Sorry this took forever! I've been trying to wrap up my other story, To Serve and Protect. Check it out if you haven't already. Also be on the look out for my next fic, I'm still not sure what the title will be, but it's essentially The Golden Lilly told from Rose and Dimitri's POVs.

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy, or any of its characters. All rights go to Richelle Mead.

RPOV

I have always been beautiful. Even before my awakening, I had known that my looks made most men do a double-take. Now I would bring them to their knees, and probably to their eventual deaths. After my tryst with Dimitri, I had decided to take a shower. My skin had been smeared with a mixture of dried blood and dirt, and I knew I would need to look my best for what we had planned later.

I stared into a slightly fogged mirror that hung in the bathroom of some random suite in Galina's mansion. I suppose it was my mansion now.

I tilted my head to one side as I stared admiringly at my reflection. My once tanned skin was a ghostly shade of white. It contrasted sharply with my dark tresses, and the red in my eyes seemed to bring out the subtle auburn highlights in my hair. I was completely naked, and completely flawless. My skin was like porcelain, and there was not a single imperfection to be seen. The corners of my lips pulled up into a smile, one that revealed the two razor sharp fangs that lay in wait beneath my plump lips.

I begin opening up all the drawers and cabinets, and stopped when I found a hairbrush. Even it was extravagant, the handle was encrusted with small gems and the bristles were delicate and soft. I pulled it through my wet hair, relishing in the feel of it. My awakening had turned small acts, like brushing my hair, into undeniably pleasurable experiences.

After, I strolled into the room where Dimitri lay on the bed, he glanced up from his western novel. I was surprised, and frankly a little annoyed, when his eyes didn't bug out of his head at the sight of my body. Instead, he smirked.

"Is that what you plan on wearing tonight?" he asked me, raising one eyebrow.

"You don't like it?" I responded, puckering out my bottom lip in mock disappointment.

His eyes swept over me, drinking in every inch of my exposed flesh. The old Rose probably would have blushed, but that girl was dead.

"I like it," he said in a low, hungry tone. "But I don't like sharing what's mine."

I kept my face expressionless. This wasn't the first time he had stated that I belonged to him, or that he has tried to control me. His need to dominant me was potentially problematic, but I decided to let it slide for now. I would, however, have to eventually force him see the reality of the situation – we were equals.

"I'm going back to my little prison to finish getting ready," I told him, sweeping my hair over my shoulder. "By the way, I want a new room."

I was out the door before he had a chance to respond.

When I returned to the hallway that led to the room where Dimitri had held me captive, I saw that both of the industrial security doors had been busted wide open. Dimitri had apparently decided to barrel through them in a blind rage to stop me from escaping. This amused me, considering he could have just entered the pass codes.

I found my make up and the curling iron that had been provided for me. I applied enough eye make up to some what distort the red rings around my eyes. Bronzer and blush went a long way in accentuating my bone structure, and the shade of lipstick I chose was blood red. I hoped that later tonight they would become smothered with actual blood. By the time I had chosen an appropriate outfit, my hair was dry enough to be styled into long ringlets that fell down my back.

I was quite pleased with my appearance, in the dark, a human wouldn't suspect a thing. I had rifled through my closet until I had found a tight black dress made of velour. It clung to me in all the right places, and the plunging neck line left little to the imagination. I paired it with a pair of dark thigh highs, pulling them up just far enough so that a bit of lace that lined the tops could be seen beneath the hem of my dress. I wasn't impressed with my choice of shoes though, and decided to go exploring.

I wondered into suites at random, finally I stumbled into what I assumed was the master suite. The closet alone was big enough to hold my dorm room back at St. Vladimir's at least three times over. Apparently Galina had expensive taste. The walls were paneled with dark, shiny wood, and the floors were marble, swirling with gold and white. Sconces burned with electric candles along the walls, and everything shone with a warm glow. One wall was lined with nothing but shoes, of every style and color. I selected a pair of black stilettos and slipped them on. The fit wasn't exactly right, but it was close enough. At another end of the room was a full length mirror, I glanced at myself. I looked great, but there was still something missing. I turned to the endless racks of clothing and found what I was looking for. It was a dark leather jacket – similar to the one I had borrowed on my first night of hunting in Novosibirsk.

Perfect.

I found Dimitri waiting for me in foyer, a hungry look crossed his features as I descended the staircase. I let my earlier thoughts of having to remind him who was in control slip to the back of my mind. He looked just as good as I did – dressed all in black and his hair pulled into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. Even his duster was sexy. I thought back to something Victor Dashkov had said to me before his trial – You two are a match made in heaven, or somewhere.

He was right, we were matched.

I let him take my hand, he even went as far as to bend down to kiss me on the mouth.

"It's our first date, comrade," I told him smoothly.

He looked amused, "I suppose it is."

The sun had already sank deep into the horizon, and it was time for Dimitri and I to go hunting.

"Are you sure you will be able to find the Dhampirs in the city?" He asked me.

I scowled, again annoyed at his lack of faith in my abilities.

"Yes," I told him coolly. "I know how they like to hunt…in fact, if we leave now, we might be able to catch Tamara getting off of work."

