Dimitri had stayed all night and I could feel myself wrapped in his embrace. His breath hit my hair softly as he breathed, so I knew he was still asleep. I smiled and gently moved his arms. He stirred, but didn't wake. Slowly, I got to my feet and padded over to my closet. I didn't change since today was Sunday. I would sleep in, but I was restless and needed to get up. My legs ached to be stretched out and my arms felt soft.

I plopped down in the middle of the floor and did some stretching, loving the familiar movements of stretching out my muscles. I was just about done when I heard the bed creak. Dimitri was up. I stifled another giggle, wondering what the hell was wrong with me.

"Rose," Dimitri groaned. "Don't bother hiding. I already know you're in the closet."

I made a face, getting up. "Fine."

I stepped out and saw him rubbing his temples. I regarded him curiously. "What did you do know?" I knew the bond only worked one way except when I wanted to talk to him privately.

He offered a weak smile. "Nothing you need to worry about. How do you feel?"

I stretched some more. "Whatever you put on me, it worked like a fucking miracle!"

"Language," he reminded me, but it was halfhearted.

I just shot him a cheeky grin. His phone buzzed and he pulled it out. I climbed back onto the bed, pressing myself close to him. Apparently it was a text because he started pressing buttons quickly and pressed the send button. I watched him curiously.

"Since when do you know how to text?" I questioned.

The smile on his face was more relaxed, genuine. "Since cell phones came out," he teased me.

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, what are we doing today?"

"I have a meeting later, but I guess I'll stick around with you until that time."

I tried to figure out what there was to do. The idea came immediately and Dimitri groaned, my feelings coming in through loud and clear through the bond. He said nothing more to me and I pulled out some clothes, quickly stripping down and getting dressed, not caring that he was still in the room.

Of course, being the gentleman he was, Dimitri turned away while I got dressed. When I was ready, he opened the door and I stepped out, looking around at the quiet emptiness. I turned to him questioningly. He could read what I was thinking. He knew what I wanted to know.

"Everyone's asleep or in their rooms. Only the guardians are out. The attack pushed everyone on edge."

I processed this. Then I shrugged. No one was watching us and we stuck along the shadows, so I grabbed Dimitri's hand and pressed it to the side of my face, taking comfort in him being with me. He looked at me tenderly and shaped his hand around my face. A small noise made us jump apart, though. Dimitri scanned our surroundings and I tensed slightly. No one appeared and he looked confused.

I moved closer to him, whispering in his ear, "Dimitri, there's something or someone here."

It took him a split second to catch on to what my sharper sense had picked up. He grabbed my hand and with his free hand, pulled out his stake. I saw another flash and saw the gun he always had concealed on him. There was snuffling and a psi-hound appeared. I realized that it must be onto something.

It looked up at me and I understood that it wanted us to follow. I tugged on Dimitri's hand, using the bond to talk to him. It wants us to follow it. I think it found something. His only answer was a slight nod of his head. He moved to my side, vigilant.

I kept a lookout for anything that would happen. I had a feeling that the Strigoi weren't done with us yet. It was kind of frightening to know that yesterday was the big attack and then today something else could happen. I trailed my palm along the wall and suddenly a sharp pain alerted me.

"Ouch," I muttered.

I had scraped my palm along something sharp. I pulled my hand back and Dimitri took it. I waited while he inspected it before pulling away and using my fingers to find the object that had poked me. My fingers bumped into it and I touched where I thought the tip was. I pulled my hand back away. IT was sharp enough that it pricked my finger and made that bleed as well.

I shook my hand out and was so focused on trying to find the object, I hardly noticed when Dimitri came up behind me, speaking softly. "Rose, what did you find?" I turned.

I found something. And shut up. Don't say anything out loud…We're being watched…I have a feeling we won't be alone for long…

His eyes widened, but he did as I asked, using the bond. What do you suspect cut you?

I can't be sure, but I can't find it—

A sudden sound made him pull me away and towards the safety of the building where my room was. I went along suddenly scared again that something would happen and I would be at risk and Dimitri might die again. The thought horrified me. Could I really bring him back a second time?

"Don't be silly," he muttered. "I'm not going to die again."

Oops. The bond, right. I really needed to figure out how to shield my thoughts. I tried to focus on the task at hand. There was shouting all of sudden. Dimitri's grip tightened on his stake as he pulled me into a building. He and I pressed up against a wall in a corner and he turned his head, looking out before motioning me to follow.

We raced through the hallway and up to my room at last. I was breathing heavily as was he. He pulled the curtains open, made sure the window was shut and locked tight, and then drew the curtains shut again. I didn't want him to go anywhere, fear of him dying and those last images from yesterday flashing through my mind. I didn't even bother with trying to place a shield up and he winced at my overwhelming emotions or the image in my head of his body limp and lifeless in my arms.

"Rose, I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here with you," he assured me, coming over and cradling my face in hands.

I looked up into his warm, promising eyes, hoping it was true…"Of course it's true, Roza," he murmured.

