Authors Note: Yay! I am so excited that you all are liking the story. I know its a little slow so far, but from here on out its gonna be more of everything. So I hope you all are ready. just as a reminder: this IS a DxR pairing. And I am trying to be as realistic as possible when comes to the characters and how they would act IRL, not fantasy land.
and I am so happy that I have now reached over 100 followers. thank you so much, everyone. it really warms my heart 3
With that said. Thank you all for reading and giving reviews.
With love, Vika
My eyes widen at her declaration and I quickly glanced around the table to see if anyone had heard her. When I focused my attention back to her, she gave me this "cat got your tongue" smile.
"Sonya...it's complicated okay. I can explain it all to you later, just not now. Besides, it wouldn't matter if I did. It looks like that he is with Tasha." I Whispered back.
She frowned at what I had said and glanced at Dimitri. She had this soft smile on her lips and a determined look in her eyes. I peeked across the table to find Dimitri frowning at Tasha's forward approach to hold his hand and watched with interest as he gave her a "knock it off" look before retrieving his hand. Hmm, interesting. I saw the hurt in her eyes but she quickly covered it up by giggling and joking that he was just being shy.
I felt my lips tug upward into a smirk in satisfaction as I watched her attempts to flirt and lore Dimitri failed. Looking back towards Sonya, I began to start the conversation back up.
"Sonya, I want to congratulate you on your upcoming marriage, Mikhail told me all about it on the drive here. You two have gone through so much and you deserve to be happy for the rest of your lives."
Sonya had tears in her eyes at the end of my little speech and she lunged at me, hugging me close to her. We caught the entire tables attention and everyone looked at me with curious eyes.
"All I did was congratulate her on getting married and that I was happy for them," I explained.
"It is not just that Rose. It's just that none of this would have even been possible without your help. You did everything in your power to figure out to restore a Strigoi back to their original self. If you hadn't done all the research and believed that there was a way, then I wouldn't be here. Dimitri wouldn't be here. We would still be out there in the world, killing innocents. We owe you so much." She wept, Mikhail came to stand beside us and was patting her back, try to calm her tears.
"Um hello?! What am I? Chopped liver? If I recall, it was I who shoved the spirit enchanted stake in your chests and turned you back to normal." Vasilisa hissed the words, causing most of us to look at her with anger.
"You did one thing, Lissa. Rose was the one who actually did most of the work and took risk after risk. The credit for this discovery should belong to rose. And to think she did it all just to save her Ex mentor." Adrian snapped at her. Causing her to sink back in her chair, mumbling her displeasure at not being shown gratitude.
After giving a final squeeze, I transferred Sonya to Mikhail and spoke aloud to everyone. "Come on you guys, this is no time to be talking about this stuff. None of you owe me anything. We are here to catch up with each other and celebrate all the good things happening in our lives. Now, let us all drink up, eat and have fun."
After that we all seemed to remember being brought food and I will not lie, it looked so good! It has been forever since I have eaten lasagna with a side salad. I wait until I see Adrian and Sydney take a bite before I start digging in. Savoring the taste. We ate our meal in silence except for the occasional sound of Tasha trying to get Dimitri to eat off her fork. I mentally gagged every time, wishing, willing her glass of red wine to fall and spill on her baby blue dress.
"Rose, would you like something off the dessert tray?" Sydney asked
My entire mood just flipped at hearing those words and I looked at her with a devilish smile. "Do you got a dark chocolate cake?" I practically purred.
Everyone started to laugh as I was handed my cake and took the first bite, letting my eyes roll back as soon as it hit my tongue. Well everyone laughed except for Dimitri. He just smiled softly and his eyes gleamed with want.
"No matter how much you've changed Rose, underneath, you're still the same girl we know and love." Christian chuckled.
I stop mid-bite and really look at Christian and the others as they all shake there heads in agreement and for a moment I am thrilled, but then I remember what Celeste said and my smile falters a little. I wonder if they would all agree when they learn the truth.
I reach for my glass when I start hearing shouts coming from outside the building. I looked around to see if the others can hear it as well, but no one gives any indication of it. I quickly stood up, the chair scuffing the floor, and went to the open window. I could feel everyone's eyes on me, trying to figure out what I was doing. I vaguely even heard Erik call my name.
Sticking my head out the window, I could hear them more clearly as the wind carried the sound of their screams. Taking a deep breath through my nose I tried to sift through all the scents. My eyes shot open when I recognized a certain one. I spun around and started to blow out all the candle lights and told Erik to turn off the overhead light.
"Rose what are you doing? What's going on?" Adrian demanded.
Ignoring him, I turned to Erik and Christian. "Erik, go tell the staff to lock all windows and doors and to close the drapes. Also, tell them to shut off all lights and to go hide. Avoid from making any loud sounds. Christian, take the others and go hide them in Adrian's safe room."
As Erik bolted from the room, I closed the drapes in the dining room and locked all windows. Christian was trying to get everyone through the secret passage door in the wall when I noticed how Dimitri, Eddie, and Mikhail all stood in the middle of the room, not moving an inch.
