A/N: June 28th,2011
Hello! Rain here!
First of all I would like to shout out a big thank you to Nica! Thank you Nicia for helping me edit and proof this story! It wouldn't be as good without your help!
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~~Rain!
Previously On: Memories And A Wedding –
"Okay." I said as I focused my attention back onto the Belikov's – who looked confused at my question. "Do you guys know about Spirit?"
– Rose's Point Of View –
They nodded. But what Olena said shocked all of us, with the exception of the rest of the Belikov's - including Dimitri. "Yes, we know. We have a friend of the family who specializes in it."
"Really?" Lissa almost screamed. Through the bond I could tell that she had so many questions.
"Liss, we'll talk about that later, okay?" I told her, even though I was just as curious as her.
"Fine." She sulked.
I rolled my eyes at her before returning to the story. "Do you guys remember the incident that took the lives of the other Dragomir's three years ago?"
Nodding, they gestured for me to continue. Which I did.
"In that car was not only Lissa, Lissa's parents and older brother Andre, but me as well. Out of everyone in that car the only one to survive was Lissa." I told them before pausing to give them time so that my last statement could sink in.
You can tell when it sunk in, because they were shocked. Viktoria was about to speak, but I cut in, knowing what she was going to say. "Before you ask. Let me explain." With a nod from her, I continued. "If you know about Spirit then you know people who wield it can heal. And if they are good enough at healing they are able to bring people back from the dead. I died along with the Dragomirs. But Lissa, without even knowing it, brought me back from the dead. Thus her and I became Bondmates. I am what is known as being 'Shadow Kissed' – I have died and been brought back from the dead by Spirit. St. Vlad and Anna were Bondmates because Anna was his Shadow Kissed Guardian. You might remember all the stories saying he 'was full of Spirit.' And that she 'always knew what was in his heart and mind' " I paused after quoting from the books I have read and church services.
"After Lissa brought me back and I became Shadow Kissed, I guess you could say things started to happen. One of the things that happened was the Lissa kept getting these feelings that someone or something was watching her and that she didn't feel safe even within the wards. You have to understand that at this time we didn't know about Spirit or me being Shadow Kissed. Then three years ago, just weeks after the accident, Lissa and I ran away from the Academy. Over the next two years we were away from the Academy we noticed the bond. With me being her Bondmate I can tell what she's feeling, I can hear her thoughts, experience what she experiences, and tell you where she is at all times. The bond is one of the many... perks," I grimaced, remembering what happened with Victor. Lissa did as well. "… of being Shadow Kissed."
"I can also tell you when Strigoi are near – like yesterday – with bouts of nausea , that's how I knew when they were close yesterday. I can also see the dead when not in a warded area and control them – also like yesterday – but me collapsing like that is not normal, it usually takes at least a few minutes before I pass out. Anyway. There is also one big downside of wielding Spirit. And that Spirit's Darkness – Spirit's negative side. When Lissa heals someone or uses spirit too much it can build up over time and can drive Lissa crazy. Literally. With the bond I can take that darkness from her. I've learnt how to handle better than I used to. However, I'm not perfect. I can get really angry really fast. Dimitri here is probably the only one who can rouse me out of my 'fits'. Well him and/or some kind of physical outlet, like sparring or beating the crap out of a punching bag."
"After we'd been gone from St. Vladimir's for two years, they finally found us. Dimitri here was leading the team. I remember that night." I smiled up at Dimitri, earning one in return, probably from him remembering as well. "Lissa and I were in Portland, Oregon – in a small college town, sharing an apartment with a college student at the time. It was night time and Lissa had just fed." I looked down at that point, hoping they would catch on without me having to say it. I glanced up to see their faces – they did.
"You mean…" Olena trailed off at the end.
"Yes, Olena. We didn't want to have feeders and we couldn't risk it." I told her, still embarrassed. "Anyway, I was weak from the blood loss. I looked out my window because our roommate's cat was growling at something. He was out there, standing there in the shadows of some trees across the street, I guessed his height had to be 6'6" or 6'7". He was wearing some kind of long coat – a duster – I thought they were called. I remember thinking he was hot—like, the kind of hot that makes you stop walking in the street and get hit by traffic; hot. " Shaking my head and smiling at the memory, I continued.
