It's been a week since the Dimitri/Tasha incident, but something in me was telling me not to believe it. I needed to know, I knew for a fact that I loved him and I knew he loved Tasha but I needed to hear him say it one more time. That and I wanted Adrian to hear this, he was currently around the corner.
I saw him standing there with his back to me. I walked behind him, he seemed to realize me behind him but I stopped him quickly.
"No, don't," I said mimicking Tasha's voice perfectly.
"Tasha, what's the matter?" He asked, concern dripping from his voice. I flinched.
"Dimitri, do you love her, and I mean really love her? I know I asked before but I need you to say it again." I questioned in return. He stiffened, I tried to keep calm but my heart was racing. After a moment, he finally answered.
"No," My heart ripped apart and I nodded to myself.
'You expected this, breathe,' I chastised myself.
"Good, that's nice to know, now let's leave this behind us, a clean slate, and never bring it up again." I said, my voice thankfully not breaking.
"A clean slate," He murmured.
"Exactly," I said making it sound like I was smiling. "I have to go but I'll see you later," I said and ran off. I ran around the corner to see a depressed Adrian, I smiled sadly at him. "I'll find you in a few minutes I need to go clear my head." I stated, walked to the stables.
I loved him enough to see him happy, and if she was it then so be it. Moonshine stood in front of me, she looked so cute with her white streak in her black mane. The cresent moon on her snout, hence the name Moonshine, I stroked her cheek, she whined and I smiled.
"If only you could understand Moonshine," I sighed. I lead her out, and into the woods so we wouldn't be seen, my hand stroking her soft cheek. She moved her head to look at me as if to say, 'I'm here for you,' I buried my face in her mane and let the tears fall. I inhaled and smiled, Moonshine had to be the best smelling horse, she smelled sweet yet woodsy, it was comforting and familiar.
"You have to be the best horse, how did I get so lucky," I murmured whipping my stray tears on my arm. She took a step forward and put her snout on my neck and through my hair. I smiled and rubbed her neck. She was so sweet, sometime it felt like she understood me, the most simple gestures from her made me feel so much better.
She brushed her cheek on my shoulder and I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding. I scratched the spot between her ears where I knew she liked it. We started walking back and I sighed as I gave her some hay.
"Love you girl," I murmured before walking out. I went back into the Palace and went to my room packing Lissa's bag. I wrote a quick note to Dimitri and placed it in his room, on his pillow.
It read:
'Belikov,
I went back home early, you were busy but I'll be with Liss and the guys. I know you're probably upset but I need some time for just me and my friends. I know it's reckless and selfish but I need them right now. I truly hope you weren't worried, I apologize if you were. I'll be back soon, or I'll meet you back home, which ever, I hope you have fun while I'm away, be back soon. Sarcastically Yours,
R. Hathaway'
My thoughts were wild and jumbled and I could barely concentrate. I quickly found Lissa and Adrian talking, I walked up to Lissa and wrapped my arm around her shoulder.
"Come on, we're going home," I said, my voice filled with forced kindness. She didn't notice and nodded, Adrian looked at me and studied my eyes.
"I'm coming with you!" He announced. Lissa looked between us for a second before taking her back and nodding.
"Then let's go," I smiled and pulled Lissa to the stables. I helped Lissa on top of Moonshine before taking her face in my hands, I rested my forehead on her snout. "Moonshine, I want to go home and fast, can you do that?" I asked quietly. She seemed to nod as I mounted her in front of Lissa.
We walked out of the stables and waited a moment for Adrian.
"You girls ready?" He asked. We nodded.
"We're running try and keep up!" I called as she shot of into the woods. "Lissa hold on tight!" I called, Lissa's arms tightened around my waist. We tore through the woods, Adrian on our heels, both horses refused to stop so we ran straight to the Hathaway castle.
Making it at record time, I let Moonshine into the pasture after giving her some hay and water. We walked inside and I was immediately attacked by Isabell. I gently pried her off of me and set her on the ground.
"Sweetie there's some things I need to take care of, don't tell anyone I'm here, I'll talk to you tomorrow," I said as we walked down the hall. I found Eddie and Mason in the gym sparring. "Boys we're going partying you coming?" I asked. Their heads snapped up and I grinned.
"Hell yea!" They chorused.
"Okay the clearing one hour!" I said, waiting for them to start calling their escape routes.
"Side Door!" Lissa called.
"Window!" I said before Mason could open his mouth.
"Side woods!" Mason called much to Eddie's disappointment.
"Front door," He sighed, we laughed. Adrian looked at us like we were crazy.
"Where's he going to go?" Mason asked, I looked at Adrian.
