Finding Rose

Dimitri's POV

"Rose's captured…You shouldn't have left her behind boy."

I had no reasons to doubt Babushka. Her words pierced through my heart like a dagger; I felt as though I'd just been struck by the lightning. Victor Dashkov - that soulless, evil monster; the filthiest piece of scum ever to walk the Earth. I've left Roza alone, injured, unprotected for him…how could I forget? My mind exploded…I tightened my fists into a death grip, knuckles whitening…

Vaguely, I heard Mason's demand. "What happened to Rose? Why isn't she in the Palace?"

When he received no response, "Where's Rose?" He almost shouted.

"I left her on the island. I don't know what happened to her." I forced out in a hoarse voice.

"And why did you do that?" He growled, starting towards me. Eddie grabbed him instantly. "Calm down, Mase. We've to double check." Yes…we need to confirm Babushka's sight…

Mason halted. Eddie immediately grabbed out his phone to make a call.

"Why did you do that? You knew somebody's after the both of you." Mason growled threateningly.

"I…" There's no excuse for what I did. I bowed my head in agony and shame. "I'm sorry, guardian Ashford and guardian Castile." I choked out in a pained voice, grabbing my head.

Mason took a step back. "She told you…" He whispered.

"None of the resort staff saw Rose since 9am yesterday morning. She didn't return to her apartment last night." Eddie finally said in a strained voice after a quarter of an hour of frantic calls.

A whimper almost escaped me…My heart couldn't constrict anymore…I barked out the first thing that came to my mind without knowing who I'm giving the command to or whether it made sense."Deploy every single man we have, soldier and police out to search for her."

Eddie glanced at Mason grimly, then back at me. "Do you know who might have taken her and why? Is it related to the assassination 2 nights ago?"

I shook my head repeatedly, "Victor Dashkov. It has to be him …I don't know why he wants her…"

I heard my mother's gasp beside me.

"Victor Dashkov? His target's probably you. Rose's just a bait. Eddie concluded quickly.

I snapped my head up. Of course…I would've made the connection immediately had my brain been functioning properly.

"In that case, Rose should be safe, at least for now. He'd definitely try to contact you. We'd have to wait. In the meantime, we'll send out troops to comb the area where Rose was last seen." Eddie supplied, quickly taking on the leader role.

I just nodded dumbly.

"Drink this; you need to clear your head." Babushka said, thrusting a cup in front of me. I took it and drained it in a swallow.

And fell straight into unconsciousness.

I'm in a dark basement…I see a man's back…he's gripping onto a wicked looking whip with three thongs and lead balls…a pleti…he raises it high and brings it swooshing down onto someone cowering in front of him…the pleti connects with the person's skin with a loud crack…the person makes no sound…he raises the whip again and brought it down harder, laughing cruelly…I felt my skin crawl…again and again he brought down the whip, sparing no mercy, soaking it with the victim's blood…finally…a loud screech of pain – of unbearable pain…I'll recognize the voice anywhere…

I bolted right up from my bed.

"ROZA!" I yelled with everything I had, ending the outcry with a large sob.

He's torturing my Roza.

My mother burst into my room seconds after my yell, concern etched deeply in her face. "Dimka…" she called softly, patting me on my back gently. "He's torturing her…Roza's in pain…I shouldn't have left her…I was too angry…I wasn't thinking…I'm so sorry Roza…Roza…" I sobbed incoherently; regret consuming my every single cell.

"Dimka, she'd be found; Alberta had sent out every available man for the search. She'd be fine..." My mother said comfortingly. But, I heard the strain in her voice.

"No!" I growled jumping out of the bed with renewed energy, suddenly furious; rage coursing through my veins. I WILL NOT sit here waiting and crying like a baby while Victor's torturing my Roza. I WILL hunt him down myself. And when I do…I will shred him into pieces with my bare hands…

Stomping straight into the Guardians' building, I barked at the first guardian in sight, "Haul Natasha Onera right over to Interrogation Room 1 NOW!" The guardian scrambled quickly to carry out my order. It's just past midnight - I'd slept for the entire afternoon and evening. I need to act. FAST.

Within 5 minutes, Natasha was brought into the room, hands cuffed behind her. Seeing my fuming face, the guardians quickly forced her onto her knees before retreating silently.

"Onera," I glared down at her. "Who instructed you to kill me?"

A defiant look.

"Is it Victor Dashkov?" I growled louder.

