AN: Here is the revamp of chapter 5. I hope you enjoy. I added an extra part to this chapter making it a bit longer. I had to re-write it though as I had an epiphany after I wrote it the first time.

Disclaimer: I only own any original characters. Richelle Mead owns Vampire Academy.

BLACK INK

ACT I: In the Arms of the Devil

Chapter 5: Tell the Survivors

"Send us a blindfold.

Send us a blade.

Tell the survivors,

'Help is on the way'."

"Find us a trapdoor
Find us a plane
Tell the survivors
'Help is on the way'."

~ Metric - Blindness

"So, what's the plan?" an enthusiastic Jill Mastrano asked as she plopped down on the dusty old chair. She coughed loudly as dust filled the air assaulting her nose, which was swiftly followed by a loud sneeze from the young teen.

The 'Rescue Crew', as Adrian had dubbed them, had gathered amongst the dust, dirt, and clutter of the storage room located above the Academy's chapel. It was the only location that was both safe and isolated where they could be assured of privacy. There were very few people who knew the existence of this room and Lissa had decided to use that knowledge to their advantage. It was such a quiet and private space. The ideal secret meeting place for their now five man crew. Their secret base of operations. No one would disturb them here. With some, little needed, help from Jill, Christian had successfully managed to convince Eddie to join them in their campaign.

Eddie had been rather reluctant at first, but after some very persistent coaxing from the two Moroi, he caved and agreed to help them. He was very loyal and could not turn his back on a friend in need no matter the circumstances. However, at the same time, he felt as though he were betraying himself and his beliefs by playing his part within the group. 'They come first', and he had sworn to protect 'them' with his life. Rose was not one of them. She was a Dhampir, a Guardian like him. They had shared that belief and as a result, their lives were meant to be put on the line. Still, in good conscience, he could not leave a fellow Guardian to rot either. Their numbers were low, and they needed all the Guardians they could get, and Rose was bound to be one of the best.

He was stuck between a rock and a hard place and making a decision in favour of either side severed one of his limbs. There were bound to be consequences for their actions, whatever they may be. He just hoped that Lissa and Adrian knew what they were doing. He had a nagging feeling that this mission was going to be dangerous, and Eddie had learned long ago to trust his instincts.

With the members of their group decided, the five of them had agreed to meet in order to establish a plan of action. Their main goal and intentions were clear, but they had no idea how to achieve those ambitions and be successful. There were a lot of unknown factors and details that needed to be addressed and ironed out. It would be foolish for them to run into the situation without doing so. Especially since they were going in essentially blind. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into or what would be required to pull it off.

At Jill's question, Christian glanced towards Lissa expectantly. He gestured for her to take the floor and answer the younger Moroi. It was the same inquiry that had been on everyone's mind since coming into the fold. Naturally, since Lissa had done the majority of the recruiting, she was unofficially given the title of leader. A role that she did not want to play. However, she was the most practical and level-headed of their group. Lissa was a natural leader, but she had no idea what to do now.

"Don't look at me, this wasn't my idea," the blonde haired princess remarked shaking her head. Taking a page out of Christian's play book she gestured towards Adrian. This expedition was all his idea and with that she expected him to take responsibility and play the part that was being thrust upon her. He was the oldest of them anyways, it only seemed fitting for him to take lead on this. Besides, he had to have some kind of idea of how they were going to go about this.

Adrian sighed at this as he ran a hand through his naturally tousled hair mussing it up further. He always looked as though he had just rolled out of bed. With the gesture of Lissa's hand, all eyes were now on him. It made him suddenly anxious. He was not all that fond of this kind of attention. Feeling slightly uncomfortable under the scrutiny, he cleared his throat pushing his feelings aside.

"I know what we have to do," he began his eyes scanning over their meager, motley crew. They were not much, but each of them had varying sets of skills that could prove useful to their cause. A mission that all agreed to embark upon, to rescue Rose. Adrian shrugged his shoulders in his usual aloof fashion. "I just don't know when or how," he admitted shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket.

Christian rolled his eyes at this. "That's very helpful," was his sarcastic retort as he took a seat next to Jill. The dark haired Moroi crossed his arms over his chest leaning back against the chair. "I thought, since this was your idea, you'd have some kind of plan Ivashkov."

The spirit user shook his head again a small smirk forming on his lips. "Come now Sparky, I can't be the beauty and the brains of this operation," he joked which earned him an annoyed look from his friends. He chuckled lightly at this. "Relax, I don't have the brain for this kind of stuff," he added before anyone could comment. "I'm useless when it comes to planning and sensibility," he explained continuing onward choosing to sit down on a vacant loveseat. The piece of furniture was covered with a white sheet, but he paid it no mind. Choosing to get comfortable, he stretched out, resting his feet on the opposite arm of the antique.

Lissa shook her head clearly unamused by his complete dismissal of responsibility. Typical Adrian. "While you do have a point, this was your idea Adrian," she remarked playing with the frayed ends of one of the sheets draped over yet another piece of furniture stored up here.

"We need to plan this together," Jill spoke up sensing the hidden context of Adrian's words. While he had not said it clearly the youngest of their group knew what Adrian was implying and she agreed with his line of thinking. She gave a curt nod in the older man's direction indicating that he had prompted her suggestion.

Eddie tilted his head acknowledging the girl's words. "I agree," was his stiff response.

"So, Adrian," Christian began again directing his attention back to their 'leader'. "Since you seem to know what we need to do, where do you suggest we start?" he asked leaning forward in his seat. He was eager to get this meeting underway and over with, but Adrian seemed to be taking his sweet time getting to the point.

The man in question pulled himself up into a sitting position at this deciding that the situation required a more serious attitude from him for the time being. "First, we need to find a way to get all of you out of the Academy," he began reaching into the pocket of his jacket for his pack of cigarettes.

The small box was almost empty. He wanted one, and considering the discussion at hand, he did not hesitate to take one out and light it. Lissa and Jill both shot Adrian disapproving looks but said nothing in protest. He found it easy to ignore them. He knew that Lissa understood that his vices kept him sane and grounded preventing him from completely falling apart. The buzz from the nicotine helped relax him and keep his mind clear.

"I'm the only one here who can actually leave of their own free will. The rest of you are wards of the Academy until graduation," he paused inhaling his cigarette slowly savouring the flavor as well as the small peace the tobacco and clove mixture brought him. He flicked the ash off of the end not caring where it landed. "We'll need to find a way around that. Such a limitation will make things difficult."

