I have no impulse control and just really wanted to post this chapter and not wait like I was meant to.
So here's another :D
Chapter 3
The bond was gone.
I felt panic rising.
How was the bond gone? Did something happen while I was at the hospital?
Did something happen to Lissa?
I had no way of contacting her, or anyone for that matter, and I was stuck on this bus for eight hours.
"Hey, are you okay?"
I whipped my head to the side, the woman across the aisle watching me with concerned eyes. I realised then that I was practically hyperventilating.
I shook my head, "Sorry, I'm just worried about a friend." I didn't want her to ask too many questions, but I realised my mistake in looking at her; she saw my face. I had seen flashes of it in the reflection of the bus windows and knew it didn't look pretty.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
I was about to say no when I had an idea, "Could I borrow your phone to make a phone call?"
She raised her eyebrows but handed over her phone, "Sure."
I quickly dialled Lissa's number, knowing it off by heart. The palms of my hands were sweating nervously as I waited for her to pick up, but it rang out. I hung up without leaving a message.
It's okay, Rose. I calmed myself. Just because she wasn't answering didn't mean that something bad had happened.
With a forced smile, I returned the phone to the lady. She kept shooting me looks of concern, but I ignored them and stared out the window. There wasn't anything I could do right now, I had to wait until I got to the Academy, and then I'm sure everything would work itself out.
I kept repeating that everything would be fine, even as dread settled in my stomach like a stone.
By the time I made it to Missoula, I was dead on my feet, and I wasn't even done yet. I still had another two hours to travel before I made it back to the Academy. I have never in my life wished so hard that I knew how to hotwire a car.
It took a couple of tries, but I finally found someone willing to drive me in exchange for what money I had left.
I had them drop me a couple of miles away from the school; after watching them disappear in the distance, I started to walk towards the front gates. It was a twenty-minute walk that was becoming more difficult with each step. I may have slept a lot on the buses here, but my body was still struggling.
Encouraging myself to keep putting one foot in front of the other with the promise of a warm meal, a comfy bed, and a hot shower, and not necessarily in that order.
Finally, the gates came into view, the guardians patrolling it standing on the other side watching me.
"Who's there? What do you want?"
I slowly approached the gate, pulling back my hood so that they could see my face, but I didn't recognise these guardians. They must be replacements that were hired after I left. "Rose Hathaway," I told them, making sure to not come off as threatening, "Call Alberta. She knows who I am."
If they called her, that should clear up any questions about me and then I can go and sit down before I pass out.
The guardian eyed me, putting a finger to his ear and speaking in a hushed tone. After a couple of minutes, they opened the gate and waved me through. A female guardian on the other side did a double-take when she saw my face.
"Are you okay?"
I shrugged, not even sure myself. "I'm fine." I didn't want her asking what happened because even I didn't know. All I know is that if anyone could help me, it would be Alberta.
The women led me to the golf cart that they kept by the gate in case they needed to move quickly. I must have looked close enough to keeling over that they deemed it necessary. Climbing in and gripping the bar in front of me as tightly as I could as the women drove. I had to grit my teeth from how much it jilted my injuries.
Soon the entrance to the administration building came into view, which I had never been so thankful to see. I stepped off the cart just as Alberta exited the building, rushing towards us. Her expression was both confused and concerned.
She let out a gasp as she took in my injuries, "Rose, what happened?"
I glanced at the guardian behind me and then back at Alberta, "Can we talk inside?" I didn't feel like having this conversation with others around. Especially ones I didn't know.
Seeming to understand, Alberta nodded, "How about we go to the clinic, get you checked out."
I didn't want to be poked and prodded but realised that it would be better for me to lie down and make sure everything was fine, considering I woke up in the hospital two days ago.
As I took a step forward, my legs gave out; luckily, Alberta was quick, her arm looping under mine before I could collide with the ground. She took most of my weight, helping me walk.
"Rose -" She started again, but I cut her off.
"I'll explain soon, I promise."
Accept my word, we entered the building, making our way to the clinic. I was glad that I arrived early in the Moroi morning; no students were hanging out in the hallways to see me being half-dragged, half-carried through by Alberta.
I managed to make it to an empty bed in the clinic, panting as my body protested every movement. My head was pounding, making me feel sick. We weren't alone for long, a third woman strutting into the room, heels clicking on the floor.
