I'm back! So here's the next chapter, it's kind of a turning point in the story so I hope you all enjoy. Also thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed it means so much and I'm so glad to many of you are committed to this story.
I heard a second shot ring out. A raging pain seared through my arm as a heavy weight collapsed on top of me. Someone was screaming behind me, their terror permeating every screech.
I managed to move my head enough so I could see behind me. Two red eyes stared back at me. I was trapped underneath him, his body weighing me down. I scanned the Strigoi's torso, he had a gaping hole in his chest but it was quickly healing and I knew that if I was going to survive I was going to have to take action now. I tried with my left hand to reach my stake, but another flash of searing pain went through it. So instead I started to creep my right hand across my body to where my stake lay.
The Strigoi was moving more and more now and was starting to bear his fangs. Finally my fingers felt the cool metal. I grasped it firmly, drawing it back to my right side. I could see the Strigoi positioning himself to launch an attack against me. I had to take action. With my right hand still clutching the stake, I used my elbow to throw him off me, simultaneously launching myself to my feet. He hissed at me, but I didn't let that deter me, instead launching the stake at his heart.
He dodged and my stake swiped past his chest. The Strigoi used my momentary distraction to land a punch. He caught me on my injured arm. The pain blinded me momentarily, however I could now hear Ivy screaming and could not afford to lose this fight. I launched a roundhouse kick at his chest, knocking him to the ground. The adrenaline was pumping through me and using my legs I anchored myself to him, ignoring his thrashing. I landed a hit on his temple and then while he was distracted my stake came down again but this time it did not miss his heart.
I heard Lissa shriek my name just before it all went dark.
I could tell I was in a hospital before I even opened my eyes. I could hear the familiar beeping and feel the IV in my arm, that same arm had a stinging pain in the shoulder, but I could still move it. A warm shape was pressed next to me, and I could tell that it was Ivy. Her familiar scent soothed me. Her small fingers clutched my arm and she was breathing slowly. She was asleep. But that wasn't what woke me. No, what woke me was the small sobs coming from the other side of the bed. It sounded like Lissa.
My heart sunk. The only reason she could be so heartbroken is if something had happened to Dimitri. The pain caught in my chest as I realized I had lost him forever. He would never have the chance to meet Ivy, and I would never have the chance to hold him in my arms again. I could feel tears forming, so I slowly opened my eyes hoping to blink the tears away before Ivy could wake and see them. Lissa was sitting on a chair next to me, crying brokenheartedly into her hands. Her clothes looked blood splattered and rumpled, and I could see she had been sitting there for a long time.
"Liss." I croaked.
She started up, her tearstained face breaking into a smile as she saw I was awake.
"You're awake!" She gripped my hand firmly. "Thank Vladimir! Do you need any water? Ice?" I shook my head slowly, careful not to wake Ivy. "I'm so incredibly sorry, Rose, you have no idea how sorry I am."
My heart sunk even further, but I had to make sure.
"Is Dimitri-" My voice cracked. "Is Dimitri dead?"
"Oh God no. Don't think that. He's going to be alright." She said. A weight felt like it had been lifted off my chest. He was alive!
"Where is he?" I asked eagerly. "What happened? Can I see him?"
"He's still in surgery, but he's hanging on. He's so strong Rose, you know he is. They thought his heart had stopped, but he was in shock. He also had a collapsed lung, but they dealt with that quickly." I couldn't quite believe it. How was that possible when he had died in my arms?
"How is it possible that he's alive. He was dead. I knew he was dead."
"When I came up to you he was unconscious, but he wasn't dead. You were just frightened, and made an assumption."
"So then what happened? Who fired those shots?" I asked, struggling to process the events of this night.
"I did." Lissa said guiltily.
My eyes widened. Lissa had fired a gun. It was almost unbelievable.
"You fired a gun. Congratulations! Next you'll be wielding a stake like a pro."
Lissa attempted a smile.
"I didn't know what was going on. All I could hear was fighting and then I heard you crying and screaming. I got out of the bin and saw you lying over Dimitri, and I was about to run over and help you when I saw the Strigoi. He was right behind you. I wasn't even thinking, it was pure instinct, I just drew out that gun and fired. And I hit the Strigoi right over his heart. So I fired again, but this time, and I'm so sorry for this, but I shot you. I swear I wasn't aiming at you, but I hit you right in the shoulder. I thought I'd killed you. You were on the ground and the Strigoi was on top of you. I was trying to hold the bin closed so Ivy wouldn't get it. I didn't dare fire another shot. But you've always been incredible when you're in danger and you managed to kill that Strigoi, and then you collapsed. I got Ivy out of the bin and I ran over to you. I was healing you when my guardians ripped me away. That's why you're still in some pain. I wasn't given a chance to heal Dimitri. I'm so sorry Rose. I never meant to hurt you."
"Lissa, you saved my life. I would be dead if it wasn't for you. You have absolutely nothing to apologise for."
"I'm so sorry for everything Rose. The way I have treated you since you've come back is inexcusable. You're my sister and the way I treated you was despicable on my part. I'm truly sorry."
"Come here." I said, gently patting the bed beside me. Lissa crawled onto the bed beside me, the slight jostling woke Ivy but she was so exhausted she just gave me her biggest smile and snuggled into me, promptly going back to sleep.
