When Spirit Shows Its Thorns
Chapter 17
"Oh darlings, I am so happy that you could come. I am so very sorry for having to move up our meeting, but I was concerned that the Council meeting may run longer than I intend." Queen Tatiana's sang to us as we entered her private quarter's amidst six of Abe's Guardians. Her full personal Guardians were in attendance, standing around the room. Adrian was seated beside her, smiling like he was the cat that ate the canary. Well things must be slightly in our favor if he was that smug with himself.
"Thank you for granting us such a private meeting." Lissa sang back to the Queen, her voice ever so diplomatic.
"Adrian has filled me in on a few things, and I know enough of why you have requested my time. I don't have much time to spare, so I will get straight to the point." She smiled sweetly at all of us. "Come, sit, and be comfortable. Tea?" she carried on.
We all took seats on the various couches and chairs that surrounded the coffee table in the sitting room, accepting the offered beverage. "Adrian has been keeping me up to date on all of this Spirit business." Queen Tatiana began, once we had all settled. "It is very interesting, especially the bond between you, Vasilissa and the young Guardian Hathaway. That is a very rare gift that has been bestowed upon you." She paused sipping at her tea.
"With that being said, Vasilissa, with the way the bond works, Rose being able to be dragged into your mind when you are in great duress; I feel that the situation of your Guardians could not go on as they have." She paused again, taking a breath and settling her tea cup on the table. "I have decided that the younger Guardian Hathaway and Guardian Castile will no longer be your only Sanctioned Guardians." She paused refilling her tea cup and stirring in a bit of honey.
"My first choice would be Guardian Belikov, as he is unassigned and has hardly any marks on his record, but Adrian has explained the situation between him and Guardian Hathaway. I am hesitant to place your life in his hands, Vasilissa." She said. Lissa began to balk at her words. "Now, now, give me a moment." Queen Tatiana brought her dispute to a stop before it could even begin. It almost felt as if she had staged her whole speech.
"Due to the bond, I feel that Guardian Hathaway should not ever be left unguarded herself. What if she was to slip into your mind and not notice that danger is close by. If something was to happen as such as l when you first returned to St Vladimir's Academy, well it would be a shame would it not. We were lucky that you were able to notice that you and Guardian Hathaway had been charmed, Guardian Belikov." Her eyes focused on Dimitri and then back to Lissa. "If he had not done so, and Guardian Hathaway had stayed under its effects, then the whole ordeal might have ended differently."
"I am sorry, I do not mean to bring up such a horrible memory," Queen Tatiana said after taking a breath. "I just want to stretch the importance and the basis of my decision." She paused again, seeming to give us a moment to digest her speech so far. "I have decided that Guardian Hathaway will remain your sanctioned Guardian, but Guardian Castile will become your near guard along with her. Guardian Belikov, I trust that you will keep Guardian Hathaway completely safe, no matter the cost?" She asked as her gaze traveled to him once more.
"Yes, of course. I would never let any more harm come to Rose, than what she has already been put through." He replied.
"Perfect, then for the first time in Moroi history, a Dhampir will earn her very own Guardian," Queen Tatiana sing-songed. "Of course, I feel that is necessary under the circumstances, taking into consideration the bond. Don't you?" She paused as we all nodded in agreement, stunned at her words. "With that being said, Vasilissa I will be personally looking for another Sanctioned Guardian for you. You will need someone to act as far guard for you. Mr. Ozera, I was told that you had originally wanted Guardian Belikov as a Guardian, and that Guardian Hathaway would be with Vasilissa. This whole situation puts both of you out." She paused again, taking another sip of her tea. With as long winded as she had grown, it must have cooled by now.
"Queen Tatiana, if I may?" Christian spoke up, giving us a look of guilt. "Lissa and I plan to marry once she has completed her education at Lehigh. It is my understanding that most families share Guardians. Perhaps that will help in your plight to finding a Guardian for either of us."
My mouth dropped open at his words. They were planning marriage. Lissa had never said anything. I knew things would eventually lead in that direction between the two of them, but I had no idea that they had discussed it yet.
"Yes that is the usual case, Mr. Ozera, but I have suggested Vasilissa as my successor."
"Queen Tatiana, excuse my interruption, but until Christian and I marry and start a family, I do not meet the requirements to become Queen." Lissa exclaimed in shock.
"Actually my dear," The Queen's words died off as her face took on a remorseful look, "I hate to bring such news. I thought so well of both of your parents." The Queen was beginning to ramble along with her musings, confusing us all. "Well it is best to just get it out in the open, I suppose." She said as she sat a little straighter.
"Vasilissa, your father had a mistress and the relationship lead to a child being born. Those of us, who knew of this, chose to keep it hidden. Rhea would have been so hurt by the news. Then after the accident, all but a few of our world thought you were the last Dragomir. After the Victor ordeal, we had to keep the news buried for as long as we could. Forever if needed. You do understand, don't you darling?"
