Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy or anything surrounding it (but I do own this plot :D)
RPOV
"Once in Royal David's city…" My eyes peeled away from the looped yet scruffy penmanship and glanced coldly up from my notebook, glaring at the space in front of me intensely, "Stood a lowly cattle shed…" The over-exaggerated groaning that he justified as'singing' shifted to my other ear as his head made its way round my own, his mouth brushing against my ear as the not-so harmonic sound escaped from its guard.
"If you don't button it, I will make you." The threat left my lips in the darkened form of a menacing growl and I heard him stifle an ever-tempting chuckle.
"Where a mother laid her-Oof!" My elbow jerked backwards forcefully and caught the source of my irritation in the stomach.
It paid off.
"You are lucky that wasn't any lower, buddy." I remarked finally sparing a glance at my victim as he cradled his wounded abdomen and pulled up a stool next to me, chuckling slightly as he perched himself on its edge.
"I think that Sydney was lucky it wasn't any lower, Little Disaster." He winked.
I inwardly gagged as my stomach churned at the notion, rethinking all of his past endeavours that he so kindly elected to share with yours truly, "Dude, that is my friend." I stated, outwardly grimacing.
Adrian merely laughed, "Aren't I your friend too?"
"Tis a cross I have to bear – and a heavy one at that." I replied without missing a beat and received a light shove on my shoulder for effects.
"Oh, you love me really." He said and I attempted to raise an eyebrow, "Besides, why are you so grouchy, Scrooge? It is Christmas."
"No, Christmas was two days ago. Last I checked, the 27th of December was not a national holiday." I stated pointedly. This was always the worst part of the holiday: Christmas had just gone; people were out enjoying the post-Boxing Day sales and yet, we were back working. I pitied those individuals who actually had to work on Christmas, but – if you'll excuse the selfishness – this was just as bad. It was made worse by a certain Ivashkov insisting on 'Christmas cheer' to 'liven the mood'. Aside from his not-remotely upbeat song choice, it did nothing but dampen the mood – it was the one thing Christian and I shared: irritation over the Annual Adrian Aggravation.
"Ah," said Adrian said, nodding knowingly, "time of the month, huh?" He grinned and I glowered at him.
"How do you have a girlfriend?" I muttered to which the response was an even bigger grin. I groaned and held up a hand, "Don't answer that."
"Speaking of romantically involved partners, how is yours?" he asked innocently. I tried another glower but I really couldn't help the impulse guiding my lips to curl into a smile. Man, I really had turned into a proper love-sick teenager, but I really didn't care. Dimitri was my everything and more, if that were ever possible, and there wasn't much point in keeping it quiet. I loved him completely and trusted him entirely; he held my heart and boy, did everyone know it.
I didn't initially tell Lissa the full truth as to why I couldn't make it to the Christmas gathering, but as soon as we had a moment to ourselves, she ordered me to spill. I originally thought she was going to be unbelievably pissed but she just started squealing in that Lissa way that made you fear she would get a microphone and yell it out to the world. That world being our eavesdropping gang who had done the comical but juvenile 'press ear to the closed door' to involve themselves in a not-so private conversation.
Definitely an Adrian orchestrated event.
But I didn't care. I wasn't afraid anymore. I loved Dimitri and I just couldn't help but tell people about him.
"Uh oh, little Rosie is thinking dirty thoughts about her Russian lover…" I may have cared enough to throw the notebook in my hand at the approaching Christian's head.
"Rose, could you please stop throwing things at my fiancée." Lissa reprimanded playfully whilst kissing Christian's head better.
"Well, if he keeps his mouth shut, we may have ourselves a deal." I flashed Christian a glare and he snarled in return. Lissa just rolled her eyes at our ever child-like antics.
"Knowing that my life could end now, when do we get to meet your lovely Daniel." Adrian asked gleefully, evidently picking up where Christian left off, so he got the glare too.
"Dimitri." I all but growled.
