Hiya everyone,

This is my first fanfic, so some constructive criticism would be brilliant. This chapter begins when Janine is dragging Rose away from Dimitri and he is being attacked but a Strigoi. I know this is a popular way to begin a fanfic, but it is just a starting point. So expect some new characters and some interesting plot lines to come from it. Anyways thank you for taking the time to read my fanfic and I hope you enjoy it.

Cazzie xx

Tears May Fall, But I'm Numb To The Core

"No!"

"No… please…please we have to help him! Dimitri!" By now I was screaming and sobbing uncontrollably as my mother dragged me through the trees.

"Shut up Rose! It's too late!"

We crossed the boundary of the campus and my mother flung me in to the grass. I curled up in a ball. I could hear the guardians running around me, I should help them but I just couldn't. All I could think was that Dimitri was gone…. gone forever…

Eventually, I blacked out and the frantic noises faded.

"Rose?"

I opened my bleary eyes to find my mother peering down at me. My eyes were raw and painful. I mentally shook myself but then I remembered that Dimitri was gone and the second realisation was much worse. After all the moments we'd shared, after all the challenges and dangers we'd faced together, fate had still torn us apart and ripped my heart and soul from my body leaving a lifeless shell.

I went to close my eyes again but my mother shook my shoulder gently.

"Rose, I'm going to take you to the infirmary. Lissa's there, she's doing an amazing job looking after everyone. But she's going to need you later on, you need to pull yourself together. Death is always going to be part of your life, your going to be a guardian." I knew that Lissa would need me, I knew there would be moroi and dhampirs who needed help desperately. But, I knew I would be no good to them, not now that my soul was shattered.

I made a resolve, Lissa meant so much to me I could help her at least. So I made myself stand, for Lissa. I hobbled across campus, my eyes streaming, for Lissa. I would be there for her even when I was broken because we were like sisters and the moroi always come first…

My mother left me in the infirmary. I found a corner in the hallway to curl up in and watch everyone in an attempt to distract myself and not let myself think. The hallways were very overcrowded. There was blood everywhere and more than one person to a bed. People cried out in pain. I was envious of them; at least they could feel pain. Whilst all I felt was numbness so deep that I thought I'd never be whole again.

I had been there for what seemed like hours. Spirit was really starting to have a negative effect on Lissa, but she wouldn't stop using it. I gave up trying to talk her out of using it and went back to my corner; she wanted to help everyone because she's incredibly selfless and I wouldn't ever try to change her.

That was when I saw him.

The guardians came running in supporting a savaged body. I recognised him immediately. It was Dimitri. My heart wrenched. Please, please, please! Don't let him be dead, don't let them have bitten him!

I ran towards him. There was so much blood; there were cuts and slashes all over his body, as if he'd been tortured. How could those bastards do such awful things to him?

The nurse was trying to push me out of the way as the guardians were trying to hide Dimitri from view. I lashed out, but some guardians restrained me. I was told I had to wait, he needed treatment immediately, but they didn't think he was going to make it. They slammed the door shut on me and I slid to the floor and waited… and waited….

Hoping that fate would let us be together.