Chapter 39: When Dreams Become Reality
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy. Richelle Mead does and let me say I'm pretty ticked off at her after Spirit Bound!
So here's where things get more complicated. Now I won't give specifics about Spirit Bound in case you haven't read it or finished it yet, but let me tell you I have always been majority Team Dimitri, but after Spirit Bound I am so switching to Team Adrian. Let me just tell you I hate Dimitri in this book grr.... Do you agree with me? Did anyone else find something that went down between a certain spirit user and our main character a little scary? I know I never expected that from the author. Anyways enough rambling. Please enjoy just know that I have written this to be a Dimitri and Rose story, but may have to change some things if I can't get over my Dimitri hatred soon. =(
DPOV
Tonight had been interesting. The past few days had actually been draining. First, there was Abe Mazur's presence. It was no secret that I didn't care for the man, but alas as he was Rose's father I tried hard to be polite and keep up my Guardian façade. Then there was Ivashkov who got on my nerves to say the least. I could just murder him for plying her with liquor. I'd given up trying to persuade Roza to stay away from him.
I figured the more I protested their friendship the more she would fight me on it. The most uncomfortable situation was when Tasha showed up last night at Rose and Eddie's party. I could see Rose flinch at the sound of Tasha's voice. I knew that she was more than displeased to have her as she had made it well known that she had romantic feelings towards me earlier in the year. Although to my utter amazement my Roza managed to keep her cool throughout the night. She did however imbibe far more alcohol than she usually did. It seemed that she was drinking to put herself more at ease with the situation. She was actually becoming rather tipsy so I convinced her to leave the party.
When we made it back to her room my intention was the leave her there alone and have a few words with Tasha before the ceremony tomorrow. She had not been informed that I would no longer be the Princess's Guardian and I wanted to fill her in on the change of plans since it would directly affect her and Christian. That was what I was going to do until Roza tricked me into staying with her.
Hell who am I kidding? I had hoped she would ask me to stay even though she was far too intoxicated for me to be intimate with her. I always wanted her in my arms. On the way to her room I'd told her that Tasha knew about us and she seemed surprised that I'd told Tasha about our love long before I'd even told Roza. It seemed to make her happy and pacify her on the whole situation though. That was a good thing because with the new arrangements I was able to work out at Court they would be seeing quite a bit more of each other. It would help for them to get along.
I held Roza close to my body. It felt right having her sleeping peacefully by my side. I was so very proud of her. She had passed her trials with flying colors and with by far the most strategic and well laid out fighting style. Her time was the fastest as well. My heart swelled with pride when she pinned me. Some may have thought I held back because I loved her, but it was for that reason that I had put everything I had into that fight. I wanted her to know that she was going to make it out there in the real world with real Strigoi. Some of her confidence had been taken when she had been kidnapped and held hostage in Russia. I wanted her to succeed with no unfair advantages. When she took me out of the fight I knew I'd succeeded in my mission to make her a fierce warrior.
I lie awake for a while just thinking about what our lives would be like together in two days time when we went to live at the Royal Court. I was able to pull some strings and with the help of the Princess's name I was able to secure a very nice place for all of us to live while we were there. I am surprised that the Queen had been so accommodating, but I suspected that had more to do with the recent knowledge that Abe Mazur had been in contact with his daughter. I don't know why the Queen feared him, but it was rumored that they had a sordid past which of course did not surprise me at all.
I was very excited about Moroi graduation tomorrow. I couldn't wait for Roza to find out the good news. I was able to secure a position as Christian Ozera's Guardian. The Ozera's were left unprotected because of the bad blood between them and the other royals caused by Christian's parents willingly turning Strigoi. I checked and as of a few weeks ago there were no plans to assign him a Guardian at Moroi graduation. So when I willingly volunteered for the position the Queen was unable to deny my request without making herself look foolish. I chuckled to myself as I remembered the look on the old bat's face when I'd made my suggestion. She looked as if she were utterly constipated and as if it were completely beyond her realm of comprehension as to why anyone would give up being in a highly respected position as Guardian to the Dragomir Princess to slum it as Guardian to the tainted blood of the Ozeras. It was frustrating how little compassion and regard she had for Dhampirs, non royal Moroi and those who were not in her inner social network.
Lissa and Christian would be living together as per their request in a beautiful set of townhouses in a very secluded section of the Royal Court. It was highly coveted and there just happen to be two openings. I had to admit that it was underhanded of me to use the Princess's title as the last Dragomir to secure the property, however I knew it would please both Rose and the Princess that not only would we be in the best location, but that Rose and I would be living in the adjoining townhouse which was slightly smaller, but very similar to theirs.
These houses were reserved for the utmost of royalty and their guardians. They were spacious, had large gardens and a swimming pool in between in a small courtyard. They were set back from the rest of the property giving the illusion that they were in a quaint neighborhood. They even had their own guarded entrance through the back of the Court. There were only three other groups of houses like ours and they were spread out over twelve acres of land. They were set in groups of three. The only downside to the living situation is that the owner of the third house happened to be none other than Lord "Drunk off his Ass" Adrian Ivashkov.
