Reality Bites - Wattys 2018 Shortlist

Chapter 11 - Up, Up and Away

"You haven't answered my question, Dimitri. What does Zmey mean?"

Rubbing the stubble on his chin, concentrating on the road ahead, Dimitri took a deep breath and said, "It's a Russian word. It means snake." Pausing for a minute as if to consider his words carefully, he continued, "You need to understand, Roza, your Dad is very rich indeed. He deals with humans as well as Moroi. There's not a lot that goes on in Europe that he doesn't know about. He's very well connected. Everyone knows who he is. And he has an angle on every deal."

"What sort of business?" I asked apprehensively.

"Anything he can make money from. He's accepted in the very highest and lowest circles of society. He has a personal army of Guardians and incalculable resources at his disposal. If anyone can make you disappear and protect you from Strigoi, then it's him."

Sitting quietly beside Dimitri I couldn't help but shiver.

"Do you think he can be trusted?"

"Absolutely not," Dimitri immediately replied. "But I hope that being your father he will protect you."

Pulling into the car park of a remote roadside tavern, Dimitri shut off the engine.

"Go through your backpack and choose what you need to take. Travel as light as you can, we'll buy anything we need."

In the end, it wasn't much. Some medications, my special lip gloss and some underwear. Dimitri was culling his own belongings. Picking up his phone he fiddled with it, pressing some keys.

"What are you doing?" I asked him.

"I'm emailing myself the photos of us at Bodie. They're precious to me, and I don't want to lose them," he explained, checking the message had been sent before dropping the phone onto the gravel and crushing it under his foot. "Come on. Let's freshen up and go call your Dad."

Walking into the Tavern on unsteady legs, I headed straight to the ladies room. Looking at myself in the mirror, I was shocked. I looked pale and wan, eyes too large in my face. Lifting my shirt, I looked at my damaged ribs. Eeep! The bruise had already started to come up, and it was going to be a beauty. Gently probing at my ribs, I thought at least three were broken, possibly more. Still, I could breathe without it hurting too much, so there was a good chance they were cracks and not true fractures. Either way, they'd need to be strapped.

Straightening my clothes as best as I could, I splashed water on my face and smoothed my hair. It was still in its braid, but much had come loose during the fight with the Strigoi. Walking out I nearly bumped into Dimitri who was waiting just beside the door. He looked tense and exhausted, but he still managed a smile.

"Hey, gorgeous. Let's call your Dad."

Armed with a fistful of change, Dimitri steered me over to a pay phone in the hallway. The Tavern wasn't busy, so we'd be able to hear well enough. Leaning down and kissing my forehead, he fed change into the phone as I dialed the long series of numbers. There was a long pause, and then some electronic noises, before an unfamiliar ring tone clicked in. Leaning against Dimitri he had his arms around me.

On the third ring, the phone was answered.

"Abe," said a tired sounding voice.

"Um, Abe? Mr. Mazur?" I stuttered. "I don't know where you are or what the time is there. I'm sorry if I woke you, but I'm in trouble, and I need your help." I could feel tears pouring down my cheeks, and Dimitri stroking my hair. "It's Rose. Rose Hathaway."

There was a pause, and I thought he might be about to hang up on me when he replied much more alert, "Rose I'm so glad you called. What's happened and what do you need?"