I had just gotten into bed, about to turn my lamp off when I heard a rustling outside my door. I got up walking towards my door as a little white envelope slipped under my door. I opened the envelope to reveal a note with handwriting I knew all too well.
R- It's all taken care of meet me by the gate on the west end of campus at 11am, Don't be late! – D
I quickly ripped my door opening hoping to catch him before he walked off, but the hallway was empty. Damn him and his ridiculous speed. I closed the door and sank against it.
Wow really he pulled it off, convinced Kirova to let me off campus, How? What did he tell her? I can't believe it; my heart started racing I guess in truth I never believed he would pull it off. I never thought I would get to go on a real date with Dimitri, at least not before graduation. My mind was reeling, I was in overload. Where was he taking me and even more important what should I wear? My mind quickly flashed to Lissa wishing I could call her and have her come over and help me get ready for my date, she would have been the first person I called in the past. But now there were too many secrets. I couldn't call her; I had to do this all on my own. I stood in front of my closet for about an hour just staring before starting to pull items out to try to throw a killer outfit together. I just slipped on a pair of black leather pants and a red silk tank top when there was a knock at the door. Who could that be at this hour? I opened the door and groaned.
Adrian stood leaning against my doorframe, a big smile across his face. "Little Dhampir, you didn't have to get all dressed up just for me, but can I just say smoking hot babe really!"
"Adrian, I'm busy what do you want?" My tone was cutting, I didn't want him getting any ideas about hanging out, I had a date to prepare for.
"What are you doing up in the middle of the night wearing that? Going somewhere?" his smirk told me he knew more than he was letting on.
"What do you know Adrian, I am not in the mood for games" I could smell the alcohol emanating off of him, it made me nervous he was impulsive normally, but when he was drunk he was down right dangerous.
He ignored me and crossed further into my room to sit on my bed. He started rifling through my clothes that were spread out on the bed.
"Adrian, I asked you a question what do you know?" My frustration was clear in my voice, I was losing my cool. I was scared, did he know about our date, was he going to sell Dimitri and I out?
"The pants are hot, but I think you would look amazing in this." He picked up my navy blue mini skirt. I loved that skirt, it was tight and hugged my butt while really showing off my legs.
"Thanks but I don't think I need fashion advice from you." I ripped the garment out of his hands. He got up and walked towards my closet, swaying slightly from his obvious intoxication. He started fingering through my hangers, carefully considering each item in the closet. He pulled out my silver sequined halter top, with the deep plunging drapey neckline. He threw the shirt my way before dropping to the floor and rifling through my shoes.
"Seriously Adrian! What are you doing?"
"Seriously?" he asked it like a question. " I am seriously helping you get ready for your date." He went back to his shoe search.
I froze, he did know. Shit! Now what? I turned away from him hoping to buy enough time for my face to recover and come up with a witty remark to try to convince him he didn't know what he was talking about. I didn't hear him come up behind me until his arm snaked across my waist and he dangled my silver stilettos over my left shoulder. He whispered in my ear "and if he is any sort of real man these will send him right over the edge." His breath was hot against my ear. I could feel his hard body pressed up against mine. I took a deep breath and stepped out of his arm.
"What date? Are you implying a girl can't just get dolled up for the heck of it?" I gave him my best man-eater smile, maybe distracting him would work.
"You are a doll babe, that is for sure! But I know about your date with Dimitri." he grabbed my wrists and pulled me into him, so his mouth was against my neck as he spoke. "But don't worry Little Dhamp, I'll never tell."
I shoved against him and he stumbled backwards into my wall. "Keep your hands off me!"
"I thought you would appreciate a Man's perspective in trying to get ready. You want to look hot for him don't you?" he looked at me with some sort of rage in his eyes. "He isn't a god you know, he is just a man, he will never be able to live up to the idol you have created in your head. He will fail you!"
"I know who and what he is, I know him better than anyone and he knows me too. I don't expect you to understand." I turned away from him again picking up my clothes off my bed and re-hanging the items I wasn't going to wear.
"I understand Rose, better then you might think." He headed for the door, "Have fun, don't do anything I would do" he smiled and closed my door behind him.
