THE OTHER WAY ROUND
Chapter 23
(DICLAIMER- I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THESE CHARACTERS. THE AMAZINGLY TALENTED RICHELLE MEAD DOES)
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previously on The Other Way Round…
Rose: "I don't quiet understand why I am here?"
Kirova: "Guardian Mazur, now that you havent got the information out of them, im afraid ill have to confront them myself."
Dimitri: "what information?"
Kirova: "the day you arrived back at the academy we needed the answers to why you left. So the council decided that your mentor will get them for us. I don't even think she ever asked you this, has she?"
Dimitri: "no"
Kirova: "you have given us the clarification that she never asked you the question, she has no choice but to face the outcome of lying to us and wasting the board's time."
Kirova: "eighter you resign your post as Vasilisa Dragomir's guardian… or you resign your post as Dimitri Belikov's mentor. I want to hear your decision by tomorrow evening"
…
Ivan: "you don't believe what Kirova said, right?"
Dimitri: "why would kirova lie, ivan?"
Ivan: "She didn't asked because she didn't wanted to know. She cares about you Dimitri! you matter to her, not some stupid answers!"
…
Janine: "Dimitri, this is my charge. Lord ivashkov."
Dimitri: "you piece of shit! How dare you come here! how is he here abe! I- I thought we had a deal!"
Abe: "I didn't had the slightest clue Dimitri!"
…
Rose: "tell me why you jumped on Lord Ivashkov like that- who is he to you?"
Dimitri: "Randall Ivashkov is my father."
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DPOV-
"Whoa- whoa! Backup there!" Rose said waving her hands for me to stop. I have told her everything that happened 4 years back. I wasn't ashamed for what I did, just a bit nervous for Roza's reaction…
"so you literally beat the living crap out of lord ivashkov?" Roza asked chuckling "and you were 13!"
I love the voice of her laughs and chuckles, I chuckled too "yeah pretty much…" I shrugged.
She slowly caressed my arm with her soft hands, she had a soft look on her face "if I had any idea that he did that to you and olena… I would've kicked him in the balls instead of pulling you back. Im sorry"
I smiled at her "im glad you pulled me back, I would've probably killed him" I joked trying to lighten her mood.
"yeah… you probably had" she chuckled tilting her head "but I still don't understand… what role my dad plays here? You said something about a deal…"
I sighed "after I beat my dad, I found myself in this mobster place. I met abe there. I asked him to do me a favour and keep my abusive father away from my family and Russia."
"and he just agreed?" rose asked curiously
"no- well not at first. I dueled with him, and won multiple times against him. at the end we made a deal. My father never set a foot in Russia and since then I owe abe a favour"
"a favour?" rose asked, confused "what kinda favour?"
"that I don't even know" I said and shrugged
"my baba… full of surprises!" rose said sarcastically, shaking her head.
Suddenly our eyes met… soon it seemed like an eternity but I continued to stare into them…
"im sorry you had to go through all this…" she said in a low voice, scooting closer to me on the sofa and wrapped her hands around my neck, pulling me in a tight hug.
I wish I could stay in those arms forever….
I inhaled her intoxicating scent which instantly calmed me… jasmine and mint…
"well… I have you now" I said and regretted that as soon as it came out of my mouth. God! Im so stupid!
"and ivan..." i slowly added, I must've been red as a tomato right now. I heard Roza chuckling softly as she caressed my back "yes you do" she said in my ear which gave me goosebumps… the things this woman does to me…
After a while we pulled back a little. Our forehead were almost touching…. We were so close!
She is literally so beautiful it makes my heart ache… she is a living goddess!
The way she always listens to my rants and always supports me in everything… how can I not fall for her?
She slowly began biting her lip… oh lord! Im gonna loose it!
I saw her slowly leaning in … I did too…
Our nose's brushed together…
Then suddenly a thud sound echoed in the room…
Making us jump apart from each other.
Fuck! Im such a jerk! First I called her a cheater, made her cry, and now I was about to kiss her? Again!
I really need to start having control over myself!
I saw rose's blushing furiously as she got up to answer the door.
She clicked it open, revealing ivan and abe, rose shifted aside as they walked in. both of them looking at me with concern.
"uh- m-my doorbell isnt working… I-I called someone for h-help! But they just take years to reply back, that why its not working- I even told Christian to help- but he's busy! T-that's why you had to k-knock! S-sorry for that! I uh-"
Abe cut off Roza's rambling "there's no need to explain, kiz" he said waving her off "and why are you breathing so heavily?"
"me? no… I-I'm perfectly fine!" rose said running a hand through her hair, trying to hide her red cheeks.
I saw ivan raising a brow at me. I just shrugged.
"Dimitri. are you okay?" abe asked sitting on the sofa next to me.
I took a deep breath "im fine. But why is he here?"
