*Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy, Richelle Mead does!*

Dimitri's Point of View

I couldn't hear Christian, but I knew he was right behind me. He probably figured out that something was wrong the second I ran towards our apartment.

I carefully pulled out my stake. I glanced behind me and saw Christian with a stake of his own. I shot him a confused look. Where did he get a stake from?

Later, he mouthed.

I nodded then cautiously walked through the hallway with Christian quietly following me.

We checked every room in our apartment very carefully. It wasn't until we were back in our lobby area that I heard a whimpering coming from the closet by the door.

I carefully opened the door, ready for anything. What I wasn't ready for was a red-eyes Lissa curled into a ball sobbing.

I looked back at Christian. He would know what to say to Lissa. He was her boyfriend.

He looked at me puzzled then walked towards me. When he saw Lissa, he immediately let his defenses down and rushed to her side. He pulled her into his arms. "It's okay Liss," he whispered, kissing her forehead.

I stepped out of the room to give them a moment. I felt envious of Christian. I wasn't envious of his relationship with Lissa, but with his certainty. He knew that his girlfriend was safe and sound. For all I know, Rose could be dead, or worse she could be a strigoi right now.

I pushed those thoughts from my head. She was not strigoi. It wasn't possible. I would know, wouldn't I?

Or maybe this is one of those things Christian was talking about. Maybe, I don't have that connection with Rose. She always knows when I'm upset just by looking at me. But me? I only notice when it's obvious. The entire time we were in Russia, I never would have guessed that the division in my family would have been killing her, but it makes sense.

I sunk to the ground as everything Christian said poured down onto me. In the car I listened to him, but I was only now hearing what he said.

He was right. I didn't deserve Rose. Every decision I've made has come back to hurt her and yet she is still with me. She still loves me unconditionally.

When I chose to walk away from her after I found out she was a girl, I was only thinking about myself. I wasn't thinking about how much pain I would be causing her. I wasn't thinking about how she would interpret my coldness. No, I was only thinking about myself and my own hurt feelings.

I think back to her determination to not come in between me and my family. Her fears were legitimate and I ignored them. I didn't want to believe that my family, or more importantly my mother wouldn't like her. So, I ignored her doubts, which lead to Rose being captured and almost killed by strigoi.

I accused her of being with me to distract herself. I thought I was being so selfless. I thought I was preventing her from making a mistake. She ended up running away and getting captured by strigoi. She could be dead or worse.

Every decision came back to me, threatening to choke me. Every decision lead her from bad to worse.

I love her so much, don't get me wrong, but now I realize I've taken advantage of that love.

With this revelation came a new-found determination. I would find Rose. And when I find her, I will act like the boyfriend she deserves.

I don't know how long I was sitting there, trapped in my own thoughts. Christian cleared his throat, breaking me out of my thoughts. I looked up at him confused.

"You okay?" He asked me concerned.

I nodded at him, unable to find my words.

Lissa was clinging to Christian's arm for dear life.

I cleared my throat, trying to find my voice. "Where's Tasha?" I asked, noticing her absence for the first time. It was probably really bad that I hadn't noticed she wasn't here, but my mind was otherwise occupied.

Christian's face fell and tears started to fall down Lissa's cheeks again.

I knew the answer, but I couldn't help myself. I had to know for sure. "Where is she?" I asked, trying to mentally prepare myself.

"They took her," Lissa whispered. "They were looking for her specifically."

Despite the grim news, I couldn't help but smile.

Christian looked at me like I was insane. "Why are you smiling?" He asked me, anger lacing his tone.

"Because if they knew she was here, then they are close to this complex. Think about it. Where is the perfect place for a strigoi to hide if they want to keep an eye on the moroi in the mall and the moroi living nearby in the communities?" I asked him. This could be an excellent part of his guardian training. I would guide him, but I wanted him to figure it out for himself.

Understanding lit up his features. "In the center of everything, just on the outskirts of town," he said breathlessly.

I nodded to him. That's why we couldn't find them when we were searching the city. Because they were outside the city, but only just.

Without a word, I sprint towards the kitchen to get my keys. I went back to Christian and Lissa. "Stay with her," I told him.

From the look he gave me I knew he wasn't happy, but I knew he was going to listen to me. He wasn't going to leave Lissa alone right now. She needed him.

I got in my car and sped off. I started with the border closest to the mall and meticulously searched for any signs of strigoi. About an hour after my search started, I was rewarded. Huddled outside a house, I was able to make out Tasha's long black hair. There were a couple of other people with her. They escaped. I knew they were safe, because the sun was shining brightly on to them.

As I got closer, I searched for the one face I so desperately wanted to see. I felt like the world was moving in slow motion. She wasn't here. Eddie and one of the moroi were, but Rose, Mason, and the other moroi were nowhere to be seen.

Tasha looked at me, sympathy lighting up her features. "I'm sorry Dimka," she said to me.

I closed my eyes and felt my world shatter around me. This couldn't be happening.