Chapter 24
"What the hell happened to her, why is she passed out on the couch!" Dimitri's voice spoke loudly, pissed at whoever he is talking to.
Groggy from the sleep I got up from the sofa in my father's office and saw both Abe and Dimitri were arguing at each other like a married couple was definitely starting to give me a headache. Which reminds me, why I am sleeping on the sofa in the first place.
"You both are giving me a damn headache would you both just shut the hell up before I go over their and do it myself." I barked making them both shut up and look towards me surprised.
"Roza, thank god you are alright let us get you to a doctor. You passed out unexpectedly." Dimitri spoke relieved that I was awake. Pavel sat in the corner amused.
"Nonsense she looks alright Belikov, she needs to tell me who contracted Marcus, the person responsible for the death threats. Just before you passed out you said you knew who it was, give me the name than go get looked at, we need to end this now before you give birth." Abe argues speaking for me before I could reply. Looking them over to Dimitri, he looked distraught, "Who is it Roza?"
"Dimitri…I can't," breaking eye contact from him. Another disappointment in his life and I had to be the one to tell him, especially when we finally were getting along.
"Roza who sent these letters," I remained silent, I was scared to tell him. "why are you hesitating is it someone I know, it doesn't matter tell me who threatened you?" Walking to Abe's desk I pull out Marcus's folder for his photo. Handing the photo of Marcus to him to take a look, his face morphed of shock than as everything clicked into place.
"Was it…" Dimitri mumbles, nodding instantly giving him confirmation who was behind it, he instantly looked grim. Other than Ivan she was one of the few old friends he had left, I felt bad for him I truly wish she could have accepted it and remined friends with him. Unfortunately, her selfishness clouded her mind and she wanted revenge on me for having Dimitri, his child as well as his love sent her on a spiral.
"I am sorry Roza, please let me take care of this. Forgive me for leaving you in a vulnerable spot, for letting her near you if I knew I would have delt with her before she got this far." Giving me one remorseful look before he ran out the door quickly. My heart ached; this was not his fault there was no reason for him to take blame. As much as it killed, he turned away from me I knew he needed to heal before he could ever face me after everything. Really, I was worried he would stay away from our child to long to miss all the firsts. Always wanting a family, he deserves to see it all even if we remained friends a co-parented.
Even if it hurts to see us not together, I will do this for our child because he is my world now, I will do what is best for him I will deal with the consequences. Dimitri assaulting a royal on probation will ruin him I will take care of her with Tatiana's help when it shows up.
Those documents were confidential, she stole from the queen as well as hire someone to kill a pregnant woman and try to steal the child even if she is a royal, she did a crime.
"Dimitri! Get back here. Stop!" I yelled trying to get him to come back. Being on probation and could end up locked up for good and weaponless against a fire user Royal moroi.
"Who is it young lady, who is the traitor that threatened you?" He demanded not liking being out of the loop.
"Tasha, Tasha Ozera is the person who threatened me. Makes me wonder how she knew and why she wanted to know so bad. Right now, we need to get to Dimitri before he kills her, call Tatiana and get Guardians, ill catch up to him and text you where they are." Dashing out the door to get to Dimitri before Abe could reply.
Worried he was going to do something stupid and jeopardising his future before he gotten it back.
Catching up with Guardian's Gray and Guardian Douche bag who always seemed to be guarding Dimitri.
"Where is he. "I asked.
"The princesses' house, he said he would be at their house." Nodding, I texted the old mam than quickly headed straight there. Rounding the corner a few moments later, I spotted him dragging her out of the house by her arm and hair as she cried hysterically. Both an angry Christian and Lissa came out frantic.
"What the hell is the meaning of this Belikov!" Christian growled, flames seeping through is fingers ready to attack any moment.
"Ask her that, how she dared to hire an assassin to kill Rose and take our child away form her." Dimitri growled in her face almost animalistic. "Ask her how she threatened to take everything from her and destroy her. All for what, me. After declining your proposal twice, you thought that if you killed the mother of my child I would some reason need you to raise my child for me. Tasha to pull something so sick and twisted makes me nauseous." Causing her to flinch. The man she loved destroyed her with so few words.
