Chapter 14:
DPOV
The next morning Sonia was there for breakfast too. She had had the late shift at the pharmacy. I immediately noticed she was pregnant. About five months I would say. Mom hadn't mentioned anything the last few times we spoke, but maybe she hadn't known than either. When she saw me looking at her stomach she seemed embarrassed and was bracing herself for some berating from me. Obviously, this pregnancy wasn't planned and if I had to guess, the father was nowhere around.
Although I was mildly annoyed about that I put on my best smile, hugged my sister that I hadn't seen in a long while and told her she looked beautiful. I saw my mother look approvingly from behind her where Sonia couldn't see her. When I introduced Rose all attention was on her and away from Sonia and her obvious belly.
I left Rose with my sister for a moment a joint my grandmother in the garden after breakfast. Maybe not fair but I wanted to hear if she had any idea about where we needed to go.
She was sitting on the bench beside the porch in the morning sun. The afternoon sun would be too hot for my aging grandmother, but she loved the sun and enjoyed it when she could in the morning. She was nursing a cup of tea when I sat next to her.
I wanted to ask her about the mission, but I knew asking her right away would mean that she would take that much longer to answer, so I waited, quietly sipping my coffee as I did so.
"I see a black river in the dead of night. The water is rushing and once you cross the bridge and end up on the other side of the river you and Rose will be safe and will have completed your mission. Fail to reach the river and you will be doomed. It will be a struggle, not just surviving but staying true to yourself, but you have to make it across the river. To get to your target just follow the fools thinking they are old enough to hunt and your target will find you. Maybe you could even teach those kids something."
Not really the information I was looking for, but I knew better then to disregard these ominous words. Besides it sounded like I wasn't rid of my mentor role yet.
I thought about the river's flowing through Russia. There were quite a few, but darkness of the river and our current location and the fact we knew they had been in Omsk but where no longer, I was betting it was the Ob and it would make sense we would be searching Novosirbisk then. It was the largest city around the Ob and it ran right through the city. Novosirbisk was also known for its Strigoi presence so it would make sense that they would be there. They were obviously not a lone couple and had connections, and I imagine Novosirbisk was a good place for a Strigoi nest.
Yeva said no more and I knew this was all I was going to get, but it was more than what I started with this morning so I was happy. She hadn't been too difficult.
I got up to go inside and rescue Rose from my constant belligerent sisters. They wanted to know everything. I was almost inside when my grandmother called back.
"You might want to change."
I looked down at my outfit. I was wearing sweats and a T-shirt. I had only planned to go with Rose to do some shopping and I didn't really care about people seeing me in training gear. I was a Guardian after all. But I nodded none the less and changed in darkwash jeans and a V-neck shirt. Casual, but definitely a step up from what I was wearing before. Although Yeva hadn't specified why I had to change. This might be all wrong too. But when I descended the stairs after having changed, I saw an approving look on my grandmother's face.
I looked over to Rose, but she was looking amazing as usual. She matched me in a skinny dark wash jeans and her top was sexy but not revealing.
When she saw me she got up pretty fast and called me over.
"Sorry girls, I have to go. So are you ready to go shopping?"
I chuckled. Rose was eager to go into town, and I doubt it had anything to do with a girls need for new clothing.
She practically dragged me out the door.
RPOV
I had expected the third degree from Sonia. I had expected more awkward questions about my relationship with Dimitri, but the girl had taken it into a whole other direction. I was prepared to say he was good in bed with much bravado, I was prepared to say he was a gentleman and to highlight some of his embarrassing moments at the Academy.
What I had not prepared for were the questions about our wedding date and if we wanted to adopt kids in the future. Dimitri and I were together for less than a month. And even if I knew I would be with him as long as the universe allowed, the thought of marriage was far from my mind and I wanted to keep it that way. And the question about kids had left me speechless. I knew we couldn't have kids together, I knew he wanted them but had accepted that his profession didn't allow him that freedom, as it did for many male Guardians. I hadn't thought about kids, ever. I just assumed I would be guarding Lissa and their kids. I don't think I was granted any more freedom in this than Dimitri. I had experienced first-hand, what it was like to be a child of an active Guardian. And it wasn't something I wanted to put my child through. But maybe we did need to have that conversation someday, like in a gazillion years.
"So my sisters didn't scare you away did they?" Dimitri asked equally joking as being serious and holding my hand a little tighter as if I would truly run.
