Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy.

Ch. 11 Late Night Conflicts and Surprises

Sometime in the middle of the night, I woke up. I was a bit disoriented, but I glanced at the alarm clock sitting on the nightstand. 2:13 AM.

I shifted over, and peeked over at my side. Dimitri was still asleep, his chest gently rising and falling. I had to hide a smile when I saw him, and leaned over to gently press a kiss to his forehead.

The door creaked open slowly. I sat up immediately, my senses on high alert.

It was Tasha. She wasn't wearing anything expect a tank top and her underwear. My blood ran cold at the sight of her. Had she been hoping to try to get into Dimitri's bed?

"What the hell are you doing here in my room?" I hissed, clenching my fists.

Tasha slowly came into the room, her blue eyes fixed on me. She looked shocked when she saw that I was sleeping in the same bed as Dimitri, but her expression turned cold. "I want you to get out of his bed," she snarled. Her face wasn't so pretty now as she snarled at me, and she shut the door.

I widened my eyes at her, pretending to be completely blasé. "And why the hell would I get out of here?"

"Dimitri is mine, you little bitch!" she hissed, still keeping her voice low enough so we wouldn't wake Dimitri. "If it weren't for you, he would be my guardian. He would be my boyfriend right now!"

"First of all, Dimitri already rejected you so no need to get into that drama. Secondly, he's Lissa's guardian, and always has been. And…he's MY boyfriend, so get the fuck out of here, you whore!" I yelled, leaping out of bed.

On my last word, Dimitri shot up from the bed. "What's going on?"

I pointed at Tasha, my finger shaking. "Your bitch friend snuck into our room!"

Dimitri rubbed the sleep from his eyes before he got a clear picture of his surroundings. "Tasha! It's the middle of the night! Go back to bed now."

"Not until you come with me," she said, her voice turning honey sweet when she saw he was awake. "Dimka, come with me. Forget her. We can live together-"

"HE'S MY BOYFRIEND, YOU SKANK!" I yelled at her. If none of the Belikovs woke up through this yelling fest, it would be a miracle.

"That was after you stole him from me!" she shrieked. Without any warning, she lunged for me.

My guardian reflexes kicked in, and I leapt out of the way but punched her in the eye. She would have the beauty of a black eye in the morning.

"Stop!" Dimitri shouted, but it was no use. Tasha had gone too far in her attempts to be with Dimitri. It was time for some payback.

"He was never yours to begin with," I hissed at her as I dodged a kick meant for my leg. I punched her stomach, leaving her breathless.

She doubled over in pain, clutching her stomach. "He was always mine, you ho." When she looked up, her eyes took on intense focus and a huge flame suddenly danced in the air. She was using her fire magic against me! I realized.

The flame flew at my face, but I dropped on all fours to the ground, and the flame was snuffed out. "Dirty tricks," I taunted her. "You're just hiding behind your magic to deal with a guardian-in-training." I leapt on her and started punching her all over, in every place I could reach. I hoped I left lots of bruises on her tomorrow.

Here, Tasha decided to change tactics. She pushed herself up from the floor, and turned to Dimitri so their eyes were locked.

"Dimka," she purred, sashaying over to him. She reached out and stroked the side of his face with her fingers before climbing into the bed. Dimitri watched her, enthralled.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

Tasha whipped her head around and stared directly at me. "Don't move or make a sound!"

My head felt very empty and light…Her request seemed very reasonable…I should just stand here and not talk, I thought dreamily. But I suddenly realized that she had just used compulsion on me! I tried to force my legs to move, but I was paralyzed by her compulsion. That bitch is getting it coming to her, I thought furiously.

"Tell me you love me," she purred, looking him in the eyes. Dimitri's eyes instantly became unfocused, and a dreamy look came over his face. "I know you love me. Just tell me you-"

"STOP IT!" I cried, breaking out of part of the compulsion. "Dimitri, she's using compulsion on you!"

"Silence!" Tasha snapped, locking me with her eyes and I was unable to talk.

