AN: Finally, here is the long awaited chapter 8! It only took us 7ish years to get here, but it's here. I have said this before, but I thought I had posted this chapter years ago. I was surprised to find it unfinished. I had 95% of it written, just in different places. I've assembled the pieces and finished what I started. Thank you to everyone who has read or reviewed this story. I appreciate all of you guys. I plan on having chapter 9 up within the next week then, hopefully, update once every couple weeks. We'll see how things go. Enjoy chapter 8 of Black Ink.

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

BLACK INK

ACT I: In the Arms of the Devil

Chapter 8: I'm Coming to Find You

"I believe in you and me.

I'm coming to find you,

If it takes me all night.

Wrong until, you make it right,

And I won't forget you,

At least I'll try,

And run, and run, tonight."

~ The Killers – Everything Will Be Alright

Adrian could not help the sigh that escaped him as yet another Dhampir girl turned away from him. They were few and far between, and in no way cooperative. The Moroi in the area were no better. Their presence was scarce, and he was mostly surrounded by humans. It was their group's third night scoping out 'the Nightingale', and they had found nothing. Neither the patrons nor the staff seemed remotely inclined to help them. If anyone had any information on Rose, they were not sharing it. This was the most frustrating part of their reconnaissance thus far. Adrian had no difficulties in catching the attention of the Dhampir girls, but once they realized that he was not there for a good time, they would move on in search of some other Moroi willing to give them what they wanted. Christian was met with similar difficulties. The people, who were part of their world, came here wanting one thing and one thing only. To bite or be fed from. Anything else was strictly not within the realm of possibility, or was within their interest.

Dejected, and feeling both frustrated and hopeless, he wandered back to the booth where Lissa and Alberta sat watching the crowd around them. The two women did not seem to belong or blend in with the club's atmosphere. Eddie had volunteered to remain at the hotel in order to keep Jill company. The younger teen had been disappointed to be left behind but understood why. No one wanted to expose her to the seedy underbelly of their world. It was hard enough for Lissa, but Jill was simply too young.

Adrian plopped down in the booth next to Lissa with a deep sigh. She turned her head to glance in his direction. "I take it that it didn't go so well," she remarked while slowly and rhythmically tapping her slender fingers against the wooden tabletop. Her posture was tense, and her expression was a mixture of disgust, anger, and despair. A dark cloud hovered above her spurred on by their surroundings and complete lack of progress.

Adrian nodded confirming her suspicions. "Needless to say, we're shit out of luck," he replied sullenly, sinking into his seat.

He did not want to accept defeat, but he could not continue when it was obvious that they had reached a dead end. Although, he could not help but feel like giving up, they had come too far to simply pull out after encountering their first roadblock. They were too close to a break of some kind. He could feel it. If they just pushed a little harder, something would give. Something had to.

Lissa sighed in frustration running her fingers through her straightened hair. "It seems that way," she agreed folding her arms on top of the table in front of her. "I thought someone would know something," she grumbled miserably.

"Well, if they do, they're not going to be telling us," Adrian added reaching across the table for a glass of water. One of four untouched glasses which they had ordered upon their arrival. He took a sip, swishing the liquid around within the confines of his glass afterwards. "God I could really use a drink," he remarked putting the glass down. He paused for a moment considering his own words. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea," he continued on responding to his own statement. "Since we're failing hard, maybe I can salvage some of the night and indulge a little."

"I would advise against that," Alberta piped up shooting him a disapproving glance. It seemed as though the spirit user was already losing sight of their objective. The night was still young and, therefore, there was still potential for progress. "We're here to find a lead, not for fun," she scolded him effectively playing the role of the 'mother hen'.

Adrian scoffed unaffected by her words. "One drink won't hurt," he countered staring longingly at the bar. It had been a while since he had partaken in the pleasures of a good, stiff drink. "It wouldn't hurt for us to have a little bit of fun to take the edge off," he added with a wink. "Loosen up."

"Maybe Adrian has a point," the unexpected voice of Christian admitted as he joined their group at the table. By his expression alone it was clear that his search had come up empty as well. At least the club's patrons were consistent. "A little fun may be a good thing right now," Christian stated siding with the older male for once.

Adrian slammed his palm flat against the tabletop in excitement as he pointed towards the dark haired teen. His usual charming smirk splayed across his lips. "You, Sparky, have just become my new best friend," he stated as he rose from his seat. He adjusted his jacket before patting the younger man on the shoulder. "I'll be right back," he announced joyously before turning and heading off in the direction of the bar.