"Neah, it was okay, just some general girl stuff… Your grandmother got anything useful to say?"
He shrugged.
"She hinted to Novosirbisk but said we should follow some idiot youngsters, so I suppose we are on the lookout for those too besides some clothes."
I am sure there were enough around. Dimitri had said St. Basils wasn't far from here, well the Russian version of not far. So many kids from Baia went there. But I did wonder if these youngsters were even going to school. Viktoria would be back this weekend on an Easter break, but normally everyone stayed in school except for holidays.
We looked through some shops. I was surprised at the selection. There were three clothing shops, but we were able to find everything we needed there. They even had some things in Dimitri's size, but I suppose they were more accustomed to Russian's here.
We were walking along the streets of the small town and it wasn't without its charms. I had always thought a commune looked more like barracks or would have tents or something. But I suppose those were more the images of a religious cult in America. But the way I had heard things from my mother and from other Moroi that is how it sounded.
But Baia wasn't anything like that. Not only did it look like an ordinary town, it also had history. Baia had been around for a long time, and all that time humans and Dhampirs, and the occasional Moroi lived together in peace here.
I did notice there were some spots where Dimitri bristled when he passed by. I imagine those were the kind of places that gave these towns their bad name. But most women here seemed to have regular jobs.
We were now sitting on a bench in the street in the sun in front of a pastry shop that according to Dimitri had the best Russian delights. So I was trying a bit of everything Dimitri offered. He had the biggest smile on his face as he explained each pastry to me and with each came a childhood memory he associated with that pasty. I noticed how much he had missed Russia and his home. It also made me very aware that the only place I had any of these kind of stories of was St. Academy. And the only anecdotes I had about food was how bad it was. But it was nice, because I got to know so much more about Dimitri and I knew there was still so much I could learn about his past.
We were deep in conversation when a strange man blocked out our much appreciated sun. it seemed a great offence since he was Moroi and seemed to be annoyed by it, whereas we loved the sun we so rarely got to feel.
As I looked at the man he was a sight to behold. A business suit in an odd somehow very bright grey, with a multicolor scarf dominated by an almost fluorescent green. His skin was darker than most Moroi but still there was a paleness about him that was typical of his species. The golden hoop in his ear topped off his pirate businessman look to perfection. The Guardian next to him was almost invisible in comparison, despite his stature. But for a Guardian that didn't seem like a bad deal.
The man took us both in. Dimitri with a level of scrutiny he didn't deserve from a stranger and me with a healthy bit of curiosity.
"So Belikov, I heard you were back in town. And you took one of your student with you. That seems a little… out of character for you."
His words were friendly enough, but his tone implied that he disagreed with me being here, tough luck.
Dimitri greeted him with a similar frosty tone, making me think at least this man was familiar to Dimitri. "Zmey."
"I didn't give him much choice, coerced him in a way, almost blackmailed him to take me with him. I didn't want to lose my teacher, I was already behind so much and he has so much left to teach me, this break with his family could have set me back, so I came with him." I replied in Dimitri's defence.
The man looked almost proud when I mentioned blackmail, an odd look on the man I had never met. But he looked dubious when I mentioned the trip to his family.
"Right, he is just here for a long overdue visit to his family. Yet you two only arrived yesterday while you left St. Vladimirs more than two weeks ago. Also I have some birdies inform me that you are making the streets of Omsk a lot safer."
How he had acquired the information I didn't know. We left no financial trail and all the forms we used for our kills were anonymized. The only people that knew of our time in Omsk where Anatoly and Sydney. But this man, Zmey, looked like a man that knew things he shouldn't. Not in the same way that Yeva did, more in the way of having spies everywhere an making sure he knew what was going on in every city, even if he had to break bones to do it.
I shrugged at his comment.
"Just part of a well-rounded education."
I could tell he found my comment amusing, but was fighting the subtle lift of his lips at the edge.
"Is there anything you particularly want Zmey." Dimitri asked.
All amusements faded from his face as he turned back towards Dimitri.
"There is lots I want to know, like how you are planning on getting Rose back into school? Or how you are going to repair the damage you have done to her reputation now that she has followed you here?"
Dimitri's gaze darkened when this Zmey spoke, and I knew he was about to reciprocate in kind when I stepped in. I had no idea who this man was or why he was interested in my reputation, but none of this was Dimitri's fault.
I got up and put my hands on my hips as I stared this stranger down. He took his eyes off Dimitri and turned them to me.
