THE OTHER WAY ROUND
Chapter 16
(DICLAIMER- I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THESE CHARACTERS. THE AMAZINGLY TALENTED RICHELLE MEAD DOES)
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
previously on The Other Way Round…
Rose: "miss ozera. may I ask what you are doing here in the novice section at this hour?"
Tasha: "you just saw what we were doing guardian hathaway mazur."
Rose: "I have no problem with you dressing like this but it's the time and the place im talking about… you wearing that after curfew and then making out with a novice… seems like you have violated some serious rules, don't you think?"
…
Rose: "im sorry about yesterday… I shouldn't have drunk that much. I was just stressed with your training- then with mom coming- and then andre coming to-"
Dimitri: "who's andre?"
Rose: "its- its nothing!"
…
Rose: "I just hope that natasha doesn't tell anyone bout you and ivan…"
Dimitri : "i hope so too"
….
They were talking about me…
I saw tasha giving me an evil smile...
Oh im screwed...
DPOV-
I stood there frozen.
A millions thoughts were racing in my mind.
I saw rose coming towards me and nudged me to keep walking.
She led to her table where lissa, Christian, mason and guardian castile were sitting.
All of them gave me a small sympathic smile.
What the hell was happening!?
I sat down next to rose.
People were still looking at me. but rose glared at them, so they started eating there food.
"why is everyone looking at Dimitri like that?" rose asked her friends in a low voice.
"well… there are rumors that- that Dimitri let ivan drink from him… from past 2 years…" mason said with pity in his voice.
What the fuck…
I was just sitting there trying to intake his words…
Everyone knew…
EVERYONE!?
Rose snapped her neck at me. she was shocked.
"but who did this?" lissa asked
"natasha" rose said her name with so much poison.
"im sorry Dimitri." Christian apologised "I didn't know that tasha would do such a thing."
I didn't know that too.
I thought she was just threatening me or playing games with me… but she told everyone.
"when did this happen?" rose asked in a stern voice.
"we don't know rose… when we entered the dining room everyone was gossiping about some blood stud. Guardian pace informed us that tasha spread this rumor… and then you both came in." Christian said. (yes… blood stud is the male version of blood whore in my story)
My life was bloody over.
Forget about me- what about ivan?
What about his reputation?
"where's ivan?" I asked turning my head around trying to find him.
"he isnt here yet… your sister came, and left soon after listening to all this crap." Guardian castile said.
My sister even knew now…
I buried my head in my hands.
I really wanted to get out of here.
Away from this academy… even if its just for a minute.
I felt suffocated.
I felt a hand caress my knee.
I looked up. It was rose.
Her eyes were filled with concern.
"mase… you are on duty for the senior novice class right?" rose asked mason
"yeah. Why?" mason replied
"I'll switch positions with you. I have duty in elementary school today. You take that. Ill go to the novice class with Dimitri." rose said.
"but rose, alberta-"
"ill talk to alberta mason… and im your senior. Its an order." Rose said in her stern guardian tone
Mason just nodded.
"whats your first period?" rose asked me.
"maths with ivan…" I managed to say.
"ill meet you outside Mr. Myzeller's class" rose said getting up.
I nodded.
"please eat something before class. And don't worry" She requested
With that she left the dining room.
I really didn't want her to go… but atleast she'll be with me for the rest of the day.
I didn't felt like eating anything but lissa forced me to eat so I ate an apple… which tasted like sandpaper…
How am I going to confront ivan?
After a lot of 'goodlucks' and 'take care' from rose's friends, I walked to my maths class.
A lot of students were already in but I waited outside for rose.
After a minute, she came running towards me.
"im sorry- am I late?" she asked breathing heavily "are you okay? You all right Dimitri?"
"yes rose… im perfectly okay." I lied to her.
She scoffed lightly "no you're not… I know that its very hard… but please relax Dimitri."
I said nothing to her.
"lets go inside then?"
"I think I should wait for ivan. I havent seen him since yesterday!"
"where is ivan?"
IPOV-
I was getting ready for school when someone knocked on my door.
Thinking it was vika, I rushed to open it.
