Mom was quiet on the phone, doors closing on her side.
"Where did you hear that name?" She didn't sound afraid or concerned, but more or less curious. Not what I expected.
"I don't know. But when I said it, it made a lot of people antsy."
Mom tsked and sighed. "Ibrahim."
"Ibrahim?" I asked, remembering the name being said by Tatiana.
"He's your father," she whispered and my eyes bugged out of my head.
"He is?"
"Yes. He hasn't been involved because of his work. He has his hands in a lot of pockets. And makes hefty donations to the Academy under a false name. That's why his name made people antsy. Who did you say it to?"
I snorted a laugh. "Kirova."
Mom muttered something along the lines of 'do I want to know?'
"That would sound right. The two of them had a run in a few years ago…actually, it was about you."
I propped my feet up on Alberta's desk. "What? Why?"
"She was looking to expel you over something stupid, a prank you pulled on a teacher. She's always had it out for you, whether it's been warranted or not. Anyways, I was unreachable and Alberta told your father. One phone call to the school and you were let off with a warning. But I'm guessing she has forgotten the conversation."
I snorted a laugh. "Apparently," I said.
"What was she on about this time?"
"She was ready to blame me for an inappropriate rumour. She was so quick to believe it that she didn't even ask if it were true," I said with a sigh and glanced up when Alberta appeared in the doorway.
"I should probably wrap this up, but thank you for telling me," I said with a small smile.
"I'm hoping that once you graduate, you'll be able to meet him," Mom said before she hung up, leaving me with a smile.
I waited in the gym for twenty minutes before I texted Dimitri. I would have figured even on crutches he would have been here by now. I had done my warm-up and my laps, but he still wasn't here. It wasn't like him to be late. I picked up my phone to ask him where he was, but a text from him popped across my screen.
Hospital Wing. ~D
I cleared my throat and picked up my things, making the trek to the hospital wing. There was no direct route from the gym, so I made the walk in the drizzling rain. Once I got to the hospital wing I nodded at the receptionist.
"I'm looking for Guardian Belikov. He told me he was here," I said. Her face twitched and she nodded, standing up and leading back towards the room he was in before. I furrowed my brows and knocked on the door, finding him in one of the beds with an IV in his arm again.
He still had a sheen of sweat on his brow, and he wasn't trying to hide how tired he looked. Dr. Olendzki was still in the room, writing notes on a clipboard before she noticed me.
"Rose, what are you doing here?"
"I told her I was here. We were supposed to meet for her class," Dimitri whispered. I walked into the room and looked him over.
"What happened?"
"Infection," Dimitri said tiredly.
"I didn't think we could get infections as humans could?"
"We don't, but post-surgical infections can still happen. It happens when bacteria enter the body during surgery," Dr. Olendzki said as she tapped the clipboard. I frowned and looked at him.
"They took your cast off?"
Dimitri nodded. "They had to so we could clean the infection."
Dr. Olendzki pulled the blanket down, showing the now uncasted leg. The incision sight was red and puffy, a white substance creeping out of it. Even I knew that was a bad sign.
"Does it hurt?" I asked.
Dimitri nodded. "Yeah. I started antibiotics when I got here."
I nodded and moved to sit on the edge of the bed when Dr. Olendzki moved to the foot of the bed, a small device in her hand. She pressed the thing to his ankle and it made a weird noise. As she listened, her nose flared. I knew that wasn't good either.
"What?" I asked.
She blinked. "The blood flow to your foot is decreased. I don't want to alarm you; it may be because of the infection and that you've been on your feet more than you should have been. Going forward, I want you to use a wheelchair for a week. Just so we can ensure that everything is healing properly."
I looked at Dimitri pointedly, almost daring him to disagree. Dimitri simply nodded and closed his eyes, letting out a small sigh. Dr. Olendzki excused herself and I moved closer to him, taking his hand. His temperature was higher than usual.
"Can I get you anything?" I asked, trying not to let my worry get the best of me.
