Chapter 25

5 YEARS LATER

RPOV

My baby was a girl. So soft, sweet, beautiful little girl.

Teresa Belle Hathaway.

And that asshole took her from me.

Alexander took her from me the moment she was born and since then I was only allowed to see her for two hours a week. A week!

If I ever see Alexander again my hands will be trapped around his throat, taking the life out of him.

Every day it hurt me, an emotional pain to my heart and soul every time my little girl was taken away from me. She had brown hair and green eyes. She had unfortunately got the colour of her… fathers… eyes.

I shivered at the thought of her being anyone else's daughter other than Dimitri's. But I couldn't ignore the facts when they were right there staring me in the face.

I fidgeted restlessly as I sat on the edge of the double bed. I was dressed in a simple long dress. The room was quite warm and humid and so the fan on the ceiling turned slowly stirring the warm air around the room.

Tessa was due to see me in any minute now and I was desperate to see her. Each week when I saw her she was different in more ways than one. She was always taller, smarter and stronger. I knew that Alexander had her training already because she had the muscles and the strength that a five year old shouldn't have. She was just beautiful.

I was snapped out of my daydreaming when the door opened and one of Alexander's minions brought in Tessa.

My breath got caught in my throat at the sight of her. She was just so perfect and so innocent that she deserved better than to be here. Her life as she has known it was filled with nothing but running and darkness. She didn't yet know what life could have to offer her.

I briefly thought about Adrianna. Every day I thought about her at least ten times. I knew that she would have already started school and be beginning to learn the basic Dhampir mantra. They come first. My heart did a summersault in my chest at the thought of either one of my daughters being exposed to the sad and short life of a guardian.

Tessa's wide green eyes zeroed in on me immediately. I felt tears well up in my eyes as I gazed at her. She was the only one in this new life that I trusted and could stand touching me. Everyone else – even Mason and Andre, who stood off to the side watching us carefully and curiously, I couldn't stand them touching me. Their touch repulsed me and made me feel like I had hundreds of tiny bugs crawling under my skin.

My thoughts were again interrupted when Tessa whispered my name.

"Mum…"

I smiled as two tears trickled down my cheeks. "Hi sweetie," I breathed and crouched down and opened my arms, an invitation for her to run into them. Which she did.

My arms closed around her and I buried my head in her hair taking in the comfort of her delicious scent. Like coconuts and strawberries.

"Did you bring it?" I whispered in her ear, my lips covered by her hair so no one could see our silent exchange as she carefully slipped something imperceptibly in my pocket. I grinned against her neck and gently kissed it.

"Good girl. Your so, so clever my little angel." I breathed as I pulled back from her.

She smiled which brought out the two cute little dimples in her cheeks.

After Tessa was born I swore on breaking out of here and the only way I could do that was with Tessa's help.

Flashback:

A week before:

Tessa and I sat on my king size bed snuggled together relishing in the feeling of being together after a long and hard week.

"Tell me what Daddy is like again," She whispered to me.

I felt a stab to my heart as she looked up at me with her wide and innocent green eyes. Whenever she asked about her dad I always talked about Dimitri and let her believe that he was her father and that Alexander was the nasty and bad grandpa… which he was.

I swallowed thickly before answering her.

"Well… he is a very kind and gentle man, and I love him to bits. I love him as much as I love you and your sister."

Tessa looked at me with disbelieving eyes. "But that's a lot Mummy." She breathed.

I smiled. "I know baby."

I wrapped my arm around her tighter and she snuggled down into me like she felt safe there in my arms. I had no idea what she was witnessing outside of this room with Alexander but I don't think I wanted to know.

"Your Dad, his got the softest brown hair that I had ever felt-"

Tessa glanced up at me with hurt eyes. "Even softer than mine?"

I smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Not quite, but pretty close if you ask me." I said and she seemed happy with the answer that I gave her.

"And he has the most gorgeous brown eyes…" I said trailing off as I thought about the number of times I had gotten lost in the depth of those brown eyes that I loved so much and longed to see again.

"When am I going to meet him Mummy? I wanna see Daddy."

"I know baby, but we gotta break out of here first and take Uncle Mason and Uncle Andre with us. Do you remember what I asked you to do?"

She nodded. "I have to write down the code for the door, and get your stake out of its hiding place and steel Alexander's car keys from off his desk." She whispered so that we couldn't be overheard.

I nodded. "That's right baby. And where will you hide the stake for Mummy?"

"Behind the fake plant at the bottom of the stairs."

I nodded. "That's my good girl."

