Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy/Bloodlines.

Chapter 19- The Bigger Picture

It was the day before we had to go back to that awful cabin. I haven't been awake for some time now, before my father knocked on the door telling me it was time to get my Molnija mark. I through on some shoes, and followed my dad out the door. Nobody was awake, but Mark was waiting outside the door. Apparently they both had something to deal with at St. Basil's. The school wasn't more that an hour away from Olena's place. We were there in no time; the huge gate opened at it seemed different from St. Vlad's. I was in the back seat, in some way it looked like St. Vlad's but the demeanor was different.

"We're going to drop you off, while you get your mark. Mark and I are going to talk to the head." Dad said looking in the rear view mirror. I had nod, as he parked the car and walked me to a building that had Russian wording on it. Mark asked something, and the woman had pointed down the hall. What I assumed was a thank you, we walked away. I looked around; this building seemed like any regular place. With weird paintings and wordings, that I took as words encouragement.

All the doors in the hallway were closed as well as the blinds that covered the windows. Dad opened the door and started talking to a man. As the man looked through the draws dad told me to sit and he left.

"How old are you?" The man spoke English and I was glad for that.

"18"

"First strigoi?"

"Yes."

"How'd you come across it?" The man started placing different tattooing tools on the table.

"Uh… My cousin really, he uh… wanted to meet up with friends and we were all hanging out when they saw a big group of them and decided to take them down." He looked up at me and shook his head.

"You shouldn't be associating with the un-promise ones. They'll get you killed." As the guy put on gloves he pointed to a chair.

"Take a seat over there and move your hair out of the way." As I was doing that, he rolled over a table that had all he needed to tattoo me. I didn't think he would tell me to move my hair out of the way, it wasn't really that long. Not as long as my Dad's or Paul's, but it barely touched the back of my neck. The chair had a face opening and I put my face on it and he started working on cleaning and tattooing.

"How you kill this one?"

"Decapitated it."

"That's a hard thing to do, with what?"

"A sword they given me."

"You're American right?"

"Yeah…."

"I grew up there, but this school wanted me and I came. Learned Russian fast; mainly because they teach it as a second language here. Most everyone knows English, for people who grew up here they do the same thing."

"Then I guess you know the only language is English."

"That's a downer."

"I guess."

"So… Tell me about your parents? Your father seemed… distant."

"He's always like that. My mom killed her first two strigoi while in school too… I was named after a friend of hers that was captured with her, but they killed him."

"Sorry to hear that. Your mom is a Dhampir?"

"Yes… Dad was her mentor back in school that is how they met she was gone from school for two years, she had to be caught up, and dad fought for her to be in the school… The head mistress said under one condition… he train her to be caught up… Now they are the first and second in common at the Courts, they protect the Queen, King, and Princess." He laughed and patted my back.

"I knew who your dad was and apparently your mom… I was still in school when the Queen was elected."

"Then why asked?"

"I find talking, while getting a tattoo, seems to help."

"Help what?"

"Lesson the pain of it. So any girlfriends?"

"I just broke up with my girlfriend of three years."

"Why?"

"Well my best friend and I were captured, and got away a few days ago. But while we were captured we realize we really liked each other and wanted to go with it."

"Ah… How long were you captured?"

"3 weeks." He chuckled and looked at me under the face hold.

"You look pretty healthy for being captured for three weeks." I then just heard the buzzing of the machine because he completely stopped the conversation. I had to focus on something stupid like my shoe or counting the squares on the floor, but the process took too long and I had to talk more.

"Why do you want to know all this stuff about me?"

"I tattoo a lot of people. And it gives them a chance to talk and get things off their chest. But seeing as you're young I wanted to known how you managed to kill a strigoi." He did one whip and took off one of his gloves.

"Done. Now here is some topical cream to keep it from inflaming… Put it on every day." He applied some then put a bandage on it. He let me get up, as he started cleaning the table and chair.

