Chapter 28
Here it is, the fallout from the information of Daniella turning Strigoi. I hope you enjoy.
Richelle Mead owns all original VA.
"Adrian?" My mother said, her voice full of sympathy. I looked at all the faces of my friends, my family. Lissa had tears streaming down her cheeks. Christian looked like he was reliving all the horror of finding out about his parents; Tasha had a look of terror in her eyes. I had the strange sense of déjà vu of when Dimitri was turned. Everyone else just had a look of pure shock on their faces.
"No, I'm not going to worry about it. She made her choice." Adrian said. He sounded very angry. No one really moved but they all stared at him in disbelief.
"I'm sorry, what?" My mom asked confused.
"I need a drink." Adrian said as he got up and looked around. "Rose?"
"Um, yeah, let's go." I turned to look at our friends, giving them a confused shrug. We walked back to the apartment in complete silence. Dimitri followed, but kept a far distance. I just wasn't sure what to say. My loves' life had just been blown up and he didn't have any emotion at all on his face.
We got back and Adrian paced for a few moments before he spoke. He walked over to the bar and poured a glass of Vodka. "Want one?" He asked as he poured one for himself. I just nodded. I could tell that he was full of anger; I just didn't know what to do about it.
He handed me my drink, but didn't sit down with me, he kept pacing. " This is all my fault, you know." He said quietly. He had finished his drink and this time just grabbed the bottle and drank from it.
"No, it's not. You said it yourself, she made her choice."
"I know, but what if I wouldn't have been so harsh, maybe she would have just gone home."
"Hun, I think she did. They said this happened very early this morning." He continued just as if I hadn't said anything.
"This whole situation has been so hard on her. Maybe if I would have helped her a little instead of turning her away. DAMN IT! I could have stopped this!" He sat down and cried. I put my arm around him and he exploded. "NO! Don't touch me! How can you touch me after this? I did this; I am not a good person. You deserve so much better than me." I cut him off.
"Listen here Adrian Ivashkov. You do not get to talk to me like that. Don't you dare talk to me like that! I love you. You are where my heart belongs. You are a good person! You didn't force her. Don't you dare tell me you aren't good enough for me!" I wasn't sure why I was arguing with him. I just didn't like the way he was going.
"No, I forced my mom to turn Strigoi! I may not have held a gun to her head and made her drink, but I know it was my words that pushed me over the edge." He was almost done with the bottle or Vodka and got up to get another one. "Can I be alone for a while? I'm sorry, I just need some time to let this all register."
"Sure." I said a little bewildered. I went to the bedroom and changed into jean shorts and a tank top. I walked back out and went to him and kissed the top of his head. I rested my hand on his cheek and he leaned his face into it. "I'll be back later. If you need me, please call." I kissed him again. "I love you."
"I love you too." He whispered.
I walked out and took my phone out. "Dad, send Pavel to my apartment."
"Why Rose? Is everything okay? Where's Dimitri?" He was starting to sound frantic.
"Everything is fine right now. I need Dimitri with me. I need Pavel to stand watch at my door so Adrian doesn't leave. I'll be waiting." I said.
"He's on his way."
"Thanks." And with that, I hung up. The next thing I did was open the bond to Lissa and see where she was. She was at home with Christian. I was headed there as soon as Pavel arrived. He showed up and I explained Adrian's state and that he needed to stay put. He nodded and I told him if there were any problems he was to call me immediately that I wouldn't be far. I gave him my spare key and told him that if things didn't feel right to go right in.
I went to Lissa's and banged on the door. Christian answered. "Rose, what's wrong?" he asked eyes wide with surprise.
"Get Lissa and follow me. No questions Fire Boy just do it!" I said.
"Nice to know you haven't lost that charm we all know and love." He smirked. "Lissa come on, Rose is on a mission." She joined him at the door. Her eyes were bloodshot and her face was streaked with tears.
"Is Adrian okay?"
