Hello everyone, Rose again. Listen, I am sorry about the last chapter. I wasn't too thrilled with the length of chapters 9 and 10 (hee hee, my weather channel is 9/10 News. I think its funny) so I made this one extra long to make up for the short length. I hope you will review. No one reviewed the last chapter, and I was disappointed. So please review. I love hearing what you have to say, what you didn't and did like. So please, review for me.
I walked up to the front desk, and no one else was there, except for a moroi woman, who had blond curly hair that went past her should, with radiant blue eyes, and a cute nose. "Can I help you?" She asked when I approached.
"Yes, I would like to check out."
She moved the mouse on the nearby computer that was in a the left hand corner. "Room number?"
"201."
"Okay, give us the key's when you come down and you may leave."
I nodded, and left. I walked back into the room to find Dimitri in a chair, reading his western novel. I smiled, glad to see him back to normal. I saw that his black duffel bag was on the bed, ready to go. He glanced up when I entered, then went back to his book. The cabinet that was holding the tv, had a wide space in it, and that was where I put my duffel bag, so I went in and grabbed it. I then turned to Dimitri.
"Ready?" I asked.
He put a book mark between the two pages he was reading and stood up. "Ready."
I took the stairs this time, sick of using the elevator. To my surprise, Dimitri followed. I idly wondered if he felt the same. I felt lazy using the elevator. We reached the luxurious lobby, and went out to the parking lot, where my beautiful Hummer awaited us.
"I drive; you go to Lissa."
I grimaced at him. "That was your best shot? So not happening." I got into driver's seat, while he got into the passenger seat.
"I really think I should drive."
"Dimitri, it is okay to be jealous," I said in a therapist voice.
He narrowed his eyes at me. "It's not because I am jealous, it's because I want to know what is going on with Lissa. If it will make you feel better, when you are done checking up on her, I will pull over and let you drive."
I was irritated on how he was worried about Lissa. Better yet, he was using me to see how she is. Me! "Can't you just pick up a phone and check in on her like a normal person?" I snapped.
His face hardened. "You are worried about her too, I know it. Do us both a favor, and just check in on her." He said in a final tone.
I gave him my famous Rose Hathaway glare. He didn't seem fazed by it in the slightest. At this point in time, was very irksome to me. Why, oh why do men have to be such assholes? I asked whatever higher power that could hear my silent question. With anger, I got out of the car, slamming the door shut, with a little bit more force than required to shut a door. He got out, in that calm way of his. It was amazing on how easy he can ignore me, which is why I decided to ignore him the best I can…that is if it is even possible.
I got in the stupid passenger seat, and put on the seatbelt. Dimitri had adjusted the seat so that it fit his long length. If he wasn't so damn tall, then he wouldn't have a freaking problem. Men, it's all their fault! Everything is their fault, I decided.
With a temper, I reached on the right side and pulled a lever that allowed the back to recline. With a growling sigh, I closed my eyes, but didn't go to Lissa. If I have to take spirit darkness away from her, I need to get rid of my own anger. Those two combinations could be most fatal.
"Relax." Dimitri said in a warning tone.
"Don't tell me what to do." I snapped, my eyes still closed. I could feel my face lined with anger.
"Why are you so angry?" Dimitri asked, slightly inquiring.
That question made me wonder why myself. It wasn't like me to get angry over something as stupid as this. I mean, I know this is my car, but still, when he mentioned Lissa, I would usually respond with no attitude or questions. Then a thought hit me: do I unconsciously take spirit away from Lissa? The Hummer engine roared to life, and I took in several deep breaths, letting go of my anger. When I was certain it was gone, I went to Lissa. I found that she was awake, and eating breakfast, talking to Tasha and Christian.
"I wonder why she wants to see me."
"I bet it has something to do with me and you. I have half a mind to tell her that we are engaged."
Lissa laughed at that. "No, just tell her you knocked me up." She suggested with a grin. That got me thinking what kind of reaction the queen would give her. Shock is a given, but what about astonishment or distain? Would she even care?
"Are you really going to give my aunt something to gossip about with other royals?" Adrian asked with a smile in his voice. Lissa looked over to him, and saw that he just entered the room and sat down at the seat across the table. Sydney followed after him. Did she seriously spent the night in Adrian's room? Lissa thought.
