The French, The German, And The Russian

Chapter 12

Cody POV

I woke up to screaming, I run to see her sitting up in her bed fully awake. Rose Did you have a nightmare?"I said quietly. "Yes" she responded. "Dimitri turned on me he does not love me any more". She stammered. "That is not trun Dimitri loves you lots", I hug her as I get she falls in to me. "This feels very strange to me"she says giggling. Why ?, I ask. I am so used to hugging you when you had nightmares. " That is true",I say.

" Rose?", I ask. "Yes Cody?" "You are hurting my shoulder." "Oh I am so sorry". She said as she quickly sat up. "Also when can you remove the bullet from my arm?" " I will remove it tomorrow. Ok". She smiles at me with confidence. " Are going to a hospital to do it?" I ask. "No I can do here". she said with a smile. I stare at her with wide eyes, I know the bullet had to come out but I thought we would go to a hospital.

Maddie POV

"You yelled at him?" I said. "He's not being honest with us." Adam replied "Perhaps he has a good reason. Regardless I think you shouldn't have told him to leave." I knocked on the guest bedroom's door "Come in." responded Leon. "Sorry about what Adam said." I said as I entered. "It's alright." he replied. I could hear some reluctance in his voice. "You don't have to go, you're welcome here as long as you need a place." He thanked me and then looked as if he wanted to ask something. After a moment or two he asked "Do you have any spare swords?" "Yes." I replied. I lead him to a case of weapons "You can have whichever one you choose." "Really?" He asked, surprised. "Yes, these are extra, we planned to sell them sometime." After looking at the collection he chose a sword. "Do you know how to fence?" I nodded as I recalled how Rose and Cody taught me how to use different weapons. Even Anthony, whether he knew it or not, helped by sneering and insulting any sloppy posture or mistakes I made. "I prefer archery." I said. The memory was the last straw. I'd been worried about Cody since I ran from the inn, she was hurt. Despite being angry, I hoped Rose was taking care of her and that Anthony was leaving her alone. I walked briskly back to my room to write her a letter asking about her wellbeing. I finished putting it in an envelope and with a sigh, sent it. It was painful to think of them and memories of that place I called home. I now had more questions than ever to answer

Leon POV

I had been standing in the door for quite some time watching her write the letter. "Got some friends huh?" Yeah they're my sisters" she replied. "Well why aren't they here?" I asked " after a couple of seconds she said in a mocking tone "not important" after that I let it go. "Well we all have something precious we want to hold on to. Don't let that special something go." After I said that I thanked her for the sword and started to head out. "You're not really leaving are you?" "I was going to head out sooner or later.It has nothing to do with how I feel about you or your brother. I'll be around for a little bit then I need to head out. Well, See ya!" I head outside and start walking around for a bit when a groggy old man slipped a note in my pocket. Before I could ask him what it was about he disappeared into the alley. I wasn't too keen on reading it but curiosity overwhelmed me and I decided to read it. Upon reading I realized what it was about. I needed to leave now. I rushed into Maddie's home and started to look around just in case it had been a bluff. After rummaging through everything Maddie and Adam came into my room. "Is everything alright?" they asked. "Q...where is Q!!" I knew where he was. I was just hoping by some miracle that it was just a bluff. They wouldn't joke about that. Not them. "*sigh* nevermind. I have to go." "Already...is it because of Q?" I was done talking so I just answered any question as I was readying up. "Thank you for the sword. It'll make my job a lot easier." I unsheathed the sword. Sure enough it was real. It didn't have that much of a bite to it, but it could get the job done " you're not going to kill anyone are you?"

They took my Q...they took my mother and my brother.. I don't even know why they did to my sister...I need to make sure they don't take anyone else again."as I was heading out the door she said "Wait! Where are you heading?" " Germany... I have 2 weeks to get there or the same thing that happened to my mom will happen to Q." "Germany!? That's an entire country away! There's no way you're getting there on foot." As much as I hated it she was right I couldn't walk to Germany on foot let alone in 2 weeks. "Well then what do you suggest i do?! I don't have enough time and I can't just sit back and pretend this isn't happening." After some silence she suggested that she take me on her horse but Adam wasn't all for it "Woah woah I just got you back you can't just leave all of a sudden with this stranger" "what if it was me in Germany and not his pet?" That's different. We don't even know him!" "Whatever you decide, hurry up I don't have time. if you can't help me that's fine. I wasn't expecting any help anyway... Well?"

