"The Queen Tatiana" He said and stepped away from the door frame to let the Queen in. I almost gasped. I'd forgotten all about her visit that I was so surprised to see her entering the room. Walking so gracefully, like there wasn't anything in the world that could make her lose that stupid and fake smile she had on her face.
I embraced tightly my daughter, trying to protect her from the queen's cold gaze. She stopped eating and I put the gown back on to cover me better.
"Don't bother Rosemarie, I'm sure the little one is still hungry" she sat on the seat that Dimitri had vacated.
"Its ok" I said and Dimitri sat on the bed beside me.
"I'd like to hold her," she motioned for the baby and I looked up at Dimitri who nodded. I didn't want to give my baby to her, but I did in case she might get mad.
The Queen held her as if Kathryn wasn't anything else but a cute little baby, she didn't seem to see her as anything else.
"She looks a lot like you Rosemarie, your face is reflected in her but…" I knew she'd realize that the baby didn't look like Adrian at all, that she was mine and Dimitri's only. I looked at Dimitri desperately but he was avoiding the Queen's eyes, he knew his eyes would give us away. Those deep brown eyes were the same ones as Kathryn's. "her eyes… they're brown." She looked up and smiled at me, it was a cold smile, one that sent shivers down my spine. "Just like yours Dimitri, just like yours" She crooned happily, as if this amused her.
Dimitri finally looked at her and she let out a small laugh.
"Your majesty…" He began, but was cut off when the Queen waved her hand dismissively, like this wasn't something important.
"No need Dimitri, no need to explain yourselves. I already know the truth, I talked to someone who knew the truth about your little secret." She was holding my baby's hand, Kathryn was falling asleep so she didn't mind. But I almost expected the Queen to twist her small hand and hear the crack of her bones. "I was a little disappointed in both of you, having this little affair that resulted with this angel."
I tried my best to not let anything show, just as I was sure Dimitri was doing right now, but I could feel his tense muscles beside me.
"I was quite impressed when I was told the reason why this," she motioned to my daughter and I got really mad. How dare she call her this, it was like the meeting at her office all over again. "is here right now. Though I didn't believe it at first, because I still thought she was Adrian's. I'll have a talk with him later. But haven't you two been naughty?" she winked at us. Then her expression became grim, it was fake though. "But I'm afraid that your actions have consequences, very ugly consequences that I'm forced to see they are being imposed." She glanced up at us.
"What?"I snapped and she tsk at me.
"Always so impatient Rosemarie." She looked at Dimitri again. "Dimitri, I'd like to have a few words with Rosemarie, in private" He was about to protest, I knew it, and I also knew that there was something she wanted to tell me that might help us. Something that she knew I probably wouldn't agree to if Dimitri was here. Maybe I could work my way around her bargain, just maybe.
So I nodded at Dimitri, he hesitated before nodding, bowing to the Queen and leaving. He only glanced back once, but that was enough to make me think of my decision again. Was I doing the right thing?
When we were finally alone, I turned to the Queen. She stood up and put the baby on the crib on the other side of the room. My daughter had fallen asleep so she didn't protest. I felt like I needed her the most, like she was the only one bonding me to happiness.
The Queen sat back on the chair and smiled at me.
"Stop the fake smiles and concern." I said and her expression turned from fake happiness to something close to hatred. I flinched a little.
"Very well Rosemarie, I'll stop pretending if you do the same. We both know that there wasn't anything between you and Adrian, it was some lie he fabricated to save you from your and Dimitri's punishment. You might want to know that lying at court, under an oath, is a very serious felony, and you and Dimitri broke that law."
"I know, we both know but nothing can change that. Though you shouldn't bother about that, because we both know the reason why we did it. What would you have done if you'd known the truth? That Dimitri and I had feelings for each other and almost, almost, had sex in his room while being at the Academy?" she pressed her lips together.
"The law is the law, Rosemarie. You and Dimitri made a mistake, which you will pay for. Unless…" Her grim expression became a grin, a wicked grin that made me think of her as the wicked witch/bitch of the west. I knew that whatever she was going to say I wouldn't like it. I just knew it "Unless you keep her a secret," she looked at my daughter and then back at me. I didn't understand what she meant. "Unless you keep your secret of being able to have children with another Damphir to yourself, and don't tell anybody about it." Was she serious? That was it? To keep a secret the fact that Kathryn was my daughter and Dimitri's? But I sensed a 'but' in her words, there were always buts. She wasn't someone you could trust.