Lissa rolled her eyes, annoyed by his behaviour. She was in a dark mood which was brought on by their current situation. There was a part deep inside of her that knew that her negativity and sour mood were due to a much more pressing matter. Something she refused to acknowledge. The spirit darkness. Rose was no longer siphoning it away from her, which also led her to believe that her shadow-kissed bond-mate was no longer occasionally slipping into her mind either. Whatever block Dimitri was using to block Adrian, it seemed completely plausible that it could be affecting their bond as well.

Lissa could still vaguely sense their invisible tether, but it was different somehow. These thoughts unnerved her, but she chose not to mention them. The others would not understand. Not even Adrian. She was the only one with a bond mate. For this reason, she kept that particular information to herself. She was on her own. She folded and unfolded her hands in front of her as she stared at the centre of the table lost in her own thoughts.

Christian slid into the seat next to her that Adrian had just vacated. His expression was grim. "This is pointless," he stated glumly. This snapped Lissa out of her daze, and she turned to look at her ex-boyfriend. Christian continued on, not really caring if his companions were paying attention to him. "We're going no where and fast," he admitted dejectedly. He sighed, shaking his head. "As much as I hate to say it, this is a dead end."

Lissa shook her head vehemently. "No," she replied unable to except his statement, no matter how true his words may be. "I refuse to believe that no one knows anything or is willing to help us," she argued glaring at the man beside her. As she said this, Adrian returned with four shot glasses, and an unopened bottle of whiskey. It was clearly and expensive one.

"Sometimes you just have to admit defeat Princess," Adrian remarked placing the bottle on the table before placing a glass in front of each of his companions. "We're doing all we can, but this isn't the right place," he mused as he filled each glass with practiced ease. When finished, he took the empty seat next to Alberta before taking his shot. "We'll have to find another lead."

Lissa wrinkled her nose at the glass and pushed it away. She did not want or need it. Alcohol would not solve anything or ease the pain she felt from Rose's absence. "This is our only lead," was her sharp and hurt retort. She did not want to give up, in fact, she refused to do so. "We're not leaving until we find something."

"You're not going to get any answers from them," a female voice interrupted, effectively ending their conversation. "The Moroi and Dhampir that come here are not forthcoming."

All four sets of eyes were drawn to the lone figure seated in the booth next to theirs. A young human woman who could not be much older than Lissa. Her hair was long and cut into layers falling straight down passed her shoulders. It was a golden blonde colour. Her eyes were a warm brown, but her scrutinizing stare was blank and void of any emotion. Her most prominent feature was the golden tattoo that decorated her left cheek. It was stenciled elegantly in the shape of a lily that seemed to glow underneath the dim lights of the club.

Despite their surroundings, the woman was dressed in a very conservative fashion. She wore khakis and a cream coloured blouse. In an effort to keep warm, the young woman also wore a cardigan. It was a dark brown colour which went along with the neutral colours of her outfit. It was how someone would dress in a professional setting, not in a night club. Especially one as posh as 'the Nightingale' was. Resting on the table in front of her was a half-empty cup of coffee.

Adrian eyed the blonde girl curiously. "Why do you say that, exactly?" he asked trying to keep a neutral expression.

It was extremely rare for a human to be knowingly hanging around in a club with Moroi and Dhampir patrons. She was not the only human present, but she was a human who, somehow, knew of their existence. He took another shot of the whiskey letting the liquid soothe him.

The girl shrugged her shoulders taking a hold of her cup. "Because they don't care," she stated simply before raising the cup to her lips and taking a sip of the dark substance inside. When she brought it down it clanged loudly against the wooden surface of the table. She was all too aware of all the eyes solely focused on her. "If it doesn't involve them, it's not important," she elaborated gesturing towards the other patrons moving about the club.

Silence settled over the group as her words sunk in. All of the looks, blank stares, and dismissals they had received over the last couple of days confirmed her statement. Everyone they had spoken with so far had been less than helpful. Actually, some were downright rude.

To everyone's surprise it was Alberta who spoke next. "You're and alchemist," she stated with a brisk nod gesturing to the girl's golden tattoo. The rest of the group seemed intrigued by her statement as she was the only one privy to this information.

