AN: Here is the revamp of chapter 6. I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I only own any original characters. Richelle Mead owns Vampire Academy.
BLACK INK
ACT I: In the Arms of the Devil
Chapter 7: In the Land of Gods and Monsters
"In the land of Gods and Monsters
I was an angel, living the garden of evil.
Screwed up, scared, doing anything that I needed,
Shining like a fiery beacon."
"You got that medicine I need
Dope, shoot it up, straight to the heart, please
I don't really wanna know what's good for me
God's dead, I said, "Baby, that's alright with me""
""Fuck yeah, give it to me, this is Heaven, what I truly want"
It's innocence lost, innocence lost."
~ Lana del Rey – Gods and Monsters
"They told me that you were both tall and handsome," Juliana mused her eyes slowly checking Dimitri out. They traveled from head to toe taking in his form with intrigue. An amused and predatory smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. "I am glad my sources did not deceive me. You truly are a sight for sore eyes."
Dimitri did not seem amused by her attempt at flattery. "Who are you and what do you want?" he snapped irritated by her sudden invasion of his compound.
"You've certainly made a name for yourself young one," she praised him shuffling forward a couple of steps. Her cold eyes gleaming as they scanned over him again as if assessing him. Sizing him up. Those intense orbs searching for something unknown to anyone but her.
He did not appreciate her scrutinizing stare. It unnerved him. This was mostly due to the nostalgic feeling her appearance stirred within him. Much like Rose had noticed, she looked eerily familiar, and it did not sit right with him. "You are not welcome here. Leave," he ordered her pointing towards the door which led out into the hall. He wanted nothing to do with this woman and wanted nothing more than for her to leave and crawl back under the rock she had crawled out from under.
The dark chuckle that rose from her throat at his command echoed throughout the room. In a second, she crossed the room stopping directly in front of the tall Russian. It all happened in the blink of an eye. She lashed out, grabbing Dimitri by the throat. She moved so quickly that he did not have time to react. With unnatural ease, she lifted him up and slammed him into the wall much like Dimitri had done to Adam days before. Such a feat seemed impossible due to her smaller stature and thin frame, but with her supernatural strength she performed the action with no difficulties. A vicious snarl tore from her throat and her face contorted into one of rage and fury. The beauty she had radiated before vanished leaving an ugly monster in its wake. That horrifying expression made Rose's heart stop in fear. Her stomach dropped and suddenly she felt ill.
"Who are you to order me around," she roared her fingers tightening around the man's throat as proof of her superior strength. "I am much older than you," she snapped before stepping away and tossing him to the floor like a rag doll. She sneered at him using the aggressive display as a tactic to assert her dominance over him much like a wild animal would. "I will not tolerate your disrespect," she added coldly crossing her arms over her chest once more.
Her expression relaxed and a sudden calm settled over her. The quick emotional shift proved that she was not here to play games. She meant business and would not entertain any egotism on his part. She was calling the shots, and it was clear that she would not settle for less.
Dimitri paused looking at her from his spot on the floor in slight surprise. He had not expected the outburst nor the aggression. However, his surprise did not last long, and he gracefully rose to his feet. Feeling slightly humiliated by her behaviour, he glared at the older Strigoi with hatred and malice. He now understood why his underlings hated him when he asserted himself over them.
"Why are you here?" he inquired squaring his shoulders and doing his best to look intimidating.
Despite the seven inches of height Dimitri had on her Juliana was completely unaffected by his display. Such gestures were useless on her. She looked down inspecting her perfectly manicured nails completely unfazed by his brashness. "I heard you eliminated Galina and have taken over the area," she mused a hint of amusement sneaking into her voice. There was a gleefulness shining in her crimson laced orbs. She seemed almost pleased at the knowledge of the other woman's demise. "I wanted to meet her successor," she informed him with a subtle shrug of only one of her thin shoulders. "I've heard he's a tyrannical brute.
"Well, here I am," he stated finding her presence to be nothing but an irritation. She did a good job at appearing both charming and infuriating. Her attempts to intimidate him failed and nothing would satisfy him more than to throw her out into the merciless rays of the sun and see her burn. He scowled at her. "Now if we are quite done here, I want you to leave," he remarked gesturing towards the door again, his scowl remaining on his face.
This made Juliana let out a loud laugh, although, it sounded hollow. Empty. "You don't seem so tough to me," she taunted. His attempts to brush her off were futile. She was a woman of purpose and would not leave until she got what she wanted, and she was no where near done yet. "Galina seemed rather fond of you. Too bad you had to destroy her, she was…handy," she remarked pausing as she chose the correct word. She turned her attention back to Dimitri. "Did you really think that she was the one in charge here?" she asked him gliding across the floor to the plush loveseat located next to the fireplace.
Juliana sat down, crossing her legs elegantly. The split in her dress parted at her thigh revealing the creamy flesh beneath it. Dimitri watched her with renewed intrigue but did not respond to her question. He was certain, given time, that she would answer it herself. This assumption proved correct moments later.
"Galina answered to me. I own this estate," she revealed lifting her palms up and gesturing to the room around them.
Dimitri snorted unimpressed by this revelation. It was obvious to him that Juliana was trying to get under his skin, and he wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of achieving her goal. "That's funny," he remarked following her. He chose to take a seat on the sofa adjacent to the loveseat she sat upon. "She never mentioned you," was his callous retort.
His sharp words did not go unnoticed, but again, she chose not to react. Juliana was a patient woman and simply scoffed sitting up straighter and pulling her shoulders back. It was an elegant pose which was only accentuated by how neatly she folded her hands in her lap. Rose could not help but notice the similarities in her posture to that of Lissa. It was how straight and rigid her spine was and the proud set of her thin shoulders. She looked regal and elegant. Juliana screamed royalty, and it was very possible that she had been once.
"Of course, she wouldn't," the woman spat back tossing her long chestnut locks over her shoulder. "Galina and I rarely saw eye to eye. Most Strigoi don't, as I'm sure you've noticed. We have a hard time working together," she carried on casually resting her gaze on Dimitri. "Our race is very self destructive. It is really such a waste."
She was dancing around the subject revealing as little as possible but giving him enough to hold his interest. Dimitri knew this tactic. She only gave him enough to pacify him, retaining all the information for herself and leaving him in the dark. This was a game he had no interest in playing. "What are you implying?" he asked impatiently hoping it would spur her on to her true intentions. He highly doubted that she had sought him out simply just to meet him. That was a ruse. She had a purpose, and he needed to know what it was.
Her lips curled into a smirk detecting his impatience. "In this world we live in, you need to establish yourself quickly," she began running a hand down the soft waves of her hair. She pulled the locks forward, over her shoulder, twirling the ends around her fingers as she spoke. "You have done well for yourself, and I am rather impressed by your tenacity," she continued on, relaxing her pose and leaning back against the loveseat. She shifted in her seat as if to make herself more comfortable before allowing her hands to rest flat on either side of her. "You remind me a lot of myself when I awakened."
Dimitri growled in frustration. Her responses were all evasive. This conversation was going no where fast, and he was not going to entertain her games any longer. There were many things that he would rather be doing than playing mind games with this infuriating woman. Most of them involving a certain dark haired Dhampir tucked away in the next room. "You're wasting my time," he snapped at her. "Get to the point. I have other matters to attend to."
The smirk on her face faltered before her expression turned to stone. His quick dismissal of her displeased her greatly. She had such high hopes for him, and he was disappointing her immensely. Against her better judgement, she allowed his insolence to slide once more. He did not know better, and she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, especially considering his accomplishments. Also, he came highly recommended. He would learn his place with her soon enough.
