Ch. 20
DPOV
Songs: Ballade de Hollis Brown by Hugues Aufray, (I Just) Died in Your Arms by Cutting Crew
"Another champagne, Monsieur?" A waiter dressed in all white held out a silver tray in our direction.
"Don't mind if I do," Adrian reached for one of the crystal flutes and Christian shot him a warning glare. "Oh, come on Chris. I'm supposed to be blending, remember?"
Eddie walked up behind Christian interrupting their trivial argument. "No sign of him yet."
Abe had sent the four of us ahead, Eddie and me posing as the Moroi's Guardians under false names, while we did a quick assessment of the perimeter and an initial search for Grigory. We agreed it would be better arriving at different times rather than as one big group. Rose and Pavel would be accompanying him, with Eva staying back until we could get the information we needed.
Prior to leaving, I had asked Abe to do another check of the guest list to not only triple check that Grigory was among them, but also to make sure no one from the Moroi or Guardian Council would be attending. I hadn't been in contact with Alberta since I left the academy, but seeing how we left things open-ended, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to present myself to the people who were basically accusing me of conspiracy.
"Why haven't you told any of them yet," Abe had asked.
"It's for me to worry about, not them," I deadpanned, closing the door to his office.
"Don't you think she has the right to know? From what I've gathered, that girl does not seem like the type of person who appreciates secrets." He wasn't wrong there.
I knew eventually I'd have to come clean to Rose, but she needed me to be strong right now. I couldn't appear to be weak or vulnerable. "We need them to focus on the mission and I don't want Rose distracted."
Abe huffed in disbelief of my response. "You really are something else, Belikov."
I rid our private conversation from my mind and refocused on the room. Everyone here, including the Dhampirs, were all dressed in formal attire. Eddie and I had been forced into tuxes as well, neither of us too pleased about it; they made it somewhat difficult to maneuver in a fight, but we could make due. It was somewhat difficult to tell which of the Dhampirs were here on duty, or attending as "guests". Some were obviously guarding, with their backs always to a wall and a keen eye on the room, others were sipping on champagne or hanging off well-dressed Moroi men.
"We're approaching the gate," an accented voice spoke through my earpiece. I looked to Eddie who had heard the message as well and we all began making our way toward the front of the room to greet the rest of our party. I knew the role Rose would play. Even though it was an act, it made me extremely uneasy seeing the other women around here and picturing Rose in their place. I began subconsciously visualizing her face over each of them. A greasy Moroi with his arm around Rose's waist, whispering in her ear. A regal redhead woman running her fingertips along Rose's shoulder, eyeing her like a piece of meat.
My pulse was racing in anticipation and I was regretting this plan each minute that dragged on. I mentally scolded myself for acting like a jealous boyfriend. Rose and I weren't together anymore, but I couldn't help but still feel protective of her.
"Here they come," Eddie acknowledged. With my back to the entrance, I began to prepare myself mentally for the remainder of the evening. I could do this. I would do this. For Rose.
Adrian grabbed a couple of glasses of champagne to greet Abe with. Chris fell in line behind him and Eddie headed up the rear. I took one last calming breath and turned around, my nerves finally starting to settle.
Until I saw her. My breathing stopped and my heart pounded in my chest. I hadn't realized that our group had started moving until Eddie bumped into my back. I scrambled my feet, correcting my position, and moved towards the glorious vision ahead of us.
I couldn't take my eyes off her. The silky red fabric seemed to simultaneously cling to her body and flow away from it in crimson waves. The sweetheart cut accentuated her perfect breasts and the thin sleeves gracefully fell off her shoulders. Her thick hair was pulled back to show off her gorgeous, exotic features but half was left down in loose curls to hide her Molnija and Zvezda marks. She was a goddess.
Staring at her in that dress, my immediate reaction was caught somewhere between wanting to run over to her with my duster and hide her from prying eyes, and taking her to a nearby room and ripping it from her body.
Get ahold of yourself, Dimitri.
The closer we got, the more small details I noticed. The red stain on her lips, the light blush highlighting her soft cheeks, an intoxicating perfume radiating off of her.
"Damn, Rose. You clean up nice," Adrian reached over and pulled Rose in for a friendly hug and kiss on the cheek.
She grazed her hand down her body as if to show off her perfect physique. "Well, thank you, sir."
"Ahem, you are meeting these lovely gents for the first time remember?" Abe brought them out of their chummy exchange as a few guests made their way by us. Christian stepped forward and offered his hand, politely introducing himself and Eddie. Rose smiled and shook their hands in a cordial exchange. When her eyes finally met mine, I was enraptured once again. She looked down, admiring my attire, and her smoldering gaze mirrored my own.