Christian sputtered at 'our' child's. "An assassin, what the hell is going on." Christian spoke, before looking at his aunt. "What the hell have you gotten yourself into Aunt Tasha, please tell me they are lying about the threats, Aunt Tasha why." Making me feel bad for him, it was not his fault his aunt is a psychotic bitch. Everyone he has ever loved has either went psycho or has abandoned. Lissa was the one person who has really ever been for him other than Tasha.
"This wouldn't have happened if she didn't open her legs and do the impossible and fall pregnant. She destroyed everything." She yelled towards me. "After turning back to a dhampir, it was blessing as well as perfect timing to move in on him when he was vulnerable and could not face you, but he was more concerned of his child that grows in you. With my knowledge of the child, I knew I had to have the child the only connection to Dimka loved the most other than you."
"Hey bitch, I am the one you're looking for right?
"What was your objective, pay Marcus to abduct a newborn baby than get away with murder. You carrying a child alone is suspicious enough not to mention he has my blood in his veins. You are sick Tasha, binging an innocent child in your games. You have a problem with me take it up with me but bring him in it and I will kill you myself, I will deal with the consequences protecting him."
"You have no idea little girl, even if you arrest me here tonight you will not live to see tomorrow. I am always a step ahead of you." She taunted. "As I keep saying I am always three steps ahead of you, don't underestimate me child I have been at this longer than you."
How long has she been this way? How did she end up this way, was I not the first girl she tried to kill out of 'Love' and jealously.
"What the hell does that mean, come and try me bitch I tend to still destroys faces these days. So, try me, that is if you can even take me down, he tried to get the better of me, now he's got a broken nose." I taunted pointing to Guardian who is rolling his eyes at my insult. "Oh wait, how insensitive of me." I bit my lip after the words came out. The woman's face was already marred from a tragic battle with her own family.
Instantly I felt a bit guilty at my words, I wish I could have said something different. Yes, she is a psycho, but those wounds were from saving her nephew from a wicked fate of being a strigoi when he grew a little older. Her scars held honor no matter how much I hated her. Even having with those scars, they still make her beautiful, that is why I felt the jealously when I met her back at the academy, I was jealous of the possible wife of Dimitri. Their history and familiarity was what I felt threatened last winter I would never wish to kill her, but I did not like her for wanting what I wanted. Truthfully sometimes I felt like they were better suited than and sometimes I still think they are till this day even when I am carrying his child.
But threatening my life and my child was not alright and for that she needs to be punished.
"How did you know about the identity of my child's father Tasha, who told you that as well as the top secret documents the Alchemist's were hiding for Tatiana. How did you figure this all out and what is your end goal for your threats." I asked firmly, the thought of Tasha working with more enemies made me sick to my stomach. "Why did you threaten me, why do you want my child so bad. Is this all for Dimitri. Is this what this is about, your want for Dimitri all to yourself. Killing his child's mother and taking the child as your own is not going to make him love you, if anything that will make him repulse you."
Looking at her I could not comprehend what is running through her head, how people can stoop this low for a guy. Fighting for a relationship that was heading down a dark path or a child in the mix but for someone who has no feelings for you is sick and twisted. Especially when you threaten the lives of his child and the child's mother. Tasha could not let him go so instead she took matters into her own hands and decided to intervene on our lives and attempted to kick me out of the role for good while taking my place as mother.
"Oh, the knowledge that you bare a full blooded dhampir, Dimitri's offspring, a child that should have been mine not yours. Leave it to you to ruin it yet again, some how I knew back than you where the reason he declined the thought of a family and to be my guardian. So, it got me thinking and I observed and than it made sense, I caught him looking at you a few days before I had left Christian at the academy after winter break. He had the look of love and home, his teenager student.
