Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter, an anyone who started new with reading this. I'm trying to update more frequently, I really am. I think I'm going to post messages on my profile relating to the next chapters of this story because I don't want people to think I've given up writing this.

This chapter is kind of a filler so I'll try have the next one up a lot quicker so it makes up for the lack of action.

Thank you again for reading and please review because it makes me happy :)

The team of Guardians had arrived at Court two days ago and in that time, the Strigoi hadn't stopped crying. It was like there were permanent tracks of red running down her cheeks. I would have stopped to think about why this Strigoi could cry but my training pushed me to think of this Strigoi as just another monster and creature of the night.

Looking at the mess that creature was, the tears of blood made her look weak and vulnerable. It had been sat on the edge of the thinly covered bed in the prison cell, legs over the side and its back ram-rod straight and hadn't moved a muscle in the whole forty eight hours since it'd been locked in the cell.

"Ivashkov's still asking after it," Ivan's voice came from behind me as he was sat at the desk in the corner of the corridor. I didn't think to look there and was solely focused on the crying monster.

I sighed in response. "We can't let him see it yet."

"Why not? It's been two whole days and we said he could see it as soon as we had it locked up," what Ivan was saying was true, but I had good reason for my decision.

"That Strigoi is crying pure blood, most likely whatever it had drunk before we caught it. We've held it for about three days if you add on the time before we got to Court. Think about how much blood that thing's lost. I don't know why it's not doing it now but I bet that if we bring a Moroi in here, the Strigoi will be up against the bars of that cell doing all it can to suck the blood out of that Moroi. That is why Ivashkov hasn't seen the Strigoi yet."

Ivan thought over that for a minute. "So how do we get to a point where it's safe to let him see her?"

"I'll think of something," I said as I turned away from the only occupied cell and walked up the stairs to ground level since the cells were underground. I entered the foyer of the prison building and saw Hans was on duty at the security desk. "Hey, Hans, how's things?"

He leant back in his chair and gave his head a slight nod. "Can't complain. You need something?"

"Yeah, actually. I have a few matters to attend to and it's really important that I get them done as soon as."

"Ok, I got that. I'll make sure nobody disturbs you," he said. I thanked him and went upstairs to my office.

The next three hours were spent jotting down various draft plans and near the end, making several calls. Only one got the outcome I wanted.

"Dimitri, it's been far too long!" Tasha's voice came through the receiver.

"It has, I know. Listen, I haven't really got time for a catch up, would you mind if we go straight to the point?" I felt bad about not being able to talk casually with Tasha because it had been a long time since we'd last spent any time together, but this business needed to be dealt with.

"Sure, as long as we make time soon," she sounded a bit put down but I had the ok, so I got on with my question.

"I have a problem and I think you're the only one who can help me. I need someone who can defend themselves, and you can do it with your fire, if things get out of control. You're the only person I could think of that was brave enough do this for me. I don't want to say what it is over the phone. Can you meet me in the prison building?" I prayed for a 'yes'.

It took a few seconds but Tasha eventually said she was free. She would be here in five minutes so I went down to the foyer and waited for her.

RPOV

I heard voices but I couldn't separate the words. I knew they were male, but it was like my head was in a bubble, not hearing the things around me.

I felt empty. Ever since I'd pieced everything together at the house, my mind was running through my whole life, showing me what I'd become, what I used to be and, most painful of all, what I could have had.

It wasn't just an emotional emptiness. My body felt empty too but my thoughts were so loud I couldn't feel the tears still rolling down my cheeks, couldn't feel my instincts screaming at me to find blood nor could I register the fact that I was covered in the smell of blood.

It was like I was in shutdown and I couldn't get out of it. So I just kept staring at the wall opposite me.

DPOV

I brought Tasha to my office and sat down with her on the sofa.

"I need your help," I started.

"You said that already. On the phone, remember?" she wasn't making this any easier.

I sighed. "A couple of days ago, me and my team caught a Strigoi. At the request of a high-ranking Moroi, we kept it alive and brought it back here. I don't know the reason behind this all, by the way. Moving on. There's a complication that we have get round and the only way is with your help."

Tasha looked confused. "A complication? What do you mean?"

"It's easier if I show you," I stood up and beckoned her to follow me. We went downstairs and I stopped off to see Hans briefly. "Hans, could you call Eddie and tell him to meet me downstairs? Thanks."

I took Tasha down to the cells and went straight for Ivan's desk. She sat in the chair to the side of the desk after I nodded my head towards it. The Strigoi's cell was hidden behind a wall from where we sat, so the only way Tasha would be alerted to its presence was if it decided to move or start speaking.

"Ivan, I've had a plan," I told him and he looked up from his paperwork.

"Fill me in?"

I told him it all in a hushed voice so Tasha wouldn't hear it yet. She needed to know a bit more before she was let in on this but I also needed Eddie here for more backup and extra security. When I was done telling Ivan, he sat back in his chair.

"I'm not the most comfortable with the use of the Moroi but if it needs be and if we have enough protection against the Strigoi, then we should be reasonably ok," I nodded my agreement just as Eddie came down the stairs. I had to fill him in too and when he had the same reaction as Ivan, I knew we were good to go.

"Sorry it's taken this long," I said to Tasha. "Please understand you have a choice. You can agree to do this or you can disagree, it's completely your decision. And if you do agree to help, you can back out at any time you want. Keep that in mind when we tell you what the situation is."

She nodded and I saw from the serious expression on her face that she fully understood me and also grasped the hint of danger. "Tell me what it is you want me to do, then."

I took a deep breath. "This Strigoi we've captured, it's different."

"How so?"

"It cries. It's been crying the whole time we've had it held. The tears are blood," I waited for all that to sink in.

"And what can I do to help? I don't understand what you need me for," I didn't blame her.

"Since it's been crying blood, this Strigoi must be low on blood. Very low. We need to check it's not going to attack when it sees a Moroi."

"Dimitri, of course it is! It's a Strigoi!" her outburst came as soon as I'd finished talking.

"Please, let me finish. It's not acting how a normal Strigoi acts. You already know it's crying, isn't that enough of an indication? Anyway, it's just been sat still for over forty eight hours now. We need to see what this Strigoi does in the presence of a Moroi so the Moroi we are holding it for can see it, just like they want to."

I saw this go through Tasha's mind. She was an intelligent woman and I had no doubt that she was running through all the risks and options she had in front of her. It was totally justified if she said no to all this. From that intelligence I also knew that she could tell why I'd asked her here and what she'd be likely to do.

The plan was to have her walk in front of the Strigoi's cell. As far away as possible at first and then, providing the Strigoi remains unthreatening, move closer and closer. If the Strigoi did attack the get right up to the bars then Tasha could use her practised gifts with her fire element to keep it away from the bars. The cell was secure but I didn't want to take any chances. That's the reason I called Eddie down here to be here with me and Ivan.

Long moments ensued. Until Tasha spoke. "I'll do it."

I was surprised but didn't want to waste any time. As I said, Tasha was clever enough to know the risks so I knew she'd considered this completely. "Thank you, Tasha. Let's get on with it, shall we?"

She nodded and took a few deep breaths to steady her nerves.

Then she stepped in front of the occupied cell.