Hello everyone! I'm back again with another chapter. Thank you for all your reviews once again!
Shout out to katnipsc and littledhampir13 for suggesting ideas for this chapter.
Onward with this one now, shall we? The drama returns and some new secrets are revealed! Let's see, how many you can guess?
Enjoy!
"Is everything set according to the plan?" the moroi asked briskly, pulling on his expensive coats.
"Yes." Shade replied, in a rare tone of seriousness.
"How many students and Guardians will be there?" the moroi inquired further.
"There will be Vasilisa, Christian Ozera, Rose, Belikov, Novice Edison Castile, Natalie and Aditya Szelsky." Shade stated the facts he had acquired from his contacts inside the academy. "As for the Guardians, there will be four academy guardians for the royal students, two for Vasilisa, one for Christian and another for Natalie. Aditya will be having three of his own guardians. Besides Rose and Castile will be armed."
"Hmmm…" the moroi mused. "How many vehicles are they taking?"
"Two SUVs and Aditya Szelsky will be in his own vehicle. Daylight will be in few hours, they'd be leaving at seven, so that they reach Missoula just in time the mall opens. Plan is to return as early as possible."
The moroi nodded his head, "Is it ready?" he asked.
Shade smiled. "Yes. I'll have the person contact me as soon as they leave, so that it could be executed smoothly. Tomorrow should be fine."
He further added, "Are you coming?"
"No, I've a meeting to attend, but you're not coming with me."
Shade's eyebrows rose in confusion.
"Someone has to stay back and make sure nothing messes up." the moroi explained. "And clearly, you couldn't go to the meetings in my place, so you have to stay back."
"And who'll be your substitutes?" Shade asked. He may not like his charge very much, but his safety wasn't the thing he would ever compromise with. And besides, what they've been plotting wouldn't ever fall into action if he were dead. Shade may have been doing all the works, gathering the information and executing the plans, but that was it. He was just the muscle in his dirty work. If it wasn't him, then some other person would've been doing all this in his place.
"I'm taking Ben and Campbell," he replied. Shade nodded his head, agreeing with him. The moroi looked at him curiously.
"Take this as a compliment, but you are much efficient and very less annoying today. I like it." The moroi said, a bit surprised at Shade's serious demeanor. By this time, he would've flung a pile of snide and sarcastic comments at him, rolling his eyes.
As if reading his mind, at that very instant, Shade rolled his eyes. "Grow up old man," he said "You know how important this is for me. I wouldn't be here, working with you in this criminal mission if I didn't see any profit in it."
"That be true." The moroi mused. "But I'm still your moroi and charge. Start showing some fucking respect!"
"My papa once told me – 'You can never force a person to respect you. Respect is always earned.'"
"Well, at least your Papa was smart!" he snapped. "Now, get back to work!"
Shade's lips curled up in a half smile, as he saw his charge fume and walk away, slamming the door hard. He loved annoying him!
"Hey love" Christian said, hugging Lissa from behind. They were now standing the academy's parking lot, secured by the sun lights, waiting for everyone to join them.
"Hi." Lissa replied, giggling when she felt her boyfriend snuggle into her neck and placing small kisses on her exposed skin.
He turned her around, arms still circling her waist. "You look so beautiful today," his voice was full of adoration for the girl who had claimed his heart.
Lissa blushed and looked down, playing with the button of his shirt. "You say that every day."
"Because it's the truth," Christian replied, tightening his hold around her. Lissa giggled and leaned in to kiss him. He met her halfway, capturing her lips in the sweetest kiss.
"Ahem ahem."
A voice broke them apart, making Christian and Lissa turn around to find their intruder.
"You're timing's impeccable!" Christian grunted seeing Dimitri leaning on the SUV, arms crossed casually with a teasing smile on his face.
"Well, It's not me sucking my girlfriend's face in the open daylights," Dimitri teased, grinning broadly at Lissa's red face and Christian's annoyed one.
"Am I late?" Eddie called out, running across the plot to catch up with his friends.
"If you're talking about seeing Christian and Vasilisa make out, then yes, you missed it by just few seconds," Dimitri's grin stayed. It was fun annoying them both. He had purposely used 'Vasilisa' instead of the princess's preferred name to see her nose scrunch up. And he got the desired results.
"How many times have I told you NOT to call me Vasilisa? I'm starting to think that you're doing it on purpose now, just to rile me up!" Lissa said, moving away from her boyfriend's embrace to glare up at the tall moroi.
Lissa was sure that her 'temporary feelings' for Dimitri had just been that, temporary! She still didn't know what had caused them to surface, but she was happy that they were gone now, and for good, she hoped.
"Believe me, he does!" Eddie chuckled seeing the scene play out in front of him. He knew that Dimitri was doing it on purpose.
