A harpy. That's what his aunt reminded him of. A shrieking, squawking harpy, her voice piercing his eardrums—making Spirits darkness gather around his mind like some kind of black shrouded wraith.
Her little digs were coming faster, each one more pointed than the one before. After the first five minutes of interrogation, his loving mother had excused herself under the guise of procuring refreshments, leaving him to suffer alone, fending off the attack with a decanter of bourbon as his only means of defense. Which was why he now sat staring at the bridge of Tatiana's nose, focusing on the point right between her eyes—attempting to let each snide, snarky innuendo roll off him like water off the back of a duck.
Sadly, it wasn't really working very well.
As much as he wanted to speak up—to defend Rose's actions, he couldn't. Most of the things his aunt was spewing were all too true. Rose had left school before completing her studies. She had been involved in an illicit affair with her much older mentor—although how the hell his aunt knew about it was a mystery to him. He had to hand it to the old bat—whatever source she got her Intel from was pretty damn accurate.
"I simply cannot understand why an intelligent girl like Vasilisa would attach herself to trash like the Hathaway girl." Tatiana's lip curled in disgust. "The princess is a model of decorum and an excellent student. The only time she ever steps out of line is when the dhampir girl is involved."
"Actually, if it weren't for Rose, Lissa would probably have quite a few black marks on her record—you seem to be forgetting the side effects of Spirit." He pointed to his head, waving his finger around—the universal symbol for insanity. "The bond enables Rose to pull off the brunt of the darkness—which keeps Lissa from acting out when Spirit gets to be too much of a strain on her… and she risks her own sanity every time she does it.."
He took a drink, eyeing his aunt over the rim of his glass, waiting for the implication of what he'd said to hit home, but it didn't seem to faze her one way or the other. "Not to mention the fact your perfect little princess has the nasty little habit of using compulsion on people to get whatever she wants—and she has no qualms about wiping people's minds afterward. I don't think you fully understand how much stronger a Spirit users compulsion is."
She waved her hand, dismissing what he'd said as if the argument had no merit. "You see? Even now you take up for her, It's time to wake up and face the truth Adrian. She's just another one of your addictions—like your drinking or your cigarettes. She's a bad seed—not meant for someone like you, and now that she's gone... you need to flush her out of your system for good before you're pulled down to her level. I want you committed to Vasilisa before Rosemarie returns. She may have set out with the intention of finding Belikov, but you and I both know that soon enough she'll get bored and give up the search. She probably already has for that matter—all that girl cares about is having a good time." Tatiana snorted in a very undignified manner, shooting him a dark look. "You realize she'd probably in some commune right now, spreading her legs for every Moroi in sight? I've said it time and time again—that girl has blood whore written all over her."
Adrian slammed his glass down so hard the bottom shattered; it startled her—but he didn't care in the slightest. A roll of white hot rage shot through him at her slandering, dismissive words. "Actually, she's not. I know for a fact that she's still hunting Belikov—to fulfill a promise they made to each other—and she'll most likely get killed trying to stake him. I've visited her in her dreams and can tell you that I've seen her—and I've seen the effect her searching has had on her. She's not partying or whoring around—she's spending every waking minute looking for him, barely eating or sleeping. So you don't need to worry about her coming back to me Auntie," he said, lacing the word with venom, "unless it's in a body bag."
There wasn't a hint of emotion in her steel gray eyes—as if the thought Rose dying didn't bother her in the slightest; it made him want to lash out and strike her—because just imagining Rose's cold, lifeless body made his chest ache—like a vice was squeezing his heart, pulverizing it beyond repair. "All the better. At least then you'll be forced to put aside your foolish fantasies about having a future with that girl. Maybe then you'll stop acting like a spoiled child and step up like a man, fulfilling your obligations."
"My obligations? To what? Become a breeding machine for little Ivashkov-Dragomirs?" His lips curled up in disgust at the thought. When he imagined his future children they weren't pale blonde Moroi—they had dark hair and eyes; fiery little dhampirs, with Rose's temperament and his limitless charm.
"To be a King, of course; I will make Vasilisa my heir and in doing so I will insure the Ivashkov's still remain in power by placing you at her side." She sat back, smiling smugly. "The monarchy isn't hereditary—yet—but I've already taken steps to make sure it will be in the future. The Dragomir and Ivashkov line will be the one who remain in control of the crown."
