So here's the actual chapter 37!

Disclaimer: I don't own VA, etc.

Chapter 37

"Wake up, sweetheart," I slowly woke up and opened my eyes. The sun came shining through the windows and I looked outside. Another day and so far, things were quiet. When I realized that Dimitri was next to me, I curled up into him. "Come on, get up. Half a day is going to past if you don't wake up," I sat up suddenly, lightheaded. "Take it easy," He held me from collapsing. I got up and looked at the clock. "It's eleven in the morning already?" He nodded. Just as I headed to the door to leave the room, I looked back at Dimitri.

"How long have you been up?" I asked him.

"Me? I don't know. Maybe a couple of hours or so. I went out for a run before coming back," He stated plainly. It was his guardian voice. Surely he knew what I was trying to get at, but he stared at me intently. Whenever he did that, it would be my warning to back off. I stared back at him and he just kept staring. I finally turned away and left. "Wait!" He came at me and pulled at my wrist.

"What?" I snarled at him.

"It's just…It's not that easy," He told me.

"What's not that easy? Dimitri, all you have to do is talk to him! I had it hard! My mom is gone and my dad doesn't care! All you have to do is talk!" I yelled, then flinching as I realized what I had said.

"Rose…"

"I'm sorry…" I whispered, before turning and leaving quickly, appalled by my own behavior.

"No, wait!" I stopped. He held me from behind. "It's alright…nothing to be spooked about. Stay calm, my dear," He caressed my cheek gently while calming me. I shook my head side to side, but I soon realized I was sobbing. It had been awhile since my mother's death, but I guess not talking about it really hit me harder than I thought. Dimitri turned me around and hugged me. "It's alright…it's going to be alright," I cried.

"I need my mom…I need her back!" I screamed at this point. Dimitri took my back into the room, but Daryl came in.

"Papa, it's the darkness!" Dimitri tried to lay me down but I thrashed. Darkness bubbled within me at an extreme pace and I roared. Suddenly I turned to Daryl and he hit the back of my neck, forcing me to black out.

In dream…

I shook my head. 'Where am I?' My vision sharpened, but there was nothing around me. Everything was pitch black.

"Rose? Where are you?" It was Dimitri's voice.

"Over here!" But then there was no response. Where was I? I started walking in a direction until a girl who looked like me stood in my way. "Who are you?" I asked her. She waved her hand to the side and a gust of wind blew at me.

"You're pathetic. Really, I don't know what Vladmir sees in you," I glared at her and suddenly her image changed. She wasn't like me at all. She was beautiful with long silver hair and a dress fit for a princess.

"I asked you. Who are you?" I asked again. She suddenly released her six wings.

"I'm you. Does that answer your question?" She asked in a snarky manner.

"What do you want? Did you cause that darkness attack?" She smirked.

"Well I had to get your attention one way or another," I slapped her, but she took my hand and threw me off of him. Because of the lack of training, I had a hard time getting up.

"What is wrong with you?" I screamed. I looked back at her and her smirk was still there. When I got up, she showed me an image. It was back when I was still rambunctious and disobedient to the teachers. I looked away.

"To think…you were once strong. But you've become soft. Where was that girl who used to fight all authority, who wanted to be someone?" She yelled at me.

"You don't understand…" I told her…or myself frankly.

"What don't I understand? You've grown cowardly, weak, pathetic," She kept going at it.

"That's enough!" I tackled her. "You don't understand what I've been through! You don't know how hard it is, regretting everything I've done to my mom!" Suddenly someone pulled me back and I thrashed.

"It's me! Rose, it's me!" I looked and saw Dimitri. Daryl held back the stronger version of me. "Roza!" I stopped and my legs gave out on me.

"See? You're weak," My other form sneered.

"ENOUGH!" Daryl yelled at her.

"Rose? Are you okay?" I took off running. I had to run. I had to run from myself, from everyone. "Rose!" I ran deeper and deeper into the darkness. My conscience was right. I had grown weak and even now I was still running. I finally collapsed and just cried. This was painful. I heard footsteps suddenly and saw Vladmir. How did he get in? I sniffed and wiped my eyes.

"What do you want?" He bent down and wiped the tears still. He had a gentle smile now. "Shouldn't you hate me?" He shook his head.

"It's time to escape this nightmare, princess," He picked me up into his arms. "Ready?" I nodded and he chanted a spell.

End of dream…

"Hey, wake up," I felt someone brush my hair lightly. I slowly opened my eyes and I was still on the floor in Daryl's house. Vladmir was there though. When I tried to get up, Vladmir pushed me down. "It's alright. Just take it easy,"

"What the freaking hell happened?" I asked Vladmir.

"It's nothing to worry about. Just a little power glitch. You're alright. Your powers are under control again. Just relax," I sat up and everyone helped me up. Dimitri took his time cradling me though. Even though I passed out, I was exhausted.

"How are you feeling?" Dimitri asked quietly. He touched my forehead. "She's a bit warm," Vladmir touched my head as I was light-headed. I got up and Dimitri held me up. Out of nowhere, I snarled and pushed him back.

