Chapter 4 It's too late for me Adrian
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy or its characters or plot line. Everything belongs to Richelle Mead. That includes the sexy Russian.
RPOV
I was at the beach. It was beautiful. The sun beat down warmly on my face as I gazed out into the serene waves of the clear blue water. I glanced down. I was wearing a skimpy red bathing suit with a sarong and fancy gold sandals. I sighed. At least if I was going to die I was going to do it in designer clothes. This had to be one of Adrian's dreams. I perked up a little though because even if I was going to die at least I'd be able to find out how everyone was, say goodbye and warn them that I would most likely be coming back as Strigoi to kill my best friend.
"Adrian?" I called out scanning the beach. I hoped he was here.
"I'm here little dhampir. It's so good to see you alive." He said crossing the beach swiftly and pulling me into a hug. He held me tightly as if he would never let go. It felt so good to breathe in his familiar scent of cloves and alcohol.
"Are you okay little dhampir?" he asked pulling back to look at me.
He was quite handsome even in his goofy Hawaiian patterned shirt at khacki shorts. His eyes were red as if he'd been crying and they widened as he took in my bruises and the blood dripping from my open wounds. I moved my hair that had fallen out of the pony tail I'd tied it up with before the caves to try and cover up my neck wounds.
"Don't Rose." He said grabbing my arm and forcing it back to my side tears threatened to spill from his eyes as he looked at me. "Where are you Little Dhampir?"
"I don't know. It's dark. There are strigoi."
"How many?"
"So far 2. A man and a woman."
"You are still alive so they must want something?" he asked with a sad look on his face.
I looked away. I knew I had to warn them. "They're going to turn me and then make me kill Lissa." I croaked.
I looked back at him. He gasped startled. I grabbed his shoulders.
"Adrian listen, it's too late for me don't risk yourselves. You have to warn the others and keep Lissa safe from me." I pleaded. Get the best guardians and take her somewhere safe. Somewhere I will never find her. I needed her to be safe. I couldn't stand the thought of becoming an evil creature of the night let alone coming back to murder my best friend in cold blood.
He wrestled out of my grasp a look of determination on his face.
" NO! I won't leave you out there to be turned. We are coming to get you?" he growled baring his fangs. I'd never seen him do that in anger. In fact I don't think I'd ever seen him angry.
I backed away from him slightly alarmed at his rage.
"Who is we? Did he is he?" If Dimitri had been killed then I wouldn't have the strength to fight.
"Belkov is fine. He's worried as hell about you though. He's here with us trying to find you." Adrian knew me so well that even though my thoughts were jumbled he knew they were about Dimitri.
I breathed a sigh of relief. "What about my mom."
"Last I heard she is alright, but wrecked because she thinks you are dead. Belikov nearly had to carry her back from the caves."
That was a shock to me. Badass Janine actually cared if I lived or died. Maybe she really did love me. Sadly I would never find out.
" Lissa?" I asked. I wished so badly that I could check on her, but I was too hopped up on Strigoi endorphins to be able to slip into her mind and I was numb to her feelings.
"Insane out of her mind with worry and grief. When Belikov came to tell us you were gone she freaked out and used compulsion on him to get information. Then she forced his feelings for you out into the open." He said quietly.
I gasped, but really I wasn't surprised. Few people knew how crazy Lissa could get when she didn't get her way. In some ways she was a little spoiled being a princess and all.
"I knew it would come out eventually. I'm glad she finally knows. Does she hate me for not telling her?" I really didn't want to die with her hating me.
"No she doesn't hate you she kind of suspected as much though, but she was scary I've never seen her like that before. I thought she was going to murder Belikov if he didn't give her the right answers." He said shaking his head.
Well that was Lissa for you. Always a surprise. One minute she was fine and the next she was crazy. I'd seen her like that more times that I cared to remember. I could also feel her craziness through the bond sometimes and I was always afraid of going a little mad from the darkness she exudes. Then a thought hit me.
"Oh my God." She has to stop using Spirit. If I die she won't be able to handle it by herself. You have to stop her."
Before I started absorbing her darkness she had taken to cutting herself and that was definitely not good for her.
"Let's concentrate on keeping you alive and we won't have to worry about that okay Little Dhampir?" he said sternly. Again very out of character for him.
"Rose can you tell me anything else about the Strigoi?"
"Oh yea I almost forgot. The woman. She knows Dimitri. She said she was his mentor before she was strigoi. She is the one who wants to turn me. Do you think that will help?"
"I hope so little dhampir. Try and stay alive until we can get to you. Please do it for Lissa, do it for me." He pleaded .
"I will do my best, but they have me chained up without weapons so there isn't much I can do."
He sighed and the tears came freely for both of us now.
"Adrian tell everyone I love them will you. Tell Lissa it's okay. Don't let her risk herself for me. It's my job to protect her and I can't have her dying trying to save me. That's my job. I'll try to kill myself before they can turn me." I promised.
He grabbed me roughly by the shoulders and shook me.
"NO Rose! Don't even say that!" he yelled at me.
"Besides you know I can't control Lissa . We are all coming to look for you it's already been decided. I'll come back to your dreams so sleep if you can little dhampir.
I was so tired and I was starting to feel lightheaded. I didn't have the energy to keep arguing with him. Besides Dimitri would never let them come with if he came to find me. He'd keep Lissa safe for me.
"Tell Dimitri Я тебя люблю I learned it for him." I smiled a little remembering how much I had practiced it and that I wanted to surprise him. Also tell him it's his job to protect Lissa now. I'm trusting him to keep her safe."
"Ill tell him." He said he was crying harder now.
"Don't cry Adrian. Please." I begged.
He pulled me closer to him and kissed the top of my forehead. "I love you little dhampir." He said.
"I love you too Adrian." I said kissing him lightly on the cheek. Did I just say that? I think I did. Did I mean it? Maybe.
And then he was gone and it faded to blackness once again.
