Into the Ether - Complete

The Winter of Our Discontent: Part 15

I was lying on my bed at 6 am, still running the whole Dimitri and Tasha thing through my mind. I wish there were someone I could ask about it, but there just wasn't. Eventually, I decided to believe what Dimitri had told me, although it was with reservations. I knew from the lust charm that he wasn't above lying to me if he thought it was for my own good. I just hoped this wasn't one of those occasions. Still – I'd told him Tasha was planning to visit, so he knew we'd be talking. If there'd once been something between them, surely he'd have told me then I mentally soothed myself.

That reminded me – I'd promised Dimitri I'd call his family and let them know I'd spoken with him. I wasn't looking forward to it – but I know if they'd had the opportunity to speak with him and had a message for me, I'd be very eager to know it.

I pulled out my phone, using the world time app to check the time in Baia. About 7 pm, so a respectable time to call. Thank God they spoke English because I knew basically no Russian. Pressing dial before I could get too nervous, there were odd clicks and an electronic tone before the phone started to ring. It was picked up quickly.

"Алло." It was a younger female's voice.

"Um hello? This is Rose. Rose Hathaway. Is Olena there?"

"Rose! It's Karolina, Dimka's older sister. Is there news?" she asked urgently.

"Yes. I spoke with him yesterday. They're still waiting to be sent on their mission."

"I'll get Mama," she said. I could hear rapid talking in Russian in the background.

"Rose?" I recognized Olena's voice from last time. "We're all here, and I've put you on speaker. Karolina said you've spoken with Dimka?"

"Yes. I had a school exam yesterday with Guardian Schoenberg at the house with the family he guards. We arrived in the middle of a Strigoi attack but were able to assist. Guardian Schoenberg thought it might be a targeted attack against him or his family, so he rang the Guardian in charge of Dimitri's mission to let him know because he thought it might be related. He had an idea that Dimitri and I are... close... so he asked the Guardian in charge where Dimitri is to give us five minutes to talk to each other." My tears were already starting to flow, and I knew Olena could hear it in my voice.

"Did he say where he is?"

"No. He wasn't allowed to say anything about where he is or what he's doing. He asked me to tell you all he is ok and that he loves you."

"He's a good boy," Olena said, and I could hear her voice shaking, too. "Is there anything else he said you can share?"

"Well, we mostly talked about how much we've missed each other," I admitted guiltily. "He said he likes sleeping because he has pleasant dreams, he said he felt the same when I told him I was feeling lonely and he thinks of us a lot," I said trying to recall what he'd said.

"How did he sound?"

"Honestly, he sounded like himself. A little sad, but happy for us to have the chance to talk. He was very loving on the phone," I added, hoping it wasn't too much information for his family to hear. "He also asked me to warn you that Tasha Ozera might call to try and talk with him. She's visiting her nephew at my school and was hoping to surprise Dimitri with her visit. I've told her he's visiting you guys in Baia which is the story everyone else here has been told. I met her today, and she said she'd probably call."

"That is good to know. We might put the phone recorder on and use that to avoid speaking with her."

I had no idea what she meant until a younger voice said, "She means the answering machine, Rose."