CHAPTER 2 RUSSSIA.

"Miss, Miss, wake up we have landed. We're in Saint Petersburg. " I opened my eyes to a cute human male gently shaking me. I hadn't even realized I had drifted off or that we had landed. At least I didn't have any dreams, just a peaceful rest. Well as peaceful as you can get with a constant ringing in your head. Damn I hated being shadow kissed right now. All those damn ghost. Couldn't they just leave me alone for once.

"Thanks." I replied. I got up and headed down the aisle to get off the plane. I finally got through customs. I took a bit of work especially as I had a sword in my luggage. I had documents (fake obviously) proving ownership and explanation that it was a family heirloom I was returning home. Somehow they brought it. Yea. I was out. Now to get some much needed rest.

I walked out and got a cab to take me to the hotel I booked with the travel agent. But I had to get to Siberia. I took the flight to Saint Petersburg because otherwise I had to wait another week. I needed to be there now.

I had to find Dimitri's family. I had to talk to them. See if they knew what had happened to their son/brother. I hadn't seen them at the funeral so I wasn't sure. I also wanted to see his Grandmother. I knew she was some sort of physic from the discussion we had had back at the royal court. I was hoping that maybe she would be able to help.

I checked in and immediately went to shower. Oh my god did that feel good. After 18 hours on a plane in the same clothes I really needed that. I rang for room service after that and I also decided to get my clothes washed. Who knew when I would have that chance again. Room Service came and took my clothes telling me they would be back by morning. I ate everything.

I sat on the bed then. I needed to know how things were going back at the school. I'd only been gone three days but I needed to check on Lissa. No matter what had happened I still loved her she was my best friend. I searched the bond for her, and then I let myself fall into her. She was sitting in the library, Eddie, Adrian and Christian were all there. Eddie and Christian were still trying to get Lissa to confess as to why I had left. I knew she would never betray me and to my up most surprise Adrian was staying absolutely silent. I would have to thank him when I next saw him. I felt through the bond that Lissa was sad, upset and regretful. I knew why she was feeling regretful, it was for making me choose. I knew she understood. She knew that I loved her. She knew I need this. I needed this closure. I decided to leave it there. I was glad she was okay and that no one else knew my reason for leaving.

I decided I needed a mobile. I hadn't been allowed one at the academy and when I left I never really thought about it. But now I decided I need one to stay in contact with them incase anything happened. In case of an emergency. So I called down to the front desk again. I was in a rather nice hotel and knew they would be able to get me anything I needed. I asked them to get me an Iphone. That way I could also listen to music whenever I need a break from the ghost. I was kicking myself. I really should have thought about this earlier. I also asked to loan a computer access the net and download tunes.

An hour later a maid came to my door with a laptop in hand and a box. My Iphone and a way to put music on it. Yea. I downloaded all my favourite tunes until I filled the memory. Damn it could hold a lot. I learnt my number and decided when I saw Adrian I would give it to him. I went to bed and fell asleep content listening to music.

