Vampire Academy: Dimitri's Point of View

The Lust Charm

WARNING: Inappropriate Content. Read on Own I'll.:

"Rose?" I asked, not entirely sure I wasn't hallucinating the girl just outside my door.
I stepped aside in a daze as she pushed her way into my room, not sparing a glance as spoke. "Let me in. It's Lissa."
Oh, Lissa. Of course. "What's wrong?" My guardian instincts started to kick in, slightly ashamed of myself for thinking that she would be here for any other reason. That is until I noticed the look in her eye.
It was a look that I didn't recognize in her. Sure, I had seen hints of it from time to time, but the intensity of her gaze was overwhelming. She was staring at me with pure, unadulterated desire.
I forgot anything else as I watched her eyes rake over my body. It wasn't the first time a woman had done so, but instead of feeling the usual self-consciousness or embarrassment by her obvious admiration, it felt thrilling to be longed-for by her. Her breathing, which had been labored by her earlier rush over here, was now heavy with want.
She met my eyes for only a brief moment, biting her bottom lip before looking down again. Such a simple action had my blood rushing, so much so that I didn't realize her stepping towards me with her hand extended towards my bare chest. I was barely in control as it was, and I knew her touch would be my undoing.
"Rose!" I jumped back, stepping just out of her reach. "What are you doing?"
She looked at me like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Perhaps it was. I could see she wanted me just as much as I wanted her. "What do you think?" She took another step towards me.
I moved back again, all too aware that I was getting closer to the bed. I suddenly cursed the fact that I had opted for one of the smaller studio apartments. I held my hand out, hoping to keep some distance and my sanity as she continued to move towards me.
What's going on with her? I wondered. She had occasionally made a flirtatious comment during training, but nothing overly inappropriate. She had never been so bold with me. In many other situations, I might have enjoyed her fearless advances, but this...this was wrong. I had to keep telling myself that. She is my student. She's underage. This is wrong. I have to stay in control.
"Are you drunk?" I kept repeating my mantra to myself. Stay in control. This is wrong. Stay in control.
"Don't I wish," she replied with a smirk. She paused, suddenly realizing my hesitation. "I thought you wanted to..." her earlier confidence gave way to uncertainty. "Don't you think I'm pretty?"
I could feel her self-doubt eat at my resolve. I think you're glorious. I think you're amazing. Stay in control. This is wrong. Stay in control. I took a deep breath, gathering my rational thoughts as I fought my natural inclination.
"Rose, I don't know what's going on, but you need to go back to your room." I physically winced telling her this, but she couldn't know just how bad I wanted her to stay. I was backed up against my bed now, with no other place to go. I hoped that she would listen. Instead, she came closer.
I grabbed her wrists to stop her. I had fully intended to pick her up, throw her out the door, and lock it behind me if I needed to. However, the moment I touched her...I was lost.
I was lost in the feeling of her skin. I was lost in the look of her eyes. I was lost in the beauty of her hair, her smile, her body. I was totally and completely lost, and at that moment I knew with a strange certainty that Roza would be my only salvation.
I loosened my grip on her wrist and traced the soft tan skin of her arms, relishing in the sensation under my fingertips. I heard her breath hitch when I gently pulled her closer to me, feeling her body press against my own. I moved one hand down her back, holding her tight against me as the other snaked up her neck and into the dark hair that never failed to fascinate me. It felt so wonderful to finally feel those locks twisted around my fingers, but I knew that there was another urge that would feel even better to give in to.
I tipped her head back as I lowered my lips to hers, barely brushing against the velvet softness. The electric tingle that accompanied any touch between us seemed to surprise us both and I pulled back slightly.
With my earlier rejection, she still seemed a bit unsure of herself. Her voice was both pleading and uncertain as she asked again, "Do you think I'm pretty?"
How she could ever question such a thing was beyond me. I wanted to be positive that she would never doubt again so I spoke firmly. "I think you're beautiful."
"Beautiful?" My response seemed to astonish her.
Did she really not know how stunning she really was? It was beyond physical attraction, though that was more than enough to earn her such a title. Her beauty also included the fierce devotion to those she loved, her determination to succeed, the way she could captivate me with a single smile...
