Thank you so much for those of you who reviewed. :) I really appreciate them.

I have nothing to say at this point, so on with the twenty – fourth chapter! ;)

Credits go to the redhead creator of Vampire Academy, Richelle Mead!

xxx

CHAPTER 24: MEETING ROOM: ENTERED

"But – – –" I was about to complain, but I was cut off.

"But nothing, Miss Hataway. It's an order from Her Royal Majesty, Queen Tatiana Ivashkov." Kirova told me in a tone I never heard her use before. And for once, the beating of my heart became different due to the words of Kirova. "So, whether you like it or not, you have no choice. It's an order; not a request."

"I'll help you pack." Dimitri said as he stood up and motioned for me to do the same.

So, I did.

When we were walking in the corridors, I could not help myself. I wanted to know why the heck was I, for lack of better word, 'commanded' in the Royal Court. Worse, it was an order by the Queen, who, by the way, loathed me to the deepest core of this earth. I mean, come on! Talk about abrupt.

"Is Lissa going too?" I asked Dimitri who had his head held high. Just like a normal Guardian.

"No. It's only you, I and some Guardians." I did not know what to feel at Dimitri's forthright reply. I always wanted to be alone with Dimitri. Without the rest of world. But, at the same time that was the problem: I wanted that to happen.

I was about to give out some reply of my own, but decided against it. No point in complaining. No point in arguing. No point in reasoning out. The bottom line was this: I needed to set aside my own thoughts and head to the Royal Court with Dimitri Belikov. Scratch that. Dimitri Ivashkov, I mean.

"Just bring the necessary things. Bring those clothes you are comfortable with." Dimitri said as his eyes scanned my room.

"What are you looking for?" I couldn't help myself but ask.

"Where are your bags for your clothes?" He asked casually.

"Under the bed." I replied as I began to get jeans and shirts out from my closet. I figured wearing shorts in the Royal Court wouldn't be too pleasant.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Dimitri bend down and dust something off? I wasn't sure, but whatever. I set that thought aside.

"How long are we staying there anyways?" I asked as I started putting my clothes in the bag Dimitri had kindly prepared.

"It depends." Oh, great. But, just to be safe, I brought clothes that I could use in a week's time. After all, the length of time we will be spending in the Royal Court is still unknown.

By the time I was done putting my clothes in the bag, a dilemma decided to show up… unfortunately. One of my shirts was stuck with the damned zipper.

"Oh hell." I cursed.

"Don't summon upon hell, Rose." Dimitri told me.

"I'm not summoning hell, you idiot. My shirt is stuck with the zipper." I said as I glared at Dimitri's way.

Dimitri stood up from the couch and came my way. Well, more like my bags' way, but, you get the point.

"Let me." He said as he helped me zip my problematic bag. And surprise, surprise, he was successful. Please do take good note of the sarcasm.

"I'll bring it." I said as I got my bag… or attempted to. Why, you ask? Because Dimitri refused to let me. Thus, in the end, he was the one carrying my bag.

"Where are your clothes?" I asked him whilst we walked.

"Already in the jet." His straightforward answer came.

"Oh, so we're using the Academy's jets." I told myself in realization.

The moment I caught a glimpse of the Academy's jet, that's when it hit me that I forgot to do something. I forgot someone.

Lissa.

"Shit." I cursed under my breath. It was loud enough, however, for Dimitri to hear.

"What's wrong?" He asked me as we both stopped on our tracks.

"Lissa. I didn't tell her yet." I said as I softly smacked my own forehead. "Can I go and bid her goodbye first? I promise I wouldn't take long." I asked and assured Dimitri at the same time.

"Do you know where she is right now?" Dimitri asked me.

"Wait, I'll check." I said as I tried to clear my head and try to check where Lissa is.

But, before I could even start concentrating, Dimitri made me lose it. "You don't need to."

I looked at him, puzzled. "Huh?"

He pointed behind me with his lips. It actually looked un-Dimitri like because he looked like he was asking for a kiss, which he wasn't. "Behind you."

