Chapter One

Date and Heartbreak

I looked myself over, then decided to add a little more mascara to my big, brown eyes. My wavy, dark brown hair pooled around my shoulders, reaching just below my chest. I touched the golden lily that was tattooed on my cheek. I decided not to put concealer on it, knowing how much Adrian loved my tattoo. It was the sign of the Alchemists, the group of humans who protected the vampires' secret and protected the humans from knowing that secret. Humans like Adrian Ivashkov, the love of my life. I smiled at just the thought of him. I couldn't wait for our date tonight. It was the day; the day I would finally tell Adrian my secret and - hopefully - give my virginity away to the man of my dreams.

I giggled and looked myself over again. I was wearing a strapless black dress that fitted my curves smugly and black pumps. I looked totally hot. I couldn't wait to see the look on Adrian's face when he saw me.

At eight o'clock, Adrian's black Jaguar XJ Supersport pulled up. I bit my lip in excitement and answered the door for him. There stood by extremely hot, extremely sexy boyfriend, Adrian Ivashkov. He had emeral green eyes and unkempt brown hair, and despite the last name, I knew he wasn't a Moroi. The Ivashkovs were one of the royal families of Moroi, but it wasn't like they were the only Ivashkovs out there.

"Hey, little princess," Adrian said, sweeping his eyes over my body. I blushed under his gaze, as well as the use of his nickname for me: "little princess." He'd told me I was his princess. Adrian wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a breathtaking kiss. I was left breathless when he pulled away. The thought, He's so perfect, passed through my mind as we looked into each other's eyes, his shining with so much love and adoration I nearly melted.

"Hi," I replied, trying to catch my breath.

He smiled at me. "Ready to go, princess?"

I nodded and let Adrian - dressed in a black tuxedo - lead me towards the car. I could barely keep my mouth shut the entire ride to the chinese restaurant Adrian was taking me to. Adrian looked at me, noticing how jumpy I was.

"Something wrong, little princess?" he asked.

I bit my lip and shook my head, barely containing a smile. "Nope. Nothing at all, Adrian."

I couldn't wait to finally tell him my secret; the secret that I had kept for three years: I'm an Alchemist. I'd also have to explain about the vampires and such, but I trusted Adrian and knew that he wouldn't tell anybody if I told him not to. I hadn't gotten a new tattoo for years, knowing that this day would come. The compulsion in the tattoo kept me from telling humans about it, but, just like everything else, compulsion wore off. That's why our tattoos needed to be renewed every few years. But now...well, the love I felt for Adrian could fight through any tattoo, and the compulsion was weak. I could fight through though this like I could fight a drunk playboy.

We arrived at the chinese place, and got a nice table. We were completely alone - thank God - and I readied myself to tell him.

"Adrian...there's something I need to tell you," I stated, trying not to blurt it out.

"You're not pregnant, are you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes. That wasn't possible. We'd never had sex before. Hell, I'd never had sex before. "No. Actually...it's a secret. Something that nobody knows besides me and my co-workers."

The eyebrow raised a little more. "Please tell, princess."

"I'm an Alchemist," I blurted out.

He scrunched his eyebrows together in confusion. "A what?"

"An Alchemist," I said, calming down a little. "I keep the secret of vampires safe from humans."

He looked extremely concerned for my mental health. "Umm...princess...are you feeling okay?"

I grinned suddenly, happy. "Actually, I'm feeling very fine. But you can't tell anybody, Adrian. If anyone finds out..." I blanched. "If anyone finds out, I'll be doomed, Adrian."

He slowly nodded. "Rose...I love you. I believe you. Now, please explain, princess."

My smile widened. "I love you too, Adrian. Now, an explanation. There are three kinds of vampires: dhampirs, Moroi, and Strigoi. The Moroi are vampires who use magic and the Strigoi are vampires with no souls. They can't use magic or go out in the sun or go on holy ground." I wasn't religious like other Alchemists. I wasn't an athiest, but I didn't go to church or anything like that. "Dhampirs are half vampires who train to protect Moroi from the Strigoi, and they are called guardians."

Adrian reached over and took my hands. I relished in the warmth he brought when our we came skin-to-skin. It was comforting and loving. "I believe you, Rose. I love you, and I always will. I think your job is fantastic. I'll keep your secret."

I grinned happily and we ate our dinner in peace. I was so happy to finally have told my secret to Adrian, the man who I knew I'd spend the rest of my life with. We would get married and have children and maybe, just maybe, I could get Adrian a job with the Alchemists. It wasn't likely, but damn it, I could try. If Adrian wanted one, that was.

"Why don't we go to a club?" Adrian suggested. "A celebration of love."

I giggled and nodded. Adrian loved clubbing and had been an alcoholic before we'd met. After that, he tried to give it up. He'd been seventeen when we'd met and not in very good condition. I'd been a fourteen-year-old girl who had just lost her parents in a car accident. We found comfort and love in each other, despite the age difference. It was only three years. Now, I was seventeen and he was twenty-one. The age difference no longer mattered. We could get through anything together.