"Oh, the Dhampir girl?" she remarked brazenly.
Instantly, Juliana glanced past Dimitri towards the door leading into Rose's apartment. Those hollow, red laced eyes locked with the honey brown hue of the spying Rose. Surprised by this Rose gasped scooting back away from the gap between the door and its frame. She had not been as discreet as she had thought. The woman had known all along that Rose was listening and had shifted her attention for the sole purpose of letting the Dhampir know that her presence was known. Rose swallowed hard before creeping slowly towards the door again. She ascertained that she could remain hidden behind the door, leaving no room for her to be seen. Slowly and carefully, she settled on the floor, straightening out her legs out in front of her with her back against the door. Rose was acutely aware of the pounding of her heart in her chest from the adrenaline rush of being discovered. She took a deep breath to steady herself before tuning back in, easily picking up the conversation.
The expression on Dimitri's face fell as he followed Juliana's line of sight. The gleeful sheen in her eyes indicated that she was pleased by something. It was then that he noticed the small gap of the open door. He silently cursed Rose's inquisitive nature. She was constantly pushing boundaries unaware of the dangers she was exposing herself to in this world. During this discovery, their conversation paused. Juliana watched his expression intently, studying him. After a moment, her eyes shifted back to his and that irritating amused smirk returned to her face.
"I've heard about your little pet. Rosemarie Hathaway, isn't it." Juliana stated rather than asked. She was fully aware of the Dhampir girl's identity, she simply wanted confirmation. When he nodded in response, she continued. "Not the wisest choice in personal feedbags." Her remark was followed by a small chuckle at her unwarranted input.
"What do you mean by that?" Dimitri spat trying his best to disguise his reactions to her goading. He did not like the look in Juliana's eyes when she spoke of his Rose.
She was speaking of matters that she had no business becoming involved in and it was making him angry. Juliana was a threat and the monster that he was rose to the surface to square off with the other immortal. He felt this overwhelming need to protect Rose from this woman. His crimson eyes glared at the other Strigoi as she remained seated across from him, completely unmoved by his barely contained aggression. He hid it well, but she could see right through his mask. He was an open book. He could not hide from her. No one could.
"Calm down big guy, no need to get all bent out of shape over little old me," she chastised him lightly with a wink. While her attempts at provoking him were obvious, he bought into them regardless unable to resist. She quirked an eyebrow crossing her arms under her chest. "You do realize who her parents are," she prodded shifting her legs so that they crossed in the opposite direction than they had before. It was clear from her tone that she expected an answer.
Dimitri nodded without hesitation. "Her mother is Janine Hathaway, a highly respected Guardian," he replied flatly finally gaining control of his rising temper to slide his mask back into place.
Juliana was quickly discovering which buttons to hit to get a rise out of him and he did not like that. It seemed far too easy for her, as if she knew him somehow. Like she could see right through him. He needed to tread carefully and remain as stoic as possible when dealing with this woman. He did not want to give her any more ammunition to use against him.
Juliana nodded merely acknowledging his response. "That is common knowledge," she dismissed his statement quickly moving on to the more pressing topic which she desired to discuss. The answer to many of the questions he had been trying to unravel the last few weeks. "Do you know her father?" she asked covertly acting completely disinterested in their conversation, although, that could not be further from the truth.
He paused for a moment considering her question. It was one he did not know the answer to. She was up to something, and he did not know what she was getting at. "Rose doesn't even know her father." His voice had lowered slightly when he spoke.
His revelation did not seem to surprise the female Strigoi. In fact, she seemed to expect it. The mischievous glint returned to her eyes and the matching grin stretched across her crimson painted lips. She leaned forward in her seat, straightening her posture once more.
"I've heard you've been collecting intelligence on one Ibrahim Mazur," she began coyly, pretending to brush dust off of the sofa cushion. "You're wondering why he's so interested in your little pet," she continued watching his expression shift into one of annoyance. Juliana rolled her eyes. "Don't look at me like that. You're not the only one with ears all around," she snapped interrupting her own train of thought by scolding him. As soon as she had called him out, he glared in her direction but kept his mouth shut. She did not respond to it, but merely continued feeling as though her point had been heard. "The reason for his concern is that Rosemarie is his daughter."
A faint surprised gasp could be heard from Rose's place behind the door. It then became obvious that the young Dhampir had continued to eavesdrop despite the fact that her presence had been discovered by their unwanted guest. By the slight glance Juliana shot towards the door, he knew that she had heard the sound too. Her smile widened at this, and Dimitri's mask returned once more as his resolve hardened. He wanted this woman out of his compound.
"You're lying," was Dimitri's cold response to her implication.
Juliana tsked and shook her head a hint of disappointment appearing on her elegant features. "Now what do I have to gain by lying to you?" she questioned rolling her eyes and crossing her arms underneath her breasts again. When he failed to respond, she continued spurred on by her previous question. "Janine called Ibrahim to watch out for their wayward daughter when she left the Academy a few weeks ago. She knew that he would be able to track her movements better than she could. As usual her instincts were correct and he's been watching over her since she arrived here in Russia," she informed him glancing towards the cellphone resting on his desk, where he had left it when he gone to visit with Rose. "You're free to check that information if you like. The sun should be coming up and I have all day to wait," she remarked gesturing towards the small electronic device.
He glanced back to see what she was gesturing towards. Only seeing his phone, he shook his head silently cursing his rotten luck. Had she shown up earlier, the sun would not have left her stranded here until nightfall. Despite the unfriendly emotions swirling within him, he managed to keep his face blank lest it betray his thoughts. She did not need to be fully aware of the growing disdain that he felt towards her.
"I don't think that will be necessary. I'm sure you're right."
"Indeed." She appreciated his faith in her, but she was no fool. Over the years, she had grown to be an expert at reading body language. His true feelings regarding her were not a mystery as he had hoped. He was no enigma, at least, not to her. Still, this did not sway her enough to change her intentions. In fact, it had the complete opposite effect. This only intrigued her more which made her more certain of her plans. She smirked again slowly rising to her feet, "Don't worry though, he has no idea that she's here," she assured him growing tired of sitting.
His eyes narrowed and his eyebrows furrowed at her statement. Zmey had been his main concern over the last few weeks since he had noticed the Moroi mobster's strange interest in his captive. Now, with the knowledge that Rose was his daughter, that made much more sense. Dimitri could not afford to have Zmey picking up on his trail and discovering his compound. "How do you know that for sure?" he questioned with uncertainty.
"I have my sources," was her simple and dismissive reply. "You'd be surprised what a woman of my calibre can achieve," she continued, an unneeded addition to her previous statement.
As she spoke, she slowly approached him swaying her hips tantalizingly from side to side as she sashayed her way towards him. His posture straightened and he eyed her with skepticism unsure of her true intentions. He didn't have to wait long before she began to speak again in her usual, slow, and sultry drawl.
"You know, if I had wanted to, I could have killed you the second you walked through the door, but I didn't." She stopped mere inches in front of him. Her hands rested at her sides, and she cast her eyes downwards, meeting his that looked up at her from his seated position. "Do you know why?" She poised the question with a straight face.
He let out a small, annoyed sigh. Her tactics were growing both predictable and frustrating. He did not like her game of beating around the bush. Though her skills were masterful, and a lesser man would have fallen for her ways, but he was not biting. "No, but I'm sure that you're about to tell me," he retorted gesturing to the empty seat beside him.
She dipped her head in acknowledgement. "People fear you, while they idolize me," she said shifting to the side and slowly sitting into the empty spot after having been politely prompted. "We would make a good team."