What am I supposed to do? I thought with anguish. I can't move or talk! Her compulsion's not as strong as Lissa's, but it's still strong!

Dimitri still looked mesmerized by her compulsion as she reached out to him with her hands and started stroking his neck. "Tell me, Dimka. Do you love me?"

To my surprise, Dimitri's eyes instantly cleared when his eyes fell on me, and he looked horrified when he saw me. He slapped her hand away in disgust.

"I don't love you, Tasha," he snapped, getting out of the bed so he was standing next to me. Tasha looked like she'd been slapped.

"Stay the hell away from me," he continued, linking his hands with my own. The compulsion that had prevented me from moving or speaking was gone. When I snuck a look at him, he was glaring at her in a way I'd never seen before. "I'm not interested in you at all. Rose is my girlfriend. And you disgust me even more! Attacking Rose and using compulsion on me. Leave me alone."

"But Dimka, I love-"

"Get. OUT!"

Tasha burst into tears and rushed out of the room. Dimitri flew to the door, and shut it, turning the bolts as he did so.

I pulled my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around myself. "W-why did she use compulsion on you?"

Dimitri's voice was filled with revulsion when he spoke. "She is so desperate to have me by her side she will use any measures possible. She attacked you, and used compulsion on me. Unforgiveable."

I sighed. "With all the compulsion Lissa and Adrian use…sometimes I forget that compulsion is still something forbidden to most Moroi."

Dimitri stroked my hair. "I wouldn't have ever done anything that would hurt you, Roza."

I twisted around so that I was looking at him. "It wasn't your fault. Tasha wields pretty strong compulsion for someone who isn't a spirit user."

Dimitri sighed, and gently gave my cheek a quick peck. "I know. But it doesn't make me feel any better. She was nearly close to getting me to say I love her when I don't."

I shook my head. "She's a terrible person."

He laughed, but it was strained and tight. "I actually agree. I never thought my oldest friend would go to such lengths."

"Normal people wouldn't be so desperate," I murmured, yawning.

"Sleep, Roza," Dimitri murmured, tightening his arms around me and pulling me into bed. "I promise I won't ever let that happen again. Sweet dreams, baby."

"Good night, Dimitri," I murmured. The last thing I saw before I closed my eyes was Dimitri's promise ring, glinting on his finger in the faint light from the lamp.

When I woke up again, it was around 9 AM. I lazily stretched, and instantly found myself being slightly smothered by a kiss.

Dimitri kissed me very sweetly and tenderly at first, but then the kiss built up into something hungrier and more passionate.

I giggled midway through the kiss, pulling away from him a little. "I didn't know you were a morning person."

"I'm not," Dimitri whispered huskily in my ear, running his fingers along the side of my neck and to my chest. His touch just made me want to get hot and heavy with him, but I fought back those emotions. Control, control, I chanted over and over in my head.

I tried raising an eyebrow at him. "Really? Then why do you make me wake up so early for training?"

Dimitri laughed softly. "So I can see you a little earlier. And you'll have more time for practice."

"And you just said you're not a morning person," I accused, playfully smacking him.

"Now I am, since I get to wake up with you by my side every morning," Dimitri said, kissing my lips and the side of my neck. His hand stroked my back.

Suddenly something occurred to me. "Dimitri, how long are we staying in Baia?"

Dimitri released me, and I got out of bed, stretching. "Three more days. I'm assuming that's the same date for your return ticket."

My return ticket! I dove for my small luggage bag and threw out all my things on the floor. After five minutes of looking through my clothes, I found my ticket and checked the date. "Yep, three days. But I really don't want to return to the Academy."

"I wonder if our seats are next to each other," Dimitri said somewhat flippantly as he pulled off his sweatshirt and put on a white shirt.

He ignored my comment, although he had to know what I meant by that. Sure, I missed my friends back at the Academy and I couldn't wait to see them again. But once we got back, it was back to staying away from each other. It would be made even harder considering how we'd come so close to giving in to temptation several times already.

"Hey, Adrian might've heard enough of your conversation," I said, turning my back on Dimitri to change.

We finished getting ready to go downstairs, and headed down for breakfast.

