Chapter 25: Dimka Has a Daughter?
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy
So those of you who guessed the Belikov's were right Yay! Also just a little note, mostly when they are conversing it is in Russian so Rose doesn't understand them, however my Russian is not great so I put it in English. Hope you like it=)
VPOV
"Are you sure this is the house Mama? It seems awfully nice for guardian housing." We were approaching one of the nicest housing developments at the royal court. They stood two stories tall made of brick. They had fancy windows and immaculately manicured landscaping.
"This is the address listed in the directory. They said it was very up to date. It's possible that this is Lady Ozera's residence and that he is living with her," my mother suggested.
My grandmother shook her head in annoyance. She was not convinced that my brother and his charge were fooling around with each other. In truth I wasn't convinced either. The last few times they'd visited he seemed pretty miserable. They hadn't acted like a couple. Sure they'd been friendly, but I'd never seen them act romantically or anything. Babushka was always muttering something about how stupid he was for leaving the woman he loved. None of the rest of us had any idea what she was talking about, but then again who did? She was a little bit batty if you asked me.
"Well only one way to find out," Babushka said stepping up to the door and pressing the doorbell. The woman had nerve I'll tell you that.
"I'm so excited to see Dimka. It's been nearly two years since they last visited." I exclaimed. My mother, grandmother and I had traveled all the way from Baia, Russia to see him. Today is his birthday and man was he was getting old. My brother was turning thirty-two today. I hoped he was home. He was going to be so surprised because normally we could never afford to come to the royal court, but Abe Mazur is friendly with my mother and my grandmother and he was in Baia last week and offered us a ride to the royal court on his private plane. He was a Zmey, but he seemed to be okay some of the time. He said he was going to do a little business at the court and visit his daughter. Apparently she lived here at court. I didn't know he had a daughter. I don't think anyone did not even my mother.
There were footsteps on the other side of the door and then it opened revealing a small child. She was covered in some sort of white substance, possibly flour.
"Can I help you?" she asked politely in English. My mother's eyes widened as did my own. She was the spitting image of myself when I was six years old except with darker hair. She had Dimka's eyes.
"Yes, we are here to see Guardian Belikov. Does he live here sweetheart?" my mother asked her. She had recovered from her shock before I did.
She looked confused at first, but then her eyes lit up. "Are you looking for Mr. Dimka?" She asked in the cutest little voice.
"Actually yes I guess we are," my mother said chuckling at the way the little girl used my brother's Russian nickname. She must know him, but damn did she look like him. Did he and Lady Ozera have a baby without telling us? I wondered.
"Is he here?" I asked.
She thought for a moment. "No my Daddy isn't here right now. Who are you?"
Daddy? My mouth dropped open at her words. Surely she couldn't be talking about Dimka. He would tell us if he had a baby wouldn't he?
"Lexie who's at the door?" called a female voice from inside. It did not sound like Lady Ozera.
"It's three ladies. They are looking for Daddy," she called out opening the door a little wider.
A few seconds later a beautiful dhampir came to the door. She looked like an Arabian princess with her almond colored skin, her dark eyes and her long dark beautiful hair.
She looked at us a minute. "You're looking for Dimitri?" she asked. She too had a little flour smudged on her clothes and in her hair and even some on her face. It didn't at all detract from her beauty though.
"Yes sorry to intrude we are looking for my son. Does he live here? I think we might have the wrong house," my mother said uncertainly in English. I'm pretty sure the girl did not speak or understand Russian.
The girl's eyes widened and she suddenly became very nervous.
"You're Dimitri's mother?" she stuttered in disbelief.
My mother nodded.
"The one from Baia?" she asked still not believing us I guess.
"Yes, dear are you alright?" The girl was white as a ghost staring at us blankly.
"So Dimitri does live here?" I asked. The girl nodded and seemed to regain her composure. Babushka was looking her up and down taking in her appearance. She waved to the little girl flashing her a smile. That was very unusual for her. She was usually mean as a cat. The child smiled and waved back shyly.
