Hi everyone, thanks so much for the reviews and alerts they mean so much to me. Well I got my copy of last Sacrifice and read it within four hours lol. I loved it and it went in some ways similar to how I expected. I will still continue with my version and you will see that some of the theories that I came up with were on a similar path to that of the amazing Richelle Mead.

The pain in my chest increased as I heard the agony and torment in Dimitri's voice. I couldn't bring myself to look at him for fear that he would see the truth in my shattered heart and that it would cause irreparable damage.

"You hold yourself in such high esteem comrade" The comment was meant to be a sarcastic comeback, yet because of the horrifying dream my voice was husky and still thick with tears that I needed to shed, "You haven't done anything to me, what gives you the impression that you have?"

"Roza look at me."

I shook my head not trusting my voice enough yet to be able to speak without betraying the pain that I was feeling. Pain that as hard as I tried I hadn't yet managed to suppress.

"Rose, you were sobbing, calling out my name. That's what makes me know that everything I have done was a mistake."

My eyes snapped up to meet his at this statement. My soul shredded at his words, eyes that were almost black with emotion met stormy brown ones that were so filled with pain and torment that I heard him gasp.

"Everything that you have done is a mistake?"

I couldn't face him any more and I didn't want him to see me crumble completely. I fought with the blankets that has twisted themselves around me and tried to untangle them from my sweat soaked body and clambered off the bed as fast as I possibly could.

My mind was hazy and although I heard him call my name it didn't register fully as I was so focused on getting away from him. Shoving the blankets aside I shot from the bed, grabbed my stake instinctively and bolted from the room. I didn't care that I was barefoot and still in my nightwear my only goal was removing myself from his presence

I ran passed Mikhail and Alexander, not bothering to say anything to them even though I was aware that one of them would follow me. I pushed the suite door open and ran as fast as I could needing to get into the open air, the training that Dimitri had instilled me at the academy made me push past the pain in my legs, I didn't even care at this point that people were looking at me in curiosity. I just needed to get away and didn't really care what they may have thought of me.

I finally pushed my way outside and took a large gulp of air. I was immediately hit with the feeling of nausea that signalled to me that there were strigoi close by. I was suddenly grateful that I'd had the instinct to grab my stake as I had fled away from the suite and Dimitri. I looked around and on first glance couldn't see anything apart from the few people who had decided to take a stroll in the soft newly fallen darkness.

Without letting my guard down or releasing the tight grip that I had on my stake I began to walk towards an area that was shaded and secluded thanks to a large group of trees. Knowing what I did about Strigoi and how they operated I knew that they would be lurking in the shadows.

My assumptions were proved correct when a tall female Strigoi stepped directly into my path. Her chalk white skin and the red that ringed her eyes gave away what she was along with the cold, cruel expression on her face and the chillingly evil voice. Her once pretty features and slender figure gave away the fact that she had once been a Moroi and had the same thoughts and feelings towards Strigoi that I did now.

She wasn't alone in her quest for food as I had mistakenly thought. A tall good looking male stepped out from behind her. He looked at me and gave a cold laugh, clearly underestimating me and the fact that I could and would kill him.

"Ah Natalia, well done you found us breakfast quickly."

"I'm sorry to disillusion you there but I am no bodies breakfast."

My survival instincts kicked in alongside the training that I had received from the academy and my experiences from my time in Siberia. I spun around catching the female by surprise as I caught her in the stomach with a powerful punch. It wasn't enough to do any damage but it distracted her enough giving me the opportunity to hit her again. She grunted slightly and brought her hands down exposing her chest giving me the perfect opening. I lunged and using all my strength plunged the stake past her ribs and deep into her heart.

The stunned look on her face would have been funny had I not been so preoccupied with her friend. He let out a feral snarl and leapt forwards swinging his his left fist around, thankfully I was a fast mover and managed to avoid him punching my face but I wasn't fast enough to avoid it completely and he caught my shoulder. Adrenaline was pumping through my body so I didn't register the pain of his punch.

We began to circle the females body, both of us constantly jabbing punches unwilling to give up the fight. He went in to throw another hit when he made a fatal mistake, A large group of Moroi walked close to the area where we were, they were carrying a young man who was covered in blood. Due to the fact that this Strigoi hadn't eaten yet the scent of the blood distracted him for a couple of seconds but that was all I needed to push the stake into his heart.

The adrenaline that had been racing through my blood stream began to recede and the feelings of despair that I had been trying to run from returned and battered my already tired mind. I was bombarded with images and memories of Dimitri and I and the words that he had just spoken. I sat down the damp floor, leant against a tree and closed my eyes letting the darkness claim me, I didn't have the mental energy to cry or to fight it but I knew that it would come.

