"Guardian Hathaway. Hathaway, can you hear me?" A stern voice burst into Rose's subconscious, and she opened her eyes to bright fluorescent lights. She was still laying on the couch, but without Adrian's warm body behind her, and Dr. Vallencourt's face was now hovering over hers. She gave him a wry smile, and said, "Sure can, Doc."
"Rose!" Lissa's voice exclaimed from her right, and her friend suddenly hugged her tight, "How is your leg feeling?" Rose sat up, rubbing her thigh gingerly. There was a wicked red mark, and the skin looked very soft, but other then that there was no telling she had just been stabbed by a dagger.
"Good," she confirmed, and Lissa nodded, leaning back to sit in her seat next to Adrian with a satisfied look. Rose's eyes met his, and she gave him a soft smile - he looked very tired.
"Put weight on it, now, slowly," Dr. Vallencourt instructed, and Rose followed directions until she was deemed fine. Dr. Vallencourt left, just as there was another knock at the door. Lissa answered it as Rose settled herself into the couch, gesturing for Adrian to come sit with her. He did, sitting as close as could be, and he put his arm around her. She knew he was shaken up, but he was hiding it well, and she didn't want to bring attention to it with others still there.
"Rose? Are you okay?" Alex's worried voice cut into the living room, as he walked in behind Lissa. Rose nodded, "Yeah, boss. Lissa healed me." He gazed down at her thigh - Rose thanked the heavens that someone had put some shorts on her while she was out. As if reading her mind, Lissa gave her a grin, mouthing 'Your Welcome'. Alex nodded finally, and looked up, meeting her eyes as he said, "Now, tell me exactly what happened." He settled into the chair beside Lissa, and Rose repeated what happened to the best of her memory.
"Antonius? Ivashkov, of course.." Lissa trailed off, looking to Adrian, "Does that name ring a bell?" Adrian shook his head, "No, but if he was from the 1850's, there have been several new heir's since then. Why me, all of a sudden?" There was silence in the room as they thought that over, and Alex stood, giving Rose a light punch in the shoulder, "I'm going to go write my report to give to the Queen. Rest up, Hathaway - you look like hell." Rose scowled at him as he left, and Lissa frowned, "Antonius Ivashkov.. Do you think we could find him in the archives?"
"I think so," Adrian said, sitting up slightly straighter, "Moroi keep ridiculously thorough records - and the Ivashkov's go back until the beginning."
"We'll look tomorrow," Rose said decisively, "But, now I need to sleep." Lissa smiled, and gave her another hug, "I'm glad your okay, Rose. Night, Adrian." She left, letting herself out, and Rose snaked her arms slowly around Adrian, "So, Mr. Ivashkov, what would you like to do now?" She gave him a seductive smile, and he smiled down at her, shaking his head firmly, "I can't believe I'm saying this - again - but you need to sleep. Though, I do think the bedroom might be a little comfier." She pouted as he stood them up, and he laughed, "Don't look at me like that."
"Like that?" She asked innocently, earning a hip shove in the direction of the bedroom. She rolled her eyes, and started to walk towards the bedroom, before she realized he wasn't coming. Turning, she frowned, folding her arms across her chest, "Well, what are you waiting for?" Adrian hesitated, then said, "Nothing, Little Dhampir. Let's go."
They had agreed to meet in the court's library after breakfast the next morning, and as Rose and Adrian reached the stone steps, they spotted Lissa sitting at the top, waiting with a very bored looking Christian.
"About time," Christian scowled, as they got there. Rose raised an eyebrow, and said, "I'm sorry, did we interrupt your beauty sleep?" He went to reply, but Lissa squeezed his arm, and smiled, "Ready?"
"I thought the Archives were off limits," Adrian stated, as they walked inside the library doors. Lissa shot him a look, and said, "Are we Spirit users, or are we not Spirit users, Adrian?" She switched her gaze over to Rose, "You may feel a little darkness, Rose. Are you up for it today? If not, I can-"
"Do it," Rose interrupted. She looked at Adrian, who looked hesitant. He shrugged at her questioning gaze, and said, "We'll both be feeling some darkness today, I think. Let's just get this over with." Christian and Rose hung back as the Spirit users walked towards the front desk, where an elderly Moroi woman sat reading a very old book.
"What was Adrian talking about?" Christian asked, to break the silence. Rose frowned, and said, "I think he mean't that, where I take Lissa's darkness away from her Spirit use, Adrian doesn't have someone to do that. So he has to live with it." Christian nodded, and said, "So, should I bring extra wine to the Rehearsal Dinner tonight?" Rose laughed, and said, "I have a few ideas how we can get rid of it without resorting to alcohol." Christian wrinkled his nose, "I did NOT need to know about your sex life, Rose."