You want to blame someone for my knowledge on the documents and about you and who had them blame Tatiana, she was how I found about it all, that old wench was talking to your father who I didn't know at the time about the how she sent to the Alchemists, she didn't want the knowledge out in the world, they talks a bit about you and about being shadow kissed and spirit which got me thinking about Vasilisa's spirit and you coming back from the dead." She explained, still being held down by Dimitri's guardians. "So, I got curious and did some digging and hired an old friend, Marcus to do the dirty work. After reading the documents and reports with the shock of finding out there was a possibility you can conceive with dhampirs made me feel disgusted. I had hope Dimka wouldn't have sunken so low," Making him flinch at her words. "When I caught the tail end of a conversation Vasilisa had with you about you being pregnant there was a chance that child was his, I decided to set another contract with Marcus and stayed close by to observe until the moment you give birth. You were not supposed to find out."
"So, you what, want to playhouse with my child and a man who doesn't want you. Are you seriously that desperate, you are repulsive and should be ashamed of yourself you psychotic bitch." I yelled.
"You wait, I will kill you." Tasha chuckled, darkly as the guardian's let her up from the ground but still held onto her tightly. "You may not die by my hands, but Marcus has one more job and he will not rest until you die."
"My death will not be penciled on someone's calendar." I hissed walking a bit closer. "I have faced a lot more than you think, I can handle what ever you throw at me. Watching my best friend die after being kidnapped, flying across the words to with hold a promise than look for the impossible to bring him back. As well as having a miracle child, I have faced so much since returning to St Vladimir's, you nor an assassin is going to take me out. When they said I died believe them, I will come back and kick your ass for making me lose out on the happy moments of my birth. Bitch."
Tasha snorted at my words.
"Mark my words Tasha, I am warning you that if you take a shot at me or use magic you are my enemy not a royal or Christian's aunt. If you do not take this final warning seriously, I will put your ass in the hospital where you will wish you did not survive what I have instore for you, for making my life miserable though my pregnancy." I growled protectively; I will murder the bitch if I have to no one touches my child.
"I will burn you alive." She growled thrashing around trying to break free and come at me. "I will make you pay of everything you have caused." Getting one arm free she threw a fire ball at me. Dodging it I was going to smack the bitch when I get close enough. That thing could have hit me.
"Tasha cut it out." Christian yelled. "If the guy doesn't want you back off, why do you need tot threaten Rose."
"Christian stay out of this, this is between the homewrecker and I." Making me roll my eyes.
How am I the homeworker you dumb ass. Go see a doctor and get your noggin checked out you mental case.
Another fire ball came my way hitting my shoulder. Hissing in pain, my knee's gave out. Lissa screamed running towards me, with Christian in tow. Dimitri and his two guardians where trying to get a grip on her without getting burned in the process. She was sprouting fire like a mad woman.
Throwing another towards me it was coming towards Lissa as well, pushing her to the side I got hit again on my back. Letting out a cry of pain I blocked Lissa from the fire ball before it could get her.
Just before I could move, another fire ball from Tasha was coming at us again this time Lissa jumped in front but not before Christian followed forward and took the hit for us. Hissing Christian falls forward to the ground.
Lissa lurched forward to heal him. "Christian, oh my gosh are you alright." Placing her hands over his injury she began to heal him. Dimitri's guardians' finally subdued her holding her hands down so she could not strike at anyone anymore, but she was still putting up a fight. Being a martial arts teacher put her at an advantage.
Kicking into gear I moved Lissa and an injured Christian to a far enough distance where she cannot hit us. Analyzing my surroundings, I look for something I can use to as an advantage. She may be a Moroi and I cannot kill her like a Strigoi, but I can use something to subdue her until the royal guards arrive to arrest her. She was not backing down still struggling.
Still stinging and injured from the fire balls I walked towards her. She needs a good lesson on hurting innocent people and for her crimes. This bitch is going to feel my fists, I thirst to beat her ass for her selfishness.