"I soon saw more movement nearby then as someone joined him before both he and the person who joined him moved into the shadows and disappearing. Whoever the people were Oscar – our roommate's cat – didn't like them. Not counting me, he would get along with most people – Lissa especially – growing upset only when someone or something posed an immediate danger. The people outside hadn't done anything threatening to Oscar – but something put him on edge. That something – even if I hadn't his name at the time – was Dimitri and the Guardians. I grabbed Lissa, our wallets, shoes, and Lissa used compulsion on roommate to get his car keys. Hey don't give me that look!" They stared at us in shock at what I just said. "He got them back…I think..." I trailed off and looked at Dimitri. "Comrade? Did you guys ever give him the keys back?"
"To tell you the truth… I don't know."
"You don't know?" My voice was incredulous.
"Our priority that night was to keep Lissa and you from leaving, and get you back to the Academy. Not some human who had his car keys taken away from him by two teenage girls." He answered, clearly amused at this thought and was trying to keep the laughter out of his voice – which he failed miserably at.
I looked towards Lissa at the exact same moment she looked at me, and we spoke in unison whilst shaking our heads. "Poor Jeremy."
"Anyway," I said continuing the story. "We left the apartment and were only about a block and a half from his car and freedom again, when Dimitri stepped out in front me. We fought and I lost. Needless to say they caught us and took us back to the Academy. That's how Dimitri and I first met. Along with some other stuff that will come up in the near future from this event. I was a seventeen year old novice and he a twenty-four year old Guardian and my mentor."
"Your mentor?" Viktoria asked after she recovered from the last story.
"Yup. The headmistress of St. Vladimir's wanted me to be punished for that little stunt and something that happened before we left. So when we got back to the Academy, I was pretty far behind my peers and the only way to catch up to them was to have mentor. And the only way for me to stay was if I was taught in extra practice sessions, and she said no one would want to mentor me. Dimitri, here, thinking that my talent would be going to waste volunteered to be my mentor – before and after classes every day for two hours each time. Those were the starting blocks that lead up to when we started falling for each other. Right, Comrade?" I looked back up at him.
"Right, Roza." He said looking at me with one of those smiles that had been so rare for me to see back at St. Vlad's, whilst love and joy shone in his eyes.
Just then I heard chorus of "Aww" go through the room, which brought Dimitri and me back from our little world. We both flushed slightly from forgetting that there were other people in the room.
"Roza?" Looking up and at Karolina.
"Yeah?" I answered.
"Do you mind if we call you that? If it's something special between you and Dimka that's fine."
"No, its fine. Really. You guys and he are the only ones that can call me that. You're family, well going to be family." I smiled at the thought that they had already accepted me into the family.
"Alright. Anyway, can I ask you something?" She asked.
"Shoot." I replied.
"Last night when Paul was finished counting your marks, you said the first three marks were important to you. Why? Can you explain that farther?" She was genuinely curious.
I froze.
Ask me any question but that. I prayed silently with closed eyes.
As if sensing the change in me Lissa, Christian, and Dimitri swore at the same time. "Shit! Not good!"
"What did I say?" Karolina was bewildered and concerned, at both what she'd done and my reaction.
"No one can get her talk about that subject freely without this happening or her shutting down on us." Lissa said.
"Even hearing about it is painful for her. I tried talking to her about it after it happened but no matter what I said she wouldn't. And I was there when it happened!" Christian exclaimed.
But I wasn't really paying attention. My thoughts had flown back in time to year ago in Spokane. "I really don't want to talk about the first two, but you deserve to know if you really want to."
She nodded cautiously, and so I told them about Spokane and how I – we – lost Mason. When I finished telling them they all had tears in their eyes – yes even Yeva which shocked me – along with stunned expressions. Viktoria got up and hugged Christian - in a comforting manner, but even though it was small and quick I felt a bit of a jealousy flow through the bond from Lissa – but she knew it was just comforting hug. Viktoria then came over to me, repeating what did with Christian except she whispered to me. "I'm so sorry, Roza. I don't know how you feel but I can only imagine how you felt – how you still feel." Then she sat back on the floor in front of the couch.
The other Belikov's said similar words of comfort but no one knew exactly what to say.
I couldn't help but wish he was here with us. Laughing and joking around. Pulling pranks when we were still in school before we graduated and getting in trouble. But most of all?
Wishing he had the chance to become the amazing Guardian he was meant to be. A Guardian who rivaled Dimitri, Eddie and I. Hell, he would have made a good rival for Arthur Schoenberg if they both hadn't died. If Arthur hadn't died protecting that house of Badicas, or if Mason hadn't died… protecting me because he loved me.