He scoffed. "An alliance?" he questioned earning a single nod from the dark haired woman. He chuckled darkly for he could see where this was going. "What's in it for you?"
Juliana shrugged. "I have no desire for possessions," she replied shifting closer to him, sitting so close that her leg touched his. He scooted over uncomfortable with her close quarters. However, Juliana did not seem bothered by his reaction. "What I desire is of no importance to you at the moment. At least, until you prove yourself worthy," she further explained sliding her fingers through her long, flowing hair.
"And how do you expect me to do that?" he asked growing more and more aggravated by this woman by the minute. Her refusal to be direct was the most infuriating thing. He just wanted her to get to the damn point already.
"I deal in knowledge. It is more powerful and useful than any inanimate object. What you need to do is provide me with the information that I seek, nothing more and nothing less," she replied vaguely as if it were the simplest explanation in the world.
"What information could I possibly possess that has captured your interest?" he asked finding her request rather unusual.
The world of the Strigoi was all about getting ahead and squashing your competition. Taking what you wanted when you want it. It was a dog eat dog world. Kill or be killed. That was the way of things. All of the other Strigoi Dimitri had met thus far had believed the same. However, Juliana seemed almost completely uninterested in any of that. Her earlier statement about their kind was proof of that. Although, it appeared that she was not above the barbarism. Perhaps it was her ego, or maybe there was more to the situation than what he could see from his meager knowledge of this woman. Either way, he was intrigued enough to hear her proposal.
It was strange how Juliana seemed so eerily calm when Dimitri had been so abrupt and harsh with her. In light of her initial outbursts, her patience was rather unexpected. It only solidified the fact that she was different than most other Strigoi. Although he could sense that she was not very old, but much older than himself, there was an air of strength and regality about her that he could not help but admire. Juliana did not simply catch your attention, she commanded it, and you listened.
"There are some facts that I would like to know," she mused. "Insight that only you and your precious little pet could provide for me," she related, shifting closer so that she was pressed up against his side.
Dimitri tensed, uncomfortable with her body's proximity to his own. He grew wearier and more irritable the longer he remained in her presence. However, he resisted the urge to push her away. It was not worth it to risk her wrath should she be offended by the action. He held no fear of his own for the woman, he simply did not want any problems. Especially when Rose was concerned. So far, Juliana had tolerated his belligerence, but it would be unwise for him to push his luck much farther.
"I'm listening," was his gruff response.
"I want to know about my family," she announced without missing a beat. His lack of immediate response and flat expression must have been expected, for she continued after only a small pause. "Now I'm sure that there are many other people that I could ask, but you, my dear, are a direct link," she clarified scraping her bottom lip against her top teeth as she leaned closer to him. Her pointer finger stretched out and she gently pressed her well maintained digit against his forehead. Slowly, she slid it down between his eyes and down his nose as she spoke again. This time her voice was low and suggestive as she spoke. "You and your pretty, little pet, albeit for different reasons, and regarding very different people." She tapped her finger against the tip of his nose before letting her hand drop back to her side.
It was that simple touch, the slightest and most insignificant thing, that collapsed the shroud of mystery surrounding the woman before him. It was a mannerism he had played victim to before many times, from an old friend from his school days. Beyond that even, to the days when he guarded Ivan. His former guarding partner. Someone he had not seen or spoken to in almost two years. Someone he refused to even think about. Dimitri's eyes widened as the picture finally came to life. She indeed looked familiar and not for the reasons he had anticipated. In his mind's eye, her face morphed into that of a different woman. Juliana was taller, thinner in the face, and had lighter hair, but the resemblance was there. Now that he could see it, he knew exactly who she was.
"You are Juliana Tarus," he stated trying to hide his astonishment. Although he knew of her fate, as many others did, he had never expected to come face to face with this woman. In fact, she had been pushed to the very back of his mind along with the woman who shared her features. Silently, he scolded himself for not putting the pieces together faster.
Juliana smirked at his sudden realization. It had taken him long enough. She eased back, shifting away from him, and putting some much needed space between them. "The one and only," she confirmed gesturing towards herself.
Out of all the possibilities, he had not been expecting this and he found himself rendered speechless. It took him a few seconds of floundering before he found the means in which to speak again. "You turned yourself Strigoi after your parents disowned you," he began recalling the story that had been relayed to him many years before when he had been a teenager.
It was a story that he remembered well, told from a reliable source, which meant it was the closest to the truth as anyone could get without speaking to those directly involved. Those who were, would never speak of such matters. Juliana tilted her head listening to his words curious of his knowledge of her. While there were many who knew her story, she was far from infamous, but the fact that Dimitri knew stroked her ego. She had not been completely forgotten in the Moroi world afterall.
With her silent encouragement, he continued. "You had a mental breakdown, and you were enroute to Tarasov for psychiatric treatment when you killed the Guardians escorting you."
It was very rare for Moroi to turn Strigoi by choice, let alone ones of royal blood. However, it was not unheard of. Lucas and Moira Ozera had chosen to turn Strigoi as well and they had been royals as well. Perhaps that is why she held so much power in their world and why the others seemed to submit to her. Maybe even the Strigoi respected the royal blood lines.
One single nod confirmed that his version of the tale was indeed correct. "You've heard the story I see. Not surprising considering," she remarked glancing down into her lap and brushing the pretend dust off of her skirt as she had the cushion of the loveseat earlier. "I don't endure well. At least, I didn't when I was Moroi." She sighed and shook her head at the unpleasant memories this conversation was drawing up. "I was brought up to be the perfect wife for a royal husband. That was what was expected of me. That was all I was good for. My looks. My genes. My royal blood." She spat the last part out in disgust.
Her expression fell and darkened as all the anger and hatred for her former life rose to the surface. She clenched her fists in her lap, pursing her lips. "I became Strigoi to escape that life, to escape that fate," she explained needlessly as she rose to her feet. "They thought I was crazy. A danger to myself as well as others. They wanted to lock me away." She was ranting, and the way she spoke was chilling. A cold chuckle escaped her as she shook her head at the nonsensical thought. "Do you have any idea what that could do to a child especially one as fragile as I was?" she asked.
It was a rhetorical question, so she quickly moved on. She shook her head dismissing these memories and the discussion entirely. They were not important. She re-routed their conversation away from herself and back onto the topic at hand. "No matter. I am not that delicate little girl anymore. That is all in the past now. She is dead. What is important is the future," she remarked, the crazed grin returning to her face along with the mischievous shine in her eyes.
Dmitri was taken back by her rapidly shifting mood. He ignored it and focused on the last part of her statement. "The future?" he asked ensuring that he had heard her correctly.
She nodded confirming this. "Yes. My future, our future. The future of the Strigoi," was her grandiose response.
He paused to consider her words. The way she spoke had piqued his interest and now he wanted to know more. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You have my attention."
Juliana smirked knowing that she held all the cards. He was intrigued, but in order to learn any details, he would have to prove his worth. For now, she had him eating out of the palm of her hand. She had him right where she wanted. It was all just too easy.
"All will be revealed in due time," she assured him cryptically. She had never intended to reveal her plan, not yet, and she knew that she did not have to in order to win his support. "I can't tell my master plan to just anyone you know. You need to gain my trust first. Show me that you are worthy to be my confidante," she explained before he could comment. He would bend to her will and do her bidding just like all the others. They all did, given time and incentive. "I can give you all the power you could ever ask for, if you give me the information I require. Do we have a deal?"
