Adrian's Memory:
Rose was gone. She had disappeared during our night, the humans day, slipping past every single guard, warden and ward. They checked everywhere, no-one had seen or heard her but we knew she had broken into the guardians gear room. Three stakes were missing so she wasn't un-protected. All of her practical clothing was gone and she wasn't coming back. Lissa was in hysterics already, pushed even more over the edge when she found out she was pregnant with Christians baby. Alberta didn't know what to do, the academies best novice had vanished off the face of the earth. Again. But now, without Lissa tagging along, she would be almost impossible to find. Alberta was outraged when she read Dimitri's reports on Rose, the ones left by him. They all made it very clear that Rose was capable of breaking into a maximum security prison, and getting back out of school would be no problem. Headmistress wanted to call him to find her again but I told her it wouldn't make a difference, Rose didn't want to be found by anyone.
Rose had left a note on her bed, written on a scrap of paper, torn, just like my heart. That note will haunt me for the rest of my life. Her familiar scrawl made my heart wrench as I re-read it again, the creases from being opened so much on the verge of ripping.
I'.m sorry Liss... Adrian.. Sparky. Don't follow me down the path I have chosen. I am going to be the last thing they ever see. I blame them for everything. Screw the world.
She wanted to die. I didn't know where she was going but I knew that when she said 'they', she meant strigoi, the only things that she knew were evil and to blame for her mother abandoning her at the academy, the reason she couldn't lead a 'normal' life like the moroi.
I opened my emails, tired from staying up all night, scouring the moroi world for a trace of her. She didn't have money in a bank account, so that made tracing transactions impossible, while sorting through every flight from Montana would take a long time. I had to start somewhere. An email from the alchemists caught my eye, they always had files on people and things happening. This one was from Russia, odd, they never really contacted the U.S.A. for help.
Moroi Lord,
We heard about St. Vladmir's loss of Rosemarie Hathaway and believe she may be in Russia. As we speak, Russia is being purged of Strigoi, keeping us very busy. In 5 days and 13 hours, 117 strigoi bodies have been found. They were all killed with a silver stake in the same manner. We know they are all linked as they all bear the same marks, indicating a very singular fighting style. We beg that you contact one of our Academies and arrange an investigation as to her whereabouts. Our apologies for your loss and we hope you find her soon.
I phoned Alberta immediately and she knocked on my door five minutes later. I may not be a student but I was talking about Rose, whom Alberta thought of as a daughter. Her face was as tired as I felt and I knew she hadn't stopped looking yet. I showed her the email and hope lit her eyes again. She thought it was Rose too, the kills were all clean, efficient, trained, a bloody trail of bodies cut through Siberia, ending in Baia. We phoned the closest academy and they agreed to look, even if they didn't believe that one of our novices could kill so many in so little time. They were going to send one of their guardians that was to guard Lissa back with her if they found her. Guardian Lucian Seivre. The days went by in a blur, it was 3 weeks since they started looking.. three very long weeks.
I looked up from my bottle of vodka, watching Alberta approach me, she smiled and I felt my heart lift at the sight of it. Rose couldn't be found... could she?
"Adrian! Guardian Seivre wants to speak with you on the phone, now. She's been seen." Alberta's voice cracked and I saw the tears of relief as I ran past her, sprinting to her office and grabbing the phone where I knew he would be waiting.
"Adrian Ishakov speaking." I didn't bother with my title, instead waiting with bated breath. Guardian Seivre had personally started looking for her everywhere, giving us daily reports after we sent him her file.
"Adrian, hi, it's Lucian. We found her. We have a family looking after her in the commune in Baia. Oleona Belikov was more than happy to give up their spare bedroom." My mind stopped. Belikov? Crap! Rose was staying with the family of the man who broke her. "Do you know why she came to Russia? She's in a pretty bad way, I have to warn you. But we have a full kill count and it's pretty impressive. She has faced 220 strigoi and killed 203 of them. I think the alchemists are mad though. But, I have a question that I need answered Lord Ishakov, if you don't mind?" what on earth could he want to know that wasn't on her file.
