Chapter 38: The Bitch is Back

Disclaimer: All Vampire Academy plotlines and characters belong to Richelle Mead. That being said do us all a favor and release the last two books today I am dying…..

This chapter is slightly humerous, but when I said there would be more drama this is the start of it…. Dun dun dun!!! Enjoy.

RPOV

"Aunt Tasha!" exclaimed Christian excitedly as he crossed the room to embrace his Aunt.

Now it was my turn to choke on my punch as I saw Dimitri's face light up as Tasha Ozera entered the room.

Lissa looked at me strangely as she could feel the anger that surged through me. I must have been pretty upset if she felt it through all the alcohol she'd consumed.

She had a guilty look on her face as she realized why I wasn't as pleased as everyone else to see Tasha.

I'm sorry. I never realized that was why you didn't like her. She said.

Don't worry about it I'll be fine. I said downing another cup of punch. Fine and Dandy if I had enough to drink. I thought bitterly.

"Congratulations Rose. You must be so happy to finally be done." She gushed.

I decided I'd have to play nice since I didn't want to appear childish in front of Dimitri and she was his friend and Christian's Aunt after all.

"Yes it's a big relief to finally have my Promise Mark." I said sweetly giving her a charming smile.

Lissa's jaw dropped as I allowed Tasha to hug me without grimacing.

Wow Rose you have much more self control than I though. I guess Dimitri is really rubbing off on you.

Well I wouldn't want to accidentally throw my drink on her or anything. I replied sarcastically.

Be nice it's just for a few days. She just came to see Christian graduate. He is her only family and all.

Yea yea I'll play nice.

Although it was going to be much more for Dimitri than it was for Sparky.

As Tasha stepped moved across the room to greet Dimitri I let out the deep breath I'd been holding.

"Do you need some more punch Little Dhampir?" asked Adrian coming up behind me.

"Your Aura is Black as ever." He said softly.

I laughed. "I need something stronger than this. This punch doesn't pack much of a punch if you ask me."

"Well lucky for you I always carry a spare flask." He said with a grin pulling a silver flask out of his jacket pocket, unscrewed the top and passed it to me. I glanced around to make sure Dimitri wasn't watching and of course he wasn't because he was otherwise enthralled by Christian's skank of an Aunt. I took the opportunity and downed about half the flask in one gulp.

"Woah slow down there Little Dhampir that stuff is 100 proof." He said taking the flask from my hand.

"Don't worry I can hold my liquor." I said with a slight hiccup.

"I sure hope so." He replied.

Dimitri was still talking to that Bitch when my parents arrived. I was surprised to see them arrive together. They were actually being amicable. I wondered if that was a good thing or not.

Abe's guardians must have stayed outside.

"Rose, how much have you had to drink?" asked my mother sternly pulling me away from Adrian.

"Just a little." I lied rather poorly. She glared at me and was about to open her mouth when my father cut her off.

"Janine let her have her fun. She's worked hard to get here. Just relax for while and enjoy yourself. You're not on duty today." He chastised.

She softened slightly. " Just be careful and don't make a spectacle of yourself." She muttered under her breath.

"Show it to me Kiz." Said Abe ignoring my mother's rudeness.

"I turned around and lifted my long dark locks to reveal my Promise Mark. I was supposed to keep it bandaged, but people kept asking to see it so I'd taken in off earlier. It didn't really hurt since it was not my first mark and I was used to it by now.

"That is impressive Rosemarie." He said proudly as he noticed not only my promise mark, but my two single molnija marks and my battle star as well.

"Thanks Baba." I said my cheeks slightly rouged. It meant so much to me to have his approval. I didn't even know how much I'd craved parental acceptance and love until I'd met him.

His approach to parenting was slightly different from my mother's. Whereas she tried to keep her emotions in check most of the time, Abe put his out there freely for all to see. He didn't act ashamed that he had a Dhampir daughter. He told me more than once that he loved me and how important is was to him that we keep in touch. He'd also apologized profusely for not being around during my childhood. I'd forgiven him. He was very sincere in his affections.

My parents left together after about an hour.

"See you at graduation tomorrow." Said Abe kissing my cheek lightly.

"Goodnight Rosemarie." My mother called as they exited.

My friends were all talking and laughing and having a great time. I scanned the room for Dimitri, but I didn't see him. My heart nearly leapt into my throat as I felt two arms encircle my waist. I relaxed into his grip as he bent down to kiss my cheek softly.