"There is no way that the Guardians or Headmaster Lazar are going to let us outside the gates," Eddie spoke up, his expression grim. "Not after the attack," he added with a small shake of his head.

Adrian scoffed dismissing the Dhampir's statement with a wave of his hand. "Who said we needed 'permission'." His response was suggestive, and a mischievous grin spread across his features.

"What are you thinking?" Christian asked raising an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Think about it, we have two spirit users," he pointed out leaning forward in his seat and resting his elbows on his knees. His eyes shifted to Lissa. "Why not use our 'gifts' to our advantage."

"You want to compel them to let us leave," Lissa stated rather than asked knowing it was exactly what Adrian meant. It had not been the first thing to come to mind, but she had to admit that it was a good idea. Almost perfect actually. Using compulsion, although illegal, was the easiest way for them to clear that first hurdle and start their mission.

"It's the perfect plan. We sneak out and no one's the wiser," Adrian added again feeling quite pleased that he had come up with the idea and that no one had disagreed with him. "Well, until someone discovers that you all are missing," he added with a small shrug.

It was Christian who spoke next. "We need to leave in the daytime when mostly everyone is asleep," he remarked silently agreeing to the compulsion idea. As much as he hated to admit, it was their best shot. "We'll have little to worry about and the less likely we'll run into trouble," he said in addition to his earlier statement after he briefly considered the possibilities.

Eddie nodded his head in agreement, "Like when we took off at the ski lodge," he stated flatly. There was no doubt that he was rehashing the events that had taken place nearly three months ago. The reckless and impulsive decision that ultimately led to his best friend's death. A mistake none of them could rectify.

Christian sensed Eddie's train of thought and he recognized the similarities this situation held with Spokane. As a show of support, he patted the Dhampir's shoulder. "It won't be the same, no one is going to die this time," he assured him despite the fact that he could not make such promises. There was no certainty.

Adrian sighed shaking his head at the younger Moroi's attempt to pacify their friend. It was not right for him to make any guarantees. "We can't make those kind of promises," he remarked feeling the air around them fill with tension. The lighthearted conversation was over and the somber feeling left hanging in the air could be felt by all those present in the attic space. "I'm not going to sugar coat it, once we're outside the wards, the rules change, and death is a very real possibility. We'll have to work as a team and trust each other if we plan on surviving. There are no do overs. This is endgame shit."

Lissa placed a hand on Adrian's arm sensing the darkness stirring within him as the topic grew more serious. She looked up at him with concern. "We understand the risks Adrian," she assured him softly hoping that she could settle him down some and ease him away from the edge. Adrian simply shrugged her off and took another drag from his cigarette.

Eddie leaned forward placing his hands on the table in front of him. "Daylight escape," he began changing the subject back to their plan.

The Dhampir retreated into his thoughts for a moment turning over the Guardian's posts which were set up along the perimeter of the Academy. One of the perks of being a Senior Novice was that this knowledge was easily accessible to him. That information would prove valuable to them if they were to pull off this operation. He knew the patrol routes but unfortunately, he did not know the schedules. That was potentially problematic. They would be wisest to leave right before a switch in shifts during the day as those Guardians would be less alert, more relaxed. That was their best chance.

"There will be less Guardians around, but there will still be some." He scanned over the Moroi around him feeling their eyes on him listening intently. It was clear from their expressions that they had no understanding of Guardian routines or protocols. "We'll have to be quick and move with stealth."

"That's a given," Jill piped up pointing out the obviousness of Eddie's statement. Of course, they would need to be discreet and efficient. The less evidence they left behind, the better. That way once they were gone, it would be harder for others to follow them and foil their plan.

Eddie ignored her interruption and continued on with his spiel. Sometimes the obvious needed to be explained. "We can't give them any time or reason to notice us," he added stretching out and flexing his knuckles idly.

"I think we'll be able to manage that," Christian confirmed with a nod. His eyes shifted to glance at his ex-girlfriend, "Lissa should be our prime choice at compulsion. She's much better at it than anyone I've known," he remarked referring to the last time that he had attempted to compel a Guardian. It had been a resounding failure which had led to Rose knocking the man out instead. He had told her as much, but the Dhampir had refused to believe him.

Lissa nodded in acknowledgement, "It shouldn't be much of a problem for me," she chimed in feeling oddly useless during this process. She did not have much to add for she had never really been the one to concoct such schemes. This was usually Rose's department. She was the one who excelled in being devious. Lissa was the one who dealt with things politically and practically. Those differences were what made them so successful.

Adrian shifted tapping his cigarette again. The scent hung heavy in the air and Lissa wrinkled her nose in distaste at the odour. However, still, no one commented. Perhaps everyone could sense the instability taking hold within him. His sanity was wearing thin from his refusal to give up trying to connect with Rose. His indoor smoking was certainly a red flag. There was no telling how much of his abilities Adrian was using, and Lissa was sure it was affecting him a lot more than he was letting on. Worry churned inside of her for the older spirit user. He seemed so distant, lost in his own thoughts.

"So, our plan is to leave while everyone is sleeping, sneak up on the Guardians, and compel them into letting us leave and forget they ever saw us?" Adrian confirmed to solidify the first step in his mind. Saying it out loud, it almost sounded easy. In fact, maybe too easy.

"We'll only have one chance at this. If we blow it, if we get caught, it's over. They'll be watching us," Eddie stated with a warning.

"We can't screw this up," Jill chimed in standing up from her chair. She made her way over to the table where Eddie was sitting, looking between him and the two spirit users. "What about after that?" she probed tossing her hair over her shoulder growing tired of it being in her face. "Where do we start looking?"

Adrian and Lissa wasted no time in replying. "Russia," they both spoke at once.

At the sound of their combined voices, they turned towards one another exchanging a thoughtful look after addressing the rest of their group. This was what could make or break their plan. In order to save Rose, they had to travel across the world to do it. It was a lot to ask. To Lissa and Adrian, Rose was worth it, but could that be said for all of them.

"And how do you expect us to get to Russia?" Christian asked rising from his seat to join Eddie and Jill at the centre table.

He was merely voicing what was running through all of their minds. It was a question that needed an immediate answer. It was a big hurdle that if they could not overcome, the whole mission was over, and planning any further would be completely pointless.

"We don't have any resources," he stressed demanding a response.

