June 19, 2011
Hey guys I hope you enjoy this chapter. It is not been read over by my beta because I had a headache and didn't send it to her with enough time to get it back when I wanted it. Sorry RangaRose, you are an awesome Beta and I will try to get next chapter to you in time.
Dimitri is getting closer to the truth, and soon he is going to have a chance to prove himself to Rose.
I do not own VA but that which comes from my deranged mind I will happily share with you.
Chapter 13: Languages
I could hear voices coming from the gym I recognized one to belong to Roz….Rosemarie. The other belonged to my lady bug. But I couldn't understand the language that they were speaking. Somehow in the last seven years Rose has become a linguist and apparently so is Annemarie. I stayed in the shadows of the door watching and listening to the conversation wishing I could understand what they were saying.
They were sparring as Rose had during her 'pack' training session. Rose was offence and Annemarie on the defense. I noticed that Rosemarie seemed to be a bit tired looking and her reflexes were not as sharp as they usually are. Still she was magnificent. The expression on her face changed and she began talking with her student with a tone that denoted she was about to discuss something serious and upsetting. They stopped and sat on the mat.
"Is féidir le Mo ceann beag, orainn a chur le sos ar feadh tamaill, ní mór dom rud éigin a phlé leat." (My little one, can we take a break for a while, I need to discuss something with you.)
"Sea Máthair." (Yes Mother.) Annemarie started to look apprehensive.
"Do dheirfiúr agus a pacáiste go bhfuil dul chun teacht anseo a bheith ag obair le mo pacáiste ar feadh tamaill; Tá a fhios agam uirthi cheana féin, is dócha a dúirt tú faoi sin trí do bhanna. In earrach Tá mé ag dul chun dul áit éigin a bheith ag obair ar rud éigin tábhachtach. Beidh mé imithe le fada an fhéidir fiú ar feadh cúpla mí." (Your sister and her pack are going to come here to work with my pack for a while; I know she probably already told you about that through your bond. In the spring I am going to go somewhere to work on something important. I will be gone for a long time, maybe even a few months.) I could see Rose was trying to put a brave face on whatever it was she was telling the girl. Annemarie looked upset and interrupted.
"Ach cad faoi mo…." (But what about my….)
"Do thuismitheoirí mhór ag dul chun fanacht leat agus mé imithe. Beidh Mhamó aire a thabhairt dó, tá sí roimh agus gach rud a bhí fíneáilDo thuismitheoirí mhór ag dul chun fanacht leat agus mé imithe. Beidh Mhamó aire a thabhairt dó, tá sí roimh agus gach rud a bhí fíneáil" (Your grandparents are going to stay with you while I am gone. Grandma will take care of it, she has before and everything was fine.) Rose wrapped her arms around Annemarie, who seemed so vulnerable almost like a small child.
"Ní dóigh liom gur mian leat a fhágáil dom mam, le do thoil rá go mbeidh tú ag fanacht liom, le do thoil?" (I don't want you to leave me mommy, please say you will stay with me, please?)
Annemarie cried into Rose's shoulder for a while as Rose whispered comfortingly into her ear. Then Rose did something that astonished me. She began to sing the Russian lullaby that I used to sing to her when she was upset and in need of comfort. Rose herself still looked upset and I just wanted to rush in and take them both into my arms. I knew it would not be welcome if I did so instead I stayed in the shadows and watched.
Rose fixed a softer version of her guardian mask on and spoke again; this time in Turkish. Finally I could understand what was being said.
"Benim küçük bir, müzik işine geri dönelim. Belki bu beni yerine tutturulmuş alma olsun bir gün olacak." (My little one, let's get back to work. Maybe this will be the day you get me instead of getting pinned.)
"Seni değiştirmek durumunda ne yapılacak?" (What do I get if I change you?)
"Ah sen ne istiyorsun tamam, bir bahis ha yapmak istiyorum?" (Oh you want to make a bet huh, ok what do you want?)
"Ben, Guardian Belikov davet etmek istediğiniz oğlu Noel için üzerine Lady Ozera." (I want to invite Guardian Belikov, his son, and Lady Ozera over for Christmas.)
"Tamam, bu bir anlaşma." (All right, it's a deal.)