Tessa had drawn out a very messy but legible drawing of a layout of the building. When you went out of the door that kept me prisoner, there was a flight of stairs that ended at an elevator that took you down to the main lobby of the mansion when Abe had first blinded me with the blind-fold so I couldn't see where and how to get out of my room.

"And what are we going to do next week when you bring me back the code for the door?" I asked.

I knew that she already knew of the plan like I did but I just wanted to double check. I couldn't risk her forgetting some small detail which could fuck everything up and then our one chance at escape could be gone.

"When they come to grab me I'm going to make a big fuss out of being taken away from you so that Ivanna follows me out with Abe and Victor, so that you are only left with Uncle Mason and Uncle Andre."

I nodded. "Then what?" I asked quietly while gently stroking her hair lovingly.

"Then you are going to break Uncle Mason and Uncle Andre out of their compulsion so that they can help you escape and get us out of here."

I again nodded. "And where will you meet me?"

In the lobby area where I will continue to pretend to cry."

I smiled and hugged her to my chest and she wrapped her arms around my neck in response.

"I love you sweetie." I breathed.

"I love you too Mummy."

End of flashback:

"Is the stake behind the fake plant?" I whispered.

Again she nodded to me.

I smiled and hugged her to me again.

"Today's the day sweetie. We are finally getting out of this place." I breathed and just the mere thought of that brought tears of joy to my eyes.

"I'm scared Mummy," she whispered and hugged me tighter.

I 'shhhed' her and stroked her back. "I know baby. But I won't let anything happen to you. We can do this. We just got to keep it a secret between us ok? And not even Uncle Mason or Uncle Andre can know until I've broken the compulsion.

"How are you going to do that?" she asked wiping tears off her delicate little cheeks.

"I dunno yet baby, but I have to get rid of their necklaces. That's what is controlling the compulsion." I explained and Tessa nodded her little head.

"Tell me what Alexander is getting you to do baby. What has he been getting you to do? More training? Or…?"

"Um, just more running and that," She said playing with her fingers and not looking at me.

"What's the matter baby?" I asked getting protective.

After Alexander had raped me I didn't trust anyone. I didn't even trust Mase and Andre even though they were my best friends and were like brothers to me I couldn't help but be a little afraid of them. Every bone and instinct in my body was telling me to run and never look back. to just grab Tessa and hid in the darkest caves that I could find and never surface to the real world ever again.

But I need Dimitri.

I needed him as much as I knew he needed me.

But I'm terrified of him. He promised me that he would never let anyone hurt me again or let Alexander touch me. And he allowed both to happen. I felt like I couldn't trust him… or anybody for that matter.

I felt kind of betrayed because not only had Dimitri not even bothered to try and find me, but Lissa never sent me messages through the bond, and Adrian never, not once, visited me in my dreams despite the amount of sleepless nights I tried to call out to him with my mind.

But not once did he come to see me.

It is almost like my old friends and Dimitri were just a figment of my past and that they couldn't care about me at all anymore. But who could blame them?

I was the psychotic best friend and lover that had the random breakdowns and was damaged. I knew that now I was damaged beyond repair. No amounts of therapy of shopping or friends could make me forget what had happened to me here or even in the dark basement with Nathan. I had a living and breathing reminder of Alexander at my side right now, and I couldn't bring myself to leave her or abandon her.

I wouldn't become what my mother was.

A failure.

Tessa deserved more than this. She deserved to see the world and live life. To fall in love and experience heart break. To know what friendship means and what being in a classroom is like. She should know what it feels like to have a real and whole family who love you. She shouldn't know what betrayal is and what it was like to just know your mother and be able to see your own mother for two hours a week. She shouldn't have seen the dark things that life could give you yet. She shouldn't have begun training yet or know that she would have to give up her life for some moroi's.

I was doing this for her.

I was risking both of our lives to save our lives.

But I would risk mine over and over again to just save hers.

I jumped when suddenly the door banged open and Abe and Victor walked in heading for us.

'It couldn't be time already,' I thought. It felt like I had only been with Tessa for five minutes since she had been dropped off to see me, not two hours already.

Tessa shrank back into me and gripped my t-shirt in her tiny little fist.

"Remember our plan baby," I whispered in her ear just before Victor and Abe stood in front of us.

She bobbed her head in a barely recognisable nod before she began her little act.

She gripped my shirt tighter and then started to cry.

"I don't want to go! I wanna stay here with Mummy! Please don't let them take me Mummy!" She cried trying to scramble away from Abe who was reaching out to take her.