Maddie POV

"I'd be glad to." Adam frowned. "Maddie please... I can't lose you again..." "And you won't." I replied, giving him a reassuring smile. Followed by them I walked down to the stable and tacked Rusty up. "You can take that bay mare." I said "Alright." He replied grabbing a saddle. Adam watched us prepare from Midnight's stall with a nervous expression. "Cheer up, I'll be back before you know it." I said as I put the bridle on. "Really, I made it here all the way from the Romanov household with Cody." "True..." He said reluctantly. I joked around a bit more, trying to cheer him up but to no avail. I picked up my bow and quiver and brought Rusty out of the stall. "I will come back." I said, hugging him "Be careful." He cautioned. "Obviously." I said with a smile. I mounted up "Ready?" "Yes." said Leon. We rode away leaving Adam distraught in the stable's entrance. "Sorry again if he seems rude. Seems we're all trying to protect something." "I understand." he replied. I wanted to ask him the same questions as earlier but I didn't want to upset him anymore. I looked at the sky. By now many stars were visible. I've seen them so much only because of my travels, I needed to look at them for fun sometime. "Do you know where exactly we're going?" "Yes." he said, a look of determination on his face. "Don't worry, we'll get Q back." He nodded. We had ridden a while before I realized my scarf had slipped. I didn't know if the scar was visible. I quickly fixed it hoping the darkness had hid it. If Rose gave me a potion, how much of what I knew about what happened was true?

Rose POV

"This is going to hurt a lot. I'm not going to lie. I have done this before. Rose was infamous for getting injured at the Academy." Dimitri smirked at me. I send a sad smile back to him after i inwardly cringe. "Please just get Cody all patched up. I barely made it through pulling out the bullet, I can't stand seeing her in pain." Dimitri nodded. " Hello! Still hear!" Cody yelled then flinched. "sorry sorry sorry!" I whisper to her. Dimitri was threading the needle when a rider burst in. On instinct I stood and reached for my sword, but I then remembered I did not have it. "Speak now!" I commanded the man. "Dimitri keep going." I say kinder. "I have a letter for lady Cody from her sister Maddi. Cody stands up and grabs the letter. she then sits down and doesn't move. When the needle enters her skin she scrunches up her nose but continues to read. Ten minutes later, after I bind her stitches, she tells me all the letter said was asking if she was fine. I sigh. "I am so sorry Cody. It's my fault your sister isn't here. I should have told her sooner." Cody nods "Is there anything you aren't telling me about my past?" " No you probably know more than I do." I walk out. "Rose!" "Dimitri!" I giggle back. "Come here." I look at him with caution "Why?" but I still

walk over to him. "You Just seem really upset so I thought I would get you..." He pulls out a squriming ball of fur, "A wolf?" I question. "Yes, and I got Cody an odd animal from a strange country called Australia, they call it a Koala." I smile. And then I frown. "Why would you do this for us. For me? These must have cost a fortune! I can't take this from you!" I began to flip out. "Would it make you feel better if I tell you I saved them from a travelling circus? That I didn't pay a dime?" I nod. "Well that would be partially true. I payed for yours." I place the little wolf down on the ground. She began to paw at the edge at the bottom of my skirts. "Alright Rozhkov! I will let it go this time!" I giggle. "What are you going to name her?" "Bella, Anastasia, Anya, Pyshka? I don't have a clue." " How about Katarina? And when you speak English or just about any other language Kathrine?" "Perfect!" I lean over and kiss Dimitri on the cheek. "Come along Katarina!" I pat my leg and she bounds after me. She began to hop around the closer we got to the doors that lead outside. "Well look what we have here. Duchess Rosemarie Vasilisa Romanov. Not the Romanov we were looking for but she'll do." 8 Grown men. 1, 17 year old girl. Sounds fair. Until there was ten and two ended up behind me. I feel a sharp pain run through my skull and I fall to the ground. Boots, coming closer "Get her in the cart." "What about the dog?" "Bring it, might giver her something to do" then I blackout.