-Chapter 2-
The sun was only beginning to dip behind the trees when Lissa left her hiding space in the attic above the church. She had slept straight through lunch and almost into the beginnings of dinner. Her muscles were sore from disuse; she shook them out, wincing when pain lanced up her legs. Moving through the pain, a norm for her, Lissa thought back on the boy. He had seemed so familiar, as familiar as the warrior. Their likeness wasn't in physical appearance. It was the pang of emotion and the unsettling images that they brought up. Part of Lissa hoped she would dream of him again, despite the fear of the flames.
Adrian saw Lissa before she saw him. He tackled her into a hug, his bright emerald eyes taking in her messy tangles. He flashed a brilliant smile before tugging her over to his table. Sydney Sage sat with her nose in a book, this one about ancient ruins of some kind. He plopped her down in an open chair and chattered excitedly. Apparently, Adrian decided he'd take over Natalie Dashkov's duties as the center of all gossip.
"I have finally discovered the reason behind Natalie's disappearance, cousin. The poor girl ran off with that boy of hers. You know, the one who was plastered to Jesse Zecklos's side. Well, she and him decided to have themselves a secret rendezvous and didn't think too far ahead. Mia's convinced that the poor girl is pregnant. Not that I'd-"
"You're listening to Mia now? When has she ever been a reliable source of information?" The words held more bite to them than Lissa had intended. She wasn't going to take them back though, especially not with Sydney so close to the both of them.
"You're right cousin…" Adrian deflated, straightening up. He pushed Sydney's plate of salad away and traded it for his bowl of soup. The dark liquid sloshed around when he placed it in front of Sydney, "Here, eat this. It's minestrone." He pushed over the bread basket with it, probably wanting Sydney to eat a stick or two with the soup.
"Adrian, stop fussing over me. I'm fine," But Sydney still accepted the soup.
"I worry, I know." He looked back to his friend, "Lissa, you should also know… That despite your uneasiness and your qualms, Sydney and I are-"
But Adrian never got to finish what he was saying. Lissa's eyes darted over to where Jesse Zecklos began calling out. His voice always brought her attention. It shouldn't, but it did. She watched as he grinned widely at someone, the grin itself malicious. He and his male friends were at it again, shouting out and making a fuss. Behind Zecklos, Lissa could make out a figure, but that was it. She didn't dare try to look any closer, mostly because the inky feeling returned. So she turned away, begging whoever was listening to make it go away. To make her go away.
Ruin. Ruin. Ruin.
The dinner commotion had ended rather quickly. Whatever had made Jesse speak out, had shut him up just as quickly. Sydney Sage was more than glad, Lissa could see the delight on her face when the boy quieted down. She could also see that with Sydney smiling and eating her food, Adrian had also relaxed.
The both of them, Adrian and Lissa, went up to grab their main course. When they returned there were two more people sitting at their table. Lissa didn't recognize either of them. A boy named Eddie Castile with his messy sandy blonde hair and hazel eyes. A girl named Jillian Mastrano, who looked as familiar as seeing a reflection. Adrian, however, sat down eagerly and talked to the duo as if he had known them his entire life. Lissa felt sick. Again.
"Adrian, I have to go. I think I'm going to go study for that Russian test we have tomorrow; you know how bad I am at pronunciation." Lissa smiled, but she could tell it wasn't convincing. Still, she kept on, "So, you know, I'm leaving. Bye…"
"Liss, wait! We don't have Russ-" But Lissa had already fled from the dining hall. She tossed her uneaten food in the nearest waste bin and hurried out into the brisk night. The sun had been consumed entirely, and Lissa was left scrambling in the dark. She felt as if she were in her dreams now. The meadow beckoning her to return, the strange people calling for her presence. Tumbling, Lissa steadied herself on a nearby fountain's ledge. She sat herself down and gulped down the chilled air, forcing it into her lungs.
Feeling watched, Lissa jerked up and tossed her gaze in every which direction. She couldn't shake the feeling that her world was closing in on her and threatening to devour her being. The immediate threat made her wobble until she felt the cool touch of stone bite into her cheek. There was little pain in her thoughts, but that didn't matter at all. No, the only thing that mattered were the icy blues eyes that watched her.
Ruin. Ruin. Ruin.
She was saved. Or at least, she thought she was. Her meadow was left unscathed by the inferno that had dared to consume her. Though, the feeling of salvation was short lived. Lissa was back in her glass bird cage. The warrior was before her again. But there was also Sydney Sage. She observed Lissa quietly, her body covered in rusted blood. Sydney Sage wore the same sweater, a neutral brown fleece with strands of glimmering gold woven into it, and the same light blue denim jeans. Both were stained with the murky color. Lissa wrinkled her nose at the smell. She hated the thought of blood. It brought her back to a time of desperation. A time where her mother and father needed her most. A time where she could do nothing but watch the mayhem consume them.
But the warrior stayed steady. Her dark eyes never left Lissa, not even for a second. Before Lissa could touch the glass, the warrior slammed her fist into the crystal. Her knuckles clunked against the strength and Lissa watched the pain splay out onto the warrior's face. Despite all of that, she kept slamming her fist home. Each time Lissa felt at a loss. Each time Lissa felt more alone than ever.
