Chapter 10

DPOV

"So what is next? What is this errand we need to run?"

I grinned knowing what I had put aside for her. But I wasn't going to let her know it. And seeing as this was sort of a date, I wanted to surprise her.

"It is a surprise. I got you a little gift."

We drove towards the bad part of town and I led her to a small shop in a dark alley. She looked at me a little strangely. I think she was starting to realize that even though she has the delinquent record, I could be a little on the shady side too. I knew a lot of people, both on the good side of the law as well as on the bad side.

The inside of the shop was just like I remembered and probably had been for the last twenty years or so. It was run by a retired Guardian and he would be somewhere in his sixties now. When he heard the doorbell he came from a back room and looked to see who had entered his shop. He smiled friendly as he recognized me.

"Dimitri Belikov. Always a pleasure to see you. It has been too long." He greeted in Russian. I reciprocated the greeting and introduced Rose in English.

"So I suppose the order is for her then?"

I nodded. He looked her over and I could tell he approved. Rose had that natural confidence in her posture that made people immediately like her.

"So then, shouldn't she have gotten these when she graduated?" He raised an eyebrow in question.

Rose shrugged. "I don't know what I should have gotten, but I suppose I would have to graduate first before they give it?"

I turned to the shop keeper.

"Rose and I are following a different path right now."

He looked shocked.

"You went rogue Belikov? You really aren't the person I expected to ever go rogue."

I shrugged.

"I have something to take care off and I can't do it through the regular system. I hope it isn't permanent."

He excused himself to get a box he had in the back room. When he returned he placed the box on the counter and motioned Rose and I forward.

She looked at the box and then at me.

"And here I thought jewelry was appropriate for a date."

I placed my hand around her waist and motioned for her to open the box.

"Well it is silver."

She opened the lit and revealed three stakes. I had them custom made for her. Standard issue stakes were plane, but these had geometrical shapes at the top. It was Anatoly's signature. And although he deals with sanctioned Guardians a lot, he also had a large cliental of unpromised who went to him for this type of stuff.

She picked up one of the stakes.

"I thought you should be armed and although you can have my spare, I think it was time for your own set."

She threw herself into my arms and nearly staked me doing it too. She pulled back a little and kissed me. It took us a while before we let go of each other. Anatoly had a kind smile on his face, starting to realize how special Rose was to me, and maybe thinking that she was the reason I went rogue. In our world, that wasn't a stretch.

"This really is the perfect first date, with the perfect present."

She tested the weight of the stake in her hand and spun it around a few times. She was looking admiringly at the intricate detail at the top.

"It is beautiful."

"Just like you."

I kissed her head and settled the bill with Anatoly.

"I am tracking a few Strigoi in this area." I started to tell Anatoly. "I was planning to start at the clubs and see which ones have Strigoi a presence and human corporation. Any hints you can give me?"

Anatoly had been in Omsk most of his life, as a Guardian or a shop owner, he knew these streets better than anyone. He usually kept to himself, and he even warded his shop and home, because he could be targeted by Strigoi, but strangely they left him alone, I could only assume it had to do with his vast skills. The man was a legend on these streets.

He asked for my map and pointed out several clubs.

"I would start with these. Most Guardian action and most casualties. But be careful it also has some alchemist presence. I am not sure if you want to fly under the radar or not."

I nodded my thanks to him. I would want to as much as possible, but I also knew Alchemist involvement was all but sure with what we are planning.

We took her stakes and left the box. He said we could pick it up if we wanted it another time, but I doubt we would have much use for it.

Rose put one of them in her jacket and one in her boot, the other she gave to me. I was already packing silver, but my jacket was big enough to hide a third.

We walked the distance to the first club. It was getting late in the evening so there should be a lot of activity at the clubs.

"For tonight I just want to scout the place. Get a feel of which clubs have dealings with Strigoi and which don't. I want us to be regular visitors. I want you to have fun and dance and look around for exits and back rooms. I'll look for who is running the place and if they show any signs of working with Strigoi. Also, I hope you can use that Strigoi sense you have to see if there are any there tonight."

She nodded and looked thoughtful.

"I thought about it and I think you should be able to feel them too now. Part of the things I can do is because I am bonded to Lissa, but some of it is because I died. And you should have those same abilities. Now I don't know if it is the spirit in me that rejects the Strigoi and makes me nauseous or if it is me recognizing something that has also been to the other side. But just be careful. If you feel nauseous all of a sudden, don't assume it was the food."

I nodded, I didn't know if me having Strigoi sensing abilities would be a good thing. Sure it was handy as a warning. It saved us when we were exiting the cabin, but I also knew Rose felt really sick. I wasn't looking forward to that part.

I lead her inside bypassing the line. With the way we looked and the authority we walked we weren't stopped. It wasn't just that I was unwilling to wait, it was also good to make an impression. I wanted them to know I meant business, I even hoped they would approach me tonight, instead of me having to come to them for questions. In these parts a rogue Guardian was in high demand, and I hoped that if they have some Strigoi presence here that they would also recognize a guardian.

