I apologize profusely, but the blame mainly goes to my AP classes…they're a pain in the butt…

A Sign of Hope

I leaned against the headboard of the bed with a sigh as I pinched my nose bridge. For once, I was actually happy that I ended up drifting off to sleep when my head the pillow.

"Rose?" I called. I searched everywhere for her and she jumped on me from the back.

"Gotcha!" she said triumphantly. Laughing, I pried her off and hugged her.

"Rose, is there any part of you left in your body?" I asked. She pulled back and looked at me with a confused expression. She probably thought that once she turned strigoi, all of her soul left her body.

"I'm pretty sure," she said. I contemplated it for a moment. If Rose is here in her soul form, then that must mean that her body is void of any emotions. But then why did the strigoi Rose save my life, knowing that I was there to kill her? She must've saw the confusion plastered onto my face.

"What's wrong? Still think I'm just an illusion?" she asked.

I shook my head. "No, of course not. It's just…I found your body," I stated and she beckoned me to continue, "And she - or you - saved me from being bombarded with oncoming strigoi." It was her turn to look confused.

"But…that…what…huh!?" she stuttered, "I mean, not that I'm not glad you're not dead or anything, but a strigoi saving a dhampir? I've never heard that happening before." I nodded in agreement.

"Maybe you're body is still able to figure out right from wrong," I suggested.

She heaved a deep sigh. "Well, maybe. But in any case, just hunt me down. I'm kinda tired of floating in thin air and waiting for you to fall into nappy land," she said.

I laughed. "This is one order I'll accept from you," I said and kissed her forehead.

I waited in the bedroom until sunrise before leaving the hotel. At least this way Rose won't have any chance of escape if she evades me. As I saw the sun come up very slowly, I remembered that day at the ski resort when I found her at the roof after being humiliated by her mother. I knew then that Rose had loved the sun as I did, since we rarely ever get a chance to see it. But now what she loved the most would now befall harm upon her.

Reaching the cabin by noon, I kicked the door open with the stake in position until I saw the whole area had been deserted. On the floor I saw a torn piece of paper with Rose's handwritting.

Stay away from me.

Searching throughout the cabin, I saw dead animals everywhere and no trace of any of the strigoi. I stepped out the back door and saw the faintest trail of blood leading deeper into the forest. Cautiously walking, the forest became darker and darker with each step. I managed to put myself in a position in the sun but out of the darkness.

"Belikov," a voice said. I got into position for any surprise attack.

"Who is it?" I asked, looking around. I saw red-rimmed eyes from the shadows and the figure laughed at me. Another strigoi.

"It seems as if you've lost all trace of Rosemarie," he said with a smirk. I gritted my teeth together and held back my anger from exploding.

"I figured that out a while ago," I hissed. I swore I heard a smile come onto his face.

"You know Rosemarie is one of the loveliest creatures I've ever seen, but her attitude is quite…repelling. Actually, the other day she bared her fangs at me when I tried to touch her hair. Of course, her actions gave her disciplinary punishments," he said as if rubbing it in my face. At this point, I wanted to go rip his throat out. Those dirty hands stained with Moroi blood trying to touch Rose. But I couldn't help smirking; Rose will always be Rose.

"So what's the whole point of your gloating, if there is anything to gloat about," I said. He threw a package at me. I opened it and saw a plane ticket. I looked at him questionably.

"I just sent her to Washington. If you leave now, you might be able to catch a glimpse of her," he said smugly. I raised an eyebrow.

"And if it's a trap?" I pressed. He laughed.

"You think low of us, Belikov. What's the fun of killing you ourselves? The fight between you and your lover would be more exciting; a fight to the death," he said and with a final laugh, he disappeared. I gripped the plane ticket and went back to the hotel to retrieve what little items I brought along with me. Making sure the chotki was safe in my pocket, I left towards the nearest airport, a place swarmed with guardians. What crossed my mind was how the strigoi ever managed to get past them.

As I sat in my seat, I stared out the window. The first time I met Rose, she was sitting at the window seat, that look of fierceness and determination of protecting the Princess evident on her face. Maybe that's when I started to be attracted to her. Or maybe when I saw what she and Lissa were doing in their apartment. The friendship Ivan and I had was nothing compared to that of the two girls. And I'm pretty sure it wasn't just because of their bond.

"We will be landing shortly. Please remain seated," the pilot's voice said through the P.A. system. I blinked twice, not knowing time had passed by so quickly. Once leaving the airport, I made another phonecall.

"Belikov?" a voice said on the other end of the line.

"Guardian Petrov," I greeted.

"This is unexpected after your resignation. Did you find Hathaway yet?" she asked. I mentally sighed. Kirova had probably announced the heroic reason on why I left the academy.

"No, but I'm almost close. Actually, I need a favor from you," I said, waving for a taxi. I heard her laugh.

"A request from Belikov. How rare. What is it?"

"I need you to bring Princess Vasilisa, Christian Ozera, and Eddie Castile by the academy's jet over to Washington," I said.

"All three of them? But why? Do you have any idea how much danger you'll expose Princess Vasilisa to?" she argued. I rolled my eyes.

"I realize the consequences, believe me. But if they're here, there is a possibility for a sign of hope for Rose," I said with a small smile.

Loved it? Liked it? Hated it? R&R! :D

-Delicate