"First of all, my reputation was shot before this. There is absolutely nothing Dimitri could have done to make it any worse and me leaving school was probably a sure bet in everyone's eyes anyway. Secondly, Dimitri has made sure I keep up with my studies, mark my kills and otherwise stimulated me to go back to school if and when the time comes. Whereas I think it really is a lost cause. And lastly, who the fuck are you involving yourself into my life, did my mother send you?"
There was a strange look in his eyes when I mentioned my mother, but he seemed suitably chastised by my outburst.
"I am a man interested in interesting people and you Rose Hathaway certainly are interesting. If you need any help in the future, if you want to return home, even if he doesn't, give me a call."
I didn't miss the tone where he implied Dimitri might hold me prisoner in the future to stop me from going home, but I let that one slide, as he handed me his card. I took it more out of curiosity and because he wouldn't otherwise leave then having any intention of actually calling this man.
After I took it from his hand he gave me a small nod and Dimitri one last menacing look before he walked off with his Guardian towards a shaded area on the curb. I waited until he was out of hearing range before turning to Dimitri.
"Who was that? What kind of name is Zmey."
I looked down at his card and the name Abe Mazur was printed on the top in big bold golden letters. It only had a cell number below his name nothing else, no address, or occupation. The only other markings on the card was a stylized snake in the same gold as the letters on the top right.
"That is Ibrahim Mazur, or Abe. Most people call him Zmey. It is a name he acquired over the years. It means Snake in Russian. It wasn't meant as a compliment, but he has made it its own and now it sort of is his trademark."
Dimitri pointed towards the snake on the card.
"Abe is shady in the truest sense of the word. He does nothing for free and always collects his debts. He is dangerous, Rose. The fact he found you interesting does concern me. I have no idea what his angle is on you. Mostly he is all about the money."
I laughed a little nervously. I had noticed the man had a mobster feel, but somehow I didn't see the untrustworthiness Dimitri talked about.
"You are just saying that because he looked like he wanted to kill you on the spot, whereas he was actually civil with me."
Dimitri could see my nervousness at the attention Abe had given me, mostly because I wondered who had hired or informed him of my disappearance. The last thing we needed was someone interfering with our mission here.
"You are probably right, but still."
"Don't worry. I have no intention of calling him and making a deal with the devil."
Dimitri lack of amusement told me how accurate my analogy was. Regardless I put his card somewhere safe. We were hunting a whole different kind devil and any kind of help can make the difference in the end.
DPOV
I was excited this morning. Mama was picking up Viktoria up from the train. She was on break from school for Easter. I had asked my mother to keep it a surprise that Rose and I were here.
Victoria and I were always close, despite the age difference. Karolina and I had a good relationship, but because she was the older sister, she was more protective of me and even though she wasn't that much older, I always felt a more motherly love from her. Sonia and I were just too different to really get along, besides, no one got along with Sonia really. But me and Viktoria were very tight when we were younger. She was always my little sister. Mine to teach and mine to protect.
Viktoria was a still very small when I kicked out father out. She doesn't remember him really. Tiny bits and pieces. But me and my sister always protected her from the worst of seeing our mother being mistreated. As a consequence, there was an innocence about Viktoria that the rest of us had lost in this house.
The last time I had seen her she was just starting to be a teenager. But she was so cheerful and full of energy, I hoped that hasn't changed. But I was also conscious she was seventeen now.
I was waiting in the foyer when I heard my mother and Viktoria outside the door. I heard my mother's voice saying we had visitors.
Viktoria groaned saying she just wanted to relax and enjoy her holiday not having to take into consideration visitors, but my mother laughed and said she would want to see these visitors.
Viktoria's expression didn't disappoint. When she saw me and realized exactly who the visitor was, she squealed and threw herself in my arms. I laughed as I caught her.
She was a little taller than Rose, but was more skinny, so she was a little lighter as I held her in my arms. After a few moments she pulled away and I sat her down on the ground.
"What are you doing here? Why didn't anyone tell me you were here?"
"I wanted to surprise you. We have only been here a couple of days."
Viktoria noticed the use of 'we' and looked over towards Rose. She was standing next to me taking Viktoria in with a curious gaze. Viktoria was closest to her in age, but the two girls were widely different. Both were full of life, but Viktoria was awfully young in comparison to Rose. I didn't know if it was because I thought of Viktoria as my little sister and didn't want her to grow up or if Rose's experiences in life had aged her in my eyes. It was probably a bit of both.
