"I sincerely hope they don't get mad at me." I said while walking over to Mark and Oksana's cottage.
"Why would they get mad at you?" Viktoria asked. Oh well. She might as well know due to the fact it's her brother.
"See the last time I came to Russia… was to hunt and kill Dimitri. It was a promise we made to each other: that we would rather die than be Strigoi. So after the battle at our school and he was turned, I left the Academy to find him. I… figured he would come back here so I came to Baia with Sydney's help and I was telling you the truth. I did come to tell you about Dimitri, but I also was looking for him." Viktoria was listening with compassion, no judgment. I swear she could be a second Lissa. "When I killed him… or I thought I killed him, it tore at my heart. I thought I wouldn't be able to go on. I… I tried. When I talked to Mark and Oksana at the hotel room the day before I left Russia, they told me the name of a Spirit user who claimed to have restored a Strigoi to their original state. Mark told me to leave it alone, but when I found out Dimitri was still alive and he was after me,"
"Wait… Dimitri wanted to kill you?" Viktoria asked, shocked. Dimitri also wanted to turn me Strigoi, but I wouldn't tell her that.
"Yes. It's kind of complicated why. Anyway… I had to break someone out of Prison to get the information because it was their half-brother and they wouldn't reveal their information any other way. Ask yourself this: What can you offer a condemned man who is in Prison for life? Freedom… if that's what you were thinking. When the prison breaking was done, we went to Las Vegas, Nevada to meet Robert Doru, his brother and he explained how he restored a Strigoi. When we got back to the Royal Court, we were in so much trouble. My friends and I were punished profusely for taking a prestigious Princess out in so much danger. No one figured out it was us who broke the man out of Prison and my best friend started trying to charm a stake. It scared me. Literally. At that time, I felt like I would rather have Dimitri dead than Lissa stake him. Then one scary day," God, this sounded like a fairy tale. "Dimitri captured my best friend and her boyfriend. I knew exactly where they were and I told myself: One of them dies tonight; Dimitri or Lissa." Viktoria gasped and was so enthralled in the story. "When I got there, I was so mad… so mad that Dimitri brought Lissa into this. But then I found out something through our Bond: Lissa had charmed the stake. She pushed me out of the way and shoved the stake right through Dimitri's heart. Then there was a bright light and suddenly, Dimitri was a Dhampir again."
"Wow…" Viktoria breathed. "I can see why he loves you. You're both badass… in your own ways."
I laughed. "I guess." We neared Mark and Oksana's house and Oksana must have thought she was seeing things.
"Rose?" She asked. I waved a little and she called out for Mark. Mark came out and laughed.
"Rose! Welcome back! What are you doing back in Russia? Shouldn't you be with your bondmate?" Wow. There's a conversation starter.
"Well… funny story, we broke the bond. I'm no longer Shadow-Kissed." Marks eyes were really wide.
"How… how is that possible?" Mark asked.
"Long story short, Spirit held me here from the Land of the Dead, and when I was shot calling out a murder, I brought myself back from the Land of the Dead, killing any ties of from Spirit and the bond. I no longer see ghosts. I don't have Spirit's nasty side effects…" Shit. "No offense," I said to Oksana. Oksana shook her head and smiled.
"It's fine… but I'm guessing you went on another vigilante mission and completely ignored our requests?" She asked.
"Pretty much…" I said.
"Rose… what did you do this time?" That was when Dimitri came up to us and put a hand around my waist. Mark stared at me. Oksana was staring at Dimitri and Viktoria was grinning up at Dimitri.
"I pretty much did what you told me not too. I broke Victor Dashkov out of prison to help us find Robert Doru, and then he told us to charm the stake. It was nearly impossible until Lissa learned how to do it. Then she staked Dimitri and BAM! He's back where he's needed and wanted." I said while looking up to him.
"So… it's not a fairy tale… it's true. Spirit Users really can restore Strigoi?" Oksana asked.
"Obviously from Robert's state of mind, I don't recommend it." They both nodded in agreement. I turned to Dimitri while Viktoria was chatting away with Mark and Oksana.
"So… what chores did you have to do? Or were you getting married to more dolls?" I asked while grinning.
"How do you know about that?" Dimitri blushed in embarrassment.
"Karolina told me. I think it's cute." I said, looking up at him.
"Well, please, please, come in, come in." Oksana gushed. We all sat around the table while Oksana was making us lunch.
"So… how did it happen? The process?" Mark was so interested. I couldn't figure out why though. It's not like he wanted Oksana bringing back Strigoi.
