Shattered Souls
Chapter Two
Sunlight sucks

My lair was anything but ordinary. It was badass, a place Strigoi like me dreamed to live but instead were living in some dumpy sewers on the main street. As Strigoi could be a bit of a struggle to find the right place to live, in the night we are indestructible and fearless but during the day we became vulnerable. My "homie" little cabin was modern and slick. Filled with the best tinted windows money could buy.

For me, the day time sucked. It was boring having to stay locked up and there wasn't much to do except bring a snack home, and I unfortunetly hadn't gotten round to that today.

With a heavy sigh, I fell back onto my blood-red leather couch. My mind was still reeling from what Leo had told me a few hours earlier. For some reason I always felt like I needed time to prepare myself before seeing people from my past. I don't mean preparing as in a few deep thoughts I meant preparing for weeks and even months, so I could do this right. I remembered an old conversation I once had with my 'brilliant' maker when I had held back from striking against the court. Now, looking back I really wished I'd just gotten it over with.

I barged in before slamming my fist down on the kitchen table. "I'm going to kill them!" I roared.

Leo didn't even spare me a glance, he was too busy drinking from some blonde bimbo on the couch.

"I mean what the hell is wrong with them? Don't they get the fucking message!" I gritted my teeth so hard I thought they might chip. "I don't want to be saved!" I spat the last word.

I heard the blonde girl Leo was draining take her last breath before her heart stopped. Leo sighed before pushing her off the couch, she fell on the floor with a gentle thud. "It's never as fun when they're dead." He muttered, dissapointed. Finally he turned to me. "Is your ex-lover and ex-bond mate still looking for you?"

I ignored his taunting tone. "Yes."

We were silent for a few moments, my head felt like it was spining. I turned when Leo suddenly stood up from the couch.

I frowned. "Where are you going?"

He was casually putting his grey coat on, it looked like something from the 50's. "You always say you're going to kill them but you never do. It's pathetic. So, I will do it for you. Consider it a favour. I will kill Dimitri Belikov and Vasilissa once and for all, and then you can stop this childish complaining."

Leo grabbed the door knob but I was in his face before he could open it. "Don't. even. think. about it." I hissed bearing my fangs.

Leo was the one Strigoi I had never become aggressive towards. It wasn't because he was the person who created me, it was because he was the oldest, most powerful and scary being I had ever known. If Leo was to get to Dimitri and Lissa, they would be gone. Permanantly. I mean, I had no doubt with Dimitri's skill he could put up a damn good fight against Leo but in the end I knew even my great Comrade would be no match for the Strigoi standing infront of me.

And though that is what I wanted, I was going to be the one to do it. Needless to say I was expecting a terrifying fight after talking back to Leo.

I stood there, tense and ready - but it never came.

Leo was completely uneffected and had not so much as flinched when I had charged up to him. He had expected it. His eyes narrowed as he regarded me with some sort of interest. It was unnerving. He let out a small breath, so silent no human would hear. "What is it with you?" He asked calmly, although it looked more like he was talking to himself.

I hadn't expected the quiet change of mood. I took a step back. "What do you mean?"

He turned his head on the side. "The way you react to them... it's something... something I have not once, in all my years come across. Most of us - when we change - we no longer feel attached to those we once..." he shook his head in disgust, "..'loved'"

I was going to argue that that wasn't true, when Dimitri had been turned he had still felt an attachment to me, but I didn't feel like having that conversation now. Frankly, I didn't feel like having this conversation. Leo didn't think I still cared about them, did he? Because of course I didn't. I wouldn't and I couldn't. "Don't be ridiculous." I said straightening. "It's just.. if anyone's going to kill them. It will be me, and only me."

I remembered back when Dimitri was a Strigoi and was sending me letters at the academy, he had wrote a similar thing. Strigoi became possessive over their former friends, that was all it was. It wasn't any of this bull shit Leo was making up in his head.

Leo looked unconvinced, but also seemed to become bored of the topic. I could be grateful for that. "Hmm. Well when are you attacking the court?"

"Soon." I said.

He raised an eyebrow. "When is that?"

"What?"

"Soon."

I shook my head, annoyed. "Soon - as in whenever I want." All gratefullness was lost. I hated Leo. I hated him, and all his questioning. "It's none of your damn buisness anyway."

"You came here to me, Rose." I thought I saw his lips twitch but his eyes were blank as usual.

I really regretted coming now. Might as well get it over with. "I came here," I started. "To see if you would reconsider." When I had first come up with the plan to attack Court Leo had said he would not assist - why? I didn't know.

He looked at me for some time before saying "No."

"No?"

"No."

I growled. "Why? Why won't you help me?" Stupid, selfish bastard.

There was a clear difference in Leo and I's voice. It was another way to tell the age difference in Strigoi years. Because I was still young my voice still held many emotions, anger, annoyance, sadness. Leo's was blunt. Always blunt and chillingly calm, I never understood what mood he was in.