"Sure Lucian, what do you need to know?" My voice trembled despite my best efforts and I was holding back tears of relief of my own.
"Who hurt her like this? Who caused her so much pain?" He was so right about her. Dimitri had done this. I felt the horror of it shut my brain down. How could I answer him? Rose wouldn't want it widely known, especially since Lucian was to be her partner in guarding Lissa. She could tell him in her own time, I owed her that. She was going to hate me when she finds out I notified her father of her absence.
"I'm sorry Lucian, I know it's a poor way to repay you after all you have done for us but I can't tell you that. That's for Rose to tell you, not me. But why do you ask?" what had Rose said? What had she done? I know Rose was great at hiding emotions so no-one could tell what she was really feeling. Either this guy was great at reading people or she had told him or worse, maybe she looked as bad as I envisioned.
"Um... as I said before, she is in a pretty bad way. But when I took her to the Belikovs, she was un-concious and kept muttering things. Something about "their fault" and "mistake". Then she started going on about "he left". I know she is hurting. But I'll ask her myself, just later. I'll bring her back tomorrow. Good-bye Lord Ishakov." I hung up the phone, letting my joy escape! Rose was coming back!
Lissa was over joyed, but I knew she still felt betrayed. I sighed and went back to my room preparing to drown myself in vodka, the spirit induced headache coming back as the alcohol wore off. I had quit smoking for Rose but I still needed my drinks. I felt the numbness and my grasp on the magic faded, letting me enjoy my solitude. When I finally emerged, it was our morning and Rose was arriving. Today.
I waited at the gates with Alberta and Lissa, standing with bated breath every time a car passed. Then one pulled in. A man that looked a lot like Dimitri waved from the front seat, but I knew it was Lucian. His aura was concerned, happy and slightly love-struck. Who did he love...?
He stepped out and went to the backseat. Rose wasn't getting out herself. He lifted out a small bag and then reached in further. Then he pulled put Rose. He cradled her gently against his chest, making sure nothing touched her. She barely looked like Rose anymore. He held he with one arm as he shut the door, apologising when the loud noise made her flinch.
"I'm sorry Roza... You're home now, your friends are here to see you." he spoke low and soft, his aura lighting up with compassion. He truly cared about her. As he got closer to us, I looked at her properly. She was pale and tired looking, her hair seeming even darker in contrast to her face. Her eyes were closed, the purple shadows making them seem sunken. There was a bruise across her cheek and she looked weak, like she hadn't eaten for a while. But her aura was the worst. It was pitch black , the emotions still like lightening strikes. Misery, torment, sadness, anger and tiredness. Exhaustion that reached her very soul. But she trusted Lucian, tursted him, leaned on him. I felt the jealousy but squashed it back, I was her friend thats all. He carried her to us, holding her close, watching all around. The need to protect flared up in him and focused on me, recognizing me instantly.
She was unconcious again, her minds way of protecting itself, but Lissa healed the darkness in her and all her injuries, leaving her to rest again. I stayed in the waiting room, sleeping on the couch until she came round. She did, in the middle of the night. Screaming.
I jolted awake, hearing a blood-curdling scream making the hair on the back of my neck rise. Rose. She had been back a week, she hadn't eaten anything other than the food the nurse had all but forced her to eat. She hadn't slept through the night without waking up screaming in terror. It was tiring for everyone, but it wasn't my night. I had to ignore it. It was Lucian's shift, sleeping in the chair in her bedroom , waiting for her to wake. Last time she had woken up alone she had tried to escape again, we couldn't allow it. Even if she didn't eat, she did train. She spent all her classes trying to be her normal bad-ass self, and every spare minute training. Her new mentor, Alex taught her at the same time that Dimitri used to, he never left the gym without a new bruise. Soon, she had learnt all he could teach and a new mentor was found. Rose was changing, but she was the best novice the academy had ever seen. But, she was broken.
End of Memory.