"You are so beautiful..." I thought of every time I had wanted to touch her, hold her, kiss her. Every time I had been denying myself that pleasure. "...it hurts me sometimes."
I couldn't deny myself the pleasure again. I kissed her, the way I had wanted to for so long. It was gentle at first but as I felt her melt into my embrace, I became more eager. I heard and felt her quietly moan in pleasure against my lips as I pulled her tighter to me, close enough so that she must have felt her effect on me. The knowledge that she could stir such arousal in me, and the thought that I might be able to do the same for her, fueled the fire between us.
My hands slid down from her hip towards the edge of her dress. I allowed my fingertips to brush the smooth skin of her upper thigh before gathering the fabric in my hand and pulling it up. I couldn't stand to see her body covered anymore, not when I wanted nothing more than to explore every single inch of her. The dress was over her head and on the floor without a second thought.
She spoke as our lips parted briefly. "You...you got rid of that dress fast." Her voice was stuttered by her breathlessness, her chest heaving against my own. "I thought you liked it."
"I do like it," I couldn't help my smirk as I thought briefly about how amazing she looked in it, though it was nothing compared to how she looked now, nearly naked. "I love it."
I picked her up by the waist, spinning her around before placing her on my bed. I was already determined to enjoy every inch of her tonight. To make her mine as much as I was hers. I needed to act... to possess. As I laid her down underneath me, I took control.
My lips moved from hers, tracing her jaw and then her neck. I nipped at the soft skin near her collarbone, tempted to leave a mark. While we couldn't share our feelings publicly, a small mark would be more than enough to tell the world that she belonged to someone; that she belonged to me. Perhaps it would be worth it just to keep those other unworthy boys away from my Roza.
As I continued to worship her body with my lips, my kisses became punctuated with a chanting prayer of her name. I felt her writhe beneath me, apparently entranced and encouraged by my words.
The soft sigh that escaped her as my mouth explored the upper curve of her chest pushed me further and I reached behind her to unclasp the lace bra that hid her breasts from me. I was taken aback by her shock before I realized the reason for her hesitation. Pulling back from her, I recognized the look in her eyes. It was a shy excitement of the unknown. I had seen it once before, on another girl in another time. Rose's reputation was undeserved; she was a virgin.
The discovery caused me pause for a moment before my mind and heart raced with the thrill of the thought. I would be the first to see her, to touch her, to show her a pleasure beyond her wildest imagination. The idea sparked something primal within me.
She would be mine, and if I had my way, she would never be touched by another.
As I slipped the black lace away from her, she moved her arms to cover herself.
"No," I demanded softly, taking her hands and pinning them above her head. "You should never feel the need to hide from me."
I enjoyed the look of pleasant surprise that crossed her features for a moment before cupping one breast in my hand. Her soft flesh fit perfectly in my palm and I gave a gentle squeeze as I brushed the dusty pink peak of her nipple.
Her eyes rolled back as she arched herself into my touch. I loved seeing her respond to my ministrations and I couldn't wait to see how she would react to everything else I intended to do to her tonight. I bit back a laugh just thinking about it.
Wanting to test those reactions, I brought my mouth to her other breast, quickly circling her peak with my tongue before gently biting down on the pebbled flesh. Her deep moan elicited a groan from me as I pressed my hips against her in brief satisfaction.
Stay with her, a voice urged from the back of my mind. She is finally yours. Let go and give in. Keep her. Possess her. Stay with her. I didn't need further encouragement. I would give into all my desires tonight, and fulfill all of hers. Still, I was in no hurry. I had waited so long for this moment, and I wanted it to last.
I rolled her on top of me, holding her by the hips to help guide her unconscious grinding against me. I returned my lips to hers, kissing her deeply and making sure she knew just how amazing she was to me. Our tongues danced in a battle for control before I took her bottom lip in between my teeth to claim my victory. Her submission only thrilled me more.
I loved the way she griped my shoulders or ran her fingers through my hair. I loved the way she looked at me and made me feel like I could do anything. I loved the way her body knew just how to please me, as if she was designed for me.
