Chapter eleven.
"Is this… is this Catherine?" My mom asked, remembering of my accusations I made on her earlier for the whereabouts of Catherine. She was with Mary, whoops. Refocusing on my mother, I nodded to her for the answer of her recent question. "Is she really you're..."
"Daughter?' I finished for her."She's my little angel." I guaranteed.
"And Dimitri is… the father?" Not letting me cut her off this time.
"Yes mom Dimitri is the father and Catherine is my daughter." I told honestly, as honest as I could be at least. Strangely enough, she appeared as if she was going into shock.
"Mommy is she one of the people who wants to hurt daddy?"Catherine asked, as I looked down at her giving off one of the most sincerest replies I could think of.
"I don't know sweetie you ask her?" I gambled, whether mom was going to be hard core with my toddler or not I had no idea. Turning to my mother I waited for her response to Catherine's query.
"Well." Catherine waited. "Are going to hurt my daddy?" Catherine demanded from my mother. Ugh, I needed a tissue, this was just too much to handle. Did Catherine have to be this innocent? Could my mother be so cruel to such an angelic face? Instead, my mother only stared down at the floor, unable to meet Catherine's sweet little eyes that glistened just like mine. In the end, mom only started to shake her head.
"No Catherine, I'm not going to hurt your father." She said as smiled at her. While Catherine smiled back, probably happy to have someone else on our team as well. I gave Catherine a warning shot of not to believe my mother's accusations. Who knows what my mother has actually planned for us, what she's not truly telling of?
"But she wasn't lying mommy, she's telling the truth." I was amazed not only by Catherine's skills of being a natural lie detector, but to the fact of my mother was actually being truthful with me. Especially in this sort of situation.
"So mom why the change of heart?" She only stayed quiet. I knew she didn't want to believe the truth. It was a proven fact that Strigoi and Dhampirs cannot reproduce, but what happens when the new breed of Strigoi can? Which they obvious can, Catherine is living proof of the experiment. So, it would seem facts are what would solve my mother's belief of Dimitri and the rest of the other Strigoi. Putting Catherine onto the ground, she already knew the direction I was heading in. I went over to Dimitri and brought him up to where the wards were set.
"Rose…" My mom said, already protesting to whatever I was about to show here.
"Just watch mom." I replied to her, absolutely fed up to the fact of what she did and didn't want to believe. Taking a step forward, over the words I beckoned Dimitri to follow suit, but be uneasily stood there assessing of what he should do next. It's not that he couldn't cross the line like I had just done, no he could, he just didn't want get into trouble for supposedly breaking out of his cell. Graceful Catherine skipped over to his side, urging him to move across the line. Picking up the little cutie in his arms he took a step over the line of where the wards were placed.
My mom stood there this time un-amused as to already probably knowing of what would have happened to Dimitri in crossing of the line. He hesitated as he stood by my side waiting for my mother to finally speak. Silence droned into the room as my mom finally laid down the law and got to the subject I've been trying to broach for the past six hours.
"You've been telling the truth Rose." Hallelujah the lord has finally given my mother a brain.
"Yes mom I have." So I told her everything, well everything that I knew. Dimitri filled the holes of my explanation as I told my mom about everything that had to do with Dimitri and the others. At first she seemed astonished to the fact of Dimitri talking so calmly and acting so civilized, but eventually she fell into pattern just as if they were two old friends, I guess once again. And technically they were. I mean Dimitri's still seven years older than me, he's still aging, that's basically seven years of his life in which I technically didn't exist in.
We let my mom know almost about every secret we had. What happens when they walk in sunlight? The real reasons as to why they are not like the primitive Strigoi breed? The reason why the Moroi Strigoi still had their powers. The explanations for Catherine, skipping any of the larger details as to how she was conceived. Since there were of course, children present in the room at this point in time. I think my mom was just astounded to the fact of me being a mother. Of course, she adored Catherine. It was obvious just by the way she looked at her.
