It is ironic to think that whilst trying to hide from a society of vampires who were desperately hunting you down that one of your few allies' would be one of the highest royal vampires in our world and nephew to the moroi queen – Adrian Ivashkov. We first met when I was hiding out in L.A searching for a place to settle for a few weeks before moving on; if my time on the run with my best friend Lissa had taught me anything it was not to stay in the same place because it's that sense of security which ultimately lets people pick up on your mistakes. Lissa. Just saying her name in my head already made my heart tug with pain, nothing left in me but the grief of losing the most treasured person in my existence. But I had failed her; I had let them take her. I had failed the most basic principle that ruled my entire existence: they come first. I had been weak when I let them take her from me, let us be separated because I was unprepared, young and ultimately no match for guardians who have spent their entire lives in training. I, on the other hand, was a dropout that only completed half of her training and delirious on blood loss. This was seven months ago but to say that it was eradicated from my memory would be a lie I would be ashamed of despite my no more vitreous reputation. …

Flashback

I woke up screaming, my piecing shrieks shattering any silence that previously consumed our small apartment. Lissa's angelic face was leaning over me, concern written deep within those deep emerald green eyes as she held me until the tears that had steadily been flowing down my face dried and my tears were replaced by soft whimpers.

"This isn't normal, let me help you and we can go to the doctor or something" Lissa said softly, "what if something is wrong, this isn't you Rose!"

I just shook my head, "it's too risky Liss, and I will not put you or our location in danger just to find out I am under the weather! Being risky is not a liberty we have anymore Liss, if they find us then they will drag us back and this will have all been useless! I need to protect you and I will not put us in danger of being marked on the map for me".

"Then let me protect you Rose, you need help. We don't know what's happening and we need help. You can't always do this on you own."

Lissa sighed, "I will go get you some water".

I lay there thinking of how messed up this whole thing had become. We had left the academy to protect Lissa but why did I sense that it was only delaying the inevitable. Then again, all we needed to do was last for another year, make it to 18 and graduation, and then we would be free. We had been forced to avoid using Lissa's bank account as it could easily be traced so we had to make our own way for the last year staying in hostels and student housing just trying to finish our education. But there it was…that feeling of doubt.

That's when the sound of the front door being kicked down startled me from my musings.

I lurched forward racing to get to the door needing to get to Lissa, to protect her. Pelting down the stairs, I turned into the kitchen only to freeze at what I say. It was swarming with guardians, Lissa kneeling in the middle of the circle being held by a tall dark haired guardian with his back to me. I screamed. Their gazes snapped to me, instantly springing to action. My eyes met Lissa's as she screamed at me to run, to get out and to save myself. But I felt the message through the bond – the silent message which those around us couldn't hear – and new what I had to do. She would have the best guardians surrounding her even if it was just to make sure that she didn't escape but that with both of us trapped, neither of us could help. I had a chance to help both of us and me standing there screaming until they captured both of us was useless. I took one last longing look at her, a silent promise transpiring between us. But as I whipped round to turn back up the stairs, I caught the eye of the man that had had his back to me and nearly stumbled to a halt. Those deep brown eyes held me in an intense stare nearly breaking my will to escape. Lissa's scream broke me out of my retrieve as she was being taken out of the back door. With one last look at Lissa now being held by the mysterious guardian, I turned and tore back up the stairs, now with three or four guardians hot on my tail. I slammed the door as I reached the bedroom hoping that it would slow them down and raced over to the window. I would have to be careful as I didn't know what type of perimeter the guardians had run around the apartment. Gently I eased myself outside onto the window ledge just as the guardians burst through the door. Without looking down below, I closed my eyes and jumped.

The landing sent shocks through my body, my anklet twisting in an unnatural position as I landed with a thud. This alerted the guardians on the ground of my presence but I was too quick. I turned on my heels and ran…

End of flashback

It hurt me still to this day but I had made my choice and I was going to make sure that I made Lissa proud. Over time, through checking through the bond, I watched as she rebuilt her life back at the academy. She made new friends, found new people that meant the world to her and whilst she always felt the loss of me, she had a new life now. Dimitri, whose name I had now learnt, also played a huge part in her life, becoming her sanctioned guardian and a rock for her. But there is something coming, something that will change the entire society that we know of and no one is safe.

After meeting Adrian, I have learnt the truth of the world we live in and with the changing world, I have changed. I am nearly ready, my training is nearly complete and the world had better watch out because I am the new Rose Hathaway.