Vampire Academy

Last Sacrifice

Natasha Ozera

Natasha Ozera was beyond livid. Internally, a storm raged on. But on the outside, she knew she had to play a part of a worried friend, someone who could sympathise with Dimitri's frustration at the Guardians who had just arrested Rose.

She sat in his quarters. Quarters was a polite term. He was assigned a one-bedroom slash kitchen area that was hardly big enough to contain its occupants.

Dimka was under house arrest. That meant two Guardians always accompanied him. One stood outside and another stood at the door, keeping an eye on everything that went on inside.

Tasha looked at the stoic guardian once. He was a few inches taller than her and about the same age as Christian. This was surprising mainly because the guardians assigned to babysit Dimitri so far had been much more experienced.

Tasha took it as a sign that maybe things would not turn out to be so bad for Dimka after all.

For a moment she put her thoughts aside and focused on the dhampir in question.

He was frustrated and worse, desperate. Tasha hated seeing that desperation, and even more so because it was for Rose.

Dimitri had his hands clasped, his chin resting atop and his eyes closed.

For a moment, Tasha wanted to smooth his furrowed brows. She settled for a supportive hand on his knee instead.

It made him look at her.

"It's really unfair," she said. She had to take his mind off of Rose. "They are going to come around. They are going to let you be a guardian once more. And," Tasha bit her lip, "when they do we can-"

But Dimka wasn't listening to her. Not entirely.

"They can't take Rose away like that. I shouldn't have listened to her. I should have just-"

"What, Dimka? Should you have kept fighting? Are you listening to yourself?"

"Rose is in jail! I could have stopped that from happening," Dimitri snapped, "I should be there with her right now."

Tasha flinched.

Dimitri took it as a response to his raised voice, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine."

"Tasha, I." Dimitri sighed, "Now I've hurt you, too."

Tasha's gaze softened, "Look, Rose can look out for herself. She isn't your student anymore," she had to bite her inner cheek to stop saying girlfriend, "She isn't your responsibility. What she did, even if she hated Tatiana, it's... I can't imagine her doing it."

"That's because she didn't do it. I know she didn't."

Tasha nodded, "Of course, Dimka. I know, I know. Someone clearly went to great lengths to frame her."

That 'someone' was her but she didn't say that. Dimka needed her, she told herself. Dimka would see it eventually too, that it was her he needed.

The door opened suddenly. Both of them and the guardian as well turned.

Abe Mazur stood there. Intimidating and fierce, Tasha knew that Mazur was not a man she could cross. And to make the matters worse, Christian had told her that he was Rose's absent father.

Tasha could see the similarities. Not just the physical, but the traits too. Mazur dressed to make an impression that would last. From his clothes to his mannerisms, he made sure that no one could ever take him lightly or consider him a fleeting memory. Rose was the same. Wherever she went, she carried that aura too.

Then, of course, the rumours always surrounded him. Tasha knew he took delight in that. Even a child could figure it out. Rose too, was surrounded with whispers and rumours wherever she went. And both of them knew how to use them for their gains. Both of them were twisted, forcing their presence on others, unwanted

So yes, Tasha could see the resemblance.

Tasha stood up, "What brings you here?" She also noticed his lack of bodyguards, Moroi and Dhampir alike.

"Ah, Natasha. Nice to see you, too. I've business with Belikov," Ibrahim Mazur smiled pleasantly. His smile seemed more vicious to Tasha than pleasant.

Tasha's expectations fell.

Mazur probably had a plan to save his daughter. And he wanted Dimitri in on it.

No.

She hated the thought of it.

Mazur's stance told her that he was expecting her to leave. She turned to Dimitri, who had stood up with a determined look on his face.

Just then another guardian entered. Mikhail, her memory pulled up the name. Mikhail Tanner. Though she hadn't had any chance to talk to him, Tasha knew he was mostly posted at the desk or had the least interesting job. He relieved Dimitri's current babysitter.

Mazur smiled again, looking like the cunning bastard he was, Let's have a talk shall we, Dimitri?" Mazur didn't leave any room for an answer.

Dimka nodded.

"Lady Ozera, it was nice running into you," Mazur held the door open.

She didn't protest. And Dimka didn't even say goodbye.

Thank you for reading and reviewing.

Sacraa.