"Oh I must seem so rude. Please come in," the dhampir said opening the door and gesturing inside. We followed her.
"This is a very nice house," I commented admiring the large foyer. There was a staircase that led upstairs as well. It was decorated modern and whoever had chosen the color scheme had impeccable taste.
"I'm sorry for the mess. We weren't expecting company," she apologized brushing some of the flour off her clothes and smoothing her fingers through her hair. "Have a seat." We walked into the living room and mother and I sat on the couch and Babuskha took the arm chair. She didn't look at all surprised that Dimka would live in such a nice house and have a child that I think referred to him as her father.
"I'm sorry dear my name Is Olena Belikova and this is my daughter Viktoria and my mother Yeva, Dimitri's sister and grandmother.
The girl gulped. "It's nice to meet all of you. I've hear a lot about you." She smiled forcedly. She eyed Babushka with a look that said Dimka might have told her about her history of seeing things before they happen.
"Well we've heard nothing about you," Babushka humphed clutching her purse to her chest. "Good for nothing ungrateful grandson," she muttered in Russian.
"I'm Rose and this is Lexie," she introduced herself and the child. She did not however explain their relationship to my brother.
"Would you like some tea or something? Dimitri should be home very soon," she offered.
"Tea would be lovely," my mother accepted graciously.
"Who is she? Is that Dimka's child? Who is her mother? Where is Lady Ozera?" These are the questions that flew from our mouths in Russian of course after she left the room taking the child with her.
"I don't know Viktoria. I guess we will have to wait for Dimka to come home." Darn my mother always much calmer than I in these types of situations. I had only been home a few months since my guardian gig with the Conta's had ended. They had moved here to court so they would not need as many guardians anymore. I was the last one hired on so I was the first one let go. It was fine by me. I'd guarded them for five years and I was in need of a change and I enjoyed being home with my mother and sisters again at least for a while.
We could see into the kitchen from where we were sitting. Rose, as she had called herself was fumbling around in the kitchen trying to boil water for tea while the little girl watched anxiously.
"Do you think that Rose girl is one of Lady Ozera's guardians as well? She doesn't look like a feeder although she's pretty darn clumsy," I stated as she continued to clatter around in the large kitchen.
My mother shrugged and Babushka just smiled like the cat who ate the canary. I knew she knew something, but she wouldn't tell.
A minute later the outside door to the kitchen opened and in walked my brother. He was wearing his guardian uniform and had a huge smile on his usually somber face. Rose didn't seem to hear him, but the little girl did. He hadn't noticed us sitting in the living room gawking at him yet either. He put his finger to his lips effectively shushing the child. She smiled deviously as he snuck up on Rose. Much to all our surprise he grabbed her around the waist and dipped her backwards sweeping her up in what could only be described as a fairy tale kiss. After about a minute he broke their embrace righting her back on her feet.
"Geez Dimitri give me a heart attack," she complained.
"You know I love it when I make your heart race," he said in a teasing voice so unlike I'd ever seen him before.
I know I was in shock and my mother gasped softly covering her mouth with her hand. This was unbelievable. My brother, who had never once mentioned a woman making out with some dhampir right in front of our eyes.
After a minute he pulled away from her and she glanced over at us seeming slightly embarrassed. She was about to open her mouth to announce our presence, but the little girl interrupted her.
"Daddy I missed you," she cried.
"I missed you too Milaya," he responded snatching her off the ground twirling her around. She giggled and the look of elation on his face as he continued to spin her around was remarkable. He was usually such an introvert.
"Dimitri there are some people here to see you," Rose told him as he began peppering kisses all the face of the girl who had called him daddy. It was adorable really the way the two were interacting. He was good with Paul when he was young, but never like this. He wasn't usually so affectionate.
"Who?" he asked bewildered. She nodded in our direction. His jaw dropped as he registered our presence.
