolate eyes melting into mine. I felt slightly queasy. Oh holy god, what this man is capable of doing to me, I thought. I stuck my tongue out.
"Wow, who knew you were such a romantic, huh Comrade?" I quipped. He shrugged.
"I cannot tell a lie." I can, I thought to myself. I can, and I'm doing it right now. I'm doing it all the time, every minute, every second of my life. A wave of guilt and sadness passed over me as we ended up back at my apartment. He drew me slightly into him until we were nearly touching, but not quite.
"You know what this means?" I asked, a little breathlessly. His eyebrow arched.
"No, what?"
"I get my goodbye kiss right now," I said, slightly giddily. He studied me, a slight smile curling on the edges of his mouth.
"Well then. Let's make it a good one," he whispered, and before I could utter another word, he cupper my face in one hand and we got lost in our kiss. I'm falling for you, I thought to myself. I'm falling for you, hard. When I was with him, I always felt like I was flying, like I was on top of the world and untouchable. But there was one more of my idioms I knew to be true better than anyone else- a lesson I had learned the hard way, from heartache and experience.
Whatever goes up must, eventually, come crashing back down.
And I was afraid more than anything that when it did come down, it wouldn't be quietly, oh no It would come crashing spectacularly down in flames.
And every day, every moment I continued my double life, that moment was drawing nearer.
I swung my duffel bag onto the conveyer belt and smiled at the air hostess, who handed me my boarding pass.
"Enjoy your stay in Baia, Ms. Mazur," she said in a sickly sweet tone.
"Thanks," I muttered, taking the ticket from her pink talons and walking down the corridor to the plane. I'd chosen Baia because I had absolutely no connections there, I needed to get away from things, get away from the benefactor and Mason and Eddie. New York was a freaking big city but it had become too crowded, full with familiar faces and heavy with accusation. Baia would provide me a chance to get closer on my own, track down Douru and find out which ops team had set me up. I'd told Lissa, Mia and Sydney that I was going on a teacher's conference in Moscow, and after much trepidation, they'd believed me. I fed Dimitri the same line, which hurt me. I didn't like lying to him. Here was a person in my life so new, so fresh with utterly no idea of my past, and already the relationship was based on deceit and lies. I signed heavily and sat down on my business class seat, plugging in my headphones and disappearing into my music for a while.
Courtesy of the CIA academy, I spoke enough Russian to get by in most things-although these people spoke goddamned fast and I had to ask them to slow down a million times, much to the taxi driver's amusement.
"Do you know a place where I can stay?" I asked him, and he nodded eagerly.
"Yes ma'am. The good lady has a motel not a mile from the town market." I nodded and ten minutes later we pulled up outside the sweetest little bed and breakfast ever. It was a brick house with white and blue shutters, an immaculate rose garden and a few trees blooming with purple flowers.
Thank you, I told him, and threw him a couple twenties over the backseat. He drove off cheerfully and I approached the house, knocking on the door once.
"Mama! A young voice cried. Cus-tom-er!" The cheerful voice sang.
"Don't yell so, Viktoria, an older, cross-sounding voice said. It's very unbecoming." Footsteps clattered on the floor and the door was opened to see a woman of about fifty, plump with glowing skin and rosy cheeks. She looked like the Russian version of a fairy godmother and had kind brown eyes that smiled at me.
"Hello! Welcome to the Belikov Bed and Breakfast."
"Hi, I'm Rose, I said, liking this lady already. I was told this is the best place to stay in Baia." The lady blushed.
"Well, we do try. Come in dearest, we'll get you a room. Vika!" She called, and a pretty girl of about sixteen appeared with her mother's dark brown hair and brown eyes.
"Please take the young lady's bags." I shook my head, smiling.
"No, it's fine. I can manage."
"Is that the only one you have! The lady exclaimed. My, you Americans do travel light. My girls could learn from you."
"Not all of us," I said, laughing, my thoughts flying to Lissa. She chuckled and handed me a room key.
"Here you are, dear. How long will you be staying, Miss?"
"Rose, I finished. Rose Hathaway. A week, I replied," and she nodded.
"Oh, I see. Oh! Pardon me, my name is Olena."
"Nice to meet you," I said warmly as she showed me into a pretty room decorated in red and cream.
"I thought it was fitting, considering your name is Rose," she said, laughing.
"Thank you."
"Now, there's plenty of dining places in the town, but you're most welcome to eat with us tonight. It's the off season, you see, and we do like our guests to be a part of the family."