It wasn't her… it was aaron and carter.
What are they doing here?
"hey guys… what are you doing here?" I asked curiously.
"forget about us, why didn't you tell us you had a blood stud from the past 2 years?" carter asked with a smug look on his face.
Are they crazy?!
"what are you saying?" I exclaimed.
"oh drop the act!" aaron started "the whole school know it! Thanks to tasha ozera."
What in the fucking world are they talking about...
"what? What are you guys even talking about?!" I demanded
They both sighed exasperated ly
"that Dimitri belikov is your blood stud. Well you having a whore was expected, but Dimitri? that's huge ivan!" carter said patting my shoulder
I stood there frozen.
What the absolute fuck…
How did they know about me and dimka?
Does dimka know about all this?
Vika is going to kill me if she hears it…
"why are you guys here?" I grumbled.
I wanted to punch someone right now!
If my family hears of this…
Im in such a trouble…
"well we just want to tell to that viktoria is fuming with anger right now. After she heard all this at breakfast, she marched out of the hall. Probably coming here to talk to you, but then stan stopped her. But she will be here any minute, so goodluck!" aaron said.
Before I could ask or say anything they both left my dorm.
Vika was coming here…
And she sure as hell would be fuming with anger…
Oh vlad! Save me.
Just then someone knocked- scratch that- someone banged on my door.
Oh shit…
"please don't be vika!" I muttered to myself "please be dimka- or aaron- or carter. Anyone but vika!"
I knew it was her…
She's here…
I looked at my window. It would be the best if I jump down and run away but I knew I had to face her… she needs to know the truth.
She banged the door again. It was a lot harder that the last one.
I slowly started walking towards the door.
I took a deep breath and opened the door slowly- but vika slammed it open from the other side and barged in.
By the angry look on her face I quickly closed the door behind us.
"vika-"
She interrupted me before I said anything else "is it true?" she croaked.
Her eyes were red and so was her soft cheeks.
"vika please let me-"
"yes or no!?" she asked, her voice was breaking "ARE THOSE RUMOURS TRUE?!"
I flinched when she yelled at me.
Tears were running down her cheeks…
"viktoria I-"
"Yes or No?!" she repeated, gritting her teeth.
"yes-" before I could even say the word properly, pain tingled in my right cheek. My head bent to the side.
She slapped me.
Vika slapped me…
I slowly shifted my head up… and looked at her.
She was clutching her right hand with her other arm; the hand she slapped me from, her grip was very tight on her hand. As if she was punishing herself for slapping me.
More tears were rolling down her cheeks, she was sobbing.
Sure I was hurt… but not from the slap… from seeing vika like this.
She fell on her knees and cried harder.
I bent on my knees too, to hold her but wouldn't even let me touch her…
"HOW COULD YOU!?" she yelled at me "HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO MY BROTHER!"
Tears were forming in my eyes too..
"vika listen-"
"I THOUGHT THAT YOU COULD NEVER HURT DIMKA!" she screamed clutching my shoulders "YOU HAD HURT ME DEEPLY, THE DAY YOU LEFT! BUT I NEVER THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD HURT MY BROTHER!"
"WHY MY BROTHER?! WHY HIM?" she demanded.
"I didn't hurt him in any way, vika… I needed blood… I was a friend in need. He helped me." I explained to her "please vika… it was intention to hurt dimka, he's my brother too. Im also devastated with this news coming out… trust me" I pleaded to her.
She scoffed "trust you?" she asked me mockingly "HOW CAN I TRUST YOU, IVAN! I THOUGHT WE PROMISED EACH OTHER 'NO SECRETS'FROM NOW!"
"viktoria…" I trailed off. I didn't know what to say to her… we decided that we wont keep any secrets except, the reason of me and dimka leaving and she having a fake relationship…
"why didn't you tell me?" she asked me, her voice was calmer but it was still breaking because of her crying "if you didn't do anything wrong… then why didn't you tell me!? why did I had to out this from that Natasha Ozera?!"