"Your dad said to keep you in here, while he talks to Mirskii."

It took a while before Mark and dad showed back up. The tattoo artist nods to dad as we walked away. We were quiet all the way back to the house, Mark walked home after we reached it. I went to my room and started packing the clothes that I had took out. Which was easy because it was mainly used and I threw them in a bag then threw that in the luggage.

By this time it was midafternoon, there was pretty much nothing to do. I went to the window in my bedroom and looked out of it. Since it view the back yard there was nothing really to see. The longer I stared at it, the more I noticed someone behind the tree just staring up at me. It was one of the guardians with that Moroi a few days ago. Why are they still here? I walked down stairs; Mom and dad were talking amongst themselves. They didn't seem to realize I was in the room, so I passed them and went directly to the tree.

"Why are you still here?" The man was staring at me. Literally just staring at me, nothing came from his mouth he didn't even look like he wasn't going to say anything. Someone touched my shoulder; I turned to see my mom staring at the guardian…

"Abe's Guardian? Where is he?" I did not know mom knew the Moroi; I stayed quite as dad walked out the house too. This Abe character walked out from the depths of the shadows that formed behind the nearest house. He was smiling, wearing a suit and another stupid scarf.

"Rose, Guardian Belikov." Abe said, the other guardian was following him to us, and then the one near the tree was following us as we walked closer to Abe.

"Nice to hear that you didn't invite me to the wedding."

"It was last minute." He nods and looks at me with this smirk, I didn't understand it. It seemed like he did this smirk as his usual thing.

"Nice to see that you look like you did 18 years ago and still doing it."

"Just helping out fellow Morois and Dhampirs."

My parents had placed me between them and dad wasn't saying anything. He let mom do the talking and even though they are the best at what they do dad always brought this demanding attention to whoever he talked too.

"So, Abe. When did you get here?"

"A couple days ago. I was doing my own investigation, but when I found out the kids were found I've kept my eye on them and the people." My mom shook her head, and looked down at me.

"Mason, see if Alexis and her parents want to visit with Abe here." I curt nod, turned on my heel and walked away. If mom knew Abe why wouldn't the King and Queen know him? I found Alexis in my room, looking at where my parents were standing. Dad seemed eased and smiling, and for the first time other than showing any sort of affection to one another. Mom hugged Abe and dad did this hand shake pat on the back hug. Alexis was quiet, I knew something was wrong but decided to let her vent when she was ready. It hit me this could have been the man; my parents were talking about me meeting. Abe could be my grandfather and I could see the resemblance to my mom and the very few she got from him to me.

"I don't want to go to the cabin, tomorrow Mase." She said using an old nickname. I didn't think that would come out of her mouth as we just basically saw my parents hug someone we didn't know. But when I glanced at her face she was here but not really, like she was reliving the days back in that metal room.

"I don't want to go either. Alexis, you know I won't let anyone hurt you right?" I placed my hand on her shoulder slightly, watching her, after a moment I see her nod and turn to me. Abe then looked up to my window and stopped smiling and said something to my parents who turned to look at me in the window. I did not care; I kissed her forehead and brought her into a hug. I felt her grip my shirt into her fist almost as a way to tell herself I was really there.

"I know… Mase, do you think they'll still let you be my Guardian?" Honestly I didn't know. I hoped they did, but I was bonded to Adrian. Even if Adrian didn't have a Guardian or two he always had a few when he went past the

"I am not for sure. You could always request me, but I am pretty sure that Adrian doesn't always want a Guardian around him or he would have his following him everywhere." I felt her nod against me chest. I kissed her hair and pulled away. Slightly looking out the window to see that my parents and Abe have been watching us. Abe had this amused smirk on his face and my parents looked slightly shock but had a knowing smile. They shook their heads and turned back to Abe, both looked slightly embarrassed to have watched me to something that was not like we unless I did it with Nicole. As they should be.

