AN: Hey guys

Hope you like this chapter… I don't own vampire academy although I would kinda like own Dimitri! :P

Kateyxx

"Rose, Rose! There's nothing you can do!" Adrian pulled me away from the tinted window of the car.

"No, they can't take him! What has he done?" I cried.

Lissa was studying me intently, she stuck a hand in the pocket of her blue sweater as Adrian tried to fasten our seatbelts. Lissa pulled a small silver ring out of her pocket and pressed it into the palm of my hand.

"It's charmed, put it on Rose, it'll help," she explained. I nodded as I slipped the ring on, still upset and trying to figure out what exactly had happened to Dimitri. I felt a sort of calm settle over me, the darkness associated with being shadow kissed that I felt before was slowly ebbing away as Lissa's magic worked its, well, worked its magic.

"Okay Adrian, where exactly are we going?" Eddie asked from the driver's seat.

"Uh, keep following the highway, I'll you where to go when the time comes," Adrian replied, putting an arm around my shoulders, he added: "You okay little dhampir?"

"Sort of, do you know what's happened to Dimitri?" I asked, not really caring about anything else.

"They probably are like, questioning him or something, I don't know," Christian guessed.

"Yeah, I mean, he was sneaking around near the prison block," Mia chimed in.

"Shit, if those guardians saw us, you know the ones that grabbed Belikov, do you reckon they'd tell anyone else?" Adrian said, sounding worried.

"Well, they're going to find out anyway," Mia shrugged her shoulders.

"Yeah, but if they saw who was with Rose, we can't really go back to court or anything," Lissa spoke up, also sounding worried.

"Maybe just Lissa and I could go back and see what happens, but we should have a little escape plan ready, you know, just in case," Christian suggested.

"That's stupid," I snapped. "If they know what you guys did, you could get arrested immediately!"

"Hey, what about me, no one really knows who I am, maybe Christian and I could go back, just to see what's happening. Maybe if the coast is clear, Lissa and maybe Adrian could go back," Mia proposed.

"I'm staying with Rose, no matter what," Adrian insisted, squeezing my hand.

"It sort of makes sense," Eddie agreed as he drove. "Mia and maybe Christian could scout around, see if anyone knows who was involved with Rose's escape. If they don't really think Lissa and stuff have any involvement, then she could go back and Adrian and I could keep her posted."

"And if they think you all are involved?" I inquired.

"Well, that's the part where we run for our lives," Mia finished, smiling. Her little joke earned a few vague smiles and we all fell silent, wrapped in our own thoughts and plans. Those three guardians probably saw who we were, but maybe couldn't really tell. Lissa was a bit easier to recognise than the rest, Mia and Christian were probably our best bet. I was just afraid that something might happen. Well, you only live once, I concluded, we may as well try. I also remembered the Queen's note, still in my pocket. I hadn't looked at it in ages. I recalled with a jolt all about Lissa's long lost half-sibling. It seemed years ago and worlds away when I had read the note and felt the shock that came with it. Then snippets of the moment when I was dragged out of the café, away from Dimitri, flashed through my mind's eye. The electricity that had crackled through the air during the fight. The way he had protected me, showing that he still cared for me, the fierceness in his voice sent flutters through my stomach. No! You've chosen Adrian now! But I couldn't stop thinking about Dimitri.

I sighed and leaned my head against Adrian's shoulder, tired and weary from my stint in prison and my daring breakout. Eddie and Christian starting planning the return to court and soon Lissa and Mia joined in. Adrian and I stayed silent, occasionally he would kiss the top of my head, or murmur a word or two of assurance. I soon fell asleep to the sound of idle chatter, I welcomed it, as it was a break from the stress of the waking world.

The change of direction woke me, I opened my eyes just as Eddie turned the SUV down an almost hidden road off the main highway. I eased myself off Adrian's shoulder. Gee, I thought, it's much more comfortable that a crappy prison cot.

"Hey Rose, how'd you sleep?" Lissa asked, peering across Adrian to have a look at me. I realise that I must have looked awful. My hair was pulled into a sloppy ponytail, and it was greasy and just plain nasty. I had only changed clothes twice when I was locked up, so I must have smelled almost as bad as I looked. I could almost imagine my face from Lissa's point of view, huge bruise-like shadows under my eyes and all.

My voice couldn't really work at the moment, so I just shrugged. I gave it a while until I asked how long I was out for.

Adrian was the one who answered. "Well, about two hours, you were out of it, snoring your brains out and everything," he chuckled.

I rubbed my eyes, wishing it was longer. "How long left?" I asked, taking a glance at the tree lined dirt road we travelled along.

"According to your boyfriend back there, about fifteen minutes," Eddie answered.

I nodded, pressing my head against the cool window, wondering about Dimitri and what had happened.