He stared at her, stunned. "There's no way the other Royal families would allow it. It's ridiculous to even think that they would let—"
"Ahhhh, what was it you said before?" She interrupted him, raising a brow. "About me not understanding how much stronger a Spirit users compulsion is? I do understand Adrian—and that compulsion will make the other Royals see that a hereditary monarchy is in the best interest of our people. The two strongest bloodlines merging and leading us into the next millennium makes perfect sense; your combined powers will save our people from extinction."
And people thought he was crazy.
"Do you have any idea how much strain it would put on us to compel that many people? We'd lose out mind before we—"
"Not if you had dhampir bond mates to take the side effects."
"It would drive them insane Aunt Tatiana!"
She shrugged her shoulders as if it didn't matter at all. "They pledge their lives to protect us. Better to lose their minds in service than to be killed or turned Strigoi in an attack. Perhaps in time you will find a way to heal them. Either way…they will be doing their duty—protecting and serving as they were meant to do."
Running his hands through his hair, he struggled to find the words to explain how wrong her view was; he would never allow another human being to suffer the bouts of madness that so often ate away at him. "Lissa will never agree—and neither will I. Dhampirs are living, breathing beings—not disposable commodities to use up and throw away."
"Feeders then—ones who have outlived their usefulness."
"It's the same thing! It's wrong—no better than what a Strigoi would do!"
"Tell me Adrian…what do you think happens to a feeder when they reach the point where they can no longer provide the sustenance we need? Did you think we just released them back out into the world to live out their lives, knowing of our existence?" She gave him a pointed look, rolling her eyes at his dismay. "They're shipped off to… a commune, of sorts—and kept under guard. Once they stop getting their daily hit of endorphins, most of them are already half crazed. The majority of them die within a few months even though they are well cared for. Perhaps being bound to Spirit users would prolong their life expectancy. Even if it didn't… they're already a lost cause."
A hot rush of shame washed over him; he'd never stopped to consider the fate of the feeders. The fact they often went crazy was no surprise—he supposed it was like trying to detox after a lifetime of drinking or drug use, dangerous in more ways than one. "Still… there's no way—"
"It's not up for discussion Adrian. In time you and Vasilisa will come to see things my way. If you don't… well, there are always ways to make you both realize the importance of following orders."
"Was that a threat, Aunt Tatiana? Because I would hope that by now you'd realize that I have a very large rebellious streak—and I don't respond to threats any better than you do."
"Don't be ridiculous—I don't threaten… I warn. Vasilisa's little friend… the Ozera boy. I'm sure he and his Aunt think I'm unaware of their rabble rousing efforts… efforts that tiptoe along the edge of treason. It would be a shame for such a handsome young man to spend the rest of his life in Tarasov… or even worse to have it cut tragically short. After all… the penalty for treason against the crown is death. That is something I'll remind Vasilisa of in the future should she balk at my plans."
"Hubris is very unattractive in a woman your age Auntie—and the same goes for blackmail. Lissa won't take kindly to it—in fact she might run off and go into hiding again, only this time Rose won't be there to keep her safe." He stood, giving her a mocking bow, needing to escape before the building black pressure inside his skull snapped the tiny threads that were keeping it in place. "If you'll excuse me—I did actually come to Court for a reason… and I'm sorry to say that it wasn't to spend the entire afternoon discussing the idyllic life you have mapped out for me."
"And that reason would be?" Her eyes narrowed, refusing to grant him permission to leave.
"As much as I hate to admit it after hearing your plans for world domination with the fruit of my loins, the fact is that I was planning on doing exactly what you've been pressuring me to do—to attempt to get in Lissa's good graces. She and I have been researching Spirit and we've exhausted the resources available at Saint Vlad's. I thought that digging through the archives might turn up some new materials for us to go over. You know… quite time… the two of us… alone… sitting close together as we pour over old, dusty tomes. Romantic stuff—at least for her, anyway. Although… now that you've informed me I'm nothing more than a trained stud in your stable, maybe I'd be better off drinking the rest of the day away and attempting to enjoy what little free time I have left before you chain Lissa and I to a bedpost and command us to perform our sacred duty to the Moroi race."
Rolling her eyes, she ignored his sarcasm. "I find that hard to believe, considering how you've been panting after the dhampir like she was a bitch in heat."
"Oh come on… you obviously have spies everywhere. Call them up and ask them how much time Lissa and I have been spending together—and make sure to ask them what Ozera's reaction has been to the two of us closing ourselves up alone while we practice Spirit. Sometimes he and Rose would sit in on the lessons, but for the most part they left us alone." No need to tell her the most personal thing that had happened between them had been Lissa's asking his advice on how to handle her boyfriend's jealousy—or that Eddie had always been lurking nearby playing Guardian. "Cross my heart and hope to die."