"Come on, mom says to get your parents and you to talk with him." Alexis followed me, and her parents were already walking out the house to talk to them. As her parents seemed to say hello to them, I've become more confused. If they are all so 'comfortable' around him, how come I haven't heard of Abe before?

"-Diner." Queen Vasilisa said and smiled. My parents and Abe nods, everyone turned to us as we walked up to them.

"Nice seeing you again Abe. But Christian and I better get packing to leave tomorrow." Abe told them basically the same thing.

"So shall we go?" The Dhampirs were gone and it seems like they all were hiding something.

"Mason we're going to have lunch with Abe-"

"Aw let the kids come. We have a lot to talk about." Abe smiled at me and nothing seemed right about him. I don't even understand why my parents were willing to be near him.

"I think we need to talk first." Mom saw quietly.

"And we don't need dinner to talk; you of all people Rose should know I am straight forward."

"Fine." My parents stepped out of the way and pretty much went on the 'sideline' as Abe approved Alexis and me.

"So, I believe we got off the work foot the other day. I am Abe." Standing tall, he didn't put out his hand and I don't expect that he would if he was meeting a business partner. He seems to command authority and he probably go it right away.

"I don't think so… But I am Mason and this is Alexis." I took his out stretched hand and shook it slightly. He slightly nods at Alexis and looks at me.

"You look a lot like your father, Mason. But I can sense that you have a Zmey in you."

"Zmey?"

"Means Snake in Russian. A lot of people choose to call me that. And yes, your mother has it in her. I believe you have it too."

"So what?" He laughed and fixed a wrinkle that wasn't even there.

"Well, I think you're able to find things out that nobody is supposed to know and use it against them."

"Like you?" He smirked and shook his head.

"Rose, he's a lot like you."

"Why are you here?" Alexis questioned she stood close next to me, I knew she didn't trust this guy at all and wasn't hiding how nervous he made her.

"Rose called me to help find you two. I was this close," He brought his thumb and pointer finger close together, almost like a pea could fit in the space. "Before I heard they found you. I am sticking around because I can. Well I got to go." He suddenly looked at his watch and started walking away.

"You should visit the courts, later dad!" Mom said a little too loud then walked away. I looked at Alexis, smiling at her, she just met my grandfather. My parents left us alone to process the information, even though I kind of already knew. Mom did say that she'll try to get me to meet him, but I didn't imagine him like this. I couldn't really imagine any grandparents, but my grandfather is known as a Zmey… and he thinks I am one too. Why?

Alexis and I walked back to my room and we lay on the bed. My arm was under her head and her arms were folded on her chest. The bed was big enough to fit at least three people on it, and it was more than enough room for us.

"You finished packing?" She questioned me.

"Yeah. You?"

"Yes, so what are you planning to do the rest of the afternoon?"

"I don't know… Lay here, I guess."

"Sounds fun." I chuckled, and looked over at her.

"You ready to go back to St. Vlad's?"

"Never, but I miss our friends."

"How about tomorrow?" She turned her body and propped up her head on her hand, waiting for me to answer. "You ready for it? Going back to the place?" She clarified.

"I wish we could just be on the phone with them and then they fight. I don't want to go back, horrible memories."

"Not so horrible." She smiled and nods.

"Well if you don't think about me being torture and dyeing yeah it isn't that horrible."

"See you understand." Her face went blank, like she was kidding.

"Sore subject?"

"Naw, Alexis. It is not sore at all." She rolled her eyes and lay back on the bed. We fell asleep that way, because the next thing I knew Olena was knocking on the door saying it was time. Alexis and I carried our bags downstairs and waited for everyone. Mark, Paul, un-promised ones, and guardians showed up before we could. I blanked out while we were on the road. Alexis and I were nervous even getting close to the cabin. I ignored the blood on the floor where I had supposedly died and followed our footprints. Walking into the front door, it seemed empty. Dad and mom were looking around making sure it is clear, I pointed out the basement as the opened the door. People attacked us; well not people more like Strigoi. Alexis was helping me out and along with some who were having trouble fighting more than one off.

