Temper me in fire

by voldobaby

The world of Moroi and Dhampirs is very different, political turmoil has opened up a vacuum in which illegal and immoral actions can transpire, such as slavery of Dhampirs. Rosemarie Hathaway is born into slavery in Arizona. Her life revolves around tending to her chores and making herself inconspicuous. But that all changes when Mr.Dashkov and his Guardians arrive

40. Chapter 40

The next morning an infuriating note's been slid under my door.

"Don't you dare go downstairs." - N

I had lain awake thinking of all the topics and questions I could bring up to Dimitri on our walk. I indulged in the idea of asking him more about Natasha and telling him the truth and how he would react. I imagined him becoming enraged with her, confronting her and then the opposite scenario where he accused me of lying and we'd have a long argument which resulted in our faces becoming very close and…

But now there's Natalie's note that is basically a threat.

I step out into the hall and concentrate very hard on not looking to my right. I knock lightly on Dimitri's door.

Damn it's hard not to look. Maybe a peek? I mean I wouldn't see everything...

The door swings open and Dimitri stands all in black. Despite everything he still managed to look good. I avert my gaze to his before it travelled the length of him.

"I can't go on our walk. It's a matter of life and death."

He raises an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

I hold out the folded paper and I step into his room, feeling bold. It's warm and smelt faintly of that lemony smell and, well, of him.

"Ah. I would contest this is a warning and not a threat."

"What's the difference?" I say picking up the book from his bedside. Another western.

"A warning is a word of caution and a threat is a declaration of impending consequences, usually insinuating violence."

"Did you eat a dictionary? Also, I think Natalie is more than capable of violence."

"You are the one that eats dictionaries."

"Less so now." I murmur putting down the book. I had less need to mesmerise words and their meanings these days. "But just because I'm forbidden to go downstairs doesn't mean you can't."

"This laziness will not tolerated when we start to train properly." He says folding his arms. He'd managed to tie his hair back already which I found disappointing, I was going to offer to help.

Wait what did he say?

"Laziness?"

He hums and his dark eyes glint in amusement. Something inside me jolts, he rarely joked and a warmth floods my stomach in flutters.

"That is a threat, not a warning." I say. He smiles now, properly and air catches in my throat. What is the matter with me? Maybe I needed breakfast.

"It is and I don't think we should waste the opportunity. I shouldn't waste the opportunity for gentle exercise." He says the last part bitterly but it doesn't completely eclipse the mood.

"Natalie blindfolded me yesterday and I had no issues." I say remembering how easy I found it to visualise the layout of the house in my mind.

"Blindfolding you seems excessive."

"Natalie is excessive."

"You know, I would never tell her if you acted rashly and kept your eyes open going down the stairs."

I grinned. "I knew I could count on you."

He chuckles and I savour the sound. I'd gone weeks not speaking to him or seeing him, gone through an experience that could only be described as 'hell' where every few minutes I convinced myself he'd die before we got him home and standing here I allow myself to properly drink him in.

Dimitri makes me feel like, even though the world kept shifting under my feet I could remain steady because of his presence. And, when I think of what could of happened I have the sensation of my arms pin-wheeling in open air and part of me resents it. I resent that I depend on him.

In the back of mind is the blood promise and what he'd told me as he lay on the floor and I hid under my bed. I had someone watching my back for me, who is going to teach me hold my own physically and who I knew, I just knew, would prevent me from harm. I trust him.

This dependence also ties into how I now felt colder toward Victor. He'd offered no help to us to get back and no medical aid when we had. It had then come from her.

I could of been naive (I hate that word) in having thought that what they had here was different to the Ozera household – that there weren't hard drawn lines between Moroi and Dhampir in which you must always prove useful. But now I don't know.

Spiridon could of left Dimitri and dragged me kicking and screaming. I'd thought he hadnt because out of loyalty but now I suspect it had been more about logic. Dimitri is an asset. A great Guardian. To lose him would be a pain to replace – as Natalie said.

I knew Dimitri wouldn't just think out of logic. I knew he wouldn't leave anyone alone to die because it would be easier. He made standing on trembling ground easier because he was a source of something good...and that was terrifying. I had grown up knowing that good things and good people didn't last.

"Rose?"

I blink. "Wha...Sorry."

He'd stepped closer to me and his brow has creased. "Are you alright?"

I shake off the thoughts ruining what had been a light moment. "Yes." He looked like he was about to call me out for lying so I beat him to it, "Actually I have some questions."

"You can ask me anything."

I smile remembering the first time he told me that and how much it means to me. So much of the oppression I'd felt my entire life lifted with that sentence and he knew it.

"But first, can you help me down the stairs?"

"That still counts as a question."

I roll my eyes, "I will not behave rashly and risk Natalie's wrath."

"Wise."

"I won't be risking that either." Spiridon lounges against the doorway and I'm immediately irritated. "I should inform you that unless you plan your entire walk blindfolded she'll be angry. More decorators are arriving for outside and guess who got tasked to supervise that." He points his two thumbs at himself.

How long had he been eavesdropping? "More decorations? Are you serious?"

"If I didn't know how prone to kicking she is when mad I wouldn't have set my alarm." He drawls and then that evil, vile little smirk of his appears and I prepare myself. "But I'm so glad I did or I would of missed you sneaking into a Guardian's room asking to be blindfolded." He makes a tutting noise and my face catches flame.

"Spiridon." Dimitri cautions, all softness has left his expression.

"Also." Spiridon turns his attention to him. "Change of plans for later, I'm switching with Ben. He's going to the school with Victor and I'm chaperoning. Gives him a chance to sort out that basketcase."

"Has something else happened?" Dimitri folds his arms.

"From what I heard she started raving during a lesson about spiritual demons and having to fight them alone. Freaked the kids out."

"She needs professional help." Dimitri says quietly.

"Well you'd know that better than anyone." The look Dimitri gives him would melt flesh. "Anyway, They should be here any minute and I'm not getting kicked in the balls. Let me know your breakfast orders when the girls get up."

"I'd like to kick him." I mutter.

"It took me years to master that self control." He says. "Sometimes I wish I hadn't."

"You were in school together weren't you?" I guess, remembering pieces of what he'd told me.

"Yes and if it hadn't of been for Galina, we would have killed each other."

"Galina was your mentor right?"

"Yes."

"Is she still at the school?"

"No. She was turned."

"Oh...I'm so sorry."

"I planned on leaving to find her. To put an end to it. She would hate what became of her. I owed her as much."

"Why didn't you?"

"Timing. It was around the time I needed to take this job."

I remember him telling me before how Victor had come to him when he graduated but it was when his father threatened to take away the baby, Paul, and broken his mothers wrist that he decided to take Victors offer.

"Is that what he meant before? About you knowing all about professional help, was that about Galina?"

"No. He was talking about my mother." He takes a deep breath. "She's still unwell."

"You told me before that you hid your family and that's why you couldn't be seen at Court with Victor." I recall our conversation in the garden, it seems like so long ago. "So she isn't getting any better?"

"No. I know you're familiar with how Moroi need to sustain themselves with blood and how dark it can be." A coldness settles in my chest, constricting around my heart. Unwanted memories push to the surface – Mr Ozera's shadow, the noises, pretending to be asleep, trying not to cry and some mornings where I couldn't make Janine move or speak to me. Her eyes open, unseeing. I remember him telling me the slur for Dhampirs who engaged, willingly, in being bitten, 'Blood Whore'. "My fathers abuse runs deep. I worry it's something she can't overcome."

I reach for my pendant and find my throat bare.

"I worry she will never forgive. That my sisters will resent me for having uprooted them for nothing good to have come from it. They might not have to deal with my fathers presence but it also means they don't have his resources, his money. I thought it would better but I'm not sure any more. Not being able to speak to them doesn't help. I used to comfort myself by thinking that Paul was safe, the unborn baby is safe but if my mother is getting more hostile then she's a risk. I think I might have made a decision to rashly...good intentions aside."

This is all too much for one person to shoulder. I didn't know his sister but I can't help but think how selfish they're being. He had tried to help, he had made a deal with a powerful Moroi, moved across the world to protect them and yet it felt like they were punishing him.

"At least my sisters only have to worry about one parent." He mutters.

"If things don't get better… what happens?"

"I don't know. We let her go I suppose, let her live how she wants to at her own risk but if she chooses to return to him my sisters will not be with her. I will send them every last cent to keep them away from our father. They have lived too long under his threats and under her unpredictable moods."

"There's no one else to help?"

He shakes his head. "My grandmother is too old to take her on alone. And I would not trust my mother alone with her."

An incredible sadness floods me. I factor in everything he's been through the past few weeks and how his family were thousands of miles away, angry with him when he was here for them. The sadness runs colds with my anger that his mother would be blaming him and turning his sisters against him.

"Do they know you were hurt?"

That your nearly died?

"Yes."

I put my hand on his arm. "You are doing everything you can. Most people wouldn't even do that." He doesn't say anything and my grip tightens. "Most of my life I was around the worst kind of people and you helped get me away from that. They are so lucky to have you." I hope he could hear how sincerely I mean it. "Maybe it has to be harder now for it to get better. I am sorry this hurts you. I wish I could I help."

"Thank you." His hand covers mine and my heart all but stops. "And you do help, what you just said. That helps me. Sometimes I question if I'm another form of toxicity in our lives, making them move, becoming the person they hate more than our father."

