Chapter 5

I was having strange dreams. I heard Dimitri shouting but it wasn't at me, no he was arguing with Adrian and then Lissa joined in. I opened my eyes, the sun was blaring through the curtains, I growled inwardly. But even after waking up I could still hear the shouting. I was confused, I sat up looking in front of me. Spotting where it was coming from. It was coming from the computer. I swayed as I walked over to it and moved the mousepad. There on the screen I could see Dimitri's back, he was shouting at Adrian, telling him he was disrespectful.

"I didn't see anything! They were in bed when I noticed it was still connected. Seriously Belikov, what's your problem? She ran away to the other side of the world to get away from you and you still meddle! Call any taxi guardians lately?"

"Hey! Some of us have hang overs and are trying to sleep! What's going on?" Dimitri looked towards me then marched out of the shot. Adrian and Lissa came into view.

"Sorry Rose, there's been a misunderstanding." I took a deep breath while I was waiting for more information.

"When I got up this morning I went to use the computer. I noticed neither you or Liss cancelled your video call, was looking at the camera when someone came in and over reacted. I was just making sure you were safe then I was going to hang up." I yawned.

I shrugged, "No biggy. But I'll make sure I close the laptop next time." I walked to grab my water.

"Rose you're a badass guardian. Make everyone stop talking." I heard Sydney as she emerged from the covers on my bed. I looked behind me.

"God Syd, what were we drinking last night?"

"I think the question is what wasn't we drinking." She said as she disappeared into the bathroom. I yawned again where I looked at the screen and where Liss was waiting.

"Syd? As in Sydney from Russia?" She asked, I could feel her jealousy through the bond.

"Yeah, amazingly she got reassigned in September." I said scratching my head and yawned, "Owen asked her to come out with us. Liss, when you come and visit, I need to take you to that club! It was so much fun! You would have loved it." Talking about a visit she got excited.

I had a sudden whiff of bacon and got very excited. "Liss I'm going to hunt some food down, I'll tell you all about the club later." I said closing the computer down.

I followed my nose to the kitchen. Where I found baba cooking. I walked behind him, he stopped what he was doing and turned to face me, he kissed me on the head passing me a cup of coffee. I groaned in thanks as I drank.

"Morning baba, why didn't you tell me you were coming in?"

"Because I heard you arrive home about 5am, I thought you'd need your beauty sleep." He winked at me.

"Meh, I don't need beauty sleep. I don't think I could get prettier." I smirked as I drank and pulled myself up on the counter while my father passed me a bacon sandwich. I groaned again in happiness as I ate.

"I have a surprise for you." He said leaning against the counter opposite me. "I have work in Baia over Christmas so I thought you may want to accompany me. I know you enjoyed Baia the last time, but now it's under happier circumstances I thought you'd enjoy it more."

"Yeah that could be good, when do we leave?"

Dad looked at his watch, "in about an hour."

"Sydney is here, don't scare her please." He rose and eye brow at that.

"What?"

"She doesn't seem the type to go out clubbing."

"Dad, she's 18 and away from parents." I told him as an explanation.

"She can come if she wants."

"Ok, I'll ask, I better go pack, what about Owen?"

"I already woke him, he knows."

Back in my room, Sydney had changed into her trousers from last night with one of my baggier shirts, "Dad said we were going to Baia for Christmas, if you wanted to come?"

"Thanks Rose, but I have work to do over the holidays. But we should defiantly do that again." She went home and I bet she flopped straight into her bed.

I was packed in minutes, dressed in my black skinny jeans and knee boots. I wore a baggy grey hoody over a vest top. I didn't have a lot of cold climate clothes anymore; I'd need to get some new winter clothes.

As I exited my room I ran literally into Owen, who was about to knock on my door. He caught me as I swayed. I placed my hand on his biceps to steady myself.

"Morning doll face." His face lightened up as he took me in, "you're looking good this morning." He stated as he stood in front of me.

"Morning yourself, sugar shack." I smiled back, he chuckled handing me a black coat.

"I had this spare. Russia can be freezing this time of year. We'll get you some winter clothes while shopping." He said as he kissed my forehead. I felt Goosebumps through my body. I don't know how he did it, but he made me feel cherished.