Adrian waved his hand immediately dismissing the concern. The solution was something that had crossed his mind when he had first decided to embark on this endeavor. Trivial things such as financing were readily available to him. There was no need to stress about it.

"Don't worry about it," he assured them dropping his cigarette onto the floor. He squished it underneath his foot extinguishing the smoldering embers. "Money is not a problem, I'll take care of it," he added running a hand through his hair, ruffling it further.

Lissa blinked a few times floored by his sudden declaration. She had not expected him to be as forthcoming as he was regarding the matter. "Are you sure?" she probed feeling as though he should be more cautious with his funds, especially after sponsoring Rose's expedition as well.

Lissa had the entire Dragomir fortune at her disposal. Adrian did not have to shoulder the entirety of their financial needs. She could help and would happily contribute in any way that she could. The Princess was grateful, but at the same time, concerned for her friend.

Adrian nodded without hesitation. He was being one-hundred percent sincere. "Absolutely," he replied rubbing his palms together for lack of a better thing to do with them. "Don't you worry about a thing."

Lissa shrugged resigning herself to the fact that Adrian wanted to do this. She was not about to stop him. Truthfully, she was grateful and appreciated the generosity. It showed her just how determined he was to go through with their plan. That he was just as invested in their mission as she was. It was good to know that they were on the same page, like they had been when they had originally decided to embark on this quest.

"Well, if that's the case, I don't see a reason to dwell on it," she remarked seeing no point in discussing the matter further.

Adrian nodded agreeing with her sentiment. Money was not an issue and he refused to dwell on the matter any longer. "We need to do this asap," he stated wiping his hands off on his jeans as if they were dirty. As if the denim would cleanse them of any non-existent dirt and grime that may be present. "We have our game plan; I say we execute it the first chance we get."

Eddie shook his head. "We can't rush into this," he argued voicing his opinion. The Dhampir folded his hands on top of the table to keep them from tapping on the surface in anxiety. It was a distracting habit. "When you rush, you make mistakes," he explained turning his gaze towards Adrian.

Christian nodded and added to the Dhampir's words. "Mistakes that could jeopardize the whole mission."

Voicing it out loud added to the full truth of that statement. A few of them had acted rashly in the past and someone had died because of their careless and reckless behaviour. This was something that they all had to live with. Something that could not, and would not, happen again. His expression hardened as these thoughts flashed through his mind.

His lips pulled into a tight line, and Christian shook his head swiftly clearing the negative thoughts. "We're not taking any unnecessary risks," he stated firmly.

"We should wait and take some time to plan it out properly," Lissa interjected in an attempt to switch their focus onto the actual planning process and away from such a somber discussion. She could sense Adrian becoming more anxious and restless, which made her eager to get this meeting over and done with.

Jill nodded agreeing with the older girl. "Yeah, we need to establish roles, meeting places, and what to do if we get caught or separated," she spoke up idly tracing visible patterns in the dust covering the antique tabletop. Her eyes were cast downwards watching as her fingers moved along the flat surface.

Adrian sighed in annoyance. He was growing irritated by the discussion having very little patience lately. It had been a long week and he was simply tired of waiting around. He had barely slept in days, and he could sense the darkness brought on from his frequent use of spirit growing stronger within him. This only added to his irritability and the depressing thoughts that dominated his mind. It was like he was riding an emotional roller-coaster and he wanted off the ride. He absolutely hated it. He ran a hand through his hair feeling his mood plummeting farther and farther by the second.

Putting on his best face, he rose to his feet brushing the dust from his clothes. "Well, since I am completely useless, I'll head out and leave all the gritty details to you guys," he announced suddenly feeling the immediate need to get out of the room.

Jill rolled her eyes at this. "This was your idea," she complained annoyed that the spirit user was simply checking out before the meeting was over. In fact, it felt as though the meeting was just beginning. "You should at least help with something," she remarked.

"Yeah Ivashkov, offer something useful instead of just your Daddy's money," Christian added snidely crossing his arms over his chest.

It was no secret that the fire user was not all that fond of Adrian. He clearly was not afraid to let it show, and he was not about to let the other Moroi sneak off without contributing anything other than casual banter and tidbits of information. Since this was his idea, Christian expected more out of the older man.

Lissa was shocked by her ex-boyfriend's cold words and glared at him. "Christian!" she snapped in a chastising manner. Lissa could read Adrain quite well now and she could tell that he just needed some space.

Adrian's eyes flickered with both hurt and anger at Christian's snub. It was very frustrating because he was more than a human ATM machine. He sucked in a breath reaching up and scratching his hairline taking a moment to calm himself, so he did not lash out due to emotion. He needed to keep himself composed. In control. At least in front of the others. He could fall apart later when he was alone in his room. He then turned to the rest of the group who had fallen silent as they watched him awaiting his response.

He sighed. "Look, I haven't slept properly in days, and I would really appreciate it if you gave me a little credit in this," he retorted casting a cold look at Christian. "I have been doing more than you have and I personally don't think that I can be of any real use to you until I gather my wits some," the spirit user admitted finding himself reaching for his cigarettes again. However, he stopped himself, forcing his hands down to his sides and clenching and releasing his fists. It was not an aggressive gesture, more of a stress relieving technique. An alternative to digging out his cigarettes and lighting up another one. After a moment he sighed deeply. "I need a drink," he grumbled.

"I think we'll be fine without you. This is more my area of expertise anyway," Eddie stated with a shrug inserting himself in between the two men before the situation could escalate. It was obvious that Christian would not hesitate to start an argument with the other Moroi.

"He's right." Lissa agreed offering a small smile in Eddie's direction before turned her attention back to Adrian. "Take a load off and get some rest. I'll fill you in once you've gathered yourself some," she suggested her tone of voice soft and comforting. A gentle approach would help calm him and it would be more likely for him to take her advice.

Adrian nodded in agreement feeling the anxiety and other emotions stirring within him settle down and the darkness retreating. He felt relieved and appreciated the support of the two teens. "Thank you."

With the small disruption settled, Eddie began to go over the details of their plan looking at the situation from every angle he possibly could. He wanted nothing left to chance. Not after their last plan went off the rails so terribly. The less room left for error, the better off they would be. Quickly, Jill and Christian became too wrapped up in the new discussion to pay any attention to their departing 'leader'. Lissa's attention shifted to the conversation taking place across the table. She listened, watching Eddie mimic Jill's earlier movements, and drawing patterns in the dust covering the wooden surface to illustrate his points. Lissa offered her input here and there, but mostly just watched from the sidelines as Christian, Eddie, and Jill animatedly debated their plan of action. It was rather amusing to witness as all three were passionate about their ideas.

