Chapter 36

RPOV

'What? Why?' he asked.

'Because I want you to tell the Queen that she was right about me and you are sorry you didn't believe her earlier'

'No, I wont do that Rose' wow he really is opposed to the idea. He actually called me Rose and not Lil Dhampir.

'Hear me out ok. Tell her whatever it is she needs to hear, that will make her think you have had a huge fight with me. Do whatever you have to. You are her favourite Nephew, or whatever. You have been her confidante in the past, be that person again now. Then, when she thinks you are back on her side, tell her that I told you everything that happened, but you know that she would never do that. Tell her you were appalled with the idea that I could think something like that and you never want to see a lying manipulative bitch like me again'

'Why in the world would I say all that Lil Dhampir?' phew he was back to my nickname. I could see that the idea was going through his mind, wondering if it would really work.

'You want her to admit it, to admit to you that she did in fact do all of that'

'But what good will that do, she will just know that she has hurt me with the truth. She knows that no one will ever believe a word I say if I go public with it after she tells me. I might be her favourite nephew, but she knows my reputation and she knows that no one would believe a word I say'

'Which is exactly why I believe she will confide in you and tell you the truth, because she thinks that even if you do go public with it, she is safe because no one will believe you' the pain in his eyes just then hurt. Knowing that people have got the wrong idea about him hurts him a lot more than he lets on, but I could see it.

'So what good will all of that do except make me feel even worse. Do you think I don't believe you or something?'

'What? Where did that come from? I know you believe me Adrian, you wouldn't be here if you didn't' I said with a smile. He smiled back, obviously relieved that I didn't think so little of him. 'You will have a recorder hidden somewhere on you, recording the conversation and hopefully her confession'

'Oh my god Rose, that is genius. Why didn't we think of that?' cried Christian. 'You're not just about the looks after all'

'Watch yourself Fire Boy' I said. 'I've been thinking about it all day to be honest, well for a few days. I don't know if it will work, but its our only option'

'There is always compulsion. We could get her in front of the council and get her to confess by using compulsion on her' said Lissa.

'Uh huh, wont work. For one, compulsion is illegal and two, they will think we have somehow staged it. I'm not exactly miss popular back at Court Liss. This way, the confession comes straight from Tatiana's lips and there is no arguing against it. We could even set up a little camera in the room or something'

'This might just work you know. There are already camera's set up in my Aunt's room because of the last assassination attempt. Once I leave the room, it wouldn't be a problem compelling the guard to hand over the tape. But Rose, I don't think I can do this. I don't think I can talk about you like that'

'You can and you will Adrian. Please, it's our only hope. And I know you don't mean any of it, so what does it matter? You can say anything to her you want and I promise I will never hold it against you'

'Ok, I can do this. I better go and arrange a plane to take me back. My god, I can't believe I am going to do this. Rose, before I go, you need to know that I love you' he held his hand up to shut Dimitri up who was about to comment on those words. 'You have never turned your back on me, even when we first met. You are the first person that has gotten to know me for me, not for my money or my family name. You have taught me to be a better person and for that, I will forever be grateful. I know now that the love I have for you isn't romantic, its sisterly. You are the family I wish I grew up with. You may not be blood, but you will always be my family'

That was the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me, and I was silently sobbing by the end of it. I ran up to him and threw my arms around him. 'You will always be a brother to me, and I only want you to do this if you want to. This could ruin your family Adrian, and I wouldn't hold it against you if you decided not to go ahead with this'

He pulled back from me. 'Like I said Rose, you are my family, the family I wish I always had. I don't care if they disown me. I don't want to be known as Adrian Ivashkov if that name keeps me tied to Tatiana and the evil she is associated with. I would rather be known as Adrian Hathaway than Adrian Ivashkov'

Oh my god, does he seriously mean that? Wow, that is a huge step for Adrian

You're telling me. I think I am speechless

Lissa laughed. Christian and Adrian both glared at her. Then we realised it looked like she was laughing at what Adrian said.

'Oh, sorry Adrian, I wasn't laughing at you, I promise. I was laughing at the fact that Rose has been rendered speechless once again' she said tapping her head. Realisation showed on both of their faces, knowing that we had again, spoken through the bond rather than out loud.

'Twice in one day Rosie, you losing your touch?' said Christian. I went to lunge at him for calling me Rosie again, but strong arms held me around my waist.

'Oh come on, he deserves it' I whined. Dimitri just chuckled. Spoil sport, he always ruins my fun.

'So, anyway, seriousness again. Adrian, I am touched by your words. I really am. I can't have you disowning your family or being disowned by them, on my conscience. You can't include your whole family in this equation. It's only the Queen that has done wrong, no one else'

'No one else…Yet! How do you think they are going to react when I bring forward the confession? All I am saying is if it comes down to it, I will not think twice about denouncing them as my family. End of discussion. Now I am going out for a cigarette and to make a phone call. I will be back in shortly' he said and before I could say another word, he was out of the door.

