Dimitri's POV - 1 month later.

"I want to do something this weekend."

Rose stood directly in front of me, hands on her hips as she looked down to where I sat sprawled across the sofa reading a western. I drew my attention away from the book and looked up at her, eyebrow cocked in curiosity.

"Like a date," she added. "Out."

I set my book down and sat up, taking one of her hands and pulling her to join me on the sofa. She instinctively nestled into my arm, resting her head on my shoulder as I twirled a lose strand of her hair around my finger.

"Really, Roza? Are you sure?"

"Yes, of course I am."

It had been nearly 3 months since Rose had returned home and although everything had returned to normality between us, we had yet to go out just the two of us and do anything remotely similar to a date. Rose had eventually returned as Vasilisa's guardian, and when I wasn't guarding Christian, my time was dedicated to tracking down him. A feat which was consistently proving difficult...

There hadn't been time for Roza and I to go out and just... be.

"I just wasn't sure you would want to," I told her, "I know you still get uncomfortable sometimes."

"Dimitri it's been months," she sighed. "I'm fine now. I've gone back to work, I can be around other people, I've moved on."

"And you still get frustrated when people stare at you or whisper."

Rose had been so angry after her first day back as Vasilisa's Guardian. The rant spilled from her lips as soon as she set one foot through the door that evening. Vasilisa had had meetings all day with various people, and Rose was angry that no matter what Vasilisa was saying or doing, all eyes had been on her the whole day. She said she could practically hear what they were thinking... questioning... speculating...

Where had she been?

Why wasn't she here?

She probably got sick of Belikov and ran off to be a Bloodwhore…

Maybe she was pregnant and disappeared to get rid of it before anyone found out…

Why didn't she do her duty and stay here for our Queen?

Why…

Where…

Maybe…

I bet…

"People have been staring at me my whole life," she huffed. "It gets to me sometimes, yes, but I'm sick of being cooped up in here. I love you and I want to spend some time with you where we're not just in the apartment or working or... searching for - you know."

"Okay, Roza," I agreed, steering the conversation away from darker territory. "Where would you like to go?"

"I don't know," she shrugged. "Somewhere with pizza?"

I couldn't help but chuckle. It was such a typical 'Rose' response.

"Of course," I laughed. "I'll see what I can do."

Rose turned her head and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek. "Thank you, Comrade," she said with a grin before pushing herself up from the sofa. I watched as she walked away, just briefly catching her smile faltering when she thought I couldn't see her.

Rose was happy, she would tell me. But I knew that it was an act. A mask. Around people she would be the perfect picture of happiness, bravery, resilience... but when she thought she was alone, that facade would fade.

After the initial weeks of terror and depression when she first came home, Rose had been genuinely content. She wasn't afraid - everything had gone back to the way they were before. But as time went on, little doubts of fear began creeping their way back into her mind - why couldn't we find him?

He was out there somewhere – waiting. Waiting for her. We all knew it. And yet, we couldn't track him down. Months had passed since she came back and somehow we were no closer to locating him.

She wouldn't admit it, but I knew that she was terrified.

A second letter from Nathan had distinguished the immense progress she had already made, causing her bravery to come crashing down with a mighty thud.

I'm growing impatient, Belikov. You're doing a good job at keeping her away from me. You'll slip up soon, though, and I'll no doubt have her back in my arms.
She is MINE. Why can't you see that?
The thought of you with her makes my skin crawl. I often imagine ripping you to pieces for touching her. How dare you touch what is mine?
She is MINE. I OWN HER.
What do I have to do to make you understand that?
I'm going to make her scream and you won't be able to do anything but sit there and watch. She can join me in the immortal world and we will destroy you together. You won't ever be able to take her from me again.

This particular letter arrived two weeks ago. Knowing I needed to share it with Rose, hiding it from her didn't even cross my mind. Nathan's words were vile, disgusting, repulsive… but Rose and I were partners and we would face this together. Despite the sickening threats sprawled messily across the page, I knew that another secret between us would without a doubt make things worse.

