Meetings

Sorry it has been so long since I last updated. I am in the process of moving and have had to dedicate the majority of my time to that. My updates this month may be a little spread out due to that. Hope you keep reading.

Richelle Mead owns all original VA.

We pulled up in front of a nice two story white house. I wasn't expecting a Dhampir community to look like this. I figured more of rundown houses, kids running rampant, children's toys strewn on the lawns. But this looked like a normal upper middle class community. All the houses were nice sized and actually really nice.

We made our way up the front steps, Dimitri and Lissa in front. The door opened and a cute Moroi girl, probably a year younger than us, come running out. "Dimka! Lissa!" She threw her arms around Dimitri and hugged him tightly.

Obviously a sister? I asked Lissa.

Yeah, Viktoria, the youngest. Lissa said.

"Everyone's waiting. Let's go inside." We all walked in and it became quite crowded adding our thirteen to the six adults and one child that was already there.

"Everyone, this is Rose. Rose, this is Olena, my mother, Yeva, my grandmother, Sonya, Karolina, Viktoria, my sisters, my nephew Paul, and Christian, Tasha's nephew." Dimitri introduced them all and I nodded. All the Belikov's shared the same dark eyes and dark hair. Christian was a contrast. He had the same jet black hair and mesmerizing blue eyes as Tasha, he was tall, but extremely muscular, he gave all the Dhampir's a run for their money, and it was extremely uncommon among Moroi. He wore dark blue jeans and a black t-shirt that fit him well. His hair was short but kind of shaggy. His bangs seemed to fall just above his eyes and the sides framed his face. The back was shaggy, but only came to collar length. He was very good-looking. Karolina was the oldest, she was tall and muscular, brown hair down to her waist and a beautiful face. She was also Paul's mother. Sonya was the next one, she looked a lot like her sister, but her hair was only shoulder length and she wasn't as muscular. Viktoria was a year younger than us, she was tall and thin, but had curves pretty close to mine. Her hair hung to the middle of her back in soft waves. She looked a lot like her brother in the face.

"You guys must be hungry. I've made dinner and it's in the kitchen. I have all the rooms upstairs ready for you. Pavel and Abe are taking your bags to your rooms. Come on, let's eat." Olena said then turned towards the kitchen. Seeing all the food you would have thought it was Thanksgiving.

She always cooks like this. Lissa sent through the bond upon seeing me practically salivating at the sight of all the food.

I smiled. Maybe I'll stay her after everything. I said back. We both laughed and all of our new friends looked at us with odd expressions.

"Oh, you should probably know, Liss and Rose are bonded. They can talk telepathically." Dimitri explained. Everyone looked relieved to know we weren't crazy then went on his or her ways.

Everyone was talking and getting acquainted but Christian. He was quiet and stayed to himself. Tasha joined him and they carried on a quiet conversation. I took my plate and sat on the couch with EJ. I was still grieving for Adrian, but I needed to get my head in the game. I looked outside and noticed it was still sunny.

I finished my food then decided to go outside. "I'm going to go take a walk. I need to move." I said to EJ. He nodded and I took my plate in and threw it away then headed for the door and stopped, just looking around. Suddenly I felt someone walk up behind me. I didn't turn around, but I didn't recognize the cologne. Just as I began to turn, a hand was on my shoulder.

"You shouldn't be out here alone, even in the sun." I heard a low raspy voice. I turned and came face to face with Christian. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. I don't really like crowds and I saw you come out here, so I thought I would join you." He smiled. "If that's okay."

"Sure, it's fine." I said smiling.

"Come on. Let's go this way. There's a really nice little shaded park up the street. I brought Paul there yesterday." He said as he led me up a street.

We found the park and sat on a bench shadowed by tall, thick maple trees. "So, you're the one who's going to save us all?" He said sarcastically.

"Well, who else? I'm the only one with the guts to do it I guess." I was trying to match his tone. "But seriously? Yeah, I guess I have all the qualifications." I said in a more serious tone.

"Well honestly, you don't look like anything special to me. I guess I'll have to wait and see." He said snarkily.

"Hey, if all you're going to do is be rude and judgmental to me, then you can leave. I just met you and you're acting like a…like a Royal." I shot back at him.