Dimitri did not like the taciturn way in which Juliana seemed to operate. Her clandestine affairs made him reluctant to align himself with her. He preferred to have all the facts up front so that he could make an informed decision. He had no idea what he could possibly be getting into, and yet, her offer seemed promising. Appealing. Still, as before, he needed to proceed with caution.
"You have piqued my interest," he admitted considering her words carefully before speaking. "I think we may be able to come to an agreement."
She nodded pleased by his cooperation. It made her job much easier. "Good." She slipped her fingers into the top of her dress and produced a card from within the garment. He suspected she had hidden it inside of her bra, which he had seen women do many times before. "I'll be in touch," she remarked handing the small piece of card stock to him.
He took it, glancing at the elegant script. It bore only her name and a phone number in a blood red hue. Simple, yet effective, albeit a little predictable. Juliana smiled and with a wave of her hand she turned toward the door. With no further discussion, she silently glided from the room just as swiftly as she had arrived. The only evidence of her presence was the lingering floral scent of her perfume and the small card now clutched between his fingers.
Hearing the door in the next room both open and close, Rose bolted from her spot behind the door. Immediately she rose to her feet, scrambling and almost tripping over herself in her haste. She had grown too comfortable in her spot on the floor, which made her leg muscles stiff. Quietly she shut the door and rushed over to the couch. She did not want Dimitri to know that she had been listening in on his private business. She was certain that it would be something he would not like, and she had hoped Juliana had not given her presence away. She grabbed a random book from the shelf and flopped down on the couch opening it at random, pretending to read.
Only a couple of moments passed by before Dimitri re-entered her small apartment through the wooden door. He glanced around the room, noticing her laying haphazardly on the couch with a book in her hands. As he approached her, he noted that the book was actually upside down. This caused him to roll his eyes. It was obvious that she had not been reading and he found it annoying that she thought she could deceive him. She was fooling no one.
"You don't have to pretend," he informed her taking the book from her hand and carelessly tossing the hard-covered volume aside. It landed with a loud thud on the floor. Rose winced at the sound. "I know you were listening," he continued as she pulled herself up into a more comfortable position. "So does Juliana," he added when she failed to present the reaction that he desired from her.
Rose visibly paled at this. She had deluded herself into thinking that she had scooted away from the door fast enough that she had remained undetected. That had been a lie, and she knew it. She had made direct eye contact with the dark haired vixen before she had foolishly hidden herself from view. Silently, she cursed herself for her prying as well as her naive stupidity.
She bolted up from her seat instantly launching into an apology for her snooping. "I'm sorry, I was just..."
"Curious?" he finished for her, quirking an eyebrow. He was unamused.
Rose felt her cheeks get hot signalling the blush that was most likely forming on them. Her embarrassment regarding her behaviour was evident. She had displeased him. "Yeah," she admitted sheepishly shifting her feet nervously. He had this uncanny ability to make her feel like a child with just one condescending glance.
He let out a small sigh, disappointed but appreciative of her honesty. "Your eager listening could get you in a lot of trouble," he mildly scolded her crossing his arms over his chest. Rose fell silent, turning her gaze downwards, a frown forming on her face. Dimitri decided to cut her some slack and relaxed his stance slightly. "It doesn't matter, you were already on her radar," he concluded letting his arms fall back down to his sides.
"Do you think what she said is true?" Rose spoke up recalling what had been said earlier. However, without clarification, he could not offer her a response. Instead, he stared at her expectantly waiting for her to elaborate on her question. Realizing her error, she backtracked. "That Zmey is my father," she clarified quietly.
His response was carefully constructed as he pondered the plausibility of the concept. "I would be lying if I said that it didn't make sense," he remarked after a moment of contemplation. All the pieces fit into place, and it was easy to see how, in theory, it all went together. "It would explain a lot of things."
She nodded accepting his reasoning. All along she had thought there were ulterior motives to Zmey's meddling. She felt slightly comforted knowing that he had been watching out for her for genuine reasons, even if her estranged mother was responsible for it. It seemed that both individuals held some semblance of love for her if they were bothering to keep tabs on her. However, it was still annoying. She was eighteen, an adult, and therefore did not need to be babysat. Rose cast these thoughts a side and refocused on the main issue at hand.
"What are we going to do? About Juliana," she added after realizing that her question lacked a topic yet again. It was an increasingly growing habit of hers. A bad one. Perhaps it was due to all the time she spent alone with only her own company to keep. One did not need to clarify things to oneself. There was only understanding.
"You are not going to do anything," he stated her his tone firm and resolute. "Not yet," he added rounding the couch to come and stand closer to her. "I'm going to get to know her. Play along in her little game, see what she's all about," he explained finding that playing into her hands may just be their best option.
It was most certainly the smartest in their situation. He could not explain it, but he did not want to get on that woman's bad side. He had no doubt that she would kill either one of them should they get in her way. The way she had grabbed him earlier did not sit right with him. No other Strigoi had been ballsy enough to try such a display, not even Nathan, and she had done so swiftly, effortlessly, and without hesitation. Despite the fact that he towered over her, she had not been intimidated in the slightest. In fact, she seemed more interested in toying with him than anything. That was unsettling to him.
Rose's eyes narrowed and her jaw clenched tightly. "Then what?" she demanded her mood shifting suddenly without warning. That had been happening with increasing frequency lately and it was getting to be rather irritating. Her mood swings had never been this bad. "Get me to stake her, like Galina," she suggested. There was a bitter tone to her voice that Dimitri was quick to take note of.
A scowl formed on his face at her words. He did not appreciate the insinuation behind them. "You know that was for your benefit, as well as mine. Right now, it is in our best interest to placate Juliana and cater to her whims. At least until we know more about her and what she is really up to. We need her alive for now," he concluded leaving no room for further discussion on the matter. He decided how to handle the situation, and nothing Rose or anyone else could say would dissuade him. He had made up his mind.
Rose frowned feeling her anger and hurt fizzle away as quickly as it had come upon her, "I don't trust her," she stated firmly finding no point in saying anything other than her opinion.
"Neither do I," he agreed without hesitation.
"She scares me." It was a hard thing for her to admit, but it was the truth. It was even harder for her to allow her insecurities to show through her usually tough exterior.
Although lately, she had allowed herself to become more vulnerable. It almost seemed natural. With Dimitri, the tough act was not necessary. There was something deeply disturbing about the dark haired Strigoi woman that did not sit right with her. It was vastly different from the usual feeling that she felt around the undead beings. Something more intense and repulsive laced with an immeasurable fear that seemed to grow the more she thought about her. A sense of dread that clung to the pit of her stomach that she could not explain or push down.
"She hurt you, and she'd have no problem hurting me," she voiced her concerns while wrapping her arms around herself as if to protect herself. "I don't feel safe with her in the compound," she admitted softly.
Dimitri frowned, concern filling his features. He reached out to her, placing his hands on her shoulders gripping them gently. "No one can get in this room without my approval," he assured her keeping her at arms length. His fingers massaged the flesh of her shoulders where he could feel knots of tension forming. "You have nothing to fear."
His attempts at soothing her were not successful. "How do you know?" she fired back instantly. Barely a moment passed before she launched into a rant. "How can you be so certain she can't get in here. I'm all alone," she informed him shrugging his large hands off of her body. They were too distracting, and she refused to be manipulated when she wanted to make a serious point. "When you're gone, no one checks on me. I have no contact with anyone, save for you. If something happened, no one would know," she continued speaking quickly.