He drew me close to his body and I placed my head on his chest gently. I could hear his heart beating soothingly and a sigh escaped. Banging on my door startled us both and Dimitri grabbed his stake, moving to the door. He peered through the peephole and stumbled back.

"What? Dimitri? What happened?" I was getting frantic, panicking.

"Strigoi," he whispered, fear flashing through his eyes.

I realized the fear was for me and not him. He was more worried about me. God, I was really lucky to have him as my own guardian. I knew, though I could help. There were still some tools stowed away in my room somewhere. I peeled myself off the wall and rushed to my closet, digging, not caring if I was making a mess. Finally, I found one more stake. Don't ask how I got it

The door broke down and I heard cruel laughter. Laughter I recognized all too well. Dimitri was busy fending off one of her accomplices while she advanced towards me.

"ROSE RUN!" Dimitri yelled.

I didn't. I was armed and this time I was actually fuelled my hatred and anger. "You," I spat.

She smirked. "Yes. Don't think you actually killed me. You just stunned me is all. Oh, look. You're boy toy is over there and alive. Aw, did you save him with your little bitty magic?" she sneered.

I didn't answer, waiting for the right moment where I could strike. She made her move. Vaguely, I saw Dimitri struggling to get to me. But, I ignored him and stuck out with my stake. Missed. Fuck. I tried again, she leaped back or feinted in another direction and by now I was getting tired of this game. I wanted revenge and I wanted it now.

While lost in thought, I didn't see the fist that came to my head, causing me to falter and stumble. This gave the bitch something to work with. I heard her cold, cruel laugh as I tried to regain myself. My head was spinning as was the room.

Something jerked me up, held a knife—one with no magic infused—to my throat, kind of like those movies you see. Only, this was real and this was my life. All this time I had been worried about losing Dimitri, when I should've focused on myself more. Fuck, again.

The knife was pressing harder into my skin and I squirmed for a moment, realized it was only making it worse, and settled for trying to focus on my breathing I heard Dimitri letting out a string of Russian swears and sentences. My name was being called, but I didn't reply.

The bitch let out a laugh. "You are as hopeless as they say. You're not fun. Maybe I should've gone after your boy toy there. Now, he would be delicious and a perfect addition—"

I didn't let her finish and lashed out, using a kick technique Dimitri himself had taught me. It unfortunately didn't break the hold, but it took her by surprise. I twisted and kicked again and again, leaving no room for her to recover so fast.

The knife was gone, but I could feel sticky blood on my throat and when I put my hand there and pulled it back, it was covered with crimson blood. I grimaced as the pain hit me, but continued to fight. I hooked my leg around hers and attempted to trip her. Didn't happen.

She stumbled, which was a point in my book since Strigoi were so hard and nearly impossible to take by surprise. I was about to crawl away and try to get to Dimitri, but I was suddenly dragged back. I let loose a scream that would probably pierce anyone's ears.

No. This couldn't happen. I had to get through. For Dimitri. For Lissa. For my friends and family. My breathing was labored as I made a weak attempt to hit her. My head was yanked up by my hair and I cried out at the pain that shot up and down my neck from the knife cut.

"You evil little girl," she hissed. "You think you can just get away after killing my partner? Do you really think a Moroi could go against a powerful immortal Strigoi like me? I've lived years, my dear and I know what I'm doing." Her red eyes appraised me. "You, however, don't know shit. You're just a young girl. What, fifteen, sixteen?" She laughed again.

"I'm seventeen, God damn it!" I snarled.

She didn't answer for a moment. "Well. You've lived seventeen long years. Looks like time's up, little girl. You have potential, but you're too much of a threat to keep around until you're older to awaken. It'll be a shame to dispose of someone with so much hope. But, your blood will still taste wonderful, nonetheless."

I tried to kick her shin. She caught my leg and twisted it painfully. I didn't want to show weakness, but a whimper escaped through my lips. She laughed again and released my head. I turned it and saw that Dimitri was struggling against two or three Strigoi who were trying to hold him down.

His eyes met mine. "Bye, Dimitri," I whispered.

He heard. His eyes flashed dangerously. He broke free and started at me. It was too late, though. She sunk her fangs into my neck and I felt the blood slowly being drained out of me. The loss was still too much, though since it was already flowing from the gash….

The last think I heard was Dimitri yelling, "Rose! No!"

And everything….went…black….

DUN DUN DUN! Who thinks Rose is gonna survive? You never know, maybe she might become a Strigoi and someone will heal her. I was starting to hit a dead end with this for a moment, but I found some music, cranked it up and ideas started flowing into my head.

I love music, don'tcha?

Oh, well, next chapter should be up….Soon…I hope…

SONGS:

Fallen-Sarah McLachlan

Fix You-Coldplay

Hallelujah-Rufus Wainwright

Say Goodbye-Skillet

Nightmare-A7x

Give Me a Sign/Dance with the Devil-Breaking Benjamin

The Shot heard 'round The World-Boys Like Girls

The Great Escape-Boys Like Girls