Chapter 15:
RPOV
I was in my room after my classes when there was a knock on the door. When I opened I saw my mother standing in the doorframe.
"Can I come in?" She sounded almost unsure of herself.
I hesitated for a moment, but being purposefully obnoxious wouldn't do me any favors.
"Sure." I stepped aside to let her in.
She started to look around the room. My room looked like the average teenage girl's room. Pictures of me and my friends, some clothes on the ground and a chair and books on the desk, and of course an unmade bed. I could tell though, my mother did not approve of my housekeeping skills. But she was wise not to comment.
She walked to the pictures. I could see a strange look in her eyes. Almost sad. There were mostly pictures of me and Lissa, laughing and joking. But there were some of Mason and Eddie too and a few recent ones which included Christian. Was she sad because she wasn't in any of the pictures? She wasn't in my life, so when were we supposed to have taken them.
"I am sorry."
My mother finally blurted out after staring at the pictures for 5 minutes. I had to support myself otherwise I would have stumbled over from surprise.
"You're what now?" I asked not believing I heard her right.
"I am sorry for this morning. I can see you have made excellent progress. And in light of recent events with Lord Dashkov, I suppose you both made the right decision in running away. And you're right. I don't have any right to comment on what you do and don't. I know the teachers here have raised you more than I have. But I am trying Rose. Maybe after Guardian Belikov leaves I can transfer here and I can take over your training. That way we can get to know each other."
All the things I wanted to hear for years came out of her mouth. She admitted I was good at something, and she said she made mistakes. Everything I wanted and needed from her for long.
But I could not focus on any of that right now. There was a part of her rant that would not allow me to think about all the other stuff.
"What do you mean, when Dimitri leaves?" I sounded desperate, I knew that.
"Lady Ozera has made him an offer to become her Guardian. Well more than her Guardian really. It will probably be the only possibility for him to have a resemblance of a normal life, have a family. Why wouldn't he take it?"
I could not breathe. I fell down back on the bed. This could not be happening. He wouldn't go, would he? Just because she offered didn't mean he would take it, right? He loved me. He loved me. I was sure of it. I never thought about having a normal life, and having a family. Did Dimitri?
My mother was oblivious to my inner turmoil and kept going on and on about what we could do once he left. I couldn't take it anymore.
"Mom, thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it. But it has been a long day and I am tired, could we talk about this another time?" I was on the verge of tears but I could not let my mother see me cry.
"Oh okay, I guess we will talk later." My mother walked out of the room, slightly annoyed. I knew I was cutting her off, but I had to.
I fell back on the bed and let all the tears come. My mind was racing. It was imagining all kinds of different scenarios. But not in a single one were Dimitri and I happily together. How could we, when there was so much against us?
Was I being selfish? I wanted Dimitri with me, but being with me wouldn't only keep him from a family. It would be frowned upon. But with Tasha, he could leave the Moroi politics mostly behind. Tasha lived in the human world. He could too. He could actually be something else than a Guardian. Regardless of my feelings or Tasha's, didn't he deserve that?
I cried myself to sleep on the note that I selfishly wanted to hold on to him, any way I could.
The next morning we were leaving for the ski lodge so I did not have training with Dimitri in the morning. I was glad. I don't know if I could face him. I knew he cared about me, but I couldn't help but wonder if he was considering her offer. I mean who wouldn't. She would be able to give him things I could never. He could live a normal life with her, have a family.
I never thought about having a family. I always wanted to be Lissa's guardian. Also, I did not want to be like my mother and have to abandon my child because I could not be a guardian and raise a child properly. If I could do both maybe I would. But Lissa has always been my first priority. Also, I was seventeen. I hadn't given children much thought. But what about Dimitri? He was older and although it is rare for male Dhampirs to have offspring this is usually due to the unwillingness of Moroi women to have Dhampir children. Tasha doesn't seem to have that reservation. It was probably his only chance at a family.
What did he have with me? A scandalous relationship. Even if people did believe we only got together after graduation, a relationship between guardians was highly frowned upon.
But I was selfish, I wanted him with me and the thought that he might choose her was killing me. So I opted for avoidance. If I didn't have contact with him he wouldn't be able to tell me he was leaving. At least I did not have to see him much at the ski-lodge.
We boarded the plane that was to take us to the ski-lodge. Lissa was already there and I quickly sat next to her. Christian sat in the seat in front of us and Mason and Eddie in the next aisle. I saw Dimitri board the plane, but thank God he sat up front with the rest of the Guardians. I saw him whip out his book.