She broke away to catch her breath, and I took the opportunity to investigate the sensitive patch of skin behind her ear. Her dark hair hung down like a curtain shielding us away from the rest of the world. As I reach my head up to place another kiss on her neck, I heard her soft gasp accompanied by the gentle tickle of her fingertips at the back of my neck.
"Did you really kill six Strigoi?"
I gave a gentle hum and nodded, still fully entranced by the feeling of her skin against my lips.
"Wow."
The awe in her voice excited me, but not as much as the pressure of her body on mine. I swear that I could already feel her heat against me, even through the few remaining layers of clothing between us. Eager to end our conversation in favor of a more physical form of communication, I told her, "Don't worry. You'll have a lot more than me someday."
Our kissing continued, becoming more heated with each passing second. I was already lost in the moment when I heard her breathy whisper against my ear.
"Do you feel guilty about it?"
I paused, wondering if she meant the fact that I was fully aroused with her essentially naked on top of me in my bed.
"Killing them," she continued, pulling back so that I could see her face. "You said in the van that it was the right thing to do, but it still bothers you. It's why you go to church, isn't it? I see you there, but you aren't really into the services."
I smiled, slightly amused that she chose this moment as the most opportune time to discuss something like this, but still pleasantly surprised that she knew me well enough to recognize my inner thoughts in the first place.
"How do you know these things?" I asked rhetorically, shaking my head a little in disbelief. "I'm not guilty exactly...just sad sometimes. All of them used to be human or dhampir, or Moroi. It's a waste, that's all, but as I said before, it's something I have to do. Something we all have to do. Sometimes it bothers me, and the chapel is a good place to think about those kinds of things."
The understanding and acceptance in her eyes flooded me with warmth and comfort.
"Sometimes I find peace there, but not often." I gently brushed her cheek with the back of my hand. "I find more peace with you."
I quickly brought her down to me again. I was done talking. I wanted her. I needed her. I was determined to have her and show her just how much she meant to me. She was mine. I was hers.
In one quick motion, I was on top of her again. My mouth was nearly frantic against hers, desperate for more. It soon became studded with her moans and whimpers of pleasure and my hands continued to dance across her body. Her sounds only made me more urgent. If this is what happened with just a kiss and a touch, what would she do when I was inside of her? The thought of her crying out my name in ecstasy as she came nearly undid me right then and there. I couldn't wait any longer.
I sat up, ready to strip us of our last remaining clothing when I saw the consent in her eyes. She was not only ready for me, she was willing and excited for what I was about to do to her. I allowed myself to take in her body once more, and a sense of satisfaction overcame me as I realized that I was at least partially responsible for the amazing creature beneath me. She has always been beautiful, but our training together certainly had their perks: muscle tone, flexibility, stamina...
Her breath was heavy, and the necklace that Victor had given her sparked under the lamplight as her chest rose and fell. The sight of it twisted at my pride. I may never be able to afford such a trinket, but I knew I could still provide for Rose. Tonight, I would do everything in my power to give her more pleasure than any token money could buy.
I reached down, giving her a gentle kiss before removing the offending item and placing it on the nightstand beside us. The moment the chain slipped though my fingers, something changed.
Don't get me wrong, she was still completely beautiful laying exposed underneath me. I would be lying if I didn't say that I still wanted her. However, the sudden gravity of the situation was upon my shoulders in an instant.
"What happened?"
The question was mostly directed at myself, but Rose seemed as surprised and confused as I was when she answered. "I...I don't know."
I continued to stare at her, trying to piece together how we ended up in this position. I could fully remember every kiss, every touch, there was no doubt about that. What what harder to remember was how I let myself, let us, get to this point.
My mind felt fuzzy, as if I had been drugged. That was impossible though. Nobody could have slipped me something. Still, I didn't feel like I had full power over my thoughts and actions. It was as if something or someone had compelled me...the voice. The voice in my mind that had been pushing me further was gone.
I glanced at the necklace on the table. It was the last thing I had touched before regaining clarity. While the rose pendant itself was a golden hue, I suddenly noticed that there were some silver details on it, including the chain itself.