"Rose! Sydney hasn't returned yet with the baby." Adrian panicked.
Just then Sydney and a crying baby entered the room and I let out a relieved sigh. After hurrying her into the safe room, I doubled checked to see if everyone was in. I glanced behind me and looked at the three guardians who stared back at me with a determined look on their faces. Looking back into the safe room until my eyes found Christian, I grabbed him into a tight hug and told him to keep the others safe. I then pushed him and quickly shut the door on his stunned face, feeling the locks twist and turn in the wall. Assuring that nothing can get in through the outside.
I turned to find Erik stepping into the room with a grave look across his face. I met him halfway with the other guardians and waited until he spoke.
"I looked out of one of the top floor windows... the west side of the court is surrounded in flames and there are maybe two hundred fighting in the courtyard. Rose, they brought Strigoi here with them. It seems that they are recruiting them now instead of just killing them off." Erik whispered as we sat in the chairs.
"I didn't think she would attack this soon, I thought we still had more time. She sure does have a habit of keeping me on my toes." I replied emotionless.
"Rose, we should go and help the others. We shouldn't be just sitting here." Eddie added as he started to get up.
I grabbed his collar and brought his face to mine. "We are not going anywhere. We are all staying put. You don't know what is out there. I am sure that when it comes to fighting and killing Strigoi, you know how to kick some major ass. However, you do not know how to kill a Voidkin. You are not even trained to fight one yet. Why do you think I am here Eddie, to just lollygag with everyone? I am here to help you Guardians prepare for a war. A war against a new species, a new evil. You go out now, and you will only get yourself killed." I growled as I forced him to sit on the floor.
I took a step back and ran my hands through my hair, pacing back and forth. Trying to calm the beast that raged inside. It could hear all the fighting, smell the blood, and it wanted out.
"You don't understand," looking at them in the eyes one by one. "They are far different than a Strigoi. A Sliver stake won't kill them. It will injure them, yes. But nothing more. They are part Fae, part Strigoi. The race first began long ago. But only recently these past few years have they exposed themselves. They can still use magic and still have souls. But unless they fight to keep in control, to be the person they once were, they will lose themselves to the beast." I explained
"You speak as you have experienced it."
I tensed at his words, but my subconscious-self was practically drooling at hearing his voice. It was still thick with his Russian accent and hearing it was like eating chocolate for the first time. I turned to him and shrugged, not letting him know just how much he still affected me,
"I had a friend who was turned." I lied.
Dimitri's eyes narrowed a little but he didn't question me further.
"We are staying to protect the others and the staff. If we went out there, we would be leaving them vulnerable. However, we must refrain from talking so much and too loudly. Voidkins have an exceptionally good hearing." Erik reasoned with the others, but I could detect a little humor there.
I gave a light chuckle and walked toward the window, watching for any kind of sign of what to do next. I know I have to find a way to get a hold of Hans, but how?
I scanned through the bodies of my fallen allies, and even though I felt a sadness for them, I had to think. I had to look for a radio. After eight minutes of looking, I finally found one. It was on the back him of a fellow Guardian and its light was still on. Judging the distance and taking into account the chances of me being caught. I decided to take the risk. I walked towards the men and cleared my throat to get their attention.
"I'm going out there to retrieve a communication device I saw on a fallen Guardian. The light was still on so it hasn't died yet. I need Erik and Mikhail guarding the front door, Dimitri and Eddie keep guarding the safe room in the dining room. If anything gets in beside us. Kill it." I spoke with such authority, it made me get goosebumps.
"Rose...Tsvetok... that is a great risk. She will sense that you are out there and she will not stop until she has you. One of us should do it." Erik spoke softly as he cupped my face with his hands, making me look at him. His eyes were filled with worry and I just knew he would fight me against this plan.
With a defeated sigh, I turned towards Dimitri and asked him if he would get the radio instead. Even though he had the look of indifference on his face, I could see the hurt and anger in his eyes. He replied with a nod and then left the dining room.
I turned my gaze back to Erik when I heard him chuckle, "That man is easily aggravated isn't he?"
"It would seem so... Erik, stay here with Eddie. Mikhail and I will go be the front line of defense." I said as I walked out of the room and straight to the front door where Dimitri was waiting.
When Mikhail caught up, I explained to Dimitri where the radio would be and that he was going to have to take his time getting there. We slowly opened the front door to avoid detection and when we decided it was clear, Dimitri crept slowly down the stairs and into the front lawn where the bodies of fellow Guardians laid dead.
I was scanning our surrounding, making sure that he was not being noticed by any of the enemy's nearby. I watched as Guardians where fighting against the Voidkin, I watched as they fell one by one in defeat. I felt my anger rise, I wanted to help. But I knew that if I were to fight, my identity would be known. And I couldn't risk that. I couldn't risk losing control.
"It's awful to watch, knowing that there is nothing you can do," Mikhail stated.