I reached out for her hand and brought it to my lips, planting a light kiss on her soft skin. "Roza. You look beautiful," I whispered, my lips a breath away from her hand.
"Th—thank you," she nervously replied. God, I could have stared into those gorgeous eyes all night if she'd let me. A new conversation started next to us between Abe, Adrian, and another Moroi man that approached the group and I regretfully pulled away from Rose, blending into the background once again.
The night carried on. Rose bounced from Adrian's arm to Abe's. Once Grigory finally arrived, Eddie and I kept a close watch on our target, both of us sparing occasional glances at Rose to make sure she was alright. Eddie was a good friend to her and I appreciated the extra set of eyes to keep watch on all the drooling men at the ball. Rose was by far the most beautiful woman there. Hell, she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
Eventually, Abe instructed her to wander off on her own in hopes that Grigory would approach her. According to Abe's contacts, he had been known to have an inclination for beautiful Dhampir women such as Rose; however, he had yet to make himself known to our group.
Rose stood near the dancefloor, innocently twirling a strand of hair around her finger. I saw Grigory take notice of her from across the room, but he seemed to be more interested in his current conversation and regarded Rose as an afterthought.
Fool.
"We need something more drastic," Abe concluded. "She can't just go up to him and expect him to respond. We need him to come to her. He's the type of man who revels in the thrill of the chase. Something I can admire in another man, no matter how despicable he may be." He tried to hide his disgust behind a smug guise.
"Maybe a twirl around the dancefloor will grab his attention," Abe ran his hand through his perfectly trimmed beard.
"Well, then allow me to indulge," Adrian started as he set down his fourth glass of champagne.
"No." Abe shot out his arm, halting Adrian's movement with a hand on his chest. "Not you."
He slowly moved his gaze from Rose...to me.
"Belikov," He smiled. "Would you be so kind as to ask the little lady for a dance?"
RPOV
Songs: Work Song by Hozier, Need You Tonight by Welshly Arms
For something alluring enough to be named a ball, this party was such a bore. I had spent the majority of it pretending to hang on every word that Abe spoke and turning down advances from sleazy Moroi pricks.
The most excitement of the evening was when I walked in. Seeing Dimitri in that tuxedo, staring at me the way he was, caused every hair on my body to stand on end. It's no secret that he was an attractive guy, but he looked impossibly handsome tonight dressed to the nines. I felt something familiar stir inside me when his lips made contact with my skin.
I rolled my shoulders and tilted my neck side to side, his fierce gaze still causing butterflies to flutter in my stomach, my heart, my—
My thoughts were interrupted when a warm, calloused hand lightly fell on my shoulder. I didn't even need to turn around to know it was him. His familiar, wonderful scent gave him away.
"Excuse me, Miss." I looked up at Dimitri over my shoulder. "May I have this dance?" His velvet voice made it impossible to refuse and a nod was the only response I could muster.
In one swift movement, he was next to me with his hand in mine, pulling me towards the center of the dancefloor.
We were all forced to take dance lessons at St. Vladimir's early on. It was a bit of a Moroi tradition that had been passed down for generations; for events such as these, I supposed. Even though us Dhampirs knew we would rarely use those skills outside of school dances, I always enjoyed picking them up. I glanced around and recognized the dance immediately. The steady rhythm and low hum of the band's tune perfectly reflected the steps that resembled a mix between a waltz and a tamed tango.
We joined the other couples on the marble floor beneath the room's extravagant chandelier. It's intricate crystal beads reflecting off the dim lighting was enough to pull anyone's attention to it, but my eyes were fixed on Dimitri. His suit jacket hugged his broad shoulders like it was made for them. His long hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, and I suddenly felt the urge to set it free. When we reached a spot to his liking, he turned around to face me. Trying desperately to calm my racing pulse, my eyes shyly shot to the floor and I studied our feet meticulously as he pulled me towards him.
Get a grip, Rose. It's just a dance for crying out loud.
A warm shiver rolled through me as his hand cautiously glided down my back and my eyes shot up to his face, causing me to straighten up and subconsciously move closer to him. Without taking his eyes off mine, he took a small step towards me and I followed suit by taking a mirrored step back. I wasn't normally the type to follow, but at that moment a strange, almost hypnotizing feeling came over me that made me feel like I would follow him anywhere he led.
Normally, with new partners, it would take a few turns around the dancefloor to get used to each other and find comfort in one another's rhythm, but with Dimitri...we fell in synch from the very first step. His light movements on the battlefield were paralleled on the slick floor, and I felt complete trust that every step he made was the right one.
