Rose
I followed Lissa into the kitchen with a smile. She closed the door as soon as I got in and sat on a stood at the island. Lissa was beaming and I knew that it wasn't just because of the baby news. I rolled my eyes and leaned against the island with a smile.
"What's got you all happy?"
"I've done it!" Lissa said, smiling and giggling in response. I looked at her, eyebrows fusing together. "All you have to do it retrain for a week and then trails. That's it and you can be my guardian again!" Lissa squealed, I looked at her in bewilderment.
"Liss-"
"Isn't it great! Everything can go back to normal! I'm sick and tired of my new one, I want my Rose back."
"Liss!" I say, putting both my hands on her arms to keep her still on the chair. "I never said I wanted to be a Guardian again."
"What do you mean?" Lissa laughed. "You're being silly! You're training starts on Monday! Do you have gym clothes? We can go shopping!"
"Lissa." I tried again. "I don't know if I want to be a Guardian anymore."
"But-" Her lower lip trembled. "You said you were back." Her eyes started to fill.
"I said I was back, I never said I wanted to be a Guardian." She pulled her arms away. Her eyes started to darken, her face slightly blank. My stomach started to feel nauseous, but I swallowed hard.
"What? So, you're just going to what? Be a traitor? Be a blood whore?"
"Wow, calm down, horsey." I reply, waving my hands in front of me. "What's wrong with you?"
"Me? Are you serious right now? You don't want to work for me?"
"Liss, I was out in the real world! I have a daughter to think about. What, am I just supposed to let her live a life where she has to constantly worry if a parent never makes it home?"
"You're being so selfish! What are you going to do here huh? You can't embarrass me!" I scoff and stand straighter, standing away from her. The darkness radiating off her was dangerous and not subsiding no matter if I took some.
"I'm selfish? Because I want a good life for my child?"
"Yes! I'm the most important one! I order you to be my Guardian again! I'm your queen." I stared at my best friend – someone I thought would understand me but as her darkness grew, so did mine. I rolled my shoulders.
"You're not my Queen." I reply, walking towards the door and slamming it open. I made it into the living room grabbed my coat before my phone rang. I ignored the stares and answered it.
"Hello, is that Rose Doe?"
"Yes, it's Hathaway now." I replied politely.
"Ah that good I heard about your situation; I'm assuming you've regained your memory." Before I could respond, the man continued. "My name is Shawn Jones. I work for Baker and Co Law Firm. I'll cut straight to the point – I saw you finished your prelaw courses."
"Yes." I reply, not knowing what else to say.
"I know. We received your CV and one of my colleagues remembers you from the interviews held a few months ago." I opened my mouth, about to say something but closed it again. Aly walked over to me, tugging on my hand. I lifted it and stoked her hair; it was a little warm.
"We have an intern position available. We want you to fill it beginning in September."
"Are you serious?"
"Very. Think it over but I do need your answer by Monday." I agreed, hung up and put my hand on the back of Aly's neck.
"Did Daddy give you your medicine?" She nodded. I picked her up and pocked Dimitri with my foot. He was staring blankly at the wall. "Dimitri? Are you coming?" He didn't say anything for a second before he shook his head and looked at me.
"What?"
"I need to take Aly to the hospital, are you coming?" He seemed to think about it as he looked at Tasha, but nodded anyway and got up slowly, almost fighting himself to sit back down. I cocked my eyebrow, picked Aly up, grabbed our coats and bag and walked out the door, Dimitri followed. I had strapped Aly in her car seat and closed her door before Dimitri's blank stare subsided. I looked at him bewildered, but shook it off, got into the driver's side as Dimitri got into the passenger side.
Nothing.
That's what the doctor has said after we waited to be seen and I explained what was happening.
She's faking it to get attention.
I don't know what annoyed me more and to top it off, who do we pump into? Tasha. I coughed back some nausea. I tugged on Dimitri's arm, trying to lead him towards the car, but he stood still, feet firmly planted to the ground.
"Well, hello their Rose. Hi Aly."
"My name is Alyssia." I made her more comfortable on my hip.
"Sorry Tasha but we have to get Aly home for her dinner." I tugged on Dimitri's arm but he was staring at Tasha.