"For once in my life, leave me alone!" I stormed off. My conscience was right and I was afraid to admit it. I hadn't trained for days and ages. Out of anger, fire burst from me and a dragon of fire roared. I used to it attack things until my anger simmered down. "What am I doing?" I asked myself. "Why am I so weak now?" Was it because Dimitri was in my life now? Was it because I couldn't hurt him? I saw him walk out slowly and I backed away from him. He stood where he was and I stared at him while ideas flew in and out my mind. 'Just what is going on?' Suddenly, a surge of electricity shot through my body and I gasped. 'You are mine soon, dear one.' It was another voice. One I didn't seem to recognize though. 'I am coming for you, my angel of darkness.' I fell onto my knees and I heard Dimitri running and yelling for me. Things started to spin and finally I passed out.

Few hours later…

"Easy…" I opened my eyes and saw Dimitri with me. He changed the towel on my forehead. "You're okay. You passed out from exhaustion," He told me. I looked at him.

"Someone's coming for me…I heard a whisper. He said "I am coming for you, my angel of darkness"" Dimitri looked at me worriedly.

"Well, I'm here and if they want you, they'll have to get through me first," I smiled. "Although, if you still feel unsafe, we can head back to the school," He suggested. I shook my head, feeling better all of a sudden.

"Nuh uh. You're not getting off the hook that easily," I joked in my snarky way.

"Wouldn't dream of it, love," He chuckled. Then a knock was heard at the door. "Come in," Daryl came in quickly.

"You guys have to get out of here. Now," Dimitri looked at me.

"Who's coming?" Dimitri asked.

"My boss. You have to get out of here!" Daryl exclaimed. I got out of bed.

"No. That's it. No more running. I want to know who I'm running from," I looked at both Dimitri and Daryl.

"The angel of darkness, it's who I am. I can't run from it. And you know what, I'm sick of running. I want to find out who I'm running from, and nothing both you guys say can change that," I headed downstairs and out the door. "If it's a fight they want, it's a fight they'll get," I transformed and Dimitri and Daryl came out with me. I looked on the roof and Vladmir was watching carefully. He had sensed it. Then, from the forest, came three Strigoi. I didn't recognize any of them. There were three guys, but the one in the center stood boldly. He had to have been the leader. When he walked up to me, he smirked.

"Good job, Belikov. You brought her to me, just like I asked," He touched my face and I moved away from him. "You heard me, didn't you, my dear," I pushed him away and he snarled playfully. "Feisty," Dimitri looked like he was about to beat the crap out of him, but I wanted to know about him.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Name is Clay. I'm a, I guess you could say, collector," He gave me the smirk again. "I've been waiting a long time for you to reincarnate, my dear angel of darkness," He tried to kiss me but I bit his lip. Well, that just gave me back a slap to the face. "I, am not to be trifled with, young lady," Dimitri finally lost it, but I still held him back.

"Just what do you want with me?" I asked him.

"Oh? I guess Vladmir up there didn't inform you. You, young lady, are one of a kind. There are six elements. You are the element of darkness. When I have all six, I get the power of the elements. In other words, I am ruler of this world," He sneered.

"Yeah? Well, I don't follow orders easily. You can't just take me," He grinned.

"I know. But that's what all the others said until they fell under control of this," He showed me a collar. I backed a bit.

"Once this goes around your pretty little neck, you become my pet. Simple, and it doesn't hurt a bit," Dimitri tackled him finally and Clay threw Dimitri off easily. I ran to Dimitri to see if he was alright.

"So! Here's the offer I'm making. You come with me, no one gets hurt. Or, we can continue this game of cat and mouse until I catch you for real and people will get hurt," He yelled. I glared at him. Vladmir came down and stood in front of me.

"You're not getting her that easily. You may have three out of six, but she will never complete your collection," Vladmir argued back. I helped Dimitri up and Clay just shook his head.

"Oh, she will. Whether she likes or not. I'm betting the first. Rose? Your choice?" I looked at Dimitri.

"I'm not going with you," I told him. Obviously, with his ability to hear, he heard me.

"Alright, then I shall chase and pursue you until you give yourself up, no matter the body count. Remember, this is your choice, so you can run, but you can't hide," He finally left. I sighed and Dimitri looked at me, smiling.

"That was brave of you," I smiled and got Dimitri back on his feet. Daryl looked away and headed inside while Vladmir helped me out. I caught up with Daryl.

"Why? He'll start hurting the people around you," Daryl stated.

"I know. But I can protect them. He has three girls already. I don't need to be the fourth. I will fight him. Every time he comes, I'll hold my ground. It won't be easy. I know that, but I have to fight back. That's what I've done all my life and that's something that has to continue. If I gave up myself just like that, I'd regret it. I know it. And it's not that really. It's Dimitri. I can't disappoint him anymore. I have to be strong again, and if I have to fight Clay until the day I die, then so be it. But I'm not going down without a fight," I saw Vladmir healing Dimitri.

"Look, I'm getting married with Dimitri soon, and I just want everything peaceful until then. I'm sure I can last that long at least," Daryl nodded.

"If you feel that's right, then I'm all for it. I'll go fix up some lunch for us. Are you still staying here?" I shook my head.

"I think I'll head back. I don't want to cause you anymore trouble and to be honest, it'll hold Clay off in the meantime," He nodded and I headed back to Dimitri, explaining to them what was going to happen. I transformed and flew all of us back. When we got back, everything was the same. It was kind of nice to be honest. Vladmir headed back ahead of us and Dimitri and I were alone.

"Rose…" Dimitri gave me a warning tone.

"I know. I know. We're going to have a talk," Dimitri held my hand as we started to walk. I sighed. 'Crap. So close.'

Well, I know this isn't the best chapter, but it's going to get better. I'm just trying to update for you guys! Hope you guys enjoyed it though!