The Disappearing Act (Vampire Academy Fan Fiction Book 2)

Chapter 21: A Wilted Rose (Cassie's POV)

Chapter 21: A Wilted Rose (Cassie's POV)

Cassie's POV

                It had been three weeks since we rescued Princess Dragomir from her Strigoi cesspit. Three weeks since we'd been flown out of Vegas on the Queen's private helicopter; since we returned to the hell that was living at Court; since we lost Rose in some delusional craze that I knew was a result of the idiotic mission she'd been sent on. It was a miracle she'd lasted this long before completely cracking.

                Everything was worse than their wedding day.

                Dimitri and I took turns pacing outside of Rose's room in the hospital. She'd been there since we'd returned, and no one knew when she'd be leaving. At first, it was just for the injuries; just until she was well enough to return to her rough-and-tumble life. And then the Queen had walked into the room and Rose had been sedated since her screaming fit. I would never forget the sound of her agonized screaming.

                I'd been the one to call Dimitri. He was worried out of his mind, but he was safe with Annessa; they were both perfectly fine. Well, they were until I told him how his wife had turned into a complete mess and I didn't know how to fix her. No one knew how.

               

                I sat on the small couch in Rose's suite, my knees tucked up to my chest as I watched the tragedy playing out before my eyes. Dimitri was lying beside her on the hospital bed that was far too small to hold both of them, though he didn't seem to care as he wrapped her into his arms, cradling her limp form against his chest. His calloused fingers stroked through her hair that I religiously combed out every morning to make sure it stayed somewhat beautiful, even if it was dull and colorless now that the dye was wearing out. Her roots were coming in; it was the only part of her that was starting to look normal again. I hugged my knees tighter to myself, burying my face as I tried to hide the stubborn tear leaking down my cheek.

                This wasn't how they were supposed to end; how any of this was supposed to end. They were the famous Belikov and Hathaway, God and Goddess of the Dhampir world. They were perfect and a fairytale and completely, absolutely happy; at least, they were supposed to be. They shouldn't have been crumbling to pieces in a hospital room.

                Mia had Annessa tonight. We'd been keeping her away from Rose; we knew she wouldn't want the little girl to see her like this. No one had been allowed in here except Dimitri, Eddie, the Queen, and I; we hadn't even let Mia come near this wilted Rose. Her memory didn't deserve to be tainted like that.

                Dimitri was humming a lullaby, and I could hear her heartbeat calming as the beats on the machine slowed slightly. That was always the reaction to his voice; he was her peace. If only he could be her sanity, too.

"Why won't she wake up?" I whispered, my voice coarse as it shattered the silence.

                Dimitri blinked at me, his arms tightening around her. She looked so tiny next to him; tiny and fragile. Those should never have been words to describe Rose Hathaway.

                He cleared his throat and turned his gaze back to her. "I don't know," he answered in a calm tone, a finger caressing her cheek lightly. "Will you leave us for a while, Cassie?"

                Without another word, I nodded and unfolded myself from the couch, ignoring my stiff muscles as I headed towards the door. I shut it behind me and sighed as the loud click echoed into the hall.

"How is she?"

                The question caught me off guard, my head instantly snapping up to find the owner of the voice. Eyes narrowing, I moved a hand to the stake tucked at my side and stood protectively in front of the door. This was not a welcome visitor.

                The Queen sat in a chair along the wall with her various Guardians lining the rest of the hallway. They were strangers to me; then again, so was she. She looked like the epitome of perfection with her smoothed hair and pressed blazer, a golden tiara glittering on her head. The only signs of stress were the heavy, purple bags hanging under her green eyes. If I didn't hate her, I would've felt sorry for the stupid girl.

"She's asleep," I answered curtly. "Guardian Belikov is with her."

                She snorted, "I thought they gave up their titles?"

                I ignored her question and kept my stance in front of the door. If there was one thing Rose didn't need, it was another sighting of this monster.

                She quirked an eyebrow at me, her gaze absorbing my wrinkled t-shirt and unkempt hair. I had been here for days; I hadn't left Rose's side unless Dimitri was there. We didn't know what she needed protection from, but we had and would be there; she would never be alone, no matter the cost to ourselves. The Queen seemed to understand that all in one cursory look.

"Do you think she'll be okay, Guardian Daniels?" she said, her eyes turning back to her hands neatly folded in her lap.

                I pursed my lips, my grip loosening on my stake as I leaned back against the door. "No. I don't think she will."

                The words came out of their own accord, but the truth in them was undeniable. Rose would never be okay; saving Jill for Lissa had shattered her into a million pieces and she would never fit them all back together again. She was broken, and it was time we started accepting that.

                I blinked and, as my eyes opened, I couldn't help my jaw from dropping.

Queen Vasilisa was actually crying; her face in her hands, makeup smeared on her blouse, and snot running down her nose. The unbreakable, stone-hearted ruler of the Moroi was sobbing and balling, her disgusting sounds filling up the hallway that had suddenly become tenser than the hospital room I'd been living in.

I leaned against the door and watched her, not even offering the tissue in my back pocket.