"Thank you, I'd love to join you, if it's not too-"She flapped her hands at me.
"Not to worry. We usually eat at six-thirty, in the living room just across from the foyer. She smiled brightly. It's just my girls and you-oh, and the other English girl. See you later!" With a cheery wave she bustled away, and immediately I flopped down on the plush bed, my thoughts coming full circle back to my current surroundings. Belikov. Hadn't I heard that name before?
I shrugged it off, making a mental note to check on it later. For the time being I unpacked my jeans and hung up the few pressed shirts I had brought. I'd only packed two pairs of shoes-a classic black pair of heels and my combat boots, and between them they covered pretty much every possible situation. I'd packed one disguise, just in case, and then plugged in my laptop and phone using the adapter I'd bought at the airport. My phone buzzed with messages, one from Dimitri, one from my Russian informant.
Hope your flight was alright. Thinking of you-D. Smiling, I checked the other one.
I'll meet you in the plaza, lunchtime tomorrow. Don't be late. I nodded, knowing he wouldn't expect an answer, and stowed my phone away, swinging off the bed and into a hot, steamy shower. By the time I'd dried my hair and pulled on a pair of denim jeans and a blood red blouse, it was six, so I wandered into the living room to see if I could help with anything. I nearly crashed into Viktoria.
"Sorry. Here, let me take some of that," I offered, outstretching my hands for half of the stack of plates she was carrying. She flashed me a grateful smile, one that seemed vaguely familiar, and together we set the table, chatting as we did so. I learnt she was seventeen, the youngest of four, she had two older sisters and an older brother. Both of her sisters, along with her mother and grandmother lived in the house.
"It can be a real pain, she said, rolling her eyes. Such a crowded house sometimes, my sisters drive me insane." I laughed, and was about to enquire as to her brother's name when Olena bustled in with several huge pots in her hand, another pretty brown-haired girl, this one with steely eyes, following behind her with baskets of bread and a few bottles of wine.
"Olena, I'm terribly sorry, said a graceful young voice from the doorway. I meant to help you cook, but I received a telephone call a half-hour ago I simply couldn't miss." The girl looked around my age, maybe slightly younger. She reminded me of Lissa-all pale skin and blonde hair, but hers was ringlet curly and her eyes were a cobalt-blue, not green. She wore a delicate white dress emphasizing her tall, slender figure, her creamy cheeks flushed pink. Olena smiled at the newcomer.
"Do you think I would allow a guest to cook in my house? She demanded in mock-anger. Never. Oh, Jill, meet Rose. She is from America, she is staying here a week." The girl-Jill-extended a hand to me and we shook.
"You're a New Yorker," she said, smiling. I nodded.
"Sure am, ma'am," I said, doing my best southern drawl, much to the general amusement. She sighed.
"I've always wanted to go. I'm from London myself, I'm here on an extended vacation." I sat beside her and Viktoria, and between us the table was filled with chatter. A wizened old woman with sharp steely eyes sat in the corner-I assumed her to be Olena's mother, and everyone treated her with reverence-hardly saying a word. A few times I could have sworn I saw her looking at me with a half-smile, half frown on her pursed lips.
After dinner-Jill and I insisted upon cleaning up-we sat in the living room, Olena playing the piano, Yeva-the old woman-in the corner in a majestic red armchair, Viktoria disappeared to talk to some boy, we gathered. Jill sat quietly down beside me and discreetly passed me a note.
I know who you are, Rosemarie Hathaway. I jumped as if I'd been electrified, meeting a mischievous blue gaze.
How? I wrote hastily.
I work with your informant. The one you're meeting tomorrow. I should like to join you for lunch.
Why? I scribbled frantically. She read the single word and a faint smile crossed her lips.
You aren't the only one who wants to bust Douru and his boss. There's a lot more at stake here than just revenge.
What do you know? She paused to consider this,
I know the people you're killing are attracting CIA attention, and I know there's a bigger reason why. I know Douru was involved in something far greater than a drug ring, and it's common knowledge you would have found it out had he not framed you. I know a Russian ops team was involved in setting you up, and that the bossman was an ex CIA agent. Do I warrant a lunch invitation? I smiled grimly at her.
Consider yourself invited. She winked at me, tucking the paper into the folds of her dress.
"I'm so tired, she sighed. Goodnight, all!" She said cheerily, disappearing into her room. Fifteen minutes later I followed suit, well aware that as I said my goodnights, Yeva's eyes watched me sharply, shrewdly from her armchair. They seemed to sparkle knowingly, as if she, too, knew who I was and why I was here, a thought I didn't very much like to contemplate.