"Not so tough now arnt you Tasha, now its your turn to feel some pain as I beat you" curling my hand into a fist I strike her in her face. I felt a sickening crack when I landed a forceful punch even, I cringed at bit. "Does it hurt; do you feel the sting of your consequences. Punching her again blood dripped everywhere. My knuckles spit under the pressure.
"Roza cut it out, you will kill her." Dimitri speaks from behind me. "Think of our child he needs his mother; you don't want to spend time in prison for killing a Royal who will get what's coming for her. She lost Roza."
Placing his hand on my shoulders he tries to pull me away from her. Pulling me away from her he took me towards the now parked suv's behind us.
Tatiana's guardians surrounded the place, piling out of the vehicles, witnessing Tasha's treachery they clearly knew she had caused harm to her nephew and I. Standing beside Dimitri as they advanced towards her, I got a view of Tasha getting arrested.
Abe stepped out of the suv with Guardian Hans.
"Tasha Ozera give up now and turn yourself in. Dare to put up more of a fight, you will face harsher charges in court." Hans spoke in a commanding voice, similar to how Abe talks.
"With theft of high classified documents, threatening a pregnant dhampir with death and kidnap to her child as well by hiring an assassin do not forget the assault, harassment, misconduct of magic, attempted murder, as well as your treason by attempting to frame Rose for murder of our Queen, but the assassin failed. Yes Ms. Ozera I am aware of your heinous plans, all thanks to Mr. Mazur we finally got you got you when you became sloppy and Mrs. Hathaway connected the dots, we had three suspects, but you lost your patience and that was our gain your downfall."
"Where is Marcus Oliver, he may have failed that plan, but he slipped away before the guardians could take him down. Tell me where he is hiding!"
"And let her win, no chance if I am going, I am taking her with me." Tasha. Chuckles darkly. "He is doing exactly what I have asked him to do. He still has another job to do. Tatiana was a two for one before I slipped away for awhile. The plan was to compel Dimitri and meet Lissa and Christian in Switzerland after I finished Rose off when everyone was distracted."
Lissa looked up at Christian sadly, he was sitting her watching his aunt talk about her bad intentions. His face masked sadness and disappoint towards his aunt, the only family he really had left.
Watching her being cuffed gave me satisfaction, I won, and she will be far away forever. "You think you won whore you lost, if I can't have you can either." Confused of her words I stepped forward moving to the from of the car to ask her what she meant, but it was pointless she won.
After getting a good night of sleep with Lissa and Christian in the guest room for the night because Dimitri had kicked the door down their when he went to get Tasha in a fury, not safe to stay there they are staying with me until the door's fixed.
Still not fully healed from burns and bruises I tiredly treaded down the pathway to my house across court to hear them question Tasha. Stopping at a bakery and coffee shop for lunch and refreshments with Lissa and Christian after they ran home to change and shower, we headed to the interrogation room.
Walking down the corridor with them in tow we were close to the room.
Someone placed a hand on my shoulder, turning around it was Christian. "Hey before we go in could you and I talk alone for a moment?" Looking to Lissa she nodded sincerely before grabbing the drinks and went into the room. Leaving us alone.
"What do you want to talk about Ozera?" I asked.
"I... Its about my Aunt Tasha. Look I am sorry she threatened you, I had no idea she was obsessed and hated you she never gave me any reason to think she didn't like you." He spoke raking his fingers through his jet-black hair. "You and I are also not remarkably close, but I would never wish you death. Even if you are annoying."
" She didn't want you to know, she didn't want you in the middle of her scheming. This whole thing is not your fault so do not blame yourself for her crimes or your parents. You may bare the Ozera name, but you are not to blame for their crimes you are not a bad guy."
"Wow, I didn't know you had any nice bone in your body. I netter mark this date on the calendar." He sarcastically spoke walking towards the door Lissa went into with our lunches in hand, before stopping to look at me. "Thank you, you're not so bad yourself even if you are crazy." Making me chuckle before following him into the room.
