We Are Shadows

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

RPOV

"You're still not concentrating" shot Dimitri. "You are losing focus."

"I am concentrating" I shot back.

"Well I don't see it" he responded and then added as an undertone "I should have gone with my first instinct and not agreed to this".

"I didn't force you to train with me" I answered. "You can always go back to your cave and dwell in your self-pity" I added acidly.

"You know nothing about me" he snapped. I saw a flash of anger on his face before he slammed his mask back on, picked up his water bottle and headed for the door. "We're finished" he said and the gym door thudded shut behind him.

Maybe that was a little harsh but the man had been getting at me from day one. 'Do it this way', 'Do it that way', 'You are doing it wrong', 'concentrate'; the man was never ending with negative comments. If he didn't want to be here why was he? I was stuck here but he wasn't. If he didn't want to train me, he could just leave and I would train alone like I always have. It didn't help thought that he was gorgeous; a six and a half foot wall of drool worthy handsomeness and it may or may not be responsible for some of the lapses in concentration. However, that doesn't make up for the fact that he doesn't like me and acts like an asshole when he is around me.

After Roman had to settle another argument between us the other day I have been trying everything I can to improve the situation but nothing is good enough for Dimitri. It's not like I'm not training because I am. Every minute I'm not in my lessons with Lydia and Lana or eating and sleeping, I'm in the gym working on strength and stamina. None of that seems to mean anything to him though. There is always a fault. I wonder if it's something that is setting him off but I can't find out because he won't even talk to me unless it's a criticism or an order. I threw my hands up in frustration. A visit to Roman could be on the cards. Maybe he could tell me what I could do to stop Dimitri getting on my case.

I picked up my water bottle and headed for the locker rooms. I might as well get a shower and go and see Roman now before my next lesson with Lana in an hour. I stepped into the shower cubicle and let the hot water cascade over my body. Even though I was training harder than I have ever done I still wasn't tired or sore proving I did have more strength and stamina in reserve. I also had a feeling that Dimitri was holding back, whether this was from protection for him or me I don't know. Something else to ask Roman.

I got out of the shower, dried off and got dressed. My head felt clearer and I was resolved to ask Roman about Dimitri. I walked down the corridor formulating what I was going to ask and also deciding I was going to try harder to get Dimitri to talk to me. I know I have a hot temper sometimes but it is usually in retaliation rather than instigation. I will attempt to hold my tongue though.

As I reached Roman's door I could hear heated voices talking rapidly in Russian. I was about to knock but I heard my name mentioned and froze with my fist in mid-air. There was another volley of angry Russian and before I could move the door was wrenched open and I came face to chest with the tall frame of Dimitri. Here was I coming to ask how I could understand Dimitri more so that we could train together but here he was complaining about me. Again.

"Ah Rose, are you looking for me? Came Roman's voice drifting around the hulking form of Dimitri.

I took one more look at Dimitri, then shrugged my shoulders. "It doesn't matter" I said dejectedly. "What's the point?" and I turned on my heel. I headed back to my quarters to wait for Lana. What else could I do? There was I ready to bury the hatchet and try to understand Dimitri better and there was he complaining about me to Roman. I wish I knew what he had against me. He didn't seem to know me or the rumours from the moroi of being a new kind of strigoi so what was his beef? Arrgh stop it Rose, you should be used to people not liking you by now.

I opened my door, dropped my bag by the table and went to make a hot drink. I had just taken a sip of my coffee when there was a knock on the door. It was too early for Lana so who was it? I looked through the spy hole to check who it was and saw Roman standing there. I instantly felt dread. Maybe I would be sent away from here too. I opened the door to let him in.

"Come in Roman" I said sadly. "Would you like some coffee?"

"Yes please Rose" he said as he took the seat I indicated, "It's been a difficult morning." I wondered if I was the cause of that difficult morning. I placed the coffee down in front of him and he raised it gratefully to his mouth.

"How long do I have to find somewhere else?" I asked deciding to cut straight to it.

"What do you mean Rose?" Roman asked puzzled.

"Aren't you here to tell me it's not working out and that it would be better if I left?"

"What gave you that idea?" he questioned.

"I may not speak Russian but I'm sure I can work out that Dimitri was complaining loudly about me" I answered.

"Yes, well" he said and his nostrils flared confirming my suspicions. "We will come to that in a minute but you obviously came to me for something."

"As I said Roman, what's the point? Nothing I do will make a blind bit of difference" I stated. "I've tried doing everything he wants but nothing is good enough. I'm in the gym every spare minute but he still criticises. I've tried to ask what he has against me but he won't talk unless it's to make a negative comment. If he didn't want to train me he should have refused.

"So were you coming to complain about Dimitri?" he asked wearily.

"No I wasn't" I shot back in exasperation. "I had resolved myself to ask you if there was anything I could do to get Dimitri to be at least civil with me. I was even going to try to bit my tongue even when I don't deserve the harshness I'm receiving. I thought you said he was mild mannered?"

"He usually is" he answered confused. "I don't know what is going wrong."

"So it is just me he hates" I said.

"He doesn't hate you" he answered back.

"Well he sure as hell doesn't like me" I shot back. "I didn't think he would have been influenced by moroi prejudice."

"What have you told him about yourself?" asked Roman.

"Nothing because he won't talk" I said putting my hands up in submission.

"Well in that case he won't have heard anything" Roman said.

"Haven't you told him?" I said a little shocked.

"No that's your story to tell" he answered. "Same as his story is his to tell."

"I won't get the chance now to find out" I said.

"You aren't going anywhere, Rose" Roman answered. "Leave Dimitri to me. He's been by himself too long that he's forgotten the art of communication, although he wasn't' that talkative to begin with."

"Roman drank the rest of his coffee, thanked me and headed for the door, letting Lana in as he left.

"Hi Rose" Lana said. "Ready for the wonderful delights of Moroi Protocol?" she added sarcastically.

"Oh I live for Moroi Protocol" I added and we both laughed and sat down to three hours of total boredom.