Neils POV-
Walking into my bedroom thinking about the attack against my charge a few weeks ago. I and another guardian was escorting three moroi's, two royals, one non-royal around a shopping mall. Using far and near guard. I was near and I lost sight of him, I did every precaution I could, then I spotted the strigoi coming straight for us, inboard daylight and in the mall, I dragged the two royal moroi, shouting at the non-royal to follow me into a more secretive area where I could kill the strigoi without making mass panic from the nearby humans. I managed to kill the strigoi instantly but it wasn't until I turned around that I saw there was another strigoi. The non-royal moroi killed it instantly using her fire magic, I was unbelievably proud, not many moroi use their powers in public. It took fifteen minutes for me to find my guarding partner, dead.
I fell asleep thinking. I started dreaming about the school in Palm Springs, I instantly knew what was going on, turning around I spotted both Adrain and Sydney. They have both changed over the years, just slightly. They haven't bothered to get in touch with me all this time after I asked them not to. So I instantly knew something was wrong. Something is wrong with Declan.
"What's the matter?" I asked concerned.
"They have run away from the academy. Queen Vasilisa has requested you to meet us at court as soon as possible, I'm sorry I knew you didn't want this to happen but we have all agreed for their safety, we will tell the public about Declan's parentage." Sydney responded. I knew without a doubt I will be leaving as soon as possible to go to court but there is something that caught my attention and confused me.
"They?" I asked confused.
"Dimitri and Rose have two daughters that we also adopted and our son Oscar, they have run away together." Rose and Dimitri have children. I never knew about that. I always thought I was weak for leaving Declan with Adrain and Sydney, but if Rose and Dimitri believed it was the right thing to do then maybe it was the right thing to do.
"Okay I'll leave at once, I will meet you at court"
"We will land at court in two days," Adrain told me.
"I will be there waiting for you." They ended the dream and I woke up instantly. I called up the guardian council at court, telling them the queen wants me there. They sent a guardian to cover me. He arrived a few hours later and I left instantly. I arrived at court the day before the queen was due back.
Declan's POV-
We stayed in Alexandlovosky overnight and in the early morning I got Skylar to break into a car and hotwire it, I drove the seven-hour journey to Moscow. We went straight to the hotel and stay in playing board games as we used to when we were younger, I think Oscar and Amelia enjoyed that the most. We spend the entirety of the second day in the Gum shopping centre because Skylar and Amelia wanted to go shopping for clothes and they wanted to get Oscar and I new clothing, something about our clothes being dirty and ruined from running and fighting. But realistically they just want us to be their dolls and being the best brothers ever we complied.
On the third day Oscar dragged us off to the Pushkin State Museum, he loves museums, personally, I don't get it but I do think finding out about history is fun. Later that day Amelia insisted we go to watch a show in the Bolshoi Theatre, some original Russian folks-tell, all in Russian. It was a pretty good show, great actors, good story and a satisfying ending. Erasing all camera footage as we go.
On the fourth day and last full day, because we will be moving on to Saint Petersburg tomorrow, we decided to have a relaxed day with a picnic in Gorky Park. After our picnic which consisted of sandwiches, sausage rolls, strawberries, chocolate, crisps, etc, with some Russian snacking food too. We go for a leisurely walk along the river.
At 6 pm, still in daylight, five strigoi came running at us, however, we didn't have time to think about how they are out in the daylight, they are coming for us. Luckily no-one is around so we don't have to worry about humans.
I didn't wait for the strigoi to reach us, I ran at one. Jumping, doing a backflip, on the way down I push one of my legs out kicking one in the face knocking him down. I could see out of the corner of my eye Skylar ran at them with me, jumping throwing her leg out as well pushing her full force into kicking a female strigoi in the face however she was fast and caught her leg throwing her down to the floor. Skylar got up instantly, concentrating on my strigoi I jump on him before he can get up and quick as I can get my stake out and stabbed him.
I heard a loud screech and got threw off him.
