LPOV

I was flicking through the channels on TV when there was a knock on the door. Getting up I made my way over to answer it, not caring about the fact I was in pink track suit pants and a light grey oversized t-shirt. I had been stuck in my room all week, I just didn't care how I looked anymore.

Opening the door I found Terrance standing there in one of his usual custom made suits. All black and stylish, with a simple red tie.

He grinned, looking me up and down. "I must say, you're still exceptionally beautiful even when you where such simple clothes."

I rolled my eyes, heading back to the couch knowing he'd follow me. "How can I help you today, boss? Got any more bad news, or are you finally letting me out of this place."

He laughed. "You act as if I'm keeping you prisoner. But in fact I'm protecting you. If people realise how different you are you won't be just another dhampir and soon enough they'll figure you out."

"Why do you even care? I mean are Moroi and dhampir relatives supposed to, I don't, have nothing to do with each other? Out of the whole country, and all his family, Dylan chose to come to you. Why?" I sat on the couch, pulling my hair up into a messy bun.

Terrance sat across from me. "I don't know if you've noticed but I'm not exactly your run of the mill Moroi. I prefer to do business during the day. I hire equal amounts of human, Moroi and dhampir staff. I avoid as much Moroi political drama as possible. And I'm not a fan of royals."

I shrugged. "Do you know how many people don't like the royals? There's nothing strange about that."

"Yes but see my mother was an Ozera."

My jaw dropped. "You're an Ozera?"

He shook his head. "No. Seeing as the Ozera's aren't very popular since that little Strigoi incident and then the killing of your great, great aunt, Queen Tatiana, I've avoided being seen as royal most of my life."

"Does that make Dylan a royal as well?"

"His father was my father's brother. He has no blood relation of any royal that we know of. He is just another dhampir, nothing important. But he's family. And no matter what tradition says, I know how important family is." he gave me a pointed look.

I looked away. "You really care about him."

Nodding he went on. "Not just him though. I care about you. When you were born there was an uproar in Moroi society. The fact your father married a human was bad enough. You are known all over the world, have been since the moment you opened your eyes.

"There aren't many people who would protect you." he noted. "I'm not planning on exposing you. I know what it feels like to be a disappointment according to others. I would never wish that upon anyone."

Looking back at him I gave a small smile of gratitude. "That means a lot."

He nodded before standing. "Anyway. I'm here to tell you, you are free to go." he grinned. "You have the all clear."

My smile grew. "Are you serious?"

"I expect you back at work tomorrow." he winked before leaving.

SPOV

"Abe? You have Abe helping us?"

Rose stood at my door, here to tell me about any progress. But all I seemed to hear was the fact she had decided to allow her father to join the search. The same man who had a reputation of doing things slightly- okay there's no slightly about it- illegal.

She shrugged. "Look, he has connections that we don't. When he wants something people usually listen to him. So don't tell me it's a bad idea. If anyone can find Lily, it's my father."

"He's a criminal." I tried to get the point across. "Whose bright idea was it to have him help?"

"Andre. Lily's best friend, remember?" she put her hands on her hips.

I rolled my eyes. "He's a kid. What does he know?"

Rose just shook her head. "Have you looked at yourself lately? How can you be telling me how to look for Lily, when you're a mess? You haven't brushed your hair in weeks. You smell like alcohol. You haven't shaved. Your eyes are blood shot. You look pale and sick. When was the last time you had blood?"

I looked away. She was right. I knew perfectly well how bad I looked. But all I could concentrate on was helping Ivy, and doing whatever I could to distract myself from thinking about Lily.

"It doesn't matter how I look. All that matters is that you get Lily back. If she's using the amount of spirit people are suggesting, she's in trouble. If insanity doesn't get to her, then something else will." And with that I slammed the door shut.

LPOV

I finished brushing my hair, leaving it down. I had just changed into a glittery red evening dress that was fitted and strapless, falling mid-thigh, with a simple pair of nude heels.

I smiled over at Victor as he appeared. "I can finally get out of here."

He smiled back. "It's nice to see you've got some life back into you. I thought for sure your misery was going to kill you."

I rolled my eyes, heading down stairs. "Do you always have to be like that? Can't you just say 'Wow Lily, you look nice.'?"

But he just shook his head, already at the bottom of the stairs. "Now why would I do that?"

"We're friends, remember?"

Changing the subject he went on. "I was looking around the boarder of St Vlad's just to see if anything interesting was happening."

"You can't see anything from the woods." I reminded him.

But he shrugged. "That's not entirely true. I can seein the woods itself."

I sighed. "Have you got something to say or not?"

"Your two best friends seemed to have been talking about their little bond. Apparently Ivy has got Drozdov researching for her."

I shrugged, trying to show I wasn't interested. But in all honesty I wanted to know more. I missed Ivy, Andre and Sebastian so much. Besides Dylan, they had been my only other friends- Rose as well of course. Leaving them had been hard.

"Why should it matter what they're doing? I'm not there."

"I also heard they have Abe helping with the search now." He slipped in casually.

I froze. Abe and I were close. Seeing as my own grandfathers weren't in the picture, I saw Abe as my adopted grandfather. He had always travelled the world and whenever he visited he would have a new gift for me from some exotic place I had never heard of. My room was filled of treasures he had given me.

But just because we were close and I loved him dearly, didn't mean I was blind to the truth. Abe had a reputation. He's known for the way he gets business done. If he was joining the search, the chances of being found grew enormously.

"What did they say?" I asked Victor, ready to get as much information as possible in order to prepare myself.

"Well according to Andre, Abe has convinced everyone you're in one of the larger cities. They're expanding their search."

Shit. That was bad. Sure I could hide myself from anyone trying to get me in my dreams or read my mind. But there was no spell, no charm that was strong enough to hide my aura. If they started to use spirit users in order to find my aura, I was in big trouble.

"Do you think we should go?"

Victor scoffed. "You know what I think. I've told you from the beginning that you should have gone off on your own."

I shook my head. "I couldn't do that to Dylan. After everything he's done for me? What kind of person would I be if I left him like that? I'm his girlfriend, remember?"

But Victor wouldn't have it. I could tell just by looking at him that he was tired of hearing the same thing over again. "Lily, I'm a patient man, I have nothing but time. One day you will come to me and you will be ready to go. You will realise that he is holding you back. I can't promise I won't say I told you so but I can promise I will protect you." and with that he disappeared.

I was grateful, honestly. I respected Victor. We had come to an agreement, as long as he didn't annoy me too much I would try to ignore the horrible things he did in the past before he died. We had a strange friendship, but I came to terms with the fact I was stuck with him.

His advice was something I knew I could trust. He had never let me down. Over and over he had proved to me that his interests include my safety because without me he'll be alone again. I trusted him- surprisingly. But that didn't mean I didn't get aggravated by him.

He was a straight forward man. He said what he thought and he rarely changed his opinion after hearing other people's thoughts and ideas. He was a strong willed kind of person who- if he could- would do anything to get what he wanted. He had proved that when he was alive.

The idea of leaving and having him help me, keep me from being found, was tempting, I had to admit. But I wasn't the kind of person who would just up and leave the people who had been helping me, without saying a word...

Except that's what you've already done...

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Love and miss you all xox

BaMbY