Lissa looked up when she felt someone touch her arm gently. Her eyes met Adrian's and she smiled warmly at him. She had not expected him to remain in the room this long. Truthfully, she had not noticed his presence and thought he had already left. She could have sworn she had heard the door to the attic space open and close again moments before. Still, he had her complete attention. His expression remained serious, and she was certain that there was something that was weighing heavily on his mind. Her suspicions were confirmed when he spoke.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked glancing at the other three chatting amicably amongst themselves. "Alone?" he requested gesturing to the door with a nod of his head.

It was clear that he needed to speak with her in private where no inquisitive ears could hear what was said. By the expression on his face, she could sense that it must be related to Rose and therefore demanded her attention. "Of course," Lissa replied rising from her seat.

Silently, she followed Adrian to the door. The other three members of their team were too caught up in their discussion to even notice the two spirit user's departure. Once in the hallway Lissa turned back to face her friend as he closed the door behind him separating them from the others.

"What is it, Adrian?" she asked him patiently as she folded her hands together, clasping them in front of her.

He decided not to beat around the bush. It was best to be blunt and straightforward about serious matters such as these. Adrian cleared his throat before speaking. "I managed to make contact with Rose the other night," he announced shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket.

Lissa's jade coloured eyes opened wide in surprise. Disbelief filled her features as his words sunk in. She blinked a few times before her mind became a buzz with a flurry of questions. He had contacted her the other night and he was only telling her now? After the frantic state Adrian had been in the last time he had seen Rose, the calm unease that settled around him gave her an idea that something had changed. Hope filled her, yet her heart began to pound in her chest at the possibilities that raced through her mind.

After a moment, Lissa regained her voice. "Really?" she began bouncing on her heels to release some of the anticipation she now felt. "Is she okay? Why did you wait so long to tell me?" she asked him in quick succession desperate for answers regarding her best friend's well being.

Adrian reached out gently gripping her shoulders to still her movement. "Whoa slow down Princess," he stated feeling slightly annoyed by her reaction. He had expected her to accept the news more calmly. "One question at a time. That's all my brain can handle," he remarked with no humour evident in his voice. This was serious and not a time to joke around.

Sensing his solemn mood, she followed his cues and ceased her movements prompting him to release her from his hold. A small silence settled over the two Moroi as his revelation rested between the two. He had managed to get a hold of Rose, and he had been withholding it. She did not have the patience to wait now that she knew. "Adrian..." she mildly whined encouraging him to expand upon his statement.

He could not help the small smirk that formed on his face at her impatience. "Okay, okay," he conceded the smirk falling from his face almost as quickly as it had appeared. "She was better in some ways, but worse in others," he stated vaguely feeling a knot forming in his stomach at the recollection of his discoveries in the Dreamworld.

An annoyed look took over Lissa's face at his vague response. That explanation was no where near enough to satisfy her. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Care to elaborate on that?" she pressed shifting her weight to one leg and jutting her hip out.

Adrian sighed swirling the words around in his head before speaking. He wanted to explain it in the most gentle way possible. There was nothing pleasant about the conversation he had with their Dhampir friend. While he did not want to upset the Princess, she needed to know the truth as unpleasant as that may be.

"She seemed more lucid and stable, but she was very adamant that she didn't want to see me," he stated running a hand through his hair. "Actually, she grew very aggressive about it," he paused watching her expression when he spoke again. "She completely flipped out when I mentioned you."

Lissa winced at this knowledge but chose not to dwell on it. Her feelings were not important right now, Rose was. "Anything else?" she asked knowing that there was more for him to tell.

He nodded once more to assure himself rather than as a reply to her inquiry. His one hand slid up to his neck idly rubbing it recalling the bandaged wounds that had resided on Rose's neck. "Her neck was heavily bandaged, like someone had tried to rip her throat out. She was very pale, but otherwise seemed alright physically." He dropped his hand down to his side after his admission.

Lissa remained silent digesting the information. It was not much to take in, but it was all very disturbing. Especially when none of it seemed like Rose at all. Whatever was going on, it was bad and would most likely get worse before they managed to find her. If they managed to find her. Russia was the largest country in the world, and she could be anywhere.

"Thank you for telling me," she finally said tucking her long blonde locks behind her ears. "I appreciate that you're willing to share all this with me." Her words and appreciation were genuine.

"We're in this together. I'm sorry it took a while, I just needed to get my head wrapped around it all," he admitted as she turned to head back into the room with the others.

He watched her with conflicting emotions. He was withholding information from her still and he could not help but feel guilty about it. If they were to be partners in this endeavor, he needed to be transparent with her. No more withholding things, especially important things.

As Lissa reached to open the door, he grabbed her wrist stopping her. "Before you go back in there, there is something you need to know," he began suddenly feeling nervous.

She turned back to him a small flicker of confusion mixed with intrigue shining in her eyes. "What is it?"

Adrian sighed again releasing her wrist from his grasp. "I haven't been completely honest with you," he began shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket once again. "The reason I couldn't reach Rose was because I was being blocked," he confessed casting his gaze to the floor feeling slightly ashamed for keeping that information to himself.

She blinked a few times in confusion as his words registered. It had not been some fault in his abilities that had prevented him from reaching Rose. He had been blocked. What that meant, she did not know, but it did not sit right with her. An uncomfortable feeling began to rise up in her stomach and that made her nervous. "How is that possible?" she probed after a momentary pause.

His head shook before he returned his gaze to her face, "Honestly Liss' I don't know. It's never happened to me before. All I know is that it's not Rose doing it." He hoped that she found the same severity in the situation as he did

A million thoughts raced through her mind all moving so quickly that she barely had time to process them. Why he had chosen this particular moment to bare his soul and free his conscience was beyond her. It was not the most appropriate time or place, but the implication in his tone was disconcerting.

"What are you saying?" she asked after a mere moment of contemplation.

Adrian paused for a moment, hesitating. His reluctance was spurred on due to the shocking nature of his discovery. He wanted her to know the truth, but he did not know how she would react. He himself could not fully comprehend it or how it was even possible. Still, he swallowed his apprehension and proceeded.

