Chapter 4
"Rose!" I turned to see the clock flashing six o'clock in the morning. I had just gone to bed two hours ago. "Come on Rose, it's time to hit the spa."
"I'm up" I moaned rolling out of my sleeping bag. I changed into sweats, equipping my dagger and yatagan.
"You don't need those" Lissa frowned.
"Never know" I replied patting my sword. "I shall keep my friends safe."
We headed to the spa for the royal treatment. The entire spa had been reserved for the queen and her friends. The first thing we did was hit the sauna. We sat, wrapped in white towels, talking and giggling. After about thirty minutes of relaxing steam we had deep tissue massages and then headed in for a mud wrap. An hour later, we were showering and headed for the salon. We each received a magazine showcasing the latest hairstyles. Lissa chose the one she wanted for the wedding and the other girls quickly picked their favorites.
"Which would you like dear?" an older woman asked running her fingers through my hair. "Oh, I can't work on this. This is hair for Pierre."
A very happy man came out with his nose in the air. He stared at my hair for at least five minutes before slowly running his hands through it. "No" he said in a French accent, "no hair cut for you. I am going to make sweet love to your hair." He tore the magazine away from me. "I refuse to allow anyone to touch your beautiful hair." He wrapped a cloth around my body and pulled my chair back. Slowly and firmly he brushed my hair completely out. My head tingled from his soothing touch. I could have gone to sleep right there on that chair, but then I would miss all the fun. Shampoo and conditioner came next followed by the rinse. Pierre combed my hair and sprayed something that smelled like lavender. He pulled out a tray of large rollers and rolled my hair tightly against my scalp. Then he put me under the dryer, on low. I sat under that dryer for over an hour. The warm waves radiating through my body. While I waited for my hair to dry, I was given a pedicure and manicure. My nails sparkled with shiny turquoise polish and green glitter. Pierre returned periodically to check on my hair. "You are a red" he said looking at my nails. "What a pity" he sighed. The curlers were removed and I had the most beautiful and natural-looking wavy brown hair. I was taken to the room where Lissa and the other girls were getting facials. Makeup was the last thing to get before we headed back to the house to dress.
The wedding was in an hour. Lissa's dress was on and the rest of us were frantically getting ready. Sydney was running around crazy snapping pictures. When everyone was dressed we headed for the church.
"Rose I have to tell you something" Lissa looked guilty, oh god help me. "I asked your father to walk me down the aisle."
I released the breath I had been holding and smiled. "That's great Liss, he probably will never have that chance again." She glared at me almost angry. "You know that I am not going to get married. It just doesn't work like that."
"What do you mean?" Sydney asked innocently.
"You all know the deal" I sighed, "moroi get their fairy tales and happily ever afters. Dhampirs are only here to guard or whore."
"Rosemarie Hathaway!" Lissa shouted disgusted. "I cannot believe the words coming out of your mouth."
"Time to start" Abe knocked on the door. The brides-maids and I left Lissa with Abe. "You look wonderful" I heard him say before the organ started to play.
The whole wedding was a blur. All I wanted was to run out of that church screaming. All eyes were supposed to be on the bride, but most of them were on me. What was their problem? Like they never saw a maid of honor in sexy dress with a sword. I had hidden the dagger on my thigh, the tiny part that was covered by this dress. Even the guardians stared at me, especially one by the door. Dimitri stood right next to the door I had entered the church through and I didn't even see him before now. I looked down to see Sydney motioning me to look at Lissa. In no time at all we were headed out of the church, rice being thrown everywhere.
Pavel and Mikhail each took one of my arms to escort me to the reception. I knew that they were trying as hard as they could to block Dimitri from being able to talk to me, or for me to see him. I was more grateful than they could ever think. Ever since that day in the church, I couldn't stand to see him. He didn't love me and I knew it. Yet he insisted on reminding me with his presence.
We arrived at the reception hall which consisted of the largest ballroom at the court. Almost every royal family was present. I spotted Tasha. I had expected to see her hanging on Dimitri's arm with five kids running around them. Instead I saw her hanging on the arm of a very handsome moroi. She smiled at me and waved us over. "Thanks" I whispered to Mikhail as he took his place along the wall. Pavel and I headed over to Tasha. "Hi Tasha" I greeted her.
"Rose, it's so good to see you again" she pulled me into a hug. "Who is this handsome young man?" she eyed Pavel.
"Pavel" I replied, "Abe Mazur's guard and my partner."
"Oh" she held out her hand and he shook it kindly, "pleased to meet you Pavel." I eyed the man on her arm. "This is my husband" wait! Stop the show! Your what? "Matthew Bovera." Introductions were made and I suddenly found myself engrossed in Tasha's story of true love. "We met five years ago, during an offensive magic class that I was teaching. Matt specialized in earth. We started dating and fell in love."
"That Christmas at the ski lodge" he mouthed in her ear. "Do you remember?"
She giggled and slapped his arm playfully. "Shh" then she turned back to me. "Do you have anyone special in your life?"
"Nope" I replied unemotionally, "the only person I ever loved has rejected me. Luckily I have Pavel to take care of my needs."
