Chapter fifteen
The second the meeting had let up, I gave Catherine to mom and started to race down the overlapping hallways. But even with my exhilarating speed, I could have ran this course in my sleep. So sprinting to the only cell I knew, of this place that is, I practically vanished behind the door of the husband's room (oh yeah, I was that quick.). As I slammed the door closed, causing two startled heads to peer up at me. However, I didn't have time for explanations, not on my hastiness that is nor the reason of why I came to spring Dimitri. Veering myself just right I jumped fervently into Dimitri's semi- opened arms. It wasn't until he started asking 'what are you talking about?' till I realized that I was mumbling my plan and the assemblage that took place only moments ago.
"I… I did it." I tried to speak through shallow, uneven breathes.
"Rose slow down, now what have you done?"I gave him a wicked smile as a response, watching as he stared deep into my eyes, holding my shoulders with his bare hands, arms length away from his amazing body. All while as his natural smell whiffed throughout my senses, tuning them into a more clearer atmosphere.
"I did it." I repeated. The repetition of three words that meant so much for my explanation. "Dimitri I did it, you can go, your free." I said, finally able to get my words straight enough to convey the truth.
"Rose… how?" I only shook my head.
"No there's no time, we need to go and we need to now. I'll explain later, now come on."
"Rose wait, your serious aren't you?" Dimitri spoke. I suppose he didn't believe me at first, but now it was crystal clear of what I had accomplished.
"Of course." Looking around I remembered the familiar face glaring at us in the corner, silent as always."Oh Ben you come to." I quickly said. Immediately, without anything at all, he was on his feet and we were out of that horrid hole my husband had been trapped in for what seemed like years now. Setting towards the room, I secretly snuck looks at Dimitri and Ben. They were well, let's just say they had a certain glow to them. A change in them that seem like shear and utter relief. I guess even a good Strigoi's have issues with being lock up. Especially, for the amount of time these guys were trapped in that hell hole.
Invisibility was like a blessed shield that swirled around us as we walked. Nobody acknowledged our existence, and certainly not Ben and Dimitri's. It was obvious no one was content with the release transactions. But they would see, they would all see of what good beings Dimitri and Ben could be. All it took was time and right now, time was still on our side, hopefully. Lissa was suffering, but not enough to end her life.
Entering the room, several faces, I did and did not knew meant my eyes. That is until in walked Ben and Dimitri and the eyes averted away to something more interesting in the room. Well almost everyone, except for three pairs of eyes. One of whom ran up to Dimitri squealing with glee.
"Hi Daddy!" She announced loud enough for what seemed like the whole room to hear.
"Hi Catherine." He murmured into her ear, placing his lips onto her long, flowing, darken hair. She giggled them jumped down and ran to me. As I picked up the small child, I was bombarded with what seemed like a million simple pleas to harsh protests.
"Mommy do you and daddy really have to go?" She asked so innocently in her high pitched, squeaky voice.
"I'm afraid so." I told her apologetically. She looked down obviously upset.
"Can I come with you?" Surprise overcame my emotions, but was easily brought back to being hidden by a facial mask.
"Not Catie, you need to stay here."
"But why?" Ugh it was like talking to a two year old. Oops wait a minute, okay maybe she was two.
"Because, where were going is much too dangerous for a girl like you."
"But…" She began to respond.
"Anyway, who will stay here to help protect grandma. She needs help too." She sighed contemplating with what I had just told her. Finally and thankfully, she nodded to my offer. But still not in full content with the fact of both me and Dimitri leaving her behind. Eventually though, she too jumped out of my arms leaving me with an extra set to pack. Picking out the essentials, I along with all the other guardians (including Dimitri and Ben) were given a trustee silver stake for the mission. At first the guardians were shocked with the fact of Dimitri and Ben actually able to touch the weapon, but in the end only discredited it. Supposedly, to the fact of them being on our team or something, I don't know the reason why really. But, I was captain of this rescue mission and whatever I said now went. Which was absolutely cool, just to add for myself.
