*Updated 30-04-2018*

Chapter 15 - Dreams

Citra circled around Rosa as she tugged against her restraints. She tried to scream out for Vaas but the gag restricted her to do so. Rosa began to panic and she manically started pulling with all of her strength against the ropes that tied her down onto the rock table. She was like a sacrifice. Citra just laughed evilly.

"You could have been powerful, Rosa. The ultimate of your kind. You never belonged with Vaas, they never wanted you there. You were a burden to them all, they despised you. Vaas never truly loved you. With me, you could have been perfection. You could have triumphed against them."

Rosa's eyes grew wild with fear as Citra caressed her cheek with a smirk. Then, she picked up a knife and plunged it into Rosa's chest, stabbing her in the heart. Rosa screamed out Vaas' name but it was muffled so she doubted anyone would have heard her. She slowly began to fade away, growing weaker as Citra's voice echoed in her ears.
"You are a warrior. Die a warrior."
Rosa began to feel herself slipping and she weakly said Vaas' name under her gag.

"You won."

Rosa jumped awake with a gasp, like she had been under water for a long time and needed air. She was sweaty and her face felt wet with tears. She dabbed them away and tried to get her breath back.

"Rosa? Princesa? Are you okay?"
Vaas sat up, starting to rub Rosa's back. Rosa let out a groan as Vaas pulled her into his arms and they both lay down.
"Bad dream, huh?"
Rosa nodded against his chest.
"You were thrashing about, hermana and saying my name. I can't see how that would have been a bad fucking dream."
Vaas chuckled but Rosa didn't say anything.

"Princesa, are you okay?"
Rosa shook her head and tears escaped the corners of her eyes. Vaas sat her up and looked at her.
"What happened, hermana?" he asked, his voice soft and he stroked her cheek, "Tell me."
Rosa sniffed and tried to stop crying.

"C-Citra. She..she tied me up and was saying how you didn't want me, and that you didn't ever love me. She stabbed me." Rosa gulped, "I screamed for you but you weren't there and..."
The tears overwhelmed her as Rosa ran her fingers through her hair. She bit her lip trying to the crying but it didn't work.
"It was just a dream, princesa. I'm right here, I'm not leaving."
Vaas gently pulled Rosa back down and wrapped his arms around her.
"I know what will calm you down." he whispered
Vaas began drawing shapes and swirls on her back with his fingers, his movements delicate. Rosa focused on Vaas' patterns and the crying stopped. Her breathing returned to normal and Vaas made little shushing sounds. She felt herself becoming tired and her eyelids closed.

The smell of herbal tea wafted into Rosa's nose as she stretched, allowing herself to slowly wake up. She lazily brushed her hand to the side of the bed but found no-one. She sat up and grabbed the hot tea to sip and immediately felt relaxed.
Slipping weed into my tea again, she thought with a smile.

Rosa allowed herself to enjoy the peace and quiet of her surroundings although the harsh lights and newly hung animal corpses made it difficult. Peeling back the sheet, Rosa got hastily dressed and made up. She took a deep breath and pulled the warehouse door open. Strolling down the slope, she let the sunlight warm her body, basking in the heat. She found an empty chair near some trees and sat in it, closing her eyes and began to sunbathe.

Only a few minutes had passed when a pair of hands came over her eyes, the shock forcing Rosa to grab the culprit and flip them over, making them land on their ass with a thud. Vaas was groaning and clutching the base of his spine.
"Remind me not to disturb sun time." he moaned as Rosa grinned.
He got up and gave her a light kiss on the lips and touched her forehead.
"Feeling better, hermana?"
"Much. Thank you for the tea."
"My special blend."

Vaas winked at Rosa and Raul came up to them both.
"Raul! How can I be of assistance, amigo?" Vaas asked, his voice cheery.
"Just to let you know that we've had a call in and Hoyt is coming in half an hour."
"What?" exclaimed Rosa and she got to her feet, "Why?"
"I don't know. That's all I got told."
Rosa looked at Vaas and Vaas raised his eyebrows.

Rosa's head cocked up at the sound of the chopper and she tapped Vaas.
"Show time." she whispered and Vaas smirked.
Hoyt walked into the camp, looking different than Rosa remembered him, yet it had only a few days. Hoyt spotted Rosa and Vaas and sauntered over, his privateers dispersing around Vaas' compound.

"Rosa! You got a hug for your old man?" Hoyt asked, his arms outstretched.
Rosa jumped up and hugged Hoyt, smiling against his jacket.
"Do I not get a hug, boss?" Vaas joked.
"No you fucking don't." Hoyt said, "How have you been treating my daughter? You better say well otherwise, I will fucking kill you."
Rosa just laughed.
"Jesus Christ, Hoyt, calm down. I'm fine. Vaas is fine. We're fine together. We took out a couple of Rakyat, no biggie."
Hoyt immediately

"Hmm, good. Got into the action already then. Those natives are ruining my organisation, I'm telling you."
Rosa rolled her eyes.
"Any specific reason why you've come before the end of the month, Hoyt?" asked Rosa.
"Yes, there is." Hoyt replied.
He pulled out his cigars and offered one to Vaas, who accepted, but not to Rosa.
If you only knew what I've been up to, old man, she thought.

"Since you're living here now, I figured you need a better bed. Only the finest will do for my girl. It arrived yesterday from France. I've come here to deliver it and to see you, killing two birds with one stone as they say, you see?"
As if on cue, two mercenaries rolled a beautifully white, double bed through the gates and all of the pirates turned to look, envious of how comfy it looked.
"Where shall you want it, Rosa?" Hoyt asked.
"I'll sort it. You boys go talk business."
Rosa shooed them playfully with her hands and Vaas shrugged.
"Let's get a scotch." suggested Vaas and Hoyt nodded.
"Very well."

The two mercenaries stopped at the entrance of the warehouse and Rosa jogged over to them.
"Can you boys take out the old one first?" she asked, fluttering her eyelashes at the men.
"Of course, Miss Volker." one said, trying not to check Rosa out.
Rosa motioned them into Vaas' room where they retrieved the old mattress and then put the new one in. A smaller looking boy came to the warehouse door where Rosa was stopped monitoring and tapped Rosa on the shoulder.
"These were left in the cargo, Miss."
He passed Rosa some pillows and a thicker sheet, along with bedding and then scuttled away. She walked into the room and placed them on the bed.
"Thanks, guys. I'll see that you get something nice for dinner."
The two men left the warehouse and Rosa decided to make the bed. It looked out of place in Vaas' room and she chuckled to herself at the oddness of it.

'Something funny, princesa?" Vaas asked, slipping his hands around Rosa's waist and resting his head on her shoulder.
"Just this bed in this room." she replied, "Where's Hoyt?"
"In the bar, drinking himself into oblivion."
"Of course." Rosa replied and she touched the cool linen under her fingers. It was so white and clean and soft.
"How about we christen the bed, princesa?" Vaas purred into Rosa's ear, his breath tickling Rosa.
"I need something to perk me up." she replied as she beckoned Vaas onto the bed.