The dream started with me sitting on the beach. I was in these jeans I had seen in a magazine and loved. They were tight fitting with a jeweled dragon running down my leg. They reminded me of Lissa. I was also wearing a red bikini top. Showing a little more then I really wanted to be with Adrian but what the hell was I going to do about it? "Adrian come out come out where ever you are." I called playfully. He stepped out to my surprise he was shirt less and in low waisted denim shorts and boy in this sun did he look HOT. I had to look down to stop myself gapping at him. He was muscled and had a sexy body. I don't know why I had never actually noticed before. "Hello little damphire. It's nice to see you." "It's nice to see you to. I have to give you something." He looked at with a weird expression on his face. It was like he wasn't exactly sure what I was offering but hoped it was something he wanted. Then his face recomposed itself and his smirking grin reappeared. "What is it little damphire?" "My phone number. I got an Iphone today and thought you should have the number. Seeing as you are able to figure out where I am anyway. Thanks for that by the way. I have no way to repay you for your kindness." "Oh, yes you do. Come back and keep your promise to me. All I want is for you to come back. Lissa and I need you to come back." "Oh. I have to thank you for something else as well. Thanks for not ratting me out to Eddie and Christian earlier today. Oh and by the way the number is 0400656522." "It wasn't my place to say anything. Besides it doesn't matter. You are coming back and that is all that counts. Oh and thanks. I'll message you and we can keep on touch that way to. Where are you little damphire and where are you heading?" "I tell you only if you promise not to say a word to anyone." "Okay, okay I promise. Not one word." "I'm in Russia I am heading to Siberia tomorrow on the Trans railway. I am heading to Irkutsk. I hear there's a damphire community there on the borders of the city. That is where he grew up. I'm going to see his family." "Okay little damphire. Stay safe. Bye I have to go meet Lissa. Anything you want me to tell her?" "Tell her I love her and I will be back like I promised to be her guardian. Bye and thanks again Adrian." With that the dream vanished into darkness.

Then another dream came. I was in the cave and I saw Dimitri get grab by that blonde strigoi. I watched him plunge his teeth into my Dimitri. I remember screaming that we had to go back and get him. The dream shifted and Dimitri was standing in front of me. All pale and red rimmed his eye. He was a strigoi. My loves soul had been squashed down inside of him turning him into pure evil. I knew what I had to do I had to kill him. I had to save his soul. The only thing that mattered now was that I fulfilled my promise. "Roza it is a pleasure to see you." What the FUCK. Did he seriously just call me Roza? No way. "Don't call me that. You are not him you are an evil son of a bitch fucking strigoi. You are only the evil remnants of the man I loved." With that I charged at him. Fuck he was fast so much faster now. But I had advantages he didn't. I was shadow kissed and the more strigoi I killed the more I could communicate with ghost. I knew eventually if I kept going at this I would be able to see the world of the dead.

I didn't find out what happened as my alarm went off then. I woke with such a start I was pulled into Lissa's head unexpectedly. She was in her room with Adrian. "Lissa I spoke to Rose last night. She had something she wished me to tell you. She said 'She loves you and that she will be back to be your guardian as soon as she has finished doing what she needs to do for him.'" I felt love pore through the bond. I knew that she was happy I was thinking about her and that I still worried about her. I love you to Rose. I know you can hear me and I hope that you stay safe and I can't wait to see you again. I miss you that much. Those words meant so much to me. I felt that she understood what I was doing and that she knew there was always a place in my heart for her. "Oh. One more thing Rose got herself a phone. She gave me the number so anytime you need to tell her something come find me and you can just message her. Okay?" "Thanks Adrian but I can tell her anything through the bond as long as she isn't trying to block me. I know she does that sometimes." "Well the offer is always there if you just want to make sure she gets the message." "Thanks. Bye I have to go and meet Christian for breakfast."

With that I snapped back to my own head. Oh my god, I loved Lissa so much right now. I wish I was able to tell her exactly that much. Those words meant so much to me right now. I knew now that I would be able to get through this and she would be waiting for me when I got back.

I got up and got ready to leave again. I showered got dressed in clean clothes and packed. I got breakfast well really it was lunch time in the human world. Jet lag is a bitch. I had the trans railway to get to where Dim… HE I scolded myself grew up. I couldn't think about him that way. I had to think dead evil strigoi.

I was catching the evening train it left at 10pm. I was walking there it was only 6 blocks away when the nausea hit. It was only about an hour after sunset and I still had ages to get to the train. Strigoi I thought, now it's time to hunt. I followed the gut feeling I had. I knew that I would be coming up on 5 of them. I didn't care that was nothing for me. I had already killed 10 since leaving the academy. I knew that was why when I wanted to talk to ghosts it was that much easier. They still spoke in soft whispers but they spoke full sentences now.