Could it be, I wondered, a charm? Charmed objects were generally rare, even more so when it came to charms that centered around compulsion. Compulsion via a charm held the same taboo as direct compulsion. Either way, it altered the choices and actions of those it targeted. All that aside though, charming objects was a difficult practice, not one that was generally taught. While all the pieces fit together, the rarity still left me uncertain. There was only one way to test the theory...
Careful not to touch Rose, though I was still straddling over her, I reached for the necklace again. As soon as I touched it, I could feel my want and desire for her build. My heart was immediately racing, and my mind was suddenly assaulted by the strange voice again. Let go. Give in. She's yours. You want her. Take her. Stay with her.
She was so incredibly beautiful. Even with her brows furrowed, trying to make sense of everything. My other hand brushed her skin, settling on her hip and I watched as the hungry desire flooded her. That longing – longing for me – made her even more irresistible in my eyes. I was hers. She was mine.
I brought my lips to hers again, brushing against them gently as I struggled to maintain control.
"Lissa," she whispered. "I have to tell you something about Lissa. But I can't...remember..."
I kissed her with a bit more eagerness. Something deep inside me wanted her to stop talking, even though I knew what she said was important.
"Dimitri." My name brought be out of the fog just long enough to meet her eyes. "I feel so strange..."
The tone in her voice sobered me. It wasn't filled with the same awe, desire, confidence, and excitement that it had been before. No, this time she sounded worried. Scared even. It was like a bucket of ice water being dumped on me.
I can't do this. The realization pained me. As much as I wanted her, as much as it seemed like she wanted me, this was wrong. Under the compulsion charm, I didn't truly have her consent. Taking her like this would be unforgivable.
"I know," I sighed, resting my cheek against her forehead. I wasn't ready to let go of her quite yet, but I knew I couldn't go further. "There's something...something here..."
I sat back, hoping some distance would offer some relief. "This necklace. Is it the one Prince Victor gave you?"
She nodded as I tried to gather the resolve I needed. Taking a deep breath, I pushed away from her and moved off the bed taking the necklace with me.
"What are you doing?" I felt her hand grasp mine. Her voice was desperate and pleading. "Come back..."
I looked back at her. I wanted nothing more than to give in to her request and fulfill both of our desires. If it had truly been her speaking to me, I would be. But I couldn't. Not like this. It was wrong. It took every ounce of dedication I had, but I turned away from her and started walking to the window.
I could still hear Rose calling to me, as well as the animalistic urge within me pulling me back towards her. My fingernails bit into my hand as I grasped the necklace and I could already feel a headache forming from the way I clenched my jaw.
Finally, after what seemed to be the longest and most pain-filled journey of my life, I reached the bedroom window. I threw it open as quickly as I could.
"What are you going to..." She finally realized what I was doing and I heard the bed springs creek as she moved out of the bed and rushed towards me.
Don't hesitate. I threw the cursed pendent out the window. It fell into some bushes a few floors below.
"No!" Rose was suddenly beside me at the window. Thankfully, nobody was outside. She turned on to face me, confusion and shock still lacing her features. "Do you know how much that must have..."
She trailed off as she came to her senses, looking around the room and then back at me when she realized what had almost happened between us. She took a step back, covering herself as best as she could with her hands.
My heart sunk at the the way she reacted to me. If I questioned my choice before, I was certain now. She didn't want me. I had taken advantage of her. As she fell back into a chair, she actually looked somewhat scared. God, I was so ashamed of myself. I was a horrid person, and even begging for her forgiveness wouldn't be enough.
"Lissa!" she gasped. I was pulled from my self-loathing at the reminder of her original purpose for coming. I could see her pupils dilate and contract as she tried to remain in control of her mind long enough to explain her abduction.
She hadn't even finished speaking before I was dressed. My mind briefly recognized the fact that I had stripped further in front of Rose when I changed from my cotton sleep pants and into the clothing I had been wearing earlier during my perimeter shift. Luckily, she didn't seem to notice. It seemed like she was avoiding looking at me just as much as I was avoiding looking at her.
