Hey everyone, I rewrote this ch if you are interested in reading a much better version read on... And please review if you like the new changes. I have learned so much since I started this story I felt it need some work. Please tell me if you like it.
Chapter 2 The Rodeo
As I slowly awake, I can't help but smile happily, because I'm snuggly wrapped up in my man's strong warm arms. The feeling of being completely safe washes over me. Keeping my eyes closed I can tell he is still sound asleep; his gentle breathing is an intoxicating rhythm, slow and steady. An incredible sense of peace filled my mind knowing he's relaxed and content here in my loving arms. I revel in the feeling of our bare, warm skin pressed together, his firm chiseled six-pack under my fingertips. My head was resting comfortably on his sexy chest listening to the soothing sound of his heartbeat. His wonderful manly scent filled my nose as I breathed in deep burying my face against his smooth skin. All I want is to lay here next to him forever. I'm so in love with every single part of him. I can only think that I will be with him forever, beyond forever. I don't know if I believe in past lives, reincarnation, or whatever you call it, but if there is such a thing, Dimitri and I have been together before. He is my eternal soul mate, my other half. I think that in any lifetime we would find each other. We belong together in this lifetime and the next.
Glancing over at the brightly lit clock, I see it's time to get up. Today is the day we are going to the Rodeo. Dimitri doesn't have a clue where we're going yet, but I get the pleasure of telling him what to wear. Since he wears his cowboy boots a lot and he is always in jeans, he won't suspect a thing. It's too warm of a day for his duster, but we might be pretty late, so I stashed it in our over night bag. It's only supposed to be a day trip, but it's always good to be prepared, right?
When we arrived at the tarmac, everyone was already waiting for us. I really tried hard not to be late today, but after Dimitri and I woke up properly, it was impossible to keep our hands off each other and I couldn't resist taking a shower with him. Obviously, we were just a tad busy.
"Good of you to join us, little Dhampir." Adrian said dryly smirking at me. "I see you have had a good morning already;" winking at me he slipped on his sunglasses "My sunglasses are barely strong enough."
With his keen spirit sense he can see my aura, it must be pretty bright. I am in an awesome mood after my eventful morning. I'm sure Dimitri's aura is shining like a fricken beacon; too, by the way Adrian is squinting at him. I laughed as Adrian scrunched up his face and put out his hand as if he was shielding his eyes from the sun.
"Yes, Adrian, it has been a very fine morning," I said happily looking over at Dimitri with a big smile. Dimitri seemed pretty happy about our morning as well; he just gave me a brilliant smile, a sexy confident wink and a sweet little kiss as he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer to him.
We all said our cordial greetings of good morning to each other. A quick survey of the all people around told me everyone is dressed about the same. I absently glanced down to see the gang was wearing the cowboy boots we acquired for the occasion. Dimitri seemed to be checking people out too. But he hasn't noticed the boots yet. That might give a clue.
"Well people, we need to go if we want to get there on time." Lissa says in her queen voice.
As we got comfortable in our seats Dimitri was holding his tongue, he wanted so badly to ask where we're going, but just bit back the words for a little while longer. As he looked around he was trying to deduce where, by doing his guardian thing, taking in all the evidence. He focused on something and he notice that Adrian was in jeans. He stared at him for a moment with narrowing eyes and pursed lips. Trying to hide my smile, I see him look at everyone again, hmm everyone's in jeans. I can almost read his mind, he's thinking "how weird Lissa and Adrian never dress so casual" I bit my bottom lip holding back the smirk. It's so cute, how he is working so hard to figure this out.
DPOV
Hmm... everyone's in jeans, how weird Lissa and Adrian never dress so casual.
I saw Roza slyly watching me, biting her lip to hold back her sexy smile and she knows I want to know where we're going. She is having fun keeping me in the dark. When I first found out there was a surprise, I tried really hard to get her to tell me, but even with me seducing her she still didn't give up the surprise. God, she's so beautiful, it's almost like a dream that we are together. This morning was absolutely perfect. I want to wake up to her like that forever. I smiled at the memory. She told me we were going to go have fun today. Fun for me is being wrapped up in bed with my Roza. I could do that all day, all night, for eternity.