"Okay guys, leave her alone." Lissa, my saviour, defended and batted away Adrian's pouting innocence. "Right, we only have one more applicant coming at 11:25 so if we could make ourselves look vaguely presentable…" she trailed off and I followed her gaze to see Adrian trying to discretely pull the top off a bottle of whiskey. I shook my head at Adrian's guilty facial expression and returned to facing Lissa. Since we had put out the ad for the vacancy at the Inn, we had had a surprising number of applications. Lissa, the ever organised one, had been arranging everything from interview times to what type of biscuits were available on the little tray we had put out for the prospective waitresses/waiters/chefs.
We had been going through applicants all morning. The 'we' consisted of myself, Lissa, Christian and Adrian. Me because I was the longest serving waitress here and Lissa's best friend, Lissa because she was overseeing everything, Christian because he was the head chef and Adrian because he made the poor soul sitting opposite Christian feel a little more comfortable. We had pushed two small tables together and Lissa had turned it into a little interviewing area with the four of us on one side and candidate on the other. Mia and Sydney were given the morning off but Mason and Eddie insisted on coming in to keep the place 'clean', but it wasn't hard to deduce their true motive.
Stan, yes he still existed, had also come in, but – as he always did – he remained in his office under Lissa's assurance that she would do everything, he just needed to pay them. We were all planning a late night rehearsal for the following evening. Each of us had been individually practising our given roles, and the pre-bookings were coming in both quickly and popularly, but tomorrow would be the first time we would rehearse as a group.
So long as no catastrophic events occurred in the next 26 hours...
But right now we were focused on the search for more staff. Much like the concert, and even more surprisingly, we had had a substantial number of applicants, so much so that we might have to decline some! We were pretty much hiring on the spot, but we had to tell some people that we'd get back to them. Whilst this may be normal for most other job applications, this was a milestone for us and we were all a little excited for how much power in gave us: the beginnings of megalomania running strong in our little group.
Especially in Christian.
To be fair, some of the contenders were...questionable. One poor chap came in and spoke mostly about his wife leaving him and his tale brought both him and Lissa to sobbing tears and we had to fetch another load of tissues. One guy didn't even last five minutes; he came in, started flirting with Lissa and was kicked out by our power-mad pyromaniac immediately. To be fair, these were a minority group, but it still didn't stop us being a little wishful that the last one would be a little more normal.
11:25 on the dot, the door opened and Lissa rushed to greet the unsuspecting contender.
"Here we go…" Adrian said cheekily and I rolled my eyes and made my way over to where Lissa had sat the applicant down.
My jaw dropped.
Sitting on the opposite end of the table, facing a smiling Lissa and the usual bored face of Christian was a young girl, no elder than yours truly. With long brown locks that flickered with gold when she turned her head, she was pretty too; well dressed in a really nice winter coat over the top of an equally nice jumper that complimented her skinny jeans and her deep brown eyes flashed with the same underlying and overwhelming mercy that reposed in the love of my life.
Viktoria Belikova.
I remembered her name from the day she first stepped in the inn – smiling graciously and sponsoring Adrian's decent without a moment's hesitation. Seeing her now, chatting away happily with Lissa, boiled a combination of both excitement and dread deep in the pit of my stomach. Dimitri was not one to over-share, but when he did mention his family, he did so with favour, longing and guilt; he had not mentioned that they were in the US which could only mean that Viktoria – all of them? – had not been here long. The fact that she was willing to work here also gave suggestion to that contemplation.
But maybe kindness was a family thing.
Speaking of, how on Earth was I going to be able to sit there, opposite her for an interview with information and involvement in her own brother – whom she had not spoken to in a very long while – without cracking? How was I supposed to play this? Do I just tell her? What if I spoke to her after?
"Little Disaster, are you okay?" I hadn't realised how long I had just stood there, but Adrian's concerned tone told me it was a good while.