I hugged her tightly and mumbled sorry again and again…
She's right… if I didn't do anything wrong, I should've told her… she's not only my girlfriend… she's my best friend, she's dimitri's sister…
She didn't hugged me back and kept pushing me away but I didn't let her go. I held her tightly as she broke down.
After some time she stopped struggling and sobbed on my shoulder… tears were falling from my eyes too.
She pulled back.
"tell me ivan… am I just a dhampir to you? Just a conquer? Will you have sex with me- make me your blood whore and just toss me aside like a piece of-"
"are you crazy? How can think that! Ill never do that to you- or anyone!" I cried "I- I love you viktoria…"
Her eyes widened on my last line…
Shit… did I just?
"y- you wha- what?" she croaked.
Say something ivan!
Say you love her !
Say it again!
"I- I- nothing…" I trailed off.
Her expression hardened again. Before I could realise what I just said, she shot up from the floor
"you do realise what these rumours will do to my brother. You are a royal moroi, it will not affect you at all. But my brother… it can ruin him…"
With that she left the room. Slamming the door shut behind her.
Now the only thing that's left for me is regretting… and maths class…
I need to go find dimka. Luckily we had a class together.
I hope he's okay…
I got up from the floor and rushed to the bathroom, after splashing water on my face a couple of times, I picked up my school bag and walked out of the novice building, straight to Mr. Myzeller's class.
As I went by, a lot of students gave me looks and started whispering amongst each other. But I honestly didn't care, I just needed to see if dimka was okay.
I spotted dimka talking with guardian Hathaway mazur. She was dressed in her guardian suit, meanwhile dimka was in his uniform.
"Dimitri." I said in a low voice.
There gaze's snapped in my direction.
Dimka looked happy to see me. "ivan… thank vlad you came! I got worried when I didn't see you at breakfast!" dimka said
He always worries…
"im sorry- about the-"
"its not your fault, ivan. you don't need to apologize" dimka said quietly "im just glad you're okay."
"what happened to your face?" guardian Hathaway asked pointing towards my right cheek.
Dimka's eyes turned to where she was pointing, he grew angry.
"what happened?" he questioned in a stern voice "who did this to you?"
"my girlfriend/ your sister dimka." I said jokingly, trying to calm him down.
Their eyes widened.
"vika did this to you?" he asked in disbelief
"c'mon dimka, lets go to class." I said ignoring his question
"please stay calm. Both of you. If any one says anything, Mr. Myzeller will take care of it. You both just don't loose your patience." Rose requested us.
I nodded curtly at her.
"don't worry Roza" Dimitri said in a low voice. She smiled
Wait- did he just?
Did he just call guardian Hathaway by a nickname?
I think its not the best time to ask him about this. We stepped inside the class.
Everyone was looking at us. Just great
Rose slightly nudged me and dimka to move.
We walked up to our seats and sat down, dimka sat next to me, which I was grateful for.
Rose greeted Mr. Myzeller and stood at a little distance, besides dimka.
Mr. Myzeller started teaching but I didn't even listen a word… and I was certain that dimka wasn't paying attention too.
I caught rose looking at Dimitri again and again, maybe out of concern. But at times dimka also looked at rose… in a very weird way- like it wasn't bad, it was a very un-dimitri-like look.
I shifted on my seat continuously, it was like everyone was giving us a stare. I felt nauseous and sick remembering my conversation with vika earlier.
She was right… im a royal moroi, these rumours wont affect me this much but Dimitri- it will effect my best friend's reputation…
Mr. Myzeller stopped teaching when he saw Camille Conta passing a note to Mia.
"miss Conta. I think you're better than that at passing notes." Mr. Myzeller said
"please Mr. Myzeller don't read this note. I beg of you!" Camille begged him dramatically. Everyone started chuckling in the class, even her.
With one swish of his hand, camille's note was in Mr. Myzeller's hand. Oh right… he's and air user..
Mr. Myzeller started reading the note "I bet that lonely boy- I mean lonely prince, wont be needing the humans in the blood centre anymore, as he's got his own blood stud. It gets me thinking about his sister too- viktoria, she and ivan spent an awful lot of time together. I mean its possible for them both to be his whores. I think it just runs in the family."