I was awoken by the sound of Dimitri and Mikhail frantically calling my name. I didn't even have the energy to shout out to them and let them know where I was. I just hoped that Dimitri could feel the connection and awareness that we had previously shared and I trusted him enough to know that it would lead them to me.

I could hear them moving closer and closer to the area where I sat, worry laced Mikhails voice but Dimitris was filled with pure, undiluted panic. They grew closer to me until I could hear their heavy footsteps on the path that lead directly to where I was sat.

"Roza! Mikhail, I've found her. There are two Strigoi here too. Roza open your eyes for me please."

I felt myself being lifted and knew instantly just by the smell that it was Dimitri that was holding me. There was desperation in his voice as he begged and pleaded with me to open my eyes for him. After everything that he had said and done to me my tired brain couldn't understand why he sounded as though he actually cared.

I was carried back to the suite where Abe and Alexander were anxiously waiting. After being placed gently on the bed I fell into dreamless oblivion. I awoke a short while later to hear voices in the main room, Most of the conversation was muffled but a few words managed to penetrate into the room especially the word mistake in Dimitris rich tones.

Hearing that word again made the dam burst and the tears that I had been holding onto burst out of me in a silent sob. How could he have said that everything was a mistake, I could never see loving him as a mistake or the time in the cabin. I knew now that I would never recover and as much as I could try and fool myself that he hadn't ripped my heart apart too much for it to ever recover I knew that I would never love again, I honestly don't think I could.

I glanced at my watch and realised that I was due to meet Viktor in the Witching Hour very soon. I got up out of the bed with a new found determination to find Lissas sister, I was going to convert all the hurt and upset that I was feeling at the moment into something more useful and that was resourcefulness.

I quickly changed out of my nightwear into jeans and a long sleeved fitted top, slipping my feet into black converse. I ran a brush through my tangled hair, gathered up my things including my stake and wandered slowly into the mail living area with my head held high, there was no sign of the emptiness that I was feeling. My arrival was met by four pairs of male eyes all holding a varying degree of concern for me.

"Ah Rose you have finally woken, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine thanks Abe, a little sore from where that bastard caught me but other than that I'm okay and ready to meet my contact.

"Rose, I really don't think that you should be meeting anyone tonight, you have had a tough day and I really don't think that you are ready to go back out."

"To be quite honest comrade I really couldn't care less what you think or believe. Nothing that you say will have any bearing on my decision, after all we all make mistakes don't we?"

"Come Rose, we have to leave if we are to be at the Witching Hour in time. I am also due to meet someone else there too. Dimitri will you be accompanying us or do you wish for me to ask one of the others?"

"No I will accompany you just give me a little time to get my things."

The atmosphere that existed between Dimitri and I on the walk to the Witching Hour was full of tension and must have been excruciatingly painful for Abe to witness.

"Rose are you going to tell me who it is that we are meeting and what is so important about meeting them at the Witching Hour and not at the hotel."

"We are meeting Viktor Dashkov and before you even begin asking any question or make any assumptions remember this, Viktor Dashkov is is one of the main reasons why you are back here and you again. Both he and the Witching hour are imperative to us finding Lissa's sister so unfortunately I have no choice but to trust him."

"I don't understand, how can he help with finding Lissa's sister and what the hell do you mean in regards to the fact that he is one of the reasons that I am me again?"

"Viktor can help us because he can recognise the face of the dancer that Eric was having an affair with. We are going to the Witching Hour as that is where the dancer worked and where Eric met her. Viktor used to come with Eric in the beginning when the two were just friends and that alone makes him invaluable to us at the minute." I took a deep breath before continuing. "As for him being one of the main reasons that you being here is due to the fact that Viktor introduced Lissa and I to his brother Robert who is a spirit user and was the only person known to have allegedly restored a Strigoi. Lissa and I arranged for his release in exchange for that information as he was the one and only person who knew of Roberts whereabouts. Without him you wouldn't be here."

Dimitri fell silent as he processed the information that I had just thrown at him. I know that what he had just been told wasn't what he had been expecting and that it was going to take him a little while for it to make any kind of sense to him.

"Rose, how will we be able to talk to Viktor? His face is one of the most recognised in the Moroi world even more so since he also became one of the most wanted criminals."

"Because Robert is a spirit user he has been able to place a charm in a ring that makes Viktors appearance different to anyone who looks at him. He will approach us when he arrives so that we know that it his him as his voice is unchanged."

