Rose Hathaway looked out her window, watching the rain as it fell in swathes. Thankfully, they had arrived an hour before the storm. Through the lashing wind and rain, she could make out some of the sights she remembered from over a year ago.
She was in Baia, a community in Russia made up of humans, a huge dhampir population, and many transient Moroi. The last time she had been here, Rose had been searching for her former instructor and former lover, Dimitri Belikov. He had been changed into a Strigoi, and she had been seeking to end his life so that his soul could find rest. Dimitri's family lived in Baia, and she had been the one to tell them that he had been turned. Months later, after a lot of crazy events, Rose had found a way to restore Dimitri to a dhampir, but she hadn't been able to restore their relationship.
Part of Rose was happy to be in Baia again. She wanted to see the Belikov women, and Dimitri's nephew and nieces again. She wanted to see Oksana and Mark, a spirit using Moroi and her shadow kissed former guardian, again. The only problem was that, so far as Rose knew, Dimitri now lived in Baia.
She turned around, looking at the girl with curly brown hair and light green eyes who was seated on the sofa, working on school work.
"You study more than I ever did."
Jillian Mastrano-Dragomir looked up at Rose. "It's not like I have anything else to do."
"Why don't we go into town tomorrow? It's not the most exciting place, but I can show you a few interesting things."
"Do you think your dad will let us?"
Rose shrugged. "He's two days behind us, and I'm your guardian. I can keep you safe."
Jill grinned. "Alright, let's have fun tomorrow."
Rose gave her a matching smile. "Well, I'll let you get your homework done. What are you working on tonight?"
"Biology," she answered with a disinterested sigh.
"Hey, bio can be fun."
Jill rolled her eyes and looked back at her textbook.
Rose left the room a few moments later and wandered the halls of her father's house. This was her first time in this house. Since leaving Court, Rose had been in six different mansions her father owned throughout the world. She was actually starting to like visiting all the houses. She had decided that the best one so far was the castle in Austria where they had lived in autumn.
She pulled out her cellphone and began to type out a message to Lissa.
- I miss you, being apart so long sucks.
To Rose's surprise, Lissa texted back right away.
-I miss you too! Ugh, I know this sucks, but we'll be together in a week!
-Yeah, I'm happy about that. Why are you awake?
-Writing a paper
-Eww, so glad I'm done with that.
-Doesn't your father have you taking classes?
-Not really. I have tutors who are teaching me languages and business stuff, but no actual classes like J has.
-How are languages coming along? How is she?
-She's good, studying bio, bored but I'm going to take her around town tomorrow. I can speak Russian passably, but not fluently. I'm getting better with figuring out my dad's legitimate business stuff.
-hah. I wish you could tell me where you are!
Rose smiled. She wished that she could tell Lissa where she was too. -One week! I took pictures of all my dad's houses, and I'll show you them when you get here! Now study!
-Sigh, I'm trying! Love you!
-Love you too!
With a sigh, Rose slipped her cell phone back into her pocket. The last time she had seen Lissa in person had been during Lissa's winter break from college at Lehigh University. Now that May had arrived, they would be able to see one another again. They had both grown used to the arrangement, though neither of them liked what had happened.
Last summer, after graduating from high school, Rose Hathaway and Vasilisa Dragomir were involved in several intense situations. They broke Victor Dashkov, an enemy, out of prison. They wanted to learn if there was a way to restore Strigoi. In the end, the fairy tale that the evil undead could be brought back to life had turned out to be true. Lissa had been able to bring Dimitri Belikov back to life.
Rose had risked so much to restore him. She had loved him so much. But he had rejected her, saying that he couldn't love anyone. He had told her to stay away. She had fought and fought to be with him again, but he pushed her away until she gave up.
Shortly after Dimitri's restoration, Natasha Ozera had attempted to murder Queen Tatiana Ivashkov. In the process, Tasha had tried to frame Rose for the murder. When she had gone to trial, Tasha had claimed that Rose's very public hatred of the Queen had made her an easy person to frame for the murder. The impetus behind the assassination attempt was a law which decreed that all dhampirs would become guardians at age sixteen. The law had been an awful piece of legislation and was thankfully no longer in effect.
Lissa was a big reason why the law was struck off the records. Lissa was a Moroi Princess, one of the leaders of the twelve Royal Houses. To vote, Lissa had needed one more member of her family. With the Queen's help, Jill's parentage was uncovered. With Jill, Lissa was able to vote. However, in order to keep the Dragomir line safe, Jill went into hiding.
So, Rose was Jill's guardian, even though she had always planned to be Lissa's guardian. Well, Rose was unofficially Jill's guardian. Officially Rose was her father's guardian. Her father was Abe Mazur. Abe, whose business ventures made him one of the richest Moroi around, owned many houses throughout the world. He also had an army of dhampirs and Moroi in his service. They were mostly outcasts from mainstream Moroi society. Rose was his only sanctioned guardian.
Really, it was the perfect cover. Rose's reputation was tarnished enough that her becoming Abe's guardian wasn't beyond the realm of possibility. Jill was supposedly tucked away at a private school. Very few people knew that she was with Rose, moving from country to country, living in private mansions away from the people they loved.
Well, almost everyone they loved. Rose could admit that she loved her father. He hadn't been there for most of her life, but she knew he cared. He was actually training her to take over his legal businesses one day. Honestly, it was tempting to stop being a guardian one day so that she could be one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in the Moroi world. However, she also wanted to be Lissa's guardian.