"Mason, THE DOOR!" During the fight it had gotten dark, and Alexis noticed a strigoi was getting away. More and more Strigoi seemed to be coming because with would be replaced after another. I was fighting one, before I was running outside.

My body ached, but I knew I had to stay up and follow him. I was worried about Sydney, because the strigoi was onto of her and they did not have weapon. Doing everything I thought of I realized Adrian was in trouble and I had to get out of this emotional pull. When I got out of it, Strigoi's were burning left and right. I ran out to find Adrian, I knew where he was and it wasn't difficult to find him, Adrian just attacked the strigoi in the worst possible way. It could grab an arm and twist, or easily get you pinned for the way he attacked him. The strigoi already had Adrian off of him before I jumped in the middle of them. Stake out we circled each other, out of the corner of my eye I saw Adrian slowly make his way over to where Sydney was.

The Strigoi came for the attack, going to get my shoulder to get my stake away. I moved, barely in enough time. As he laughed he turned and fixed his shirt, he nods and then came in attacks faster. It was difficult to keep up with this strigoi's fighting skill.

"Before I was awakening, I was a black belt. You should've brought back up, now I'll just kill you slowly letting you watch this human and moroi die before I completely finish you off."

"That would be hard." I say, attempting to fake a kill shot, to end up doing a real one. Seeming to know what I was planning he stopped me and punched me in the face. I refocused my eyes, and as we fought I studied his moves. There was hardly a weakness to him, when he hit it was fast and he was thinking steps before me. I just had to do the same thing and when that clicked in it was damn near impossible to tempt to kill each other. The strigoi paused for one quick second, and looked away to Adrian who looked like he threw something at him. I took the chance and stake him through the chest. The shocked strigoi turned to look at me before falling to the floor.

"You okay, Adrian? Is Sydney okay?" He nods, and kneels at Sydney's side.

"She just got knocked out when he jumped on her." He said, picking her up.

"Strigoi was everywhere in that house… I need to get back." He nods and I ran back. When I got back, the last strigoi was killed.

"Stay together no more surprises." Dad says, walking to open the basement one more time. Checking all the doors, it wasn't till the last one we found the Dhampir who helped us get away bound to the chair with a note pinned to her shirt.

"Mason and Alexis, I knew you were going to come back.

If you made it through the Strigoi congrats, I just wanted to know there is a larger picture than this.

You two were captured for a reason, you will find out later when I fell you need to know why.

For now, know that this peace offering. –Captain."

The Dhampir who helped us looked beaten up badly and she had the electric strings to her. I walked slowly to her, and touched her face. Kneeling, I untied her and took out-slowly- the electric wires. She was pasted out, and probably for days. She looked worse than me at my worst. Dad carried her out to the car, and didn't ask Adrian to heal her because he was attending to Sydney's side.

Mom just called more Dhampirs and Alchemist to help clean up this place. Luckily nobody died during this mini battle, and we were all checking each other's wounds. Alexis looks like she hasn't been touched and everyone else thanking her for burning a strigoi or two helping them out. She walked up to me, and touched my neck.

"Do you realize when you go back you have to get more tattoos? Do you realize how many you killed? Also everyone will not believe that you did it."

"Yes, no, and who cares." She laughed and we waited for enforcements to come, before we said goodbye to the family and went home. The tattooed Dhampir was brought on the plane with us, my parents said that she will start at St. Vlad's like us and will be watched to make sure nothing happens and that she answer their questions. Alexis and I sat in the back, talking about how nobody is going to believe that I killed strigoi that I was cheating because of who my parents were.

No matter who my parents are, I am my own person and I decide what happens. Even if it's living up to my family's name, or becoming something I wasn't raised to do and shoot it down. Alexis set her head on my shoulder and we watched a movie on my laptop the whole way home.

-End-