"But what? I suppose there's another condition" I held my head high as I said this, to let her know that I wasn't cowering. Her smile never left her face.
!(Turning Point)!
"You leave, unless you leave and never come back" I gaped at her for a few seconds before being able to speak again. She just wanted us to go away, something I was very content with. So I nodded, a little too eagerly.
"We'll do it. Dimitri and I will take our daughter with us and leave" but she was already shaking her head. What was wrong now? I thought she wanted me to leave.
"You have to leave and only you" I could feel the rush of blood in my ears. There was no way she just said that, because if she did then we, I, was doomed. I would never be able to do that, not only because what she was asking me to do was nearly impossible to do, but because I would never be able to leave him. Dimitri was my life, and now my daughter needed me and she was asking me to leave.
I shook my head and felt a tear roll down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly but the Queen didn't seem to care that I was on the verge of tears.
"No" I said but didn't recognize my voice. It sounded so empty, like it belonged to a ghost. "I'm not leaving Dimitri or my baby" She nodded, as if she really understood. But she didn't care.
"Fine, you can stay. But let me tell you that I'll make sure you and Dimitri pay for the consequences of your acts." She paused to let her words sink in before continuing. "You have to know that lying at court is a very serious crime and I could make sure you and him go to jail. You could even give Victor some company! Wouldn't that be lovely? Because I'm very sure he'd like to repay both of you the favor of sending him to jail. He could testify that the spell he put on the necklace only worked if… the two people had some feelings for each other." She raised an eye brow, daring me to contradict her.
"You can't prove that it really happened. For all everyone knows, Dimitri and I were only mentor and student. Nothing happened between him and me while I was a student at the Academy." I said, hoping that it was true the fact that nobody besides Alberta and Kirova knew about us. Because if I was wrong, then we were in so much trouble.
"Well, let's do the math shall we?" She wasn't expecting an answer because she went on without waiting for one. "Its been about four months and a half since you got out of the Academy, hasn't it?- Of course, your baby is now born and it didn't reach the eight months. Weird isn't it? A normal Moroi pregnancy is of about six to seven months and your baby is Moroi, which is the result of a Damphir and another Damphir. But according to me your baby must have been conceived in around the time after the attack at the school." It was actually the same day as the attack of the school and not after, but she wasn't going to know that.
"So, try to explain that to a jury. How is that possible? Because as far as I know, you and your friends came here just days before the attack. I thought you were with my nephew but that was never the case, now I know that. It was Dimitri you liked, who you were having an affair with, and who the jury will accuse of statutory rape, not to mention charges for obstruction of the law. You will be accused of these last one, I think that it will be enough for you and Dimitri to get out in a couple of years, maybe by the time your daughter graduates from the Academy. Maybe you'd be lucky if you get out at that time, and the same thing that happened between you and your mother will happen again. You won't have any contact with your daughter in years, we could tell her that you're guarding your charge, just like Dimitri, and that you can't visit her because you don't want to leave your Moroi unprotected. Isn't that what happened with your mother? Because I'm sure you'd rather tell her that then tell her the truth: that you and her Father are in jail. I promise you to take care of her, Adrian will be like a step dad for her and nothing will happen to her because she's Moroi." She leaned closer to me.
It hurt me to have her so close to me knowing that she was planning to destroy me and the small family that Dimitri and I had.
"Besides, I know about Adrian and Viktoria, wouldn't it be a shame if those two weren't able to be together because of… let's say an inconvenient obstacle? I don't want my nephew to end up with a Damphir, much less her. Because she's not Moroi and I don't like her at all." I let out a sob, I hadn't intended to, but her words made me feel so… helpless because I couldn't do anything. It would be my fault if Adrian and Viktoria didn't end up together, I knew that the Queen would do anything in her power to keep all of us apart.
I didn't want to be responsible for Adrian and Viktoria's break up, or Dimitri's misery but if this was the only way to keep them safe. If I agreed to leave then Kathryn might lose me, a young mother who wasn't sure if she could be good for her daughter, but she'd gain a responsible and loving Father that wouldn't let anything happen to her.