"I won't baby. I won't," I chanted over and over again.

I meant what I was saying too. Even though it was part of the act I would never let her go. I would never let them take her away from me before I was dead.

"Come on, stop this foolishness." Snapped Victor who stepped up and ripped Tessa's hands off of me.

My anger spiked and I jumped up facing him.

"Don't you dare hurt her!" I yelled. This was not part of the act. If they ever hurt her…. They are going to have one less testicle than what they were born with.

"We're not. We are just getting her for Alexander. He needs her to train."

"MUMMY! Mummy PLEASE! Don't let them take me away from you!"

Tears filled my eyes at the thought of her being taken away from me, even though I knew she was acting and doing a damn good job at it too. 'She was a mini me,' I thought.

"Come on now, what has gotten into you Teresa? You never act like this," Abe said who was struggling to hold her still.

"That's not my name! It's Tessa!" She yelled at him and I barely hid a chuckle.

Tess absolutely hated the name Teresa.

"Ivanna!" Abe yelled and immediately Ivanna came into the room.

"Yes Master?" She asked loyally.

"Please take Teresa down to Master Alexander. You seem to know how to hold a screaming kid." He spat the word 'kid'.

She bowed her head. "Yes Master," She muttered and then took Tessa out of his arms.

"NOOOO! PUT MEEEE DOOOWWWNN!" Tessa screamed and I flinched.

"Really, stop it Teresa!" Victor yelled to be heard over to top of her.

Then just like that they began to take her away from me.

I stood there crying even though Tessa was only acting it still sounded like she was in real pain even though I knew that they weren't hurting her.

"I'll see you soon Tess!" I yelled after her. "I promise!"

Tessa looked at me over Ivanna's shoulder and just before she disappeared through the door I thought I saw her give me a cheeky smile when she heard the double meaning in my words.

I spun around to look at Mason and Andre who stood against the wall watching the whole exchange with impassive expressions.

I wiped the few stray tears and marched over to them and they both looked at me with surprised looks, because normally after Tessa was taken away from me I would just collapse on the floor and cry. And knowing that I didn't like being touched they left me there until I could make my own way back to the bed.

"I need your help guys," I said in a thick voice.

Mason and Andre looked at each other before they looked back at me.

"What do you need Rose?" Mason asked.

"I need your necklaces."

Andre laughed. "You know you can't have them Rose."

I moved so quickly that they both didn't have time to even blink. I stepped forward and ripped the chains away from their necks that freed them from the stones on the chains that held the compulsion. I ran over to the bathroom before they realised what I was doing and flushed the necklaces down the toilet. Original I know, but I couldn't open any windows or doors to throw them out off and if I was to put them in the bin they would just get them back out of the bin and put them back on.

When I turned back Andre and Mason looked at me like they were in a kind of daze which was a common reaction when people came out of the spell of compulsion.

"Rose?" Mason asked slowly as he blinked and put a hand to his forehead.

"What happened? Where are we?"

I swallowed thickly. "You mean, you don't remember anything…? Nothing at all?" I asked slowly and hesitantly.

Mason shook his head. "No, why? Should I?" He stopped to look around at his surroundings much like Andre was. "What the hell is this? It looks like some kind of… luxury prison…" He said slowly.

I gulped and nodded. "Yeah, it kinda is… Mase, what's the last thing you remember?" I asked.

He frowned and then blinked like he was trying to remember something. "Um, I was planning to run off to Spokane with Eddie and Mia, and then we got to the plaza and then you found us… but I don't know after that…"

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "And I suppose the last thing you remember is riding in a car with your family and me, Andre?"

"Yeah – wait what? How did you know?"

I sighed. "Because that car crash killed both me and you, yet we are both – we are all still alive because we are all shadow-kissed but to different people. Now come on we have to move. We don't have a lot of time." I said desperately and started towards the door when Mason grabbed my arm.

My breath got caught in my throat and my whole world froze for a moment. I wrenched my arm out of his hold and cradled my hand to my chest as if he had burnt me.

Mason looked at me with wide eyes. "What did I do?"

"I-It's not you Mase. J-Just don't touch me kay?" I asked softly.

"Did I do something…? Or…?"

I shook my head and laughed without humour. "No Mase, I-It wasn't you."

Mason frowned. "Then who was it?"

I sighed impatiently. "Can we please talk about this later? I have a little girl waiting downstairs for me to save all of our lives, so can we please hop to it?"

"Wait, wait, wait, wait. Your little girl?" Andre asked raising an eyebrow.