Lissa sat staring at the Queen her face full of astonished disbelief. Her mouth would open to respond; just to close again. "My father cheated on my mother?" She finally cried out as her body shook, tears beginning to spill from her eyes. "Y-you must have made a mistake. My parents were happy together, neither of them would have ever done anything like that." Christian's arm wove its way around her as he began to rub her arm. He was trying to calm her down. Queen Tatiana sat looking into her tea cup, giving Lissa a moment to calm down. Once Lissa's cries calmed some, she continued on.
"I know how shocking this is. I am sorry to blemish your view of your father. No one should ever suffer through that." She actually looked sincerely sorry for having to deliver this news.
"Who?" Lissa began to question, but gave in once again to silent sobs.
"I cannot allow that information to leave this room. You understand?" We all nodded and gave our assurance that any information she shared from this point on, would never leave the walls that surrounded us.
"Guardians," The queen called glancing at the men and women standing along the different walls, "I assure you of everyone's safety including my own; I need all of you to step outside and leave us. Give us five minutes and you can return." Her voice had lost some of its sweetness to give way to a more authoritative note. Every Guardian quickly exited the room and left us alone.
"Your sister's name is Jillian Mastrano and she is just a few years younger than you, no more than two or three years, I'm sure."
"Jailbait?" Adrian questioned.
"Jill." The rest of us said.
"You are familiar with her then?" Queen Tatiana asked.
"Yes, she took quite the liking to Christian." Lissa bit out. Jill was sort of a sore spot for her. To find out that the spunky girl she had once been jealous of was her sister must have been hard to swallow.
"So, what does this mean?" I asked, "For Lissa, for everyone?"
"We plan to keep Jillian's familial ties to Vasilissa hidden unless it is needed. Vasilissa, I am hoping that I will enjoy a few more years before I step down from the throne. By that time Jillian should be matured and have Guardians of her own. If you do not have children of your own when I am ready to step down, we will introduce Jillian to Court so that you may take over in my stead. You are young and kind, wise beyond your years, really. I truly believe that you are the one that will bring many great things to our people." Queen Tatiana explained.
A rap sounded against the door and a moment later, the Guardians filed back into the room, taking their previous posts. The Queen took the time to glance at the clock. "I know I have left you all with a lot to think on. The time I can spend with you is growing short, though. Please let me know if I can be of any more help and if you have an idea of who you would like for a Sanctioned Guardian, please come to me. I will do my best to abide by your wishes. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a lunch date in place. I will see all of you at the Council meeting in an hour?" She asked as she dismissed us from her presence.
We all stood and exited the room, making our way to the cars. No one uttered a single word the whole way to the house. When we arrived, Lissa climbed out after Christian and bolted into the house.
"Lissa!" I yelled after her and made my way to follow after her. I could feel her devastation through the bond. Christian caught my arm and shook his head 'no' at me.
"Give her some time. I will go to her." He told me. "She isn't going to want to talk just yet."
"I know. I just can't stand to feel her being in so much pain." I said as went into the house myself. I heard Dimitri comment to Christian something about letting like be with like. I didn't even bother to question what he meant, choosing to instead to find comfort in a carton of ice cream and ignoring Christian's request and joining Lissa in bed.
For the next thirty minutes we allowed ourselves to pig out and have a good cry. Christian checked on us once, and after having a pillow tossed towards him, no one else bothered us until it was closer to time to leave. Lissa and I never talked, instead I sat next to her, pulling as much of the dark feelings I could from her. I knew I would pay for it later, but it was all I could do for her. She was slipping into depression again and I would do anything to keep it from getting as bad as it had in the previous years.
The ride to the meeting hall was a somber one. I would usually sit next to Dimitri as he drove, but for this one I climbed into the back and held tightly to Lissa's hand, drawing more and more darkness from her. By the time we reached the meeting hall, Lissa was feeling more slightly sad than depressed. However, I was ready to tear something apart.
Slamming the door closed behind me, I stomped from the car towards the doors of the hall. Dimitri quickened his steps and captured my arm, spinning me to face him. I brought my free hand up to push him away, but he met it with his own, using it to tug me closer to him. "Not now, Roza." He growled as he brought his lips to crash against mine. The more I tried to pull away, the more carnal the kiss became.
I finally gave in to the kiss and his grip on my arms loosened and I fisted his jacket in my hands. Dimitri would not give me the fight that I sought, but I could accept the one he offered. I hated the way that the darkness stole my self-control from me. Having to fight Dimitri for control over the near punishing kiss did not, get rid of the feelings all together, but gave me something to dominate so I could feel some sort of control, allowing me to burn off a little of the darkness.
We pulled away, both gasping for breath and I buried my face into his chest. I could do this. I could make it through this meeting and then when it was over, I would hit the gym and take my frustration out on a few boxing bags.
"Rose!" Tasha!" I heard Lissa and Christian scream out in terror. I jerked away from Dimitri in time to see Lissa rushing towards me and into the path where Tasha was standing, gun pointed in my direction. I let go of Dimitri, slipping from his grasp and running to push Lissa out of the way of danger. I crashed into Lissa, our arms and legs tangling as Dimitri's body slammed into my back. All three of us were falling to the ground as I heard a single gunshot go off. I felt the sharp pain as my head slammed against the concrete. Stunned I lay still trying to make sense of what had just happened. People around us were running and screaming and then everything went black.
