So, it is really amazing how much the visitors and hits spikes up when I actually post something. :) LOL. Anyway, just wanted to say that I know it was really bad of Adrian to compell her, but it wasn't like Rose was going to spill without him doing it... In my opinion, it was all Rose's fault. :D Nah, just kidding, but someone needed to know what was going on. Of course, now that Adrian knows it will be interesting to see what he does with that information. Like, if he decides to follower her, I wonder how he will do it without totally alerting everybody, you know? Some things I have to decide after this chapter. So, anyways, enjoy and please review because I love hearing what you have to say!

-GuardianRoseHathaway

Chapter Eleven

I woke up immediately, my heart pounding in my chest. I glanced outside at the scenery, which was still flashing quickly past us. Victor and Robert were both asleep.

I slipped into Lissa's head quickly, and she was staring at Adrian. Anticipation, fear, excitement all coursed through her as she watched his movements. Lissa wasn't paying much attention to her surroundings; she was completely focused on Adrian. But I could discern a few things without her attention.

Christian was standing next to her with his arm around her waist. There was a worried look on his expression, and if I didn't know any better I would swear he was actually worried for me. Oh, how things had changed. Of course, I knew that some of that concern was for Lissa, for which I was grateful. Because as always he was standing by her side, so no matter if the news was good or bad, he would be there when she fell. Of course, the news better be bad, if Adrian had any sense in him. Because if he let slip anything, then there would actually be a murder on my hands.

On Lissa's other side stood Dimitri, tall and quiet. His eyebrows were knitted together as he watched Adrian's every movement. His hands were tucked neatly into his jean pockets, but I could tell he was uneasy.

For a moment a spark of hope flared up in me. Could that concern, that complete worry be for me? But then I remembered who he was standing next to and the hope vanished. It was Lissa that he regarded as his savior. He was probably only their to give her support.

The rational part of my mind, or irrational depending on who I was talking to, wanted to argue against that thought, but I pushed it away and once again focused on Lissa.

Adrian opened his eyes and Lissa's stomach twisted some more, from too many emotions that I couldn't even figure them all out. I felt a stab of guilt in my own stomach. Lissa had really pinned everything on Adrian finding out where I was so she could join me. But I hoped that Adrian wouldn't tell her. I was crushing her, and Lissa didn't even know it.

"So, what did she say?" Lissa blurted out, anxiety and excitement coloring her voice. And yet, despite her desperation to hear something, she also was hesitent to get answers. At this moment she contained all the hope in the world that Adrian had found out where I was and that soon enough she would know, too. But if Adrian hadn't found out... that hope would be gone and she would have to find some other way to find me.

The guilt was clenching my stomach so tightly I felt I was going to throw up. But I kept myself in Lissa's head, knowing that I had to hear what Adrian said.

"Adrian, what did she say?" Lissa repeated. Adrian's lips tightened, and for a moment he stared at Lissa as if he could see past her. As if he could see me. And then he was focusing on Lissa, and I could see a flash of pity run through his eyes.

"She asked about court stuff," Adrian responded hesitently. Lissa frowned, momentarily sidetracked.

"What did you tell her?" she asked. Adrian shrugged.

"The truth. I told her that people were in a panic. That those who knew her were worried, that we wanted to know where she was," Adrian spoke the last words slowly, as if he could drag it out long enough so he wouldn't have to ultimately lie to everyone.

"Did you find out?" Lissa asked, practically bouncing up and down. For a moment all she felt was this blinding hope and complete confidence that I would tell Adrian so Lissa could join me. Stab, stab, stab.

This time the pity was less concealable. Any pretense of lightness in Adrian disappeared as he stared at Lissa for a few loaded moments. Lissa didn't notice; she was too wrapped up in her own emotions. But I could see the hurt in his eyes that he had to lie. I could see the excitement about... something. But Lissa's emotions peeked and I was forced to pay attention to her again. If I hadn't already been in her head of my own free will, I would have been sucked in already.

"No. I'm sorry, Lissa, but she wouldn't tell me," Adrian said sadly. He was putting on a pretty good act; he was showing sadness, frustration, anger, depression, all of the emotions he should be feeling at that moment. Lissa's emotions instantly spiraled downward, that hope shattering into a thousand pieces. But there was one person who he could not fool.

"You're lying."

The words hung in the air for a moment, almost as if everyone was trying to figure out who had said it. And then slowly their eyes turned towards Dimitri, who was glowering at Adrian. Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"You think so?" he snapped. I felt proud of him for a moment, but Lissa's eyes turned towards Dimitri once more and... I could feel myself getting wrapped up in him all over again.

