CHAPTER 1

I had left the academy. I felt bad I had hurt Lissa I had used Adrian to get what I needed to complete the task that I was setting out on.

I was pulled into Lissa's head. She was crying hard into Christian's arms. "What's the matter Lis? Tell me what's wrong. What has happened? Lissa…" "Rose." That was all she was able to get out. I could feel the pain, hurt and betrayal of her feelings flowing through the bond. I could see that Christian didn't understand what Lissa was upset about but I knew. "Lissa what about Rose? What has happened that makes you this upset. Lis tell me." "She has left. She has left me." The tears came even harder now. "She loves Dimitri. She has gone to find and kill him. She left me for him. She left me." Understanding spread across his face. "She will be alright. This is Rose we are talking about. She is a bad ass. She loves you. She will be back." "I know you're right. But I can't help but worry about her. I miss her and I love her too. She is my best friend. She promised me she would be back but I just don't know." "I know Rose she will be back. Trust me Lis. She will, She loves you and she promised."

I was so glad she had Christian right then. I knew by looking at him through Lissa's eyes that he wasn't certain but he would say anything right then to calm her.

I pulled out of Lissa's head right then. I had t distance myself from her know. I had a job to do. I had to find him. I couldn't think his name or say it. Using it brought up to many memories. Memories I had to put n the back of my mind and forget about. I couldn't let them distract me from the task at hand. I had to be strong enough to kill him. I had to do this for him. I had made this unspoken promise between him and I. I had to be strong enough to do this. I couldn't allow myself any distractions. I would do this.

First stop to Missoula I had to finish setting up the account Adrian had made for me. I had no idea on how I was going to get there. I decided to start walking and I would just have to hitchhike. I figured I was safe enough I still had the silver stake they had given me no one had bothered to take it off me. So I was able to protect myself from any crazies.

The first car drove straight past me. Great. I heard another car coming, put my thumb out again and this time it pulled over. Yea my first stroke of luck. The passengers opened as I walked up. I stuck my head in to find a girl in her late twenties I guessed. "Where you headin'?" she asked. "Missoula. You going anywhere near there?" I responded. "Actually headin' there myself. Hope in. I'll give you a lift." "Thanks. I'm Rose by the way." I thought I had better at least give her my name we were going to be in a car for a few hours together. "Emily. Where you headin' to in Missoula?" "I need to go to the bank then I gotta head to the mall." "Okay. Where you coming from? I didn't think there was anything out here." "School, it's a private boarding school. I just had to get away." "Okay." I think she sensed I didn't want to say anymore so she dropped the questions.

I drifted off to sleep sometime after that. "Rose… Rose we are here." I woke up a little out of it. Then realized Emily was shaking me to wake up. We were sitting outside the bank. "Thanks, for the lift and dropping me off here and everything. Sorry about dropping off. I was just really tired." "That's cool. I know what you mean. Take care of yourself Rose. Bye." "Bye Emily."

I walked into the bank and up to the desk. It must have been near closing time because the bank was practically empty. "How can I help you?" asked the plump little lady behind the desk. "I need to see the manager. I'm Rose Hathaway. I'm here about the account that was set up for me by Adrian Ivashkov." I replied. "Ohh…. I'll just get him for you. Is there anything I can offer you?" "No thanks." She bustled off ad returned a few moments later with a balding man I presumed must be the manager.

"Hello Mrs. Ivashkov. I'm the bank manager Bill." What the hell I thought. What is he talking about. Ohhh Adrian was going to get it for this as soon as I saw him. "Hello Bill. Please call me Rose. I'm here to finalise the account that my husband set up for me." "Yes, yes right this way please Rose." I followed him into his office and her brought over a dozen pieces of paper for me to sign. Then he handed me a debit card. "Is there anything else I can help you with Rose?" "Would you please tell me how much is in this account?" "Ohh… I was told not to disclose that information to you Rose. I was to tell you that there is enough and if you should get low on funds more would be arranged into the account for you. Sorry. That was what Mr. Ivashkov said." "Thank you then." I figured I could find out at anytime by getting a receipt when I took money out at an ATM. I just hoped Adrian hadn't been to generous.

I walked to the mall. It was only 6 block away. I needed to buy a few things. New clothes a new bag and organize the first part of my trip.

I reached the mall. I walked into the first camping store I found and brought a new bag and some camo clothing. I payed with the cash that Adrian had given me which was quite lot and walked out. I walked into Target. I knew I had the cash to go to one of the expensive clothing shops but I figured I didn't need to abuse Adrian's generosity. I walked in and brought some jeans and singlets. Nothing to expensive but I wanted them to be hard wearing. I had a job to do. Kill strigoi and especially him. I walked out and walked past a designer store and saw a jacket I just had to have. I was long dark and leather. A female version of the coat Dimitri always wore. I checked inside and it had plently of places to hide weapons. Yes it was expensive but I had to have it. I think it was suppose to a coat out of some movie like Tomb Raider or Resident Evil.