"I'm nothing like those other Royals. I'm just being honest. I have this habit, bad habit according to my aunt, of being brutally honest. And that includes honesty about what I see. You're just…smaller than I expected." He shut his mouth.

"Well, big things sometimes comes in small packages. I can pack a punch. I guess you'll have to find out tomorrow. Now, tell me where you got all those muscles. They are rare among Moroi." I snickered.

"You like huh?" He said in a husky voice. I just smiled. I noticed that I did like the look of them. I had this weird feeling in my gut. I was finding that I was actually kind of attracted to him, but I just met him. It had to be purely physical.

"I began training when I was fourteen. I trained hard and learned all I could. I fought with instructors, mostly the dhampir guardians, but I practiced whenever I could. I studied hard and was even offered to take the guardian tests, but I passed. I just wanted to be able to defend my aunt and myself. I know she told you our story. She doesn't tell any one without me agreeing first. We don't have guardians, even though we are Royal, and we needed to be able to fight. We both carry stakes and I even have two molnija marks." He turned so I could see them. "Do you have any?"

"Yeah, I got mine after St. Vlads was attacked. I have three." I turned and lifted my hair so he could see them.

"Cool, did they hurt? Mine stung like a bitch." He laughed.

"Yeah, they stung, but not much." I said. We sat there for a while just talking and telling stories. It was nice talking to him.

The sun began to set a little so we decided we needed to get back. We got up and walked up the street in silence. It was a comfortable silence, and I was enjoying not having to fill it with unnecessary chatter.

We got back to the house and everyone was out back sitting around and relaxing. Tomorrow we would start training with Christian and Sonya who would be joining us.

Viktoria came to sit next to me. "So, did you and Chris get acquainted? He's very nice. A little snarky, but he's cute and he's fun."

"We talked some. I just lost the love of my life; I'm not ready to look at guys like that quite yet. But, yes, I agree he's cute." I said.

"Well, not that my brother would allow it, but I would love to make a move for him. I have been trying for a while, but he just pulls away. Sooner or later though, I think he'll come around. I'm only two years younger than him. What do you think?" She asked.

"Hey, I'm not your brother, I just met you, but do what you want. I was never one to follow the rules. I was in love with an Ivashkov." Everyone knew the Ivashkov reputation and the fact that for the most part they were typical Royals. They stayed with other Royals. Adrian and I had broken that mold.

"Chris has been here off and on since he and Sonya became friends. He just seems like someone I could have fun with. He seems like a bad boy, and I like bad boys. I'd love to see more of him, if you know what I mean." She said with a wink. I suddenly didn't like the way this conversation was going.

"Just be careful. I don't know him, and I don't know what his character is like. Just watch yourself." I said and then walked over to Lissa.

"I know you hate it when I look at your aura, but what has you all riled up?" She asked. I was confused. I wasn't riled up about anything. At least I didn't think so.

"Nothing that I know of. What do you see?" I asked curiously.

"Well, when you came back from your walk you were okay, but in talking to Viktoria, the colors started going green, jealousy usually, and all murky. She obviously said something you didn't like. What'd she say?" She said as she pulled me away from everyone else.

"Nothing really." I replayed the conversation in my mind, trying to figure out what could possibly have changed my aura that much. "She's interested in Christian, although I'm not sure if her intentions are to get to know him or get to know him."

"That's it. Your aura just spiked again. Are you interested in Christian?" Her eyes popping wide with curiosity.

"No Liss, I'm not. I just lost Adrian a little over a month ago. I can't even comprehend being interested in anyone. He's nice, yeah, and he's good-looking but I barely know him." I said, not sure why she would think that. "I guess maybe I'm just concerned about her intentions, you know?"

"Mm Hm. Okay." She said while giving me a look like she knew something I didn't.

"Whatever Liss. Let's get back over to everyone else." We walked back over to the group and joined in the conversation.

We didn't stay up real late; we had to get up early to begin training. We were on a human schedule so sunrise would be coming quickly. I went to my room, which also belonged to Lissa, Elli and Viktoria. I settled into my bed and fell asleep quickly.

Well, there you have it. The next chapter. Please let me know what you think. I will get the next one up as soon as I can.

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