"I called my men. Even they don't know how this could've happened. They monitor Randall's movements every hour! And according to the reports, one hour ago he was at the royal court in Pennsylvania, and now he's here!" abe explained.
Frustrated, I ran a hand through my hair.
How did this get so messed up?
Ivan sat down next to me, placing a hand on me shoulder.
"why the hell is he here anyway!?" ivan exclaimed
I scoffed "maybe to ruin my life, again!"
"calm down son." Abe said "ill have a chat with him personally, will try to find out his intentions."
I just nodded. asif my father is that dumb to give abe the answers…
"how is he now?" rose asked her father about that bastard
"he is in a okay condition." Abe said shrugging "got some stitches for his nose and forehead. Doesn't have any concussion, he got discharged immediately. Janine's with him right now."
Janine… shit! Rose's mom must be hating me right now!
"no she doesn't" I heard abe say "I explained everything to her. Trust me she would've punched that fucking moroi if she wasn't his guardian"
Shit! Did I said that out loud?
"yes you did" ivan answered.
I saw rose looking at the clock hung over her television "uh- I don't really want to- but I have to go work" she said slowly.
Oh yeah! Kirova said her something about the zeklos file…
"on a Sunday?" ivan asked, looking at her in surprise
"yeah- well! There's no Sunday for a blood master 7 guardian!" she joked, winking at ivan.
"whoa! You're a BM 7 guardian!" ivan exclaimed.
She let out a small laugh as she went inside to her bedroom
"trust me… I had the same reaction when I found out" I whispered to ivan.
"ill try my best to make him leave the academy, dimitri. but no promises. Im sorry" abe said to me
I gave him a small smile and a nod "I know" I knew that abe would do his best to throw him out…
With that abe got up and walked out of the apartment.
Just then rose came back, dressed in black faded jeans and a very big and snuggly white jumper. She had a big black tote bag hanging in her hand, her hair was up in a messy bun. She looked gorgeous and cuddly.
"okay! So where is he right now?" Roza questioned ivan
Ivan gulped at her curt voice "he was down strolling on the academy ground, when we were coming here" he answered her.
"so" she turned towards me "you will stay here. Do not leave this place until I come back! You can do anything you want. Ivan stay with him and keep him company, I don't mind. Just don't leave until baba has this all under control!"
We both nodded. right now she was in her guardian form. And you cant say no to guardian mazur.
She walked over and bent down looking through the papers kept under her coffee table.
"there's frozen pizzas and coke in the fridge, coffee is already made! There's wine but don't drink it cuz ive been saving it for tonight! The T.V has Netflix and other channels so please help yourself" she said while stuffing the papers in her bag "you can sleep in the bedroom, use the bathroom."
She got up and walked over to me.
She was standing just infront of me and looking down at me while I was on the sofa "I know its stupid for me to just keep you here but pleaseeee don't go out unless I come back! I don't want you anywhere near that man! And don't open the door for anyone! Ill try to be back as soon as possible. Then ill drop you to your dorm" she said and then kissed my forehead.
Before I knew, she was out.
My gaze turned from the open door to my best friend with his eyes wide in surprise and jaw dropped
"did she just-" ivan mumbled pointing towards my forehead
"yeah she did…" I said, more to myself than him.
She kissed my forehead infront of ivan! and Im not complaining!
I got up from the couch and went over to the T.V cabinet and grabbed the remote before plopping down again.
"Dimitri- wh-what was that?" ivan said still in shock.
"hey… it was just a friendly gesture!" I defended her and turned on the T.V
"riiiiiight" he smirked at me "so tell me, how long has these friendly gestures have been going on, huh?" he said teasingly
I rolled my eyes, trying hard not to turn red "oh! shut up" I muttered and put our favourite show 'Suits'
RPOV-
If you think that the hardest thing about being a guardian is fighting the strigoi… then you're ABSOLUTELY wrong!
It's the paperwork!
Trust me! it sucks!
What an amazing thing to do on a Sunday! Paperwork!
I hate this part about my job. They are sooo boring and take a longgggg time. Plus, you have to concentrate while going through these papers cuz there can be mistakes literally anywhere.
I groaned as I circled a line in the zeklos family file, with a red pen.
There are so many mistakes!
The worst thing is that I have to recheck these files atleast 5 times before sending it to kirova's office because she's like a hawk! She always finds mistakes.
After many long dreadful hours I was finally done with inspecting the file and sent it to a junior guardian to make a fresh copy.
I stretched my arms as I sat on the high head chair in my cabin. Yes I have a cabin! Its not very big, just a little room with a desk, chair and couch. I don't use it much, just for paperwork stuff.
My gaze fell on my phone, it was 6:15. I've been working on this file for about 2 hours.
I really hope that Dimitri is still at my apartment, because I knew the ivashkovs… they just love to mess up! And I didn't wanted Dimitri to go anywhere near that man.
