Rose POV

I had just left, turning my back on the life I used to have. My friends: Lissa, Christian, Eddie. My parents: Abe, Janine. And the men I loved: Adrian, Dmitri. His face ever present in my mind. I could still remember how we used to be. Sneaking kisses during practice, the night in the cabin, the mansion in Siberia...

That was the reason I was in this mess. I still remember it like it was yesterday. Our bodies entwined in the sheets, the bites he left on my neck. He was stronger as a strigoi, it hurt. But my body loved it, I took him in me and we made love.

After escaping I launched the daring plan to save him, to bring him back. Although I loved adrian, a part of me ached for dmitri. I loved him more than any other man, this was something Adrian couldn't understand.

Once we brought him back he had told me that his love for me faded. I believed it. He was no longer the dmitri I knew, his eyes were dark and sad. He promised Lissa that he would give his life to protect her. I knew Lissa would be okay no matter what, she had dmitri now. She didn't need me. Love Fades, Mine has. Those words echoed continuously in my mind.

After my falling out with Dmitri in Church, I was on my way back to my room and I felt ill. I rushed to the restroom and puked. I had never felt this way in my whole life, something was off. I went to , she ran some blood tests and read the results loud and clear, I was pregnant. It was that night in Siberia, Dmitri the Strigoi and I had conceived a child. How it was possible, I had no idea.

My heart froze, I knew exactly what it was. It was Dmitri's, it was half-strigoi half-dhampir. I knew I couldn't keep it here. I could be raising a monster. So I fled. I took a cab to the airport and jumped in a plane to Seattle. It was the cheapest and most urgent flight I could get, I had to get away. This world, the world I had grown up in, the world of Guardians and royalty, it was no place for my future child.

I rested my head against the cold glass of the airplane window, gazing into the cloudy abyss through which we flew. I knew it wasn't right of me to steal money, but I had to. I was doing them a favor in leaving, I was doing all of them a favor, especially Dmitri.

In an hour, we had arrived in Seattle. I grabbed my one suitcase and took a cab to the city. I wasn't sure if i had enough money for a hotel, I wasn't even sure of what I was doing. I wandered through the streets feeling uneasy. Being on the run was one thing, but being pregnant with a half-strigoi demon child was way more difficult.

After I got tired of walking I went into a cafe and ordered a hot chocolate. I sipped it and I was instantly drawn back to the time that Dmitri made some hot chocolate for me. My fingers traced the rim of the mug. I felt so alone and so afraid. I wasn't even sure of what i was doing. For the first time in my life, I felt like i was truly alone.

I was lost in my thoughts when a woman with blonde hair and gray eyes sat across from me. She smiled, "hello!"

I smiled back, feeling slightly awkward, "Hi," I said.

"Mind if I sit here?" asked the woman.

"Not at all," I said, I lied.

The waitress brought her a mug filled with what appeared to be black coffee. The woman took a giant sip without flinching. I don't know how anyone could stomach the taste of black coffee. Her gray eyes lifted back up and met mine, "My name is Anya," the woman said.

"I'm.." I hesitated, "I'm Rose."

"That's a very pretty name," said Anya, "What're you running from?"

My eyes widened, she gestured to the single suitcase standing by my seat. I looked back at her and with no change in expression I said, "Just figured a change of scenery."

"I get that, I've always wanted to move south though. Somewhere really warm with lots of sun... basically not Seattle," the woman chuckled.

I smiled, saying nothing.

"You seem sad, Rose, what's on your mind?"

It was weird, this woman was suddenly asking me about my entire life, I just shook my head. "It's a mess."

"I understand, I've been in a similar place." Her eyes expressed concern, suddenly her phone beeped. She jumped and looked down at the time, "Gosh, I'm gonna be late! It was nice to meet you, Rose. I really hope that life sorts itself out for you. In fact," Anya reached into her pocket and pulled out a card, "you can call me anytime you want, I'd be happy to talk to you."

I took the card, "Thank you," I said. She ran off. I examined the card further

Anya Chernikova

Software Developer

General Surgery Resident - University of Washington

Classical Pianist

"Now those are some credentials," I muttered. Below she had listed her contact information.

I stuck the card in my bag. I was thinking about how things were at home. I was tempted to look inside Lissa's mind. But I couldn't. I was afraid.

I felt strange, not sure if it was the pregnancy, or Dmitri, or being away from home. I felt somewhat numb. It was a strange feeling for me. I've always felt very alive, but after that day in the church Love Fades, Mine has I felt numb.

Dmitri POV

I passed the test, with permission from the Queen I was pardoned and dubbed as A restored Dhampir. I was a free man, and my Guardian status was reinstated. I was going to meet with my previous assignment, Princess Vasilisa Dragomir.

I arrived at the door and Vasilisa jerked it open. She ran up to me and hugged me. "Oh Dmitri, come inside quickly." She pulled me in and closed the door behind me.

I walked in the room to find Vasilisa, Christian, Adrian, and Eddie. "What's going on?" I asked.

"It's Rose," said Lissa. My heart stopped. Roza. The Rose I had loved, the Rose I had hurt. I flinched at her mention, It hurt too much.

"She's disappeared," said Eddie. "I went to go find her this morning and her room was empty, she left a lot of her stuff, but it's clear that she went voluntarily."

Part of a guardian's training was deductive skills and tracking, Eddie was a trustworthy source. I looked at Lissa, worry plagued her face. I needed to do this, for my Lissa. I didn't want to bring Rose back, I didn't want to be near her again. But it pained Lissa, so I needed to search.

"Don't worry, Lissa," I said, I'll investigate further. Eddie followed me out the room and as I turned to leave Lissa collapsed into Christian's Arms and began to sob.

Where have you gone Roza?