Timeline Restored

Disappearing Act

No one was willing to delay their trip. Or go near Belikov unless absolutely necessary. Anyone it seems, except Tasha. The woman had turned up on campus, right around the time Rose disappeared. As always, the woman refused to take 'no' for an answer and is sniffing around Belikov's crutch like a bitch in heat. Good thing Rose wasn't here to witness such events because sadly Dimitri was not displaying any signs of discomfort at her presence, even with everything Rose had just shown him. Even if Tasha committed murder in front of him right now, he truly would still find some excuse for her behaviour. Something that Rose wouldn't have put past her and that Abe knows her all too capable of. Abe still remembers Dimitri's reaction to the proof of Tasha being the one to kill the Queen. Regardless of what they'd gone through while on the run, almost dying more than once, still he implored Rose with his eyes to allow one of the excuses Tasha provided and let her get away with murdering Tatiana, despite the fact that Tasha would not have been so willing if the roles were reversed.

Silence filled the plane for the most part, Dimitri and Tasha seeming to be the only ones in any real mood to converse. She'd not yet been made aware of Tatiana naming Lissa and Rose (plus Christian and Dimitri) as her heirs. Well she's about to be. Conversation had turned to the need for Janine to retire and it piqued the older woman's interest. Never would it occur to the group that Janine would retire, though they understood that Rose becoming the Queen would require such a sacrifice. Guarding is a dangerous profession as it is, but there would be added complications with a connection to the throne. Everyone knows how protective Rose is of family.

"Why are you retiring Janine?" Tasha tried feigning interest. "Are you and Abe going to give being a family another shot?" she took the dig. There were gasps that Tasha would say it like that. They all knew it was a dig at Janine's choices and being estranged to both her lover and child. Instead of rising to the temptation of slapping the woman, Janine just gave a sweet smile that reminded the group of one of Rose's and replied.

"A necessity I'm afraid, since my daughter will begin her training to assume the throne after graduation". And the reaction was just as good as hoped. Tasha had been taking a sip of the fine champagne so generously provided by Abe; only in her surprise, she splattered it all over herself. Taking her own glass and raising it slightly to Tasha in a mock salute, Janine took a dainty sip and continued smiling at her lover beside her. Once she was finally able to form coherent sentences, Tasha was asking how and why Rose was going to become Queen, stating that she thought Lissa was being groomed for such a role.

"We will both be ruling Tasha. Along with our partners when the time comes" Lissa declared, throwing a bone to the woman who would one day become her aunt. "Tatiana doesn't believe the world is ready to have Rose rule alone." To which they all agreed. "And I don't have what it takes to sit through endless meetings where nothing gets done, or the ability to make sure they're productive in the way Rose can. She could get them to behave much better than I can, if only out of fear". Abe appeared quite proud of the thought of his daughter taking after him so much, earning him a glare and elbow to the ribs from Janine.

What had not occurred to the rest of the group yet is that if Janine has to retire from guarding because Rose will take the throne, Viktoria will not be allowed to guard for the same reasons. Vika had always dreamt of becoming a guardian and would not take to this lightly, though a large reason behind her desire to guard was simply to get out of Baia. It was unclear if the rest of the group will be able to guard as well. They are considered just as much family to Rose as her parents. Suddenly the idea of becoming rulers of their world was nothing but a headache and fast becoming a pain in the ass.

Roughly 10 hours later saw them landing in St Petersburg, Russia. While they planned to travel to one of Abe's many houses, they were attacked by a large group of strigoi hunting nearby. Quickly encircling the Moroi of the group, the novices were armed and given their orders. They were the final line of defence. As such, they were not to interfere unless absolutely necessary and safe to do so. None had Rose's skill to get involved in others fights without causing issue.