Chapter Text
Angrily, I spun around. ‘’Excuse me?’’ Deep down, I knew the anger was unnecessary, but I was tired of crying. I needed another outlet and Dimitri was the closest source. ‘’I deserved better? What gives you the right to make those decisions for me? We were partners! You should have talked to me! But I wake up one morning and you’ve packed your bags. You tell me that you don’t love me anymore and you leave! With Tasha! What the fuck!’’
‘’Language,’’ he snapped. Even his eyes, usually so guarded, revealed his anger. ‘’You deserved a family! I heard your conversation with Lissa, the week before I… left.’’ I frowned, trying to recall it. ‘’The one where you told her that you did want children! But you knew that you would never be able to have them with me.’’
The conversation came to me; I remembered talking with Lissa about children when she asked me if I was ok not being a mother. ‘’Did you even wait to listen to the whole conversation?’’ I exploded. ‘’Yes, I knew that being involved with you meant no kids, but I told her that I was ok with that, because I got to call you mine. We had been through so much together and I knew it was all worth it, because I loved you and you loved me… at least I thought you did. But then, a week later, you’re gone to be with Tasha.’’
I remember the day he left, I remember screaming on the floor, because my heart had been torn out. I remember Lissa coming in, trying to calm me down. She had to call Adrian, only he could get through to me.
Dimitri halted; he had slowly been stepping his way towards me.
‘’Yeah, that’s right, Comrade.’’ He flinched at my use of his old nickname.
‘’I-I didn’t know.’’ He stuttered, the one and only time I had heard him do so.
‘’Because you didn’t talk to me.’’ I shrugged. ‘’You just… left.’’
He thought for a moment, his face changed from realisation and regret, to fury. ‘’But look what came of it, Roza. You got your family. You got the children you wanted.’’
‘’Dimka-‘’ Tasha burst into the room. Both Dimitri and I looked towards her, and she flinched. ‘’Sorry, I’ll just-‘’
‘’Go ahead,’’ I interrupted, turning back to glare at Dimitri.
‘’Rose!’’ Lissa called from downstairs.
I huffed, still wound tight from our conversation and pushed past Tasha.
‘’What?’’ I snapped, then cringed. I wasn’t mad with Lissa, she didn’t deserve my fury. ‘’Sorry, I just-‘’
‘’It doesn’t matter,’’ she interrupted. She thrust a letter into my hands.
I looked at it in confusion. It was in an envelope from the Bank of Russia. ‘’Why are you handing me a bank bill?’’
‘’We don’t use that bank… it closed 10 years ago.’’
My breath caught in my throat. I tore into the envelope, desperate to see what was inside. The paper was fresh and a crisp white, the writing on it in an elaborate cursive.
Dear Ms Hathaway,
I was ever so disappointed to hear that you rejected Nathaniel’s offer. I do believe it was a first for him; his reaction when he informed me of your decision was terribly entertaining. However, I am afraid that time constraints have forced us to move up the schedule.
You may have noticed that your children are missing. Yes, I have them. And yes, this is a ransom letter. However, it is not money I desire, nor is it anything to do with the Moroi court. I simply wish for you to present yourself to me in Russia. I believe that your ex- boyfriend will know where to find me. Just tell him Valya .
I shall see you soon, Rosemarie.
I spun to where Dimitri was standing at the bottom of the stairs. ‘’Valya. What is a Valya?’’
Dimitri’s eyes widen. ‘’Beg your pardon?’’
‘’Tell me!’’ I cry. ‘’What is Valya? And why does whomever have my children want you to take me there?’’
Dimitri’s face blanches. ‘’It’s a little town in Russia. Near the border.’’
‘’Why is it so special?’’
Dimitri lets out a heavy breath. ‘’It’s run by Strigoi.’’
It’s like the room drops a thousand degrees. ‘’What?’’ Lissa breathes.
I can’t breathe. Unconsciously, I move closer to Dimitri, our earlier fight forgotten. I feel sick; my babies are stuck in a town overrun with Strigoi. I sprint up the stairs to the bathroom, barely able to make to the toilet before I throw up. Cool hands hold back my hair while I heave, tears streaming down my face.
‘’Oh, Roza.’’ Dimitri’s gentle voice brings back a new bout of tears.
What has my life become?
‘’We have to leave right now.’’ I say quietly. I know that this is highly unprofessional, leaving Lissa unguarded, leaving the Court without proper permission, but I can’t sit around waiting for some official to write up paperwork.
‘’I know,’’ he says. ‘’Tonight. Pack your bags.’’
Lissa bursts into the room, to see Dimitri and I huddled together. I hadn’t realised that he had pulled me onto his lap. She flushes, clearly embarrassed that she walked in on a private moment.
‘’Ok then… I’ll be downstairs.’’ She shuffled awkwardly from the room and I sigh. Dimitri’s chest rises and falls softly beneath my shoulder and I close my eyes.
‘’I’m sorry,’’ I whisper, tucking my head beneath his chin. ‘’I shouldn’t have said those things.’’
‘’I know, Roza. I know your hurting.’’ he shifts so he can lean against the shower door and wraps his arms around me. ‘’You’re a great mother. I just wish those kids had a father as good as you.’’
My heart clenches. ‘’Dimitri, the kids, they’re-‘’
The door swings open and Tasha stands there, hands on hips, glaring at me. ‘’Dimitri, Lissa needs you downstairs.’’
I sigh, the moment gone, and get out of Dimitri’s lap. He stands up in his usual graceful way while I nearly slip over on the white tiles.
‘’I’ll see you in a second,’’ Dimitri tells Tasha. She hesitates, glancing between us before frowning and heading back down stairs. He turns to me. ‘’What were you going to say?’’
Bad mood back, I shake my head, refusing to answer. ‘’Nothing. Lissa need you.’’
He frowns, then shakes his head and turns from me. When he’s gone, I turn back to the sink and try to forget the feel of his arms surrounding me.