Previously: I smiled awkwardly and sat next to him. I reached into my shopping bag and got out the book i'd bought him.

"Here, i saw this and figured I'd rather have you fantasize about shooting bad cow boys then giving me philosophical lessons."

Chapter 20: Nightmares

The plane ride went on in silence. Since we bought the plane tickets so last minute, the only ones that were available were first class seats. I didn't complain and Dimitri seemed to like being near the entrance of the plane. We could also see the door to the cockpit. I suspected that if the pilot ever had a heart attack, Dimitri would immediately take out his pilots license and save the day.

I couldn't sit still, I was able to keep the fact that my mother was kidnapped in a far corner of my mind because of all the work I had to do. But now, I had 5 hours of traveling from Washington to London and it would be another 9 from London to Istanbul. Plenty of time to think. Damn.

"Dimitri?" The pain in my voice made Dimitri's head snap up from his book. He was around a hundred pages in and it had only been an hour since we got on the plane.

"Yes?"

"Do you think you could fill me in on any of the guardian secrets that you used to blackmail yourself on this adventure?" I smiled at him the best I could.

"Sorry Rose, I can't do that." He turned back to his book nonchalantly.

"Why not? You're already on the plane with me. I won't be prepared for future dangerous events if you don't tell me."
"Rose, you know as well as I do that if I told you the places where the strigoi were being seen, you would lock me into a closet and leave without me."

"Dimitri, although that may one day happen, I don't like that you don't trust me. Plus I don't think any of my plans would be as boring as that one." I told him, but I knew I had lost. Dimitri's face told me as much. I pouted and crossed my arms, not caring that I was acting childish. When would I ditch him? As soon as we make it to istanbul? But what if he decides to not tell me till we're right outside the Strigoi hideout. That would be a problem.

"You better not be forming an escape plan in that twisted little head of yours." I was just to tell him how improbable that was until I saw the stewardess rolling a cart of snacks down the aisle. She came to us and I saw that the cart was full of assortments of peanuts and sodas. I nudged Dimitri and he sighed.

"Excuse me, we'll take two bags of the barbeque peanuts and two cokes." The stewardess smiled at Dimitri. She was young and pretty and seemed to be looking at Dimitri with interest. "No problem." She reached down her cart and brushed her arm against Dimitri's.

"Make that five." I told her, annoyed.

"What was that?" She poked her head and looked at me surprised, as if she hadn't seen me at all.

"I-We want five bags of snacks." I grabbed Dimitri's hand, he looked surprised but didn't say anything. "Dimka's a big boy." I used his nickname, even though it wasn't my favorite.

"No problem miss." She sent me a smile faker than barbie's.

"What was that about?" Dimitri asked me as I munched on peanuts. I had grabbed four of the bags of snacks and my soda and crossed my legs over the seat.

"What was what about?" I feigned innocence, taking a sip of my soda. Dimitri muttered something in Russian but didn't respond me. I looked through my magazine, it turned out that neon eyeshadow and tribal patterns were considered fashionable. Humans were so strange. I looked up at the tv screen and didn't recognize the movie they had on. There seemed to be a lot of explosions and gunfire so I plugged my headphones in and started watching. I glanced over to Dimitri and he seemed to be watching me. I turned my head towards him and pulled my headphone out of one ear.

"Need something?" I asked him.

"No, I was just thinking."

"About what?" I took the other bud out of my ear.

"You." He looked at me. I waited for him to continue. "You say that Tasha cumpulsed me into hurting you. But I don't remember doing any of the things you said."

"Of course not. You were were being controlled by her I'm sure she wouldn't have wanted you to remember." I saw fear flash in his eyes as I spoke. At first I didn't understand the fear, but then I realized that control was the one thing that Dimitri strived for. Always being in control of his emotions and actions was what made him so strong. If you take that away, you take away his security. No wonder he had a hard time believing me. He didn't want to believe that his strength could have been so easily manipulated.

"Dimitri, I-I'm sorry." I didn't know what to say. He stared into my eyes, I couldn't really tell what he was feeling but I knew he was searching for something in my eyes. What was that saying? Your eyes are the window to your soul? I felt a shiver go up my spine. I looked away. Dimitri was better off not knowing what I was thinking.

I stood up and left the seat. "I'll be right back." I mumbled and went to the small, gross bathroom. I stood in front of the mirror and stared at myself. I had bags under my eyes from lack of sleep but I wasn't really tired. My hair was a mess and I immediately started finger combing it but gave up. My cheeks were pink, I put my fingers up to my face and felt the warmth. When did I start blushing? I wet a paper towel and held it up to my cheeks. Someone knocked the door, someone who wanted to get in. I opened it and left the bathroom.

I went directly to my seat. Dimitri wasn't there and I didn't worry about it. I sat in my seat, put my headphones in and tried to sleep. Eventually I did and Dimitri didn't come back.

"Rose?" I heard my mother call me. I had appeared in a long dark hallway. In front of me there stood a door, I turned around and tried to see what was down the hallway but I couldn't see the ending because it was too dark. I open the door and theres someone crawling towards me. Her back is filled with angry, red welts and her hair is dirty and stuck together. It smells like a combination of vomit and sweat. I ignore the smell and reach out to touch the person crawling towards me.

"Mom?" I hear myself say. "What's wrong?" I touch her arm but she flinches and collapses. I kneel down. "Mom? Mom say something?"

She says nothing. I turn her over and can't see any life in her eyes. She opens her mouth in a silent scream and suddenly turns into ashes in my arms.

I open my eyes and I'm sweating. I look around the room and see nothing but darkness and I scream. The door on the other side of the room opens and Dimitri strides toward me.

"Are you okay Rose?" I take a deep breath and swallow. My throat feels raw and I can feel tears streaming down my face.

"Whe- where are we?" I ask him.

"In London. We stayed in a hotel last night remember?" I did.

"Yeah, I remember. I just had a nightmare, it's nothing to worry about it comrade- I mean Dimitri." I just wanted him to leave. It was embarrassing enough that he had to see me this vulnerable. He didn't say anything and just looked at me.

I wiped away my tears and tried to smile. "Really i'm ok. You can leave. I'll be fine."

"Rose, you terrified me. I thought you were hurt." Dimitri reached a hand out and rubbed my cheek softly. As if trying to wipe the tears that weren't there anymore.

"Well i'm fine." I ducked out of his hand. "Nothing to worry about." I pulled the blankets back over me and lied down.

"Well, according to that clock over there we need to wake up in a few hours anyway. So i'll see you in the morning." I heard Dimitri chuckle softly.

"Have it your way Rose, I'm in the next room over if you need anything. Good night." I didn't respond. Tomorrow we would be in Istanbul and I was ready for anything.

That dream made me want to fight harder and find my mom. She needed me and I didn't want to put anyone else at danger. Especially Dimitri, I needed to find a way to get rid of him for his own good. I decided to plan it later. I was tired and needed to sleep. I need to be in top condition, I was going to find my mother soon. Alone.

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