"Liss, are you sure we should go out tonight?" I asked, even as Dimitri was pulling us out of the protection of the palace.
"I need to get out. I want to be queen, but I've been locked up for a few months." She said, looking over at Christian.
"I just feel like…oh, I don't know. Like something bad is going to happen."
Dimitri looked like he was about to say something, but Lissa cut him off.
"Besides, Rose, you need to get your mind of some stuff. As well as you, Dimitri."
Dimitri didn't say anything and kept his eyes on the road, tapping his vacant foot on the floor.
"Fine, I'll try not to be too overprotective." I said, crossing my arms.
"Thank you. Now, let's go."
As we entered into the mall, I felt as if something was terribly wrong. My breathing picked up and my palms began to sweat.
"Are you alright?" Dimitri asked, feeling my forehead.
"I don't think we should be here." I said, looking around.
Dimitri looked around and then shook his head. "Just stay close to Lissa. We'll meet back here in a few hours." He followed Christian off somewhere and Lissa pulled me into Victoria's Secret.
Great. Dimitri was nowhere near me and I was in a twenty-four hour mall. Strigoi could be anywhere…
Lissa shrieked and I jumped, my head whirling to her. She was laughing and picking up a bra and panty set. "Rose, this would look amazing on you!"
It was black and red lace and looked more like lingerie than something I could wear to a meeting.
"It's beautiful, Liss, but I'd want something more comfortable."
"But, Rose—"
She didn't get to finish before someone grabbed me from behind. She screamed and I yelled for her to run for Dimitri. She took off, leaving me with the Strigoi.
This was a nightmare. Exactly what Dimitri was talking about when he asked me what I would do if a Strigoi attacked in the mall.
I kicked the vampire from behind and he let go to hold himself as I took off. I pushed through the late night shoppers and looked for Dimitri. I spotted him over the crowd and ran to him.
"Roza, thank God." He breathed, catching me.
"We have to get out of here. Now." I said.
He nodded…and that's when a shot rang out. People began screaming and evacuating the mall.
Dimitri cursed, taking a concealed stake from his duster. "Rose, get them out of here."
"I'm not leaving you to deal with them alone."
Another shot rang out, causing Lissa to let out a scream.
"Do it. Please." Dimitri's eyes were desperate and I grudgingly agreed. "I will not die. I will come back to you." He kissed my forehead and disappeared among the rushing crowd.
"Let's go." I said, going into guardian mode and pushing my fear aside.
Dimitri's POV
Looking for Strigoi in a rushing crowd was like finding a needle in a haystack. So many people pushed against me as I ran through. I managed to breakaway and then I spotted the Strigoi. At the same time, they spotted me and I recognize one as Jerome.
As I slowly walked up to them, Jerome spoke.
"Belikov, fancy seeing you around here."
"Knock it off, Navishkov. We both know why you're here."
"Honestly. I'm only here to lure you away. As of right now, you're girl is mine."
I cursed in my head and began running back to them, praying that they were alright.
Rose's POV
We finally got to the parking lot and I counted no Strigoi.
"Get to the car!" I yelled over the crowd.
Lissa and Christian nodded and ran for it. I looked around and then was knocked down from behind.
"Watch it, jer—" I was lifted up by the throat and thrown at a car. I slammed into it, the wind going from my lungs.
"Jerome did say you were a pretty one." The Strigoi said as I picked myself off the concrete.
"Oh, did he? Did he also mention I've killed more Strigoi than anyone could count?" I retorted.
He smiled. "He never said you could single-handedly take out five at once."
At that, I was surrounded. I pulled my stake out of my coat and circled around, hoping Dimitri would hurry. One lunged and I threw myself out of the way, into the path of another. I screamed and slid underneath his feet, tripping him into another one. My mind was in full survival mode and I was hoping to hold them off until Dimitri showed up.
"Maybe we could have some fun with her before we give her to Jerome?" A Strigoi with a scar said.
