AN: As always, sorry for the delay and thanks for the reviews, favs, and follows! Just got one thing to say: I know y'all want Dimitri and Rose action and so do I! But all in good time ;) Please bear with me as we move through the story; I will try so hard to make it worth it :)
The slaughter of the Dashkov household took less time than Dimitri expected. Of course it helps that the Dashkovs are incompetent fools, so there is no loss to their near extinction after tonight. Dimitri smiles satisfied and rubs his hands trying to get rid of the dry blood. He stares off into the distance through the vegetation at the sleeping Dragomir household in Bucharest, Romania. The moon is still high in the sky signaling the middle of the night. After recovering Mason from Serbia, Dimitri ordered two of his wolves to lead the newly recruited back to Alberta outside Bulgaria. They have orders to meet Dimitri tomorrow in Codrii Vlăsiei, near Bucharest. Tonight, he meets with the witch.
Rhonda should still be living in the Dragomir household. Almost two hundred years ago have passed since Dimitri last saw Rhonda. Back then he begged then demanded she break his curse. Of course she refused and instead granted him the "gift," as she called it, of reading his fortune. It was then that Dimitri learned of his salvation. It was then that Dimitri learned of the existence of his beauty. Now, as he glares at the seemingly sleeping and peaceful Dragomir household, Dimitri knows Rhonda fooled him. She lied about the beauty freeing the beast. Rose was supposed to finally end his life; she was supposed to love him, but she loves Ivashkov.
Dimitri chuckles at that last thought. After tonight Rose will have no option but to forget Adrian. That fool Ivashkov was no match for Dimitri. Recalling the earlier events at the Dashkov household, Dimitri can only laugh at Adrian's stupidity for attacking the alpha. Adrian had clumsily, and unsuccessfully, tried to cut Dimitri's head off and pierce him with the sword several times. But a single shove with Dimitri's massive werewolf body sent Adrian flying across the hall where he slumped on the ground unmoving and bleeding from a head wound. After taking care of Ivashkov, Dimitri ripped Viktor apart and rushed to free Mason from his prison while his wolves, which had been waiting impatiently, took care of everyone else.
Ivan's footsteps bring Dimitri back to the present. Dropping the prisoner at Dimitri's feet, Ivan stretches and yawns while his alpha glares down at the man they brought along. With the toe of his shoe, Dimitri kicks the prisoner making him moan. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how one looks at it, Adrian Ivashkov did not die from the blow to his head. He is unconscious due to the blood loss and blow to the head. No one bothered to chain the man up because he's unarmed and surrounded by werewolves; Adrian is no threat. Dimitri didn't want to leave him alive, and he almost killed him until the idea of Adrian being useful in the future struck him. Perhaps he will simply torture Adrian just for the fun of it. With a sigh, Dimitri returns to staring at Eric's domain and the Guardians walking along the gate and walls.
"Why are we dragging Ivashkov along?" Ivan pries quietly and gently hoping not to anger Dimitri. "He is dragging us down. We could have been here two hours ago."
"I do not know," Dimitri shrugs. "I have a feeling he will be useful. Is Mason all right?"
"Yes," Ivan looks over his right shoulder and smirks at Mason still in his wolf form eating like a starved man, or wolf, which he is. "He is enjoying Natalie Dashkov."
"Good," Dimitri nods without taking his eyes off the walls. "How is his neck?" While the spiked silver collars do not affect Dimitri much, to his wolves it causes an unbearable rash, which usually causes the person to scratch to the point of breaking skin, while the silver slowly and painfully kills them.
"Healing," Ivan replies. His smirk quickly fades away as he wonders when they all started to enjoy human flesh. With a shake of his head, Ivan recalls that is part of the curse. With every life they take, their humanity dies as well. Out of the corner of his eyes, Ivan inspects Dimitri and silently prays, like he always does, that his friend finds the rest he seeks not for their sakes but for Dimitri's. "Are we waiting for Alberta?"
"No," Dimitri rises to his feet. "You, Mason, our prisoner and the others stay out here, hidden and alert. I need an audience with the witch."
