With Out Her

Chapter 2

Christian who hadn't spoken since Rose and Dimitri got out of the car finally came back to reality. "That can't be possible." He said.

Lissa released Rose's hand and backed away slowly. She almost looked terrified.

Dimitri...oh Dimitri. He looked so broken like he was just waiting to wake up from a nightmare. He didn't move. He just stared at the ground. Looking so broken.

"We need you to tell us what happened before we can figure out what to do." The moroi doctor said. There was a moment of silence before Dimitri told the story.

"She sensed strigoi so we pulled over and we got out of the car-"

"I'm sorry..." the doctor interrupted "But she sensed strigoi?"

It was lissa who spoke up to explain. "She died at one point and I brought her back so she can call upon dead people...and..." Lissa was at a loss for words. She hadn't realized how little she knew about being shadow kissed. Dimitri picked up where he left off.

"There were too many for us to fight off and the...ghosts...distract them. When all the strigoi were down we walked back to the car and she collapsed." When Dimitri finished everyone looked at Rose who lie on the bed. The doctor left the room. Christian leaned against  the wall thinking about something. Lissa then pulled out her phone.

"I'm going to call Janine and let her know." She said. She walked over to the corner of the room. After a few seconds she started talking.

"Janine it's Lissa... well it's about Rose... we were attacked by strigoi and she used the ghosts to make sure none of us died and now... She's in a coma." Lissa was choking back tears. A few minutes later she hung up and turned back towards the room.

"Janine will be here in a few hours...they were already coming here anyway."

The door to the room opened and in walked Hans Croft. He barely glanced at Rose but instead turned to Lissa. "Your Majesty arrangements need to be made for your temporary head of Guardians. I know now might not be a good time but the arrangements need to be made soon." He then left without saying a word to anyone else or looking at Rose. Apparently people already knew about Rose's coma.

"She sacrificed herself for us." Christian said. He and Rose had never really gotten along but they were still friends. Christian turned to Dimitri.

"You can have the rest of the week off." He said plainly. Dimitri didn't acknowledge his words.

"The library!" Lissa shouted. "They might have books on people who are Shadow kissed! Them we can figure out to help Rose." She said. She grabbed Christian's arm and pulled him to the door but she stopped.

"Aren't you coming?" She asked Dimitri who hadn't moved. He looked up at them.

"I'll be there in a bit." He said. Right now he just wanted to be with Roza. Lissa seemed to understand this. Then she continued to pull Christian out the door.

When they were gone Dimitri pulled up a chair next to Rose and sat down. He grabbed her hand and gave it a quick squeeze hoping it would wake her up.

He thought about what Christian said. She had sacrificed herself for all of them. If she hadn't used her powers they would be strigoi. He wouldn't be able to go through that again.

He sat with her for so long he lost track of time. Not realizing how long he had been there until Janine walked in. She made eye contact with Dimitri and he seemed to understand that she wanted to be alone.

Dimitri got up and was about to walk out when Janine grabbed his arm.

"Thank you staying with her..." She said before releasing her hold.

Dimitri walked around court receiving glances from people. He didn't have a destination but he ended up at the library. He looked for Lissa and Christian and found them sitting at a back table with 4 Guardians. He wasn't sure whether to join the ring of Guardians or sit down. Lissa decided for him when she waved him to the table. He sat down and quickly looked at the books they had pulled from the shelves.
Shadow kissed
Land of the dead
World beyond

It wasn't much but it was still something.

"We discovered that each time someone who is shadow kissed calls upon ghosts they get closer to death. Also it can slowly drive you insane like spirit can." Lissa said. Christian was focusing on the Land of the Dead book. Dimitri stood up, it was getting late for him.

"Okay well I'm going to get some sleep." He said then left.

He made his way back to his apartment where he and Rose lived. He opened the door and kicked off his shoes. He didn't feel like making dinner instead he just pulled off his duster and went to his bed which was practically shouting his name. He turned to where he was ,out of habit, expecting Rose. But she wasn't there. He closed his eyes not wanting to see the empty space. Soon sleep found him but not peace.

Dimitri was standing in the court yard near the court church. Rose stood a few feet away looking sad. He ran for her.

"Roza, Roza I thought you were gone." He suddenly was stopped by an invisible force that refused to let him hold his Roza.

"Help me Dimitri. They won't let me leave. I can't come back to you. They won't let me. I can't leave this time." She said, as she began to fade away.

"No! Roza come back! Roza!" Dimitri tried to bring Rose began but she was gone. No matter how much he called her she was gone

Dimitri woken up from his nightmare panting and covered in sweat. He didn't sleep for the rest of the night. He only thought of his Roza.