I was fuming with anger right now.
How dare they talk about dimka and vika like this.
Dimka was upset and angry, he wanted to punch those guys who were laughing, but he was holding himself back.
Rose was also very angry but didn't said anything.
I suddenly saw rolan sitting on the back. He was very angry.
Then out of no where camille's hair were on fire.
She started jumping around in the classroom, screaming.
Everyone was up from there seats now, gasping or shouting… except for rolan.
He was the one who set her on fire.
The fire died down, Camille slumped on her seat breathing heavily.
Mr. Myzeller's eyes were set on rolan. "Mr. Kislyak, please report to the headmistress's office now, down the hall-"
"like I need directions" he grumbled and picked up his backpack.
He stepped down the stairs and looked at me.
"you love her don't you?" rolan whispered to me "you should've done that for her… but you sicken zeklos's. you just sit and stay quiet."
He glared at me and exited the classroom.
Why did he just do that?
Why did he set Camille Conta on fire?
Did he do that for vika?
But why?
I saw Dimitri and rose giving me confused looks but I ignored.
I should've done that for vika and Dimitri but I didn't…
The class was dismissed soon after, me and Dimitri were the last to leave the class, rose walked behind us.
As soon as we were out dimka punched his fist in a wall.
"Dimitri" rose yelled and hurried to his side. "please calm down."
"how can I calm down!" Dimitri yelled at her "how can they say these things about my sister!"
"Dimitri -please calm down- they are just stupid! They don't know anything about vika." I pleaded to him but he didn't listen.
"Dimitri- look- look at me" demanded rose.
He was still looking at the wall, breathing heavily.
"I SAID LOOK AT ME!" she yelled, clutching his shoulders- turning him around.
"its going to be okay. Just have patience. These students don't know anything! They just want gossip. You didn't do anything wrong, Dimitri" she said softly
His breathing was more stable now. He nodded quietly at her.
It's a wonder that rose could calm him down. No one can ever calm down an infuriated Dimitri belikov- only mama olena can…
"go to your room, comrade and rest. Don't attend any class today please, just relax your mind." She requested
"but practise?" he blurted
"no practise today. You are doing better everyday, I don't think taking a day off is going to make you weak" she said jokingly.
He smiled at her and turned to me "will you be okay?" he asked with concern
"of course I will be. You rest "my guardian"!" I said confidently. I call him my guardian whenever he becomes too protective or concerned about me, just to irritate him.
He lightly chuckled and walked away to his building.
"are you going to be okay?" rose asked me
I shrugged "as long as I have dimka at my side… I have nothing to be worried about."
A small sad smile crept on her face "I know viktoria's mad at you, and I know that you're desperate to make it all right but don't go to her immediately. Give her some time, and you take rest too- if you need" she said.
I gave her a small nod.
"I should go for my next shift."
With that, rose walked out of the classroom corridor.
After a little while of consoling and convincing my-stupid-self, I started to walk out of there to go to my next class- but stopped when I heard Rose talking- no yelling at someone.
I quietly peeped out and saw that it was Christian Ozera, that she was yelling at…
"I cant believe your niece would do something like this!" rose yelled at him "that was so cheap."
"I already apologized to Dimitri, Rose. Ill talk to natasha after her classes. Please don't yell at me!" he gave her a hard reply.
"how can you take all this so lightly Christian?" rose questioned him "do you not know anything about these rumors!?"
"I know rose but what can I do? I'm not tasha's guardian!" Christian exasperated (he means a real parent type guardian)
"maybe talk some sense into her." Rose replied snarkily. that woman is fire, honestly "you are her only relative Christian. You are the one paying her tuition and allowance. Please tell her to stop this! It'll ruin Dimitri's career."
Rose really did care about dimka that she's screaming on a royal moroi…
"I understand Rose but like I said, ill talk to natasha after school. And im sure she didn't spread this rumor. Not intentionally ofcourse."
