VA isn't mine, and the charecters aren't either.
I am so sorry for dissapearing! I've really just been so busy and then I got inspired for a Riverdale FanFic and what can I say I am an artist? Anyway please enjoy and review.
Rose hummed lightly as the night breeze meet her face and filled her lungs. It was morning vampire time and the sun had set not long ago. It was still warm outside and so she chose to carry her jacket on her arm instead of wearing it. She was wearing a formal black dress underneath, little pearls decorating her ears and neck. Her hair high in a curly ponytail, it was hard to tell she was a dhampir guardian and not a royal moroi. What gave her away was that she chose to walk around campus, seemingly for fun. Still a little unused to her black high heels, she had opted for a two-inch heel instead of four or five inches as she would for clubbing. She walked around on the small patches around court's big well-kept gardens and parks and bathed in the dim light from old-fashioned streetlights. She had been excused from the council-table today, argued her time was better spent elsewhere. No one had argued against her seeing as today they were discussing land areas and public building for god knows what, something Rose didn't care for and they didn't want her input either. She would be called in for the vote another day, today she could catch up on all the things she didn't get to do during the week. She had been walking around for quite a while now, seemingly just enjoying the walk.
"Are you going to keep following me?" she asked and turned around to face the tall man that had been shadowing her.
"Sorry, I didn't-" he didn't know how to end that sentence. Since Christian asked him to look after Rose he had been hovering around. He just thought he was better at not being seen.
"I assume there is a reason you have been watching my every move these last past days?" she asked nonchalantly. He admired her stance. So out of her element yet so natural in her attitude.
"I was asked to keep an eye on you." She clicked her tongue.
"That is your excuse? Someone told you to stalk me so that makes it okay?" she asked humorsly. Dimitri looked away in embarrassment.
"I.. I don't know what to say. Honestly I promise my intentions were pure although I see how it must look." She smirked.
"It does look rather suspicious doesn't it?" she asked then looked at the sky trough blinking lashes. "Want to come with me? Since you are following me anyway it might be less creepy if you walked beside me?" He took her invitation and fell in beside her on the tiny walking path. "How are things?" she asked carefree and he stole a glance at her. She seemed well balanced, much more than last, he had seen her.
"Things have been well." He answered truthfully, and she let out a little giggle.
"Please do tell, what kind of scam are my former associates up to recently?" He looked at her surprised and she shrugged. "I noticed the absent of drama and liquor." She just said, and Dimitri didn't comment on it.
"I think they took a trip somewhere. Obviously, I wasn't invited." He joked, and Rose laughed lightly.
"Don't take it too hard. Obviously, I wasn't either." He stole another glance at her.
"You haven't been around Lissa too much recently." He noted, and she frowned.
"No. Not since. She is just a little too much right now. I am busy figuring myself out and I just can't deal with her confused feelings as well." She admitted to which he gave an understanding nod.
"You have been through some big changes." He noted, and she smiled a little.
"Yeah, I think I like it tho. I feel like I am really making a difference most days." He gave her a rare half smile.
"I bet you are." He told her and for a moment they both seemed to be brought back to a time where they could tell each other about everything. It was brief but it was a tiny moment of peace.
LPOV
"Have you called them to tell them we are coming?" I asked Christian for like the third time.
"No." He grumbled again, just as tense as I was. In the backseat Adrian was trying to keep up the mood by making conversation but the rest of the company was unfazed by his jokes.
God I just wanted to go back to a few weeks ago when I was unknowing of all this. Ignorance really is bliss, at least when it comes to your parents secrets.
RPOV
Dimitri had been following me around for a few weeks. Since our walk in the park it had been less tense tho. I had gone back to my own stuff again. Rufus had been absent, busy elsewhere, but would be returning for an important vote at the end of the week. I had finally convinced the council to vote about a final draft to a start up a project involving female dhampirs as academy guards that I had been working on. Sct. Vladimir's would be the first academy to try it out and Alberta and I would be working together on recruiting and designing the practices. I was so excited to work with her and I just really wanted this thing to go through. In fact I was working my network to make it happen starting with brunch with Daniella Ivashkov and Michela Badica. Daniella had a good angle with most royals and Michela was a girl a few years older than me whom I had met at several occasions. A social butterfly and just the woman for the job.
"Thank you, ladies, for joining me." I told them as we sat down in one of courts finer restaurants. This was one of the few where the staff didn't send me dirty or surprised looks, so I had chosen it as my preferred place to host these things.
"Thank you for the invitation, Council member Hathaway, it is an honor." Michela answered truthfully. I liked her, she was a sweetheart and I was a little proud to introduce her to Daniella whom I still wanted to impress.
"Yes, thank you Rose, this was such a nice idea." Daniella agreed, and Michela's eyes widened at the informal use of names.
"Oh please, Michela call me Rose, and Daniella I just wanted to tell you I appreciate you taking the time to be here, I know this is a terrible busy time for you." She smiled at the recognition. I knew from Rufus she had been bent over backwards trying to do her best with both arrangements for a charity, a reception for her cousins 20-year work-anniversary and Nathan's 60'th birthday. Damn that woman knew how to plan a party.
"It is no bother, honestly I need a break from flowers or I will go mad I am sure." She insisted with a laugh.