'It really is a good idea Roza. I think it could work'

'I sure hope so. Now, what are our plans for the afternoon? I was thinking we could take Lily to that park down the road? What do you think? We can give the guys from the band a call. While Lily is playing on the park, we can get a bit of a backyard cricket game happening?'

'That sound's great Rose. I think a bit of fun is what we all need before the haul back to Court in a couple days. I'll go round up Eddie and Cal and meet you downstairs' said Christian running off to find Eddie and Cal. I turned to Dimitri and Lissa and we all left to go and find my mum and Lily. I sent Nicola a text on the way, inviting her and the other boys.

Lily was so excited at the idea of playing at the park for the afternoon. I noticed that at times she definitely acted like the two year old she was, rather than the five year old that she seemed. We went downstairs and packed some food and drinks and then headed off to the park. Lily ran straight to the swings when we got there, with Dimitri hot on her heels giving her a push. I walked over to the tables with Lissa and Mum and helped set the food up.

'He is a natural isn't he?' said Tasha, the sadness evident in her eyes. I knew how much it must be hurting her looking at Dimitri with Lily, especially when she had been so close to getting that herself.

'He sure is. Looking at them together now, you would never know that he has missed out on the last two years of her life' said Alberta. 'Oh shit, I'm sorry Rose. That sounded really bad, like…' I cut her off before she could finish.

'It's ok Alberta. I know what you mean. Tasha, are you ok?' I asked. She looked at me with a raised eyebrow, trying to figure out why I was asking her that question. 'I know that what you are watching now, is what you always wanted with Dimitri' I gave her a small smile.

'I will be honest with you Rose, I love Dimitri, and I always have. And yes, I always wanted to have children with him. But after spending some time here with you guys, I know that what you two have is the real thing. You don't just love each other, you complete each other. It's like you are the other half of each other. The love I feel for him doesn't even compete with that. I know that now Rose. I knew it the minute I realised he couldn't completely forget you, even under compulsion, but I have realised it even more since seeing you together' Tasha's speech brought tears to my eyes. I walked over and hugged her.

'I'm sorry if I was such a bitch to you when we first met at the Academy and then at the lodge' I said.

'Don't be silly Rose. I completely understand it now. I must say, you handled it quite well' she laughed. 'Now that I know you more, I'm surprised I didn't end up with broken bones'

'When I found out about Rose's feelings for Dimitri, I often wondered how she managed to control herself around you. Jealousy was never something Rose handled very well' said Lissa.

'Hey, I am right here you know' I laughed.

'What doesn't Roza handle very well?' asked Dimitri coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

'Nothing Comrade. Just girl talk' I said turning in his arms to kiss him.

'Ew Mama' cried Lily. We all laughed.

'Are you hungry baby? Do you want a drink or something to eat?' I asked Lily. She nodded, so I got her a sandwich and a juice and sat her down at the table. Just then, we heard a scream followed by some laughter. Looking down at the oval, it looked like Eddie had hit the ball and it hit Adrian right where it hurts the most. Adrian was rolling around on the ground holding his privates with a look of agony on his face. I chuckled.

'Mama, what happened to Uncle Adrian?' asked Lily looking over at Adrian on the ground in concern.

'He just got hit by the ball baby. He will be ok in a minute' I said. Then I called out to him. 'Why don't you just heal yourself?' A look of realisation came over his face. I guess the thought of healing himself hadn't even entered his mind.

'Thanks for the idea Lil Dhampir' really, if I was a spirit user and could heal things, even small things like Adrian, then I wouldn't need to be reminded to use it.

For the rest of the afternoon we played around at the park with Lily and had a few games of cricket. As darkness washed over us, Lily came over to sit on my lap. She looked so tired from a day of play, and I thought she would go to sleep, but then she put her hand on my face and my world stopped. She showed me an image that I thought I would never see. Jamie Zeklos was a Strigoi and he was here.

'Bad man Mama' she said.

'Yes baby, that's right. Dimitri, I need you to take everyone back to the house' I said quietly.

'What's going on Roza?'

'Please, don't ask questions. Just go. I will be right behind you' I said. He looked at me with concern, searching for the answer in my eyes. I teared my eyes away from his and looked down at Lily. 'Baby, please don't show Papa that image until you are all safely back at the house ok'

'Ok Mama' she said nodding her little head. She gave me a kiss on the cheek, then hopped out of my arms and went to Dimitri, who stood with his arms open.

I quickly gave Dimitri a kiss before running to the Oval to get everyone else to leave. Like Dimitri, they wanted to know what was going on. The only answer I gave them was a glare, warning them to go now. Thankfully, because it's not often they see me like this, they knew I was serious and quickly followed Dimitri and the rest of them. They left all of the cricket gear behind.