He leaned down so he was just inches away from my face. I could feel the coolness radiating off his skin white skin. "Because I don't think you're going to do it."

I clenched my fists. He thought I was weak, I realised. "You're wrong!"

He wasn't.

That was 8 months ago and yet still no attack. What was wrong with me?

This was my chance. I had to do this before more of my men got themselves killed. I wondered what it would feel like knowing that Dimitri and Lissa were no longer on this earth. A huge, annoying weight lifted off your shoulders, I told myself

Hours later and the terrible sun had finally set. I felt free again. I picked up my phone and made a few calls... that was the one bonus of knowing Leo, since he had been around so long he knew a hell of a lot of other Strigoi that I had met along the way. Right now I was calling Strigoi in different cities to keep a look out for Dimitri and Lissa. But don't kill them.

One of the guys in Missisipi, Ashton laughed on the other line. "If I come across Queen Vasilissa Dragomir, you expect me not to kill her?" He laughed again. "I don't think so."

This Ashton guy didn't know me as well as some of the other Strigoi, but he would. "If you so much as lay a hand on her I will slice you of your skin and watch you burn in the summer sun"

It was quiet on the other end of the line for a while before I heard him snicker. "Fuck off." He said quickly before hanging up.

"Bastard."

I had moved around a lot before deciding to stay where I was now. I had planned on moving again last month, but honestly travelling on a plane was a bitch.

I called another name in my phone list. His name was Rick, he was a guy I knew early on when I was first turned.

"Rick? It's Rose... Rose Hathaway." I said, I'm sure my tone gave away that this wasn't going to some nice little chit-chat.

There was a small pause. "Oh, Rose.. Leonardo's little puppet?"

What did he just say to me?

"Excuse me? I am not Leo's puppet! That is just fucking ridiculous." I started pacing around the room. "Did he tell you that? Because I hardly see the guy! And when I do it's because he's stalking and-"

"Jesus Christ. I was kidding, fuck." Rick replied gruffly. I could here some noise in the background, it was distant screaming.

"Well, good." I must have sounded like an idiot now. I asked the obvious. "What's that noise?"

He let out a cold laugh. "The boys and I just totally raded this community full of blood whores." He said proudly.

I didn't know why, but that made me feel a little sick. It's not like I had never 'raded' a community of blood whores before, because I actually had. But I knew Rick wasn't just drinkin' and leavin'. He was killing them all. Of course I didn't say what I was thinking, I had more important things to worry about then the pointless lives of blood whores. "How lovely. Anyway, the reason I called.." more screaming - "Is because- Rick, can you just- like - stop killing people while your on the phone?"

I could just imagine it - this Strigoi walking around, attacking dhampir women, drinking their blood all while talking on a mobile.

I heard slurrping which indicated he was currently drinking. Now that's just rude. I ignored it, anyway and continued asking what I'd asked everyone else.

I knew he had finished drinking when the line finally fell silent. It was a while before he spoke next, "Oh yeah, they were here."

For a moment I was unsure if I had heard him right. "They- wait what? They have been there?"

"Yeah, that bastard Belikov was here threatening everyone. Don't know who the hell he thinks he is, now that he's not a Strigoi anymore. Last week I heard he got a hold of Jeremy." He laughed. "Got him good too. He was asking where you were staying."

I gribbed the phone so tight I knew it was close to snapping. "And you never thought to tell me this?"

I was sure he would have shrugged. "Nah. I've been busy."

"Where did you last see him?" I growled. "My patience for people like you is running extremely thin."

"Hey don't get nasty with me," he growled back. "And what do you mean by 'people like me' baby, you are just like me."

"Ok first of all, don't call me 'baby'. Secondly, I am not like you. I sometimes wonder if you even have half a brain!"

"What are you talking about?"

"You. Destroying villages of Blood whores is fun and all but what if every other Strigoi gets the same idea. Less then 8% of the worlds population are dhampirs and you are getting rid of them! And I don't know about you but I prefer my meals half vampire then completely human." It was true, though Moroi had the best tasting blood, dhampir's were a close second. Don't get me wrong human's blood tastes great, but was kind of dull compared to the sweet, sweet taste of a vampire. "And what if the Alchemists catch you? We are already in enough shit with them as it is."

I heard a low, dangerous growl. This was just getting me no where.

"Are you really growling at me? What are we, wearwolves now?"

"I don't appreaciate your smart mouth Hathaway. I wonder how pretty it will look ripped open."

"Probably just as 'pretty' as your face looks now."

"What?"

"Turn around."

There was only one "blood whore" community here in Seattle, and I was only living a few miles away. In the small minutes I was talking to Rick, I had run here.

Rick tried to contain his shock, but was failing misrably. He obviously didn't know I was living in the same town as him.