Leaning over towards her, she glanced up at me through her long eyelashes. I can easily get lost in those beautiful brown orbs. Seriously, I can't resist her, my eyes leave hers and trail down to her soft sensuous mouth. As if gravity is in control I feel her leaning towards me. The forces of the universe have united our souls and we gravitate towards each like two magnets. The more we are together the more I want her.
As her breath hitches in anticipation I close the distance to her lips. It thrills me to have that effect on her. Flames of desire burn in her smoldering eyes and I'm sure my eyes reflect the same. I melt into her as the warmth of our lips touch. The kiss becomes fiery hot and passionate quickly. But when Christian shouts "Get a Room" I draw on my control to pull back a little and smile in the kiss. Opening my eyes I stare into Rose's sparkling beautiful brown eyes with that glowing ember. I touched her cheek lightly with my fingertips, leaning my mouth closer to her ear and quietly whispered "I love you." She shivered, sighed in content and then gives me her man-eating smile. "I love you... always." Her sweet warm breath breezed across my cheek.
"So will you at least tell me how long our flight is?" I asked curiously as I casually leaned back in my seat.
"Sure, only about two and a half hours. Then we drive an hour. So we will be there about Six PM, there should be enough shade for the Moroi." Roza says sweetly.
I decided to close my eyes and relax, reaching for Roza's soft warm hand and kicking back. It only seemed like a short time later that the plane was landing. Something I certainly wasn't expecting, to my surprise, my eyes landed on none other than St. Vladimir Academy. I smiled as all the memories of Roza and our time together here flashed through my mind. But now, I am officially confused. I narrowed my eyes at Roza as she stood and grabbed the bags. She gave me a deceitful little smile and walked off the plane.
RPOV
I smiled brightly when I saw Alberta standing at the edge of the landing strip waiting for us. The months have flown by and with that the distance from my former home. Alberta reminded me of home, she's like a second mother to me. As we all deplaned each and every one of us greeted her with friendly hugs and hellos. She gave me a big hug "this place is just not the same without you, Rose" Alberta said with a wink and a smile.
"Of course, there is only one Rose Hathaway!" I bragged, chuckling at the rolling of her eyes, Alberta shook her head at me and gave me an indulgent smile.
"So true, so true." Alberta replied in an easygoing yet chiding way. There was a grumble of agreement to that statement all around and Christian just had to pipe up with "we wouldn't want another one of her, that's for sure." Lissa smacked him in the stomach with the back of her hand, but laughed at his statement along with everyone else.
"The vehicles you have requested are ready for you, Rose." Alberta informed me as she got back down to business.
"Great, lets go guys, we can see everyone and say 'hi' later when we get back." We all head in the direction of the big black St. Vladimir SUV's. All together with the royal guard we only needed two cars for the little drive, including Dimitri and me; there was a total of ten royal guard members. Plus we have Eddie, so we should have enough guardians to protect the Moroi. The sixteen of us hopped in the two big black vehicles. I gave Dimitri a smug look, as he raises an eyebrow at me. I never get to drive and today I was driving the lead vehicle, since I know where we are going. Dimitri watched with intrigue as one of the guardians carried an unmarked cardboard box and placed it in the back of his vehicle; Dimitri's curiosity was getting the better of him.
The Rodeo starts at seven PM and we are just barely going to be on time so we needed to go. Off we go to Missoula. An hour later as we pulled up to the fairgrounds Dimitri saw the large flying banner that finally gave him the last clue to our destination. He read it out loud.
Welcome to Western Montana Fair & Rodeo
He just started laughing, "Roza, this is fantastic! I have never been to a Rodeo before! I have always wanted to go!" The grin plastered across his face made him look so young, like a kid on Christmas morning.
"I know Comrade, I though you would like it."
"I love it Roza, thank you!" He gave me a huge all encompassing hug. I saw one of the guardians grab the mysterious unmarked cardboard box of cowboy hats, bringing it to me. As I cracked the top open I could see many different colors, enough for all of us, four were specifically girl ones and a dark brown leather one I got just for Dimitri to match his favorite dark brown leather duster and his boots. I pulled it out of the box and plop it on his head. He laughed again with a bright sparkle in his eyes and shook his head. "You've thought of everything haven't you?"
"You're darn tootin!" I said putting my own blood red cowgirl hat on that matches my spaghetti strap top. He truly couldn't keep the grin off his face.
"Ya'll come get cha hats." I say in my best southern twang.
