Chapter 25: Loss

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy.

Sorry for the wait on this chapter. I wasn't fully satisfied with it. I wanted to do Tasha justice and hear from Sparky. I'm still not really happy with it, but oh well. C'est la Vie! Hope you like it.

CPOV

It had been three days since our mission, three days since I lost my one and only connection to my parents. My only relative, the only person in this world who truly understood the things I'd faced in my life. She'd been by my side through everything. I didn't know how to go on without her. For so long she'd been my only friend in the world. That had changed when I met Lissa, but it would still be rough without Tasha. Lissa and the rest of my friends had been comforting and compassionate. They'd helped me make funeral arrangements and phone calls. The service would be small since we didn't have many friends and I'll be damned if I let in anyone who had taunted her and made her upset. I stood in front of the mirror fiddling with my tie. It was one that Tasha had saved for me. It had belonged to my father. As I regarded my reflection in the mirror a single tear rolled down my cheek.

"Are you ready to go baby," asked Lissa softly from the doorway. Today was Tasha's funeral. I was truly alone in this world. I mean I had Lissa and for that I was eternally grateful. She made me so happy. As for family though. I was alone.

"I know how it feels you know," She whispered. "Burying your loved ones."

"Nothing anyone can say or do will make you feel any better. Just remember that I love you, you are not alone. We are all going to be there for you no matter what," She said wrapping her arms around me.

"I know. I love you." I told her as she wiped away my tears.

The ceremony was short. Calla Lilies and Tulips adorned the chapel. They were her favorites.

After the priest was done speaking he asked for anyone who would like to speak about Aunt Tasha. I took a deep breath and Lissa released her grip on my hand. I made my way up to the pulpit determined not to break down until I was finished. Tasha was always so brave and strong and I wanted to be like her.

I looked out at the small crowd of friends that had gathered for the service. Mostly it was the usuals, some Guardians and Princess Ozera. Tasha's boyfriend Clay sat with his family near the front of the chapel. Telling him the news that she had passed was nearly unbearable. He'd broken down into hysterics and confessed that he'd planned on proposing to her when they went on vacation next month. Abe had the Belikovs flown in as soon as the arrangements were made. Dimitri's oldest sister Karolina had been good friends with Tasha. I was grateful for everyone who was there to say goodbye to my aunt. I cleared my throat and began what would be the hardest speech of my life.

"My Aunt Tasha was the bravest person I've ever known. She saved my life and spent the rest of her life in seclusion and ridicule because of it. She was beautiful, smart, really funny, loving, and selfless. She stood up for what she believed in and never gave up until the job was done. She was determined to make a difference with her life and however sad it is that she is gone; she did not die in vain. Her life was given to further a cause she truly spent her life defending. I intend to carry on her mission so that her name will live on in Moroi society."

"She was the one constant in my life. She was always there for me. When I thought my life was over after my parents died Aunt Tasha was the one who gave me the strength and will to go on. She raised me to be the man I am today and I couldn't have asked for anything better. Aunt Tasha I love you and I miss you so much."

By the time I had finished my speech I was sobbing uncontrollably. Lissa was visibly upset as well. I couldn't bring myself to walk away from the alter because the minute I did they were going to take her body to the cemetery and she'd really be gone. I stood there with all eyes boring into me for I don't know how long until I felt a set of arms pull me into a hug. I held on for dear life.

"Shhh everything is going to be alright. Maybe not today, but it will be someday. We're all here for you Chris. We love you."

Surprisingly the words of comfort and the hug came from Rose. She had really become a good friend of mine over the past five years. She helped me back to my seat and sat down next to me. She held one of my hands while Lissa held the other. I watched in silence as Pavel, Abe, Eddie, Dimitri, Adrian, and Guardian Rustikov carried my Aunt out of the church.

It seemed fitting that it was raining outside. It was like the world was mourning the loss of a truly good soul. As they lowered the coffin into the grave I held Lissa tightly against my body. If there was one thing that this whole experience taught me was that life was short and unpredictable and to hold on to the good things in your life and never let go.

LPOV

Things around our house had been tense and morbid to say the least. Christian was determined to see the offensive magic program continue, but many Moroi had become frightened after Tasha's untimely death. The council was in an uproar being split down the middle about whether or not to proceed as planned.

It was two in the morning when my home telephone began to ring startling both Christian and I out of our sleep. No one ever called that number. It was for the council to get a hold of me and only a few people had it.

"Hello." I answered groggily.

"Your majesty, I am truly sorry to ring you at such a late hour, but there has been a disturbance near the cemetery and we need to make sure that you are safe. I am sending the secret service Guardians over as we speak. Is everything okay where you are," Asked Prince Anthony Badica.