"I know what you mean. Last year my husband Ethan and I got married and I decided to plan it myself because how hard can it be? I regretted terribly thirty hours into picking chairs for the venue." Michela bid in and I had to hold back an eyeroll. Honestly if flowers and chairs were their biggest concern they needed a new life more than a professional planner. They got into a longer discussion about picking venues and themes and I silently nodded and pretended that I got what they were talking about.
"How about you Rose? How is your big day going to be like?" Daniella asked subtly but I almost choked on my mimosa.
"Uhm, I am not sure I am going to have one. I never really thought about it." Both women gaped at me but decided not to ask. Instead Michela opted for slight change of subject.
"No one caught your eye yet?" she asked with a sly smile and I blushed a little avoiding Daniella's gaze.
"No one I can see myself getting married to. At least not yet." Daniella tsked and placed a soft hand over mine.
"You are so young. Lots of time to figure that out." There was a glint in her eye that told me a different story tho. Now that I was a council member I wasn't such a bad influence anymore. Having me as an in-law was apparently starting to be appealing. I didn't say so tho but decided to use the opportunity that had landed in front of me.
"Well, I only just recently got released from duty. When I was still a guardian I just always figured starting a family would mean giving up my career. And I loved being a guardian." I told them and they seemed to pretend to know what I was talking about.
"It is so awful, the lack of opportunity for dhampir women." Michela said as through she actually knew. I bit back any sarcasm and gave her a grateful smile.
"It is, actually speaking of it. We are having a vote at the end of the week. It is a pilot project that I have been working on, and her majesty have allowed me to bring it forward on next vote. It is for dhampir women to have priority for academy guarding positions, so they can be close to their children but not give up their career." Both women nodded interested.
"How does that work?" Daniella asked and leaned a little closer.
"Well, we want to recruit pregnant women or women with children outside the moroi society. Then they have priority for positions at the academy. The plan is to hire twice as many, but have shorter shifts. There is still lots of capacity from when there were larger numbers, so it is relatively cheap to start up. First tho there will still be normal guardians until we have some valid results. Preferably these women had good grades as well, so they can teach at least the younger children as well. The goal is to release guardians to be stationed elsewhere as well as giving female dhampirs more options. If the numbers raise we can make shorter serving periods, have more flexibility and dhampirs get to you know actually have a life outside their jobs." Daniella nodded in agree and so did Michela.
"That is such a great idea! I tell you it is so hard to get a female guard and you never know how long they last. This would make it easier for them to come back to their jobs afterwards, too right?" Michela asked, and I felt an eyeroll threatening to break out of my control.
"Sure, that too." She squealed a little.
"Oh my god, Rose you are a genius. I'll ask my uncle to support it, it is a great proposal." She promised and took one of my hands in both of hers and I was reminded of why I thought of her as a sweetheart. At least she could see sense even if it was for her own sake. Daniella sent me a knowing look but gave her support as well.
"I'll talk to Arianna and Igor. I am sure you have Rufus covered?" she asked and I nodded. I had Rufus unlimited support. "And the others?" I swallowed.
"I am having a talk with Nathasha Ozera this afternoon." She nodded thoughtfully.
"A wild woman but well connectioned. Have Adrian ask Tatiana. She'll like it I am sure but a little persuasion never hurts." She advised and I smiled appreciating. Wild was Daniella's version of saying cray-cray.
"With that out of the way. Rose dear, we really need to talk about your living situation. You can't keep living with Rufus, it is simply not suitable. I'll hook you up with a real estate agent, Edie Smith, she is one of the best." She promised and the rest of brunch went on rather smooth and pleasantly.
After we parted I spent some time in the office, polishing the last details and ordering new supplies. Then I went for my talk with Tasha.
"Rose! You look lovely." She complimented and I smiled, giving her one back.
"So do you, how are you?" she shrugged.
"Same old, same old. Lets be honest Rose, you didn't ask me here for the company." She cut straight to the case. That is what I always like about her. No nonsense.
"I was hoping you would talk to you uncle for me? I have a project on vote on Friday, one that could really improve the situation for female dhampirs-" she held up a hand to stop me a gave me a sincere smile.
"Of course, Rose. I've heard the talk going around, it is a great project. I'll need something in return tho." I plastered on a smile. Tasha generally was a decent person, whatever she wanted it shouldn't be to hard.
"I have finally gotten through with a project of my own. A magic defense program. I need to know I can trust on your vote?" I blinked in surprise then nodded.
"Sure, I know Rufus, uhm Prince Tarus will support it too. Can I talk to anyone else for you?" She shook her head and took a big sip of her coffee.
"No, no. I'll handle it. I need this thing to go trough Rose, one way or the other. The time is perfect, and if not now then I don't think I will be able to do it any longer." Ahh there she is. Crazy Tasha. I kept my thoughts to myself and gave her smile instead.
"Of course. I have to go I am sorry but, see you around?" She smiled sweetly.
"Yes, yes you go do your thing. It was nice talking to you Rosemarie."
"Like wise Natasha." I used her full name as she used mine. It wasn't mean or poisoned, rather it was professional. Like we were one step away from calling each other Lady Ozera and council member Hathaway. I bid her goodbye but as I walked away I had a weird feeling of her eyes gluing to my back. When I turned around to look however, she was gone.