"With me out the window," I shrugged. We nodded and all went to our rooms, Adrian and Liss coming with me to mine. Lissa eyed Adrian dubiously while I took off my shirt. I took off my pants next before walking into my closet, I brought out a midnight blue dress (pic on profile) and put it on, taking a cloak while I walked out. I picked up some black stilettos and sat on the bed.
"Rose what should I wear?" Lissa asked, mean while Adrian was going through his duffel back I didn't know he had packed. He took out a navy and light blue (pic on profile) striped off the shirt he was currently wearing and pulled on the shirt. Rolling my eyes I faced Lissa.
"You have that pink dress in the closet, wear that with the light red cloak," I said doing my make up quickly. Lissa got dressed in the closet since she wasn't very used to Adrian. I messed with my hair and left it down and slightly wild. We all finished getting dressed and Lissa went to leave while I locked the door and opened the window.
"So what do I do?" Adrian asked eyeing out the window.
"You need to relax when you jump, if you don't you could break your leg. You need to stick the landing and if you get nervous aim to land in the bushes." I stated boredly. He nodded. "Okay you go first," I gestured. He took a deep breath and jumped, he landed in the bushed with a thud. I laughed.
"Not funny!" He hissed. I balance on the edge and closed the window and made sure I had the key to my door. I looked down and saw that Adrian moved, lifting up my cloak I stepped of the edge.
The fall was no more than a few seconds and I landed perfectly on the pad of my shoe so I didn't break my heel. I stood up easily and I told Adrian we had to run. He just shrugged as I passed him, pulling him by the he stumbled a lot on his right leg, I stopped.
"What's wrong?" I asked worriedly.
"My leg just stings from the fall, come on it's feeling better!" I didn't believe him but we continued to the clearing. We were the lasts ones and I strached.
We walked to the party in a comfortable silence, occasionally laughing at Adrian's clumsiness. You could tell he wasn't used to walking the way we were after another good laugh at his expense we arrived at the party.
The majority of the teens here were those who we normal partied with so my presense was normal. We were immediately welcomed with a beer, I smiled.
Downing it in 30 seconds flat I turned to face them.
"Just so you know I plan on getting shit faced drunk tonight!" I said, pulling Adrian to dance.
After endless shots, beer and over all liquior I could barely form a coheret sentence, much less walk straight. I some how managed to be dancing on a table with Mason until I stumbled and feel into a pair of arms. Looking up a goofy smile lit up my features.
"Hi Adran... since when ar you so perrty?" I slurred, before giggling. He groaned.
"Rose, how many of me do you see?" He asked. I tilted my head to the side, trying to focus, I giggled again.
"Adrian! I didn't know there was three of you!" I laughed, he rolled his eyes. "Hi my name is Rose!"
"Can you stand?" He asked, setting me up right, I swayed and my world went black.
I woke up to an agonizing pain in my head. It felt as if someone had slammed my head into a rock repeatedly (I should know its happened to me before). But that wasn't what woke me up, some one was jumping on me and it hurt.
"Mother fucker! Who the hell is that!" I yelled sitting up and groaning. I saw Isabell sitting by my side looking shocked. I got up and stormed to the bathroom slamming the door. My head throbbed painfully as I slid down the door clutching my head. I elbowed the door, leaving a dent. I stood up and looked at my self in the mirror and groan I looked like shit just threw up.
All I saw was red, all I felt was pain, anger, guilt, heart ache, unwanted, betrayed and rejected. I picked up my brush and slammed it into the mirror in front of me. Tears rolled down my checks as I let out an agonized scream. Someone was pounding on the door but I just slid down the other wall and put my head in my hands.
I was in both emotional and physical pain and it was excruciating. I cried, my body shaking with uncontrollable sobs. I heard the door being knocked down and I was pulled into a warm embrace.
"I swear I'll kill him for this," Adrian murmured, Lissa rubbed my back soothingly. Adrian picked me up and set me on my bed gently. Lissa laid my head on her lap and messaged my scalp.
"I'm I really that bad?" I whimpered. Lissa made me face her.
"No, he's just too much of a moron to realize what a woman he has!" She exclaimed. I finally calmed down and sat up, resting my head on Lissa's shoulder. I had taken some aspirin to get rid of my head ache and eventually the guys and Isabell came into the room. While they didn't understand why I broke down the way I did they still came in and tried to lighten the mood.
We didn't leave the room that day, we just hung out. I of course took a shower and changed but other wise than that I never left the group. Like I had said in the note, I needed them and right now I needed them more than ever.
Never once did they question me, we just hung out, ate, watched movies and joked. Lissa seemed to have figured out everything that I was feeling and Adrian of course already knew, so for that I was glad.