Lissa huffed and Christian shook his head, not sure if to be amused or annoyed at his best friend's antics.
"Don't leave without me!"
Rose's muffled voice called out from across the parking lot as she approached them running, with a bagel half in her mouth and half in her hand. Dimitri stood straighter, the grin on his face, transforming into a sweet smile as he saw her come closer.
"Huh. I reached in time!" Rose said victoriously, though it would've had more effect if the bagel was not muffling her words.
"Jeez! What kind of girl are you!" Christian said in a disgusted tone, watching Rose swallow the last morsel of her bagel.
"The same kind, who is going to kick your ass if you don't shut up right now," Rose said with her usual sass.
Christian narrowed his eyes at her, "I don't even know what he's sees in you!" Christian said pointing at Dimitri. "You're so….so…." Racking his brain for the right word, he finally came up with one, "….improper!"
"Well, I've been asking Lissa the same question for three years now," Rose said checking out Christian from head to toe. "Because I'm damn sure, I see nothing!"
"Okay stop now!" Lissa said, interrupting their banter as usual. "Christian, stop being mean to Rose and Rose, stop insulting him all the time!"
"Well, I can't help if he insists on being a prick…"
"Rosemarie!"
Janine's hard voice caught all of them by surprise, making them jump. Rose turned around to see her mother. Rose wasn't sure why she sounded annoyed but she wasn't going to find out!
"What kind of language are you speaking?!" Janine said angrily. "Apologize to Lord Ozera!"
"Wha…"
"I said APOLOGIZE!"
Rose startled and took a step back at her mother's furious tone. Was she really angry about her bantering with Christian?
"Guardian Hathaway," Christian said. "It's totally alright. Rose meant it in jest. We were just bantering, nothing serious."
"Yes, Guardian Hathaway. It's nothing serious." Lissa supplied.
"It is serious when a Guardian forgets his discipline!" Janine snapped. Turning to Rose again, she said, "This is what you've learnt? Huh? I expected something better of you when they told me you are the best novice of the year." Janine snorted.
"What are you talking about?" Rose whispered in disbelief. After working this hard to secure her ranks amongst the best, Rose wasn't sure what her mother wanted more. Tears pricked her eyes as she tried to blink them back. No matter what she did, her mother would always find something wrong in it. What did she want now?
"Enough!" Dimitri's voice caught everyone's attention. He stepped forward, standing in front of Rose, facing her furious mother. Janine's anger fueled five times as she saw him.
"Rose may be your daughter but you have no rights to insult her!" Dimitri said balling his hands into fists. "She has worked very hard to get to the top and something as trivial as bantering with her friends isn't going to mar her reputation or make anyone question her potential. What do you want? Huh? For her to turn like a stone guardian always following someone being their shadow, never speaking a word?"
"Lord Belikov." Janine's voice was colder than Antarctica. "Being a Royal moroi that you are, you've no idea what you're talking about."
"Believe me, I've every idea," Dimitri snorted.
"Comrade…"
"No, let me speak!" Dimitri's voice was hard. He then once again turned towards Janine. "I've every idea what this is about. What you are about. For years, you've just abandoned your daughter, not even sparing a second glance at her achievements and failures. For years, you've just ignored her as if she were nothing. Other than throwing a hundred dollar bill at her every month, you haven't been in contact with her. And now, that you've suddenly turned up unannounced, you think you have some right to question her? Worse, disgrace her in front of everyone, making fun of all her achievements? Let me tell you Guardian Hathaway, I will not allow this! You may be the best Guardian in the moroi world but you are the worst mother I've ever seen!"
"And who the hell do you think…."
"Janine!" Alberta's voice rang through the lot, making everyone turn their head and look in her direction. From the look on her face, it seemed that she had heard everything. Giving a silent order to Dimitri to back down through her eyes, she turned towards one of her close Guardian friend. "Lord Szelsky has taken his seat. Join your charge."
Janine turned to look at Dimitri. If looks could kill, he'd be dead by now, but luckily they didn't. She turned her eyes to see an apprehensive Rose standing beside him. Glaring at her, she grunted and left to board the vehicle in brisk steps.
Rose's shoulders almost sagged in relief watching her walk away. Dimitri turned towards her, taking her in a comforting hug.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" he asked sweetly, running his fingers through her still wet hair. Rose nodded in his chest but didn't reply. She was embarrassed to admit that two traitorous tears had escaped her eyes and fallen into Dimitri's shirt. He felt it, and let her compose herself.
When will this end? Rose thought. She was supposed to be strong! How can she be a Guardian if she was this weak? She stood up for everyone, but apparently, she couldn't stand up against her own mother for herself. She took a deep breath, taking in the comfort of Dimitri's scent.