I had asked Rose to keep her hair down on purpose. Sometimes it would be handy to show her marks, but right now I needed her to look like an untrained Dhampir. I wasn't willing to use the word blood whore, but I knew people would make the assumption. It added to my flare of going rogue, having a blood whore follow me. And if I would get into trouble her being able to actually fight would be a surprise that could save us. So for now I wanted the world to believe what they always believed of beautiful young and sexy dressing Dhampir women, no matter how much it was killing me.

And thank God Rose had long and thick hair. Because the amount of marks she was accumulating was rising fast. She had her two molnija from Spokane and in the week after the attack she had been given a zwezda for her role at the attack and another couple of molnija for what she did in the caves. And before we would return I imagine her neck will be littered with them. And I suppose so would mine.

We first went to the bar and I ordered us a couple of Russian vodka's and as per custom knocked them back immediately. I needed them to know Rose was with me first and then I send her on her way to the dancefloor, so she could start scouting the place and drawing attention her herself.

I leaned back on the bar stool watching her intensely. I would wait about half an hour to see if anyone approached me and if they didn't I would start asking questions.

I was mesmerized by the way Rose danced. I had never seen her do it other than the Equinox dance, and somehow her club dancing was wildly different.

Since she trained every day, she knew her own body very well and knew exactly how use all her muscles to create the desired effect. She looked so graceful and elegant, yet at the same time seductive. Her body was like a siren call making me look her way. She moved to the beat of the music as if it was a part of her. I saw her eyes dart to me a few times as well as around the room looking for the exits and rooms. She moved around the room in order to get an overall view.

People were eager to dance with her but she made sure not to let them get too close. She allowed a little attention, but moved on quickly enough.

It was about twenty minutes in when a man took a seat next to me on the stool. He was Moroi and staring at Rose hungrily. This was a good sign. If the club was visited by Moroi, Strigoi presence wasn't far behind.

"Is she available?" The Moroi man asked.

I knew he didn't mean to ask if she had a boyfriend or if he would court her, he meant is she available for tonight. He obviously pecked me as her pimp. An assumption I had made sure he made, but still it pissed me off to no end.

I answered briskfully. "Not tonight."

And I turned around to the bar, indicating that the conversation is over.

I motioned for the bartender to give me another shot as the Moroi vacated the seat next to me. He was still eyeing Rose. I don't think he liked my answer, but I knew Rose could take care of herself and if he decided to sidestep me, which would be very unwise, I knew Rose would deal with him.

"I would keep an eye out for that one. He usually gets what he wants."

The bartender told me in Russian. I nodded gratefully.

"He is welcome to try. Then he will see what will happen to men who think they come first."

I intentionally used our mantra so the bartender had even more reason to suspect I was a rogue Dhampir. But I think he had already pecked me as such. Even though he was human.

"Are you new in town? I haven't seen you around here?"

I nodded.

"Just arrived yesterday. Brought in some fresh meat from America." I tilted my heat towards Rose.

"She is quite the catch. In America they usually go to Academies, don't they?"

I shrugged.

"She tried. But she is too much of a rebel to conform to the system. She wants to be free. So I told her I can provide that for her."

The bartender chuckled. He knew as well as I did, that the life of a blood whore was anything but free.

"What? You don't think she looks free. Look how happy she is dancing."

And as if Rose heard me, she laughed, underscoring my point.

"If you want, I can hook you up with some contacts? For a bit of the profit. There are actually some clients of mine that would love a girl like her."

I tried not to shiver as I nodded hopefully putting on an eager face.

He gave me his number and I promised to contact him in a day or two after we were settled. He gave me a knowing look, thinking I first wanted to test Rose out myself before giving her away. And although that is exactly what I had done only a few hours ago, it still made me wildly uncomfortable.

I decided to join Rose on the dancefloor for a bit, while keeping an eye on the bartender.

I snaked my hand around her waist and after only a fraction of hesitation she leaned back, taking in my presence.

"How are things on your end?" I whispered in her ear as I swayed with her in time to the music.

"Two Moroi assholes, a lot of human assholes, two exits, a main storage room and a back room where I have seen some shady people coming in and out. This club certainly isn't in the up and up."

She tilted her head towards the back room. I saw a big human guy guard the entrance. He had an earpiece in.

"Who has been going in there?"

She jiggled her hips provocatively against my groin and leaned her head back.

"Only the bartender so far."

I was beginning to think it wasn't the entire club which was shady, but that the bartender was more the central point of the dealings, simply using the club as a homebase.

"Let's do some perimeter checks. See if there are any other way's into that room."

She nodded and followed me out of the club as we made our way outside. We walked hand in hand, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible.

We rounded the corner and looked in the alleyway that was adjacent to the club. It had a few doors, no doubt connecting to the club.

I nodded up towards the building nearby and Rose understood. We found a dumpster and used it to propel ourselves up to the roof of the nearby building. We laid down on our stomachs and waiting to see if anybody would make it into the room from the outside. If my hunch was correct and the bartender was doing some dealings on the side, he wouldn't lead all the shady business through the club.

