DIMITRI'S POV:

I trudged through the forest, where Bailey said Rose was. It seemed like we'd been walking forever. I was starting to doubt my daughter. The sun was about to come up. We had maybe about fifteen minutes. Then, in the clearing… I saw it. It was a long cabin, small and quaint, somewhat similar to the cabins all around St. Vladimirs Academy. We didn't have much time, and I knew that, but I also didn't want to rush them now, and have them escape. If we waiting until the sun actually came up, we'd have them trapped, no where to run. Slowly, as we walked, the sun rose up over the horizon.

"Lets go." I said. In the back of the pack of Guardian's, I caught my sisters face. God, if I'd have known she was here, I'd have made her stay with Bailey. As I reached the door of the house, I instructed half of the group to go the back door and wait for my que. I sat by the door, and waited for a sound, anything to show there was a struggle. That would be my que to go.

ROSE'S POV:

I was pretty positive the sun was up outside. I waiting for the strigoi to enter. All of us sat in the same position on the floor, hands behind our backs as if they were still tied there. When he came in, this time his friends stood in the doorway. The strigoi smiled.

"Have you made your choice Ms. Hathaway?" He asked.

"I have…" I said. I had to drag this out, hoping maybe it'd give them more time. I felt Bailey around, but she wasn't here. "Adrian… I'm so sorry."

"Rose… No, please." Adrian begged, meeting my gaze. I stood up, careful not to show my hands weren't tied.

"Lissa's been my best friend for far to long. She's the queen, and your simply another person. I can't let her die. I wont. I'm her guardian. I have to protect her." I told him. I took a side step towards Adrian and the strigoi. I was pretty positive all of his buddies were ready for a fight. There was only four of them, but I sensed more out in the living room. I wondered how many were actually here. It was a big cabin.

"I'm so sorry." I whispered. Then, like a ninja, I turned and swung on the strigoi. He caught my punch hard to the face. His buddies stumbled forward, trying to grab me, but I started throwing punches and kicks everywhere, not caring which one I hit.

"Lissa, Adrian, Run!" I exclaimed. They started towards the door, dodging their way through strigoi. They actually made their way out. I then heard crashing outside in the living room. I then heard a voice that made my heart jump. It was Dimitri. I started fighting harder. I had to get out of here. I had to get to him, to my baby girl. I then caught a hard punch to the face, causing me to stumble and almost fall. The strigoi finally grabbed a hold of me, getting a good grip.

"Roza?" I heard. I looked up to see Dimitri trying to fight his way through the strigoi to get to me. This wasn't happening. Please. I started squirming in the strigoi's grip, trying to get out of his grip. I swung an elbow back, catching him in the face, loosening his grip the slightest bit. I used it, getting out and swinging on him. I made my way to the door, and outside, where Adrian threw me my stake. There were about five strigoi left that were visible, but they were the strongest. The one that had held us captive was set on me. He lunged at me, but he caught my elbow to the face. He growled and threw a punch, catching me hard in the stomach. I gagged, but kept fighting. I drug my stake across his face, causing him to cry out. I kicked him into the wall, and drove my stake into his chest. I turned to see Lissa make it out the door. I sighed in relief. Dimitri took out two more strigoi and Eddie and Viktoria took out the other two. Adrian was still standing as well, bloody and scratched, but standing. How he'd managed to stay here, and not die was beyond me. I'd always known he was strong for a moroi, but damn. As we stood there, we stared at each other. I met Adrian's gaze for a split second, but then, my blood ran cold. My stomach stirred and out jumped a strigoi from an unseen place. He lunged at Adrian, but Viktoria jumped between. Viktoria had acted on impulse, but didn't have time to stage an attack. I lunged for her, a terrible shriek leaving my lips. It was to late. I'd been to late. Before I could reach them, the strigoi locked his grip around her neck, and snapped it like a toothpick. I hit the ground next to where the strigoi dropped her. He started after me, but Dimitri grabbed him, throwing him back, and taking him out. I started down into my sister-in-laws face. I grabbed her hand.

"Please… No." I whispered. "Viktoria, wake up." She never moved. I knew she wouldn't, but I didn't want to except it. I placed my fingers at her neck, hoping and praying for a pulse, but there was nothing. Her eyes were already glazing over. She was gone, and there was nothing I could do. Dimitri dropped to his knee's next to me.

"No." He whispered, the word barely audible. He was staring down into his little sisters face, tears rolling down his bloody cheeks. She was gone, and there was nothing any of us could do. Eddie walked over, and knelt down next to us. Viktoria had died saving a moroi, that stood for something didn't it?