"You would never hurt anyone without a reason to. You would never be cruel for the sake of it."

"No I wouldn't." He says, as if confirming it to himself. He squeezes my hand, long fingers cradling mine. "Thank you."

I meet his gaze, the last rays of sunlight pierce through his window and bathe the room in a soft golden glow. The reddish strands in his hair glint and I become hyper sensitive to the weight of his hand. With the light behind him his eyes seem impossibly dark.

"You're welcome." I whisper.

Then suddenly he drops my hand and moves away but before I can take any offence Spiridon appears again.

"They're fucking late. I could have slept on. What are you two whispering about?"

"How ridiculous your hair is." I say sweetly, cutting off whatever Dimitri was going to say.

Spiridon blinks and beside me Dimitri chuckles.

"Bit rich coming from you." Spiridon replies, recovering. "Is your costume a scarecrow?"

"A what?"

"It must be, with that hair and the fact your missing a brain."

"You're very sensitive about your hair." Dimitri comments drily.

"Why is everyone in here?" Lissa's comes into view in her pyjamas that have bears printed on them. She looks adorable.

Natalie is close behind her, looking a bit frantic. "Did you go downstairs!?"

"I just caught her." Spiridon says. "Belikov was just about to start his interrogation. Blindfolding was going to be involved."

"No." I tell Natalie ignoring Spiridon.

"Blindfolding?" Lissa asks.

"Not the fun kind." Spiridon says offhandedly like someone who has no idea how to be appropriate. "You decorators are late, Dashkov."

Natalie's expression becomes murderous which is hard to pull off in a fluffy robe. She orders me and Lissa to wait in my room while she makes a call and asks Spiridon to order breakfast.

"Do we really have to stay up here until the party starts?" I ask Lissa who's curled up on my bed.

"Yep. But it will be worth it. Natalie is amazing at this stuff."

Excitement uncurls in my belly. "Do you know what our costumes are?"

"Couldn't get it out of her."

"Why can no one appreciate surprises?" Natalie demands coming into my room and closing the door. "And when have I ever given a bad surprise?"

"Well, never." Lissa admits.

"Exactly. Now, food is on the way, the stylists are coming in one hour so we should shower. By the way Rose you're room is ground base because its the easiest to get to."

I'd thought time would drag getting to the party however things keep happening in a nice flow. We eat breakfast, I shower and put on my robe, Victor comes to say bye to Natalie and gave us all a stern warning to behave and have fun, and just shortly after that Spiridon knocks on the door and shows in two Moroi men.

My room feels extremely crowded.

The men are dressed in bright coloured suits, embroidered with flowers but neither wear a shirt. They kissed Natalie on each cheek and introduce themselves but I immediately forget names, too busy watching them unloading cases of make up and hair tools.

One the men points a comb at me. "You, I have been told did a little DIY hair job." I feel myself flush. "Oh sweetie, dont worry. We've all been there. I dyed my hair green when my last boyfriend left me. If I can fix that I can fix anything."

He pulls me into the bathroom and into a chair Spiridon had brought up. He brushes out my already damp hair and I watch him pull faces in the mirror as he assesses it.

"Please don't cut it short."

"I have already been warned, honey. I never get to work with hair this long, it's fabulous."

He starts cutting. I try to be calm and not look at the mirror. I don't say much but there is enough conversation going on between the rest that it isn't uncomfortable. Natalie comes into the bathroom and they both exchange notes on my hair by using hand gestures and vague references to cost my costume. I will myself not to panic as he starts to dry it. Natalie knew me, she wouldn't make me wear something I wouldn't be comfortable in, it would be okay.
I chance a look at the mirror and see he's drawing out the length with a barrelled brush in one hand and wielding the hair dyer in the other. My hair gleams like spun silk between his hands. He swaps the hair dryer for another hair tool and wraps sections around it causing it to curl.

"So, liking it so far?" He asks me in the mirror. I smile broadly, letting the nerves melt away. He winks and runs a brush through it, causing the curls to smooth and fan out into waves.

Me and Lissa swap places so she's in the bathroom and I'm in front of the other Moroi who clips my hair back and begins work on my face. Natalie's make-up is finished and her dark hair has been pinned up. I can't stop staring at her. Her eye make-up is dark, smokey and glitters in the light. Somehow it make her green eyes burn like smouldering emeralds. Her lips are berry stained like she's been eating blackberries.

"And now for the final touch!" she declares, grabbing a garment bag with her name on it. Lissa makes an excited noise from the bathroom. Natalie slips out into the hall.

"You have such great skin." The Moroi tells me, sweeping a brush over my face.

"Thank you." I murmur.

"If there are any boys or girls you have you sights on, they aren't gonna know what hit them. Wait to you see what your wearing."

"What is it?"

The Moroi tuts and taps my nose with the brush. "Cheeky. You aren't getting that outta me. Now close your eyes. If we're behind schedule heads will roll."

He continues working on my face and below my feet the floor begins to vibrate as musics turned on downstairs. Its infectious, the beat under my soles travels up and into my very core like electricity making me fidgety.

There's laughter from the bathroom as Lissa steps out. Like Natalie her hair has been pinned up but where Natalie's looks like soft waves pressed around her head, Lissa's is sleek and pulled back into a bun. On either side white feathered wings have been clipped, they span from the back until their tips almost touch at her crown. It looks regal.

"I'm a vague idea what I'm going to be." Lissa grins and then her eyes widen as the Moroi moves away from me to reach for another pot. "Rose you look amazing."

My cheeks start to heat again and I wriggle around in my seat tempted to bolt to the nearest mirror. "Any idea of what I'm going to be?"

"Do not answer that!" Natalie orders, shimming into the room. She's holding a large pink bottle, three glasses and wearing a dress that's made of a thousands of tiny crystals. She holds out her arms in a dramatic pose. "But I'm your roaring twenties baby."

Lissa makes all the appropriate noises of praise and compliments but I cant stop staring at her dress. How it moves and flows around her hips, tapering from beads into smooth black statin on the bodice. Her pale skin looks like fresh cream – the whole look is striking.

"You look…" I can't find the right word.

"Having you speechless says it all." She winks and sets down the glasses. "I brought us a little pre-game."

I don't miss how Lissa glances at me. "Nothing too strong right? Its still super early."

"I need you to stay still" The Moroi tells me holding what looks like spiders legs between his fingers. "Close your eyes." I do as I'm told and only flinch when I feel him blowing on my face. "And one last thing. Your mask." He pulls out a strip of material from a box and asks the other Moroi to help fasten it. The material is set over my eyes, the bridge of my nose and tied behind my head. They fuss with my hair to hide the ties under it. My eyes flutter open and I try to adjust to the new weight and the mask over my face. Both Natalie and Lissa are smiling at me. I need to get to a mirror before I go insane.

"Here." Natalie hands me a glass of bubbly pink liquid. "Drink some of this, then costume."

"And move your ass outta the chair." The Moroi says playfully.

I jump up and move over to the window seat with Natalia. Lissa takes my spot and he immediately descends on her with white paint.

"You look amazing." I whisper to Natalie, feeling horribly shy all of a sudden.

"So do you." She grins. "I wouldn't send us out any other way. Drink that, it'll help settle the nerves."

"What is it?" I give it a sniff.

"Pink champagne. It's sweet." She takes a long sip herself.

I remember drinking the wine at the Ozera's after my blunder, how it scoured through my blood and pushed back my fear so I could think. I lift the glass to my lips.

It tastes like fizzing strawberries and starlight. "Oh wow."

"I know right." She takes my wrist and her expression becomes serious. "Tonight's all about fun and the minute your not having fun you tell us. Also as much as this," she holds up her own glass, "is amazing, pace yourself. Water after every other drink otherwise you'll end up vomiting your guts up and not remembering the last hour of your life."

I lower my glass. "Does that happen every time you drink?"

"Only if you don't know your limits and keep going. So the rule to remember is – if you think to yourself 'this is the best night of my life' drink some water or if your thinking 'this is the worst night of my life' drink some water. AND THEN get some more alcohol."

"Okay got it."

"Are you worried about tonight?" Lissa asks from her chair, having probably listened to everything.

I think it over and take another sip. "A little. I'm worried most about my costume and being half naked."

"Do you really think I'd do that to you?" Natalie feigns looking insulted. "Best put you out of your misery then. Get your costume and get in that bathroom." I all but grab it and run. "LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU NEED HELP WITH THE ZIP."

I shut the door and hang the garment bag up on the hook. I take a deep breath before turning to the mirror.

That isn't me.

That can't be me.

I raise my hand and she raises hers back.

"Holy shit."

My hair is perfect. Thick loose waves, shining under the bathroom lights with a luster that has me running my fingertips over it. The mask over my eyes is a black lace and accentuates how big they are, how the thick lashes frame them. My eyes are alluring and a little dangerous. My skin glowed like I'd been in the sun. My cheekbones look more defined and not by hunger. My lips have a juicy red tint to them.

I couldn't help but think for once I didn't look like something easily hunted and preyed upon – I looked like the hunter. The dangerous one.

I take a long drink and then pull open the garment bag. Every anxious thought and fear evaporates out of my body and I eagerly pull it out. It's a body suit. Every inch of me would be covered. I could kiss Natalie.