I caught up to the strigoi. They were in an alley way with a person who I assumed was human. They were about to feed. They didn't even notice approach. I had pulled the sword from it sheath and swung. Thank god this blade was super sharp. I beheaded 2 of the strigoi before they even knew what hit them. I moved on the next on to my left. I loved this sword. I could behead them no problems and because it was silver I could stake them with it as well. I jumped up and brought the blade down into his chest. I didn't have time to pull it out before one of the other two hit me knocking me back to the ground. "You're messing up our dinner. Who The HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE???" yelled the strigoi who had just hit me. In the same instant I had my stake out. "I'm Rose Hathaway. Maybe you have heard about me." The look of shock passed across his face. So he had heard and I could tell he was scared. That I was all I needed to stake him. I plunged the stake into his heart and for good measure twisted it to make it hurt that little bit more. 1 left. I stood and faced him. He looked old. I mean really old and for some reason I could also sense that he was old. He was clapping. Weird. "Well done Rose. You took care of them without even breaking a sweat. But you won't be so lucky with me. I will Kill you for that." As he pointed around to his dead companions on the floor. The scared victim who now upon closer look I could see was actually moroi was frozen stiff. The old strigoi threw him aside and came at me. All I had was my stake. I knew I would be able to hurt him with it enough until I could plunge it through his heart.

He took a swing at me. I managed to dodge it just in time and at the same time scratch him down the left thigh with the stake. He groaned in pain. Ha I thought not so tough now are we big boy. He charged again and again I dodged his attack and again I sliced at him with the stake. This time I scratched his face. I scratch ran from his hairline to his chin and I managed to get his eye with it at the same time. "Not so tough now are we…" I taunted him. "You are going to pay for that you bitch." "Ha ha ha, not likely you are going to die! That is what you get when you take on Rose Hathaway." Man I must have been pissing him off considering his next move was flawed. He charged and I just did a little spin then drove the stake into his heart. And down he went. I pulled the stake out then cleaned it on his clothes. I walked over to the one with my sword still in his chest and pulled that out as well, which I also cleaned on the dead strigois clothes. I walked around to each one of them and cut a small piece of cloth from each one of them. This was how I was keeping count of what I had done.

I walked over to the moroi. I told him everything was going to be okay. "I'm Rose Hathaway. I'm here to help you. I'm a damphire." I couldn't bring myself to say the words guardian. I wasn't one and I couldn't lie. I extended my hand towards him. "Everything is going to be okay. Nothing can harm you now. They are all dead." He lifted his eyes to mine. I hoped I was looking sincere I didn't want to scare him anymore then he already was. I must have though because he extended his hand towards mine and I helped him to his feet. "Are you okay?" he opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. I could see he was still in shock. "Hi, my name is Rose. What's your name?" I decided to start again, maybe this way I would get something out of him. "My… My na.. name is Ry.. Ryan." He finally stammered out. Boy was he scared. "Hi Ryan, nice to meet you. I afraid we need to get going. Where can I take you?" "I… I li… live… around the block from here." "Okay. I'll take you ther just let me finish dealing with these bodies. I piled them all together. I reached into my bag and took out my lighter and a small bottle of fuel. I set them on fire then through the fuel over them to get the bodies to burn faster. This way there would be nothing but ash left before anyone would notice.

I walked Ryan home. "I.. . I can't believe you did all that on your own. Are you a guardian?" "Well it wasn't that hard with the element of surprise. They must have been very hungry they had no idea I was there. And no I am not an official guardian. I am a novice. I dropped out because I had something important to do. But when I return I intend of becoming one no matter what it takes." "WOW." That was all the reply I got to my little statement. "How many have you killed. Well with those 5 I'm now at 17. I only left my academy 4 days ago. And 2 of those kills I made before I left." "WOW." That was all I got again.

