66Author's note: So, I love this series and I firmly believe that it wasn't given the love that it so rightfully deserves. I've been tentative about writing a story for it, worried that I would somehow not be able to do it justice, but I've decided to give it a shot. Here's to hoping that I can at least do a somewhat adequate job. So, here we go. A chance to put this idea out there. Let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything belongs to Richelle Mead, the most brilliant woman in the world.
Warning: Nothing, except maybe language.
Word Count: 3,756
"Are you sure that you won't mind?" Lissa asks as I pull on my leather jacket. I check to make sure that my stake is secure in my belt loop on my jeans. I lean down and tuck the bottom of my jeans into my black boots. I run my hand over it, silently thanking my best friend for thinking; what can I get for Rose that's both comfortable and fashionable. That girl knows me so well.
"Not at all," I say, straightening up. "I'm a Guardian, it's what I do." I shrug, and then grin. "So, have you thought about what you and Christian are going to be doing tomorrow night?"
Lissa grins back, the tops of her fangs showing. "Come now, Rose, you know that, as Queen of the Moroi, there will be no tomfoolery for someone as sophisticated as I." She laughs. "I was thinking maybe a nice dinner and perhaps a walk around the town." Her blue eyes drift far away and she smiles happily. I just love the way she looks when she thinks about spending time with Christian. I'll admit that I didn't like him at first but now, I can't even begin to remember why I didn't like him. I loved the way he used to make her feel.
Now that the bond is gone, I can only feel it through memory. Either way, I'm happy to see that she's so happy. It's like everything is suddenly going right in the world. I miss the connection that we used to have, but I refuse to let it dictate my life. Now, I'll just have to be an impressive Guardian without my connection to Lissa. I guess, a little work would do me some good.
"Scandalous," I say, poking her in the gut. "What will the other royals say?"
"Hopefully they'll keep their mouths' shut. But, I'll be taking Dimitri with me just in case there's any trouble," Lissa says, sighing. She stretches a bit before running her hands down her stomach, over the silk material of her royal blue dress.
"Well, I guess someone's got to give him something to do," I say playfully.
Lissa smiles at me. "With his girlfriend leaving town for a few days, I'm sure he'll need something to do."
I look at her sharply. "That sexy Russian asshole has a girlfriend? I bet she's hideous. I bet when he's with her, he thinks of me."
Lissa throws her head back and lets out a musical laugh, her long pale swan neck stretched out. She leans back forward, mirth shining in her sparkling blue eyes. "I bet he does. I hear she had a big nose."
I grin at her. "And nasty teeth."
"And a bad personality," Lissa laughs.
I bulk. "Okay, do we have to talk about your issue with my personality?"
Lissa's eyes squint with her smile. I just love that look on her. It feels like she never smiles enough. "I thought we were talking about Dimitri's girlfriend, not you."
I purse my lips at her and shake my head. I look around the room Dimitri's and my shared room mentally wondering when the last time I saw him was. We were together last night. I think we had lunch this afternoon. Yeah, that was a couple of hours ago. "Speaking of, where is my eye candy?"
"Working, I'm sure," Lissa says. She shrugs her thin shoulders and lowers herself onto the bed that Dimitri and I share. She smooths out a wrinkled corner of the bedspread that I missed in my haste to do it this morning. She and I sit in silence for a moment. "Are you sure you'll be okay? I would send more, but I don't want to attract too much attention to Mr. Kyoshiva's movements."
"I understand that, Liss," I say, crossing my arms over my chest. "That's why I insisted on going myself. If this Kyoshiva guy is what he claims he is then he may be able to tell us more about Spirit. I don't trust many other people with that than myself."
Lissa nods, crossing her legs elegantly. She looks up at me in one of the rare times I'm taller than her. "I couldn't agree more. He's said to have been studying the effects of spirit for years now. But no one believed him enough to even consider bringing it to the late Queen Tatiana's attention."
"Imagine how the world would be different if they did," I say, rolling my eyes. I roll my shoulders back and then let them drop. "Oh well, too late now. So, when am I suppose to be heading out, again?"
Lissa rolls her eyes at me. "You need to leave by six. A helicopter should be waiting for you."
"Key word being: should," I grumble, flopping down on the bed next to her. She moves a bit and lays down next to me. "Knowing my luck, I'd have to do a steady sprint to Nevada."
