The wonderful Richelle Mead owns the Vampire Academy world!

Chapter 2

An hour or so after Abe left, the usual five guardians came to escort me to the gym. I had developed a routine with them to my benefit. I watched them open my doors while I stood on the far side of the cell like they had instructed me on my first day. Two guards entered my cell; one approached me with handcuffs, while the other stood in front of the cell door. I allowed him to handcuff me and escort me out of my cell. All five guardians surrounded me as we all made our way to the gym.

"So how much weight are you pressing now Hathaway? I have seen you through those weights around in the gym like they weigh nothing."

I usually didn't speak to anyone, but this guard had always seemed nice to me. I think he had always tried putting an extra piece of bread on my food tray for me and anyone who gives me extra food is a friend in my eyes.

"Around 105" I lied, I didn't want them to know exactly how strong I had become. It's always good for your opponent to underestimate you.

"Pretty good for a chick I guess." He responded laughing. I gave him a small smile in return

We finally made it to the gym. This was it. I knew exactly what would happen next. The guards would lead me into the gym, two would escort me away from the door and one would un-cuff me. Two guardians would guard the door and one would wait in the hall way. I had to render all of them unconscious before they could call for back up.

As soon as guardian one un-cuffed me I elbowed him right in the temple knocking him out cold. I was on guardian two before he even knew what happened, it only took a knee to the groin and a knee to the nose and he was out as well. By this time the two guardians at the door had noticed and one was advancing on me, while the other stayed back and blocked the door. Guardian three ran toward me and lunged, but I easily blocked him and landed a kick in his gut. I didn't give him time to regain his balance before I jumped on his back and got him in a choke hold. It didn't take long before he was out as well. I turned to guard number four just as he was reaching for his radio. I couldn't let him call for back up. I would never get out of here if he did. I grabbed the stake off of the guardian I had just rendered unconscious and threw it. It pierced his radio, and unfortunately his hand. He screamed out in pain. I ran up to him and knocked him out as well. I felt bad for him. I peeked through the window on the door. Unfortunately guardian number five was on high alert now. I saw him running down the hallway stake in hand. He burst through the door like some sort of over rated badass that he thought he was. I would enjoy this. It didn't take much I jumped him from behind, being sure to keep the stake away from me. I took the butt of my stake which I had taken and knocked the fifth guardian in the head. He was out. The whole fight took about two minute's total. I had to get moving though. I had no idea how long these guys would stay out. I slipped the spirit charmed ring on my finger and ran out of the gym. I made my way down the hall way without seeing anyone.

I made my way to the front of the jail. I knew I would have to walk out the front door. I really hoped Lisa's ring worked. I opened the door that lead up to the main floor. I was met by two guardians.

"What are you doing down here?" one of the guardians asked. I didn't have time for excuses. I walked up to him and punched him right in the temple knocking him out. The other guardian grabbed me from behind so I head-butted him in the nose and elbowed him in the gut. That got him off my back. I landed a roundabout and he collapsed on the ground out cold. I stole his keys to open the door. It opened up to the office and just past that was the exit doors. It was day time. The sun never looked so beautiful to me; it had been weeks since I had seen it. I tried not to get too excited; I still had to get out of here. I calmly walked past the guardians sitting at the office desk. Obviously Lisa's ring was working because they did not react at the sight of me. I walked right through the front door.

As soon as I was out of sight I ran as fast as I could to Lisa's apartment. Since it was day I didn't see anyone. I banged on her door; she opened it immediately like she had been waiting just on the other side. I felt relief wash through our bond. I gave her a smile and walked in. She shut and locked the door behind me.

"Oh my God Rose! I have been a nervous wreck!"

"Yeah I know" I replied laughing a little. I was on a high from my escape.

"Lisa we don't have time to catch up and talk right now. You need to pack, and I need clothes too. I also need a shower."

She ran to her closet and tossed me a duffel bag.

"I thought you might need this. I am also already packed too."

"Great. Abe will be waiting for us in the front of your building in twenty minutes. Please call Christian and Adrian. Ask them to come to your room right now. I need to talk to them and you of course."

"Sure" she started dialing numbers.

I grabbed some underwear a pair of jeans and a black tank top and headed for the shower.

Unfortunately I didn't have time to really enjoy my shower. I quickly dressed and then brushed out my hair. I glimpsed at my reflection in the mirror while brushing my teeth. I had dark circles under my eyes and I was pale, which was no surprise to me since I hadn't seen any sun in at least a month.

I heard the front door open and close. I pulled myself into Lisa's head. It was Christian and Adrian. She hadn't told them I was here yet. Deep down I felt she was worried about how they would react. If they got caught helping a dangerous criminal then they would be in jail too.

"So what's up? What do you need to tell us that is so important?" Christian asked

I was about to open the bathroom door to walk out and greet them but there was another knock, more like banging actually. My heart went to my throat. Shit! What if they found me?

Lisa walked calmly to the door and opened it. It was Dimitri. He looked panicked. His guardian mask was nowhere in sight. Very interesting, I thought. Either he was panicked because he thought I might be in danger, or because a supposed murder that held a grudge against him was on the loose. The thought of that made me laugh.