"Will she put up a fight?"

My lips turned up into a wicked grin, "Yes, but she's no match for us."

LPOV

My head was still reeling after my conversation with Adrian in the hospital. He hadn't believed me, he thought Rose was out there somewhere, still alive. He thought she was in Siberia of all places. Maybe she had been there, maybe she was still there – but she wasn't alive.

I fought to hold back tears as I ripped my clothes off of the hangers and shoved them into a duffle bag. Adrian and I didn't have a lot of time, we had to leave the academy, and we had to do it before the sunset and the vampiric world awoke. I didn't bother packing toiletries or anything else, we could buy anything we needed on the road, and I was anxious to leave.

I could feel Adrian's own anxiety trickling into me and mixing with my own. I suddenly broke down into a fit of coughing.

Adrian was probably smoking. I knew how calming his habits were to him, but they weren't having the same effect on me. I would have to ask him to lay off, but I didn't want to pressure him either. I broke free of the coughing and sucked in a deep breath of fresh air, trying to rid myself of the lingering feelings of smoke filling up my lungs.

Lissa!

I froze, Adrian was calling to me. I shivered at how strange it felt to hear Adrian's thoughts echoing through my mind. How had Rose ever learned to deal with the bond? She was so much stronger than I was, so much braver.

Lissa, we need to go, meet me on the bottom floor of your dorm as soon as you can.

I zipped up the duffle bag and took one last look at my room. My eyes stopped when my gaze swept over my dresser. On the top, sat a framed photo of Rose and me. We were dressed up for Halloween, our lids smothered in glitter and each of us sporting a pair of fairy wings. I snatched the photo off the dresser and pressed it to my heart before storming out of my room.

The halls of my dorm were silent as a tomb, and I crept down the stairs and into the lobby. I found Adrian waiting for me in one of the common areas. His hands were shaking, and a limp cigarette hung between his lips. I glanced around, and saw that the dorm matron was passed out in her seat behind the desk. I didn't need to ask what had happened, I sifted through the contents of Adrian's mind, and saw that he had compelled her to sleep not five minutes before I had arrived.

He grabbed my hand and began pulling me toward the door. We were both exhausted as we half-ran, half-stumbled across the lush green lawns of St. Vladimir's. Would I ever come back to this place? I glanced around and felt a dull ache spread throughout my chest.

"Adrian, wait!" I managed to say through my haggard breathing. "What about Christian? I need to say good bye!"

He turned back to stare at me, but continued dragging me along behind him. He shook his head at me.

We can't involve him. He would be the first person I would go to if I was trying to figure out where you had run off to.

I was already annoyed with Adrian's use of the bond. He probably wouldn't bother speaking out loud to me ever again.

We finally reached the parking garage, my legs burned from the physical exertion and I had no idea how Adrian was still standing. I felt a surge of fear come through the bond as he realized he would have to compel anyone inside to forget us – he didn't think he had enough spirit left to do it.

"Adrian," I said in a whisper. "Let me."

I stood up from behind the bush we had been crouching behind and glanced around, ensuring no one was around. I pulled him up after me, and together we slipped through the door. It had barely clicked shut when I heard the scuffle of footsteps coming toward us.

It was a guardian, a man who I thought mostly patrolled the elementary campus.

"What are you two doing here?" he demanded.

I decided not to waste any time and I immediately locked eyes with him. I reached deep within me, calling on spirit for the first time since I had been brought back to life. But as the magic began to fill me, I remembered it wasn't the first time. I had used spirit to compel Avery – it had driven her insane.

The magic that swirled within me felt different, it was thick and dark. But it was powerful, more powerful than any amount of magic I had ever wielded.

"Stop," I told the guardian sternly.

His eyes glazed over almost instantly

"Bring me the keys to your fastest vehicle."

He stared at me unblinkingly before turning on his heels and making his way toward a cabinet that lined one of the walls. He opened it to reveal a line of hooks, each with a set of keys dangling from it. He selected a set and pressed them into the palm of my hand.

"Return to your quarters," I commanded. "Go to sleep and forget you ever saw us. If anyone asks, you got sick and had to end your shift early."

His jaw had gone slack, and I sensed that the magic was overwhelming him. I tried to reign some of it back in, but it was hard. The dark magic was intoxicating.

Instead of obeying me, he slumped to the ground. Seeing him unconscious snapped me back into reality. I knelt down, wanting to heal him if I could, but Adrian pulled me back.

"There's no time, cousin."

He took the keys from my hand and began clicking the unlock button, searching for a set of flashing lights.

"There," I said pointing to a black corvette.

"I didn't have you pegged as a corvette kind of girl," he told me jokingly.

"Give me the keys, Adrian," I said, ignoring his jab. "I'll need to compel the gate guard too."

He opened his mouth to argue with me, but stopped when he realized I was right.

He tossed them to me and I slipped into the sleek leather seats of the corvette. As soon as Adrian was sitting next to me, I turned the keys and the engine revved to life. We locked eyes for only a moment, before I slammed the car into gear and pressed the pedal to the floor.