Dimitri… I still cant believe he went through so much. I wish I could really do something, but I cant. Even though I have a good reputation in our world but still… im a guardian; a dhampir whereas he's a royal moroi!
My mind went back in Kirova's office… she told me to choose between lissa and Dimitri.
If it would've been anyone else, I would've chosen lissa without hesitation. But I cant!
It Dimitri we are talking about!
My one wrong decision can ruin his future!
I very well knew it, that Kirova is tricking me into choosing lissa so that she can expel Dimitri. but I cant let that happen!
But I also cant just leave lissa… she's my bestfriend! My sister…
I layed back my head on the chair and closed my eyes for a bit.
After a while someone knocked on my door causing me to open my eyes.
"guardian mazur, the zeklos file" louis demello, a junior guardian said keeping a thick dark blue file on my desk
I picked it up and started turning the pages as I quickly read everything. I looked up from the file "thank you Guardian Demello"
He quickly nodded and walked out of the room.
After confirming that the whole file is mistake-proof I got up, picked the file and made my way to kirova's office.
"may I come in?" I muttered as I came inside her office.
She was doing some work but dropped her pen as soon as she saw me "come in rose" she said showing her fangy smile.
"the zeklos file, you requested" I muttered keeping the file on her table.
She eyed it for a second then set it aside.
"rose…"
I hummed in response
"I know I've given you until tomorrow's time, but have you thought about it?" Kirova asked me
I shook my head in a yes, trying not to make eye contact with her.
She sat back on her chair with an amused look on her face "so? What do you think?"
"I-"
"Rose… for the past 6 years, you only had Vasilisa's future in your hands but now, you have someone else depending on you too…" she said in a calm voice. I knew she was talking about Dimitri.
"I know, Kirova." I started "I know that dimitri's future is in my hands right now, he cant catch up a year's training without a mentor. But lissa means too much to me. she is the reason why I chose to be a guardian!"
"I know rose. Trust me when I say, that you and Vasilisa have a very special bond! But if you decide to leave her right now, there's a way you can get her again… later." Kirova said.
Ill get her later?
What does she mean by that?
"I don't quiet understand what you're saying…"
"lets see it in this way; we remove you as vasilisa's guardian and assign someone else to her. You can mentor Dimitri until he graduates. After that you and vasilisa can put up a request in the royal court for each other. Considering that she hasn't been your charge for 8 months and still she wants you as her guardian. The court will approve immediately. In this way you get to mentor Dimitri for now, and get to vasilisa's guardian again after he graduates!"
A big smile spread onto my lips after hearing Kirova.
She's right! I cant get both of them!
"y-you really think that's possible?" I asked her excitedly
"Im 95% sure rose." She said nodding 95? Why not 100? "you have to take a risk eighter way, Rose."
I gave her a small nod.
Its just 8 months right?
I can mentor Dimitri, prepare him for being a guardian. He can get my proper attention now!
I mean- I obviously will protect lissa even if she's not my charge.
"well… are you ready to make a decision?" Kirova questioned me
Am I ?
I know if ill overthink then ill surely end up doing what I don't want to.
And I have a really good feeling about this!
It can work!
Lissa will be very mad! Yes. But im sure she'll understand after I explain her everything! But what if the plan doesn't work!?
"yes" I said confidently "ive made my decision"
"and what would that be?" she smiled
After telling her my decision. I left her office.
I spent my whole life dreaming about being lissa's guardian. And now… Im gave it up for a guy I've known only for 2 weeks.
Oh god! Im falling for him.
Im so falling for him!
Before I even knew, I was standing infront of my apartment
I knocked lightly.
Just after a second the door opened, revealing my handsome Russian god…
DPOV-
I opened the door, standing there was my Roza, her hair up in a messy bun, her face had tiredness all over it. But her beautiful eyes were sparkling…
She came inside and threw her big bag on the couch and turned towards me.
"bad day at work?" I asked her slowly
She shook her head in a no and before I knew, she jumped on me, wrapping her hands around my neck, pulling me in a tight hug. I immediately caught her by the waist and hugged her back.
We stayed like that for a while, butterflies were still fluttering in my stomach.
"I said yes to Kirova" I heard her mumble
Yes? Yes to what?
Oh my vlad… is she leaving me!?
"to what?" my voice was down to a whisper
"to just be your mentor" she replied "I quit my post as lissa's guardian"
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Author's note-
Whoaaa! Did Rose Mazur just chose Dimitri above her bestfriend? And accepted that she's falling for him?
Not sure how lissa will react to this!
But im pretty sure that Dimitri will be elated!
Well? Arent they just so cute?
Looks like things are getting better, but things don't stay perfect for a long time at St. Vladmir's
Not when there's 2 royal moroi's conspiring not just against romitri but also against the vampire world!
If you wanna know, you gotta keep reading…
Until next time…
~K