My Roza.. I had done this to her. .. I thanked Adrian and left at a run. I needed to make things right again. The door to the guardian lodgings opened as I walked towards it, Eddie stepped out, glared at me and stalked off. I sighed. I did this to myself, of course they would all hate me. The warden looked up at me and raised an eyebrow.
"Guardian Belikov, your room is ready for you, what else do you need?" I didn't know what to ask first. But I went with the easiest. I needed to talk to Roza and now.
"Can you tell me which is Guardian Hathaways room? I have some important.. guardian things to discuss with her." It was a lame excuse but she nodded her head anyway.
"Guardian Hathaway lives in the house next to the grove. Just knock." Roza didn't live in the guardian lodgings? I nodded in thanks and saw the house she meant. It screamed Roza. I smiled at it, looking at the strategic placement of the doors and windows. The door was open so I knocked and poked my head around the door. Roza was there, sitting on the lap of Lucian, tear tracks on her cheeks. She turned her head away from me and into his chest and he tightened his arms around her, glaring at me with hate in his eyes. So she had told him. He stroked her hair, calming her down.
"Guardian Seivre. I need to talk to you, now. Rose... Roza..." I kept my voice under control, trying to get Rose to listen, to hear what I needed her to understand. A runner burst into the room, looking panicked, fixing his eyes on Rose.
"Guardian Hathaway! The Queen needs you, immediately. The princess is coming, now! Queen Valissa is labour." Rose lept up, her mask and compassion for her friend making her forget us. Her need to help Lissa over-powering all else. She sprinted from the room, leaving me and Lucian looking after her in shock.
Lucian POV:
I watched Roza take-off out the door, wanting to follow but the Queen having a baby wasn't something I really wanted to witness. Dimitri stared after her as well, longing and jealousy in his eyes. My mind was still buzzing, the feel of Roza in my arms warmed me and I felt like laughing. I had basically admitted that I loved her and she... My Roza. Her lips were like satin, how long I had waited, dreaming , to feel them pressed against mine. I sighed, fixing Dimitri in a glare. He hurt her, how dare he. How could anyone even dream of hurting Roza at all?
"Why are you here Belikov? What do you want from me?" I kept my anger in check, waiting for him to speak. Why would he want to talk to me anyway, he knew that I wouldn't hesitate from removing him from the court. I hated him. I never really took such strong dislike to people but I realised that the fury making my stomach clench and twist into steel knots was towards him. It was the protective side only Roza could bring out in me, the side only she could control.
"What do you want with my Roza?" I almost snorted. His Roza? He gave up the claim he had over her the moment her abanoned her. He was a fool for even toying with the idea of leaving, she was like drug. The more time you spent with her, the more addicted you became. The way her eyes conveyed so much, how soft they went when she let her guard down, the icy distance they gained when facing some she didn't like, the fire in them when she wanted something she couldn't get.
"Your Roza? She isnt your anything. She used to be but you lost that when you left her broken. Especially after sleeping with her, promising her you'd be there. You idiot! Was she just a play thing to you. Belikov? A toy you can pick up and put down as you choose?" his shocked expression just fueled my rant and I continued, my outrage making me pace. "Well, I won't let it happen again, you won't hurt her again. I love her and I'm not such a fool as you to walk away from that. You have no right to demand answers from me or her. You want to know what I want with her? I want her, I want her strength, courage, love, companionship and I want to give her so much more. I'm not going to leave her, not for anything in the world. I'm warning you now Belikov, if you hurt her again, in anyway, you will not live to regret it." The venom in my voice made him regain his speech, quickly.
"Is that a threat, Seivre?" His voice was low, strained, he was trying as hard as I was to keep his temper under control. Too bad.
"No. It's a promise." I made my voice dark, menacing and I knew my eyes would darken. Stepping closer to him, looking him right in the eyes. I was about 3 inches taller, towering above him , making my self seem bigger in my anger. He regarded me coolly, standing his ground. His courage was impressive but was meaningless in this situation.
"Well, it makes no difference. You are right, I was an idiot. But you'll see. I won't stop fighting for her, I never will. My heart belongs to her like she belongs with me. I will get her back." His determination was pathetic. But there was no way I was letting her slip away to this jerk. I remebered what I knew of him, how he beat up his father, he was a coward, like she said.
