I am super super sorry that it has taken me so long to update. Ive had this chapter half finished for ages, but just haven't found the time to finish it off. i have a list of excuses that I wont bore you with though.

Thank you so much to those who reviewed last chapter and to those who are sticking with me and my extensive breaks between updating. Im working on getting them done quicker, but unfortunately real life gets in the way sometimes.

Enjoy this chapter. I made it longer to make up for the gap.

Note: Text spoken in italics is in Russian.
Chapter 7.

Sydney glanced between Rose and myself. "I take it you know who that is?'' she asked.

"Of course! She was my teacher. She went crazy and turned Strigoi." Rose told her while I nodded my head, having heard about the crazy teacher at St. Vladimir's. I had never met Sonya personally, but I knew from Rose and Lissa that she had been a spirit using Moroi whose powers had eventually crushed her into insanity. We worried that would happen to Lissa one day.

"She's not. . . she's not the one who had an affair with Lissa's dad, is she?" I surveyed Rose's expression. She had gone slightly pale at the thought of Sonya Karp being Eric Dragomir's mistress and had a child with him. It even sickened me a little.

"Not likely," Sydney said. Rose let out a small breath of relief. I don't think she even realised that she had been holding onto the oxygen while waiting for Sydney to diminish her fears. "The account was opened seven years before she was added to the beneficiary – which was right when she turned eighteen. So, if we're assuming the account was created around the time the baby was born, then she would have been way too young. Sonya's probably a relative."

Relative? Wouldn't that mean that there would have to be some sort of documentation on the child's birth and family line? I voiced my queries to Sydney in the hopes that she would be able to access those documents through the Alchemists.
"You must have records about her family. Or if not, some Moroi probably does. Who's close to Sonya? Does she have a sister?"

Sydney shook her head. "No. That'd be an obvious choice, though. Unfortunately, she has other family – tons of it. Her parents both came from giant families, so she has lots of cousins. Even some of her aunts are the right age." Well there went that idea. If Sonya had that many family members, then it was going to make it nearly impossible to track down the right one.

"We can look them up, right?" Rose asked, a glimmer of hope shining in her deep brown eyes. I got lost in those oceans of chocolate more than I cared to admit.

"There's a lot of them. I mean, yeah, we could. It'd take a long time to find everyone's life history, and even then – especially if this was covered up enough – we'd have a hard time finding out if any of them is the woman we're looking for. Or even if any of them know who she is." I saw the light fade a little in Rose's eyes as Sydney dismissed that idea.
It got me thinking, however. I knew a lot of people – Strigoi – and wondered if any of them would have some sort of connection to Sonya Karp. If we could get in contact with someone who knew where she lived, then we might, just might¸ have a chance at finding who this woman was. Thinking about my past life, I could feel the fear and hatred of myself once again. I just hoped that Sonya was still alive. Strigoi died every day, and it was possible that someone had found Sonya and killed her.

I looked back to Rose and Sydney. "One person knows who Jane Doe is." I stated, careful to keep the building anxiety out of my voice. The two girls looked at me expectantly. "Sonya Karp."

Rose rolled her eyes and threw her hand up in exasperation. "Yeah, but we can't talk to her. She's a lost cause. Mikhail Tanner spent over a year hunting her and couldn't find her. If he can't, then we're not going to be able to."

I moved away from them, turning my back. Mikhail didn't know the right people to have any chance of actually finding Sonya. I, however, had the right contacts that I could use to get what I wanted. I still held a great amount of power in the Strigoi world, granted that no one had found out about my recent transformation. I could only hope that Boris, the man I thought might be able to get us a connection to Sonya, did not know the truth about me.

"That's because Mikhail didn't have the right connections."

"Mikhail was her boyfriend. He had more connections than anyone else." It was Rose who spoke.

I knew making contact with Boris was going to undo everything I had worked hard to accomplish when it came to moving on with my life. It would dredge up all those terrifying memories, all the images of the people who I killed in cold blood. Their faces as I drained the life from them. There was one girl whose death I would never forget.

Flashback.

I entered the bar at around 9pm. It was pitch black outside. Safe for me to walk the streets. I breathed in a deep breath of the atmosphere in the crowded room. Deciphering between the smell of alcohol and human blood, I picked up on the most delicious smell. Like honey. It was mouth watering. The smell made me think of my Roza, I could imagine that this was what she would smell like to me now.