Unflinching, the girl absentmindedly reached up and touched the mark on her cheek. She gave a stiff nod in confirmation. "Yes," she stated tucking some loose strands of her layered hair behind her ear. Met with more blank stares, she cleared her throat. "My name is Sydney Sage, I am the liaison for this area," she introduced herself confidently despite how uncomfortable she felt.

Christian's eyebrows furrowed as he registered what the girl had said. "What's an alchemist?" he asked voicing it for the other clueless members of their team. His words were directed more at Alberta rather than Sydney.

Alberta wasted no time in offering an explanation. "Alchemists help us keep the human world away from ours," she began glancing towards the golden-haired human as she spoke. "You can identify them by their tattoo. A golden lily," she remarked crossing her arms over her chest and leaning back against her seat.

"We do all the dirty work," Sydney interjected sounding annoyed by the conversation. It was obvious by her body language that she was uneasy with her surroundings, however, she made no effort to leave. "I think it's best if you leave before you attract unwanted attention," she suggested lifting up her cup again.

Lissa glared at the other girl. "I'm not going anywhere," she spat unimpressed by Sydney's intrusion. She did not appreciate being turned away when they could potentially be on the verge of finding Rose. They just had to find the right person and, or, ask the right questions. She glanced at Adrian, and she could tell that he, despite his sour mood, shared her mindset. Lissa shook her head, turning back to Sydney. "Not until we find a lead on Rose."

Sydney stared at Lissa, her eyes blinking slowly. About a minute passed by as the name, that had left the other girl's lips, sunk in and revealed the connection between the blonde and Rose, whom she had helped weeks prior. The same girl that she had met outside of this very club, and now, here were her friends searching for her. Sydney paled, and a sense of dread filled her, twisting her stomach, and making her feel ill.

Abe had contacted her last week and had told her to be on the lookout for the dark haired Dhampir girl, but he had not mentioned why. All he had said was that she, apparently, was on the move again. Although she wondered, Sydney had learned long ago not to question him. There was a reason, and she now knew for certain that it was important. Especially if Abe had roped her into it and Rose's friends had decided to take matters into their own hands. However, unlike Zmey, they did not have the same resources at their disposal. They were looking for a needle in a haystack.

It was when these thoughts passed through her head that she noticed the heavy silence surrounding her. Four pairs of eyes rested on her, their faces questioning, intrigue woven into their expressions, with the exception of Alberta. She retained her neutral visage interested, but not as eager as her travel companions. A lump formed in Sydney's throat from their intense and inquisitive stares, which she promptly swallowed.

It was Lissa who noticed the flash of recognition in the human girl's face. It was subtle, but she caught it and latched onto it. She made certain to catch Sydney's gaze ready to use her compulsion prowess if the need arose. Lissa hoped that it would not come to that, but she had to be prepared for it. It was evident that Sydney knew something and whether voluntary or not, she would give them any and all information she had in her possession pertaining to Rose. At this stage in their mission Lissa saw no other course of action.

Her green eyes narrowed while she stared the other girl down making her squirm in discomfort, but Lissa did not care. "You know Rose, don't you Sydney?" she asked her voice even with a hint of accusation in her tone.

The insinuation was unwarranted, and no compulsion was necessary. Not that such an ability would work on her. The magic in her tattoo protected her, however, Lissa did not know that. With the revelation that their missing friend was Rose, she was more than willing to comply with the interrogation. Although Sydney did feel Rose was an evil creature of darkness, as were her friends before her, there had been a connection between her and the Dhampir that bordered on friendship. Sydney wanted to help. She was not frightened by the vampires; they just made her uncomfortable. She had never anticipated such a situation where she would be working so closely with them. To her, it had not been possible.

"Yes," she clarified confidently after a brief pause. "I met Rose here several weeks ago," she confirmed Lissa's suspicions wrapping her slender fingers around the lukewarm mug on the table in front of her.

The Alchemist's calmness helped put Lissa at ease somewhat. Her compliance was greatly appreciated, and she felt her body relax and she broke eye contact. She could feel the spirit darkness lurking and she could not allow it to grow more than she had to. As a result, she was using her abilities as little as possible. Her only exception being her practice sessions with Adrian, and even so, she had barely been putting any effort in. She would not allow it to take hold of her. She was in control. She pushed these thoughts away and returned her focus onto the conversation at hand.

"Care to elaborate?" Lissa probed leaning back into her seat and crossing her arms over her chest. Despite Sydney's willingness to cooperate, Lissa found herself slipping into 'the bitch' role. It was a tactic that was especially useful when one wanted answers. She did not like doing it, but she undeniably was good at it.

