Authors Note:
Hey everyone! sorry, it took me so long to write this chapter. I have been going over it a lot to correct any mistakes, plus working full time and all. I apologize for the late update and promise to do better. Also, I'm sorry if there are still a few mistakes.
Furthermore, I want to let you all know that I have never written from a man's point of view, so if it kinda sucks, I apologize and will try to do better. Anyways, I hope you enjoy! :)
Once we got to the Ivashkov's house and put the vehicle in park, I watched with envy as Erik toke Roza and bolted inside the house, followed by Christian. As I got out, I did a quick scan of the area before going back and letting out the Princess and the other two. The Princess shot me a glare as she got out, but I choose to ignore as I pushed the door shut. Ms. Ranoldi gave her Fiancee a peck on the cheek before heading into the building as well.
"You ignored an order Belikov." Vasilisa sneered.
"I did what I thought to be right. We will be needing their help. Now more than before Princess." I said with indifference.
"I doubt it. They seem pretty useless to me." She scoffed as she stomped towards the house.
"I don't know how you put up with that Belikov. If I were you, I would have transferred a while ago." Eddie sighed while shaking his head.
I walked around the house and searched for any signs of threat and made sure that the wards were up to date and connected. I entered the building through the back door and quickly locked it behind me and drew the curtain closed. Upon entering the living room, I was rushed at and hugged tightly by a very emotional Tasha. Glancing up and catching the eyes of Adrian and Eddie, who motioned towards the T.V.
Looking at the device, my eyes widen slightly in shock as I saw the entire castle grounds of the Court up in flames. There were five fire trucks and two life support helicopters that were loading up any survivors and a lot of black body bags on the lawn. I felt like I just had the life sucked out of me...again. I pinched the bridge of my nose while I thought back to the events that took place just hours ago. I unwind Tasha's arms from me and walked to one of the empty bedrooms and sat on the bed.
Rose...My Roza was one of those...those things, a Voidkin. I just don't understand, how did that happen? It has only been three years since I last saw her, what all happened?
I placed my hand on the left side of my neck, expecting to find the puncture marks that she made when she bit me, only to feel smooth skin and dried blood. Impossible. I sprinted towards the bathroom and looked at my reflection in the mirror, wincing a bit when I saw how shitty I really looked. Looking closely at my neck the only thing I saw was a lot of dried blood smeared on my skin. I recalled at the sensation I got when I felt her tongue slide across my skin and my body shivered in need. Washing the blood off in the sink, I thought more on how Rose changed.
Before I found out that she is one of those monsters, she seemed more mature, grown. She has come along way from the teenager I knew her as. But she had this coldness around her like she was always on guard. I know why now, but back then it didn't. Though when she was around Agent Volkov and Ozera, she was completely at ease with them and everyone else. Until she sees me or Tasha or the Princess. I couldn't blame her for it either after she saw what Tasha and I did. I felt guilty, even more so when I told her those horrible four words. I knew they were a lie, but she didn't. And to see the light in her eyes fade away and be replaced by emptiness, broke my heart.
And in my grief, I let my guard down and let Tasha comfort me, never expecting her to take advantage of the situation. I wasn't even thinking when she kissed me, my body just reacted on it own. But still, I am as much to blame as Tasha. And the worst of it all was I wasn't even able to explain to her, to talk to her. Because during my shift, I overheard Eddie and Lord Ozera talking in the hallway.
-FLASHBACK-
"She left early this morning. She left a letter for you, she didn't have enough time to say goodbye to everyone, so she wrote letters for all of us." He said as he handed Eddie an envelope.
I watched as they parted ways and Eddie walked towards me, standing next to me in front of Vasilisa's apartment door. At first, he didn't say anything or even look at me, but after about five minutes of silence, he caved.
" I know you saw Christian and I talking over there. Is there anything you'd like to say?" He asked in a bored tone.
" Why would I be interested in something that has got nothing to do to me?" I responded.
The way he looked at me when I said that was a look of complete shock. I honestly didn't know why he seemed to think I cared about some girl. Or the fact that I would be interested in what kind of gossip that was floating around.
"That's cold, even for you. I mean, after all the things she has done for you and what all she has risked... I know you guys weren't on the best of terms but damn, you could have at least showed her some gratitude for what she did. Instead of acting the way you are now." He practically rushed out. It seemed he was getting frustrated with each word he spoke.
I just continued to look at him with my eyebrow arched up in question. Who was he talking about? He must have figured out what I was thinking because before I could voice it out. He spoke.
"You really are an idiot Belikov." He said while shaking his head. "Rose left Court, she is not coming back, thanks to you and the Princess."
I stared at him for a few moments before his words actually sank in, and then I felt this sharp sting in my chest. I looked away and didn't respond to him. I quickly got my cell phone out and texted Vasilisa that I would not be able to accompany her today and that it would just be Eddie and the other Guardian. After that, I simply nodded to Eddie and walked away, ignoring him when he started to call after me.
After walking for a few minutes, my thoughts just came rushing at she really leave? Why would she leave, when she had such a promising career? Did she really leave because of me?
I felt another sharp tug in my chest and I winced a bit.
Unexpectedly I found myself at her door, but it didn't look right. The door was halfway open and all I saw was darkness. My body moved on its own then. I watched as my hand lightly pushed the door open and then feel for the light switch on the wall. As soon as the light switched on, I felt dread crept into my heart. The room was empty.