The tips of my loose curls tickled his hand on my back and he began twirling the strands around his fingers. My nerves started to settle under Dimitri's calming caress and I finally mustered enough confidence to speak.
"Where did you learn to dance," I asked him. After seeing his deadly grace in training, I should have expected him to be skilled out here as well. But still, his sturdy elegance peaked my curiosity.
"Karo and Sonya used to make me practice with them for dances at St. Basil's." He let out a small laugh as he reminisced. "I tried to refuse them at first, but their constant begging always got the better of me."
I pictured a younger Dimitri rolling his eyes as the Belikova women forced him to dance around the kitchen. The image brought a bubbling smile to my face and the mood became immensely less tense.
We slowly glided at first, falling in line with the other couples dancing nearby, but as the beat picked up his moves became braver. His firm, yet gentle grip on my back kept me upright as he led us in smooth circles around the edges of the dancefloor. Eventually, his hold on me loosened and he prepared his first risky move. Dimitri lowered his hand to my waist and lightly gripped me just before twirling me around him.
It was so quick and graceful, I almost thought I had imagined it when he pulled me back and we were face to face once again. An uncharacteristic smirk slyly crept up his face as we continued swaying to the band's deep hum. There was something playful in his smile that caused my heart to jump.
Not wanting to reveal the effect that smile had on me, I gave him an equally cocky grin and pushed my chest up against his before leaning back in a sultry dip as he spun us around. When I whipped back up, his expression had transformed into burning desire and I reveled in the small victory. Noticing my self-assured demeanor, Dimitri raised an eyebrow and flashed me a look that said 'game on'.
We spiraled around the dancefloor, our bodies entwining and flowing through each move that we threw at one another; our competitive nature finally coming into play. It was a battle that neither of us wanted to lose and each bold move was met with an equally fervent one.
As the crescendo of the song approached, Dimitri let go of my hand and snatched my hips as he deftly lifted me above him. I gripped his shoulders and looked down at him as he whirled us around, the ends of my dress gracefully rippling by. My body and soul felt light as air while he effortlessly held me up. The song started to slow again, signaling its end and Dimitri gradually began to bring me down. I maintained my grasp on him while he lowered me, pulling our bodies closer together as my feet approached the floor. Our eyes were locked and I bit my bottom lip under his fierce gaze. Our chests were pressed completely together, not even a breath separating us.
My heart was pounding and I could feel his beating in an equally fervent strum as we stood there enveloped in one another's grasp. Dimitri removed one of his hands from my waist and brought it up to my face. His feather-like touch caused my lip to quiver in anticipation as he carefully tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear.
"You are so beautiful." His eyes eagerly searched my face and each spot they rested I could feel a light flush tugging under my skin. When those chocolate orbs finally landed on mine, my racing heart completely stopped.
"So are you." It was out of my mouth before I could consider how ridiculous it sounded. He smiled at my breathless reply, lighting up his already heart-melting features. Most good-looking men I would describe as handsome or attractive, but Dimitri—in this grand room, under these elegant lights, and in that suit—he was gorgeous.
I felt entranced under his stare. We hadn't been this close since the night I was wrapped up in the bond's bloodlust, but this was a different kind of spell. It wasn't dark, lingering emotions corrupting my body and mind. It was him.
"You two put on quite the show," a heavily accented voice seeped through our bubble and broke the spell.
"Hmm?" Still slightly dazed, I turned my focus to where the voice had come from, and standing beside us was Grigory.
"I must admit, I am extremely impressed, as are the others in the room." I looked around and realized the dancefloor that was once filled with a mass of couples was now completely baron except for Dimitri and me. They were all lined up around the outskirts with other spectators, eyes beaming at us with a mix of fascination and jealousy.
"I can't blame them. Your moves had me captivated as well Miss—"I became acutely aware of our allusive embrace as Grigory's look moved over Dimitri in a judging glare.
"Grand. Victoria Grand," I finished for him, pulling out of Dimitri's hold. "It appears my partner can be quite...spirited," I looked over to Dimitri, adding an extra bit of sass to my demeanor.
"Normally, I look for a more quality partner but he turned out to be decent enough—for a Guardian." I wafted my hand in Dimitri's direction and leaned into my hip, showing off my curves to Grigory. He snickered at my snub and stroked his beard admiringly. Dimitri straightened up and snapped his stone mask in place.
"Thank you for the dance," he replied curtly, turning on his heel.
Even though it was all an act, a little piece of me chipped away as he brusquely walked passed us. I looked over Grigory's shoulder after Dimitri hoping he would spare one last glance at me and see the truth in my eyes, but he kept his tense back to us, his fists flexing open and closed at his sides and he blended into the crowd.
