Mr. Mazur and an additional five Guardians were waiting in a private lounge. As soon as Pavel, Kirk and I arrived, Pavel introduced me, and we stepped into a minibus to transport us to the chartered section of the airport. While Moroi might use commercial flights for overseas travel, within America or for short trips within Europe, they customarily flew in smaller private jets.
The aircraft was sumptuously appointed. Generous soft leather seats arranged in conversational groups, it was chalk and cheese compared to the commercial airline I'd been on earlier. I stood back waiting for Pavel to indicate where he'd like me to sit. Even on aircraft, Guardian groups tended to have a hierarchy, and I didn't want to inadvertently offend by seating myself somewhere inappropriate.
"Belikov? Please join Mr. Mazur and me," Pavel requested.
I sat in the seat he'd indicated, nodding respectfully to Mr. Mazur. An occasional visitor in Baia during my early teenage years, I knew him by sight, although he wouldn't recognize me.
"Thank you so much for your kindness," I acknowledged. "You've saved me four or five hours of waiting around plus two hours of driving." This flight was headed direct to the St. Vladimir's runway, so instead of getting there in twelve hours, I'd be arriving in three.
It was an unwritten rule in Moroi society that it was polite to offer a seat to any Guardian needing to travel. Not that it was entirely altruistic; any Guardian transported would obviously help in defense should an attack occur. Still – it was an uncommon stroke of good luck for me to run into another group from my world traveling to the same place at the same time.
"Not a problem," Mr. Mazur responded. "It was fortunate Pavel ran into you. We're headed there ourselves, and as you can see, we have plenty of room." The cabin was less than half full, but I still appreciated the gesture. "So what's your business at St. Vladimir's?" he inquired curiously.
"I was based there until December last year," I started, conscious of being a little circumspect in what I revealed. "I was reallocated on a mission which I've recently completed. All my stuff is at St. Vlad's, and a special girl is waiting for me there, too. I haven't seen her in months," I explained with a rueful grin.
A Guardian in a relationship was still a slightly shocking thing, although things were slowly changing. There were a few open Guardian/Guardian relationships, and plenty more that weren't so open. As long as Moroi still came first, people tended to turn a blind eye. Sure some purists saw it as shameful, but overall Moroi society was becoming a little more tolerant. Zmey didn't strike me as the type to be offended by that sort of thing, but I was glad when he accepted it without comment.
"So you're returning to St. Vladimir's hoping for reallocation there?" Pavel asked.
"I'm not sure. When I left, I wasn't expected to return." I didn't need to say more. That was universal Guardian speak for 'sent on a mission not thought to be survivable.' "I've only got the clothes I'm wearing, so I need to restock, report to Court and see what they have in mind for me."
"So you're Russian?" Mr. Mazur said, adroitly changing the subject.
"Yes. I'm from Baia outside Omsk."
"Quaint little village. Belikov, eh? You wouldn't be Yeva's grandson would you?"
I looked at him a little alarmed. Did this man know everyone?
"Yes, that's right."
"Lovely woman your grandmother," he said casually. "Bakes the best cookies I've ever eaten. She's well?"
"Was when I left her yesterday, although I'm sure she'd find something to complain about," I joked.
"So you've been in Russia on a deadly mission. Wouldn't know anything about a Strigoi army stronghold outside Novosibirsk burning to the ground, would you?" he asked, watching me carefully.
"I know about a lot of things," I said with a shrug, refusing to be drawn further, but I could tell he knew exactly where I'd been and which mission I'd been referring to. I wasn't surprised – not much happened in Europe without Zmey knowing.
"So what rank are you?" he probed curiously. It was a question bordering on the rude. Asking a Guardian his level was essentially asking what they earned and how good they were at their job. But somehow from Zmey, it didn't come across as impolite, so I had no hesitation in answering.
"Blood master seven," I said matter of factly. The top of the top and anyone who heard my ranking knew it.
Mr. Mazur's eyebrows raised.
"You're very young to be a Blood Master. When did you attain your current rank?"
"When I was twenty-two. I'm twenty-five now."