We arrived at the club around nine, and we immediately started dancing and drinking. I didn't want to get drunk, however, so I stopped after five drinks. I knew how to hold my liquor, and Adrian did too. When he saw me stop, he stopped as well. We got seperated a few times, but mostly we danced together. We seperated for about thirty minutes to go mingle with some of the other partiers when we decided to go home. When we got there, Adrian immediately pinned me against the wall, kissing me deeply. I wrapped my arms around his neck, but before long, they trailed to the bottom of his shirt, where they proceeded to tear of Adrian's shirt. I pulled away and admired Adrian's nice body before kissing him again. He got my dress off and before I knew it, we were on the bed, me in only my underwear and Adrian in nothing. Adrian pulled off my underwear and I pulled away.

"Adrian..." I murmured. I knew what I wanted: I wanted to give away my virginity to the man I loved; the guy I loved more than anything or anyone. But something stopped me, something I didn't recognize. It felt like I was about to do something I'd regret later. I knew I was just being paranoid. I loved Adrian. Sure, he used to be the world's biggest player, but now...he hadn't had sex in three years. Just for me. I smiled at the thought.

Adrian was panting, much like I was, and looked at me. "Are you...are you sure, Rose?"

I smiled at him. "I've never been more positive, Adrian."

Just before I was about to let him be my first, the door to my bedroom burst open. I squealed and covered myself with the sheets. Who the hell was in my house. Adrian sat upright quickly. Standing in front of us was a bleach-haired blonde with bright blue eyes. It was the look that got to me, though. One of complete devastation and heartbreak.

"Adrian?" she whimpered.

"Cecile?" he exclaimed. "What the hell do you think you're doing here?"

The girl - Cecile - dragged her eyes from me to Adrian, suddenly outraged. "Me? Really, Adrian? Me? I've been waiting for hours for you to call. Hours. And I come here to find you fucking this...this girl?" Her eyes filled with tears. "You said you loved me, Adrian! You said you'd never do this to me!"

"Cecile, I - "

I was the one to cut Adrian off, because I pushed him off the bed, furious. He toppled to the floor, and I took the opportunity to grab my undergarments and pull them on, not the slightest bit embarrassed that I was dressing in front of some girl. Some girl that claimed Adrian loved her. I retrieved my dress and pulled it on, glaring a fierce glare at Adrian.

"How could you?" I yelled. I was so hurt, but that hurt was being overthrown by the anger and resentment I felt. "How the fuck could you do this, Adrian? I was about to give you my virginity, and I find out this? You...you bastard! You asshole! I never want to see you again!"

I stormed out of the room, barely hearing Adrian's, "Rose, wait! Princess!"

I ran outside, the moon covered by clouds. I didn't care that I was running barefoot across glass-streaked streets. I'd just had my heart torn out, stomped on, shredded, and set on fire. I sat against a brick wall in a narrow alley and cried. And cried. And cried. My eyes hurt but still, I cried. I had loved Adrian more than anything. I had been sure he was my soulmate. I thought we'd have kids and grow old together and watch our kids get married and hold our grandchildren. But no. Adrian went off, cheated on me, and what's more, I'd told him my biggest secret. Hell, it was the world's biggest secret. I'd been about to give my virginity to him. How could someone be so heartless? My chest ached so badly. I wanted to scream my hatred to the world and kill every playboy out there; every guy who had ever hurt someone as bad as I'd been hurt. But I was almost positive it was impossible for anyone to hurt as bad as I was hurting.

I heard steps at the entrance of the alleyway, and then they stopped. I looked up to see who it was, but I was too late. I was pinned against the wall, looking into evil red eyes. I immediately opened my mouth to scream. Strigoi. He clapped a hand over my mouth and newly formed tears streamed down my face.

"Now, now, Alchemist," the Strigoi tsked. "Scream, and I will make your death that much more painful."

I whimpered. No. I couldn't die. Especially not at the hands of some Strigoi. I could barely see the brown irises behind the covering of red in his eyes. His slightly long black hair whipped in the wind as he leaned forward. I was dropped to the floor within seconds, and the Strigoi was gone. I looked to the right, too shocked to get up. The Strigoi was pinned to the ground by a guy. I couldn't tell who, though. I was guessing it was a dhampir, though. The Strigoi fought and finally got the upperhand, restraining my rescuer. The dhampir - I was almost positive it was a dhampir - got up, though, and stabbed a stake into the Strigoi's stomach, pulling it out. Before anything else could happen, the Strigoi ran away with vampire speed. I didn't see which way it went; I was too focused on my savior. I couldn't see much of his features in the dark, but I could tell he was extremely tall and had long, dark hair and dark eyes. He grabbed my arm and gently helped me up. I saw his eyes go straight to my cheek. I recoiled a little. I was never - just like any Alchemist - comfortable around the opposite species. But this guy...well, I felt a little safe in his presence.

"I was driving by when I saw that Strigoi," he finally said, breaking the silence. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, glancing hesitantly around. "Yeah. Fine." I looked into his eyes. They were a dark brown. "I'm Rose Hathaway."

"Dimitri Belikov," he told me. He walked in front of me. "Come on, let's get you safe."