Into the Ether - Complete

The Winter of Our Discontent: Part 18

After the presents had been unwrapped, the conversation turned to family reminiscences. Tasha and Christian were telling Lissa all about their Christmases when he was growing up, and he even talked a little about his parents. It was nice to hear Christian talk lovingly about them before they'd turned. Yes, they became soulless monsters, but before that, they were his parents, and he'd loved them. While everyone was inclusive in their conversation, I started to feel very much the ring-in, so I waited for a lull in the conversation and excused myself, saying I had other gifts I needed to distribute. Lissa hugged me as I stood to leave.

"Merry Christmas, Rose," she whispered quietly. "We'll do our snow angels later."

A tradition since before her parents died, every year we'd lie on our backs and make 'angels' in the snow. It was our Christmas tradition.

"Sure thing," I smiled, taking my leave and wandering across the campus. I hadn't lied – I did have presents to give to Celeste and Alberta, but I wasn't sure where they'd be on Christmas morning, so I'd probably give them theirs at dinner. Church started in an hour, but I really didn't feel like going. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with myself.

It was quiet on campus. Everyone was either sleeping in or celebrating Christmas with their loved ones. Walking past the gym, on a whim, I went in. The lights were out, but it was light enough inside thanks to the large windows near the roof and a bright moon. I walked over to the bench where Dimitri would sit waiting for me and sat down. Before I knew it, I was crying. I missed Dimitri so much. All I wanted was to be near him, but the closest I could come is sitting in the same place he so often used to.

As I sat in the half dark, my fingers caressed the varnished timber of the bench, remembering his voice as he'd tell me off for being late. I looked over to the spot where we'd kissed just before Alberta came to tell him about his reallocation. Then the place where we'd sat, me cradled in his lap, as he told me his sad news. These walls had born witness to so much of our curtailed love story. I lay sideways on the bench, closing my eyes and trying to imagine how today could have been if Dimitri had been here. We wouldn't have been open about things; I knew that. But I'm sure he would have found some way to let me know he cared.

I woke hours later to an incessant beeping. Opening bleary eyes I nearly toppled from the bench. It took me a moment to figure out where I was and why I was so cold. The beeping was from my phone.

"Hello?" I groaned into it.

"Rose! Where are you?! It's 4 am and Christmas dinner started half an hour ago! Everyone's worried."

"Sorry, Celeste. I fell asleep."

"Where are you? I checked your room, and everywhere else I could think of."

"I'm in the gym. I'll be right there."

I looked at my jeans and jacket. No doubt the Moroi will have dressed up for dinner, but I just didn't have time to go and change, besides which I was starving. Smoothing the worst of the rumples, I walked across to the hall where Christmas dinner was being served. There were five long tables with Moroi families seated enjoying their meals. I spotted Lissa, Christian, and Tasha in the middle of one table sitting with some Lazars. Far from looking worried, I don't think they'd noticed my absence at all. There wasn't a spare seat, so I wandered over to the table on the left where the bulk of Guardians and Novices were sitting. I waved to Mason and Eddie down the other end before taking the vacant seat between Celeste and Alberta.

"We were wondering where you were," Alberta said, looking at me carefully.

"Sorry. I fell asleep. You should have known I'd show up for food," I said with a laugh.