Rose scoffed in disbelief
"are you- christian do you even listen to yourself?" rose exclaimed "she is the one spreading all these nonsense rumours! The students are talking about ivan and Dimitri behind there backs! And today in class, some 'Conta' girl was insulting dimitri's sister too. Tell natasha to stop this immediately or else I will! And you know ill not stop her by using my words" rose warned him.
She was fuming with anger right now. I really didn't wanted to hear their conversation but they were in my way. I also couldn't go past them.
"tell me rose. Its about your feelings for Dimitri, isnt it?" Christian asked her
What? What feelings?!
"what do you mean?" rose asked folding her arms on her chest.
"you know exactly what I mean? Look at you rose! You are talking about hitting a royal moroi- my niece for Dimitri? for a student?" Christian said "you still like him don't you?"
Rose's eyes widened and so did mine.
Rose had feelings for dimka?
Her student?!
Though they look nice together and rose can control dimka's anger… but still…
"ARE YOU CRAZY?!" rose screamed at him "CHRISTIAN I DON'T, OKAY! I DON'T LIKE HIM. HE'S MY STUDENT AND-AND I JUST WANT THE BEST FOR HIM."
Even though rose's voice was scary and stern but still she seemed unsure of herself… her mind was uncertain…
"please rose… I know you since we were 17! You are head over heels for that guy." Christian said and shrugged.
"jus- just shut up! Shut up!" rose said waving her hands mindlessly "if anyone hears these stupid accusations of yours, ill loose my job!"
"rose the sooner the accept the truth, the better." Christian said softly.
She huffed "there's nothing to accept pyro! Im 24, he's 17. Maybe I was just attracted to him, but that's it. You know that the word "love" is not in my dictionary so stop thinking these stupid things"
"okay… if you insist." He said shrugging "im sorry I snapped at you like this. Ill talk to natasha."
Rose nodded at him.
he started to walk away but stopped and turned back "and just wanna let you know that lissa is planning to set you up with that Bonville guy." Christian said trying his best to not laugh on rose's pale face.
"wait- i- seriously?" she shuttered
He just chuckled and walked away.
After some time rose walked away too and I went to my next class, for which I was already 15 minutes late.
It was chemistry. Unlike all my classes, I actually paid attention in chemistry. We had practicals, and playing around with chemicals always relaxed me in some way.
After 2 more classes, the school was over for the day.
I sighed as I made my way out of the classroom, but stopped on my tracks when I saw purple highlighted hair blowing. It was vika…
I couldn't see the face because of the wall but I knew it was her.
As I neared I saw her talking with someone. I could only see her; she was in her uniform, her hands set on her waist… and she looked angry. Throwing daggers at the person she was talking to.
"I cant believe you set someone on fire!" vika said in anger and disbelief.
"oh cmon! Did you see any burn marks on her?" a guy's voice asked her.
I immediately knew the person vika was talking to.
It was rolan.
"no but rolan you shouldn't have!" vika argued "Kirova is defiantly gonna tell your parents and they will so mad at-"
"I had to!" he said cutting vika in between "I couldn't just let them insult you like that! Do you even know what they were talking about you viktoria?"
Why did he cared so much?
"no I don't" vika replied "and I don't care about what those stupid moroi's say! You know Camille hates me because she's obsessed with you. It was expected."
"you sound jealous." He teased her
Vika turned tomato red… But why?
"shut up rolan." She said averting her gaze from him. he looked amused "whatever we have is all for show. Just a show. I have a boyfriend remember?" oh atleast she remembered my me…
"so why are you so concerned about kirova telling my parents vika? Why do you seem to care about me?" he questioned her
"why did you set up Camille Conta on fire for me?" vika questioned back.
They were literally bickering like a couple.
I felt jealousy and rage fill in me.
"I did it because I couldn't stand her insulting you like that!" rolan said in a simple-as-that tone "and well if mom and dad know the story im sure they'll appreciate me."
She stared at him in disbelief but there was a small smile forming on her lips "why would a parent appreciate there kid setting a royal moroi on fire? Care to explain Mr. Kislyak?"
"well for starters. My family is completely in love with you vika." Rolan said smiling
Her eyes widened "me? why?"