"So. You were allocated at St. Vladimir's? Teaching?"
"No. I was the primary Guardian of Princess Vasilisa Dragomir."
"Ahh – the runaway Princess," Mr. Mazur grinned. "Were you on the recovery team?"
"Yes. I headed it up and brought her back in."
"A responsible job for a what, twenty-two year old?" he acknowledged. I inclined my head in subtle acquiescence. "Was she a handful?"
"Not really. Once we tracked them down, she was no trouble."
"They? That's right... She was with a Dhampir girl. A Novice."
"Her best friend, Rose Hathaway," I supplied. I smiled in spite of myself. Even speaking her name made me happy. I thought about my first meeting with my love. Not the most auspicious start, she'd called me 'cheap foreign labor.' But even then I'd admired her spirit.
"No relation to Janine Hathaway?" he asked.
"Her daughter."
"I heard she's a real firecracker," Pavel said jovially. "Led you guys a merry chase. Do you know her well?" Pavel asked.
I looked at him and smiled. "Yes, I do. I mentored her for a while."
I wanted to tell them that Rose was my girl, but I thought I'd better check with her first. While I knew how I felt and what I wanted, we'd only been together in our relationship for five days before I left, and I'd been away from her over half the time we'd known each other. While I'd promised to shout our love from the rooftops if I returned, I needed to make sure she still wanted me to. Not that her emails had seemed to leave any doubt about the matter.
After that, the conversation turned to more general matters. I didn't inquire about Zmey's business at St. Vladimir's, it being understood a Moroi's business was his own and that particularly being the case for Mr. Mazur. Instead, Pavel, Mazur and I talked sport, recent happenings at Court and other neutral topics.
As we transited, I watched the exchanges between Mazur, Pavel, and the other Guardians. There was still a hierarchy, of course, but it seemed much more egalitarian than the Guardian/Moroi interactions I was used to. I suppose that was the benefit of being a private Guardian; wages, conditions, and expectations were all negotiable and position specific. Generally, private Guardians earned at least double the usual Guardian salary, but it could be even more depending on the risk and hours involved. Some Guardians would take on a private assignment for a few years to set themselves up financially. Some would do short-term assignments between regular allocations, and others made a career of it.
Thinking about allocations, I looked out the window and thought about my future. Having impregnated my seventeen-year-old student, I couldn't see me being allocated back at St. Vladimir's, which meant I'd need to find a new allocation. With my rank, and once I told Court about the outcome of my mission, I'd hopefully be in a position to negotiate where I was sent, but it was going to be hard to find a role which also accommodated a girlfriend and a baby. I'd probably have to accept a Court guarding position, which came with its own challenges. Usually reserved as a punishment or for the least skilled, Court guarding compensated for lack of skill by sheer hours and numbers.
Considered low risk, Court shifts were a minimum of twelve hours long but could be as long as sixteen. I'd be eligible for Guardian housing at Court, but Rose and the baby couldn't stay there, so we'd have to rent privately – a notoriously expensive exercise in the Moroi capital. While I was prepared to take whatever job I needed to support my woman and our child, leaving her alone for sixteen hours a day with a new baby was asking for trouble.
For more than the first time, I considered returning with Rose to Russia. With Galina's money, there'd be no hurry for me to find work, and Rose would get all the help she needed from my family. But then I was conscious taking a very young mother overseas to a place where she couldn't speak the language and knew no one other than my family could have its own problems. At this stage, the priority was keeping Rose safe and happy and supporting her as best as I could as she became a mother. I pushed the thoughts aside for the time being. There was no point getting ahead of myself. First I needed to see my girl, get a decent night's sleep, and then have a long talk about what we were going to do.
We were two hours into our three-hour flight when one of the Guardians stood, walking through the cabin asking who else would like a meal.
"Help yourself," Pavel said to me, looking up from some paperwork he was reading. "There's plenty. I always order at least double because the human meals on the commercial flights are so tiny."
"That they are," I laughed. "Can I get you anything?" I asked respectfully as I stood to follow the other Guardians to the galley.