She turned, her jade eyes, searching out something else. Anything else. But it would not come. Lissa sank down to her knees and pressed her hands against her ears. Screaming erupted from outside her protected enclosure. The warrior made no noise, her lips pressed tightly together. The dark eyes set into a beautiful face watched her through the thick pane. Sydney Sage stood silently in her bloody wear.
The screaming, she realized, was coming from the cathedral. The doors burst open and a man came running out. His dark eyes widened and his lips formed words much too quiet for Lissa to hear. As he got closer, his duster trailing behind him, Lissa could hear him with such clarity.
"Queen Dragomir! Get down!"
Lissa, barely registering what he had called her, dropped to the ground. Soft grass tickled her bare arms as Lissa squeezed her eyes shut. Around her, chaos ensued. The crystal cage exploded into bright shards. She ducked, screaming when they bit into her skin. Blood welled from the cut and ran into the grass blades beneath her. Crimson clashed with green and Lissa felt her eyes fill.
Fingers gripped Lissa's wrist and pulled her from the debris. The warrior looked at her, emotions warring in her eyes.
"I will come for you, Lissa. I won't let you go. I swear to you," She bent down and pressed her lips onto the pulse in her wrist. The warrior moved away then and the dream shattered away. It left Lissa confused and dazed when she reappeared in a white haze.
Adrian stood before her, mouthing something she didn't understand. He repeated it again and again. Lissa shook her head and pointed to her ears, trying to communicate that she couldn't hear or understand him. With a roll of his emerald eyes, Adrian disappeared and the dream faded away.
Shattered. Shattered. Shattered.
"Welcome back, Vasilisa. We thought you might have been a goner."
There was laughter around her and muffled 'Shhh', but Lissa couldn't quiet focus on anything. Instead she found herself slowly adjusting to the cot she was rested on. The room didn't look familiar in the least, but Lissa didn't care too much about that; she hadn't been to most of the campus buildings anyway.
There was a woman there, with sandy blonde hair and light eyes, who sat over Lissa. Beside her was another woman, this one with auburn hair and brown eyes. The dark eyed woman looked as if she wanted to skin Lissa, though she wasn't sure why. Lissa prided herself on being obedient and quiet in school.
"Why- Why would you think I was a goner?"
"Because your pulse faltered and that means your heart stopped." The dark eyed woman informed her, her smile like daggers.
"Oh shut up Janine. Don't worry sweetie; she just moved her fingers and lost your pulse. No hearts were stopped in the taking of your pulse."
"But you said-"
"I was referring to how you'd wake up and pass out almost immediately after. It was like your spirit was drifting away from us." The woman looked down at her, pushing a lock of blonde hair back behind her ear. "Do you remember what happened, Vasilisa?"
"Lissa… I go by Lissa. And no; I'm not too sure what happened. Why am I here?"
"One of the students found you passed out by the fountain and brought you straight here. He was very worried about you, Va- Lissa."
She shot up at that. A student brought her here. A male student. "Where is he? Did he have blue eyes? Is he still here?"
"Yes," The woman – Alberta, as her nametag suggested – laughed and nodded, "He's out in the main office. He was adamant about remaining here until you woke up." She turned towards the scowling woman. "Janine, why don't you go inform our guest that his friend woke up."
Janine left to go grab the blue eyed boy, but not without a huff. Alberta watched Lissa with a warm smile. An odd feeling washed through her, and suddenly remembered what the woman had said.
"Why would you say that my spirit was drifting away?"
"Hmm?" Alberta tapped the eraser of pencil against her lip, the pink nub resting there while she mulled over her answer. "I guess because you always seemed so full of it; full of spirit I mean. I've seen you around campus. You have always been exuberant with that friend of yours. You two are a good match. Hathaway always needed a balance like you." Hathaway? And what did that mean; exuberant? Lissa hadn't genuinely smiled during her campus life. Never. It didn't seem worth mentioning though; Alberta wasn't paying attention. She was busy scrawling away at the form in her lap.
Janine returned with the boy. He was the boy. The boy who's face lit up in her dream, who smelled of soap and spice, who laughed in her meadow. He was the boy who had burnt her world down. The boy in front of her was him, but amongst the smell of soap and spice, she smelled ash and campfire on him. He looked brilliant and sturdy and handsome and confident and everything Lissa was not.
"Who are you?" His blue eyes stayed kindly on her, but his brow furrowed.
"You can't possibly say that you have no idea who I am?" A playful smile pulled at his lips. The boy continued to stare at her, though, as if she had gone mad.
"I can confidently say we have never met before. Not ever."
"Well that's too bad."
"Christian leave her alone before I sick my daughter on you." He laughed again, Janine smiling at him over her shoulder. "I mean it kid. She may not remember you at the moment, but Rose certainly will. And she'll put you in the cot right next to Lissa."
