First off, that you all for the lovely reviews you sent me. They really made me want to keep going.
Second, I know this is short but I'm planning on putting up another chapter later today and I have a thing with perfect endings :D
The next one will be longer, I promise. The action and tension I know you are waiting for shall surface.
I looked up, feeling the presence of Lissa coming closer. She was coming, with an entourage of Christian, Adrian, Eddie and surprisingly, Dimitri. I'd finally given the Guardians the go ahead to let them down and the moment Lissa heard she flew down faster that a bat who's cave has been attacked.
She hadn't been to happy about the fact that I didn't want to see her before but all that quickly disappeared the moment she saw my face and came screaming down to give me an awkward hug through the bars. "Oh my god, oh my god. Rose, I've missed you." She looked on the verge of tears until Dimitri put his hand on her shoulder, sending a jolt of jealousy down my spine, curling my toes. He hadn't touched me with any sort of affection since I had saved him.
"Lissa, it's okay. I've missed you too." I looked at Adrian accusingly. I knew what he was planning.
"Rose, you have to take me with you. I refuse to be left behind again."
Through the bond I knew she was talking about the plan. "No, Lissa. I can't condemn you like that. You're going to stay here like a good little princess." I looked at Eddie, who had a pleading look in his eyes. "And, no, I'm not taking you either. I've already screwed your reputation over enough without having you be an accomplice to the all-powerful assassin." He nodded, not happy about it, but he understood. "I can't take any of you. As much as it pains me, I'm gonna have to go alone."
She shook her head wildly. "No! You're going out on my behalf, to do something that concerns me. I can't let you do that without me." Adrian obviously informed everyone on the note. Guess I forgot to mention that fact that I wasn't suppose to tell many people…
"And I'm, er, your best friend." I was about to say Guardian but there was no chance of that now.
We argued a bit more, Lissa claiming that even if she couldn't go, she wouldn't allow me to go alone. I was about to attempt slapping some sense into her when Dimitri spoke up. "I'll go with her. I've got nothing left to lose anyways." Joy spread in my chest, butterflies that made my heart beat faster.
Lissa exclaimed happily, "Really? You'd go with Rose?"
The butterflies shrivelled up and died, becoming a weight at the bottom of my stomach with his next words, "Yes, Princess, if it makes sure you're happy and safe, I will make sure Rose stays safe and help her on her mission."
Something about how he stepped up for me reminded me of the way he did so when he first became my mentor. Except this time, I was filled with a dread so dark I felt I might pass out. I had no idea how long I was going to have to spend time with him and as much as I loved looking at his face, being in his presence, all the times I dreamed about so much alone time with him, it was just going to be pure torture knowing I couldn't be with him in the style I liked. There would be no secret kisses, no accidently on purpose touches. Nothing. Only a cool air and a heart breaking stare.
"You don't have to," I said quickly, finally finding my voice in all the confusion of my thoughts. "I'm more than happy to go alone."
"Rose, you need someone to help you."
Before I could make an argument against it, the voice I had least been expecting to agree with Dimitri spoke. "No, he's right. As much as I hate the thought of you being away from me and being with him," Adrian's voice was full of disgust, like Dimitri was some disease, "he'd be a great asset. He's strong, he's smart and he's got connections. He'll keep you safe where I cannot." He gave me a wicked smile. "Unless you've changed your mind about taking me with you…?"
I slumped with defeat. These guys looked dead set on not letting me go alone. And I was dead set on not letting them come with me. I guess this was the full meaning of compromise. And it sucked. FML.