Chapter 4

It's been three months since I've been at court. When I left I didn't know where to go. I didn't have a place to stay, or the money enough to go and rent. I spent a couple of days in a hotel about ten miles away from court. I had to bribe a couple to rent me a room so my name wouldn't appear in the registration logs when the Guardians came looking for me, and they definitely did.

*flashback*

It was the morning after I ran away that I was sucked into Lissa's body. She was crying uncontrollably, and I couldn't pull myself out quickly because her emotions were running wild. She was crying blaming herself for my disappearance. I finally got the power to get out, but not before I saw Adrian's distraught face.

That same night I had a spirit dream, which I was expecting so I didn't fight it.

Adrian materialized in front of me wearing jeans that fitted him to perfection and a dark navy blue shirt that also fitted him well. We were at court in the gardens section.

"Little Dhampir, where are you?"

"Hi Adrian, I was expecting you."

"You were?" he asked with a puzzled look.

"Yes, I was. I knew you were going to try to reach out the moment you heard I was gone."

"Well then, tell me where you are and I'll come get you."

"No. Adrian, I want to leave court for good."

He sighed, embracing me in a hug

"Is it Belikov?"

"How did you know?" I ask, my voice muffled by his chest

"A man's intuition Rose. Besides, after we found out that you left, he ran out."

"Please don't tell anyone why I ran. Please."

"I promise I won't, but what about Lissa? Se is beating herself up because she thinks it's her fault."

"I don't want anyone to know. I just want to disappear. I want to find myself. All my life has been about protecting Moroi, then it changed into protecting Lissa, then I fell in love with Dimitri, and it just went downhill from there. The rejection and Lissa not helping me got to me. You know I would give my life for any of them, but I want to find purpose, I guess. Do you understand, Adrian?" I asked with pleading eyes. I didn't want Adrian to think I was just a coward that couldn't handle it.

"Yes, my little Dhampir."

"I wish I could've gone with you because I understand what you're going through. I know you need to be by yourself. I don't care how long it takes. Days, weeks, months, or years. But just promise that you will come back, promise me, Rose," he pleaded with almost desperation. "Promise me, Rose."

"I can't promise you I'll come back, but I promise to keep in contact." He took a while to respond, I think he was looking at my aura or just into my eyes to see if I was lying to him. I guess he liked what he saw because he smiled and nodded. Honestly, I wouldn't want to cut ties with Adrian. He'd become part of my life like a brother. An annoying handsome brother.

"Ok. I'll leave you for now. If you need me you know how to contact me, ok little Dhampir?"

"Yes, Adrian I know." I gave him a big hug and he gave me a stronger hug and a kiss on my forehead before everything turned black and he was gone.

*Present*

"Wake up, Rose! It's day time, and we need to scout the area where the Strigoi were spotted."

"Five more minutes, Denis" I yelled from my bed.

"Wake up, lazy ass! I swear you sleep more each day!"

"Shut up, Denis," and I threw a pillow at home, but since I couldn't actually see where he was, I knocked down a lamp. Denis laughed.

"Just get up. It's going to be you and me this time, the others are buying supplies."

"Ugh! I'm coming! Let me take a shower at least." I finally got out of bed and smiled while changing, because even though I fight a lot with Denis, Artur and Lev they are still like brothers to me. They took me in almost two months ago without any question.

After staying in the hotel for a week, I knew it was too risky to stay near court. But even after a week of being stuck inside, I didn't know where to go. I just knew I couldn't stay there. The idea of being with the unpromised boys came to me when I was eating my breakfast. I guess all my ideas come after food! Anyway, the idea came to me because I was thinking about Dimitri's family and how they still don't know that he's back to being a Dhampir. I packed my bags and boarded a plane to Novosibirsk. It took me about a week to find them.

They were not used to living with a girl, and at first, it was weird because they lived in a two bedroom apartment with one restroom. And let me tell you, boys are nasty. But after I made some calls to my friend Sydney, she was able to provide us with an apartment with at three bedrooms and two bathrooms. So eventually we made a deal with the Alchemists. They tell us where they'd spotted Strigoi, and we kill them. In return, we get a better home, information updates, supplies, a way to disintegrate the body without waiting for the sun, and they record our kills.