Lissa squealed, and ran over to pick the white hat out of the big box, and Christian the black. How fitting, I thought, those two are about as opposite as you can get, but somehow they complement each other. Opposites attract, right? "Howdy little lady" Christian said in a deep southern accent as he gave a little nod at Lissa and tilts his hat to her. She giggled flirtingly and jumped into his arms. He carried her off with her arms wrapped around his neck, giggling like mad and kissing him senseless.
Mia stepped up next and liked the pink one, it matched her shirt, so she took that one and Eddie grabbed the tan one. Next in line was Sydney who loves blue, I knew that one would be hers and, of course, black for Adrian, he thinks he's such a bad boy. HA! What a laugh. With a big smile on everyone's face we walked through the metal gates and headed for our seats in the grand stands.
Watching the bull riding was so much fun. We were all whistling, yelling, whooping, hollering and waving our hats in the air. Standing up screaming and jumping up and down when the rider was thrown from the bull. The waves of fans would cringe with a hiss when the clowns would run out to distract the bull, almost getting gored with a horn. The excited crowd would go absolutely crazy when the bull rider hung on for a full ride. Hearing the loud horn blow, the cowboy would bail off and run as the bull bucked like mad. Rose Hathaway, strigoi fighter, would not want to face those bulls. Scary!
Dimitri was laughing, yelling and pumping his fist in the air. He was having an absolute blast! I have never seen him loosen up so much and have such a good time. It warms my heart to see him so happy. Everyone was having so much fun I couldn't help but grin too. I swear I must be going soft. Even Lissa, with her "OH MY GOD!" and covering her eyes. It was too funny. Looking at all my friends faces, seeing them all just living it up. This was so worth it.
As we are leaving the stadium everyone was excitedly talking, with hoarse voices from screaming so much, about there favorite part. "Rose, this was a blast! Great idea!" Eddie said all pumped up.
"Thanks, but it's not over yet, there's a fair with rides here." I said happily as all their eyes brighten with their smiles. "But first lets go eat at the local Saloon" everyone agreed so we strolled down the street that looked like a town in the old west. We head in the direction of the Saloon, we saw the name on the sign and we all started laughing again. It says "Welcome to Rosie's Saloon" how fitting is that right!
While we ate we talked about the all things here at the fair. Trying to decide where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do. I had a couple venue program guides that we got when we went through the gates, spread out across the table so we could see them.
A tall cowboy looking dude came up on the stage and said that anyone who wanted to do some Western Karaoke could come on up. I was laughing at him and his goofy western accent. "Come on back ya'll" I joked in my best imitation, of course, Lissa had to push me up there. So reluctantly I agreed. I don't do country, but I had heard a song that I like recently that was a country crossover.
I asked him for the song and he nodded, I asked if he had a guitar and he said "sure" he handed it to me. So I grabbed the guitar, sat on the stool and started singing into my mike.
"If I Die Young"
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Uh oh, uh oh
Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors, oh and
Life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby
The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had, just enough time
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had, just enough time
And I'll be wearing white, when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little, cold finger, I've
Never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand, there's a
Boy here in town who says he'll love me forever,
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life, well,
I've had, just enough time
So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done
A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell them for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Uh oh (uh, oh)
The ballad of a dove (uh, oh)
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save them for a time when you're really gonna need them, oh
The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had, just enough time
So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls
When I stop singing I look up to see I had gained an audience and my friends were all standing, clapping and yelling for me. Dimitri looked amazed, I don't know why, because he's heard me sing before. But then, I realize I haven't picked up a guitar since I was on the run with Lissa. Lissa was smiling because she knew I could sing, that's why she shoved me up there. I took my bow and headed back to our table.
"That was amazing Roza!"
"Thank you" I said sort of embarrassed by the whole thing, which is a little strange for me, I don't usually get uncomfortable, it seriously takes a lot for that to happen.
"So what's next?" I asked casually to change the subject. We all looked at what we wanted to do, but there was a ton of choices. There is a stage show of Wild Bill, rides, games even those cool black and white old time photos. I really wanted a photo of me and Dimitri and also one of the whole gang. So we decide to do that first.
