AUTHOR NOTE: Ok, I know I suck as a writer. I haven't updated in a few months. And that's baaad. But I have an excuse! It was because I have been insanely swamped with homework, homework and more homework. Which I haven't done yet. I go back on Tuesday, so I really should be doing homework but instead I am updating ALL of my in-progress stories on here. And posting one or two new ones. It will take me around 5 hours to update everything and to get into the mindset of each one, but I'm trying. I really am. So read, enjoy, and don't hate me.

Fires Wash Away Fears – Chapter 4

I waited until Tamara turned away to write the note. A few minutes later it read:

'Dear Lissa. I have a plan. You need to go to Christians and meet everyone there. Get everyone to come. Mia, Christian, Adrian, Eddie and Dimitri.

Wait there until you are visited by a member of my guard. They will be in on this.

I am to be hanged, and he will take you to my body. Where you Lissa, can bring me back! I know its not the best plan, but I'm sure it will work. I need you all to stay at Christian's no matter what happens, because otherwise, you might miss the guardian. And then the plan will fail. Well duh.

Rose. '

I felt like crying when I finished, but I couldn't. I wouldn't. I had to be strong. Even now I was protecting Lissa. Because the note had been a lie, I wasn't going to be hanged; I was going to be burnt alive. And of course I couldn't be brought back from that. So it was important that Lissa wasn't there. This way I knew that none of my friends would have to witness my execution.

I handed the note to Tamara, who looked at me sadly.
'I'm so sorry Rose, but I have to read this before I give it to her. I'm so, so sorry.' I could see the tears in her eyes, and I knew that she was trying hard not to let them show. I also knew that she hated this, and she didn't believe I'd killed Tatiana.

'It's fine. Really.' I tried to make my voice soothing, because even though it was me who was going to die, I was ok with it. Well no, I wasn't, but I had come to peace with it a little. I was still mad as hell, but I wasn't just sitting around, locked up anymore. Anything was better than my cell.

She opened up the note and read it quickly. I saw the confusion dart across her face.
'Rose, your not being hung?' She was trying to say it gently.

'I know,' I replied. She continued to look confused for a few seconds more, until suddenly she realised.
'Rose-'
'Don't. I know what I'm doing. I know I'm going to die. You know I'm going to die. We all know. But does Lissa need to see it? No. It will destroy her, and god knows I've spent the last 15 years trying to keep her safe. From anything. Whether it was school bullies, broken hearts or Strigoi, I've kept her safe. This is exactly the same. I won't let her watch her best friend die!'

I sat down on the bed, my face in my hands. It took me a few seconds to calm my whirling emotions before I removed my hand and looked up at her.
'I know Tamara. Just please give her the note.'

I sounded broken to my own ears, so I could only imagine how bad I sounded to hers.
She left with a nod and walked calmly but quickly down the corridor and out of my sight. I hoped that she would give the letter to Lissa. I couldn't bear for her to have to watch my execution. I knew how much it pained her when I got a cut, or a splinter, let alone anything like this. I also didn't want her there because I was going to do my best to remain composed as I died. No tears. No tantrums. Exactly what no one would expect. They will be expecting me to make a scene, try to escape, shout and scream. Not to die silently. I wouldn't be able to hold onto my composure if Lissa was there though. There was no way I could calmly embrace death if she was there sobbing and screaming my name.

So I walked over to the mirror and continued to brush my hair, waiting out the last few minutes of my life hoping against hope that Lissa got my note.