I own nothing. Prepare the Gauntlet!
The Gauntlet preparations.
She climbed out of her bed and stepped into the hot shower. Her thoughts drifted to her dream she had just had. Seeing all of her team one by one being cut down by the strigoi in the ambush. One by one they had their life crushed from their body. She would had been gone too, had it not been for Ivan and Nathan. Her sore muscles felt relation under the hot water.
Then out of no where she heard the darkness call to her. No more like screamed at her. "Look out!" Feeling the presence behind her she quickly side step grabbing hold of the stake and arm that was aimed for her back. Using the momentum against her attacker she threw them into the wall and bounced her assailants head off of it. "Who are you" she growled deep and low.
"Forgive me Rose but if I don't kill you they will kill Tatiana. I refuse to loose her." Ambrose pulled out of the water trying to aim an attack against Rose again to slip and fall in the puddle. Rose just shook her head and glared at him in her naked glory. "You know I should get dressed. Give me that stake before you hurt yourself and lets talk!"
She grabbed a robe quickly and wrapped it around her body. "Five seconds to talk or I will kill you now for the pleasure of hurting you."
"You made a enemy out of the Baddica's Rose. They told me to kill you or you would die anyway along with Queen Tatiana." Annoyed Rose paced in her robe in front of Ambrose thinking.
"Alright here is what your going to do. You are going to leave here and pretend you did. You go about like everything is fine and dandy but I need you to do something and quickly."
"What is that?"
"Go to the feeders. Pick 3 that can be trusted and pack a bag. We leave tonight." He looked at her and she raised an eyebrow. Thankful she can now do that.
"Rose what are you planning."
"Me to know and for you not to piss me off again tonight. Now get the molasses out of your ass and move!" Shrieking back a little he said fine and left.
They want me dead huh? Well we'll just see about that! Getting out a prepaid throw away cell she sent a message to some friends.
"Pack a bag. Court just got real and not for you. Boom lay Boom lay BOOM! We leave tonight. Boom lay Boom lay BOOM!"
Then she message Abe and her mom. "Babba have mom and the gang prepare some rooms. We have visitors coming. Also prepare one for you as well. But before I get home CHANGE MY SHEETS! I don't want to sleep with your buddies when I get back! Boom lay Boom lay BOOM!"
Laughing a little at her crude innuendo she got dressed. She picked her black leather hip rider pants with chaps. Her biker boots and her leather corset top with the hidden built in chest plate. Walking into the bathroom she stared at herself for a few minutes. This was not the life she wanted. Yet this was the hand she was dealt and it was time to kick some bitches ass!
Pulling her hair up in a high ponytail she quickly made sure all of her molnija marks was showing. The last she knew she had killed over 300 strigoi then stopped counting. The blood on her hands from the night her team was killed was screaming for revenge. Tonight those screams were to be silenced for a moment. She knew she had yet to drink her blood and it was dangerous to go into this. But after Ambrose tried to kill her to protect the queen she didn't want to chance his blood to not be tainted. She hated to do this but she had no choice.
"Lissa I need your help." She texted.
"Be on my way." Lissa replied. Ten minutes later she walked in. "Whats up?" Rose looked at her and Lissa saw the look on her face. "Rose when did you get fangs?"
"I have a confession to make. When I was reborn I was made into a variation of the Dhampir, Moroi and Strigoi. I have all the strengths and can weild magic. Yet I have to feed now on blood. Ambrose was to be my feeder yet I can't trust him. The Baddica's want my head and might be in league with the Strigoi King. Before I go into the gauntlet I need to feed. Can you sneak me in to the feeder room?"
"I have a better idea." Lissa said after she had a few minutes to digest what Rose said. Walking over to her she bared her neck. "Go ahead and drink."
"Lissa what the hell you think your doing!" Rose jumped up off the bed and looked at her in shock.
"The one thing I can think of to protect you after all the times you saved me. Now I order you DRINK!" Lissa growled as she approached her best friend. The one she had hurt and let walk away.
"I hate this idea." Rose growled as Lissa kept walking towards her and backed her up against the wall.
"Get over it. How many times do I have to apologize for hurting my sister? If this is the only way I can get through to you then damn it I will. Now drink from me and keep your secret hidden!" With a fierceity that Rose had never seen Lissa have; Lissa grabbed Rose by the shoulders and pulled her to her.
The hunger being to great Rose tried to bite gently on Lissa's shoulder. Lissa could now feel everything that Rose had endured when it was Lissa biting Rose. The endorphin rush was a high she had never experienced. Without realizing that Rose was done biting yet holding her in a hug she started to cry. "Rose I am so sorry for hurting you like I had. I missed you so much when you left." Rose held her and felt the princess shudder as she let all of the pain she had been holding in out. Both women stood there crying their eyes out.
Christian came in and found them sitting in the floor holding each other. All was now forgiven between the girls. Rose now realized that Lissa did love her as a sister and now it was time to protect her sister. "There is not much time left. I have to prepare the Queen. You got to Adrian, Sydney, Mia and Eddie. All of you pack a few essitials your leaving for Russia with me tonight. If you don't go your lives will be in danger. Meet me at the hanger in two hours. Lissa don't argue and just do as I ask?"
Christian pulled Rose and Lissa into a group hug and kissed both women on the head. "Yes Rosie Posie, we will do what you say. Only if you explain all once we are on board that private jet of yours."
"You got it fire crotch." Rose smirked, as Lissa punched her in the arm. Christian wrapped an arm around Lissa's waist as he escorted her out. Time was almost up and Rose had to move.
Donning her cloak she made sure her nazur was fastened securely around her throat. She grabbed her bags of weapons and out the door she went. As she headed towards the Queens chambers she met Eddie coming towards her. With his hands outreached he took her bags from her. "Rose we have a problem."
"What's that Eddie?"
"Jill just arrived and went to Lissa to surprise her for her birthday."
"No problem, just knock her out with chloroform and bring her with us along with her guardian."
"WHAT?!"
"I'm joking Eddie. Lissa can handle it. Just tell Liss that Jill comes with us. NO IFS Ands or Butts."
"Ok. When do we go to the jet?" Eddie looked at her seriously.
"As soon as I hand Mila her ass." Rose replies as her face darkened with hate.
With that Rose continued her walk to the Queen. After being announced she went in and graciously bowed waiting for her to be allowed to speak. When the Queen acknowledged her she stood up and went to the table where a dinner plate and Coke waited for her. "Rose when you fight Mila please don't kill her. I think she might have more use to us alive than dead. Although I agree she should and will die for her crimes." She watched Rose write something on paper as she finished the bite of food in her mouth. Rose took another bite of food after she handed the note to Tatiana. Carefully reading it she looked at Rose wide eyed and raised her eyebrows in shock. Rose realizing the Queen was unaware of Ambrose's blackmail knew she was innocent of backstabbing.
"Your highness I want to thank you for the wonderful meal with you. I think it would be best if I leave now and prepare for battle. I will do as you ask and not kill Mila Jones and leave that to her jury trial."
"Thank you Rose and I will respect your wishes and allow you to whip her to an inch of her life as you have requested."
"I see that we understand each other completely. I will see you soon then."
"Rose?" Rose was almost to the door and turned back to see the worried Queen's look. "Please be safe?"
"As you wish my Queen."
With that Rose left as the Queen went to work packing her bag in her private chamber. In just a matter of a hour she would soon be Russia Bound.