I couldn't believe that Rosemarie would so easily give in to such an idea. I wanted to ask if I could introduce Connor to Annemarie but part of me was expecting to be told no. Surely she will not give a little and let herself be pinned. I watched them spar as my heart raced. I know there are many who would wonder why I would want to introduce them so badly; I love them both as my own and in my fantasies they become good friends.
They sparred for five minutes in silence before ladybug broke it, this time speaking in English. The sparring never stopped as they talked.
"Remember what you asked me at breakfast? I think I have an answer for you. If I was born a Moroi and I didn't have to become The Wielder of Life and Death; I would want to dance in a ballet company and I want to become a writer."
"I will call your Grandfather and ask him about setting up a private dance teacher. There is a Royal Moroi Dance Company at court that you could apply to next year. I don't know how we will set up recitals to keep you safe but I am sure he could handle it. As for writing I will buy you your own laptop with the best writing programs on it. Start working on it and if your stories are as good as those short ones you post online then I think you might have a future."
"I don't have time for it. As much as I would love to have a normal life I know my duty."
"You're my little one, I love you and I want you to feel some normalcy in your life. Perhaps being a dancer is a stretch but even as a Guardian or a Wielder you can be a Writer too. Starting in January you will be giving up two of your afternoon sessions with me so you can devote the time to what you want." It surprised me to hear Rose talk like that. I wonder what has brought that on. It didn't skip my attention when Rose called her My Little one.
They sparred for a few more minutes in silence. A few times Rosemarie stopped to demonstrate how to improve a kick or a move. Annemarie went for the final blow but was blocked and pinned by Rose using a moderately complex combination of moves. Once Rosemarie pinned her she kissed her cheek to indicate the killing bite but then she proceeded to tickle her mercilessly
"S s st op Ma St o op. I gi ive u up. Sto oo oop!" Annemarie screamed out between giggles. Rosemarie stopped tickling her and swooped her up in her arms like a child. Her mask was completely gone and the love she had for Ladybug shone in her whole being. Again I felt the desire to run out and envelop them in my arms.
"You did well; you can still invite Guardian Belikov and his family for Christmas. It would be good for you to know them." The softer version of her guardian mask slipped back on her face but I could see pain and worry in her eyes.
"I can invite them, really! Hey do you think I might stand a chance sparring with Lady Ozera? She is a Moroi after all but I hear she is a good fighter. I don't think I will ever win you like I did with Woody."
In a split second everything changed. Both of them paled. Rosemarie set her down and knelt at her level to look at her intently. Annemarie stiffened and tears formed in her eyes.
It was then that I realized what Annemarie's slip up was. On our first day of training she had shown me how training with Rose, differed. She succeeded in… well I don't know how to describe what she did but she begged me not to tell on her because it was supposed to be a secret.
"I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have but I showed him how I train with you." Marie's lip quivered when she spoke.
"When did this happen?" Rose looked very intently into her student's eyes.
"On our first training." Tears rolled down her soft cheeks
"Annemarie how could you be so careless?" Disappointment, worry and frustration covered her face as she admonished the child. Annemarie dropped her head and her shoulders shook. I could take no more. I stepped out of the shadows.
"Roza don't be angry at her I kept asking her questions that day. I promise I won't divulge your secrets." She jumped to her feet.
"Dimitri how long have you been there." She was clearly surprised that she hadn't sensed me there, frankly so was I.
"I haven't been here long but I heard her confess to showing me how you train her. Please don't punish her, I was asking her a lot of questions about you that day."
"Dimitri, she has to understand the seriousness of her actions. She was lucky that it was you, what if she told someone else. I know it is hard to keep so many secrets but she knows that there are lives at stake. That first day she didn't know you and she had no reason to trust you."
"Yes I did, Emma told me he was safe. She was the one who suggested that I show him. Was she wrong?" Annemarie defended herself.
Rose again knelt down to her level. She lovingly tucked some loose hair behind her ear. "No she wasn't wrong, you can trust Woody. He might not understand or believe you on everything but if you tell him not to tell anyone he won't tell. I just worry; you know you have to be careful not to tell outsiders too much."