"Excuse me!" I said in astonishment! "Adrian!" I growled. I was suddenly jealous of Sydney. She was beautiful with her chopped blond hair and petite, curvy body. He wouldn't go for her…right? I mean, she would never go for a Moroi. Hell, she thought we were evil. So, I have nothing to worry about. Right? Right, I assured myself. I have nothing to worry about. She is only making friends, and doing her job for me.
I went on, but I could feel that my body was still tense, despite my reassuring words.
"No, but it would be worth it just to see her reaction. With her making me do all this political nice crap, I think I deserve to throw her off balance, even if it is for a few minutes." And Lissa wanted to do it. She felt she deserved to give the queen a little hell for all the things she had her do, and quite frankly, I did too.
Adrian smiled in amusement. "I can tell that you mean it, but knowing you, you wouldn't."
Lissa narrowed her eyes. "Just because you said that I will do it."
Christian smiled. "This should be fun to watch."
Lissa smiled at her boyfriend. "So, are we engaged and pregnant?"
To my surprise-and a little bit of horror- Christian put his hand over her stomach (which I would have punched him for if I was Lissa) and said "no child of mine is going to be a bastard."
I laughed, despite my urge to hit him. I will admit, sometimes Christian surprises me-both good and bad. Most of the time, it's bad. This one, I will label as bad. I would personally come up with a different way for revenge; something much more gruesome. However, they wouldn't like most of the stuff I would come up with. When I had to do community service as punishment from taking Lissa out of the safety of court, Hans had once told me that our views of punishment were different. Mine was simple: starvation and lashings, hell even put in a pit with strigoi. Hans view is much more complex and mild: filing paperwork and monitoring security cameras.
Lissa rolled her eyes. "Come on, fiancé, escort me to the queen."
Sydney laughed. Laughed! An honest to god amused laugh. "I would love to see that."
Adrian's eyes lit up. "I will escort you."
Sydney hesitated, probably wondering if she was going to walk into a trap, or be executed for stepping on royal grounds without permission.
"I will protect you." Adrian said with a wink.
Color seeped into her skin, and she giggled. "Okay." I promptly ignored that. Nothing is going on.
"Yes, my dear." Christian said, bowing before he gave her his arm. They threw away what they we're eating and left the building for the royal palace. The moon shone brightly, lighting the way as if it was the sun. Through Moroi eyes, it was always bright, but with dhampire, it is slightly dimmer. Dhampire vision is five times better than humans, but compared to a Moroi, not the same. They are better.
They soon arrived to the palace, and the doorman let them in. I wondered why they went to her home, and not the courthouse.
When they entered, it was like the set off of the Princess Diaries 2. Expensive and elegant furniture was against the walls. Some were coffee tables; some were cushioned seats, and even wooden seats. The floor was white with gold streaked marble tiles. To the left side of Lissa's vicinity, was a huge-both in length and width- staircase. It had a gold rail, with the same type of marble for the stair's floor. To the left, was a wall that cut off into a square area, which indicated another room. On the wall, however, are portraits of past monarch rulers.
"Vasilisa." Queen Tatiana said, descending down the long marble stairs, her right hand on the gold rail as she came down. She descended with such elegant grace, that it made me watch in awe. The way her satin smooth, gold dress dragged behind her on the stairs made her look and have that powerful queen feel in the atmosphere.
"Your majesty," Lissa said, bowing to her in respect.
The queen was in front of her by then, with a calm smile on her face. "A pleasure to see you again."
Lissa smiled back. "You called for me?" Lissa asked, though it came out more of a statement.
"I did-" Before the queen could go on any further, Christian interrupted her.
"We have news we would like to share with you."I tensed in excitement, ready to see this blow up in Christians face. "We are engaged."
The queen went still, eyes wide in shock and her posture was even stiffer than before.
"And pregnant." Adrian said from behind her. I detected a smile in his tone that was obvious for anyone who doesn't know Adrian personally. If possible, the queen's eyes went even bigger, but then she quickly put on that mask of calmness back on, and her posture became relaxed.
"That is…quite the news."
"Yes, it is. However, you wanted to see me?"
The queen was at loss for words. And through Lissa's eyes, she thought that she saw disappointment in the queen's eyes. Like as if the queen expected more of her, and her to have a bright future and powerful future.