But as I looked at Viktoria only a year younger than Rose I did realize Rose had already died at this point and was protecting Vasilisa in the human world. Rose could be childish sometimes, but she was rarely young in my eyes.
"So who is this?" Viktoria asked curiously.
"Viktoria, this is Rose, Rose, Viktoria." I introduced them.
"Oh Rose, your student right? Why did she come with you? Do they have a long Easter break too?"
Rose answered with a wink.
"I couldn't be without my mentor for a few weeks, I would fall behind too much."
Viktoria was taking in her playful words when she squealed again.
"You are here for a few weeks?" She was bouncing up and down.
"Sorry, Viktoria, afraid not. We are passing through. I needed some information from Babushka. We have been in Russia for a few weeks now and we need to get going soon. I have some things I need to take care off and then we have to go back to St. Vladimirs as soon as possible."
Viktoria's face showed disappointment then she got a little angry. She crossed her arms over her chest.
"You have been in Russia for that long and haven't come sooner. What could be more important than your family? I haven't seen you in years because you couldn't get time off, but you can get time off for some random errand?"
She actually stomped her foot and puffed. It was a little hilarious if it wasn't so annoying. I pinched the bridge of my nose. Rose looked more amused than anything. I didn't know if I should tell Viktoria the truth, but anything less and she wouldn't understand.
"It isn't a random errand. It's about Ivan."
That got her attention and I was glad to know that her attitude seemed to change.
"I have gotten some new information about what happened and who was responsible, so I am taking action."
"Strigoi is what happened. Are you taking actions against Strigoi?" She was asking more believing the answer would be no. Actively going after Strigoi is only what rogues did and it was mostly suicide. But when I didn't comment and looked towards my shoes she gawked.
"No way, you actually are. You are going after Strigoi! And you're taking your student with you?"
I looked a little guiltily towards Rose.
"She kind of forced my hand, besides, she is very good and although I would have loved for her to be safe behind wards, I am grateful for the backup."
As I said it, I turned to Rose and placed a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. I meant every word and I wanted her to know it.
Viktoria gawked again.
"Are you two? I mean… Are you sleeping with my brother? Are you sleeping with your student?"
Her head was going from Rose to me and back a million miles an hour. I am surprised she didn't get dizzy. When she finally stopped it wasn't shock on her face, or even amusement as it had been on my other sister's faces.
"My brother doesn't do those kinds of things. He doesn't hunt Strigoi and he doesn't sleep with his student. It's like I don't even recognize you."
She stormed upstairs crying.
I stood there for a few minutes wondering what just happened. I thought my reunion with my sister would have been a happy one. But this I didn't expect.
Rose sat down with a small smile on her face.
"What are you smiling about, that went horrible." I said as I came to sit next to her.
"Nothing, it is just that your sister is so… a teenage girl and she is kind of right. It is horribly out of character for you."
I sighed.
"You realize you are a teenage girl too right."
She shook her head.
"I am a teenage woman, you made sure of that." She wiggled her eyebrows and I groaned.
Definitely out of character for me.
I gave Viktoria a few minutes to calm down before heading upstairs. In true emo teenager drama she was on her bed with her head in her pillow crying.
I sat down next to her on the edge of the bed.
"Come on Viktoria, talk to me?"
She sniffed but got back up.
"I haven't seen you in years, and I feel like I have no idea what is going on in your life. You didn't mention Ivan, you mentioned Rose, but failed to mention you are in a relationship with her. And now you are here only for a couple of days and then off to go Strigoi hunting. Why does she get to go with you half around the world and I don't. Shouldn't she still be in school anyway? I could come with you too. I can help."
I hadn't considered Viktoria being jealous of Rose for being here with me, or even her being jealous of Ivan. But coming with me wasn't an option. I knew Rose still had a lot to learn, but she was an asset in a fight, she understood the dangers, she understood battle and she understood me. We worked well together in the field and I could trust Rose to take care of herself because she was very good.
But Viktoria? I had no idea about her battle skills but even though she shared my genes, I knew she wasn't build the same way. Viktoria wasn't meant for battle, she could have a charge and I am sure she has some skills and hopefully those are enough for her to survive should she ever run into a Strigoi. But she wasn't someone that thrived in battle. Rose and I were.
"I can't take you with me Viktoria, Mama would never let me. Besides you have school."
"Doesn't she?"
I sighed. Yes, yes she does.