"No, Dimitri. It does make a difference. You are no different to your father. She's mine." I all but snarled the last words, finally letting my control go. Blocking out thoughts of when he did have her, how she would have tasted, how she would have lay in his arms. He didn't deserve her.
We were pulled put of pur stare-off by Adrian whistling by the door, taking in our stances with raised eye brows. I nodded to him, still glaring at Dimitri. Adrian knew everything, he wouldn't care of I took Dimitri apart.
"I really hate to break this up but Rose wants you both up at the royal lodgings. The princess has been born and both of you are her guardians. You need to be present, but if you're not going to be gentle and respectable, I will tell them you were having a moment." Dimitri straightened up, slipping into guardian mode, briskly walking out the door and towards the main building. Prick . I sighed again, joining Adrian at the door watching Dimitri's retreating figure.
"Thanks Adrian, I don't know what that would have turned into if you hadn't shown up." I knew one of us wouldn't have walked out of it. Adrian chuckled in response, shaking his head.
"Your auras were radiating out of the house like a wild fire, it was hard to ignore, so much jealousy, angst and hate, rage. I thought Rose had been taken over by the spirits. But no, just you and craddle-rober battling it out over our fair Rose." He laughed at his own joke, making a dhampir girl passing him blush and scurry along. When we made it to the room the new princess was in, most of the other guardians were already there. Rose had hand-picked the ruling family's guardians, making a strong team of 8. Now it was 9. Rose, Alex, Daniel, Eddie, Cam, Alberta, Wes and I were the main guards, now Dimitri had joined us. We were the elite. We had to guard Christian, Lissa, Christine and now Adrienne Rose Dragomir.
We watched as Lissa, exhausted and pale handed her to Rose, collapsing back onto the pillows. We saw Christian pacing anxiously in the lobby, banished from their floor by Rose. We sent Adrian down to get him while Rose helped Lissa lay down comfortably and wiped the sweat from her forhead. Arienne safely tucked in the crook of Rose's arm. When Lissa was asleep, Rose left her side, bringing Adrienne to us, presenting our newest charge. The baby was small, a sparse covering of white blond hair gleaming in the faint light. I smiled in spite of my black mood, while Dimitri practically glowed, stretching his arms out to hold her. Rose permitted him to hold her, watching impatiently, disproval clear on her face. That is until Dimitri began cooing. I don't think Rose knew what to think. I didn't know myself. It was a mixture between the funniest thing I had ever seen and then one of the cutest.
Christain burst in after that, the very image of the desperately worried new father. His face cracked into a grin and he strode forward and carefully held Adrienne, cradling her and kissing her forhead. We melted out the door, leaving them to enjoy their family time.
Rose POV.
After we left Lissa to sleep and Christian to play daddy, I was frustrated again. Dimitri. He had wanted to hold Adrienne and I had let him, not knowing what to expect. Anything than what happened. He held her like she was the most beautiful thing in the world, cooing to her like he was insane. It was so cute and sweet. I almost forgot I was mad at him. Almost. I took the team to the gym, there was no way they were going to slack off now we had an extra member. I turned to them watching them switch from gooey baby brains to serious guardians.
"Ok, we need to practice with all the gear. Get changed and meet me back here, I will fit Guardian Belikov." They all nodded, smiling. Since I had become the head of the team, we had new gear that would help us. Most of it I had designed, knowing what would work after my time in Russia.
" First you need boots. Find you size on the racks and I will get your daggers." We had strong boots, soft but with excellent grip, they had a pocket in the side of both that allowed a thin dagger to be concealed, convenient when you lost your stake. The dagger was flat and easier to slip through ribs as a last ditch attempt. My boots were knee high, great for shopping and protecting my calves, they were made from tough leather, that still looked stylish.
