Hey, guys! I thought I would give y'all a treat and post this up tonight! I had some spare time and did this one rather quickly.
I know all of you want the gang in the picture. Just give me a little time! They're coming! I promise!
I hope I don't let any of you down with this chapter. I wanted to catch Rose's reaction just right with this little meeting. I hope I did her justice!
Anyway, happy reading!
Much love,
~~~Carmen
On my third attempt of calling Angeline, she finally answered. I was about to have a panic attack in those few minutes between calls. I thought for sure something awful had happen to her. But no, not awful in the most horrible way that I was imagining.
She wasn't attacked by a Strigoi. Tasha hadn't got her hands on her. She wasn't in one of the alleys dying somewhere. She didn't fall down and bash her head on a curb. There were too many things that had ran though my head in a short amount of time to keep track of. Horrible things that included blood and guts. And death.
But this, this was something way more close to home for me.
"Rose," she said in a very controlled, tight voice. A voice that I had never heard come from her mouth before. "There's a little situation." I started to demand what it was, but she continued on before I could utter the words. "Um, meet me back at the café?"
I was nodding my head even though she couldn't see me through the phone line. "Okay," I said, drawing out the word. It seemed to hang over me like a dark cloud. Something in my gut clinched. I had to lean against the building and bend over a little so I could compose myself. My hands started to tremble a little. I knew something had happened. Something in a major way. I just didn't know exactly what it was yet.
I had to ask one question, though. Well, two questions. "Ang, do you have Tasha? And are you alright?" I all but whispered the words. I had a maternal feeling towards Angeline. Or it could have been a big sister thing, because of course, I was way too young to be her mother. We had been P.I.C.'s for a very long time. I couldn't live with myself if something had happened to her. It would've been my fault. She was doing this for me. Putting herself in situations like this for me. She trusted me. Believed in me.
I noticed that the woman in the alley, Nicca, was approaching me. She stopped only a few feet away, keeping her arms at her sides. She had already sheathed the stake that she had had in her hands only moments ago.
I didn't turn to face her, but I did keep her in my periphery vision. Something fishy was starting to plant itself in my head. I wanted to keep an eye on her. I should've known a random dhampir wasn't here just for the joy of it. And then help me out when I was in a dire situation. She had a reason for this location; just like I did.
Could she be with one of Lissa's "Drag Rose Back To Court" parties? That thought just made me start to panic even worse.
Damn it! What was I thinking? Trusting a total stranger? A stranger that knew my friends? How had I over looked a dhampir being at the café? I was waging an internal battle within. I took a moment to bash myself. Yeah, I deserved way more than that, but I didn't have a boot handy so I could kick my own ass with it.
Pulling myself back together, I stood up straight and started heading toward Angeline and my rendezvous point. I really wanted to bolt, but I couldn't leave without Angeline. Or Tasha, for that matter. I had finally found her, and I'd be damn if I lost her again. I didn't want to have to start the search all over again if I could even remotely help it.
Nicca kept pace with me. I proceeded to ignore her, although something was telling me that there was more to her presence than just a coincidence. She just didn't happen upon the 'right place, right time, thing.
Should I slip into Lissa's head to see if this was one of her people? Of course this was one of hers! She knew her! Damn it!
Clearing my head, I tuned back into Angeline. "What is going on? What happen? Do you have her?"
I heard her suck in a breath, then let it out in a loud whoosh. She hesitated a little. "Um, yeah, sort of. Tasha is contained for the moment." She really didn't sound like she wanted to tell me that.
Contained? What the hell is that about? Contained by who?
She started to say something else, but I cut her off, "I'll be there in a minute. Don't go anywhere!" I closed my phone and stuffed it in my pocket. Well, I guess it really was about to go down. I knew it was coming, but I didn't think it would happen like this.
I took two more steps, then abruptly stopped. I spun around on my heel, rounding on Nicca. I wanted an explanation from her. And I wanted it now. I folded my arms over my chest, reverting back to my inner protective stance. I rocked back on my hip.
There was a fire, one that felt vaguely familiar, starting to burn in my chest. I wanted to calm it down before it made it to my soul. I really did not want to fight this woman. One who had just saved my life. But, however, I would if I had to. I would not hesitate in the least little bit. Before the hitting got under way I wanted answers. I had learned how to stop my action before I just went off the handle. Some things come with age. Control.
