AN: Here is the revamp of chapter 2. I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Richelle Mead owns Vampire Academy.
BLACK INK
ACT I: In the Arms of the Devil
Chapter 2: Numb Me Sweetly
"My heart, your hands,
Gentle my friend.
Break me neatly
Numb me sweetly"
~ Vanessa Carlton – Sway
Rose felt like she was in Heaven. Free from care, light as a feather, floating on air. For the first time, in what felt like an eternity, she was at peace with herself and what surrounded her. She was on cloud nine filled with a sense of completion which she had not felt since the night in the cabin, before the attack. The night her life had changed. Whether it was for better, or for worse, had yet to be determined. All she knew in this particular moment was that she was happy. Extremely so. She sighed contently basking in the bliss of it all not fully realizing that she was being pulled into a spirit dream.
The dream-scape changed around her. Swirling colours surrounding her setting against the plain white background. They painted the canvas taking over the space mimicking her emotions. She lied in a meadow amongst a field of flowers. It smelled of lavender. She liked lavender. She closed her eyes inhaling the scent. It assaulted her senses in the most pleasant way. The bright sun above beat down on her bathing her in its warmth. A small smile tugged at her lips. This was perfect.
The dream was morphing around her creating physical manifestations of her contentment. The flowers, the meadow, the soft grass beneath her, it was all too perfect. In her euphoria, she couldn't bother with much of an illusion for herself. She could care less. All she bothered with was the return of her clothing since she knew she was about to have company and she did not want Adrian to see her that way.
"Little Dhampir?"
Rose opened her eyes, a dreamy smile spreading across her face. She recognized that voice as well as the nickname. She sat up running her fingers through the soft blades of grass as she did. It felt so nice against her skin. She looked up and her honey brown eyes met with those of emerald green.
"Adrian Ivashkov," she greeted, stretching out her back. The strain of the movement loosened some of the tension residing in the muscles. "My favourite drunken royal. What are you doing here?" she asked him draping her hair over her shoulder and playing with the ends of her curls. The curtain of her hair sheltered the bite marks and bruises on her neck from view. She did not want him to see and have to explain herself. He had no right to make judgements on her and he would if he knew.
At first, Adrian was completely speechless. He gaped at her taking in her haggard and injured appearance. The bags under her eyes, the pale complexion that was normally tan, and the bruises and cuts that decorated her body, it shocked him. However, it was the glazed look in her eyes and the hollow sound of her voice that caught his attention the most. This was not the Rose that he knew. This person before him was a shell of her usual vibrant self. All the colours had drained from her leaving a grey husk in their wake. Her aura reflected this. It was usually dark, but that was nothing compared to what he was seeing now. Dark shadows rippled out from her body becoming larger and wrapping themselves around her, suffocating her. She was shrouded by death and decay and seemed completely oblivious to it.
He blinked hearing her voice. He had been so distracted by her aura that he had failed to notice her speaking at first. Her voice sounded so foreign to him. Detached and disconnected. It was so unlike the Rose he knew and loved. He shook his head, masking his emotions the best he could. He was no Guardian, but he could pull off a decent poker face if he wanted to.
"I came to check on you," he informed her taking note of the cast on her arm and the bandages he could see wrapped snugly around her chest to support her ribs underneath her tight shirt. He noted her ankle was also wrapped up. "Seems you ran into some trouble," he stated gesturing to her injured and disheveled state.
Rose looked down at herself and shrugged. "I'm fine, no need to worry yourself about that," she stated in response her voice flat and dismissive. She slowly rose to her feet standing to her full height. The grass tickled her bare feet and the flowers blooming around her brushed against her skin caressing her with their satin petals. "I will heal, and fast," she explained to him casually wishing that he paid no further attention to her injuries. They were irrelevant in the dream world for she could not feel them here. However, she did not bother to wish them away. That took too much effort, and she was far too tired and loopy to do it. Even in her dreams she could feel the euphoria of the Strigoi endorphins pumping through her body.
"What happened?" he probed knowing that one hell of a fight had to have taken place for her to come out so bludgeoned. Rose had always been tough. One of the strongest people he knew. She fought with everything she had. Fearless. He had seen that the night of the attack on the Academy and he knew that she would have had to take on something or someone formidable for her to end up like that.
His question was not entirely unreasonable. Rose knew that she must be some kind of sight, she had been surprised herself when she had awoken. She blinked a few times before her face contorted into one of complete concentration. Her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to recall the origin of her injuries. It was all blank. She could not remember. How strange that was.
She shook her head after struggling to remember for a few short moments, "I don't remember," was her honest and perplexed response. She glanced up at him but seemed momentarily concerned for the lapse in her memory. "Why can't I remember?" she asked him tilting her head to the side unconsciously. With that gesture, her hair slipped from her shoulder exposing the large bite marks on her neck. She realized this instantly but was eerily calm about the matter and did not move to put her hair back in place. That would only draw his attention further.
The way she spoke set him on edge. Rose was rarely so unsure of herself. Adrian's eyes caught the movement of her hair followed it barely managing to hold in his surprise at the sight of the rapidly forming bruises on her shoulder and neck along with the open wounds residing there. Those areas were red, swollen, angry and irritated. He pushed it out of his mind, taking note to investigate further. "I couldn't tell you. What's the last thing you do remember?" He questioned her watching her intently determined to get her to talk to him as much as possible. Hopefully the longer he kept her engaged the more coherent she would become.
That intense look of concentration remained on her face as she struggled with the sea of memories washing over her. It was all a jumbled mess and made no sense to her whatsoever. It was frustrating. She sucked in a breath shaking her head to clear her mind. It worked. Her expression changed forming into a scowl. "I don't want to play twenty questions," she snapped at him crossing her arms over her chest. He was too nosy, and she didn't feel like entertaining his inquiries. She should not have said anything. This was her business, not his. "Leave it alone."
