Chapter 23
Dimitri POV

It was midday when I awoke and I knew that I would be expecting a call soon from Oksana and Mark. I got dressed and made to look for Rose but was distracted by my phone ringing so I quickly rushed out through the front door to answer the call.

"Hello?"

"Hello Dimka, it is Oksana"

"Oksana how are you? Have you got any good news for me?"
"Yes we do! We found Robert and he has given us the information we need to help restore Rose!". I couldn't believe my luck it was actually possible to restore Rose. My heart was so light with hope that I could not keep the smile off my face.

"That is great news! Tell me how is this possible?"

"We need to infuse a stake with Spirit and only a spirit user can stake the Strigoi!"
"Wait a minute are you telling me a Moroi can only stake the Strigoi! Oksana no matter how I wish to restore Rose it is impossible to ask this of you! Not only that it is improbable that you can even do so on you own accord, it takes a fully trained Guardian to be able to stake a Strigoi through the heart. Mark must have explained this to you already". What ever happiness I was feeling deteriorated in that moment.

"Listen to me my boy, Mark and I have discussed this and we have come up with a plan. Both you and Mark shall hold Rose down as I stake her. Together we can do this!". Once again I had the prospect of hope. Let this little piece of bad news overrun my mind and I wasn't thinking straight. Of course with two trained Guardians holding Rose down Oksana would be more than able to stake Rose even if it took her a few attempts. We could do this. Plus we also had more people coming to help us, I could not forget Lissa and Christian were on their way.

"You are right of course and also there will be another Spirit user joining us as well as a fire user which might be able to distract Rose if anything goes wrong". Odds definitely seemed to be in our favour.

"Great! We shall be in Spokane with in the next day and soon you will have your Roza back!"

"Thank you so much to the both of you! I can not tell you how much this means to me!"
"I already know my son! Farewell and I will call you when we are in the neighbourhood."

"Brilliant see you tomorrow!"

I had made my way around the block by the time I had finished up with my call and decided to return to the house to find Rose was furious and demanded to know where I had gone and what I had been up to! She was being very irrational I knew I had to calm her down quickly.

"Dimitri what games are you playing where have you been?"
"Rose please there is no need to get upset I am just trying to help you like I told you before". Rose was showing signs of aggression and jealousy, and didn't seem to believe me.

"That's bullshit you want to leave me don't you, what am I not good enough for you any more. Who do you think you are dealing with. I am your one and true love and you... are... mine! The rage inside of Rose had exploded into an active volcano and was out of control. She was completely irrational and I couldn't seem to understand how she had become so volatile.

"Please Roza believe me!" I was in a panic I could see that there was no taming her but I tried desperately for her to see reason.

"How can I believe you when you don't even want to be awakened just like me! Dimitri I WANT US TO BE THE SAME!" This was the turning point. It appeared Rose was tired of playing games she felt it was time to awaken me and be done with it. I could not see a way out of this and became desperate in my pleas.

"Roza you don't know what you are saying this is wrong and I can fix you! Roza please stop this can't you see you're killing me?"

"No I don't understand! We can finally be together no rules, no one judging us, only our love. It has been embedded in your pathetic, weak mind that we must only protect the Moroi and that they come first! That is bullshit! We are just slaves looked down upon for even considering to love our own kind because we are to serve them and procreate with them, for them. We are considered selfish if we love each other? Can't you see how wrong that is? Dimitri I see it clearly now all the lies that have been fed to us from birth. I love you, and this time no one will be able to stop us!" All the anger she was holding inside was released and it truly scared me. All these things she was saying I knew deep down were true but I couldn't let her warp my mind. Yes we were treated as slaves and looked down upon but it was an honour to serve and protect the Moroi. They were the good guys and that was our job, no matter the price we pay!

"No! Not like this I want the old Rose back, my Roza please let me get help! Let me restore you?"

"What so that I can turn back into that old weak form of my former self? No thank you! Now that I have been awakened I know what true power is and I am not that scared little girl any more! There is no more fear, no more darkness! Isn't that what you wanted Dimitri for the darkness to stop consuming me? Here I am strong and better than I will ever be and I am right in front of you! I love you with all my heart, what the Moroi have taught us about Strigoi is wrong, I still feel and my love for you has not faltered! Can't you see it, can't you see me. Look past the physical appearance and see the real me your Roza..."

And I did, I looked into Rose's eyes and at first I couldn't get past the red rings around her eyes but as soon as she stepped towards me backing me up against the wall of the living room, I looked deeper. With a hint of hesitation Rose carefully took my hand and places it to her heart! My eyes widen with shock and disbelief as I felt for the first time her steady heartbeat.

"Your heart? How have I not heard it before "

"It beats for you my love as it has from the first day I met you!" Rose can sense my heart beating faster, as she gave me a knowing look. At that moment I had finally come to the realisation that I still truly loved her with all my heart.

"Roza? How can this be?". My voice was wavering and I felt myself surrendering myself to her.

"It's me Comrade, see me!"

Ever so slowly, Rose cups my face with both hands. I flinched at the cold temperature of Rozas hands but when I stared into her eyes I could not deny the truth, this was my love, my life, my Roza. Even though she was lost now I would do anything to bring her back. All I had to do was try and distract her for a little while longer, just until the others arrived. We were so close to restoring her so I would just have to bide my time somehow. It seemed the best mode of distraction would have to be a physical one and I was not complaining.

I leaned into Rose and pressed my lips against hers. Even though at first her lips were cold, hard and unyielding the kiss progressed and I could feel the warmth of love that passed through that kiss. She ran her tongue against my bottom lip waiting for an invitation and I gladly accepted or more accurately I succumbed to her with a deep moan escaping me. She smiled and the kiss deepened and became more intense, more desperate.

In our fight for domination my tongue scraped along Roses' fangs and I once again got a taste of the sweet venom but there was something different about the high this time, something a little bit more special in a way. Maybe because of the fact I have tasted her venom a few times now it seemed that each time was batter that the last. Something about that short burst of divine liquid compelled me to need more.

"Roza please" I begged with such longing in my voice it was barley recognisable.