Dimitri wove his way through the different racks of gear, making his way back to me. Black leather books in hand. I fitted the daggers to them and led him to the other side of the room. I felt my face go warm as I knelt and raised his pants leg to his knee, fitting a stake strap to his calf. He chuckled and I dragged my nails a little deeper the necessary when tightening one of the straps. Straightening up, I glared at him, turning my back. Bastard. The electricity that I felt when we touched was faint, growing stronger, making me ache. I hated it. Why did he still have this power over me?
His leather duster had a stake in it already so I skipped that, going to the leather arm braces that would support his forearms in a hand to hand fight and stop a strigoi's fangs sinking into to them. Next were the vests. They had leather outers and had titanium plates in them, lightwieght and positioned to be really flexible for all our movements. They were like a second skin, designed to be worn under our clothes and protect us from the blows. They were very thin and fitting enough for me to wear under a tight dress and go unnoticed. Mine was more like a corset than the guys vest, meaning I wasn't compromised in any way. They kept us safe. I felt my embarrassment grow as I realised what I had to ask Dimitri next.
"Take off your shirt and try these on. They need to be light and comfortable." His eyes smirked and he slowly pulled his shirt off, making sure I had an eyeful of abs. His entire chest was even more muscled than when we were at the academy. His skin smelled the same, the enticing scent, entoxicating, filling me up. It invited me to his warm, tanned and soft skin, smooth and strong. He pulled it on and turned around so I could strap up the back, the leather string like a corset again. It fit well so I dumped all his stuff in his arms and stalked out, slamming the door behind me.
Lucian looked worried at my expression but chucked me my bag. He had probably managed to open my locker for once. I smiled at him, remembering this morning. I heard Dimitri leave the gear room and I didn't even turn to look, I just kept walking to get changed. I let my happy expression fall off my face the minute they couldn't see me. Stupid Dimitri. I pulled my bike shorts back on, fastening the strap back in place on my thigh. My stake had my personal markings on it, a combination of leaves and stars. My boots and daggers were next, they were slightly worn but they were my favourite, I couldn't replce them.. My vest was strapless, the lacing at the back was already adjusted to my size so all I needed to do was clip it up at the front. I smiled a savage smile at the warrior I saw in the mirror. My arm braces and gloves completed the look. I tied my hair back up and strode out the door where they were assembling.
We faced off one by one, making sure everyone had a turn to fight each member of the team. Our stratagy planning meant we could co-ordinate our attacks, we hadn't lost a team member yet. At last Lucian stepped forward to face me.
I grinned briefly and we launched oursleves at eachother at the exact same time. It was like a perfectly synchronized dance, coming to close to touching and then our moves whirling us away again. The tension and prmal intincts of the fight flooded adrenalin into our systems, keeping us on our toes. My hair tie flung off and my hair whipped around with me. All the others had stopped now, watching our intense battle. Our kicks and ounches were deflected, both of us knowing eachiothers moves. Ikicked out with both feet, one hand balanceing my on the ground, managing to push him off balance, he landed on his. I leapt on him but he bucked beneath me, rolling us over so I was under him instead. I pulled my legs up, managing to knee him in the back and sene him tumbling over my head.
My breathe began to come in harder pants as the dance began again. I tried sweeping his legs out from under him but he did a backwards flip, landing further back. I went in again but fiented at the last moment, catching him off guard and forcing him to the ground again. I smiled and pressed my lips to his neck.
"You got bitten Luc, better luck next time." I grinned, my hair falling over his face, both of us breathing hard, the adrenalin and battle lust still raging in our eyes. He started laughing, the sound was rich and comforting, I loved his laugh.
"Little Minx.. you get me everytime." He chuckled before pulling me down against his chest and standing, my feet over a foot off the ground. He put me down and the group stacked fists before heading out. We had to pack before heading out to St. Vladimirs to check on Christine and bring her back to see her sister. My phone rang and I picked it up instantly, half out of my vest.
"Hathaway" My business tone meant no messing around. The caller was my type of person, straight to the point.
"Guardian Hathaway, we need your team at St. Vladimirs ASAP. Princess Christine has been taken from school grounds. We found blood." My heart stopped beating for a second before picking up double time. Shit!