"Well, it all started two years ago on a shopping trip to Missoula. Dimitri thought I might hesitate if I knew the Strigoi, which I did, but anyway, we were in a car on the way to the shopping mall and it was the first time our bodies barely touched. He told me that he would rather be dead than be a Strigoi. And I agreed. So after the attack…" And I went into detail of how I hunted Dimitri. Mark, Oksana, AND Dimitri already knew about the bite marks, it's not like Viktoria needs to know. I told them how I thought he was dead until I got a note saying "You forgot another lesson. Never turn your back until you know your enemy is dead. Looks like we'll meet again… which will be soon," They were all interested in the story… except Dimitri. Dimitri looked anything BUT interested. I squeezed his hand and he squeezed it back. I finished the story on how Lissa staked him with the Spirit charmed stake and Dimitri was a Dhampir again.
"Wow… I didn't think it was possible." Mark said and Oksana agreed.
"Many still deny it. It took a while for Dimitri to gain some of his status again." I said.
"Rose…" Dimitri started. I could tell he didn't want to talk about it anymore, so I let the topic drop.
"So what have you guys been up too?" I asked cheerfully. I tried to keep the mood up and Dimitri might want to know what his family friends have been up too.
"We've been learning more about Spirit. You know I can brush people's minds, like your friend could," Okay, Avery Lazar is not my friend, but I just smiled and nodded. "I can heal things, bring dead things back to life, like your bondmate, and now I'm learning to move things with my mind." Wow. That's a lot of Spirit abilities.
"What about compulsion… like super compulsion; making people see things that aren't there?" I asked curiously. Lissa had learned the same thing back at school and done the same thing to Jesse. I was curious to see if Oksana had learned the same thing.
"Is… is that even possible?" Oksana asked I don't know if it was nervously or disgusted.
"It happened with Lissa before the attack. I think it's possible, but it definitely takes a toll on you." I thought about Lissa and her after-state. The oven bell rang and I jumped. Dimitri cracked a smile as Oksana cut the meatloaf into pieces. I softly elbowed Dimitri and he smiled at me. I took a bite out of the meatloaf and wow. Oksana could cook.
"Jerk…" I muttered and Dimitri cracked a grin at me.
"Dimka, what were you doing with Mom?" Viktoria asked.
"The usual." He evaded the question the bastard. He's hiding something. Viktoria and I eyed each other and nodded slightly. Dimitri narrowed his eyes.
"Do you two have any plans while you're here in Russia?" Mark asked and he just HAD to ask it while my mouth was full. So Dimitri answered for me.
"Well, Rose and I are going out tonight." I almost spit out my food, but reluctantly, I swallowed it.
"We are?" I gasped in surprise. "Where?" He had a grin that said nothing.
"You'll see." He said slyly. I rolled my eyes and finished my meatloaf. We said our good-byes to Mark and Oksana and left. Viktoria grabbed my hand and pulled me ahead and told Dimitri to stay behind. He just smiled and nodded.
"Do you think it's serious?" I asked.
"Honestly? Yes. He loves you, Rose. Don't you see it? All of us do. I have the perfect outfit for you. Red will look amazing on you and with your curves you will definitely be able to pull it off."
I sighed. "What kind of dress is it?" I had to go all out. I knew Dimitri loved me. I loved him all the same.
"It's a red strapless dress that shows off your curves and is smooth at the end and easy to take off." She winked at me. I gaped at her and smacked her on the arm.
"Stop… just don't." Dimitri caught up with us and we whistled until we got back to the house. I powered up my laptop and found my new best friend: AIM. Lissa and Christian were on! They were probably IMing each other waiting for me.
Lissa: ROSE!
Rose: Yeah?
Christian: How's Russia?
Rose: It's OK. Really awko when Dimitri's family found out he was still alive…
Rose: I have A DATE with Dimitri tonight.
Christian: Never pegged you for the type to date, Rose!
Lissa: Hush, you.
Lissa: Who's helping you get ready?
Rose: Dimitri's younger sister. She's our age.
Lissa: Shit. Christian, we have to go.
Christian logged off.
Rose: What's his problem?
Lissa: Rose… Today is Tasha's execution.
Rose: OMG. Give Christian a hug for me. I wish it didn't have to be like this.
Lissa: Me too, but Tasha made her choices and so the Moroi law states I have to make mine.
Rose: Good luck and be strong for Christian. He's going to need you, Liss, like seriously.
Lissa: I will. I promise. Bye Rose.
I sighed, shutting down my laptop. There was a knock on the door and Viktoria came in with the outfit and her makeup kit. I shook my head at the jewelry because I only wanted to wear my nazar, the pendant my mother gave me that actually came from Abe. Shocker, right?
"I think this should be your size. Try it on." I sighed and took my shirt and pants off. I got a strapless bra but she grabbed it. "No, no, no. No bras."
"You're unstoppable." I grumbled, but the dress was a perfect fit. I loved it. I took my phone out and did a selfie to send to Lissa. She needed to know all of the things that I was doing since she couldn't come.