I run my fingers over the fabric trying to make out the pattern. It was all black but parts of the material were raised. I could make out flowers, trees, vines and maybe thorns.

"Rose c'mon!" Natalie shouts on the other side. "We wanna see."

So do I.

I take a huge gulp and start shucking off my clothes. I anticipate the body suit to be hard to pull on, the material not willing to yield but it glides over my skin as I pull my legs through. When I have it up to my waist I pause.

The suit was moulded to my legs. Which would mean the torso would also be moulded to my upper half. I eye my bandages. I examine the material again and realise the neckline was lower than I thought. I pull my arms through it and heave it up.

Shit.

The top of the bandages are visible.

I step back and sit down on the bath. What if I took them off? How exposed would I feel? What other option did I have? I couldn't not wear this – not when Natalie had put so much time and effort into absolutely every detail.

There's a light knock on the door and my heart sinks.

"Can I come in?" Lissa asks softly.

I know what I want but I don't have the courage to do it.

I unlock the door and Lissa slides through a narrow gap and closes it behind her. Her face is powdered white, like icing sugar, contrasted to her right shoulder that's dusted in sheer black, speckled with silver. What on earth was she?

"What are you thinking?" She asks, leaning back against the sink.

I lick my lips. "I'm thinking...this costume is amazing...and I feel guilty."

"Why?" I take a deep breath and tug down the front. Lissa's eyebrows knit. "What are those? Are you hurt?"

"No." I drain the last of my drink and betray the last bit of protection my mother gave me. "I...where I came from my mother would bind my chest. So no one would notice… so no one would have reason to take notice of me and...hurt me."

Lissa is quiet for several beats as I fight the thundering voice in my head, her voice telling me I've betrayed her and disappointed her. Lissa's hands plant themselves on my knees as she kneels in front of me.

"No one will dare hurt you now. Not tonight. Not any other night. Not like that."

"Someone already I tried. When I first got here, another Gaurdian with one of Victor's guests."

Her fingers tighten on my legs. "What happened?"

"Dimitri nearly killed him." I smile darkly at the memory.

"Good." she says simply and I finally meet her eyes. They are ablaze. "I know I can't promise you that will never happen, I know I can't but I swear I will always try to protect you. I will always look out for you and I will always be someone you can come to. About anything. If you can't do this tonight then we'll it blow it off and go to my house."

Somewhere in the back of my mind I'm marvelling at the fact a Moroi, a Moroi princess, was kneeling in front of me and making me promises. Me. But that scant thought is entirely eclipsed by the ferociousness on Lissa's kind face and it finally hits me and makes home that this is my friend. She really means everything she says and not from a place of pity or guilt.

I put my hands over hers and squeeze. "Thank you but I want to go. I really do."

She searches my face and then nods once. "Okay. So, do you want to keep those on? Maybe we can find something to cover them."

"No I...I want to take them off." The traitorous words are out.

"Are you sure?"

I nod. "They don't make me feel safe. I find it harder to breathe. It's uncomfortable and I finally get that, that day I was nearly raped regardless." My eyes burn and it takes everything in me not to let tears spill over. I grind my teeth fighting for control. "Its more like, taking them off is pushing away the last bit of protection she gave me. It sounds so stupid."

"It doesn't." She says quietly.

"Can you help me?" I gesture to my chest. "Unwind them."

"Of course."

I stand to let Lissa unravel the fabric. I keep myself covered with my arms until the last length falls away and I push my arms back through the sleeves. Lissa gets the zip at the back.

Once again I just stare at my reflection. Lissa smiles beside me.

"Natalie, knows what she's doing." She says and slips an arm around my waist. I have a waist – not skin sunk and stretched between bones.

The suit is the night moulded to my body – impenetrable and dominating. It made my silhouette stark and imposing, baring to the world I have a famine shape. My gaze pauses on my thighs, no longer looking in danger of crippling under me, but shapely and a testament to all the hell they'd help me flee or fight through. My waist is an inviting soft dip, the curve leading you further up my body to meet other soft curves at my chest. The neckline really is modest but the swell of my breasts are there, feminine, not hidden, womanly.

My eyes begin to burn again. "She really does."

Lissa gives me a soft squeeze. "Are you ready?"

"Yes."

Lissa pulls the door open and we walk back into the room. Natalie blinks at me, at her creation, and then makes a shrieking noise before rushing across the room. I can't absorb all the words and compliments she's showering me with, or the approving looks of the two Moroi but thankfully they're focus goes back to getting Lissa ready.

Natalie pushes a re-filled glass into my hands. "This one, then water, then we join the party."

I nod and then it occurs to me, "How am I going to pee in this thing?"

"I'm more than willing to pull that zip down all night." She clinks her glass against mine and I laugh.

Twenty minutes later it's Lissa we're waiting for to step out of the bathroom. One of the Moroi has stepped in with her to help 'fasten' her in. Natalie's practically vibrating in her seat. The music from downstairs has gotten louder and I swear I can hear voices.

The door clicks and one satin foot with ribbon entwined up the calve steps out, followed by another. Natalie makes that shrieking noise again and stamps her feet, sending beads bouncing.

Lissa is both a dream and a nightmare. Her slippers are ivory, the ribbons entwined up her legs like ivy. Her skirt reminds me of a tulip, soft and layered coming to just above her knee. Her bodice is fitted satin with a heart shaped neckline. Her collar bones and chest are dusted white to match the powder on her face. The whole look paired with her elegant bun and feathers would of made her look like a princess...if it weren't for the black and the blood.

On her right side it looks like she's been stabbed, a bloody wound that's bleeding darkness. The black runs up to her side and onto to her right shoulder, down to her elbow. Veins of fake blood run the rest of her arm to her wrist.

"What are you?"

"A take on the princess of swan lake but she's becoming the evil one." Natalie explains, bouncing to her feet. "I think it needs more black. It needs to look like the curse is taking over, like a disease spreading."

"Ah, lovely. Thanks Nat." Lissa holding out her arms and examining herself.

The Moroi follow Natalies instructions and add more black dusting and paint on fake blood, spreading it over one shoulder and up her neck. I don't know why but there's something seriously unnerving about it all.

I give myself a shake. It's make up for gods sake. I finish my drink in one long gulp and feel it's tingle hit every nerve ending. I bounce up and start thanking the Moroi too and tell Lissa how great she looks.

The Moroi pack up their things, making a lot of jokes (most I don't get but I get the jist they're about sex) and telling us to have the best night. When they leave I see lights flashing from downstairs, the music is louder and there are definitely voices – lots of them. Nerves flutter in my stomach.

I drain my glass of water and wish it was the pink drink.

"Almost time." Natalie sings and taps away on her phone. "Everyone's here."

Lissa does another spin in front of the mirror and it's really unsettling to watch her reflection revolve from the pure white princess to reveal the black swan.

"I think the more I drink the better I'll get at this." She laughs, throwing herself into another spin and throwing up her leg. She loses her balance and stumbles back onto the bed.

Natalie pours out three more drinks and I wonder how long before I'll need to pee. I take mine eagerly from her and start to sip. I want to keep the buzz in my veins and the nerves down.

I wander into the bathroom and my reflection takes me by surprise. Instead of regarding it in amazement I start to really take it in. I looked like someone with secrets, someone strong, someone who could sprint out into the night and fight every dark creature out there. I looked like someone you would be nervous to approach...and I love it. I let the costume sink into me, become my armour.

My reflection smirks and then laughs, "Natalie...I have no idea what I am."

I stride into the room as a flash goes off. Natalie and Lissa lean away from the phone in Lissa's hand.

"You're a jaguar. Queen of the jungle." Natalie grins. "Top cat. You'll purr for the right people and rip out the jugulars of others."

"Wow." Lissa says dryly, fixing her a look. "Hang on, Rose is big cat and I'm a swan? A bird. Seriously!"

"And I'm dressed as a big lush who cheats on her husband in a seedy apartment with Gatsbys friend." Natalie shrugs.

"Should I read into this?" Lissa muses.

"Probably not, no."

They laugh and then squeal when I dive onto the bed beside them.

"Take a photo. Take a photo." Natalie demands and Lissa lifts her phone. Our faces appear on her screen. "Here, take your drink and hold it up like this Rose. Ready? Say, 'PARTYYYYYYYYY'"

The photos dissolve into acting absolutely ridiculous until Natalie slides off the bed with a thud.

"Natalie, have you had your water?" I ask through laughter.

"Oops."

One pee break later, that takes Lissa unzipping me and then re-zipping me, I'm pulling on my boots and praying to whoever listens to not let me fall down on my face.

"Don't worry" Lissa tells me. "It gets to a point in the night and everyone starts kicking off their heels."

"Says the girls in flats." Natalie says.

"You put me in them!"

Natalie winks at her and then takes our hands. "Here, is to the best night ever. Ready?"

I look at my two friends, my real friends and squeeze their hands feeling so much gratitude I could cry or take their faces in my hands and tell them how much I love them.

Alcohols awesome.

"Ready." Lissa says lifting her chin and smiling.

"Ready." I murmur, feeling the weight of my mask and aware of every curve of my body.

Natalie leads ands Lissa doesn't let go of my hand for which I'm grateful when we start to descend. We're submerged into music, not loud enough that I wouldn't hear Lissa talk to me but loud enough our conversation would be private to anyone standing a few steps away.