Rose was shaking her head as she felt an irrational fear swelling inside of her. Something could happen, and she had no way to defend herself. The only weapons she had at her disposal were her fists. With her fighting capabilities she could fend an intruder off for a time, but eventually she would tire. The concept of being completely powerless is what truly terrified her. The odds were stacked unfairly against her.
He shushed her in an effort to ease the panic that was rising in her face. She was overreacting. Still, he could not blame her with what she had witnessed. Juliana had no problem tossing him around to make a point. He could only imagine what she could do to Rose if Juliana felt threatened or challenged. Juliana may even torment her just for the fun of it. He wouldn't put it past her. He knew her type. Still, he did not let those thoughts linger too much. Instead, he focused his attention on the Dhampir in front of him.
His hands gently cupped her face, his thumbs stroking her cheeks in an effort to soothe her fear. "Don't worry about her Milaya. She won't hurt you, I won't let her," he assured her trying to keep his tone gentle and comforting.
Rose frowned unhappy with his attempt to appease her. His words did nothing to pacify her. There was honesty to his tone, but he was only one person. He could not be everywhere all at once. Therefore, his assurance was greatly lacking. "You can't promise me that," she retorted with a simple and stiff shake of her head.
"I can, and I will," he insisted firmly running his fingers down the side of her face. He locked eyes with her, and she could feel the gentle pull of compulsion. Instead of resisting, she gave herself over to it knowing that it would ease the growing tension between them, as well as quell her rampant emotions. "As long as you're in this compound, you are safe. I will protect you," he assured her doing his best to keep his voice sounding soft and soothing. He pulled her into an embrace, and he felt her melt into his arms. Her body relaxed against his, wrapping her arms around his waist. "No one will take you away from me," he whispered fiercely twirling the ends of her hair around his fingers idly as his hold on her tightened.
Rose sighed contently, nuzzling her face against his chest. She knew that she should not feel so safe or comforted in the arms of a Strigoi, but she did. To her he was not like the others. At least, that is what she kept telling herself. She knew that he was a killer, a monster, but in moments like these, she did not care about any of that. He was still Dimitri. Her Dimitri. That was all that mattered. The two stood in silence for a moment, both enjoying their closeness, as the fear inside of her slowly ebbed away into nothingness.
However, another feeling replaced it and Rose found herself voicing it without restraint. "I'm lonely here," she whispered addressing the matter. It was something that had been bothering her for quite some time. Something she had neglected or forgotten to mention until now.
Dimitri pulled away looking down at the forlorn expression that had overtaken her features. He placed his hand against the left side of her face again sliding his thumb over her cheekbone. "That is something I can easily rectify," he replied finding this issue an easy fix.
In fact, he had considered this already and had been meaning to ask how she was adjusting to her new life. It was clear that isolation did not suite her. She was withering before his eyes, and he could not allow it to continue for too much longer. She required more than what he was currently providing for her. Rose was a very social person and he understood her need for companionship.
"I'll find you someone who you can spend your time with while I'm away," he assured her moving his thumb down to slide over her bottom lip. "And when I come back, it'll be just you and me," he added, his voice deepening and taking on a huskier quality. Desire filled his eyes as he gazed into hers. "Would you like that?"
The lustful tone of his voice sent pleasant shivers down Rose's spine. It washed over her like a gentle caress, and she did not feel the gentle push of his gaze. She met his dark eyes, outlined in glowing red, and a bliss filled smile formed on her lips. "Very much so," she replied with a small, but happy sigh.
Pleased by her response Dimitri leaned down placing a kiss upon her forehead. "I love you," he said his lips hovering millimetres from her skin.
Her reply was soft and came almost instantly. "I know," She breathed leaning into his embrace, pressing her body against his.
As she did this, he knew what she wanted. He could read it in her body language, and he could not deny that he wanted it too. He smirked sliding his hands underneath the fabric of her shirt. She breathed in sharply at the unexpected feeling of his skin against hers, tensing slightly at the jolt of electricity that shot up her spine at his touch. Strangely, she was starting to get used to the cooler temperature of his body. In fact, she barely noticed it anymore. Rose shivered letting out a small breathy moan as his fingers brushed lightly over her breasts. Her body instantly responded as a pool of thick heat began to form between her legs. A sensation she was growing increasingly familiar with in Dimitri's presence. The delicious ache that preceded the ecstasy he could bring upon her. It was addicting, and she found that she wanted it more and more as the days passed. He had her completely under his spell.
"Now where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?" he asked her cupping her breasts in his hands and rubbing his thumbs over her hardened nipples through her shirt.
Rose closed her eyes enjoying the sensation, her tongue sliding over her bottom lip. Her top teeth bit down to hold on to it. The smirk never left Dimitri's face as he watched her wanton response to his caress. He enjoyed how easy it was to coax a response from her. How with the simplest touch he had her melting into a puddle of want and need.
"Oh yes, I remember," he remarked before leaning down and capturing her lips in a bruising kiss.
The long plane ride over the western United States and the Pacific Ocean was highly uneventful. Initially, the atmosphere within the aircraft had been tense due to the unexpected and last minute addition to their crew. However, that tension quickly melted away as everyone began to relax and become acquainted with the older Guardian. While Alberta was tough, she was a generally pleasant woman to be around. However, the anxiety and uncertainty of the daunting task ahead of them remained. Thankfully, their camaraderie helped to ease the brunt of it. The negative feelings still festered but were forced to the back burner until a more appropriate time. Even the typically brooding Adrian found some solace within the company of friends, though he still dwelled on the obstacles they faced. While they were now on their way, their objective was still far from sight. The quest they were on was seemingly impossible, but no one in their six-man group was deterred by the odds stacked against them. On the contrary, they were emboldened by them. There was little doubt as to whether or not they could succeed. As soon as they had stepped through those gates back at the Academy, there was no going back, and they were not about to return empty handed. They would succeed or die trying. Regardless, they would see this through to the end. Whatever fate had in store, they would be ready to accept the outcome whether it be good or bad.
After many hours, they had finally reached their destination. Saint Petersburg. The second largest city in Russia. The cultural and business epicentre of the large country, and a city rich in history. A highly desirable tourist destination. Thankfully, this made them blend in well. With a few maps, Adrian's credit card, and Alberta's navigational and language skills, the group ran into very few hurdles in their journey thus far. Without Alberta's help, they would have been at a serious disadvantage. Lissa silently thanked her lucky stars for the older Guardian's insertion into the group. She was a great asset.
To make travel easier, they had rented a vehicle. One that could fit all of them comfortably with extra room for a couple more people and their gear. It was an SUV and thankfully, also had a GPS system installed. A perk that had come along at an extra expense. One that Adrian had not argued with and had no problem paying for. They needed all the assistance that they could get, which is also why he had not bothered trying to convince Alberta to let them leave without her. He would never admit it out loud, but they needed her and her wisdom. Without her, this would be much more difficult.
With these resources at their disposal, they had no difficulty locating the hotel where Rose had last stayed. It had also been one of the largest expenses on her expedition through Russia, aside from her plane fare. This hotel was posh, lavish, and very expensive. Valet parking, doormen, bellhops, room service, a five-star restaurant, and a large lobby were a number of staff members waited to cater to your every whim. These were only a few of the services this particular hotel had to offer. There were many more amenities available for patrons to utilize during their stay in the luxury accommodations.
Alberta parked their rental in a parking lot a bit down the street from the hotel. It would just get in the way and cause problems with the valet if they parked outside. That was a complication they did not need. Instead, the group approached the grand hotel on foot. They walked in silence with Alberta in the lead. It was only appropriate as these types of situations were her area of expertise.