Adrian blinked in confusion. Her sudden shift in mood was unexpected. Something was not right. The bite marks she was sporting made him sure of that. He took a step towards her but was surprised when her eyes widened, and she moved backwards as if to keep distance between them. She was like a deer caught in the headlights. He paused stunned by the reaction to his proximity. It was almost as if she were afraid of him.
"Why are you backing away from me?" he asked her calmly calling her out on the behaviour but trying not to antagonize her.
She stopped staring at him but said nothing. Her expression was one of anxiety and uncertainty as she nibbled her bottom lip, a habit she had not had before. After a moment she spoke. Her voice shook slightly. "I don't know," she replied running her fingers through her hair and shifting her feet nervously mindful of his accusation. However, she remained rooted in the same spot. He could tell that she was obviously flustered.
"You don't have to be scared of me," he informed her firmly trying to sound reassuring, but he was not sure it came across as he intended.
She sucked in a breath wincing at the slight harshness in his voice. "I know," she spat out quickly, much quicker than she should have because it sounded like a lie.
Adrian closed the distance between them being sure to proceed with caution. He did not want to spook her again. Her large doe eyes remained fixed on him, and she did not move again. He tentatively reached out and brushed her hair off of her shoulder again inspecting the wounds that resided there more closely. They were very deep, made by long and sharp teeth and a powerful bite. As he had suspected, they were vampire bites, but not normal ones. The fangs that created wounds like these could not have belonged to just any Moroi. The wounds were deep and oozing. Blood had congealed around the openings halting the blood flow and building up into an almost, jelly-like state.
A blush spread onto her cheeks, and she looked away from him as if embarrassed or ashamed. Gently, he reached out to touch them, but she flinched away from his touch, backing away again. Hurriedly she brushed her hair back over the marks again hiding them in the only way that she knew how. She hated his critical stare. She did not need his judgement. She just wanted him to go away and leave her alone, so she glared at him.
He was unaffected by her harsh gaze. "Looks like they hurt," he remarked with a tight lipped smile. Her reactions to him were frustrating and by the looks of those bites, they were fresh. He suddenly felt disappointed in her. She was degrading herself by becoming something she had always hated. A blood whore. However, he could not help the feeling that something was completely amiss.
"I don't mind at all," she said this simply with a shrug, but her voice was firm and strong once again. Her moment of weakness and fear left behind. "I like it." She wrapped her arms around herself as she said this, feeling uncomfortable underneath his scrutiny.
Typical response from an endorphin addict. A disappointed sigh floated from his lips. "Where are you Rose?" he asked staring at her with deep pain shining in his eyes. Seeing her like this was very difficult for him. Rose had always been so strong-willed and feisty. The Rose Hathaway that stood before him was none of those things. She was only the dead-leaf echo from the sexy vixen she had been when he met her at the ski lodge months ago. This woman in front of him now, he did not recognize at all.
A goofy smile spread across Rose's face which was very uncharacteristic of her. It looked out of place on her features. "Somewhere nice," she replied dreamily, her eyes fluttering closed as she felt a comforting presence wrap around her. It eased the tension of the situation letting her fears and doubts wash away with that embrace. "Yes, somewhere very nice," she repeated almost robotically.
The darkness surrounding Rose swelled and the dream around them began to collapse. Adrian's hold on the dream was failing and the image of her before him was fading. "Stay with me Rose," he called to her with a desperate edge to his voice. He felt himself being pushed backwards out of the dream. He clung to it with all the strength he could. "Where are you?" he asked again more insistent than he had been before. He needed an answer. He needed to know where she was.
Before she completely disappeared from view, she uttered three small words that provided him with the information that he wanted. "I'm in Russia."
Adrian snapped out of his trance instantly. His vision swam and he forced his eyes closed to stop the room around him from spinning. Too fast. He had been pulled out too fast. After a few moments, he shook his head to clear the cobwebs before he dared to open his eyes again. His vision focused and he found himself in his room in the guest residence at St. Vladimir's Academy. He sat up in his bed gasping for breath. Something had forced him out of the dream. Something more powerful than he was.
The shock of being knocked out of the dream world like that had left him slightly disoriented. There was no way that Rose was capable of performing such a feat. She had never been able to shut him out before, and she had tried very hard to do so. Whatever, or whomever it was that broke his trance, had to be more versed in psychic abilities than he was. All things considered, that was both shocking and alarming. There was something hauntingly sinister and evil about the situation that made Adrian's blood run cold. The darkness he had seen enveloping her was a great cause for concern. He suspected that nothing was as it seemed. She seemed to be happy, but that happiness did not reflect in her eyes or her aura for that matter. Her eyes were hollow and empty like her voice had been. Void of any emotion whatsoever. Robotic almost.
He ran his hands through his messy hair feeling helpless. Something was wrong. Very, very wrong and he felt compelled to do something about it. He needed to help her, to save her from whatever darkness that was trying to claim her. However, he could not do it alone. Immediately, his thoughts turned to Lissa. She would feel the same way about the situation as he did. As that thought struck him, he jumped out of bed realizing that he needed to tell her what he had seen and what he had just discovered while it was still fresh in his mind. Before any of the details were forgotten. Rose needed help and he was not about to ignore his instincts and just leave her there to rot. He could not let anything bad happen to her. Not if he had the power to stop it. Something had to be done.
Something had told him to check on her. A deep nagging feeling that had been weighing him down since the last time he had left her. Even after she had insisted that he leave her alone and openly expressed this opinion to him. Something just did not sit right with him. After seeing her condition when he had managed to get in touch with her, he was glad that he ignored her request and followed his gut. Seeing her again brought back the feelings that he felt for her. The ones he tried to keep buried deep inside himself to protect himself from them. He loved her and he knew that she did not return those feelings. At least, not yet. Not until she got over the cradle robbing Russian. She had promised him that she would give him a shot when she came back. Ifshe came back. No, he could not think like that. She had to come back. She would come back. He would make sure of it. She would come back and then he would get the chance to love her like he wanted to.