Half way down the stairs I stop watching feet, sure now I won't go toppling down and look up. My gasp is swallowed by the music.

The living room has been transformed into a space I barely recognise. We could be in a completely different location. The floor looked like black marble with glitter encrusted into the surface, glittering and glinting under the soft greenish and white light. The lights gave the effect of water, the lazy waves coating the walls and ceiling, the ceiling in which bone white skeletons we're emerging from. They held various things in their hands, necklaces, jewels, goblets and chains.
There's a bar set up with two servers in suits, one painted as a red demon and the other looking like they'd been in a horrific accident. The throw silver utensils to each other and pour out florescent drinks. Various plush seats and tables have been spaced out and the back of the room the TV displaus ominous messages.

The glass wall which is usually transparent at night is now a wall of blue flames. They lick and dance the entire length of it. I watch a girl reach out her hand and press against it, awe on her face as I'm sure it is on mine. The lights and reflection of the fire bathe the room in greenish-blue.

"We're in the underworld." Lissa whispers in my ear.

I can't bring myself to speak and let her pull me down. I finally tear myself away from the decorations to realise how many people were here and how half of them were staring at us. Natalie's paused and we stop on the step behind her.

The music turns down and the people that weren't already giving their attention to Natalie now do. She's expecting this, anticipating it and she lets them wait. A skeleton in a suit brings her a florescent gold drink and she takes it.

"I'd thank you all for coming but I know there's no other place you'd rather be." Natalie says, her voice silky and promising. "So, instead, you guys can thank me by grabbing a drink and making this the best and last rager of senior year!"

Cheers and whistles ring out across the room and music swells once again.

"I need another drink." I tell Lissa as Natalie disappears into a crowd of people and the thought of following makes my knees a little weak. That magic in my veins has sputtered.

"Then lets get one!"

I grip Lissa's hand as she leads the way, winding through bodies and greeting them but never lingering. I keep my spine straight and my chin up. We reach the bar and I tell myself that the server with the gaping head wound does not actually have their brain slides the menu of drinks over to me and I point to something with strawberries in it, I liked that kind of alcohol so far.

"Oooh I want that too." She orders for us and I try not to think about the press of bodies at either side of me.

The weight of my mask centres me.

My drinks set down in front of me, the black solo cups I'd unpacked, with the rim coated in pink sugar...and it's smoking. I lift it and give it a sniff. It didn't smell like smoke, well whatever, I'm grateful for something to do with my hands. Lissa pops a straw into my cup and says something about my lipstick. I take a long sip – strawberries and lemon burst across my tongue.

We move out of the queue for the bar and Natalie appears in front of us, her drink gone and cheeks flushed. "How amazing is this!"

"I feel like I'm underwater!" I shout watching the greenish-blue waves of light tumble around the walls.

"It's incredible!" Lissa says.

Natalie beams at her and then wiggles her fingers at some girls. She turns back to us, "C'mon, there's still more to see!"

We are a chain of hands winding toward the little garden which is a decorated with pumpkins, cobwebs, multi-coloured skeletions that light up and a massive scarecrow looms in the flower bed which has a protective fence placed around it. On the grass lots of little cube stools and low tables have been placed around. Two big steel buckets are tucked into the corner cradling ice-water and bottles of water, beer and soda's.

"This is the dance break area...or smoking area I suppose." Natalie explains.

"I love it. I love all of it." I haven't stopped smiling, trying to take it all.

"We're not done." Natalie grabs our hands again and leads us toward the kitchen, the entry has been curtained by long silver-sparkly strips. Natalie pulls us through and we emerge to excited yells and whooping.

Strip lights run the perimeter of the ceiling leaving the room in a cool white glow. The decorations I'd been unpacking yesterday have been used in here. The appliances have been cleared from the surfaces and the Island has candy, chips and festive looking junk food layed out.

"Just in time!" A boy with red hair holds up a tall bottle and shakes it. "You heard me lift this out. Admit it Nat."

Natalie's eyes narrow. "I am not shotting that, no way, Mason!"

"Pussy." He grins.

"I'm a flapper actually."

"If that's what you want to call it."

A boy in sharp, pin-stripped suit and hat breaks away to slide an arm around Natalie's waist and kiss her. She grins up at him but holds up her middle finger to Mason.

"Lissa, Lissa's friend?" Mason gestures to us with the bottle.

"Um…" Lissa begins but I realise that this moment is the perfect opening to find my own voice otherwise I'm going to cower and grip Lissa's hand all night.

"Sure." I say and feel both Lissa and Natalie look at me.

Bravely I step away from Lissa and approach them all at the island where they were pouring out drinks into small cups. How hard could it be? I'd already drank half of this pink dream juice.

"Guys, this is Rose." Lissa introduces me and then goes around naming people in this group and I realise these are the girls friends, their close group. It's hard to put the name to pictures I'd seen in the yearbook as they were all dressed up, except Mason, which Natalie doesn't let go unpunished.

"I am dressed up." He protests and moves his jacket aside to show a sticker on his shirt.

"What the hell is that?" Natalie practically spits.

There's a collective of sniggering and chuckles around the Island.

Mason taps the sticker. "Name badge. My name is Dave."

"Mother fucker." is what I make out as Natalie lets out a string of curses that sets my face aflame. Mason's grin gets bigger and it's all so ridiculous I start laughing. He winks at me.

"Did you expect anything better from him? Seriously?" Lissa says, accepting two small shots from a girl and handing one to me. It didn't smell great. Maybe this is a bad idea.

"How hard would it has been to get a mask?" Natalie grumbles, sinking into her boyfriends side. They both accept their own shot glasses.

"I'm too busy training to save the world, so excuse me." Mason retorts, still grinning. I have a feeling he's rarely not. "Right down to business. To Natalie, for throwing the most kick ass party as a way to make up for kicking our asses around school 24/7."

"Well someone has to." Natalie says sweetly.

"To Nat." Ralf says, holding up his shot and in a ripple effect everyone starts throwing them back.

Lissa gives me a nervous glance before taking hers and I follow suit.

Holy shittttttt.

"First is the worst." One of the girls is saying, grimacing and holding a hand to her lips.

My throat is on fire. My stomach is on fire. My tongue has been flayed. It's going to kill me. I clutch Lissa's arm and she shoves a bottle of water at me, hastily screwing off the cap of her own.

I gulp it down and slowly the taste in my mouth dies but the fire is still in my stomach.

"What the hell was that?" I rasp.

"Russian vodka." Ralf answers, shaking his head. "Fucking hell it's like lighter fluid."

"Why?" Lissa demands.

Mason answers her, after swigging from his beer. "It was cheap and it seemed like an exotic choice at the time."

"You're such a dumbass."

Something is happening to me. The fire is spreading like a poison through my blood, burning through my bones and inhibition. I feel almost weightless. I start laughing and I don't know why.

"It's doing the job though isn't it?" Mason gestures to me.

"I feel like this is something Dimitri could drink by the gallon." Natalie says and a new wave of giggles start.

One of the girls who's been glancing at me a lot and not nicely says to me, "Oh em gee. You look great, so sexy. That waist!"

Somehow it feels loaded but I run a hand over my hip in pride. "Thank you, Natalie knows what to put me in."

There's a pause where I think she's waiting for something and then her smile turns plasticy. "Lucky you."

Lissa leans into me. "Do you wanna go dance?"

"Yeah!" I lean around Lissa to ask Natalie but she shakes her head.

"I'm gotta go do the rounds." She says, linking her arm through Ralf's.

Mason holds up a hand, turning it left right rigidly. "Ah the King and Queen will grace the peasants."

Natalie sticks out her tongue before disappearing with Ralf through the archway. More people filter into the kitchen from the living room and out the kitchen door. I can see twinkling lights out there and laughter carries into the kitchen with the smell of spice...I know that smell.

Lissa takes my hand. "Time to dance!"

I let her pull me back into the Underworld where people have started to dance. I spy Natalie and Ralf sitting with people under the blue flames.

Lissa pulls me into the crowd, smiling at those she passes and they all smile back at her. It dawns on me that I don't know how to dance. Looking around at people, mostly girls, and how their moving their bodies makes me feel so clueless. Lissa turns on the spot and spins under my arm, grinning.

"I don't know what to do." I tell her, locking up.

"Don't think about it. Feel it." How could I not think about it? It must be written all over my face because she takes both my hands and starts moving us, an encouraging smile on her face. "Just feel it."

I look around at other people and I know that there is no way I am going to get this if I keep trying to analyse them. I close my eyes and let Lissa move us in, my body relaxing into the motions and then I feel the shift. The music seeps into me and I feel the same sensation I had with alcohol, the inhibitions ebbing away. I lean into it. I open my eyes and grin at Lissa who's grinning back. More people are dancing and it hits me no one cares what I'm doing.

All awkward thoughts leaves my head.

I don't know how long we're dancing for but Natalie joins us with two other girls I don't know. Things start to get really silly as Natalie and Lissa start shouting lyrics at each other and there's a lot of finger pointing.

"I need to pee!" I shout at them.

I find myself in my bathroom with both Lissa and Natalie. Lissa unzips me and the cool air hitting my skin is a whole new level of delicious.

"Urgh I am so sweaty." I groan, more or less falling back onto the toilet.

"Join the club." Natalie says, splashing cold water onto her neck.