As they approached, they got a better look at the outside of the structure. Everything about the building screamed high class and elegance. Whoever stayed here had to have money that was for sure. The hotel was buzzing with activity. The valets stood waiting for patrons at their posts at the front so they could offer their assistance, and bellhops helped guests with their bags either by putting them inside vehicles or putting them on a trolley to wheel them inside. Through the large glass windows you could see the staff rushing about, lost in the monotony of their duties. It would be easy for them to slip inside without a hassle or drawing attention to themselves.
Christian looked up at the tall building, taking it all in. After a moment he whistled appreciatively. "Fancy," he remarked in approval of the rogue Dhampir's tastes. "Rose sure knows how to travel with style," he added watching the people outside move about.
Lissa winced at the extravagance of it all. "Looks expensive," she commented wrapping her arms around herself to ward off the slight chill in the air.
It was unlike Rose to be so frivolous, at least recently. She knew that her friend did not like to spend copious amounts of money and usually only got the essentials that she needed. This was something new, then again, the money had not technically been hers either. It had been Adrian's and he had given her his consent to use it as she saw fit. There were no consequences as he had not cut her off at any point. Perhaps that made all the difference.
Adrian nodded. "Oh, it is," he confirmed patting Lissa on the shoulder taking the time to admire the building on his own. He could still feel the dent in his account for the expense, but he had to applaud Rose for her choice. This was certainly a place that he would have chosen for himself.
This comment encouraged Christian to put his own, unwanted, and unneeded, two-cents in. "Right. You paid the bill," he remarked in a snarky tone.
Lissa shot the fire user a warning glance. "Christian, don't start," she pre-emptively scolded him. She was growing tired of his near constant negativity and smart-aleck word exchanges with Adrian. There was always something, and Adrian always felt obligated to respond. This usually led to stupid ego-filled arguments that did nothing but irritate those around them. However, both boys seemed completely oblivious to this fact.
Christian rolled his eyes at her snappish tone. "I was just making a statement Liss. Don't get your panties in a knot," he shot back waving her off.
She glared at him although he did not seem to notice the look. She hated it when he made comments like that. It was condescending and disrespectful. "Now that was inappropriate," she spoke up, her annoyance obvious.
He shrugged it off not understanding why his comment bothered her. "It's just a saying."
She scowled snorting in distaste. "Well, I don't appreciate it," she retorted. It was not entirely the phrase itself that had irked her, there were many factors involved and they compounded upon each other souring her mood. It was hard to rise above.
"That's enough," Alberta interrupted stopping the conversation from continuing any further. None of it was relevant or important. "You're losing sight of our objective here," she informed them shooting both teens a pointed look. They both heeded her words and shut their mouths without saying another word.
"How are we going to approach this?" Eddie spoke up falling into step beside his newfound partner. It felt strange to consider Alberta as an equal instead of his superior, and he often found himself relying on her judgement instead of forming opinions of his own. He still held the mentality of a student and he often scolded himself for doing it. However, Alberta neither acknowledged it or pointed it out, and, for that, he was grateful. "Will we even be able to communicate?" he asked glancing at the other Guardian once again appealing to her wisdom rather than relying on his own.
A faint smile formed on her face at the question. "Don't worry. Most people working in the hospitality industry know English. In a highly touristed area like this, such a skill is a must," she informed him hoping to soothe the worries of the teens around her. She knew there would still be a language barrier and they would run into it, but there would be ways around that problem. That is what she chose to focus on. Still, if they travelled away from the main city, they would undoubtedly run into this particular issue. Thankfully, Alberta knew a fair amount of Russian. She was not fluent, but she could hold a conversation decently enough.
A small chuckle escaped Adrian. "You know what I just thought of Alberta?" he voiced finding his particular thought extremely amusing. Although, it had nothing to do with the current conversation.
She turned to him, her Guardian mask firmly in place. "What?"
"You could potentially get arrested for this. You broke your oath as a Guardian and kidnapped three underage Moroi," he explained to her managing to maintain a serious face despite his humor regarding the situation.
Alberta sighed at his childishness. Adrian knew little about Guardians and had no idea what he was talking about. His ignorance of such matters was proving to be a constant irritant. Although, she would expect nothing less from a Royal Moroi, especially one of Adrian's status. However, she was quickly discovering that this was typical behaviour from the spirit user. He was always joking around and trying to lighten the mood. Still, she did not particularly appreciate it most of the time.
"My oath was to protect the Moroi. Four of you are Moroi. I haven't broken a thing," was her simple explanation.
"But you did kidnap them," he persisted trying to push her buttons. Something that he tended to take too far, and it could get annoying fast.
Alberta shook her head dismissing his argument. "Nonsense. I merely decided to come along to better protect you. It is a possibility that I could be arrested, but I doubt they would pursue that considering the circumstances. It's a stretch at best." She held up her hand and everyone instantly knew the meaning behind the gesture. It was then that she turned to face the younger people who had stopped a few paces behind her. "Eddie and I will scout the perimeter. Adrian and Lissa will go inside and ask around," she stated choosing the plan she believed would yield the best results.
Adrian and Lissa were the dream team when it came to quietly accessing information without causing a scene. Their methods of 'persuasion' made them the ideal candidates for such matters. Eddie and Alberta were trained to blend in and be inconspicuous while, at the same time, they checked for any dangers that could be lurking about the hotel. It was still an hour or two before sunset, but one could never be too careful. Not now that they knew humans were working with the Strigoi.
"What about us?" Jill asked gesturing to herself and to Christian at her side. "What do you want us to do?" she asked eager to help in anyway that she could. She was not afraid to get involved and wanted to prove her usefulness. That she could help. On their journey thus far, she had little insight, or input that could be useful in their situation. She itched show the others what she could do beyond her water magic.
Alberta was ready with an answer and did not waste time voicing it. "You two," she began pointing her fingers at the two remaining Moroi before her. "Are going to stay here until Eddie and I have finished looking around," she informed them glancing around to ensure that their group was not attracting any unwanted attention. Jill opened her mouth to protest at being left out of the action, but Alberta cut her off before she could utter a sound. "It would look suspicious if you followed them inside," she explained nodding her head towards Lissa and Adrian. "You guys can keep an eye out here and if any of us find anything, we'll let one another know."
Christian snorted also feeling annoyed at being left out of the loop. "Oh yeah, perfect plan," he remarked shaking his head in disapproval. "We'll just stand here, in front of the hotel like idiots," he complained acting, very much, like a spoiled brat. "That won't attract attention at all," he added sarcastically rolling his eyes as he spoke.
Alberta shot him a pointed look unimpressed by his negative attitude. She refrained from reprimanding him since, at this moment, she was no longer an instructor. Here, she was merely a Guardian and Christian was one of her charges. She pulled one of the maps from inside her bag. "Here," she said holding the folded paper out for him to take. When he neglected to, she practically shoved it at him.
Begrudgingly, he took the paper. He glanced down at it confirming his suspicions and raising an eyebrow in question. This expression was quickly followed by a verbal response. "What do you expect me to do with this?" he asked holding the folded map aloft.
Adrian rolled his eyes having pieced together what Alberta was getting at. "Pretend you're lost," he suggested with a shrug. He brushed passed him purposely knocking his shoulder into the younger man. "Then you won't look like an idiot," he remarked lowering his voice as he spoke in a vaguely mocking tone. Without another word, he strode towards the entrance of the hotel not waiting for the rude response that was sure to follow.
Lissa watched the other spirit user walk away before slowly following his lead. She turned to face the others, walking backwards. "We'll call if we find anything," she assured them turning back around and picking up her pace to catch up with Adrian.