Lissa laughs. "Yeah, I bet your luck would turn up like that. I don't pity your resolve, Rose. I don't think I would be able to take everything that you have with quite the level of... diligence that you do. There is very little I can imagine that you wouldn't be able to do."
I look over at her, reaching out and touching one of her loose blond curls. "Like what?"
She turns to look back over at me. "Like what? You mean like what I can imagine that you wouldn't be able to do?"
I nod. "Yeah."
She shakes her head. "I'm not sure if I should say." She gives me a knowing look.
I sit up and look down at her. "Come on, Liss. I feel like I've been issued a challenge."
Lissa rolls her eyes, sitting up as well. "Don't be like that, Rose. You aren't perfect."
"News to me," I say. She grins.
"Make it back from this trip without any issues and I'll have a list typed up," she says, mirthfully. "Double space if you want."
I give her an incredulous look. "A list? There's a list now?" I turn away from her to scoff playfully. Lissa nudges me with her shoulder, smiling at me. She and I exchange happy looks before she stands up, just seconds before a knock sounds at the door. I stand up and walk over, opening it to see another Guardian standing there. I lean against the door frame. "Yes?"
"Is Queen Vasilisa in there?" she asks.
"You lost Lissa?" I gasp, eyes wide. The Guardian, only a few years older than me, jumps slightly. The look of horror that crosses the Guardian's face is almost enough to make me bust out laughing. "Wait here, I'll grab my purse and stake and help the search party. You check the west wing, I'll check the east." She tenses, almost about to obey before Lissa, smiling widely, opens the door.
"Stop that, Rose, the last thing I need is the palace up in arms thinking I'm missing," Lissa says pushing me back a bit to look at the Guardian, who is now glaring at me.
"My Queen, you are needed for your five o'clock appointment," she says, pulling her eyes away from me to look at Lissa.
Lissa nods, thanking the Guardian before turning to me and pulling me into her arms. Her shoulders sag a little but she looks determined to see her reign through, effectively. "I'll see you later. Hopefully I'll be out of my meeting before you go. But if I don't, take care of yourself out there. I'll see you when you get back."
I squeeze her tightly before letting her go. "Alright. I'm gonna finish packing and go hunt down the supposed love of my little Dhampir life."
Lissa grins. "What about Dimitri?"
I grin back. "I guess I can go say goodbye to him too." I wave my hand around like the prospect couldn't be any lower on my stuff to do. Lissa knows me better than that, or so her look tells me.
Lissa shakes her head. "Alright, I'll see you, Rose."
I wave a little. Smiling innocently at the dark look the Guardian sends me. "Love you, Liss."
"Love you too, Rose," Lissa calls over her shoulder as she makes her way down the hall with the Guardian by her side. I watch her leave with a smile on my face, waiting for what I know she's going to do. I don't need to be in Lissa's head to know what goes on in there. Before she's half way down the hall away from me, she turns at the hip and smiles that secret smile.
I smile back and watch her until she's out of view before turning back into my room, closing the door behind me, and finish packing my suitcase. I make sure to pack two back up stakes, just in case. In my life I've learned it's always better to be safe than sorry. Once it's all done, I put my luggage by the door and head out, hunting for my man. I search aimlessly, walking the extravagant halls racking my mind for if he told me where he was going to be working today.
I stop in the middle of the hall and cross my arms. Usually he's with Lissa. When he's not...
Snapping my fingers, I turn and jog back down the hall to Christian's room. I knock on his door and a moment later it opens to reveal the familiar blue eyes, dark haired Moroi that I've come to love and respect. He smiles when he sees me and I smile back.
"Hey handsome, have you seen my better half?" I ask.
Christian laughs, stepping aside a bit so I can see Dimitri, in total god-of-the-Guardian's Gaurdian mode. His dark, lovely brown eyes flicker over to me, then away, then back and the corners of his mouth quirk up.
"Do you mind?" I ask Christian, accepting his silent offer and step into the room. He shakes his head and I hold my arms open toward Dimitri. "My better half, love of my life, wind beneath my wings, yin to my yang, uh..." I make a face. "Scooby to my Shaggy, uh, Russian phasing for light of my life-oh! That was a good one." I grin widely at Dimitri's affectionate smile.