Lissa's guardians were currently Eddie Castile, a good friend of Rose, and Janine Hathaway, Rose's own mother. Lissa was safe with them and with her boyfriend, Christian Ozera. Christian and Lissa were quite the couple. Lissa was practically worshiped in Moroi society for her spirit abilities. Without Lissa, Christian would have been utterly outcast in Moroi society. His parents had willingly turned Strigoi when he was a child, and his Aunt was Tasha Ozera, all three of whom were now deceased. The taint of their actions followed Christian, but Lissa didn't care. She loved him.
Rose and Jill had been the only constants in each other's lives since the previous summer. They were friends for over a year now, having met at St. Vladimir's Academy in Montana. Since they had gone into hiding, they had grown close to each other, treating one another as sisters.
Their outside communications were heavily secured. They couldn't tell anyone where they were, but they could talk to family and friends several times a week. The other constants in Rose and Jill's lives were Abe's guardians, a few housekeepers, and the tutors he had obtained for Jill and Rose. Since Jill was only sixteen, she was given tutors for every subject imaginable so that she could have a seemingly normal education. Rose's tutors were specifically to teach her languages and business.
A new text message arrived, an unexpected one.
-Hey little dhampir, did you know that court is incredibly boring without you?
She laughed. Adrian Ivashkov, her ex-boyfriend, had always been amusing. -Please, it was boring when I was there. That's why I left!
-Well, we both know that's not true. How is everything?
-All is well in the middle of nowhere.
-I bet.
-I'm surprised to hear from you. We haven't talked in months.
-I know. I just happened to be thinking about you and wanted to check in.
She thought that was sweet. They had dated last year and had broken up around the time of the assassination attempt. Tatiana was Adrian's great-aunt. Between Dimitri's restoration and the drama with Tasha, their tenuous relationship hadn't survived. They still talked on and off, but both knew nothing could ever come of a relationship between them. -Thanks Adrian. How have you been?
-Oh you know, the usual.
She rolled her eyes, Adrian's "usual" involved drinking, smoking, and women. -I'm sure. How's Spirit?
-Under control. Lissa and I have been working on healing charms. Did she tell you that?
-Yeah. They're working for you?
-For now.
-Remember I told you about Oksana? Maybe I can find a way to talk to her again? She can probably give some really good tips on controlling Spirit.
-I'd like that.
She couldn't tell him outright that Oksana was only a walk away, but she would definitely talk to Oksana within the week. Actually, Lissa would probably want to see Oksana. Afterward, Lissa could talk to Adrian in person about everything she had learned. -I'll see what I can do.
-You're the best.
-You know it!
She put her phone away again and walked to her room. She had to admit, there was something nice about having a rich father whose houses all came with staff. Her belongings were already unpacked and put away. Her bed was nicely made. There were even little chocolates on her dresser. As much as it sucked to be away from her friends, she could totally get used to living like the heiress she apparently was.
She flopped onto the bed, yawning. Thunder boomed outside while rain hammered against her window. She wished that she could sleep, but the fact that she was in Baia still unnerved her. She picked up her phone again.
-Lis?
A few minutes later, Lissa replied. -Yeah?
-Is Dimitri still in Baia?
The reply took several minutes during which Rose paced her rooms, looking in the drawers to see where the staff had put everything. -As far as I know, yes.
She groaned. -Thanks.
-Are you ok?
-Mostly, yeah. I just wanted to know how he is, if you knew anything.
-I heard from him last month. He said that he's doing well and that being with his family has really helped him heal. I know that you wish things had been different with your relationship.
-I'm fine with that, really. I just care about him still, you know?
-Yeah, I do. Are you really doing fine?
-Ugh! Yes! I'm genuinely doing better, time healing wounds and all that. Adrian just texted me. Is he really ok?
-Yeah, mostly.
-Good, I'm glad.
-I have to sleep now.
-Alright. Pass your exams and then we can hang out! Is Christian coming?
-Yes.
-Sweet! We can party like old times!
-You bet!
Rose tossed her phone on the bed. She didn't want to be in the same town as Dimitri. She didn't want to see him again. She hadn't really been lying. Time did heal most wounds. Still, wounds healed better when you never had to see the object of your pain. Rose hadn't seen Dimitri since she and Jill had been whisked off into hiding.
Except, Rose also wanted to see him. What she wouldn't give to see him smile and laugh as he had done so long ago. The thought of wanting to hug him and kiss him entered her mind, and she cursed her traitorous thoughts. She wasn't over him. She was in denial and part of her knew it.
Another part of her hoped that he had truly found healing and peace with his family. She had wanted him to be a guardian again, but the Queen hadn't allowed him to be restored to his old position. Upon his restoration, he had sworn himself to Lissa. Seeing that he could do nothing at Court, she had chosen to send him home so that he could heal in peace.
Rose groaned, irritated. She would run into him in Baia; it was inevitable. She dreaded it.
Why had her father sent her here? Why not back to Austria or one of the other cities?
She gave up trying to rest. She changed into workout clothes and went downstairs to the gym. Jill joined her half an hour later, and they ran on the ellipticals. Jill was a fast study in physical fitness and self-defense. Her endurance would never match Rose's, since Moroi weren't as hardy as dhampirs, but she was able to keep up on their runs.
They showered and ate after their run. Exhausted, Rose finally went to bed. Her sleep was troubled and uneasy, filled with thoughts of Dimitri.
AN: I started writing this in 2019 and just never posted it. I have had 8 of the 10 chapters written for that long. I hope you enjoy it!