"Hurry back!" Jill called after her as she took the map from Christian's hands.
Unlike Christian, she accepted her role sensing there was no need to argue about it. There would come a time where her skills would be useful, so she graciously accepted Alberta's reasoning and taking Adrian's suggestion. Wasting no time, she unfolded the map and did her best at imitating a perplexed expression. Her eyes randomly scanned the map unable to focus on one area. She put on a good show of acting lost. It was not hard for she had no idea how to read the map anyways, so it was of little use to her.
Christian sighed in defeat as the two Guardian's took off, following Lissa and Adrian's lead. "This blows," he grumbled taking a hold of one side of the map. He had been hoping that during this mission he would be more involved. Instead, he was standing outside of a hotel staring uselessly at a map. This was a very productive use of his time.
Lissa had little trouble catching up to Adrian's long and brisk stride. She effortlessly fell into step beside him as they headed towards the large glass doors of the hotel. After a brief moment of silence, she spoke. "You know, you don't have to be a jerk to Christian," she chastised finding the building animosity between them unwarranted and completely juvenile. It was starting to grow toxic and they did not need that, especially since it would interfere with their objective.
Adrian glanced at her through his peripheral vision, "If he dishes it out, he should be able to take it," he replied with another shrug. He was not about to let Christian get away with acting like a child. "It's not my fault he's so damn easy to rile up."
There was truth to his words, but it did not satisfy Lissa. She rolled her green eyes at his predictable response. "You're just feeding into it by stooping down to his level," she argued wrapping her arms around herself again having yet to get used to the slightly lower temperature. "You guys really need to stop antagonizing each other. We are all in this together and it would be a lot easier if we all just got along, at least until we find Rose."
He sighed seeing the sense in her reasoning. "You're right," he agreed, although reluctantly. As much as Christian and his whining, and, often unnecessary, comments annoyed him, he had to start acting more mature. However fun it may be to egg the fire user on, he needed to be more serious in regard to their situation. Afterall, he was the adult here, as hard as that may be to believe at times. "We're supposed to be a team, we should act like it," he added picking up on her train of thought easily.
His statement did not phase her. She had gotten used to Adrian's rather acute sixth-sense. Although he did not always show it, he was surprisingly very intuitive. Much more than she was. "I'm glad to hear that," she said as they approached the doors.
The doorman held the door open for the two granting them entrance to the grand hotel's lobby without issue or fuss. Lissa nodded at him in acknowledgement, offering up a friendly and thankful smile, which was returned by the well-dressed young man. Adrian however, made no effort to acknowledge the hotel staff. The doorman closed the door behind them effectively shutting out the outside world.
Once the two entered the lobby, they paused taking in their surroundings. The outside did not do the building justice. It was much more glamourous and tasteful on the inside than its outward appearance had led them to believe. After a moment of soaking it all in, they casually approached the front desk. Seated behind the tall surface was a young woman, not much older than they were. Her long blonde hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, kept neatly out of her face. There were a few stray strands that had escaped their confines and now framed her round face. Her brown eyes were fixed on the computer in front of her as she typed away absorbed in her work. Noticing them draw near, she glanced up from the screen. Her eyes lit up and she smiled brightly at them offering what sounded like a friendly greeting in Russian.
Uncertain as to exactly what the woman had said, Lissa offered up a nervous smile in response. "Hello," she said her uncertainty showing through both in her voice and her expression. She cleared her throat and continued on, not waiting for a reply. "Excuse me, but I am looking for my friend. We were wondering if you could help us." The girl blinked, her smile disappearing as she stared blankly at the Princess. Her confused expression led to only one assumption. Lissa turned to Adrian. "I don't think she knows English," she stated lowering her voice as she did so.
Adrian considered this for a moment, and when the girl made no further attempt to communicate, he came to the same conclusion. Unexpectedly, he cleared his throat and carefully and tentatively spoke to the confused desk clerk in Russian. He was hesitant, and he stumbled over the words, but what he said seemed to make sense to the girl for she nodded and rose from her seat. She offered him another friendly smile before wandering off and disappearing around the corner.
The whole exchange left Lissa stunned. Of all things that could have happened, she had not expected this. She blinked before shaking her head to clear her thoughts. The revelation was unexpected and, if she had not witnessed it herself, she would not have believed it. Her mind reeled from it, moving in a hundred directions at once all converging onto the same thought. It would have been nice if they had known this information beforehand.
"You speak Russian?" She asked him softly. There was a slight accusation in her tone that did not go unnoticed by the older Moroi.
Adrian shrugged nonchalant, pleased that he had managed to surprise her. It was not often that he was able to accomplish such a thing. Then again, many people did not think too much of him and often underestimated him and his abilities. Lissa was an exception. She was one of very few who seemed to believe in him.
"I dabbled," he replied leaning against the front counter. "It's one of those skills that I learned but don't really have a use for," he continued on to explain sensing that his companion wanted a more in-depth answer. Although, it was not much of a story to tell, who was he to deprive her of that information. "My uncle taught me when I was younger. Not a lot, but it seems some of it stuck," he revealed speaking as if the retained knowledge was nothing special.
Lissa had heard of his uncle but had not known that Adrian had spent all that much time around him. Randall Ivashkov did not have the best reputation amongst the royal families. She found the fact that he had taken the time to teach Adrian Russian interesting and it made her curious about their relationship. "Were you two close?" She asked tilting her head to the side slightly as she spoke. It was an innocent question.
He chuckled and shook his head. "Not really," he replied sliding his hands into his pockets. "He was kind of a dick," he elaborated with a small shrug. It was the truth. Honesty was the best policy and he saw no reason to hold back with Lissa. "No one likes him. He was practically disowned by my family. They call him a disgrace. Can't say I'd disagree." Normally, he would keep such information to himself and only reveal the least amount of information possible, but he trusted Lissa. She was not one to judge someone based on the actions of someone else. "I haven't seen him since I was about eight or nine. I think."
Lissa could not hold back the small laugh that filtered out at his short story. "Way to beat around the bush," she remarked enjoying the chance to have a casual conversation with her friend. Lately the only thing that had concerned them was Rose, so that tended to be their main topic of discussion. It was a nice change. "He sounds lovely," she added sarcastically which earned a small laugh from her companion. They fell into a comfortable silence for a few moments while they patiently awaited the return of the blonde employee.
"What did you say to her?" Lissa piped up curiously.
It was obvious to whom she was referring. "I asked her to find someone who speaks English," he answered. "To be honest I don't remember all that much Russian. It just makes things easier than trying to piece together what is being said. Straight forward and to the point. Besides, that way, you'll understand too."
She nodded agreeing with his reasoning. "Sounds good to me," she offered with a smile.
It was then that the blonde girl returned with another woman at her side. She was older, possibly in her earlier forties. Her shoulder length hair was dark brown and cut at a straight angle in an attempt to add definition to her face, but the look did not suit her at all. She was far too old to be trying to sport such an edgy fashion choice. Although, the look did make her features stand out more prominently. She wore black, thick framed glasses that fit nicely with her professional looking attire. She approached them from behind the counter occupying the space that the younger girl had before her. However, she remained standing.
The woman fixed her stony gaze onto the pair. "Hello," She greeted flatly offering them no smile or friendly gesture. Her voice was deep, and her Russian accent was thick, which was not unexpected. She placed her hands on top of the counter, her posture stiff and straight. "How may I help you?" she asked speaking slowly and carefully as if to ensure that her pronunciation was correct.