Rose slipped into Turkish. "Babanın Strigoi onun kim olduğunu öğrendim eğer olacağını ne kadar tehlike biliyorum.O, kendisi ve ailesini koruma sağlayabiliriz sonra hakkında bilmek hazır demektir. O zamana kadar Büyükbaba ona ve ailesine üzerinde seyretti yaşıyor." (You know how much danger your father would be in if the Strigoi found out who he is. When he is ready to know about you then he can make sure he and his family are protected. Until then Grandpa is having him and his family watched over.)
Annemarie nodded as Rose wiped her eyes. A look of longing etched her little face. She seemed to pick up courage to ask something.
"Onunla temasa, biz tekrar deneyin bulunamadı. Ben sabırlı olmalı ama ben onu gerçekten tanışmak istiyorum. Seni Anne seviyorum ama ben de babamı hiç tanımadımdiliyorum." (Could we try again; to contact him. I know I should be patient but I really want to meet him. I love you mom but I wish I knew my father too.) She looked up at Roza with hope. I saw Rose glance at me for a brief second.
"Şimdi zaman o bile Onu yakında yüzleşmek zorunda alacaktır hazır değilse, ama benimkızım değil." (Now isn't the time my daughter but even if he isn't ready I will have to confront him soon.) Annemare smilled at Rose's answer.
My mind went reeling. Annemarie had called Rose Ma while she was getting tickled and mom just right now in Turkish. Rose has called her My Little One and My Daughter in Turkish. How could this be? I have to figure it out. She didn't have a child before I brought them back; she was a virgin the first time we were together for God's sake. How old is this girl really? Who is her father? I know my guardian mask was faltering but whether or not Rose noticed she did not acknowledge it.
Annemarie broke me of my thoughts when she asked if I could join them for lunch. I nodded dumbly and said something about skipping breakfast. Happy to be invited to spent time with them I happily waited for them to shower and change. I spent the time trying to figure out if it could even be possible for Annemarie to be less than six yrs. old. I couldn't see how it is possible but I did come to the realization that perhaps I am going to have to have to give myself over to the impossible.
After all if I hadn't known Oksana since she moved to Baia at the tender age of 18 with her older guardian I would never have known about spirit till I met Rose and the princess. It was because I recognized the similarities between them, and Mark and Oksana that I knew they had a bond. If I hadn't had my broken arm fixed by her I wouldn't know spirit can heal. If I had not seen those things I would have thought Rose and Lissa were nuts.
I heard Annemarie chatting away before they came out of the locker room. I decided to push all my questions to the back of my mind so I could enjoy this rare moment with them. She was chatting about now beautiful the sky was today and how she wanted to eat outside rather in the student or staff dining halls.
"It's too cold out there tonight, sweetie."
"But M.. Guardian Hathaway please it is so pretty out and I rarely ever get to eat with you. I don't want to have a bunch people coming up to talk to you."
"If you don't mind I think I have a suggestion. How about the solarium in the guardian building? It is still hardly ever used and we will get a great view of the sky without being out in the elements."
"Good thinking, Dimitri." Rose said. I love hearing her use my name.
"How about you take her there and I will run and get us some lunch?"
She nodded in agreement and I ran to get us some food. I asked the cook for to go containers and filled them with salad, spaghetti bolognaise, and garlic bread. I made three hot chocolates and grabbed 3 bottled waters. I spied some chocolate cake and decided to bring some of that too. I had to put the waters in my duster pockets and left with my tray piled high. By the time I got back Rose and Marie had wiped the dusty tables and chairs waiting patiently for me.
"Here we are; I hope you like my choices." I set everything out. I was just about to start eating when Rose cleared her throat. She looked pointedly at Marie.
"I do pray; I just do it silently because I don't want to make him feel uncomfortable." Marie said defensively. I had noticed her pausing a moment before eating, I always thought she was trying not to shove her face at lightning speed as Rose used to do.
"Well I would like for us to pray together." Rose said in a motherly tone.
"OK, ok." Marie looked at me as she folded her hands. I did the same. Together they began to pray in Russian. "Bog velik. Bog blag . Davaĭte poblagodaritʹ yego za pishchu . Amin." (God is Great. God is Good. Let us thank him for our food. Amen.) Ladybug flushed red and turned her eyes down to her food. We ate in silence for a short time.
"Rose I have to ask; have you really become religious? I have seen you at church with the kids when you are not off working. At first I thought you were just doing the same thing I do, sitting and reflecting about the lives I have had to take. But the other day I saw you taking communion, and now you are praying before meals."
