Rose
My head was aching and I couldn't feel my arms or legs, they were numb but I could move them If i wanted too, I would just get pins and needles when the blood would rush back in. I slowly opened my eyes making sure to keep my breathing shallow and unchanged to pretend I'm still sleeping. I was quiet, hiding in the background, making myself unseen, closing my eyes as soon as my ears tuned into my surroundings. I could hear voices, footsteps moving along the floor, the rain hitting the windows. There was no light coming in from the windows causing a shadow in the floor so the curtains were pulled and they had to be black out ones, even it was night, the moon and stars still provide some light. Why would humans block out the sun?
"I didn't want her hurt." A voice was saying. I didn't recognize it.
"It was the only way to get her to come here. John wasn't exactly subtle." That was Martin.
"She's awake anyway. Leave us." How did they know? There was no change in my breathing and if there was, no human could pick it up and I was completely still. I heard a door open and close quietly.
"I know you're awake Dhampir." I remained where I was, doing what I was doing. I kept my breathing slow, kept my eyes closed. A face came close, I could feel the hot breath from where my head dangled. A hand grabbed my chin, lifting my head lightly. "I heard your breathing change." I slowly opened my eyes and flinched back. I was staring right into red ringed eyes. I kept my breathing slow and steady.
"I've been looking for you for a few years, Rose Hathaway." He circled the chair I was sitting on, pushing my hair back from my neck revealing my marks. "I never thought someone so young could be so dangerous."
"What do you want?" I asked levelly. Keeping my eyes straight forward as the Strogoi continued to circle the chair. "Turn me?" He laughed, coming to a stop in front of me, grabbing another chair and sitting down.
"Oh dear, no." He said, shacking his head. "I don't want to turn you."
"Then why have you been looking for me?" I challenged forcing myself to relax, show no fear. Zip ties and rope bound my legs and arms.
"I want your help." I looked at the Strogoi sitting in front of me. A Strogoi, wanting – asking for help? That's unheard of! "I know you may not believe me. My name is Lord Henry Lazar. I was turned unwillingly seven years ago." He started to explain. "I - Everyone really - had heard stories about a Dhampir, a skilled fighter, warrior who was leading the way down the path of greatness, rumors were saying that she was going to be the youngest Guardian in history to become a Blood Master Level 7. I bet you would reach that level at twenty."
"What? So Strogoi are betting on me now?" Henry shook his head.
"Robert Doru first started to do what your dear Queen is starting to do now. He found me and my family, charming jewelry for us so we could fight the Strogoi instincts and it worked for some time, but it's unpredictable. I turned on my family without warning. I sent them to Russia to be away from me in case it ever happened again."
"Is there a point to this?"
"When people talk about this great, powerful Guardian Rose Hathaway they also mentioned something very interesting." He went on, ignoring my question. "She died at the age of fifteen and was brought back to life as something called Shadow Kissed."
"Look, I'm getting really bored of this. Can't we just do this like old times between Strogoi and Dhampirs? You attack me, I attack you and then I shove a silver stake in your heart and walk away?" He leaned back in his chair and let out a breath.
"I know what you had to watch growing up, but I'm not like that. There are two packs of Strogoi that don't want to be monsters." He started talking again after a moment. "We just want to be normal again."
"You were a Moroi before being turned, you can wield an element, not exactly my definition of normal."
"You are more infuriating than the rumors tell." He clenched his teeth and shook his head. "We've been looking into what Shadow Kissed means, what it is. You're the reason the Queens charms are more powerful than Roberts." I looked at him. "You know your stronger than any Dhampir, than any Strogoi? You can travel to the land of the dead; you can also travel to the land of lost souls."
"The charms can only heal your Strogoi instincts but you're soul can't be fully repaired." I said staring at Henry. He leaned back in the chair and smiled.
"Clever." He smiled. "We have a Moroi on the inside, she said she was going to talk to you to get you to help us."
"Who?"
"I'm the leader of one pack, Ray is the leader of the other. It's taken too long for her to talk to you so they're going in to-"
"They're going in to get your mole?" Henry nodded.
"They think by taking her you would help her. I had to be sure you were the Rose Hathaway before I approached you."
"You had humans ram my car and nearly kill me."
"Unintentional." He said waving his hand. "To get them to help us, we had to claim that all female Dhampirs were feeders-"
"Do you know how many they killed? How many they could have killed? My daughter-"
"Yes, we heard you had a child, with another Dhampir." Henry cut me off. "A child with more power than a Dhampir but less than a Shadow Kissed Guardian." I looked at him.
