A Friend and a New Future (A VA Fanfic)

Chapter 2

DPOV
I'd just spent a handful of hours brooding in my room after Church. I was trying to puzzle out my emotions, what I could feel, what I seemed to be numb to or devoid of, or unable to understand and name. I was trying to understand Rose's reaction. How had she taken four words so harshly? I'd thought they'd barely reach her, that she'd give up fighting for me and for us. I didn't deserve love. And sure as hell did not deserve hers. But those four words had more than touched her, I could see it in her eyes that they'd made a mortal wound.

Four words. Even an ex student and mentor acquaintanceship with her had all hinged on those four words. Just as her death or awakening (I now hated that term, but I was too entrenched in the habit and it was an accurate description for the mental processes at the time) had all relied on three words. Three words I'd used falsely and in order to threaten her. I should have said something different because now I didn't doubt she hated my guts. Just as she should. After all the abuse she'd copped from me, I deserve nothing but her hate and fury.

A pounding on my door broke me from my musings. Taking my time to open the door to a fuming Adrian Ivashkov. A sober fuming Adrian Ivashkov that is.
"What did you do?!" he screeched. "What on god's f****ng earth did you do to Rose?! What did you say to her, Belikov!" The Moroi growled at me in absolute fury and disdain.
"Nothing. I did nothing to her," I calmly responded.
"Yes, you did! And you f*****g know it! You must have said and or did something! You are the only one capable of wounding her like this!"

I was pulled from my quarters and over to the graduates wing in guest housing. Right into Rose's room. Right into Rose's bare room. All that remained, that showed any sign that she'd been and gone, was a collection of items on the middle of he-the bed.

"You are the only lowlife capable of making Rose do this, Belikov! I've always wondered what she ever saw in you, what you ever saw in her. Now I know. Nothing! Take a look! Take a damn good look because she hasn't left a note." Adrian ranted.

I approached the collection of items. And could not believe what she'd left behind. I had no clue if left meant she was dead, suicided, or if it meant she'd simply run. There was two tubes of lip gloss on the bed. A picture of her and the princess dressed as fairies. The Chotki. Some items that looked Adrian purchased. My hand automatically moved, snatching up the perfume bottle. My favourite on her. But if the rough grouping was any indication, it had more Adrian oriented. I didn't know why, but that realisation stung.
"You? You gave her this perfume?"
"And you kept her in supply of that lip gloss. Lissa was meant to keep her in line of work. She's left all three of us behind because of you."

His tone was softer this time, but the knife edge and accusation came through loud and clear. I was to blame for this mess apparently.

"Rose doesn't r-" Ivashkov raised a brow, catching my pause and double take. The harsh truth and reality sunk in. "My first three lessons. She's reassigning the part of her life my first three lessons refer to."

This is my fault. All my fault and there's nothing I can do. Without realising I'd done it, I picked up the black dress that she'd worn the night of the lust charm. I clutched the fabric as the memories assaulted me. Run. Run and never hesitate were my most imperative lessons, and I'd screwed them up time and again regarding that woman, the one who'd been my student. I'd run from her, the truth. I'd also hesitated regarding the love I had felt for her.

"What lessons, Belikov?" Adrian broke me from my state.
"Run, never hesitate and don't turn your back until you know your enemy is dead."
"What's with the dress? Why is that sexy thing left behind? And in your collection, no less?" I almost wanted to hit him for calling the dress sexy, it had made Rose beautiful and had attracted me to her even more.
"She's saying I'm dead to her. Both personally," I lifted the dress, "and professionally," I lifted up the stake that was on the bed. It was the one that had very nearly killed me. "She's saying she's done with all of us and hasn't hesitated to run because she saw no other option."
What came out of Adrian's mouth next shocked me. "If or when she returns she has no job, no career."
"Wh-what?" I asked in disbelief and worry. At least that's what I think it was in.
"She's lost her career because of you and everything she's done for you. She's the real reason you're alive, Belikov. You should have been worshiping the ground she walked on, the fine ice she skated on and the tightrope she walked all for you. You really are a dumbass Belikov." Adrian walked out the door and slammed it shut after him.

Leaving me alone with even more guilt. I pocketed the lip gloss clearly left to me, to torture and torment me as a daily reminder of her detaching herself from this life she'd led so far. I also snagged up the single tee of mine she'd kept after the charm. Was the most shocking and gut-wrenching thing to see lying on that bed in my collection of things was her hair. And it wasn't as if it were a single curl or lock... It was her entire ponytail. Her hair now had to be the same length as mine.

I don't know how long I was paralysed and unable to leave Rose's mostly empty room. But the Princess stormed in the door before I could actually cry or pick up the rest of the pieces Rose had left me, turn and leave her room.
"Dimitri, what is going on?!"
"She's gone," I stated numbly.
"Just like Christian," the Princess muttered. That took me by surprise. Rose and Christian didn't get along unless they absolutely had to, or if defeating Strigoi.
"Princess? You can't think they've left together, can you?" I asked tentatively, unsure how she'd interpret the question. She was in love with Christian as far as I was aware and she could very well jump to conclusions. Just as I was trying not to do.
"I think, I think they very well may have, Dimitri." Pain, betrayal, anger all crossed her face, as did a number of other emotions.
"Princess, I very well doubt anything romantic is going on between them."

Oh boy, as I found out a few years later, how wrong I was.