Chapter twenty
"All rise for the accountable Queen Vasilisa Dragomir." The proctor announced as the minute ticked by with Lissa entrance into the courtroom. Here we are, the day Dimitri and his companions would be set free, for good. But however, in the first time I guess in awhile I was nervous, not for Dimitri, no his future was set. Just I guess, for the fact of if something went or even goes wrong. I mean it's still possible. It happened to Victor when he tried to get Lissa to sign for his revolutionary idea, why couldn't the same happen to me. I'm mean Lissa was my best friend and I was her guardian, but even I automatically knew she'd do anything in her power for me. Especially when it came to me and Dimitri, she completely understands how I feel towards him and it's nice to have that kind of support, especially when it's a person like Liss.
As Lissa took her seat everyone else in the courtroom mimicked her movement, well except for me. I mean, although I was testifying here today, that doesn't mean Lissa still doesn't need to be guarded. Hell no, this girl needs to be guarded twenty four/ seven. Even though, this is like what, my second day of actual guarding? Anyway, the whole court was set up sort of like law and order style. You have the witnesses, which are the good Strigoi and the many guardians who have come to support their statements. And then the judge and jury, Lissa.
She would be in charge of applying her thoughts and reactions to the cause, and in the end she would also be the one to decide on the appropriate decision the law must have. Course, I'm already aware of the choice Lissa is bound to make, since Dimitri's basically the sole reason of why she is even still here today, living and breathing before the witnesses and trial. To tell the truth, she has come a long way since the beginning. I remembered when she was completely against me choosing Dimitri over her. It did hurt her, but she didn't hold back, she only grew more from my rejection of her. Somehow it made her stronger and into more of an agreeable person, or least when it came to politics that is.
She doesn't need to use her compulsion on anyone anymore. And in doing so this helps both her and me from the constant abuse of her powers. Which I can thankfully state have not conflicted with me or her in quite awhile. But I shouldn't say, or even to think of all those evil thoughts and feelings consuming by body… Yeah it's not pretty.
"We are gathered here today in witnesses for the signing of a legal document hosted by the Queen Vasilisa Dragomir." The proctor continued his speech, which somehow vaguely resembled the beginning a marriage ceremony.
"Thank you." Lissa replied courteously.
"Anything for you, your majesty." He said sucking up to her." First witness to the stand." He directed while pulling out a sheet of paper with a full list of names."Benjamin Almandy."
Gracefully Ben rose from his seat and departed from the rest of the group, including Mary. "Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God." The proctor said while glaring at Ben as he held his right hand onto the bible. I knew what he was thinking, or least the proctor. How could Ben be even able to touch a holy bible? Course, even I knew for a fact that even the evilest of Strigoi are not overwhelmed to the fact of holy objects. Actually, that theory is all fiction, proven from first handed experience by yours truly. However, I know that since wards and stakes don't work on Strigoi like Ben and Dimitri, then not even a book should be able to fend them off. Course, maybe if you'd chuck it at them it'd piss them off a little bit, but it wouldn't do any serious damage whatsoever.
However, the witnesses were called up, each one by one individually until my term eventually came. After being sworn into, I took the seat that was settled next to Lissa. Giving her a slight smile, I followed through with my testimony before being finally confronted with the proctor. Seriously, what the hell was this guy's deal? Did he have a death wish or something?
"Mrs. Belikov." He stated correctly." You've said you've lived with your 'husband.'" He said air quotes around the word husband."But can you honestly confirm his behavior on 'living' with him, but anyway now how long has it been since you two have met?" He asked completely rendering his question. God I hated lawyers.
"Uhh... I've known Dimitri for at least a little under four years."
"Hmm." He directed.
"Now did you two have a personal relationship before or after he went Strigoi?" Ugh, yup this guy was a class A bastard, shipped straight from the fiery gates of hell. Looking up to Dimitri for any answers, I found none. Instead I decided to stick with the truth, since practically the whole court knew of me and Dimitri's love affair.
"Both. We had one going on just before he was captured and then after when we found each other again." I said, I guess you could say we found each other. Or more rather he found me and I passed out from the emotional trauma that had enveloped into me.