Lissa leans back on the counter, neither one of them or me caring that I am in fact peeing. "Are you happy?"

"I really am. It's turned out so cool right? Like amazing?" Natalie says bouncing on her feet.

"Way better than bobbing for apples and a keg." Lissa agrees. "Nat, you have a nightclub downstairs!"

"In your face, Mia." Natalie replies.

"Who the hell is Mia and why did you invite her again?" I demand, jumping up after hastily and flushing. "Also is this not weird? I feel like its weird. Why are we peeing together?"

"Girls always go to the toilet together at parties, I don't know." Natalie says, switching places with me. "Mia isn't even here so don't worry about her."

"You know she's coming." Lissa says, dabbing make-up onto her lips. "She's just going to arrive on her on time and make a thing of it."

"Bitch."

"I bet she comes with Aaron too."

"I am not above causing a scene. In fact I like it."

"Isn't that one of the rules though?" I ask, drying my hands. "No fights?"

"Exactly. Also there's no point Nat, they won't be able to get back to the school right away and it'll get awkward super fast. She knows what she's doing, you'll look like a dick, I'll look like the jealous ex and everyone will be on their side."

Natalie flushes and shimmies in between us to wash her hands. "What do you propose then?"

"Kill her with kindness."

Natalie snorts. "Your first two words, I like."

"I really don't care about her and Aaron. I really don't" Lissa says.

"I care that she cares so much about trying to hurt you." Natalie replies.

I whip round, almost losing my balance and tell Lissa, "I'll fight her. If she hurts you."

They both laugh and Natalie puts and arm around my shoulders. "I think it's time to do more shots. My hostess rounds are overrrrr."

"I am not drinking that rocket fuel." Lissa grimaces.

"Neither am I. It burned through my soul." I say following Nat out.

"The bar people are leaving at 12 so I'll go grab some cocktails and you guys get the shots lined up."

"Why are they leaving?"

"They're human… and also like, witnesses."

"Witnesses?"

"Yeah, things are gonna get wilder as the night goes on."

I can feel it in the air as we come the stairs. People are running around more freely instead of sitting/standing around in small groups talking, laughter mixes with the music and more people are dancing.

I follow Lissa into the kitchen where Mason, Jesse and some girls are standing around. With a jolt I realise I know the golden haired boy talking to Mason and his friend, Lissa's brother Andre.

"When did you get here?" Lissa asks him. "Natalie's going to kill you for not being in costume."

Andre holds up a red eye mask as a show of effort. "A while ago. Who's your friend?"

Andre is looking at me in a way that makes me want to avert my eyes. He didn't recognise me but then again, why would he?

Mason answers him. "This is Rose. Rose, Andre. You girls want a drink?"

"Natalie's getting the cocktails." Lissa says.

"Rose? As in...lives here Rose?" Andre asks, looking at his sister in disbelief.

"You live here? At Natalie's?" Mason asks, eyebrows rasied.

I have no idea how to navigate this so instead I say, "Are we doing more shots or not?"

"That is an excellent idea." I turn to the new voice and nearly take a step back. "I'd know you anywhere little Dhampir."

"Adrian!" I grin and hug him. He hugs me back, one arm tightly around my waist. "Why haven't you... spoken to me in ages?"

I'd thought about him sometimes in the last few weeks and his ability to enter dreams but the further behind Estonia became the less real it seemed. And now here is, grinning devishly at me dressed as the devil. Black pants, black shirt, red velvet jacket and black horns crowned in his dark hair.

He leans back to look at me. "Too busy being a college hooligan with Andre."

"At least I go to class." Andre smirks, pouring out shots. Amber liquid this time, no sign of that disgusting vodka. "Get the lemons, Liss."

A girl is glaring at me behind Aidrian's elbow and I guess she's walked in with him from outside. Her blatant jealousy reminds me of Astrid and it makes me smile.

Adrian leans down to whisper in my ear. "You're looking good little one."

In this costume with my make-up done, my mask and my bindings long forgotten, I feel it.

"I know." I say proudly and he chuckles.

I look up to find Lissa, Mason and Andre staring at us. I step away from him and take a seat at the island. "Shots?"

Andre slides mine over and everyone gathers round.

"Your less gauche." Adrian comments.

"I've been drinking."

He laughs and the girl clears their throat on his other side. He turns to her but I have this smug feeling in my stomach that I'm not proud of. I know he's more interested in talking to me.

"There better be one for me!" Natalie's demands, gliding through the sparkly ribbons. She had four drinks clutched in her hands. Ralf is right behind her carrying three more.

She slides one in front of me and then to Lissa. Andre passes her a shot which brings him to her attention. Her jade eyes narrow. "Where is your costume?"

"Um."

"Good luck dude." Mason murmurs stepping away from him.

"See, the thing is, the point being, in hindsight….bit childish isn't it?" Andre grins.

"Adrian managed." She snaps.

"Adrian's a child." Andre retorts.

"Rude." Adrian protests.

"I think Andre should drink the gasoline shot as punishment." I say, trying not shrink when everyone around the island looks at me. "Or two."

There's a murmur of approval from the veterans who survived the first shots of vodka. I catch Masons eye and he mimes clapping his hands together.

"One shot, every two minutes, until you can put a costume together OR you have to jump in the lake."

"Piss off, Nat." Andre says, trying to brush the whole thing off and then looking more livid as everyone starts to agree.

"When you go to a party you respect the dress code." Mason says in a serious voice, pointing to his name badge.

"You were raised better." Lissa says, feigning disappointment.

Jesse places another shot glass next to the amber one in front of Andre and Mason hands him over the vodka bottle. "Shot No.1 of lighter fluid."

"Tequila first."

Everyone lifts the amber shot and I copy.

"Happy Halloween!" Ralf shouts and the domino effect of slinging the drink back starts.

WHY HAVE I DONE THIS AGAIN?!

Shots are not fun. They are not nice. I am not doing another one.

Natalie furiously points at the lemon wedge in front of me and I see she's got one jammed into her mouth. How the hell is that going to help? But what do I know? It can't get worse. I bite into mine.

Doesn't help. I take a long drink from my cocktail.

"Right, I'm setting a timer." Mason says, holding up his phone. "Two minutes on the clock, every time it hits zero and your not back with a costume assembled we add another shot."

"Mason has a fucking name tag on, how is this fair?"

"My name is Dave thank you very much."

"As if your going to have problem getting some girls and boys to part with articles of their clothing." Adrian shrugs, taking a drink from his flask.

Lissa pulls a face that leaves Natalie in giggles.

"First shot, go!" Mason instructs and Andre throws back the vodka.

"Holy fucking shit." Andre splutters.

"I am not looking after him." Lissa tells Adrian who's too busy laughing at Andre's torture.

Its six minutes, three shots later before Andre races back into the kitchen wearing a black cape, a bumble bee hairband thing and chains around his neck.

"How am I still begging girls to give me their clothes?"

"I hate that I'm related to you." Lissa says.

"I just make you seem all the more angelic little sis."

"THERE HE IS!" Jesse shouts.

I turn and my stomach lurches and my nails dig into the counter top. The noise in the room dies in my ears and whatever Mason is telling me and Adrian is forgotten.

Christian Ozera saunters into the room. He's smiling as he approaches and accepts Natalie's hug and Jesse clasps his shoulder.

Fingers close around my arm, "Are you okay?" I drag my gaze to Adrian but my tongue is heavy in my mouth. "Water?"

I nod. He finds me a bottle and I hear the girl he's with make a nasty comment about 'lightweights' but I don't care.

"Oh and this is Rose! Rose lives here, she's our Guardian Ben's sister." Natalie's voice breaks through the fuzz in my head.

I can't look at him. I can't.

"You don't go to school?" The girl that's clinging to Adrian's side asks.

"Home schooled right?" Adrian supplies and I'm grateful he remembers the lie we spun in Estonia. Even though he knows it's not true. "Now lives here getting work experience."

"What the hell? If your dad was offering work experience why didn't you say?" Mason demands off Natalie.

"Like I would know." Natalie says, shifting uncomfortably.

"That's so cool. You must be guaranteed a job when you pass in June?" Mason asks but I only shrug.

"She doesn't look like she could handle more than a paper bag." The girl snides.

"Do you want a demonstration?" I snap.

"Stop being a bitch." Adrian says boredly to her, taking back his arm.

She mutters something but I don't care.

How did I forget he would be coming? Natalie had more or less told me when going through her year book. The sickening shock gives way to calm fury, simmering in my stomach.

I have been having the best night with my friends, I have been trying to relax and fit in and not only be normal but be confident and cool, and he's shown up and is going to ruin it all. I get an impulse to leave and shut myself in my room, pretend I feel sick but….why should I hide? Why should I?

This is my home. For once he can feel uncomfortable. For once he can feel like he doesn't belong. He can feel afraid.

I take a deep breath, push my shoulders back and lift my chin.

He's smiling at something Lissa is telling him but he must feel me looking at him. His gaze meets mine and I put every ounce of venom I possess into it and then I smirk. He looks away and his throat bobs.

"Christian should do vodka shots to catch up." I announce.

"Wow, your really into torturing the guys aren't you?" Mason says.

"Only the ones that deserve it." I say, taking a sip of my cocktail.

Jesse lines the shots up and watching Christian splutter and brace himself on the island barely soothes the dark angry thing in me.

