Authors Note:

Hey! So this is my first Vampire Academy story J I haven't been on as a writer for a long time, so hopefully I'm not too rusty :P I have been reading through quite a lot of the VA stories on here but haven't really found one like this… so thought I'd give it a shot and write it for myself ! It's actually based on what I had hoped would happen (and want to happen L ) in The Last Sacrifice, so let's get going :D

KEY:

This is just some text - regular actions / writing.

This is just some text - italicized words are for emphasis, however, this: 'This is just some text' - is thoughts. (will have ' ' around them, making them clear they are thoughts.)

"This is just some text" - Speech.

Disclaimer:

Do not own Vampire Academy or any of it's canon characters / places. Purely a fanfic for your reading pleasure 3

It was ironic, really, me sitting on this bed, knees drawn into myself as my arms hugged round them, chin resting on my knees, hoping to god I wouldn't see him of all people. Wasn't it just days ago Dimitri was in a similar situation, not wishing to see me? The only difference was I doubted I would be let out on good behavior anytime soon.

The sudden scrape of the metal door leading to the cells opening alerted me from my sulking, though I didn't glance up to know who it was. Lissa, my best friend. The bond we shared told me as much, though I had spent the last two weeks avoiding looking through it, ignoring any emotions she sent my way. I heard the guards telling her that they would be at the other side of the door if she needed them before they left, as though I was planning to attack her or something.

"Rose…" Her voice was little more than a whisper, though she knew I heard I. But I didn't look up.

"Rose, talk to me, please." Still, I didn't respond. I knew I was being a total bitch, but then again, didn't I have a reason too? I was locked away in a prison cell, awaiting the trail for supposedly murdering the Queen - Tatianna. Excuse me for having an attitude problem.

"I'm so sorry…" The sound of Lissa's sob finally forced a response out of me. I knew how I was acting was unforgivable. It wasn't her fault I was here, and I knew she was only trying to comfort me. She was risking everything to come see me like she was, and I knew it was hard for her having to face the harsh words of the other Moroi around her, all who was sure I have killed their precious queen.

"You've got nothing to apologise for Liss." My voice was no more than a whisper, her throat dry from the lack of water they supplied me. It was like being a prisoner of Tarasov prison in Alaska, kept weak with lack of food and water so that they could manage me better - which in truth I didn't blame them, I had been a handful…

With a sigh, I lifted my head and turned to face her, looking at her for the first time in two weeks. Of course, she hadn't changed much. Liss was still as beautiful, with long blond hair, bright green eyes and a tall, slim figure. She was wearing regular jeans and a crème cashmere sweater. However, upon further inspection it was easy to notice the things that hadn't been there before. The deep purple circles under her eyes, for instance.

"You not been sleeping? You need your strength, Liss." I saw the trace of a faint smile on her lips, though she still kept her expression grim, worried. She was leaning against the bars of my cell, her face pressed between the bars.

"How can I sleep knowing your locked in here Rose? You have no idea how worried I've been - how worried we've all been, Adrian especially, though his mother wont let him come…" Her voice trailed off apologetically, and I smiled at her kindly. Lissa didn't know this, but Adrian had in fact been visiting me in my dreams every night. I had seen how worried he was, and It was eating at me, too. His usual behaviour (Excessively drinking and smoking) had been intensified, and it seemed there wasn't even a second when Adrian wasn't drunk or chain smoking.

Still, he wasn't the person I wanted to hear about…

"And how's… how's Dimitri been?" I lowered my eyes when I asked the question, knowing the look Lissa would give when she mentioned him. They had gotten so close over the last couple of weeks after the changed him back, and though I knew he didn't see her the way he had seen me, it still hurt, especially when he even refused to feel for me.

"He's been doing really well. More and more people are beginning to warm up to him now, believe that he is a Dhampir again… It's only a matter of time before they let him off completely. He only has one guard now, you know, and he's pretty much allowed to go where ever he wants, though he still prefers to sit in the courtyard and read his novels…"

Her voice trailed off, and I felt the lump at my throat at how easily she spoke of him, the proud and protectiveness of her tone when she mentioned him, and the humour she used when she spoke of hum and 'his novels'.

"Tha… That's really good to hear." My voice was just a whisper, and I was pretty sure Lissa had detected the hurt I felt, though I tried not to let it show.

"He still cares about you Rose, I know he does, if we just give him some more time…" I held up my hand, cutting her off. I didn't want to hear this, I didn't need her pity.

"No. He's made it clear where he stands with us." Silence filled the room. The groan of the door signaled the return of the guards.

"Princess, times up I'm afraid." I kept my eyes on my interlocked fingers, keeping my arms locked in place which in turn were holding up my knees. In my perpetual vision, I saw Lissa sigh, and push herself away from the bars, stretching as she did so. With a long glance at me, she hesitated.

"Bye Rose… I'll come back when I can, okay? Everything's going to be fine you know…" I considered not answering, but couldn't help the words that left my lips, filling with more sarcasm and spite than I had intended.

"No Lissa, everything's not going to be fine, and I wish you'd just see that already!" She flinched at my words, and wish a last, worried glance at me, finally followed the guards out. I returned my head to my lap, continuing my usual sulking routine. I knew I had been out of order with her, but I just couldn't bring myself to feel hopeful when, clearly, there was no hope. All evidence pointed at me, and the sooner I accepted my fate, the better.

