Chapter 25: Dimka's Home

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy

OPOV

"Mama, Karo, Sonya!"

"Vika, what is it? You needn't scream. It's hardly befitting a princess," I scolded my youngest daughter as she came skittering into the dining room screeching at the top of her lungs.

"Dimka's home!" she cried breathlessly as she skidded to a halt.

I rose from my chair abruptly. "Are you sure?" I asked.

She nodded excitement flushing her cheeks. "His jet pulled up a half an hour ago."

"Did she say Dimka's home?" My eldest daughter Karolina came into the room with her son Paul trailing behind her.

"Uncle Dimka's home?" he asked having missed his uncle terribly in his absence.

"Nothing is confirmed and I've given no such clearance for a plane to land on our strip."

"I don't need clearance, I am the future King." My son's voice brought tears of joy to my eyes as I turned around to face him.

"Dimka," I cried rushing forward to hug my only son.

"I'm sorry for being gone so long Mama, but it was important."

"I believe you. I'm just glad you're home and that you're okay."

"Me next!" Viktoria cried pulling me away from him so she could hug her brother. The two of them were very close.

"Where were you?" she cried punching his shoulder quite hard. "You didn't say goodbye."

"I'm sorry," he apologized good naturedly.

"You look like hell," Karo greeted him with a once over and a small hug.

"Thanks," he replied. "Glad to know you're still my big sister," he groaned. They'd always had a very honest relationship.

"What have you been up to and what is that mark on your face?" she asked. He did look very stressed out and he'd lost some weight.

"It's nothing to worry about," he said brushing off her concern. "I'll be sure to tell you all about where I was tomorrow, but right now I need to talk to Mama alone," he said detaching Paul from his leg. He hadn't stopped clinging to him since he walked in the room. He'd looked up to Dimka ever since his father had passed from a sudden stroke when he was five.

When we were alone he collapsed into a chair slumping over onto the table.

"Ivana! Bring some tea," I commanded before rushing to his side in concern.

"What's going on Dimka and don't lie to me. Something is wrong."

"Nothing is wrong Mama, I am just jet lagged. I have some good news."

"We need some ice for his face too," I said touching the purplish bruise that was forming on his cheek.

I eyed him closely as he sipped his tea. He didn't look like he had good news. He looked like he was preparing for a funeral.

"When is the last time you shaved?" I asked for the first time noticing how he was groomed or rather how he was not.

"Are you wearing blue jeans?"

"Yes, Mama, these are blue jeans," he said smirking.

"You know how I hate that sort of casual attire. What would your father say?"

"Don't go there," he warned his face darkening.

"It doesn't matter what he would have said. He is gone and I will be King in a matter of months."

"I'm sorry," I apologized. I hadn't meant it that way, but I knew he had trouble speaking about his father. I should have known better than to bring him up especially when he was this on edge.

"What is your good news?" I asked changing the subject.

"I will be announcing my choice for a bride very soon," he said smiling half-heartedly.

My eyes widened in shock. "You've found a bride?" I asked.

"That is where I have been," he admitted. That was definitely not what I'd expected he'd been doing all this time.

"But what about Princess Natasha?" I asked having always thought he would take her as his bride because of their friendship.

"Mama, I don't know how many times I've told you, I don't love Tasha. She's lovely and proper and would make a perfect wife, but not for me.

"Well then who?" I asked burning with curiosity.

"Are you saying you've fallen in love?" I asked.

"I have," he replied without offering more details. He certainly was tight lipped for a man who claimed to be in love.

"With who and where? You've managed to stay out of the news for nearly eight months."

She couldn't possibly be royal. What would people say if he had brought home a commoner for a wife? What would I say?

"Her name is Rose and we've been courting in secret in Chicago for the past eight months."

"How did you meet her? Where is she from?" The kingdom would not look friendly upon a commoner as their queen, but even less friendly upon a commoner who was not of Russian decent.

"I believe you've heard of King Mazur's daughter."

My jaw dropped. "You're engaged to Princess Rosemarie Mazur?"

"She prefers to go by Rose, but yes," he said snatching a piece of leftover black bread that was on the table from dinner.

"How in the world did you arrange that? Is she even of legal age?"

"She just turned nineteen."

"I'm sorry,it's just that I didn't even know she was on the market. Last I'd heard Ibrahim Mazur was very concerned with keeping his daughter out of the media."

