Chapter 41: Group Intervention

Disclaimer: I Do Not own Vampire Academy or its characters.

Here's what she should have told them at the beginning, but was afraid to. I hope you like.

RPOV

I felt the familiar rush of hot then cold that I usually felt when Lissa was healing something. I realized that I was not alone and that the person being healed was me. I sat up slowly and rubbed my eyes. I was still in my room, but instead of it being just me and Dimitri I looked into the worried eyes of Lissa, then Christian, Adrian, my mother and Abe. They were all staring at me with strange looks on their faces. But worst of all was the look on Dimitri's face. He looked positively sick with worry. When Lissa was finished Dimitri was at my side immediately.

"Roza what happened? Are you alright?" he asked softly caressing my face with his large warm hands. I felt confused. I remembered being at the party, Tasha, lots of alcohol, Dimitri lying next to me in bed and then…

"Ohhhhh." I gasped as I recalled the Strigoi from my dream.

"Roza? What is it? Who did this to you?" he asked.

"I don't remember." I lied.

Adrian shot me a look. He knew I was lying and most likely Dimitri did too. I didn't want to discuss this with Lissa around.

"Rosemarie are you sure you don't remember anything?" asked Abe. I knew by the tone in his voice that he could see right through my lies.

I looked around. I really didn't want them to worry and I definitely didn't want them to know about the Strigoi blood that I was forced to drink in Russia. Still they had a right to know. I was at a loss of what to do. I gave Dimitri a pleading look asking him silently to drop it for now. He shook his head at me.

"Not this time Roza." He said sadly.

"If she won't tell us then you will." Snarled Abe grabbing Adrian by the back of the neck and forcing him against a wall. He was still physically and mentally drained from forcing us out of my dream and I could see the fear in his eyes as my father threatened him.

"Abe let him down from there." Cried my mother. Abe as usual brushed her off. His guardians entered the room. I saw Dimitri tense as if ready to defend Adrian if anything were to happen.

"Baba stop." I cried jumping up, but he didn't stop and Adrian looked really freaked out.

"I don't know that much. There were two Strigoi there one male, one female. They were assaulting Rose. They had her chained to the wall. Neither of them were the person keeping her in the dream though. They didn't have that kind of power. There was a voice as we left. It sounded vaguely familiar. It said that they were coming for Rose and Lissa soon. Whoever it was had a lot of control." Gasped Adrian.

My father released him and he fell to the ground in a heap. Lissa was at his side in a flash helping him into a chair.

"Rosemarie. You will tell us the rest. "He barked at me.

Everyone turned and looked at me. I gulped and took a deep breath.

"Those were the Strigoi who kidnapped me and held me prisoner in Russia." I explained my voice was wavering.

"They thought they killed me, but I survived."
"What do they want?" asked Abe seeming more than a little agitated.

I hadn't been truly afraid of him until now. The look in his eyes was menacing.

"To turn me and get to Lissa." I admitted finally.

"Why didn't they turn you while they had you?" he asked his voice softening.

I laughed nervously. I didn't want to see the way they'd look at me when they knew. I needed to tell them and it had to be now. Abe wasn't going to take I don't know as a valid response and I knew from the look on Dimitri's face that this time he would not let this go unanswered.

I looked at my friends and my family and Dimitri all standing around waiting for my response. Adrian gave me an encouraging smile. He already knew and he didn't judge me for it. I didn't know if that would be the same with the rest. Would they be afraid of me? Was I part Strigoi? Would they worry that I would turn at any time? Would they be disgusted with me for not stopping them? A million questions flashed through my mind as my eyes met Dimitri's. They shown compassion, but also underlying apprehension for what I was about to say. His tight smile was slightly reassuring.

"Abe can you ask your Guardians to leave?" I asked quietly.

He motioned for them to go.

Rose everything is going to be okay. Just tell us what happened in Russia. We care about you and if you or I is in danger we need help. Please don't keep things from me. I hate when you shut me out it hurts.

You don't understand. You won't feel the same about me when you know.

I will always love you no matter what.

She came over and sat next to me.

I sucked in a breath of air.

"When they held me captive in that basement the woman drained me of most of my blood." I began shakily tears starting to form in my eyes.

Adrian crossed the room and took my hand in his. He squeezed it tight giving me the will to continue.

Dimitri had his fists clenched at his side and his guardian mask in place. This was going to be tough for him to hear and even worse that Adrian already knew.

"While I was unconscious she forced me to drink from her." I managed. The tears that threatened to fall spilled out uncontrollably as I continued. I didn't dare look at their faces. I could feel Lissa's shock through the bond.