"May I have your attention please" a voice rang out over the speakers. Just in time. "Please put your hands together for the newlyweds" we cheered and applauded as Lissa and Christian entered the room. They took their seats and the party followed. Couples took their time coming up and congratulating them. I spied Pavel at the bar and signaled him for a drink. He brought me a shot of vodka.
"Thanks" I said taking the shot, "lets enjoy the free drinks together."
"Sit" he ordered, I did. "You will not go near that bar. If you want a drink then I will bring you something."
I crossed my arms and pouted like a child. He went to the bar and returned with a soda. "Rum?" he shook his head.
"No rum for you until three" he replied.
Jerk! I screamed mentally. Then I saw Mikhail headed up to give his congratulations to Lissa and Christian. I flagged him down as passed me. "Hey Mikhail" I whispered. Mia rolled her eyes and he approached me. "Will you bring me a glass of rum?" He did. Score! I poured some into my coke. Pavel saw me and made his way towards the table. I downed the remaining rum before he was there by my side. "Too late boss" I said sipping my rum and coke casually.
"Would you like to dance?" Pavel asked. He shocked me for a moment. Pavel hardly ever danced. I nodded and we hit the floor. He was a great dancer, I remember that from the last time he asked me. We had been at a wedding in Turkey. We had gotten drunk and danced almost all night, then frustration won and we ended up in his room. Oops! He smiled as he spun me around on the floor. "Do you remember that wedding in Istanbul three years ago?" he was thinking the same as me.
"Yes, you kept bringing me glasses of wine" I laughed, "I think you purposely got me drunk."
"I think it was you who was giving me the drinks" it was true. He was too serious and I was trying to get him to loosen up. "Then you took advantage of me" he teased.
"I don't recall that" I replied with a smile.
He kissed me on the cheek and leaned into my ear, "tell me it isn't true." He spun me back smiling at his success. My guardian mask had dropped and pure shock flashed across my face.
"What?" I asked.
The music slowed down and his hands rested on my hips, pulling me close to his body. His cheek rested against mine so that we could whisper in each other's ears. "I heard that you were leaving with Mikhail." I remained silent, he sighed. "Rose, please tell me it isn't true."
"Do you want me to lie?" I asked.
"I don't want to lose you" he pulled me closer. "I love you Rose"
What? Did he really just say that? I pulled back so that we were face to face. I saw the look in his eyes, he was on the verge of a breakdown. I took his hand and led him off the dance floor and out of the ballroom. "Pavel are you drunk?" I asked him seriously. That was the only time he ever said things like that. "Did someone slip you a rufee?" He shook his head. I knew he spoke the truth. I sank down onto loveseat that sat in a little niche. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because it's true" he answered, "I love you Rose. I look forward to our daily workout and language lesson. I enjoy watching you and your father conduct business together. I've never seen him so happy. I know I've never been this happy."
"You know where my heart is" I reminded him, "smashed to a million pieces here at this retched place." I spread my arms wide. I stood up so that I was facing him. "Yes I am going with Mikhail" I told him, "we have business together."
"Is it strictly business?" he asked pulling me down into his lap. His face was pleading with me for a favorable answer.
"First of all he is way too old for me" I said, "I think he is like forty or something. Second, Mikhail is in love with a moroi. Our relationship is strictly business and a hint of friendship." I kissed his forehead. "Pavel you know that I won't be serious with just anyone. I can't string you along like I did to Adrian all those years ago. I felt awful over that. You don't want someone like me." I tried to stand up but he pulled me back.
"You don't know how much I want you" his hands caressed my back. I sighed and looked away. One of his hands gently slid along my jaw line, pulling my face back to his. Our lips met and that feeling of lust rushed through us. My hands found his hair and I twisted them around every chocolate strand. He pulled me close to his chest.
"Hmm" someone cleared their throat. We broke apart gasping. Pavel's eyes shot to the one who disturbed our moment. We weren't in love, it was mostly lust. Great sex and kissing is all that ever resulted from us. I stood up, gazing at the man of my nightmares. Stan Alto was staring at us.
"Miss Hathaway" he chastised, "after all these years why am I still finding you with guys in hallways?"
"Sometimes it was a room or classroom" I smiled pulling Pavel with me. "Besides, I am not a student at the academy anymore. You have no control over me."
"I don't think anyone ever had control over you" he snickered, "except Belikov." That stung. I shot him my 'evil eye' and stormed away. Pavel close behind me. I was furious. I could feel myself growing colder and more distant from the world. The same thing happened after I visited Lissa and took away her darkness. I tried to do it before a fight, sometimes it happened without any intention. Like now.
I kicked the exit door open, smacking a guardian by surprise. Oops! I was halfway across court before he grabbed my arm and swung me around. "Rose, stop!" he shouted. "What's wrong?" He didn't understand. I didn't tell my father, mother, Pavel or even Mikhail about being able to take the darkness from Lissa. The only one who knew other than she and I was Adrian.
"Don't touch her" a voice rang through the air. I turned to see…