"Don't say things like that. She was never on the market. She isn't a piece of real estate," he growled.

"I'm sorry," I apologized again. He really must have fallen for her to be that defensive. I'd never seen him like that about a woman before.

"So where is she?" I asked.

"She's gone to her chambers. She's had a long flight and wanted to rest before meeting the family."

"I see, which wing did you put her in?"

"She's in the south wing in the Amberwood Room."

"That is quite far. Are you sure she wouldn't be more comfortable in the Dashkov suite?"

"She requested private quarters and I would like to accommodate her wishes. She is quite overwhelmed and has lived quite a sheltered life away from the politics and antics of the other royals. I would like to ease her into it gradually. Please refrain from announcing anything or telling my sisters until we are ready. I hope to do it later in the week."

"Whatever you wish. I'm happy for you," I said wondering just how all of this came about. He says he fell in love with her, but I found that difficult to swallow. There had to be more to it than that. Why so secretive?

"I look forward to meeting her. How is brunch tomorrow?"

"I think a bit too soon, maybe dinner would be better. She needs time to settle in and get some sleep."

"Dinner it is, how is eight?"

"That will be fine. I think I am going to retire for the evening. Goodnight Mama, I love you."

"I love you too Dimka," I told him as he retreated to his chambers.

RPOV

A car picked us up from the air strip and took us through the gates leading up to the sprawling grounds of the royal palace. Most people would be impressed by the lavish gardens, the opulent statues and the intricacy of the cobble stone paths. I wasn't one of them. All I saw when I looked at this place was a prison.

"My mother will expect to meet you," Dimitri said causing me to break my vow of never speaking to him again.

"Well I don't want to meet her!" I huffed defiantly.

"You're going to have to meet my family. It isn't negotiable."

"Who says I want to negotiate. I'm not doing it and you can't make me."

"So you're just going to stay in your room and never come out?" he asked. I could tell I was testing his patience and he was fighting to control his voice and his words.

"Isn't that how this whole princess locked in a tower thing works?" He of course ignored my rude comment and went right on talking.

"What if tonight we get you settled into your room and then tomorrow you can meet my family," he bargained.

"Nope."

"Just my mother," he said in exasperation.

"Fine," I bit out. "I'm not wearing one of those stupid foofy dresses. You won't be choosing my wardrobe, got it!"

"You can wear whatever you want," he acquiesced.

"Fine, but just her," I warned. Of course I wasn't going to tell him this, but as soon as he left me in my room I was going to lock the door and never come out. I had to get there first so at this point I was going to make it difficult for him, but agree to whatever he wanted just so I could get away from him.

He led us in through the back of the building and we must have walked through a mile's worth of dark corridors before arriving at our destination.

"This is the Amberwood Room. It's furthest from basically anywhere in the palace. You wanted seclusion, you got it," he said opening the door to the first room on the left.

"Everything you need is already here and anything you want Mason will be sure to provide. Miss Petrov, your room is the second door on the left. I trust you will find it to your liking. Welcome to Russia and I hope you enjoy your stay." She thanked him and Eddie took her things into her room.

"My chambers are straight down this corridor and to the left. The kitchen and dining area is to the right and all the way at the end of the hall is where my mother and sisters stay. I will have the staff bring you some dinner and I will come back to check on you in the morning."

"Don't trouble yourself," I grumbled tossing my purse down on the sofa.

"Roza, this doesn't have to be as unpleasant as you are making it. I get that you're angry and you have every right to be. Please try to relax here and make yourself comfortable. It will be your home for a long time. Everything I have is yours and I want you to get along well."

"I'll be fine, just go," I snapped.

"Goodnight," he said before closing the door behind him.

I sat down on the bed taking a good look around my new jail cell. It was just as I expected. There were thick curtains covering beautiful bay windows, the carpet was thick and luxurious and a deep red with a gold pattern. The bed was much the same. It was large with red and gold adornments. There was a large sitting area with a couch, two arm chairs and a small table. In one corner was an old fashioned desk with a reading lamp and in the other a vanity filled with toiletries and a large mirror.

The bathroom was to the left of that and looked clean, but out of date.

"It figures he'd put me in the wing that had come from the dark ages," I muttered looking for a place to charge my phone. I realized after finding it that I would need a special adapter. I sighed in frustration realizing that was probably the only reason he allowed me to keep it. There wasn't even a television or a radio in here to keep me entertained.