"That's my lover you bastard" some woman strigoi growled at me. She jumped on top of me, pinning me to the floor. I thrashed underneath her with no luck. She is stronger than me. I could see it in her eyes, she's going for my neck. In a split second, I realised I could use that to my advantage, let her think I've given up then she will loosen her grip on me when she bites me. As soon as she bit into my neck I felt the sudden rush of pleasure. I shook my head to clear my mind. Realising she has loosened her grip, just liked I wanted her too, I push her off and climb on top of her. However, I don't have a stake on me because my stake is still in the other strigoi, I only brought one with me because it's daylight and they shouldn't be able to go out in daylight. Still pinning her down I look over to Skylar, I could see her stab her strigoi, bringing it out and instantly turning to look if anyone needs help, spotting me she threw her stake at me, I moved one hand to grab the strigoi by her chest to keep her down, grabbing the stake with my other hand. Before she has time to move I stabbed my stake in her heart killing her. Looking around I could see Amelia and Oscar killed their strigoi. Oscar is now going around setting them on fire. After they all burnt we go back to the hotel, talking about the strigoi being out in daylight.
The plan was to stay in Moscow for another night, we were knackered so Amelia, Oscar and I fell to sleep at 9 pm. At midnight Skylar woke us all up by shaking us, I instantly jumped up onto my feet and searched the room for danger. Only I don't see any. I turned back around to see why Skylar woke us up.
"People who are staying next door to us are moroi, they've just come back from a night out if moroi are around guardians won't be too far behind. I don't think any of them have seen us and we have taken care of the cameras but I still think we should move." Skylar explained. Being fully awake now I decided it's better to move on then to just find another hotel if we're lucky they won't see us and the guardians won't be able to track us. Half an hour later we found a car and got out of the hotel with all of our stuff and we did it all without being detected. I started driving towards Saint Petersburg. Along the way we got out, ditched the car and stole a new one, I made Amelia break into it and hot-wire it this time. Overall the journey took seven hours. Oscar and Amelia slept most of the journey but I think Skylar still hasn't slept, if she keeps this up for much longer I will have to do something she needs to sleep.
Lissa POV-
We have been at the academy for three weeks now. I have tried to keep myself busy, checking over everything. Seeing how the moroi learning to fight training was going. I am very proud, hopefully, one day we can make this a worldwide thing. Then nobody will be left defenceless against the strigoi. However when I wasn't busy I was full of concern. My best friends children are missing. Adrain and I try reaching out to them every day with no luck, it's like there is a wall of something stopping the connection. Sydney has tried lots of different location spells, asking the ladies in her coven to do the same, she even went off to get their help. She didn't stay away for long, because it was pointless, nothing seemed to work.
However, it's time for me to get back to court and to inform the public about what's going on.
Once we arrive at court, Neil Raymond is there waiting for us, along with other staff members. Eddie and Jill ran over to greet Neil. Followed by Adrain and Sydney, then Rose and Dimitri. Once they all greeted each other, Neil turned to me and bowed.
"Mister Raymond there is no need to bow, you were our test subject remember." I tried to make a joke, they all laughed but I don't think anyone found it funny. I hate that, people just laugh if they think I want them too, people are constantly trying to please me. The only ones who I can trust to give me their full honest opinion is Rose and Adrain.
"Someone please set up a public meeting for tomorrow morning we've got some news to give," I said looking at Neil, Rose, Dimitri, Adrain and Sydney but not talking to them, they look slightly sheepish.
The meeting happened in the grand hall, hundreds of people turned up, with a camera crew and news reporters. I hate giving speeches and this is going to be huge. So I decided to just get on with it. As soon as I walked in everyone bowed, I walk up the front followed by Dimitri, Rose, Adrain, Sydney, Neil, Eddie and Jill.
"Rise" I commanded. I hate having to do that.
"Hello everyone, we are here today because something has happened." I don't know how to say this.
"Four children have ran away from St Vladimir's academy three weeks ago. Those four children are Adrian's Ivashkovs and Sydney Ivashkovs children. However, it has recently come to my attention that only one, Oscar is their biological child. Declan, Skylar and Amelia are their adoptive children. Out of fear of how the public would react, that fact along with who their parents were, has been kept secret." I stop to let this sink in.