The small Dimitri-like gesture made me smile, despite myself. It tore at my heart. I loved him so much. I don't think I could bear it if he left.
When we landed I quickly exited the plane with Lissa and practically ran inside. She assumed I was just excited. I was just trying to avoid Dimitri as much as possible. Although I really did get excited when we were shown to our rooms.
They weren't kidding when they said resort. The room was huge. Lissa and I shared a room and we both had king sized beds. There was a huge bathroom and a balcony with a Jacuzzi. I put my stuff down and I ran at my bed and just dove into it. The bed was so soft, I had to fight the urge to sleep in it right away.
Lissa and I had been checking every inch of the room, we spent a lot of time on the many different samples of shampoo and soap in the bathroom. All smelled so wonderful. This resort catered to Moroi so of course everything would be top notch. I was a little bitter, but decided I would enjoy it while I could.
There was a knock on the door, Lissa opened. The boys were in front of the door dressed rather warmly to be inside.
"Come on girls. This is a ski-lodge. Let's go skiing!" Mason almost shouted.
We got dressed and rented skiing equipment. Christian and Lissa were taking things easy but us Dhampirs were running wild, going off on the most difficult slopes. Mason and I raced; it was good to hang out with him again. I forgot how much fun we used to have. We would always rile each up and dare each other to do the most idiotic things. It would push us further. Skiing was no different. Although when Mason suggested a certain slope at full speed I did have to pull back a little. That one was just crazy. I've had enough near-death experiences to waste one on skiing. That was just taunting fate. He looked disappointed but we raced down the black slope instead, guess who won?
A defeated Mason was returning his rented gear and joined Christian, Eddie, and Lissa inside. I told them I would catch up. I still had to return my gear. I had purposefully been slow, so I could avoid standing in line alone with Mason.
When things were in order I walked back to the main entrance. A Moroi guy was standing near the doorway, smoking weird scented cigarettes, gross. He was handsome though. He had messy brown hair, even if every messy strand seemed to have been purposely put there. His green eyes were staring at me. I had seen that look before. He was checking me out. I should have walked away there and then, but I didn't. There was something about him.
"Well hello little Dhampir, had fun on the slopes?" The guy asked as he blew out the smoke, some of it hitting me.
I glared at him and started to cough excessively convoying my point.
"You know, I watched you ski. Ahh, you can't match the grace of a female novice. And I can tell, you have an amazing body underneath the ski outfit. I have a talent for spotting beautiful women."
I rolled my eyes, was this guy serious, does that work on women?
"Sorry, I am not interested in older guys or douchebags for that matter." Well the latter was true.
I should have left it at that and went inside. But I did not move.
"I am not a douchebag, I am Adrian, Adrian Ivashkov. And what is your name, little Dhampir?"
Walk away Rose. Just walk away.
"Rose"
"Ahh Rose. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
Not very original but okay.
"I imagine you smell great, better than a Rose." Okay getting a little creepy. Although I didn't get that creep alarm I usually did. He was being overly dramatic, but the smirk on his face told me, he didn't take himself very seriously.
"I just spent the last two hours skiing, I am sweating and I probably stink. I need a shower and some nicely scented body lotion. So I guess you're full of shit."
He had to laugh at that. I kind of liked that. There was no malice in his voice. He was very handsome when he laughed.
"Oh no my dear Rose, that is where you're wrong. Someone's natural smell can be intoxicating, and you should only use perfume to enhance that smell not mask it."
Obviously he had never been in a Novice locker room. Even the female version stank after a good workout. Although, when I would smell Dimitri after a workout, it did do things to me, so he wasn't all wrong.
"Well I don't own any perfume."
He was about to make another sexual tinted comment by the looks of it but we were interrupted by an annoying voice I knew all too well. I didn't have to turn around to know it was Mia. Just the hair on my neck standing up was enough.
"I would not get so close to her if I were you."
Mia came around and stood next to Adrian. A little close with someone she just met. Her nose had healed, but it was still a bit crooked. I had broken her nose. And it hadn't completely healed right. I was a little proud of that. Whenever she looked in the mirror she would always remember me.
"She is a violent person. She broke my nose and I even heard she attacked and seriously wounded her own mother. I mean who does that to their mother"
Mia walked by Adrian and gave him a dazzling smile. Argh, I hated her. Adrian to his credit did not seem phased by her statement.
