Sorry to leave you guys at a cliff hanger like, but I want to get more reviewers for this story. I hope that you are enjoying this story as much as I am writing it. Please tell me what ya think in a review.

Big shout out to my friend Samwyse

Previously on My Comrade's Gone

"It's not your fault entirely Lissa. I heard that they were planning on coming anyways—to talk to the Queen about getting married."

I watched Guardian Matthew's facial features turn from upset to angry in a second flat. It made me feel even worse. "I didn't know that they were getting married. I would have left with Rose if I knew this was going to happen."

Guardian Matthew looked like he wanted to try and comfort me, but he didn't. I wonder what is holding him back. I caught his eyes flick to something over my shoulder, making me wonder what had caught his attention.

I turned around and I was then facing…..

Leaving

Lissa's Point of View

I turned around and I was then facing a very pissed off looking Adrian Ivashkov.

Great—what the hell was I supposed to do now? Judging by the way he was glaring at me, he'd overheard everything. As much as it horrified me to be caught lying, I realized I would do the same thing all over again. Rose didn't want to see him, and that was what I had to focus on. I felt my own anger igniting as he stood there sneering at me.

"I thought you said you hadn't seen Rose, Lissa. What is wrong with you? What kind of game are you playing here?" Adrian voice dripped with anger, making me involuntarily flinch back towards the door.

Guardian Matthew stepped in front of me, assuming a protective stance. His big hands curled into fists, and his voice was just as angry sounding as Adrian's when he spoke. "Lord Ivashkov, why don't you back off? You're scaring the princess?"

This whole situation was starting to freak me out, but I didn't want to say anything. I just wanted to be back in my room with Rose, so I could ask her what is going on with Adrian. There was a strange, crazed look in his eye, the kind of look that he usually only had when he was under the influence of spirits darkness.

"I don't have to calm down; you aren't the boss of me." Adrian took a step towards us, his eyes narrowing as Guardian Matthew spread his arms in an attempt to block Adrian from reaching me.

I could tell Adrian was seething and I didn't understand why. "I think I should go back to my room to pack. Guardian Matthew, would you be so kind to bring me to my room?" I looked over at Adrian, forcing my face to remain calm. "Adrian—I will see you when I get back from my trip."

"Why don't you just have it sent here Lissa? That way you don't have to risk going anywhere," he asked. The way he said it seemed so sincere, like he really wanted me to be here, safe inside the wards—but something about his words seemed… contrived.

"I need to get away for a few days and so does Rose. She really needs this, Adrian. You have to understand." I said looking at him. My eyes were pleading with him to not make a big deal out of it.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you, cousin. I just really need to talk to Rose. I think she overheard Dimitri and I arguing about the way he treated her. I was giving him a piece of my mind for leaving the way he did. And I think she heard that Tasha and Dimitri are getting married—I know for a fact that she's going to be heartbroken about it." He sounded like he really cared about Rose, making me feel so conflicted. I had absolutely no idea what to say in response, because no matter what reasons he offered, I had to support Rose's decision not to speak with him.

Whatever her reasons might be, it was her choice, and I wasn't going to interfere. I would always listen to her over anyone else, because she is my best friend and sister. "It's okay. I'm sorry Adrian, but she needs a little girl bonding time. You can't force her to see you, or she's going to push you away. I know you don't want that to happen."

Adrian walked away slowly, pausing to look back once he was a few feet away. "Please tell her I just need to hear her tell me that she's all right. He stopped for a moment, chewing at his bottom lip. "I won't be able to rest knowing she might be upset."

I just nodded my head and looked over at Guardian Matthew. He seemed like he was staring off into space and not paying attention to us, but I could tell he was really watching Adrian leave.

Rose's point of view

I was in Lissa's room, pacing back and forth. Why was it taking so long for her to talk to Guardian Matthew? She should have been back long before now—how long did it take to tell him that I was coming along, for God's sake? I was on the verge of going to check on her, only my fear of running into Dimitri, Tasha, or Adrian had kept me in this room waiting. I really wasn't ready to see any of them. I was torn, chewing at my fingernails, unable to decide what to do. When I heard the sound of the door opening, I couldn't contain a sigh of pure relief..

"Lissa is that you?" I called, walking slowly towards the door. No one answered, and that, on top of everything else that had happened, set my nerves on edge. I was about to pull out my stake and go into attack mode when the person stepped into view. Thank God it was just my mother.

I put my stake away, forcing my lips into some semblance of a smile. I knew I was failing miserably, but hey, at least I tried. "Mom, what are you doing here? You scared me—I thought you were someone else."

My mom and I had actually gotten pretty close over the past couple of years. After the attack, we started talking more and I opened up, telling her about what had transpired between Dimitri and I. She was understandably mad that we hadn't waited until I was eighteen, but she realized that there was nothing that could be done about it now. It's not like I could go back in time and reclaim my virginity.

"Rose, I need you to come with me. I need help with something," she said.

It was kind of funny, the way she was hovering beside the door—almost like she was staying in the shadows—but I didn't say anything. Strangely enough, for the first time in a long time, I really wanted her to hug me. I wanted to spill out everything that had happened and ask for her advice. I took a step forward, trying to figure out how to brooch the subject with her.

As soon as I did, I was struck by a wave of gut wrenching nausea. I'd been so consumed with my overwhelmed emotions that the fact my mom had been turned Strigoi failed to register until it was too late for me to do anything. She ran right at me, tackling me to the ground as she knocked my stake out of my hand. It spun away, landing about a foot from my head.

"I'm going to make you into the best thing you can be. You are going to love it Rose. You'll have so much more strength. You'll be unstoppable."

I tried to push my mother off of me, but it was no use. I had hesitated, breaking Dimitri's number one rule. He had always warned me that when facing a Strigoi that had once been someone you knew, you could not hesitate, under any circumstances. I always assured him that there was no chance of that happening, and yet, that's exactly what I did when it mattered the most.

For the first time in a long time, I was scared for my life. I tried to fight back, but that did was infuriate her, making her so much more violent. As she slammed my head against the ground, I heard distant sound of the door opening—it distracted her, giving me the chance I needed. Grabbing for my stake I fought off the waves of dizziness that were making it difficult for me to focus. This was the only chance I would get—my mother was not going to stay distracted forever.

Everything almost went to hell as my mother charged the door, making a beeline for Lissa and Guardian Matthew. For some unknown reason, at the last minute she altered her course, launching herself through the window to make her getaway. I was in total shock, staring almost unseeingly at the shards of glass that now decorated the carpet. How did my mother become Strigoi? Who had changed her? A million questions were running through my head as the world tilted sideways and blackness stole my vision.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I actually wasn't planning on changing Janine it was just the kind of spur of the moment. I really hope you guys don't hate me for leaving you guys kind of at cliff hangers, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Please tell me what ya think. If you think I should change anything just tell me and I will do my best to change it.