"It's not a Spirit user," he began slowly trying to soften the blow by easing her into it.

As much of a shock as his discovery had been for him, it would pale in comparison to hers. Dimitri had been her Guardian afterall. Knowing Lissa there had to be some level of respect or friendship between them. She must have cared about him in some way. He took a deep breath gathering his wits as Lissa waited, somewhat impatiently, for him to continue.

"It's Belikov. He's been turned Strigoi," he stated bluntly unable to find a way to break it to her gently. Blurting it out just seemed to be the appropriate and necessary way to convey his message.

Lissa sucked in a breath and her gaze fell to the floor. Whether it was from shock or from some other emotion, he could not tell. She nibbled on her bottom lip for a moment before letting out a quiet and defeated sigh. "I know," she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. If it were not for the silence in the empty hallway, he never would have heard her.

It took a moment for her words to fully register with him. Adrian blinked a couple of times as they slithered into his brain taking root and cementing the phrase. A spark ignited inside him at her revelation and his incredulous stare locked onto the young Princess. "You knew?" he probed an accusatory tone in his voice.

She winced at his implication, and she could not help but feel the guilt begin to gnaw at her stomach. However, he had also withheld information from her. It was like the pot calling the kettle black, so he had no right to act offended or upset about her silence. Even still, she did not feel the need to dwell on that and call him out on those grounds. It served little purpose and helped no one.

She gave a small curt nod in confirmation. "I had my suspicions," she admitted shrugging her shoulders.

If she were to follow his example of being honest then he would need to know the entire truth. Keeping secrets and hoarding information did neither party any good. It would only cause further problems and encourage animosity between them. Lissa swallowed the lump that had grown in her throat and pushed these thoughts away determined to no longer keep him in the dark. They were equals and it was time that she begin to live up to that. No matter how much pain the facts would cause him. Despite what everyone else might think, Adrian was not fragile and did not need to be treated as such. He had to know the truth. Rose had used his attraction towards her for her own benefit. She had used him to get what she wanted.

"Rose wanted to kill Dimitri," she began folding her hands neatly in front of her finding them eager to tug at her hair. An annoying nervous habit she had. It kept her hands occupied. His expression remained almost unreadable. Almost. His silence spurred her on. "That's why she left," she continued, fidgeting. "It's kind of fitting that he be the one with her."

A wounded and angry look formed on his features at her words. Adrian had his suspicions regarding Rose's motives, but to have them confirmed made him feel angry and manipulated. Lissa had known the truth from the beginning, and she had neglected to tell him even after he revealed that he had secretly funded Rose's journey personally. The knowledge that she used him only added to the sting of pain gripping his heart.

"And you kept that from me?" he asked her once he regained his senses. His eyes narrowed as he watched her intently making her squirm under his scrutiny.

She winced again at the heavy notes of betrayal evident in his voice. He was angry, and she could not blame him for it. She had not been a very good friend to him, or even to Rose as of late. She had been far worse to Rose, her so called best friend. It only made the guilt she felt regarding both of them intensify. Her eyes remained on the ground too disappointed in herself to meet his eyes.

"I didn't know how to tell you," she began slowly once she had found her voice. No explanation that she could provide would ease his feelings. She shook her head forcing herself to meet his eyes so that he could see the sincerity present on her face. "I didn't want to hurt you, I didn't expect anything like this to happen," she admitted sadly.

Adrian stared at her for a moment before deeply sighing in disappointment. He could not blame Lissa for the actions of another, especially when that person was Rose. It was not fair. She was just trying to be a good friend to both of them, although, she was not great at it. Still, she could not be held accountable for the actions of another person. "Of course you didn't, I should have known," he mumbled shaking his head.

With that said, he dismissed the revelation deciding to let it slide and force it out of the way. He did not need to have that information distracting him from what he truly wanted to discuss. What he had to say was far more important than his emotions, so he put them on the back burner. He cleared his throat in an effort to break the slightly uncomfortable tension he had created between them.

"He's keeping her captive," he continued on returning his focus onto the issues at hand. "He has been feeding on her and warping her mind. There is no telling what damage he has done to her. We need to get to her and fast." Silently, he cursed himself for ambushing her like this. He should have told her much sooner in a situation which she had been better prepared for the harsh reality of it. This was serious. "You need to convince them of that. We both know they won't listen to me like they would listen to you." he added referring to their rag-tag group of friends currently sequestered inside the attic room.

Lissa bit her bottom lip absorbing his words. This development was very concerning. Disturbing even. Adrian was right. They needed to act quickly to accomplish what they could. If what he said was true, which she did not doubt, the situation was more dire than they had originally realized. This was life or death. There was no telling the damage Dimitri could do to Rose in even a short amount of time and he had been keeping her for who knows how long.

She nodded in confirmation. "I'll do what I can to speed the process along. I'm not giving you any guarantees, but I'll do my best," she agreed straightening her posture and offering a supportive smile.

Adrian felt relieved to hear her side with him. Not that he expected anything different from Lissa, as she was a sensible person, but it was a relief none the less. It was nice to have someone take him at his word, and seriously, unlike his parents. Neither of them expected much out of him. "Thanks Liss, you're the only one who really understands," he remarked placing a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently.

"Hey, she's important to me too," she replied giving him a playful shove backwards, which caused his hand to slip from her shoulder. "You just have to be a tad more patient," she added pointedly.

He shrugged a cheeky grin forming on his features, "I'll do my best," he replied mimicking her earlier statement in a teasing fashion.

Lissa rolled her eyes letting his teasing roll off of her. She found it strange how his moods could shift so suddenly. Perhaps it had something to do with the side effects of his use of spirit. There were times she could sense the darkness and negative emotions within him, but maybe there were other draw backs as well. It would not surprise her as there was so much about the forgotten element that was unknown. She wished that there was more knowledge available on their powers to give them some sort of guidance or someone they could look to for help. It was just the two of them left to figure it all out.

"I think we should continue working on our powers," Lissa stated as her thoughts shifted towards the topic.

Adrian's expression was one of surprise for a brief moment before it shifted into one of a more serious nature. "I don't think that's such a good idea," he disagreed.

She shook her head disagreeing. "I want to dream walk," she rebutted crossing her arms over her chest remaining firm on her stance regarding the subject. She wanted to see Rose for herself and the only way she could think of to do that was to dream walk her.