"I'm going to the bathroom." I tell Natalie.

I'm very aware of myself as I stride out of the room. I clear the silver ribbons and resist the urge to pull them down.

I nearly collide with Dimitri.

He leans down, his face is all sharp planes and angles in the dim light. "I was coming to see you, to tell you Christian has arrived."

"Bit late for that." I snap. My gaze slides behind him where Natasha is lingering, dressed in a Witch costume complete with pointy hat. I glare at Dimitri. "Have fun with the witch."

Heels make it hard to take the stairs in a hurry.

I get to my room and find two people kissing on my window seat which gives me the opportunity to vent some of my anger by telling them to get the hell out. There's a damn scary 'Keep Out' sign on my door for a reason.

I go to the bathroom, fluff my hair and add more lip-gloss. Looking in the mirror helps settle the tumbling emotions in my stomach, yes I was angry but that didn't mean I was strong. One awful comment from either one of the Ozera's could make me crumble. I'd shrink back into feeling as worthless as I did when their family owned me.

"They don't own me. The don't own me. I'm a person and I have friends and I have a life." I take some deep breaths and finish the drink I'd brought with me. I meet my eyes in the mirror. "Go back downstairs and have fun."

I step back into my bedroom to find someone else ignored the sign.

"Are you okay?" Dimitri asks, leaning back against the door and blocking the way out.

"Yes." I all but hiss.

"I was supposed to be notified when they were arriving. I was going to you a heads up."

"So you already said. Please move."

He sighs. "Rose, they're not like -"

"I don't care Dimitri! I don't care and you have no right to tell me how to feel about them. None."

His lips are a hard line and some of his hair has escaped his hair tie. Heat that has nothing to do with anger blossoms low in my stomach.

"You can't go down there angry."

My eyes narrow. "You're worried about me losing my temper? About telling?"

He stares back at me, dark eyes unyielding. It's hard to believe how different our conversation had been earlier.

"In part." He says and a pang of hurt goes through me.

I clench my teeth together. "As long as she doesn't come near me I'll be fine."

"Tasha is here to chaperon. The kids downstairs are Christian's friends, he'll be near you."

"Aren't you supposed to be chaperoning? Hope nothings slipped by the wards in the time you've been giving me this useless lecture."

His expression darkens and I feel a bit of regret as he stalks across the distance between us. He bears over me. "Do not act impulsively."

I lean toward him so our chests are touching. "Do not tell me what to do."

I can see the gold flecks in his eyes. Burnt gold in the dark. "Rose -"

"Your taking forever!" Lissa's voice has him stepping away from me and disappointment blooms in my belly. Lissa looks between us from the doorway. "Is everything okay?"

"Dimitri was worried I'd had too much to drink." I lie easily. "But I really haven't and I'd like another one now please."

I feel him glaring at me. Good.

Lissa casts him a wary glance, because in reality he has the power to protest and tell us no, but then she looks back at me and grins. "So lets get you one." I flounce across the room and take her hand. "By the way I think Mason likes you."

She'd tried to say it quietly but I knew Dimitri heard.

I reply a bit loudly, "I like him too."

Stupid Russian dick.

"Do you actually?" She asks as we step round people sitting on the stairs. Some kissing, one crying. "He's nice, like he likes to be centre of attention but he's really sweet. He wouldn't make you do anything you wouldn't want to do."

I know she means well but what she's said is irritating me, reminding me of the weak, worthless points in my life. Could I just not be someone that needed coddled for once?

"I want to do things." I reply and she looks alarmed.

"Rose…"

But I slip through the silver waterfall. More people are gathered around the island. Some girl has taken my seat and Adrian is no where to be seen. Christian, I realise he's dressed in some bizarre purple suit and has green in his hair, is talking to Jesse and Ralf. He looks up as we come in and a shadow of worry crosses his face as Lissa comes up beside me.

"Drink?" I prompt her and she nods, looking like she wants to continue the conversation from before. "Liss, I'm not thinking about taking my clothes off."

"That's a shame." Adrian sidles up to my other side and I glare at him. "Then it would be a party."

"Better than the first one you took me too anyway."

"When did you two go to a party? How do you even know each other?" Jesse asks from the corner.

Most of the room are now looking at us in open curiosity. Hm, there's power in this.

"Aren't you from like, a community?" That annoying-ass Adrian clinger girl says from across the island.

"Don't be jealous." I tell her and she sneers.

"Please stop trying to fight my date." Adrian says in a low voice.

"Date nicer girls then."

Lissa is pouring drinks and Christian has come up beside her, a hand on the small of her back. What the fuck?

"What, like you?"

"Your too old for me."

"Rude. With age comes experience."

"Then your not old enough for me yet."

He puts a hand to chest and feigns being in pain. "When did the kitten get claws?"

"She's a dark horse this one." Lissa says, passing me something that isn't like the cocktails from earlier. She notices my face. "It's past twelve, you'll like it. It's sweet."

"And if you don't grow up and drink straight liquor like the rest of us." Adrian says.

I roll my eyes as Natalie and Mason stumble through the backdoor, laughing so hard they can't stand up. Her heels are missing and something that looks like whipped cream is covering her hands.

"What have you been doing?" I yell across to her and step up beside Lissa, aware Christian is on her other side. He's rigid, good. I slide my arm around her waist and she put my chin on her shoulder. Christian takes a subtle step away.

There are tears on Mason's face. "One of the Guardian's is going around spraying people he finds getting too frisky in the enchanted forest so we asked if we could be recruited."

"Spiridon." Natalie explains, trying to breathe. "Oh my god, did you see Wade's face?"

"I could make such a filthy joke right now about Wade Voda, unexpected white stuff and disappointment." Mason says, wiping his eyes and laughter chases his words.

"That's really unprofessional of a Guardian." Adrian's date feels the need to comment.

"Spiridon is unprofessional." Lissa laughs, leaning her head against mine.

"Well I suppose being in a Prince's pocket means you get away with whatever you want."

The atmosphere in the room shifts. The laughter fizzing out.

Why the hell had Adrian brought her?

"What is that supposed to mean?" Natalie asks, sounding too calm. Lissa's hand tightens on my shoulder.

"Like it's any secret that the Royals poach the best Guardians when they graduate."

"That's not true." Jesse says but Mason is looking down and as one of the few Dhampir's in the room it's very telling.

"Dimitri Belikov and Ben White work for you too right?"

I can't work out what the accusation is. Natalie's said before about the boys being being highly regarded and how difficult it would be to replace them but didn't it make sense that someone as wealthy and powerful as Victor has them?

"Can we change the topic?" Christian asks.

The girls lip curls, "Well of course an Ozera wants to."

"What the hell is your problem?" Lissa snaps and I uncurl myself from her.

The girls lifts her chin and Adrian cocks his head at Andre, motioning for them to head into the other room. The girl is his date shouldn't he be like, trying to calm the situation? I glare at them as they leave but Adrian's too busy draining his flask.

"My problem and half the worlds is how talent is being hoarded. One Prince has three Guardians and one in his house no doubt being trained for you." She throws a hand toward Natalie. "And daddy will still buy off two more when your graduate to follow you around college and stand outside your Sorority House whilst communities and schools are being murdered and raped and -"

I have no idea what the rest of her sentence is because Natalie starts yelling at her, Ralf holding her back, Jesse is shouting for everyone to calm down, Lissa is shouting about equal Guardian opportunities or something and Christian is trying to calm her down. This is really killing my buzz and it's really annoying.

Mason leans around Jesse and I barely make out him asking, "Have you been outside yet?" I shake my head. "Wanna get out of here?"

I slip around the back of Lissa and take Masons hand as he navigates us through all the yelling people.

"It's actually so annoying they're fighting right now." I say as Mason snatches up some bottles from a bucket.

"Yeah." He sighs, cracking them open and handing me one. "Angeline has a point but tonight's not the time or place. Beer not for you?"

Beer is disgusting. I try to re-arrange my face. "I prefer sweet."

"If you want I'll brave all the hair pulling and food flying to get you one?"

I grin. "No it's okay. Oh."

I hadn't noticed when we'd first stepped out, too busy thinking about the fact a boy was holding my hand and then about how disgusting beer tasted, but now I'm taking in how the back has been decorated. There are chairs and tabled out here, a few occupied, with orange and white fairy lights strung around but the main focus is on the path into the woods. On the tree's closest to us lanterns hang and the path has a canopy of vines and lines hanging over the start of the path. Beyond the vines I can make out multi-coloured twinkling. A sign has been put up, labelling it 'The Enchanted Forest."

"Walk in the woods?" Mason asks, offering me his arm.

I grin and take it. "Is Spiridon still running around in there?"

"Probably, lets avoid him."

We step through the vines and all annoyance at my friends fades away. I didn't think it would be possible to be shocked at this point but my mouth drops open. If the living room is a version hell then this is a fairytale. Everywhere tiny lights have been hidden or draped or planted, all glowing different colours, fading in and out against the dark. Mushrooms of all sizes and been put around the bottom of tree's and in the hollows eyes peer out (thats kinda freaky).

"There are some booby traps along the path." Mason tells me.

"This is amazing." I whisper.

We wander along the path, find bowls of candy and hanging threads of popcorn. I rip some off and throw them at him and he retaliates. I take off running, my beer sloshing over my hand. I scream as something in the woods roars at me as I pass but gives way to laughter.