"It is. But there has got to be something we can do. If we can reach Hans then maybe we could find a way for us to get as many people as we can and escape. I know that it is just a wishful thought, but I just want to do something. I can't stand seeing them all being slaughtered." I replied
"I got the radio and I was able to reach Hans. Apparently, most of the Royals have been safely evacuated, including the Queen. Hans said that there is a secret underground passage that would lead us to the state border of New York. It is an eight-mile walk and it would most likely be mid-day when we got out." Dimitri's voiced as he ran back up the stairs and through the doors.
Mikhail closed the doors and we sprinted back into the dining room where the rest of our friends where. The door to the safe room was already opening and Dimitri was instructing everyone on what the plan was. I watched quietly as Dimitri took charge and lead everyone out of the room and through the mansion, out to the backyard. I looked around to make sure it was safe and that we wouldn't be noticed and stayed near the door until I was sure that everyone, including the staff, got out safely.
We followed after Dimitri towards a fountain, I watched as he bent down and pressed in a stone block and then the whole thing was sliding back, revealing a stone staircase that seemed to go down forever. Everyone was rushing down into the darkness with the hope of being safe and alive when I heard a howl of pure pain. I looked around and realized that Erik was nowhere around, images started to pop into my head of the worst things that were happening.
I started walking back to the building when a hand grabbed my wrist and pulling me down the stairs. I quickly turned around and grabbed the person's neck and let out a snarl to warn them to back the fuck off.
"Its okay Rose, I am right here. That wasn't me howling." Erik breathed out as my hand slowly uncurled from around his neck.
I sighed and let my body relax as Erik took my hand and lead me down the stairs towards the rest of the group. When we got far enough into the tunnel, we saw a group of people with small torches. I listened as people talked about what was going on, I listened as Tasha was acting like a scarred naive girl and hung onto Dimitri's arm, I listened when Sydney said that we just passed the two-mile marker. I was just so tired and felt like all the energy was being drained from me, I spaced out so much that I didn't even notice when the group started to sit down and rest.
I could tell that Dawn was approaching, my mind started to haze a little. I scanned at all the people that were here. The staff were sticking together and whispered of the slaughter they witnessed, Adrian was comforting the baby and Sydney, and Tasha was with Christian and Dimitri talking about what they were supposed to do once they were out of the tunnels.
I sniffed through the air to detect any scents that would indicate that danger was near but nothing seemed out of place. Instead, all I could smell was earth and the unique scent everyone gave off.
"Christian. Do you know what time it is?" I questioned.
He looked down at his wristwatch and sighed drastically. "Well, it is almost your bedtime young lady." He snickered. "But seriously, it is almost seven in the morning. Which means the sun is rising." He stated in a serious tone.
That means it has been three hours since the attack started and we escaped down into the tunnel. Funny, it feels like it just happened in a span of a couple minutes.
"Feed..."
I automatically tensed up.
"Need...to...feed... want...Blood!"
I flinched as I heard the voice, my own voice, in my head demanding to be given what it desired. I gripped my leg and began to dig my nails into my skin. Trying to distract my mind with pain. I don't understand, I've been able to not feed for as long as two weeks. Why is it starting now? So soon?
I looked around and started to pay close attention to their body and clothes, inspecting to see if any of them were bleeding. I scanned them all slowly and sniffed the air for that sweet smell, but I came up empty.
I caught Dimitri looking at me when I moved my eyes to him. I gasped when I felt this sudden electricity course through my body and by the way his lips parted, I could tell that he felt it too. However, his eyes were also looking at me with concern and confusion.
"Wants him...needs him.." The voice whimpered
"Your spell is flickering Tsvetok, Concentrate. Don't let it control you." Erik breathed.
I jumped in place when Erik spoke and looked at him in panic. This can't be happening, they can't know yet. They will be afraid and run, and if I lose control then there is no stopping this hunger until it is
quenched. I quickly stood up and paced back and forth, staring at the floor. Trying to pull it together and keep the spell in place.
I low growl came from my throat in frustration. I was failing. I could see red at the edge of my sight, and my markings on my wrist were showing. I looked towards Erik and hissed quietly.
"Get. Them. Out."
He looked at me with shock and then understanding. I turned from the others and started to walk a little away from them.
"Rose?!" I heard Dimitri shout.
"She is fine, don't worry. Right now we need to get everyone back on the move. We have been on a long enough break." Erik told him.
"What about Rose?" Christian asked innocently.
"She is going to be staying at the back of the group as a line of defense, in case the Voidkin find a way down here," Erik stated.
With that said, I watched from a distance as the group gathered back up and started walking. Dimitri being the last to start walking, looked back at my direction with a look of longing. With how dark it was, I'm pretty sure he couldn't see me. But that look, it captivated me.
"Want him...take him.."
A growl emanated from my throat and my body moved forward on its own. Dimitri's face becomes hard and his eyes scanned the darkness I was hiding in. By now I knew the spell broke and that my true self, was now exposed for all to see.
I chuckled out loud when I saw Dimitri reached for his stake and take a fighting stance. His eyes swiftly looked in my direction and it looked like he was thinking of an answer to a very complicated question.
"Dimitri.." He relaxed and breathed out a sigh of relief...
"Run."