Her bed was made, her laptop and personal items on the desk where gone, her closet was empty and so was the bathroom. The more I looked around, the more I began to panic and the pain in my chest increased. I collapsed on to the bed and hung my head in my is really gone. My vision began to blur as I stared at the floor and began to lose myself in grief, and with one thing repeating in my mind. This is my fault, I did this. I chased away the greatest thing in my life.
As if on cue, images of her smiling and laughing played in my mind, memories of every conversation we had together, the memory of witty comebacks and the gleaming look in her eyes that meant trouble, the memory of her bested me in the Field test, and the way she gleamed with sweat and pride. That night in the cabin and the way she felt against me, the way she moaned and cried out my name. The moment she told me that she loved me...and now she is gone. All because of me.
I felt the tears slide down my face while my throat felt like it was being constructed. How can I fix this? I need to find her. I need to tell her how much I still love her...
I wiped my hands across my face and stood up, heading towards the door, when something caught my eye. I turned back to the closet and found that there was some kind of clothing on the floor. Picking it up I realized that there were two items. The first item was one of my T-shirts and the second item was the black dress she had on during the school dance. Bringing it closer to my face, I realized that it still smelled like her. Tucking it into my coat pocket I left the room, closing the door behind me. I have to find her, and I know where to start looking...
- END FLASHBACK-
But that was three years ago, and not once did I ever find her. I heard about her from Adrian and Sydney but that was about it. I would always imagine what I would say to her if I ever got to see her again. However, when she was actually here, I couldn't even gather the courage to walk up to her. Pathetic.
But now that I know what she is... what she has been turned into... I don't even know how to approach this to her. She is different then the Rose I knew but in some ways, she is the same. I wonder if she still hates me? Or if she will even accept my apology-
at the moment my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of screams. I quickly bolted from the bathroom and into the living room where I thought the screams were originating from. But no one was screaming, instead, they were all looking in the direction I came from. I was about to ask who was screaming but then I heard it again and ran down the left hall towards the last door on the right.
Swinging it open I see Rose tied to the bed with a piece of cloth in her mouth, screaming and wiggling to get free. She was covered from head to toe in blood, I couldn't even tell if it was hers or not. I moved to help her, only to be stopped by a hand grabbing my arm.
"Don't. She isn't in control right now. Her blood beast is the dominant one right now." Christian groans as he pulls himself off the floor.
"What do you mean?" I ask softly.
"I meant exactly what I said Belikov. She may look weak but she is dangerously far from it. Dude she knocked out Erik, and he can usually handle anything. This only happens when the sun hits her, well except for this one time, where she lost control in a fit of rage and released it upon the enemy. Right now she is fighting for control." He replied as he walked over to where Erik was slouched over unconscious.
I watched as he slowly dragged him across the room and laid him on the couch that was against the wall, then sat on the floor next to him while watching Rose. Turning my attention back to Rose, I watched her as she growled and flung herself back and forth trying to get loose. I could see a purple mist form around her body.
"What is she?" I asked.
He raised an eyebrow at me a gave me a skeptic look. "I refuse to answer such a stupid question."
"A stupid question!? Don't you dare fucking avoid this Lord Ozera! She changed, She is now one of those...Things! She should be a Dhampir. What happened?" I shouted at him without caring if I was being heard by every soul in the house.
" I can not answer that for you Belikov. If you really want to know so badly, you can ask Rose. However, you may not like the answer you get. But I will tell you this, if you cause her harm, in any way, I will not hesitate from beating the shit out of you and I do believe Erik would promise you the same thing. Except, he would actually kill you." He glared at me and then turned his attention back towards Rose.
I couldn't stand seeing Rose this way and I was done talking to Christian, so I turned on my heel and walked right out the door, slamming it shut from behind me. I walked through the hallway, past the living room, and into the room that I decided was going to be mine until further notice. I slammed the door and began pacing around the room in a thoughtless rage. Not noticing when time began to pass and the sun started to set.
By the time I hear a knock at my door, I noticed it is now dusk and that I've been pacing this entire time. I sigh escapes my lips and I go to open the door, revealing a very worried looking Tasha.
"I just came to check on you... you have been hiding away in there for hours. I thought that maybe you'd like some...company." Whispered the last word seductively, as she stepped forward and slid her hand up my shoulder.
I lifted her hand away from me and narrowed my eyes at her. "Tasha stop that. I've told you a thousand time that it was not going to happen between us ever again."
"Oh Dimka, you know you enjoyed it. Don't you want to do it again? It could be official with us, we could date, settle down, have children. Don't you want all that?" She cooed softly at me.
"That one time was a mistake, Tasha. You purposely took advantage of my emotional state and got me drunk. You know perfectly well that if I was sober, it would have never happened. I have given you a second chance to remain as a friend. Don't abuse it." I warned her.
I shut the door behind me as I walked out and stepped around her. Walking towards the front door. I shouted, "I'm going on a food run, I'll be back in an hour. Call if you need anything."
With that, I walked out the door and headed towards the car. As I slid into the driver seat and began backing out of the drive, I saw Erik stare outside through a window, watching me. I drove away thinking that when I got back, he was another problem that I had to worry about as well.
