Hey,

You're probably annoyed with me for taking so long, but just look down; it's longer than any other chapter so far.

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Disclaimer: All characters belong to their rightful owner, Richelle Mead. I own nothing - except this plot, Alexei, and Stephanie.

Chapter 14

Rose's POV

I watched in a daze as the fight began.

Punches were thrown; stakes were swinging around, used by a particular moroi who had no idea what he was doing.

Christian pelted balls of flame at anyone who stood too close – I even dodged a few myself – earning him a few glares.

"Watch where you're throwing those things!" I hissed.

"I'm sorry, I'm just a little busy trying to stop these people from killing us; maybe you should try it sometime."

I was about to roll my eyes, when it hit me: Christian might be able to permanently stop these people from attacking – but Dimitri and I certainly can't. In fact, no Dhampir can. If we – no matter how accidental – kill a moroi, we would be locked up immediately.

Oh great, all these weapons and no one to use them on.

Wait, if we can't hurt anyone, then what are Dhampirs doing helping them? Unless…they were protecting their charges.

This thought came to me as I looked around the room. The moroi who had guardians would start a fight, and then with no other choice, the guardians' would have to step in and finish it – or at least try to. The guarded moroi kept going for Mia and Abe, (death wishes anyone?) which would result in either drowning or suffocation – in that order.

Due to overwhelming numbers, Dimitri decided to move to the other side of the bed, in order to protect Alexei from that side.

My thoughts were interrupted by a searing pain in my left shoulder. I reached over to grasp the stake and yanked it out.

"Sonofabitch!" I swore, holding my arm whilst looking around the room, to find the stake-swinging moroi missing a stake.

You wanna go? I thought, and then I flipped the stake over to hold the blade and threw it back.

I watched as it rotated over and over until the handle thumped him in the side of the head. He dropped like a rock.

The impact wouldn't kill him, but he'd have a wicked bruise when he wakes up.

One last group of fireballs whizzed past me before Christian started to sway, none of the flames hit their target.

"How are you holding up?" I asked him.

No answer.

I grumbled as I kicked my current opponent in the side of the head, - successfully ending the fight – before facing Christian and pushing him back to stand with Lissa.

"Watch him," I sighed.

Lissa's eyes grew wide as she glance behind me; "ROSE LOOK OUT!"

I didn't have to wait long to find out why.

Two muscular arms wrapped around my torso, effectively clamping my arms to my side and bring out the pain from my wound.

Struggling would be useless – I knew this from experience. So I did the only thing I could do – I dropped. His hold on me loosened, making it easier for me to plant my feet and abruptly stand up.

The Dhampir stumbled back, holding his jaw.

I then spun around and delivered a side kick to his throat and kicked out his feet, making him fall to his knees. Finishing him off, I took my sword from its sheath and hit him in the temple with the handle.

Who knew it would be so difficult to only incapacitate someone.

I saw a glint of silver out my left eye, and less than a second later my wound was re-opened.

The pain skyrocketed, then numbed as a blinding rage took over.

I swung my sword above my head, and brought it down on the knife-bearing moroi. It slashed his knife arm, leaving a fleshy gash in the same place as mine. It wouldn't kill him either, but he'd have a nice scar for his troubles. He'd also leave me alone.

I then turned to a red-headed female Dhampir, who tried to go around us in order to grab Alexei. I side-kicked her too, carelessly leaving myself open to another Dhampir, who promptly punched me in the cheek.

The pain stunned me for a moment – long enough for the darkness to fade – draining my energy in the process. It also gave my attackers a chance to team up.

One jumped behind me and yanked back my hair, while aiming his stake at my throat. Two others joined in and started punching and kicking me.

I heard rather than felt my bones break. I lost track after three ribs and my left forearm. My sword hit the ground with a clang when they broke some of my fingers.

I gave up struggling after the stake drew blood from my neck. Instead I searched for help.

Dimitri was too far away, still defending the opposite side of Alexei's bed.

Lissa was busy using compulsion on a mix of Dhampir and moroi who wanted to help beat me up.

I didn't know what Christian was doing – probably recharging from his flame-throwing act, but – I couldn't be sure.

I looked back at my attackers. Ha, it took three of them to take me down? If it wasn't so painful, I'd laugh.

Suddenly, a wall of fire rose around me; burning my enemies and making them jump back in alarm.