"Yes, I wanted to discuss Lehigh with you."
I could feel Lissa's guilt. She was thinking that the queen was going to call off their agreement because of her 'pregnancy.' Better come clean, she thought.
"Your majesty," Lissa started.
Christian cut in. "It's a boy."
"No its not."
"She wants a girl, you know women."
"I'm not pregnant." Lissa cut in fiercely, but keeping eye contact with the Tatiana.
"I know." Tatiana said, with a smile.
Lissa stuttered over her thoughts. "How do you-"
Tatiana smiled. "My nephew is smiling, that is how I know. You two must do better than that to pull a prank on me." Was she actually making a joke? Tatiana? Um, what possessed her? Someone needs to fetch a priest and see if a demon is in her, because Tatiana wouldn't act like this.
"I will gladly give them a few pointers, Aunt Tatiana."
She gave Adrian a warm smile. "Not too many, dear."
Adrian gave her that naughty smile of his, one I hardly ever see. "I will try."
Half disappointed in the fact that things didn't blow up in Christian's face, and half shocked that Tatiana could actually make a joke, I went back to my body.
"Holy crap!" I yelled. Dimitri looked over to me, curiously.
"What? You said Adrian's name, and you sounded offended."
"That's because he is putting moves on Sydney." I said in distain, all my jealousy rushing back to me. "He has me!"
I reached my hand out and turned the radio on. The more I think about Adrian and Sydney together, the more it bothered me. I thought about all the things Adrian has done for me, and compared it to her-which is nothing. That wasn't fare to Sydney. Yet, thinking of all things he had done for me, I started to think about all the things I done to him.
Damn, when did I pick up common sense?
Maybe he does deserve her. Hell, she could love him more than I ever could. So what is the harm in letting her have him? A pain rippled through my chest at that thought. Sure it would hurt like hell for me, but Adrian deserves someone who can love him, and only him. I do love Adrian, I admitted to myself. But, I am still in love with Dimitri, no matter how much I deny it. And, a part of me will always love Dimitri. And knowing that, how is that fare to Adrian? He is a good man, who deserves someone who won't and can't hurt him over their lost first love. And I am doing just that; hurting him. Always hurting him, it seems like.
I leaned my head against the glass window. I won't let him go without a fight, I decided. Adrian is worth fighting for. He is my safe haven. He helped me stay in one piece when I thought Dimitri was dead. He was my rock for a long time, and I am not going to let some girl-friend or no- take that away from me without a fight.
"Do you want to drive now?" Dimitri asked.
"Not really." I said, and to my surprise, my voice sounded like it was defeated and depressed. What is with that?
"Okay." Dimitri said, and if he heard my tone, he didn't acknowledge it.
He kept driving, but I soon grew hungry. "Dimitri, I am hungry, let's get something to eat. We have been driving for a while."
"What kind of restaurants are in this coming area?" Dimitri asked, not to me but to the GPS.
"Fast food or sit down restaurants." The mechanical voice said.
"Which do you prefer?" He asked me, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Do you want a break from driving? I wouldn't mind stretching my legs." I admitted.
"Sit down Restaurants." Dimitri declared to the GPS.
"La Senorita, Big Boy, Bob Evans, Tom Horton's, Culvers, Applebee's, Deans Grill, Chili's, and more. Do you want me to continue?"
"Do you like spicy food?" I asked.
He had a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Now and then."
"Have you ever eaten Mexican food?"
"Yesterday it was American, today its Mexican?"
"Of course, what else do you expect in the presents of Rose Hathaway? We can have more American food, too. Chili's is fabulous too."
"Let's go there then."
"Okay. Chili's it is."
"Get off at nearest exit, then turn right."
Dimitri did five minutes later. We then had to drive ten miles out of our way to the next city, but whatever, right? We went in. Our waiter was a guy, with a black shirt that had the title of Chili's on it embroidered in the shirt. He had black pants on as well, but had a white cream colored apron on. He had black hair and blue eyes, though not like Christian's blue. This guy had more teal in his iris. He also had a diamond earring in his right ear and a girl voice, which I quickly labeled him as a homosexual. But what got my attention, was that he is not a Moroi, but human. This must be a town here all races are mixed.
