Moving Objects

Chapter 23

"I'm fine," I pleaded, but he wasn't fooled.

"I almost killed you," he whispered, "I wanted to. I had so many ideas of how to do it when I realized that you wouldn't let me turn you. I –"

"I'm fine. The doctor said I was going to be ok. You weren't you when this happened."

Dimitri looked unconvinced, his eyes moving to the three men behind me. I turned and looked at them before clearing my throat. "Can you please give us some privacy? I only have a few more minutes left," I asked. The one Guardian looked like he was going to argue but the other two nodded and pulled the third down the hall a bit.

I turned back to Dimitri and pressed myself against the bars, reaching up to caress his cheek. The gesture startled him, but he soon leaned into my touch, his hand coming up to cup mine. He let his eyes fall close and he sighed in what I could say was content.

"I'm so sorry, Roza," he whispered, his eyes opening at boring into mine. My breath hitched at the intensity of his gaze, like he was trying to will just how sorry he was . "I know, Comrade. I know."

Dimitri nodded and bit his lip before turning his head and pressing his lips to my wrist. It sent a shiver down my spine but I was grateful for it. He was real, he really was standing in front of me.

"Rose. Your time is up."

I looked up to him again and I gently pulled his head down while I pressed my face against the bars, barely able to brush my lips against his quickly.

"I love you, Comrade. I'll be back as soon as I can and we will get you out of here," I vowed as he kissed my palm and before he squeezed it. Mikhail was beside me in a flash, his hand on my shoulder. I looked to Dimitri as I walked away, mouthing my words of love to him again before being led out of the prison block.

"Thank you," I whispered to Mikhail. He squeezed my shoulder and nodded his head. "You're welcome. I knew that you find a way in no matter how. I figured this way would be easier."

I nodded and winced. I wasn't supposed to be talking, but I had to talk to Dimitri.

"Are you ok? You yelped pretty hard when Dougal grabbed you. I thought Belikov was going to rip the bars off," Mikhail stated with a slight chuckle. I snorted a laugh and nodded.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I have a wicked bruise on that shoulder. To be honest, I'm bruised all over if you haven't noticed," I said pointing to my neck. Mikhail nodded.

"I noticed, and I noticed Belikov's reaction too. I take it he did that?"

"He did almost all of the damage, not that I would tell him. He already is beating himself up inside. I can only imagine the turmoil he is going through."

Mikhail nodded but didn't say anything else as we exited the building. My throat was really started to hurt. I said goodbye to Mikhail as I left and trudged back home. I was barely in the door before being ambushed.

My fist went up as blonde hair flew towards me, but I stopped myself and let her hug me. I tried not to wince as she did so, but she didn't to notice.

"Where the hell have you been?! I've been here waiting for you since Adrian told me you woke up."

I rolled my eyes and swallowed, trying to ease my throat. "I went to see Dimitri."

Her eyes widened, "Did they let you in? I've been trying to get it and they told me that he refused to see anyone."

I nodded. "Yes, he said that he didn't want to see anyone, but when he heard my voice he spoke to me. It wasn't much, but he's back, Liss. He's really back," I said, my voice raising in octave as I spoke. It hurt, but my excitement was to hard to contain. Lissa nodded and squeezed my hands with a large smile, a smile so wide that I could see her fangs. Despite being asleep only four hours ago, I was exhausted. I caned my head at Lissa and went into the bedroom, kicking my shoes off and laying down.

"When exactly did you learn how to use a stake? Is that what you've been hiding?" I asked Lissa as she laid down beside me on the bed. Lissa cleared her throat and rolled to look at me, so I did the same.

"After you and your dad found that lore book, Adrian and I started trying to charm stakes. We had hoped that maybe you could do it, even if it was charmed. Eddie taught me and Adrian how to hold the stake and how to use it. When we saw him last night, I knew it was the only chance we were going to get. I knew you were going back out to find him," Lissa explained, toying with her fingers.

I furrowed my brows, "How did you know about that?" I whispered. Lissa looked up and looked slightly guilty. "I went by your room last week and found your bag packed. I knew that I wouldn't be able to stop you either."

I looked at her and placed my hand on hers, squeezing it gently.

"I wish you wouldn't have put yourself in danger doing that. Dimitri could have killed you last night," I said softly but Lissa rolled her eyes.

"Stop. I felt like I needed to do something. If it weren't for me, Dimitri would never have been turned."

"No. Don't say that. Dimitri was your Guardian, he was doing his duty," I objected, but Lissa ignored me. "No, listen to me, Rose. I felt so much guilt when he stayed behind, because I knew that not only was I losing someone that I trust, but it was going to hurt you. I had to do something!"

I frowned at my best friend. I never wanted her to feel guilt for what happened. She wasn't at fault because nobody was at fault but the Strigoi themselves. I wrapped my arm around her and hugged her gently.

"Thank you," I whispered. There weren't enough words to truly thank her for what she had done, but she knew how much this meant to me. How thankful I was. Lissa didn't say anything, she rested her head against mine, and I could feel her smile against my hair.

But through our bond, I felt something I hadn't felt since Dimitri was turned. A sense of accomplishment and genuine happiness.

___________________________________

Happy Saturday!!!

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I was so nervous about it that I rewrote it five times!

Let me know what you think!!