"See? It fits. He'll love it. Makeup time!" She sat me on the bed and started plucking my eyebrows so they would be in a perfect curve. She then did my eyeliner and eye shadow. "Close your eyes, Rose," Viktoria scolded. I kept them shut and she put a light color to bring out my skin. "Keep them closed." She, I think, was putting on blush, but I wasn't sure if she had my skin tone. I heard a tube being opened and it must have been lipstick. "Pucker your lips," Viktoria ordered. I did as I was told. She started – WHAT? She's shaving my legs. OhMyGod. Soon enough, my legs were silky smooth. I think she used Nair. She started curling my hair and I took a deep breath. Okay, hair I can deal with. She pulled me to a mirror and carefully put her hands over my eyes, but they weren't touching my face. "On the count of three, I'm going to move my hands. One, two, three!" And she moved her hands so quickly I didn't see it coming. Who is that? That sure as hell doesn't look like me. Maybe Dimitri will like it. I hugged Viktoria in thanks and she held me tightly. I think she knew what was going to happen tonight, but I didn't have a clue. There was a knock on the door and Olena, Karolina, and Sonya came in.
"You look amazing, Rose." Olena gushed. I blushed and looked back to the mirror.
"I just hope Dimitri likes it." I said, honestly.
"He'll love it." Karolina and Sonya said together. Paul then came in and his eyes widened.
"DIMKA! SHE'S A KEEPER!" We all burst out laughing and then I sobered up.
"Crap." I said. Crap! I don't have shoes to wear! What am I going to do, go barefoot?
"I got you, Rose," And Sonya came out with the cutest flip-flop heels.
"I can't thank you guys enough. Honestly." They all hugged me and Viktoria grimaced.
"OFF OF HER! NOW!" They all laughed and backed up. Olena kissed me on the forehead and rubbed my shoulders and Sonya and Karolina winked at me. Odd. "Go downstairs with Dimka!" Viktoria scolded and they were out of sight.
"You take after your brother," I noted dryly. Viktoria grinned as she put my sandals on.
"Can you walk?" She asked. I tested as I walked across her room. I walked with perfect grace. She handed me a white sweater that ended under the breasts. I took a deep breath and walked towards the stairs. Dimitri must've heard footsteps because he went to the front of the stairs. He inhaled sharply as I was walking down. He grabbed my hand and pulled me into a kiss. Everyone aww'ed and I looked down and blushed. He looped my arm in his and we walked towards the door. He had a basket with him. Hmm… so no restaurant. A picnic? But where? We walked towards the car and Viktoria grinned at me basically saying, 'Guuuuuuuurl, you're getting laid tonight.' I shook my head in exasperation as we got into the car. Dimitri drove off [No, he did NOT let me drive] towards the beach. Okay, slowly pieces are falling into place. A picnic on the beach, that sounds romantic, right?
"The beach? We're having a picnic on the beach?" I asked in a small voice, but in a good way because the last time I went to the beach was with Lissa in Portland.
"Yep," Dimitri said as he was parking the car. We both got out and I took my heels off. I had no idea what the point of those were anyway. He put his free hand in mine and led me to a soft spot in the sand.
"So, what's for dinner?" I asked, excited, but I tried to tone it down.
"Pepperoni Pizza and Brownies," Oh HELL yes. I loved how Dimitri remembered the little things about me. I snagged a brownie and ate it in one whole bite and MY GOD, it was amazing. He poured me a cup of milk and I smiled. I drank some of it as he had a piece of pizza. I took one too. Then suddenly, a thought occurred to me out of NOWHERE that made me wonder if Dimitri was really happy.
"Do you miss it?" I asked. He looked at me in confusion. There's a first.
"Miss what?" Dimitri asked.
"The possibilities you could have. You could start a family with anyone, but you choose to be with me and be unable to have a family." I looked down at my food, suddenly not hungry. "I just want to know if you know you're making the right choice."
"I made the right choice ever since I first had you in my bed, Roza." I looked up to him, tears welling up in my eyes.
"Really?" Am I really questioning him? I looked at him and he smiled at me.
"Rose, how could you ever doubt me? The day you came into my room with that dress on was the day I really realized I couldn't stay away from you. I love you, Roza. I always have and I always will." I wanted to cry. Honestly, there couldn't have been a better response from him at any time. I finished my pizza and Dimitri looked nervous as hell. I wonder what was up with him.
"Dimitri, are you okay?" I asked softly. He looked down and suddenly got on one knee. OhMyGod.
"Rose Hathaway, You own my heart, my body, my soul. You are my everything. I couldn't imagine a life without you. Will you marry me?" Time stopped. Did this seriously just happen? I love him so much and he loves me. I couldn't imagine a life without him either.
"Yes," I whispered looking up to him. He rocked back on his knees and then picked me up and twirled me around. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him with the passion that Dimitri and I share. We were student and teacher. We were refugees. We were equals. And now he's my fiancé.