CPOV
The main table was already full, except for two empty chairs near the head of the table. We took our seats next to Adrian while on the other side of him, sat Lissa. I saw her smile softy to Rose who kindly returned the gesture, but when she looked my way I simply nodded.
Rose would always complain about how petty I was for not forgiving her. But the truth was, I think I had. I didn't hold any anger or bitterness towards her. I did in the past, there's no denying that, but not any more. I think time had allowed me to move on and heal.
Sounds cliché but that was the truth. Being away from court and all the gossip and drama had allowed me to focus on other things in my life. Seeing her here, in person, after so long made me realise that I truly didn't have any feelings for her. I no longer felt that pull towards her, that fluttering feeling of love or even that pain of heartbreak. I just felt nothing. Yes, she was still beautiful, there was no denying that either, but it just didn't attract me anymore.
Across from us sat aunt Tasha and Dimitri. It was clear it took a great deal for her to simply walk away from our earlier conversations. There was so much more she wanted to know and rightly so. She deserved the truth but unfortunately that wasn't an option.
I was shocked at myself for how things went down outside, but really what else could I have said?
'Hi Dimitri! Remember that time when you slept with your underage student and then disappeared, leaving her pregnant with a miracle baby who she had to raise on her own while you decided to hook-up with my aunt? No?! Well that's exactly what happened!"
I cringed at the thought. Yes the truth was definitely not an option in this case. Especially since Rose has no plan of including the infamous guardian in her daughter's life. But what if she did? I turned looked at the man and he couldn't take his eyes off Rose. His face hid all emotion but I could tell there was an war happening within him. It must have been shocking finding out the woman you supposedly loved had a child and a family with someone else. I bet he assumed she would have withered away in sorrow waiting for him to return. She would have if it wasn't for Sophie. She gave Rose the purpose to keep on fighting and the love and hope Dimitri hadn't been able to provide. I helped as well but most of credit went to Sophie.
"When the hell is your aunt going to show up? I haven't eaten all day and I would very much like to be anywhere else but here" Rose said leaning towards Adrian.
"She should be here any moment, Little Dhampire. And try to be a little more nice me, I did save you and fake baby-daddy over there the best seats in the house. A seat next to me" said Adrian with a smug look on his face. She glared at him for his choice of words but I intervened before she could get arrested for assaulting the queen's nephew.
"Remind me again why these seats so special?" I asked joining in the conversation.
"Because if you weren't sitting here you would have been next to a certain Russian giant and his mistress" he says jerking his head to the opposites side of the table.
"That's my aunt you're talking about" I said to Adrian with a threatening tone in my voice.
"Then I owe you one" she said to Adrian with a wink.
I just rolled my eyes while Adrian's grin grew.
Just then the royal guards entered the room and shortly after walked in Queen Tatiana.
We all rose to greet her and once she was seated we all followed and took our seats.
Usually these gathering start with a few pleasantries but the queen went straight to business.
"Shall we begin then? Most of you have travelled quite a distance to be here. I must say some of you were difficult to find and convince but I thank you all for your sacrifices to be here."
"The reason, as I'm sure most of you have figured out already, is the growing strigoi threat that our kind face. We are constantly attacked by the strigoi and it seems that their numbers are increasing by the day while ours are decreasing. We cannot continue moving forward, ignoring the fact that we are fighting a losing battle against the creatures. It goes against everything we stand for but we have to change our tactics in order to survive." She paused for a moment staring down at us, making sure we were prepared for her next words. "It is time the moroi learned how to use our powers in combat." The room went extremely still. Everyone's breath was caught. It has finally come to this.
"We have fought this idea for centuries but it seems we have no choice. Guardian numbers are dropping and so are moroi. We need to make change and that is where you come in" says the queen, nodding her head to us.
"I need your assistance in creating a defensive program for moroi as soon possible."
"And what exactly do you want us to do?" asked Rose. "I get that you would need moroi to train them on how to use their magic but why do you need us dhampires? We already have our role in this battle."
"I'm glad you asked Guardian Hathaway. If I'm not mistaken you and Lord Ozera have a gym in New Jersey where you both teach moroi defensive magic. I have had moroi go in and train under you and I'm quite impressed with the feedback I received from them. I've also heard of the incredible teamwork you two during the attack at the St. Vladimir's Academy and that's exactly what I want."
Just thinking back to that day makes the hairs at the back of my neck stand. We killed so many strigoi and prevented so much of deaths but it still wasn't enough. I could still see the masses of bodies carried away. We were congratulated for our bravery and skill but I wish we never had the reason to fight and be brave in the first place.
