Chapter 4: Information

DPOV

I knocked on Alberta's door and waited for her to tell me to come in. She took one look at me and just pointed to the ever full coffee pot and I got a cup and sat down. Alberta took a deep breath as she shuffled around some papers and then blew her breath out. She opened her mouth and started to say something and then snapped her mouth shut. I have never seen Alberta fluster or at a loss of words before, I knew this was hard for her since she loved Rose like a daughter. We had learned two days ago that there was a credible threat on Rose's life because of her father and that is why Rose's mother was now coming with her father and an army of guardians. But after what happened today, I didn't know if whoever assaulted Rose was part of her father's threat or if there was now a new threat present.

Alberta started speaking, bringing me out of my thoughts "So here is the footage from outside of Rose's room from last night, it's just video, there is no sound, so we don't know what was said. But Dimitri, just brace yourself, you are not going to like this."

With a sense of dread, I got up to look at the computer screen over Alberta's shoulder. I watched as Alberta fast forward the tape from when the Princess and I left at 9am. I see Tasha and Jesse knock on her door at around 11am. Rose opens it and it appears that Tasha is talking to her for about 15 minutes but Rose has this glossed over look on her face. I start swearing in Russian as I realize Tasha is using compulsion on Rose.

After about 15 minutes I see both Tasha and Jesse go into Rose's room and 30 minutes later, Tasha walks out of her room alone. I clench my fists as I try not to think what Jesse is in there doing to Rose. Alberta fast forwards, the tape and 15 minutes later, we see Rose pushing Jesse out of her room and you can see her lip is split and her left eye is red and swollen. I take some deep breathes because all I want to do is go find Jesse and beat the crap out of him.

Alberta looks at me "I know what you want to do. I want to do the same thing. However, we have to wait till Rose tells us what happened, if she can, my guess is Lady Ozera compelled her for some reason." Alberta said as I went back around the desk to sit on the chair. Alberta further explained "The first thing we need to find out is what Rose remembers about the incident. If she remembers being hit by either Lady Ozera or Jesse, then we can deal with that aspect. Plus, we can discipline Jesse for being out after curfew and speak to him about what he was doing with Lady Ozera in the first place."

Alberta takes a deep breath and says "Secondly, we have to deal with Lady Ozera and her potentially compelling Rose." Alberta paused and then said "I suspect that Tasha is doing this because she is in love with you but you are in love with Rose and now Tasha is going after Rose."

I hang my head but nodded yes. "Tasha asked me to be her guardian so that we could start a family. I told her no, that I was not interested and my plan was to continue guarding the Princess"

"I am guessing she was not happy with that answer."

"No, I believe that is why she is staying on campus to be near me to see if she can change my mind. She continually asks me to have dinner in her cabin or go off campus to Missoula. But between guarding the Princess, training Rose and picking up other shifts, I have been busy but I never thought in a million years she would try and harm Rose."

"And what about Rose?" Alberta asked "Are you in love with her?"

"Yes"

"And does Rose feel the same way?"

"Yes, I believe so, we haven't talked about it too much yet."

"I see, and has anything happened between you two?"

"A few kisses and then the night that the Princess was kidnapped, it was a lust charm Victor Dashkov not an attack charm that was placed on the necklace. After that I tried to suppress my feeling for her but then Spokane happened."

"I see, well it is rare for a mentor and a student to fall in love but since she is above the age of sixteen, it is not illegal. However, telling her parents might be a fate worse than death, but I have no problem with it as long as you keep it quiet especially during class hours."

"Thanks Alberta"

"But if you break her heart, I will kill you too."

I let out a little laugh "That seems responsible."

"Alright, get back to her, see if you can find out what happened, unless Rose can tell us what happened then there is not much we can do. As it just looks like Lady Ozera was talking with her and Jesse Zeklos was out after curfew. I know you want to go after both, but I really just need you to go back and be there for Rose. And I am going to look at the surveillance footage farther back to see if Tasha has done this before. Why don't you cancel the early am workout and I'll stop by in the morning to see how she is and whether she is up for classes."