I looked around, if I had still been dhampir, I would have been sick. I was stood in one of the villages homes. On my way up I had passed about 10 dead dhampir's who just minutes ago had gruesome deaths thanks to Rick.

A young women who would have been attractive if not for all the blood and the fact she was slowly dying was clung to Rick's shoulder.

"You gonna finish that?" I asked nodding towards her. Before he could answer I had lunged the girl against the wall drinking the remains of her blood. I hadn't come here planning to kill anyone, and I certainly didn't like sloppy seconds but the stentch of blood everywhere was overwelming and I didn't have enough control of my cravings to resist.

When I was finished I let the girl fall and licked my lips. Rick glared at me. "She was mine. What are you doing here? I thought you said we shouldn't kill the dhampirs."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh please, she was already long gone. I came here because I have questions. And you're going to answer them." I put my hands in the short black leather jacket I was wearing.

Rick raised one thick black eyebrow. I thought it was strange, and ugly considering he had light brown hair. "Am I now?"

"Yup."

"I don't answer to anyone..." he paused and licked his lips, and his eyes shone for a different kind of hunger. Red ringed eyes slowly looked me up and down mentally undressing me. Was he seriously trying to seduce me? "Not unless I get something in return." He said.

Before his eyes could make there way back to my face my right hand was around his throat while my left hand pushed him against the brick wall. "I don't have time for games." I glared. "Where was Jeremy when he spoke to Dimitri?"

Ignoring me, Rick pulled his knee up before kicking me in the stomach, making me stumble a few steps back. His eyes were blazing more then normal and I knew that was from all the blood he had just drank. "I don't know, and I don't care. If I was Jeremy, I would have killed Belikov." He spat the word 'Belikov'.

I clenched my fists. Dimitri wasn't a stranger to the Strigoi world, everyone knew of him. He was a miracle and a threat. Many of the Strigoi I knew now had once worked for him. I realised now Rick was probably one of them.

Before I could think much more I had lunged, trying to put as much weight as I could into knocking Rick back into the wall. It worked, his head hitting the stone and before he could retaliate I punched him. He went to kick me again but I expected it, dodging it before delivering another blow to his face. He was at a disadvantage being cornered against the wall. I smirked and my hand went out, reaching for his throat again.

"You know what Rick? I don't believe you. In fact, I think you would make sure you knew exactly where Belikov is because the thought of him worries you, probably because you were once his scared little bitch. So, tell me now or so help me I will-" I froze and so did Rick, catching noise of two cars pulling up in the driveway. "Shit." I whispered.

"Alchemists are here." Rick said as we listened to their footsteps reach the house.

I sighed. "You and your 'boys' must have alerted the neighbours!"

Rick shoved me hard off him. I was about to knock him back but thought better of it. "Fucking alchemists." I said to myself. From the corner of my eye I saw Rick make his way for the window. "Scared of humans?" I teased.

He snorted. "I don't wish for the others to find out I got caught killing, again." In the 'vampire world' Strigoi had some kind of silent agreement with Alchemists, we weren't meant to publicly kill. Actually, we weren't meant to kill at all but obviously we did we just made sure it never got noticed. It was a good vs evil situation and though I thought it would be easier if all Alchemists were dead, we didn't kill them because we needed them to cover our tracks when it came to cleaning up bodies and keeping vampires out of the news headlines. One thing we could agree on was that we didn't want humans to know of any vampire existence. If they did it would put a worldwide target on all vampires including Moroi and Dhampirs.

"I'm not done with you!" I growled but he was already gone.

Glancing around at the mess of dead bodies, I realised I should leave too or else I would be the blame for this sloopy - badly done mess. I was half way to the window when I heard a small gasp.

I turned to look at the wide-eyed girl staring at me with complete horror on her face. The smell of her fear filled the room. I watched, curious, as her skin turned as pale as mine. "Oh God." She whispered.

I smirked. "Not quite."

Sydney Sage, an alchemist I knew when I was a dhampir darted her eyes to the young dead girl at my feet.

"Hey, that wasn't my fault." I said defensively. Well, not really..

Sydney was shaking but seemed to be frozen in her spot. I could hear other alchemists slowly making their way up the stairs. "You.. your.." Sydney stuttered.

"Oh you didn't know?" I frowned and was suprised she hadn't heard of my awakening, and a little offended. "Hmm, well I guess I really am an evil creature of the night now aren't I?" Before she could stutter another word I jumped out the window just as the rest of the alchemists entered the room.

I felt annoyed when I returned home and realised I hadn't got my answer from Rick and I had no idea where he lived. Dammit.

Briefly I thought about Sydney. Would she know where Dimitri and Lissa were staying? Could she find out? Had she spoken to them? Considering up until 7 minutes ago she didn't even know I was Strigoi, I knew the chances were unlikely.

I looked around the room realising it was pointless to stay here, I had to be out looking. If Rick couldn't help me, I had to find my own way.

Hell, maybe I'll attack the Royal Court by myself.