Yp. not dead yet. I think having Tatiana alive to comment of the fact the Rose may or may not have tried to kill her will be funny.

Chapter 10:

RPOV

I can't believe it. I was currently in jail for the attempted murder of queen bitch. I was informed she was in a coma. And their prime suspect: Me!

Not that I hadn't fantasized about it a million times. I imaged my hands choking her whenever I entered a room with her. But I wouldn't ever actually do it. For one, despite all the Strigoi I killed I didn't consider myself a murderer. And secondly, I could never do that to Adrian. I didn't know why, but Adrian loved her and because of that she will always be safe.

I was locked, ironically, in the same jail cell that Dimitri was in only a few days ago. I tried to take some comfort in that, but found none. I needed to destress. Stress wasn't good for the twins.

Oh God, what if they did find me guilty? What would happen to the twins. I cannot give birth in jail! I was panicking when my father walked into the room

"Calm down little girl."

I looked over at my father. He was a sight to behold. Flashy expensive clothes, and a gold earring in his ear. The man wore more jewelry then I did.

I took a couple of deep breaths and I sat up on the cod.

"What is the word?"

"Tatiana is in a coma. She was staked but a guard was just in time to prevent the stake from going in to deep. The guard said he saw a woman stake her. But he was to slow to catch her. He was also more concerned with getting Tatiana help. The stake that was found had your fingerprints on them."

Ahh great. Being framed, just what I needed.

"Well why is Tatiana not awake yet. Hasn't Lissa tried healing her yet? She can say it wasn't me."

"She tried. But she is still too weak from healing Dimitri. Adrian is doing the best he can, but he isn't very adept at healing, so he can only do small bits at a time. It is going to take a while."

I sighed. I wondered that if Tatiana was awake, she would believe I didn't do it. Maybe she would condemn me just to be rid of me.

"Don't worry little girl, there will be a hearing tomorrow to present the evidence. But no matter the outcome, I will not let you go to jail, or worse."

Or worse. I thought about it. Of course high treason would be punishable by death. They wouldn't execute a pregnant woman, would they? I didn't care what they would do to me, as long as they don't hurt my kids.

A day. I would have to wait a day on the hearing and god knows how long for a trial. The jail cell was beginning to look small. I felt like a caged animal. I wasn't meant to be locked up. I was starting to climb up the walls.

"Here is something to pass the time with."

Abe handed me a book. The count of Monte Christo. I looked at him raising my eyebrows. His sense of humor was not appreciated in this case. Although you would never guess it, since he had a big smile on his face.

He walked out of my sight and I fell back onto the cod. I might as well sleep to pass the time.

I also realized that I wasn't alone. As long as I had my kids I would never be alone. I ran my hand over my stomach feeling the bulge. I would have to tell Dimitri soon, I didn't know how much longer I could hide it. Maybe a few weeks, a month at most.

I fell asleep with my hand still on my stomach as if I could protect them from everything that was happening around them.

The next day I was being prepared for the hearing. I heard there was quit a crowd. I guess this was very sensational. I wonder what got more attention, the age law, Dimitri, or the deranged girl that tried to kill the queen.

I was led into the room and I saw Abe standing in my corner.

"What are you doing here old man?"

"Well, my sweet girl, I am your lawyer."

I looked at him skeptically. But I knew my father had many tricks, so I guess I just had to trust him. I rather have someone in my corner that would do anything to protect me then a lawyer that was assigned to me by the court.

I sat down and the case against me was presented.

The guardian that saved Tatiana was up first. He described the attack but he didn't say anything that would identify me. He merely saw a woman. Not helping, but not hurting either. Then they moved on to the next item, the stake, the stake that had my fingerprints on it.

When they showed the stake to the judge I tried very hard not to look surprised. My stake, they were showing my stake. The stake I used to 'kill' Dimitri with. It had geometrical shapes carved into its hilt and it was unmistakably mine. Hence it had my fingerprints on it and now also Tatiana's blood. But I didn't use it. I would never be stupid enough to use it.

Next I was called to stand.

"State your name before the court."

I rolled my eyes but answered anyway. What, they didn't know who they arrested?

"Please describe your relationship with our beloved queen Tatiana."

I tried very hard to keep a straight face at that one, but answered as truthfully as I could without incriminating me more.

"a bit rocky. I always respected queen Tatiana and was grateful for the guidance from her for my best friend Lissa, but she and I didn't always see eye to eye when it came to Adrian. She didn't like the fact that we were friends. But Adrian loves her so that is good enough for me."

The prosecutor didn't seem to like the answer. So she uped her game.

"So you weren't removed from court a few days ago after threatening her and calling her a…"

She looked down at her paper. "sanctimonious bitch?"

Damn. I had hoped they hadn't heard that part.

"I was just angry. I was emotional about the age law and I took it out on her."

"Angry enough to go to her room and staking her. I mean this is your stake is it not?"

She showed me the stake and I couldn't help but nod.

"But I would never hurt Tatiana. And even if I did, I wouldn't be stupid enough to use my own stake."

Okay the last part didn't do me any favors.

"Where were you two nights ago?"

I thought about it. I was about to say in Adrian's room but realized, that night I had spent alone in my own bed.