Rose, please tell me what is going on. You are scaring me. I can feel your anxiety and Dimitri wont explain anything

Jamie Zeklos is here. He is Strigoi. Dimitri doesn't know. Please Liss, don't tell him. I need him there to keep you and Lily safe. I felt the fear Lissa felt just hearing his name come through the bond.

Rose, you cannot confront him on your own.

Liss, please, I have to do this ok. I will be ok Just then, my stomach churned with nausea. He was here and he was close.

'Come out Zeklos. I know you are here' I yelled. All I heard in response was a horrifying cackle coming from the trees at the end of the field. I walked over to them. I wasn't walking into the trees though; I knew that's what he would want. A fight in enclosed space would be easier for him to win. I stopped about five metres from the trees and stood there waiting. By the feelings in my stomach, I knew he was close. Probably just behind the first row of trees.

'Come on Zeklos. Don't be a coward. You obviously came to find me, so at least do that' I said.

'I came to make you pay' he said walking out from behind the trees. Just the sight of him made me sick to my stomach. I had to really concentrate on not throwing up, but I kept my guardian mask in place. I wasn't going to show this asshole how much just being in his presence unnerved me.

'The only one who will be paying here is you Zeklos. You won't be coming out of this alive. Oh wait, you're already dead'

'Still a cocky bitch I see. What makes you think you can defeat me?'

'You seem to forget, I kicked your ass once before, do you really think I can't do it again?'

'I didn't have the strength or speed I have now. Now, I am unstoppable'

'You keep telling yourself that' and then I jumped at him. I wasn't giving him a chance to say anything else to me. He obviously didn't expect me to make the first move because he was startled for a moment. My fist connected with his jaw. On a normal person, it would have broken his jaw. On strigoi, while it may have hurt, it didn't stop him. He retaliated, coming at me with fists flying. I dodged and blocked what I could, but he managed to get some hits in.

'Not so tough now are you Hathaway' he said after connecting with my stomach. It had knocked the wind out of me and I had fallen to the ground on my knees. I'm sure that a couple of ribs had been cracked as I felt the pain when breathing in. 'I reckon the stories are all bullshit, there is no way you have defeated all those Strigoi'

I didn't even acknowledge his comments. I may have been winded temporarily, but he should have known how much pain I could handle. I pushed the pain aside, but didn't let it show. I continued to pretend to be winded, and waited for him to come close. He fell right into the trap. As soon as he was close enough, still talking shit, I lashed out with my leg, kicking his square in the chest. He stumbled back but I knew it wasn't enough, I jumped straight back up and started throwing punches one after another. Punch, punch, uppercut. Over and over again. He quickly retaliated and we were going at it again. I was quite surprised by his strength and fighting ability. He sensed my surprise.

'What's wrong Hathaway? Not as good as you think you are? Come on, I'm just a low life Moroi, you should have had me defeated long ago' he snickered.

'I'm enjoying punching the fuck out of you before I end your miserable life' I said throwing another punch. This one connected with his shoulder.

'You cannot defeat me. I've been training for this day for two years' this time, his punch hit my ribs again and I screamed in pain. He'd hit the same ribs as earlier. The pain was horrendous. I went down to my knees again.

'That's better. I like hearing you scream, knowing it's me causing the pain' he said, hitting me again. This time he had come down on my shoulder with brute force. I knew my shoulder was dislocated almost immediately. Again, I screamed in pain from the agony, but he kept the blows coming. I couldn't let him win.

'Once I am done with you, I might have to go and find the Dragomir princess and finish her as well. I will be a god amongst strigoi when they hear I took out not only Hathaway, but the last Dragomir as well' he laughed. Bringing Lissa's name into it was all I needed to gain the energy required to finish him.

'You will never get to her' I said lunging off the ground. 'This is the last fight you will ever have. You won't be walking away from this' my fist connected with his face and I finally tore my stake from its spot on my thigh. The shock on his face made me laugh; he had obviously thought I had no stake on me.

'Roza' I could hear Dimitri calling at me from the other end of the field, but I didn't acknowledge it. I was focused on Zeklos, and I knew if I let myself get distracted, I would die.

He lunged for me again, hitting me in the side of the head at the same time as I hit him in the stomach. The force of his hit to my head made me stumble and I fell backwards, hitting my head hard on the ground. Black spots lined my vision but I shook them off. Just as I went to get back up, Zeklos jumped on top of me.

'I remember this position really well. I could see in your eyes how much you enjoyed it' he said with his head close. I could see that he was lowering his head, ready to bite me. That was all it took for a final piece of rage to consume me and with as much force as I could manage, I bought my hand up and rammed the stake into his chest from behind, hoping I got the right spot. All my energy drained from me and the pain invaded me. My vision started to go again, and I could feel myself succumbing to the black hole. The last thing I heard before completely losing consciousness was Dimitri screaming.