Trying To Heal

[Min]

They were alone. Min walked over to Dimitri and sat on the edge of the couch. She stared into his silver eyes, trying to figure out what he was thinking about.

"I know you must have many questions," Min said softly, "But, before you ask them. I want you to know that Sasha loved you. She did what she did out of love."

Min gazed at Dimitri's face waiting for some response.

[Dimitri Dragonov]

Dimitri looked to Min. When he spoke his voice choked on tears. "J..James said that.. Sa..Sasha killed herself out of not wanting to be with me.." He lay flat looking at the sky.
"Is that true?"

[Min]

Min shook her head furiously. She ran over to the table and back. She held Sasha's note in her hand.

"Read this," she said as she gave him the letter. It read:

Min, if you are reading this I'm very sorry. It means I am dead. It was of my own choice and I have no regrets. I died for someone I love very much. His name is Dimitri Dragonov (he lives next door). He was in trouble and I made a deal with the vampire who was after him, James. The deal was that James kill me instead of Dimitri and no one in his coven can kill Dimitri either. Of course, I don't trust James to his word. I'm now asking you to please, watch over Dimitri for me. He is precious and I hope you grow to love him.
I'm sorry you had to find out this way.

Your Friend,
Sasha Echeverria

Min continued to stare at Dimitri as he read.

"Now who are you going to believe? Sasha or James?"

[Dimitri Dragonov]

"She.. I.. I nev..." Dimitri looked away from Min ashamed of not believing in Sasha. He let the letter slip to the floor.

[Min]

Min caught the letter, folded it and returned it the the table. She went back to the couch and sat by Dimitri. Min wasn't sure what to say. She just stared into space.

"Sasha was like a sister to me," Min said numbly. " I first met her in Korea. She was always so reserved and closed off. But, she let me in after a while and I did the same for her. She was the only one I ever really talked to."

All at once, Min felt a weight of sadness crush her. She stood up and walked to the window. Min stared at the rain and remembered what Sasha told her once.
"People get sad when it rains. I don't. I think that it signals a fresh start, a new beginning."

Min pressed her forehead against the glass and closed her eyes in grief. What do you do when the only person in your life that mattered is gone? she thought.

[Dimitri Dragonov]

Dimitri looked at Min's face. He felt as though they were thinking the same thing. There wasn't anything more he could do. He just rolled over and looked up at the ceiling sighing. I can't understand all these feelings coming at me at once... its too much.. I don't know what to do.. Someone please give me an answer. Dimitri picked at a loose string on the couch a bit bored from just laying there.. he also didn't know what else to do.

[Min]

Min glanced over at Dimitri. It seemed to her that they were in the same place emotionally. And, even though all Min wanted to do was curl up into a ball and disappear, she knew that wasn't what Sasha would want. She walked to the couch and once again sat down on the edge.

"Sasha wouldn't want us to brood over her death," Min sighed. "She would want us to begin anew and as long as we remember her, she'll never really be gone."

Min closed her eyes for a second and then opened them again with fresh determination.

"So, my name is Min, and you are?"

[Dimitri Dragonov]

Dimitri raised his good arm to Min taking her hand. "Dimitri Dragonov ... as you probably already know." he smiled up at her. "Pleasure to meet you."

[Min]

Min smiled warmly and shook Dimitri's hand gently.

"So, tell me a bit about yourself. You're not American. I would guess Eastern European," Min asked mischievously. "Am I close?"

[Dimitri Dragonov]

Dimitri laughed at this. "Yes extremely close. North Russia. Born in a small town outside Moscow. I grew up with a group of friends.. we started a gang.. then I was turned.. I didn't know what to do.. they told me I basically was indestructable.. so I asked them if they wanted me to have them join me.. only 2 did willingly.. the others it took them more time for it to sink in before they said yes.. so its a total of 13 of us.." he said smiling.

[Min]

"You started a vampire gang?" Min asked shocked. And I thought my transformation was strange.

"Do you know who turning you? Do you have a talent? How old are you?" Min asked her questions in rapid fire succession.

[Dimitri Dragonov]

Dimitri laughed at the thought of it. "Yes the idea is a bit odd. Yes.. I have a talent that I find very useful at times.. Watch.." he saw a squirrel climbing around outside the apartment. He walked over to the window opening it. He looked to the squirrel.. their minds connecting. A second later the rodent was climbing up his arm and sitting on his shoulder. He strolled back to the couch and sat down next to Min.
." As for knowing my transformee.. Yes.. he was my Uncle."

[Min]

Min was overcome with curiosity.
"What exactly is your talent? And how was your uncle a vampire?"

Everything that Dimitri was telling her, Min absorbed like a sponge. She found his story simply fascinating.

[Dimitri Dragonov]

Dimitri laughed a bit at all the questions. " I am able to control all manner of creatures. My eyes ... they are different then all other vampires. I use my eyes ... the pierce into the animals mind giving me complete control.. its kinda hard to explain. I never knew how my Uncle became what he was.. he was a good man though. Kind, caring, intelligent. " Dimitri smiled at Min

[Min]

Min pondered Dimitri's talent and was impressed. It was a unique gift. But, she couldn't understand Dimitri's uncle.

"Why did he turn you? Most consider being a vampire a curse."