Alternate Reality

"How can you be here if you are a strigoi?" I ask Lissa. "When Dimitri was turned, I couldn't see his spirit here."

"It's because I am a Spirit User. When I was turned my body stayed alive, but my soul came here. So, now I am a talking ghost." Lissa tells me.

"Oh Lissa, I am so sorry this happened to you. Do you know who turned you?" I ask her.

"Yes. It was the Blonde stigoi. I know because he bragged about turning Dimitri too. He said he had been after me a long time." Lissa informed me.

"Wait until I get my hands on that son of a bitch! I am going to kill him…slowly." I tell her with my hands clenched into fists.

"So, I suppose you know about Eddie dying?" I ask while looking around, but not seeing him.

"Yes, he is here. I asked him not to come just yet, so we could talk. He is with Mason though, so they have some catching up to do anyway." She tells me.

"What's it like being with your family again?" I ask.

"It has been so great. I have missed them so, so much!" She tells me with a smile.

"Lissa, we can't find Christian. Do you have any idea where he might be?" I ask. Do you know where he is?"

"I don't know where he is. He is not in the Spirit World, and he wasn't in the van with me when I was taken. Rose, you have to find him! Promise me you will find him!" Lissa begs me.

"I promise Lissa, I will find him." I tell her.

"Lissa, I have to go and tell the guardians what is going on. I wish I could hug you. I am so sorry this happened to you." I tell you.

"Bye Rose. I will be watching over you." Lissa tells me.

"Bye Lissa." I tell my best friend as I turn around and cross back over the wards.

I sprint my way to the guardian headquarters. I open a heavy door and I see the rest of the guardians standing around maps, video, and other plans.

"Hey Mom." I say as I interrupt my Mom who is studying a map.

"How are the kids and Adrian?" She asks.

"The kids are fine and Adrian is still out." I tell her.

"I am so relieved the children are alright. Have you been able to use your bond?" Mom asks me.

"I still can't use my bond, so I went outside of the ward to see if Lissa's family could help me, and I found out some information." I said.

"What kind of information?" My Mom asks me.

"Well, That Lissa is a stirgoi." I tell her.

"What??!!" My Mom shrieks.

"Lissa was there, and because she was a Spirit User, she is able to talk with me. She doesn't know where Christian is. She said he wasn't in the van when she was taken. She made me promise to find him." I tell my Mom.

"This isn't like the raid we went on at the Academy. We have no idea where to even start to look for Christian." My Mom tells me.

"Well, we can't just sit here and do nothing! I promised Lissa we would find him. We have to find him!" I yell at her furiously.

My stomach turning to knots in my anger, and I ball my hands into fists. After all of this time, how can my Mother and the other guardians be so unwilling to go out and rescue someone?! I think to myself angrily.

"Rose, I understand that, but we don't know where to look." My Mother tries to tell me.

"Well, we do know where some nests are, so let's go to the nearest one and start killing until we get answers!" I reply angrily.

"It's not that simple! We have just suffered a devastating attack, we are down a lot of guardians, we have wounded and dead to take care of here! Now is not the time to go running off on some hair brained mission to rescue someone who is probably already dead anyway!" My Mother pounds her fist into the table.

"I told you that Lissa says Christian is not in the Spirit World! She made me promise to save him, and if you think I am not going after him, then you are crazy!" I yell at her through gritted teeth.

I turn on my heel and storm out of the headquarters, slamming the heavy door behind me. Dammit! I think to myself. Why am I the only one who is ever willing to do any real work around here? I wonder angrily.

I take out my cell phone and make a call.

"I need the Ivaschov jet ready to go to Dallas, TX immediately." I hang up the phone, and head to my house so I can pick up supplies and extra stakes.

In my bag is a list of know n locations where I can find nests of stigoi, cash, extra clothes, stakes, knives, and lighters. With my backpack on my back, I bored the jet and prepare for takeoff.

"I could use a stiff drink." I tell the private flight attendant. "Could you bring me the bottle of the finest whisky on the jet and a glass?"

"Sure Mrs. Ivashcov." The flight attendant tells me.

I settle back into the comfortable leather seat and drink my whisky. I close my eyes for a moment and reflect back on just how fucked up everything is. Revenge is going to be so sweet.