I moved through the mass of people – mostly kids who looked barely old enough to actually be in a bar – a caught sight of a girl with long dark brown hair sitting at the front bar. Her hair cascaded down her back in a mass of curls. Her body was curved inward, her shoulders hunched like she was trying to ignore everyone and not attract attention. She looked exactly like Rose. I felt excitement rise within me. Was it her? I didn't know. Only one way to find out.

I slid onto the bar stool beside her and took in another deep breath, relishing in the delightful smell. My throat ached with hunger and a dull throb ran though my fangs, ready for the kill. But not yet. The fun part was the chase.

Only one glance at the girl confirmed for me that she was human. She didn't have the athletic build of a dhampir or the curves that Rose had. However she did look exactly like Rose in the face. Almost like a doppelganger.

"Hello," I murmured to her, not bothering to keep the sinister sound out of my voice. I wanted her to be afraid. It was more entertaining that way.

When she looked over at me, I instantly heard her heart rate increase. Her eyes widened – the eyes. . . the deep chocolate orbs identical to hers. She possessed the same shapely pink lips that I knew were like silk.

"Hi," she glanced down, breaking the eye contact. I knew my crimson eyes frightened her. Her voice though, it sounded like Rose.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Lola,"

"That's a very pretty name, Lola." I leaned in toward her. Lola backed away a little, so afraid. "Would you like to join me for a walk?"

She shook her head frantically. Her chest rose and fell heavily in rapid succession. She swallowed deeply and got up to leave. I let her get as far as the door before I got up slowly and followed.

I parted the crowed of people easily. Humans seemed to instinctively stay away from Strigoi.

Opening the door, I peered out. Lola was hurriedly walking down the deserted street.

Perfect.

Using my inhuman speed and agility, I easily caught up with her and positioned myself in front of her body.

Lola let out a scream and turned to run. I once again let her get a few feet in front of me before I took off after her again. I let out a malicious laugh and I caught her around the throat and pulled her body into my own.

"Please," she whispered. Tears fell down her cheeks. It only made me angrier though. If this was Rose, she would have fought tooth and nail to kill me. This girl was nothing but a weak human. Something burned within me though; something that wished it was Rose who I was about to taste.

I leaned my head down and brushed by lips against the tanned skin of her neck, right over the vein where I knew the most blood pumped.

"You see," I told her, letting the sinister sound in my voice shine through. She shuddered within my grasp. "You look a lot like a girl I know, she's very beautiful too. I am waiting until the right moment before I go to find my Roza, so in the mean time, you will have to do."

Inhaling again to get another hit of her lovely sent, I bared my teeth and sank my fangs deep into her neck. I moaned in satisfaction as the hoy, thick blood rushed into my mouth, finally satiating my constant hunger. The girl writhed in pain at first before the strong endorphins released into her system. She lulled into my arms and moaned sensually.

There was an ally way a little way ahead of us. Still keeping my fangs imbedded into her skin, I dragged her almost unconscious body into the ally and dumped her, ensuring I had drained every last drop of blood from her.

Before I turned to leave, I spared her a glance. "Just like Roza."

End flashback.

I shuddered as I recalled the memory. At the time, I had wanted Rose so badly, just to drain her dry. I truly was a monster.

"Does your phone have reception out here?" I finally spoke, my question directed at Sydney.
She nodded and passed me her phone. I regarded it with a sense of fear. The memories of

my previous 'life' were still so vivid. It scared me.

Taking a deep breath, I moved away from the girls and outside, letting the hot sun wash over me. I missed the sun. Now, I relished in the hot rays as they pricked my soft skin. A reminder that I was in fact, a dhampir once again.

I heard Sydney and Rose follow me out the door, but they stopped a few feet from where I stood. I dialled the number I had memorised all those months ago, and placed the phone to my ear.

"Hello?" that cold, cruel voice sounded through the receiver. I bit back the bile that threatened to escape.

"Boris?" I said it as a question, even though I knew exactly who it was.

"Sir, it's been too long."

"You were supposed to be checking in with me every month." I spat in anger, using my best Strigoi voice.

