~ ROSE ~

The next morning, I realized that my half-baked plan to just stay in the house during this entire trip was simply unfeasible. For one thing, it wouldn't get me very far in learning who I was before my accident, but more importantly, Lissa simply wasn't going to allow it.

I had barely started in on my breakfast when she began going over the plan for the day. There were a few areas that didn't concern me, but one in particular caught my attention.

"...and then we need to get you fitted for your bridesmaid dress..."

I nearly spit my mouthful of Cheerios all over the table. "What?"

"You're bridesmaid dress. There's not a ton of time before the wedding and we need to do some quick alterations."

"Wait a second. You want me as your bridesmaid?" I hardly knew her, and now she wanted me to stand by her at the altar?

"Of course I do Rose. I always wanted you to be up there with me. We were simply going to leave the spot open before, because honestly...nobody else could have filled in for you. Mia is the second bridesmaid. Dimitri and Eddie will be standing with Christian as groomsmen. I've asked Adrian to give me away."

"Oh." I could see how much this meant to her, and despite how awkward it made me feel, I knew I couldn't say no. It didn't matter that it felt like I had just met her, I had been her best friend for over 15 years. She looked like a puppy waiting for my approval, and I wouldn't let her down. "Sounds great, Lissa." I tried to smile enthusiastically, and while I was never much of an actress, I must have done well enough to convince her.

Her grin spread across his face, and I could see a peek of her fangs. It caused a slight shudder in me. It didn't matter how often I was reassured that Moroi weren't like the vampires of my nightmares, I didn't know if I'd ever be able to fully accept it.

"Let me just finish getting ready and then we can hit the feeders before going to the dress fitting."

"Feeders?" I hadn't heard the term before, but it didn't take a genius to understand what she was talking about.

"Yeah. I meant go yesterday, but with everything else..." She looked apologetic.

"You don't have to go into the feed room." The sound of a third voice – a deep, accented third voice – came in from the hallway. I turned to see Dimitri, his hair slightly damp from a recent shower, coming from the hallway where both his and Eddie's rooms were. I couldn't say that it was a bad sight by any means.

I was grateful that he could understand my hidden fear without me having to say it. I just nodded, and Lissa left to get her finishing touches put together.

"Is everything alright?"

Dang. That man was quiet. I hadn't even realized that Dimitri had come right behind me until he asked that. "Yeah. I'm fine. I'd really like to not watch her...feed, though."

"It won't be necessary today."

I pretended not to hear the implication that eventually, it would happen.

"Don't worry about it too much, Rose. I know it must seem weird, but trust me when I say that eventually, it will seem normal. Well, perhaps not normal, but at least it won't seem unusual."

Unusual didn't even begin to cover it though. It still seemed monstrous to me. Not that I thought of Christian, Adrian, and Vasilisa as monsters per say – they were actually were very kind – but the thought of drinking blood, human blood, was something out of a horror movie.

I heard Lissa's light footsteps coming down the stairs so I quickly finished the last couple spoonfuls of cereal and brought the rim of the bowl to my lips to down the milk before dropping the empty dish in the sink.

Following Dimitri and Lissa towards the center of the Court, I was amazed at just how big this place was. There was an entire vampiric city in the middle of nowhere, right under the nose of the human world. It still seemed totally unreal.

The building we finally entered looked old and worn on the outside, but the moment we stepped inside we were surrounded by something that looked like it would fit into a high end hotel. There seemed to be many different services offered, from a cafeteria to a small market. The place we sought though looked almost like a spa, at least at first glance. There was a young woman sitting behind a large desk, soft music playing in the background, and lots of blue and green decorations. People came in and out of a large doorway when called, similar to a doctor's office. Lissa checked in at the counter before coming to sit beside us. Less than a minute or so later later, she was called back.

Dimitri and I stayed in the lobby, and it didn't take me long to notice that most of the people waiting were guardians. They had more color in their complexion and more muscle definition than the frailer Moroi. After about five minutes of waiting, my impatience got the better of me and I began pacing the room. Dimitri watched me walk back and forth, looking between me and his worn novel, until I noticed that I could see into the back area from one particular spot.

There were several lounge chairs with people in them – humans, I realized – and partitions dividing them to offer a small amount of privacy. People dressed like nurses in scrubs walked between the different stalls, tending to the people there. Had this been the extent of the image, I would have guessed that this was more like a blood donation center than anything else.

I guess in a way, I wasn't wrong. Those who needed the donated blood were just being a bit more direct in the way they were taking it. Men and women – Moroi this time – would take their place near one of the feeders and drink from them.

