Chapter seventeen
The plane ride took longer than I had ever expected, is it possible to die from anxiety. We needed to get Lissa and Christian to a hospital. Or more specifically the hospital ward in the one place that wanted to excommunicate both Dimitri and myself. But hopefully, that can all be ancient history by the time we get back. It may take awhile; who knows, but I could taste freedom in the air. And it's never been this sweet before.
Overseeing the causes to what would come about of Lissa, I didn't want to leave her side. Not for anything, and I guess her children felt the same way as well. Sitting across from where both me and Lissa were settled, both of her children huddled together in the sofa like chair. They seemed to be a little shaken up, but overall they would both be perfectly fine. However, as for their father though. Well sadly that's a different story. At the moment he was being given the most greatest of the medical treatment in which we provide for him. Meaning a very simple first aid kit. Which unfortunately would have to sustain him enough until he'd receive better treatment when we've landed, but until then there was nothing else we could do.
As for the two little toddlers in front of me though, I intended on getting their full trust by the time this plane touched ground. Hey, it's not like they had any other parental guidance to go to for now. Someone needed to step in; otherwise they'll be most uncooperative for the remainder of the time. And besides they needed someone to help them through this situation of crisis.
Staring at the unkempt teenage woman on my lap, I hesitated fervently before finally adjusting her off of my lap as I moved cautiously to the whimpering children.
"Hi." I said in a funny tuned tone. Anna, I think her name was looked up at me with large, frightened eyes. Andre however, just stared down at his hands, not making any movements or motions to responding to my greeting.
"Hi." Anna eventually said in a small, tiny voice. Now how do I state this so that both of them would understand."Are mama and papa going to be alright?" Anna asked before I could even formulate my own question. So, sitting down onto a chair next to them I contemplated on what to tell the two of them. Thankfully, I'm fairly sure both Andre nor Anna could tell the difference between truth and lies.
"We hope so." I told her briefly, hoping she wouldn't look any further into the subject. Her head bowed to my response and tears dripped from her eyes to the facts of information I had just brought to her attention. "Oh Anna it's going to be okay. You'll see. We'll get both of your parents into see a doctor and they'll turn out as good as new." I encouraged her to believe what I had just stated to her.
Feeling my maternal instincts kicking in I resolutely picked up the crying child and began to ease her mind. "Shh it's okay Anna. Everything's going to be fine." But she only shook her head, not wanting to believe the truth, or not wanting to accept in, in truth I had no clue. Looking over to her brother, he too stared up at me. Oh god what was I suppose to do? However, eventually, I managed to quiet Anna down, or at least well enough to where she wasn't crying on me anymore.
Throughout the flight, I took part in the care of Lissa's children, while Dimitri came to visit me from time to time. Basically, he just brought me updates on Christian's condition. Nothing changing for the most part, just the fact that he really needed to see a doctor in the meantime. Actually, both me and Dimitri hardly ever saw each other on the trip back to the pokey. He was too busy with other accomplishments and surprisingly praising views from the other guardians. Today he proved himself, along with Ben, and I don't think I could ever be more proud of him. We have witnesses to testify for him, to validate of Dimitri's remarkable characteristics. Of how he alone faced another Strigoi, and he killed him just the same as any of the others. A sweep of silver and a deadly mark for the heart.
"Are you a mom?" Anna asked randomly and curiously, disrupting the train of thought I was running on at the moment.
"Why do you ask?" She shrugged.
"I don't know, you just seem like a mom to me. And you do the kind of stuff which my mama does." She shrugged again after her vague explanation to my recent question.
"Yeah I'm a mom." I said with a small smile, as her forehead crinkled with the expression of contemplation and evaluation.
"If you're a mom then where are your kids?" I was surprised to what she was asking, but totally disregarded it by responding to her question.
"She's back at the hospital, awaiting for my arrival back to her." Man I never really thought on how much Catherine must be missing me right now. Ugh, I was such a terrible mother. Seriously, when we get back, I'll promise to her that I'll never take both me and Dimitri away from her like that again. No, never again.
"You left her all alone!" Anna falsely examined. Believing that I would actually leave my eighteen month year old child alone, by herself.
"No, of course not." I countered."She's with her grandmother." Oh shit, I really wished I hadn't have said that. Automatically, Anna's eyes left mine and she retreated to the floor of the plane. "Anna I'm sorry." I told her apologetically. I really wished I had just avoided the grandparent subject completely. Especially to a child who didn't even have any grandparents. Both of Lissa's and Christian's both died when they were both small children themselves. Of course, their deaths were completely opposite. Lissa's parents died in a car crash and Christian's were attacked by guardians because they willingly turned themselves into Strigoi. However, the end result I guess is still the same, there all dead nonetheless.