"Are you having a good time Roza?" he asked.

"Yup." I told him hoping he didn't smell the alcohol on my breath.

"You have another big day tomorrow are you about ready to call it a night?" he asked.

"Sure let's go." I said.

I said goodbye to Lissa and hugged her tight. I told Eddie and Adrian I'd see them tomorrow. As Dimitri and I were leaving I waved to Christian and Tasha. She was smiling genuinely at me having noticed Dimitri's hands around my waist.

"Did you tell her about us?" I inquired as we walked back to the Dhampir dorms.

"She's known since before the attacks." He replied.

"What? How?"

"I told her that I was unable to leave with her to be her Guardian and she asked if it was because of you and I told her yes and confessed my feelings." He admitted.

I looked at him in awe. "You did?"

He nodded. "I wanted her to know that I'd always be her friend, but that it would never go any further than that because you are and always will be the love of my life."

I nearly fell over at his admission. He steadied me with his strong arms. "I'm going to have to give Ivashkov a piece of my mind for getting you drunk." He said gruffly.

"I'm not drunk Comrade." I said straightening myself up.

"Roza, I could smell the alcohol on you from across the room." He said disapprovingly.

He didn't sound too mad or anything. He opened the door to the dorms, lifted me off the ground and carried me bridal style up the stairs and into my room.

He set me down gently on my bed and moved towards the door.

"You're not staying?" I asked incredulously.

"You are drunk Roza." He said shaking his head.

"I'm not that drunk." I said getting up and blocking the door.

"Stay." I pleaded putting my arms around his neck and snuggling up against his finely chiseled chest.

I knew he wanted to. He was hesitating. I was going to get my way. "Please?" I begged giving him my sad puppy dog eyes that no man could ever resist. I bit my bottom lip every so slightly and that was enough to throw him over the edge.

"Alright you little con artist. I'll stay, but only to sleep." He relented leading me to the bed. He helped me remove my shoes and my dress and slipped one of the t-shirts I'd stolen from his room over my head. It smelled just like him.

I slipped into bed and he stripped down to his undershirt and boxers and joined me.

I was having a really pleasant dream about what life would be like at court with Dimitri and Lissa when suddenly I found myself back in the basement of the Strigoi house in Russia only this time I was awake.

"Well hello there Rosemarie." The blonde Strigoi drawled. "We thought that you were dead."

I tried to strike out, but I couldn't. I was chained to the wall. I struggled violently against my restraints but was unable to break them.

"How did you get into my dream?" I demanded forcefully.

"We have our ways." Said the woman stepping forward. She smacked me hard across the face. I was surprised to feel pain. Usually in dreams you sort of feel it, but this was so real.

"Rosemarie you've been very lucky so far what with not dying and all the last time we met, however now I'm even more interested in finding you and making you one of us." She sneered.

"It won't work! I won't let you near me ever again." I screeched.

The blonde Strigoi laughed sardonicly. "We are already closer than you think."

"Yes and this next time you won't have your Daddy or your Russian boyfriend around to save you." She snarled. I recoiled as she bared her fangs and brought them down towards my neck. I could feel the coolness of her breath on my skin.

"Don't worry about your little friend Vasilisa anymore. We've decided that having a Spirit using Strigoi will be most helpful."

I gasped at her implication. "She won't have her powers if you change her." I cried trying to get them to reconsider.

"That's not what we've been told. Word on the street is that the last Spirit user that was turned retains their Moroi magics."

How can they possibly know about that? Spirit wasn't widely known among Moroi and Dhampir how did Strigoi have so much information?

"We will enjoy having Vasilissa as one of us. I hear her boyfriend Ozera is already on the verge joining us just like his parents." She remarked snidely.

"You don't know anything about Christian Ozera. If you did you'd know that he would never become one of you. He fought side by side with me twice destroying your kind. He's killed more Strigoi than some Guardian's I've known." I spat a little shocked to be defending Christian so vehemently.

"Don't get smart with me you little Bitch." She roared lunging at me. She hit me hard several times. The pain was excruciating. I was beginning to think that this may not be a dream after all.

I cried out as she continued to strike me brutally until I felt myself being drug back into a deep sleep.

Uh oh Strigoi!!! Are they real or is she dreaming? If they are real how did they get there? Wake up Rose!!