She was still naked, and while I don't think she quite realized her state of undress, my perverted mind was still struggling to focus. I picked up her dress from the floor, and tossed it towards her, ordering her to get dressed. Briefly remembering the way she looked in the dress (not to mention how she looked out of the dress) I offered her one of my sweatshirts as additional cover.
As soon as she was decent enough, we started moving. On a typical run, she was more than able to keep pace with me, so I was surprised to see her falling slightly behind. I thought she might have been hurt, but quickly realized that she was barefoot. Of course, I thought. She had been wearing heels when she arrived. She couldn't exactly run in those.
I was calling the Guardian Office as we ran. Alberta and several others would meet us there. Rose followed me the entire way and I was simply thankful that nobody questioned her presence.
I repeated what Rose had told me: Vasilisa had left the dance early and ran to the chapel attic before she was abducted.
Several other guardians and even a few teachers that were present were skeptical. Someone mentioned her extra protection and how abduction would be practically impossible considering the circumstances. Still, Guardian Petrov sent someone to investigate the attic while they tried to contact Spiridon on his phone since he was assigned to her private detail tonight.
I think they started to get nervous when he didn't answer, and when Yuri and another guardian walked in with in with a newly conscious Christian Ozera they finally started listening to us.
"How many Strigoi were there?" one questioned.
"How did they get in?" another muttered under her breath.
Rose's voice broke through the chaos. "Wh-? There weren't any Strigoi."
Every eye turned on her.
"Who else would have taken her?" Questioned Kirova, clearly disbelieving. "You must have seen it wrong through the...vision." She said the last word with the same dismissive tone one would discuss ghosts or other impossible occurrences.
"No." She asserted. "I'm positive. It was...they were..." Her hesitation confused me. She had never told me who took Lissa...why would she hide it? She took a deep breath before finishing. "Guardians."
Several in the room started speaking, all rejecting her claims. Even I was tempted to. It went against everything a guardian was taught...
"She's right," mumbled Christian as he winced under Dr. Olendzki's care. "Guardians."
"That's impossible."
"They weren't school guardians." The relief was minimal, and I could still see her desperately fighting for control of her mind as Lissa's emotions pulled her in momentarily. She looked up, snapping in irritation, "Will you guys get moving? She's getting further away!"
Me, Alberta, and a few others stared making for the door, but not everyone was convinced.
"You're saying a group of privately retained guardians came in and kidnapped her?" asked Headmistress Kirova, as if it was all some sort of joke.
Now I was starting to get irritated. I understood some of their hesitance, but this was becoming ridiculous. Rose had led us to Lissa several times before, it didn't make sense for her to make something like this up. My irritation was short lived though, because at the moment Rose lost the battle of her mind and was pulled into Lissa. Several witnesses gasped as she stated blankly at us, looking but not seeing. I knelt beside her, taking her hand and hoping to ground her to reality.
She returned within moments. "They work for Victor Dashkov. They're his."
Someone in the room scoffed, but I was now looking at Alberta. I could see the same realization strike her that had stricken me. Spriridon was employed by Victor Dashkov, and he had volunteered to watch Lissa tonight. Now we couldn't reach him. The puzzle was coming together.
"Please," Rose was moaning, as if she was in pain trying to focus on those around her. "Do something. They're getting so far away. They're on..." She closed her eyes briefly, "Eighty-three. Heading South."
This time it was Alberta who spoke up. "Eighty-three already? How long ago did they leave? Why didn't you come sooner?"
My eyes met with Rose's, and I knew that we shared a brief moment of guilt. It was our fault that they had gotten so far away, but we couldn't tell them why. Rose looked desperate for something to say but fell short so I answered instead.
"A compulsion spell." It was partly true at least. "A compulsion spell put into the necklace he gave her. It made her attack me."
"No one can use that kind of compulsion," exclaimed the Headmistress, still dismissing the entire notion. "No one's done that in ages."
I stepped away from Rose and stood at my full height in front of Kirova. "Well someone did." I relished in the brief look of intimidation that the harsh edge in my voice summoned. "By the time I restrained her and taken the necklace, a lot of time had passed."
Nobody questioned us further.