In what felt like no time at all the Sun went down and night rolled in. Tonight was a New Moon so the stars were brighter. At around midnight we all said we were going to bed. Adrian didn't want to leave me alone so we ended up in my room laying on my bed, his head on my stomach, while I mindlessly played with his hair.
"Little D?" He murmured, turning his head to look at me.
"Yea Ace?" I whispered.
"You do know you're like a little sister to me, and I won't let anything happen to you, right?" He asked, putting his arm on the other side of my stomach and propped himself up on his elbow (Watch 'He's just not that into you' for a visual, well kinda). I nodded, looking into his warm green eyes.
"Yea, I know, I look at you as a brother as well," I stated.
"How are you feeling?" He asked worriedly.
"Like shit, I'm going to try and stay away from him as much as possible," I responded, looking up at the ceiling.
"I think that may be a good idea," He agreed. Sighing he put his arm back and place a pillow on my stomach and laid his head down. I drifted to a blood filled dream.
---------------Dream----------------------
I was standing by myself in a clearing, beautiful flowers surrounding me. I let out a carefree giggle and started running threw them, feeling so light and free. I closed my eyes and spun around but when I opened my eyes I gasped.
I was in the castle and everything was covered in blood, I was holding my sword and dressed in my typical leather attire.
Looking around me I was surrounded by bodies of my friends and family: Alberta, Stan, Mom, Dad, Mason, Eddie, children and adults. All covered in blood. Instead of being depressed I was filled with an agonizing anger.
My eyes wander in front of me, my grip on my sword tightening. Lucas was holding Isabell, a sword to her throat, while Dimitri was holding back Christian his sword threatening to slash him from his shoulder to his stomach, and lastly Adrian holding back Lissa, suffocating her.
A terrifying growl sounded from deep in my chest as I looked at their pleading faces. Sick smiles floated to my enemy's faces as they killed the people closest to me.
"CHRISTIAN!!!" I screamed as the sword was plunged into his heart. His eyes never leaving mine until he was dropped to the ground. I lunged for Lucas and quickly snapped his neck before turning on Adrian.
I ran to him and threw him into the wall, I walked up to his slumped form and drove my sword through his stomach, before dragging it up and just past his heart.
"So much for that, huh sis," He gurgled before slumping down further. I turned to face Dimitri, his face deadly. We fought, we fought long and hard, each giving and receiving deadly blows.
Finally after what felt like hours I pinned him down, my sword over head.
"I thought you loved me," He whispered faintly as I dug the sword into his chest. Tears fell free from my eyes as his closed for the last time, I moved the hair out of his face and looked away.
"I do," I murmured before walking over to Christian.
I was faced with a mirror, my face was covered in blood, my eyes a dark hazel. My hair clung to my face and mud was caked onto my neck and shoulders. I was bleeding dramatically but the pain had yet to register. Suddenly I was surrounded by ghosts, all of them moaning painfully.
"You were supposed to save us," One moaned.
"You were meant to keep us safe," Another agreed. Clutching my head painfully in my hands I screamed.
------------End Dream----------
I woke up to being shaked, my eyes snapped open only to be met by Adrian's green ones. I screamed again and leapt out of the bed, landing nimbly to the opposite side of the room. My sword some how in my hands.
Right now all I saw was the enemy, I hissed and the door flew open. Christian looked between the two of us.
I was sweating and my breathing was ragged, my eyes wild. To Adrian who was panicked and watching me carefully.
"Rose," Christian whispered, taking a tentative step towards me. My dream kept replaying in my head.
"Christian," I murmured, he nodded. "It was a dream, it was all a dream," I whispered to myself. The sword clattered to the ground and I slid to my knees numbly. I let out a long breath before looking up and smiling weakly.
"You okay?" Christian asked, knelling in from of me.
"Yea," I nodded. Meeting Adrian's curious gaze I just chuckled to myself.
"Good, now get some sleep," Christian kissed my forehead before helping me stand up.
"I will," I stated. He left the room, Adrian was still confused as I picked up and sheathed my sword. I walked over to Adrian and sat next to him, sighing loudly. "Sorry about that, horrible dream," I murmured, he seemed to get that I didn't want to talk about it and laid next to me. Our backs facing eachother, I was comforted by his presence, it was like sleeping next to Christian.
Comforting and just there, I sighed and closed my eyes, falling into the dark oblivion of sleep. Thankfully evading anymore nightmares that plauged my mind.
Friends, I realized, are needed in ones life to be able to survive and function properly. They were you rocks, while not all of them were friends for life, they are still good to have. When you have a friend who will stand by you through thick and thin, then you know you have a friend for life.