I watched in fascination as the man bit down on the shoulder of a young red head and her head fell back as if she was in ecstasy. I felt like I should turn away, as if I was intruding on a private moment. But I couldn't. I just stared. Perhaps even more disturbing was the fact that it stirred...feelings in me. Longings.

The longing wasn't sexual, but it was still deep and pervasive. My hand went to my neck, caressing the same spot I knew that girl was being drained from. My heart rate increased and my breath felt short and hot. I suddenly desperately wanted to feel exactly what that girl was feeling. It was more than a want...it was almost a need.

I jumped when a hand brushed mine.

"Rose?"

Dimitri was beside me, with a look of concern. I cleared my throat and tried to compose myself.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

He looked ready to say something else but thankfully Lissa walked out of the back room at that moment.

"Thanks guys, sorry I took so long." She snatched a mint from a small crystal dish on the receptionist's desk, unwrapping it quickly and popping into her mouth.

"Nonsense" Dimitri dismissed her apology, almost automatically, but kept his focus on me as if still trying to get a read on my mental well-being.

"Where to next..." I grinned, remembering something that Adrian had done earlier to tease her, "...your Highness?" I capped off my playful banter with a dramatic curtsy and the combination of childish taunting and fake smiling seemed to reassure Dimitri that all was well with me.

The Princess Vasilisa, however, to a more physical reaction to my mocking. She slapped me on the shoulder, barely hard enough to be called a 'slap' and laughed with me. "If you ever call me that again, I'll have your head. I can do that too...Royal rules and all."

I had no clue if she could or not, but I knew that her fake threat was no more malicious than her smack had been earlier.

"The dress shop should be open now. We'll be a little early for our appointment, but I don't think I can get any of the other errands done before we need to be there."

The dress shop wasn't far away. It was a small boutique less than three blocks away filled with various colors of ivory, cream, and peach. Oh, and frills...so many frills. Walking in kind of gave me the feeling of stepping into an elaborately frosted cupcake. Its overt sweetness gave me a vaguely sick feeling.

Dimitri stopped before stepping over the threshold, as if the feminine air to the place was a physical barrier that was impossible for him to pass.

"Princess, I have a few items of business that I need to get done today, so if you plan on being here for the next few hours, would it be alright if I stepped away for a while?"

It was odd to see both Dimitri and Vasilisa fall into their formal roles around others. Wait...the next few hours!?

"That will be fine Guardian Belikov. I'll text you when we are finished here." She already seemed to be getting distracted by the wares in the boutique, so Dimitri offered me a small nod and a sympathetic grimace before turning to walk away.

When I joined Lissa again, she was already talking to the saleswoman about the dresses. She stepped into the back room a moment later.

"Mia will be joining us later, but I figured since your dress will need the most alterations to be prepared for next week, we'd start with you."

I nodded absentmindedly as Lissa guided me to a small dressing area where a dusky pink dress was hanging on a hook. I wasn't thrilled with wearing pink. I had nothing against girly girls, but that simply wasn't me. I preferred something a bit more edgy. Still, the cut was simple and classic with a fitted bodice and a long flowing skirt. There wasn't much adornment, but the material gathered and crisscrossed across the torso, and I could tell it would highlight any figure wearing it without being to showy.

I was able to slip the dress on easily and I was surprised that the color, despite being something I wouldn't personally pick for myself, was actually fairly flattering. It made me look...innocent. That was one adjective that I'd never think to associate with myself, but I kind of liked it. I gave a small swish in front of the small mirror before stepping out to where Lissa and the seamstress were waiting.

Lissa looked incredibly pleased with herself as I stepped up onto the platform and looked into the triple mirror. The seamstress started adjusting the dress, fitting the waist a little snugger and adjusting hemline so that it just grazed the floor rather than pooling at my feet.

"I know you didn't get much input on the bridesmaid dresses, but you look great, Rose."

"Thanks." I knew I should have probably said more, but I couldn't think of anything at the moment. I looked so unlike myself that it was nearly laughable, and yet I started to wonder if maybe this was part of the person I was before. Maybe I was used to dressing up in expensive dresses the color of frosting. "So did we do this sort of thing often?"

"Get fitted for bridesmaid dresses?" She smiled, obviously joking around with me. I rolled my eyes, giving a bit of snarkiness back to the stranger I was staring at in the mirror. "No. We dressed up for parties and dances occasionally, but they weren't typically this formal and you always left the pastels to me. You preferred to rock red or black."

