"Adrian? Adrian?" A sweet angelic voice called out my name. It was soft and kind sounding with a slight childish pitch to it. I opened my eyes and looked into bright blue eyes that were staring down at me. It was the little dhampir, Karina that had come to me earlier.

"Hello little dhampir." I stifled a grin and sat up. The dhampir squeaked and jumped back, tripping over the chair behind her and falling on her butt. I was instantly on my feet holding out my hand to her. She blushed and grabbed it.

"Sorry, I'm normally not that clumsy." She frowned as she got up and brushed herself off.

"It's okay little dhampir, I was the one who startled you." I chuckled and pulled out a cigarette from my pocket. She wrinkled her nose and scrunched up her face. "Don't like cigarettes?" I asked.

"They're bad for your health and they stink." She wrinkled her nose again. I stuffed the pack of cigarettes back into my pocket and threw the one in my mouth into the ashtray nearby. I don't know why I did that but she smiled at me as I did it.

"You didn't have to stop just because I gave my opinion. I'm just supposed to be your temporary guardian till you decide to go back to Court." She told me.

"Well I don't think I'll ever go back. Not while she's there." I hissed, my eyes narrowing.

"Not while who's there?" Karina asked with that same angelic voice I had heard before. It made me smile.

"Rose Hathaway." I spat out the name with acid in my voice.

"The Rose Hathaway? Queen Lissa's guardian? The one who was thought to have killed Queen Tatiana? That Rose Hathaway." She squeaked.

"The very same." I spat again.

"Why do you hate her so much? She's one of the best guardians out there and so is her mother." Karina beamed.

"She's a lying cheating blood whore." I hissed again. I could feel spirit's affect on my anger take over. I needed something in my system to nullify the effects and fast. I fumbled around in my pocket but couldn't find my pack of smokes. I grumbled and looked around the room for a mini fridge. Nothing. Dammit, I should have requested a room with one.

"What's the matter Adrian?" Karina laid a hand on me. All the negative effects of spirit I was feeling disappeared and she let out a small gasp. She backed away and clutched her hand to her chest.

"What did you do?" I asked. She looked at me with sad looking eyes.

"N-n-nothing….what was that?" she stuttered.

"I could ask you the same thing." I looked at her hand to see if maybe she was wearing any charmed silver. Again there was nothing.

"When I touched you I felt…I felt this weird feeling and then I suddenly felt angry at everything around me. What happened Adrian? What was that?" she stuttered again.

"It was the negative effects of spirit." I told her.

"Effects of…spirit?" she asked.

"You haven't heard of spirit yet?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Well I've heard stories about Lissa and spirit. I was told there weren't many users out there and that not much was known about it. You're a spirit user?" Karina asked. There was a small hint of interest and curiosity in her voice.

"Yes…there are actually quite a few of us spirit users I think. I know a few and I even sensed one last night at the Luxor. But there is a side effect to it that is like…well…dark spirit. It apparently can make us go crazy. I use alcohol and smoking to numb the effects of spirit. There are very few things that can numb it. Thinking of Rose made me angry and those negative effects came up. But…whatever you did when you touched me…I think you numbed it for me somehow." I told her. Her blue eyes glowed and she then smiled.

"Well, I'm glad to help I guess. Why are you mad at Rose? What did she do to you?" She asked again.

"The worst thing possible. I'm going to the bar, Follow me if you want little dhampir. Maybe I'll tell you what she did when I have alcohol in my system." I said and headed for the door. I heard nothing as I walked out and checked behind me to see if she was following me. I smiled to myself as I saw her stare at me with this fascination as we walked to the bar. I decided to check her aura before I got drunk. I called on a bit of spirit and looked back at her again and was nearly blinded by her aura. I couldn't figure out the color because it shown too brightly. I turned my head back around and shook my head.

"Wow…that was unusual." I muttered to myself.

"Hmm?" Karina asked.

"Nothing. Just thinking aloud." I grinned back at her as we entered the bar. She rolled her eyes and giggled at me. Her giggle was such a sweet sound to my ears. I wanted to hear it again.

"Did you know you are a cute little dhampir?" I smiled at her again. She giggled and blushed.

"I'm a guardian Adrian. You should stop flirting with me." she said with red cheeks.

"Guardian shmardian. I can't help but notice when there is a beautiful girl in my presence. Apparently all the prettiest are guardians." I chuckled to myself.

"Not true! Moroi girls are a lot better looking than us guardians. We don't wear fancy clothing and cover ourselves in makeup. They're the ones you should flirt with." She said with wide eyes as if trying to protect someone or something.

"It's not about how good looking someone's clothes are or how pretty they can make themselves look. It's the ones who are just themselves who are the prettiest." I grinned and ordered a drink from the bar.

"You're just saying that." She blushed again.

"No, I'm not. Trust me on this little dhampir." I grinned again. She blushed and looked away, scanning the room like a normal guardian. I shook my head and stared at the ceiling. Why did all the pretty girls have to be guardians?