"Just who in the hell are you? And why are you following me?" My temper was about to get the best of me. I felt my nostrils flare and my eyes narrow.
She squirmed a little under my stare, but didn't answer me right away. She did take a step back, though.
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes for a moment. Just a moment. Trying to calm myself further. I had to keep a rational head about me. If she wanted to drag me back to court she could have just waited and got the jump on me. But she didn't. She helped me instead. Opening my eyes, I blew my breath out.
She held up her hands in front of her, trying to ward me off. She shook her head slowly. "Rose," she said hesitantly. "It will all be explained to you in a few minutes. It's not what you think."
That just made my temper flare back up again. I may have grown up a bit, but that didn't mean I liked being in the dark. Especially when I was a major factor in the equation.
"The hell it will. What do you want? And just who are you?" I was already preparing for a fight. I had, evidently, got into a fighting stance.
She shook her head sharply, peering over my head at something that had drew her attention. If she really thought I was dumb enough to fall for that trick, she was sadly mistaken. I had pulled every trick in the book. I knew them on a first name basis.
I heard a foot fall directly behind me, and Nicca shook her head.
Then that's when he spoke from behind me. It was said very softly, but it had the same effect on me had it been screamed right into the depth of my soul.
"Rose," said the voice. He didn't say anything else. Just the single word. But that one word held so much power over me. Brought out so many emotions that I had not faced in a long, long time.
That voice was the ghost that hid in my dreams. I mean, when I do sleep and dream. He was the ghost that hid in my the night day, and every in between.
So many things rushed from my memories. His laugh. His scent. His arms around me. His voice saying my name. His eyes...oh his eyes. They could melt me when I looked in them.
Butterflies erupted in my stomach immediately. My hands got clammy. My heart felt like it was going to bust right out of my chest. I felt dizzy for one brief moment. I thought I would pass out right there. I had to rein in my emotions before I could face him. I was falling to pieces right in front of him. I swayed a little on my feet, but I was able to put it in check before anyone noticed it.
Well, I think Nicca noticed, 'cause she took a step forward. I think she was thinking she might have to catch me if I keel over. She gave me a look of sympathy. Or it could've been pity? Either way, I didnt like it at all.
I didn't turn around right away. I could barely breath.
My heart was breaking all over again. It didn't break even remotely close the last time I saw him as it did on this night. The best part of me was always him. Him and Lissa. They were the best things that I had in my life once upon a time. And now I didnt have either one of them. Lissa would hate me for abandoning her again. And Dimitri...Dimitri was with someone else.
Alone.
Well, I had Angeline. I knew I had made it this way, but it was still hard to face.
I just closed my eyes, shoulders slumping, admitting defeat. There was no way out of this one. I couldn't run from him this time like I did the last time. He wasn't limited to a bed, nor all doped up in a hospital. This time he could give chase. And I would lay a bet that he could still beat me at running. The agony of defeat.
Yep, he could catch me alright.
That's when it finally came to me. I was a little slow on the up-take.
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! I felt like banging my palm against my forehead.
A Duh! moment.
I finally had an idea just who this woman was. Why she was the one chosen to follow me. I didn't know her. Of course that's because I had never saw her in real life, nor in Lissa's head. This was Dimitri's girlfriend? Wife? Whatever. She put him first by going on his little excursions; while I had ran off on my own. Ran off while he was in the hospital. Left him after I told him we would be side by side forever. Three years makes a big difference. I should know.
I could play it cool. I would not let him have the effect on me like he used to. Let me re-phrase that... I would not let him see the effect he still had on me. Not anymore.
I heard a foot fall directly behind me, and Nicca shook her head again.
It was Dimitri taking a step toward me. I could tell because I could now smell him. Nicca was looking over my head still, not saying a word. But she didnt have to. Her eyes said it all. They were relaying messages to each other just like him and I could. Like we use to, anyway.
My eyes fell to the ground. I didn't want to witness this intimate look between them. I so did not want to do that.
I know, I know! I left you on a cliffy, but my son is going to church camp in the A.M. and I will have all week to write! You guys might just get another update tomorrow! That is, if I get enough good reviews!
Haha! Just joking. I will update anyway!
~~~Carmen