"I. . . I heard rumours that you weren't coming back to us. That you had found new workers." Boris stuttered over his words. I let out a silent breath of relief. He didn't know that I was not Strigoi anymore. Had he known, we wouldn't just be running from the law anymore.

"So you heard rumours and you think that you no longer have to follow my instructions?" my voice grew cold. Boris gasped in a breath in fear at the rise in my voice. I was the only man Boris feared.

"No, no, I'm so sorry sir. I did try to call, but your number was disconnected. I wasn't sure how to contact you."

"I have something to ask of you."

"Anything sir, anything."

"I need to know where Sonya Karp is."

"I. . . who?" he sounded puzzled.

"Sonya. Karp," I repeated slowly, but still with menace. "She was a teacher at the school in Montana. I need to know where she is. Get Donovan. He will be able to find where she is."

"It won't be easy sir, Donovan doesn't do favors lightly, nor with nothing in return."

"Find where Sonya is. I don't care how you do it. Just get it done. If I don't have the answers I need by tomorrow night I will find you, and I will rip you apart. Don't doubt that I will do it." My voice had grown low and deadly. Out the corner of my eye, I saw Rose flinch back. I swallowed hard. I didn't want to scare her. Scaring Roza was the last thing I wanted to do.

"Of course. I will find her."

With that I disconnected the call. Slowly, I shuffled over to Sydney and carefully place the phone back in her well manicured hand. I let the mask of fierceness that I worked so hard to

keep, slip away, to be replaced by dejection and horror.

Rose watched me vigilantly, searching my eyes for. . . something. I didn't know what. She looked as though she wanted to hug me, but she sighed and turned away back to Sydney.
I took a few moments to regain my composure. Yes, I had gotten what I wanted, but I worried that it would only lead to a dead end. I worked hard to shut out the warring emotions coursing through me.

At last, I felt calm enough to update Rose and Sydney. "I've sent someone to ask about her. It might not work out. Strigoi are hardly the type to keep a database. But they do occasionally keep an eye on one another, if only for their own self-preservation. We'll find out soon if there are any hits." I rubbed my eyes, feeling suddenly so tired. It seemed an age ago when Rose and I were lounging in the library, laughing and talking – just being normal people for once.

"I . . . wow. Thank you," Rose said sincerely. I gave her a small smile. She knew she didn't need to thank me.

"We should get back to the Keepers . . . unless you think this is a safe place to stay?"

"I'd rather stay off civilized radar. Besides, I want my car keys back." Sydney slid back into the car, claiming the passenger seat. I fished the keys out of the back pocket of my jeans and got into the driver's side.

The whole way home, I fought against myself. More than anything, I just wished I could forget the last few months and go back to before the attack at St. Vladimir's. Back to the

night in the cabin.

Flashback.

I dragged Rose away from the violent scene Jesse and his friends had caused. Rose fought me the entire time it took for me to get her to the cabin on the outskirts of the grounds and the time it took to clean her wounds.

"Rose, snap out of this!" I begged, shaking her small shoulders to get her attention. "You don't mean any of this. You've been stressed and under a lot of pressure – it's making a terrible event that much worse."

I forced her to look at me, staring deep into her depthless brown eyes – it was so easy to get lost in her eyes. They were like pools of melted chocolate.

"You're strong," I whispered to her. "It won't happen again."

"No," Rose shook her head, swiping away the still cascading tears of diamonds. "It will happen again. I'm going to be like Anna. It's going to get worse and worse. Next time? I don't know. Maybe it will be craziness like Ms. Kapr. I keep falling and falling into this pit, and

then I will be like Anna and kill –"

"No," cut her off with a gentle murmur. Our foreheads were almost touching. We were oh so close. "It won't happen to you. You're too strong. You will fight it, just like you did this time."

"I only did because you were here." I circled my arms around her petite waist and pulled her to me. Rose buried her head against my chest. "I can't do it by myself." She sounded so defeated and desperate. My heart shattered into a million pieces. Rose owned every single one of those pieces. She owned my heart. I felt helpless. I couldn't make it stop.

"You can," I countered. "You are strong – you're so, so strong. It's why I love you." It was in that moment, seeing her so vulnerable, yet so strong and brave, that I realized just how much I loved her. Before, I had been in denial, not wanting to admit to being in love with her because it was wrong, but in truth, I had loved Rose since the day I lay eyes on her. She was my other half.