"I'm sure he's okay Rose, he's probably just being questioned," Lissa muttered, as if she'd read my mind.

"Hmm."

Eddie kept driving down the uneven dirt road, and I kept my eyes on the path ahead. I could see no signs of anything ahead, no secluded shacks or cute forest cabins. Not even an animal of the sort in this forest.

I ran my fingers through my tangled ponytail, wishing it was clean.

"Hey Adrian, did you say Abe would be waiting for us?" Lissa asked, turning her attention towards us.

He nodded. "Yes he is, and don't worry Rose, this place we're staying at has full indulgences, shower, bath, fully stocked wardrobe. Personally picked out by me, oh and Mia and Lissa helped too, they had to choose your underwear. I was too attracted to the French lingerie," he grinned.

I rolled my eyes. "Good, that's the first thing I'm gonna do, have a nice long soak in the tub have a huge meal, if that's possible of course."

Adrian smiled. "Yes Rose, there is also a great kitchen there too, considering you eat enough for three people."

I elbowed him in the ribs playfully as Eddie pulled into a stone driveway, revealing a beautiful little cottage, tucked away in the woods.

I gasped as the engine cut off. "Wow, this place is gorgeous!"

"Why thank you, this is just a little getaway my parents own. They never use it though," Adrian supplied.

I opened the door of the car and stiffly clambered out, slamming it behind me. I walked up to the stone porch and rubbed my hand along the smooth wooden balustrades. The front door opened and none other than Ibrahim Mazur, my father, strode out. He was dressed in the usual flashy suit and brightly coloured scarf, today it was purple silk with royal blue embroidery. He jumped down the stairs and wrapped me in a tight bear hug.

"Rose! You're here!" he exclaimed.

"Obviously," I replied disdainfully, stepping back from his bone crushing embrace and slipping my hand into Adrian's next to me. Zmey eyed our hands with one raised eyebrow, man, I wish I could do that.

Lissa and Christian had joined me by my side, Mia and Eddie slightly behind on Adrian's left.

Abe stepped forward, arms outstretched. "The whole gangs here! Come, I'll show you inside!"

He turned on his heel and marched up the stairs to hold the door open for me and the other five. The living room of the cottage was awesome. It had a stone floor and stone walls, with rugs and creepy animal skins everywhere. There was a huge l-shaped old fashioned black leather couch in front of a massive stone fireplace, and hanging over the fireplace, was undoubtedly the best TV ever. It was a huge plasma screen, the kind that has really good picture and sound. My hideaway was sounding better and better.

I heard gasps of excitement and awe as Zmey and Adrian showed us around. We went through the small l-shaped kitchen, with fully stocked cupboards and all. Then we went into the even smaller and even more luxurious dining room. We were then lead upstairs. There were three plush bedrooms, each with their own ensuite. Adrian and I, much to my father's reluctance, shared the master suite. Lissa and Christian had obviously gotten over their little fight and shared the other double room. Mia and Eddie agreed to share the room with the two single beds. When I asked my father where he was sleeping, he informed us that he was going back to court, and as he put it 'run around and looked shocked that a maniac killer was on the loose.'

After Abe had left and we had settled down, (and explored our awesome new wardrobes!) I had a long, long soak in the bath, washing all the grime and dirt of 10 days in Court Prison off me.

After my hour or so in the bath, I ran a brush through my tangle, wet hair. I rummaged through my new underwear drawer, ignoring the racier things (obviously Adrian's choice, I just had to roll my eyes at that) and settle for some nice, bright, happy colours. I pulled on some basic red silk pyjamas, not really caring how I looked at this point.

Everyone was waiting for me downstairs. Lissa and Mia were watching Adrian try to grow a dormant flower bud and Eddie and Christian were playing cards at the coffee table.

"Ah, Rose, I thought you'd be in there forever," Lissa laughed, getting up to hug me.

"Yeah, how are you feeling?" Mia asked me.

"Yeah, okay, still exhausted though. What's the time?"

Mia checked her watch. "Nearly midnight."

"Ooh! Lunch time!" I made my way over to the luxurious kitchen, opening the fridge.

I finally made my mind up on a four layered grilled cheese sandwich and a whole bottle of soft drink. Once, to everyone's amusement, I devoured my meal and cleaned up, I spotted a mini bar fridge under one of the benches. I frowned and asked what it was. Before waiting for an answer, I yanked open the door, only to find it full of blood bags, presumably from a hospital.

"Oh," I muttered, closing the door.

"We don't have feeders here Rose," Christian said by way of explanation, shrugging his shoulders.

Adrian wrinkled his nose. "Bleargh, fresh is best."

It was my turn to wrinkle my nose as I sat down next to him on the leather couch. He put his arms around me, pulling me closer.

"Aw, don't be jealous little dhampir," he joked, earning him his second elbow in the ribs today.