Offended by the Princess' attitude, Sydney glared at the royal Moroi. She did not appreciate the unnecessary hostility. They were on the same side in this matter. She cleared her throat before speaking. "She had been hunting Strigoi," she began lowering her voice so that the human patrons around them would not overhear their discussion. "She was causing problems with her reckless and irresponsible behaviour by leaving the bodies out for the sun to destroy. I confronted her about it and told her to call me in the future should she need a clean up." Sydney paused briefly to take another sip of her coffee. "My contact asked me to keep her company until she reached her destination, so I did," she concluded with a small shrug. It was only a brief summary of the events, but that was all that needed to be explained.

"Who is your contact and what do they want with Rose?" Adrian questioned inserting himself into the conversation, usurping the role of 'the interrogator' from Lissa. He did not like the mystery and secrecy that shrouded this story. There were endless possibilities and too many questions to be answered. It did not help that he could not find it within himself to trust this 'Alchemist'. Alberta seemed calm and collected about the discussion, but he was not sold yet.

Sydney placed her mug back down her eyes shifting to Adrian. Her eyes narrowed due to his rudeness for interrupting. "That is none of your concern," was her tight lipped response regarding the identity of her contact. That was information she did not give out so freely. "I don't question his motives."

Adrian was about to protest her reply, but Lissa cut him off before he could utter a sound. "That is not important," she snapped at him effectively shutting him up. That was not the information that she wanted. She glared at him before returning her attention to the human girl. "If Rose came here, she was looking for something," Lissa continued crossing her legs underneath the table. "What was it?"

Sydney paused, reluctant to offer up a response. She briefly considered the possibility of Abe disapproving of this conversation, but she forced herself to set it aside. This was to help Rose, not further his hidden agenda, whatever that may entail.

She let out a small sigh. "She was looking for a Dhampir commune. My contact and my superiors asked me to accompany her there," she explained keeping her eyes downcast, her fingers playing with the edge of her napkin.

"Baia," Alberta stated. The slight increase in the Guardian's interest did much to convince everyone that this place held some kind of importance.

The Alchemist was surprised by the Guardian's knowledge and quick recognition. "Yes, Baia," she confirmed with a single stiff nod.

Adrian wrinkled his nose up in distaste. He had never liked the sound of Dhampir Communes, though he understood the need for their existence. However, he hated to think that Rose had gone in search of one. His uncle had spent the majority of his time in those kinds of places doing God knows what with God knows who. Adrian himself had never been to one and he never wanted to. He was a rich Moroi playboy sure, but he was not interested in taking advantage of young Dhampir women. That was not his scene. He was better than that. At least, he liked to think that he was.

He turned to Alberta for answers since she seemed to know the significance of this place. "What is so special about Baia?" he asked.

Her Guardian mask fell back into place. "Baia is where Guardian Belikov grew up," Alberta informed them flatly.

Her and the younger Guardian had been on friendly terms and had gotten to know each other quite well during his time at the Academy. Seeing how dedicated he was she had developed a great respect for the young man. Dimitri had spoken of his homeland and his loved ones a few times in conversation.

"His family still lives there," Alberta continued on with a small sigh having now figured out Rose's pattern. Find Dimitri's family, tell them what happened, and then seek him out to destroy him. As a Guardian, she could not blame Rose for wanting to save Dimitri from a fate worse than death.

Despite how hard those two had tried to keep it a secret, Alberta knew that there was something going on between the girl and her mentor. What that was exactly she could not say, but she had noticed how close the two had grown since Rose's return to the Academy. Her reaction at the caves and her subsequent breakdown did nothing to alleviate Alberta's suspicions. The poor girl had been heartbroken over the loss.

Lissa looked down at the table feeling the guilt begin to swell within her. She hated the fact that she had not thought to help Rose in her quest. She looked at her abandoned shot, glaring at the offending glass, before grabbing it and downing the amber liquid inside in one gulp. It burned moving down her throat, but once that feeling began to spread, it felt good. She brought the glass down hard on the table as she cleared her throat at the intense flavor of the alcohol. Internally, she sighed in relief as she felt the guilt and spirit darkness receding giving her some semblance of peace. The alcohol really did take the edge off. Her little display seemed to have attracted the other's attention, but she ignored them, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she collected herself. She cleared her throat again, folding her hand neatly on the tabletop as if the outburst had never happened.