When we reached Moscow I realised just how Owen was right. It was freezing. His coat was welcome as we entered a cab to the hotel we'd be staying in for a few days. Abe took me shopping making me buy new everything. About a dozen shoes and bags, dresses for all occasions and just about every beauty product known to man. Of course it was too much.

Baba had to buy me 5 large suitcases to fit it all in. I packed some of my winter clothes and a few dresses in my duffle bag, leaving the rest. Baba said he'd send it home.

"Get used to it kiz, I want to spoil you. I have eighteen years to catch up on." Baba said over coffee when we returned back to the hotel. Pavel and Owen were sat with us whilst dads other guardians were sat at other tables always keeping watch always on duty. "Kiz relax."

"I am relaxed." I said taking a sip of my vanilla latte.

The next day we flew to the city closest to Baia, Novosibirsk. I tried not to think of the last time I was here. I didn't say anything but Owen quietly held my hand as we drove through the city. I was grateful; it felt like he was lending me his strength as we passed through the city. I sunk down in my seat, stuck my earphones in and pulled my new book out. I made myself think of nothing but the music and the book that I was reading and for the most part it worked. It took hours of driving but we managed to make it to Baia without issue. Baba's house was large but not as big as his house in Istanbul and it wasn't as cold as Moscow but it was still cold. It was dark by the time we entered the house, baba showing me my room so I could settle in. I was hungry but as I sat on my bed the exhaustion took a hold of me.

I was having nightmares, memories of when I was here earlier in the year. Dimitri chasing me through the maze, I just kept running but as I rounded a corner there he was, his teeth sinking into my neck. I woke with a start, falling of the bed, I was tangled in my blankets. I looked up at the ceiling feeling disorientated. I heard movement next to me and tensed up, ready to attack. I smelt him as I became more coherent. Owen. He was here.

"It's ok baby girl. I'm here." He held a hand out for me letting me close the distance. I felt tears fall down my face before he pulled me into his chest. We sat on the floor for a while until I started to shiver and Owen untangled himself before he then picked me up and placed me back on the bed where he wrapped me in the blankets. He made a move towards the sofa but then turned to look at me. He smiled and sat in the bed next to me, pulling me closer to him. My head rested on his chest his arm wrapped around me. I felt warm and safe. That was my last thought.

I woke up to the smell of Owen all around me.

"Good morning sleeping beauty." I smiled up at him.

"Thanks for last night." I said burying my face in his chest again. Man it's embarrassing.

"You were having a nightmare, it happens. No need to thank me." He shrugged like it was nothing. "It's 6am by the way." He said looking at the time. "Fancy a run?" Actually a run would be great. Owen headed to his room while I got changed in to my winter workout gear.

I entered the kitchen to grab water finding Abe sat at the table reading the paper. "Morning sweetheart."

"Morning baba. Owen and I are going for a run."

"You two seem close?" He had a small smile on his face.

"I had a nightmare." I told him before kissing him on the top of his head.

"I heard. You haven't had many of those recently." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"You having your staff spying on me?" I took a deep breath in held it then let it go, "It's probably just being here again. Dragging it all out again." I told him even as Owen strode in.

"You ready angel cake?" I nodded following him out and I let him take the lead.

We ran the street, many I started to recognise, more seemed familiar once I entered a different neighbourhood, I knew the area we were in, from when I was here earlier in the year. We'd been running for another hour when I noticed which road we were in. The Belikova's lived down this road. My pace slowed when I came to a stop outside a particular house. And on the porch stood a woman, I recognised her instantly. I stopped outside the gate looking up into the eyes of the old woman.

"What are you doing out in the cold? You'll freeze." I goaded her even as I moved towards her.

"Waiting for you obviously." She said sternly with a heavy accent.

"There's no way you knew I would be here, now." I said stopping in front of her. We stood in silence for about a minute, when we both smiled at the same time. Yeva stepped down from the porch and engulfed me in a hug.

"You did something amazing. Even if he is acting otherwise. You made the impossible happen." She looked behind me. "And who is this handsome young man?"

"This is Owen."

