Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Dimitri’s Point of View

She is so beautiful. How is it possible that she is mine? Jeez-how does she think that’s impossible that I’m hers? I want to wake up with her by me every morning for the rest of my days. She has me so tightly wrapped around her lovely, delicate fingers. I pushed her hair out her face and ran my thumb over her cheek. She groaned and I chuckled as I thought about how much she finds discomfort in me watching her sleep. But I loved it. It’s not like we did much sleeping anyway. “Dimitri...mmm...” my Roza mumbled, giggled lightly, and smiled. I felt like I was about to melt with her in my arms. That’s what she did to me. Completely derailed any current thoughts I have and demanded my attention with only a look, a slight brush of her hand. And by some odd consequence I did the same to her. As if agreeing Rose cuddled her head into the nook of my neck. I sat there for another hour then very carefully rolled out of bed. I went and took a shower then very carefully pieced myself together. I was going to see Abe today. Abe didn’t...love the idea of us together. He was surprisingly more lenient than Janine, but he still was not incredibly supportive. I remember the frightening speech he gave me a while back when Rose and I first went public. It didn’t help that he was holding a shotgun and we were in the middle of nowhere, alone...hunting. Nothing scared me except three things; 1)Becoming Strigoi again, 2) Loosing Roza, 3) Abe “Zmey” Mazur. Janine was scary in her own way, but I left that to Rose. I pulled on my best clothes and kissed Roza’s forehead. She didn’t budge. God, she was a heavy sleeper. I wrote her a note:

Roza, I’ve gone out and I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry, nothing dangerous. Text me if you go anywhere. I love you, always. Also, I had fun last night. Effortless and efficient as always, Guardian Hathaway. Love, Dimitri

I wrote the last part intending to make her blush. I quietly walked out of the bedroom and out of our little housing unit. I had set up a early breakfast with Abe the night before while Rose was...changing into something more comfortable. I shook my head. Now was not the time to be thinking about that. I prepared what I was going to say. But my nerves told me I was likely going to wing it. Crap. Can I marry your daughter? May I have your consent to share the rest of my life with Rose? I love your daughter more than anything and I want nothing more than to love her forever and everyday of forever, can I marry Rose? Oh God. “Belikov!” I turned to see Abe already sitting at a table in the small Court Cafe. I wished myself luck and walked over to him. 

“Hello Mr.Mazur.” I nodded and shook his hand. He was in his normal Middle Eastern business clothing and had that big scarf wrapped around his neck. 

“Good to see you Dimitri. I trust Rose is good.” It was a statement.

“Yes, we’re doing well. That’s actually was what I wanted to talk to you about.” I gulped. Too soon Belikov. Should have waited for at least the small talk to be over. My thoughts were interrupted by his groan. 

“I knew it. I knew this was coming. You want to marry her?” he asked with an eyebrow raised. 

“Yes Sir. I do. I want nothing more than her. Forever. Can I have your blessing?” I asked him.

He sighed, “I suppose I’d be a jackass of a father if I said no. I see the way you look at each other. More than just lust in your eyes. Passion, care, vulnerability, complete synchronization, and undying, irrational love.” he said with complete-and only slight discomfort-certainty. 

“So...” 

“Yes. But let me make myself very clear. If you ever hurt her, I will end you. I will have you turned into a Strigoi, tied up, and weakened. I will have a silver stake shoved up your pretty little ass and sufficiently fuck your brains out. Then I will chain you in silver, gag you with silver and let you die of starvation slowly. Or let you burn in the sun. So many choices. Understood?” he asked me. 

“Yes Sir.” I nodded confident though my pretty little ass was in distress.  

“Amazing.” He said it like everything that just came out of his mouth never did. I think I know where Rose got that fierce crazy that loomed in her. At least when she unleashed it, it was a turn on.

“Thank you.” I nodded and we had a less serious conversation for the rest of breakfast. As I was walking out I got a text from Rose. Where are you? Lissa wants to go out... I smiled and texted her back, On my way home, babe. Do you want to go out? She texted back right away. Yes. And I know exactly who I want to take me home. ;D!! I smirked and kept walking. 

“Guardian Belikov!” I knew who it was before I turned around. 

“Hello Guardian Hathaway.” I nodded politely and flashed her-what I hoped to be-my most charming smile. 

“What the hell is this talk of you marrying my daughter?” she asked, keeping her voice low. What! She already knew?

“Um, I haven’t even asked her yet. Where did you hear this?” 

“Abe. I can’t believe he gave you his consent. This is ridiculous. Have your affair-I’ll turn my head and pretend not to see. But marriage? Rose is only eighteen. She’s in a completely different stage in her life than a man in his late twenties. You have no right to take that seven years from her!” She continued, but I tuned her out. I’m sorry, but I just don’t care what she thinks. She’s wrong. That’s it.

“Look. I’m sorry, but I’m asking Rose. If she has the same opinion, then we’ll wait. But I love her. I won’t allow you to take that from us.” With that I walked away leaving her feeling angry, helpless, and defied. Rose has an old soul, occasionally corrupted by youth. But I understood her, as she understood me. When you find that person who understands you completely you take them. You don’t hesitate. One of the first things I taught her. Only once has she forgotten. Honestly, if I were facing the person I loved more than anything who had turned Strigoi and was planning on staking them...I would hesitate. Big time. Though I know she probably thought different. And that’s another reason I loved her. She thought I was so perfect, so strong, capable of anything. With her belief, it made me believe to. 

“Finally!” Rose yelled and plowed herself into my arms. 

I chuckled, “Hey.” 