"Restored strigoi/dhampirs are capable of having children with other dhampirs. Declan is Neil Raymond's and olive Sinclairs son." Shouts of surprise, I waited until it calmed down to continue.
"Skylar and Amelia are sisters. They are Rose and Dimitri Belikov's children. They are under my protection, I want them found and returned to their families unharmed" Everyone even the guardians gave shouts of surprise. The guardians lost their masks for a split second and looked at Rose and Dimitri, only for a second and then went back to their jobs.
It will only take twenty-four hours until the whole world will know, including the strigoi. I hope I haven't just given them a death sentence.
Skylars POV-
Once we arrive in Saint Petersburg at 8 am we go straight to a hotel to get a room. After we settled in and unpacked our bags all apart from the essentials for a quick getaway, we go sightseeing. We look at all the amazing buildings, Russia is beautiful, we visit the state hermitage museum, look at all the amazing things inside. Then we visited the Grand Peterhof Palace. Then we go have a picnic at Alexander park, we visited the Faberge museum. Then to finish off our day we go on a nighttime riverboat tour, seeing all the amazing beautiful light and buildings that make up Saint Petersberg, we see Catherine Palace and Park. We sleep in and go shopping but we don't do much on the second day.
On our second night at Saint Petersburg, we go clubbing to let off steam. After four hours we were ready to go back to the hotel. We haven't run into any strigoi, so we have been drinking. We wouldn't usually let ourselves get this bad. We are all slightly drunk. We've decided to leave before a strigoi does turn up.
Once we leave the club there was a scream, a woman's scream. Then just to our luck, we spot a strigoi walking down the road, on the opposite side to us. Dragging a human woman behind him. When we hear her scream again we all decide we are not going to leave her, she will not be killed by that strigoi, we will save her.
All four of us followed silently. We followed them into Zelenogorsk Recreation park. A huge park, with a massive field. We lost sight of them so we walk into the middle of the field for a better point of view to try and find them.
It only took a second, blink and you miss it. When we got to the middle of the field, we were surrounded by strigoi, looking around we could see at least twenty, maybe more. The sight sobered us all up instantly.
"Hello children, we've heard quite a bit about you, lovely to meet you. Send your parents my best, won't you? Oh, wait you won't get the chance" a past dhampir, strigoi spoke to us in Russian. You could tell he is the one in charge, as soon as he finished speaking they attacked. I saw the strigoi that got away the other day. Great that's how they know who we are, well how they know who I am.
I kicked and punched. We don't have much luck against all these strigoi, but I will not go down without a fight.
I crouched to sidekick two strigoi knocking them over instantly, however, another took the opportunity to jump on top of me when I was crouched. I couldn't get him off. He is aiming for my neck but he hasn't the right angle. I kick and punch as hard as I can the other strigoi all whilst trying to get the strigoi off my back.
I end up falling backwards, so I end up on top of him, out of shock he let's go, I jump back up as fast as I can so other strigoi won't have the chance to jump me.
I jumped whilst spinning, kicking my leg out and luckily I managed to kick the five surrounding me in the face, I took a small opportunity to look over at the other three, Declan is managing to keep them at bay, I see he has killed two. Amelia has managed to kill one, however, she is doing badly. Oscar has set two on fire, but he's not doing well either. Even though I see the bodies they still have five on them.
I turn around back to face my strigoi. I reach for one of my stakes and as quickly as I can I stab one in the heart. Another strigoi used that to his advantage by knocking the strigoi away, he took the stake with him. Thank god I brought three. I quickly get another one out and stab the strigoi that knocked the other one over in the heart, I got my stake out, turned around and stabbed the one that was running at me.
I ran to my stake, pulling it out, then throwing it at another, aiming perfectly, stabbing him in the heart instantly. I've killed four now, however, they just keep on coming. One slams their body into mine, knocking me down with him, he was obviously moroi before he changed. We rolled and thrashed around on the floor.