"Rose, Princess? Please take your seats. We'll be leaving in few minutes." Alberta said politely.
"But Natalie isn't here," Lissa said still bummed upon the scene that had played out here just now. She was extremely upset for her best friend and angry at Janine. How can a mother be so cruel? She wanted to go and comfort Rose but she decided to let Dimitri have her for now.
"She's already in the car. She'll be going with Lord Szelsky and his Guardians. You, I, Rose, Castile, Lord Ozera and Lord Belikov along with two other guardians are following them in the next vehicle."
Lissa nodded, walking up to pull Rose who was still entwined with Dimitri. Dimitri shot her a glare and she rolled her eyes at him. Rose smiled weakly at her best friend.
"Christian, I'm sitting with Rose in the back. Take the front seats with Dimitri." Lissa ordered.
"But why? Rose is sitting with me!" Dimitri protested.
"No, she's not. You've had my best friend for too long now, and I want to spend some time with her!" Lissa said stubbornly, crossing her hands over her chest.
"But you always talk! Rose is sitting with me, and that is final!" Dimitri said.
"Oh yeah? And who are you to command me? Huh?" Lissa said narrowing her eyes at him.
"Did you forget my name? I'm Lord Dimitri Belikov and I want my girlfriend to sit with me!"
"Well in that case, Lord Belikov. My ranks are higher than yours. I am Princess Vasilisa Dragomir and I want my best friend to sit with me!" Lissa shouted in the end.
"Woah Woah Woah! Stop now!" Christian interrupted watching both of them apprehensively. Eyes narrowed and defiant stance, it looked as if no one was going to back down.
Out of nowhere, Rose broke out in laughter. And not just a giggle or a chuckle, but a full blown laugh! She was gasping for air as she said, "Oh my god! I can't believe you both." She laughed, "Were you seriously arguing on your ranks for the point who gets to sit with me?!" Where was her mother now? Rose would have given anything to look at her face right now!
Dimitri was annoyed. "You're sitting with me!"
Rose sobered in a few seconds. "No," she said but with a smile. "I want to sit with Lissa." Lissa's face broke into a victorious grin as she regarded the tall Russian moroi in front of her.
Before Dimitri could protest, Rose added, "You can have me in the ride back, Comrade. Please I just want to spend some time with Lissa. I haven't talked to her properly for days now!"
One look at her beautiful face and Dimitri knew he was gone. He grunted, "Fine!" in defeat. Rose smiled as he shook his head, thinking he would never be able to deny her anything. Ever.
They piled up in the car, Rose and Lissa taking the last seats, before barricading the entrance clearly saying 'Not allowed'. Dimitri and Christian took seats in the middle along with Eddie with Alberta driving and Guardian Russell taking shotgun.
The Guardians briefed everyone about the trip, revising the rules and regulations they had to follow, asking them not to wander alone, before giving a silver stake to both Eddie and Rose.
"Remember, this will be a training exercise." Alberta reminded the novices. "But a bit of fun won't harm anyone." she added with a hint of smile.
After a long three and a half hour drive, the entourage finally arrived at their destination, the Missoula mall.
The whole ride, Lissa and Rose had talked in hushed tones, Lissa initially consoling her best friend and reminding her that she was going to be the best guardian out there and advising her not to pay heed to her mother's words. And then demanding her to tell everything that has been going on with her!
Dimitri and Christian were reclined against the seats, with ear buds stuffed, fast asleep and Eddie was discussing something with Guardian Russell.
"So where were you yesterday? I couldn't get a hold of you!" Lissa asked.
"Uhm…" It was a very rare occurrence that Rose blushed but whenever she did, it was sure that it was about Dimitri.
"Oh my god, what happened? Why are you blushing?" Lissa asked excited and curious.
"Well," Rose checked that everyone was busy and that no one would be intruding her privacy right now and said in a hushed tone, "It was his birthday yesterday."
"And?" Lissa knew it was Dimitri's birthday. Christian had told her and she had given him greetings along with an expensive wrist watch as a gift. It was a tradition for royals to exchange gifts so this was nothing new. Besides, Christian had been bitching to her earlier because of their living room being jammed because of the wrapped boxes all around. Though, Lissa thought that he was just envious that Dimitri had got an Xbox as a present.
"And….I decided that it was time." Rose said playing with the invisible lint of her sleeve.
"So, did you?" Lissa asked excited. Rose nodded her head shyly. Lissa almost squealed, before Rose put a hand on her mouth to shut her up.
"Oh my god, Rose! You're no longer a virgin now! Tell me how was it? Was he good? Did you cum?"
"Liss…" Rose hissed. It wasn't that she was embarrassed to talk about it with Lissa, but she didn't want anyone to eavesdrop!