"Ma'am." Owen nodded his head to the old woman. She took his hand. "Yes, you'll do nicely for our Roza." She opened the door behind her gesturing for us to follow. She said something in Russian before I heard footsteps running through the house.

"Roza?" I heard several voices all at once. "Oh Roza, we were so worried! Thank god you're ok." Olena grabbed me as she came in from the kitchen. She embraced, pulling me in tightly. Followed closely by Karolina, Sonja, Paul and Vika.

"Oh Roza, I'm so sorry…" Vika started.

"No, there's no need. We're good." I said as she embraced me again. Poor Owen, he was just stood there watching as we all sobbed.

Olena refused to let us leave her house until we'd had breakfast. As it was Christmas eve we'd be seeing them tomorrow anyways but Olena wasn't having any of that. "Bring Zmey, tonight. I will make us a feast to celebrate." I couldn't refuse so I told her I'd bring him.

That evening we returned to the Belikova's. The evening was cold and wet, the wind picking up as it whipped the rain into our faces. I shivered as I entered the warm house of the Belikova's. In the lounge a fire was roaring in the hearth, around the downstairs everyone was scattered.

It was explained to me that, in Russia, they didn't actually celebrate Christmas until after New Year's but had a feast on Christmas Eve. We all crammed into the dining room, the table adorned with 12 dishes, Olena explained that they didn't follow all the rules but they did respect them. By the end of the meal I was full of great food and I'd had a lot to drink.

It was nearing midnight when Olena started to clear the table, telling everyone to retire to the living room where the girls soon gathered around Yeva. I started to help but Olena shooed me away towards Yeva. I was beckoned over by Vika. I sat on the floor in front of Yeva and next to Vika. Karo looked in a mirror, she spoke into the mirror and then she held still, no one moved or made a sound. After a while she told the mirror to get lost. Had they lost their marbles?

This was repeated with Sonja and Vika then they turned to me. "It is old magic, it is said your future husband will be shown to you in the mirror." Yeva told me gesturing me towards the mirror.

"Marriage isn't in my future." I told her while not moving from my spot. Yeva's face turned sombre as she placed an aging hand on my cheek.

"You have a whole unknown future my child. It may be different than you thought. But it is yours." I huffed but I still moved in front of the mirror. I kneeled down and looked in the mirror.

"Now say, 'my future husband, come and have dinner.' When he appears tell him to, 'get lost.' It's as simple as that, the figure may be a shadow or he may be defined."

I looked into the mirror and said the magic words. I sat there for what seemed like ages, this was old wives tales magic. I was about to give up when I saw a shadow in the mirror behind me. I held my breath. This wasn't a calm loving figure. This was a terrified person running for their lives. The figure fell to the floor while darker figures jumped on top of them. I watched in shock and terror, what could I do to help? Then one of the dark figures looked up at me. Its red eyes shining through the darkness, I felt it growl at me as it stood and moved towards me.

The figure, that I was sure was a Strigoi, stalked ever closer to me. I could feel the nausea wash over me as it came even closer. I wanted to shout for help but my gaze wouldn't leave the mirror, it was like I was held prisoner by the vision.

I must have made a sound as Yeva grasped my shoulder. "Release it Rose, tell it to get lost." I tried to speak but no sound would come out. I tried again, the Strigoi was right in front of the mirror. I still couldn't see its features, it was in shadows but I could see its glowing eyes staring me down, behind the Strigoi the now still figure burst into flames, I could hear screaming coming from them, god awful screams as people burned alive. I could feel tears running down my face, this was too much but I couldn't move.

Finally I managed to find the strength to speak. "Get lost." The second I said the words the mirror cracked just as the image disappeared and I was finally able to use my body again. I looked at Yeva whose face was white while she starred down at me. I sat up looking around, the nausea still had a hold of me though, something felt wrong.

I bolted up into the attack position, I looked around to Owen, I gave him the look, a look that said a million things all in a second. He didn't say a single word but nodded and ran for the door pulling one of his stakes out as he moved. The Belikova's, my father and his Guardians looked at me with a confused expression. I spoke one word. "Strigoi," as I ran for the door.