"She dropped out of school to come with me. And before you get any ideas, if you pull something like that I will drag you back to school myself. So don't even think about it. And for Rose it is different."
She crossed her arms in front of her chest, sulking.
"How?"
"Rose already has Molnija, a lot actually. They can't teach her anything at the Academy she doesn't already know. I can still make sure I teach her things, and I want to get her back as soon as possible, but I am grateful for the backup."
Viktoria at least seemed to understand that going with us wasn't an option.
"How much leave do you have?"
"A few more weeks, I hope I can finish in that time."
"So when you do avenge Ivan or whatever, most of your leave will be gone. I told myself that the only good thing about you being gone from home so long is because you were building up a lot of leave and when you finally did come, you could be here a while. But you are only here a couple of days."
I sighed, finally understanding why Viktoria was so upset. My mother and other sisters understood that even if I have some leave owing, I usually can't spend all of it here, also they understand that at least this way I have a chance of returning to Guardian duty and not be a permanent rogue. This was my home once, but I am no longer living here. Going on leave isn't like coming home. I would be visiting my family. Although it felt good to be here again and I had missed my family and Russia terribly, I understood that my place in life was somewhere different. But Viktoria had this fantasy in her head that one day I would be coming home and that at least for a little while things would be the same as when I lived here.
And now I was only staying for a few days, had brought a girlfriend and hadn't even mentioned I was coming. I suppose for a seventeen year old teenage girl that was a lot to handle without a tantrum.
"I am sorry Viktoria. I was planning on using some of that leave to come here, but Ivan needs me. I have to do this for him, and if I didn't use the leave I was owed, I would lose my job."
She nodded as she winked a tear away.
"But I am really glad to be here with everyone. I have missed you so much."
She hugged me and I was afraid she would start crying all over again for a different reason.
"So what about Rose? How did that happen? How come we didn't know? How come you didn't say anything?"
I smiled.
"It is relatively new. Rose and I didn't get together officially until about a week before we left and even then it was more a promise we would try and make it work after graduation instead of actually being with each other. But when she came with me to Russia, we could be properly together. I wasn't her mentor and she was eighteen. And it has been wonderful."
Viktoria giggled as she punched me in the arm.
"Oh my God, my big brother in love. I think now I have seen it all. She seems nice. And she is really pretty."
"She is nice. She is a little reckless and impulsive, but she keeps me on my toes, and in return I calm her down a bit. In some ways we are complete opposites and in others we are completely the same. All I know is that I never felt like this before and she is the one, regardless of how old she is, or how we initially met. You will like her."
The rest of the day was a complete 180. Viktoria was cheerful, happy and engaging. It was like she wanted to spend as much quality time with me and even Rose as she could while we were still here.
I was glad to see Rose and Viktoria getting along very well. They seemed to have the same kind of humor, and had the same vibrant energy. As a matter of fact, Viktoria seemed to spend more time with Rose than with me.
And when I thought Rose and I would be going upstairs to retire and maybe have some R&R Rose informed me that she would join Viktoria in going to a party. I knew the parties that were going on around Baia and the scowl on my face reflected as much.
Rose kissed me on the cheek.
"I suspected as much, which is why me and my friend Mr. Pointy here are going with her."
She said showing her concealed stake.
"I can't believe Mom would have let her go to a party after dark."
Rose looked at me like I was stupid.
"Mama doesn't know does she?"
She shook her head and pointed at me.
"And you are not going to tell her. Viktoria has to do stupid stuff while she is young and she will be doing it either way. At least this way I can go with her to keep her safe."
Although I understood Rose's sentiment, and in many ways Rose was older than Viktoria and knew dangers better, I also knew Rose had a wild streak. I wonder if she would be protecting Viktoria or getting her into more trouble. But Rose understood what was charm and what was sleaze in a guy and she could handle herself. I didn't think Viktoria could make the distinction yet.
"I promise to call you if I think it is necessary, but for now let your sister be young."
She kissed me again and patted me on my chests in reassurance as she got changed. She looked sexy and a little provocative but positively demure next to my sister. When she came to pick Rose up I caught a look. Viktoria didn't know I knew they were going and she didn't know I could see her. But the very short and tight dress left nothing to the imagination.
Rose saw my appalled and stormy face but she gave me a look not to say anything. I bit my tongue but I had to trust Rose in terms of teenage behavior. It was probably one of the hardest things I had to do to let them leave the house.