He quickly dressed and left his room. He hurried down the hallway and made his way outside without paying any attention to those around him. It was early in the evening, just before classes for the underage Moroi. If he hurried, he could catch Lissa before she headed to her first class. Hopeful, he picked up his pace not caring for the strange looks he received from the students as he rushed past them. He could care less about them, or their opinion of him. It was completely irrelevant. He was a man on a mission, and nothing was going to stand in his way. With his brisk pace, it took him less than five minutes for him to reach Lissa's dorm.
Adrian paid no attention to the female Guardian at the front desk. He rushed past her not bothering to stop when she called out to him. It was easy for him to navigate the halls. He had been here many times to talk to the Princess for their private practices with spirit magic. It was the safest and most private place at their disposal for their lessons next to the archives in the chapel. He followed the familiar path and stopped right outside her bedroom door. He wasted no time and began knocking on the door rapidly.
His persistent knocking caught her attention quickly as it only took seconds for the door to open and the surprised face of Vasilisa Dragomir to peek out. Adrian's slightly dishevelled appearance was rather unusual as was his presence this early in the evening. He usually slept late having gotten drunk before bed the night before.
"Adrian, what do you want?" She asked him as she opened the door wider permitting him to enter her room. As annoyed as she was by his abrupt interruption of her morning routine, she was curious as to what brought him here. Also, she did not want to attract attention, which standing in her doorway talking to Adrian Ivashkov would.
Adrian slipped inside of the room wordlessly, shutting the door firmly behind him and turning the lock. He did not want anyone to interrupt them or to hear their conversation. This was a completely private and confidential topic of discussion. He turned back to her noting the concerned gleam in her eyes and knew that she knew it had something to do with Rose.
Making his decision, Adrian blurted out the cause of his intrusion. "I contacted Rose," he began shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket. His fingers wrapped around his lighter and he fiddled with it to help keep him from spewing it all out at once. He needed to keep calm.
Lissa quirked an eyebrow crossing her thin arms over her chest. She was not impressed by this revelation. "And you had to run all the way over here to tell me because?" she asked slightly annoyed by him. If that was all he had come to tell her, she was going to give him a piece of her mind. She was tired and needed to leave soon if she was going to get to class on time.
He shook his head fervently. "No, you don't understand. Something is going on with her and I don't like the looks of it," he continued brushing past her crossing her room to gaze out the window. "You should have seen her Lis," he remarked wistfully shaking his head in disbelief. He still could not believe how far Rose had fallen and so quickly. In fact, he had barely recognized her. It scared him.
"What are you talking about Adrian, what is going on with Rose?" she asked him feeling a knot forming in her stomach at the tone of her friend's voice. He seemed deeply troubled, and that caused fear to blossom within her. The way he spoke, his disheveled appearance, and his seemingly erratic behaviour were worrisome. If he was this disjointed about something, it had to be serious.
Adrian turned to face her and explained everything he saw in his time inside Rose's dream. He told her every small detail that he could recall. The hollow and glazed look of her eyes, the cold and detached tone of her voice, the darkness of her aura, her disturbing behaviour, the deep bite marks, the aloofness she held when it came to discussing her injuries, and, most of all, how she had backed away from him. He had seen the shift in her expression as he had approached her. She had been afraid of him. Terrified. Even if it had only been for a moment, he had still seen the fear and he could not forget it. He ended his story there.
The only piece of information that Adrian purposefully withheld from Lissa was the knowledge that he had been pushed out of the dream by an unknown force. Until he was certain what had happened, that information would stay with him. She would only ask him questions that he did not have the answers to and that would not pacify her. He needed to investigate further. At this point in time, the matter did not concern her.
During his explanation, they had migrated to her bed both of them sitting down on the comfortable piece of furniture. Once he finished his tale, silence enveloped the two spirit users as Lissa took some time to digest the information he had provided. What he had described was all quite alarming, and she fully understood his immediate need to seek her out.
Lissa sighed looking down at her hands which were folded neatly in her lap. "I can see why you're worried," she began considering her words carefully before speaking. "But I think you might be overreacting just a little bit."
Adrian blinked a few times staring at her in disbelief. He snorted his expression darkening as anger began to seep into him. "You didn't see her, and you didn't see the darkness around her. How can you say something like that?" he snapped in his frustration. He hated that people would not take him seriously.
She let out a small sigh, "I know how you feel about her," Lissa admitted turning her gaze to the man beside her. "When love is involved, it clouds one's judgement and people make irrational decisions."
He snapped irritated by her lack of reaction. He had expected her to be upset or to display some kind of concern or emotion. Instead, she appeared so poised and in control and it was infuriating. "What are you trying to say?" he demanded watching her intently.
Lissa sighed again, deeper this time. "You're getting ahead of yourself. I know what you're thinking and it's not that I don't care. I'm worried about her too." was her guarded response as she read the tension in his body language.
It was easy for her to see that he was not at all pleased with her reaction to his concerns. She wanted to be outraged and she wanted to jump at the chance to help her troubled friend, but she had to be realistic. One of them had to keep a level head and she was the obvious candidate as it was clear that Adrian could not think clearly when it came to Rose. He let his feelings for her get in the way.
"But there is little that we can do and even if she were in great danger, we're in no position to help her."
"We have to try," he insisted jumping to his feet. Adrian was bound and determined to get her to see his point and side with him on this. He needed her too. What he could not understand was why she was against him in this matter at all. Rose was just as important, if not more so, to the Princess than she was to him. "We need to find her and bring her back before we lose her. She's wasting away and the longer we sit around here discussing it, she's getting worse."
Lissa shook her head, "We wouldn't know where to start. Russia is a big place. If she had given more you information to go on then I would take it into consideration, but as it stands, I can't see us running off to Russia being of any use."
A frustrated sigh pushed passed Adrian's lips. This conversation was not going how he envisioned. Lissa was being stubborn, and it was bordering on maddening. Suddenly, the pieces fell into place and the answer clicked in his head. He knew a way to find a good starting point. It was only a phone call away. 'How had I not thought of this before?' he asked himself recalling his conversation with the brunette Dhampir before she had left.
