Chapter 21.

Rose POV

It was pretty easy to move around the school with out being seen, all the students are still in bed or in their dorm anyway and most of the guardians are in the meeting room, trying to find Lissa. I know I should tell them what I know, but I can't risk it anyway if things don't go to plan I can always Dimitri and tell them I've messed up and he will come save the day.

I took the long way around the grounds behind all the buildings to get to the gates, just in case there were more guardians on guard then I thought, I never really noticed before just how beautiful the academy look when I the light from the fading sun hits it, it's looks like a fairy tale castle berried deep in a mastic forest.

How I wish I could have my fairy tale ending, how I wish my prince in shining armer would save me from the truth. My life is far beyond a fairy tale, it a nightmare.

when I got to the building nearest the gates, I look around the corner and could only see one guardian in the security box. This shouldn't be to hard. I slowly walked over to him, trying to look as casual as possible.

"Shouldn't you be in your room, it's still curfew" he step towards me. I hope this works.

"I have permission to leave the grounds, there should be a letter from Alberta, she said she put it on the desk" he eyed me for a second before turning around to look for the letter, so easy. As his back was turned I slowly reach for the rack by the door, and grabbed a batten, and with all my strength I hit him on the back of the head.

I know I should feel bad about that, but it had to be done, but look at the bright side, I just tough him a valuable lesson, never listen to school girl trying to leave campus.

He went down and landed in a heap on the floor. "I'm really sorry about that" I quickly hit the button to open the gates, glancing around to make sure I've not been seen, after a few moments the gates were fully open, so I hit the button to close them. I then left the box and run through the gate before they could fully close, see, too easy, I'm going to have to talk to some one about scarcity around here.

I smiled at myself despite the hollow feeling I got as I kept running towards the road leading away from the academy. I guess I it just hit me that I might not see this place again, ever. So I couldn't help but recall all my memorizes of the last few months, of me and Lissa, me and Dimitri, I hope he forgives me for what I put him through, I know he id going to be going out of his mind,

It will take me about an hour and half to walk to the mall, I know I have to follow the road but I can't stay on the road, when the guardians well when Dimitri finds out I'm missing, they will come looking for me, maybe, well I know Dimitri will anyway.

So I walk in the tree line next to the road, I can still see the road but no one can see me unless they are really looking for me. But as far as they know I could be going anywhere, in any direction.

I didn't really have a plan, it was a case of going in blind then finding out what I could and taking it from there. I know Dimitri would say I was being reckless but that's the way I am, I jump in before thinking. But as long as I get her out safe I don't care.

Dimitri Pov.

I stood up and paced the small room again. think dammit. How could she be so...er stupid? I have to find her, I have to tell someone, I have to tell Alberta, so without thinking about it I ran back to the conference room, ignoring the looks I was getting from some of the students who have gotten up early. I guess with the event from the last day or so student will be restless, not really knowing what's going on.

I burst through the door and startled everyone. "She's gone" I took a breath to steady myself "Rose has gone after the princess" it's my fault I should have known, I should have known she wouldn't wait. But for her to go off on her own, what was she thinking? Was she trying to get herself killed.

Alberta look at me and frowned "What makes you so sure?" just as she finished her question a report came over the ear pieces that the security guard by the front gate was just found unconscious. I think that answers her question.

"Well, that, and the fact that I cant find her anywhere" and that she told me, but what could I say, could I show her the letter, no, she knows now that she has gone.

"You don't know it was Rose who did it, it could have been anyone" she then turned to the other guardians "I want the academy under lock down, no one leaves no one comes in until we sort this out" she looked back at me "And I want Rose found, gather the students and do a head count"

Ciaos broke out and the guardians started barking out order to each other after a few minutes they left to do versus things leaving me alone with Alberta.

"What about Rose she's gone? We have to find her, she couldn't have gone far, I was with her a little over an hour ago. I'm going to find her" I started to walk away back out the door.

"Dimitri wait" I stopped " I know you care for her more then you should, I know you relation is more then it should be, so I know that your worried about her, but you need to focus on the princess, she is the main priority, you have to put her first"

I snorted, priority. The only thing I cared about is getting Rose back safe.

"She knows where the princess is, Davis told her, she lied about the letter and what it said. I find Rose I find Lissa, we are doing nothing by standing around talking about priorities, I know what I have to do, I know I have to look after the princess first, but I won't let Rose do this alone". She nodded as if she knew how I was feeling, God if anything happens to Rose I'm going to kill her myself.

She sighed "Okay we'll start searching the area for Rose, my guess she would be heading into town, if she is going to meet with Davis then...well she's not stupid she'd want somewhere populated, somewhere she thinks is safe".

She was right, she would go somewhere populated, safe, somewhere she knew well, she would want to know the layout, she would want to know all the direction she might be attacked from, where all the exists were, encase she needs a quick escape. Where would she want to go.

I smiled at myself of cause "I know where they are".