Telling Eddie to lead the way out we all followed him into the sweltering August air. Even, in a country like Switzerland the summer months are still practically unbearable. As we haltered to a stop around twenty feet from the building, I made quick orders for Ben to go reunite with Mary, then rendezvous with us around a hundred miles off from here. That's where we'll be making a rest stop for the night. Giving me a quick snort when I mentioned breaking camp, Ben before he left, shot me a grateful glance, while disappearing from sight in just the next moment. Several guardians all alike glared at my thoughtful order, but I ignored them, returning to the mission at hand. Rescuing Lissa.
To tell the truth I was proud of what I did for Ben. He'd been seperated for Mary for how long? While even though Dimitri was still trapped in his cell, I still managed to visit his lonely face every day. I knew how much Ben missed her, more than any other being on this planet. For them it was just the two of them. They didn't have any children to take the pain and separation away. Heck, they couldn't even have any kids if they wanted to; it was just the two of them, forever, through their mortal lives.
Oh anyway speaking of children, my mom managed to confront me before leaving on my attempted rescue mission to Lissa.
"Rose can I talk to you." My mom spoke impatiently, ushering me out into the empty hallway.
"Yeah, sure mom. But I kind of need to get go…."
"I know, but this will only take a minute." She said quickly cutting me off. As I walked behind her, as she stopped abruptly taking only but a second before discussion the matter on her mind."Rose I don't want you to go."
"What?" Damn it mom, can you please let me do this thing on my own for once. But I didn't speak it. I think my mom's already taken enough of my crap as it is.
"Rose your four months pregnant, I just don't want you to endanger the baby."
"What… mom… so that's it, you want Lissa to die in place for the safety of my child."
"No, no Rose of course not, I would never. But can't you just give the coordinates to someone like Guardian Castille. Why do you have to go?" My mom said in desperation now.
"Mom, relax I'll be fine. As for you, you need to stay here and watch over Catherine."
"I don't believe this." She mumbled.
"What mom. What have I done that is so wrong now? I mean seriously, for my whole life you've planned me on becoming a guardian. Then when I changed those plans and became a mother. Now what, what do you want from me now? It's either choose one or the other, but I can do both, I can be a mom and a guardian at the same time. Unlike you, is that it mom is that it? You don't want me to go, rescue Lissa and become a guardian only to leave behind my children in the end."
"Oh stop it Rosemarie." My mother scolded.
"No. I'm not." I spoke through my teeth, already angry to the fact of my mom trying once again to control my life." I'm going to go now. Say good bye to Catherine for me since I'm too bad of a mom to do it myself." And I stormed off back into my room.
Course I said my farewell goodbye to Catherine, I was just too pissed at my mom, so I kind of told her a little fib, but I really didn't care. I loved Catherine, I would never desert her unless the matter was actually great enough. It's strange though, my mother was all for my departure to saving Lissa, until she was left alone with Catherine. Huh. I guess my mother only has a heart for the wishes of my child instead of me. Oh well, isn't that the goal of the grandparent. To fully spoil the child, of course, there's nothing in the rule book that says about about when your child is half Strigoi, and the grandma is a Dhampir, full bred and raised.
Closing the subject in my mind I shuffled to the matter at hand. Or at the moment of finding a proper place to camp. Scouting around the area I sort of found what looked to be a semi well place to stay for the night. Course, hard core roughage was just one of the many amazing benefits to being a guardian. Within minutes of locating the other guardians and Dimitri, we settled down for the night in the blistering heat. In this place the Austrian foliage was not dense at all, but it was enough shade to not make things so unbearably uncomfortable.
Within what seemed like hours though, Ben had finally returned to our small party, completely shying him away from the whole group as per always. But that was just Ben; he obviously was never an open person. In his past life and now in his present life. However, there within his small, microscopic expressions there was a tiny hint of a perking smile. I knew it, I knew being with Mary would have cheered him up and no doubt for Mary herself. She has been so hard on herself lately, ever since Ben's capturing. Hopefully, now she can be in a little more at peace with her mind.
