SPIRIT BOND: Anna and Vladimir's story

CHAPTER 9: The Festival Battle

Anna's POV

"Oh no Vladimir, didn't you hear Rina say that it would be a hotspot for strigoi tonight." I argued with him "Yes and?" I wanted to kick him "Don't you and me, you now exactly what the dangers are." He smiled "Exactly" His logic didn't make any sense to me "Anna I can handle a few strigoi, and besides we won't be long." I didn't feel happy about it, but I let it go and followed him out into the alley. The were candles lit everywhere and covered in every color imaginable, loud light music was playing in the square and the people were dancing. We walked towards them, he pulled me in front of him once we stood in the middle of the crowd "Dance with me, Anna." He said as he took my other hand "Alright." I said softly as we started moving to the music. "Why do you take risks?" I asked once we had the music's timing "We only life once and it's because of that, that I don't want too live my life hiding away in fear of strigoi." His voice was passionate as he spoke "And neither should any other moroi, we will have too find a way to block them from us." I nodded "Like a shield." He spun me around "Yes but more than that, more like a shield of magic something moroi, dhampirs and humans can pass through but not strigoi." I thought about his words "So that's what you're planning." He tried to hide his surprise "What would I be planning?" I smiled "You experimenting with that idea, you don't need Rina's stealth skill, her shady deal or her intimidation, you need her magic." He was stunned "Did you read my mind again, Anna?" I frowned "No, remember one thing Vladimir, looks can be deceiving, I'm a lot smarter than I look." He laughed "I'm sorry if I offended you, but yes that is what I'm planning." He continued telling me about his Spirit ability and how he learn that he had it.

We walked around the festival looking at everything it had to offer we were at the end of the festivals path when that strange sick and nauseous feeling rolled over me, I looked around, I didn't see any strigoi but I knew that feeling meant that they were near. "Vladimir we need to go now." He looked at me "Why? What's wrong?" He asked "Strigoi Vladimir, the strigoi are here, their watching us, we need to go now." He didn't move, I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the shadows "Anna, how did you know?" I looked up at him "I feel sick whenever there are strigoi around." He nodded "A good warning system, we should head back now." I nodded "Yes it's safer that way.". We walked back, I was alert and tense but Vladimir was still carefree and calm. We made it into the ally way but before we could reach the entrance to Rina's hideout, two strigoi jumped into our path, I pushed Vladimir behind me. "Aww look it's a dhampir female, their pretty useless fighters just like the moroi." One of the strigoi said and the other laughed "Yes, she must be his bloodwhore." The anger within me was searing and I felt a overwhelming need to kill them "You're going to regret ever saying that!" My voice was low and very dangerous. They laughed once more "Welcome to you end girl." They charged with immense speed, but I was ready, I pulled out my stake and scraped the one over his face while kicking the other, the first one grabbed it's face and I plunged my stake into his heart, the other ran right past me going for Vladimir. I spun around but the strigoi came flying back toward me, I was surprised but I didn't let the emotion win me over, I thought the last one for a few minutes, he was strong with meant that he was an old one well over fifty years. I grabbed his arm through him over my shoulder and slammed him to the ground, the few seconds he wasn't registering I slammed my stake into his heart.

My breathing was heavy, we had too move, I grabbed Vladimir's hand and pulled him into the entrance "What did you do to that strigoi? He couldn't come near you." Vladimir looked as white as snow and his breathing was hard "I used spirit to push him away and to let will them into keeping their distance from you." I looked at him anger evident on my face "You used spirit on the and compulsion at that, aren't you scared of going crazy, Vladimir you're not suppose to protect me. I'm suppose to protect you." I was yelling but I didn't care "Anna, what's wrong with protecting the things you love?....I mean care for." I sighed "Everything, I'm a dhampir, and a guardian at that I can take care of myself and you, so don't you dare try and protect me Vladimir. I'm suppose to put my life on the line." He took my face in his hands "You agreed to be my guardian Anna. I am your charge and if I want to protect you then I will, do you understand?" I was angry at him for being such a selfless bastards "I won't let you protect me." He let go of my face "You don't have a say in this Anna, I will protect you as you protect me." I wanted to kick his saint ass and believe me it was hard not to "Stubborn" I murmured under my breath "So are you." He shot back before walking back to the room , I followed him.

He took a seat on a chair in our room's main room, taking a book to read. I grabbed the book from him "Don't think you can fool me Vladimir, you as white as snow go to bed, you need to rest." He grabbed my arm, I felt his anger through the bond "Come then" He said pulling me along "Vladimir let go" I tried to get out of his grip, but somehow his grip was so tight that I couldn't get myself free. He pulled me into the bedroom and closed the door, he let go of my hand and took a seat on the bed. I was standing in front of him rubbing my wrist "I'm sorry Anna" He said watching me "Don't worry about it." I said trying to show that I didn't care but the truth was his unusual strength scared me "Stay in this room with me, I need to feel someone's presence to be able too sleep." I looked at him "You have nightmares?" He nodded "More like dreams that haunt me every night" Our eyes locked for a second "I'll stay, now go to sleep Vladimir". He listened after taking of his shoes he go into bed and closed his eyes. I took a seat on sofa watching him for a while as he slept, soon enough my sleep came and I welcomed the change of scenery

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I woke up the next morning to whispers outside the door, I got up and walked to the door, I identified the voices as Dani and Rina's. "What are you two whispering about?" I asked in a whisper making them both jump "Oh good morning Anna. Why did you sleep in Vladimir's room?" Rina's questioning nature took over. I looked at her noticing how strange the situation must have looked, I walked through the door softly closing it behind me "Vladimir has nightmares and the only why he's able to sleep is by feeling someone's presence in the room." They nodded "Alright, figures. Anna please wake him up tell him breakfasts ready, we'll meet you two there" I watched as she and Dani left, then I went back into the room. I walked softly up to Vladimir "Vladimir it's time to wake up breakfast is ready." He mumbled something in his sleep and turned towards me "Vladimir seriously it's time to get up." I tried to get him up again but he didn't responded.

I was about to say something else, when he grabbed my arm and pulled me onto the bed throwing his arms and a leg around me. I started fighting to get myself free "Dammit Vladimir!, let me go" In my struggle I had managed to turn towards him. Out of desperation bit him his arm, he's eyes flew open "Ouch Anna, what are you doing in my bed?" He asked with a sly smile on his face "and why did you bite me?" He let me go and I sat up "You grabbed me and wouldn't let go and your stronger than an average moroi, so I bit you." He laughed a full hard laugh for the first time since I'd met him "I'm sorry, I'm not much of a morning person, I don't get up easily." I made a few sounds "I noticed. Come on Rina said breakfast's ready." He got up from bed "Seems like bathing is a later choice" I nodded and we headed out of the room and toward the dining table.