Yep. There I was. It was nice to know that some things never change. As I looked at myself in the mirror though, smoothing the gauzy pink material at my hips, I couldn't help but smile at my image. Sweet and pure weren't quite my style, but I wouldn't mind looking more refined or sophisticated. Mature. Beautiful. Yeah, beautiful. I've been called 'sexy' and 'hot' more times than I could count, but I don't think anyone has ever said I was beautiful.

"Done." The seamstress stood from pinning the hemline. "Thankfully, it won't need too much in the way of alterations. I should be able to get it done within three days. Is that quick enough, Princess?"

For a moment, I was wondering why she was addressing me as if I was royalty. Putting on a pretty dress hardly made me a princess.

"That's should be fine, Leona." Lissa replied.

'Oh, right,' I thought, 'Princess Vasilisa.' Lissa hardly acted like a princess when she was in the privacy of her home and the company of friends, it was easy to forget.

"There's still time before the wedding, so that shouldn't be an issue. As long as it is done a few days before then so we can double check the fit, I don't see a problem. I was actually hoping you might be able to do another alteration for us that would need to be done by Friday."

The seamstress, apparently named Leona, thought for a moment before nodding. "If you don't need this one quite yet, then I think I can do that. Do you have the dress already?"

"No. That's the other part. We need to find a dress for Rose that's suitable for the Lazars' Charity Ball."

Leona's eyes widened as she glanced over at me quickly. I couldn't quite understand why she seemed shocked, but she hid the expression before anyone could comment on it.

If anyone had the right to be shocked, it was me. I had no clue what Lissa was talking about. "What Charity Ball?"

"Oh, the Lazars have an annual charity ball to celebrate their work with retrieving and restoring Moroi cultural artifacts and historical sites. I've attended for the past few years, but this year is supposed to be particularly special. I guess Adrian will even be noted for some of the assistance he did with recreating the art of Igor Durov to be displayed alongside the original works at the museum here. Many were damaged during the October Revolution, and this way, people can understand their original splendor.

"All of us are going to be there. Dimitri and Eddie will be acting as guardians, but the rest of us will be in attendance too. I figured you would want to join us."

Once again, I was a bit perturbed by the fact that Lissa would simply assume what I would want and make plans for me accordingly, but I was quickly gathering that this wasn't out of the ordinary for our relationship. Part of me wanted to protest, but what was the point? Would I really rather be sitting alone in Lissa's townhouse while everyone else was enjoying that night? Plus, I had heard about Adrian's talent with art, but had yet to see it. He was surprisingly modest about the fact, a complete contrast to his less than humble attitude in apparently every other aspect of his life.

"That sounds like fun, Lissa. I'd love to go."

Leona walked around me, looking my body up and down in my pink bridesmaid dress. She considered me silently, with her fingers on her chin except for the few times that she pulled out her measuring tape and double checked my measurements. After a full five minutes, she finally spoke.

"I don't have a ton of items made for someone with her...curves." The way she said it was almost as if she meant to say something else. While I was decently built with an hourglass figure, I wasn't incredibly curvaceous to the point where finding a dress should be difficult. It took me a moment to realize that one of the big differences between me and people like Lissa was that I was blessed with a much fuller cup size and hips to match. It wasn't that Leona was short on styles for curvy women, she was short on styles for dhampir women. I guess women of my race weren't typically shopping for high end dresses in these parts.

"Do you have anything? Maybe something that can be altered to suit her?"

"I might have a few options. Please give me a moment." The seamstress walked out of the room, and instead of going towards the display racks of clothing, she went into the back room. She came out a few minutes later with two dresses, one in black silk, and the other in a golden lace.

"These are the only two that I think would work for your particular body type. If we had more time, I'd try to make something custom for you, but both of these should highlight your best features without needing too many alterations."

Before I could take a good look at both dresses, Lissa picked up the black gown and handed it to me. "Do you think you'll need help?"

I felt the cool, smooth fabric against my skin. "No, I should be fine. Where should I leave the other dress?"

"Just put it back on the hanger and leave it in the dressing room. I'll pick up later. Try your best to be careful of the pins."

I nodded, stepping off the platform and returning to the small dressing room. The pink bridesmaid dress was much harder to get off without loosening any of her alterations, but I made it work and only ended up pricking myself twice. Once that was over, I slipped on the new dress.

It was wonderful. I felt comfortable in the black, even though the material was finer than anything I had ever worn. It was an incredibly basic cut: strapless, floor length, with a slit up the left side that stopped about two inches above my knee. All I would need would be some simple jewelry and I would be right at home at the party. Sure, I wouldn't stand out too much, but that wasn't a bad thing.

Walking out for the second time, Lissa beamed. "That dress is so you, it isn't even funny. I knew it would be the one."

