Disclaimer: I do not own VA.
I feel the love
And I feel it burn
Down this river every turn
Hope is a four letter word
Make that money
Watch it burn
Old, but I'm not that old
Young, but I'm not that bold
And I don't think the world is sold
I'm just doing what we're told
And I feel something so wrong
At doing the right thing
I could lie, could lie, could lie
Everything that drowns me makes me wanna fly
Lately I been, I been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But baby I been, I been prayin' hard
Said no more counting dollars
We'll be counting stars
-Counting Stars, OneRepublic
AlexiaPOV:
"You had one goddamned job! One!" Alexia screamed. "If you had that little whore, you would have everyone. But nooo! You couldn't manage to do even that!"
"watch yourself," Seneca growled on the other end. "Don't you know phone calls aren't safe? That's what found you in the first place!"
"Relax, it's a payphone. But dammit! How hard can it be!"
"You said she was by herself. I thought seven guardians would suffice," Seneca snapped.
"I thought so too," hissed Alexia. "I was told that she was by herself."
"Well, you were wrong and now what? You're of no use to me!"
Alexia growled. "I have been more useful to you than all of the pathetic, useless scumbags you call 'spies.' I have gotten you info you wouldn't have dreamed of in your wildest dreams." Alexia rubbed her eye, her contacts irritating her. Using the window opposite her, she carefully took out the contacts, revealing her dark brown eyes. Eyes so familiar...
"Next time, there will be no kidnapping," Alexia said, glaring at her reflection. "Just kill the bitch and get it over with."
"Kill Abe's daughter? I don't have a death wish, thank you very much. Simply holding her hostage and torturing her for a bit is good enough for me. He'll be eating out of the palm of my hand."
"Well, whatever it is you're doing, hurry up. I'm tired of this shit."
"Will do."
We were sitting around the table at a small apartment Lissa was renting for this semester.
"So who the hell is Alexia, anyway?" I asked, looking at the faces surrounding me. Dimitri, Abe, and Adrian, a highly unlikely group of people, brought together by horrible events. But isn't that how the story goes?
"I don't know," Dimitri replied, frustrated. "She's always been nice. A quiet girl, sad. She never spoke of her father. Her mother died when she was just a small child. I think she grew up with an aunt or something. We went to school together. She was in the grade below me, but two years younger. She was really smart. My senior year, we dated until I graduated. Then we parted as friends, realising that it wouldn't work out. That's all I really know."
"So she's...five years older than me?" I asked, puzzled. What would she want to do with me? She knew nothing about me!
"What was her last name again?" Abe asked, deep in thought.
"Alexia Alderidge, she said," I replied.
"She changed it, remember? She was formerly called Calloway," Dimitri corrected.
Abe straightened up. "Calloway? Why is that name familiar?" he asked, his dark brown eyes, twins of my own, boring into mine.
I shrugged. "I didn't recognize her at all. Never met her in my entire life."
Abe frowned. "There's something there, something I'm missing..." he trailed off. He thought for a long moment. "No, it can't be. Can it? I need to call Janine." He pulled out his cellphone and pressed a button. I could hear the phone ringing before the faint sounds of the voicemail piped up. "Dammit." Abe clicked it off before the beep. "I need to speak with her, because that's impossible. Absolutely impossible. I mean, I thought...it's been so long...she wouldn't..."
"Abe what is going on?" I demanded.
Abe raised his head to look at me. "Little girl, I may or may not be at fault for all of this, but I can't know for certain unless I speak with your mother. I think. I may need to check records..." he trailed off again and started mumbling to himself.
The three of us exchanged a glance.
"Mr. Mazur," Dimitri rumbled.
Abe waved him off. "I'll tell you once I know. I'm going to go now. I need to look for some papers. Stay safe. I'm only a phone call away," he told me, standing up.
"You're just...leaving?" I exclaimed, stunned.
Abe nodded. "I need to see something. I may get to the bottom of this," he muttered, looking wholly distracted.
"Okaaay...?"
Abe nodded and briskly walked out.
I turned to the guys. "Soo...what just happened?"
Dimitri and Adrian both shook their heads.
"So, Adrian, how did you get into contact with...her?" I wondered, having the feeling that I'd already heard it before. Adrian, being the awesome guy that he is, repeated himself without a word.
"Seneca approached me, threatened to hurt you and everyone I loved if I didn't bring Alexia with me to the lake house. I was going to simply cancel, but..." he trailed off. "She threatened my mom," he finished quietly.
I nodded thoughtfully. "That's what happened to me too. She's good, Seneca. Gives Abe a run for his money."