"mom and dad loves you because you brought me back on the track and made me normal again. and well my sister loves you cuz according to her you have a great taste in fashion. Even my nana loves you vika and so does my uncle and aunt… now you are their favourite child!" he said almost jealous and frustrated but somewhere he also like that his family liked vika.
I thought about what would my parents say if I introduced vika as my girlfriend?
Dad would probably cut me out of his will. Mom will not leave and chances to throw mean comments at her. And my big zeklos family would never accept a dhamphir as my girlfriend.
Vika grinned "well I like them too. They are very nice people, rolan."
He just nodded.
"see… I appreciate what you did for me but you really shouldn't have… it'll get you in trouble and I don't want that okay?!" she said touching his arm lightly. Rolan was taller than vika, but still he looked intimidated by her "I don't want your parents to think that you are out of control again."
He gave her a sad smile "you think im not out of control now?" he asked her with hope shining in his eyes
Vika looked at him with her eyes full of care and concern which made me more jealous and angry
"well… you are not drinking everyday, you take your meals properly, you stopped beating the daylight out of people, your grades are improving, you talk to people without yelling… I think you're getting better." She said and shrugged
"don't flirt with me, rolan!" she warned him but it wasn't a serious one… more like a joke…
"im not flirting with you, princess." He replied "you really helped me… if you hadn't been there for me, I don't even know where I would be right now. You are amazing vika! Any guy would be lucky to have you."
He was straight up flirting with her!
Vika was smiling a little "you'll get better. I know you will."
Rolan wrapped her arms around her and pulled her to his chest. She looked take back but hugged him after a while
"thank you for everything. I know I shout at you or say stuff I shouldn't… but I don't mean it-"
"I know" vika said interrupting him.
They pulled back
"Is everything okay between you and ivan?" he asked her rubbing her shoulders
"I- I don't know…" she trailed
"you still angry at him?"
"I bursted on him today… I shouldn't have done that. But I just don't know who to trust anymore" she croaked out.
"its going to be okay…" he said softly.
I ran away from there as fast as I could. I really didn't my girlfriend hugging rolan again.
I went upto my room and threw my backpack on the floor after locking the door.
I got dressed in my sweatpants and sweatshirt as the weather was getting chilly and suddenly doing my homework didn't seemed such a bad idea.
I had lots of work to catch up on, so when I was finished with all my studies, it was already late in the night.
It was 10:07 am.
I wanted to have dinner but I was too exhausted to put on appropriate clothes and go down to have dinner, so I thought of skipping it today.
After some time of watching movies on my laptop I became bored.
I really wanted to go to vika… but I wasn't ready to face her.
I should go to Dimitri!
I should go and see how he's doing.
It was 11:27, past curfew.
I shrugged on my black jacket and quietly made my way to the dimitri's building.
As I was about to knock on his door I heard light sobbing and sniffling noises from inside.
Dimitri was crying…
Ofcourse these rumors affected him… it can ruin his career!
"Dimitri" I said in a loud voice "its me. ivan! open up"
"ivan go to your room" he said
"no dimka! Let me in. please"
"ivan I said go! Its past curfew! You shouldn't be here."
"open up dimka! Orelse I swear Ill break it! Talk to me dimka! Im sorry!"
"don't be. Its not your fault."
I tried a few more times to make him open the door but Dimitri Belikov didn't even budged.
I knew I had to go inside and talk to him.
But I needed someone's help… to help me break in.
And I knew just the person to ask for help…
At this moment I didn't cared what kind of feelings they both had for each other… but I knew she would help me…
I have to tell rose…
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
author's note-
so hey! Yes im alive. And I have both of my hands with me….
im extremely sorry for the chapter delay! Please forgive me. I had this big festival in my country (Happy Diwali to all my lovely Indians who are reading this) and guys please tell me whether you like my story or not? You comments really motivate me! please drop your comment or suggesting in the review box!
Now? Will rose help ivan?
and will something unexpected will start to bloom in rolan's heart?
And what will happen when 2 royal moroi join hands together to ruin rose and Dimitri?
Will they survive through it all?
If you wanna know, you gotta keep reading!
Until next time…
~K