I turned around and saw the person I wanted to see: my best friend, Lissa. And wherever Lissa is, she will always have her tag–along. Him. Her boyfriend, Christian Ozera.

Lissa pulled me in into an embrace. "I thought you were leaving without goodbye." She whispered.

"Silly." I whispered back as I embraced her tighter.

She was the first one to break away from the hug. She held both my hands. "Promise me you will keep me updated with whatever's happening to you there in the Court."

I gave her a smile. "Of course. I'll check up on you whenever I can and I'll call you before I go to bed."

"And whenever you feel like beating the crap out of someone." She joked.

I let out a chuckle of my own. I looked at Christian. He had an amused look on his face. It was probably because he saw another side of Rose Hathaway. The side that was plainly best friend–ish to Lissa.

"Take care of her while I'm not around, Ozera." I said. "If not, you'll be dead before you could even form a flame in your hands." I warned.

Christian stepped forward and put his arms around Lissa. "Yes, ma'am."

"Take care of yourself too, Lissa, okay? Don't be too dependent on Christian. He's really clumsy at times." I told Lissa as I let go of Lissa's hands.

"Hey!" It was Christian.

"Whatever. We better get going." I said as I looked at Dimitri from the corner of my eye.

"Take care of her Dimitri." Lissa gently told Dimitri.

"Will do, Princess." He replied with a smile of his own. By smile, I meant one of those rare genuine smiles of his.

"It's Lissa." She corrected.

"Lissa." Dimitri repeated. That earned him a smile from all three of us: Lissa, Christian and I.

"Bye." I said as I gave Lissa one last hug.

"Bye." Lissa whispered back.

When we were inside the jet, I saw our tag–alongs. They were Alberta, Guardian Tanner, Guardian Borg, the two Guardians of Adrian, and three other unknown Guardians.

"Lord Ivashkov, Miss Hathaway." Guardian Tanner greeted us as we headed to our seats.

"Call me Rose, please, Mikhail." I told Guardian Tanner. I knew his name was Mikhail because Alberta told me on the walk to Kirova's office.

Mikhail Tanner. That name rang a bell. But, I could not seem to put my finger on it. I tossed that thought aside. I would have to think about that later.

"You want to sit by the window?" Dimitri asked me.

"Nuh-uh." I said in pure positivity. "I'd have a headache once we will be out of the wards and plus, I'm pregnant. So, unless you want me to become really bitchy, disturbing and nauseous, then I would have no choice but to reluctantly accept your offer."

We sat down. Dimitri sat by the window and myself beside him. In front of us was Alberta and one of the three unknown Guardians. Behind us were Guardian Tanner and Guardian Borg. Suddenly, Dimitri took out a silver ring from his pocket. I instantly recognized the ring. Adrian's. He handed it over to me.

"Wear it." He told me.

"What's that for?" I asked him as I stared at the offered ring, befuddled.

"To keep you sane once out of the wards." I did not know if that was a compliment or an insult, but either way, I took the ring.

As I put it on, I asked Dimitri another question. "What's so special about this ring?"

"It's Adrian's. It's charmed with Spirit. I remember him charming it back in his hotel room in Russia." Dimitri explained, but I wanted him to further elaborate. No, wait, I needed him to further elaborate, rather.

"So what if it's charmed with Spirit?" I asked, still not getting his point.

"You may think the only preventions Adrian have for the Spirit's darkness are the alcohols and cigarettes, but this ring is also one of those. Spirit users experience dizziness when outside the wards and the darkness could just take its course if we could not fight the nausea consuming us. Therefore, we need some sort of silver on us charmed with Spirit or charmed with all four elements. This applies to most Spirit users, from what I've read. Some, however, are fortunate enough not to require this whole silver thing. Lissa doesn't apply to using Spirit charmed silvers outside the wards, but Adrian does."

"And this has something to do with me because?" I asked once more.

"Because you're shadow–kissed. You were brought back to life, therefore you have a connection to the other side. Spirit users have a connection to the other side too, but it takes time to be developed. The reason why you go nauseous and see ghosts is because of the darkness that's slowly consuming you."