Someone shaking my shoulder brought me out of my thoughts. I looked up, startled from where I'd been staring at the floor, and met everyone's worried and concerned gaze.
"Sorry, I was off in my own little world there." I tried to force out a laugh. I knew I wasn't fooling anyone – especially Dimitri.
"It's alright, dear." Olena replied. Shock and curiosity were evident in her voice, but they were gentle and concerned as well, a motherly look softening them. "You don't need to force things if you don't want to."
"It's alright, Olena, I don't mind. I have to learn to talk about it sometimes." I said with a sad smile. "The third I got when St. Vladimir's Academy was attacked last year. One idiotic Royal Moroi and the idiot Royal's best friend – Jesse Zeklos and Ralf Sarcozy, had formed a group at our school called 'the Mana' which translates as 'the Hand'. According to Adrian Ivashkov, a friend of ours who can't be here but will be at the wedding, they pop up from time to time at the academies. They're exclusive and only Royal Moroi who can use compulsion are invited to become a member. In order to become a member, four existing members would use their magic against them. Like an Earth user would throw rocks at them or a Fire user would throw fire balls at them and so on – in all of the elements. The person they were initiating was basically tortured until they made them stop by using compulsion. If they succeed – even a little bit – they were in the group." I paused.
"During the weeks before I had started seeing… Mason's ghost. He looked exactly like the last time I had seen him alive. But he looked sad – like he could believe what had happened to him." I paused again thinking of the times I had seen Masons ghost. "It was then that I started seeing the ghosts. I thought I was going crazy. Everyone did – including Dimitri. I won't go into that. Any–"
"Hey! I didn't think you were going crazy, I was concerned that's all." Dimitri defended himself.
"Sure, Comrade. Whatever makes you feel better and sleep at night." I rolled my eyes at him, and continued before he had the chance to reply. "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted. Anyway, kids were walking around the school with injuries, but if the teacher's tried to get them to talk the kids would either refuse to spill the beans or just use compulsion to make the teachers forget and leave them alone." An image flashed in my memory of seeing all those kids in the infirmary and walking around campus.
"A few days before the attack, Christian was asked to join but he refused. The day of the attack Jesse and Ralf asked Lissa. She refused too, but they wouldn't leave her alone because they knew she was the Moroi with the strongest compulsion. At dinner when she didn't show I checked the bond wondering where she was. Little did I know she was being tortured by Jesse and Ralf along with the rest of their group. I know this also because I could feel exactly what she felt. Once I felt this I took off running towards her with our friends behind me. Lissa was still refusing to use compulsion when I had arrived. Of course when I arrived I was pissed beyond words – at this time it was all me and no darkness what so ever. No one harms Lissa. She is my sister even if we aren't blood related and my best friend and that is why I always dreamed of being her Guardian; because I had the power to protect her and I would do that no matter what. The same goes for Dimitri because I love him no matter what," earning a squeeze to the hand Dimitri was holding, "and also my friends because I also consider them family." I must have sounded a little too threatening, judging by the scared looks on the Belikov's faces.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you guys." I said trying to apologize.
"It's alright, Roza, we understand. It's good – no – right to feel the need to be protective of family and loved ones. Don't worry about it." Karolina said to whom I smiled a thank you to before continuing the story.
"They weren't paying any attention to their surroundings, not to mention that there was too much noise from their own spectacle to hear me come up on them from behind. I knocked Ralf down to the ground just before he could throw the fire ball he had in his hand; and started to punch him. The others tried to pry me off but stopped once they realized it was me. One thing that almost everyone at St. Vlad's knew was to not get me pissed off. The ones who didn't quickly learned the hard way. You know I couldn't help but think it was ironic as well – and a sign of how unwilling some Moroi were to lift a hand in their own defense – that while this group had been so hell-bent to use their magic to torture Lissa, none of them had actually thought to use it against me."
"Almost everyone had scattered before I could do anything to them – I just wanted them away from Lissa I and didn't care where they went. After taking care of Ralf I started looking around for Jesse since he and Ralf had started this whole mess. I found him and was immediately confused. He was just standing there, staring off into space, mouth hanging open like he was silently screaming. I remember looking at him, then where he was staring, and then back at him; which only succeeded making me feel even more confused than before."