"I have learned a lot over the years, I know God exists and is active in our lives." It looked like she was going to explain herself but her phone rang. The ring tone made me chuckle because it was the English song God Save The Queen played in a minor key; making it sound slightly sinister. Sorry I have to get this. She took her phone and walked away from the table.
"The ghosts told her about an attack that is getting planned and she has been planning a counter attack."
"Ghosts?"
"Yes she can see and talk to them. Her friend Mason is her helper. He tells her what the Strigoi are up to so she can stop them." I thought about the night of her "pack" training. Trying to keep an open mind I questioned her.
"Do you believe in ghosts?"
"Yes, I don't see many though; just Mason and well there are some little girls I see sometimes. My grandmother Yevette told me that I see the ghosts because I am supposed to be a wielder. But while I am young I will only see ghosts that belong to someone close to me, like family."
"What do the girls look like?"
"I guess they look kina like me but one of them has really pretty chocolate brown eyes and the other ones have very green eyes. I don't want to talk about it because it makes me sad." She paused for a second and looked over my shoulder. "Did you know you have a ghost friend?"
"Oh I do? What does it look like?" I felt the hairs on my neck prick but I ignored it.
"Yes He is a tall Moroi and his hair is what auntie Lissa calls sandy blond. He has very pretty eyes; you know the color of the water in pictures of islands that is the color of his eyes. He wants me to tell you something but it is in a language I have never heard before."
"What does he want you to tell me?"
"tammoH Dung 'ej 'Ij" I choked on my food and she scrunched her face. "What language is that and what did I just say. He is laughing at me." Rose came back to the table but focused at the same spot behind me that Annemarie was.
"You just spoke Klingon, it is a made up language from an old TV show I used to watch with a friend of mine. You just told me to 'Shut Up and Listen.'" Her little face went beat read and Rose's Eyes narrowed at the spot behind me.
"I am so sorry! I swear I didn't know what he was telling me to say." She buried her face in her arms.
"It's Ok; I am not offended, just very surprised."
"Zeklos, I don't appreciate you taunting her. You were not funny seven years ago and you are not funny now." Rose spoke to the nothing over my shoulder. I remembered back to how she used to look over my shoulder often; it always happened when we were outside of the wards.
She had called him Zeklos; could it be Ivan? Is this for real or did they set me up. No Rosemarie lacks the humor that Roza had for practical jokes; and she didn't know that Ivan made me learn Klingon with him so we could use it as a secret form of communication. The dream last night reminded me that my grandmother said he would always be by my side.
"How long has he been with me?" I looked to Rose, astonished that I was so willing to believe. I think she was just as surprised as me.
"He never left you; he has been by your side since the moment of his death." She said solemnly.
"You used to see him when we were outside the wards didn't you?" She nodded then wiped a tear from her eye.
"Seeing Ghosts is a shadowkissed side effect. It happens if we make a kill after having been bonded. After Spokane I started to see Mason. It wasn't till I started to become The Wielder of Life and Death that I gained the ability to communicate with him." Again her phone went off and she stepped away from the table.
"What is a Wielder of Life and Death?" I asked myself without realizing I said it out loud.
"A Huntress. She has the ability to transform a Strigoi back into whatever it was in life, or grant it peace so it can die and go to heaven. She is the first one in over 400 yrs."
"And you are supposed to become one too? Are there others?"
"I am not one yet but my sister is. My Aunts might become Huntress's too."
"What happens to the ones who get changed? How come I haven't heard about this before?"
"Duh, do you think Auntie Tati wants it out there? The hunting packs work in secret and only a handful of people at court know. The ones who get turned back stay at the compound with their families till they are over the trauma and then after they get a cover story they reintegrate with Moroi society. The Humans don't get to go back to their lives though; but they understand and would rather stay behind wards protected by guardians anyway."
"So Guardian Hathaway and your sister transform all of the Strigoi? What do the hunting packs do?"
"That is a bit harder to answer." Rose said as she came back to the table. I was amazed that she seemed willing to allow Annemarie to tell me so much and that she is so forthcoming herself. "You see there are three ways to transform a Strigoi. The first is the way I do. I take elemental energy from the Moroi in my pack and I use it to strengthen my ability. I have to pray for the forgiveness of the soul and I exorcize the demon that inhabits the body. The soul is able then to choose life or afterlife.
