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Dimitri's (POV)

To my knowledge, Rose had been gone for a week. I knew why she'd left; nobody else did. I felt only slightly guilty for driving Rose away. It was required. I couldn't let her stay, wanting to constantly see me when I couldn't face her. Every time I looked at her was a reminder of what I used to be, that horrible creature with no conscious, only bloodlust.

I couldn't believe that had been me. A monster had walked in my body, killing innocent people. I shuddered at the thought. I knew I'd had no control, but even still I hated to think I could do things so horrific. I never assumed becoming a Strigoi was even a possibility for me; I always thought I'd die in battle, not be awakened.

At night, when I slept, I was haunted by my old self. My Strigoi self…well it tainted my every waking moment, and haunted me through my dreams by making me relive that period of time when my cruel and evil side emerged. I could remember every bite I'd given Rose. I knew I would have awakened her if she hadn't escaped…or I would have killed her.

I felt no love, no remorse and no guilt as a Strigoi…I also felt no happiness. There was only numbness and a perpetual unflinching understanding that I could never experience emotion again.

Then suddenly I was pulled back into my old world, a world which I'd fought to stay in, a world which had suddenly become foreign to me now. People who used to be my friends now gazed at me with unmasked fear in their eyes because of what I had become. I knew those people who once respected me now regarded me with suspicion.

I felt like my life had fallen apart, and I didn't have any idea how I could put it back together. I'd lost my soul one, but nothing could have prepared me for the absolute feeling of loss I now experienced. Now I'd lost my love and all hope I ever had for the future. I heard footsteps approaching, and soon Lissa came into view. She looked distraught. I could tell she'd been crying and I could only guess it had something to do with Christian.

When her eyes met mine I saw her determination, and I repressed a sigh. She'd been hounding me to help in a search for Rose. She came to visit me with a new reason why I should help. I tried my hardest to resist these because I knew I couldn't allow myself to go after Rose. She may have forgiven me for everything, but I hadn't figured out how I could forgive myself for the pain I'd caused her.

"You may not love Rose anymore," She declared, her voice sounding strong, "But Adrian does." I knew from Lissa that they'd been together while I was gone. I tried to mask the jealousy that overcame me whenever he was mentioned.

"What's your point?" I replied, trying to make my voice as calm as possible.

"He left to find her." She smirked, "And he has. They're together right now. He won't tell me where, but they're together, and I just thought you'd like to know, since you no longer have any feelings for Rose."

I felt my face drop. Any mask which had hidden my feelings before was now gone.

Lissa grinned triumphantly, as if she'd known these would be the words that would finally break through my barriers, and make me take action.

She was right.

Rose's POV

"Andreev Demidov?" I questioned. I scanned my brain, trying to place the name, "I've never heard of you." I would have recognized his name if I'd heard of it before, and I'd definitely remember his face and those eyes if I'd seen them.

He raised an eyebrow, a mocking look in his eyes, "Anyone who has heard of me, dear, is dead." Andreev was intriguing, and I felt danger leaking from every pore in his astral projected body. I couldn't help being curious about him. He'd declared me his enemy…yet he was here having what seemed to be a civilized conversation.

"So you're a murderer?" I questioned, finally relaxing enough to lower my stake. He couldn't hurt me right now, and even though I could try to hurt him I knew it wouldn't work. If he was really a threat I'd deal with him whenever he showed up in flesh.

"That's such an ugly word…" He sighed, giving me thoughtful look, "I'd prefer the term…assassin. I only ever harm people who have caused harm to others. I pride myself on that."

I crossed my arms, "And how do you determine which people you'll kill and who you'll let live?"

"We're given a list of people to deal with, and a description of their…indiscretions." He replied. He looked like he enjoyed knowing things which I obviously didn't, "Then we dispose of them in an appropriate manner."

"You sound cruel." I replied.

"It's my job." He smirked.

"What gives you the right to kill people just because they've done something wrong?" I challenged. If he and his group of renegades were acting like god, deciding who got to live and who died, someone must have been pulling the strings.

"What gives you the right to kill Strigoi just because they've done something wrong?" He retorted with a look of satisfaction on his face and an amused gleam in his eyes.

"They're animalistic." I replied. I felt anger welling inside me, "They hurt good people. They're evil."

His face remained entirely calm, "So would you kill an animal for behaving in a way which is natural to them? Maybe you should focus on removing truly evil people from the world; the people who kill not out of instinct but out of pure evil. That, my darling, is my job." He smirked at me.

"So you believe Strigoi should be allowed to kill whoever they want, just because it's in their nature?" I felt appalled. He couldn't be serious! I couldn't believe that he could actually believe that their actions were justifiable! It was outrageous.

"No…" He shook his head, a smile still lingering on his lips, "I dedicated my life to killing Strigoi when I became a Guardian and that hasn't changed. I merely help to eliminate additional risks for our kind."

"What are you doing here then?" I questioned. It seemed entirely odd to me that he was here. If he had so many other pressing issues to deal with, such as riding the entire world of evil, then I didn't understand why he was wasting any of his time here.

He moved closer to me, a dangerous, tantalizing smile on his face, "We want you."

REVIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEW! :D