"Who do you think financed her little 'vacation'?" he asked her crossing his arms over his chest.
This revelation made her look at him with surprise evident on her face. She had not been expecting him to say something quite like that. "You did?" she asked letting the implication of his words seep in.
This new information answered a lot of the questions she had been asking herself since Rose's departure a month ago. Now it became obvious to her just how Rose had funded her endeavour. The answer was staring her right in the face. She should have realized this fact much sooner. Adrian nodded stiffly in confirmation. She probably thought he was a fool for doing it, but he could care less what she thought. He did it to protect her. It was the only way he knew how.
"She never told me where she was going or why, just that it was important," he explained looking down at the floor as he recalled how she had used his attraction and feelings towards her to her advantage. She had played him, and he had let her. It was not something that he was entirely proud of. "I never questioned her for an answer, and I trusted her. I set up an account for her, credit card and all. All I have to do is make a few calls and I can get the statements from that account," was the conclusion as he scratched the back of his neck.
"Why on earth would you do that?" Lissa snapped at the absurdity of it all growing angry with him. It was thanks to him and his funding that Rose was able to leave. Though there was no doubt in her mind that she would have left regardless, but he had made it so much easier for her to do so. She felt betrayed by his involvement and her eyes narrowed in an accusatory fashion. The fire in her jade coloured eyes reflected this emotion.
"Because she asked me to. Actually, it was more like she begged me to," he furthered his explanation fiddling with the lighter in his pocket once again. He recalled how broken Rose had looked when she had asked him for his help, but there was also determination in her expression. She was going with or without his help. He could not deny her, not when he had the means to help her. "She was hurting, I had to help her."
The Princess sighed heavily but made no attempt at a reply. She did not know what to say. Part of her wanted to scream at him and throw a fit, but that would not solve her problems or make her feel any better. Her life had not been the same since Rose left. She felt as though a part of her was missing and her chest ached with the loss of it. She glanced at her nightstand noticing the familiar piece of jewelry lying there. She reached out, picking up the chotki in her hand. Her fingers stroked it fondly remembering all that the piece of jewellery symbolized. Rose had given it back to her when she had left. Lissa wished that Rose had kept it. She should have insisted that she kept it. No matter where she was or what she was doing Rose was still her Guardian. The bracelet was like a constant reminder of her absence. She felt her eyes begin to sting signalling the tears welling up in them. She squeezed her eyes shut to try and force them in, but it did not work. They spilled passed her lids and down her cheeks in thin streams.
Lissa inhaled shakily trying to hold in the emotion that the chotki had awoken within her. She clutched it tightly in her fist holding it against her chest. "I miss her Adrian," she said her voice filled with sadness and longing.
He sat down beside her reaching out to comfort her. He placed his hand on her back and rubbed it soothingly. "Me too," he admitted sullenly. "It was never a dull moment with Rosemarie Hathaway around," he added ignoring the slight twinge in his chest at the mere mention of her name. He felt more towards her than he was willing to admit.
Lissa wiped the tears from her cheeks feeling slightly embarrassed by her emotional outburst. She sniffled forcing the emotion into the pit of her stomach. It felt wrong and the knot worsened, but she managed to compose herself. "You find out what you need to know. We'll decide what to do when you have more information," she conceded to his idea placing the chotki back down on the nightstand where it had been before.
Adrian nodded in understanding, glad to see that she was finally seeing his side of the argument. "I'll give my accountant a call in the morning when her office opens."
Rose woke from her deep and peaceful slumber slowly, feeling extremely well rested. The dream world and Adrian's visit vanished from her sleep-filled brain. It was not important. Adrian was not important. Not anymore. He was nothing. Her muscles were a little stiff and her lower half ached from the rigorous activity she had engaged in before lulling off for the night, or rather day, before.
Her ribs caused her some discomfort, but it was not anything for her to worry about. She noted that the bandages binding her ribs had been removed. With a happy sigh she rolled onto her stomach enjoying the silky, cool feeling of the sheets against her bare skin. She could move her casted arm much easier and the pain had ebbed down to a dull throb. Whatever substance Dimitri had given to her was working. Pulling her knees up underneath her, she stretched her back much like a cat would. Her spine cracked with the movements, and it felt good. She groaned at the sensation repeating the motion until she had worked all the kinks out. Shifting carefully, she inched her way off the large bed.
Her feet hit the floor, but she hesitated slightly before standing properly. Her legs were solid and stayed strong holding her weight with ease. They were no longer unsteady. Shifting her weight to her sprained ankle, she tested its strength. It complained lightly, but it was easy to ignore. It also felt much better than it had hours beforehand. Another improvement that could possibly be attributed to the mystery injection she had received. She really needed to ask Dimitri about that.
Rose padded over the dresser eager to scour the drawers and discover its contents. She opened the first drawer and found it to be completely empty. Discouraged, she slowly opened the second drawer. Inside, neatly folded, were some shirts. They varied in style and ranged in hues of red, purple, and black never approaching the light end of the spectrum. The one similarity between them all were the low necklines. None of them were modest or practical. There was also a second heavy knit sweater that was identical to the one she had put on the day before that was now lying somewhere on the floor. She picked a soft, dark purple tank top. It was simple but would cling to her like a second skin leaving nothing to the imagination. The next drawer held two short skirts, another pair of short shorts, one thin sheer pair of leggings, and three short and plain cotton dresses. All items of clothing in this drawer were black and tight fitting. It did not escape her notice that the leggings were her only pair of pants. She picked up one of the skirts and held it up to her body. It was very short coming down only to her mid thigh. Completely impractical. She wrinkled her nose at it but decided to wear the garment anyway. She placed it on top of the dresser along with the tank top.