"So do you think she'll have any special powers?" My mom asked, holding her granddaughter ever so tenderly in her usual vicious, weapon like arms. Her question shocked me, I hadn't really put much thought into the fact of Catherine ever obtaining powers. I'm she's already just so special and unique in her own way, but adapting a elemental power? I haven't the of clue.
"I don't mom."Was the only way I could respond to her question. I really didn't even know if it were even possible
"Oh well. We'll see in time right, won't we Catie." She stated with a smile already using the nickname I had given to my daughter.
"I already am special and besides I don't want powers, I want to be just like mommy when I grow up." Catherine told my mom as well as the rest of us to her already chosen fate.
"Hmm it would appear that we have another guardian in training for the next generation. Do you think that's possible?" What is this twenty questions? I mean is she really that limited just because she's a Moroi.
"Well." I said."Judging from the genetics from of her parents, I think it's anything it's possible as long as she wants it, I believe she can do it. " I told my mother the same think I told Catherine earlier today. My mom nodded to the thought. She must really believe in what I think too, cause of the way she was looking down at Catherine. From the looks of things I think my mom wanted to turn Catie into a war machine. Eh great, hopefully Catherine won't buy too much into her grandmother's crap.
More time passed and my mom confirmed that our visit was over uneventfully over. I wanted to plead against her, but she was right I needed to go. I could only sped so much time with Dimitri, without getting myself in a world of trouble at least. Saying our final goodbyes, I let him have one last moment with Catherine before giving him a goodbye kiss projected onto his soft, cool lips. Looking at my mother I realized she was looking away. Trying to give me and Dimitri some time alone, or repulsed by me swapping spit with the Strigoi, I had no idea and just like so many other things, I didn't care.
Walking out of the room I waved a good bye to Ben before shutting the door to where Dimitri would be locked into, that is, until I founded a way to bust him out with his consent. Stepping side by side with my mother we kept quiet through the prison section of the building. Finally, we rounding a corner as she walked in front of me, cutting off my further path.
"Rose." She said to me. Oh great here it come. Yes I've screwed up, but I'm not signing the papers to get a divorce yada...yada…yada. "I just wanted to tell of how… proud I am of you." Huh. Did I hear her right?"You have a wonderful family and although it's not the lifestyle I had intended for you, I just want you to know that I will do my best to get Dimitri free... Alright?." Is this the same mother who abandoned me at the doorstep of the academy?
"Thank you… mom." I said to her in the only way I thought possible.
"Thank you grandma." Catherine replied from within my arms.
"You're both very welcome, but don't put too much hope into his release, it's a long shot, but I'm at least going to try." I sighed to her response, I guess now was better than never to tell her of what really lied ahead for me in the future.
"Mom." I began."When this whole thing blows over, no matter what happens to Dimitri, I'm going back into guarding." She seemed… surprised as to my solution for the dilemma.
"But what about Catherine?" She asked me, wait a minute didn't she just a few hours ago tell me that she didn't like me being a mother.
"When she gets old enough I'll send her off to St. Vladimir's." I told her flatly.
"Rose don't…. Don't make the same mistakes I did with you." She confessed. She confessed to what she did to me was wrong, but somehow I wasn't really able to enjoy her outburst like I should have. Instead I was already shaking my head.
"No mom I'm not, I'll still going to be there for Catherine. But she does need to get an education and the academy is one of the safest places for her." Comprehending of what I was telling her, she nodded to me and we both continued down the hallway, returning back to our awkward silence.
"Mommy grandmas hiding something from you." Catherine informed me.
"What?" I stopped in the middle of the hallway stunned as to what Catherine just told me. I looked from her to my mother for some sort of answer.
"Mom?" I questioned, if Catherine said she was hiding something, then she generally was. My mother sighed before opening up with her explanation to Catherine's accusation.
"Lissa's here."
"What?" I screeched. Lissa, here. Oh gee I wonder why?