"Rose?" Dr Olendzki asked, caught off guard but then quickly rushed forward. "What happened?"
"That's what I would like to know," Alberta crossed her arms in front of her, waiting.
I shifted back on the bed, getting comfortable; Dr Olendzki leant over me, examining my head. "First," I started, "is Lissa okay?"
Alberta raised her eyebrows, perplexed. "I believe so."
I gave her a look, "You believe so? You don't know for sure?"
"Rose, just tell us what happened, and then we can discuss Lissa."
Huffing, I relented, "Fine. I woke up in a hospital in Pennsylvania, no idea how I got there, so I snuck out and came here. When I tried to check on Lissa through the bond, I couldn't feel anything. So please tell me, is Lissa okay?"
Alberta's eyes were wide by the time I finished my explanation. She opened her mouth to respond when Dr Olendzki spoke first.
"I think you need to rest, Rose." She gently nudged me back to the bed.
I tried to push back, but my body had become weak, "No, I need to see Lissa first."
Dr Olendzki nodded, "Yes, we will go get her, and she will be here when you wake up."
I eyed her, there was something that didn't seem right, but I was too tired to figure out what it was. "Lissa is at the school?"
"Yes, she'll be here soon," Alberta told me. She sounded sincere, so I believed her, not knowing why she would lie. I gave in and let myself be laid out on the bed.
Happy that I wasn't fighting anymore, Dr Olendzki turned on her heel and took Alberta by her elbow, leading her out of the room. "Just sleep, Rose." Dr Olendzki said as she flicked off the light and closed the door.
Now in darkness, my eyelids struggled to stay open, and soon I was asleep.
I wasn't sure what woke me. I thought I heard yelling, but I couldn't be sure. It was silent again, other than the sound of someone running in the hall. The sound was getting closer until it stopped outside my door.
My body tensed as I heard the handle being turned, light streaming in as the door was pushed wide open. My blood froze as I listened to the person sigh, their deep voice echoing off the walls of the room.
"Roza."
How did he get here? Strigoi can't cross the wards unless they are broken again.
My breath caught. I had heard screaming.
Strigoi were attacking the school again, and Dimitri had found me.
And I had no weapon.
I tried to keep my heartbeat steady, hoping he wouldn't notice how fast it was beating right now. If I were lucky, he would think I'm still sleeping and give me an opening to fight him off. Just long enough that I can escape.
Luckily I had been sleeping on my side, so he couldn't see my eyes as I watched his shadow come closer. Listening to his footsteps, waiting for the right moment.
His hand came to rest on my hip. I waited until he was leaning over me before I struck.
Putting as much power behind it as I could, I threw my elbow back and into his face, hearing the crunch of his nose as it impacted. Dimitri released a groan, jerking back from me. I took the opportunity to jump off the bed and aimed a kick at his chest, making him collide with the wall.
I ran before he could stand back up, that wouldn't slow him for long, but I just needed enough time to find a weapon, or a guardian, or -
As if answering my prayers, Alberta rounded the corner.
"Alberta!" I rushed to her side, risking a glance back before turning to her, "I need your stake!" I demanded.
Her hands gripped my arms, eyes perplexed, "Rose, what's wrong? Why do you -"
"I need it! He's coming."
"Who?"
His footsteps were echoing down the hallway, straight towards us. He called out, "Rose!"
I cursed. I needed to act now, and I couldn't hesitate again. Reaching under Alberta's jacket, I gripped the stake I knew she kept there, pulling it from the hoister and spinning on Dimitri. His eyes widened as I held it at the ready.
He stopped, bringing his hands out in front of him, blood running down his face from my hit. "Rose. What are you doing?"
I ignored how much he reminded me of my Dimitri, telling myself that this wasn't the man I loved anymore. This was just a monster wearing his face. "I'm not hesitating."
I lunged at him.
He moved quickly. Now he is prepared for my attacks; it was harder to catch him off guard. He was dodging my blows, just barely avoiding the tip of the stake as I tried to slash at his chest. However, he wasn't hitting back. He wants to turn me.
Realising he wasn't going to go on the offensive, I pushed forward but halted when he caught my arm.
"Roza! Please, listen to me. You have to stop!"
God, why does he have to call me that? "You aren't him!" I screamed, more to myself than him. I twisted my arm in his grip, managing to drag the tip of the stake across his face, making him pull back with a yell of pain.