He simply stared at her in silence for a moment. Her stubborn response did not crumble his resolve. "I don't think so," was his firm response.

He did not like the idea for many reasons. One of which being the backlash that came from using their powers too much. With their mission looming ahead in the very near future, they could not afford any distractions or added complications. Their powers could easily become quite a complication if they were not careful. The two of them constantly danced on the fine line between sanity and insanity and it would not take all that much for either of them to tip the scale. It was a risk that he did not want to take. If he could avoid it altogether, that would be ideal. However, he knew that was not an option, but merely his wishful thinking.

Lissa glared at the older Moroi. His seemed dead-set against the idea and she did not understand why. He had always been eager to work on spirit with her before and it irritated her that he was being so negative regarding their abilities now. They needed them to help them find Rose.

"Why not?" she questioned him. When he did not immediately respond, she launched into the reasons why she thought it would be in their best interests to keep practicing. They just popped into her head, and she found her mouth moving before she could fully process what she was saying. "Maybe I could connect with Rose instead of relying on you to do it for me. I could possibly get through to her," she reasoned speaking quickly unable to disguise the eagerness and hint of desperation in her voice.

He raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth to dispute her hypothesis, but she cut him off before he could utter a word. "Whatever block Dimitri has, seems to be focused on you. I don't think he knows that I may be able to learn how to do it." Her little speech was passionate and full of determination despite being a small dose of word vomit.

He sighed again in defeat finding no room to argue the matter. She did not understand how twisted and corrupt this situation was or how terrifying it could be. The danger they would need to put themselves and their friends in. Wherever Rose was, it was going to be hard to get her out, especially with just the five of them. Still, he had to try to get her to understand, for her sake.

He placed a hand on her shoulder again taking a step closer to her. "Trust me on this Lissa, you don't want to see that," he insisted. She did not need to see Rose, not like that. Confused, high on endorphins, and covered in bite marks. Bite marks caused by her former Guardian. Someone Lissa knew and had respected.

Annoyed, Lissa shook him off stepping away from him. She had felt the gentle tug of spirit magic, and it bothered her that he was attempting to compel her to change her mind. However, she chose not to call him out on it. Part of her understood the gesture and she knew that he meant her no harm. In a way, she supposed that he was trying to protect her, and she could not fault him for that, but it also made her angry. She did not like being manipulated and that made her act out.

"Yes, I do," she persisted stamping her foot like a spoiled child. She hated that she was border-lining on a tantrum, but Adrian did not understand. Rose was the most important person in her life. She was the only family Lissa had left and if she lost her, she did not know what would happen or what she would do. The rebellious brunette was her other half. Her lifeline. "Rose and I are bonded. If anyone can get through to her, it will be me," she argued gesturing to herself. "We need to explore every possible angle," she continued on refusing to give Adrian any time to respond.

He needed to hear her side of the situation whether he liked it or not. To her, this was not up for debate. This is what was necessary for them to complete their mission and she would proceed with or without his help. Her magical capabilities were hers to cultivate and exploit. He had no say. If he would not help her, she would just do it herself.

"Any chance to get a leg up on our enemy is a good thing." She did not understand how he could not see it. What they had to gain from continuing to practice and grow their abilities was far greater than that which they would lose.

Adrian rolled his eyes at her ability to get under his skin and have her point hit home. It was clear that she was obstinate in her position. Combining their abilities although dangerous, may prove useful and he could tell that she was not going to back down until he agreed. He pinched the bridge of his nose fighting off the headache that was rapidly forming behind his tired eyes.

"Fine," he conceded reluctantly. "We'll work everyday, after classes, but on one stipulation," he argued holding up his pointer finger determined to strike up some kind of deal with the fair haired Princess.

"What?" Lissa asked eagerly, willing to do whatever it took if it meant she would be able to help her lost friend.

He gestured between them as he spoke. "Keep this Belikov situation between us," he stated firmly. "I don't want the others knowing until it's absolutely necessary." He did not leave the subject up for debate, nor was he willing to compromise on the subject. No one else needed to know that information, at least not yet.

His statement confused her. "Why? Do you think that it will change their minds?" she asked phishing for the reason he wanted to withhold very pertinent information from their teammates. He had been more than willing to disclose that knowledge to her and it puzzled her that he was reluctant to share beyond that. It was odd.

"No, the opposite really. I think that someone will try and play the hero and get themselves killed in the process," he revealed running his tongue along his dry lips to prevent them from cracking due to their lack of moisture. "If we refrain from disclosing that information until the last moment, no one will have time to come up with some kind of crazy half-cocked plan."

Lissa thought for a moment uneasy about the whole idea. She did not like the idea of deceiving her friends and leaving them completely out of the loop. Without the proper foresight, they might miss something or underestimate their situation as they continued forward. Perhaps even what they were up against. She was not fond of that idea for it left too much room for error.

"I see your point, but I don't think anyone in this group is that reckless," she replied with honesty. Since the incident in Spokane, she was sure that both Eddie and Christian would be more cautious moving forward than any of them. They were the only members of their team who had been in this kind of situation before, and that excursion had ended with a casualty. Both boys were determined for this to be a successful endeavor.

Adrian shook his head neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her statement. "I don't want to take that chance. It's dangerous enough without someone going off on their own agenda," he countered crossing his arms over his chest refusing to change his mind.

Lissa sighed in defeat. His point was valid, and she did see the potential for something like that to happen. As much as she would like to think that her friends were smarter than that, it was a possibility they could not ignore. Once again, Adrian was right. "Christian already knows my suspicions, but I'll keep the details to myself until the time comes," she agreed although she did not like it, not one bit. However, for now, she could accept that it was what was best for the group.

A tight-lipped smile formed on his face, and he gave a curt nod in response to her words. "Thanks, I appreciate it."

She returned his smile, "You're welcome."

Adrian ran his hands through his hair again before stretching his arms up over his head and yawning. "I really need that drink now," he remarked allowing his arms to fall down to his sides. "I'm not drunk enough for any of this," he added with a small chuckle as he shook his head. He winced at the sharp pain the gesture caused, but he did not cease the movement or let that pain show. "I'll see you later." With that said, he turned to head down the hall, away from her.