The second way is if a spirit wielder charms a stake with healing spirit and stakes the Strigoi in the heart. I have under my command 5 packs with combined Moroi and Dhampir lead by a spirit wielder under my command and Annemarie's sister has five too. The problem with this form is that the soul does not get to choose and is forced to life even if they don't wish it. It is the huntress's job to help them heal and come to terms with being brought back and living with the guilt.
All the Moroi and Dhampir in every pack carry a stake that has been charmed with all five elements as well as my element. These stakes will give the soul a connection to the body and allow the pack time to get the Strigoi to me for transformation."
"What is the third way?"
"The third way is one I have not had to use in this lifetime and I truly pray I never have too." She looked me in the eye when she spoke and for a very brief moment I saw worry, and love. Something caught her attention and her face changed to the cool professional mask. Annemarie also looked at the same spot in midair that Rose did. Instead of a Guardian mask Annemarie's face fell into a 'brave face' but in her eyes I could see sadness and frustration. Rose turned her attention to the child.
"I am sorry little one. I have to go but I will be back as soon as I can. Come with me to my office and I will walk you to class before I leave. Guardian Belikov will meet you there." Her mask was completely gone and in its place was love and concern for the child sitting next to her. She turned to me and gave me an apologetic look. "Sorry Dimitri, I have to go on a mission. Mason just told me that one of my top priority, Strigoi has managed to plan something big without me finding out. I need to stop her from taking down an academy and I need to try to return her to her family."
Annemarie and Rose walked out taking the remainder of their lunch with them. My head felt full. In the last hour and a half I have learned so much and it all challenges my core beliefs. 1. Rose transforms Strigoi. I remember seeing Guardians in Rose's pack who I had previously thought had been taken and turned by Strigoi. They must have been some of her transformations. 2. Ghosts are real and Rose and Marie can see them. 3. Ivan is a ghost and he has always been with me. 4. Yeva told me the truth, on that at least. 5. Rose could be Annemarie's biological mother but who is her father. He must be a spirit wielder, how else could she be so special. Or maybe he was one of the transformed Moroi, perhaps that explains her uniqueness.
I finished my lunch and went to wait for Annemarie and Rose. Ten minutes after her class started they walked up with Alberta. I watched as Rose and Ladybug hugged goodbye. Without another word to me or Alberta Rose turned and walked away in the direction of the airstrip.
Ladybug stood there for a minute watching her walk away before Alberta placed a hand on her shoulder; guiding her into class. I noticed that although her expression was sad there was a soft glow to Ladybug's face and her cheeks were slightly pinker, it reminded me of when a Moroi just finishes with a feeder.
Later that evening I sat there reflecting on what I saw during the training session between Rose and Annemarie. Although the thought that Rose could be Annemarie's should be preposterous I have to admit that I really do believe she is. They look so much alike, they have so many of the same mannerisms, Rose is a huntress and Annemarie is supposed to become one, and my heart tells me that it is true.
FYI
In chapter seven we learn that Dimitri learned many languages while studying with Ivan Zeklos. He is fairly fluent in Greek, Italian, Turkish, French and Romanian; along with Klingon which they learned just for fun. Rose didn't know about all the languages; she is only aware that other than his native Russian and English, Dimitri also knew Greek. Because of her work as the Wielder of Life and Death she was given the ability to learn the native language of every Strigoi she transforms and she is able to pass this knowledge to Annemarie. The language spoken when Dimitri first walks in is ether Gaelic or Celtic, I can't quite remember.
POP QUIZ
1. Why does Rose look a bit tired and slightly off to Dimitri?
2. What is Annemarie worried about when Rose tells her she will be away for an extended amount of time.
3. What is it that her Grandmother will take care of for her?
4. Why is Rose so upset that Annemarie showed Dimitri how they train; after all she has already shown him herself by this point in time?
5. What did Rose mean when she told Ivan that he was not funny 7 yrs ago and he is not funny now. What do you think he did seven yrs ago that she didn't find funny?
6. What was with the pink flush on Annemarie's cheeks?
Please review because lets face it I am addicted
Suzanna