"See here Mrs. Belikov, he was not captured, the defendant here was transformed into a Strigoi. A blood thirsty, man killing monster that terrifies even the strongest of Dhampir into their earliest of graves." Umm… watch any horror films lately. "Further more I would like you from now on state that Mr. Belikov is a Strigoi, that he has been transformed, that he's changed. He was not captured; he was not taken from you. Are we clear?" He said in a dark tone. Did anyone tell this guy on who he was messing with? My temper is like a time bomb, once you set me off it's highly difficult to reign in. But however, in my peripheral of my vision I saw Dimitri trying to shake his head in protest, but I was already gone, I had already been lost.
"Are you damn crazy, no way did I come here to be bitched by a living, breathing bastard. Is there an actual definition of the word Strigoi, because if there were you'd be the picture that went along it. How in freaking god do you ever get any work done here by preaching and bitching yourself off to everyone that comes onto a trial? Actually, I'm surprised you haven't gotten your fat ass fired for doing such a crappy job. Seriously, your suppose to be interrogating the plaintiff not letting loose of all your damn emotions because you have a shitty life…"
"Rose!" Lissa called putting my tirade to a halt. Whoops my bad, not. This guy needed to be screamed at. He was a lawyer wannabe with his faux cheap suit and gelled gray hair.
"No more questions." The proctor said promptly. Hah his face was as red as a tomato. I'm sure if I went on with my reprimand sooner or later he would have turned purple.
Once the proctor stated his finality with me, a short recess was called before the commencement of the trial.
"Rose." Lissa said directly to me."Did you really have to be so… mean?" She asked sincerely.
"Hey Liss he had it coming." I spoke while defending myself. Actually the worst part about it was that my kids were here and they just heard every single world I had just stated. Oh shit.
"Maybe he did, but that still didn't mean you should have yelled at him like that." She told me in her queenly, queen fashion.
"I'll be good." I said to her promising her on nothing but good behavior for the rest of the trial.
"You better, remember even though you're my guardian I still have the authority to kick you out." She replied sarcastically. Laughing I unenthusiastically headed over to where Dimitri and the kids were placed.
"Hi." I meekly greeted, afraid for the reign of terror Dimitri was bound give me. He only stared up at me acknowledging my presence then continued to look down at the floor before speaking.
"Rose…" he said while shaking his head, not able to finish whatever he was about to say.
"I'm sorry." I squeaked out. Knowing that not even a slight apology would cover on what I had just done.
"It's not your fault." He stated simply.
"Wait, what?" I asked Dimitri, confused. Uhh, yeah that was my fault. I lost my temper, I chewed out the lawyer, and he did nothing, okay not really but still.
"Rose, no one can blame you for who you are, not even yourself." Aww Dimitri. But he was still was wrong. I needed to learn how to control my toxic emotions and feelings.
"You're wrong." I muttered under my breath.
"Am I, Rose. This is who you are, this is how your suppose to be." He said while readjusting his stance so he was standing in front of me now. "I love you." He whispered into my ear.
"How?" I suddenly blurted out, surprised to my sole word I had just spoken.
"Roza, you know why. You complete me in ways I can't explain. Your… your amazing to whatever you do, whatever you want to accomplish." He said, finishing with a smile.
"I know that, by why do you love me? I mean, I know I'm special to you, in some ways, but why? How?" I curiously wanted to know. I wanted to know everything. A small smile broke back onto his face as from what I guess to be the finally of him finding the right wording to my query.
"Because, Roza." He started to say, using that exotic Russian accent on my genuine name. "When I first met you, I didn't just see another novice trying to prove themselves. I saw a woman, with the passion of what she found ideal in life. I loved you then, as I still do now. You see Roza, I love you for who you are. Never forget that. Never forget. If your angry, or upset, I'll understand. I'll be there for you Roza, until the day I die, I'll be there for you."
"We shall proceed now, everyone, places." The director of the court called out before the recessed trial.
"I've got to go." I hesitantly spoke to Dimitri as he nodded to my small excuse. "Oh Dimitri." I said to him after I'd only taken but a few steps away from him, while he looked up to the next topic that had now entered my mind. "Thank you." I respectively told him.