"It's okay." She said trying to comfort me with a small smile. Seriously, this girl was taken from her home, tortured by Strigoi and rescued by complete strangers, and she was trying to comfort me. That's… wow.
In no time at all both Andre and Anna were passing out from exhaustion over the occurred circumstances that took place just a little under an hour ago. Andre laid by himself in his personal seat of the couch. As for Anna, she was nestled in my arms, eyes drooping, threatening to shut for good. "What was my mama like?" Anna asked after a long period of silence.
"Hmm." I provided to her, confused as to what she was request.
"Well you said you were her best friend, then what was she like when she was little?" Anna asked, rephrasing her question. Hmm, wow, seriously I needed to think about this one. So much has happened throughout our history it was almost hard to sum it up into just a couple of words.
"Well." I finally said." Your mom was a very lively, happy person. She loved nature and animals all alike. She was one of the most kindest people I've ever known." And I meant that."She just a wonderful person and you're a very, very lucky girl to have her as your mother." She stifled a yawn, but it was too much for her. She smiled at my explanation before finally shutting her eyes and settled into a deep rest. Beaming down at her, I positioned her down on the seat before me. While getting up as I was quickly was given the time of our landing, and set to where Lissa laid for the remainder of the trip.
Stepping through the familiar doors of the penitentiary, I was washed with the sudden relief of our current victory. Lissa and Christian were immediately shipped off to the hospital ward while I along with Dimitri tagged along. It was strange; nobody seemed to care or noticed Dimitri trailing behind us with Andre in his arms. Guardians, Moroi and prisoners all alike passed Dimitri without any care or consideration of what he was and what he still is. Plans can be successful, but this was miraculous. Hopefully this keep up, because I hoped to never see my husband persecuted for what evil race he was born into.
However, at this moment I longed for something else. Although Anna was in own arms I still sought for a different pair of tiny arms, one with a delighting smile and dark brown hair. One who could turn my whole world into putty just by a flick of her wrist or a small command. She was mine as well as I was to her. She was my daughter and I missed her dearly. Okay, so maybe I was exaggerating a little too much, but did miss her. I haven't seen her for at three days. Three long, treacherous days.
Following Lissa to where she was placed on a customary, hospital bed, I watched the doctor's work endlessly on her. Running all possible tests and examines of her body, checking for any damage that the Strigoi could have done. But I knew I needed to leave, Anna was watching and this was no place for a child. So instead I walked out into the little waiting room with her, as they prepped her mother for what seemed to be surgery. Great. Lissa was worst off then I thought. Fantastic, but I knew was going to be fine in the end. I could feel it. Already her body was slowly recovering itself into a remedial state.
Placing Anna into one of the few chairs, I soon found Andre and Dimitri there as well. Like a flash, we were embraced into each other. Never wanting to let go of the other. Then in what seemed like the speed of light we were kissing. Not inappropriately, oh hell no. There were children present, no, it was just a way that we both have learned how to emotionalize our love for the other with other people around. Trust me it took four months to learn, but I think we finally have gotten it down to the basics. Nothing could separate us now, or at least till a small, squealing child came running at us. Yes there she was, there was Catherine, bounding into my arms as she squeaked her happy voice at me for my arrival back to her.
"Mommy." She said."You're back." She announced for probably the whole place to hear her speak.
"Hi Catie." I greeted with a warming tone. And just like that, in mid air she jumped into Dimitri's arms, chirping of her glee for both of her parent's safe return. Looking over to Andre and Anna, I watched as they sat there, looking warily in our direction of a loving family . I hoped Lissa and Christian have a speedy recovery. I would love to see these two kids smile again, if that's even possible. Who knows how much trauma they've just suffered from their first kidnapping experience.
However, just then my mother appeared in the door way of the room, having a mysterious glow and joy to her facial expressions and body language. Walking over to her, I confronted her on what the matter was and surprisingly she freely told me.
"I've just gotten word." She pronounced only to me."Victor Dashkov has just recently passed away." I was stunned that son of a bitch had finally did it. He finally is dead. Okay, so maybe I was riding his death a little too highly. Meaning, I was taking that song from the Wizard of Oz and replacing the word 'witch' with 'Victor.' But come on, this guy was a royal asshole literally. I'm glad he's dead. G-L-A-D. That bastard needed to be out down for good. He didn't deserve to live, not after what he put both Lissa and me though. Nu uh that guy needed to die. 'Ding dong the Victors dead.'