Lissa turned reaching out and gently touching his arm. He stopped and met her gaze. "Don't drink too much," she warned him sounding, to herself, much like a nagging mother or girlfriend. However, if anyone needed that little bit of a warning, it was Adrian. He had a tendency to overdo it without meaning to. He looked at her with bewilderment but gave her a chance to explain herself asking only with his eyes. "I'll need your help when the time comes. The more people I try to compel at once, the harder it is to maintain," she explained releasing his arm and taking a step back. "I can only focus on one person at a time, splitting my focus means that there will be a period of time where another Guardian can either stop me, or alert the others. It would be nice to have backup of equal skill."

He nodded and shot her a reassuring smile. It was completely genuine. "Don't worry Princess, I'll be there when you need me. You can count on it," he stated with a friendly wink before continuing on his journey back to his room where he could numb himself to sleep. Alcohol was one of his best friends at the moment.

"It's nice to know someone has my back. Take care Adrian," she called after him. He turned and gave a small wave in her direction before he disappeared out of sight down the corridor.

The sun was about to set. Although he could not see the shifting sky, he could sense it fading beyond the walls of the compound. Dimitri had close to an hour before he could venture out into the night. He needed to feed. The hunger was gnawing at him despite his earlier taste of Rose's blood. It was not enough to fully satisfy him. His eyes moved from the wall to the slumbering brunette laying on the bed. He had come to check on her only to find Rose sound asleep. The covers were pulled up to her chest which rose and fell steadily in her slumber. She looked peaceful. Innocent.

After a few moments of silent observation, satisfied that she was asleep, Dimitri turned and left the bedroom. He was careful to shut the door quietly behind him. He did not want to disturb the Dhampir girl as she needed to rest. Her body was weak, and she needed time to recover, much to his annoyance. He had to remind himself to be patient. As much as he wanted her, especially her blood, he did not want to kill her. That was never his intention. He crossed the apartment to the wooden door which led into his office. He glanced at the closed bedroom door one last time before crossing the threshold.

He locked the door behind him as he pulled it shut. The door was made of thick hardwood. It was solid and heavy with a three bolt titanium lock. It was possible for a Strigoi to break it down, but it would not be easy. The lock was more to keep Rose in than to keep others out. When he was away, access to his office was not permitted. He did not need her exploring again, especially during his absence. She could escape, or worse, one of his underlings could get a hold of her. While they all knew that she belonged to him, he would not put it past any one of them to try something. He could not trust them. Not a single one.

"Having fun with your little pet?"

Dimitri turned to the voice that had interrupted his thoughts. Seated on the chair in front of his desk was Layla. Her appearance was no longer disheveled having had time to clean up since their last meeting. Her thick dirty blonde hair was pulled up into a knot at the base of her neck and the dirt and blood had been washed from her face. Her tattered clothes had been replaced with fresh ones. A simple jeans and t-shirt. She sat with her hands resting in her lap with her legs crossed.

He did not speak for a moment as he regarded her presence. "What do you want?" he asked her not bothering to answer her question. He refused to feed into her attempt at riling him up. Besides, he did not have to answer to her. In fact, he answered to no one.

"I was waiting for you," she explained with a shrug as if the answer had been obvious. "You said I had a new assignment, but I see that you're busy…." she trailed off rising to her feet.

"Shut up," he snapped no longer interested in what the woman had to say. He knew where the conversation was going, and he would not entertain it. "I thought I said that I would send for you," he remarked taking a seat at his desk across from her.

The blonde shrugged again. "I was bored," she offered up as an explanation. She sat back down in her seat and after a small pause she added, "Unlike you." Her statement was suggestive and was followed immediately by a wink.

He narrowed his gaze, glaring at her, but he continued on ignoring her commentary. "I do have a job for you. One that does not require you to leave the compound."

Intrigued, she pressed for more. "Do tell."

"I want you to look after our guest on the first floor," he explained leaning back in his seat. "She bothers the others."

Layla groaned inwardly. "Because she's fucking annoying," she fired back crossing her arms over her chest. As much as she wanted a task that kept her out of the field for a while, babysitting a babbling idiot was not what she had in mind. "All she does is talk to herself and hardly any of it makes any damn sense. The bitch is harmless."

Dimitri was unimpressed by her foul language. It was not necessary. Maintaining his stern countenance, he was completely unmoved by her argument. "We all have taken our turn, now it falls to you." His statement was true.

The girl in question did not belong to him, but he was under no obligation to keep her. He had not been the one to capture her, and she had been here for quite some time before he had arrived. When Nathan had brought him to Galina, his first assignment had been to watch over the girl. A Moroi. As irritating as she could be at times, the job itself was not that bad. While far from a model prisoner, she was quite amusing and pleasant to be around most of the time. Irritatingly so. Galina had kept the girl under lock and key for reasons unknown to him. His former mentor had said once that there was something special about her, but she had never elaborated on that and, truthfully, he had not cared enough to ask. Now that he was in charge and had access to all of the reports, he knew exactly what was so special about her. While the importance of this knowledge was not lost on him, the girl was nothing to him. No one. Dimitri had chosen to keep her around solely for her usefulness.

"Why do you need someone to watch her anyways?" Layla asked resisting the urge to look at the locked door behind him, however, she was unsuccessful. She would much rather be watching the Dhampir girl hidden behind it. She was bound to be far more interesting than the crazy blonde girl locked downstairs.

"Because I said so," he replied flatly maintaining his glare as he noticed where the other Strigoi's gaze had wandered to. "I have heard nothing but complaints from Eric about her, and I am sick of hearing him whine." He rolled his shoulders to release some tension. "She seems to tolerate your presence better than the others," he explained matter-of-factly. "Also, I feel that I can trust you not to kill her."

"Why don't you just make life easier for everyone and just put her in with the other one?" the female grumbled pointing to the door behind him and leaning back against the chair.

His jaw clenched in irritation. She did not fully understand the situation as he did. Layla had been human and completely oblivious to the co-dependent and symbiotic relationship between the Dhampir and the Moroi and he could not be bothered to explain it to her. He had neither the time nor the patience.

"I can't do that," he said dismissively.

Her eyes rolled as she scoffed at his response to her suggestion. "Why the fuck not?" she hissed in complaint sitting up and straightening her posture.

Dimitri pinched the bridge of his nose pushing his frustration down. He was not in the mood for a fight tonight. He had been in good spirits earlier and he did not wish to spoil that further. "If given the opportunity she will try to escape," he explained referring to the girl downstairs. "The Little Bird is a flight risk. I can't allow her to corrupt Roza." He recalled the Dhampir's last escape attempt and how she had pushed that makeshift stake into his chest. His expression darkened, determination setting in his features. "She tried to escape once, and I will not allow that to happen a second time."