I wanted to protest and say she was wrong. That Mia was just a Bitch, but I had no retort. Because it was true. I had broken her nose and I had hit my mother. And I was a violent person. She didn't know the half of it. And neither did this Adrian. They would never know and never understand.
Adrian tilted his head a little. He seemed to be puzzled by me, like he could hear my inner turmoil. It was an eerie feeling.
I left the two of them and made my way to my room.
I did take that shower but for some reason did not use the fragrant body lotion but the normal kind.
Once I was done. Lissa and I set out to explore the place. I had kept my interaction with Adrian to myself. I didn't think there was much to tell.
The ski-lodge was huge and clearly tailored to rich Moroi. Lissa was having a mental breakdown. She could not decide on what to do first. Going to the spa, getting her nails done, getting a massage? And as unruly as her outside appearance was she was even worse on the inside, her train of thought coming a mile a minute. Sometimes this bond thing was not fun. We caught up with the guys in a hall. They had also been exploring the lodge, but I doubt they were interested in the same things.
We were discussing what we would do next when I smelled the same cigarettes as I had earlier with Adrian. I almost had to laugh. It was ironic I would recognize him by a smell, even if it wasn't his natural smell.
"Ah little Dhampir, I see you have showered, and I was right. You do have a rocking body."
The once over he gave me, left little doubt of what he would do with that body given the chance. Still the creep alarm didn't go off. He was so blatantly obvious about it, it was almost funny. This seemed to be his natural setting.
I saw Mason glare at Adrian, the rest of them just looked confused.
"Ah everyone, this is Adrian Ivashkov, Adrian, this is everyone, Christian Ozera, Lissa Dragomir, Eddie Castile and Mason Ashford."
He nodded at everyone but stopped at Lissa.
"Ah, cousin it is nice to meet you." He took her hand and kissed it. Lissa giggled. Now it was Christian's turn to glare. He was not making any friends here.
"I have been here a few days and know all the good spots. There is a private spa downstairs with natural hot springs, it is exclusive but I can get you girls in."
He was staring back at both Lissa and me, completely ignoring the boys. That was until all three of them glared at him intensely.
"Of course you three are also invited."
"Sorry, I didn't bring my bikini," I said thinking that was the end of the conversation. Adrian had other plans though, and by the smirk on his face he was not backing down easily.
"That is alright. I prefer you without one anyway." He winked at me, making sure I got his intention. I glared at him.
"Although if you insist on covering all of that up, there is a shop here selling the most amazing bikinis, you can put it under my name."
Darn, he had an answer for everything. I could feel through the bond that Lissa was getting curious and wanted to go. Although I could tell she had no romantic interest in Adrian, she did have the same feeling as I did. You could not help but be drawn to him. Although swimming in a bikini was out of the question.
I pulled Lissa aside. Adrian eyes never left us. But they were losing focus somehow. Like he was seeing through us as opposed to at us.
"Rose this actually sounds like fun, I would like to see the hot springs," Lissa asked oblivious to the actual reason for my rejection. I was kind of curious too. And although I did not want to give Adrian any indication that he was going to get with me or Lissa, I could not help but want to go. But I couldn't. It would raise too many questions I was not prepared to answer.
"Liss, unless they have a fullback covering bikini I can't go." Although the scars were fading now that Lissa was healing them on occasion, and the fact that I hadn't made any new ones, they were still visible. I had been able to wear short sleeves, which had been an accomplishment, but a bikini was still too exposed. It would take a few more months. Maybe by the summertime, I could wear one.
Lissa seemed to finally grasp my reluctance. She kept forgetting that some of these simple things were now off limits to me. She felt guilty for forgetting and because she was essentially the reason I had the scars in the first place.
We returned back to Adrian and the boys. The boys were still glaring at him and he seemed to find that amusing. He took a flask out of his pocket and took a sip. I could smell the content from here. It was strong too. Probably nothing but the best scotch for Lord Ivashkov.
"I am sorry Lord Ivashkov, but I believe we won't be able to adhere to your request. Perhaps another time." Lissa explained in perfect royal Moroi speak.
He just smiled.
"Please, none of that lord stuff. Lord Ivashkov is, unfortunately, my father. Another time it is. But I would like to talk to you, cousin when you have the time." He kissed Lissa's hand again and this time I got an odd sensation through the bond. Lissa gasped slightly but was able to compose herself quickly.
"Yes of course, soon," Lissa answered.
He lit another cigarette and walked away with as much swag as he could muster. You have to hand it to him. He got the whole spoiled royal Moroi down to a T.