We reached his house then. I was ushered inside with thanks and offers of anything I could possibly want. "It was my job nothing more. But I must apologise I have a train to catch. Please be careful out there. I won't be able to save you next time there is a band of strigoi attacking you." With that I made a move to leave. I headed back toward s the door and heard cries of thanks and goodbye as I exited. I had 4 hours still before the train was due to depart. But I couldn't take their happiness anymore. I just didn't feel happy anymore. I felt emotionally drained most of the time.

I walked heading in the direction of the Trans Siberia train when I allowed my sense to expand so I could see the ghosts. Andre stepped forward. "Hello Andre. It's nice to see you. Are you here because I left Lissa behind, and that I'm not protecting her like I should, like your parents wanted?" "No Rose. I'm here to help." OH MY GOD. He didn't sound like a whisper anymore. I could hear him, his voice may still be a little softer than normal but it wasn't a whisper. "Can you help me find Dimitri's family? I need to see them." Andre nodded. "Thank you. You know you were always like the big brother I never had. I love you." "Well I must say I went to school with one sister and by the end of the year I had two. I loved you to Rose. I always knew you would be great. Even from a young age you always cared for Vasilisa, more than yourself. I will never forget that first day she came to me after you threw your book at the teacher. I laughed and I knew at once she liked you and nothing would ever separate you. Well nearly nothing." "I'd hug you right now if you weren't a ghost Andre. Thanks."

I continued on my way to the train. I got there with hours to spare. I brought my ticket. Well actually I brought a suite. I didn't want to share. I was lucky they actually had one left. I walked off to freshen up when another wave of nausea hit me. Great I thought just what I need another damn strigoi attack. Well at least it will mean less of them in the damn world. I walked outside and followed the wave of nausea. I knew where they were. Shit there is fucking 12 of them. How the fuck am I going to kill them all. I knew I had to do this and I had to take out as many as I could as fast as possible. I pulled out my sword. I crept up to them in the shadows. It seemed weird to see them in large groups generally it lead to in fighting. "Where's Robert he was suppose to be back by now with tea. I so wanted to drink some moroi blood tonight." "Stop your whining Maria. He will be here when he gets here. He is old and knows what he is doing." So that old creep I killed was called Robert. Ha did they have another thing coming. I looked around none of them were as old as the one called Robert so maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

I crept up the alley further. I was hiding in the shadows of a dumpster. They were only meters from my position. There were 5 standing close enough to me that if I jumped out and swung the sword I would take them out. That's not too bad. That will only leave seven. I doubt after I take out 5 at once that they will all charge me. Well shit here goes nothing. I jumped out from my hiding spot and swung the silver sword. I did manage to decapitate the 5 near me. I took 2 steps into the group and swung the sword again sending blood flying everywhere. They must have been stunned because I took out another 3. Well 8 down 4 to go. That was when the first 2 attacked. I stab the first with the sword and flipped out of the way of the second pulling out my stake at the same time. Landing on my feet I watched as the remaining 3 circled and started coming at me. I dodged the first punch and landed a good kick in his gut. He went flying into the wall. The second and third charged together. They must have been awaked recently, and they must have been human as they had no attack strategy. I disposed of them easily. Staking one then quickly staking the other. The one I had kicked into the wall was only just starting to get up then and I race over and plunged the stake into his heart. All 12 in less than 20 minutes. I cleaned the stake and the sword. I put the sword back into its sheath on my back and using the stake cut a small piece of material from them all. I had to burn the bodies again. I didn't want the human world thinking there was some mass murder out there, especially when I was saving them from the undead. Wow I thought. I'm up to 27 in 4 days. Shit I didn't think it would be that bad.

I headed back to the station I needed to clean up. My clothes were all bloody and dirty. This was the last thing I needed people to see. I walked into the restroom cleaned myself up and changed into clean clothes again, the third time this evening. Good damn it I better not find anymore strigoi tonight. The rest of the evening passed quietly until it was time for me to board the train. Well at least I could was my bloody clothes on the train without anyone seeing as how I had a private suite.