Every so often, or when we'd completed ten kills, the boys and I go with a Dhampir tattoo artist and the record from the Alchemist to update our tats. For each ten kills, there's a special design that represents the death of ten Strigoi. I have a combination of tats. I have the two little lightning 'x' that represent Elena and Isaiah, the star which represents the war at the academy, two that represent ten kills each, and a couple more singles that I killed here and there. So officially I have my neck almost full. I'm not proud to wear the marks but they are a reminder.

I was walking down the alley checking for the nausea that alerted me of Strigoi when a woman bumped into to me. I guess I was too focussed on what I was doing to notice her.

"I'm sorry, it was completely my fault," I said while picking up her bag from the ground. The bag contained baby clothes, and I smiled at them because lately, I've been having weird dreams about babies. When I gathered everything, I got up and gave it to her but then dropped it again.

"Yeva?"

"Yes Rose, it's me," she responded and it took a second to realize she was speaking Russian. Ever since I moved in with the boys I've begun to understand Russian. I just can't speak it yet but I'm working on it.

"What are you doing here?"

"A strange dream came to me, and now I know why," she said while looking at me but paying more attention to my stomach.

"A dream? Like a spirit dream?"

"No, just a dream. What are you doing here Rose?"

"Umm. I left court." That's the first thing that came out of my mouth. I don't know if I should tell her about Dimitri or the reason why I left. I mean, she has the right to know. It's her grandson.

"I can see that, but why?"

For some odd reason, I wanted her to know the truth. I don't know if she likes me, but I feel like she should know everything and I tell why I've done and why I left. The weird thing is that she didn't react when I told her about Dimitri being Dhampir again. It's like she already knew or something.

"A dream came to me about Dimka, but I didn't know if it was true or a product of my desire, and for that I thank you."

I nodded."Will you tell the rest of the family?"

"No. If my grandson wants to see his family again he will go and explain. I can imagine how he is feeling right now. To him, his soul was what he treasured most. Of course, until you came along."

"Riiight. About that… I don't think he feels the same about me."

She gave me a piercing look. "Oh..Roza, if I know Dimka he is struggling right now. He is not easy on himself. He is probably feeling a lot of guilt and has no room for more."

"Yeah, he is."

"How are you feeling?"

"Huh? I'm ok. If this is what Dimitri wants, then I'm ok."

"Have you been feeling sick?"

I gave her a puzzled looked. "Umm, no. We don't get sick remember?" Her question was weird. She should know Dhampirs don't get ill.

"Are you sure? You haven't been feeling nauseous, sleep longer than usual, vomited once in a while?" she said, looking at me intently.

"What are you getting at, Yeva?"

"Roza, how can you be so clueless?"

"Hey! I'm not clueless!" I yelled at her because that comment got me really irritated.

"Calm down, child. It's not good for your condition."

"Condition? Are you ok, Yeva?"

She sighed and shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose just like Dimitri used to. She muttered something, but it was too quick for me to catch.

"Are you pregnant Rose?"

"What?"

"Are you pregnant Rose?"

"PREGNANT? Are you serious? I can't be pregnant!" What the hell is wrong with Yeva? Me? Pregnant? I'd only had sex with Dimitri twice, and he is a Dhampir. Everyone knows that Dhampirs can't have children together. I guess Yeva is going senile or something.

"Are you sure?"

"OF COURSE I'M SURE! I've only been with a Dhampir."

"Huh, that explains it," she said in a whisper but I still heard it

"Explains what?"

"Rose you're pregnant," she said, looking at me with serious eyes.

I laughed. "Yeva you are crazy, Dhampirs can't have children with other Dhampirs!" That old fool is definitely going senile.

"Believe what you want to believe, Rose. That child will be special. Take care of yourself now." And she took off. I stood, too stunned to reply. But after a minute I disregarded what she said and continued checking out the area that we were going to strike that night.