In the final drawer were her undergarments. A couple of bras and numerous pairs of underwear. All were black, lacy, and very sexy. To the one side of the drawer there were two short and lacy nightgowns, if you could even call them that. They would barely cover her hips let alone you could basically see right through them. Just looking at them made her blush. She put them back in the drawer and returned her attention to the underwear on the other side. She could not help the excitement that raced through her as she inspected the sexy garments. Quickly she picked what she wanted and slipped them on without hesitation. They fit perfectly, which was mildly surprising.
Rose glanced up at the metal mirror over the dresser to look at herself and smiled at her reflection. She looked good despite the bruises marking her body. Next to her pile of clothing, there was a hairbrush. She picked it up and ran it through her tangled curls. Her dark locks were slightly greasy, and she made a mental note to shower later. A necessary evil. With a sigh, she dressed pulling the skirt down as far as it could go. Her original assessment proved accurate for the skirt was far too tight and far too short for her liking. Rose liked to dress sexy sometimes, but she preferred a more casual look for the majority of the time. All things considered she looked good. That is all that truly mattered she supposed. That she was desirable.
Pleased by her appearance she left the bedroom and stepped into the main area of her apartment. It was empty. Her expression fell and she frowned suddenly feeling intense disappointment. She had hoped that Dimitri would have stayed to keep her company. No such luck. Once again, she found herself alone and left to her own devices. When she was alone, she had too much time to think. All that did was leave her frustrated and confused when things got all mixed up in her head, which happened quite often these days. She sighed walking over towards the couch. Her only option was to wait for him to return.
As she drew closer to the opposite side of the room, she could hear a faint humming noise. The barely audible sound stopped her stride. She focused on the sound to try and pinpoint where it was coming from and decipher what it was. It did not take her long to figure out that it was coming from behind the wooden door furthest from her. She knew that she should leave it be, but her curiosity got the better of her. It always did, which often led her into trouble. As Rose drew closer to the door, she could hear the murmur of a voice in the next room. A deep timbre that she recognized all too well. Dimitri.
Happiness flooded through her as she realized his proximity. All that separated them was the wooden door. He was so close, but the door was an obstacle that she needed to get through in order to reach him. She nibbled on her bottom lip considering her options. There was a keypad lock, so it was not bound to open easily. Still, for reasons unknown to her, she tried the handle. There was a heavy clank sound and both shock and excitement flooded through her. The door had been left unlocked. The handle turned in her hand releasing the catch mechanism that kept it closed. His voice reached her ears, no longer hindered by the door. She could not help but smile closing her eyes and relishing in the rich sound of it. Though his tone was harsh, she found comfort in the sound of his voice.
Emboldened by the unlocked door, Rose pushed it open just wide enough for her to slip through. On the other side of the door was a luxurious office space. It was very similar to the one Galina had claimed. Perhaps it was even the same one. She could not remember. Everything from that night was fuzzy and came back to her in bits and pieces with large chunks of it whited out.
Rose looked around taking in the room she now found herself standing in. Lush red carpet lined the floor which was accentuated by the dark wood panelling on the walls. Bookshelves lined the far wall, and all of them were completely full. Along the wall to her other side was a fireplace. It was a gas range, and by the blue flames dancing along the log it was turned down very low. Just enough to take the chill out of the room. A white loveseat was situated in front of it with red pillows tucked into the corners. A matching couch sat adjacent to it. Between the loveseat and the sofa was a glass coffee table. Nothing rested upon its surface, and it appeared to be more for decoration than for use.
To her right was a large desk. It was cherry wood with accents of gold and elegant designs etched along the edges. It was one solid piece and expertly crafted. There were drawers in the desk, but she could not see them all that well for Dimitri obstructed her view. His presence completely distracted her from inspecting the room any further. Now that she had seen him, he was all she could focus on. He was seated at the desk with his back to her. A cellphone was held up to his ear and he spoke into it with authority. It was clear that he must be speaking to one of his subordinates.
He listened intently to the individual on the other end of the call. "Keep your eyes on Zmey," he ordered his voice firm and commanding.
There was nothing warm or welcoming in his tone which was substantially different from the way he spoke to her. The emptiness and coldness of it sent a chill up her spine. Though he had often slipped up and used that tone with her, it made her react the same every time. She did not think she could ever get used to it. When he spoke like that, he did not sound like the Dimitri she knew at all. It was like he was a stranger, but one that wore his face.
"I want a full report on where he is and what he's up to." There was a small pause as Dimitri listened to the other person speak. He growled in annoyance before his voice turned to ice. "Don't you dare question my motives Morgan, you're in no position to do so. You know the consequences if you disobey me." With that said, he ended the call and tossed the phone onto the desk cursing under his breath in Russian.
Rose bit her bottom lip again glued to her spot just in front of the door. In that moment she contemplated turning around and running back into her room. That way she could pretend as though she had never been there. Maybe she was not supposed to be in here at all. She must have made some sort of noise because Dimitri abruptly turned his chair around so that he was facing her. His expression was unreadable, and she felt extremely anxious under his gaze. However, the more she looked at him the less the redness of his eyes bothered her. In fact, she was beginning to forget what they looked like without that glowing red rim around the edges.
"Did I catch you at a bad time?" she asked shakily offering up a small, but awkward smile. She winced at the sound of her own voice. It sounded pathetic.
He stared at her for a long moment before shaking his head. "I am surrounded by idiots. Good help is so hard to find," he mused rising to his feet. "Don't you agree?" he asked as he gestured for her to come closer to him.
Rose shifted her feet nervously before following his silent command. He wanted her opinion after he had caught her eavesdropping on his conversation. She shrugged it off forcing it to the back of her mind. There was no need for her to feel threatened by him. He did not appear aggressive or angry that she had intruded in on his private space. He had proven himself to her earlier with the gentle way he had handled her. Also, her inconsistent memories aligned with this opinion. Still, she was cautious.
Rose nodded in response to his question. "It is," she agreed stopping her approach just a couple of steps from him. "Why are you so interested in Zmey?" she asked innocently curious. Despite how annoying the Moroi could be she had to admit that she had grown fond of the old man.