"Now what?" Rose asked.

"Now we wait."

I saw her eyes roll. Rose wasn't known for her patience. But unfortunately, a lot of this mission, was scouting and gathering information.

We tracked the comings and goings for about an hour. Mostly it was waiters and people taking out the trash in the back alley and there didn't seem to be anything suspicious in the trash. We checked. We got to watch one couple go at it in the alley, dry humping each other, but other than that it had been very quiet.

I was about to suggest we come back another night, when a feeling of nausea overcame me. I saw Rose had a similar reaction as she groaned a little bit. I on the other hand, silently got up, walked to the back of the building, hopefully out of earshot and threw up my amazing Russian dinner.

Rose looked at me with concern but I directed her to keep watching as I retched one more time. At least one of us should be getting the intel. There were obviously Strigoi in the area.

It took me a few more minutes to compose myself, the feeling having returned to a dull ache now that the Strigoi were no longer near us, so I walked back to Rose and laid down on my stomach again.

"How many?"

"Just two. They were expected and the bartender opened the door. He seemed scared but I swear I saw dollar signs in his eyes as he led his 'guests' inside."

We watched for a few minutes.

"Do we go in? Do we attack. There are only two."

I thought about it. Ideally I wanted a bit more information and I wasn't sure if I got close to a Strigoi if I would fight or hurl at them, but in good conscious I couldn't let them leave. God knows what they were up to. They could have innocent victims in there.

I grabbed my stake and indicated for Rose to do the same.

"Is the door open? Or do we need to break it down." I asked not having seen the earlier interaction.

"It is locked, but I think I can get us in." Her smile was radiant and I knew she could get us into any place.

We let ourselves down from the building on the side, so any camera's they might have didn't see us.

We moved in the alleyway and Rose opened her jacket up to expose her breasts a bit. She fluffed her hair and knocked on the door. I could feel the nausea increase the closer we got. I battled with broken bones, and fought through horrendous pain, but I never had to fight sick. Somehow that seemed a lot harder.

Rose knocked on the door and someone seemed to be looking through the peephole to identify her.

Seemingly liking what they saw they opened the door. The moment they did, Rose kicked the door open further, so it hit the guard in the face. It took her seconds to incapacitate him.

We stepped out of the corridor and into the main space. The sight before us was enough to make me sick even without the nausea from the Strigoi sense.

The two Strigoi were feeding on young women. One seemed to have been discarded to the side and by the pale color of her skin, she was unlikely to be alive. Both Strigoi had their teeth into the neck of two other girls. One was still whimpering, the other seemed to have gone unconscious, but I could still see the rise and fall of her chest. The bartender was standing in the corner counting bills.

All three of them looked up at us as we entered with a bang.

The Strigoi sniffed and immediately recognized us as Dhampir. They threw away their victims as if they were ragdolls and stood up, ready to engage us.

"Try to leave one of them alive to question and don't let the bartender leave." I told Rose.

Rose nodded and engaged the one closest to her. I took the other one. It was a different kind of fighting. My nausea complicating things a little, but now that I was in fight mode, I was able to push it more to the back my head. But the other thing was, that I couldn't kill all the Strigoi I came across. I needed information. And I needed them to give it to me. I would kill them if I had no other choice or if it became too risky, but I at least had to try and that meant a level of restraint on my part I wasn't used to.

The bartender had wanted to run and while Rose was fighting off the Strigoi she elbowed him in the nose and backed him into the corner. He was barely conscious after that. She was circling the Strigoi, trying to find openings. Non-lethal but damaging openings. I was trying to do the same with mine, but this was never taught at the academy.

In the end Rose had to kill hers, but helped me to subdue mine.

I was immobilizing the Strigoi with my weight as she kept his head and arms in check.

She looked at me questioningly. I motioned to her stake. My hands were occupied so she would have to do the investigation, well at least the persuading part.

"I am looking for two Strigoi. Alina and Viktor. Do you know where they are?"

The Strigoi simply snarled at me. I nodded my head to Rose and she took her stake and rammed it into the wrist of the Strigoi. He screamed in agony.

I repeated the question. With the same results. Rose sliced the stake across his neck and the Strigoi hissed in pain, or at least try to, she had made it rather deep, so some of the blood was seeping into his trachea making a sort of gurgling sound. It would have been fatal for humans, but in Strigoi it would heal in a moment.

"One more time. Alina and Viktor. Do you know where they are?"

He was silent for a moment looking a little apprehensively towards the stake. I realized he didn't know anything and I staked him before he could say no.

I expected the nausea to subside, but it took me another retch in the corner to get it out of my system.

In the meanwhile, Rose had secured the guard and the barkeeper with some impromptu handcuffs and checked the vital signs of the women to Strigoi were feeding from.

"The one in the corner is gone, but the other two are alive. We should get them some medical attention though."

I nodded and whipped out my phone. I dialed a number I hadn't needed in a long time since I was stationed at the academy. The last time had been the Badica attack. I had hoped to at least go one night without having to call them.