Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy or anything surrounding it (but I do own this plot :D)
RPOV
"Good morning all." I sang cheerfully the following morning as I walked into the Shadow Kiss Inn with a smile on my face. The response was a variety of grumbled moans with a snarky comment from our number one chef. The one benefit to pretending to be pregnant for your best friend was that I got a day off – a whole twenty four hours off.
It was marvelous.
Though everyone else thought differently. Mason and Eddie were already scrubbing down a few tables but had to negotiate around a Christian who had all but collapsed onto one of them. Since the discovery of the debt, we had all taken on longer shifts for the same pay and it was wearing us a little thin, so my day off had allowed for some much needed relaxation which had made me very happy.
The other reason why I was so gleeful at half past seven in the morning had lots to do with a certain individual of the Russian disposition. Which reminded me, I needed to stay clear of Lissa for as long as possible because the grilling I got at Kirova's would be nothing compared to the full out interrogation from Vasilisa Dragomir.
"Hathaway: you're on bar duty, hop to it!" Stan commanded after emerging from the kitchen. "Ozera! Off that table now!" he said in disarray as he laid his eyes on the limp form of Christian. Christian groaned and forced himself up, muttering as he lumbered over to the kitchen.
I chuckled and placed myself behind the bar where Sydney was sitting arranging notes. "Hey Syd, how's it going?"
She looked up and smiled. "Not too bad, though these extra shifts are excruciating." She said picking up her coffee. "This is my third today."
"Ouch." I commented and she nodded.
"I know, I have simultaneously become both caffeine dependent and resistant." She sighed. "I think we need help." She mused.
I perked up as an idea formed in my head, "That's it."
She frowned, "That's what?"
"We put an ad out, employ more people. We are making a little more money so we could totally afford another three people at least. If not, we could ask for volunteers: I'm sure there are a lot of people needing work experience around here and now that we have become a little more popular, people might actually want to work here." I explained, a little smug that I came up with something like that.
"That might work. If not, it is at least worth a try." Sydney said and looked a little hopeful.
"Yeah, and if it does, it would take so much pressure off everyone." She nodded again and I smiled.
"Behold: your saviour has returned!" Sydney and I both jumped and turned to see Adrian stride into the Inn, exclaiming his presence dramatically.
"Unless that is a letter from your aunt explaining that all this was a mistake, then you can wipe that title goodbye." I said as he approached the bar with a piece of paper in his hand.
He just chuckled. "Not quite, Little Disaster, but I think it will help."
"Oh?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest and leaning back against the cabinet.
"On my way here this woman handed me a flyer for a cookery competition," he began, putting the flyer onto the bar as Sydney and I listened curiously, "she told me that it was taking place on Christmas Eve and the winner gets, wait for it, $5,000 tax free."
"Someone go get Fireboy!" I yelled. Mason stopped wiping the table and darted into the kitchen whilst Eddie looked round from where he was cleaning the windows.
"That is brilliant, Adrian," Sydney praised, wrapping her arms around him.
Adrian just looked pleased with himself, "Well, I am pretty great." I rolled my eyes and Sydney laughed before giving him a peck on the lips. "But that isn't even the good part." He said, glancing back to me.
"What part of 5 grand isn't good?" I asked and he smiled.
"The winner also gets put through to the next round and competes to win a further $20,000." My jaw dropped.
"You're kidding, right?" I asked in disbelief.
He chuckled. "Nope." He said popping the 'p'. "Christian Ozera could really win us $25,000 in less than three weeks."
Speaking of the devil, Christian appeared from the kitchen looking as bored and as tired as usual. "This better be good." He said flatly and Adrian took Christian to an empty table and explained the situation.
"I should probably get going, we are opening soon." Sydney said as she began to pack up her notes and books.
"Hey, is Adrian still looking for a job?" I asked and she caught my drift.
"Yeah, I'll definitely talk to him about it." She said before wandering over to the kitchen to put her stuff away and invariably get another coffee.
For the rest of the day, Stan kept me on bar duty. It wasn't too bad as there were quite a few customers throughout the day. More people kept coming in and donating to the cause after seeing the footage of Adrian screaming his way though gravity. One guy, a man in his late thirties, suggested that we send it into You've been framed to see if would couldn't snag some more money out of it. Adrian didn't look happy when we all laughed at the idea, but he got over his pride and sent it off anyway.
As predicted, Lissa did come in. She hadn't even been in the pub ten seconds before she strode over to me and demanded I tell her everything. As well as earning us a few amused looks from the two gentlemen sitting at the bar, it was nice to let off steam and act like proper teenagers, which didn't get to happen a lot due to the fact we were dealing with a financial crisis, a baby and a postponed wedding (which still needed to be finalised).