I nodded. "Yes now MOVE!"

"B-But just yesterday I saw you and you weren't pregnant since then… in fact you're not pregnant now!" he said pointing at my stomach.

"Andre please, it has been seven years since you died and has been five since you died Mase. Now move now, please!" I said quickly without thinking.

"S-Seven years? Where the hell have I been?!" He yelled.

"Andre please, I'll explain on the way, but for now please just follow me and do as I say please?" I asked already moving towards the door.

"Alright." He said and both he and Mason followed me willingly.

I walked over to the door as I took the slip of paper out of my pocket and started punching in the code.

2-3-6-8-5-4. I then pressed the green button and it didn't open.

I frowned and tried it again only to get the same result.

"Did you write the code down wrong?" Mason suggested.

"No, I didn't write it Tessa did." I said frowning.

"Tessa?"

"My daughter."

Both Mason and Andre looked at me speechless. I sighed.

"I'll explain later."

I looked down at the paper again and then re-typed the numbers but when I got to the eight I put a three instead. This time when I pushed the green button I heard the sweetest of sounds.

The lock opening.

I breathed a sigh of relief and rested my head against the door for a few moments before pulling it open and stepping out.

"Come on and be quiet ok? There are strigoi and bad moroi here so don't trust anyone but me and Tessa. My daughter. If anyone tried to grab you, kill them. Even if they are Moroi alright?" I instructed.

They both nodded. "Good."

I half ran half walked down the steps when we came up to the elevator. I opened the doors and then pressed the button for it to take us down to the main lobby. It felt like I was waiting forever for the elevator to arrive and when it eventually did, I was the first one in.

Once we were inside I took a moment to breathe. I was half way there; I just had to make it through the last half. I could feel the edges of a breakdown coming, but I held it back. I had to have a clear head if I wanted to get everyone I loved out of this alive.

There was a ding and then the doors slid open. I jumped out of them and the first thing I saw was the flower pot. I ran over to it where I saw my stake.

I breathed a sigh of relief and closed my eyes for a few seconds. 'I can do this,' I thought. I opened my eyes to see Mason and Andre looking at me curiously.

"Alright here's the plan. Tessa is waiting for me out there with Alexander. You guys, act as if you are still compelled so that no one will touch you. So, once I have Tessa, I want you, Mase, to come over and take her off me and run outside. The sun is up so the strigoi won't follow you. I'll kill as many strigoi as I can while I try to get out myself alright?" I said.

Both boys nodded.

"But what do I do?" Andre asked.

"I Want you to follow Mason and please, please, please, please, don't let Tessa be harmed ok?"

Andre nodded. "I swear."

"Alright, let's do this. It's do or die ok? If I die here I want you to take Tessa back to the Royal Court to Dimitri. Alright?"

Again both boys nodded.

"Good, let's go."

I burst out of the hallway and into the main lobby filled with moroi, humans and strigoi. Some of the strigoi were Galina and the other man who was with her on the day of my arrival. Throughout the time here I have seen them every now and then but never for extended periods. My eyes zeroed in on Tessa who stood clutched to Alexander's chest.

Tessa looked up at the sound of running and she grinned and stretched her arms out towards me.

"Mummy!"

Alexander's head snapped up and looked at me in plain astonishment. He automatically gripped Tessa tighter to himself and in response Tessa squealed and wriggled.

"Let me go! Let me go!" She cried.

My movements faltered as my memory went back to the night when Alexander had raped me, and I had screamed let me go and to stop over and over again.

"Stay still you little brat," alexander growled.

I was suddenly knocked to the ground and I realised in looking at Tessa and Alexander I had stopped running and stood in the middle of the lobby.

I looked up at who had knocked me over and there stood Galina. I swore and swiped my stake across her face, making her howl in pain. My movements were rusty from years of not having any action and I winced as I brought up my leg to kick her in the chest.

Galina noticed when I winced and she laughed. "You can't beat me little girl," she sneered at me bearing her teeth.

I gritted mine. "Wanna bet?"

I lifted my stake again; catching her across the arm which made her let me go so I could roll out from underneath her.

"You bitch!" She yelled at me.

I chuckled and raised a finger, beckoning her to me. "Come and get me."

Galina let out a roar and jumped at me, but this time I was ready for her and met her halfway. We danced backwards and forwards for a few minutes before I finally had my opening. I leapt in and staked her right through her heart while she looked at me in disbelief.

"Rest in hell you cow," I spat before I raced off towards Tessa.