"Yes I believe so. Christian and I were asleep. Let me just check on Rose and Dimitri," I replied, but before I could Dimitri burst through the door with Rose close behind him. They were both in their night clothes, but were completely alert and had their stakes drawn.

"Lissa is everything okay in here? I just received a call from the council alerting me to check on you."

"Yes, I'm fine," I replied to both Dimitri and Prince Anthony. I hung up the phone and my eyes met Christian's. He looked worried.

"Hey it's okay everything is fine. Rustikov said that the wards weren't broken so it isn't Strigoi. It's probably just a drunken prank or something. We should all just relax. I'll go start some hot tea if anyone wants any," Said Rose.

"That would be nice Rose. Did anyone check on Adrian?"

"I called Vivie's cell. They are both fine and meeting us downstairs," Replied Dimitri.

As it turns out several mausoleums in the cemetery had been vandalized as well as some head stones. As far as the royal guard could tell it had been an inside job. It saddened me greatly that our own people would deface sacred ground for their own personal agenda. Who would commit such a hideous crime?

Rose was worried about my safety. Dimitri was worried about both our safety and Abe and Janine were hell bent on finding whoever was causing these pranks to eliminate the threat against us.

Dimitri had finally admitted what the Strigoi had told him the day of the attack. It seemed that Rose and I were the targets and that Tasha had been killed to send us a message. Whoever was behind it had said they would kill us all and had directly threatened me, Adrian and Christian who were royals and Rose, the royal advisor. They were heading down a dangerous path and when they get caught I would have some hard decisions to make regarding their punishment. I had a feeling that the parties responsible were Moroi and I wasn't sure if I was capable of putting someone to death.

Unknown POV

"I have found the perfect opportunity to set them up. We'll get them all one by one. Hathaway has to go first. That's been our problem the whole time. She's the key to everything that always gets messed up. It should be easier now that she's going into her third trimester. She'll be slower and easier to distract." I paced the floor of our lair as I explained things to my partner.

"I don't know. She's still pretty badass."

"I know what I'm doing. She won't stand a chance. All we have to do is set the trap." I shot him a withering look.

"How are you going to get past Belikov? The man's a beast and he rarely leaves her alone," He asked.

"Don't you worry your pretty little head about him. I've got plans for him and her majesty," I said thinking about my plan.

"Hey did I tell you what I found out at the clinic after the explosion," He asked like a dog with a bone. He was starting to get on my last nerve.

"What it better be good." I didn't have time for his nonsense.

"Hathaway didn't have an affair with Ivashkov. The baby is Belikov's."

"That isn't possible you moron. They're both Dhampirs."

"I heard her say it. She told Abe Mazur," He insisted. I was still skeptical.

"What makes you think she isn't lying about that? She is a lying whore after all," I remarked still unconvinced.
"Yes, but remember Hathaway's a freak. She died and was brought back remember. Maybe that changed her."

I hadn't thought of that. Maybe he was onto something. Just when I'd thought he was good for nothing he proves himself useful.

"Well if that is true and she did conceive with another Dhampir it's all the more reason to be rid of her and the child she's carrying. Do you know what would happen if information like that got out? We'd really start losing Guardians then. They'd all run off to get married and have babies together."

"Yea, but she's a freak. No one else would be able to do it."

"Not yet, but all they'd have to do is study her DNA and they'd find a way."

"I never thought of that," He said scratching his head.

"Of course you didn't. That is why I'm in charge." I said throwing my partner a death glare. Sometimes I couldn't believe the stupidity of some people.

"Is everyone set on the outside?"

"It should be. I talked to our benefactor earlier today. A getaway car will be waiting and they've already figured a location for us to hide out for a while."

"Good, Lord knows we can't afford another screw up. They'll have our heads this time. I was lucky to smooth things over after the trolley incident and the botched Strigoi attack. Too bad only Lady Ozera was taken out. I thought for sure it would have been a success."

"Yea now all we have are a bunch of pissed off Royals and Guardians on our hands."

"Maybe not. I heard they were going to suspend the offensive magic program until further notice. That could buy us some time to get things done." The wheels in my head began turning over the idea of finishing this job once and for all.

"Did our allies get what they came for the other night," He asked.

"Yes and they were very pleased. No one will ever know what hit them. They were careful to make it look like vandalism." I told him.

"What did they want with it anyways?"

"Who the hell knows? They're some crazy sons of bitches if you ask me, but hey we need them to pull this off so we can't afford to be choosy about what they want to steal and why. Just don't ask questions. They don't like it when we ask questions," I told him. Although I had a bad feeling about whatever it is they were up to.

Okay here's where things are going to get even worse for Rose and the gang. The unknown POV is going to be revealed within the next few chapters or so. Who do you think it is and who are their allies on the outside. What do you think they stole? Please review and let me know what you think. Again sorry for the late update. I just couldn't get this chapter right. I hope you liked it though.