"Yeah, fine." I shook out my shock and took my seat next to Lissa. Adrian narrowed his eyes but made no comment and perched next to me.
"That's amazing!" Lissa exclaimed, beaming excitedly towards Viktoria (who wore a pleasant smile of her own), "Sydney will be so glad. Hey Rose, Viktoria here can speak four languages."
"Wow." I said in all sincerity, I had taken French for a while but it was a lost cause from the start. I could never understand how Sydney managed to keep track of all her languages; she said that she was thinking of embarking on another. Mad girl."I think Sydney might be knocked off her throne."
"Nah, Syd speaks five languages. Sorry, Vicky." Adrian proclaimed proudly, defending his girlfriend's title.
Viktoria merely laughed, "It's okay," she assured, her Russian lilt coming through stronger than Dimitri's but her English was perfectly clear.
Adrian perked up at the sound of her accent and caught Christian's knowing look and grinned, "So, Viktoria, you're accent – where is it from?" he asked innocently and I shot him a glare.
"Russia." She answered as oblivious as Lissa was, to what was telepathically unfolding before her, "Our family moved over a couple of months ago; my sisters were offered high positions here and we wanted to come and support them." She explained.
Lissa smiled and began noting stuff down before glancing back up to continue her line of questioning, "I do apologise for the state of the place and our slightly exhausted natures – we were going to reschedule your interview for earlier but we couldn't seem to get a hold of you."
Viktoria bit her lip apologetically,"Yeah, sorry, my grandmother has confiscated all our mobiles – even my mother's."
"Your grandmother confiscated your phones?" Christian stated in disbelief as frowns consumed all four of our faces.
"Yeah, she said 'the connection will not blossom unless he reaches for the flower'." She sighed at our bewildered faces. "Babushka is kinda nuts, but you don't argue with her."
There was a pregnant pause before I decided to break the silence, "Sounds like Abe." Adrian snorted and a sense of relief fell over Viktoria's face as she started to regret her little blurt. She glanced over at me gratefully and Lissa proceeded with her interview. Except for the occasional interruption from Adrian to relieve the ever growing tension in Viktoria's shoulders and when Christian couldn't stop himself from being, well… himself, the interview went smoothly and Lissa all but gave Viktoria the job on the spot. Viktoria was so delighted that she broke her outward professional façade and leapt at Lissa, squeezing her into a tight hug and thanking her over and over again before doing the same to the rest of us, including Christian. This only made Lissa like her more and, consequently, me like her more.
Lissa left to fetch the paperwork and bother Stan's nap in his office and Viktoria came bounding over to me, grilling me with an abundance of pre-prepared questions about the job. Honestly, I didn't really think a person could be so excited about working as a waitress in crisis-pub but reliving Adrian's first few days had me back believing that the world was truly mental.
"Are you really this excited about this, Viktoria?" I asked closing the cashier after a quick lesson on how the bloody thing worked – or didn't depending on what mood you found it in.
"Yeah! This is my first real job in America and both my sisters started working in local shops and bars and they are really successful now, and have families and are really, really happy, so I hope to be just like them, someday; maybe soon." She explained, all in one breath, before her face contorted as she remembered something, "Oh, and please, call me Vika. I am only 'Viktoria' when I am in big trouble."
I laughed at the likeness of our situation. She joined in and her laugh reminded me so much of Dimitri. It was warm, comforting and harmonic. "So you have sisters?" I said after composing myself.
She nodded proudly, "Yup, two. And a brother too, but I don't really see him." Her voice became so distant and sad that it nearly broke my heart. She shook herself off and resumed smiling. "He started working in a little bar too and now he's really successful." She 'told' me grinning proudly. "Karo and Sonya were always together when they were young, but my big brother used to play with me because I was too little for their games. He was my hero. I want to be just like him – just as successful – so he would be proud." She said, almost worshipfully and I felt my eyes water up.
"Vika-" I began before I processed what she had said, "Wait did you say Karo?"
