Disclamer: As you all probably know, I do not own Vampire Academy...

Dimitri smiled at me; it wasn't a nice smile, not the smile I used to love. I froze where I was. I saw the other guardians make it to safety. They were yelling out to me, but I couldn't make out words. All I saw was Dimitri, standing there, smiling. I forgot about Lissa, about the Strigoi.

I willed myself to move, to concentrate. I saw that the remaining Strigoi were circling me and it was obvious Dimitri was there leader. They were never after Lissa; it was a trap for me. And I fell for it.

"Did you miss me, Rose?" asked Dimitri. I looked into his eyes searching for some humanity, I found none. Just the lust for blood and death. He had gotten worse since Russia. I did miss Dimitri, my old Dimitri, my dhampir Dimitri. But I didn't miss this monster in his body.

"You need over a dozen Strigoi to take me?" I asked him. Aware of the Strigoi coming in closer.

"Leave her!" growled Dimitri, "She's mine!" He walked up to me. "I have to thank you again Rose, for helping me get some control. We could have ruled the world together."

"I'd rather die. And you know it." I sneered.

He leapt at me. I barely had time to get out of the way. The other Strigoi has kept their circle, making a ring around us. I swear I saw one drooling! I took a stance, my stake ready. This time I wouldn't, couldn't fail. We started circling each other. I could hear Lissa screaming and the Strigoi jeering.

I realised if I did kill Dimitri, the other Strigoi would kill me. There was no way I was getting out of this. Dimitri lunged and I managed to push my stake into his chest. I missed his heart but I could see that it had caused him at least some pain.

"Missed again," he grunted before kicking me in the ribs. I fell backwards but a Strigoi pushed me into the ring again. "I'm going to give you a choice," said Dimitri. "You can continue to fight and die a slow and painful death. Or you can surrender and we will drain you of your blood, we both know it won't hurt, and we both know you'll love it." I heard one of the Strigoi cough 'blood whore'.

"And we both know I'd rather die in battle." I stated.

"That's a pity; we were hoping we could drink from a live donor. It's just not the same when they're already dead."

This was it. I was doomed. But I would go down fighting. I rushed at Dimitri stake ready, but he easily moved out of the way. Dimitri came at me again and caught me in a headlock.

"Guess what?" he whispered in my ear, "I lied. You don't have a choice." Then he dug his fangs into my neck. I closed my eyes. Hating that I loved the feeling. The Strigoi were cheering and I wondered why only Dimitri was feasting on me. He had said 'we' hadn't he?

Lissa POV

"We have to get Rose!" I screamed

"We can't, Miss Dragomir, they're already gone!"

I was screaming at the guardian who was holding me back. I had to get Rose. The Strigoi had taken her and the guardians did NOTHING!

"You didn't even try to save her!" I shouted

"I told her to fall back and she didn't."

"She was surrounded!"

"There was nothing we could do. We were outnumbered"

"Why didn't you get backup? Why don't you get backup now?"

"It's too late. They're gone. "

"Last time they attacked we followed them."

"We knew where they were. And there were lives at stake."

"What about Rose? Isn't her life important to you?"

"Rose would've made a great guardian. But we can get you another guardian."

"She's not just my future guardian! She's my friend!"

"I'm sorry Miss Dragomir. I understand your loss."

"No you don't." I said before pushing him away and heading for my dorm. I had to break the news to Adrian and Christian.

Rose POV

I had no idea where I was. It was pitch black. I knew I was on a mattress though. As my eyes focused to the dark I saw that I was in a small room with no windows and only a mattress which was on the ground. There was one steel door, the floor was wooden and the walls were brick. It didn't look as secure as the room in Russia, or as luxurious.

The door opened slowly and out stepped Dimitri. "Finally awake, Rose."

"I thought you were going to kill me." I said.

"I was, but I figured that since you'd rather die than become Strigoi, to torment you the most I'd have to turn you."

"So I don't get a choice?" I thought he had wanted to give me a choice, Strigoi or die. Neither appealing but at least a choice.

"You had a choice in Russia. Not now." As he said that he bent down towards me, I longed for a kiss I shouldn't want. Instead I got a bite. At first it was painful but eventually it became wonderful. Although I could feel my life blood being drained away, I loved the feeling of the endorphins.

After a while I felt Dimitri pull away, I held onto him, not wanting him to stop. I faintly saw him make a cut on his lower neck.

"Drink" he commanded as he pushed my face toward it. My tongue licked up the spilt blood. It didn't taste like the blood I had tasted from licking a paper cut. No! I shouldn't be doing this. I didn't want this. But I couldn't stop. I tried pulling away but I couldn't. I closed my mouth but somehow his blood leaked in. I didn't want this. I'd rather die.

Lissa POV

I walked into the room seeing Adrian and Christian talking.

"How was your trip?" asked Christian.

"And where's Rose?" asked Adrian.

I burst into tears. Christian took me in his arms and held me.

"Was it something I said?" asked Adrian.

"What's wrong" asked Christian. I could see the concern in both their eyes.

"We were attacked," I said. "By Strigoi, Dimitri was with them."

"And Rose?"

"They took her." I managed to say before bursting into tears again.