Chapter 53: Calm Before the Storm

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy or Rose or Dimitri or Adrian…damn how I wish I did!

Anyways sorry about the late update. My grandfather passed away last week and I've been busy with the funeral and my family. He was 89 and will be missed but luckily lived a full life.

So I've also delayed my update because I have been working furiously on an outline for the sequel to this story. How many would be interested in reading it? I know you haven't even finished this one, but I don't want to crank out an entire fic and have no one want to read it. So please let me know in a PM or a review if you'd be interested. I've only got a few chapters left of this story to go. Wish Rose and Dimitri good luck with their battle cause here it comes!

RPOV

"Uh oh he was in Guardian mode. I wondered what had happened. He seemed so carefree and easygoing just a few minutes ago and now he looked tense as he dressed quickly and began to pace.

I put on my clothes and regarded him closely. "Something tells me that you lied to me about where you were going earlier." I said calling him out.

He didn't even try to hide the guilty look that crossed his face.

"Yes I did and I am sorry, but there was good reason. I need to tell you something and you need to promise me you won't react spontaneously." He said in a stern tone which I knew not to question him when he used it.

"Okay where were you?" I asked casually trying to stay calm although the fact that he'd lied to me so soon after we'd vowed not to lie to each other made me a little angry.

He took a deep breath and led me over to the couch in the sitting area.

"The phone call I received earlier was from Adrian. He said he had news on a possible attack and to come alone. I did as he requested so that I could get the necessary information."

I was a little confused as to how Adrian of all people would have information on an attack. He was drunk off his ass at nine-thirty this morning.

Dimitri continued to tell me how Adrian had faked being drunk because he was concerned that Tatiana was hiding something. He continued the story about the Queen and finding the information on her suffering from the same disease as Victor. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would have been until the next sentence spilled out of his mouth.

"She broke Victor Dashkov out of jail?" I screeched jumping off the couch. I was seething. How could she be so stupid as to do that after what he'd done to Lissa?
"Roza." He warned putting his hands on my shoulders to try and get me to sit back down.

I could feel Lissa had been drawn into my head and was now shaking with terror.

Who let him out of jail? Where is he? Is he the one behind the attack on the Academy?

I could hear her wild thoughts and extreme panic was coming through the bond.

Liss why don't you come over here and we'll talk. You shouldn't be alone. Bring Sparky and Tasha. I told her.

"Rose?" Dimitri asked shaking my shoulders slightly.

"Sorry Lissa felt me panic and she is freaking out about Victor." I told him.

He nodded in understanding and held me close to him while we waited.

A few minutes later Lissa, Christian and Tasha burst through the door and into our living room. Lissa looked visibly shaken. Sparky looked angry and Tasha looked like she was handling it pretty well so far. She'd faced worse I guess and had the scars to prove it. So it made sense. I was actually relieved to have her here. She could be of some use in a fight. She was pretty well trained in her fire magic.

Once we were all settled into our seats we waited anxiously for Dimitri to restart his story from the beginning.

Throughout his entire monologue I could feel Lissa's emotions going up and down and side to side. She was angry to terrified to crying in a matter of a minute. Christian was holding her close and stroking her hair gently. I was so glad he was there to take care of her like that. I could see how much he truly cared for her and to be honest her ups and downs were making me seasick.

"So Dimka what you're saying is that Tatiana is sick. She made it seem as if Victor was never in jail and has set him free, and she is planning on attacking Lissa and the rest of is in three days time?" Tasha asked for clarity.

"That about sums it up." He said grimly.

What are we going to do Rose? Do you think he's working with Strigoi? asked Lissa.

Do you think she is the one behind you being taken to Russia?

Calm down Liss. I won't let her hurt you. I will protect you at any cost. I told her honestly.

But Rose maybe we should just leave and go somewhere like we did before. Then we'll be safe.

No Liss we can't run anymore. People need to see the Queen for the truly hideous person she is and we need to put a stop to her antics once and for all or we will constantly live in fear.

You're right. She agreed sadly. But Rose I'm afraid.

Of what?
That I'll lose you cause you'll keep your promise and do something stupid trying to protect me.

Liss I've told you before they come first! You come first.

"If you say that one more time Rose I'll kill you myself!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

The entire room stood silent just waiting to see what would happen next. I shook my head and decided to ignore her for the time being. I turned to the others.

"So we're going to fight." I stated.

