When Spirit Shows It's Thorns
Chapter 4
"Oh, Vlad." I heard Lissa say in astonished disbelief. I had to agree. What did Abe do?
"Christian," I started, but before I could finish my thought, he already had the car veered into a U-turn. I jumped when my phone began to ring. Looking down, I saw my mother's name flashing across the screen. "H-hello." My reply was more of a hesitant question than a greeting.
"Rosemarie, turn around and get back here this instant." Her reply was sharp, but lacked anger.
"What are you doing here? What did Abe do?"
"He is doing what you asked of him, now get back here. You're wasting infinite resources the longer this plane has to sit idling." Her voice gave away to amused irritation. Since when did my mother start caring about infinite resources? "Since my daughter decided to pull another crazy stunt and get herself in a lot of trouble." I heard her say. Well I didn't mean to say that out loud.
"Why are there so many Guardians?" I questioned. This really wasn't a time to have a discussion on rocket fuel or whatever powered my father's plane. For all I knew, it was probably illegally gotten goods anyhow.
"They belong to your father. We didn't know what to expect when you got here." She assured me.
"What are you doing there? Abe wasn't supposed to tell anyone."
"Rose, I was with your father when you called. Did you really think he could keep this from me anyhow?"
"You won't hurt him?"
"No. Not unless he tries to hurt anyone else."
I didn't even reply, instead hanging up my phone. My mother may have been absent for most of my life, my father for nearly all of it, but neither of them had ever lied to me. Well, that is, unless you counted that omitting the fact that my father was Abe Mazur, the great Moroi Mob Boss, a lie. "Turn around Christian. The Guardians belong to my father. They are there to protect us, not hurt us." I said.
Christian slowed and this time pulled off a much more elegant U-turn. I sat looking straight ahead with a death grip on Dimitri's hand. We came to a stop about fifteen feet from the plane and sat looking at the group of Dhampir and single Moroi that stood looking at us. I could have sworn Abe was grinning and not just a little grin, but more along the lines of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. My mother however had on her Guardian face, no emotion at all. There was nothing to give away what she might possibly be thinking or feeling. If not for the conversation that had just passed, I would have probably had Christian tuck tail and drive us away again.
"Don't get out." I simply demanded. "He can talk to us through the window until we really know what is going on. It's not like we can all fit on the plane with that many Guardians. Surely this is just Abe being absurd as usual." None of us moved and sat watching as Abe slowly descended in our direction. "What is all of this?" I yelled toward him as he drew close enough to hear.
"Just a precaution, I promise. Now let me see this restored Dhampir of yours." Abe said with fascinated caution. Moving closer to the window, he peered in taking a good look at Dimitri. "Well he doesn't look Strigoi." He said absently. "Well, we better get a move on, before we get company." He replied finishing his assessment of Dimitri, turning and making some flouncing movement in the air with his hand. Christian looked back at me and once I nodded, he unlocked the doors. Dimitri visibly swallowed before opening his door, and pulling me with him as he stepped out of the car. Christian ran around and helped Lissa. Once they were standing beside us we advanced toward the over protected plane, with Abe leading our small entourage. And a sight we must have made, walking with Christian beside Lissa hand in hand directly behind Abe. Dimitri and I in perfect line behind them, also hand in hand. With Lissa extending her right hand backwards, clutching mine, you would think we were walking towards our death.
No one spoke; we just slowly made our way towards either battle or peace. A few feet away from the plane, Abe turned, and yelled, "Go on in, I just have to send some of the Guardians on their way. We won't all fit, and it appears we won't be needing them anyways." It was hard to understand, only grasping every few words; we just nodded and boarded the plane, unbothered and my mother right behind us.
We walked right into a trap. There standing just a few feet down the aisle from the door, were two Court Guardians and behind us, the two dozen Guardians belonging to my father. Two of them would normally not be a problem, but more fourteen-fifteen counting my mother. We were all emotionally drained and physically exhausted and there was no way we would have any sort of chance to escape. I turned and yelled, "You lied! I thought you were helping us!" I was so distraught and downright pissed off. I lunged for my mother, ready to attack, but felt two strong arms envelope me, holding me in place. I fought against their grasp, trying to break free. Soundless screams were flying around me, as I fought against the arms imprisoning me. "How could you? Why did you do this?" I screamed over and over as tears spilt down my cheeks. I felt myself being dragged further into the plane, as my legs gave out beneath me.
"Roza, Roza, calm down." I heard Dimitri repeating as he settled onto a couch and pulled me into his lap. All I could do was turn my face into his chest and cry. I cried myself into a blank and black oblivion, unable to surface enough to even enjoy whatever last few moments I would have in Dimitri's arms. I cried because I knew, when they took him from me, when they killed him, I would not survive losing him again.
I never realized when the plane began to taxi or even when it left the ground. I don't even know when it came, but eventually my body gave out. My mind completely shut down to anything but the thought that this was the end. I just held tightly to the front of Dimitri's shirt, eyes closed.
"Rose?" I would hear now and again, each time it seemed like a new voice, but I could not force away the void that surrounded me to answer. All that was left in me to do is feel Dimitri's arms around me and try to mentally block that this would be the last time I would ever get to feel his embrace again. I thought that losing him at the Academy was the horrible. I thought that coming to the determined realization of having to stake a Strigoi Dimitri, was the most horrific karma that life could give me. But to gain Dimitri back, and then lose him in less than a day, was something that I could not comprehend. It completely sheared the last thread of hope I had left in my soul.
This was a short chapter, I know, and I can imagine that you all probably are harboring a lot of hate for me right now, and I am sorry (kind of). There won't be another update tonight (well with it being nearly 2 am here, another one this morning, anyhow.) I am hoping to get the next chapter written and posted after I get home from some last minute Halloween shopping tomorrow. It really depends on if I still have any sanity left after taking two teenage girls shopping (I do love them…..but have you ever taken two young teenagers into a store that sells specialized make-up and clothes?!) If there is nothing posted by this time tomorrow, I probably took to bed with a bottle of wine to soothe my brain and ear drums (and I DON'T drink alcoholic beverages except maybe on a birthday or anniversary here and there). I should have a chapter or two up by Monday morning though.