Chapter 21

Dimitri's POV

Before Adrian could finish what he was saying we all heard a blood curdling scream, filled with pain and sorrow. I knew instantly it had to be Rose's. We all froze, Lissa reached out to me, her hand a little colder than usual.

"Come on." I whispered. We all jogged forward. "Lissa we aren't going to risk-" I started

"I am going in there." She said so powerfully. I nodded, knowing fighting this would waste time. We strode towards the main entrance. I carefully opened the door. Lissa held Adrian up and I walked in first. The entire office was black; people had been evacuated long before. But my eyes adjusted quickly, and I looked around for signs of Rose. Then we heard it again, her bone chilling scream, but this time it was louder and I knew, that she had to be on this floor. I ran through the cubicles. And opened the door to where I had heard the scream. Then I heard a commotion and the lights click on It got suddenly light flooded the entire floor. I turned back to see 10 guardians storm the building. Lissa ran towards me, and I saw Adrian stumble forward and fall into the arms of one of the guardians. I turned and for the first time saw a room full of strigoi, and Rose in the pressed corner, her back on the wall. Her nails digging into the white paint so hard it had left deep indents. The strigoi leaped forward at the sight of Lissa, I took one step in front of her, I felt the strigoi hit my hard, but I stayed steady. The other guardians filed into the confined space and began to fight. I stood there making sure not a finger touched Lissa, but she kept trying to push to get to Rose who still stood there in the corner.

One by one the strigoi fell. Until all that was left was 1 stirgoi, and 1 blonde man who was watching Rose intensely with a wicked smile on his face, and Rose. Who let out another bloody scream. I eyed her for the first time. Her eyes were cold, hard, looking at something that wasn't. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, and she was standing, in pools of bloody. That looked like they had come from different various parts of body; even the back on her hair was red with blood. But the blood was see through almost, there, but not really there.

The only reason the one strigoi was left was because he was standing behind Rose, using her as a shield. No guardian dare kill her, just to get to him. He pulled out a sharp long knife. And laid it on her throat, lowing his mouth to her throat also. But through all this Rose still stared forward, somewhere else besides this room, gone.

"She's being charmed." Lissa whispered. I stepped forward.

"Let her go, she doesn't deserve this." I said, I knew it wasn't going to make a difference, but I had to.

The strigoi laughed. "Oh, she doesn't, does she? Amp it up Josh." The blonde man flicked a finger and Rose crumbled to be knees, closing her eyes. Whispering something I couldn't hear.

"Why do you need Rose?" I asked desperately.

"You mean Queen Hathaway."

"Queen of what?" I asked

His cruel smile got worse. "Strigoi." And with that he bite harshly into her flesh. I saw Rose's eyes break out of where ever she had been and let out another scream. But this one was different from the others. I couldn't explain how though. I leaped forward leaving Lissa unprotected for a moment.

And for a moment, the world stood still. Rose's eyes met mine, like they always seemed to do. But no secret message passed though, no love, no passion, nothing. Just fear. Fear of me, and I had no idea why.

I pulled him away from her neck, and whipped him to the ground. The other 9 guardians ran forward grabbing him. I let go, they could kill him for all I cared. Although I would take so much pleasure in doing it myself to a man who caused Rose this much pain, but I needed Rose now. All that mattered was Rose. The blonde man still stood there though and swirled his fingers and I saw rose grab her head.

"Stop! Oh god please stop!" she screamed "Pleaese, I can't, I can't, stop please!" her voice grew louder with each word. "God please, I'm…I'm begging you, please stop!" She put her head on her knees and rocked back and forth. I grabbed the man by the throat and Rose's moaning stopped, but I could hear her still sobbing.

I squeezed tightly, his cruel smile never leaving his face.

"Dimitri! YOU CAN'T KILL HIM, HE'S MORI, NO MATTER WHAT HE'S DONE! THEY'LL TURN IT AGAINST YOU!" Lissa screamed so I let him go, he fell, and for good measure I gave him harsh kick before turning to Rose. Who was still rocking back and forth with her head down on her knees. She looked up at me as I touched her back.

"Get away from me." She whispered, her voice cracking

"What?" I asked trying to not sound too confused, trying to sound strong "Rose it's me." I said touch her cheek. She pulled away.

"I said get away from me." She said a bit louder. Lissa rushed over wrapping her arms around Rose trying to calm her, whispering in her ear. I suddenly realized all the blood she had been standing in was gone, except for her bite marks on her neck. What had happened while that guy had been charming her hadn't been good, and it had to do with me.

Rose's POV

My mind was spinning, although the charm was gone, and I was back in the real world. The pain still lingered. Dimitri was so close to me, and my head wasn't clear of the charm, so I couldn't bear to have him by me at all. After all he'd just said and done. Wait had then been real? Or part of the charm? I didn't know, but I didn't want him near me. Lissa was rubbing my back, telling me I was okay, that she was right there.

"Make him go away." I whispered. I sounded like a child. I realized I was shaking terribly, trembling, my whole body, trembling.

"Why? It's Dimitri, Rose, its Dimitri." I covered my ears.

"Stop saying his name! Make him leave; I don't want him to hurt me anymore!" I yelled. Everyone in the room looked over at me. More tears ran down my face. I closed my eyes, and hugged tighter to Lissa's body, she stood, helping me up. But I stayed connected to her, not leaving her arms. I closed my eyes as she led me out the door. I didn't look up, in arms I felt safe, and I didn't need to see the bodies laying everywhere, or hear the voice of people I knew. I needed her, and that's all.

Dimitri's POV

My mind was suddenly back to when I had just been turned back to dhampir from strigoi. I had told Rose not to come near me, I had yelled for the gauds when she said she'd always love me. I had told her I could never love again. Yet here I was just the other day, holding her, kissing her, loving her.

The pain I had caused her when I had just turned was not shot right back at me with full speed.

"Get away from me."

"I said get away from me."

"Make him go away."

I watched her walk outside wrapped in Lissa's arms not mine. Pulling Lissa close to cover her sobs, not mine.

I ran up to Lissa. "Rose, Rose it's me." I pleaded. "It's the real Dimitri that charm…whatever happened in that charm it wasn't me, I swear Rose it wasn't me."

She opened her eyes a slit, then fell to the ground, grabbing her head just like before. I turned quickly to see the blonde mori man still rather close by. He was restrained by guardians, but his eyes were glued on Rose. Rose's sob grew louder and she hugged her arms tightly around herself.

I ran up to the man and grabbed my stake, he did this to my Roza, he made her weak. He took my Rose away. But the few other guardians grabbed my arms, I fought hard but they grabbed my stake. I recognized one of their voices.

"Dimitri, calm down. I know what he did, but you have to hold back…for now." He said to me quietly.

I nodded and dropped my arms, they handed my stake back to me. I spun to see Rose still letting out hard painful sobs. With each choking breath she took my heart broke a little.

"He's still charming her! You need to get him out of here now." I tried to sound calm but I was faltering. They rushed him out, and I heard Rose's sobs soften.

Lissa helped her up and I watched the two walk out with a few guardians. I ran up next to them.

"Dimitri, until we figure this out you need to stay away from her."

"But-" I began

"Dimitri, do you love Rose?" she whispered.

I nodded "Of course I love her."

"Well if you want what's best for her right now, just go." Her voice was soft, but had a hint of harshness.

"Fine." I whispered back and walked off in front of them. I wanted to be there for her, but I couldn't…

Hope you guys liked the chapter! 22 to come soon! LOVE your guy's reviews! They make me so happy :) Love ya!
-ThatEmmyGal