She blinked but her smile remained, "Yeah, she is the eldest and expecting my next niece/nephew." She squealed excitedly and my jaw dropped. The Karo Lissa was going to for baby advice and help was, in fact, yet another Belikov – or Belikova depending which way you look at it. "Why'd you ask?" Vika queried curiously.
"Oh…" I said and considered my options, though I knew I could never lie to those brown eyes, "Lissa and I, we met your sister: she is helping with Lissa's pregnancy."
This time, Vika's jaw dropped. "Oh my daze! This is fate! Destiny! Whatever! Karo said she was helping a young girl, but I thought her name was Lisa. How foolish of me! Oh, Karo is going to be so jealous when she hears that I am working with you guys – she always speaks so fondly of 'her little apprentice' as she calls her." Vika giggled, but there was an almost devious glint in her eyes as she realised she had something to tease her sibling with. I suppose, it was hard being the youngest, I thought to myself before a car horn honked outside. "Oh, that is me. Sorry, I kinda told my mama I'd be back by one. She is still a bit shaky letting me out on American soil." She said apologetically and I smiled.
"Nah, it's fine. Go on, we'll see you tomorrow?" I asked and Vika beamed.
"I'm looking forward." She said picking up her bag, "You know, Rose?" she said pausing and turning around, "I think we could be good friends." She smiled and I returned it.
"Me too, Vika," I said waving her off, "me too..."
"Alert the Calvary! Enemy incoming!" Eddie cheered with Mason running behind on his six.
"Wha?" I asked dumbly, looking towards the dynamic duo from where I was having a rather lovely conversation with Adrian and Sydney. It was late in the evening and we had opened properly for business. After Vika left, Sydney and Mia arrived shortly after and we filled them in on all the news. Sydney was, as predicted, thrilled with another linguist and literally couldn't wait to have a conversation in a language no-one else could understand just to keep us all on our toes.
Don't let her appearance deceive you; she was as sly as a fox when she wanted to be.
Though right now, she was just as confused as I was at Mason's and Eddie's sudden arrival.
"We just heard…" Mason began dramatically.
"…on the phone…" Eddie piped in with equal enthusiasm.
"…that Tasha Ozera is coming..." Mason added and I made to groan but apparently too early as Mason held up a finger and pointed to Eddie.
"…in half an hour." Eddie concluded and we all groaned. Even Sydney. And it had been such a good day! I had managed to avoid everyone's least favourite, superficial, narcissistic gold-digger for the best part of the festive season, but I knew it wouldn't last. Tasha was already an infuriating individual but at Christmas, she was worse. In fact, at any holiday or end of term, she was worse because every year, without fail, she would get a massive bonus from her job.
We were convinced she rigged it.
Well, rigged or not, she always seemed to swagger in with a new wad of cash, flash it in everyone's face and flaunt it until I wanted to gouge her eyeballs out.
Evidently a trait from my father's side…
"Is this Sparky's doing?" I asked, sourly snatching up an abandoned glass from the bar and irritably scrubbing it with a dish towel.
"Yeah, the poor soul wants to see his aunt to wish her a merry Christmas and apparently this is the only date she can make, 'apparently'." Mason reiterated, adding extra emphasis evoking Eddie to snigger. I was a corruption of both pissed and pitiful; Tasha was the only family Christian had left and he was blindsided by this notion. At school, Christian was always the outcast, so – whilst he would never admit it – he was desperate to have a family: to appear normal, but to appear normal by society's standards.
And that meant overlooking Tasha's flaws.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't have a problem with that but when the person was Tasha, who clearly had some mental instability because I cannot fathom another reason why she found pleasure in pissing me off, I was a little less lenient.
Thus, I sighed and put the glass under the counter. "As much as I don't want to be there, I think I'll just go home early." I said.
"I think I might join you on that one," Adrian interjected and I gave him a funny look, "Obviously, not going home with you, Little D. I'm pretty sure your Russian cradle robber may gut me." He grinned and I scowled.