"Fantastic." I muttered underneath my breath.
"I can show you where she's staying if you'd like." Where's she staying? You mean this place was also complementary with guest bedrooms, Wow. Accepting my mother's offer I tailed behind, assessing of the real reason Lissa came to visit. Obvious answer, me.
Rearing to the opposite side of the building my mother stopped in front of a finely built cherry wood door. Hmm, nice. Saying out goodbyes to my mother, she waved to the both us before finally making her depart. Boy was she in love with my daughter. Which was perfect, no one else deserved as much attention as what my daughter deserved. Knocking on the fancy door a voice sounded for us to enter and in we went. Once inside I had set my little girl onto the rich fabricated floor and watched as she maneuvered over to a vacant chair in the farthest corner. Once she settled I listened. In another room a woman was talking. Lissa of course, and from what appeared to be was her talking on a phone. I don't usually eavesdrop, but you know what who cares, she eavesdrops in my dreams. How is this any different?
"I know, I know Christian, I'll be home as soon as possible. I just need to… finish up on some important matters."Hmm so Lissa and Christian are still together. Perhaps even married from what I knew of. "Okay yeah sure. I love you. No I love you more." Ugh this brought make some bad memories. Catherine watched me from her corner, taking in everything gesture and facial expression I made to the sound of Lissa's bubbly conversation. "Okay tell them both that I love them too. No you tell them now, and then I'll tell them again when I get back home. Alright, okay I got to go. Okay, I love you. Yeah, I miss you too. 'Kay bye." A click came from one of the corresponding rooms of the main bedroom suite. And then emerged Lissa, from one of the side rooms itself. She took in a quick intake of air, surprised, as to I guess seeing my presence. Course, I didn't need to just look at her face to tell this sort of information. Our bond between us told me everything, besides just being shocked in seeing me, she was also ecstatic and apologetic at the same time. "Rose what are you doing here?"
"Funny I was going to ask you the exact same question." I told here in a placid tone.
"What?" She asked confused. Then she smiled."Aww Rose, it's so good to see you." She said as she came closer throwing her arms open in a huggable manner. And truthfully I felt happy holding Lissa again. It felt like out indestructible bond became whole once more, if that was even possible. "Oh Rose. I've missed you."
"You to Liss." I told her watching tears blossom in her beautifully jaded eyes.
"Oh Rose, I'm so sorry for everything, it was so stupid of me using compulsion on you then demanding you to return to me. I was being stupid. I'm sorry."
"Liss don't." I hated seeing Lissa like this, so weak and helpless. It just wasn't right. "It was my fault, I was the one being an idiot not you, you were just trying to help me." I said as she started to shake her head.
"No, I was being selfish. You needed to do what you did. I should have…" She trailed off. Bowing her head to try to hide some of the tears that fell from her cheeks. I held her close to me, trying to comfort her in any way possible. Apparently, I have also been being selfish myself. Lissa has been needing a friend for far too long and I haven't been there to play the rightful part. Watching Catherine she was fidgeting in her chair, but something sparked in her as she watched Lissa sob into me.
"So what are you doing here?" I finally said breaking the silence, beating Lissa to the question that as to plagued her mind.
"Umm, just some political matters, you know that sort of thing. Have you heard? I'm now Queen Lissa to the common folk, Queen Tatiana stepped down from her title and offered me the position."
"How about best friends?" I asked humorously.
"Then it's just Lissa." She said playing by the same rules that I was going by. Walking over to the bed I followed her as we both sat down on its silk covers "How about you, what are you doing in this hellhole?" Oh no please not in front of Catherine. I know it's only a matter of time before she starts squeaking out those words off to me and Dimitri, or rather just me since Dimitri won't be around. Lissa curiously waited for me to respond but I didn't want to.
"Dimitri's here." I eventually raked up the courage to tell her.
"Oh." She said with an understanding. "And then you're just… going to leave. Forever." I started shaking my head.
