Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy, its characters, or Christian Ozera (sadly)

Chapter 1

The pitch black night was the perfect back drop for things to go horribly wrong. What a cliché had been created so perfectly. The cold wind whipping through the brittle trees with that eerie whistling it uses on the scariest occasions. Things were lurking outside the Academy waiting for certain people to come out either alone or together. The strogi stood tall and broad with his eight followers packed behind him as the chosen human staked the chanted ground swiftly. An evil grin spread over his lips as he waltzed to the pleased mortal. It vulnerable eyes wide with excitement before being struck with fear in the seconds it took for the strogi to slice open the flesh of the man's skin. The rich crimson trickled out before the he let the thing sag and fall uselessly to the dirt floor.

Adrenaline pumped ferociously through burnt veins as he waited for the perfect moment to strike. His leader had told him about the specific group and their powers. Even though he knew exactly what thy looked like after a month of tailing he still carried the list of their names he had first been handed a couple months before. The master had not cared how long it took but he had to have those 'children' after all they had done, of course no specifics were mentioned. He tugged out the crumpled piece of paper from his back pocket and stared at the scribbled names:

1. Rose Hathaway

2. Lisa Dragomir

3. Christian Ozera

4. Dimitri Belovic

5. Eddie Castiel

Just five kids, how dangerous could they be, but he dare not question orders. After he had heard all they had done in a short time he knew the reasons for the capture just not why it would be so difficult. Then he saw them, their tight group strolling innocently through the dirt path by the stable brick wall. What fools. The girl called Rose was speaking with the Eddie boy in the back, while the blonde one, Lisa, clung to the blue eyed one, Christian, up in front. The guardian, Dimitri, stood farther off with his head on swivel for any danger, but he was not as alert as he needed to be.

The leader strogi whispered hushed orders as they slid forward into the now unprotected area. The strong creatures briskly flipped over the high brick wall and surrounded their prey. They were, however, not to kill them. Not yet anyway. The strongest led by grabbing the guardian in an iron grip and covering his nose and mouth until the struggling stopped. Check.

Rose stood with Eddie discussing battle strategies; Lisa and Christian had grown bored with their conversation and moved farther ahead. Rose did not want to know what they were discussing. Dimitri had wandered off to the side, the guardian he is…where was Dimitri?

"Eddie, where did Dimitri go?"

"I don't know, maybe he got bored with just watching us."

"He would have told me before just leaving." Then iron arms struck at her from behind and she pulled her stake out ready for battle.

"I would not do that if I were you." A thick accent beckoned from the trees before a tall strogi stepped out. His muscles rippled largely and he towered over her head by at least a foot.

"And why not?" Rose spat twisting the stake toward the new comer. The strogi simply smirked before snapping his fingers and showing his prizes. Three strogi stepped forward, each with somebody in their arms. A thick and tall strogi had a limp Dimitri thrown over his shoulder a tight arm un wielding on his lower body. The one next to him was a slender woman with broad shoulders that clasped around a wide eyed Lisa. Her eyes flickered between Rose and the limp body held next to her. The third strogi was the tallest but not quit as built, with an unconscious Christian draped over his arms. Christian's legs almost brushed the ground and the strogi had to toss him over his shoulder so he wasn't dragged. How thoughtful of them.

"Is that a good enough reason?" The strogi spat raising his eyebrows high and waiting for the inevitable; Rose let the stake fall to the ground and grind the dirt by her feet. "Very well, now we shall be going."

Rose didn't get to answer before something struck her skull and the world swirled away into oblivion.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The dingy basement came into view as Rose awoke groggily. Scanning the room, in her guardian style, to see the rest of her friends were wide eyed as well. Lisa was curled in Christian's arms and had tear stained cheeks and raw bitten lip. She was staring up at someone with complete terror in her jade eyes.

"I love what you've done with the place; the renovations must have cost a fortune." Christian snided with a wide smirk, staring up at the strogi confidently.

"Yes, I was told of your humor." The strogi spat with a thick accent a smile creeping in his tone.

"I'm touched; I had no clue that I was the topic of discussion in the strogi community." Christian chuckled back not breaking his stare.

"We have plan for all of you, and there is somebody you need to meet." With that the strogi motioned to a barrel chested guard who opened the thick door. An older strogi entered with a wide grin cracking his lips. A light gray was dusting dark hair and paintings of wrinkles were sparsely split on his paled skin. A deep bloody red ring was encircling his eyes with something deadly edging to the sparkling surface.

"Hello," He greeted strolling to the center of the room casually with bright fangs peeping over his split lips. "You have no idea how long I have waited to meet you."

"I'm flattered, really, and you know how to treat a guest but…" Christian started before being cut off.

"You as charming as I heard Ozera, would you care to hear my plans?" The strogi teased shrugging innocently and chuckling happily. Christian gave a uncaring shrug not letting his smirk slide off. "Perhaps I should introduce myself first, I am Obron."

"That's an interesting name." Rose giggled from her spot on the wall.

"Yes, perhaps you remember my friends who captured you. Unfortunately they were murdered, by you. So you may call this a revenge task if you want and now you see how long I have been longing for this moment."

"Sorry, but we've killed a lot of strogi I don't quit remember." Rose spat leaning forward in intensity.

"You will remember them. Here are a few hints, they knew Ozera's parents and you have marks on your neck from them. You first marks." Rose gasped at realization of who they were along with the rest of the group, "Aww, so you do remember. Well' I am here to finish the job."