"Are you part of those who need to wear it?" I inquired.

"Not exactly. It does not have the same effect on me like the other Spirit users. If anything, it rather strengthens my stamina. But, the difference is that I need to re–charm it every other day." He explained and I just nodded.

Sure enough, Dimitri was night. I was glad because on the trip to the Royal Court, my head was not spinning like mad unlike the other time. Unknowingly, I fell asleep along the way.

"Rose, wake up. We're here." A voice woke me up.

I stirred for a bit before I opened my eyes. As I looked at Dimitri, there was something he was trying to hide. I could see and feel it.

"What's wrong?" I asked him, concerned.

"Nothing." He said with his, as I would like to call it, 'Guardian mask.'

"You're lying." I was not accusing him; I pointed out the obvious fact.

He let out a sigh. "Fine. I'm nervous."

I controlled myself not to laugh. "Wait, what?" But, I miserably failed as fits of giggles escaped my lips.

"I don't know how to face them." He confessed.

I, however, being the clueless one in the equation, blurted out the obvious question. "Who do you mean by 'them?'"

"My parents." That was his blunt reply.

Damn. It never occurred to me that once we come to Court, Dimitri would be having an encounter with his parents who he had not met since he was a child. The last time I came here with Lissa and the rest, his parents were out on vacation. So, they did not have the time to meet up back then. Back then, I also did not know Dimitri was a Moroi. A Royal, even.

I held his hand and gave it a light squeeze. "Don't worry. It's going to be fine." I assured so.

He looked at our intertwined hands and gave a ghost of a smile. "I hope you're right."

"I know I'm right." I was confident enough in myself.

"Let's go?" He asked me as I nodded.

"Lead the way." I said as I stood up and stepped aside to let him through.

"Where are our bags?" Dimitri asked one of the Guardians.

"They are already being brought to your room, Lord Ivashkov." Guardian Borg answered.

"Please. Don't be too formal with me." Dimitri said with earnestness.

"As you wish," was Guardian Borg's simple reply.

Then, Guardian Borg's words hit me. "Wait, room? You mean, Dimitri and I are sharing the same room?"

Dimitri looked at me and realization also hit him. He, too, gave Guardian Borg an inquiring look.

To answer our question, Guardian Borg gave a small nod.

Dimitri's gaze and I locked for a second, but we immediately broke it. Oh, hell.

I was expecting us to head to our room, but I was wrong. We were going to one of the Court's meeting rooms… to meet Queen Tatiana Ivashkov and Dimitri's parents: Lord Nathan Ivashkov and Lady Daniella Ivashkov.

As we were heading to the meeting room, I couldn't help but tell Dimitri: "See, I'm always stuck with you."

"You are not forced to be stuck with me, Rose. You are meant to be stuck with me." He said. If I wasn't wrong, Dimitri just let out a joke.

"Did you just say a joke?" I asked him, sarcasm evident in my voice.

"Who knows?" He cheekily replied.

Before I could give out a reply, the meeting room, which was already in front of us, was opened by one of the guards.

And there they were. Queen Tatiana Ivashkov was in the middle; Lord Nathan Ivashkov to the Queen's right and Lady Daniella Ivashkov beside him. However, I couldn't stop myself from asking out loud the obvious reality in front of me.

"Mom?" Yes, just across Lord and Lady Ivashkov was my mother, Janine Hathaway.

And beside her was a man who looked like he was in his forties.

"Abe Mazur." Dimitri said from behind me.

xxx

So, another cliffhanger. :D Adrian's still missing, yet there's another issue thrown into the picture. So, why do you think Abe and Janine are on Court? How would the meeting between parents and son go? What about Queen Tatiana? And, what would happen once they know of Rose's pregnancy? By 'they,' I'm pertaining to Dimitri's parents. :D

The original names of Dimitri's parents in my story were Aiden Demetrius Ivashkov and Alva Lazar-Ivashkov. But, I decided to change them to the original names in the book which are Nathan and Daniella Ivashkov. :)

So tell me what you think through your reviews! :)

'Til then.

xo, ChristAineXtine