I walked past a weapons store and saw the most amazing sword. A silver and steel black master piece. This I also decided I had to have. I walked in and pointed to it and asked the clerk how much. He said $1000. I thought cool I had way more then that in my pocket right now. "What is the blade made out of?" I queried. "It's a silver and steel composite. It is made in the ancient samurai method of folding and refolding the metal back on itself to make it extremely strong." Great I thought, better to decapitate the Strigoi with. "I'll take it." He reached under the counter and pulled out another one and handed it to me. I pulled it out of it's sheath and realised it wasn't sharpened. "Can I please have the one in the window." I knew that one was sharpened. "Well I can't sell sharpened weapons." I tipped me head down. The sword was no good to me if it wasn't sharp. The clerk looked at the back of my neck. I realised he must have seen my molina marks. "Well I'm not allowed to do this, but I can see you are another warrior and obviously in need of this." He walked over and took the sharpened on out of the window. To prove how sharp it was he dropped a piece of paper down on it and the paper beautifully sliced into two. "Why? And thankyou so much. You have no idea how much this means to me." "Please I can see you are a warrior, and are in need of this weapon. I can tell you have great fights ahead of you. Please take care of yourself." He handed me the sword. "Thank you so much." I reached into my pocket and pulled out 10 $100 bills. I went to hand them to him. "No. I cant take your money." "Please it is only far that I ay you for such a lovely weapon." I took his hand and placed the bills into it. I left quickly after that so he wouldn't be able to argue.

I had one more stop to make before I could leave. I had to purchase a plane ticket. I was going to Russia. The first stop on my journey. I was going to find his family. Hopefully they would be able to give me ideas on where to start looking. I also wanted to tell them everything. I no longer cared what people would think. I had lost half of myself. I purchased a ticket for the next day. I was flying out at 2pm.

The sun was setting and I realised I needed to find a motel to stay the night. I was tired and I needed sleep. I knew I had passed a hotel on the way here. I didn't care that it was cheap or fancy as long as it had a bed and a shower. I walked in and got the cheapest room they had. It was a middle class hotel so it meant it had room service. I hadn't realised up until then that I was famished. I ordered steak, a side salad, ice cream and cheesecake for dessert. I went and had a nice hot shower while I waited for it to arrive.

I ate every last bite. Then curled up into bed to sleep.

I was in a beautiful garden. "Adrian come out. I know you are there." I realised this garden was Adrian's grandmothers. It was beautiful. I had to admit. "Hello, little damphire. Nice to see you." I glared at Adrian. He looked worried, or scared might be a better worried. "What's wrong Adrian? You look a little afraid right now." His normal smirk returned to his face. I think he realised I wasn't actually mad or annoyed with him. He chuckled. "Nothings wrong little damphire. Happy to see you though." With that he walked over and gave me a hug. I returned the hug. I knew I owed him a lot right now.

Then I remembered what happened at the bank and I abruptly pulled away. "What was this business about Mrs. Ivashkov? Adrian. Care to explain?" I was using my better tell me straight or otherwise I might hurt you voice. Because Adrian's face lost it's smirk and became very serious. "Well what was I suppose to do? It sounded more official that I made the account for my secret wife then to help some run away girl. I'm sorry Rose I probably should have warned you. But I thought it would be a little funny if you found out that way. Sorry."

I couldn't be mad at him anymore about that. It did make sense. "Maybe you should have warned me. That may have been a better idea." I walked back over to him and hugged him. "Thank you for everything Adrian. I owe you." "Remember that and come back to me and Lissa Rose. We need you." That brought me back down to earth with a smash. "How is Lissa coping Adrian? Is she alright?" "She misses you Rose. You have no idea how much it is hurting her knowing she cannot help you or Dim." I cut him off there. "Please don't say his name. I can't cope with that right now." "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything." "I know Adrian. It's okay. I know. Please tell her that I love her and I will be back as soon as I can. And tell her I'm sorry about this but I have to. I can't let him be this way. I just have to." "I know Rose. I understand and so does Lissa. But please stay safe for us. And come back to us."

I noticed he was using a lot of us statements. I knew Adrian had liked me. I always assumed it was just get me in bed and have his way then leave me kinda thing. But now standing here in this dream I realised that he really did love me. I knew that I liked him no matter how much I had gripped about him. I looked up into his face and saw that he had been crying I was still hugging him. I could see so much emotion in his eyes being this close to him. And I kissed him on the cheek. "I promised didn't I. I will come back. I will be Lissa's guardian. I don't know how but I will. Just give sometime okay. I need to do this. Not just for him but for me too. I need to finish this. I need to be strong and finish this." Adrian looked down at me and wiped away a single tear that fell down my cheek. "Little damphire you are strong. I know you can do this because you are who you are. Nothing will stop you from accomplishing your goals. But please be safe and please come back. I love you. Goodnight little damphire." Everything went black then and I drifted into a dreamless sleep.

I woke the next morning feeling a little relaxed. I ordered breakfast and got them to call me a cab for 2 hours later. I got up and showered. I dressed in jeans and a brilliant red singlet. I packed everything into my new backpack. Including my stake and new sword. I would have to check it to get it on the plane. I had the plan to claim they were family heirlooms I was returning. That was the reason I had come up with the trip.

I made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare. While there I brought a English to Russian dictionary. I needed to learn a few basic lines to get me through and the rest I figures if I had the dictionary I could fudge my way through. So that was what I was going to do on the plane flight. Learn a few Russian phrases and sleep. It was a long flight.