"Dimitiri. What is wrong?" Lisa asked

"Rose has escaped. Adrian jumped up from his seat. He had a huge smile on his face. Christian looked like he was in shock. They hadn't moved a muscle. I thought now would be a good time to make my presence known. I walked out of the bathroom and leaned against the door frame. No one noticed me. They were all listening to Dimitri.

"They have no idea how she did it. At least eight guardians were taken down, and she just disappeared."

"Actually it was only seven" I spoke and all eyes turned to me "But who is really counting, right?" I said with a smile. I walked back over to my duffel bag that was sitting on the bed and zipped it up. I still felt all the eyes on me. Finally Lisa spoke.

"This is what I needed to tell everyone." She said in a small voice. She sounded a little scared. "And Rose has something to tell us."

Adrian practically ran over to me when he was able to move, and grabbed me up in a tight hug.

"Little dhamphir. I have missed you so much. My dreams do not do you justice." He whispered in my ear.

"I've missed you too." I replied. "We have to hurry though" He let go of me but grabbed my hand instead.

"Queen Tatiana left me a mission. I can't go into details right now because there is no time. It involves Lisa and her family." I gave Lisa a small smile. I felt the curiosity and worry through the bond. "Lisa and I are leaving. I promised I would not leave you behind again." I looked at Lisa and she had tears in her eyes.

"Adrian…" I started but he interrupted.

"You are not saying good-bye to me Rose. I am coming with you whether you like it or not." He grabbed me by my forearms and shook me lightly. I could have easily broken away but I didn't. I let him hold me. I would soon be breaking his heart.

"I'm not going to tell you that you can't come, Adrian. But I've changed; I can't have a relationship with you right now, if you come then do it for Lisa, not me."

Adrian looked deeply into my eyes, I could see the hurt in his but mostly it was worry.

"I'm coming too" Christian said "You might need my mad skills" He said breaking the silence and flexing his muscles. I rolled my eyes. "Whatever flamey"

It was time to go. "We have to go" I grabbed my duffel bag and threw it over my shoulder and then grabbed Lisa's as well.

I headed for the door but Dimitri blocked my way. He held out his hand to me.

"I will take those" he said gesturing to mine and Lisa's duffel bags.

"I think I can handle them Guardian Belikov" I answered with no emotion. "Are you gracing us with your presence on this trip?" I asked him sarcastically.

"I will go to protect Lisa. I owe her at least that."

"Of course you do." He looked at Lisa like she was a saint. At least I knew she would be protected on this trip. My feelings didn't matter now; I had to complete this mission for Lisa. She comes first. I slipped Lisa's spirit ring on my finger once again before walking out the door. I had no idea what I looked like, nor did I care as long as I didn't look like myself.

A black SUV was waiting outside for us just like Abe had promised. However, Abe was nowhere in sight. He must be meeting us at the air strip. It probably wouldn't look right for all of my closest friends and my lawyer to be leaving court right after my escape. I got in the SUV right behind Lisa and Christian. Adrian followed me in and then Dimitri got in the passenger's seat. We made our way to the Court gate. I was silently praying to myself that we made it out. Lisa might have to use compulsion… or Adrian. If things got really bad I would just take these guardians out as well. Either way I was going to get out of Court. The guardian stopped us. Abe's guard rolled down his window and handed the Court guard a couple of papers. The Court guard looked over the papers and then looked inside the SUV. He nodded his head once and then opened the gates. We drove off toward freedom.

"What was on those papers?" I asked

"Orders for Lisa, Christian and Adrian to leave court, with a dangerous criminal on the loose we had to get your closest friends out of Court just in case you tired to contact them." Abe's guard laughed while he told me this. "Before you ask, Abe compelled the office lady yesterday to give us these orders and told her to forget about it." Okay, my Dad was a genius but there was no way I would tell him this. His head is already big enough.

It did make me curios though. I wonder who I looked like, maybe another guardian. Before I had time to reach for the mirror Dimitri answered my thoughts. We always seemed to know what the other one was thinking.

"And of course the Royal Moroi always travel with a feeder and that's where you come in Rose" Dimitri said to me with a smirk on his face. I reached over the back of the driver's seat for the rear view mirror. Sure enough I looked like some drugged out feeder with ugly blond hair and pale skin. I glared at Dimitri and then at Lisa. She looked back at me apologetically. I took the ring off my finger and placed it in my pocket. I might need it later but now I was safe enough behind tinted windows.

I laid my head back on my seat, trying to relax. I felt a headache coming on. I expected it being as we were not in the wards now so I tried blocking out the pain and the ghosts. However it seemed as the further away from court we got the worse my headache got. I started rubbing my temples hoping to ease the pain some. It didn't work. The pain kept coming stronger and stronger with each beat of my heart. It felt as if my head would explode. I opened my eyes and seen black shadows around me. I gave a whimper of pain and closed my eyes again.

"Rose, what's wrong?" Adrian asked concerned. He pulled my hands away from my face. I couldn't answer the pain was becoming unbearable. Why couldn't I block this out? I have done it so many times before… Why was I having so much trouble this time? The pain rose and peeked then rose some more. I was sure I was going to die. I heard Adrian and Lisa screaming for Abe's guardian to pull over. I needed to find out what his name was.

"I can't pull over; we have to get to the air strip. They will be looking for her." He said. Then I heard someone else screaming… oh wait that was me. I dared a peek one more time; I looked up into Adrian's worried eyes and then blacked out.