Grigory lifted his hand and lazily motioned over one of the waiters carrying a tray of champagne. "Ladies first," he looked to me.
"Well, don't mind if I do." I snatched one of the glasses and gulped down half of the bubbly drink.
"Is it to your liking," Grigory asked, eyeing me curiously.
"Hmm, I've had better," I flirtatiously replied. This earned me another amused chuckle.
"Victoria Grand, you are an interesting woman. Difficult to read. I find that...intriguing." Grigory's snake-like smile caused my stomach to churn, which I deftly covered with another sip of champagne. I batted my long eyelashes at him over the rim of my glass and rolled my shoulder to the side.
"I should be getting back to my friends," I feigned a hint of boredom. "Thanks for the drink, Mr—"
"Grigory Szelsky, at your pleasure." He took my hand in his and with a short bow, he kissed the top of it, causing my skin to crawl. I gave him one last man-eater smile and slowly turned my back away, swaying my hips unnecessarily as I sauntered off.
"Victoria," I grinned as he called the name behind me.
"Yes, Grigory," I asked over my shoulder, seemingly aloof.
He walked over to stand beside me and asked, "Would you accompany me upstairs on the balcony? There is a special ceremony that will take place soon, and I would be honored if you would join me."
I paused a moment, making him anticipate my response. "Alright. I think I could be persuaded."
His grin grew wider, revealing a peek at his fangs and I knew I had him hooked. He placed his hand on the small of my back, leading me towards the nearest staircase. I deftly looked around and made quick eye contact with Abe then Eddie, signaling where we were headed.
Grigory nodded at other attendees along the way and paused to make quick pleasantries as we headed up the white marble steps. He appeared to enjoy showing me off and I obliged to appease him.
"You seem to have quite a few friends here," I commented as we approached the balcony. I leaned my forearms on the cool gold metal and arched my back while looking over the edge.
"I believe in making a name for myself. A man is only as good as his legacy after all." His cocky response irritated me almost as much as his appreciative gaze at my backside.
"Oh really? And here I thought it was the woman on his arm that made the man," I turned around to face him, casually leaning my back and elbows on the rail.
"In the present tense, you couldn't be more right," he moved closer to me and set his drink down beside him. "But a legacy is immortal, and immortality is power." He lifted his right hand and stroked my arm with the back of his fingers.
"I take it you're the type of man who values power."
"Above all else. With power comes respect…endless opportunity…pleasure," Grigory hissed into my ear.
"But at what cost?" My smart mouth betrayed me and the whispered words slipped out before I could think better of it. Grigory pulled back with slightly furrowed brows, and I amended my mistake by feigning a drunken giggle. "Besides, someone like you looks like he could afford anything he wants," I provocatively stroked his arm. He seemed to buy my ploy, but before our conversation could continue, a voice called out and our attention was pulled downstairs.
The room quickly settled and all eyes focused on a Moroi man standing in the middle of the dance floor. With the room quieted, his voice carried throughout the entire ball. The man began speaking in French, all words lost on me. Damnit, why didn't I ever pay attention in foreign language?
Noticing my confusion, Grigory leaned in next to me to whisper a translation. "He is welcoming everyone to this grandiose event. There are a few new members here tonight, and to celebrate their arrival and a new…partnership he has prepared an extravagant presentation." The mention of a partnership brought me back to his conversation with Lissa I had witnessed through the bond and I quickly scanned the room for my friends, hoping at least one of us had a good vantage point to pounce if needed. I could feel my stomach starting to churn as I anticipated her entrance.
The man motioned over to a corridor to his left where three hooded figures emerged. Two of them stood side by side grasping on to the third person's arms. Their tight grip caused another stir in my already uneasy gut. I could see the tips of a man's shoes dragging along the floor as the other two cloaked aggressors effortlessly pulled him towards the center of the room.
When they reached the Moroi man in charge, they flung their captive to the ground, his knees crashing into the marble floor and his head hanging low with the hood still covering it. I assumed his hands were tied since he made no effort to brace his fall. I peered at Grigory through my peripherals, trying to gage his thoughts on the scene before us.
"This rat is a traitor to our circle." The Moroi conveniently switched to English as he belted out his accusations. "He has been spying on our elite group and feeding intel regarding our most secretive plans. We do not tolerate disloyalty, and have brought him here to make an example of his crimes." In one swift movement, the Moroi whipped the hood from the kneeling man, revealing a familiar face.
