Rose

I didn't get very far before I ran into Adrian. He stood there, his arms out in a surrender as he looked and smiled at me. I was panting, my heart beating too fast he could definitely hear my blood flowing faster through my veins, he could probably smell the desperation. Hell, I could even spell desperation.

"Where's the fire?" Adrian joked as I pulled free and side stepped him. His hands were weighed down by bags of food but he still managed to put his hands on my arms, keeping me standing there. I could have pulled away but right now, I think I needed the comfort. "You only just got back and it's the first time I seen you."

"Tasha has my daughter!" I pant, slowly getting my breathing under control. I was stressed, my blood pressure was defiantly close to dangerous levels but I wanted – no I needed to find my daughter. I felt scared. "Have you seen her?"

"You have a kid?" Adrian looked as if he wanted to laugh but stopped himself when he searched my emotions, my aura. He sighed, straightened and became more serious. "I haven't seen her. Look – I'll go check the East and see I'll call you if I see anything." He started to run off, takeout and all, before I stopped him.

"I dropped my phone somewhere and you don't know what she looks like." I answered. He ran a hand through his hair. I hope I find that phone, I really liked it, Aly really like it too. I think she would have a meltdown if I ever changed phones. BUt I want to find Aly more.

"Alright, I'll come with you and help you look." I was grateful. I needed someone to keep my mind from going all over – Tasha has Aly. She's probably with Dimitri and he wouldn't hurt Aly – but if Tasha compelled him...

Adrian and I set off, looking down every ally, side street – Tasha was nowhere. I sighed in frustration, ran a hand through my hair and tried to hold back the tears as I pulled at the chain around my neck. A gift from 'Aly' - Sally and Tom bought it and Aly picked it out and gave it to me for my birthday. She has the biggest heart for a four-year-old.

"Where is she, Adrian?" I turned around as I heard footsteps coming up behind me, willing it to be Aly. I was disappointed. Abe walked towards us, oblivious to the situation. His usual posy of Guardians were trailing behind him. He stopped when he got close enough so he didn't need to yell when he spoke.

"Hey Kiz, Dimitri was looking for you with Tasha, I think she's-"

"Yeah, she's compelling him. She's been compelling everyone!" I lifted my arms and put them down again in an exaggerated shrug off my shoulders. Abe stood there, with a blank look on his face. I rolled my eyes. "Come on, in the diner I heard what Tasha was saying and no one said anything. When Aly came into the diner and called me Mommy, you mean to tell me you wouldn't have spoken, said something, even it was 'What the hell?'"

"Alright, I see you're point." Abe replied looking pained. "I'm sorry. I only realized it when Tasha was with Dimitri. I guess it was because she was busy compelling him." I shook my head.

"Tasha's compulsion is stronger than Lissa's. I get it." I reply, genuinely understanding what has been going on. I know what it looks like when someone is being compelled. I should have noticed it, I should have trusted my own instincts, what my nausea was telling me. I felt uneasy all the time, I should have known she was compelling them. "I need you to do me a favor."

As Abe went on his way, Adrian and I continued to search Court. We couldn't find her anywhere. We looked, we called, asked Moroi and Dhampir alike, nothing. Adrian pulled me into a hug.

"We'll find them." You know how to find her. How would you find Lissa? I sighed, closed my eyes and stood still, breathing quietly. Adrian stiffened, pulled away and raised an eyebrow as I opened my eyes. He wasn't making it easy to concentrate.

"What are you doing?"

"Trusting my instincts. Now sh." I waved a hand at Adrian's interruption and closed my eyes again as he rolled his eyes. How would I find Lissa? Well, there was the bond that connected us. Could I have a bond with my daughter like the one Lissa and I have? Could I find her the same way?

I tried to think of Aly, picturing her as if she was standing right in front of me. I concentrated on her, everything I could think of that made me think of her. It wasn't long before the familiar haze washed over the side of my vision.

"They're on the south side, close to the gates." I managed to get out before I ran in that direction, leaving Adrian standing dumbfounded as he tried to keep up, failed but continued to run towards the gates, talking on his phone. Willing my legs to run faster, I ran towards the gates, where I knew Aly was, where I knew Tasha and Dimitri was.

"Hey!" I yelled, spotting Tasha as she smiled at Dimitri who was opening a car door. "Stop!"

Tasha turned around with a grin waving her fingers as she pointed towards the car. Dimitri stood there, as though he's having an internal battle, which he probably was. Dimitri never likes to be controlled, he likes the freedom to think his own thoughts, to be in control. Taking control away from Dimitri is never a good thing.

"Oh, hello Rose." I pounced. I tackled Tasha and punched her face smiling at the satisfying sound of a nose crunch. Tasha kicked me off her and jumped to her feet. We circled, we punched, we kicked. Most of mine landing, most of her not. It didn't last long before I was pulled away by Guardians. Dimitri had closed the door to the car where Aly sat.

"Rose! Calm down, you're going to get yourself arrested." Hans grunted as he tried to restrain me. Dimitri was shaking his head, the familiar signs of compulsion leaving his face.

"What's going on here?" Lissa asked as she took in the sight before her, Tasha holding her bleeding nose, me being held by Hans.

"Your friend has lost her mind." Christian took a step beside Lissa.

"What- Your dad came to get us-"

"Tasha is a Strogoi."