Adrian nodded turning towards the woman and straightening his own posture. "Yes. Hello," he greeted in response. He shot her a charming smile, choosing to rely on his natural charisma to get her to cooperate. "I'm looking for my sister," he began ensuring to speak at a slower pace so that she could more easily understand him. The statement was a bit of a stretch but passing off Rose as his sister might garner more answers. People were more inclined to help family. "She stayed here a couple of weeks ago and we were wondering if you could answer some questions for us?" he asked politely, keeping a serious expression hoping that it would convey the importance of their request.
However, it seemed to have the opposite effect. Her brown eyes narrowed at the young man, a frown appearing on her face as she processed his words. There was a small pause as she translated it carefully. Once she accomplished this, her expression hardened, and her body tensed up. "You police?" she asked glancing between the two Moroi with scrutiny.
Lissa was surprised by the question and was quick to recognize the accusation in her voice. She disputed this instantly with a wave of her hand. "No, we're not the police," she assured her.
The woman's muscles seemed to loosen some, but her stony expression remained. "Guest information is confidential," she firmly informed them. Her quick dismissal made it obvious that she wanted them out of her hair and out of her hotel. "You need authorization. Legal authorization."
Sensing that she was about to ask them to leave, Lissa tried a more desperate approach. She stepped forward, resting her hands on the top of the counter. "Please, it's really important that we find her," she began determined to let the woman see how urgent the situation they were in was. She needed her to understand. "She's missing and we wouldn't have come here if we had any other options," she explained biting her bottom lip allowing her anxiety to show on the surface. She always tried her best to keep it hidden. Only those that knew her well, like Rose and Christian, made her feel comfortable enough to confide her feelings.
The woman did not even bat an eye, unfazed by Lissa's attempt at pleading. "Sorry. I cannot help you," she insisted with a simple shrug, completely dismissing them. She stepped back preparing to turn away.
Adrian refused to accept her answer. He shifted over a couple of steps, placing himself directly in front of the hostess. This caught her attention and she paused. He made sure to maintain eye contact with her as he spoke. "Listen," he began glancing down at her name tag, which clearly displayed her name in an elegant black font. Thankfully it was both in Cyrillic and English characters. "Lida. How hard is it to help some foreigners find their missing friend?" he spoke slowly and softly gently coaxing her to bend to his will. This was a delicate process, and he did not want to push too hard. He wanted it to go over as smoothly as possible. He gently placed his hand over hers increasing his efforts with the slight physical contact. "Surely you could find it in your heart to help us out," he suggested prodding her thoughts gently with his compulsion. Thankfully she did not resist, and he did not need to use much effort for it to work. It was easy really.
She stared at him blankly for a moment. Her eyes cleared, and she blinked looking between the two for a moment before letting out a small sigh. "What is name?" she asked poising her fingers over the keys of the keyboard hooked up to the computer. "I check computer."
Though Lissa knew that her sudden change of heart was thanks to Adrian's meddling, she could not help but feel grateful. "Thank you so much," she voiced her gratitude with a smile. "Her name is Rose, Rosemarie Hathaway."
The woman, Lida, turned her attention to the computer screen. Her synthetic, gold-painted fingers glided over the keyboard with ease never once looking away from the screen. It was only a matter of moments before recognition flashed in her eyes.
"Oh, dress girl," she remarked shifting her one hand from the keyboard to the mouse. Her words were met with confused looks, but the clerk paid them no mind. Her eyes scanned over the information on the screen, and she read it off for the two before her. "She stayed here three weeks ago, paid in advance, no checkout. We had to force check out when her payment expired, and she did not renew her reservation. According to file, she left in a hurry. Left many things behind," she explained calmly with a shrug. Such a thing must be some kind of regular occurrence for she seemed unperturbed by the matter.
Her curiosity was piqued, so Lissa probed further. "What kind of things?"
"Clothes, jewellery, and some personal items," was Lida's immediate response.
This was the clue they had been looking for. Perhaps somehow, with these items, they would find the lead that they were looking for to continue on their quest. This meant that they were half a step closer to finding Rose. Adrian could feel the hope surging within him. He managed to keep a lid on it trying not to set his hopes too high lest he be disappointed. "Do you still have them?" he asked eager to take a look. He prayed that there was not some kind of policy preventing a guest's belongings from being given away.
Lida nodded. "Yes, of course. We put things in box and hang clothes in storage," she informed him politely answering his question without delay. "When no one claims them after a month, we donate. Policy," she added with a curt nod.
"Can we see them?" Lissa asked hopefully, casting a glance at Adrian. By the look in her eyes, he could tell that she too felt the hope that was swirling inside him.
She nodded, relief filling her features. "Please, take them," Lida insisted gesturing for the girl that had originally been minding the front desk to approach. "Stupid girls fight over expensive clothes, drive me crazy. Do me a favour," she added before turning to the blonde and speaking firmly to her in their native tongue. The girl nodded vigorously before heading around the corner once more.
Lissa smiled warmly at the older woman. "Thank you so much, you've been very helpful," she genuinely offered up. Despite the necessity to use spirit, she was pleased by the outcome of their mission. They could possibly find answers here.
Adrian nodded agreeing with his friend. "Yes, we truly appreciate it."
Lida's firm expression gave way and the faintest smile formed on her lips at this. "It is no trouble," she admitted her tone of voice softening as well. She reached out and gently patted Adrian's hand, which still rested on the counter. "Find your sister, she was nice girl. Anya will bring the items up to you."
Lissa nodded and Adrian pulled his hand away from the older woman. "Thank you," both Moroi said dismissing the woman from their conversation. She merely nodded before sitting down in the chair in front of the computer and taking over Anya's job in her absence.
Adrian shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket, keeping an eye on their surroundings as Lissa used her phone to send a message to Christian outside. By now, the two Guardians had most likely rejoined them and were awaiting news of their investigation. Moments later, the other four entered the active lobby. They drew some curious glances, but no one paid any close attention to the presence of their entourage. No one seemed to find it suspicious and after a moment, they resumed their business paying no mind to the small group that had formed in their midst.
It was not long before the blonde hotel employee returned with a luggage rack. There were garment bags hanging from the rack and two small shoe boxes resting on the bottom shelf. The blonde girl, Anya, remained at their side for a moment before slinking off to perform another one of her duties. She had been startled by the other four people who had joined them, but she quickly forgot all about it due to some mild compulsion. Adrian made sure that she would forget their faces. With their group re-assembled, they set to work sorting through the contents contained upon the trolly.
Lissa, Alberta, and Christian set about sifting through the eleven garment bags. All held designer dresses, mostly short, but elegant and stylish. All left in pristine condition, some still bearing tags suggesting that they had never been worn. Inside the first, larger box, there were two pairs of high heeled shoes. They were stylish and had been worn a few times due to the way the sides were mildly stretched. The second box contained mostly clutter. Small items that were easily lost and cast aside. Hair elastics, bobby pins, a Russian dictionary, scribbled notes that seemed to hold no meaning, some loose jewellery, and a couple of pairs of socks. There was not much of any use in the box. Adrian let out a frustrated sigh, silently cursing that their only clue was turning out to be a flop.
"I think I found something," Jill spoke up drawing the attention to the five others around her. She was shifting through the contents of one of the small boxes again and inspecting them.
Instantly, they all flocked around her as the young girl pulled out the crumpled, crimson coloured flier from the box. It looked more like a scroll, fancy. She smoothed out the piece of paper revealing it for inspection. In gold lettering etched across the top of the page in an extremely elegant script, it read, 'The Nightingale' in quotations.
This was their next clue.