WHEN LOVE BECKONS

Helpless

Rose's POV

I was stunned for a moment, unable to react as a guardian should. It all happened so fast. At one moment I was beside Dimitri and at the next I find myself held against the wall by my throat. And the person trying to choke me, trying to end my life with one stranglehold, was none other than the person I had sworn to protect always.

Lissa, Queen Vasilisa Sabina Rhea Dragomir, my friend, my sister, my moroi, my life, my purpose.

She was no more herself. Her gorgeous green eyes were predatory red and there was a coldness in that gaze which made me shudder.

She had my throat. One little squeeze and I was dead. 

Beads of sweat poured out on my forehead as I realised the dire situation I was in. Standing there, hanging between life and death, I couldn't just get a grip on all the feelings.

Seeing Lissa in that condition made me more depressed than the thought of my own death.

She was evil but from those red-rimmed eyes poured out a sadness, a sadness worse than death. The realisation that you are a creature of the night, a dread for the civilisation. That thought was definitely breaking her from inside. 

My eyes fell on Dimitri who had just frozen beside the altar. It was as if he had turned to stone. My heart longed to reach out to him, to kiss him, to soothe him, to be able to say everything would be all right. But it was not to be. At that moment I didn't know if I would live or die.

I could see Dimitri trying to take out his stake. He was never without weapon. I knew he wanted jump into the fight. The only thing preventing him from thrusting the stake to her heart was my being held captive.

I was helpless in my wedding dress, without any weapon, at the mercy of a bloodsucking monster.

Tearing my eyes from Dimitri, I focussed on Lissa who was in that same position, pinning me to the wall.

"Lissa..."I croaked, " Why did you do this? Why Lissa?"

My voice was breaking and I was close to tears.

Lissa was looking at me in a weird way. I tried to think of a million other ways to defeat her and get myself out of her grip. But how could I fight her? A fight would mean death. Either she would exist or I? On whose life was I ready to gamble?

This situation was breaking my heart as I realised for the first time that me dying will do help to no one. And she dying, I even couldn't think about that.

Maybe she was evil. But she was Lissa. My Lissa, the person I was ready to jump into fire for.

My reverie was broken by a soft whisper, "Rose."

I was stunned as I realised it was Lissa speaking. It was a cold voice, a voice like the edge of a sword. the voice seemed to graze against my skin, drawing blood. It was creepy.

"Rose," she said again, "Rose, kill me."

"What?" I looked at her in wonder, '' What does it mean? "

"Rose, I am not doing this on my own. She is forcing my hand," Lissa's voice shook, "She has got Chris. She will kill him if I don't agree to her."

"Who? What? Christian? What the hell is happening Liss?" I was confused. Something was definitely wrong. 

"Tasha," Lissa's voice broke. There was the coldness, but inspite of that, feelings poured out from her heart.

Tasha! Natasha Ozera.

That one name shook my world cleaving my life apart. That name was the face of my nightmares, the cause of all the suffering in my life. That name was something which I never hoped to hear for the rest of my life.

Tasha Ozera, Chistian's aunt, was back? How? 

She had been arrested and sent to Tarasov for plotting against the queen. She was the one who in an attack spree, had shot me. She was the one who had tried  to frame me because I was romantically involved with Dimitri.

Jealousy and thirst for power had driven her to go to an unimaginable extent.People wanted capital punishment for her, but the combined petition of me, Christian and Dimitri , backed by Lissa had finally wooed the people and she was exiled to Tarasov. 

"Tasha has broken out of jail and awakened herself. She sneaked in here and turned me, and wants to destroy you now."Lissa told flatly.  

I looked at Dimitri. He had that unusual spark in his eyes which said he had made a plan. I knew it involved Lissa's death.

Coincidentally that was what she wanted too. But why?

A/N An apology for the late update. Hope you guys like it. Please read and vote. Your constructive criticism is welcome.

Thanks teamhathaway Pipigrin and all those who are reading this. Another update will come soon. Till then bye.... 😊☺️