I feel free. I feel weightless again. I pass people nestled in between tree's and I see signs of where Spiridon had interrupted.

An arm closes round my waist and I let out a yelp, going over on my ankle and then we're tumbling to the ground. We fall in between two rises in the tree bank, laughing.

"Are you okay? I didn't mean to tackle you." Mason's face appears over me, his blue eyes searching my face. His are a nice blue, not the electric fire of the Ozera's but powdery, soft.

"I'm fine. Taken worse falls than that."

He grins. "Yeah, same."

He's looking at me in a way that makes my breath catch. I push up and back against the grass. We were cradled in the grass mounds, the moon full and bright and reflecting off the lake.

"What did you mean earlier, about Angeline?" I blurt.

Something like disappointment flits across his face but he recovers. "Uh well." He lets out a breath. "She's not wrong, the wealthier Royals buy off the Guardians with highest marks in when they graduate."

"And they shouldn't?"

"Where did you grow up?" he asks me confused.

I shrug and take a sip of my beer. "I was home schooled and then my Mom died so I came here to be with my brother."

"So have like, you trained or…" he seems embarrassed to have asked but the beer has topped up my fuzzy feelings.

"A bit. But Dimitri is going to train me when he recovers, he got injured a few weeks ago."

"That's cool. Maybe you could ask nicely and I could get in on that one weekend."

He smiles and his shifts so his arm is pressed against mine. I realise how alone we are...how far away from everyone else. "Maybe. Dimitri isn't the easiest to talk too."

"Wear an outfit like that and he won't be able to say no."

I flush and he smiles at my reaction. "No, um, Guardians are supposed to be fairly allocated by The Gaurd in their first few years."

"Oh." That's all I can think to say. I can't be bothered with serious big world things right now. "Why did you ask me to come out here?"

He tilts his head. "Isn't it obvious?"

I'm not exactly in the loop with a lot of what should be obvious. "I want you to say it."

"I wanted a chance to talk to you, alone."

"Am I that interesting?"

"Very."

The compliment fills me up with warmth. He's nice and I feel comfortable despite being alone with him.

"Mason."

"Mhm?" He's taking a long drink from his beer and I seize the moment.

"Are you going to kiss me?"

I bite my lip so I don't laugh at his splutter. He recover enough to say, "You're really direct aren't you?"

"Well?"

"Well now I feel a bit of pressure."

I smile and take the final drops of my beer. Urgh, my breath probably reeks of it but I'm not backing down now. I wanted to know what it felt like, what all the fuss was about and I didn't feel intimidated by Mason. I knew if I asked him right now for us to go back he would.

Dimitri flashes in my mind, that look on his face as he towered over me and I could feel the heat of his body on my chest.

I slide up onto my knees and lean toward Mason. His eye's widen. "I'll kiss you then."

I see him swallow. "Okay."

I suppress the urge to giggle and to duck out. I close the distance and press my lips against his.

They're soft. I don't know why anticipated they wouldn't be. Mentally I congratulate myself for having the nerve to follow through but… it's just lips pressed against lips. My eyebrows crease. Isn't it supposed to feel different?

Mason sighs against my mouth and then he's kissing me again. It's a bit alarming. I don't know what to do. His hand moves to my hair and I'm just trying to keep up with what he's doing whilst trying to figure out a nice way to ask if we can go back now. I put my hands on his shoulders to keep my balance.

I've saved from having to figure it out as a hand clamps around my arm and hauls me to my feet.

"Hey!" Mason blindly reaches for me but stills looking up at the newest member in our little spot.

"I suggest you get back to the party." Spiridon says nonchalantly, hand still fastened on me. I try to shrug him off but he tightens his grip.

"Let go!"

"Its my fault." Mason springs up.

"Oh I don't doubt that."

I tear myself free of him. "Stop being an ass."

His gaze is stone cold. "Get back to the house. Now."

I make a show of rolling my eyes. "C'mon Mason."

We amble back the way we came and I can't decide if I'm glad Spiridon gave me the excuse I needed or worried about what he'll say about it because there is no way he isn't going to try and humiliate me with this.

"Are you worried he's going to tell your brother?" Mason asks. If anything he looks more worried about that idea.

"No, Ben won't care."

"We weren't doing anything really, that was a complete over reaction." I feel him looking at me.

I force myself to smile. "Exactly."

We cut through the vines and the kitchen comes back into view. Mason takes my hand. I have the feeling I'm getting caught up in something not easily got out of. The girls will know what to do, what I should say. In the kitchen Adrian is wrapped around Angeline which is one way to shut her up I guess. Our group is gone. A few people are standing around eating the snacks.

"Guess they're dancing." Mason says and I let him lead the way, still gripping my hand.

Watching people make-out is gross. Is that what Spiridon had seen? Urgh.

The living room has nearly everyone packed into it dancing and it takes us a few minutes to find the others. They yell like they haven't seen us in weeks.

"Where were you?" Lissa demands, her hot breath hitting my ear. "And what were you doing?"

"Kissing. Spiridon interrupted." I yell into her ear.

She gives me a looks that says 'Oh shit' and then asks, "Did you like it?"

I glance at Mason who got his arms around Jesse and Ralf's shoulders. "No."

Lissa cringes but this isn't the time to talk to her about it so I start dancing. A few minutes later Natalie collides with and somehow ends up climbing onto my back where she stays, screaming lyrics, until Ralf pulls her off me.

Across the floor I spy Dimitri in the shadows with a witch beside him. Christian is there too. Lissa catches me looking.

"He doesn't dance. I couldn't convince him."

"He's a loser." I reply over the music and she yells back in agreement but smiling. Maybe I should of put more venom into it.

We dance and someone passes around a flask that I refuse. I keep looking over to the corner but I can't make much out, only glimpses when the lights flash over them. For a second their illuminated in green and Natasha is wrapped around Dmitri's arm, laughing with Christian. There's a small smile on Dimitri mouth and I stop moving my body.

They come first.

The flask comes round again and I take it from Jesse. I take a long, long drink until Lissa takes it from me. I see her mouth 'calm down' but I don't care. It tasted horrible but pools like fire in my stomach, burning away common sense and care.

I somehow find myself dancing near Mason, or with him I'm not sure and then I'm kissing him again and there is yelling around us. I think Natalie is shouting my name but she's also laughing. Masons arm's are around me and I can't really feel what my lips are doing but I'm not thinking at all. The music is vibrating through my brain.

What am I doing?

I break away from him but he still holds onto me. He's trying to talk into my ear but I can't make it out, the rooms blurring a bit. I yell that I'll be back and I propel myself toward the kitchen, concentrating on every step.

This time I nearly do rip down those damn ribbons.

"You okay? Rose?"

Water. I need water.

I stumble down the back step and near enough fall over into the ice-bucket. But the mission is complete and I fall onto my ass, water bottle secure in my hands.

I smell, rather than see, who sits down beside me.

"Over done it little one?" Adrian asks, and I can picture him exhaling his cigarette.

"Go away." I groan and he chuckles. "I think everyone is laughing at me."

"No one is laughing at you. Drink that whole thing, the world will seem a little better after."

"The ground is moving." He laughs again and I blindly fling my hand out, happy when it smacks some part of him. "He didn't even care."

"Alright, okay. Here, drink this now." I guzzle the water to the point of feeling full but keep going. "This all or nothing attitude you have is really something."

I finish the bottle, gasping. My visions cleared a bit but it's still safer to keep my eyes closed.

"Is she okay?"

Lissa. Always Lissa. Not him, couldn't be bothered and why would he? She's here and she's interesting and she paid for the Alchemists.

"I like my alcohol in many forms but whatever Jesse has in that flask is more like petrol." I hear Adrian say.

"I'm pretty sure it's tequila topped up with Russian vodka."

"That flask is the equivalent of a loaded gun." A hand runs gently over my back. It's nice. "This one's the first victim."

"Stop talking in riddles." I growl and the smell of cloves wraps around us.

"Do you feel sick, Rose?" Lissa asks and I shake my head.

"Dizzy."

She presses another bottle of water into my hands and I drink it. When I come up for air I ask her, "Is everyone laughing at me?

"No. I think they're planning your wedding." She takes the water from me and takes a sip.

"What's this?" Adrian queries, taking another drag on his cigarette.

"Rose and Mason made out."

"Twice" I whine and fall against Lissa's shoulder.

"Why did you kiss him when you said -"

"I don't know!"

"In Estonia I could barely get you to accept a soda." Adrian muses. "Now your a right little kiss slut."

I whack him again as Lissa says he's 'one to talk'. I let their conversation wash over me until I'm certain the grass feels still and solid under me. I lift my head from her shoulder and cautiously open my eyes. The stars stay put in the sky.

"That was awful." I say, sitting up straight and Adrian chuckles.

"Why did you do that? It was like you suddenly became possessed."

"I looked possessed kissing Mason?" Oh god, I'd made out in front of people. Did he put his tongue in my mouth? I can't remember and the thought of it make me want to peel my own skin off.

"No! Drinking."

I groan. "I don't know. I got annoyed."

"Yeah? Well be normal and pull me outside to bitch about it next time."

Shame colours my face. "Are you angry with me?"

"No...No just, you cant drink like that. It's stupid and you could have been really sick."

