WHEN LOVE BECKONS

Pretentious

Rose’s POV

Tasha just lay there, not moving, not looking, and not responding to any kind of calls. She had curled herself into a ball on the floor.  She lay quite still and sobbed.

That was the expected reaction when you are turned. They cry just like babies cry on birth. I sometimes wonder whether that reaction is due to a new life being formed. Was it a rebirth, not just a mere change? Well the intricacies of spirit were just beyond my understanding.

Dimitri who had been blinded by the light too gained back his composure soon and the fierce mask of a guardian disappeared immediately, replaced by the purest of the passions and the emotions.

He reached out to comfort her but stopped midway. His gaze locked my eyes, as if asking for permission.

I was simply too stunned to react. I tried to show surprise.

His gaze intensified. It was then I realized that he was in a dilemma. He was considering going too intimate with Tasha when he was betrothed to me.

Could I just let him establish too much contact with Tasha?

I didn’t know the answer but I managed a slight nod and a dry smile.

Inside my heart was pounding. I was going to make the same mistake again. To leave Dimitri to reach out to Tasha. Whatever she was, she was still someone who had wanted to wipe me from the face of the earth.

Dimitri deftly went over to her and tried to lift her from the ground.

She responded immediately to his touch and clung to his hands crying still. He seemed too preoccupied with consoling her, so he never noticed it.

The womanly instincts in me kicked up. I was a girl and I could guess too well that Tasha was feigning. Maybe her initial cry was genuine, but the rest of it was her plan to draw attention, his attention.

“Tasha, it’s okay. Everything will be alright. Shhh,” he consoled her.

She, just as the crafty woman she is, threw her arms around Dimitri and buried her face in his chest. He went still for a minute, but nevertheless, his kindness and compassion took over. He wrapped his arms around her to provide warmth, something which she never required.

My blood was boiling. I looked at where Sonya was, still recuperating from the effect of that powerful charm.

She looked weak and ill and Mikhail was on the ground, supporting her as she held onto him. Their love was a perfect picture of contentment.

But I saw Sonya stare at Tasha, her expression grim.

As my face caught her notice, she shook her head, disapproval clear.

She being a spirit user could read the aura of pretence surrounding Tasha. Only Dimitri was too blind to her actions. But why?

Could it be possible that he still had lingering feelings for her?

I mentally kicked myself for thinking such thoughts. Of course not. He would never betray me.

Finally I realized we had another incomplete task.

I looked around for Lissa.

I had expected her to be standing there, stunned by all this. But as my eyes searched the whole room frantically, I realized to my horror that Lissa was missing.

Oh my God! I had never noticed in all the commotions, that the other Strigoi in Tasha’s army had fled too. And it was not just possible but quite provable that they had forced Lissa away, right under our noses.

My heart skipped a beat. Anything could have happened. I needed to know where she is, if she is alive.

The bond was no more, that one thread of connection. I felt so helpless not knowing where she was.

This was all a well chalked out plan by Tasha. She had cheated us yet again. She has to be the one who knows everything.

My attention was drawn to the sound of cries again. This time, the palace guards were trying to pry Tasha away from Dimitri. She was resisting, with him trying to convince the guards to leave.

This broke all my limits of self-control.

I rushed up to those two and with the maximum force, snatched up Tasha from the ground, holding her by the collars of her dress.
I could see Dimitri’s stunned expression. In my fury I shook her violently.

“Where is Lissa? Where are the other bloodsuckers? Answer me, Tasha, I know that you know everything. You just can’t pretend anymore.” I screamed pushing her to the floor.

The effects of spirit were taking over again, making me doubt, whether Lissa’s healing powers still had an effect on me. Maybe I stayed sane under the influence of her healing aura. Because the spirit induced darkness was taking over me, from the time she was awakened.

A/N
What do you think is going to happen next? Will Rose get answers? Does Dimitri really still have feelings for Tasha?

Thanks teamhathaway Pipigrin  my friends for your support and encouragement. Thanks for reading this and your valuable comments are what I wait for. Thanks dodsley
TwilightGirl32