A/N: Hey everyone! I'm really, really sorry for such a late chapter upload! I've been sick, and then had to catch up with a heap of work, and then had a really bad case of writer's block, so please forgive my lateness!

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter though, and I'm super excited for the next two that will be coming out shortly after this one! ;D

Chapter Eleven

DIMITRI P.O.V:

LISSA WASTED NO TIME WHEN I told her about our new lead, and ordered a group of her best Guardians to be ready to leave within an hour.

"I wish I could go with you."

I looked up from the cup of coffee Lissa had gotten for me, despite my refusals. We were currently sitting in one of Lissa's many meeting rooms. A pile of paper work sat on the table beside her, but that was the last thing on both our minds.

"I know it's hard, but it's better for everyone if you stay here," I said diplomatically. "Have you had any luck with the council?"

Lissa grimaced.

"No. They're a bunch of stubborn hot heads. I couldn't tell them about Sydney, not without risking the high chance of her getting sent back to the Alchemists. So I told them that I had received information from Adrian about the Alchemists being up to something that could put the Moroi and Dhampirs in danger, and how I had sent you and Rose on a scouting mission to investigate the matter further. I explained that Rose had been captured on the mission, which should be proof enough that they are up to no good…"

"But it's not proof enough for them, is it?" I questioned bitterly.

Lissa shook her head.

"They said that the Alchemists and Vampires have had a long standing, mutually benefitting agreement which has enabled them to work alongside each other in peace. We all want the same thing, for the Stirgoi to be killed off and to stop others from becoming one, all while trying to keep the innocent safe. So they can't see why the Alchemists would do anything to jeopardise that."

I clenched my fists, and tried to stop myself from shaking.

"But what about Rose!? How could they not care that a Guardian has been captured by the Alchemists?"

I locked eyes with Lissa, and I could see that my furry mirrored hers.

"For one thing, they refuse to believe that the Alchemists had anything to do with her disappearance. And also, because Rose is a Guardian, they only see her as a pawn. They said that just because Rose is my best friend, it doesn't mean that she should deserve any special treatment. According to them, if it was anyone else, I wouldn't be making such a big deal about it. Which is a complete load of shit!"

I was stunned by Lissa's sudden outburst, it wasn't in her nature to swear. And from the look on her face, I knew that she had surprised herself too.

"I'm sorry Dimitri, I guess I'm not dealing with this very well."

That's when I realised why we weren't having this discussion in her throne room, and why she had ordered her Guardians to stand outside, away from the door.

"The council doesn't know that you're sending a group of Guardians with me, do they? I mean, if they truly see Rose as just a pawn, they wouldn't let you send us on a search and rescue mission."

Lissa sighed.

"No, they don't know and they can't find out. Because if they do, the people who oppose my new law changes will have enough ammo to disprove me and win. And that can't happen, otherwise my ruling will still be tied to Jill's life. And I can't force her to keep hiding for the rest of her life."

I didn't know what to say, I was torn. I didn't want anyone else's lives being put at risk, but Rose was still out there. This must have obvious to Lissa as well, as she suddenly brightened up.

"Don't worry, no-one is going to find out about any of this. The vote is only a week away, and I have come up with a cover story for all your absences. Jill is safe with Eddie and Angeline, so Rose is our main priority right now. I just wish there was more I could do…"

As much as I wanted to argue and say that I could do it on my own, and that the Guardians should stay here, I knew that I'd find Rose quicker with more help. It was selfish, but I didn't care. I couldn't let Rose suffer any longer than she already had. Besides, we had managed to keep Sydney under wraps this past week, so I was confident we could all keep one more secret…

Lissa's voice brought me back to reality. "I've been trying to reach Rose through her dreams, like Adrian. But I still can't get the hang of it."

I sagged my head guiltily. It was amazing to see Rose yesterday, but it meant that Lissa had to miss out. She had given up her chance to see her best friend, so I could take her place. She told me that I needed to see her, and that Rose needed to see me. And I couldn't argue with that, not when every inch of my body ached to see her. But I wished there had been some way for Adrian to let Lissa come as well. But Spirit was a dangerous ability, and it was already risky having him take me into the dream.

My mind flashed back to the conversation I had had with Adrian just half an hour ago. I hoped he would listen to me about needing to stop using Spirit, as I knew he was on the verge of going over the edge. But he wasn't the only one who needed to be careful.

I lifted my head and leaned forward.

"Spirit's side effects are starting to effect you your majesty." I caught Lissa grimace at the word, 'majesty.' She hated when I referred to her with her proper title, but I couldn't help it. I was still a Guardian after all. "I know you want to help Rose, but she would never want you to risk your life to do so."

"But it's okay for you to risk yours?" She rebutted, raising her eye brows.