"Yeah grab me a couple of the Indian meals and a Coke, will you?" Pavel asked.
"Nothing for me," Mazur said looking up at me thoughtfully.
Our meals finished, after a little more conversation I returned the trays to the galley and then we started our descent to St. Vladimir's. It was about 7.30 am on Sunday local time, so we'd be arriving in the middle of dinner. Without a phone, I had no way of texting Rose to ask where to meet her, so I figured I'd start with the cafeteria and if she weren't there, I'd ask Alberta to page her over the PA.
My stomach was in nervous knots, now but I was grinning like an idiot. It had been so long, and I was so close to seeing my girl. Hopefully Rose had told Alberta and the others I was no longer MIA. Otherwise it might cause some consternation when I showed up! We were flying low over the top of campus, and I could see the buildings clearly. Somewhere in there was my woman!
We touched down smoothly, the jet coming to a halt at the far end of the runway before taxiing towards a parked minibus. The plane was stopped, and the stairs set out with a minimum of fuss. We quickly disembarked, walking towards the bus.
"There's no one to meet us?" Pavel asked suspiciously, his hand on his stake apprehensively.
"They usually just leave the bus when they're expecting an arrival," I explained. "The way is signed, but would you like me to drive since I know the way?"
"By all means," Mazur assented, climbing into the bus after Pavel had checked and cleared it.
All on board, I started the engine, the keys having been left in the ignition. I quickly drove along the familiar road, bypassing the majestic tree-lined main entrance in favor of a service road that was faster and would take us straight to administration.
"Are you expected at the Guardian building?"
"Yes, Guardian Petrov is expecting us," Pavel replied.
"Then I'll take you straight there," I said, trying not to speed in my excitement.
We pulled up in front of the correct building, and I forced myself to wait until Mazur and the team had climbed out of the bus.
"If you go through the front doors Alberta's office is third on the left. If she's not there head straight down to the end of the corridor across the commons and to the cafeteria – she might be having dinner."
"Thanks," Pavel said holding out his hand for me to shake. "I think there's a girl you want to see!" he laughed.
"There sure is!" I said with a huge grin shaking his hand. "Thank you again for helping me get here sooner," I said nodding to Mazur. And then I shouldered my bag and walked between two buildings in the direction of the commons and the cafeteria.
I looked up from my desk at the first knock. I didn't need introductions – I could see the resemblance to Rose immediately. If I'd had any lingering doubt about Rose's paternity that one look dispelled it.
"Mr. Mazur," I greeted, holding out my hand to him. "Thank you so much for coming. I hope you had a pleasant journey?"
"Very enjoyable, thank you, Alberta," he said politely. "And remember it's Abe. We ended up meeting one of your former Guardians at the airport in Los Angeles and bringing him with us."
"Former Guardian? Which one?" I queried. I wasn't expecting any of my previous Guardians to visit, but there were so many it was impossible to keep track of everyone.
"Belikov," the Guardian standing beside Abe said.
"Belikov?" I hissed. "Dimitri Belikov? Massive tall guy? Russian?"
"Yes, that's him," Abe said looking at me, my reaction seeming to confirm something for him. If my reaction didn't then my next words certainly did.
"Abe? That's Rose's boyfriend. The father of her child. He's been missing for over a month now presumed turned."
I scanned the commons as I crossed but other than a few underclassmen and Moroi I didn't see anyone I knew. I could hear the cafeteria before I saw it, people talking and laughing. Being a Sunday night, everyone was relaxed and enjoying the traditional roast dinner the Academy served every week. Stepping through the main doors, I scanned the room, my eyes immediately finding their way to where Rose sat at her usual table. She had her back to me, but I could see her seated with Ashford, Castile, Chelsea and a couple of the other female Novices.
Meredith looked up and saw me first, bringing her hand up to her mouth in surprise as she squealed. I didn't have time to consider her reaction, because then Rose turned, her eyes meeting mine. The cafeteria fell almost silent, but from my periphery, I heard someone say sarcastically, "Well this should be interesting."