Abe nodded his understanding of the situation with Viktor and glanced at Dimitri and then back at me questions burning in his eyes. I gave a slight nod of acknowledgement of them and that I would answer them and explain everything in more detail later.

"So Old man who else are we due to meet? A new conquest or an old flame?"

"No! We will be a relatively new friend of yours actually Rose, someone who will be able to assist us in many ways. I will have to leave you at some point in the evening though to enable me to go to a feeder, thankfully the manager knows where I can go so I do not have to wander the streets trying to find one."

"Shit! I never even thought of that. I apologise Abe all I seem to be thinking of at the moment is myself."

Feelings of guilt washed through me for forgetting that Abe would need to feed. I had been so wrapped up in my own feelings and problems and so focused on getting the information that I needed from Viktor that it had not even crossed my mind.

"Do not worry Rose you have so much on your mind at the minute and I am old enough to be able to think for myself. You are far from thinking of yourself at the minute child, if that were the case then we would not be here."

We continued on our way to the Witching hour in silence both Dimitri and I instinctively alert and watching for any trouble. The threat of Strigoi was even higher as we were out after dark.

We arrived at the witching, ordered our drinks and made our way over to a booth that would enable us to have a little privacy when talking to Viktor.

I saw Robert and Viktor walk in, I wouldn't have recognised him due to the charm that Robert had cast to make him once again appear as though he was a young dark haired man, but I recognised Robert and saw that he was once again twitchy and nervous about being out in public and it was only the love that he felt for his brother that was keeping him from running away.

They made their way over to where the three of us were sat and when Viktor murmured a quiet Hello both Abe and Dimitris heads shot up in shock as they realised that Viktor was here and was speaking to them.

"Mr Dashkov, thank you for agreeing to help us."

"Mr Mazur, I have heard a great deal about you. As I explained to Rosemary I am willing to do anything I can to help Vasilissa gain the power that is rightfully hers. I was lucky to be close to Eric as he didn't have a close circle of friends and it is due to that connection that I am able and willing to help."

I slid further into the booth to allow room for Robert and Viktor to sit down and join us, the only disadvantage being that it brought me into close physical contact with Dimitri. I stiffened slightly but unfortunately it was enough for Viktor to notice.

"Ah the elusive and infamous Mr Belikov! It is good to see that you are back with us again in the land of the living."

"Thank you." Dimitri replied stiffly, I could tell that he was incredibly uncomfortable being near Viktor. "I believe that it is down to yourself and your brother that I am here once again."

"No Mr Belikov its not." Viktor replied shaking his head, "It is down to Rosemary that you are here, she was the mastermind behind everything, she was the one who risked everything to bring you back. All I did was introduce her to Robert and he explained to her how it could be done. If it hadn't have been for her desperation and determination then you wouldn't be here now."

Before Dimitri had a chance to respond to what Viktor had just told him we were interrupted by the manager. He had brought over the drinks that Viktor had ordered and also a selection of photographs. I looked at Viktor questioningly.

"I asked the manager if he had any photographs of the dancers that were here in Ninety three which was when Eric first met the lady in question. I explained to him that I was trying to locate someone but couldn't fully remember her face. Thankfully the manager has been here for over twenty years and will remember who she is."

We began sifting through the photographs letting Viktor study each one carefully. Eventually he came to a photo of two beautiful looking women. Both of the women were moroi and clearly related. They were both slim and petite with almost white blonde hair, their eyes were a piercing blue and their features looked oddly familiar to me but I couldn't place where I may have seen them before.

"That's her, that's the woman who Eric was seeing."

"Are you sure? I'm sorry to question you and don't mean to be doubtful but I have to be certain."

"Yes I'm positive its her, she and her two sisters danced here. I only ever saw her and the sister that is in this photo but I would recognise her anywhere."

Abe motioned for the manager to come over on the pretence of ordering more drinks. When he approached the table he noticed that we had singled out one of the photos.

"Have you found who it is that you are looking for?"

"Yes we have, is it possible that you could tell us who these two women are?"

"Ah these two were part of a trio of sisters who had been dancing here for me for about three years. One of them, the eldest I believe it was left to marry into one of the Royal families, the youngest one left at the end of ninety-three she was pregnant and could no longer dance, so she left and moved in with her new husband. The last one stayed on for another year before she left to get married."

"Can you remember their names or who they married. I'm sorry to ask but it is vitally important."

"The eldest sister was Daniella, all I can remember of her husband is that his name was Nathan. The other two sister were called Nataylia and Eleanor. I cant really tell you much more about them as I wasn'tt here when Nataylia left but I can tell you the surname of one of the sisters husbands and that is Rinaldi, I would be unable to tell you which of the sisters he married thoughI'mm afraid."

