THE QUEENS PROTÉGÉE

CH 14

LIFE AND DEATH

ROSE

When I closed my eyes I didn't know what would happen next. I didn't believe in a God per say, but I knew there was something higher than myself. I mean I'm half vampire, humans don't even know we exist, so who's to say there isn't a God? Thank whatever god I didn't die a virgin.

When I opened my eyes back up it was all black. I wasn't too sure where I was or if I even was somewhere. I stood up and started to look around me.

"Hello, hello." I called out into the darkness. Nothing, just the echo of my voice. I tried walking and got nowhere, there was nowhere to go. I sat down, pulled my knees up, laid my head down and started crying, I felt so lonely. Since the accident I've never been alone, Lissa was always in my head. Oh my god Lissa, what was she going to do without me? She was going to go insane.

"Please someone just answer me, where I am? Am I dead, in some sort of purgatory for my sins? Is this hell?"

"Nah, not hell, or heaven."

"Mason?"

"The one and only." I look up and the scenery has completely changed. We were standing in a beautiful garden. Somewhere Adrian would put me in when he had me in a spirit dream.

"Is this a spirit dream?"

"No, but spirit is playing a part."

"I don't understand. Am I dead?"

"No."

"Are you?"

"Yes." My heart crushed, not my best friend.

"Mase no."

"It's ok. I died a hero. Plus I got to reunite with my mother."

"What am I going to do without you?"

"Oh Rosie. You have plenty of people that love you. You'll be ok.

"Since you're dead, I'm going to let that slide you calling me Rosie, duckie."

"So where are we exactly?"

"I'm not really sure, but I know it's not heaven. I was there."

"What's it like?"

"It's a beautiful, peaceful place. If you're human, Moiri, or Dhampirs, no one cares. No one cares who you were."

"It sounds nice."

"It is, but it's not for you, yet. You have a long life ahead of you."

"I don't understand if I'm not dead then why am I here?"

"I was brought here so I can say goodbye. You were brought here….." He stopped talking. From behind a tree came a Dhampir girl. She looked no older than twenty. She was wearing a white dress and had long flowing hair. She looked familiar. I just couldn't place where I had seen her before.

"Your Anna?"

"I am."

"How? Why?"

"A bit of spirit magic." She winked.

"Walk with me?" I looked towards Mason.

"Go, I'll be here when you get back." He said. Me and Anna started to walk around the garden.

"I'm sure you have lots of questions and I will try to answer them." She said while smelling the flowers that were growing in the garden.

"How are you here and where exactly is this?"

"It's kind of in between life and death. This is made with spirit."

"I'm still confused."

"With the help of Vladimir we made this place to welcome anyone of the spirit. Like a safe haven. There are so very few Moiri that wield spirit. Even less that are bonded like you and Lissa.

I've been watching you since the accident."

"You have?"

"I have, plus the others."

"There are more?"

"Yes."

"How many?"

I can't tell you. I will just confirm the pair that young Belikov knows." Oh Dimitri. Just the thought of him makes me sad.

"So why am I here?"

"In the end I couldn't save Vladimir, I couldn't save myself. I failed him and I vowed to not fail anyone else touched by spirit."

"You didn't fail him. I'm the one who failed Lissa, I died or whatever this is."

"You haven't failed her. You're not dead, but technically you did die. "

"I did?" I started to panic, if I died again, what happened to Lissa? Is our bond broken?

"Yes you died and yes your bond with Lissa was broken." She answered me. Did I ask that out loud?

"You didn't. Your thoughts are very loud, plus this place was made with spirit, so I can hear your thoughts."

"Oh."

"Don't worry, you can still help Lissa, that's why I'm here." I was still so confused, my brain couldn't quite comprehend how I was dead but not dead.

"For about twenty minutes you were clinically dead. Through modern medicine and your stubbornness your heart started to beat again. When your heart stopped, it broke your bond to Lissa. She felt the moment you died."

"Oh my God. How, how is she?" I stuttered.

"To be honest, not good. Adrian hasn't left her side. He's using way too much spirit and is more drunk than he is sober."

"How can I help them? I'm stuck here."

"You're only here while your body heals itself."

"How long have I been here and how long do I have to stay?"

"Time moves a bit differently here. In the real world it's been two weeks, but here, just moments."

"I need to get back, how do I get back?"

"You go back as soon as you say your goodbyes."

"How can I help Adrian? How can I help Lissa without our bond?" I started to panic again.

"You help by just being there for them. You may not be bonded to Lissa anymore, but you're her best friend, you know her better than anyone else. You know how she thinks and feels without the bond." She grabbed my hand and walked me back to Mason.

"I'll give you two a minute to say your goodbyes, then you must go Rose."

"Thank you, Anna. I don't know what I did to deserve a second, well third chance, but I promise I won't waste it."

"I know you won't." She squeezed my hand and started to walk away.

"And Rose, it's very important that you keep the bond being broken a secret, the Queen can never know. Lissa's life and yours depends on it."

"Thank you" I tried saying, but she was gone. I went right to Mason and hugged him hard.

"I don't want to leave you." I started crying.

"Don't cry." He pulled out of the hug and wiped some of my tears away. .

"We've been friends since we were both dropped off at the academy doors. We were supposed to be Guardians together. Get our marks together."

"Hey, I'll still be there. Right here." He put his hand on my heart."

"I'll be watching over you."

"It won't be the same."

"I know, but you'll be ok. You have someone that loves you even more than I do."

"Mase, you know I love you."

"I do, just not in the same way I love you." I started crying harder.

"Hey, hey, hey. You're not going to cry, I don't want you to be sad. I want you to be happy with Dimitri, he loves you and will take care of you."

"I'm going to miss you so much."

"I know."

"Be serious."

"I am, I'll miss you too."

"So how does this work? How do I get back?"

"Just close your eyes and when you open them you'll be home."

"Can you hold me?"

"Yes." He squeezed me hard and I wrapped my arms around him and put my head on his shoulder. I shut my eyes with tears still falling from them.

"Tell Eddie that Dean has a crush on him oh and promise me you'll name your first son, Mason?"

Huh. I Didn't have time to ask him what he meant by that. Because when I was aware of anything next I was laying in a bed and could hear a beeping sound. It kept getting louder and louder. I slowly tried opening up my eyes.

"Will someone shut up that beeping?"

"Roza?"

"Comrade."