Lissa's feelings were almost maternal as she looked at him, as they had been ever since she had saved him with the spirit-enfused stake. But on top of that she felt concern and confusion. How could Dimitri think Adrian was lying? She felt confident that Adrian would tell her where I was if he knew. And yet... Her jade eyes turned towards Adrian with curiosity. Could Dimitri actually be on to something?

"Yes, I think so. Are you honestly telling us that in a dream that you control, you were unable to get the information out of Rose?" Dimitri asked. Adrian slowly grinned.

"Well, you know how Rose is. She is as stubborn as can be, and she really knows how to distract you," Adrian said.

I wished for a moment that I could take control of Lissa's body. Because then I could strangle Adrian for his words. I didn't want anyone to know where I was or what I was doing, but that didn't mean he had to make me sound like a slut or a blood whore.

Lissa was shocked, and suddenly I got a much better view of the room. Abe and Janine were also there. As she looked from them to Christian to Dimitri and back, she saw shock on all of their faces. What Lissa had not noticed was the murderous look in Dimitri's eyes.

If Dimitri had decided to lunge forward and strangle Adrian, he could have done it. Janine was the only other guardian there... I suddenly realized that I hadn't seen any guardians for Dimitri, and I at least had the pleasure of noting they were starting to trust him again. Of course, if he killed the Queen's great-nephew, there might be some problems. Of course, at that moment I wanted to do the same thing, so I really couldn't blame Dimitri.

Dimitri showed restraint and only pinned Adrian against the wall. Adrian still had a lazy grin on his face, but his eyes were wide.

"Tell me what you know," Dimitri growled.

"Look, I told you she wouldn't tell me," Adrian hissed. Dimitri just leaned forward until his face was only inches away.

"If you really loved Rose then you would have done everything possible to find out where she was. You would have done everything in your power," Dimitri emphasized the last three words, and everyone understood his meaning. "To find out what she was doing." Adrian had the decency to look disgusted, even though he actually had done that.

"You want me to use compulsion on Rose? Look, maybe you were okay with doing that when you were with her, but I'm not going to take advantage of her like that."

It took me a moment to realize what Adrian was referring to. Because he wouldn't mention my time in Russia to Dimitri, would he? And anyways, Dimitri hadn't ever used compulsion on me. Sure, he kept me under his influence by biting me, but that wasn't compulsion.

Dimitri's features were contorted into a pained expression. He looked like he was trying to do multiple things at once. It was also pretty evident he wanted to kill Adrian. But exercising self control that I would never, ever have, Dimitri stepped away.

"I never compelled Rose," he said quietly as he sat down on the couch.

Lissa felt a stab of pity for Dimitri. And then something unexpected happened.

She turned on Adrian.

"How could you even say that? I know you both are in love with Rose, even if you," she pointed at Dimitri, "Won't admit it, but do you have to add petty insults into the mix? We might actually be able to get some answers if you two would cooperate together. Adrian, I don't want to hear another word about Dimitri's time as a Strigoi, understand?" Lissa cried. She was already in pain from Adrian's confession earlier that he didn't know anything. All that hope, gone from her. And now they were fighting? She felt Adrian's words had been completely uncalled for. And just like that, the tension drifted out of the room. Like any bad smell, it wasn't gone. But it had dimmed to a bearable ammount.

"Now, Adrian, please, if you know anything you have to tell us," Lissa pleaded. Adrian hesitated, bit his lip, and then shook his head.

"I am sorry, Lissa. I don't know anything," he admitted. And Lissa, being the trusting, good person she is, believed him.

The guilt was tearing me up inside, and I felt tears pricking me eyes. But I kept myself with Lissa for a little longer.

"All right," Lissa sighed in defeat. "We will have to check in on her soon, to see if we can find out more. Adrian, if you would please keep an eye out for Rose. The next time she falls asleep, you need to try and get it out of here. Do anything you can, even," she hesitated. She felt her own guilt, but after a moments indecision she plunged on. "Even if it means using compulsion."

I decided I had seen enough. Adrian was leaving the room, guilt written plainly on his face even if Lissa didn't see it. Abe and Janine were conversing quietly as they walked out, both oddly silent during the whole exchange. I wished I could hear what they were saying, but they were talking too quietly. Christian walked into the bedroom, and Lissa sat down next to Dimitri on the couch. And just like that my attention was piqued. I wanted to see what they said.