"I want the moroi to work along side their guardians. To be able to protect themselves against this threat" explained the queen.
"Now that you all understand, do you agree to be part of this program. It is a lot to process and the survival of our entire existence depends on this and if you do commit, there is no leaving." said the queen.
Everyone in the room exchanged looks with one another and it was clear.
"We agree," we all said in unison. Queen Tatiana looked across the room and smiled at the already present dedication and commitment amongst her people.
"So who will be leading this program?" Asked a young moroi further down the table.
"Well Lord Ozera of course" said Queen Tatiana.
My eyes almost popped out of my head. Did I hear her correctly?
"Me?" I asked confused.
"Yes you Lord Ozera. Why do you seem so surprised?" asked the queen who looked, if I'm not mistaken, slightly amused.
"Because I don't think I'm qualified to be doing something like this, not with so many experienced and skilled moroi available to do the job. I am honoured but I couldn't possibly-" "Like I said earlier, I've been monitoring your work for some time now and you have the abilities and dedication needed to lead this team. It would be foolish of me to overlook you for this task. But if you feel it should go to another, very well but I do ask you think about it" said the poised woman.
I didn't know what to say. For a moment I just felt completely froze. How could I do this? How could I possibly train and command men and women who were not only older than me but also more skilled in the art of magic? Why would they even listen to me?
I felt Rose grip my hand under the table, turning my attention to her. She gave me a weird look, a look I knew too well. I first saw it a year or two after living with Rose. It was look she gave me when she wanted to tell me something without words. We've gotten so familiar with this form of communication that using actual words just felt unnecessary at times. The message she gave me now was clear as day.
One, stop acting like a pussy and say yes.
Two, I completely believe in you and you're going to do great.
Three, close your mouth, you look like a fool.
I immediately composed myself, taking in a deep breath before looking to the queen who was staring expectantly at me. "I accept, your majesty. I will do my best to ensure our victory in this war."
"Wonderful. That will be all. We shall meet again tomorrow to dicuss a few more items but for now you are all dismissed. Except for you Lord Ozera. There are a few things we need to discuss in my study," said the queen with the slimmest of smiles.
Everyone stood to leave while I remained seated, still in shock by the queen's praise. "I can't believe it" I mumbled under my breath.
"You better believe it. You totally deserve this Christian. You've worked so damn hard, even that stuck up bitch couldn't help but compliment you" says Rose smiling ear to ear.
"I just hope I know what I'm doing."
"You'll do great and just know I'm right here by your side all the way. I'm so proud of you" she said throwing her arms around my neck. Slowly, I wrapped arms around her waist, securing her into me. I after a while I feel my nerves fading as I took in the scent of her shampoo and feeling the warmth of her arms around me.
She eventually pulled away and I got up to go join her majesty. "I'm going to go find Sophie and Mia. I'll see you later at the apartment?" I nodded and handed her the key.
I watched her leave the room before turning to follow one of the guardian to the queen' study. Unfortunately my path way blocked.
"It would be considered rude if I kept the queen waiting so I humble ask that you do let me pass" I said a bit dramatize.
"No. I don't care if God himself is waiting for you, you are not leaving until you tell me the truth" said my aunt while shooting daggers at me. I let out an exasperated sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. "What do you want to know?" I asked tiredly.
"I want to know everything from the start. I want to know what happened between Lissa and you. I want to know how you and Rose ended up dating and most importantly, I want to know why you didn't tell me you had a child with Rose Hathaway," demanded my aunt Tasha.
She looked furious but mostly hurt. She was my aunt, the woman who threw everything away to raise me and protect me when I had no one. She was the only person who ever cared for me and here she was, staring at me with so much of confusion and anger that I couldn't help but burn with guilt.
"Aunt Tasha I'm really, really sorry I didn't tell you about all of this earlier. What I said was true- so much happened so fast that I just didn't even know where to begin."
She didn't looked convinced. If anything she looked more confused. I held her hands in mine and gently squeezed them, "I promise I will tell you everything that you need to know but not now. Let me get finished here and once I'm done, both Rose and I will let you know the whole story. Just trust me on this," I begged. She stood silently turning it over in her head before nodding.
"Straight after your meeting and not a second later" she said sternly. I internally winced at her strict tone, one remembered too well from my childhood. She turns on her heel and leaves without a second glance.
Why the hell were women so damn dramatic?
Speaking of dramatic women, time to go meet with the queen of them all.
Literally.