In no time at all, I soon found myself sitting with Dimitri, my head laying limply against his shoulder as no matter then sleep had overtaken me and allowed me to have a whirlwind of featuring dreams.
Walking down the silent pasture I smelled the sweet smell of blooming, wild flowers in the background. This was weird. Usually my dreams were filled with growing horror and violent scenes. Basically, my mind was the most vulnerable to the bond Liss during my sleep. However, this wasn't I guess Lissa's mind. This was different. Walking through the open, grassy field, I stomped impatiently through the rigid terrain in dire need of finding some answers to my recent dilemma.
"Hello." I finally shouted out, in some desperate attempt for someone to hear my own voice. Silence returned in response, so I kept walking down the forming path. Trying to find the truth of where I was and where the hell Lissa was as well.
Okay what was that? Somewhere in the distance a small squeaking sound could be heard. Curiously, I walked toward the mysterious sound, hoping fortunately to find the answers in which I sought. I know it was stupid, aren't you suppose to run away from things you're not certain of? Well okay, this I knew was only a dream. And I really hoped to get out of it. I needed to check up on Lissa. I needed to make sure she was not being harmed at all. Because every time one of those sons of bitches does anything to her, another one gets marked for death. As I headed into the direction of the high pitched, the sound soon filled the air, until it abruptly stopped. Mainly because of me and whoever was directing the noise. Oh hell no. Well so many questions just vanished from sight, or at least from what I had just seen.
"It's about time." She called out to me.
"What are you here?" I replied back not actually acknowledging her sort of friendly greeting.
"Well isn't it obvious?"Lissa asked in nonchalant manner."I needed to talk to you."
"Okay then." I beckoned to her."Talk." She inhaled as she attempted to find the right words for a proper explanation.
"Rose." She began. Shaking her head to some distant thought I couldn't make out."What's going on?"
"What do you mean?" I asked confused on what she was really trying to confront me with.
"Why aren't you here? With me?"She whimpered.
"Liss I am here, I'm not going anywhere." She started shaking her head once more.
"No. That's not what I meant."
"Then what do you mean?" I asked her, becoming irritated with the kind of game she was playing with me.
"Rose, where are you?"
"I'm right here!" I called out to her. Did she hit her head or something? But already Lissa was in tears, so instead or me getting even more irritated with her, I comforted her instead. Speaking calming words to her, hoping she would relax into a more comfortable state. Oh god even in this dream world Lissa was a mess. She was in a horrible state and they were going pay. They would pay for what they have done to her. "Don't worry Lis I'm coming, I'm coming for you."
"Hurry Rose I don't know how much time we have left."
"Shh. don't worry about it Liss we'll get there, and when we do, both you and your family will be safe." I spoke truthfully to her. I had too much on the line to not get there in time and rescue her.
"I hope so." She choked through tears, which still rolled fervently down her pale, white cheeks."Rose?"
"Hmm."
"If…if you don't get there in time and I'm…dead." She said hardly, as if she actually believed that this was the effect of what her life has been thrown into."I want you to save Christian and my babies. I want you to help them get better and I want you to protect them. I trust you Rose and I want you to take care of my family when I'm gone."
"Liss that's not what's going to happen." I reassured her.
"Yeah, but if it does, I want you to know you have my consent. Also I want you to tell my family that… that I loved them. I want them to know this."
"I will." I solemnly promised her. As we together sat under the base of a tree, comforting the other of our disadvantages and the situation we were in.
"Rose can you do me a favor?" Lissa murmured as he head laid gently against my own head. The same way we use to do just like when we were little kids, just hanging out before all this chaos began to happen.
"Whatever you want your highness?"
"It's Lissa to you" She snapped."And anyway, I want you to fulfill your dream. I Queen Vasilisa Dragomir order you Rosemarie Hathaway Belikov to finally become a legit guardian."
