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We had no choice but to question Lissa.

No one wanted to involve her, just in case she relapsed into depression. Her best friend and boyfriend were missing; not to mention the other three were her friends. How would you feel?

I tried to protect her as best as I could. Hell, it was my job to protect her. But time was running out and we had no other choice but to risk it. The Guardians were all at their wits end, and we needed to find them before the runaways became a Strigoi meal.

Just thinking of Rose in that way made me shudder.

That shocked me, the fact that just that thought could bring up such a strong emotion. I've had years, no decades, of training to thwart any such show of emotion. I couldn't help it anymore, I had finally realised just how much she meant to me. I wouldn't act on it, though. I couldn't destroy our reputations for our relationship. It wasn't worth it.

Anyway, Rose had made it very clear what was to happen. When this mess was over, I'll be leaving the Academy with Tasha. As arranged.

Janine shook my shoulder, tossing me out of my reverie.

"Belikov, focus! Have you heard a single word I have said?"

I just shrugged and Janine shot me a glare. I can she where Rose gets that from.

"We don't want to scare her. She trusts you, so you'll be leading the questioning. Chances are, she knows where they have gone," she repeated, her exasperation coming through, clear as day.

I personally didn't think that Rose or Christian had told the Dragomir Princess what was happening, but I had to follow orders.

We were standing outside Lissa's dorm room in the ski resort. From the sounds of it, she was watching the television. I quickly glanced around, just in case someone else was watching. We hadn't told the rest of the student body or the resort residents of our situation, just in case we would be responsible for a panic. Satisfied, I took a deep breath and knocked loudly on the wooden door. The newsreader's voice was cut off midsentence and I heard a voice ring through the door.

"Christian, I swear if you are coming to apologise-"

The door opened and Lissa was standing just over the threshold. As soon as she saw Janine and I, she flushed a deep scarlet. "Sorry Dimi… Guardian Belikov, Guardian Hathaway," she said, nodding to each of us. "I thought you were somebody else."

I hesitated before answering. She didn't know. Crap.

"Princess, may we come in for a minute?"

Lissa looked puzzled, but stepped aside. "Sure. Rose isn't here, if you are looking for her." We walked through the door and stood in the middle of a lavish dorm room. Lissa closed the door behind us and went and sat on the end of a made bed. The other bed was in shambles. Typical Rose.

Janine turned to her and said: "Actually Princess, we are here to speak to you."

Lissa looked surprised. "Why?"

Janine took a deep breath. "Where is Rose, Lissa?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen her since Priscilla's Banquet."

Janine gestured for me to continue.

I looked Lissa in the eye. "Rose and several other students have disappeared. We are trying to find them. Any detail you know would be helpful."

Lissa was silent, staring at me with her mouth wide. "What!?"

I put on my calmest voice before continuing. "A few hours ago, Mason Ashford, Mia Rinaldi and Eddie Castile disappeared. From the looks of things, Rose convinced Christian Ozera to attack a Guardian with her so they could go with them. They broke out of the ski resort Lissa."

"But the Strigoi! Oh, God, Rose… and Christian! What the hell are they doing?"

Lissa started to sob quietly and I glanced over at Janine. She looked horrified. Our only hope had backfired.

I pushed forward. I couldn't just drop it. Rose was out there! My Roza! I needed to find her.

"Where are they Lissa?"

She looked up at me. "I have no idea. I should know, they should have told me!"

I sighed. "I know you want to protect them, but we need to know where they are."

"I told you," she said, "I don't know. I don't know what happened."

I felt numb. She knew nothing. They were best friends, yet Rose hadn't told her anything. What the hell was Rose playing at?!

Janine spoke then, her thoughts mirroring mine. "I can't believe they wouldn't have told you where they were going. Especially with your… bond." Janine wasn't fully filled in on the psychic connection between Rose and Lissa. Hearing that, Lissa just looked frustrated.

"It only works one way. You know that."

I sensed a meltdown, so I knelt to her eye level. "Are you sure there is nothing? Nothing at all you can tell us? They're nowhere in town. The man at the bus station didn't see them… although we are pretty sure that's where they must have gone. We need something, anything to go on." You could hear the desperation in my voice. I knew I was getting worked up, so I took a few deep breaths. Rose was right. I was fighting for control.

Lissa snapped. "Don't you think if I knew, I'd tell you? You don't think I'm worried about them too? I have no idea where they are. None. And why'd they even leave… it doesn't make sense either. Especially why they would go with Mia, of all people."

Malice filled her voice. She was jealous of being left behind, worried and ignorant. She really had no idea.

As I stood back up, I noticed fleeting flash in her eye. If I had blinked I would have missed it. An idea sparked in my head. I turned to Janine, but she was already walking out the door. She was upset. I was on my own.

I turned back to the Princess, still curled in a ball, sitting on the end of her bed. Tears were escaping out of her eyes.

"Lissa? Do you have any idea when Rose slips into your head? At all?"

She didn't even look up. "None. Rose only says it happens when I'm really upset or scared. Like now, I guess. But I told her to stay out."

I sighed. "Thanks Lissa."

I left the dorm room and closed the door behind me. I pressed my ear to the crack in the door jamb. I still wasn't entirely sure if Lissa was telling the truth. I heard her open up a cell phone. She hit a few buttons and everything was silent for a few seconds. Then she spoke.

"Adrian. It's Lissa. I need you to come to my dorm room now…yes, now… I don't care! Rose is missing! I need you to help me… Of course I know! You aren't the only one with Spirit around here you know!... Ok. I'll see you soon."

I heard her slam the phone shut and sigh. I stood up and walked away down the hall, and realised why Adrian Ivashkov had and interest in Lissa and Rose. He was a Spirit User.