"Rose, what are you doing here?" Dimitri asks.
I pull him down for a quick kiss, knowing how he feels about public displays of affection while working. "I'm actually going out of town for a couple of days so I wanted to say goodbye. When are you getting off work?"
"Nine," Dimitri says.
I turn and look at Christian with a dry look. "Slave driver." He holds his hands up.
"I don't make the rules, Hathaway." I roll my eyes at that. "Where's Lissa?" He asks.
I wave my hand around. "She's off appeasing the royal pains in my ass." I pause, gazing back at him and smiling sweetly. "No offence."
Christian gives me a humorous look. "None taken. So where are you going?"
Christian and I sit down on the couch in his little greeting area. Dimitri, who is still on the job, stands in the corner of the room ever reliable and is watching us. I wink flirtatiously at him when his eyes lock on to mine and he looks away, a small quirk at the corner of his mouth.
I look back at Christian to answer. "I'm on protection duty with some supposed Spirit researcher named something Kyoshiva that wants to get in touch with Lissa about what he's learned. So I'm the natural choice to go and see what's up. It'll only be a few days."
"That poor man, going through his life with a name like Something," Christian says, shaking his head. "His parents must have hated him."
"Huh?" I blink, staring at him. I purse my lips realizing what he said. "Shut up, Ozera. So, I'll be in Nevada for a few days." I check my watch and stand up. "I'd best get going." Christian stands up and follows me to the door.
"Good luck and take care of yourself, "Christian says.
I lightly slap his stomach. "I'll be fine. Have fun on your date with Lissa tomorrow."
Christian nods. "We will. Later."
I wiggle my fingers at Dimitri and head out. Before I can get too far someone grabs my elbow and spins me around. Normally, I would throw a seriously impressive right hook but I know who it is. Dimitri presses me tightly against the wall and kisses me. As per usual, I'm in heaven. I kiss him a few times and then finally drag myself away. I take two steps backward only to shove him against the wall and kiss him as hard as I can.
"We are so violent with each other," Dimitri says between kisses.
I grin. "And that's the way we like it." One more kiss, another and one last one and I finally have to pull myself away, for real this time. "I will be back."
"Stay safe, Roza," he says softly.
I can't help myself, I kiss him one more time, this time very softly before stepping back. "I will, comrade. Just try not to be too lonely without me." With one more air kiss, I jog back down the hall on my way to my room. And I just love the little smile he sends my way before heading back to Christian's side. Ever the reliable and capable Guardian.
All work, no play.
I can't wipe the goofy smile off my face, even as I make my way to the helicopter. I love those big brown eyes and the way his lips feel on mine. My smile widens a bit and I have to shake off the desire to run right back in there and kiss that ridiculously tall Russian man to pieces. I wave to the pilot and hop on, feeling like one of those important people in the movies that got to get places fast so there's always a convenient helicopter for my needs.
I'm like... Rose "007" Hathaway. Yeah, that's exactly how I feel.
The flight was long and uneventful, I kept staring out the window blankly wishing that Lissa and I still had our bond so during the boring times of my life, I could slip into hers and hope that there is a little excitement going on in hers. I don't even try, I already know it wont work. I have felt a little empty since I almost died again and my two Spirit wielding guardian angels saved my life.
I worry about Lissa and Adrian, even though the later wants nothing to do with me since I betrayed him, about their healthy. I worry about their health with and without Spirit in mind. Lissa has been working herself to the bone trying to figure out how to be Queen when dealing with people rising against her because of her youth and inexperience.
And they're targeting Jill. But she's safe with Eddie. I know he'll look after her.
Adrian has been drinking more than ever. I know he's really down -er angry- about what happened between us. I mean, I understand why he does. I'm basically shittiest person in the world in Adrian's book. In a lot of people's book actually. Because that's what shape my luck comes in. If there was a tangible shape where the shittiest luck could come in, that would be it.
Now that I think about it, there probably is. It's probably some Rose-shape. Like my face. Or my ass. Either way, I'm sure there's one out there. And I'm sure I wouldn't like what it reminds me of.
I shift into as comfortable position as I can while being in a helicopter. I cross my arms over my chest and close my eyes. This is going to be a long ride.