We sat in silence for several long moments. Adrian finally stood up. "I gotta go. Let me know if there's any new developments, okay?"
I nodded, absentmindedly playing with my hair. I listened to Adrian leave, the silence remaining.
Sadness crept into me. When Xavier had been around, there was rarely any silence. I jumped up abruptly, turning to Dimitri. Tears sprang to my eyes.
"Make me forget," I pleaded.
Dimitri stared at me, horror-struck. "What?"
I nodded and practically leaped on him, smashing my mouth with his. Though we had technically gotten back together several days ago, we hadn't connected physically. Neither of us could handle it, but right now, that was the only way I could think to get away from everything.
"Please," I whispered again, pleading with my eyes.
Dimitri stared at me for a long moment before nodding slightly. That was all the sign I needed. I pressed my lips against his again, less violently this time. Immediately, Dimitri kissed me back. A certain kind of relief filled me. If I had Dimitri, I could do anything.
Dimitri and I were still in bed when Lissa and Christian came back, their guardians following. Since I wasn't on official guarding duty, someone else watched Lissa during class while I tried to figure out what was happening.
"Rose?" I heard her call. "Dimitri?"
Dimitri sighed and smoothed my hair back. "Yeah?" he called.
"Oh, you're here." Her voice moved down the hall towards us.
"Should I warn her?" I asked lowly.
Dimitri shrugged, indicating it was my choice. I chose not to.
Her footsteps got closer until they reached our door. Without knocking, Lissa opened the door. "I was just worried sin-Oh, I'm so sorry!" Lissa cried out, her eyes wide as she took us in.
We were laying cuddled up naked in bed. I let a smirk slide onto my face. "Payback's a bitch."
Lissa turned around and walked out, closing the door firmly behind her.
"Well, that went well," I sighed.
We didn't move from our position, though we needed to. At first, I thought it was because I was too comfortable and didn't want this moment to end, but then I realised I was waiting, expecting something that would make us get up. I was waiting for Xavier to come bounding into the room, jumping onto our bed after being outside. Nothing happened. Nothing would happen. Xavier was lost forever.
My shoulders slumped.
"I know," Dimitri murmured. "We should get up."
I nodded in response but stayed still. I didn't have the energy for it yet. Sounds of Christian clattering in the kitchen floated to us, but still we lay together.
"Alright," Dimitri finally said, sitting up. "Come on, laying here all day won't do anyone any good."
I gave him a small smile and nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right."
Dimitri got out of bed and stretched. "It was fun, though." He flashed me an appreciative smile as I climbed out of bed after him.
I rolled my eyes. "You are such a guy."
Dimitri shrugged and walked over to wrap his arms around me. "Yeah, well, I have a gorgeous woman who just climbed out of my bed. What do you expect?"
I gave an exasperated sigh and rolled my eyes again. "Come on, we need to get dressed."
We slowly got ready, helping each other dress. It was peaceful and pleasant. A lot like before, although an undertone of pain lingered.
Once we were dressed, Dimitri held out his hand. I took it and together we trekked down the hallway to the kitchen.
"Something smells good," I commented, sniffing the air.
Christian passed me on the way to the stove and took a long sniff. "Certainly not you. You smell of sex and sweat. The least you could do is take a shower."
"Nah, I'm good. We'll take a shower later. Together, you know, to conserve water and all that," I replied.
Christian snorted. "I'm shocked you even know what the word conserve means," he shot back.
"What's for dinner?" I asked, changing the subject. Truthfully, I knew we should have taken a shower after all of that, but I didn't want to wash the memory of it off just yet, as weird as it sounded. It felt like once I washed all the evidence off, it would be like it never happened at all. At the moment, that was all I was clinging to.
"Spaghetti and meatballs with homemade sauce," Christian answered.
"Mm, smells really good."
Christian nodded. "Now get out of my kitchen before you manage to burn the food by looking at it."
"I am not that bad!" I huffed.
"Suuure you're not," Christian drawled. "Now out. Dimitri, get your girlfriend out of here before she ruins the food."
Dimitri chuckled. "Come on, Roza, let's leave him before he has a heart attack."
I stomped out angrily, Dimitri's laughter following me.
"Did he kick you out too?" Lissa asked sympathetically as I collapsed on the couch next to her.
I nodded.
"It's okay. At least this way we'll get dinner that much faster since you won't be distracting him by arguing."
"I am not that bad!" I protested.
Dimitri came in and sat next to me, his arm resting on the back of the couch behind me.
