Title- Criminal
Author- Stacie C.
Disclaimer- I do not own the Vampire Academy Series or anything related to the series. This is purely for entertainment and nothing else.
Summary- Tasha Ozera is imprisoned for murder. This is her experience.
Author's Notes- This is set right after Last Sacrifice.
Feedback- Is appreciated.
"Well, well, well! Look at these new digs."
A booming voice jarred Tasha out of uneasy sleep. She leapt out of the small bed and took a defensive stance, disoriented and sluggish.
"Aw, now darling, we just want to talk to you." The smooth voice belong to Ibrahim Mazur.
Tasha's stance slumped slightly, feeling exhausted and wary at the sight of the handsomely flamboyant Moroi. Standing next to Abe was Janine Hathaway, looking fierce and restless as her deep brown eyes bored into Tasha. Tasha did not know Janine very well, though they had crossed paths many times. Tasha knew that Janine was very well respected in the dhampir community. Rumors of her exploits and accomplishments rippled within the Moroi world. Janine was fierce, loyal, and not someone to trifle with.
Tasha was more than slightly uneasy at the way Janine was staring at her, "How can I help you, Ibrahim?" Tasha asked coolly, choosing to ignore Janine's presence for the time being.
Abe ignored her question and turned to Janine, "Look at this room, Janine! It's certainly more spacious than the one our dear Rosemarie had when she was in Lady Ozera's position." Abe frowned and paused, "But, then again, Rose didn't shoot anyone. That must be the difference. Murder and attempted murder must get you the bigger and better room. What do you think Janine?"
Tasha had noticed that once Abe had mentioned Rose's name, Janine had blanched, her fists tightening and her face reddening. Tasha was confused, but didn't say anything.
"I always knew there was a bias between Royals and their Guardians, I just never imagined it would be so obvious." Abe continued airily, the dark look on his face betraying his light tone.
"Stop it, Ibrahim," Janine's voice was rough, yet firm. "I don't care why you did what you did. It has no meaning to me. But my daughter..." Janine's voice broke, yet her gaze hardened. "My daughter is fighting for her life."
Tasha shook her head, doubly confused now,"What are you talking about?"
Janine seemed to snap at that moment, stepping forward and gripping the steel bars that separated Tasha from this feral dhampir mother. "Are you that unaware of what you've done? You shot her, Natasha. That gun you were carrying around like a toy? Do you remember now?" Janine's voice was hoarse and her beautiful eyes were haunting in their despair.
Tasha thought back to that horrible moments before she was captured. She had only been focused on getting out and away from Council. She remembered the Guardians circling her like she was a wild animal. She remembered gripping poor Mia like a rag-doll, using the young Moroi like a human shield. Thinking back, she could feel the heaviness of the small gun in her hand, its weight her insurance of getting away from the chaos. Tasha had brought the gun with her, not intending to use it at all. It had been more for show. She never wanted to hurt anyone.
Tasha could remember Lissa screaming at her from where she had stood in front of the panicked crowd.
"Tasha, please don't-!"
Tasha had been overwhelmed at the movement of too many people at the same time, panicking, hand hand had tightened on the small gun and it had went off. Tasha could remember being slightly shocked the the power of the gun before being taken down by the Guardians.
After everything that had been happening to her, Tasha had given no thought to where her bullet had landed. The dhampirs that had been guarding her had given no mention as to what had happened. As soon as Tasha had been taken to the ground, she had stopped paying attention to what was going on around her, though if she thought hard she could vaguely recall a commotion of some sort where Lissa and her group had been standing.
Every ounce of energy in Tasha abruptly left her. She sagged against the wall, feeling shaky and weak.
"I... I had no idea..." Tasha's voice sounded hollow to herself. "I never wanted to hurt anyone."
"Maybe not directly," Abe mused darkly. "But you were set on what you wanted, no matter who got in your way. Isn't that right Natasha?"
"Don't presume to know anything about what I've done!" Tasha's voice was sharp and edging on hysterical. This was all becoming too much for her to bear. Tasha's plan to take out Queen Tatiana and make Lissa the new Moroi Queen had seemed flawless. Tasha and Ethan, her dhampir Guardian, had gone over the plan countless times. Tasha had been so sure that they had planned for every possibility. Getting caught had been a legitimate, yet unlikely, concern. But hurting and potentially killing someone, other than Tatiana, had never been an outcome that Tasha had thought of.
It was clear that Janine had no concern for what Tasha was thinking or feeling. "Listen to me, Lady Ozera, and please listen carefully," Janine's voice was flat and deadly as she spoke softly to Tasha. "My people and I give our lives for the Moroi every day. We ask for nothing in return because it is our duty."
The raw pain and anger in Janine's voice sent an icy shiver down Tasha's spine. Thinking of her nephew, Tasha wanted to sympathize with Janine's pain. She felt as if she could understand the female dhampirs anguish. The fact that Tasha was the cause of this woman's anger threw things onto a different level, so Tasha said nothing. She offered no apologies or explanations and just let the distraught guardian speak.
Janine's eyes burned with emotion a she glared up into Tasha's cold cerulean eyes, "It doesn't even matter to you, does it? None of this matters!"
"Janine..." Abe gently gripped Janine's forearm, tugging her away from the steel bars that separated her from the woman that shot her daughter."
Janine shook off Abe's hold and pressed her face to the bars, the look on her face deadly, "If my daughter dies because of this, Lady Ozera, I promise you will pay. I swear to it."
Tasha stiffened at Janine's words, but it was the look in the dhampirs eyes that chilled Tasha. Cold, steely truth coated Janine's words. Her gaze was unwavering. Tasha watched in a sort of frozen awe as Janine took control of herself and her emotions. The tears in her eyes vanished and her look of worry and anger melted away, replaced the with stiff neutrality that was standard with Guardians. Her demeanor was once again stiff and formal, she was once again Janine Hathaway the renowned Guardian; Janine Hathaway the furious and terrified mother was now unreachable, tucked away deep within.
Janine gave Tasha one last steely glare and turned gracefully on her heel. Tasha watched quietly as Abe brushed Janine's waist gently as she passed him. Tasha noticed the intense look that passed between the Moroi and dhampir. Janine then walked away, her gait purposeful as her footfalls echoed down the hallway.
Tasha met Abe's unreadable eyes and she stiffened, realizing they were alone. She wondered what he had to tell her.