"No, but thank you," he said after a moment. I sighed quietly and glanced at the door before moving around the bed, laying on my side next to his uninjured leg. I rested my head on the pillow and rested my hand on his chest.
"I hate to see you like this," I whispered.
"It's okay, Roza. It happens," he said, trying to force a smile. I smiled at him and leaned towards him, pressing a kiss to his forehead. I hadn't heard Dr. Olendzki come back into the room and tensed when I noticed her standing at the end of the bed, adjusting the blankets and smoothing them over. When she noticed my eyes on her, she smiled.
"I see nothing," she said with a shrug. "You know, the whole doctor-patient-confidentiality."
I chuckled and shook my head. As Dr. Olendzki finished up and I looked back at Dimitri, finding his eyes closed. I waited a few moments before determining he had fallen asleep and slowly stood up, stroking his cheek gently before slipping out of the room. I closed the door behind me so the noise from the hall didn't wake him and headed towards the exit.
"Rose?"
I stopped a turned, looking at Dr. Olendzki. She handed me a plastic key card.
"The hospital wing is monitored lightly at night. I'm taking the shift tonight. If you want to come back later, just let yourself in."
I looked at it and then at her.
"Doctor-patient-confidentiality?"
She nodded. "I see nothing, and I see everything. The perk of being a doctor. Secrets are safe with me."
I arrived at Lissa's room as discussed, all of us ready to finish the game. I didn't want it left unfinished longer than necessary.
"Where's Mia?" I asked when I closed the door.
Eddie held up a piece of paper, one that was similar to the ones we had all received.
"This was in Mia's guest room when I went by," Eddie said solemnly. I took the paper from him and read the red scrawl on the paper, feeling dread settle in my stomach.
Each night the game is left unfinished, one of you stays with me.
"So what, he's dream-napping us now?" I demanded. The three of them looked uncertain, but I knew that this was dangerous. I didn't think he'd be able to make us disappear. I sat down on the floor in my usual spot and picked up the dice, taking my turn. The questions weren't any tamer than usual. Out of curiosity I picked up the stack and flipped it over, finding them all blank.
"Each question is designed for each of us," Lissa whispered, her eyes showing all the worry that filed the bond. Eddie rolled his turn and picked up the planchette, setting it on the board.
"Is Mason there?"
The planchette flew across the board. No.
Eddie's face was crestfallen and handed the dice to Christian. As he made his turn, Lissa turned to me.
"I was told that Guardian Belikov would be on temporary leave longer than anticipated. Is he okay?"
I shrugged. "He has a nasty infection in his incision."
Lissa opened her mouth, but I already knew what she was going to say.
"He won't let you heal him, not with him knowing the effects on me," I whispered but I was touched.
Lissa took her turn after Christian, thankfully moving a few spots forward and staying there. I rolled my turn and moved my piece, earning myself another turn with the planchette.
"Can I find anything about you in the church attic?" I asked. The lights flickered in the room and I could have sworn I heard a ghost of Stefan's laugh. The planchette slide to yes.
This time when I dreamed, I was ready for Stefan to be there, but instead, another man faced me. I had never seen him before, but it was as if I had seen him many times before.
He looked at me cautiously, like he couldn't believe what he was looking at.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice echoing in the void space. All around us was an empty void, black and endless. The man in front of me shook his head.
"We haven't met in a long time," he said and ran his hand through his hair in a similar way that I did. Looking at him I could tell that he was Moroi, but he was short for a Moroi, maybe five-eleven, maybe just six feet tall. His skin was darker than I had seen, the colour of lightly creamed coffee. He had thick curly hair that was short, but easily unruly. His were dark too and he had a goatee, trimmed short and clean.
Everything about him was attractive for an adult man, but his clothing was something else entirely. He wore pyjamas, but they looked silk, blood red with gold trimming. But on top of it, he had a well-worn knitted cardigan. Something that didn't match his style at all. Something that reminded me of something my mother would wear when she wasn't in uniform.