She'd also be able to see her Father, even if she went to school. She wouldn't be deprived of Dimitri's love, or my parents. Lissa would be there for her, I was sure and Adrian and Viktoria would help Dimitri and my daughter. Almost everything was covered, except the fact that I'd hurt Dimitri, I'd hurt him so much by leaving. He would never forgive me, I was sure of that but there was no other option.
This way less people would suffer, less people didn't mean that I liked it because the person I cared for the most was definitely going to suffer.
"You wouldn't dare to hurt Adrian, if you even have a heart you'll leave him alone to be happy with Viktoria." I had to try one last time to make sure she wouldn't hurt Adrian or Viktoria. I loved them both, Viktoria was like a sister to me and Adrian one of my best friends.
"I'd do it if you accept my offer and leave. I promise you that your daughter will have the best. I'll make sure of that and Dimitri will be head of security here at court. He'll have the best salary, do you have any idea how many people would like that? Many guardians wish for that position and Dimitri could have it so easily." She snapped her fingers.
"Why do you want me to leave, there must be something more besides what your telling me. I want the truth and I might say yes." Her face lit up like a candle but I felt rotten inside, as if I'd just done a deal with the devil. And I think I actually did.
"I told you that it was because I want this to stay a secret, I don't want everyone to suddenly get their hopes up about being able to have kids between Damphirs, do you have any idea what that would cause? A very big commotion that I want to avoid." She smiled a little. "Besides, you would be very useful in Russia, hunting down those Strigoi that were in charge of the woman that was killed when they rescued you." She leaned closer again and I flinched. "Because what happened at the Academy wasn't a coincidence, they were after Dimitri." My eyes widened and I couldn't believe it. The attack at the Academy had been for… We never knew.
Oh my god, she was right! Galina had wanted Dimitri because he was one of the best Guardians and she wanted him to be Strigoi. A Damphir as good as Dimitri was would be very valuable for Strigoi and more likely to become their leader. That was the reason why if I went to Russia and killed as many as I could…
"I'd be protecting Dimitri from the Strigoi." I said in a small voice and she nodded.
"Exactly, and not only Dimitri but your daughter also. Because if I'm not wrong, the next likely to be a target would be her. Not to mention Lissa, as the last Dragomir she is also another target and Adrian also, for being my nephew. But Adrian will have all the security needed besides Viktoria when she graduates and being Dimitri's sister she'll be another best." She sounded so proud and sure that I felt sicker.
She was admitting that she'd leave Adrian and Viktoria alone, and I'd be protecting Dimitri and my daughter.
"Rosemarie you're just as good as Dimitri, maybe even better because you've fought against him once and won. You are the one that should go ahead and try to keep everyone else here safe. I'll give you anything you need to go to Russia and start training again. You need to catch up from the time you were unable to fight and there you'll…" I cut her off.
"I haven't said anything yet! I haven't agreed yet and you're already telling me everything I'm supposed to do." I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated for not knowing what to do. "What I'm I supposed to tell Dimitri anyways?" I looked at her in the eyes, feeling the weight of what she was asking me.
"Nothing, you are not supposed to tell him anything about where you're going because he might go after you." My jaw dropped. "Just leave him, tell him that you…" she seemed to think about it. "That you aren't prepared to be a mother yet and that you're not sure about him anymore."
"We're engaged!" I showed her the ring on my middle finger and she frowned as if it was nothing more than a small bother. "He'll never believe that, he knows me too well and if I lie to him he'll know. He'll always know" I finished in a small voice.
"Well, you can simply leave and not tell him anything. Leave a letter for him, something like that so you won't have to face him. But you must do it as soon as possible, just try to look as grim as possible whenever you're around your daughter. Show him how bad you feel and insecure, anything, because you only have a month." She sighed as if this was tiring her and I scoffed.
Ohhh, she's saying yes! I can't believe it! Well, actually I can because I wrote it, duh! I'm so excite about how things are going, this story just got even more interesting, didn't it? I hope you're all wondering what will happen. I'll tell you: Rose gets killed and Dimitri becomes Strigoi, then Kathryn does too… nah, I was just kidding. A story as romantic and heartbreaking as this one couldn't end up like this!
I cant tell you the end because I don't even know it yet. I'm still trying to finish this part of the story first and then I'll work on the third and last one. But I still don't know how what to do for the end… I kind of do but… well I just have to work on so many details!
Please review and don't even try to hate me because I know you love me!