Although I wasn't fond of him and he annoyed me beyond words and I hated him for putting the moves on Roza all the time the girls would be more than happy to have him around. And as far as Royals go we could have done way worse than living next door to a Sprit using drunk. Each of the two houses on the end belonging to the Royal Moroi would have five bedrooms each with two master suites instead of one like the middle house and they had extra bathing facilities as well as a larger living space and foyer. Ours would have three bedrooms and only one of them would be a Master Suite. What more could we want?
I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I remembered was waking up to a blood curdling scream coming from Roza. I sat up and flipped on the lights. She was thrashing violently and her face was contorted in fear and anger. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. This must be one hell of a nightmare I thought as I started to shake her shoulders to try and wake her.
"Roza, wake up." I commanded shaking her lightly. She didn't awaken she only thrashed harder. I regarded her more closely and saw that not only was she crying, but there were bruises beginning to form all over her body. Blood was coming from her nose and dripping down her forehead from a large gash.
I frantically tried waking her again. I was shouting at her to wake-up on the top of my lungs, but she didn't even flinch at my words. I struggled to pull on my pants and shirt.
I quickly opened my cell phone and called Janine. She and Abe were on their way. I was about to call the Princess when she and Ozera burst through the door. Christian was holding Lissa tightly against his body. They were both in their night clothes. The princess was crying out in pain.
"Rose, oh Rose." She groaned. "Stop hurting her." She shrieked. Christian set her down in the armchair.
"She woke up about a half an hour ago screaming at the top of her lungs. She said it feels like she is being beaten with some sort of weapon. She didn't realize at first that she was not the one being hit. She thinks it is Rose." Said Christian breathing heavily. He looked distraught.
"Yes it is Rose, but I don't know how. She is asleep and I am unable to wake her." I replied tensely.
As I looked at the state of the Princess a thought came to me.
"Wait why is Lissa feeling what Rose is feeling? I thought the bond was one way?" I looked at Lissa for clarification.
"Uh see the thing is…" she stammered unable to look me in the eye.
"Ever since Russia Lissa has been getting sucked into Rose's head. She can feel everything Rose feels." Christian blurted out.
"What? Why didn't she tell me?" I snapped.
"Dimitri this isn't the time." Cried Lissa writhing in pain.
I started to pace. "Rose was still crying out and thrashing around."
"Lissa have you tried to get into her head?" I asked. She was doing better than Rose. She was not bleeding or bruised, but she was still in pain.
"I can't. Something is blocking me." She said fighting tears.
It had been less than five minutes when Janine, Abe and his Guardian's came flying through the door.
Abe took one look at Rose and then looked at me accusingly.
"What did you do to her?" he barked menacingly. His guardians were at his side ready to break my kneecaps on command.
I couldn't believe this. I would never hurt Roza. Why would he think I had anything to do with it? I was just about to open my mouth to protest his accusation, but Janine came to my rescue.
"He didn't do anything Abe. Calm down." Said Janine surprisingly calm.
"Look it is affecting the Princess as well and it is still going on whatever it is." She said glancing at Lissa.
"Did anyone try and wake her?" asked Abe.
"Yes I have tried repeatedly, but it can't be done." I replied wearily.
I sat down next to Rose placing a cool washcloth over her open wound. I dabbed the blood.
"Please wake up my love." I said to her in Russian.
"Should we take her to the infirmary?" asked Christian.
"I don't know maybe?" I questioned.
"Don't take her anywhere." Came a voice from the hall. Ivashkov entered the room swiftly. He looked disheveled, but had normal clothing on.
"What are you doing here?" I growled. I was not happy that someone had called him over.
"I am here because I saw some large amounts of spirit shining brightly outside the window and I was curious as to what was going on." He looked over at her assessing her condition for a moment.
"Someone is dream walking her and since it isn't me. I am slightly concerned." He said coherently his drunkenness from earlier having worn off.
"How do you know someone is dream walking her?" asked Janine.
"Because it emits a certain aura and I can see it all around her." He said concerned.
He went over and placed his hand across Rose's forehead.
"I am going to try and go in after her." He said. "Whoever is doing this to her is obviously holding her there. That takes a great effort and even I am not experienced enough to pull that off."
"Are you sure it is safe?" groaned Lissa weakly.
"No I am not sure, but it isn't like there is an endless supply of options in this case. There is no how to book when it comes to Spirit." He sounded agitated.
He gently lay down next to Roza. I took her hand in mine. I didn't like him being so close, but damn him he had a point.
He closed his eyes and then we had to wait.
Please Review and PM me if you have any thoughts on Spirit Bound you'd care to share I am dying to know what everyone else thought.