"That doesn't answer my question," I said, crossing my arms over my chest. I bit my lip, hating the fact that this wasn't like a spirit dream-like Adrian's, one where we could choose our surroundings and clothing. I didn't exactly want a man I didn't know to see me in a tank top and shorts.
The man smirked and shrugged. "Zmey," he said.
"That's a strange name," I pointed out and he shrugged again.
Zmey smiled at me and walked closer, tilting his head as he looked at me. Almost as if he was seeing me for the first time, but also not the first time. There was something in his eyes that confused me, pride but sadness. Like he had lost something and was looking at a token of memory.
"You must be a student at St. Vladimir's," he mused and nodded.
"Yes," I said and slowly turned around hoping that maybe I would find something in the void.
"You have marks already," he said, a twinge of pain in his voice. I brushed my hand over my neck and looked at Zmey.
"Yes. Two are for a friend, the rest…well, I'm sure you heard there was an attack on the Academy a few weeks ago."
Zmey nodded. "Yes, I did hear. I'm sorry, for your losses," he said, folding his hands together. It was strange hearing that statement from a Moroi. Most assumed the same thing I did, that it was a glory, something to strive for. But it wasn't, they were horrible reminders. But this man, this Moroi, he understood what they truly meant. They were reminders of our losses.
"Thank you," I whispered and shivered, the void lacking any kind of warmth. He noticed it and took the cardigan and handed it to me. I wanted to say no, but there was something that made me take it. I slipped it on, finding it had a hint of smoke and something sharp lingering on it.
"So we met before?"
He smiled. It wasn't a large, toothy smile, but a barely there smirk that struck more familiarity.
"Yes, when you were young, and then again after the accident with the Dragomir family. I was in the car behind you."
I frowned but nodded in understanding. "I vaguely remember a man coming to help Lissa and me, but that whole night was a blur."
"Because you died and your brain is doing what it can to protect itself, suppressing memories that are painful."
I was shocked at his words. Not many people knew that I was shadow-kissed, or how I came to be, but he did. There was no hesitation there.
I cleared my throat as his image started to waver, a sign that I was going to wake up it looked like he was going to say something but I was ripped from the dream. I sat up with a gasp, expecting to be freezing like I usually was when I woke up.
I blew out a breath and rubbed my face. When I moved my legs, I heard a crumpling sound of paper. I looked down in my lap and found a piece of that stupid paper. I picked it up with an exasperated sigh.
Could you imagine the secrets he keeps? They're almost as dangerous as yours. And you are the biggest one of all.
I sighed and flicked the paper away from me before noticing my arm. I went to be with a tank top on and shorts, but now I had on a cardigan. The same one that Zmey gave me in the dream.
I went down the breakfast, wondering which one of us would be missing from the table. I let out a breath when Christin, Eddie, and Lissa were at the table. I sat down, not bothering to get my breakfast yet.
"Hey," I whispered.
Lissa blinked at me tiredly. "Were you awake all night?"
I shook my head. "No. Why?"
Lissa shrugged. "I don't know. I usually can't feel anything with the bond, but I felt something last night. It was like I could feel this weight in my head. And when I tried to reach out to you, I couldn't."
I furrowed my brows and tapped my fingers on the table.
"Did anyone else get a note this morning?" I asked.
They all nodded. "The same old shit. Taunts about the secrets we haven't shared yet," Christian groaned.
I nodded and rubbed my face. "I need the largest coffee in existence."
Eddie nodded. "Me too. I could sleep, and once the sun was starting to set, I made my way down here. I got a coffee and then decided maybe I could swing by and see Belikov."
I shifted on the bench. "How was he this morning."
"He wasn't feeling great. I guess the strang of his infection is not working with the broad-spectrum antibiotic so they're running some tests. He was a little delirious too, he was asking about you but was asking questions I don't think he would ask in public. He fell back asleep before the nurses came back."