The costumes were so crazy. Who in their right mind would want to tie yourself into some of those dresses? Absolutely Nutz! All the girls were having so much fun in there slutty bar girl costumes. With the guarders, fishnets, and low cut necklines, we were smokin' hot. All the boys could do was drool as we hung on them for the picture. Dimitri was the Sheriff and the others were outlaws and gunslingers. It was such a kick. By the time we were done we were in hysterics laughing and crying. I was about to walk away to go change into my normal clothes when Dimitri grabbed me from behind and spun me around to face him.
"Hey pretty lady, wanna go for a ride?" He asked seductively as he pushed me up against the wall. "You're looking mighty fine in that dress." He whispered in my ear. I could feel his hot breath on my neck and then his soft kisses. He bit my skin and I arched my back throwing my head back in ecstasy. He worked his way back up my neck, along my jaw and to my lips for one deep luscious core arousing heated kiss. We broke the kiss and I smiled at him. "Save it for later big boy. I got a surprise for you tonight with a different kind of sexy outfit, let's just say, for your eyes only." I said with a wink, tapping his nose with my finger and sauntered away.
"Next up, rides!" I yelled with a giggle as I ran towards the octopus looking thing. Not the kind of ride Dimitri just offered, but still fun. We all ran around from ride to ride with tickets like little kids. I got me some cotton candy and something called an elephant ear, it was sooo good! Gotta have my sugar fix, it's almost as good as my donuts! I was giggling over some of the stuff that was running through my head, I sounded like a hick. We decide to play some games and the guys wanted to shoot some old time rifles. Watching them trying to ping a duck is pretty funny. Dimitri won me a really cute stuffed bear; he has a little t-shirt that says "Montana".
"Hey, check it out, there's a Palm Reader! That's cool, I wanna do that!" I said excitedly.
I grab Dimitri's hand and dragged him over to the lady's tent. I had to bite my bottom lip, when we enter, to keep from laughing. It had a table in the center draped in colored fabric with a crystal ball sitting in the middle. Funky music was softly playing in the background. Candles were burning all around and there was a heady heavy sent in the air. The lady sitting there was dressed like a gipsy woman, with weird scarfs, bangles and gaudy rings on her fingers. It's so stereotypical, I almost laughed. There were two empty chairs around the table. She motioned for us to sit.
She eyed me closely, with shrewd narrow eyes, for a few moments with out saying a word. She intently studied my face and looked deeply into my eyes. It felt like she was looking through me. Kinda creepy, really. "Give me your hands, dear" she said in a raspy low voice with weird thick accent. I put my hand on the table and slid it to her palm up. "I must see both hands together, my dear." She said demandingly. I raised my brows and put the other hand up on the table, as well.
She studied my hands for several minutes, at first quietly, but then she gasped and looked at me shocked like she is trying to tell if what she sees is true. She looked back down and traces my lines on my left hand with her fingertips and looked over to Dimitri, a slight smile on her very old and wrinkled face and then back at my palms again. Her silence was getting to me, making me anxious and about to ask "what do you see?" when she starts talking.
"Your right hand is your practical hand; it represents your personality and talent." She pauses for a moment "You are a gifted fighter, strong, caring, a protector of souls"
My eyes widen in surprise, because I haven't even said a word. I glanced at Dimitri and he leaned forward with his interest gaining.
"You are a trouble maker" she says with a little evil like cackle. "You are very stubborn and sarcastic, but your friends know you would die for them." She looks hard into my eyes and a chill ran down my spine, causing me to shiver slightly.
"You must never get distracted, if you hesitate you will die" she says harshly and looked at Dimitri this time. My mouth dropped open a bit and I turned to look at him, too. He almost looked smug, because that 'Zen lesson' has come from his mouth more times than I can count.
"You are bound to another through spirit, to protect them, they are very important in your world" she said sadly "Your connection has darkness surrounding it, which you must fight to control, but without you, all would be lost." I share a knowing look with Dimitri and he closes his eyes for a second and takes a deep breath. This, of course, is nothing new to us she is just telling us what is true. But it tells me that this palm reader is no joke. She is truly gifted and should be taken seriously.
She pulled me from my thought again when she says "You are of great value to your people; you have already changed the world. You are the savior of souls. You must continue the fight. Cherish all that you hold dear."
She pauses and then switches over to my left hand. "The left hand is the emotional side. It shows your "heart". "I see you have found your soul mate." She comments with a knowing look to Dimitri again. I can't help but smile at that.