"He is not a cradle robber." I stated firmly.
"But he would gut me?" Adrian quipped, picking up on what I had left out.
I narrowed my gaze, "I'll gut you."
"Guys," Sydney said as Adrian stuck his tongue out at me, "and unfortunately, I have to stay so unless you are planning on going home with Rose, you will too, Ivashkov." She teased and Adrian grimaced.
"Fine. But know, I am only doing this for you Sage," he conceded pointedly.
Sydney smiled, "Of course." She said bringing her lips to his in a sweet kiss. I looked away, giving them a little privacy, but I couldn't help but think about Dimitri. Maybe I'd spend a little time with him… Definitely better than listening to Tasha brag and dope over whichever guy she was obsessing over now.
Which reminded me. "Adrian, you'd be sure to tell me if we get to tick off one of the steps in the Tasha Ozera Guide to Dating Men." I said to Mason and Eddie's great amusement.
He looked away from Sydney and grinned, "You betcha, Little D." He winked and Sydney rolled her eyes at our exchange. She had been watching Adrian and I do this since we first understood what dating was.
"Old man." I greeted as he strode into the inn looking as chilled as ever with the setting sun acting, like a canvas to a masterpiece but in this case, the masterpiece was himself.
Abe smiled and wandered in, past the rather bewildered faces of those customers not accustomed to Zmey'staste in fashion. "Hello, kiz. Mr Ivashkov, Miss Sage, fellas." He greeted individually and giving a polite nod to each self as he did.
"Gotta go!" Mason exclaimed within an instant, and he and Eddie quickly darted from the scene and rapidly looked busy. I followed them with my eyes and Abe just grinned deviously, pleased that he was still able to strike fear into some of my .
"What brings the great Mazur to our lowly abode?" Adrian asked a little over-dramatically evoking a giggle from Sydney, though she might have been still amused at Eddie and Mason's swift exit.
My father merely smiled, "I am actually here to see your boss."
"Lissa?" I teased raising my eyebrows because, let's face it, she had basically become my boss. How she had time for her own job was beyond me.
"Mr Alto." Abe grinned in the same conduct and I chuckled.
"What about?" Sydney – ever the academic – queried quizzically.
"Money, Miss Sage. I am attempting to sort your little financial 'bump in the road' out and require Mr Alto's aid for the more...logistical technicalities." He explained without really enlightening any of us. Sensing this, his smile grew, "I am sorting out some accounts for the inn to put the raised money in to make the transfer a little easier."
"You know, you could have just said that instead of being all mysterious." I stated.
He looked at me inquisitively, "What fun would that be?" I scowled and Adrian chuckled, before Abe smiled and wandered into the kitchen towards Stan's office.
"You know, I kinda like having him around." Adrian commented as Abe's swagger disappeared into the kitchen, "makes me seem a little more normal." I shook my head and laughed softly before the time caught my eye.
"Right, I better be off. Don't really want to run into Tasha and have her flaunt her cash in my face. Have fun with that, by the way." I said, smiling towards Adrian and Sydney.
"Your sympathy is unrivaled." Adrian responded and this time I stuck my tongue out at him.
"See ya guys tomorrow." I bid farewell, tugging on my coat and departing from behind the bar and out of the front door.
The air was crisp and the snowflakes fell like ash in the aftermath of something terrible, resting on the ground and being forever indented by the heavy stomps of those trampling past. Adrian had paid up but I had quickly lost the $10 winnings over the white Christmas to one of our other bets.
I was still a bit miffed at that.
Sighing, I stepped out onto the pavement and adjusted my coat for optimum comfort before embarking on my journey home. I glanced up and froze in my tracks.
The sight that lay before me: Tasha pushing her body against a man, kissing him firmly and passionately against the side of his car.
I would recognise that white car of British origin anywhere.
The man she was kissing was Dimitri…