"Kay" I said while giggling to my friend's authority that she had over me.
"I'm serious." She laughed back.
"Okay then can I tell you a secret?"
"Anything you desire." She promptly said in return.
"I'm pregnant." Her eyebrows shot up to my recent news, but a serious expression morphed her face.
"Is Dimitri the father?" She asked with no infliction cascading her tone of voice. In response I only nodded. Who the hell could possibly be the father anyway? I'm married. She sighed, but I guess I should tell her the whole story anyway.
"It's a boy. And we've already decided to name him Jasha.."I said to her, as Lissa sighed once more.
"Rose if you hold up your end to the bargain then I'll hold up mine."
"Wait, what?"
"Rose if you become a full time guardian and serve my family, with or without me. Then I shall grant you a positive guarantee that I will not rest until Dimitri is set free and his, along with all your other 'friends'." She stated not really wanting to say the word Strigoi."I shall pass a law and that law shall be binding so no one will be able to break it when I'm done."
"Liss…" I began to protest, but she easily cut me off.
"No this isn't just for you; this is also what I believe in. I want to do this."
"Thank you." I murmured to her. Simply in awe with my best friend right now. I would not fail her. Not now, not ever. Suddenly, Lissa perked up.
"Oh no." She said sounding scared.
"Wait what is it Lissa?"
"Oh no, please not know!" She started to shriek.
"Lissa." I called back, but only darkness caught the sound. Where was she? Where was Lissa? "Lissa?" I called again. No answer. Then the worst sound ever, pierced right through my body, it was Lissa and she was in pain. Those bastards, they will pay, they were all going to pay. Her horrid screams broke the darkness and in return all I could see was night.
Waking up screaming myself, tears flowed down my cheeks and onto the rough ground below. Two hands were pressed against my shoulders both rubbing them and holding me down into a sitting position.
"It's okay Rose, calm down now." A familiar voice trickled into my sense of hearing. Dimitri. Turing my body around enough I was able to make him hold me instead of coaxing me into relaxation. "Shh its okay Roza, everything's going to be alright." He told me. Yah of course, every things going to be fine with me. I'm not the one who's locked up with a half dozen evil, inhumane Strigoi. No instead I was being soothed by my good, amiable Strigoi husband. Eventually, I did simmer down though. Not enough to go back to sleep. Hell no. No matter how much Dimitri protested for me to, I would not.
So in compromising I only laid down in his arms. Was it comfortable? No. Would have I liked it any other way? Again no. This was paradise enough. Not to mention I'm actually with one of my most favorite people on this planet alone. Softly, Dimitri made soft strokes on my stomach. The exact place on where the baby was now resting. So far he has been a good baby. Hopefully ,he could keep it up. I really wouldn't like to get motion sickness while being overrun by a group of Strigoi.
Finally morning soon came and no one spoke of what happened last night. Although, my nightmare was a terrible one, it still served better for a show Dimitri's true character. I mean, I didn't do it on purpose for his own recognition. Hell no. That was all real; nothing of that scene was staged. No, I was more as meaning the way he reacted to it. He was gentle and sympathetic. I knew my display of last night was only the tip of the iceberg of who Dimitri really was. But looking around I was starting to feel the growth of trust of the other guardians had for Dimitri and Ben. Okay, I'll probably be the first one to admit, the average Dhampir is usually of the most highly stubborn type. I knew it was going to take time, but soon and very soon these people were going to have to trust the two with their lives, and only time would tell on how the situation would work out.
As for at the moment. Lissa needed to be rescue, there were no if's or but's to this situation, just plain and simple fact. We still had a distance to go, but I figured by at least tomorrow night we'd make sight of where the Strigoi had taken her and then we shall of what were going to do about the situation. I'm coming for you Lissa. I said in my mind. I wish I could tell her this information myself, even though, she knew it to a certain depth. I needed to reach her and I needed to do it now, not just for her life though, but for the many others who are connected to it as well.