"Mama?" he questioned coming closer.
"Dimka," my mother said tears in her eyes. "Oh how I've missed my boy." He set the little girl down on her feet and rushed forward to embrace our mother tightly. They exchanged a few pleasantries.
"Dimka what have you been doing while you've been away?" I asked directing his attention away from Babushka who was giving him a glare.
"Viktoria, I thought you were guarding a Conta?" he asked raising an eyebrow at me.
"Always changing the subject, no hello how are you, straight to business as usual brother dear, but oh no I'm not answering your questions until you answer mine." He looked slightly nervous at my comment.
"Who is that woman you just stuck your tongue down her throat and why did that girl call you Daddy?" I asked. Now I knew for sure that Rose and the child did not speak Russian. They stood several feet behind Dimitri awkwardly silent.
"It's a long story to tell," he said.
"We have time. We came here to see you," my mother assured him waiting patiently.
"Roza come here," he said reaching out for her. She complied stepping forward to join him. He clasped her hand tightly in his.
"Mama, Sestra, Babushka, I would like you to meet the woman I love. This is my Roza," he said looking at her with pure adoration in his eyes. The way she looked at him showed she felt exactly the same. Wow my brother was in love. I never thought I'd see the day. He certainly hadn't looked at Lady Ozera that way.
My mother looked like she was going to cry. She'd always wanted him to settle down and have a family, but if he was in love with this woman then who was the child's mother and how did she fit in? I was so confused. He must have sensed that.
"I'd also like you to meet my daughter, Lexie," he said beckoning the little girl towards him. She ran to him and he hoisted her up into his arms. My mother looked like her eyes were going to bug out of her head. If he had a six year old then how come we are just finding out about her now?
"If you don't mind my asking this and I mean no disrespect, but how is it that you have a six year old and that we've never met her and who on earth is her mother?" I blurted out unable to stop myself. My mother gave me a disapproving look. I knew she thought I was being rude, but I also knew she was dying to know the answer to that question. Besides what did it matter what I said. Dimka was the only one who understood us anyways.
"Roza is her mother," he said with a smile. My mother and I looked at him like he was crazy.
I knew she didn't want to make a scene, but someone had to bring up the pink elephant that was sitting in the middle of the room.
"Say what?" I asked. "That is not possible."
"I hate to agree with Viktoria, Dimka, but it's true, you know that two dhampirs cannot procreate together. It's okay if she isn't yours we will love her like you love her," my mother said. Dimitri did not look pleased at her comment.
That is when Babuska rose to her feet.
"The boy tells the truth. That one over there," she said pointing at Rose. "She is different. She has been given new life by the element of Spirit. Rules of genetics do not apply with her." She sat down having said her piece.
"Why didn't you tell us about her or about your daughter?" my mother asked truly hurt by the fact that her only son had withheld such personal information from her and for such a long time.
"Mama I cannot explain now. We can talk later let's have a nice visit, maybe some dinner. I don't want to talk in front of Roza. She doesn't speak Russian and we are probably making her very nervous right now. I love her with everything in me can we leave it at that for now. I promise to explain everything in due time."
"Whatever you want Dimka. It's your day. I almost forgot. Happy Birthday. I can't believe my only son is thirty-two today. You're making me feel old." She had switched into English now.
"Mama you're embarrassing me," he said as she pinched his cheeks.
"So I guess we have two new members of the family. Welcome Roza and Lexie. We are very excited to meet you." My mother hugged Rose tightly. The girl looked like a nervous wreck, but seemed to calm down at my mother's friendly gesture.
"I am Olena Belikova. I am your Daddy's mommy. Do you know what that makes me?" she asked bending over to the child's height?
"You're my grandma just like grandma Janine!" the girl said excitement dancing in her beautiful brown eyes.