"When I came to I couldn't move or speak and I heard them talking about me and how I should have awakened, but I didn't. They thought I was dead, so they left me there." By now I was sobbing so hard I could barely breathe.

I heard the gasps from my family and friends.

Adrian had taken me into his arms and had been holding me tightly as I continued to sob, but released me gently into Dimitri's strong embrace.

"Roza, why didn't you tell me?" he asked stroking my hair trying to calm me down.

"Because I didn't want you to be disgusted by me. I don't want you to be afraid of me. I don't know why I didn't turn. I didn't want to drink from her. I was unconscious you have to believe me" I gasped still sobbing.

Oh Rose you know that it wasn't your fault. There was nothing you could have done.

I could feel Lissa's sympathy and compassion through the bond. That only made me cry harder.

"Rose no one here is going to judge you. What happened wasn't your fault and we are not disgusted or afraid of you." Said Christian.

I looked up from Dimitri's chest and smiled gratefully at him. I knew he understood exactly how I was feeling.

"Thanks Chris. That really means a lot to me."

He smiled. "Hey Rose you called me Chris." He remarked. "You're not going all soft on me now are you?" he asked trying to lighten the mood.

I let out a small chuckle. "Nah don't worry Sparky."

"Roza he is right it was not your fault. Why did you hide it from me? Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?" he asked sincerely.

"No. I'm sorry. I just didn't want anyone to know." I felt so ashamed. He was looking at me with so much love and compassion in his eyes. I felt so awful that I'd lied to him so much these past few weeks.

I looked over at my mother. She has tears in her eyes and she was leaning against Abe's shoulder. He was softly stroking her back in comfort. His face was also colored with sadness.

"Well let's let Rose and Dimtri alone for a while. We can all meet up tomorrow after graduation to discuss the rest." My mother said trying to regain her composure.

"Everyone agreed to go back to sleep."

"Goodnight Little Dhampir. If you need me I'm only a phone call away." Said Adrian kissing my forehead.

Christian and Lissa followed and my mother dragged Abe out behind her.

Dimitri and I were alone. I flinched waiting for his wrath.

"Why are you making that face?" he asked.

"I'm waiting for you to yell at me." I said cautiously.

"Are you afraid of me Rose?"

"No of course not."

"I'm not going to yell at you Roza. I just want you to be honest and tell me everything. Can you do that?"

"Yes."

"Okay then I'm going to ask and you are going to tell and don't leave anything out." He said firmly

I nodded in agreement. He pulled my desk chair over towards the bed and sat down facing me. He took my hands in his.

I told him everything. I told him about Adrian and our theory about him healing me in the dream. I told him about what Yeva said to me. We came to the conclusion that I wasn't able to be turned because I you couldn't awaken what was already dead. To turn Strigoi you must be somewhat alive and since I walked among the shadows that was enough to stop the change.

He told me how much I'd hurt him by telling Adrian everything and shutting him out. For that I was truly ashamed.

"Why didn't you tell me about Lissa?" he asked.

I blushed a little. "I didn't want you to be nervous that she might be with us when we you know."

He paled a little. "She can do that?" he asked.

"She was there the night we spent together in Russia. She got sucked into my head. That is how we figured out the bond was both ways now." I replied sheepishly. He was so going to freak.

"I see so was that what all that business about Ivashkov and the orgy was about in the bathroom that morning?" he asked raising his eyebrow.

"You heard that?" I squeaked.

"I did." He said looking to me for an explanation.

"Lissa was afraid that because Adrian helped heal me that he would be able to get into our heads as well. I told her that it wasn't likely because I had not been dead when they healed me."

He laughed a little. "Well let's be thankful for that at least." He said.

I was still a little nervous about how he was taking the whole blood thing.

"Are you afraid I will turn Strigoi?" I asked him. We were lying together in bed and he was stroking my hair.

"No of course not. You are very special Roza." He whispered pulling me closer to him. My breath hitched as he brought his soft lips to mine. He kissed me with such love and passion. Every worry I'd ever had flew out of my mind as he showed me without a doubt that he was not disgusted or afraid of me in any way.

Afterwards I lie awake in his arms. I was not able to shut out the little voice in my head that was telling me things were going to get worse before they got better.

"Go to sleep maya krasaveetsa." He whispered soothingly in my ear.

"I'm afraid Comrade."

"Don't worry. I will always be here to save you." He said cradling me against his warm muscular body.

I fought sleep as long as I could, but eventually succumbed.

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