"I don't know. He kicked me out for a while. We need to find Dimitri and Eddie." I said quickly.
"Dimitri is in his room. I'll call Eddie." Christian said as we ran to Dimitri's.
"Tell him to come to Dimitri's quickly."
We got to Dimitri's and I pounded on the door. He opened it and let us in. I saw Katya sitting on the couch and I gave her a warm smile.
"You're worried. And scared. Can I do anything?" She asked.
"Maybe. I don't know yet. I'm still thinking. But thanks." I said back. Eddie and Mia came rushing into Dimitri's.
"What's going on?" Eddie asked frantically.
"Okay, Adrian blames himself. He things this is all his fault. He can by no means be alone." I told them what had happened last night and what he said just before I left. "I'm afraid he might do something to himself. He's drinking, but the anger has nothing to do with spirit, so it won't help like it usually does. I am thinking maybe if we go in and talk to him, we might be able to get through to him. Christian, do you think you and Tasha could try first? I know you don't like to talk about it, but…" he cut me off.
"But Aunt Tasha and I have experience with this. Yeah, let me call her." Just then my phone rang. It was Pavel.
"Pavel, is everything okay?" I asked frantic.
"Well, it was too quiet, so I let myself in and he's gone. Looks like he went out the bedroom window. He probably knew I was here. I've got other guardian's looking for him."
"Let me know. I know a few places we'll check out." I said and hung up. "Come on guys. Adrian's gone. I have a few ideas where he could be. Christian, call Tasha. You and Liss head to the feeders, and if he isn't there check at his dad's new place. Eddie, you and Mia go and check the café and diner. Dimitri, Katya, you guys come with me. We're headed to the bars."
Dimitri, Katya and I made it to the first bar. It was Adrian's favorite. I told Katya to put up her walls. I didn't want her getting overwhelmed by all the different feelings in there. I went to the bar and asked it they had seen Adrian. They hadn't. Well on to the next one. We had to walk a little ways. Eddie called and said he wasn't at the café or diner and they were headed back to my place. We made it to the second bar and he wasn't there either. Lissa then called and said he wasn't at the feeders and that his dad hadn't seen him. They were headed back to my place as well. We made it to the third bar and there he was. Sitting at the bar with a bottle of Tequila. I walked up to him.
"Adrian, honey. Time to go home." I said taking his hand.
"Oh Rose. My Little Dhampir. Why do you love me?" slurring he stopped and looked around. "I have to pee." I looked over to Dimitri and motioned for him to come over. "Oh, Dimitri, how nice. Looks like I failed our precious Rose. I'm no good for her." He slurred. Dimitri practically had to carry him to the restroom.
Katya came up to me. "He's so guilty and scared. I've never felt so much anxiety from one person." She said quietly. "And you, so much love and concern." She smiled as she said that.
"I love him so much Katya. I don't know what to do but love him." I said. "Do you feel anything else from him?"
"I felt strong love when he looked at you. I don't think I have ever felt such strong love radiate off two people like I do with you two. There's so much love there. He doesn't want to hurt you, but he's afraid he will. He feels very vulnerable." She stopped as we noticed Adrian and Dimitri coming back.
"You owe me Roza. I practically had to hold it for him." He grimaced as he walked by us and toward the door.
"What do you feel from Dimitri?" I asked, just curious.
"Great concern and worry for Adrian." Was all she said. But I could tell she wasn't telling me something.
"Come on babe." I said as I walked up and wrapped my arm around his waist. "Lets go home."
"Why does my red, red rose love me so?" He slurred. I could hear some of that crazy talk he sometimes got, but he was also very drunk. I went to pay the bartender and he shook his head.
"It's okay Rose. Hit me up later. Get him home."
"Thanks Scott." And we walked out. I called Pavel and told him we found Adrian and were headed back.
We walked through the door and everyone just stared. "Oh looky. All my friends came to the party. Want a drink anyone?" Adrian said as he attempted to walk to the bar. Dimitri caught him before he could fall over the ottoman.