"I am just so happy for you, Rose." Lissa said tearing up a bit, but I think that was more to do with the hormones than anything else.
"Thanks, Lis." I smiled, pouring another drink for one of the men sitting at the bar, "Have you got any further with the concert?"
As it turned out, she had. "We're going to host it on New Year's Eve as a sort of party so the bar will be open and people can buy drinks and whatnot. It will be a pay on the door event for everyone and anyone really." She explained shrugging as the two men at the bar paid and got up.
"When do you want to start the rehearsals?" I asked, stuffing the bills in the cashier.
"I've sent around a song list and sheet music to everyone so they are practising in their own time but I think we should all come together on Sunday evening's since the Inn isn't open then." She suggested and I nodded, seemed logical enough. "Oh, that reminds me!" she exclaimed before diving hand first into her bag and fishing out a little plastic wallet with sheet music inside. "For our pianist…" she said, biting her lip. Having told Lissa about Dimitri's little talent, she had promptly squealed, hugged me and then ordered me to hire him as our pianist. After initially laughing at how I described Lissa's outburst at the discovery of his musical gift, Dimitri said he would love to help, even after I had informed him of my doubts over Indiana Jones being on the list.
I rolled my eyes and took the wallet from her. "Very funny Liss." She just grinned before her phone beeped in her bag.
"Urgh, I'm wanted back at the office. I'll see you later then, Rose." She said hopping off the bar stool and bringing me into a hug over the counter.
"Yeah, catch you later, Lissa." She pulled back and offered an apologetic smile before gathering her things and walking out the Inn. I watched her go until the clearing of someone's throat broke me out of my trance. I turned around and so an elder man sitting in the slightly darkened region of the bar looking expectantly at me. "Oh, sorry there. Can I get you anything, sir?" I asked politely.
The man smiled but it didn't suit his face. He then ran his left hand through his greasy black hair before bringing it to a clasp with his other hand. "Do you have any whiskey?" he asked and my ears perked up at the sound of his Russian lilt.
"Um, yeah." I said. "Scotch, bourbon…"
"Hmmm, scotch please." He mused, "My son is a fan of scotch." He said and I felt a shiver go up my spine. His accent was Russian, like Dimitri's, but that was where the similarities ended. Dimitri's was soft, warm and deadly sexy, but this guy's was cold, frozen over to a degree colder than ice: almost robotic. I went to pour him a glass of scotch and I could feel his eyes trained on me, stalking my every move and smiling as he did.
It freaked the shit out of me.
If I was an artist, his face would be exactly how I would illustrate his voice: it was hard, as though it had solidified in one state of coldness. He body was tall and well built, but the creases on his face, emphasised by how light bended round and into and around the dents, indicated his age.
"Oh, is he? That's nice," I continued conversing, trying to get over the pit in my stomach making me nauseous.
I delivered his drink and he smiled, showing all his yellowed teeth and lighting up his face in a near sadistic manner. "He is also a fan of other things…" he leaned forward, putting his elbows either side of his drink to whisper in my eye a single, lonely word that made everything painfully clear, "…'Roza'."
I tried to remain placid but it was becoming very difficult.
He pulled back and settled himself back on the stool. "Forgive me, where are my manners? My name is Aleksei, Aleksei Maksovich Tenosky." He held out his hand expectantly. I hesitated. Dimitri had told me a lot of things about this guy and left out a lot more. I dreaded to even contemplate what that hand had done to Dimitri's mother. "Ah, come on…" he said, wiggling his fingers in encouragement.
Reluctantly, I took his hand and smiled, pushing my slightly scared emotions to one side and replacing it with the infamous Hathaway smirk. "Rose."
"Have you got a last name, Rose?" he asked shaking my hand.
I narrowed my eyes, seeing an opportunity. "Yeah, I do."
This time he narrowed his eyes before the smile returned and he took back his hand. "Feisty. Dimka did always like a challenge." He inhaled through his nose and picked up his glass, not stopping his eyes from glancing their way up and down my body. "You are very pretty, Rose."
The compliment made me feel sick. "Thanks, I guess."
"Mmmm," he hummed, bringing the glass to his lips and swallowing some of the cool liquor. "You see," he said placing the glass down again, "It has come to my attention that you are acquainted with my son." He paused and reconsidered. "Well, I say acquainted…you seem a little more than that." His smile revealed his stained teeth again and the pit in my stomach grew.
But there was no way I was backing down. "What's it to you?" I challenged, folding my arms over my chest.