It took some time but eventually Lissa fell asleep too. I couldn't relax; my shoulder was still in pain and I was worried that Dimitri wouldn't make it through his surgery.
Various nurses came in to check on me, all whispering and bowing once they saw the Queen. An hour later, Seth knocked on my door.
"How are you doing? I was so worried about you. I can't believe I wasn't there for you. I was on border patrol, which makes it utterly inexcusable that Strigoi got through." He asked. "I wanted to come in earlier, but they only let me drop off Ivy with the Queen. I've been waiting. I sent everyone else home, they were all so exhausted, but they did want to be here for you."
"Don't worry about it, I'm doing just fine. My shoulder will be healed soon and it will be back to normal. And you cannot blame yourself for this. You were doing your job and I did mine. So some Strigoi broke through, I let one get one meter behind me without even noticing. Shit happens. I just happened to be stupid enough to be injured doing it." I whispered, careful not to wake Ivy and Lissa. "But do you know how Dimitri's doing?" I asked.
Seth came to stand beside me. "He's out of surgery and in recovery."
I relaxed into my pillow. "Thank God."
He was going to be okay.
"Do you want to see him?" Seth asked.
"Yes!" I said eagerly. "But I don't know if I can get out of bed without waking these two." I looked fondly at both Lissa and Ivy who were still sleeping peacefully.
"No problem." Seth reached over and gently squeezed both his arms under me and then proceeded to lift me up, cradling me to his chest.
"Put me down." I whispered, once we had left the room.
He gently placed me on the ground, but I had overestimated my strength and I nearly crumpled to the ground. Seth caught me in time, picking me up again.
"Maybe you should go back to bed? He said worriedly.
I shook my head frantically.
"No. Please. I've got to see him."
I needed to see that Dimitiri was alright. I wouldn't be able to rest until I did.
Seth looked conflicted but I eventually persuaded him, and he gave in. Sitting down the hall was a wheel chair, which he gently placed me in.
"I'll let you go by yourself. I don't think the nurse will be happy if they see I let you free."
"Thanks for all your help." I said, blowing him a kiss.
I started to wheel myself away, alternating pushes with my one good arm, when I realized I had no idea where I was going. Seth smiled fondly at me, and pointed in the opposite direction.
"Room 18."
I managed to get to Dimitri's room without any nurses spotting me, and soon I was sitting by his bedside.
He looked pale, and I could see, even in his sleep, the pain on his face.
Knowing I didn't have much time to get out of there before any nurses spotted me, I decided to risk waking him up.
"Dimitri." I said softly, shaking his hand. "Wake up."
Even though he'd just got out of surgery, he still had guardian instincts and woke up, blinking sleepily at the bright hospital lights.
"Rose?" He asked, turning his face to the side.
"I'm here." I told him, wrapping my fingers around his arm. I got him some water, and propped him up as best as I could on a pillow.
"How're you feeling?"
"I don't know. I still can't really remember what happened. All that I remember is that you saved my life."
"No." I told him, flabbergasted at his suggestion. He'd almost died, and I hadn't managed to stop it. "I didn't do anything."
"You fought for me. And it's been a really long time since anyone has fought for me."
I blinked away the tears in my eyes.
"I'm really sorry you got hurt." I told him.
"I don't even remember it. I must have got a knock on the head."
"You don't remember anything?"
"Nothing."
He didn't remember. I could breathe easy. He had no idea of the feelings I had poured out to him. Though I was relieved, there was some part of me that wanted him to remember. For him to respond in kind. But Ivy came first. Being a mother came first. Which was why, it was better if he no memory of the event. I carried on our conversation, doing my best to seem unaffected.
"Well since you can't remember let me fill you in on the whole thing." I spent over an hour by his bedside, recounting our fight, leaving out all mention of what I'd said.
He drank it in, every so often asking a question to clarify the situation. It was late before I realized that I needed to get back to Ivy and Lissa.
"I better go." I told him. "Before anyone misses me."
"Thank you for visiting."
"It's my pleasure."
I gave him a friendly smile before I turned to leave the room.
"Rose!" Dimitri called out, as I began to wheel myself out of the room.
"Surely you don't want me back already! I haven't even left!"
He smiled faintly at me.
"I disgraced myself just then. I lied to you. I do remember what happened and I can't let you walk out of this room without telling you the truth. It wouldn't be fair to you."
My heart stopped. I thought he had no recollection of what I'd said. It seemed my dream had come true, though now if felt more like a nightmare. How would I explain myself?
"I heard what you said, when you thought I was dying. I heard you, Rose. And I know I let you believe I didn't, but I needed to process it. It didn't make sense. Why would you say that?"
I let out a shaky breath.
"You were dying." I told him. "I was upset, and..." I couldn't think of anything to say, any excuse.
"Maybe." He admitted. "But whether I was dying or not, I still heard what you said."
"Dimitri, I'm begging you, please just forget about it. You're okay now, that's all that matters. We never have to talk about it again." I made my way back to his bedside. "Please."
"Roza, I could never forget anything about you and I. Even if you asked me too. Even if I wanted to. " I stayed silent not trusting myself not to break into tears. "I don't know where we went wrong, but you have to know that I love you too."
I'm so mean, I left another semi cliffhanger. Things are going to really start moving along now, so I hope you're all ready for it. If you have any suggestions or ideas for the story I'd love to hear them so please review, I love to hear from you it really makes my day. Have a great day/night, thanks for reading.