In the room was Hans, Dimitri, Lissa some other guardians all looking at Abe in the room with Tasha along with Pavel. Hans was on his phone talking quietly off to the side of the room.
"Where is Marcus Tasha," Abe asked, circling around her like a predator is circling his prey. Abe will not give up until he get what he wants, and that Marcus Oliver. "Ms. Ozera, I do not wish to hit or hurt a lady in general or one who comes from a royal background, but with permission by our majesty we need the intel at any cost. Any cost meaning by force if I have to do you understand."
Tasha gulped clearly affected by Abe's harsh side.
"I will talk but only to Dimka," Tasha propositioned. "Dimka or nothing." Making me sigh. Of course, she would use this to her advantage. Dimitri being the noble person will take this if it means getting the job done.
Just as Dimitri was leaving Hans got off the phone and gave us an important update on Marcus.
He was in court. He was close by.
"We just informed that two guardians had died and that a suv was stolen just after we left to capture Tatiana. We think Marcus is using it as a get away once he finishes his contract. He managed to find the tracker, so we are at a loss to where he is hiding on court, so far no one has called in on anything mysterious." Hans explained, looking to me as while I sighed with frustration at me being the target. When will I be able to relax, my whole last two years has been hell. When will I stop being the target of every big bad, even just a bit of peace would be nice. The last year and a bit I have had disaster after disaster.
Taking the information with him Dimitri left the room to go question Tasha.
Walking over the mirror that I watch them. Dimitri waited for Abe and Pavel to exit before speaking to her. "Why did you want to talk to me, why couldn't you just tell Mr. Mazur."
"Well, if I am going to get locked up, I want to see you before I go." Tasha spoke completely serious now. "To have one more last conversation with the man I loved."
"Tasha…you know who my feeling are for you know we would never happen. You need to tell me where Marcus is Tasha." Dimitri replied, not falling for Tasha's words.
"I will call Marcus and will end the assassination on her pretty little head on one condition." Tasha bargained. Clearing playing games with him, games with us. Considering she is the only one who knows the plan and where Marcus is, she is at an advantage.
'What Tasha, what is this condition." Dimitri spoke putting on his guardian mask he took a seat across her getting down to business. "What makes you think I will agree to this bargain, especially after everything you have done."
"Yes, for you I would do anything will you agree is what determines her future." She spoke with a sly grin. What is she up to.
"Leave Rose Hathaway and never return. You stay with her and he will return and finish her off."
My jaw dropped, Dimitri's face masked shock. Everyone was caught off guard.
Tasha managed to up one. Feeling a tiny ache in myside was starting to bother me, I do not think the baby is ready right now, but it would start to appear when I overexert myself and get to worked up.
"You want me to leave Rose, again?" He spoke, leaning slightly back in his seat. "Why would you think id leave her, I would die for her before I would let him get to her that is something you don't understand."
Tasha's face held satisfaction. Marcus will not stop until I died.
"Then watch your precious Rose die, if you manage to keep her safe until after the baby is born maybe you will be able to save him. If not, you will be able to watch him breathe a few breathes before he dies." Making me gag, Lissa whimpered into her hands at the words her boyfriends aunt spoke. Everyone was surprised at her ruthlessness, all for her version of love.
Christian looked at me sadly before looking at me with determination. "For my aunts threat and until this Marcus gets caught, I will join Belikov in taking him down."
"Cute but he is a trained assassin that could kill you in seconds." I replied slightly amused before looking back to Dimitri and Tasha. "You really love him huh, must have been all of that sweaty training together." Christian whispered to me before Lissa told him to shut up, me I laughed at his foolishness.
"Yeah, that I do." I answered quietly, we did not need Hans aware Dimitri slept with his student, even if it was only two weeks until my eighteenth birthday.
"He's going to treat you right this time?"
"None of your business big brother I can handle him myself." I replied sarcastically.
"Just curious hats all don't need to bite my head off mama bear." Making me shake my head at his mother reference.