"I glanced to where Lissa stood to check she was okay, and noticed the way she was looking at him. She was using Spirit. See you can use Spirit for good and for bad. In this case? She was using it for bad and too much darkness was building up because of how she was using it. I convinced her to let me take it. The rage and anger I felt turned into pure fury and I attacked Jesse." I shivered."I almost killed him, but luckily I was pulled off by Dimitri and Eddie. Under orders to get me calmed down, Dimitri took me to a cabin that used to be a Guardian look out. It was far enough from the clinic that I wouldn't be able to get to Jesse before the darkness disappeared, but close enough to the school that we could get back quickly. It took a while for me to calm down but Dimitri did it. You can't even imagine how it feels to have your mind taken over by Spirit's darkness. If feels like you have no control over own body. It can make you feel depressed or angry, raving mad and insane or..." I paused to think of all the emotions I felt when darkness takes over.
I shivered from thinking those kind of thoughts. "It's indescribable – that's what it is. To me it's like being feel violated and that my actions that are made for me, against my will. I hate it. I hate not being control of my own body. But it's better than having Lissa deal with the darkness on her own. And this way we have ways to deal with it. Like this charmed ring I'm wearing, it's charmed with healing magic to heal the darkness away." I held up my right hand so that everyone could see before continuing.
I know you're probably thinking that this has nothing to with the attack, right? But it does. Because of where they were holding the torture sessions, the wards were weakened to the point that they faded completely. I later figured out why the wards faded and told everyone my reason – a reason which made sense to everyone." I paused to bring out my stake, to help demonstrate my theory. "You all know that when a stake is shoved into a ward it can negate the magic in the wards, right?" Everyone including my group except Paul, Lissa and Christian nodded.
I guess no one told Lissa and Christian, or they never found out – but in Paul's case I understand why he doesn't know.
So in turning to him, I got his attention. "Paul, I'll explain. It was the same principle here. Their 'initiation ceremony' used all of the elements, in close proximity to the wards. You might be wondering why it hasn't happened before, considering the fact that Moroi use their magic all the time in academies and other warded areas." He nodded. "You're right in thinking that it does happen all the time inside warded areas, but not right next to them. The wards are edges, so the two don't usually come into contact with each other. It also had to do with the way they were using their magic – it makes a difference if you are using it in a positive way or a negative way. For example, you could be a water user using water to water your garden, or in this case drown someone. Magic is life, which is why it destroys Strigoi and why they can't cross warded areas. The magic in our stakes," I held up my stake so he could see it, "is used in that sort of negative way that it cancels out the good magic if it's used to break the wards. And that is what they were doing – using their magic in a negative way – like they were staking the wards. Get it?" I asked not only him, but also everyone else. You can tell when they all got it, because their expressions were ones of utter horror.
"Jesse and his friend Ralf were expelled after the attack because they were the cause of this the wards failing and the school being unprotected. We haven't seen or heard from them since. After I was calmed down we left the cabin and on the way out I saw Mason's ghost again, he was trying to warn us but it was too late – the Strigoi attacked right after he told me. Dimitri sent me to raise the alert and warn the other Guardians. I didn't want to but he made me – to this day he has never told me how long he had to fight before the others came to help him." I looked at Dimitri when I said that little bit. He had an amused yet grateful expression when I said that.
"It doesn't matter how, all that matters is that you got them." He replied.
"Whatever, I don't really care. All I care about is that you were and are safe now." I smiled a little smile at him before returning to the Belikov's who were on the edge of their seats – well everyone but Olena and Yeva, who now had that expression from earlier on her face. "The attack lasted hours and I fought in it – with Christian here." I glanced at Christian.
"That right. We make a great team Rose and I. Well that's when we're not at each other throats." Christian said with a smirk.
Rolling my eyes I continued. "The two of us together alone managed to kill more than half of the Strigoi before they retreated – as the sun was coming up and they didn't want to get caught in it. A while later I learned Eddie, from Spokane, had been captured and was taken hostage along with twelve other Moroi and Dhampirs. All I could think was 'First Mason now Eddie – I can't lose him too.' I was so upset at that thought that I left the dining hall and went to find Dimitri to demand that we go after them and rescue them. It was later decided that we would – and we brought senior novices such as myself, and fire using Moroi adults. This decision was based on what me and Sparky did together during the attack."
"Hey! Don't call me that! When you call me that you make me sound like I'm a dog!" Christian yelled.
"Whatever, Pyro." I said rolling my eyes. "I know you secretly like that name. Just like Comrade here," I said pointing to Dimitri," likes it when I call him that, even though he denies it." That comment earned me an eye roll from Dimitri.