The sadistic glint sparkled again in his eyes as he licked his lips, crossed his arms and continued. "Well, Dimitri was always a rather…difficult child. His sisters were always too pathetic to stand up for themselves but Dimitri, it seemed, had not inherited that asset." He mused bitterly, "And even when I try and help him, he seems to brush me aside like I am nothing to him." He paused and leaned forward, resting his crossed arms on the counter. "And that puts me in a rather awkward position because, Rose, I don't like being brushed aside." He informed me darkly.
"Oh?" I acknowledged shakily.
"Oh indeed. I just don't think it is fair, do you?" he asked, raising a cold eyebrow. Suddenly that trick had lost its appeal. "I think I need to teach my son a lesson: one of discipline. And, well, you are very pretty…" his eyes roamed my body again. My eyes widened and I swallowed hard as the full weight of what he was doing fell down upon me.
Involuntarily, I took a step back. I knew he could hurt me – there were too many people around – but that fact did nothing to comfort my pulsing heart rate. My head remained locked on his position but my eyes darted around for someone, anyone, to get me out of this mess. Aleksei just seemed pleased and leaned, if possible, further forward.
"Come now, Roza," I flinched, "Why so timi-"
"Miss, could I have a drink please?"
Holy. Shit.
It was all I could do not to let out the biggest sigh of relief and run to the guy who had requested a drink. Aleksei's advance retreated a little and my heart rate began to fall. Suppressing the sigh, I turned to face my saviour…
My father.
If there was a God, he did not like me that afternoon. Sitting there, calm and collected, was the man partially responsible for my existence. I considered exploding in his face (again), but I remembered someone else's father was equally present and out of the two, I – reluctant to say – preferred my own. In spite of everything I felt towards my father, in that moment I was more than willing to enlist a little help.
Speaking of 'mob boss' Ibrahim Mazur, whilst his demeanour appeared calm as he sat at the opposite end of the bar from Aleksei but still at an angle where he could see the creepy bastard, his eyes were another story. They oscillated between coldly glaring towards Aleksei and making sure I was unharmed. A warm contentment fluttered in my body at that notion but I was quick to shut it down.
"What can I get you, sir?" I asked and Abe's glanced fixed on mine. Without any need for words, I could tell if he was asking if I was okay. I shook my head, only slightly, and his jaw locked.
"Sidecar, please." He said tensely but still managing to give me a reassuring look. I nodded and went to prepare his drink, clutching the brandy from the shelf.
"Abe?" Aleksei asked, emerging from the darkened corner to inspect the man in the black suit and outrageously yellow scarf. "It is you, Abe!" he exclaimed; I had forgotten that they knew each other.
"Ibrahim will do nicely." My father said without missing a beat.
Aleksei stiffened and elected to leave a seat between them. That made me smile a little. "Of course, Ibrahim. What brings you here? I heard you were off running some money opp."
"I am," he flashed me a glance, "just taking a moment to enjoy the brandy." He said smiling as I placed the cocktail in front of him. "Ah, thank you Miss…?"
"Rose." I said, scowling a little.
He grinned and took a sip of his drink. Aleksei had returned his gaze back to me. "Mmmm, yes, Rose here is a favourite of mine. She makes such delicious things…" he trailed off, still subtly threatening me.
Big mistake.
Aleksei was evidently too occupied giving me a victorious sneer that he did not notice when Abe stopped drinking, removed the glass from his lips and placed it delicately on the counter. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he cracked his neck and began to speak very slowly, and very coldly. "Mr Tenosky. Don't turn around, don't react and remain exactly where you are." Aleksei's smile faltered and he froze in his seat. "To your right, in the booth located in the corner of this room, is a rather despicable gentleman who has only just gotten back from a little 'errand' in Mexico: tidying up a few loose ends for me, if you catch my drift. Near him, chatting up a lovely young lady, is Marcus Langston who is taking a short 'vacation' from Tarasov Prison – not even the wardens know he is missing yet. And then if you'd care to glance to your left, you will find Janet Kingsly who owes me a little favour for getting her out of the Mafia." He paused for only a moment but Aleksei has turned a colour paler than the dead. "I think you want to get on a plane back to Moscow departing two hours from now and then travel to Novosibirsk where I will not hear of you again, am I wrong?"
Aleksei visibly gulped and shakily rose to his feet; his eyes, no longer sweeping the length of my body but fixed directly in front of him as he made to turn around wordlessly. Like a flash of lightning, Abe lashed round from his seat and gripped his hand firmly around Aleksei's forearm.
"You dare threaten my daughter in my presence again and I will make you regret the day your miserable existence came to you." He whispered, his Turkish accent leaking through in a dangerous undertone. "Go."
And he went. I don't think I have ever seen anyone leave this Inn so quickly in my life – not even when Stan came out of the kitchen stark naked and drunk, forgetting we were still open. Abe watched him leave out of the corner of his eye before taking back his seat and picking up his drink.