"Fine. I suppose I could call over to the archives and tell them you have full clearance; that will give you access to things most people aren't privileged to see." Her face softened, the regal queen fading away before his eyes and the aunt he loved so much finally peeking out. "I'm sorry, Adrian. I know I seem cold and heartless… but a Queen must put her duty to the people before everything else—even before her family. I truly believe you and Vasilisa together… it will be a good thing."
"The old 'this hurts me more than it does you' argument? Really Auntie… come now. That line didn't work when I was five and you and gave me a spanking—what makes you think it's going to work now?" He bent down, brushing his lips against her cheek, but it was only because she expected it. The last thing he felt like doing was touching her, but the faster he appeased her the quicker he would be free. "I would think after seeing my parents spend the last twenty five years trapped in a loveless marriage out of duty you would want better for me—but as my Queen wishes, so it shall be."
"Adrian—don't be like that. Please." She reached up, her palm cupping his cheek; he fought back the impulse to lean away out of reach. "Once you get over your obsession with Rosemarie… you'll see Vasilisa for the marvelous, beautiful girl she is—and someday you will thank me for everything I've done. It may not seem like it now—"
"I know, I know. Enough already." There was only so much a man could take. "As always, I'm wrong. You're right. Can I go now? Please? I'm hungry, tired and about to voluntarily spend hours digging through books older than the state of Pennsylvania. On top of that I really have had to use the bathroom since I walked in the door."
She chuckled, shaking her head at his brashness. "Fine—go on. But I'll expect you to come see me again before you leave. I'd be interested in hearing about some of the things you've learned about Spirit."
"Done. I'll even show you all the copies we've made from the information at the Academy. Speaking of which—it would be better to show Lissa the actual books. Maybe—"
"No. Those books do not leave the Archives. They aren't even to be photocopied—you'll have to take notes. I'll tell Lord Szelsky to have everything you might need on hand."
At that moment—with an exquisite sense of timing that he was willing to bet came from eavesdropping—his mother reappeared, a silver tray holding a tea service in hand. "Are you leaving? Already? We haven't even gotten a chance to chat Adrian."
Her chastising tone was too much in the wake of his Aunt's lecturing; it cracked the veneer of aloof politeness he'd been using since he walked through the door. "Don't pretend to be the caring mother—it doesn't suit you at all." He brushed past her, not even bothering to try and catch her eye. "You're the one who chose to vanish as soon as it was possible as opposed to spending time with me—but don't worry… I'm used to it. It's something you've been doing my entire life."
"Adrian! I don't appreciate that implication in the slightest! How dare you presume—"
"Save it. I've been preached at enough for one day." He shut the door behind him managing not to slam it—though deep inside there was a hurt little boy that wanted him to unleash his anger. That part of him wondered how it was possible to love his mother so much despite of all the years of indifference she'd heaped on him—and that was when it hit him.
While his attraction to Rose had been purely physical at first, it had deepened as he learned more about her; despite her continual rebuffs and refusal to acknowledge him—the more she ignored him the stronger his feelings grew, until they'd taken on a life of their own, completely consuming him in the process. In a weird, twisted way… it paralleled his relationship with his mother—always seeking her approval only to be rebuffed—and it would horrify her to realize that her years of neglect were part of the reason he couldn't give up on Rose.
He made a mental note to relay the information to her as soon as possible—and in front of Tatiana. After all… if she wanted to play the part of a loving doting mother in front of his aunt, it was his duty as her only child to make sure that he did his part in acting out the charade—then he'd sit back and watch his aunt's nuclear meltdown.
Buttoning up his coat, he set off for the archives, trying to ignore the icy tentacles he felt poking at his brain, testing the bounds of his sanity. At least… that's all he hoped it was. When the choice was between his own madness or a mental visit from a Strigoi…. crazy won out every time. Hands down.
A/N: Well it's been two years coming, but here you go. Thank icefirewave who's lovely review prompted me to get off my ass and update this story. I couldn't remember where I stored all my handwritten chapters that were waiting to be entered so I wrote this on the fly as soon as I read her review; it's not quite up to my normal par, but give me a few chapters to prod Adrian back into action and then we'll be good to go. I can't promise daily updates the way I used to do because I am taking care of my mother who is sick—but I will try to update at least once a week. I appreciate everyone who has expressed an interest in having this story continue and I'll try my best not to let you all down or make you wait so long in the future.
There is a graphic I made for this story posted on Rose's tumblr—I've added the link to my profile if you want to check it out and see what Adrian looks like in my head.
xoxo
SWS