"After the decision was made," I said getting back to the story. "We waited till the sun had risen so that they were trapped in the caves they were in, and for more Guardians to arrive at the school for protection for the ones who were staying behind. By the time all the Guardians arrived we only had a few hours before the sun would have set and they would move on from their hiding place. I'm not going to go into details but it was Mason who told me where they were. The cave had two entrances – they were in an anti-chamber that was fifty feet wide and fifty feet tall. An earth user who was also a teacher used to take their class on a field trip, and so they helped us with the information about the caves. I'm not going to go into detail here either. But we got everyone out and only lost two Guardians in the process. That was great – I'm not saying that it was great that we lost people but compared to the amount of Strigoi that were in there? We expected to lose more."
As I paused I knew my expression changed, and the Belikov's sensed that the part I was meaning to tell them was coming up.
"This is what I meant by last night when I said 'saving Dimitri's life when the others wanted to leave him for dead'. This is also where he got that scar from the corner of his left eye that runs to just below his left ear. We were retreating when we were ambushed on the way out. We were a few feet from the exit when a blond Strigoi came up behind–" I was interrupted by Dimitri.
– Dimitri's Point Of View –
"I'll tell the rest, Roza." I said looking down on me with a looking at her with nothing love and gratitude shining in my eyes for what she had done for me.
"You sure? I don't mind telling the rest." She asked.
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Alright." She said. "I'll only add things from my point of view if they are needed."
"Very well. Anyway as Roza was saying." I started. "A Strigoi managed to catch me off guard, which was a big mistake on my part." I could sense that Roza wanting to add something so I paused and looked at her to give her the okay.
"In all the time I've know Dimitri, this was the first time I had ever seen Dimitri falter. He was always faster, always stronger than everyone else I have known. Not this time. This Strigoi had caught him by surprise, and that slight edge was all it had taken. I was terrified of what this could mean for him in this moment – all the possibilities ran through my mind in a matter of seconds." Then she motioned for me to continue with a small smile.
"We fought, but this particular Strigoi had been turned for quite a while. Another one joined in and while they were strong, I was tired from both the rescue and the attack itself; so I was weaker than I would have normally been. Once they had me in a hold I couldn't get out of they brought me to the ground. I had gained at this point four broken ribs and a concussion – not to mention cuts and bruises all over my body. My sight was blurry and I was losing consciousness. I remember hearing someone screaming before everything turned black. Roza can you fill in the blanks, please?" I said as I looked at her.
"Of course. When I saw the Strigoi grab him I stopped and started to turn back but my mother, who been one of the Guardians who accompanied us grabbed me and stopping me from going to him. I screamed for her to let me go and that Dimitri was still inside, but she wasn't having any of that. She slapped me and yelled at me to run. Her grip on my arm was strong. I remember her words to the letter. She said, and I quote, "He is dead! You are not going to join him!" I can still see the panic on her face, panic over me – her only child and only daughter – getting killed. At that moment I remember Dimitri saying he'd rather die than see me dead. And if I stood there stupidly, letting that Strigoi get me, I'd fail both of them. But I couldn't not do anything to try and save him. So, using a lot of strength I pulled my arm out of my mother's grasp and dodged her as well as three other Guardians who were trying to stop me. I reached Dimitri just in time to stake the Strigoi through the back before he could bite Dimitri. When I staked that last Strigoi the nausea I get when Strigoi are near faded completely. But I didn't want to take chances. By the time I pulled my stake out of the Strigoi and the strigoi off of Dimitri, my mother, Guardian Alberta Petrov, and Guardian Stan Alto had come back for me and by default – Dimitri. Of course we got back inside the wards just in time for the sun to go completely down. That's what happened that day St. Vladimir's Academy was attacked and the day I saved Dimitri." She finished.
"Those two days you made me very proud, Roza. It was stupid for you to go back for me, but I'm glad you did." I murmured as I kissed the top of her head.
I was had just finished speaking when there was a knock on the door.
– Rose's Point Of View –
Dimitri had just finished speaking when there was a knock on the door.
"Mama, are you expecting someone today?" Dimitri asked his mother.
"No." She looked confused as to who would be knocking.
"I'll get it." I told them getting up from my spot on the floor by Dimitri.
Since I didn't know what to expect I kept my stake close to hand, but hidden so that an outsider couldn't see it.
When I opened the door I was surprised to see who was on the other side.