"In my room."

"Is there anybody that can verify your whereabouts?"

"No."

And there it was, the trifecta. They had motive, opportunity, and the murder weapon with my prints all over them. I was doomed.

The council couldn't do anything else then find enough evidence to go to trial.

So I was hauled back to jail. This time I knew I would be in there a lot longer. Maybe I should have told them about the twins. They might believe that I would never endanger the twins. But I realized that they might believe I killed Tatiana because she opposed my relationship with Adrian. So I guess I had to remain quiet for now.

Three days. I had been in jail three days now. And I was surely disappointed. I knew that I wasn't allowed visitors, Abe had only gotten through because… well he was Abe. But I had special friends. Adrian didn't dreamwalk me, and the last couple of hours, Lissa was blocking the bond. Honestly it was the only thing keeping me sane. I could escape my jail cell by riding backseat to Lissa's life. And now I couldn't even do that.

Why was she blocking me anyway? Why wasn't Adrian visiting me? Was he mad at me? Did he believe I tried to kill his aunt?

I realized he must be tired from trying to heal his aunt. Yeah that must be it. He was trying to find answers.

I knew they were holding a service for Tatiana. People where gathered in the church praying she would survive. I was sharing their sentiment even though I didn't like her very much. She didn't deserve to die this way.

I felt Lissa unblock the bond and I saw she was making her way towards the church. Of course. She encountered Adrian's mom.

"Have you seen Adrian? I can't find him anywhere"

Lissa made a motion with her hands, lifting her hand to her mouth as if drinking from a glass. Adrian's mother understood.

"You will testify that he was too distraught to come here right. That he was in his room coping with this himself, right?"

Lissa noded. "Of course."

Daniella seemed satisfied with her answer and walked into the church. I didn't know what was going on, but I knew better then to believe Adrian was drunk in a ditch somewhere. Although he has quite the history with alcohol he was pacing himself lately. I knew what happened to his aunt was hitting him hard and I knew he needed an outlet for the darkness from healing her, but I didn't think he would get completely wasted. Tipsy maybe, but not wasted.

I could feel excitement and nervousness come from Lissa. I didn't know what that was about. I tried to dig deeper but I came up empty. Lissa set down next to Christian in the pew. Her hand met his and he smiled at her squeezing her hand gently.

The service had just started when I heard a loud bang followed by people screaming in church. Lissa and Christian however, were quite calm.

Everybody went outside including the two of them and I could see that a statue was blown to bits. It was chaos after that. A loud sound on my own end pulled me back into my head.

I saw my father and Adrian run down the stairs. I could see the hint of the guardian that was guarding me unconscious on the stairs. Adrian walked up to my cell, key in hand.

"Well you look rather sober for someone that should be drunk in a ditch somewhere."

He gave me a brilliant smile while he opened my door.

Abe walked up to me.

"I told you I wasn't going to let you stay in jail."

Of course Abe.

"You, you blew up the statue. How did you do that. They will find evidence of magic and start by looking at all of you."

"We didn't use magic."

Okay, then what did they use.

"We used C4."

Adrian replied in a casual tone as if they use C4 every day. I groaned but walked out of my cell anyway.

"We need to get you out of here. It may take a while before Tatiana is awake and even then there is no guarantee she can identify the real killer."

I nodded. I knew fleeing now was making me look guiltier but what choice did I have. If I staid and I was found guilty, they would execute me. I would rather live on the outside hidden in the human world then not live at all.

I followed Adrian and Abe up the stairs. I stopped dead in my tracks. Dimitri. He was standing guard at the top of the stairs. Was he helping me escape? I didn't have time to contemplate this as we moved out of the guardians building quietly. The guardians that stood guard were taken care of. I could only imagine how.

We moved to the parking garage were Abe had a car waiting for me. To my horror Dimitri was taking the front seat of the car. I looked at Adrian and pleaded with him not to do this or go with us.

He shook his head.

"I can't little Dhampir. I am needed here. I can help heal my aunt and get answers. But out there? I can't do anything. I can't protect you out there. He can. So let him. He was trapped here too and you know it."

I sighed. I knew he was telling the truth. I didn't know what kind of life Dimitri would have here but it wouldn't be as a guardian.

"Won't you guys get in trouble for this?"

"We needed a scapegoat and he is the perfect one. The guardians will only remember Dimitri attacking them not Abe or me."

I nodded and I leaned into Adrian. He hugged me.

"Besides, this way you have all the time in the world to tell him about the twins."

From my position I could see Dimitri, he was looking at the two of us and I could see something in his eyes. He was trying very hard to cover it up with his guardian mask, but I thought I saw jealousy.

"Don't give up on him, little Dhampir, I can tell by his aura he isn't over you yet."

Adrian whispered in my ear. My heart skipped a beat. But I wouldn't let myself hope. I had been hurt too much. I didn't think I could take any more.

But I did let go of Adrian, kissed my dad on the cheek and got in the car next to Dimitri.

"How are we going to get past the guards?"

I asked not knowing just how far my friends were willing to go to get me to safety or to see a nifty explosion.

The side wall of the garage was blasted away by a good amount of C4 I image, and Dimitri took off on the dirt road leading away from court.