"Dimitri," Lissa said hesitantly. Dimitri refused to look up. He had his head in his hands.

"Adrian was just upset that he doesn't know anything, just like the rest of us. And you know Rose, she always tries to keep everyone else out of trouble," Lissa said, trying to comfort him. But inside she was breaking, too.

"I just get the feeling that Adrian isn't telling us something. Something big," Dimitri said hesitantly as he picked his head up out of his hands to stare at Lissa. Lissa frowned.

"Adrian would have told us if he knew something," she argued softly. Dimitri shook his head.

"He doesn't think I should know anything," Dimitri admitted. "And maybe he is right. I shouldn't involve myself in her life, because I hurt her, multiple times." Lissa was appalled.

"Dimitri, how can you even say that? You have more right than most people to know what is going on. And I know you still love her." Dimitri started to interrupt, but Lissa shook her head. "Don't try to deny it, because everyone knows it is true, except for maybe Rose. Look, Adrian will find out where she is. And I promise you, you will know as soon as I do," Lissa said.

"Princess, thank you," Dimitri said sincerely. Lissa smiled, grateful she was able to do something, since she was feeling so helpless.

"Call me Lissa," she reminded him. Dimitri nodded.

"Lissa, I will do whatever I can to help Rose," he promised. I felt my heart beat speed up some at his words.

"Because you do love her," Lissa added quietly. And to my intense surprise and disappointment, Dimitri shook his head.

"No, I don't. If I truly loved her I wouldn't have even been able to think of hurting her as a Strigoi, no matter what happened," Dimtri answered. And then he stood up. Lissa followed suit, watching him with pity.

"When you are a Strigoi, you have no control. Your soul, every good thing about you is gone. And because of that, what mattered before didn't matter than. Because all you are left with are memores. And while I don't know the details about Rose's time in Russia, but I do know one thing. You wanted to change her. You wanted her to be with you. But you didn't force it on her. Your love for her was strong enough to give her the biggest gift of all: choice. And when she refused to do it willingly, you didn't force her into something she didn't want," Lissa said fiercely. I felt intensely proud of my best friend, my sister. Love and hope were radiating through her once more, because she felt warmed by the idea that love was strong enough to do that. And yes, he had then sent me charming notes reminding me not to step out of the wards or he would kill me since I wouldn't join him, but hey! Let's just skip past that part.

I couldn't be completely uspet, though. I had pretty much been trying to tell Dimitri that from the moment he was given his soul back. Maybe coming out of Lissa's mouth would make it more reasonable to him. I felt anger start to stretch inside of me, but I shoved it down.

"I also tried to kill her," he reminded her, his voice dangerously low. Lissa shrugged.

"Yes, but better do that than force her to be a Strigoi. Because I think that somewhere in you, you realized she would rather be dead than a Strigoi. So you tried to protect her, subconciously, from what she would dislike the most. And even that is huge." The way Lissa said it made it sound so... simple. So easy. Like that was all it was. His subconcious trying to protect me. And the amazing thing was that she actually believed it completely. Of course, maybe it was true. We would never know.

Dimitri walked towards the door and then turned back around to face Lissa. He looked straight into her eyes, almost as if he was looking at me.

"I don't know if you are in there, Rose, but I love you. And I won't stop fighting for you," he said softly, before turning around and leaving.

Lissa stood for a moment with a happiness in her that she hadn't felt in a while. It was bittersweet, mixing with all of her other emotions, but at least she had done something to help someone she cared about.

Christian came out a moment later and wrapped his arms around her. And after a few minutes of standing with their arms around each other, Lissa realized Christian's shirt was getting wetter. She was crying.

Rose, I don't know if you will hear me, but I miss you so much. I just wish that everything was like it was, where we could just hang out. Like old times. Dimitri loves you; he told me so. Adrian is worried sick and I know he visited you today. You should tell him where you are, so we can join you and help. And who are you with? No one can quite seem to figure that out, considering nearly everyone who would help you is here. They are sending guardians out to look for you. Please be careful. We all love you and want you back with us. Please come home. I miss you too much. I don't know what I would do without you. Stay safe, Lissa thought.

I slipped out of her head and found my own tears wetting my face, just as Lissa's was wetting her face and Christian's shirt. And after a moment of trying to control my emotions, I sobbed. God, I missed her so much.

Chapter eleven: done. Sorry it took so long to get up; I had some of it written, and once again my lovely computer decided to erase it. Blah. Anyway, hope you enjoyed! Hopefully the next chapter will be out tomorrow. Please review, and thank you!