"Ozera!" Rose hissed, scowling over at him, "I was not talking about that." Lissa was gesturing for them to come over, so they stopped talking and made their way quickly over, the group walking past the desk without further questions. They went straight to the old staircase that would lead them downstairs, into the Archives. Rose kept waiting for someone to question them, but every employee they passed suddenly looked the other way. She had a feeling that wasn't by accident - and as if on cue, she could feel a little pressure in her chest, a sign of the darkness coming on.
The Archives were kept underneath the library, and contained all Moroi/Dhampir records ever, well, recorded. It was three floors, with the oldest records being kept on the lowest level. Rose had never been down here before, and she shivered when they entered, not liking the dull, artificial light against the rows and rows of shelves. In the center of each floor was a work station, containing a few desks, and a lamp or two. They went straight to the second level down, and found the work station empty.
"Alright. Now, Ivashkov..." Lissa said, looking around with a determined air. She spotted the 'I' section, and quickly disappeared. Rose sat next to Adrian, and touched his chest, "Do you feel it, there?"
"It's there," he confirmed, rubbing his chest, "It always starts in my chest. Works its way to my head. If I let it get that far, that is." Rose nodded in understanding - this was something Adrian and her had always shared. This similar curse that no one else could understand. Maybe that was why they were always so compatible? As if Adrian was thinking the same thing, he grinned at her, lightening her mood and giving her a kiss. Rose ignored the gagging sound coming from Christian, and watched Lissa walk out with an armload of books.
"Why the hell does your family need so much information?" Christian exclaimed, looking at the thick volumes. Adrian shrugged, "We're a big family."
"Alright!" Lissa said, taking charge, "Everyone, grab a book. We could be here awhile."
After a half hour, it was clear to Rose that this was going to take longer then she anticipated. If it wasn't for Adrian in the long run, she would have quit ten minutes ago. The only sounds on the second level were crisp paper pages being turned, and the occasional cough. Her eyes skimmed down the page of Moroi's that lived during the 1800's under the name Ivashkov, and suddenly, her eyes found what she was looking for.
"Hey, listen..." She exclaimed, her voice startling the three Moroi. Waiting until she had their full attention, she put her finger to the page, and started to read.
"'Antonius Ivashkov, born 1831, died 1853. Antonius was the heir to the Ivashkov family from approx. 1849 to 1853, when his untimely death turned the title to his younger brother, Horatio (see 'Horatio Ivashkov'). He was outlived by his father, King Radimir Ivashkov, and his mother, the Lady Oliviath. Cause of death: Suicide.'"
"That's it?" Lissa asked, biting her lip in frustration. Rose nodded, "It's a start, isn't it? We didn't know he committed suicide."
"Poor bugger.." Adrian mumbled, going back to his book. Christian sighed, "Something tells me we aren't going to find anything different then that, in these record books."
"What do you mean?" Lissa asked. Christian shrugged, closing his book with a loud bang, "I just feel like we won't know the true story. We need to find something more personal." Lissa looked thoughtful, then suddenly, she burst out, "Hey! Wait, just a moment. I'll be right back." She jumped up, speeding back towards the 'I' section with uncanny Moroi speed. It was only moments before she returned, brandishing a tiny little, leather bound book that looked like it'd seen better days.
"This was stuck in with the Ivashkov section, but it was a diary by someone else.. I flipped through it, I think it belonged to the daughter of the Governess, who was in charge of the house Antonius and his siblings grew up and lived in. The same one he lived in until he died!"
"Now we're talking," Christian said, and Adrian said, "Read it out loud, cousin." Lissa sat back down, and opened it up, flipping to a random page.
"This is dated December, of 1851. 'The cold weather makes it hard to leave, so the house has been full with the family for days now. Mama says I can start serving supper soon - I cannot wait. Perhaps one will take a liking to me. Lord Antonius is divine, but surely Master Horatio is kind. A fortnight ago, he gave me a new ribbon for my hair. Mama said I cannot wear it in public, but when I am alone, it is all I will wear on my head. When I am in the house, I keep it in my apron pocket. At night, I dream of his eyes, the brilliant, emerald green. Lord Antonius is blessed with them too - mama says those eyes are mean't to make a girl's knee's weak. Don't I know it?
Miss Victoria is visiting again. She came before the weather, and King Radimir gave her leave to remain until it lightened up. Mama called her a Guardian, but wouldn't tell me what that means. She spends all of her time with Lord Antonius - scandalous, is what the other maids whisper. An unwed woman sharing all of her time with a man, let alone the Lord of the house! I spied her using the spare bedroom on the third floor, doing kicks and hitting a hanging sack. I didn't let her see me, but I couldn't help but wonder what in the world she was doing.'"