With those words and before Ivan can protest, Dimitri adeptly climbs a tree and jumps from branch to branch towards the Dragomir household. Perched up high, he searches a desolate spot along the Dragomir walls. The Guardians seem extremely alert which can only mean that the news of his escape have reached Romania. With a chuckle, Dimitri jumps the distance between the tree and the wall, about twenty feet. The Guardians don't even notice the shadow that moves over the roofs silently and rapidly through the sleeping part of town. On the farthest side of Eric's domain, several houses are used as whorehouses and pubs. That is where Rhonda hides. She lives among the sinners and the damned. Fitting, Dimitri thinks. As a witch, Rhonda is the epitome of sin and damnation just like Dimitri.
He shakes his head trying to focus on his task ahead. Soon, Dimitri climbs off the roofs when he hears the laughter, music and clatter of goblets being passed around just ahead. In an alley, he stands still and listens to the sounds of the night. Booming drunken voices are heard over the hypnotizing sound of drums and flutes. The shrill giggles and moaning sounds of the whores are intermingled with the sound of wine being poured on goblets. But there's no sign of Rhonda's voice. Perhaps she is gone, moved on to another town; perhaps Dimitri can't focus over the sound of a hundred beating hearts and the blood flowing through their veins. The wolf inside him is clawing at the walls demanding release and the opportunity to run into that whorehouse and slaughter everyone.
He can feel the change coming on. His ribs slowly begin to multiply, his fingers enlarge growing nails as long as an inch an half, his face is growing hair…
"Liss!" A voice he knows anywhere and everywhere snaps Dimitri out of his inner struggle against the beast. "I do not think this is a wise idea."
"Relax Rose," another female voice, which Dimitri does not recognize, hisses back. "No one will recognize us."
Their hurried steps seem to move towards Dimitri, so he quickly sits on the filthy ground with his head on his knees to hide his face, which is still caught between that of a man and a wolf. The ladies' footsteps stop in front of him and Dimitri is sure they have discovered him, but they barely pay attention to the man. They wonder if he's asleep or dead, either way he won't know them, and Rose is armed just in case.
"Lissa," Rose whispers moving closer to her best friend. "I have changed my mind… I do not…"
"Coward," Lissa gives Rose a sly smile knowing that Rose does not tolerate being called a coward.
"I am not a coward," Rose hisses as she narrows her eyes on Lissa knowing full well what she is up to. Calling Rose a coward is how Lissa managed to finally convince Rose to see the witch in the first place.
"Exactly," Lissa grins triumphantly. "You are the most reckless of us, or at least you used to be…"
"Until my mother died," Rose mutters darkly.
She wants to finish the beast, and she had been contemplating resorting to witchcraft for a long time. Now that she is actually about to do it, Rose is not so sure she wants to get involved. Her heart is beating wildly in her chest and her instincts tell her to run away, to not see the witch. Her eyes move to the man sitting on the ground unmoving with his head on his knees, and Rose doesn't know why but seeing the man finally makes up her mind.
"You win, Liss."
"Great!" Lissa pulls out two coins from her pouch and throws them at the man's feet. "Bless you." Lissa says to Dimitri then she takes Rose's hand and together they hurry into the pub.
Dimitri slowly raises his head, which is now back to normal as is the rest of his internal organs, and stares off in the direction Rose left. The conversation between the ladies has left Dimitri puzzled as he cannot understand what Rose would be doing at a pub. He stands in the shadows watching as the hooded figures of Rose and Vasilisa Dragomir enter the pub after paying a small fare at the door. What is Rose thinking going into a place like that? Dimitri can only guess that perhaps she is being influenced by Lissa to drink and dance or perhaps sleep with a stranger in order to have fun. Intrigued, Dimitri decides to follow them but knowing it is risky to enter the pub because he will lose control, he climbs to the roof one house next to the pub and listens to what will unfold.
Inside, Rose wrinkles her nose at the smell of perspiration, urine, wine, rubbish and most of all the rotten breath of the bald men with round bellies. Their beady and lustful eyes follow the ladies' every movement to the bar. As they move, Rose stands taller keeping her chin high and gripping her sword hidden under her cloak tightly. Lissa is clearly unaffected by the dog whistling and disrespectful names muttered by the men. Lissa trusts Rose to take care of her if anyone tries to touch either of them. Thankfully no one dares to do more than goggle at Rose and Lissa, for there are easier pickings walking around seminude offering their services.