"That I am," she said. "Can I have a hug?" she asked. The little girl nodded allowing my mother to hug her tightly. I knew how much it meant to her to hold Dimka's child in her arms. It was rare for male dhampirs to have children. I wondered what the deal was with them. Could this Roza girl be the one Babushka was constantly muttering about?
"How did you guys get here anyway?" Dimka asked as we followed him into the kitchen. Rose had finally gotten the tea set up and she passed out cups and saucers.
As if on cue Abe Mazur opened the door and strutted in like he owned the place.
"Well I see that you've found your son," he mused. What in the hell was the Zmey doing in my brother's house and why didn't Dimka look concerned that a mobster had just entered his kitchen without knocking.
"Grandpa Abe!" Lexie cried out jumping out of her seat and running to where he was standing. He scooped her up smiling warmly.
"You get bigger and bigger every time I see you," he said kissing the top of her head.
"Kiz, come and give your Baba a hug," he boomed. Rose went to him and hugged him tightly.
Wait isn't Baba Turkish for father?
Abe Mazur had a dhampir daughter that just happened to be Dimka's girlfriend? Dimka's daughter had a Zmey for a grandfather? This was unbelievable.
DPOV
After a wonderful morning with my family my shift seemed to drag on forever. It wasn't that Eddie wasn't good company it's just that I couldn't wait to get home to them. This was the most content I'd ever felt outside of my childhood when I was being raised by my mother with my sisters. It had been so long since I'd felt like part of a family.
I snuck in the kitchen door quietly. Rose had her back turned and I wanted to surprise her. I shushed Lexie so she wouldn't blow it and grabbed Roza around the waist. I could tell she was slightly startled at first, but the moment our lips met she relaxed into my kiss. After greeting Lexie Rose informed me that there were people waiting for me in the living room. I wasn't expecting anyone, but thought maybe it was Tasha. As I turned I got a good look at the three women sitting in our living room.
My family had come to visit me. This day kept getting better and better, I thought as I hugged my mother tightly. I'd really missed her these past two years.
My sister of course had to be nosy and ask about Roza. I knew I would have to tell them the whole story, but now was not the time. From the glare on Babushka's face and the things she'd said to me over the past several years I knew she had known what I'd done. I wondered briefly if she'd known I had a daughter all this time.
It made me a little angry that my mother would insinuate that I or Roza would lie about the paternity of our child, but I understood how difficult it must be to comprehend. They really didn't know much about Spirit or being shadow kissed. I was glad that my grandmother had stood up for us because I don't think Viktoria would have let it go otherwise. She was a stubborn one that baby sister of mine.
As we sat around having Tea Abe decided to pay a visit. I took it that he was behind my family's spur of the moment visit. I didn't know whether to be grateful for his help or afraid of what he would do to me when Rose let the cat out of the bag that I was her father.
I saw the looks of confusion pass across my mother and sister's faces as Rose and Lexie greeted Mazur. Viktoria shot me the WTF look. I shrugged resuming conversation with my mother.
"Grandpa Abe do you know my grandma?" Lexie asked dragging him to the table by his hand.
"Sure I do. Grandma Janine and I live together remember?" he chuckled. This was not good. She was about to blow our cover right in front of my mother and in front of Abe. I was a dead man walking.
Rose must have sensed the same thing because she looked like she were going to be ill. As if in slow motion Lexie opened her mouth again.
"No silly grandpa Abe, I mean Daddy's mommy," she said pointing to my mother who smiled. She of course had no idea what was happening. Boy did they pick the wrong day to visit. Wasn't it bad luck to die on your birthday?
He narrowed his eyes and looked between Rose and I and then between Lexie and I. I could see the wheels in his head turning as he made the connection. Yep I was a dead man for sure.
"You!" he growled. "Outside right now." I nodded grateful that he wasn't going to kill me in front of my family.
Rose shot me a worried look as I followed Abe outside. I smiled at her and my family who had really confused looks on their faces. I didn't want to show fear. We walked back into the wooded area behind the house. This was so not good. No one could hear him kill me all the way out here. He wouldn't really hurt me would he?