"That's it for this entry." Lissa finished, glancing up. Rose's eyes were lit up - they had a first hand account. She nodded encouragingly, "Keep going, right?" The guys nodded, and Lissa passed the book to Rose, "I'm no good at reading out loud. You do it." Rose took it, and she flipped a few pages ahead.
"Okay, this one is from April, 1852. 'My, the whole house has been in such a flurry! We've had more to do in the past few months then I can ever remember. Lord Antonius is to wed! Many hearts have broken, I can imagine, but I am happy for him. His Miss Victoria is certainly beautiful, and very strong. When Netty was doing the washing, she overheard Lady Oliviath and Miss Victoria talking. She said they were discussing another woman, one who was said to want Lord Antonius. Miss Victoria was said to fiercely reply that she wouldn't let that happen, and that (even writing this, I must cross myself) she would kill her before she got to her Antonius!
Miss Victoria and Lord Antonius are certainly made for each other. I caught them kissing on the stone bridge a near week ago, and they have been inseparable since the announcement. Isn't love grand? Now, I just need Master Horatio to come across me, alone one day, and perhaps..."
"That ends this entry," Rose shrugged at the waiting looks on everyone's faces. Lissa sighed happily, "A love story. It's beautiful."
"It's sappy," Christian snorted. Adrian had a strange look on his face, and Rose said, "What?"
"Victoria was Antonius's guardian, obviously." He started, mulling things over in his head, "And if his mother and Victoria were discussing another woman who was after Antonius, who Victoria promised to guard with her life, couldn't that easily be Lara?"
"Yes," Lissa nodded, enthused, "I think so. Should we try to find a date closer to their death?" Rose flipped through the book, and said, "There is a chunk of time missing at the end of 1852, and the next entry begins in Septemer, 1853." Adrian rubbed her back, his arm slung behind her chair as she started again.
"Mama and I haven't worked in days! Woe has become the mood of the house, with the deaths of Lord Antonius and Lady Victoria. Lady Oliviath is on bed rest, mourning the loss of her eldest son. They found Lord Antonius in the cemetery, close to where they buried Lady Victoria a fortnight earlier. Poor, beautiful Lady Victoria - she was killed by the hands of another woman. The woman came into our house - scaring the maids senseless, but went straight for the rooms the newlyweds shared. It is said there was a fight, but Lady Victoria was slain. The woman, with her mass of flaming hair, was overpowered and turned out by friends of Horatio and Lord Antonius, but Lord Antonius never recovered. Some say he died of a broken heart. But the maids whisper he killed himself. They say a wooden dagger was found in his heart, his fingers touching the headstone of his beloved's grave. It gives me chills just to think about..."
Rose trailed off, not needing to finish the entry. Everyone was quiet, and Rose softly closed the book, sitting it on the table. Adrian was staring at it, lost in thought, and Lissa sighed, "At least we know what happened."
"Lara came for Antonius," Christian surmised, making sure they all had it. Rose nodded, and continued, "Victoria was with him, in their room. They fought, but Victoria lost. Just like Lara said she did. Lara was telling me the truth."
"Christ," Adrian said, simply, "Then why now? Why me?"
"Remember, she spoke of his eyes. Emerald green..." Rose trailed off, glancing at him, "I'll bet you look a lot like him. Eyes make a big difference in appearance." Lissa nodded, "That must be it." She started to gather the books, "I'm getting creeped out down here, let's go." They all agreed, and soon were walking up the stairs to the library again. They walked in, but were met with four employees at the desk.
"How did you get down there?" One demanded, grabbing Rose's arm. Of course, she thought bitterly, they'd go for the Dhampir first. Adrian took her arm from the librarian, and said, "You never saw us." He was using compulsion again, just like they'd used to get down in the first place. But that was on one person, and this was four. Lissa joined him, and Rose felt like a heavy object was resting on her chest. She could feel the light magic flowing though Lissa, and she whispered, "Christian, let's go."
"What about-" He started, but Lissa had broken off her compulsion, grabbing his arm quickly before it wore off. Adrian was a little less stable, and Rose took his hand, leading him outside. They walked straight to Lissa's rooms, and the Spirit users collapsed on the couch. Lissa smiled - magic always left her happy - and said, "At least now we know."
"I'm glad," Rose nodded, not sitting, "Adrian, do you need to go lay down?"
"I need a drink," he scowled up at her, fingers tapping fast on his leg. Rose sighed, and said, "We need to get you home and away from temptation. Let's go."
"The dinner is at six!" Lissa called as they walked to the door. Rose shot her a smile, and said, "See you then, Liss. Bye, fire-boy." With that, she closed the door, and set out to steer Adrian home without any detours, to any establishment that served liquor. She had an idea on how to get rid of the darkness from both of them.