At the bar, another bald man with a round belly wearing a stained shirt cleans a goblet with a dirty rag. Lissa turns to give Rose a reassuring smile as she approaches the bar and clears her throat gently. The man behind the bar doesn't hear her and continues to clean the goblet going as far as spitting inside it. Rose shudders and winces at the sight while Lissa merely clears her throat again this time louder. Still, the man continues to ignore her.
"Excuse me!" Rose shouts louder than she intended drawing the attention of several men and, thankfully, the bartender.
He stops his cleaning and approaches the ladies rather grudgingly. "What?" He grunts.
Lissa smiles pleasantly and pulls out five gold coins from her pouch. "We wish to see the seer, please."
The bartender, upon seeing the coins, smiles showing off his three yellow and rotten teeth. He takes the coins and steps away from the bar and disappears through a door to the ladies' right. As they wait, Rose remains alert keeping Lissa close. Taking a look around, Rose is disgusted by the place with several men having sex with women right there in front of everybody. Others watch as several females dance on the tables while the men whistle and throw coins at their feet.
"Must she reside in this place?" Rose asks Lissa quietly.
Before Lissa can open her mouth, one of the most intoxicated men in the room appears behind Rose slapping her ass and whispering in her ear.
"Let me show you a good time," he laughs and the smell of his nauseating mouth would make Rose gag, but she is furious. No one touches her without her permission especially not a disgusting fat man like him.
She turns around; her eyes on fire. Like a cobra, she grabs the man's neck and squeezes tightly cutting off his air. "Do not touch me or my friend, or I will cut off your penis, understood?"
Unable to speak, the man merely nods as his eyes practically bulge out of his sockets. Satisfied, Rose shoves the man backwards causing him to fall on his fat ass. Those who had been watching laugh and turn back to their affairs while the man who attacked Rose sits on the ground glaring at the ladies.
"Someone will come fetch you soon," the bartender announces making both Rose and Lissa jump. "Anythin' else?"
"No thank you, good sir." Lissa, who now wants to run out of this place, pulls out two coins out of her pouch and hands them to the bartender. "For your troubles."
"Thank you pretty lady," the man takes the coins and quickly hides them his pocket. He once again takes the goblet he was cleaning earlier and narrows his eyes at Lissa and Rose. "Say, are you not Lady…"
"Say another word and I will cut off your tongue," Rose hisses as she leans across the bar. "Go clean that filthy goblet somewhere else."
The bartender frowns but does as he is told and goes to stand on the other side of the bar. Lissa giggles and pulls her hood tighter around her. "Rose, relax."
"Shut up, Liss." Rose whispers back as she too pulls her hood tighter. "This place is disgusting and that man just touched me." Both of them turn to glare at the man sitting nearby still watching them. "How did you come here all by yourself?"
"I did not," Lissa snorts. "I am not insane. Andre brought me."
"Why would Andre…" Rose shakes her head in disbelief and even shame for her friend's brother. There's only one reason a man would come to this place.
"He likes one of the girls," Lissa shrugs like it is no big deal then looks around as if searching for someone. "There." Rose turns to see whom Lissa is pointing at. "Her name is Mia."
The girl is gorgeous of course she has to be in order to gain Andre's attention. She does look a bit too young but pretty nonetheless with hair the color of gold, pale features, and bright blue eyes. Her eyes dart everywhere as she bends down to pick up several goblets that were knocked over by the dancing whores. With a rag, the wipes the wooden floor, gets up, and goes on her way disappearing behind a door at the other end of the room.
"How did Andre…"
"She works at our castle during the day," Lissa shakes her head sadly. "Poor girl lost her mother to the beasts and her father is a drunk who owes money to the bar owner. Andre comes here to make sure she is all right; he pays the bartender to keep the drunkards away from her. Last time, he also offered to pay the debt of her father, so Mia does not work here anymore. He wants to marry her, but she is too proud." Lissa finishes with another shake of her head.