I stayed silent. "And it's okay for her to continuously risk her life to save mine, and for me to sit back and do nothing when hers in danger? I don't care if she's a Guardian and that it's her duty, because she's also my best friend Dimitri, and I'd give up the throne in a heartbeat if it meant that I could get her back. "

I pushed my untouched coffee to the side, and reached into my duster's inside pocket. My fingers found the item that I had kept with me ever since we discovered that Rose had been captured.

As much as I wanted to keep everyone safe, I understood what she meant. She needed to help, and if she could get in contact with Rose…

I pulled out the small, long object and sat it on the table. Lissa's eyes widened.

"That's the Chotki I gave her." She starred at the piece of jewellery, hesitant. But after a moment of silence, she scooped it up in her hands and met my gaze. "Why do you have it though?"

"Rose was wearing it before we went on the mission, but decided to leave it in her room so it wouldn't get broken or lost." I averted my eyes. "And when I had to go grab her hair brush for one of Sydney's spells, I saw it and I... I just needed something…"

Suddenly, Lissa's small hands were wrapped around my own. She gave them a gentle squeeze.

"It's okay, I understand," she said softly. She began to hand me back the Chotki, but I shook my head.

"No, you hang on to it. I know Spirit is different to the magic Sydney has, but I still think that having a personal item that means something to both you and Rose might help you connect with her in a dream."

Lissa's eyes lit up, excited by the sudden possibility of being able to see her best friend.

"Thank you."

I nodded. "Just be careful though. Rose would kill me if I let anything happen to you."

But my words just made her smile grow.

We both knew that because Rose had no information on her whereabouts yesterday, the chances of her having any new details, if Lissa did in fact manage to get in contact with her, was slim. But there was still a chance, which was good enough for the both of us.

A knock on the door startled us. It was one of the Guardians who would be accompanying me. They were all ready to leave.

I turned and bowed to Lissa, who rolled her eyes.

"I'm never going to get use to that…" I heard her mumble.

We said our goodbyes, and she wished me good luck.

Wasting no time, I turned on my heels and headed out the door and down the hall, towards the garage where the six Guardians were all assembled and waiting. I quickly swung by my room, and picked up my bag which was still packed from the last mission.

Not that I really needed anything though. As all I needed was Rose, safe in my arms. So I could never let her go again.

ROSE P.O.V:

I CRINGED AS MY EYES slowly opened, shying away from the brightness of the fluorescent lights that filled the white room. It felt like I had been asleep for days. Every muscle in my body was screaming out in pain, and my throat was dry with thirst. I tried to think back to the last time I had been given any water or food, but I couldn't remember. The last memory I had was of seeing Adrian and Dimitri.

I had felt so safe in that dream, and even happy. The feeling of Dimitri's arms around my waist, and his lips brushing against mine, had filled me with so much hope, and had made me determined to see him and everyone I loved again. It was the perfect escape from reality, like Adrian had said. But now that I was back in the real world, pure dread was all that consumed me.

The last thing I remembered happening in this room, was Jeff slashing me with a knife… and it was one memory that I wish I could forget. My sense of time was seriously messed up though, as Adrian and Dimitri had said that I had been missing for over a week. But that meant that I would have had to have been a sleep this entire time…

I rolled my head to the side and noticed a small tube coming out from my arm. Using all my effort, I lifted my head and followed the tubing, already knowing what I would find. I groaned as my eyes found the source of my endless sleep. A now empty plastic bag, hanging on a metal stand, stood next to the chair I was still being imprisoned by. It was a drip.

The sound of the door opening from behind startled me, and a braced myself for another session with Jeff. But it wasn't him this time, or even the other older guy. Instead it was a plump, short lady, who looked to be in her 60's. And in her hand, was another plastic bag, filled with clear liquid.

No…. Not again!

I opened my mouth, wanting to beg her not to do it. But my throat was so dry and sore, that I couldn't even utter a syllable. Instead, I made a noise that sounded like a dying lion. It was enough to catch her attention though.

"Shhh, dear. No point fighting it, you aren't going to win."

I've never wanted to hit an old lady so much in my life. She replaced the empty bag with the new one, and I watched as the liquid travelled down the tube, heading straight for my veins. I wanted to try and tear the tube out of my arm, but as much as I hated the lady, she was right. There was no point in fighting. I couldn't win this fight. Even if I managed to get the tube out, I'd still be stuck in the chair.

My eyes began to slide shut as the liquid entered my blood stream, and I let them. There was nothing I could do anyway.

Besides, I preferred the darkness over the light. It was more soothing.

A/N:

Oh dear! I don't know how much longer Rose can last for... well actually, I do! But what would be the fun in telling you guys that :P

Also, I should be able to get the next chapter posted up by tomorrow night if you guys really, really want it? Other wise, it will be up within a week :)

Remember to R&R, and thanks for reading! :D