Shock ran through me and sent tremors all down my spine which began to magnify as I looked once again at the photo that was laid out in front of me. Looking at the two women again I now realised why the features had looked so shockingly familiar to me. The features of Nataylias face were the very same features that made up the majority of Mia Rinaldi. The more that I thought about it I couldn't understand how I could have missed the obvious similarities between Mia and Lissa including the jade green eyes and the shimmering blonde hair. It also explained why Eric had pressured Andre into finishing his relationship with her. As soon as he would have seen her he would have known who she was.

There was something that was nagging in the back of my mind and I decided that it was a question that I had to ask but I didn't realise just how important the answer was going to be.

"Excuse me but the Royal that Daniella married, would his family name have been Ivashkov by any chance?"

"Let me think for a second as the name is very familiar." The manager closed his eyes and his brow furrowed in concentration as he thought back. "Yes I do believe that it was. I really hope that it helps."

"You have helped us more than you could possibly know. Thank you so very much."

Abe looked at me and smiled, he knew that I had realised something and also that I had a suspicion and that both were a good thing.

"My guardians are waiting for me Rose, I am going to leave you now but I will meet you back at the hotel in about two hours and I will bring the other person with me."

Abe rose and gave his thanks to Viktor and Robert, I know that he had wanted to set a trap to get him caught again by the guardians but I had pleaded with him not to.

"We have to be leaving Rosemary as the charm on this ring will not last for much longer and I wish to be at home when it breaks."

Both Dimitri and I rose to leave with them something that I was happy about as it meant that I would not have to spend much time with him alone and for that I was grateful.

We left the Witching Hour and began to walk together down the main Vegas Strip towards our hotel. As we passed an ally way I was gripped with a nausea that made me bend at the waist. In an instant we were surrounded by three female Strigoi who quickly dragged us into the ally.

Dimitri and I immediately stood so that Viktor and Robert were between us. We were so attuned to each other that we moved with perfect synchronisation and attacked at the same time. I swiftly got a kick into the tall Strigoi that stood in front of me, a look of hunger on her pale, cruel face. The kick distracted her enough so that I was able to take aim and push my stake up past her ribs and into her heart. Her scream of rage sent a chill right through my body deep into my bones.

I spun round quickly to see Dimitri fighting with a small red head. She may have only been petite but she was incredibly fast and surprisingly strong. She had managed somehow to get her hands around Dimitris throat, she was very agile and had both of her slim legs wrapped tightly around his waist. I moved up behind her and managed to hit her on the back of the head. She let out a howl of rage and released her hold, she turned her head to snarl at me and reminded me of a rabid wolf with the way her lips pulled back revealing her fangs. This gave Dimitri the perfect opening he needed and he slid his stake into her heart with perfect ease.

I could hear Viktor and Robert whimpering behind us and turned towards them. A voice that although sounded cold and cruel yet very familiar stopped me in my tracks.

"Ah Miss Hathaway and Mr Belikov, its such a shame that I am going to have to kill you but I am hungry and I have no doubt that you will make good meals for me."

"Miss Karp?"

Even though I knew who she was I didn't want to be the one that would stake her as in a way she had helped me save Lissa. She launched herself towards me with a feral growl that made her sound like an animal. I had never been more grateful that Dimitri had been my mentor than I was at the moment. I stepped to the side but unfortunately was not quite fast enough and her blow glanced the side of my head. I turned swiftly and managed throw in a punch that hit her on the cheekbone, just as I hit her Dimitri moved behind her and pulled her arms back exposing her chest.

With my stake in my hand I began to advance on her as he struggled and snarled against Dimitri. I had almost reached them when I was abruptly pushed out of the way by Robert, I saw to my amazement that he had a silver stake in his hand. He ran forward and using all his strength plunged it into Sonja Karps heart.

Sonja let out a high pitched scream as a flash of blinding white light and an unseen force filled the alleyway from the point where the stake had entered her body. After experiencing this with Lissa I realised immediately what had happened and managed to catch Robert before he fell to the ground. The light faded and all I could hear were the sobs coming from the woman who was now held in Dimitris strong arms. He looked at her in sheer amazement and dropped to his knees holding her tightly whispering words of comfort in her ears.

A/N

Hi guys,

I'm so sorry that it has taken me so long to update, I am finding it difficult to keep to a scheduled updating system as family life is difficult at the moment but I promise to update as soon as I can.

I am loving writing this story and hope that you enjoy it, these were the first fight scenes that I have written and would love to know what you thought of them.

Lots of love

SARAH

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