I fell to the floor in front of my bed. Now what, Adrian knows way more than I feel comfortable with, he can destroy Dimitri and I with that knowledge and I am pretty sure that was the point of that whole show just now. Adrian wanted me to know he had this power over us. I really hated him sometimes.
But the boy did have good taste, I thought as I looked at the outfit he had suggested. The skirt, the shirt, the shoes, it was perfect. Part of me, didn't want to wear it because Adrian picked it out, and part of me wanted to wear it because I knew I would look killer in it. The part of me that knew I would look killer in it won.
I had decided on my outfit in just enough time. I had 45 minutes to shower and get ready. I took a quick cold shower; trying to control the unease that Adrian's visit had caused me. I returned to my room and quickly did my hair and makeup. I blew my hair out loose and wild around my face. I knew Dimitri loved my long hair. I kept my makeup light mostly, except for my eyes, I wore deep purple eyeliner silver and plum eye shadow and dark brown mascara. It gave my eyes a very dramatic look. On my lips I simply wore a light plum gloss. I put a long coat on over my outfit and headed towards the west gate. Being on a reverse time schedule than the rest of the planet the campus was dead at this hour. Moroi and Dhampirs were just turning in for the night. As I approached the gate I saw Dimitri leaning against a large black jeep, looking like the god I knew him to be. He was wearing dark jeans and a black silk shirt under his long duster his hair tied back at his neck with loose wisps flowing in the breeze, he looked amazing.
"Nice ride Comrade" he turned to me about to say something, but his expression changed as he took in my stilettos and his eyes followed my legs all the way up to my very short skirt. He paused lingering for a moment where my thighs met the fabric of my skirt. It made me blush slightly, after a moment though his eyes continued up till he met my eyes.
"Nice Shoes" he managed to choke out. We stood there for a moment, not saying anything just looking into each other's eyes until he shook his head and said, "Ready?"
"Sure" I looked at the jeep perplexed, how was I going to gracefully manage to get into this beast the step up was a least 4 feet off the ground. Dimitri must have been following my same train of thought because he smiled and stepped closer to me putting his hands on my waist.
"Allow Me," he said but before he was able to lift me off the ground we were interrupted.
"Wow babe, I thought when I saw you earlier in your bedroom, in black leather and red silk that, that was the hottest you could get. But I was totally right this outfit I picked out for you is even hotter. Wouldn't you agree Belikov?" His voice was majorly slurred. Adrian was even more drunk then the last time I saw him. I was suddenly so tense I could barely breathe. Seeing Dimitri's fists clenched in fits of rage and feeling the tension coming off of him was not helping to ease my own. "But I must say not exactly an outfit befitting an off campus training session is it Dimitri?" Why did Adrian keep addressing Dimitri, yeah I had seen him try to push Dimitri's buttons before but he wasn't normally so direct about it. This was much more aggressive, my stomach started turning. And what was he talking about training session? Is that what Dimitri told Kirova, is that how he was able to get permission to take me off campus? I hated feeling like things were being kept from me. I met Dimitri's gaze with questions in my eyes, but quickly looked away when I saw the anger and ferocity his eyes currently held.
"You should be in the dorms Ivashkov, it is past curfew." Dimitri's words were guardian like but his tone was biting and scary.
"I don't have to follow the schools rules!" Adrian laughed "Well at least not for a few more days isn't that right?" Again Adrian was directing his comments and questions Dimitri's way I knew I was missing something. " I wonder what Kirova would think if she saw some pictures of you leaving campus with Rose. Rose wearing that; and you with your hands around her waist. Really a training session do you really believe you can sell that, if Kirova could somehow see this" he waived his hands between Dimitri and I. So that is what Dimitri told Kirova it made sense what other reason would she give permission for a mentor to take a novice of campus. I was starting to wonder if Kirova was watching; if she could see us. I looked around but saw no one; the campus seemed deserted except for the three of us. I really wanted to get out of here quick; my nerves got the best of me I lashed out at Adrian.
"Go away Adrian, why are you even here? You are a drunken mess, go sleep it off before you get yourself hurt." My words came out quickly, I felt flushed from the emotions swirling between all of us. I felt like the world was about to combust.