Before another strigoi could help him with keeping me down, I bit into his neck without thinking about it. I drank all of his blood making him pass out, I used that opportunity to stab him in the heart. I will not be telling the others I did that, because it's disgusting.
I jumped back onto my feet as soon as I could, I managed to see the strigoi run at me and without thinking twice I sidestepped him. He turned around and ran at me again, I threw my stake at him before he could knock me over, killing him instantly. I turned to see another seven strigoi closing in around me, circling me.
Oscar POV-
Creating fireballs are easy but creating one after another, again and again, is tiring. I have killed three strigoi now. Another one runs at me, I jump, extending my leg, kicking her in the face. I haven't been using my fire to kill just to distance so I can stake them. The strigoi stumbled back and I used that to my advantage to stake her in the heart.
I could see Amelia, she has four strigoi bodies around her, but she is pinned to the floor, a strigoi has their teeth in her neck. I threw a fireball at him. He screeched back in shock and luckily Amelia has enough awareness to stab him, then she got up. I turn back to my fight, punching, kicking, trying to stab them.
I can see Skylar, she has six strigoi bodies around her, however, she is surrounded by strigoi, getting closer to her, she is fighting hard, I can see the tiredness in her, the alcohol is still taking effect.
Declan is fighting well, he has five strigoi bodies around him, but he is losing, there is too many strigoi. At first, we thought there was only twenty, but there's a lot more than just twenty.
Before I got knocked over by three strigoi piling on top of me, I saw Amelia kill another strigoi but get knocked over, falling to the floor by another strigoi. I looked in time to see all seven of the strigoi jumping on top of Skylar, with her falling, hitting her head on the way down. Declan is fighting well but it won't take much for him to be down as well.
That's it, my family is going to be killed by strigoi. We have no chance, especially not now, Declan is the only one still fighting, the strigoi is going to kill us.
I could feel my blood boiling, my anger level going through the roof, just like my concern, I don't want to die, I especially don't want my family to die.
Then suddenly all of the strigoi fighting us, are on fire, all jumping off Skylar, Amelia and I. I could feel my eyes closing but before they do I stab the three that were on top of me in the heart killing them, I could also see Declan, Skylar and Amelia, stabbing their strigoi, just before I passed out.
When I wake up its daytime and I'm in bed in the hotel room. Skylar is with me.
"Good morning, how are you feeling?" She asked me.
"I am okay, what happened?"
"You set all of the strigoi on fire apart from the one who looked to be in charge, we managed to kill them all, apart from him, he ran off. There was thirty-five strigoi there. Unfortunately, we had to leave the bodies because we don't want to let anyone know where we are and you passed out. We moved them out of sight and as soon the sun came up, they have burnt to ash anyways, just leaving a pile of clothes and shoes. So we aren't worried about that, only about you. You passed out last night" it was only after that explanation, that I manage to see her clearly, I can see how badly injured she is, her nose is broken, her arm is broken, she has bruises everywhere, she doesn't look good but she is smiling at me, this is the first time I have seen her smile since the death of the human girl.
Amelia walked in then. She looks even worse than Skylar.
"Hey your up, brilliant," she said excitedly. I gave her a big smile in return.
"Declan isn't here, he went out for whatever reason" Amelia informs me. It took a few hours for Declan to come back. He went out to get us fake IDs, when we asked how he got them, he didn't answer. Two days later where we stayed in the hotel only leaving if necessary, so we can heal after the fight, we left Saint Petersburg to get a plane to France, on the plane to France Skylar slept, finally, I think Declan was about to knock her out if she wouldn't sleep.
I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. One more chapter and the escape is over, they will be settling down somewhere. I can't wait to move onto the next stage of the book. I still don't know what I am going to do exactly but I've got a few ideas, just need to figure out how to pull it all together. I will probably end up taking a short break, I doubt it will be longer than two weeks. I have a lot of different ideas going around in my head and I need a short break to figure out how to write them. Don't worry this story isn't over. I will finish it. Again I am sorry about the last chapter being late. Hope you enjoyed it, thank you for reading. Thank you for all the lovely reviews, I really appreciate them.