"That sounds good Alberta, I am also wondering, if Rose agrees, having Adrian and the Princess over to see if they have found any information about Spirit healing compulsion."

"If Rose is willing to discuss this with Adrian and the Princess, then I think that will be a great idea. Maybe we can have them see Rose after classes because we will need to talk with Christian about his aunt's behavior." Alberta pondered.

"Okay, l will see what Rose thinks and I will see you in the morning. Thanks Alberta." I said as I stood to get up and leave Alberta's office when my phone started to ring. I pulled it out of my dusters anticipating it was Rose, but one look at the caller id and my fists and jaw clenched tight.

"It's Tasha" I said to Alberta.

"Don't give anything away yet. I don't want to let her know we are on to her" Alberta stated.

"Tasha" I answered.

"Dimka" Tasha responded. I needed to take a deep breath to keep my emotions in check "what do you need Tasha" I said trying to keep my voice neutral.

"I was just wandering since Christian says Rose was found that you might be hungry and I wanted to know if you wanted to come to the cabin for a late dinner and we can just relax. I have a nice bottle of wine that I have been saving" Tasha asked.

"Sorry Tasha, I am in a meeting with Guardian Petrov, can I call you back tomorrow?"

Sure, no problem Dimka, call me whenever" Tasha stated.

"Bye Tasha" and I hung up the phone. "She wanted me to come over for a late dinner."

"Well, let's keep her in the dark for now as to what we know and where Rose and you are staying. Maybe we can trap her in her scheme to use compulsion on Rose" Alberta stated. "Go back to Rose and I will see you all in the morning"

"Goodnight Alberta"

"Thanks Dimitri, please take care of her and feel free to call me at any time if she needs me."

RPOV

After Dimitri left the dorm, I went into the room I was sharing with Guardian Mathews to unpack the few things I brought over from my room. I gathered my shower stuff and my pajamas and headed to the bathroom for a shower. Once I was out of the shower, I dried myself off and I left my hair in the towel and put on my pjs. Since I was sharing the dorm with 2 guardians I chose more subdued pjs, a t-shirt and pj bottoms rather than my usual tank top and short jersey shorts. I brushed my hair out and decided to let it air dry for now. When I got out of the bathroom, Guardian Mathews and Guardian Andrews were sitting on opposite couches watching TV. Guardian Mathews asked "Hey Rose, you wanna watch some tv with us."

"Yeah" I replied. This was a treat as we don't have TVs in our rooms and the dhampir lounges only get the hand me downs from the moroi lounges. If you want to watch anything decent you need to go to the moroi lounges. I put my stuff away and sat down next to Guardian Mathews. They were watching American Ninja (surprise, surprise) actually it wasn't too bad, however our trials for dhampirs were more like American Ninja on steroids.

"So Guardian Mathews, what exactly is the plan? I asked.

"First, call me Celeste, you only need to address me as a Guardian Mathews when in class. I think Dimitri is discussing the plan with Alberta right now. But as far as I know for the next few days, your training schedule will remain the same. I will just get to work out with the both of you." Celeste replied.

"It just doesn't make sense" I said.

"What do you mean?"

"Why am I getting protection, I mean in two months, I will be graduating and guarding Lissa" I said.

"I think Dimitri will have more information when he gets back. But something is going on with you. It's not like you to be hiding under your bed. Normally, you have this take no prisoner attitude, plus we have noticed you are very distracted lately" Celeste tenderly stated as Guardian Andrews nodded his head in agreement.

I looked down at my hands in my lap, I felt really embarrassed that I had hid under my bed and even more embarrassed that she knew about it.

Celeste squeezed my arm "We know this is not your normal behavior and I believe that is why Alberta wants Dimitri and I with you to determine what is going on. And I want you to know, you can talk to me anytime about anything, okay".

"Okay, thanks Celeste." We watched TV for about another 15 minutes when Dimitri returned.