Dimitri's expression darkened slightly at the mention of the snake and his lips pulled into a thin line. "You weren't supposed to hear that," he remarked shooting her a disappointed glance. Her eyes dropped to the floor, slightly intimidated by the intensity of his eyes. Even though he was reluctant, he answered her question. "He may have some information that I am very interested in."
She nodded accepting this answer. It seemed reasonable. "I see."
Dimitri continued on noticing her thoughtful look. "I'm sure that he's not about to meet with me to discuss it. I have to be creative in procuring such things," was his further explanation. "You shouldn't worry yourself over my private business," he scolded her picking up a glass from the desk that she had not noticed before. Inside was a dark, thick liquid almost black in colour. She could smell the metallic scent of it from where she stood. It was blood. "I am more interested in what brings you here," he remarked bringing the glass to his lips and taking a sip. He grimaced at the taste and put the glass back down. It was obvious by his reaction that he was displeased by it.
Rose folded her arms behind her, resting her weight on her heels. "I just, didn't want to be alone," she confessed feeling slightly embarrassed by the admission. She had always been one to seek out that which she needed because she hated asking for things. Dimitri simply stared at her not offering a response. Anxiety began to fill her again at his silence. Her face paled as she realized that she may have just invaded his sanctuary. "Are you mad at me?" she blurted out suddenly taking a step back from him. She did not want to make him angry. He was frightening when he was angry.
Dimitri shook his head chuckling at her fearful expression. Her growing anxiety and insecurities were very amusing to him. She was so easy to rile up. "Don't be absurd," he stated stepping forward closing the distance between them. "It's alright for you to come in here, but only if I'm alone. I don't want the others to see you," he explained to her placing a hand on her shoulder. Rose jumped slightly at the jolt of electricity his touch sent through her body. It was strange how such a simple touch could affect her so profoundly. "They might not be so open to your presence, nor have as good of self control as I do." His voice had softened, and his hand began to stroke her shoulder affectionately. She was his possession. His plaything, not theirs. She belonged to him and him alone and he needed everyone, especially Rose, to understand that.
She nodded in acceptance knowing this to be true. The softness of his tone was reassuring and helped her to relax. His argument sounded reasonable enough, yet she found it strange that he trusted her enough to leave the door to this room unlocked. Especially since she could see there was a window in this room. It was painted over in black to block out the sunlight, but it was obvious that it was there. If she wanted to, she could potentially escape. No, that would be too easy. She was missing something. Besides, why would she want to escape, she had everything she wanted right here. Didn't she?
Rose felt his hand still and she leaned into his touch now all too aware of his eyes focused on her. However, it was not an uncomfortable stare. "You're staring," she commented as a small but shy smile tugged at her lips.
Dimitri caught her gaze and moved his hand up to brush her hair back off of her left shoulder. This exposed the bruises and bite marks he had created in that area. He smiled at his handiwork feeling great pride in the damage he had done. There was great significance to the wounds. They spoke volumes to his control and marked her as his. "Well, you are beautiful," he replied curling her long dark hair around his finger idly. "I'm glad to see that those clothes fit you," he added nodding towards her attire his eyes skimming over her again appreciatively. He had always admired her body.
She blushed slightly at the compliment. "They're a little bit tight, but I like them," she assured him watching his carefully guarded expression. Despite his best efforts, she could see the hunger and longing hidden within his eyes. He wanted her, and not just for her blood, although that took priority at the moment. He was devouring her with his gaze, and it made a tingling sensation creep up her spine. She tilted her head, holding eye contact with him as she asked, "When was the last time you fed?"
He held her gaze for a long moment contemplating whether or not he should answer her question. "I haven't had a chance to get out tonight," he finally admitted running his tongue over his lips. "I've had too much to do, hence this rancid shit the humans provided for me," he remarked with distaste referring to the abandoned glass currently taking up real estate on his desk. "They can never keep it fresh enough to be appetizing. It gets cold so quickly."
Rose smiled at his complaining and wrapped her arms around his waist. He was not normally one to complain. She felt the urge to be closer to him, so she pressed herself to him, resting her head against his chest. Dimitri accepted her embrace and returned it by wrapping one arm around her. She brushed her hair off of her right shoulder and exposed her neck, which was free of marks, to him.
"If you're hungry, you can feed from me," she suggested leaning back to look up at him feeling emboldened by his admission. The idea of him feeding from her made her excited. Truthfully, she craved the rush of endorphins the bite created, and she knew that he craved her blood. Both of them would benefit from the action. There was no need for him to starve so unnecessarily when she could easily solve his problem. "I know you want to, it's okay," she insisted.
He bit his lip considering the offer she presented to him. It was tempting. She was very tempting. She had always been, even before he had been awakened. The seductress that haunted his every waking thought tormenting him. He had recognized the little deadly demon inside her that needed to be tempered and harnessed. She stood out among the others unrecognized by them, unconscious herself of her fantastic power. Ever since he had met her, she had been a challenge for his self control. It was a constant battle that raged within him that he always seemed to lose in the end because she was just so damn irresistible. He had never wanted anyone as much as he wanted her, and now she was all his. He pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind. As much as he wanted to let his mind run wild with the possibilities, he had to exhibit some form of self control.
Dimitri shook his head and took a step back dropping his arm back to his side. "I can't survive on just you alone," he stated dismissing the idea.
Still, his eyes remained on the veins in her neck that he could see pulsing just beneath her skin. They stood out taunting him along with the steady rhythm of her heartbeat. He knew the sweet nectar that resided within, and his mouth watered at the mere thought of it. All the more reason to refuse her offer. He had not fed properly the night before either and he was afraid of losing control. That was one thing that he could not allow. He refused to let his selfishness destroy what he had worked so hard to achieve over the last few days. Warping her mind, taming her, making her pliable and willing, and lastly claiming her as his. It would all be a waste if he were to kill her by accident. All that work for nothing.