“Hey. Where did you go?” she asked. 

I shrugged, “Boring guardian stuff.” 

“Oh. Well, I’m a guardian too...” she trailed off and raised her eyebrows-probing for information. 

“Yes. I know. But it was more of an elders thing and I’ve been doing this for eight years.” I kissed her cheek and walked into the living room. “What do you want to do?” 

“I have to get ready.” Get ready? It was morning-but night for humans. 

“Okay. Do you think this is okay?” I gestured to my clothing. 

“You always look good.” I smiled and turned on the T.V. 

Rose’s Point of View

Dimitri was hiding something. Elders meeting? I’ve been doing this for eight years? And if it was real, did he really have to look that nice for a stupid meeting? It worried me. Like maybe he was...no. I will not use the C word. He couldn’t be. He loves me. Right? I shook my head. I didn’t want to focus on that right now. I just wanted to have a fun Moroi morning and human night. I wanted to dance and have Dimitri buy me alcohol. I finished my eye make-up and ran out to the living room. I was wearing another grey dress I had bought at the mall. It settled tightly just below my butt, was backless, and showed lots of cleavage. It showed a lot of everything, in fact. Dimitri evidently agreed by the way his mouth dropped open. I had my hair in a messy bun and had black stilettos on. “Something wrong Comrade?”

“You look...sexy.” he told me. Woah! Sexy? I don’t think he’s ever blatantly called me that before.

“Sexy?” I squeaked. 

“Oh, most desirable Miss Hathaway.” His voice was deeper than usual, but still had that honey Russian curve to it. His eyes were darkening by the minute. 

“We have to meet Lissa and Christian. I think Guardian Shaw and Guardian Azarov are joining us, too.” I told him. 

“Oh.” He suddenly sounded grouchy. 

“What?” 

“I don’t particularly like Guardian Shaw.”

“I don’t think Daniel is that bad.” I shrugged.

“Daniel? So, you’re on a first name basis now.” 

“What? What are you talking about? If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were jealous.”

“Dripping with it.” he confessed. 

“Oh Dimitri.” I rolled my eyes kissed him. Hard. 

                                                                                            ~o0o~

“You look great!” Daniel told me and I smiled politely. Dimitri was openly glowering. I placed my hand in his and kissed his stubbled chin. He relaxed and smiled down at me. We were sitting at a table in a club that I could only expect to be the hottest in the human world. I was leaning into Dimitri and Lissa was leaning into Christian. We were seated in the middle of the circle booth and Shaw and Azarov were seated on the ends to better ensure our safety. 

“Lets dance!” Lissa screamed over the music. I nodded and Guardian Azarov-Bemar Azarov-let us slide out of the booth. Dimitri started to protest our going out to the dance floor alone but I stopped him. 

“I can still kick ass in stilettos.” I told him then leaned in close and whispered, “Plus, you can watch me.” I purred. Without another word Lissa and I left the men behind and started to dance. I moved with the beat of the music and couldn’t help but feel self conscience. However, the look guys were giving me told me not to be. I glanced around a lot at first making sure there were no Strigoi, but after a while I relaxed. I closed my eyes and succumbed to the pulse of music. I felt Dimitri’s hands slid around my waist from behind and I smiled. “Hey Comrade!” I yelled, though I doubt he could hear me. I opened my eyes and met Lissa’s horrified ones. Oh no. Strigoi. How could I be so stupid? I slipped my hands over Dimitri’s to remove them. They weren’t his hands. I turned around quickly and met the eyes of a tall, blond, blue-eyed panty dropping mess of a man. 

“Hey baby!” he grinned. 

“Ew!” I screamed and pushed him off.

“Oh come on. I’m just trying to have some fun! Don’t you want to have fun?” he asked. He placed his hands back on my hips and slid them down. I punched him in the face. He fell to the ground due to his obvious drunk condition. “Bitch!” he yelled and staggered back up. He grabbed me more forcefully this time. Guardian instinct kicked in. I punched him, kicked him in the groin, and pushed him into the pillar. Only he didn’t make it that far. Dimitri grabbed the back of his shirt and turned him around. Then he smite him right in the jaw. Even I, far away and over the music, heard something break. “Dude chill. I was just having fun! Trying to get laid.” he stammered. 

“Not with my girlfriend.” Dimitri shook his head, but I almost melted. How I loved to hear him call me that. “You can either leave her the hell alone or I can ruin that pretty face of yours.” he continued. 

“Sorry bro. Girl’s fucking sexed up.” Dimitri’s eyes widened and punched him again. And he didn’t stop. Though when he did I smiled. 

“I’d tell you to go screw yourself, but you kind of already have.” I pushed him towards the back door of the club and locked the door behind him. I realized Lissa must have been using compulsion on the club goers and security guards to keep them away. Good. I turned to Dimitri and slapped him lightly, almost playfully.

“What?”

“You were supposed to be watching me.” I teased. He smirked and placed his hands on my hips. Dimitri pulled me into him and I danced against him for what could have been hours, but I had a feeling it was only an hour or so. Dimitri dragged me back to the tabled and ordered a beer. I cuddled myself into him and kissed his neck, his jaw, his shoulder, and his mouth. The waiter brought back the beer and Dimitri took a swig, then to my surprise handed it to me. I smiled then happily drank it. After awhile Dimitri took it away from me. 

“That’s enough.” he chided. I laughed, though I knew the beer would take effect soon. “We should go home soon.” he kissed my forehead. 

“What time is it?” I asked.

“One thirty.” Hour and a half past afternoon for us.

“Okay.”