"Over. My. Dead. BODY!" I screamed, jamming a stake into him.
He fell to the ground, twitched, and went still. All at once, I was descended upon and overtaken. I felt something get inserted into my neck and I stopped struggling, my body paralyzing. I felt myself getting pulled into unconsciousness and saw a cowboy duster before everything went black.
Dimitri's POV
I reached outside just as Rose went down. "Rose,no!" I screamed.
Right before I reached them, they picked her up and vanished into the night. I ran after them in the direction I thought they went and then when I knew I wouldn't be able to find them, I ran back to the car.
"Did you—?" Lissa stopped when she saw my face. "They got her, didn't they?"
"I couldn't save her, but it doesn't mean I'll give up." I said, starting the car and speeding around the block a few times. After searching for two hours, I began heading back to the palace.
I could hear Lissa sobbing in the back and Christian consoling her. I felt like breaking down myself, but knew I couldn't in front of them. "Lissa, we'll get her back. I won't rest until she's back." I said, looking at her through the mirror.
"I know, but what if…what if she's Strigoi?" She choked out.
"You healed me. You can heal Rose."
She sniffled and nodded. "Are you going to get a rescue put together?"
"Of course."
As soon as we reached the court, I took off in search of Janine and Abe.
Once I found them and told them what happened, Janine gasped and I saw tears form in her eyes.
"Abe, we have to get her back." She said, her voice choking up.
He nodded vigorously. "Whoever took her…this is the last mistake they'll ever make."
"I'm sorry. I couldn't save her. I didn't get to her in time." I whispered.
"Dimitri," Janine touched my arm, "you tried. That's all that matters. We'll get her back. I'll call Alberta and others. We won't stop until she's safe."
I nodded and swallowed. "I'm going to my room."
"Goodnight, Dimitri."
Once inside the room, I sat down on the bed, feeling extremely cold. Before I knew it, tears were falling down my face. Then, I was angry.
"Damn you, Jerome." I growled, my fingernails biting into my skin.
I sat down at the computer and wrote Jerome an e-mail.
Navishkov,
You do anything to Rose and I'll make sure your death is slow and painful. She returns to me in less than perfect condition and I'll cut your heart out...after I feed you your throat. You have crossed the line and this will be the last time you ever wrong me. When we find you, you will never see the night again. I'll make sure of it.
Belikov
After sending it, I showered and laid down. Suddenly, I felt a rush of tears come on...and then I cried myself to sleep.
Rose's POV
I groaned as I felt myself get thrown somewhere. My head hurt like I had had a bolder dropped on it and my stomach was so nauseated. I opened my eyes to the dim light above me and blinked.
"The Sleeping Beauty awakes." A sick voice said.
I gasped and flew back, noticing I was in a cell. Great...flashback to my time in prison. I noticed a Strigoi in front of me. "Jerome." I growled.
"She knows my name. I figured Belikov filled you in."
"Of course he did. He would never keep that from me."
"Oh, but he has kept a lot from you. Has he told you about his time as Strigoi?"
"Bits and pieces."
Jerome laughed and I would have cut his tongue out and fed it to him if I could have. "Belikov sent me an e-mail saying that if you weren't returned to him perfect, he would cut my heart out after he fed me my throat. He's making threats like that to vent anger."
My stomach gave a lurch and I turned to vomit. Jerome sighed. "Just an effect."
"What did those bastards inject me with?" I demanded, wiping my lips.
"A tranquilizer. You'll be alright...for now." He laughed like a villein from a movie and began walking off.
"Hey! Wait a minute!" I threw myself against the bars and then picked up the stool, banging it against them. "Hey! Come back! I'm not through with you, you sick bastard!" I continued to bang to stool and scream, hoping to catch his attention again.
When he didn't show, I threw the stool and then sat down on the bed provided. Hurry, Dimitri. I thought, curling up and closing my eyes against the tear flow.
Soon, I fell asleep knowing Dimitri would go through Hell and back to get me...with the help of Mom and Abe.