It was Arthur, the lovesick bartender Eddie and I had questioned at Zavlekat. His hair and clothes were unruly and there were dark circles under his sleep deprived eyes. We hadn't asked him anything of much importance, at least nothing deep enough to warrant this kind of humiliation. Suddenly, all the convoluted pieces began coming together in my mind. Abe had repeatedly mentioned a contact that gave him information on the ball and who all would be attending. Why hadn't I questioned him who it was? He also must have been the same person that tipped off Abe to me and Eddie when we visited the bar. How else would Dimitri have gotten to us so fast after arriving there?
Still, did selling out some of the "elite" members at this event really warrant this type of behavior? No. But to them, something else might.
My worry exponentially grew as another thought crossed my mind: Did he know about Lissa? Had he been there during her and Grigory's meeting? I desperately tried to remember back to that night, but before I could grasp the details, my thoughts were distracted by another hooded figure entering the scene. Where the other two stood still, clothed in black this new on comer wore a stark white shroud.
"To show good faith to our recent partnership, one of our most esteemed members has volunteered to participate in tonight's ceremony," the mouthy Moroi boomed as he motioned towards the new player.
"Ceremony," I questioned to Grigory, my eyes still fixed below. He didn't answer, and his unnerving silence set me on edge. I suddenly realized this was no longer a show of humiliation. This was something bigger.
My eyes darted around the floor until I finally found Eddie. He was at the back of a crowd, trying to make his way to the front, but was held up by a group of drunken women clinging to his suit jacket. I could tell he was trying to find a balance between getting rid of them and not attracting attention but was struggling.
When he approached Arthur's side, the white-hooded Moroi dropped his cloak, causing his salt and pepper curls to bounce as the fabric fell to his shoulders. He began speaking in another language I didn't recognize. I did another quick scan of the room and realized that while many of the Moroi and Dhampir guests were becoming unsettled, others were entranced.
Arthur's eyes finally shifted from the floor, and amongst all the patrons in the crowd, they somehow found mine. Recognition sparked and I knew I had to do something. I started to move back from the rail, ready to bolt down the stairs but Arthur's eyes widened with the tiniest shake of his head. The recognition of my subtle movements made it obvious that he had completed his training and was already anticipating my intentions, but his eyes held me in place, pleading with me to stay put.
The older Moroi gradually knelt down beside him and panic began to rise in my chest. I could feel Grigory stiffen next to me. He was putting on a front that this was something he was okay with, but I could see through his haughty veil. He was scared. If he wanted to, Arthur could have yelled out to me or singled out Abe in the crowd, but something was stopping him. Something he knew was preventing him from giving up his source, and I could see in his eyes that giving ourselves away and falling into the same clutches was the last thing that he wanted.
The louder Moroi began speaking again, but I didn't hear a word he said. I kept my eyes fixed on Arthur's, refusing to look away. I at least owed him that.
The silver-haired Moroi moved his mouth towards Arthur's neck and the memory of Lissa's voice haunted my mind: Let me show you.
He sank his teeth into Arthur's skin, my eyes locked with the Dhampir's as he drank from the wound. A pang of horror and sickening jealousy surged through me at the familiarity of what that bite could do. Being in Lissa's head during the feeding had made me feel empowered, but watching a life drained before my eyes here, only increased my feelings of helplessness and hatred.
I held Arthur's gaze, being there for him the only way I could, until his eyes fluttered closed and he and the Moroi simultaneously fell limp to the floor. The room was silent as a crypt, all eyes glued to the two still bodies before us. After a few painstakingly slow moments, one of the bodies began to stir. A sharp intake of air echoed off the walls from some of the onlookers and the white-cloaked body rose with his back to the crowd.
The other two figures in black cloaks who had been perfectly still throughout the process finally lifted their arms to their hoods as Arthur's assailant gradually turned around; revealing three pairs of matching eyes. Eyes as red as Arthur's blood still staining the white marble, eyes that exposed themselves as carnivorous beasts, eyes that were pointed directly at me.
How many more were here?
As if reading my thoughts, the Strigois' pale lips pulled up over their fangs into sinister smiles. I suddenly felt unsteady on my feet and took a stumbling step back, feeling strong hands wrap around my arm and pulling me back into the crowd.
A/N: Confession time. I totally reshaped the second half of this story to fit this chapter in; specifically the dance scene. I heard "Work Song" a while back and to me, it is the ultimate Romitri song that desperately needed a part in this story.
If you haven't seen Hozier's music video you should definitely check it out. Not only is it amazing, but I derived some parts of the dance scene from it. Also, I know "Died in Your Arms" is the cheesiest song ever and I definitely don't see it being in Dimitri's top 10, but it had me dying picturing that playing in his mind as Rose walked into the room lol.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! RIP Arthur.