Grinning, I carefully turned my head.

"Nice, Firecracker!" I exclaimed to Christian; "Or should I call you Blaze?...Firewall?"

"How about Fireball?" Lissa chirped in.

"Wha-NO! Lissa, too much info!" I screeched in horror.

"Relax Rose, I much prefer 'Blaze'."

"This really isn't the time you two;" Christian reminded; "And Rose, call me Firecracker again and I'll set your hair alight."

"Aww, is little Blazey-wazey embarrassed?" I teased.

Christian's hand lit up like a torch and the firewall around me dropped.

I raised my hands; "KIDDING!" I screamed.

We were laughing so hard, we didn't notice the moroi until it was too late.

He slipped around me and wrapped an arm around Lissa's throat, while aiming a gun at her head with another.

"No one move or I'll destroy the Princess's pretty little face!" the gun-holder yelled. He had black hair with animalistic green eyes.

The whole room froze; even the attackers seemed to realize that this guy had gone a step too far. Although, it was a step they needed in order to get what they wanted.

The gun he held, turned a bright orange – and I resisted the urge to look at Christian. – But the gun-holder didn't so much as flinch. He just smirked and said: "You Ozeras' always think you're the only damn fire-users on the planet; well guess what?" His arm was then enveloped in flames; burning Lissa's neck at the same time.

I grabbed my throat, trying to ease the invisible scorching pain.

Lissa screamed, and I had to fight the bond in order to stay in my own head.

The flames then disappeared and Gun-holder grinned; "Now that that is settled, let's get down to business. You all know why we're here: we want the Strigoi spawn; it's just unfortunate that the princess had to be involved," he then turned to me; "So, what will it be: your son or your bondmate?"

I stood frozen on the spot. Memories of Lissa and me playing in kindergarten, and the ordeal with Victor, and Jesse, flooded my mind. Then came the moments – although few – that I've had with Alexei; the day I named him, the first time I fed him, and all the battles we're faced.

The mantra flashed through my mind; they come first. But for the first time, I didn't know what to believe. Do they really come before your child? Should they? I didn't know. Lissa is – and always has been – my best friend, but is she worth my son's life? They come first.

My mind was in an endless turmoil, so my body reacted out of instinct.

My muscles clenched; readying for a fight, and I looked over at Dimitri who mirrored my stance.

He looked at me and started an invisible countdown. I could see the seconds tick down:

Five

Four

Three

Two

On- a voice in my head stopped me:

'Don't move,' it whispered.

Shock registered on Dimitri's face, and we instantly looked at Alexei.

He still lay on his bed, but I could tell he was conscious. I had just enough time to process this before he stood up – tearing out the cords as he did.

The whole room heard as he mentally hissed a few choice words at Lissa's captor. 'You're a dead Sonofabitch!'

What can I say? He learnt from the best.

Alexei's eyes glowed red as he raised his small arms.

Weapons were taken from enemy hands and directed back on their owners. The gun was removed from Lissa's stunned ex-captor, and pointer back at his head. Any spare stakes joined it, facing a few lethal areas.

I then grabbed both Lissa and Christian and threw them behind me.

The following event was both harsh but necessary. It reminded me of a double kill, or an execution.

Two stakes simultaneously snaked forward, one slitting the ex-captors throat, whilst the other stabbed through his heart.

Once finished with him, they turned on the Dhampirs who attacked me.

Before they could harm them, I jumped/limped toward Alexei and held his head between my broken hands.

"Alexei look at me," I whispered; "You don't have to do this; you've proven your point. Now let this go."

I watched as he fought an inner battle. His eyes alternated between colours, before settling on blue, then fading back to brown.

His body slumped forward, and I caught him, cradling my son in my arms.

Dimitri joined me to my left and grabbed Alexei's hand. He then murmured something in Russian that instantly soothed Alexei.

Alexei motioned for me to put him back on the bed.

He stood up straight and suddenly looked much older – even if he was barely two and a half foot – which is when he telepathically said to the enemy:

'I'll go with you'.

Cue serious music!

Well...if you were annoyed with me before, you probably hate me now =P

Thank you for all the lovely reviews!

So, what did you think? Review! If you're unsure about something, or have any questions, just ask. I might even write a chapter about to clear things up.

~Serious~