I looked at myself in the mirror. She was right, if I was going on instinct, this is the dress I would have chosen between the two. Like Lissa has said, it was me. But as I studied myself, I realized that I was tired of people telling me who I was. I hardly knew who I was, how could anyone else?

I spoke before I thought. "I'd like to try the other one, if that's okay."

Leona nodded, but Lissa furrowed her brows. "Are you sure? This one seems pretty spot on."

As I took the gold dress from Leona, I smiled. "I'm sure."

I didn't dare to look at Lissa's reaction when I stepped out of the dressing room for a third and final time. I did hear her gasp. The moment I saw myself in the mirror, I understood why.

The golden hue of the lace was just a few shades off of my natural skin tone, but it almost made me glow. The dress hugged my body perfectly, looking like it made specifically for me and wouldn't need much in the way of alterations. It grazed each curve, flaring out into a small train behind me. The gown looked fairly modest, with cap sleeves and no slit up the skirt like the last one, but where it did show off my feminine attributes, it did so with a certain class about it. The sweetheart neckline framed my face yet showed just the right amount of cleavage. I turned just a little so I could see my back, and it was pretty visible without being showy. A large oval, starting at the small of my back and reaching up towards my shoulder blades, was cut out. The lace trim made it look almost like an ornate picture frame. Tying it all together was a subtly embellished satin ribbon at my waist, the bow resting just above my rear.

The entire time I was admiring the dress in the mirror, Lissa had been silent. The person who broke the silence was a new voice that I didn't recognize.

"Rose!"

I turned towards the entrance of the store, seeing a petite blonde with ringlet curls. This had to be Mia, Lissa's other bridesmaid.

"You...you're alive! And stunning! But oh my God you're alive!" The girl ran to me, bouncing up the platform to wrap me in a fierce hug. "I never thought I'd see you again. I'm so sorry. I never should have left you. I'm so sorry, Rose."

I embraced her gently, looking over towards Lissa for some backup against this strange woman clinging to me.

"Mia, remember what I told you about on the phone?"

Mia pulled back from me, looking at Lissa with a bit of confusion before springing back. "Oh! Right! You don't remember me. I'm Mia."

I laughed at her polite introduction that followed her near assault. "Nice to re-meet you Mia."

She smiled before looking me up and down in my dress. "You look...amazing. Seriously, this dress is incredible."

"Thanks" I replied. "I'm going to wear it to the event this weekend."

"You sure, Rose? Not the black?" Lissa looked shocked at my choice, but I felt confident.

"Nope," I assured her, looking at my reflection and the girl who seemed somewhat unrecognizable but oh so appealing. "Not the black."

Author's Note

So, I have a confession to make. I HATE when fic authors got into intense detail about every outfit their characters wear, especially when the narrator is someone who wouldn't have any idea about clothing (Sorry, Dimitri probably couldn't tell silk from satin). I personally believe that unless the outfit is particularly notable to the narrator or has some detail that will be important to the plot, it really isn't necessary. So...why then did I write a chapter that is all about Rose's experience dress shopping? Because I think the three dresses represent quite a bit to Rose and her situation.

First, the Pink Bridesmaid Dress. This is obviously something that is uncomfortable to Rose, even though she can wear it well. It doesn't quite feel like her. It's something that she had no input in and something that someone else (in this case, Lissa) picked out for her. It needs quite a few alterations and she's occasionally pricked as she tries to maneuver in it.

Second, the Black Dress. We all know Rose has a pretty good history with Little Black Dresses. Perhaps you're thinking that I should have had her choose that one since it seems like the natural choice for her. Honestly, I thought about it too. Imagine Dimitri seeing Rose in that black dress, a grown up version of the memories that have haunted him for years. It would be pretty intense...but I don't know if it would have been exactly what the story or Rose needed.

Which brings us to the third Golden Lace Dress. It has a bit of sex appeal, but it does so in a much more subtle way, allowing Rose to shine. It's elegant and still somewhat comfortable. Most importantly, it excites Rose. It's not something she would have typically gravitated towards but she likes it. It's not what others expect from her. Choosing this dress makes her feel in control and somewhat powerful. It feels like a new beginning. (if you're interested in seeing what I had in mind for this dress, take a look at my Tumblr post for this chapter with the tag #rose's dress)

And there you have it; why I broke my self imposed rule about not going into detail about what people are wearing. Let it never be said that I don't live on the edge :)

Also, out of curiosity, which dress would you have personally chosen? Sweet and pretty pink, sexy and classic black, or elegant and unexpected gold?

Thank you to everyone who reads, shares, reviews, favorites, follows! You make writing so much fun, even when times are tough. I can't express how much your love and support means to me!