Christian smiled at her before turning back to Lissa. His smile stayed steady, but there was worry in his eyes. Fingers wrapped around Lissa's wrist and tapped at the white gauze. "Your arms were shredded when I brought you here. Alberta patched you up and thankfully you haven't started bleeding again." His eyes dipped down to her left wrist, still wrapped in his fingers. He brought his lips to her pulse and pressed them there gently.
Entranced by his movements, Lissa didn't dare move him away. She had to know if he was like the other oddities. She had to know if he was like them; like Sydney and Mia and Mason. So she let her eyes close while focusing on his presence. Christian. Christian. Christian.
And there it was, the painting of Christian Ozera. But it didn't consume her, or leave her feeling an emptiness deep inside. It was a comforting feeling, like being snuggled in a blanket. He smiled, eyes bright, and laughed. The images came at her faster. Christian hugging her close, his hands brushing her hips, lips taking hers. There were happy images of him taking her hand and leading her off to an attic much like hers, images of him smiling down at her and laughing, images of him gazing at her from across church pews. Then there were the not so happy images. Images of him bloody and bruised, images where he looked too pale to be alive, images where there was anger sparking in his eyes. There were even more of him tossing around fire like it was nothing, big glowing orbs projected from the tips of his fingers. Christian Ozera battling a pale, red eyed monster with sharpened canines, eyeing them as meals. Christian Ozera thrusting a silver stake into pillow, his eyes wild and a goofy grin adorning his face. Christian Ozera as he stared in disbelief, his face so open and vulnerable, as if he were receiving damning news. Christina Ozera shouting when a shot was fired and sailed towards her. Christian Ozera dragging her away from a dead body. Christian Ozera holding her as she sobbed into his shirt. Christian Ozera.
Her eyes opened again to see Christian gazing at her. It looked as if he was waiting for her to return.
"Where did you go, Lissa? You looked as if you went to a place I could not follow," She shrugged and pushed out of her sheets. Sitting up now, Lissa could see the heavy bandaging that had been applied to her cuts. She lifted the end up just enough to see the jagged scars healing. They were pale silver against her white flesh.
"I didn't go anywhere." He eyed her a moment before nodding. Janine was watching them interact, and Lissa couldn't help the wave of unease that threatened to overtake her. This woman looked so similar to the warrior from her dreams. They had the same look about their faces, the same gleam in their dark eyes. It was unsettling to say the least. Janine nudged Alberta and went back to her quiet whispers. 'She's looking awfully pale. Should we call for Kirova?' Alberta gave a quick shake of her head, the blonde strands flying from her face. 'No'
Christian stayed silent as she pulled herself the rest of the way up, her pale legs hanging off the edge of the cot now. Standing back when she moved forward, he held a hand out for her to take. She didn't take it. Alberta only spared her a glance before directing her back to the dorms.
Shattered. Shattered. Shattered.
"I only want to make sure you back to your room without you falling again," He had said that so many times now that Lissa wanted to push him off a cliff. His blue eyes lingered on her longer than she wished, his hand brushing hers as they walked side by side. "You shouldn't act as if I mean to take advantage of you. I'm honestly-"
"And here at the Ivashkov Resort, we pride ourselves on honesty. I've got her Ozera. Go away," Before them, Adrian stood looking rather menacing. He flicked his fingers at Christian, urging him to disappear on sight. With narrowed eyes, Christian stepped back as his hand took Lissa's wrist again.
"Please, remember."
Adrian grunted and Christian was gone. Staring after his retreating form, Lissa swallowed back the lump in her throat. "What the hell was he going on about?"
"Hmm- what?" Her eyes turned back to Adrian. He had changed into a black tee and charcoal cotton pajama bottoms. Bunny slippers flopping about as he walked, Adrian guided her the rest of the way to the dorms.
"That boy? Ozera? What did he want?" He looked accusatory. Not that she could blame him. Lissa, who had been the poster child for good behavior, was hanging out with someone who looked like they burned down churches for fun; well… he did burn down her meadow. Besides, she wasn't hanging out with him. He had taken her to the infirmary and tried to escort her back to her room safely. That didn't make for a bad guy.
"Oh… he needed help in our Russian class."
"Need I remind you, once again, cousin? We. Do. Not. Have. Russian. Class." His emerald eyes skewered her as he ushered her back into their room. "Not once have we taken a Russian class, nor have you ever had an inkling of desire to speak Russian."
She grumbled, realizing it was stupid to lie to Adrian, even when it wasn't even a good lie. "Yeah, well it doesn't exactly matter what he wanted. He was just walking me back to our room. No need to initiate the 'big brother' protocol."
"No, you're right. That's Andre's job. Good thing he'll be visiting this weekend, cousin, or I would have had to find replacements."
She rolled her eyes. Like there could ever be a replacement for Andre. Only Adrian held enough brotherly concern for her to qualify; and even then he was lacking.
"Yeah okay. I'm heading to bed. I don't want to deal with you and your misplaced 'brotherly distresses'. Good night!"
Author's Note:
Let me know how I'm doing :) I'm very curious to know how you feel about this story.
Country Boy is being updated as we speak. As for King of Spades, that will be up later this week. Much love to everyone who reads and reviews and sticks around this to see this mess of a story unfold.
Thank you again for sticking around!
-syxstyx