"Roza…" I groaned, looking at her beautiful face.
"Comrade?" she gasped in a strangled voice, standing up awkwardly from the bench seat where she'd been sitting. She was dressed in a baggy hoody and sweatpants, but even with that disguising her figure, I could see the tiny swell of our baby on her abdomen. I'd like to say she looked well, but she didn't. She looked like someone who was sick and tired of fighting.
Ashford stood beside her, looking at me as though he'd seen a ghost. He was reaching out towards her when I saw her eyes start to roll back in her head and her legs collapse beneath her.
"Roza!" I shouted in alarm, striding across the room towards her, but Ashford beat me to it, effortlessly catching her as she fell. He held her gently across his chest, one arm under her shoulders the other under her knees.
I dumped my bag on the floor beside the table.
"Good catch, Ashford," I acknowledged quietly. "Now hand her over."
For half a second he looked like he didn't want to, but something about my look must have told him I meant business. I sat on the bench seat, and he passed my beautiful woman's prostrate form to me. I sat her on my lap, carefully supporting her back and resting her body against my chest and her head against my shoulder. I gently smoothed her hair back from her face and slowly rocked her back and forth, waiting for her to come to.
I could feel her starting to stir, so I put my lips in her hair and talked to her quietly.
"I'm here, milaya. I'm back, and I'm not going anywhere. I love you. You and our baby. I love you both so much. I'm sorry it took so long to get to you, but I'm here now, Roza."
I felt her burying her face against my chest as she started to cry.
"Roza?" I coaxed, tightening my grasp around her as she started making little whimpering noises. "Milaya, talk to me. Are you alright?"
She didn't answer, other than shifting slightly on my lap, pulling herself closer to me and clasping my shirt in her hand. Her eyes were still closed, but her tears were coming thick and fast. I'm not sure what sort of reaction I'd hoped for, but this hadn't been it.
"Are you really here?" she asked so softly that even close as I was, I almost missed it.
"I am milaya," I promised solemnly, leaning back slightly so I could peer at where her face was wetting my shirt.
"You're not going to disappear if I open my eyes?" she asked a little louder.
I smiled tenderly.
"No Roza. I'm here, and I'm here to stay," I promised her lovingly.
She opened her eyes and looked at me, her eyes still swimming with tears.
"Why didn't you tell me you were safe?" she asked, sounding broken.
I looked at her aghast.
"I texted you, milaya. It was the middle of the night, and I didn't want to wake you, so I texted you that I was in Russia and trying to get back to you as quickly as possible. I've been on a plane most of the last twenty-four hours."
"I heard your mission was in Russia," she acknowledged, still looking stunned to see me.
"I was with my family. I was captured by Strigoi and escaped. I drove to my family's house and was there a few hours, waiting for it to be a decent hour so I could call you. While I was waiting, I read your most recent e-mail and found out about the baby and knew I had to get back here straight away. I texted you to let you know I was on my way, and I've been traveling ever since."
"You know about Junior?"
"Yes," I said with a soft smile. "I read all your e-mails on the plane."
"And?" she asked apprehensively.
"And I'm going to be a Papa," I said with joy. "We're going to be a family!"
That's when my woman blessed me with an angelic smile.
"Yes we are," she murmured, pulling back slightly and wrapping her arms around my neck and leaning forward to kiss me. Soft, gentle kisses at first, she was half laughing half crying, murmuring her own words of love against my lips as we gave each other the tender affection we'd both missed so much. I deepened the kiss, feeling her gasp with satisfaction. I wanted to crush her against me, but remembered I had to be gentle. Finally, I pulled away from her, holding her face in my hands and leaning my forehead against hers.
"I love you, Roza."
"I love you too, Comrade," she whispered with a smile.
I was slowly becoming aware that we were the center of attention of the packed cafeteria, when I heard boots run into the room. I looked up to see a startled Alberta looking at where Rose was perched affectionately on my lap.
"Belikov!" she said in surprise. "I'd heard you were dead?"
I looked at her and laughed.
"Yeah. I've been getting a lot of that lately," I said giving her a wry smile.