Closing my eyes, I decided to catch some sleep, seeing as there was nothing else to do, except wait.

I woke to hear the sound of the prison doors opening. No doubt the guards with my meal, probably bread and cheese… again. It wouldn't have been so bad, if the damned bread wasn't so salty and had at least some butter on it, and if they gave me more water than a small glass full. Salty bread plus little water equaled a bad combination. Which is probably what they hoped.

I didn't even bother to look up, which was normally how this went down. They would put the food down, then leave. I would wait a few minuets, then go retrieve the food, eat it fairly quickly, then return to my normal position curled up into a ball, as though nothing had happened.

But this time seemed different.

I waited for the sound of the plastic bowl and cup to be left jut outside my bars where I could grab them, then the sound of the guard leaving. But it never came. Instead I heard the sound of shuffling as various pairs of feet shuffled into my holding block. Curiously I lifted my head, my eyes widening at what I saw.

Lissa, Christian, and Adrian all stood in my cell block, with Eddy fumbling around with a big bunch of keys, trying to find the right one for my prison door. Lissa stood with her back to me, facing the doorway, probably keeping a look out for guards.

"Little dhampir…" I turned my head at the mentioning of my nickname, seeing Adrian for the first time in person since the trail. Like Lissa, he had dark circles under his eyes, his usual perfectly sculptured hair now a perfect mess, his shirt creased and slightly askew. His expression was soft as he stared at me, his hands reaching through the bars towards me.

"Come on Eddie, cant you move any faster?" It was Christian who now held my attention. He was stood hovering over Eddie, trying to help him find the right key. I heard Eddie mumble something back, but my eyes turned back to Adrian in wonder.

"What are you guys doing?" Adrian grinned, whilst Christian rolled his eyes, clearly impatient at Eddie's slow finding of the key. Never the less, he turned his attention towards me, his face it's usual mask of sarcasm and taunting.

"What's it look like we're doing Rose? We're busting you out of here, clearly." I shook my head, trying to make sense of everything. The lack of energy made coherent thought pretty difficult, and the fact that I was seriously in need of a good nights sleep probably didn't help either.

"I don't understand, why? How? You'll never get away with this…" Adrian cut me off.

"Won't we?" He held up his hand, his smile wider, showing off the glittering silver jewelery on his fingers and wrist. I turned to look at Christian and Eddy, and sure enough they were sporting similar charmed jewelery, exactly as we had used to break into Tarasov Prison. I was shocked that Lissa had charmed more.

Before I could ask more seemingly obvious questions, the relieved woop from Eddie caught my attention, and I saw that he had at last found the right key. With a quick turn, the door flew open, and Eddie reached my side in seconds.

"Can you walk Rose?" I nodded slightly, uncurling myself from my ball like position. My limbs felt stiff, my muscles protesting at the movement. I stood up shakily, before wobbling. I would probably have hit the floor if Eddie hadn't reached out and lifted me into his arms. I squirmed in his arms in protest.

"I can walk myself…" I grumbled, though I knew full well they didn't have time to watch me hobble around. Ignoring me, Eddie ran for the door which Lissa was standing at, and I could see that she wasn't guarding it, but watching the person who was through the doors, at the entrance of the prison waiting room itself, surrounded by the unconscious forms of my former guards.

I felt my heart slam into my rib cage at the sight of him.

"Dimitri we've got her…" He nodded once, looking at me with those deep, dark brown eyes of his. I felt my stomach twist with the look in them. Relief, worry, and something else I was afraid to confirm. Just as quickly as he glanced at me, however, he was moving again down the hall, leading the way. As we ran, I felt a hand brush my arm gently. I turned my head to see Lissa's worried gaze, her expression determined. It was obvious she was speaking through the bond, and I opened it up to her, at least feeling the wash of her emotions. Fear, relief, worry, anticipation, but most of all, unsure. She must have thought I was mad at her.

'Are you okay?' I nodded in Eddie's arms, and she smiled in return. 'I was going to tell you about this earlier but… I… well, it doesn't matter now. I just hope this works…' I nodded my head. So did I… it was one thing having me in trouble, but risking Lissa and Christian as well? And not forgetting Eddie, I'd already gotten him in trouble. Adrian, no doubt, was no longer free to do what he wished after Tatianna's death, and I didn't want him to get into any more trouble with his mother than he was.

Then there was Dimitri.

A stunt like this might bring him all the way back to square one, or worse… have him killed for being a strigoi. I hated risking my friends.

I could hear the distant cries of Guardian behind us, obviously having found the prison area empty. Eddie began to speed up, following Dimitri's lead. I could hear the labored breathing of Christian, Adrian and Lissa. Their bodies weren't as trained for running like ours, and they had quickly become tired.

I began feel myself slipping. I was too weak, the jostling movements of Eddie's own running making my vision dizzy, my head beginning to feel fuzzy as I began to feel the darkness begin to settle. I was losing consciousness. With a sigh, I cast one last look at Dimitri's strong form ahead, his muscles under his top shifting with each long stride, his hair which he had tied into a pigtail was swaying.

I fell asleep to the sound of running footsteps and laboured breaths.

Authors Note:

So, what you guys think of the first chapter? Of course, more action will be happening later on, I just want to make the plotline semi okay before I begin with the whole romancy thing you know? XD Let me know what you think, reviews would rock! [;