A knock at the door pulled me out of my wallowing. "It's me Mason. I have the rest of your things," he said carrying in three huge suitcases that I didn't remember packing.

"What are those?" I asked.

"Dimitri had them packed and overnighted. He wanted you to have all of your things. Your father also sent quite a few things that are out in the storage facility. I will have them brought in tomorrow."

"Whatever," I said flopping down on the bed.

"He's not a bad guy you know," he said taking a seat on the couch.

"Who asked you? Last I checked you were lying to Jill. Does she know?" I asked sitting upright.

"Not yet. I am waiting for clearance from Dimitri to fly back so I can tell her in person. I don't want her to find out over the phone. You won't tell her will you?" He seemed apprehensive and I felt bad.

"I won't tell her. She deserves to know, but it isn't my place. I get why you lied. It wasn't your fault. This is all my fault," I groaned.

"How do you figure?" he asked.

"If I would never have come to Chicago, none of this would have happened."

"So you regret all of it even meeting your friends, working at the diner, going to art school?"

"Well no, none of those things. I do regret meeting Dimitri and I regret that because of that my friends are suffering."

"It isn't your fault. We made the choice to get involved with them. If anyone is to blame the it is us. You're innocent in this Rose and I can't tell you how sorry I am that this is happening. I just want you to remember that even though it seems like it now, not all of what you and Dimitri had was bad. Some of it was really good. Take it from the guy who had to follow you everywhere. You seemed happy."

I stared at him completely flabbergasted by his ignorance.

"Do you really not see that what you just said is exactly the problem?"

"What?" he asked dumbfounded.

"You were following us. How dare anyone follow me anywhere Princess or not!" I roared. "Don't you see how wrong that was?"

"That is exactly what I don't want. I want to be free. I don't want guardians hovering around watching me make-out with my boyfriend or infiltrating my workplace or fraternizing with my friends. It's one of the main reasons I hate this life!"

He looked a little scared at my outburst and I couldn't say I blamed him.

"Didn't any of you at any point wonder if what you were doing was wrong? What kind of morals do you have?"

"We knew, we all knew including him, but it isn't that easy Rose. This is my job and I need it. Your father would have me killed on the spot if something happened to you."

I felt slightly bad for the guy. "I know it is your job, but Dimitri had a choice. He could have said no to my father. He could have left me alone." By now the exhaustion was hitting me full force. The staff had brought me a tray, but the last thing I felt like doing right now was eating.

"I'm going to bed now. I hope things work out for you and Jill," I said sincerely.

"Me too," he replied taking his leave.

"Alberta!" I called through the connecting door. She had been leaving me to my privacy, but I needed her. I didn't want to sleep alone tonight.

She opened the door and came inside wearing her nightgown all ready for bed.

"My dear sweet child," she said rubbing my back in soothing circles and I broke down in her arms.

"I know it seems like the end of the world right now, but things will get better. I promise," she said picking me up off the floor where I'd fallen into a crumpled heap setting me on the bed.

"You'll feel better once your mind has had time to rest."

I had serious doubts about that, but physically I was unable to remain awake.

DPOV

I lie awake all night unable to purge my mind of the memory of her face when she figured out the truth. It had been haunting me all day. It was also hard to sleep without her next to me. I'd become so accustomed to holding her that I felt bereft now that she was nearly a half a mile down the hall. Hell her apartment hadn't been as far from me as she was right now. As far away as she was physically, emotionally she may as well have been on Jupiter. I'd never felt more alone than I did right now.

I had to figure out a plan of action. I needed to help her get over her anger and remind her that she had in fact fallen in love with the real me. That was one of the reasons I fell in love with her. It was okay for me to be myself around her. I hadn't had to keep up royal pretenses and be proper and live up to such high expectations. I had confided things in her about my father and my childhood that I'd never have been able to tell any other woman even Tasha.

I had no idea what to do with her tomorrow. She didn't want to see me or talk to me and I had a feeling it was going to be difficult to get her to cooperate with any of the things I needed her to do in the upcoming weeks.

I woke early after just having fallen asleep. My phone was buzzing.

"Belikov," I grumbled picking it up.

"I take it from your less than cheery demeanor that it blew up in your face?"

"What do you want Ozera?" I so did not have the energy to deal with him right now.