"What are you saying?" I asked, leaning forward in the chair. "This other pack, what is he planning?" Henry looked away.
"He's planning to attack St Vladimir's Academy." Henry said. "He plans to attack soon."
"This person – this person, mole, she'll use my daughter as a scape goat, wont she?" Henry looked away.
"I believe so." He admitted. "Everyone knows you're a mother, a devoted, protective mother. What better way to force you into talks is there when they're dangling your child in front of you?" I swallowed and looked around the room.
"You said I had power, what is it exactly?" Henry looked at me.
"You are bound to your spirit user – the Queen. You are able to connect to her power, theiher r element and use it for your own. Because of your connection with the land of the dead and Strogoi's souls remaining on Earth, you are able to reconnect the two together, fully healing a Strogoi."
"This attack that's happening, when?"
"Ray's people are moving out tomorrow."
"You said I can connect to my spirit user and use their abilities?" Henry nodded. "Right. I'll warn my people." I pulled in a breath. "Who is this mole?" Henry was about to answer but we both turned to a commotion in the hall. He turned before he could answer me and ran out the door to see what was going on.
I let out a breath, struggled against the binds as they pinched and stung, drawing a small trickle of blood and rope burns as the ropes rubbed my skin while the zip ties dug into the flesh. I stopped struggling, stop waiting for Henry to come back and I closed my eyes.
Come on. You were there for some lessons when Adrian was teaching Lissa to dream walk. Breath, in, hold and let it out. Focus on who you want to talk to. Dimitri. His soft, warm brown eyes you get lost in every time you look into them. His smile, the one he gives you when he wakes up in the morning and the lazy brilliance of it, the one he gives you when he's trying to be serious when you're 'arguing' with him, the one he gives you when he's lying on top of you, the one he gives you just before he kisses you. His hair, the shoulder length brown hair you love to run your hands through, to grab. His laugh, how it wraps around you making you feel warm. The way he speaks, the way he says your name, the way you fall in love with him every day.
The scene changed.
It was a familiar room as I looked around it. The familiar bed, the familiar fireplace. The cabin I shared my first time with Dimitri. He was standing there by the door looking around in confusion. I let out a breath and jogged over to him, falling into his arms.
"Roza?" I nodded as I tightened my grip around his middle. His arms wrapped around my shoulders and fell to the ground. I went down with his, still holding him tightly. He pulled away cupping my face in his hands. His eyes were wet, his eyebrows fusing together.
"Am I dreaming?" I smiled.
"Technically, yeah." I pulled me towards him. "But it's really me."
"How is this possible?" He whispered. I pulled away.
"It's a long story." I said, cupping his face. "Where are you?"
"I'm in your house, your mom and dad-"
"You need to get back to Vlads." I whispered cupping his face. "There's a pack of Strogoi on its way ready for an attack. They'll be there tomorrow-"
"What about you?" I looked at him, kissing the side of his mouth.
"What about Aly?" He looked away. "I'll be fine. Make sure Lissa is the only one to touch Aly. The only one."
"Roza, what's going on?"
"I'll be there. I promise." I whispered. "You're waking up. I love you Dimitri."
"Wait, Roza, Sally's an-"
"Alchemist. I know." I replied kissing him lightly. "Go protect our daughter."
"I love you, Roza."
"I love you, Dimitri."
I woke up suddenly, lifting my head. I pulled on the binds as hard as I could, the wouldn't move. I let out a frustrated growel as I pulled once more. I looked up at the ceiling, closed my eyes and then finally looked at the door.
"Martin, I know you're out there." I called. I could hear him breathing, I could smell him as he stood outside the door. "Don't even bother, I can hear you breathing." The door opened slightly.
"Dhampir women aren't feeders for vampires. We're vampire hybrid - half vampire, half human." I said, as soon as i hear the door nob move. "Dhampir are warriors to protect the Moroi to protect human for the real eveil vampires, the speicies you've been helping." The door opened and Martin stood there. "Strogoi have no souls, all they want to do is kill and feed from anyone and anything. You've been helping the real monsters."
"You're lying."
"Where's Henry?" Martin looked at me, John standing behind him. "Look - right now there's a pack of monsters heading to a school to attack my five year old child. Help me stop them." John swallowed visibly.
"Look, my best friend and I are trying to help - we're trying to reduce the numbers of Strogoi to reduce the number of attacks on humans and Moroi. You're allowing them to go in and slaughter innocent people-"
"What id she's telling the truth?" John asked Martin. I stared at them.
"Look - put our races aside for a second. My daughter is in danger. Please. I'm begging you as a mother - please just let me go and protect her."
"Please."