Lissa studied me for a long moment. "No, you're not that bad. Not anymore." Her eyes darkened with sadness and sorrow sang through the bond. "You're not much of anything anymore. Nothing but sad and angry and in pain. And I miss you. I hope you find peace and I hope I can help you find it." Lissa's cool hand squeezed my own.
I looked down at our hands and was struck by the difference. My hand was tan, scarred and calloused, rough from years of training and fighting. Hers was pale, smooth and soft, manicured to perfection. Yet she was comforting me, going out of her way to make sure I was okay and let me know she was there for me. I could feel her love for me, her empathy for what I was going through, her hope that I could get through this, surging through the bond. Letting go of her hand, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tightly.
"Thank you, Lissa. You've helped me much more than I could ever ask for. I'll get through this, don't worry," I mumbled into her ear.
Lately, she'd cut back on using any magic unless it was necessary and no longer took unnecessary risks. No more shopping out in the human world, no more random trips to busy places. She stuck close to her guardians, making my job of protecting her much easier and less worrying. She'd become very caution about telling things to people, and I loved her all the more for it.
"Dinner's ready!" Christian called, breaking our moment.
We pulled apart and I was surprised to feel tears in my eyes. "You're the best sister I have ever had," I announced.
Lissa giggled. "I'm your only sister."
I waved it off. "Close enough."
Almost a week went by without a word from my father. However, I received other news, news much more important to me than Abe's affairs. Alexia was found by a friend.
"Alright, how far away is that from where I am?" I asked, phone pressed close to my ear. Around me, everyone was silent, waiting with bated breath.
"About five hours, give or take. I'll make sure she stays here, don't worry," John Arbuckle, a guardian I had met during my travels, assured me.
I nodded though he couldn't see me. "Okay, we'll be there asap." I ended the call, turning to my friends. "In the car, Comrade."
Dimitri nodded, already armed with stakes and guns, along with a baton, like the kind police used.
"I'll call Abe on the way," I continued, grabbing my jacket. "Lissa, you, and Christian are staying here, Adrian you can come with if you're careful."
"Hey, why does he get to go?" Lissa asked, outraged.
"Because he can do compulsion and can fight, somewhat. I'm not going to endanger you, Liss. Now, stay in the house and don't follow me, please. This is something I have to do and I can only do it if I know you're safe." I read the mutiny in the bond and softened my voice. "Liss, there's no need for you to go. If anyone gets hurt, Adrian can heal them. I need to do this for my son. And I need you to stay safe while I do it. Please, if not for me, then for Xavier. Stay here, okay?"
Lissa hesitated but nodded, tears in her eyes. "Be safe, Rose, please. I can't lose you too."
I pecked her on the cheek and gave her a quick hug. "I will, promise. You won't lose me."
I glanced at Christian and gave him a quick hug too. "Keep her safe," I murmured before pulling away.
Christian gave me a single nod in understanding.
I spun around and walked out the door, not once looking back. Alexia had been found and now there was hell to pay, courtesy of a pissed off Rose Hathaway.
A/N: Okay, so, scary thought: this story has only three chapters before the end. I know, I was shocked too. Freaked out, too! Like, wow, it's almost over...
Anyway, sorry for the long wait, once more. But, well, finals, I'm sure most (if not all) of you know what that's like.
What do you think of the casting? I love it. Jesse is gorgeous, Mason is adorable and Mia...well, Mia is perfect once she gets some blonde ringlets :D
Thank you to the following for reviewing: missvalover94 (hm...something close...(;), Fiera Hathaway (You'll have to wait until the next chapter, though. This was more of a transition chapter than anything :P), RozaRocks (Mmhmm, it was really sad :/ You shall see it all revealed next chapter :D), bboop12 (Yesh :3 Lol, you'll see (;), Rose-loves-Dimitri (I must restate this: I LOVE PATCH 3 But do you know why?), cmarseilles (Thanks :3), Kay1a (Mmhmm :(), xX Dimka's girl 4 ever Xx (Mhmm. Now they're really going after her!), Victoria Marie Dragomir, ClauIloveDimitriBelikov (Now they're happy together in the beginning :D Hm. Not quite...), jpitt (Aww, thanks :3 As for Dimitri not figuring it out...he knew. He always did. He was just letting Rose figure it out on her own :P As for Tasha...you shall see :D), aj davis (;), BiggestPolarBearFanEver (Lol, I love it too!), tbrett29 (Thank you soo much! I'm sorry I made you cry :( I didn't like Xavier dying either...), loventherussian17, BuffyLover75 (Thanks(: I don't like that part either! Don't worry, you shall see soon(:)