I, however, remained completely frozen.
My jaw had long since succumbed to gravity and had fallen lower than the Titanic. Forcing it up, I glanced round the Inn and located the three people Abe had described, watching them warily.
"You brought criminals into this Inn!?" I hissed and he looked up.
"Mmmm?" He asked. "Oh, no: of course not." He said simply and I raised my eyebrows in disbelief. Seeing my expression, he chuckled humorously. "I have no idea who those three people are, Rose. I walked past, saw you looking very alarmed, saw that bastard and picked three random individuals." He grinned again and continued drink his sidecar. "By the way, top job on this." He said raising his glass.
I took a moment just to catch my breath and assess what had just happened, before I started laughing, in utter relief and complete disbelief. Abe glanced up and joined in promptly.
"That was…you are...unbelievable!" I eventually sighed, sliding the stool behind the bar and sitting opposite my father, pulling up a random bottle of alcohol, not bothering to check what it was before glugging it down my throat.
"It's marvellous what a reputation built on fear will do for you." Abe said, still amused, taking another drink. I stopped glugging and removed the bottle from my lips, slowly placing it down on the table. As if sensing what I was thinking, Abe's grin faded and was replaced with a sad smile. "I know this won't fix everything, but, Rose, I really want to be part of your life. I tried to be, but it was just…"
"…too dangerous." I finished for him. He glanced up and I sighed. "Yeah, I noticed."
"Rose," he sighed, looking down towards the ground, "I love you and your mother so much." He caught my eyes, "So much, Rose. Please, if you take one thing of me with you, please take that." I nodded and he continued, "I knew if I exposed my love then my enemies would have found something to target. And, seeing that bastard threatening you like you were nothing, it made me feel so…angry." He said between gritted teeth, quietly but firmly hitting the counter with his clenched fist, trying to prevent a whole manor of unpleasant vocabulary leaving his mouth. "I cannot bare the thought of anyone hurting you. And I am truly sorry for that." He said in the deepest of sincerity.
I bit my lip and nodded again. "I know." He gave me a soft smile and glanced back towards his drink. I took a deep breath before I said what I was going to say. "I want to try. I want to get to know my father." His head shot up and his eyes beamed with hope.
"Really?" he asked unsure and I realised that we had that in common: insecurity with affection.
"Really." I smiled and his grin returned.
"Well then," he said almost slyly and I frowned a little. "I hear you are dating Dimitri Belikov…"
"Oh no." I said flatly and the grin grew. "You are not about to lecture me on dating boys."
He laughed. "I only want to make sure he is good for my little girl."
I scowled. "Don't even go there, old man." I said and realised what he meant and jumped in Dimitri's defence. "He is the perfect gentleman, and absolutely nothing like that pig of a father he has. He is kind, loyal, funny, respectful: he is the nicest guy I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and-"
"Kiz," he interrupted.
"What?" I questioned.
"I know." He said.
"You know?" I asked.
"I know." He affirmed and it clicked.
"Oh."
He smiled again and leaned back. "I can remember that day so clearly: when that little Belikov boy came running to my door, blood smothering his hands, as he begged me to protect his mother." My eyes widened in awe of Dimitri. He hadn't told me this. "Dimitri was always strong, fought to protect everyone around him but in that selflessness, he lost the capacity to care about himself. But I know he is a good man, even if he doesn't know it himself." Abe assured smiling.
I smiled back softly, taking in each of his words, before a sly idea question popped into my head. "So…does that mean you approve of my boyfriend?" I faltered a little over the word but it felt nice to say, if a little juvenile. Boyfriend.
Abe burst out laughing and a few customers looked round perplexed. Even Sydney and Mia glanced from where they were taking orders, most likely concerned for the health of my father after what had happened during his last visit. "Oh Rose, if your wanting me to presume the role as 'normal father' then no matter how good the guy is, I of course do not approve of your boyfriend." I rolled my eyes before my phone buzzed in my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw the caller and smiled. "Is that the bastard now?" Abe asked with what I assumed was his signature sly grin.
"Shut up and 'enjoy the brandy'." I said, mimicking him from earlier as I stepped off the stool. He chuckled and picked up his glass, toasting it towards me as I moved towards the back of the bar. I rolled my eyes again before clicking the answer button. "Hey comrade, how's it hanging?"
"Roza…?" all humour from my face flooded away at the sound of his staccato, broken accent.
"Dimitri?" I asked, very alarmed. "What is it? What's wrong?"
I heard a shaky breath over the line before his trembling voice came back on the line: "It's Ivan…"
I froze, dreading the next words:
"His heart has stopped."