"You're damn straight we are." Said Adrian as he walked in with Abe, my mother, his guardians, Eddie and Mia behind him.

"Well now that the troups are all filled in it's time to come up with a plan." Said Abe.

"Let's get down to business."

RPOV

Two days had passed and as each second on the clock ticked away I became more and more nervous. Abe, Dimitri and Adrian had come up with a plan. It seemed to be the best option given the situation, but I was still very nervous and Yeva's words were still haunting me. She had told me I needed to do this alone. I didn't know if I'd made the right choice in involving Dimitri, but it seems as if he'd be involved anyways by how Adrian had called that little secret meeting.

It was well into the Moroi night meaning it was bright as hell outside and I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned for a while, but eventually got up and went downstairs to pace in the kitchen. I didn't want to wake Dimitri.

I hit the button for the automatic blinds that covered the floor to ceiling windows that lined our kitchen and living room. As they rose I couldn't help but admire the way the light illuminated the room. Little patches of light danced along the walls like magic. The crystals from the chandelier in the dining room made tiny dancing rainbows on the opposite wall. I watched for I don't know how long and was finally able to tear my eyes away from the brilliance of the lights long enough to brew a strong pot of coffee.

I thought about the plan and how difficult it was going to be for me having Lissa so close to a fight. I couldn't risk getting sucked into her head, not while I was fighting. Another thing that was a little disturbing was how readily Dimitri agreed to let me fight. He'd been dead set against it before, but I guess he finally realized that it was for the best and that I'd be an asset to the battle.

The plan was to act normal, but sleep in shifts. Abe, Dimitri, Me, Christian, Lissa and Janine would take first watch. Pavel, Sergei, Tasha, Adrian, Eddie and Mia would take the second. Abe had enlisted the help of six other privately hired Guardians that he had dealt with in the past. Three would be on each shift. That left us with twelve highly trained Guardians, three fire users, two Spririt users and a water user. We figured that they would stake the wards at sunset tomorrow. Adrian's plane was supposed to leave at noontime for humans.

He was going to board the plane and compel the pilot and guardians to think he was on board and tell them that when they landed to call the Queen and tell them that they'd all reached their destination safely and everything was right on track. Then he would double back and lay low with the rest of us.

Lissa and Adrian had already infused the wards with their Spirit magic allowing us to know the moment the wards were broken because Adrian and Lissa would be able to feel it. This would serve as an early warning system kind of like how I can sense Strigoi when they are near. Once the alarm was triggered we would split into two teams a front line and a back line. Guardians would be the first line and Moroi would form the second.

Lissa and Adrian would use their dark spirit magic to cause the Strigoi to see things that were not there and to fight amongst each other using their compulsion. Then the fire users would light them up as a distraction for us Guardians to stake them. Mia would use the fountain in the Courtyard as her own personal fire hose and pelt the Strigoi straight in the eyes if the fire users couldn't get them all.

I didn't like the idea of Lissa and Adrian fighting especially with all the darkness they would incur while using such dark magicks. I was particularly concerned with the possibility that I would get out of control from her darkness and hurt someone from our side. Dimitri assured me that he wouldn't let that happen, but it still made me uneasy.

"What are you doing down here Roza? You need to sleep." Dimitri said coming up behind me.

"You know that's not going to happen Comrade. I'm too keyed up." I told him. "Everyone I care about will be at risk tomorrow. I can't lose anyone."

"I know. Do you understand how hard it is for me to fight knowing that you are in danger? You are everything to me and if anything happens to you I'll never forgive myself."

"Hey don't worry about me. I was trained by the best." I said trying to lighten the mood.

"I promised to protect you Roza and last time I wasn't able to do anything. I felt so powerless. When they took you a part of me died right then and there." He said his voice thick with emotion.

"You saved me though. You came after me even though it was against your better judgment and I am just fine." I tried to reassure him that it wasn't his fault.

"We got lucky Roza. What are the chances of being that lucky twice in one lifetime?"

I lay my head on his chest not wanting to agree with him verbally. I sought comfort as he held me close. There was no doubt in my mind that we wouldn't be so lucky to come out on the other side with no casualties. I just didn't know who would be lost.

Dun dun dun … cue ominous music here! Hehe I know I am evil for leaving you here. Next chapter will have the fight. So I'm trying to write that sequel do you want it? If you want it tell me how much! Also who do you think will die? Will anyone die? Which side will win or will I leave you with a cliffy until the sequel. HAHA I'm not that evil…Talk to me…=)