"Your waiter will be with you in a second." He said, again with the girl voice after handing the menus to us. I tried to contain my discomfort.
"He's gay." I said in distain.
"Does that bother you?" Dimitri said, throwing that therapist voice around like I did earlier on.
"I don't see why men have to be attracted to the same sex. What bothers me, is that most of the good looking guys, and even polite guys are gay. What the hell is with that?" I sighed. "Just ignore my temper. I'm half surprised you haven't kicked me out on the side of the road yet."
"Your father would be very angry with me if I did that." He said amused.
"I don't think he will be too angry with you. I bet if you were him, I would be hitchhiking by now." The waitress came then and took our orders. I got strawberry lemonade, and Dimitri ordered a tea. I arched my eyebrow at that, but he didn't even acknowledge me when I did that. What sort of man orders tea? Is he going gay on me? I frowned at that thought. No, he isn't. He's too damn good looking for any man to have…or woman for that matter. Those western novels must really be going to his head.
I sighed, and drummed my front four fingers on the table while we waited in silence for our drinks. My elbow was propped on the table and I leaned my head in my hand.
"What happens after we get to Ann Arbor, and where in Ann Arbor are we going?" He asked after a few silent moments.
"I haven't the slightest clue." I admitted. "I figured we get a hotel room, and stay there until Sydney contacts us again with more information." And this time with the hotel, I will make sure there are two beds. I am not making the same mistake twice.
We stayed quite like that until the waitress came. I just noticed it was a girl, and a girl who was interested in Dimitri. She was Moroi, and she was very interested in him. The way she looked at him, and talked willingly to him only. Hoe, I thought. When she looked at me, I gave her the cruelest glare I could manage and barked out my order. She looked frightened, and scurried away.
"No need to take things out on innocent people." Dimitri said with a smile and amusement in his tone.
Innocent, I think not! "Dimitri, in all your years of being a guardian, I would have thought you would have realized that no one is ever innocent." I said.
Dimitri laughed, and to my surprise, his hand found mine-the hand that was drumming fingers on the table. At first I thought he was going to pull away, he just had…what? A muscle spasm? No, he laced his fingers with mine. My heart nearly stopped. I didn't dare look away from his eyes, and I could swear I saw that loving look that he gave me when we were in the cabin, so long ago. I looked at him and I could feel that whatever I was feeling was plastered on my face. I quickly covered it up with attitude, thinking he was going to turn back into that hard ass guardian again.
"Exhibit A." I said, waving my free hand over my body.
Dimitri gave me one of his rare smiles. "Yes, you are trouble, Roza."
"I am; the kind of trouble that can be dangerous sometimes, to both health and sanity."
This got me another laugh, and by then, the hoe of a waitress came by and gave me another strawberry lemonade, and Dimitri another water. When she saw the contact between me and Dimitri, she frowned and walked off. I smiled in triumph inside. Checkmate bitch.
"Can I ask you a question?" He asked, suddenly more serious, but regarding me as an equal. I liked it best whenever he regarded me in this tone, mainly because it felt more comfortable and secure.
"Yeah." I said, wondering what he wanted to know.
"Before you went to Lissa, you were angry. As in, more angry than you should have been…that is for you. Were you taking the darkness out of Lissa last night?"
I dropped my gaze from his eyes. He recognized that too, huh? "No." I swallowed hard, hoping that my theory was wrong. If it is proven correct, I could be up shits creak. No way to stop it from coming into me. I will eventually go crazy. Last time I went crazy, I almost killed Jesse. What if I kill someone? It will be all my fault. I won't be able to control it. There is even a good chance I could never be Rose Hath-"
"Rose?" Dimitri's alarmed voice brought me back into the restaurant, and into Dimitri's warm brown, and panic eyes.
I attempted a reassuring smile, "I will find out."
Dimitri wasn't fooled. "Theories?" He asked. I guess he got used to our routine.
My eyes fell down to the table. "Nothing sold yet, not like the whole Vladimir and catching spirit darkness." Yet, I thought. He squeezed my hand a little tighter than he should to reassure me it will be okay. I brought my eyes up to his and I saw worry in his eyes. That squeezed my heart…even though it shouldn't.