"I love you." He said in response.
"I know." I stated as I walked away from him, now standing by my post, watching as the court resumed itself.
The proctor glared at me before resuming onto who the next witness would be, or as I now called it, the unlucky soul who has to take the stand in front of a complete jackass. Ugh, this is pointless, let's just sign this damn thing so we can all go home. Gee, that sounds like a great idea except for the fact that the lawyer guy was just a complete bad ass and not the good kind either. "Catherine…Belikov." He announced sourly. Catherine? I didn't remember seeing her name being placed onto the trial. Looking to Dimitri, he wore the same expression in which I felt. This day was filled with surprises.
Reluctantly Catherine walked up to the bench, however not before she silently stared down the evil lawyer. I would have said good for her if it weren't for the fact of her abilities in reading people's auras. Which to this point Dimitri was still clueless about, thankfully. He didn't need to know anything was up, or not now at least.
"Kay." Catherine exclaimed. Situating herself onto the bench and awaiting for the prosecution to begin. Ugh, I just hope she doesn't copy my motive and start bitching him out with swear words and all.
"Miss Belikov, it is a stated fact that, that man is your father, correct?" He asked as he pointed to Dimitri. Well no duh, seriously run a DNA scan, the end results are all going to be the same, no matter how many times you actually try it. Catherine's only answer was a slight nod of the head with a small smile on her face. Please Catie, please don't tell me you were also born with the same anger issues as mommy. Of course, I knew that wasn't possible since I was shadow kissed, but still my two year old is a mixture of Strigoi and Dhampir. I think by this point anything's possible.
"Now how would you describe your father, Catherine?" He said while stating her first name to its fullest. He was such an idiot, I mean, even though, he didn't know of Catherine's powers, a monkey could see how much of an asshole this guy was. Catherine shrugged her shoulders and responding to what the jerk, bastard, lawyer had just asked her.
"See I'm not quite sure, since my daddy has been locked up for ever since I could remember."She stated and ended with a loathsome glare. His eyebrows shot up to Catherine's comment. Surprise, oh yeah surprised now huh bastard boy. She's smarter than she looks, that's for sure.
"Well that's why I'm here today, to get your father out of being locked up." He said almost a bit too smug. Catherine's forehead crinkled as if concentrating on a foreign substance.
"You're lying." She blurted out in her squeaky, small voice.
"What…" He looked at her, astonished as well did half the court. "Now why would I be lying?" He asked her, collecting himself to her accusations.
"Because you don't like mommy so you think the best way for revenge is to take away daddy from her. And besides you were planning all along to have daddy locked up just because you don't like the fact of him being a Strigoi." That evil asshole.
"How…. How did you know that?" He directly asked her.
"I'm special." Was her only reply before he was dragged out of the courtroom. Lissa gave me a look of weariness before settling down the courtroom to order. Catherine happily hopped down from the bench and rejoined with my family as Lissa finished off the trial by telling everyone she's had heard enough and went to sign the legal document, which would be the final binding to Dimitri's freedom.
The second the law was signed the group of witnesses and viewers broke apart and traveled their separate ways. So that was it, the case I had been fighting for, for what? More than six months was finally over. Now I could finally live my life. Or at least the life that I had now selected. The one where Dimitri and I would be happily together, even with the protection of our Moroi coming first in life.
Taking time off from guarding Lissa, I decided to just use our bond of an implication if anything were to disturb her as I set out to find my husband and children. Finally, as I found them I moved into the small group of clustered bodies as rejoined with my family.
"Hi." I said to Dimitri as I met him with a kiss.
"Aren't you on duty?" He asked me the second our lips parted.
"Lissa's fine, we need to celebrate." I said, trying to motivate him.
"Like what?" He asked amused to the idea.
"Well I was thinking that since this is our last night together we ditch the kids with Lissa and do something, you know just with the two of us." I proposed. He smiled at me, automatically liking the idea from the start.
"As you wish." He murmured into me as we met into what was another moment of passionate kissing, as we then soon carelessly exposed ourselves to the night before us all.