"I told Lissa and she freaked out and is demanding to talk to Rose. We're on our way to the airport to go back to Chicago right now."

I sat up pinching the bridge of my nose. "

"Why doesn't she just call her cell?" I asked wondering why he was telling me this.

"Duh, it doesn't work in Russia!"

I had entirely forgotten that her phone was incapable of receiving calls in this part of the world and that she probably wouldn't be able to charge it without some sort of adapter.

"I'll work on it," I told him stumbling to the bathroom.

"Is she upset with you?" I asked.

"Currently she's giving me the silent treatment," he responded sadly.

"I'm sorry."

"Nah, it's cool. She's not so much mad at me as she is at you. She's more mad at me for associating with you if anything."

"Well I hope she comes around. Look, I need to go. I'll talk to you later."

I stepped into the shower spray grateful for the massaging showerhead I had installed last year. My neck was so stiff, I could barely move it and my back felt like a truck had run over it repeatedly. The stress had finally reached a point where my body had given up fighting and with no sleep last night, I doubted today was going to go well for me.

After shaving and putting on what my mother would deem and acceptable form of clothing, I headed off to try my luck at getting Rose to talk to me.

"Roza," I knocked on the door lightly. She probably wasn't awake yet.

There was no answer. I called for her several more times and my banging increased, but still she did not respond.

"Don't make me use my key Roza," I warned.

"Go to hell!" she called from the other side of the door.

I sighed taking out my master key turning it in the lock.

I expected to find her locked in the bathroom or something silly like that, but instead she was sitting in bed in a long nightshirt staring blankly out the window.

"Breakfast will be here in a few minutes," I told her hoping that would cheer her up a bit.

She shrugged. "Not hungry." It was then that I noticed her dinner from last night sitting on its tray seemingly untouched.

"My mother would like to have dinner with us this evening so I can properly introduce you."

She didn't respond or look at me.

"It's at eight o'clock. I figure that will give you time to unpack your things and get settled in."

Ivana arrived with a breakfast tray set up for two.

"You really thought I was going to eat with you?" she snorted taking in the contents of the tray.

"Uh, no, I think my mother must have told her to do this."

"Well you can tell her to take it back."

"You haven't eaten since before we got on the plane," I reminded her.

"Eating only prolongs my miserable life," she deadpanned.

"Rose, it isn't healthy not to eat," I chastised her.

"Who asked you? In fact, I don't remember inviting you in. Get out!"

"I just came by to tell you that.."

"I said get out!" she screeched grabbing the tray of food and hurling it at me. I barely managed to duck as it crashed into the wall behind me.

I shook my head. "Dinner is at eight. I will be back to get you," I said vacating the room quickly.

I tried to be nice. I was going to let her use my phone to call Lissa, but if she was going to throw things at me, she wasn't going to get anywhere.

I locked myself up in the throne room busying myself with paperwork that had been piling up and looking over new edicts and bills that had come in from the council and were awaiting my approval.

"Dimka, I thought I'd find you in here," my mother's voice was a welcoming tone after having been gone so long.

"I thought I would catch up on some things before dinner."

"Why aren't you with Rose? Did you give her a tour of the palace?"

"She's still busy unpacking," I lied. I had serious doubts about whether she would unpack her things at all.

"I see, well I can't wait to meet her tonight." I grimaced. She might be looking forward to this evening, but I sure wasn't. Who knew what kind of antics Rose would pull at dinner. My mother was bound to notice that something was not right between us.

It was a quarter to eight and I was standing again outside of Rose's room begging her to open the door.

"Roza, please," I pleaded. I half expected her to scream something through the door, but her silence unnerved me.

I was just about to use my key when the door opened.

"Oh thank God," I breathed until I realized it wasn't Rose who had opened the door.

"Miss Petrov," I greeted her nurse.

"Your highness," she said bowing her head.

"There is no need for such formalities. You may call me Dimitri," I told her feeling awkward.

"Is Rose ready to go?" I asked trying to peer around her into the room.

"I'm afraid she isn't."

"Well that is okay, I can wait."

"No, you don't understand. She is not coming," she said speaking to me in our native tongue.

"What do you mean not coming?"

"She wishes for me to tell you and I do apologize in advance for the profane language. Her exact words were eat shit and die," she said seemingly embarrassed as she passed along the message.

I shook my head in disbelief.