I wasn't about to tell Dimitri I was losing it in a restaurant where a lot of people could see me break down. Because I know I am going to break down. Our food came then, and he let go of my hand, and it felt like he was reluctant to let go. We dug in, but I suddenly lost my enormous appetite. I ate about half my honey chicken crispy crispers and half my corn and the cob and no fires. Very odd for me. Dimitri seemed to notice, but didn't say anything. When we were done, the bill came and I paid for it. We left the building, but Dimitri suddenly stopped. He was in front of me, so I ran into him. Before I could act, he put his arms around me and pulled me into an embrace.
"Roza, you have to tell me what's going on. I thought we agreed no secrets."
Yeah, before you broke up with me. I thought. My arms around him tightened, and his did the same. I could feel my heart start to bleed again. Loss.
"Why do you want to know? I thought you didn't want any part of me in your life. What changed."
He pulled back to look at me. His eyes were still troubled, but they softened into the eyes that I loved that said they loved me back. I realized my stomach was doing summersaults again.
"You."
I didn't believe that. There is nothing special about me. I could feel my face harden at that. He most defiantly knew that I was thinking he was lying.
"Rose, I am not lying to you."
"Then why did you say those things in the chapel? Why did you say that your love f-faded?" I trembled over the last word. That day still stung, and was still fresh in my memory. I don't think I will ever forget that day.
He took a step back from me, but kept his eyes on me. "How would you have reacted to killing innocent victims? How would you react to wanting to turn the woman you love strigoi, but when she didn't cooperate, you wanted her dead?"
"Well, for starters, I'm not lesbian. However," I continued after he gave me a cold look, "I wouldn't have pushed him away and throw him away like yesterdays trash! I would have apologized."
"Would you have wanted to stay with her?" He asked, sternly.
"Yes." There was no hesitation in my voice, and it came out strongly.
"Are you sure about that answer. Think about it, Rose. You would have to look at her every day, reminding you of what you almost did."
"Except you didn't, Dimitri!"
"I almost killed you. You heard your father in the Hummer on the way here."
I scowled at him. "My father doesn't know anything about me. He only knows that I am trouble and I am his offspring."
"If you were the one that was turned strigoi, would you still want to be with me after everything that has happened?"
I looked at him, seeing his dilemma and what he meant. "Yes, Dimitri. I would still want to be with you."
"Why-no, how could you? Every time I look at you, a memory of what I did to you pops in my head."
"That's because you haven't forgiven yourself." I yelled, stepping closer to Dimitri. Dimitri held his ground, but he looked like he was ready to bolt away from me. He was acting as if I was the predator and him the pray. No- things are not like that with us. Not anymore.
"How can I? What I did to you and those other people… I deserved to of been staked."
I felt my body was primed for a fight, but Dimitri is in no condition for a fight. I forced myself to soften up. Dimitri needs someone who can be calm and gentle. He needs to be held and nurtured back to care- like a wild animal that was abused and neglected.
"Dimitri," I started, and my tone sounded like a rescuer trying to get a wounded and frighten animal out of its hiding place and into my caring arms. "You were turned against your will, meaning it wasn't you who killed those innocent people. It wasn't your fault. You need to know that, and believe that. No matter how strong your morals are, they were stripped from you when you were awakened. Things happen, that happened. I know what I am about to say isn't of any comfort, but it's true. I learned this by living, and reading and being educated: all living things die. One way or the other, those people were going to die."
"So I just helped shorten it." Dimitri snapped.
"No. They were going to die, fate chose that. Not you. It was out of your control. You had no say, and no way to help yourself or them."
"But I didn't kill you. Why?" I could tell that he was seeing my logic, and buying it.
"Because you wanted me for yourself."
"Like a personal possession."
"Yes." I nodded. "The strigoi had no need or wanting, except for blood, for the other people."
"I don't know Roza."
I reached up and touched one side of his face, gently stroking his cheek. He would need to shave soon; he was getting stubbs. I could feel them. "You know it was out of your control, Dimitri. Its okay, because it wasn't you. It's alright to morn over it and to feel bad about it. But know it wasn't your fault." I wrapped my arms around him then, drawing him into a tight embrace. He needed someone to hold on to, and damn it, it should be me! It should have always of been me.
"Roza." He whispered my name, leaning his head on my right shoulder.
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