"I am through with you Tasha, consider yourself someone I have grown to hate. What happened to the old Tasha the woman who was my friend." Dimitri spoke. "When I leave this room, you will never see me again."
"You will come back," She answered wickedly. "They always do, may not be now but one day you will."
"You believe what you want but I am done. Goodbye Tasha." Before getting up from his seat.
"Abe you take over. We are done talking, before leaving the room.
Leaving my room, I follow Dimitri down the hallway to talk to him. "Hey comrade, wait up and speak to me." When we got to the little courtyard, it was evening moroi time, so it was currently vacant.
"Don't worry about me Roza I just need some fresh air." Dimitri answered.
"Its alright I wanted to come out and stretch a bit, I keep feeling an ache." I replied.
"Is it bad, do you need to see a doctor?" He asked concerned.
"I am fine don't worry about it." I answered.
"While we are out here alone, I want to ask you something." Dimitri asked nervously.
"Yeah, what is it? Ask me anything you want, and I will answer you."
"Roza will you please give me another chance. I am asking you to let me make up for all of my past mistakes I have ever made and show you and our child what having a family is supposed to be like. "Dimitri pleaded, holding me for dear life. The fact he is showing me this emotion made me surprised.
"Your hurt me a lot, you told me your love faded and refused to admit our child was yours." I argued.
"I am sorry Roza, I felt like a burden I didn't want to hurt you or our child after everything I did as a strigoi."
"I never blamed you for that comrade, I understood you needed time to heal but the word you spoke where harsh." I replied sighing. "I am not going to lie to you, though I am able to forgive you, but we need to take this slow and one step at a time."
"You will me an amazing mama to our little one." Dimitri grinned at me; my heart was beating erratically. Holding each other quietly I felt at home in his arms. "Please Roza, let me show you how a woman is supposed to be treated. My babushka and mama would be disappointed in my words and actions, please forgive me I was not raised to do what I did."
"Come home Dimitri, come home and never leave our side again." I mumbled into his chest. Dimitri gripped me slightly letting me know he heard my words. Mama knows best. I told you little guy I would bring you papa home to us, your father just lost himself for awhile.
"Take me home please, today has been tiring and our son is always tiring me out." I asked." I am scared with Marcus close by."
"Don't worry Roza, Marcus will have to go through me before he can get to you." Dimitri protested.
"Your cant guarantee that comrade. But if anything happens, I need you to take care of our child. I will fight like hell to get back to you, but I need him and you to be safe."
"Don't you say that. You will be alright." Dimitri argued. "Grad your stuff and we will head back now.
Nodding my head, I went to grab my stuff.
'Hey, Rose, would you mind if Christian and I stayed another night at your place. Our house isn't going to be fixed until tomorrow."
"Yeah, that's fine follow me." I agreed.
"See you later old man." Waving to my old man who was talking to Hans. Giving me a nod, he turned back to his conversation. Picking up their belongings the followed me to where we were meeting Dimitri.
"We got company comrade." I spoke walking towards him who was waiting for us at the headquarters parking lot. Both Lissa and Christian were behind me, Lissa waved to Dimitri innocently.
A bath and sleep sounded blissful right now.
"When we get back to your place, I will heal those burns for you Rose, we don't want them getting infected." Lissa spoke out of the blue. Nodding to her I turned back to ground ahead of me.
"Not a problem, lets get you guys home. When we get back, I will call your father to bring extra guardians to watch the place until Marcus is caught."
Just before I could make it to him before I could even mutter a word, a light from my left and the sound of a suv was coming my way.
I was to slow, preparing for impact I needed to protect my stomach, protect my baby for his life was more important than my own.
Dimitri was leaning over me, yelling at me to stay awake after the vehicle hit me.
The last few things I heard was the screams of the people I loved and was her laugh.
Tasha's wicked voice was the last thing I heard echoing in my mind.
Muttering the words before I blacked out was to save my baby, protect him.
I let the darkness take me. I prayed my child would survive.