"Come on, tell me!" Lissa insisted, nudging her ribs.
"Fine!" Rose said, checking her privacy once again, before saying. "Two times!"
Little did she know that the songs in Dimitri's zune had paused and he was listening to her girlfriend telling her best friend how good he was in the bed, with a smile on his face.
"Lord Szelsky would be leaving with his guardians to attend some business in the town, so it will be only us for some time now." Alberta spoke, looking at the students and four other Guardians. Rose couldn't tell how thankful she was to hear that her mother would too be leaving.
"We'll go in two groups," Alberta said. "Princess, Rose, myself and Celeste and Natalie together and Lord Belikov, Ozera, Castile and Russell. Shinde and Matthews, you'll be guarding the perimeters. We'll meet each other after two hours."
Everyone nodded and left to do their shopping, Dimitri and Christian a little resistant to leave their girlfriends alone. Well, not alone as they were going together, but still!
"Oh my gosh, Liss! Look at this! You think it'll look good on me?" Natalie asked holding a pale yellow sundress in front of her. She has been doing this for the last one hour and had already bought half a dozen dresses.
"It'll look so pretty in you!" Lissa said.
"And Rose, look at this one! This is in your size." Natalie held a floral print sundress for her to check out.
"Uhm, this is pretty Natalie, but I won't get any occasion to wear it!" Rose said eyeing the horrible bright pink prints.
"Yeah, you're right." she muttered before moving to the next section.
"These thermals will do you?" Lissa asked holding up a grey shirt.
"Yes. I'll get one in black too," Rose said before digging in to pull out one in her size.
"We still haven't found you dress," Lissa said racking through the dresses hanged, trying to get THE dress for her best friend.
"But we found yours," Rose said, helping her friend to go through the dresses.
"Yeah, it's pretty, ain't it?" Lissa asked smiling.
Rose snorted. "Liss, you can wear a rag sack and still look beautiful!"
"That is true!" called a voice. Rose and Lissa turned to see Christian and Dimitri approaching them. Christian slipped his arm around Lissa's waist, stealing a kiss. Lissa giggled and kissed him back.
"Found you dress?" Lissa nodded.
"We are just looking for Rose's," Lissa said pushing her boyfriend away to look at the dresses again. Christian followed her anyway.
Rose caught Dimitri staring at her with a sweet smile in his face. She walked up to him, snaking a hand around his neck and pulling him close. He snaked his arm around her waist before bending down to kiss her.
"Have I told you how beautiful you look today?" he asked caressing her cheeks.
"Not that I remember," Rose said, biting her lips.
Dimitri groaned, tightening his hold on her, "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," he said, pecking her lips. "I don't know how I got so lucky!"
Rose smiled at her lover's words, wondering about her luck herself. "And I still remember yesterday," he whispered. Rose's cheeks grew pink as she recalled about the previous day. Both of them, naked and entwined and lost in one another, trying to pleasure the other as much as possible, she shivered.
"I can still imagine you under me, rubbing yourself," Dimitri said pleased to hear her breath getting caught on her throat. The hands in her waist moved lower as he gripped her hips, pulling her towards him, trying to show her his desire. "I can still taste you in my lips," he whispered in her ears. "You're so sweet baby…."
"I FOUND IT!" Lissa's voice broke them as they sprang apart in horror, finally registering that they were in public.
"Look Rose!" Lissa's voice caught her attention as she turned towards her, trying to calm her libido. Fuck!
"Yeah?" Rose asked.
"This is so you dress!" Lissa gushed holding the dress in front of her. Rose was awed. It was a simple black dress, strapless and backless, with a zipper going down all the way to her lower back. It was perfect!
But it would be a little scandalous with her figure. "Liss, do you think it'll be appropriate?"
Lissa looked confused. "Of course! It's so pretty. Isn't it Christian?"
"I think you'll look fat in this!" Christian said earning a whack on the back of his head.
"Don't listen to him, ask Dimitri. Hey," she called a still flustered Dimitri. "How do you think Rose will look in this dress?"
If having thoughts about last night wasn't enough, now Lissa was asking him to imagine Rose in that little black dress! But all he could think about was ripping that piece off her body!
"Well, I think you'd be dressed to kill in that," an accented voice said.
Rose's head snapped towards the source of the sound so did Lissa's and Dimitri's and Christian's.
Lissa and Rose looked confused at the arrival of a stranger, but Dimitri looked surprised, shocked even.
"Lord Belikov!" the person bowed down. He was a Dhampir, a guardian.
"Shade."
…there you go! Sorry for the late update!
So Shade's in the house! Any guesses what will happen next? Do tell me!
Liked it? Loved it? Hated it?
Leave me a review, tell me everything!
Love,
Lara.