Silence.

"Don't fool around with me Onera, or I won't hesitate to order for your immediate execution!"

Nothing.

I ran out of my thread thin patience. Blind rage had me forget all about never laying a hand on a lady; I gripped Natasha by her shoulders, hauling her up and shook her hard, causing the woman to keep hitting her head against the walls.

"Where is Victor Dashkov?" I shouted.

"I don't –" Natasha started. But I had no patience for the woman's evasion.

"Where is he? I know you know him!" I roared, shaking her more forcefully.

Her small eyes went wide- wide, desperate and terrified. When she blurted out the next sentence, something told me that they were true.

"I-I really don't know." She gasped out.

With my last hope dashed, I crumpled onto the chair, dumping Natasha back to the floor. She lay there, gasping and trembling violently.

"How are your related?" I asked, my eyes trained to the floor.

"H-he's my mother's half-brother." She replied shakily.

"He instructed you to kill me?"

A shake of the head. "He wanted me to bring you to him."

"How do the both of you keep in contact?"

"He calls me when he needs to…always using a different number."

"And you've no idea where he is or how to contact him?"

"No. I swear I've no idea." Came a terrified response.

I stood up dejectedly. I'm done with her.

"Throw her back into the cells." I ordered the Guardians standing outside the door. "And I want a report on the search progress of Guardian Hathaway."

"Yes. Your Majesty."

I paced back and forth the foyer of the Guardians' building the entire night, waiting desperately for any news of Roza…nothing.

All the Guardians are highly stressed up, throwing timid looks at me now and then, as though willing for me to go away; I don't care.

Morning came, I'm still pacing restlessly, about to yell at the Guardians at their inefficiency. But deep down, I know that it's not their fault…

"Your Majesty." A small voice sounded.

I whipped up my head quickly, staring at the guardian who'd just addressed me.

"It's time to get ready for your birthday greetings by the officials, Your Majesty." The guardian said nervously.

I snorted bitterly. I've totally forgotten…Happy Birthday, Dimitri Belikov. You're 21 today…a legal adult…A real happy, miserable birthday…

Every year, on the morning of my birthday, all officials in Rarccia above the level 4 rank would come bearing gifts to greet and congratulate me. Those below level 4 would send theirs directly to the guardians' office for inspection first. It's one of the rare occasions that I've to appear in my King's cloak and crown, walking around like a clown in them…I'm in no mood for such drama today.

I opened my mouth intending to send the guardian scrambling off, but before I could get the words out…"Your Majesty!" An urgent voice rang from behind me.

I swirled around at the urgency of the tone...Roza…

Alberta's running towards me holding what's obviously a newly unwrapped gift in her hand. Eddie and Mason trailed close behind.

"What the…"

"Your Majesty, Guardian's Hathaway's gift to you…" Alberta panted, holding out the box.

"What!?" Bewildered, I immediately grabbed over the box and ripped it open. A single necklace fell out – one with a pendant shaped like a Rose and outlined in gold…

I staggered and almost fell back…Eddie caught and steadied me just in time.

"Any notes?" I croaked. I could feel the room spinning around me…

Alberta immediately held out a Birthday Card silently.

"What does it say?" I whispered, almost afraid of hearing the content.

"I don't know, Your Majesty." Alberta replied softly. Of course, she wouldn't read a personalized note to me.

I reached out for the card shakily and flipped it open. Instantly, it started playing the Funeral March.

"Natasha will bring you to me. A third soul or any tricks…trust me, the beautiful Rose withers. You have till today's noon. V.D." On the right is a meaningless hand-drawn map marked with numbers.

"Get Natasha here." I whispered.

"What did it say?" Mason demanded, snatching the card away from my hand.

"GET NATASHA HERE." I roared. Several guardians tore off quickly.

"You're going alone?" Mason questioned, shoving the card into Eddie's hand.

"You've read it. He'd kill her."

"We can use micro tracking devices and follow you from afar. Eddie suggested.

"He's soulless, heartless, but not brainless. He would have taken precautions."

"But, we can't just send you into the lions' den like that!" Eddie exclaimed.

"It's payback…I've made the bed and I'll have to lie in it…"

"No…"

"Head of the Royal Guardians, Captain Alberta Petrov. Receive the Royal's Decree." I called in my most authoritative voice.

Immediately, Alberta fell onto her knees before me. "Awaiting your command, Your Majesty."