Layla chuckled at his choice of phrase. "Corrupt?" she mused that smug smirk forming on her face. "That is an interesting word choice coming from you Boss Man." Her tone was playful yet also condescending. It was clear she was taunting him again, trying to piss him off.

Knowing what she was trying to do, he shot her a look but chose not to respond to her comment. "She will undermine all the work that I've done," he began churning over the possibilities in his mind. "You have to remember that Rose is a Guardian. They come first. That mantra has been drilled into her head since she was four years old."

While he used to believe that notion as well, now that he was free, he could see how ridiculous that saying was. How twisted their world was. The Dhampir were expected to put their lives on the line with no regard to their own well being all for the sake of people who really did not care about them. All the Dhampirs were to the Moroi were shields to stand between them and the Strigoi. Dhampirs were expendable. Second class citizens. Slaves. Still, that belief was ingrained deep within Rose, so much so that it had become second nature. He knew that from personal experience because he had been the exact same way. He had been a protector just like she was. It was pathetic really.

"No amount of compulsion I put into her will get rid of that protective instinct inside of her," he added confident in his assessment.

Dimitri's eyes narrowed as his mind wandered elaborating on the point he had just made. If he put the two girls together, in the same space, it would only be asking for trouble. Rose was a Dhampir, one who was rapidly forming an addiction to endorphins. While his were more potent, a Moroi like the Little Bird, as he often called the girl, would be just as suitable to Rose. The difference would not matter to Rose. If she fed from Rose, the Moroi would grow stronger. Strong enough to possibly unravel the web he had made in Rose's mind to control her. She may be partially, or completely, unhinged, but there was an intelligence in the blonde girl's eyes that he knew he could not underestimate.

He shook his head clearing these thoughts away. "Putting them together is a complication that I don't need," he concluded firmly finished with this discussion.

Layla's wandering eyes returned to her 'leader', meeting his gaze. "Why do you keep her here then? It's not like you spend any time with her like you do your Dhampir pet in there," she fired back pointing to the door again. "I'm sure she would be more fun too."

This woman did not give up. He did not appreciate her insinuations and Dimitri rose to his feet and slammed his fist down on the desktop. The aggressive action, surprisingly, made Layla jump. "Stop calling her that," he seethed not bothering to mask his annoyance. Her attitude towards Rose was pissing him off but his outburst had forced her silence. He composed himself before he sat back down. "I keep the girl because she is useful," was the answer he offered to her.

Layla snorted. "Wouldn't she be more 'useful' if she were one of us?" she pressed on raising an eyebrow as if to challenge him. However, she knew better than to do that.

"I didn't ask for your opinion," he replied coldly. He did not want to explain to her how that was not possible. She did not need to know that information as it would lead to even more pointless questions that he did not want to answer. Truthfully, some of those questions he did not have an answer for. "I don't have to answer your questions either."

"I just think you like keeping pretty girls captive to feed on," she mused still trying to goad him.

He growled his red-rimmed eyes flashing with anger. Still, he kept it at bay. "Be thankful that I am giving you an assignment at all," he snarled through clenched teeth. "If I didn't pity you, I wouldn't be so lenient with your failures."

Instantly her expression fell. If her face could grow paler it would have at his words. "Failures?" She spoke slowly wincing at the word as she latched onto it.

"I have read the reports," he announced flatly. "You let Ethan get destroyed, didn't you?" he fired back raising an eyebrow at her. It was a statement, not a question. "You didn't think I would figure it out."

She had acted bothered by Ethan's death earlier when she recounted the story in Morgan's presence, but the reports of the events had proven otherwise. She had been the one detected and she had run away while Ethan had been left to fight, and he had lost. While Ethan's demise was an issue, this proved one thing to him. Layla was a coward. A weak link in his forces that made him look weak by association. Dimitri could not have that. His hold on the seat of power was precarious at best and he did not need a reason for that to be compromised.

When she did not respond he continued. "Consider this your punishment. Others have been killed for far less," he scolded her much like one would a child.

Tight-lipped, Layla nodded in understanding hearing the threat hidden underneath his words. "I understand," she replied quietly, her eyes falling to the floor.

He nodded pleased by her response. "Good. Now, leave before I change my mind and decide on a different and more unpleasant punishment," he dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

She lifted her gaze and glared at him before rising to her feet. "Yes sir," she spat turning away from him, storming out of the office, and slamming the door shut behind her.

Dimitri growled in annoyance but chose not to give her the reaction she was seeking. Layla always liked to push his buttons. Adam did as well, but she was better at it. However, she was more talk than action. Layla could run her mouth but rarely had the guts to back up what she said. It was quite aggravating at times, especially when she questioned his authority over her. Still, when pressed, she would fall in line and do as she was told. She would watch over the crazed Moroi girl that Galina had locked in the small room on the first floor as he had ordered her to. If she did not, she knew the consequences for her disobedience. Death.

Although the Moroi girl was special, he did not know her importance. It would solve a lot of problems for him if he just killed her. However, something told him to keep her around. It was a feeling that he could not shake. A nagging voice in the back of his mind that he was unable to block out. He had to trust his instincts. He sighed leaning back against the chair. Sometimes he wondered if all these problems were worth it. Was being the one in charge really worth all of the hassle?

As quickly as that thought came, he pushed it away. If him being in charge meant that he could keep Rose the way she was for a little while longer, it was definitely worth it. Despite the issues her presence had been causing, he was thoroughly enjoying himself. It was fun to toy with her. To control her and reap the benefits of the power he had over her. He could do whatever he wanted without having to hold back the part of him that desperately wanted her as he had to before, when he had been a Dhampir. Controlling her was something he would not be able to do once she was awakened. Without the use of compulsion or the endorphins, it would be harder for him to influence her and if she resisted him, she could very well destroy him. She would be more than capable enough to do so.

Dimitri chose not to dwell on that thought. For the moment, Rose belonged to him, and he would do with her as he pleased. He would not deny himself the indulgence. Afterall, who was going to stop him. Certainly not Rose for she enjoyed their current arrangement equally as much as he did, albeit for much different reasons. He could not deny that being here together was their own little slice of paradise. A paradise whose skies were the colour of hell flames, but a paradise still.