Breakfast was way more awkward than dinner. Especially since my little fight with Tasha that had led to her black eye. I was very proud of myself for finally getting some revenge.

The other Belikovs didn't know what had happened, but they felt the tension in the air. Sonya and Karolina eyed Tasha, and whispered to each other in Russian. I suspected they were talking trash about Tasha from the dirty glances they were giving her.

Tasha was remarkably silent at the table. One of her eyes was surrounded by a huge bruise, and her eyes looked rather swollen. From crying, I guessed, although it was hard to believe that someone like her could cry. She ate her breakfast at the table as fast as she could, and left the house ten minutes later.

"Dimka, what happened last night?" Karolina demanded once she heard the door slam behind Tasha. "She's been acting weird, and you've been glaring at her for the whole morning."

Dimitri sighed, and exchanged a look with me. I nodded.

He turned to his family, and said, "She came into the guest room last night and attacked Rose, used compulsion on me to try to force me to say I loved her."

Gasps of shock and outrage came from nearly everyone in the family. Even Yeva looked appalled.

"Tasha used compulsion? I thought her compulsion wasn't that strong," she said.

"Apparently it's gotten stronger," Dimitri said bitterly, staring off into space. "The last time I saw her use compulsion, she could barely get someone to give her their keys."

Sonya choked on her laughter. "That was hilarious. He was staring at her like she was an alien from Mars."

I put my glass to my lips and finished off my orange juice. "Dimitri, when do we go to pick Viktoria up?"

"Later this afternoon," he said. "We'll probably take a taxi there."

I nodded. "Okay then."

"In the meantime, we could go on a walk around Baia," he added mischievously.

"No, it's okay," I said, laughing. "I've had enough walking for a bit."

"We'll just stay home until we need to go get Viktoria," Dimitri said, leaning back in his chair.

Olena stood up, looking distracted. "I need to get some groceries later on today, but I'm going to be visiting Oksana and Mark later."

"I'll get them later," I said, standing up. "Unless you want me to go right now?"

Olena patted my cheek. "That's not necessary. Just go after lunch, as long as you get it before I come home."

"Alright," I said. She handed me a grocery list, which was written in English luckily. I could've always gotten Dimitri to translate for me but still.

Olena smiled. "You're very kind-hearted, Rose. I can see why Dimitri loves you." She picked up her purse and called her good-byes before she left.

I was struck by her words. Oftentimes, I saw myself as a trigger-happy queen bitch. Me, kind-hearted? An unusual word to describe me, at least in my own opinion.

Soon, Dimitri and I were the only ones left in the house. Everyone else was going out to do tasks, and his sisters had to work. Dimitri gave me some chores to do outside. I frowned at him. "Why are you giving me chores to do? You said I was your guest here!"

Dimitri gave me his best innocent look. "Did I really? I changed my mind. Go outside and do some chores."

I waved the list under his nose. "Hello? Sweep the backyard? Weed the garden? I don't know how to do those things!"

"It's not that hard, I promise," Dimitri said, trying to push me out the door.

"Are you trying to hide something from me?" I asked playfully, trying to raise an eyebrow at him and refusing to budge.

"Nothing sinister," he said vaguely, and then pushed me out. "Now, shoo! You have lots to do."

I groaned as he shut the door behind me, and turned to my list of tasks.

Later, Dimitri served me some leftovers from last night's dinner.

"Why are we completely alone?" I asked Dimitri as I helped him clean up the dishes.

A mischievous glint came into his eyes. "You'll see later."

I pouted. "Why not now?"

Dimitri rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. And the others won't be gone forever anyway."

"Well what is it?" I asked as I followed him out of the kitchen.

He winked at me. "It's a surprise."

"I hope it's a very good surprise," I murmured, more to myself than to him.

He led me upstairs and into the guest room. I gasped when he opened the door.

Haha Tasha was way shocked when she saw Rose and Dimitri sharing the bed... Probably won't update until the weekend because of school, but I had some time today so I decided to update. Reviews and ideas greatly appreciated :D