"You'll keep Guardian Actford and Castle here under lock and key until today's noon from this moment, and no member of the Royal Guards is to follow me once I step out of this building. Is that clear?"

"You can't do that you idiot." Came Mason's voice. "You can't…"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Alberta replied.

"You may rise. And you're dismissed."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Alberta stood up and had Eddie and Mason escorted off.

"You can read this?" I asked through gritted teeth, throwing the map in front of Natasha.

"Sure." Came a smug response.

"Let's go then."

She crossed her arms and sat further into the chair. "Watch your tone Your Majesty, remember who has the upper hand here."

If looks could kill, she would be dead ten times over – sadly it can't. She ended up winning the staring match.

"I apologize, Natasha. Can we go now?" Roza's waiting for me.

"I don't hear the magic word."

"Please…"

"Much better. Come on.

…

"Turn in there." The high pitch voice ordered pointing to a petrol kiosk.

I did as told.

Jumping out of the car, she swiftly crossed over to use the public phone. I gripped onto the steering wheel and followed her every move.

10 minutes later, Natasha replaced the receiver and disappeared into the convenience store. Immediately, I jumped out of the car to block off the exit.

She emerged moments later with 2 bags. Trusting one into my hands, "restroom. Now."

…

"Strip. I'm supposed to pat you down and make sure that you're not bugged."

"No way." I growled.

She shrugged. "Your choice. We still have a pretty long way. If Victor doesn't see us by noon…"

Roza's waiting for you.

I yanked off my clothes, staring daggers at her. She just stood there, a repulsive look of admiration on her face.

"You forgot something, Dimka." The sick woman giggled, pointing to the remaining article of clothing on me.

"I DO NOT HAVE ANY BUGS ON ME!" I roared.

"I've all the time in the World Dimka."

My jaws twitched violently, I could feel the veins in my head throbbing, and my fists were clenched so tightly that my nails were practically drawing blood…

"That's my boy!" She giggled hysterically. "Now I've to pat you down." I stared straight ahead on the blank wall, body trembling with rage. She proceeds onto her task enthusiastically, starting with my hair. As her hands travelled down my body, lingering longer than necessary on certain areas, I finally snapped. "Watch your hands, Natasha."

"Oh, trust me. I am." More giggling.

In one clean motion, I had her pinned to the wall. "You know jolly well that I'm clean. If you don't stop this now, I SWEAR, I'd kill you here and now!"

My tone must have spoken something, for her eyes went wide and terrified again. She nodded curtly at me.

Quickly, I put on the clothes and sandals she'd gotten from me. After she'd also changed, she led me into a Nissan parked obscurely behind a wall.

I stepped on the gas again, this time, finally getting closer to Roza…

Eddie's POV

"That stupid, foolish, half-witted, idiotic, crazy guy…"

Mason had kicked everything he could lay his feet on (especially at the door) once he was released by the guardians and had been yelling obscenity at King ever since. As ordered, we are now locked up, though in the basement resting room/pantry with comfortable couches and a stocked fridge.

I sank onto a couch and sighed. What to do now? Rose's captured, but we can't do anything at all. What if…

The lock clicked, and the door opened. Mason spun around; I looked up.

Captain Petrov.

"Hurry, they're gone."

I jumped up immediately. Mason stared at the Captain, "What?"

"Quick. Follow the Captain." I nudged Mason.

"I've planted a bug on Natasha and on the car they're taking. We just have to follow the signal now." The captain said quickly as we ran up the steps.

"Why?" Mason asked in confusion.

"If I hadn't obeyed his command just now, His Majesty would've just authorized some other guardian to lock up the three of us. At least I'm still in control now."

"Defying a direct Royal Decree…" I said softly.

"Is punishable by death." The Captain finished quietly. "He's a good man; a good King. If Victor Dashkov gets his way, 2 billion Rarccian will suffer again. It's worth it…"

…

For half an hour, we followed the signal steadily; 5 other cars packed with guards and guardians trailed behind. We didn't dare to follow too closely.

Then, the signal stopped. We waited for 10 minutes; still, there wasn't any response. The Captain sent a pair of guardians out. They reported back that His Majesty was still in the car; Natasha was in the convenience store.

We waited for 15 more minutes, all very uneasy. The second pair of guardians reported back – both the King and Natasha was gone.

We began to panic…

Rose would be fine...don't worry. Dimitri will get her out:)

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