We do not own the Vampire Academy universe, nor any of the characters. Only the plot is ours. We thank Richelle Mead for her creations and all other fanfiction writers who have inspired us to write this story.
Warning! This warning will only be said once. This story contains sexual, physical and mental abuse. This is a dark world of exploitation and other offenses, and might unfortunately trigger someone. We would also like to mention a word of warning of the language we intend to use as this story will contain swearing and descriptions of aforementioned violence.
This story will be written in parts, starting from part 1. Each part will have several chapters and we aim to upload regularly. Most of part 1 is finished already, but we have ongoing discussions about the content of this story so please feel free to notify us if something is unclear or you have any thoughts.
This story is a slow burn. And we really mean slow.
Original pairing, we intend to respect the original characters as much as we can. But since the environment and values of the society differs from the original story, we naturally cannot guarantee that all characters remain the same.
Part 1
Chapter 1 - In the woods
Dimitri POV
10 years ago
"Can't we just go home now?", I asked with an exasperated sigh. For hours we had been trying to find mushrooms and other edibles in the nearby forest, babushka adamant that we gather some more. This wasn't how I wanted to spend my weekend at home. I doubt that any fourteen-year-old would enjoy spending most of the day in the woods with their grandmother finding food. Ever since the incident with him, things have been hard, and this was just another means for us to have more on the table. Although I feel guilty about the situation my family is in, the selfish part of me just wanted to spend the weekend off lounging with my westerns. Galina has been harder on me than ever before and my body is paying the price for it.
"Stop whining. You missed some chanterelles on your left."
I turned to my left and to my surprise she was right. How did she know? She was more than 40 feet away, with her back turned to me while she was gathering blueberries.
"If you would spend less time whining you wouldn't have missed those. Focus."
I groaned, frustrated that this old woman always seemed to know everything.
"There's more by the rock you just walked past.", she added before returning to her task.
I quickly spun around, my eyes immediately spotting the chanterelles slightly hidden next to the large rock.
говно - How did she know?
The thought of my grandmother besting me gave me a renewed focus. After all, I did have to do my part for the family. I was the one who condemned us deeper into poverty, although the alternative was hardly any better. I knew that no one in my family blamed me for our situation, Karo and babushka even going as far as expressing gratitude. I just couldn't help but feel lacking everytime I'd catch mama worrying about getting food on the table.
Babushka and I carried on with our task, the sun slowly starting to set while I mulled over my worries. In a silent agreement we slowly started to make our way back to the house. Since we were on the outskirts of a dhampir community, the frequent Moroi visitors were prone to attract a nomad or two.
Less than a mile from home she suddenly needed a break. She sat down on a fallen tree and refused to move, claiming her joints were aching. Something in me didn't quite believe her, but unless I was going to carry her I'd just have to wait. I walked over to a nearby tree, and as I leaned against it I felt the stake pressing against my leg, the weight of it comforting me. Although I was a novice we were always armed in the woods, having the advantage of the two stakes from babushkas glory days as a guardian. As I noted the sun dangerously low on the sky I contemplated whether or not I should force her on her feet. As if anyone could force her.
Just as I was about to either yell at her to move or simply throw that infuriating old woman over my shoulder, my senses caught something. Immediately my whole body tensed as I recognized the sound of footsteps, no longer leaning against the tree. I closed my eyes, trying to localize the threat. Instinctively I turned to my right and my eyes snapped open. The sun was still protecting us, ruling out Strigoi. The steps sounded so light and somewhat erratic, the twigs barely breaking under its weight. Was it an animal?
I felt a strange pull that guided my steps towards the sound, allowing me to gain a better visual of the area. My senses were on high alert and I couldn't understand why I was on edge. Why it was so hard to be in control. That's when I saw the source of the sound. I came to a complete halt and stopped breathing.
A girl. She was clearly scared and running away from something, still quite far away from our location. She was only a child.
Before I knew it I was running towards her, quickly gaining in on her and feeling an immense need to put myself between the child and whatever it was that made her run. After I got a bit closer I managed to gain some of my lost control, slowing down not to scare her. I don't think she knew I was following her as I heard Galina's voice guiding my silent steps as I kept my distance, trying to come up with a plan and scanning for threats behind us.
The girl slowed down as she reached the outskirts of the forest and our house became visible on the field ahead of us. She seemed reluctant to leave the safety of the greenery and I saw her crouch down and hide in some bushes. I came to a full stop, listening to the sounds of the forest. Galina would've punished me for my earlier impulsiveness, and now I was trying to be the calculative guardian she was mentoring me to be. I needed to understand the situation before engaging, I needed to understand the threat. Why was she here, this close to sunset, running away from something? Running away from someone?
She had looked the same age as Vika and a wave of nausea and anxiety swept over me as I came to the realization. What if it was Vika?
The girl was still hiding, perhaps too tired to run. She still hadn't noticed me as the minutes passed while I contemplated what to do. I faintly heard someone getting closer to us, my whole body tensing and preparing for battle. The overwhelming need to protect flared up in my entire being. It was only when babushka muttered something about her hip that I allowed my body to release some of the tension. It was only babushka.
Without any hesitation she walked past me towards the child, giving me a look that told me to keep my distance. I was shifting uncomfortably from one foot to another when my mind summoned Galina's disappointed face, snapping my control back to place. Fidgeting was not tolerated.
"What is your name, child?"
The girl did not answer. The sound of her silent sobs made my heart clench. A desperate need to comfort her overwhelmed me, to make her stop crying. A desperate need for something else. As babushka reached down into the bushes the girl suddenly got up and started running again. Without hesitation I bolted after her, catching her almost immediately. I tried to not grab her hard, desperate not to hurt her. She turned around and kicked my shins and thrashed against my hold. She was so scared. The look of pure terror on the girl's face slashed through me like a knife, and I let go of my hold like I had been shocked. She tumbled to the ground and didn't get up as more tears drenched her face.
"I'm so sorry, I don't want to hurt you. I'm sorry." My desperate plea was inadequate to describe the panic and failure that overwhelmed me. Had my grip hurt her?
"I want to go home", the girl managed to say between her sobs.
Oh shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. I don't know what to do. All I could think about was my own mother. Mama would know what to do.
"Do you know where home is? I promise to take you there if I can."
The girl sobbed harder as she hugged her knees. She is so small. "No", she finally managed to say. I heard babushkas footsteps behind me as she walked closer.
"You were taken, weren't you?" Babushka asked, and as always she knew the answer even before the girl nodded. My heart sank even further. Taken from where? By whom?
Babushka took a step closer and the girl's eyes darted between us, evaluating us as her sobbing came to a halt. Again, I felt this desperate need for something. To protect? Yes. A desperate need to protect. To reassure her. To help her.
"I've got you now, you don't have to be afraid anymore" I held out my hands as I was talking to a wounded animal, trying to bring her some comfort in my demeanor. "What's your name?"
As I spoke, her eyes suddenly locked with mine. I stared into her brown eyes that met mine with an unexpected fierceness, and I felt utterly exposed. Somehow, this small little girl made me feel vulnerable. I didn't like it. Galina wouldn't like it. I did not have the luxury to be vulnerable. Still, I felt like I was staring into something familiar. Before I could contemplate this odd feeling, the girl's face changed ever so slightly, almost as if she had made up her mind.
"My name is Rose."
"Hi Rose," I said, smiling tentatively. "I'm Dimitri and I promise I'll protect you."