Rose would not take no for an answer. She knew that he wanted it just as badly as she did. He would just never admit it. He was too proud. She pouted although it was mostly for show. She knew how to get what she wanted and just like him, she was willing to exploit that knowledge. "I am aware of that," she remarked closing the distance he had placed between them and pressing her body against his once more. She stood on her tip-toes and began planting soft kisses along his jaw. "What's the problem Comrade? Don't I taste good?" she purred suggestively.
He was not surprised by her boldness, and he was not about to push her away. His hands came to rest on her hips. Leaning down he captured her lips in a hungry kiss. Rose had this uncanny ability to awaken the most primal parts of himself. It was one of the many things that he loved about her. Rose nibbled his bottom lip, scraping her teeth against the tender flesh nearly breaking the skin.
A growl rumbled low in his chest at the gesture. "You're playing a dangerous game here Roza," he warned her pressing his forehead against hers.
She smirked allowing him to lift her up into his arms. She gripped his hips with her knees holding herself there against him. His large hands slid down to cup her ass to support her further. "My life is nothing but danger, Comrade," was her coy response before kissing him again.
"This could get out of hand, very fast," he argued locking his gaze with hers. He could see his hunger looking back at him through her eyes. It pleased him thoroughly to see his influence infecting her. He had planted the seed and she was allowing it to flourish unhindered.
"I know, but it would help you," she insisted flicking her hair back once more where it had fallen during their intense embrace. It was a deliberate move to entice him further and entice him it did. The unmarred skin of her neck was hard to resist. Rose batted her long dark eyelashes at him licking her lips before putting them next to his ear. "I want you to," was the seductive whisper that floated out.
The sound was sultry and alluring. He smirked pleased by her statement. It was all far too easy. He had her wrapped around his finger and she had no idea just how far she had fallen. She was completely oblivious to anything outside the little bubble he had placed her in, and he intended to keep it that way. His one hand slid up to the back of her neck, cradling it yet holding it firmly in place. "How can I say no to that," he remarked his lips peeling back to expose his fangs.
Rose shuddered in anticipation as they neared the exposed veins in her neck. Without hesitation, Dimitri's fangs plunged into her flesh, tearing it open. Rose inhaled sharply at the pain, but it quickly passed. Her eyes fluttered closed at the immense sensation that rippled through her young body as the endorphins from his bite began to circulate through her system. A low moan escapes her as she felt his tongue sliding over her skin. Rose ran her fingers through his hair, cradling his head with her good arm. She could feel her strength fading as he drained away her life's blood, but she did not care. She moaned softly at the immense pleasure the bite caused her completely relaxing against him. The numbness was a sweet relief and she relished in it as it consumed her. He pulled away slightly shifting the position of his fangs before biting into her again. There was no sensation that she could even begin to compare to the euphoric and erotic feelings that stirred deep within her from his actions.
Dimitri groaned against her flesh. She tasted sweet and full of life. The thick liquid coated his throat soothing the fire that resided there. A constant reminder of his seemingly never-ending hunger. Though he had tasted Rose many times before, there was something different about it being completely consensual. Unlike the other times he had fed from her, it was she who had instigated it this time. This was further proof that his compulsion and manipulative tactics had worked exactly as he had intended. She would only satiate him temporarily and it would not be long before he would need to search for a more substantial meal. Rose was merely a snack. A decadent morsel worth savouring but it was hard to savour her when she tasted so damn good. Dimitri could feel her body going limp in his arms, but he did not want to stop. He knew that he had to, but that was easier said than done.
Two days had passed. Two long and agonizing days of anxiously waiting and trying to get in contact with Rose. Adrian was completely exhausted from his efforts. He had made absolutely no progress whatsoever. Contacting Rose again had proven futile. That fact had brought him to Lissa's room in the early evening yet again. She sat on her bed cross legged watching him pace the floor between her bed and the door no longer willing to sit around and do nothing. They needed to act and no amount of reasoning from the Princess would dissuade him this time. No matter how good and sensible her argument may be he was not going to take no for an answer. Something had to be done and fast.
Adrian ran his hands through his hair, ruffling it even more in his frustration. He had not had a decent night's sleep in days, and it was beginning to show. To keep his powers at full strength he had ceased his drinking, though he still smoked. In fact, he had been smoking more since he was not drinking or sleeping efficiently. It kept him on edge and his cigarettes were the only thing making this whole situation somewhat bearable. The incident with Rose weighed heavy on his mind. It was all he could think about.
"I've been trying to contact her," he ground out still pacing the floor across from Lissa's bed. "Every four hours, I try. It never works. I never get through," he announced sullenly clearly agitated by his consistent failures.
Lissa stared at him in confusion. He spoke clearly, and she understood his words, but she could not grasp the underlying meaning. She did not understand what he was getting at partially because he was not explaining it out right. However, perhaps it as because she was reading too much into it and the answer was staring her blankly in the face.
"What do you mean?" she asked calmly for clarification, easily maintaining her composure.
"Something is preventing me from reaching her," he insisted stopping his stride and catching the Princess' gaze. She could see the urgency and desperation in those emerald green orbs. "I don't know what it is. Sometimes I'll get static, but most of the time I just hit a wall. I can feel her there, I just can't make contact." He explained it in the best terms he could. He could think of no other way he could describe his problem. It was driving him completely mad. "We need to find her, and we need to find her now!"
Reluctantly,Lissa nodded in agreement. She knew that he was right. If he was getting this upset over the situation, she had to take him seriously. "But where would we even begin?" she asked him folding her hands in her lap to keep from fidgeting. Watching him pace in front of her was making her antsy as well.
"I checked her account and my financial records," Adrian began taking a seat next to her noticing her rising anxiety. He felt slightly guilty, but only slightly. "There's a paper trail leading through Russia from Saint Petersburg to Novosibirsk," he explained recalling the conversation he had earlier with his accountant, Margaret. The older woman had been fairly displeased by his frivolous use of funds and the reasoning behind it. She had not said as much, but he could hear it in her voice. All for a girl, but what a girl she was. Adrian was certain she thought he was a fool, and maybe he was, but he did not care. "The last hotel charge on record was made in Saint Petersburg almost three weeks ago. If we're going to look for her, I think that would be our best starting point. Maybe she made some friends who can point us in the right direction," he suggested watching Lissa's expression to accurately gauge her emotions. He was trying his best not to waste energy on reading auras.