Sipping my coffee, I leaned back into the cool sunshine that was midday in Baia. It was such a stunning town with a beautiful little plaza, quaint old buildings and an incredible little church. But I wasn't here for the scenery, or the architecture. I was waiting for my informant, who was typically, irritatingly late. Just then Jill appeared from behind me, making me jump. She was wearing white jeans and a pretty pink blouse, her blue eyes shining with mischief.
"Hello, Rose. Enjoying the scenery?" I snickered, and a waiter came, she ordered iced tea in perfect Russian.
"He's late," I commented, switching to English. She raised an eyebrow amusedly.
"You know him as well as I do. He's never been on time."
"Rose, said a smiling voice behind me, and I groaned at the oh-so-suggestive tone. Long time, no see, beautiful."
"You will be the death of me, Callum. I swear it." Callum Ashford swung a messenger bag down onto a chair besides Jill, then-much to my surprise-turned sideways and planted a kiss on her lips, causing her to blush as I raised an eyebrow. Then, he turned, shaking his wavy copper hair and gave me a lopsided smile heartbreakingly similar to the one my ex-best-friend, Mason, his half-brother, used to give.
"So, what's new? He drawled. Word has it my brother's on your ass. He winked at me. Not a bad place to be, by any means." I gritted my teeth.
"Will you quit with the innuendoes?"
"Never, he said, chuckling. I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah, didn't think so. And yep, Mason's on my tail," I said, emphasizing the last word. Cal snickered. Ever since Mason and I split up in senior year he'd been trying to get us back together, but simultaneously trying to get into my pants. Men. Go figure. Cal had attended St Vlad's with me and the others, but he'd never really been a part of our group until Mason and I started going out. I'd kept sporadic contact with him after graduating. He went AWOL and became something of a rouge consultant- like me, he'd always been a firm believer that rules were made to be broken and there was no fun in playing by them. I rolled my eyes.
"Enough with the small talk, I'm paying you for every minute your ass is in this chair. What have you got for me?"
"Conformation about Douru, I saw him with these baby blues two days ago in Moscow."
What was he doing in Moscow? I asked curiously.
"That's where this gets interesting. You know there was an ops team involved, right? I nodded eagerly.
"Well, their codename was Nightlock, they were basically a group of hired hit men. The CIA didn't use them to take you out, Rose. I think Douru was using them as a kind of double-decoy."
"To cover his tracks, Jill said, nodding. Makes perfect sense, the guy has major paranoia."
"Right. Nightlock, I repeated, and was promptly shushed. Did you run checks on them?" Cal nodded, his eyes alive with excitement.
"Yeah, I did. Those Nightlock guys weren't entirely unconnected with the CIA or other organizations. They have links to a sub-organization within the CIA that's planning to get a nuclear monopoly on the countries of the world. Their name is the Strigori."
"What does that have to do with me? I asked. Then I gasped. Oh my god, I get it. The same people that set me up must have used Nightlock and Douru, thus they were a part of the Strigori. So the people I've been killing-"
"Are high profile members of said organization, Jill finished quietly. Exactly, Rose."
"Have you heard about the Benefactor?" I asked lowly. Both nodded. What do you make of it?" Cal shrugged.
"Maybe a whistleblowing organization. Maybe working for one of those smaller countries. Maybe just some guy who's pulling your chain. Possibilities are endless, really. "
"I have to go back, I breathed. I have to find out who Douru was working for, and which of them were working for the Strigori."
"You don't, Cal said. You could disappear, Rose. You could slip away, we'd help you." Both looked at me earnestly, I shook my head.
"No, I can't. I'm going to bust this whole thing open and expose them as traitors. "
"It could cost you your life," Cal growled.
"Then so be it, I hissed. I won't die a traitor." I smiled grimly. "Plus, who are they to play at freaking god with nuclear weapons? It needs to stop." Jill smiled at Cal triumphantly.
"See, I told you she was smart," she told him. Her eyes twinkled as she regarded me.
"I agree, Rose, and I and Cal will help out however we can. It's time the bad eggs in the CIA get taken down a peg or two."
Okay, so! Rose is in Baia, I'm sure that may cause a few issues in the near future with Dimitri! In the meantime, the introduction of the Strigoi, and Jill, and Mason's brother…HOPEFULLY I shall be revealing just who Douru was working for in the next chapters! Until then, REVIEW!
Em xx