I decided to post the rest of New Beginnings tonight!

Hope you enjoy! Disclaimer Stands.

Chapter Nineteen - Time To Run

I was shocked that Dimitri had been taken, but they wanted me to stay and try to get him back, and I wasn't going to fall for it. "Order a full retreat, knock her out and take her with us." "Understood.", Saro nodded as he pulled the radio from his belt, and shouted the retreat order in several languages. I slammed Tatiana's head into the wall and we took her and left. I saw most of our army running towards the tunnels where we had entered from. Several Mauraders trailed back to kill any following guardians. Within the hour, we were all back at the farm, we had covered our tracks, and we would be leaving with our prisoner within the next 48 hours. I assessed the troops while we waited. We had taken 7 casualties total, six were Mauraders who had been overwhelmed by guardians while they set fire to one of the outbuildings. Dimitri was the seventh, he had actually been restrained by six guardians and dragged off, this meant they had gone after him on purpose. I approached Saro as I lit a cigarette, "Commandant, what is the state of our people, how did they do?" He smiled, "Very well, over one hundred confirmed Guardian casualties.", the smile dissapeared, "How are you feeling, after Belikov being taken." Amazed that another Strigoi would show sympathy of any sort, I replied, "I'm fine, he died the way he wanted to, in battle. And I'm sure they haven't killed them yet, they will want to try and Reverse-Awaken him first." Saro looked shocked, and his voice showed that, "What? Reverse-Awaken? As in turn him back into a Dhampir! That is truly impossible." I smiled, "Apparently not, although it is difficult and only possible for some. When you are awakened, you soul is bound to your body, but has no control over it. The process is to return control of your body to your soul. It is difficult though, over time, the soul is corrupted by several things, Moroi blood, feeding, killing others. And the biggest one of all, Dark Magic use." He was obviously confused, "What does using Dark Magic have to do with it?" I smiled, "Dark Magic use draws power from everything positive in you body, most of the positive things in a Strigoi's body are in the trapped soul. It is like a Spirit user, except instead of me going insane and becomming depressed, my soul is corrupted. Reverse-Awakening me would just make me become insane and unstable, I would kill myself in a heartbeat." He laughed, "So they will try to turn you into your old self, and it will still kill you in the process, beautiful. Kind of ironic if you think about it." I smiled, turned around, and left the room.

The next day, we left to begin our jouney back home. It again took over a week, but eventually, we made it back to Novosibrisk. The Mauraders were looking foreward to getting back into their old routines, so was I. In Dimitri's absence, I had promoted Sarojev, and he was replacing Dimitri in every way, he understood me in more ways then I thought. The next day, mail arrived as usual, except there was a letter from an address I recognized all to well, St. Vladimir's Academy. The letter was in handwriting from two different people, first was Lissa.

To Rose,

Wherever you are. Whatever you are.

We have found a way to turn you back to your old self.

Dimitri is back amongst the living, and he is better then ever.

The rest of the letter was Dimitri's handwriting.

I hope you remember my lessons Roza. We are coming for you.

Me and Lissa. When we find you, you will be restored to life.

Or Killed.....

It will be your choice. Please make the right one, for our sake.

For my sake.....

I was amused in more then one way. First, they hadn't discovered the case of Dark Magic users, and Second, they would likely know of our spies now. I would have them dealt with eventually. I looked at the letter and wondered, would I rather be turned back? I had read that the damage to the soul was only temporary, and could be healed. Would I rather live my life of immortality? No, surely life with Lissa and Dimitri would be better, wouldn't it? Then, I made my decision, if they came after me, I would kill them. They had their chance to live in glourious immortality with me.

Dimitri had blown his by getting captured.

Lissa had stuck to her stubborn priciples.

And now, they would both pay the price for it.....