Unsurprisingly, Rose reacted the exact same way she did when the Polaroid arrived weeks ago – with utter terror. Tears fell from her face for hours on end, screaming and shaking until I managed to calm her down, reiterating my love for her, and my promise to protect her.

Since then Rose's mask of happiness had been permanently etched on her face, hiding what she was truly feeling deep inside: fear.

So her request to go out together, somewhere public, was somewhat of a shock to me. Rose pushed herself to go to work each day, to see her friends and just be 'normal' as she would put it, but I knew it took a great amount of effort to do so.

I could see behind the mask. Just as she had always been able to see through mine.

Every time her eyes subtly scanned the room. Every time her hand clutched mine just a little bit tighter when we walked past men in the street. Every time the corners of her smile faltered slightly when a thought crossed her mind.

I could see her anxiety, and I knew that her request to go somewhere was her way of staring that anxiety defiantly in the face – "you don't own me."

So I agreed. I would do absolutely anything for her, and if that meant being there to hold her hand as she tackled her worries face on, then so be it - and a date it would be.


Rose didn't come out of the bedroom until a few hours later, when a sharp rapping at the front door set us both on edge. Cautiously, I made my way to see who it was. Peering through the tiny peephole before opening the door, I came face to face with Rose's father, characteristically dressed to the nines in a vibrant suit and bright purple scarf. His dark, angry eyes and deep frown stood out sharply against the bright colours of his outfit - something had happened.

Stepping aside, I granted him entrance into our home.

"Baba? What's wrong?" Rose asked, emerging from the bedroom and following us into the lounge, her brows furrowed and eyes narrowed.

"Let's sit," came his response, and instantly we were all on edge.

Sitting side by side on the sofa, Rose instinctively reached out and intertwined her hand with mine, seeking comfort in what we knew would be an unwelcome situation.

"Abe? What's going on?"

"Nathan," he spat, standing in front of us with his arms folded tightly across his chest. "He's been spotted."

I could feel my heart immediately fall into my stomach, and Rose's hand tightened in mine to the point of pain. "What? Where? When?" I asked frantically, voicing the questions I knew the silent woman next to me had.

"Harrisburg."

"Harrisburg?" Surely he wouldn't return to somewhere so close to where he held Rose the first time… not when he knew we were looking for him.

But he was looking for her too… he wanted her back, and of course it wouldn't be long before he emerged from the darkness again.

"Pavel said they have no clue where he's been for the last few months, but wherever he's been – he's back now."

"When was he sighted?" I questioned, sneaking a quick glance sideways to Rose, who was still silent beside me.

"Two nights ago."

If Nathan was in Harrisburg two nights ago, he would without a doubt have eyes on court, seeking Rose out and formulating a plan to rein her back into his arms.

"We need to go after him."

"Agreed."

A silence hung in the air as the three of us wordlessly took everything in, allowing the news to settle in our minds. Abe had without a doubt received this information not long ago, racing here to tell us straight away – he barely had the time to process the facts himself.

The threats against his daughter were now becoming far too real.

"We should go into Harrisburg," Rose stated nonchalantly beside me. "Have our date there."

Abe's look of bewilderment mirrored mine as we both turned to look at her.

"Did you not just hear what I said, Kizm?"

"Roza? Why would you suggest that knowing that he's there?"

"Rose… Nathan is in Harrisburg," Abe reiterated, "or at least near there."

Rose shrugged her shoulders, brushing off our words. "We should go anyway."

"Rose…" I began, turning to rest my arm around her shoulders comfortingly. I had no idea what was running through her mind to make her react in such an indifferent way. Her abuser, the source of her fear, was mere hours away and yet, she didn't quite seem to grasp the severity of the situation.

"I'm serious," she stated, shrugging my arm off and moving to stand across the room.

My confusion was clear as she stood calmly, her hands on her hips and her eyes glistening.

"I have a plan."


Hi all! SO sorry for the delay... for those of you who didn't see my updated note on the last chapter, I've not been very well and had no energy to even think about writing, and then I had a lot of work to do which took priority.

Anyways, here's the next chapter - sorry it's not fantastic, but we're gearing up for the end now!

Please remember to leave a review!

H x