Rose wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me down into a blissful kiss filled with nothing but love.

I carefully moved her body back so she was laying on the bed beneath me. I supported my weight so she felt none of it. Slowly, I slid my hand down her waist, over her hip and rested it on her thigh. I pulled her leg up and around my body, so my legs were rested between her

thighs, all the while, still locked at the lips.

We both pulled back suddenly, at the same time. I gazed into her eyes. Her heart thundered in her chest.

"We can't," I whispered, fighting the undying urge to take her right there.

"I know," With those words, my resolve shattered and I claimed her lips between my own once again, both of us fighting for domination. I relished in the sweet vanilla taste of her mouth and moaned deeply. Clothes began to fall away until we were both completely naked.

I worshipped her body. "You are so, so beautiful." I choked out.

And then we became one, fitting together perfectly, like the two missing pieces of a puzzle. Rose and I shared a bond that was truly unbreakable. The love we had was too strong and could withstand anything life threw at us.

"I love you Roza."

End Flashback.

I pulled myself out of my reverie as I pulled Raymond's car up to the car park. Two Keepers -a human guy and a Moroi woman - were waiting at the entrance to the little village.

We followed them back go the camp. Not a word was exchanged as we walked down the track.

A communal bonfire was crackling in the middle of the camp. There were a few children gathered around it with an elderly Moroi man who appeared to be telling the children a story. It reminded me of when my grandmother used to tell my sisters and me stories - usually scary ones - when we were younger. It made me yearn for my family back home. But I didn't know if I would ever be able to bring myself to go back, to face the kind face of my mother or the innocent ones of my nephew and niece. Not after all the evil I caused.

Sydney, Rose and I went back to Raymond's house where only Sarah and Joshua were. Sarah was busy washing dishes over a small sink and Joshua was sitting in a seat at the table looking fidgety.

As soon as his eyes lay on Rose, he jumped up and gave her a bright smile. "Rose! You're back. We were starting to worry. . . I mean, not that anything happened to you - not with your skills - but that maybe you'd left us."

I fought back the laugh that tumbled to my lips. He acted much younger than his age suggested. Joshua was a nervous wreck around Rose. Poor guy, didn't know she had a boyfriend back home.

Sarah suggested we all go outside to the bonfire where Jess McHale apparently might sing. I didn't really want to go, preferring to go back to our room and rest, but before any of us could say anything, Sydney agreed to go. With Sydney's decision, came my decision. I could hardly let her go out there alone.

"I'll go too," I said quietly. I looked to Rose, waiting to see what she wanted to do.

"Do you still want to see my cave?" Joshua interjected. "There's a little light left outside. You'll get a better view than if we have to use a torch."

I felt a flash of anger at this insolent boy. Rose glanced at me, obviously seeing the disapproving look shining in my eyes. She read me like an open book, as I did her.

"Sure," Rose agreed, giving him her prize worthy smile. "I'd love to." that last part was clearly for my benefit, as it made the jealous lion in my chest rear it's ugly head. I knew I had absolutely no right to feel this way. Rose was an adult now. She could do whatever she liked. I kept telling myself that it was for Adrian. It would kill him if he knew that Rose was off flirting shamelessly with another guy.

Joshua and Rose left the house and walked out into the dusk air, leaving Sydney and I standing alone with Sarah.

"Well, you two should get out there before all the good spots around the fire are taken," Sarah said kindly.

We thanked her and made our way out to the huge bonfire. Already, people were milling around, talking to each other.

"Sit over here?" Sydney asked me, pointing to a gap on the edges of the group. I nodded and followed her, sitting down between her and a Moroi woman.

Soon, more people had gathered and a group started singing, with a young human man playing an acoustic guitar. I tuned the music out, focussing on our surroundings. As night fell, I became increasingly vigilant. This was the time when Strigoi were at large. The time when we had to be the most careful. As I watched, I let my mind wander to what Rose and Joshua could possibly be doing. Joshua was a young and handsome kid, the type Rose would go after. Once again, I couldn't repress the jealous feelings flaring up within me.

