What about us: Vampire Academy

Digging up the truth. Chapter 11.

Adrian's POV

I sat bolt upright in my bed. Rose is alive! Dragging a hand through my hair in disbelief, I leaned over to my bedside table and switched on the lamp. Rubbing my eyes I tried to focus on my alarm clock. Damn, Aunt Tati won't be awake for a few more hours.

Lying back down on my back, I closed my eyes and checked my darkness levels. I felt shattered, we had only arrived back at court a few hours ago and I was too tired to participate in my usual Monday night entertainment. Without my usual alcohol indulgentment, I had unconsciously slipped into a Sprint dream in my sleep.  It had used more Spirit than I usually allow myself to use. I can feel the darkness lurking within me, but it was manageable. I could afford to conduct another spirit dream tonight, a small price for Rose's recovery.

Forcing myself into a new spirit dream, I set the surrounding to resemble my Great Grandmother's garden. A setting that was always a winner for my guest. Once the dream background was formed, I searched for my guest's subconscious and brought them into my dream.

"Adrian." She smiled.

"Hello, Aunty." I replied with my cheeky grin.

"I wasn't expecting a visit tonight. What can I help you with?" She asked, graciously seating herself in the garden chair.

"Why do you think I want something?" I posed with false outrage, sitting next to her.

"Because I know you dear. You do take after me and not your father after all." She said as she smiled at me. "Besides, you only dream visit me to update me on Vasilisa progress. Seeing that I saw you both yesterday, there must be another reason." She added with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, I suppose this information will effect Lissa too." I counted.

"Just spit it out Adrian." She ordered. Queen Tatiana had now replaced, Aunt Tati.

"Rose Hathaway is alive." I declared, looking at her seriously.

Aunt Tati studied me for a few moments. I could see she was trying to determine if I was telling the truth or had gone insane.

"She can't be." She uttered unconvinced.

"She is alive." I repeated. "You know that I'm not lying."

She studied me again but this time she nodded. A worried look flashed across her face.

"How?"

"I don't know. Rose seems to think the bond allowed Lissa to heal her somehow." I shrugged. "I was hoping your private library might hold some answers."

"Possibly, the scrolls I have read haven't mentioned anything like this. Then again, they mainly focus on the Spirit User not the Shadowed Kissed." She explained with a frown. "However, I haven't even opened the chest that has recently arrived from Oxford University." She hastily added when she saw my disappointed expression.

"Well, the how can wait. Rose can not. We need to arrange her rescue." I proposed, changing the subject to more pressing matters.

"I agree, the poor girl can't say buried alive. Vasilisa needs her. I will arrange for a team to fly out and retrieve her, once I know it's safe." She acknowledged, leaning forward in her chair thoughtfully.

"Safe?" I asked carefully, even though she favoured me, Aunt Tati didn't like her judgement questioned.

"Yes Adrian, safe. This needs to be contained. If Rose's 'resurrection' becomes public knowledge, she would be treated like a lab rat. The public fear Rose because she is different. She would be tested and experimented on and I wouldn't be able to stop it." She lectured imploringly. "It could also lead to Spirit Users being detained and studied." She quitely added.