"Whose going to hurt me love, him?" Adrian looked dismissively towards Dimitri, foolish if you asked me. Dimitri was nothing to dismiss, he was god like in his strength and aggression. And right now he was really really pissed off.
"Leave us NOW Ivashkov! Dimitri moved towards Adrian, and I stepped between them my hands going to Dimitri's chest with slight pressure hoping to stop him, my back was facing Adrian. Fighting would not help, Adrian was a Royal and under the protection of the Royal Guardians. Dimitri losing his cool when it came to Adrian could be devastating to us all. I thought I would be able to diffuse the situation, keep things calm. I thought that right up until I felt Adrian's arm snake around my waist and him pull my back closer into his body. I could feel him looking over my shoulder directly into Dimitri's eyes as he spoke "Thank you for protecting me love, but I'm not afraid of him." His mouth was extremely close to my ear as he spoke.
Dimitri's rage boiled over before I could remove myself from Adrian's grasp.
"She is mine!" he roared as he ripped me away swinging me behind him and away from Adrian. His hands grabbed me so tight I gasp in pain from the force. This startled Dimitri, I could see the pain in his expression as he realized he had hurt me.
"I'm fine" I mouthed to him, I was; really, I think I was startled more than anything.
"Some god! Adrian's words snagged both Dimitri and my attention.
"Well I guess, I should be on my way. Enjoy tonight Belikov, I know I will be enjoying my days and nights very very soon." Before I could understand what in the world he was talking about he was gone. Dimitri still stood in front of me his right arm wrapped behind him holding me to his back, while he stared off after Adrian. After a few moments, Dimitri spun around holding my waist in his hands.
"Did I hurt you, god Roza I am so sorry" His hands were running up and down my sides like he was trying to assess where the damage was.
"I'm fine Dimitri." He grabbed my chin forcing my eyes to meet his as his eyes questioned if I was being truthful. "Really I swear, you didn't hurt me, but what was that?" There was clearly more tension between Dimitri and Adrian then I had ever seen before. Obviously something happened that I didn't know about.
"I hate him, that is what that was" Dimitri's voice was frightening I don't think I ever heard him use the word hate. Even when he spoke of Strigoi he didn't use the word hate.
His eyes were still raging, "Dimitri what is going on, I have never seen you like this you are keeping something from me and I don't like it." I hated the idea he would keep secrets from me, especially when I so easily and unconditionally exposed my heart to him. It made me angry and I wanted answers. Dimitri saw my angered expression and matched it with an even more pissed off look.
"You have questions?" He snapped with surprise, his emotions clearly not in check. "How about you start by explaining what HE was doing in YOUR room with you dressed in black leather and red silk. And he picked out this outfit?" Dimitri had me backed up against the Jeep his body pressing against mine holding me in place. His fingers trailed down my side as he referred to my outfit, he grabbed my thigh just below my skirt. I inhaled deeply, trembling from his touch.
His fingers kneaded the skin of my thigh. "What was he doing in your room Rose? He grunted against my neck sending shivers up and down my body.
"If you won't answer my questions why should I answer yours" I whispered, probably not the best idea to further infuriate a raging god, but seriously why should I be honest when it was obvious he was keeping things from me.
He attacked my neck before I knew what was happening. Sucking hard and crushing me to the car, my heart was racing, as I pulled his mouth to mine. He devoured me not caring that someone could see us, he wanted me and nothing else mattered. After several minutes he pulled back but just slightly, our lips still touching. "We need to get out of here now!" His words were so breathless it took them a minute to register in my mind.
"Okay" I managed, he opened the door, his hands around my waist again while he effortlessly lifted me up into my seat my hands immediately clutched his shoulders to steady myself as soon as I left the ground. The electricity between us was crackling and from the look in Dimitri's eyes it was engulfing him as well. Dimitri's fingers trailed across my waist as he strapped me into my seat, he looked at me deeply, his mouth so close to mine, I wanted him so badly. He slowly pulled back not breaking eye contact with me as he stepped down and walked to the other side of the jeep and got in. He turned to me once more looking hard into my eyes as if he was trying to pull some truth from them before turning the ignition and speeding off through the gates.