While Rose does not care for riches like she used to when she was a child, a hunter marrying a wench, a peasant woman, is uncommon and unorthodox. Still, if there's love between the girl and Andre then by all means Rose hopes everything works out. The door behind them soon opens and out walks a young man the same age as Rose with chiseled arms, dark curly hair, and brown eyes. He gives the ladies a respectful bow and a nonthreatening smile.
"I apologize for the delay, my ladies." He steps aside letting them through. "Please, after you."
"Thank you," Lissa curtsies and pulls Rose along.
"My name is Ambrose," he says before shutting the door behind Rose and leaving them in complete silence. The silence unsettles Rose; shouldn't they hear the music, the laughter, the moaning sounds of the whores? Nothing. The corridor is eerily silent and dark.
"Pleasure to see you again Ambrose," Lissa replies contently while Rose still ponders what is going on. "This is Lady Rose Mazur." Rose hisses at Lissa. "Settle down, he will not divulge that we were here, correct Ambrose?"
"My lips are sealed, huntress." He bows to Rose then turns back to the door murmuring some words in Russian and Romanian. "Now, I shall lead the way. Please watch your step."
"How?" Rose retorts. "It is pitch-black."
Yet as soon as the words leave her mouth, torches along the walls light up showing off a strange, and rather creepy, corridor. Along the wooden walls are symbols written in what looks like blood. As they move, Rose groans inwardly wondering what Lissa has gotten them into.
"Here we are," Ambrose steps aside and lets Rose and Lissa through a curtain of beads.
The room is small with more strange symbols on the walls and dim lighted torches. There is a peculiar smell like cinnamon and dried roses. Along the walls are shelves with strange herbs and objects such as amulets and dolls. In the middle of the room is a small circular table and an older woman sits facing Rose and Lissa. The woman is too thin and looks like she might be a thousand years old, yet her brown eyes hold so much life, and they seem to gaze deep into Rose's heart. The witch's hands are on the table, and there's an all knowing smile on her lips. She says nothing and motions gently with her hands to the two chairs facing her across the table. Taking it as a sign to sit, Rose and Lissa share a look before sitting.
Still with the smile on her lips, the old lady extends her hand out to Ambrose, who hands her a lit match. Taking the match from his hands, and keeping eye contact with Rose, the witch begins to light up the candles on the center of the table. The witch lights the purple candle to her right first.
"For protection, to enhance my powers and the ancient wisdom." Rose expected the old lady to be able to barely speak, but her voice is loud and clear. Still keeping eye contact with Rose, the witch moves to her left lighting up the red candle. "Blood, lust, strength, passion, and love." Lastly, the witch lights up the white candle in the center of the others. "Balance, healing, truth, innocence, and peace."
Once the witch is done, she places her hands gently on her lap then turns to Ambrose. "Did you recite the spells?" Ambrose nods. She gently rises to her feet and walks over to the shelf behind her.
Rose, intrigued, leans to her left trying to see what the witch is doing. Is she preparing a potion? A spell? An amulet? Unable to hold her tongue anymore, Rose opens her mouth.
"The candles symbolize what I recited, and what you need." The witch responds before Rose can even formulate a sound. "And I am seeking this," the witch turns around showing a small dark blue velvet pouch. "Wolf bones." She says taking her seat again. "The spells are so we are not interrupted."
"How…" Rose frowns at the witch.
"I have been expecting you, Rosemarie," the witch replies with that sly smile. "Let us begin. The spell will not keep him away for long. My name is Yeva."
Dimitri goes into full panic mode upon hearing Yeva's name. His heart had begun to beat fast and loud in his chest when he heard Lissa ask to see the seer. At first Dimitri had shaken his head reasoning that perhaps there was another witch. However, hearing Ambrose's voice made Dimitri fall from the roof onto the cold ground. Immediately he shifted in order to attack the whorehouse, but there was some sort of spell keeping him at bay, like a ward designed to keep the beasts out.
Now Dimitri paces behind the whorehouse shaking his head and whining deep in his throat. Yeva is going to ruin everything. She will tell Rose everything and ruin his only chance at freedom. In frustration, Dimitri tries to bring down the back door, but once again he is thrown back by a force. He hits the concrete wall hard which dazes him a little leaving him lying on his belly and listening helplessly as Yeva damns him to eternally be a beast.