By the time I arrive in Nevada, there is a rental car waiting for me. A young man is also standing by it. He looks over at me as I approach. He meets me half way and welcomes me. "Guardian Hathaway?"
I nod and shake his hand. "Yes, and you?"
"Oh," he smiles kindly, "I'm Kyle Richmond. I'm here to take you to Mr. Kyroshiva's house. I'm a Guardian there. This way."
I nod again and get into the passenger side of the vehicle. He goes on and on about how exciting it is to have "someone of your caliber" out to help with old man Kyoshiva. Apparently, he's an old Moroi researcher that began dabbling into the Spirit users when his granddaughter, Alina, wasn't able to specialize. That was back before anyone really knew about Spirit. It was almost ten years ago. Alina is 25 now and is home taking care of her grandfather.
Guardian Richmond is friendly and I like his laid back attitude, a stark contrast to some of the stuck up people at Court. He's very friendly and is openly blabbing on and on about any and all topics. I sit back and listen to him fly from one topic to another. Noting that while he's all over the place in the topics department his eyes never once deviate from the road. His constant blabbing reminds me a lot of Natalie.
There is a pang of pain in my chest at the thought of that poor misguided girl. All she wanted was for her jerk of a father to see her. She was so lonely; both at home and at school. She would do just about anything to get just a little bit of love and attention and I can understand that. I mean, my life wasn't absolutely horrible. Yeah, my home life was never... exciting. I spent most of my free time with Lissa.
Mom's never home. Dead beat Moroi father out breaking kneecaps. I was living the life with my best friend. And then there was the car accident and all of that changed. I never felt alone, especially after I bonded with Lissa but there was always that feeling, knowing that if I wanted to call home, talk to my mom, she'd probably be too busy working to come to the phone. And I had no idea who my dad was up until a few months ago.
And now I got Zmey. And although I'll never admit it to the old man, I do appreciate everything that he's been doing for me since the truth came squirming into the light. Abe being my my father and all. Most Dhampirs never really learn who their Moroi parents are, usually their mothers are Dhampirs and their father's just come and go when their done. So from where I stand, I'm actually lucky in that retrospect because, while he's 18 years late, he's still trying to be part of my life. At least as well as someone like he can.
Without meaning to, I seem to have blocked out most of Guardian Richmond's blabbing. I blink back into reality when I realize that we've stopped in front of a large house. I immediately spot wards on the land, typical for a Moroi home. The sun is going to be going to be going down in a few hours. All Moroi inhabitants are most likely still asleep. It's way early for them.
"I'll show you to your room," Richmond says, grabbing out my luggage for me. "I mean, only if you want." He looks away, looking mildly embarrassed. I take my bags from him, smiling apologetically.
"Relax, Richmond, I'm not someone you have to wait on. I'm a Guardian just like you," I say, following him toward the house. We stop on the porch and I take a moment to look around the big yard. The house looks well kept and new. There's a flower bed surrounding the perimeter of the house. All are blooming and groomed with care. It makes me think of Sonya Karpp. How she always took care of flowers.
Definitely the telltale signs of a possible Spirit user. Now, I'm not saying that every time you see patch of flowers, there's a Spirit wielding Moroi nearby, but if she is a Spirit user, she might have a power like Sonya.
"I know, I'm sorry," Richmond says, shifting nervously. "It's just... we've heard of you, Rose Hathaway."
I look over at him and raise an eyebrow. "'We?'"
He gestures toward the door. "Me and the other Guardians. There's two others besides me. Helena and Bobby." He looks a little bashful, avoiding eye contact with me. "You're kind of famous."
I roll my eyes. "I know, tell me about it. I seem to have gallantly made quite the spectacle of myself in my many..." I consider. "Adventures." I grin at him. "Don't worry yourself too much. Like I said, I'm just like the rest of you. Er, I mean, I just get myself into a lot more trouble than the average Guardian, but I assure you, there really isn't anything special or unique about me."
Richmond pulls out some keys to unlock to door, but pauses. "Well, I mean... there is something special about you..."
I raise an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Richmond smiles lightly. "You are..." he considers something. Like he's looking for the right words. "You were Shadow Kissed. Is that the right word?"
I nod. "Yes, but not anymore."
Richmond turns back and unlocks the door. "And that, Guardian Hathaway, is what makes you so special."