The answer to my questions hit me in the form of a fireball directly to the chest and damn did it hurt. I grasped my chest as I doubled over in pain. It took all I had to remain on my feet.
"You bastard!" he snarled.
"She was seventeen! For all these years I thought it was some dumb teenage boy who had knocked up my daughter and broken her heart, but it was you! You were her teacher! You were seven years her elder for God's sake. How could you do that to her?" His voice became more menacing with each sentence he hurled at me.
"Sir, if you could just calm down, we can discuss this rationally." I tried reasoning with him.
"Rationally? You of all people should know I do not have a rational side when it comes to the man who ripped out my daughter's heart!" He shot fire at me with such ferocity that even with my quick reflexes I just barely managed to avoid it grazing my arm.
"What the hell were you thinking having an inappropriate sexual relationship with your student? You should be arrested and tried for statutory rape!"
The fire kept coming and it was all I could do to avoid most of it.
"Where the hell were you these past seven years? I'll tell you where you were. You were being a coward leaving Lord Ivashkov to clean up your mess and take care of my little girl when she was broken beyond repair. You left my daughter to raise your child on her own. You deserve nothing short of a slow painful, torturous death," He hit me again with a fire ball and I went down hard. He'd knocked the wind out of me with that last one and I could hardly breathe.
"I can't believe I trusted you around my daughter and granddaughter. You are nothing but a coward who preyed on my daughter's innocence and they don't need you messing up their lives. You are not good enough for them," he raged hovering over me. I knew if I fought back there would be hell to pay so I stayed still and took it. He was about to fire another one straight at my face and I closed my eyes in anticipation of the shock.
"Baba no!" Roza cried out loudly. I could hear the panic in her voice.
"Why not?" he roared.
"I love him," she cried throwing herself in front of me. I knew he wouldn't hurt her, but having her protect me like this showed just how far we'd come from where we'd been. I sighed in relief trying to catch my breath.
"You love him? How could you love him after what he did to you? He took advantage of you. He left you," his voice softened as he spoke to her.
"He may have left me, but he didn't take advantage of me. I knew exactly what I was doing Baba, I wasn't a child."
"You were seventeen," he argued. "He was your mentor."
"Yes, but I loved him and he loved me," she stood up for me. "I wanted to be with him."
"He left you pregnant."
"He didn't know. I never told him. He didn't know until two months ago. Please Baba. Lexie knows him now and she loves him and so do I. Just let it go," she pleaded. "If you love me and Lexie you'll let it go."
He sighed heavily glaring at me.
"Your life will be spared because I will not hurt my daughter by taking away the man she loves," he said gruffly. "Just know that you are undeserving of her love and make no mistake. If you screw up again, I will hunt you down!" With that being said he stalked away.
"Are you okay?" Roza asked kneeling beside me where I still lay on the ground.
"Do you need Lissa to heal you?" she asked searching my body for wounds.
"No, it wasn't actual fire," I told her coughing a little. It hurt like hell, but I had no actual marks on my body.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't know he'd actually hurt you," she whispered pulling me into her arms cradling my head on her lap.
"It's over now. Everything is fine and to be honest. I deserved it. If someone had done to Lexie what I did to you. I would murder them in cold blood," I admitted.
She laughed a little through her tears. "I love you," she said.
"I love you more than anything," I responded kissing her softly on the lips. She helped me to my feet and I put my arms around her allowing her to support some of my weight as I was still slightly weak from the effects of Abe's magic.
As we started back towards the house I noticed my mother and sister standing at the edge of the woods gaping at us in shock. I wondered exactly how much of that they'd witnessed. By the looks on their faces I was guessing it was a lot.
Hmm how many of you thought Abe was too hard on him? Personally I thought he got off easy. What do you think his mother will say? Remember Janine hasn't put in her two cents yet either=) 2 updates in 2 days show me some love!