I bit my lip and crossed my arms over my chest. The fact that Dimitri's infection was getting worse was concerning. This wasn't normal for Dhampirs. Lissa excused herself after a moment, whispering that she was going to the feeders. Christian got up and followed her, not saying anything as he left.
I glanced around the filling cafeteria, spotting Jesse across the room. My anger towards him still boiled, but I was distracted when someone else sat down beside me.
"Jeez. Do you ever sleep? I've been trying to dream walk almost all week!" Adrian chortled as he rested his folded arms on the table.
"What?"
"Hello to you too," he said and slid coffees towards me and Eddie, "You both look like you could use these. The bags under your eyes are big enough for their own luggage tags."
"You've been trying to dream walk me?" I asked.
"Yeah, but it's almost like you're already in a dream with someone," Adrian said with a raised brow. He looked around me, no doubt looking at my aura.
"What's up with you? You're all over the place," he said quietly. I sighed and shook my head.
"Nothing, just not sleeping well," I whispered before standing up, "I have somewhere I need to be."
Adrian raised his brows at me as I stood up, but asked Eddie what was up. I wasn't sure if Eddie was going to tell him, but I felt that it was safer not to include anyone else in this game.
I didn't want to admit how concerned I was.
"How did this happen?" I whispered to the nurse that was tending to Dimitri. She was one that was always trailing after Dr. Olendzki, and she gave me a sad smile when I walked in.
"It's uncommon, but sometimes infections happen," she said, sitting on a stool next to the bed and changing the dressings on his leg. Dimitri was asleep, but I was concerned about the fact he was wearing an oxygen mask. When the nurse noticed my gaze, she tsked.
"Guardian Belikov was having some shortness of breath earlier. We believe we've found the right strain of the infection, but it will still take forty-eight hours for them to take effect," she explained, "But the site is less inflamed and there is less discharge from the incision. Those are both good signs."
"But he's not septic or anything?" I asked.
The nurse shook her head. "No, but he was heading that way," she said and her eyes flicked behind me. I turned and sighed quietly.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. Adrian stepped into the room with his hands in his pockets, a slight shrug to his shoulders.
"Eddie said this was where you were going. I didn't think Dhampirs could get infections," he said and rubbed his brow.
"We're not supposed to, but they can still happen," I whispered, looking back at Dimitri.
"How did it happen?"
"Broken femur. The infection most likely happened because of the surgery to reduce the break," the nurse explained and stood up, collecting her things and tossing them into the hazardous waste bin. She excused herself and I nodded at her as she passed.
Adrian frowned as he walked closer, looking at the incision and then at Dimitri entirely.
"His aura is really dim," Adrian observed, and I raised my brows at him.
"What does that mean?"
"That he is very sick," Adrian said and flexed his hand before resting it on Dimitri's forearm. It didn't look like Adrian was doing anything, but I realized what was happening too late.
"Adrian-"
Adrian stepped back after a moment and sat on the took the nurse was using, letting out a tired sigh.
"It wasn't much, but it's enough," Adrian said and rubbed his head with a shaky hand. I stepped closer to him and rested my hand on his shoulder, mostly so that he didn't sway backwards and fall off the stool.
Dimitri made a quiet grunting noise and looked at him, giving him a soft smile. He blinked tiredly and then looked at Adrian, nodding his head at him slowly. He seemed groggy and after a few moments, he took the oxygen mask off.
"You shouldn't have done that," he rasped.
"Get over it," Adrian snorted and blew out a breath from his lips, "Feeling any better at least?"
"I don't feel like I got hit by a semi anymore," he said and looked at me tiredly. I nodded and let out a small breath of relief.
"Now will you go to the attic? Christian said he was waiting for you," Adrian said tiredly, rubbing his hand over his face.
This isn't going to be a very long piece, but I am excited for you all to see what's to come! :)
Happy Canada Day (I'm late, I know,) and Happy upcoming 4th of July to my American reader's!