"Okay." I told my mother flatly. And that's all I responded to the situation as for now. There was nothing more to say then an understanding to the occurrence. So instead of thinking more about the issue, I returned to my most current dilemma.
Walking back into the room I intercepted the news to Dimitri and was only greeted with the response of a sly smile. I knew he'd be happy with latest news, I knew he hated Victor's guts, just as much as me. He- he, now worms are going to be eating his guts. Sorry I'm being so repulsive, I'm just too exultant for words itself. Huddling into Dimitri for support, cause I haven't hardly slept for the past few days. I watched as the children became familiar with the other.
"Hi." Catherine said to both of them. Letting loose her intoxicating smile. Anna smiled back at Catherine's friendly greeting, but what really astounded me was the way Andre opened up to her. I had already figured him as just shy. But seeing him with Catherine brought on a whole new spectrum to his personally.
"Hi my names Andre." He said, stating it profoundly. Catherine reacted with a reign of giggles, immediately liking him from the start. So watching them, Andre and Catherine sat together, innocently talking in the way only children knew how to. Occasionally, Anna would barge in, but basically it was like they were in there own little universe. Meanwhile, I claimed the attention of the only other person left in the room.
"So what's going to happen?" I encouraged from him.
"Hmm?" He responded as if I had pulled him away from some distant thought he was concentrating on.
"How's life going to be for the two of us now, since after this whole circumstance?" He seemed to contemplate on what to tell me, but then answered me with a smile.
"I think things are going to improve decently for the two of us." I smiled at him obvious content with his optimistic response. And indeed things did start to get much better after a long while of doubt and pessimism.
The next day Lissa was discharged from her room. It's seems that besides a few broken bones in her hand, she recovered with just a few minor scratches and bruises. Which are all displayed, covering both her body and head. As for Christian though, he wasn't too lucky. After about a day of patching him up, doctors were able to locate a pretty serious concussion forming just below one of his temples. Apparently, if we didn't get him there on time Christian would have been sure as dead.
However, that wasn't the case. Thankfully, he was now in full recovery and evidently he hasn't changed a bit. He still finds to make unseemly unkind gestures to me, especially over my disappearance for all these years. Which surprised me, not because Christian still finds it funny to pick on me, no, but it was surprising that Lissa hasn't told him anything about Dimitri and me. She hasn't even told him about Catherine. However, after confronting to her about the situation she gave me a fairly good excuse for all of it.
"It's your secret Rose, it's not mine to tell, and if you want you to can tell him. But I wouldn't do it for you. Your relationship between Dimitri and you is something special and it shouldn't be gossiped about, no matter how important it is."
"Thanks Liss." I told giving a warming hug in return. I knew I could always count on her. So what I'd do next? Well obviously brought Catherine to Christian. He was shocked, okay he more than shocked, but I was at least grateful to him for not teasing me in front of my two year old. He may suck at times, but he's actually really good around kids. Or maybe he was just trying to be a suck up. Who knows and who really cares?
Right now I was just content with my accommodations with Dimitri. Thankfully, he did not have to be put back into his cell. Nope instead he was placed under my watchful eye, but really nobody gave a shit anyway. Everyone at the place knew of Dimitri and mine's relationship and everyone accepted it like any other common news. However, at this point, we hardly ever saw Ben anymore. He was off with Mary, but he still had to regularly check in, almost like he was on parole. But just like Dimitri, everyone trusted him too. Not to mention everyone's adoration over Mary.
She's always been such a free loving girl that it was surprising to the majority of people who discovered that she was Strigoi. Seriously, she does not fit the stereotype of a common Strigoi. She's like the complete opposite. But anyway, Lissa met here and just like generally everyone else, she too loved Mary from the start. And continues to teach Mary her new revealed powers of spirit.
As for me though, I to was eagerly awaiting for the arrival of my new baby boy, whose delivery date is marked in two weeks, April second. A little less than two months past Catherine's birth date of February 10th. Anticipated and ready, I soon awaited for the arrival to my second and from what I could tell last child. I was going to become a guardian and I needed to be there to protect Lissa, not to pledge my life to motherhood. But two was enough, two equally strong, unique, and special children from the love of both Dimitri and myself. Two children I could adore and two children with the hope of a decent future with Dimitri and me.