I went to strike again but froze at my name being yelled.
"Rose, stop!"
I looked over my shoulder at Lissa and Christian standing beside Alberta. Each stared at me in shock.
It was only a second, but it was enough of a distraction for Dimitri to wrap his arms around me, pinning mine against my body. I tried to struggle, to break his grip on me, but it was solid. I had messed up again, and now there was no way he would let me escape again.
I don't want to be turned!
As one last-ditch effort to break free, I threw my head back, hitting him in the nose again. I instantly regretted it as pain exploded in my head, black spots dancing in my vision as my stomach rolled violently.
He cursed and dropped me; I fell to the floor in a heap, unable to catch myself. I tried to move away from him, but my limbs weren't listening to me. The room was spinning, and sounds were becoming distant. There were hands on me, vaguely making out the details of Dr Olendzki crouched beside me.
My eyes widen as I watch a familiar figure with blonde hair walk past me to Dimitri. The world snapped back into focus as Lissa leant over him. I lunged forward only to fall against the tiled floor.
Lissa gasped, reaching for me, "Rose, you have to stop. I don't know what's happening, but you have to stop." She was begging me, but I couldn't understand how she didn't see it. Has everyone just forgotten?
"Lissa," I implored, clutching her hands, "he's Strigoi!"
The atmosphere around me changed, the colour draining from Lissa's face. "Rose…"
"I have to stop him!" I claimed, reaching again for the stake. I didn't understand why Dimitri was still against the wall. He should be attacking, but instead, he just watched.
Nothing was making sense, but I knew I couldn't fail again.
Lissa's fingers wrapped around mine, easily taking the stake from my weak grip. "Rose," she called my name again, making me look at her, "Rose, he isn't Strigoi."
I started to shake my head, but it just brought nausea and pain, "No, Liss. He is, I saw him, I know what he is."
"No, Rose," Her hands gently gripped the sides of my face, making me look at her, "Dimitri isn't a Strigoi." Seeing that I didn't believe her, she tilted my head to face him, "Look at him. He isn't one of them anymore."
I wanted to fight her, but there was something in her voice that made me consider it.
Something had been off since I woke up. Maybe this wasn't a lie, though one I was scarcely ready to believe.
I studied Dimitri, moving my eyes up and down his crouched form, almost as if he was trying to appear smaller, non-threatening. Alberta was beside him now, passing him a towel to clean up the blood from his nose and the cut on his cheek. The fact that he hadn't already healed from those injuries was questionable enough.
His skin that was near white before was now the same tan I remembered. And his eyes, they held mine as I gazed at him, they were still a warm brown, but there was no red to them.
I inhaled sharply.
This isn't possible. How is this even happening?
It was Dimitri. My Dimitri.
My lip trembled, I somehow managed to make my body move, crawling forward to be closer to him. He didn't move, barely breathing as I reached a hand to him, pressing it against his chest over his heart. It was beating strong, warmth radiating off him.
"Dimitri?"
His eyes softened, pleading me to believe him, "Yes, Roza."
I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around him tightly as I sobbed, unable to hold back my tears at the miracle in front of me.
Part of me believed it was just another dream, some more wishful thinking. But he felt so real under my fingers; his arms that had come up to embrace me felt real—even his scent.
"Th-this is really happening, right?" I asked, desperation in my voice.
His hold tightened, "Yes, Rose. Everything is okay now. You're safe now, Roza."
His whispering in my ear only made me cry harder. I never thought I would have this again. I had been lying to myself that he was Dimitri for weeks, but I had finally accepted he wasn't.
And now, suddenly, he was Dimitri again.
"I don't understand," I drew back, hands framing his face as I stared into his eyes, "How?"
Dimitri's eyebrows were furrowed, "You don't remember?"
"Remember what?"
Dr Olendzki walked towards us, "I think we need to talk, Rose."
I was confused and wanted answers, so I slowly detangled myself from Dimitri, and with his help, I was able to get to my feet. But as soon as I was up, my vision blurred, and my stomach lurched; I was barely able to lean forward before throwing up what little was in me. Dimitri was supporting my weight as he called my name in panic.
Slowly everything faded to black.
Let me know what you think or there is anything that you would like the see in this story, always open to suggestions :D
Chapter 5 is going to have another Dimitri POV
Thank you!