She was still held in Alexander's grip and when he turned to me I knew he was prepared for me.

"Give me my daughter Alexander," I said slowly stepping closer.

"No, she's mine just as much as she is yours."

"No she is not, now give her to me or I'll kill you right now!"

"You'll kill me anyway."

I smiled cruelly and shook my head. "No, I'll let Dimitri kill you."

Alexander seemed to pale a bit but still refused to hand Tessa over.

I struck out and punched him in the side of the jaw, making him stagger sideways.

His grip on Tessa lightened and I took that as my chance to take her. I snatched her out of his arms and brought her close to my chest while smoothing back her hair.

"It's alright. Mummy's got you," I cooed as I wiped the few tears that were on her cheeks away.

"Mummy, I'm scared."

"I know baby. I know, but we're getting out of here. It's not much longer ok? Just hold on."

She nodded and then looked over my shoulder. "Mummy, who are them?"

Without looking behind me I kept my eyes trained on Alexander as he slowly staggered to his feet.

"Uncle Mason and Uncle Andre sweetie."

I felt Tessa shake her head. "No Mummy. Them."

I couldn't turn my head to look where she was looking because I couldn't risk taking my eyes off of Alexander.

But in the next second I got a whiff of the scent of Aftershave.

Aftershave that I would know anywhere.

Dimitri.

I sensed a hand on my back before I felt it. I felt him turn me around as I held my breath scarcely being able to believe it.

"Roza…" He breathed with his hands reaching out to grasp my face.

I wanted – no, I craved his touch so badly but I couldn't have him touch me. My skin back to crawl and bile made its way up my throat.

"Dimitri…" I whispered in a relieved breath.

I breathed his name at the same time I moved away from his touch.

"Roza? It's me… Dimitri…" he said completely forgetting the world and the fights around him and the fact that his father stood right behind him.

"I know, and I am glad to see you. So, so glad. But please… do-don't touch me. Please Dimitri."

A heartbroken expression came over his face and I could practically see his world fall apart at his feet right there.

"D-Did it happen again? What happened with N-Nathan?" he asked hesitantly.

Slowly I nodded as tears streamed down my cheeks. I buried my head in Tessa's hair breathing her in.

Dimitri's hands clenched into fists at his side and he started to vibrate with anger. He spun around in a circle and for the first time seemed to notice his father standing there.

"You," he snarled walking towards Alexander. "You did this didn't you? You hurt my fiancé." He said. It was more of a statement than a question.

"If you mean, impregnating her to get what I wanted… then yes. I did." Alexander said boldly.

Dimitri moved so quick that I barely saw what he did next. His fist flew outwards and connected with the side of Alexander's face sending him spiralling towards the ground. Dimitri bent down and hauled him back onto his feet then pressed him against the wall.

Dimitri kept one arm under Alexander's chin to keep him in place while he got his stake out of his pocket with the other one.

Alexander's eyes widened. "You wouldn't," He hissed narrowing his eyes.

Dimitri leaned in closer. "I think we both know I would."

Time slowed down as Dimitri raised his arm and brought it back down, sinking the stake down into Alexander's heart.

Alexander gave a surprised cry as his eyes went wide. His eyes fluttered before they closed and opened no more.

I started to feel dizzy and began to sway on my feet. Everything was becoming too much. Breaking out, killing strigoi, seeing Dimitri, killing Alexander…

My body did the only thing it knew with how to cope with these situations.

I gasped and I saw Dimitri meet my eyes before my vision began to grow dim.

I saw Dimitri's lips move in the shape of my name and I tried to call out to him. But I didn't have enough strength to. In my arms, Tessa was frighteningly calling out my name. I started to fall backwards, just as my eyes closed. I prepared myself for the hard landing of the cold wooden floor, but instead I fell into something much softer and much warmer.

I looked up to see the Tessa had been taken out of my arms and for a moment I panicked. I called out her name and I felt a brushing across my forehead. I looked up to see Dimitri looking down at me with tears in his eyes. I was lying across Dimitri's lap while he stroked my hair and whispered my name. I felt his lips brush my forehead and I shuddered involuntarily. My eyes fluttered closed and I lost sense of the world and stopped feeling.

The last thing I heard before everything went black was Dimitri whispering in my ear.

"I love you Roza."

And… what do you think? I'm proud of myself. This chapter was 4,942 words! This is by far my longest chapter yet! But is it the best? Leave me reviews to tell me what you think :) Do you think it could have been better? If so, how? What can I improve on? Please let me know guys! :)

Till next time my lovelies xx