"Not a good idea Adrian." He said flatly.
"Not a good idea?" He flung his arm out of Dimitri's grasp, almost hitting him in the face. "SCREW YOU! What do you know? What do any of you know?" He was ranting.
Katya leaned over and whispered, "Extreme anger." Yeah, I knew that, I thought. But I didn't want to sound mean. She was just trying to help. Adrian was still raving.
"None of you lost your mother today! What do any of you know about…" He trailed off as his eyes locked with Christian's. Christian had a single tear that had escaped down his cheek. "Oh my god." Adrian stammered out then looked around the room for what appeared to the first time. "Um, could you all excuse us? I'd like to talk to Christian and Tasha alone." Everyone got up and headed out the door. Adrian went up to Lissa. "I'm so sorry."
"I know. It's okay. You're allowed to explode. What are friends for anyway?" She said with a small smile. He kissed her forehead and she walked out the door. I started to go after her.
"Little Dhampir. Please stay." He said taking my hand and kissing the top of it.
"Of course, Adrian. I'll make some coffee." He leaned up and kissed me. I could taste the Tequila on his lips.
"Thank you. I'm sorry I yelled at you." He said sadly.
"It's fine. You can make it up to me later." I smile back at him and went into the kitchen. I watched him as I got the coffee ready and I saw Tasha stand and hug him tightly for what seemed like forever. When he pulled away his face was covered in tears. They sat in silence until I came in with the coffee.
"Guys, I'm so sorry about what I said. I didn't think. I'm so sorry. All three of you lost someone to Strigoi. I can't apologize enough." He was so upset.
"Adrian, it's fine. You're allowed to blow. It's not healthy to hold it all in. You get to feel angry, lost, confused. We're just worried about you." Tasha was trying to comfort him.
"I know. But I don't know what to do. I'm scared she's going to come for Rose or me. I'm worried about what she could be capable of. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to deal with this."
"You deal with it one day at a time. But you can't let it take you over. It's not easy. I was lucky enough to be little when my parents turned. But it's still hard to think that they would willingly turn. Just don't let it rule your life." Christian explained.
"We have to either kill her and set her free or turn her back." Adrian was trying to figure out what to do now. We just let him talk. If it calmed him down, that was a good thing. I did the same thing when Dimitri was turned. "But since she turned willingly she will probably just turn again. That means we have to kill her."
"Adrian, slow down. Let's not think about hat quite yet. You need to realize this isn't your fault. You didn't force her to turn." I said as I held his hand.
"I know. I really do, but I'm still sorry for her. Was it really that bad that she felt this was her only way out?" He asked. I started thinking about Ms. Karp. She willingly turned to run away from spirit's side effects when I was in high school. I couldn't imagine feeling like there was no other way.
"Maybe in her mind it was. We may never know. But you need to believe it wasn't your fault and we will all be here for you." Tasha said.
"I know. I don't want to be rude, but I want to go lie down. Is that okay?" He said with an apologetic tone.
"Yes. We understand. If either of you need anything or you just want to talk, call me, okay?" Christian offered.
"Yeah, no problem. Tasha, could guys let everyone know? And could you call Abe and let him know too?" I asked.
"Sure." They gave us hugs and left.
Adrian wrapped his arms around me. "Oh Rose. I'm so sorry. So sorry for everything. I love you so much." He kissed my forehead.
"I love you too. I was just worried about you. Come on. Let's go lay down." I pulled him to the bedroom. "Babe, I don't want you to worry about this right now. Let's get some sleep and go talk to your dad tomorrow. I think we need to speak with him."
"Yeah, okay. I have some questions for him anyway. But let's sleep now. I love you Little Dhampir."
"I love you too Adrian." We kissed for a few moments and drifted off to sleep.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I am working on the next right now, so I will get it up soon. Please leave me your thoughts and what you think. Your reviews keep me going. Thank you again.
