Hi, this is my first FanFic, and I hope you like it. Even if you don't please review and tell me what I'm doing wrong.

Thanks, Little-Miss-Badass.

Disclaimer: The wonderful, talented Richelle Mead owns Vampire Academy, not me. I will find a way to steal Dimitri though, Rose or no Rose, Richelle or no Richelle, law or no law.

Don't Hold Your Breath: Chapter 1: Excuse me?

You can't touch me now,

There's no feeling left,

If you think I'm coming back,

Don't hold your breath…

I pummelled the punching bag as hard as I could, pretending it was Belikov's face. The lyrics of the song fuelled my adrenaline as I gave the bag all I had. The bastard had left me and when- if- he ever came back, he was going to be in for a shock. I was ready to be the superior badass now- I had taken to training as a means to cope with him leaving me for Tasha just days after he had slept with me and taken my virginity. I had come clean with all my friends (including Mia) and they had been talking to me about it and had actually been helping me train. I think they were as eager to see me crush Belikov as much as I was.

What you did to me,

Boy I can't forget,

If you think I'm coming back,

Don't hold your breath…

The song finished and I punched the bag one last time. The rope it was supported by groaned and snapped under the pressure. I walked away, panting, my chest rising and falling with each breath I took. I downed a bottle of water and slung a towel round my shoulders before running up the stairs to the ground floor of Lissa and Christian's (and mine and Eddie's by default) mansion. Being royal Moroi, Lissa and Sparky had more than enough money to install a gym in their basement for mine and Eddie's benefit. Living with royal Moroi had its perks.

I made my way to my room- the first few days I had needed a map to find my way through the different passageways. Come on, this place was fucking huge, and we all know I'm not the best with directions. When I finally made it into my room, I chucked my training clothes into the antique, very expensive linen basket (Lissa Dragomir = very rich neat freak) and practically threw myself under the hot spray of the shower. Fucking hell, that felt nice. Of course, Sparky had to spoil my small piece of heaven by turning off the water. Boy was he going to get it when I got downstairs.

I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel round my body. My fists were clenched and my eyes were narrowed. Sparky, Sparky, Sparky. What have you got yourself into? I grinned at my reflection in the mirror. Damn, this was going to be fun.

I pulled on a black lacy Victoria's Secret bra and pants set that Lissa had bought for me at the weekend, a sexy red cami, tight black skinny jeans, a black feminine biker jacket and five inch black stiletto boots. To finish off the look, I left my hair down and put on some make-up. Clear lip-gloss and mascara made me look classy, but dangerous and badass. I was ready to roll.

Just before I left my room, I went into Lissa's head to see if she was with Sparky, who was probably hiding. Well, if he wanted to live, he should be hiding. I really was looking forward to getting my revenge on him.

What I saw in Lissa's head shocked me. Sparky wasn't hiding; he was standing in plain view in the lounge. Did the little fireball think his girlfriend was going to protect him? Sparky frowned at Lissa, though I couldn't understand why. Were they having a lovers tiff or something? Then Lissa's gaze swept the rest of the room and my heart stopped. There in the corner was the man-stealing bitch Tasha Ozera and her player guardian, Belikov.

As though Lissa could feel my presence in her head (she probably could; I'd have to ask her about that later) she sent me a message through the bond saying, Remember to breathe, Rose. Just breathe. I had a feeling that her words were meant to be soothing and calming, but the annoyance and disgust in her voice towards the skank and her Russian mountain only made me want to kill them more. Anyone who makes Lissa feel that way- dark and unstable- dies painfully.

Lissa stifled a small laugh, and thought to me, Yeah, Rose, you got it in one. Tasha really is a skank and Belikov does kinda look like a mountain. This surprised me so much that I was thrown out of Lissa's head and into my own mind.

Rose? She asked.

Yeah, Lissa?

What just happened?

I've been thinking the same thing. I was hoping you'd know.

I don't know for sure, but I think our bond is two-ways now.

Why?

I really don't know, Rose.

I went back into Lissa's head and saw that everybody apart from Sparky was staring at her like she was a science experiment. Through the bond I could feel that she was feeling a mixture of emotions. 80% anger/ disgust at the skank and the mountain and 20% shock at the revelation of our newly extended bond.

"Oh, sorry, Christian." She apologized. I grinned; Lissa was really pissed off at the afore-mentioned skank and mountain.

"No problem, honey." He replied with a small grin.

Pulling myself out of Lissa's head, I made my way downstairs after locking my door. I had a lot of precious and/ or expensive stuff in my room, and I didn't want to take any chances when there were any unwanted, thieving, backstabbing visitors in our house. If the skank was capable of stealing the one man I loved, I wouldn't put stealing my most prized possessions too. As for the Russian, that backstabbing bastard didn't have the right to see anything to do with my personal life anymore.

When I was downstairs, I saw that the door to the lounge was closed. Taking a moment to collect my thoughts and prepare myself for all possibilities that could result from this meeting, I pushed the door open and took satisfaction in seeing everyone's mouths open. Including Lissa and the skank's. They weren't on the turn were they?

Just as I was going to open my mouth and ask them why the hell they were all staring at me like some mother fucking alien, Christian held up a hand and breathed,

"Fucking hell, Rose!"

I walked over to the mirror, still annoyed at Lissa and Christian for staring at me like that, and full on pissed at the skank and her Russian for just being here. I looked into the mirror and for the second time that day, my heart stopped. Fucking hell.