"You have an old soul. It has been through many lifetimes, for which you search until you find him." She says looking right at Dimitri. Again nothing new to me, but it's nice to know we are meant to be. Dimitri locked eyes with me for a moment with a small smile on his face.
"You have good instinct for reading people. You must listen to your gut." She pauses for another moment and studies a long line on my hand. I notice she stops her fingertip over a spot where the line is broken, but the lines sort of over lap too. I think this is my life line. Right when I think this she nods her head and says "yes, this is your life line. It does not show how long you will live, but rather how you will live in the future and what the quality of your life will be." How weird is that, did she just read my mind? "It shows what your life has been since birth"
"You have a broken life line." She states matter of factually. I look at her waiting for what I know I will hear. "You died..." she says in a strained voice "... twice".
She looked at me with curiosity; I know she would like to know when, where and how. I can't help but think of Lissa and the car accident and then of being shot. A shiver runs over me like someone just walked on my grave. I just nod for her to know that she's right and to continue.
"You have great emotional strength, which will help you stay focused throughout the rest of your life." She looks at me seriously for a moment and tells me "You must use all the strength that you possess, physically, emotionally, and mentally to survive the trials you will face throughout your life. You must allow yourself to rely on the strength of others that love you and support you. You must always stay vigil or all may be lost."
"I see that you have suffered a great deal of pain and sadness in your young life, but you are also very fortunate because you have experienced the greatest gift of all, love, love so deep and true that most will never find in their lifetime." "It is your saving grace."
"Be prepared for a battle, it is approaching fast, you will need to fight to survive." I'm thinking she just means another Strigoi fight, but somewhere in the back of my mind I wonder if it's a lot more than that, which scares me.
She stops talking for a minute and I think that the reading is done, but when I go to take my hands away she stopped me by taking my right hand in hers, she lifts it up in the air and I am sorta confused by what she is doing. She places my hand on the top of the crystal ball that I had totally forgotten about. I swear I saw the white clouds in the glass swirl. I furrowed my brows and leaned closer wondering what I might see. She smiles at me.
"I see you have had many past lives. In ancient times you were a Warrior Princesses with a Rose etched in your armor. You protected your people from evil." The clouds shift again "When the west was won you were a strong and feisty immigrant with roots from Turkey and Scotland. You owned a Saloon and fought hard for your town to keep it safe." She says approvingly.
The white clouds roll again. "In this lifetime you are a warrior of your people, you fight the good fight. You will face an enemy tonight." She said louder "I see a fight!"
"Your future is never set in stone, but I see that you can have that which you believe to be impossible, a family, children and marriage." I looked to Dimitri and he had a sad expression on his face, because we believe we can't have that together. She turns to him and says "nothing is impossible." I saw the hope rise in his eyes.
She removed my hand from the crystal ball and gently held it in hers. She smiled warmly at me and sweetly patted my hand. "I am honored to have met someone such as you. Stay true to yourself and your dreams will become a reality." She let go of my hand and I am blown away. I don't know what to say. So I just say "Thank you that was amazing!" We pay her and with an astonished look back we leave the tent.
I am completely shocked into silence with how accurate her reading was, my stunned mind was literally reeling. I felt Dimitri wrap his strong warm arm around me to steady me. I must have looked a little shaken because Lissa was looking at me with deeply concern in her eyes. I looked down at my hands for a moment and then I saw the time. Time was really flying by and I realized it was one AM and we needed to start heading back. We were all getting tired, so time to go. "Hey guys, ready to go?" Everyone nodded in agreement.
As we headed to the SUV's it was dark and pretty empty in the parking lot. All the guardians were watching everything around us, in particularly, me since I have my built in Strigoi detector. After that surreal reading I am really on high alert, because I know who my enemy is, I just have to wait for them to show themselves. Sure enough about one hundred feet from the SUV's "Shit!" I say quietly. Dimitri knows instantly and pulls his stake. All the other guardians follow suit. We surround Lissa, Mia, Adrian, Sydney and Christian. Lissa is in the middle, Christian ready with fire and Mia with water. We move as a unit, working our way closer to the SUV's. My strigoi detector was telling me they will pop out of the shadows any second. Unfortunately, my warning system doesn't disappoint me as much as I wish it was wrong, a few seconds later we are surrounded. Out of the shadows of darkness and into the faint light of the parking lot, about twenty strigoi appeared.
Song By The Band Perry