"No." I said as my voice cracked."He's not… they just need him…. Long enough… before…." I couldn't finish my statement, but apparently Lissa complied with what I was trying to say to her.
"Rose I'm so sorry." Lissa said apologetically.
"It's okay." I told her.
"No, no, it's not, isn't there anything…" But I was already shaking my head again cutting her off to whatever she was about to ask.
"No, there's not, but hey at least I can be your guardian now." I said trying to make her feel better. I hated feeling so vulnerable and Lissa feeling sympathetic for me only made matters worse. Lissa hadn't responded to what I had just told her. She wanted me to be her guardian so badly, but at the same time she knew how much I loved Dimitri. I guess she just couldn't find the right words to truly explain herself. So instead I butted in before she could even think of what to say to me."Oh I have someone for you to meet." She met my eyes confused, like I speaking in another language or something. Ignoring her I ushered Catherine to come over, and my child obediently sauntered over to where me and Lissa sat. "This is Catherine." I told Lissa as I picked her up, placing her on lap.
Lissa sat there mildly a gasped to the sight of Catherine. "Is this your daughter?"
"Uh-huh." I freely told her
"And Dimitri's?"
"Yup."
"She's beautiful Rose, so that's what you really meant by family." She stated recalling our dream that we shared the night of my marriage with Dimitri. "What's her name?" On going with the questions like always.
"Catherine Marie Belikov."
"Aww it's so pretty, you have to meet my family too when you…. Become my guardian." She said avoiding any rough water of the 'Dimitri subject'.
"You have a family?" I asked amused with the fact of Lissa being a mother.
"Yeah, twins." She chirped. "There both a boy and a girl. The girl is Anna Rachel Dragomir and the boy is Andre Adrian Dragomir." She babbled on about them, but one question stood out to me from all the others.
"Aren't you and Christian still together?" I mean it's possible with all the times they've actually done it with the other, it's possible they hadn't been doing 'safe sex'. But she was already shaking her head making me lose all train of thoughts.
"Yeah of course we're still together; actually we got married right after graduation. I just kept my last name. Seeing how I'm the last of the Dragomir left I kept it to… keep the name alive, I guess you could call it that." That made sense. Especially for Lissa.
"So how are your spirit powers? What have you learned since I left? Can you see Auras like Adrian could?" I blurted out all at once. Adrian I hadn't thought of him since he gave me the money to help find me Dimitri. Did he still have a major crush on me in which I never returned the same affections to? All I remember of him was that he liked to smoke and drink a lot while hitting up women. Wasn't Lissa's son middle Adrian, so she must still have a connection with him, right? It wasn't like I wanted to hook up with him once this whole mess with Dimitri was over. I barely considered him as a friend, but somehow I felt curious of whatever happened to him.
"It's been fine. No I haven't been able to see any auras yet." She said in an almost depressive manner. Adrian's fine too, he asks about you every once in awhile." I swear even though this bond thingy works one way she can still read me so easily. It almost scares me at times to the truth.
After a long talk of catch up I carried Catherine out, who reluctantly fell asleep through not even half way of our visit. Lissa of course, was curious to the fact of how long it would take before I finally became her guardian, but she didn't broach the subject at all. I guess she was avoiding any attempt of making me remember Dimitri. Although, even though he wasn't gone yet, it almost felt like I was losing him to some unstoppable force.
Parting from Lissa and her room, both Catherine and me took a different direction, saying a farewell good bye to Lissa since she had to leave by the morning (night if you're human). Finally, taking Catherine to the feeders I set out to find a room. Which I was easily directed to my quarters as I took Catherine and had her settled for the evening.
Sitting on the windowsill of my room, I contemplated. How do I save Dimitri, when he didn't want to be saved? How do I raise a child all by myself? How do I guard Lissa with a broken heart? Coming up with nothing I parted to my bed hoping my dreams could come up with some solution my mind couldn't resolve.