"Oh, I don't think you need Dimitri for that, does she?" Tasha looked at Dimitri who shook her head. I scoffed, put Aly in the car and tugged on Dimitri's arm one more time.
"Are you coming for not?" He didn't say anything, just stood there. I let out a frustrated sigh and got into the car slamming my door.
"Is Daddy not coming?" I looked at Aly in the rare view mirror.
"No, he has to help Tasha with something." Aly nodded and played with her coat zip. I pulled away from the hospital and drove past my house, past my parents, until I finally pulled to a stop. I helped Aly out of the car and knocked on the door.
"Rose?"
"Tatiana." She allows us to walk through the door and into ushers us into her living room. "Can you look after Aly for a while? She just needs her dinner and then she can watch TV. I'll be back before her bedtime."
"Rose, don't you have family and friends for this kind of thing?" She replied, looking flabbergasted at my request.
"Please." I say, begging. Tatiana leaned back into her chair.
"I suppose I can. Adrian is on his way; I'll ask him to pick her up some dinner."
"Chicken nuggets and chips will be fine." I fish in the bag, take out some cash but Tatiana shook her head.
"Rose, I know we haven't seen eye to eye-"
"You're not that bad Tatiana. I know you had a hand in allowing me to be Lissa's Guardian." She sat back with a knowing look.
"And now you're not sure that you want to?" I nodded. "May I ask what happened? What made you stay away?"
"I was in a car accident and I lost my memory, but I lived my life out there. I don't know if I want this life for Aly." Tatiana nodded.
"You know, I always liked you." I gave her a smile and turned to Aly.
"Now, you be good." Aly nodded. "If she feels sick at all, can you call me?" I scribbled down my number before giving Aly a kiss of the nose. When I closed the door, I leaned my head against it closing my eyes. I left my car and decided to go on foot, scaling to the edge of Court, climbing up the wall and sitting with my back against the tree I used to climb up.
"You're ignoring your instincts." I jumped when I heard a women's voice. She was old yet beautiful as she dangled her feet over the edge of the wall. I started at her.
"What?"
"You were able to suppress your abilities over the years, have you forgotten who to trust?"
"Who? Lissa? She's out, Dimitri? He's going all funny-"
"I'm not talking about everyone else." She says. "You and I have abilities Rose, but they only work when we follow our instincts."
"You're Anna?" She gave me a smile before she jumped off the wall and vanished. I sat up straighter looking at my hands.
"Okay." I whispered, closing my eyes and letting out a breath. "Okay, think." I opened my eyes and looked at the moon. "I've been feeling nausea and that's usually a sign of Strogoi, but Strogoi can't be in the wards because I would have seen ghosts." I spoke my thoughts allowed. "But I did see Anna, so the wards are weakening." I looked around. "Lissa blew up at me because of the darkness effects. That happened suddenly which couldn't happen logically." I continued. "What are the common factors?" I whisper, straighten up, leaning away from the wall.
"What am I missing?" I looked through my memory, my thoughts. "What am I missing?" I tapped my fingers on my leg, until suddenly, I sat up straight.
That can't be it? It's impossible isn't it? I swallowed, sucked in a breath. Trust your instincts. I climbed down the tree and jumped to the ground, pulling my phone from my pocket. I dialed Tatiana's number.
"Don't let anyone take Aly." I say as soon as the phone answers. "Keep her there, I'm on my way."
"Rose? Dimitri came and said you were tied up. He just got here." I sucked in a breath and I pleaded with my legs to run faster.
"Don't let him go with her Tatiana." I cried as I pelted down the streets, through the roads, willing my legs to go faster. I dropped my phone somewhere along the way. I couldn't stop fast enough when I got to Tatiana's house, I smashed into the door and flung it open. Tatiana was sitting on the chair, hands in her lap.
"Where's Aly?" I demanded. "Tatiana? Where's Aly?!" I shook her shoulders. Her hands grasped my arms and she bowed her head and shook it.
"Rose? When did you get here? I told Dimitri not to take her he left five minutes ago, at least, I think it was five minutes." She looked at me. I took a step back and paced the floor.
"Was she with him?" I asked. "Tatiana, was Tasha with him?" She nodded.
I ran.