The sky became increasingly darker and I felt myself becoming uneasy about Rose. What was taking them so long anyway? It wasn't that I didn't think she couldn't protect herself, I knew she could take Joshua easily if it came to it, but I didn't like her being out there in some dark cave with a savage Keeper.

Out the corner of my eye, I saw Sydney shudder and look down to her hands twisting in discomfort.

"What's wrong?" I asked, concerned.

"Look over there," she lifted her head and gestured to a couple in a corner of the group. It took me a moment to realize that it was a Moroi man and a human woman. They were kissing. No, not just kissing, he was also biting her neck, taking blood. It made me feel sick.

"It's so wrong." Sydney said in disgust. "I like the way you live better. At least you don't form relationships with humans."

I looked away, and saw Rose and Joshua appear around the corner of a cave. I breathed out a little sigh of relief. Rose looked fine, of anything just a little uncomfortable. I realized why. Joshua was walking very close to her, their shoulders almost touching. I felt a small touch of satisfaction.

Rose saw us and headed our way. But didn't make it. Angeline whipped into action out of nowhere and threw herself at Rose, fists curled. She landed a punch on Rose's cheek. I gasped and readied myself to help Rose bit Sydney laid a hand against mine, keeping my seated.

"Just watch. Angeline is testing Rose," Sydney murmured, her eyes trained in on the scene unfolding before us. The singing and guitar had stopped when Angeline threw the first punch. Everyone's attention was focused on the two dhampirs.

"Are you insane?" Rose cried out exasperatedly, as Angeline threw yet another punch in the direction of Rose's face. Rose sidestepped it easily, keeping her defensive stance. "Stop this. I don't want to hurt you."

"Sure. That's what you want everyone to think, right? If you don't actually have to fight, then they'll all go on believing those marks are real." Rose looked furious. I couldn't blame her. That was a low blow. Killing Strigoi wasn't all about the marks, in fact, the marks had nothing to do with it. We only killed to protect ourselves and others.

"They are real!" Rose spat, her temper reaching breaking point.

The fight had now escalated to a more physical point. Angeline kept throwing out comments about the way we lived and the royals. Some of her insults were uncalled for. Rose managed to tackle Angeline to the ground and pin her there. The crowd was cheering now that something exciting was happening. I doubted they had much in the way of entertainment around here. This fight would be something they all loved. Like reality TV for the rest of civilization.

Angeline attempted to rid herself of Rose's restraining hands, but she soon realized that it wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Rose was just way to strong for her. Angeline's look of fierceness faded into one of resignation.

"Fine. I guess it's okay. Go ahead." I looked at Angeline, puzzled. I was sure Rose's face mirrored mine perfectly.

"Huh? What's okay?"

"It's okay if you marry my brother."

That did it for me. I actually started laughing. Sydney sat shaking silently with repressed laughter beside me.

"What the. . .?" Rose looked totally shocked at Angeline's words. "I'm not marrying Joshua,"

"That's not what I've heard," Angeline retorted. "And if you're not marrying my brother, then why are you wearing that?" she pointed to something on Rose's wrist. I leaned forward to get a closer look at the bracelet around her wrist. It was an intricately designed wooden bracelet. Joshua gave her a present? I found myself resenting the boy even more.

"This was just a gift, nothing else. And even if I was marrying Joshua – which I'm not – why did you fight me?" Rose asked, rubbing her bruised cheek.

"Because that's how we do it here," Raymond told her, coming closer to his daughter. "If two people wish to marry, then the sibling of the same sex must battle it out to ensure that she is worthy. Therefore, Angeline, as Joshua's sister, had to fight you. In a case like this where you have no family here with you, it would fall on Dimitri"- Raymond gestured to me – "To fight Joshua."

I kept my professional expression planted firmly on my face. I wanted to laugh at how ludicrous that custom was, but that would have been extremely rude and probably would have gotten us kicked out – or handed over to the authorities. Either way, I kept my mouth shut.

I stood up and motioned to Sydney to follow me. "I think it's time for bed. You coming Rose?" I asked her, saving her from saying something wrong about their way of living.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go." We quickly said goodnight to everyone and walked back to Raymond's house.

Reviews are most welcome (: lets set a goal of 15-20 for this one ! if I get the reviews, ill update ASAP.

~Bronte.