"I can confirm being the person that pukes pisses everyone one off and ruins the mood. Then you feel like shit in the morning. I still do it anyway." Adrian supplies unhelpfully from my left.

"Sorry….hey, you've lost your feathers." I tell her.

"I think they're on Ralf's hat."

A shadow falls over me. I look up and groan again, just when I thought the worst was over.

"Still making a show of yourself?"

"Can you, for once, not be an asshole to me? Please?"

Spiridon's expression doesn't soften. He looks the most serious I've ever seen him. "Drunk and stumbling around the woods with a boy you just met – and I'm the asshole?"

Adrian and Lissa are trying to make excuses and say things to appease the situation on my behalf but we continue to glare at each other.

"You won't always have a baby sitter, Rose." He snaps.

"I thought I had a jailer." I spit.

His eyes narrow and I feel Lissa tense up beside me. "Sober up. Go to bed."

He stalks off and the fight goes out of me. "Why is everything turning so bad? I was having so much fun."

"That guys a dick." Adrian says. "Take no notice. If you really were that bad Goliath hauled your ass to your room. He's been watching you most of the night."

"Who?" Lissa asks perplexed.

"He doesn't care." I repeat glumly.

"At least your brothers not here." Adrian comments, smirking at the lie.

"Ben's the best. Ben wouldn't yell at me."

"Who the hell is Goliath?" Lissa asks annoyed and I fall into a fit of giggles.

A while later we go back inside, losing Adrian to the crowd as we take a bathroom break. Lissa convinces me there's nothing to be embarrassed about and to come back downstairs.

"You know, I almost feel sober again." I tell her and she laughs.

When we hit the floor again I promise myself I'm not looking in his direction again and I'm saved from temptation when Lissa starts trailing me toward the little garden.

"Whats wrong?"

She doesn't answer but she looks angry.

Natalie is on Ralf's knee but it looks like he's forcing her to be there. Jesse and another girl who's been in our group is sitting here too. I snatch up a beer whilst Lissa isn't looking and flop into a seat. At least Mason isn't out here.

"Just be nice. Be cool. Rise above it." Ralf is saying to his girlfriend, a plead in his voice.

"Why should I? They turned up dressed as the fucking king and queen. WE'RE THE KING AND QUEEN!"

Jesse seems a bit dazed but holds up a hand. "Look it doesn't matter Nat. Like….it doesn't matter."

Natalie starts protesting and trying to get up again but Ralf won't let her. "Natalie, if you start something you will regret it."

"kill them with kindness...or indifference." Lissa says. She catches me taking a drink. Before I can feel guilty for being caught she takes it from me and sips it herself.

"Who are we talking about?" I ask.

"My ex-boyfriend is here." Lissa explains. "Aaron. He came with Mia."

"Yes, they're here but we knew they were coming so who cares? Let Aaron have his pity party. He's hooking up Mia, who cares? We all know he's not over Lissa, Lissa's got a thing with Christian now. It's all good." Jesse saying, trying to smooth everything over but at the mention of Christian and 'thing' the three of us look to Lissa.

She's gone a bit pink under what's left of her white make-up.

"Thing?" I ask, trying to sound even. I knew I picked up on something earlier but I'd been trying to ignore it.

"Well, no, I mean we're not…"

"We're not?" A voice muses and I stiffen.

Christian appears and perch's himself on the corner of Lissa's seat. Her blush gets deeper.

Somewhere in my mind I can see what they all see. He is undeniable handsome with his inky black hair (under the green) and bright blue eyes, tall, lean and looking at Lissa in a way that somehow feels like it should be private. But the larger part of me, the instinctual part, only see's evil and the cruelty I know he's capable of. He might have shown me kindness but that was only because Victor had them cornered.

Everyone, mainly Natalie, has mellowed out by his arrival. Ralf doesn't have to restrain her at least.

Christina slips his arm around Lissa, hand resting on her hip. I drink my beer and feign being relaxed.

How weird things are. Sitting here, drinking alcohol with Moroi royals, the young master no less, unafraid, angry, but looking at the same stars.

I hear Lissa make introductions between Christian and myself, a flutter of pleasure when she calls me her 'good friend' but I only nod my head a fraction of an inch in acknowledgement. Not even bothering to look in their direction. Natalie's frowning at me and the air gets a little awkward but I don't care.

"I don't want to hide from my own party any more." Natalie announces, her voice is a little slurry.

"You promise your not going to start anything?" Ralf asks and she answers by kissing him...very enthusiastically.

I don't wait for them and walk back to the dance floor with Jesse. Mason is easy to find, his red hair glinting. He's surrounded by people, the centre of attention, gesturing with his hands as he tells a story. He reaches for me, not breaking the flow of what he's saying, and tucks me into his side. And I realise what it is that I like about this. Everyone flocks to Mason, everyone likes his company and likes to be around him and he was choosing me. He wanted my attention and it gave some sense of confidence and value. Like my place among these people is secure.

"Are you okay? You just ran off."

There's no way I'm telling him I nearly puked. "I needed to ask Adrian something."

He doesn't look particularly happy so I smile up at him until his expression relaxes. His gaze drops to my lips

"Who is this rando?" A girl demands loudly. I turn to find the blonde Moroi lazily pointing at me and sniggering to the girl next to her. I note the gold crown atop her curly hair and the paper thin silk dress clinging to her lean body. Mia. I force myself to be still and not cringe away. Instead I slowly look her up and down then I smile.

Like Mistress Ozera would.

"Play nice, Mia." Mason says. "This is Rose."

"She's from a community." The girl on Mia's other side supplies and the sniggering starts again.

What the hell is that? I am sick of girls being nasty.

"You must like Halloween." Mia's laughter tails off as she regards me. "Gives you the chance to play Princess…seeing you're not Royal and never will be."

I'd memorised that year book. I knew the Royal names.

"You must love a night off from being a blood whore. Although the nights still young." She fires back.

I can feel all the blood rushing to my head and my fist wants to be in her face.

Natalie appears at my side, teeth bared. "What the fuck did you just say to my friend?"

Ralf is behind her looking defeated, having spent the last hour trying to avoid this.

"I thought this was an exclusive party?" Mia says to her. "Is it true she lives here? Your daddy's own blood whore in the -"

"Shut the hell up." Mason snaps. "Why did you bother coming if you were just going to be a bitch."

"That's the only reason she would. Lets be honest." Ralf chimes in.

"Watch it." A Moroi boy says looking at Ralf. He's tall, blonde and also wearing a crown. Aaron.

"What's going on?" Lissa asks, coming to stand between me and Natalie. Her calm, mild presence balancing out the hostility.

Aaron stares at her with a pained expression that quickly gives way to a scowl when Christian comes up behind her.

"Mia is being herself." Mason says. "C'mon lets go to -"

"What on earth are you dressed as?" Mia exclaims, an evil laugh following her words. "A used tampon?"

Lissa blinks and I can see even in the dim light her face is flooding with colour. I start toward Mia but Mason pulls me back whilst Natalie is spitting words.

"Man, take your little yappy dog outside." Christian says to Aaron.

Jesse is holding up his hands and trying to tell everyone to calm down. No one is listening to him. In fact people have stopped dancing to look at us, some have their phones out.

"Why are you being so hostile? I just asked the question everyone is talking about. Does Victor Dashkov have a live at home blood whore? I mean, typical Dhampir slut with her tits out and -"

A shadow falls over Mia and the smirk drops from her face. Dimitri towers over her and Natasha is right beside him looking stern.

"What is going on?" She demands.

"None of your business." The words are out before I can think twice and she throws me a look.

"The first shuttle back to the academy is leaving soon." Dimitri says, he looks calm but there's an edge to his voice.

"We're not leaving." Mia says, somehow looking down her nose at him.

"I wasn't asking." Dimitri responds flatly. "You have disrespected your hostess' hospitality and embarrassed yourself."

"Embarrassed myself?!"

"Who do you think your talking to?" Aaron says, puffing out his chest. "Why don't you go back to work."

"A Moroi brat." Dimitri replies coolly.

"I'm sure your father will be interested to hear all about this." Natasha says. "He's in town this week, no?"

"Your threatening to tell on us?" Mia smirks. "Oh no."

"He couldn't get any more disappointed." Christian starts, voice laced with arrogance. "Not after his son went from dating a Princess to a Pauper."

And then I don't know what happens but suddenly our drinks explode and someone screeches.

"You vile bitch." Lissa shouts, beer glistening on her skin.

Dimitri blocks Aaron who is trying to reach Christian, Mason moving to help and I see Mia lunge for Lissa. I collide with her instead. We hit the floor and its a mess of hair pulling and wrestling. I finally get her under me, unsure what I'm going to do now I've got the upper hand and I'm saved from figuring it out.

I'm plucked from the ground and Dmitri's voice tickles my ear. "Roza, stop."

I still. Time slows with my back against his chest, his lips grazing my ear, it's all that matters.

Then he lets me go. I slide down his torso and my feet hit the ground.

Natasha is holding Mia by the arm and hauling her toward the door. Dimitri gestures to Aaron to follow. Mason standing between him and us. Aaron throws Lissa the ugliest look before stalking off.

"I am so fucking sick of drama." Jesse mutters.

"Really?" Adrian says, staggering out of no where. "Because that was really entertaining."