"May I come in and speak with her?" I asked not wanting to overstep.

"I don't believe that is a wise decision. She's in a foul mood and I can't say she won't make use of any sharp objects in the room."
"I'll take my chances," I grumbled.

"Suit yourself," she said before stepping aside.

"Rose, it's time for dinner with my mother," I said trying to remain calm. She was sitting exactly where she had been this morning having neither showered nor dressed.

She didn't look at me.

"Rose did you hear what I said?" I repeated.

Again she remained silent.

"Rose this is unacceptable behavior for a future Queen and I will not tolerate it. You don't have to like me, hell you don't have to speak to me, but you will get out of that bed, shower, put on some clothes and come to dinner," I said firmly.

"Who's going to make me? Are you going to use force?" she asked defiantly in an icy tone knowing full well she had me by the balls. My mother was expecting us and this made me look bad and she knew it.

"Rose, please," I said sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"If you want me to go then you're going to have to drag me, because I'm not leaving this bed."

"You will tire of being in here eventually," I told her rising to my feet.

"Ha, that's what you think. I once stayed in my room for two hundred and eight days straight," she said crossing her arms.

I looked to Alberta for confirmation.

"It's true, she's stubborn as a mule," she responded.

"I heard that! You know I do speak Russian," she growled.

"Rose you're being childish," I chastised her.

"What do I care? You've ruined my life and now you can suffer the consequences. You see, this room is rather boring and I've had all day to think of ways to make your life miserable starting with not going to dinner, so get used to it. You wanted a wife, well you got one. Didn't anyone ever tell you that marriage is hell?"

"I will tell my mother you aren't feeling well, but this is a one day pass. I expect you to be presentable first thing in the morning," I told her.

"Don't hold your breath," she muttered.

"I'll send dinner in for you."

"Don't bother."

"You have to eat."

"Says who?"

I left the room before I put my fist through the wall. She was going to be the death of me. My patience was waning thin and it was all I could do not to drag her out of bed and toss her into the bathtub fully clothed.

I took a deep breath and entered the dining room alone prepared to face my mother's interrogation.

"Dimka," she greeted me with kisses on the cheeks.

She looked behind me focusing her attention on the door.

"Where is Rose?" she asked.

"Rose is not feeling well and sends her regrets for not being able to join us," I told her taking my usual seat.

"I'm sorry to hear that. If she is ill, shouldn't you be tending to her needs?" she asked.

"Her nurse is with her. She knows I haven't seen you in a long time and urged me to keep our dinner so we could visit." This was just great. I was beginning to be such a good liar, I scared myself with the ease at which I could make up a believable excuse at will.

"Well that was thoughtful of her. She must be such a sweet girl," she said taking her seat as well. Sweet would not be the word I would use to describe Rose right now.

"When do you think you'll want to have the wedding?" she asked as Ivana brought in the first course.

I nearly choked on my borsht.

"I think I will allow Rose to have her say before I commit to anything, after all women are very particular when it comes to planning those things."

"You are very right about that. Viktoria isn't even betrothed yet and she's already planning her wedding," she said with a laugh. I winced at the idea of my sister being married off. After seeing what it had done to Rose, I wasn't sure it was the best way to go about things.

"Tell me how you met," she asked wanting to hear all about it not knowing that recalling the details from when we were happy was killing me slowly inside. Regardless of my feelings, I needed to play the part so I launched into a somewhat true story of the way we met.

"We met at a small café in Chicago. She recommended a very good meal for me and I was intrigued. As it turned out we both frequented the place and it became sort of a routine to meet up there. After that I asked her on a proper date."

"That sounds very romantic. Why Chicago?"

"She had contacts there and we both wanted to stay under the radar. It was the perfect setting to get to know each other."

"Do you have any photographs?" she asked as the main course arrived.

"I do actually," I said pulling out my wallet. I'd taken it upon myself to carry a photo of us that was taken the day we'd gone ice skating.

"Wow, she is very beautiful. I've seen photos, but never of her smiling like this. You two seem very happy together."

"We were," I said staring at the photo for a few seconds before putting it away. I only wished that someday we would be that happy again.

Wow this was nearly 5000 words! I think that deserves a review. I know Rose may seem childish, but remember she's only 19. No offense to all the teens out there, but I remember that age and I was just like her. Do you think she can avoid the family forever? What will they think of her? Will she embarrass him? Review please=)