Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy or anything surrounding it (but I do own this plot :D)
RPOV
What in God's name did she think she was doing here? Better yet, what in God's name was I still doing standing in front of her? I made to move but the bitch had the nerve to inhibit this desire.
"Rose wait!" she called and I spun viciously on my heels.
"What do you want?" I hissed and watched her face deflate a bit as the harshness in my tone sunk in.
"Rose," her voice broke, sounding almost desperate, "I heard what happened; I wanted to help." Hurt flushed through all her features. I sighed. For those who do not know, my relationship with my mother was not, shall we say, cosy. She, the silly sod, had gotten pregnant at 19 so had to chose between me, her daughter, and her career.
As you can imagine, she chose the latter.
If it had not been for Lissa's kind-hearted parents, I would have been shoved in care whilst my mother went out of her way to change the world. A decade and a bit later, apparently the guilt set in and for the past three years, she has been trying to get back in my life. You can see how well that's going for her.
"You can help…" I began slyly, edging dangerously close to her, "…by pissing off!" I yelled causing some heads to turn and one woman to lunge for her child's ears. I stormed off into the kitchen and met the crossed arms of Stan Alto. He was about to say something not remotely complementary when my mother, once again, interrupted my life. He immediately shut up.
"Rosemarie." She said in that irritating, chastising voice that only mother's can do.
"What do you not understand about: Leave. Me. Alone?" I spat back but she stood unwavering.
"Could you please stop making a spectacle of yourself," excuse me? "and try to act your age." She sighed and the look I sent her made Mia – who had just come through the doors – to audibly gulp.
"I'm sorry, what would you have me do? Probably ship myself off to some remoter country where I really won't be able to harm your precious career!" I roared. "You know you could have saved yourself all this trouble if you had just aborted me; it's not like you care anyway!"
Okay, that may have been harsh.
"Rose…" her voice was weak and tears filled her eyes. I had truly hit hard with that one. I could see the shocked faces all around me and I even saw that Stan's mouth was agape. I knew I had to get out of there before I started crying too, so I spun away from everyone and all but ran out the backdoor into the back-alley. I kept running, not really caring about the weird looks people were giving me, just trying to get as far away from her as I possibly could.
Oh God, what have I done?
DPOV
I had calmed down by lunch time and braved the journey back to my home. After paying for my coffee and sending Ivan an apologetic text, I received a not so welcomed message from my father:
I called one of my friends round. Once you are calm, come back to your place and we'll discuss proceedings.
Great. Now I needed an invitation into my own home.
Refusing to get angry again, I stumbled back home, feeling the distasteful brewing of a hangover. Why did I choose vodka? I sighed. Sure, I was in need of something strong but the rocket fuel that was Russian vodka, maybe not. Getting annoyed with myself was going to get me nowhere so I let my mind wander to the first distraction I could think of:
Rose.
Twice. It had only been twice that I had seen her – and I am not even sure if you can count the first time – but there was something about her that made me feel…well, I don't actually know. It was an odd feeling of freedom and unease as well as a torrent of gratitude. Never had such emotions become combined together and the whole thought of it both confused and terrified me.
To be fair, both the times I had spoken to Rose was when I was struggling through a personal crisis so of course my emotions were going to be messed up. But, I relished the times that I had seen her. It was like when I was with her, I didn't feel so alone; I didn't feel so bad; I didn't feel so cold.
"I never took you as a daydreamer Belikov." I snapped my head up to where the voice had originated. No, it couldn't be. "Hello Dimitri."
"Hello Zmey…"
"You're kidding!?"
"I am not."
"Oww dude, that is…ouch."
"Thanks Ivan."
"Here to help, so what has the great Mazur got you doing?"
"He is in the sitting room with Aleksei discussing exactly what I am going to be doing for the next three months." I conveyed quietly to Ivan over the phone as the two older men discussed my life. They had already come up with several ideas on my pitch and Zmey even offered to threaten the Head of the cooperation. Thankfully, I managed to dissuade them from that theory but I had reached the point of no return as I now stood in my own bathroom giving a call of distress to my best friend.
"Oh I feel you buddy," he said sympathetically, "I don't suppose either of them are leaving anytime soon?"
"Nope." I said popping the 'p'
"Well… have fun with that."
"Ivan!"
"What!? I do not want to delve into the dirty work or world that is and surrounds Ibrahim Mazur. Do you know what he is? Who he is? He is the evil twin brother of fucking James Bond! Talk about 'from Russia with love': he knows all, sees all. I'll bet he knows you are not peeing in this bathroom!"
"Ivan." I sighed
"Nu-uh D, you are not dragging me down into this one. I'll help but I am not coming near Zmey; I nearly lost an arm between you and Aleksei: imagine how many limbs I will loose to Mazur…" I could feel him shudder.
"Right, sorry Ive, I'd better go. Stay out of trouble will you?"
"Not likely, I am a trouble magnet: look out ladies!"
"Bye Ive." I rolled my eyes and hung up. Taking a deep breath I walked back into the living room to where my father sat tensely on the three person sofa whilst Abe looked like he couldn't have a care in the world on the single chair.
"I didn't know it takes ten minutes to empty one's bladder?" he grinned slyly, his golden metal-work shining in the midday sun, "Intriguing, no?"
"No." I said coldly and he grinned even more.
"Come now Belikov, is that really the way to speak to an old friend?" he narrowed his snake-like eyes and rubbed the tip of his goatee. I just glared back at him and he took the hint. "Well, it seems our little devil has got himself into a bit of a tangle but no matter, we shall rectify."
"Nathan has already scheduled his meeting with the head's assistant in three weeks time; if we want any chance of competing, we have to pitch then." Aleksei finished, dumping a pile of papers in front of me.
"That means we have to finish our plans by then." I clarified.
"Yes it does." Abe said smiling again. I sighed and pulled up some more finance work. The next couple of hours were brutal. Except from the occasional text from Ivan, checking to see if I am still alive, I had been entirely focused on my pitch. Abe had put together charts and diagrams to help better the situation and had offered some more of his 'advice' when trying to get something you want.
My father had remained business like for the duration if the day for which, I was glad. He had behaved himself and in return, I hadn't splattered his inners all over the landing floor. Something told me that my neighbours would not be too happy with the mess.
Apparently I was playing host to my father overnight, who had also acquired the audacity to invite Abe to spend the night so they could have a 'speedy start' in the morning. Mercifully, Abe had declined but I still had to sleep on the couch for my father had demanded the bed and wouldn't have it any other way.
Abe finally left at around six when the sun had already disappeared into the abyss. It was late November. As soon as I saw his car driver (don't ask) drive him away, I made a break for the door. I may have to have my father spend the night but there is no reason I have to entertain him 'till that time comes, or any reason for me to remember it. And since I had thrown my last bottle of vodka at the wall, I was out of alcoholic substances.
Still, I meant I could go back to the Shadow Kiss Inn. Despite not being the closest bar to me, or indeed the liveliest, I wouldn't go anywhere else anymore. Having significantly sobered up, I – firstly remembered my car keys – and drove to the run-down old pub.
The night was clear and the stars sparkled in the dark sky above me, illuminated the rest of the world. The roads were packed with people returning from work to go to the comfort of homes and families. When I arrived at the inn, the place was lit by candlelight; it was ordinarily quite a dark place but at this time of night, where more people came and sat happily with people the cared for, it was truly homely. Warm and protective, it harboured more life than I could possibly express in my imagination.
I felt at peace.
Well, that was until I saw Rose…