It All Started As Revenge

Chapter 2: Sleepless Nights

[Edited 14/7/2016]

*  *  *

My ghost, where'd you go?

I can't find you in the body sleeping next to me.

*  *  *

A few days had passed since the Distribution, but I still hadn't worked up the nerve to ask Christian to help me ask for Guardian change. I had been following him in and out of his classes now that my novice classes were over, and I finally realised how boring Moroi classes were.

I mean, culinary classes and advanced literature? Really? Thank God our novice classes didn't include those, or we would have been bored to death.

I studied Christian's face carefully as he measured the ingredients for whatever he was making for culinary class. His eyebrows were scrunched together in concentration, and even with our constant bickering, I couldn't deny that he looked absolutely adorable.

Honestly, in the days I had been guarding him, I finally understood why we hated each other so much. The attitude, the drive to protect those close to our hearts, the level of devotion to our partners... It was all too familiar. It was because he was exactly like me. We disguise our emotions with well-rehearsed sarcasm, wrap our hearts in barbed wire to keep people from getting too close.

But once someone chips through the tough exterior... we love so freely and unconditionally that we would sacrifice anything, everything that we have to keep them safe. And that was why I still felt so broken from Dimitri's refusal- because he had built a wall between us to keep me out.

The hole in my heart ached again.

*  *  *

I stared at the blank ceiling in Christian's dorm room completely zoned out, daydreaming of chocolate glazed donuts and delicious desserts. The harsh slamming of the door snapped me out of my daze, drawing my attention to a frustrated Christian flopping down on his bed. 

I stared at him.

"I can't find Lissa anywhere," He groaned, throwing an arm over his eyes. I watched him curiously, trying to gauge the reason behind him looking for Lissa. "Well, I could help you find her," I drawled. "But only if you tell me why,"

He took his arm off his field of vision. "Why do you want to know?" He asked, his tone defensive. I instantly wriggled my eyebrows in a suggestive way, implying the dirtiest of all possibilities. "God, no. I'm not looking for her for that," He laughed. "You've seen every part of me through Lissa anyways,"

I pulled a face. "Don't even remind me of that. I've been trying to perfect my mental shields for a long time," Christian smirked at me. "If you want me to help you find Liss, tell me why," I said, sternly. 

Though I now wasn't Lissa's official Guardian, I still tried to look out for her at every turn. "Fine," He sighed. "Today is our official anniversary. I've arranged everything and canceled on tonight's extra culinary project, and I plan to take her to a human restaurant that serves great Japanese food."

A stroke of sadness and nostalgia rushed through me as I thought about how the old Dimitri would have done the same thing for me. I pushed the feeling away and begrudgingly slipped into the bond between Lissa and I.

I saw stone walls and iron bars, Dimitri's familiar face and his breathtaking smile. I shut down the bond, determined not to cry. 

"She's in Dimitri's cell." I snapped, turning my head away from Christian and his perfect boyfriend attitude.