Lissa looked at him thoughtfully but was still uncertain. "That was weeks ago," she replied incredulously. It would be senseless to begin searching in an area that her friend had not been in over three weeks. She was, most likely, long gone from that area by now. "Why not start in Novosibirsk?" she offered up voicing her own opinion. "If that was the last place she had been, wouldn't we start there?"
Adrian shook his head in disagreement. He had thought about that himself. "She wasn't staying in a hotel. Novosibirsk is the third largest city in Russia. We would have no idea where to begin or what to even search for," he explained easily pointing out the flaws in her plan. "It would be a useless endeavour. This way we would have a starting point, the hotel."
She sighed seeing his logic. He had a valid point, and they could not afford to rush in blindly without thinking these matters through from all angles and considering all possibilities. There was simply too much at stake for them to make a mistake. "You're right, but we can't do this alone Adrian."
He shot her an annoyed look. "Can we take the risk? I can leave anytime I want. You on the other hand cannot," he pointed out referring to both her high status among their society as well as the fact that she had yet to graduate. Therefore, the Guardians had an obligation to keep her, and all other students, on campus and within the safety of the wards. "Getting you out of the Academy will be easy enough, but if we try to get a larger group out, it may cause complications. We'll attract more attention. The smaller the group, the better."
Lissa wasn't having any of this. "If Rose is in danger, I'll do whatever I have to do. I owe it to her," was her passionate response. It was not often such a reaction was roused within the Princess. Prim and proper. That is how Adrian would describe her. "We need allies, especially since we'll be beyond the safety of the wards. We'll be defenceless. We can't do this alone," she insisted slamming her fist into her palm for emphasis.
He sighed deeply knowing that she had a very good point. "You're right Princess." He had to agree.
She rolled her eyes at his response. As if she needed him to confirm that. "Of course I am," was her smug retort. Running her fingers through her long platinum hair her thoughts turned to their potential allies. She could come up with a few names but was not entirely sure who would not tell Headmaster Lazar or Guardian Petrov what they were up to. They could not afford to have any of their plans foiled by a betrayal of one of their own. She turned to the older royal. "Who can we trust?" she asked him honestly.
Adrian scoffed crossing his arms over his chest. 'What kind of question is that'. He thought to himself."Besides ourselves? No one," was his blunt retort.
If it were not for the smirk on his face, Lissa may have believed he was serious. "Not funny," she fired back shooting him a glare. His attempt at a joke in order to lighten the mood was not appreciated. Now was not a time for fun and games. Lives were at risk. Rose's life was at risk.
A chuckle escaped him as he nodded apologetically taking note of the slight flare of anger in her eyes. "I know. I suggest we leave your new dear friend Avery out of the loop," he suggested suddenly becoming serious once more. He did not like Avery Lazar, at least, when she was not around. It was odd that he found himself enjoying her company, until she was gone. He rid himself of these thoughts and returned his focus to the subject at hand. "I think she'd be more willing to sell us out to daddy than to help us. There's something fishy about her."
Lissa listened to his words carefully and could not help but feel as though he were right about the brown haired, grey eyed royal. "I agree. Involving Avery would be problematic," she reasoned with a nod of her head. As much as she would have enjoyed Avery's company, she did not think she would take the trip seriously. She would be more of a distraction than a help. "Two royal Moroi missing is bad enough," she added.
Adrian shook his head dismissing the last part of her statement. "Make it three," he replied only earning another confused look from his 'cousin'.
He sighed again knowing that his idea might not go over so well with the Princess, especially with the state of things, but it was truly the best he could come up with. Their group of people to choose, who were willing to help, was a small one and this individual was their strongest and most useful ally.
"Now I know that you two are not exactly on speaking terms, but I think we could use Christian's help on this. We should start with him."
She blinked a couple times, staring at him. Her expression was unreadable. Then, after taking a moment to process his words, she began to shake her head. "No. Not Christian."
"Why not?" Adrian questioned but held his hand up when she began to respond. He already knew the answer and did not care to hear it. It had been stupid of him to ask her that in the first place. "Personal reasons aside, you heard what he and Rose did during the attack. He helped her kill Strigoi. You know that he would be an asset," he explained justifying his reasoning with well thought out and valid points. Christian was their best option, and Adrian was not about to let their petty lover's quarrel get in the way of their mission. "He's a fire user. Besides, I'm sure that he would want to help Rose. They've, sort of, become friends and he knows how much she means to you."
Lissa sighed in defeat. Resistance was futile. As much as she hated to admit it, Adrian was right. Christian was their best bet. He was not one to stick to the rules and would not hesitate to break them for a good enough reason. "Fine," she conceded pulling her lips into a thin line. "I'll talk to Christian. I don't know if he'll listen, but I can try."
She did not like the idea of having to reach out to Christian so soon after everything that had happened. He had hurt her, and she was not ready to attempt to speak with him just yet. However, she decided that she could suck it up for Rose. She just had to keep that in mind. This was all for Rose. She could push her own bruised ego aside for the well-being of her best friend. Her Guardian.
Adrian shot her a knowing look. "He'll listen. He loves you."
Lissa shook her head at this, "It doesn't seem that way. I hope you're right about that Adrian," was her sighed reply as she rose from the bed. She straightened her skirt and tucked her hair behind her ears before heading towards the door.
Adrian smirked at her response, "Oh I know I'm right," he assured her, dismissing her pessimism. He shook his head at the absurdity of it all. She still held strong feelings towards Christian Ozera. Feelings which he undoubtedly returned, and Adrian did not need to read their auras to see that. "Trust me Princess. He'll come with us."