"What more can you tell us?" she asked Sydney eager to know more about the human's interactions with her best friend.

Taken a back by her sudden display, Sydney's response was slightly delayed. "The last location I have on her was in Novosibirsk about three weeks ago," she stated pushing her coffee aside suddenly uninterested in the beverage. The topic of discussion had soured her appetite. "She was hunting Strigoi there and then she just suddenly vanished, and I haven't heard a peep about her since."

Adrian silently cursed moving to refill his glass, filling up Lissa's as well. He felt that they both needed it for this conversation. Neither Christian nor Alberta had touched theirs. "That's awesome," was his sarcastic retort as he placed the bottle back down a little harder than necessary. "So, we're back to square one then," he snapped his disappointment written all over his face.

"What do you expect me to do, or know exactly?" Sydney responded glaring at the older man, unimpressed with his attitude. There was only so much she could accomplish. It was not her fault that Rose was constantly on the move. That girl was stubborn and marched to the beat of her own drum. Once her mind was made up, there was no stopping her. That was one thing she had learned about the dark haired Dhampir.

"Something, anything that's useful," Adrian growled out slamming back another shot. As soon as he set the small glass down, he was refilling it again.

Sydney did not appreciate Adrian's condescending tone and did not hesitate to make that fact known. "Don't talk to me like that," she fired back clearly displaying her annoyance.

The male Moroi was grating on her last nerve. She did not have to help them, in fact, she had not intended to, at least initially. The only reason she did was because people were starting to talk and become suspicious of their continued presence. This included her superiors, and she could not afford these kinds of problems in her area. Especially since her position was technically and internship at this point in her young career.

"I am only willing to help so long as your temper remains in check," she continued on before Adrian could utter a response.

Having observed Lissa treat him in such a manner before, she felt confident on how to handle him. Her words seemed the have their desired effect since Adrian shut his mouth. He glared at her but remained silent consuming his drink. She then turned her attention back to Lissa sensing that the blonde was their unofficial 'spokesperson'. The blonde seemed to be fairly level-headed, and Sydney could comfortably work with that.

"My contact's name is Ibrahim Mazur," she informed the Princess her resolve crumbling unexpectedly, which left Sydney mildly and momentarily confused.

Lissa was mildly surprised as well as she had been prepared to use her compulsion abilities only moments before to get the girl to talk. Apparently, it did not take much pressure for the Alchemist to divulge this small tidbit of useful information. The Princess was glad because then she did not need to use spirit to help make the girl more compliant.

Satisfied with this, Lissa glanced at Alberta for her input, and she noticed the hardened look in the Guardian's eyes. It was obvious that she knew of this man, this Ibrahim Mazur. "Who is he?" Lissa asked tilting her head to the side slightly.

Alberta was the one who chose to answer the question first. "He's a wealthy and well known Moroi. He is often described as some kind of mobster," she replied eyeing Sydney up and down suspiciously. The Alchemist looked clean cut, not the type to get mixed up with such a shady figure. It made her wonder what kind of dirt or power he could hold over her. "He's a dangerous man. We would do best to stay away from him," Alberta advised turning her attention back to Lissa, her expression grim.

"Abe, or Zmey, as many call him," Sydney began brushing Alberta's words and concerns aside. Although she was right, if they truly wanted to find Rose, Abe was their best option. There was not much that happened around here that he did not know about whether he had a hand in it or not. Sydney tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her left ear. "He has his hands in everything. Some of it legal, but not always." she explained casually as she smoothed out the folded edges of her napkin.

Sydney's eyes were cast downwards at the crinkles in the red paper square. Silently, she scolded her fiddling fingers and folded them neatly on the table. She could not figure it out, but she suddenly felt anxious. Perhaps it was their topic of discussion. The subject of Abe always seemed to have that effect on her. She lifted her eyes and focused on the group before her once more.

"If anyone knows anything about Rose, or her whereabouts, it would be him," she informed them with a nod. "I suppose that I could call him and see if I can arrange something or get some information," Sydney offered begrudgingly.

"How soon can you contact him?" Christian spoke up breaking his silence. His curiosity had been piqued by the conversation. He was intrigued at the prospect of some mysterious and dangerous Moroi mobster that may or may not assist them.

Sydney glanced down at the watch wrapped around her left wrist. She read the numbers on its face. She weighed her options, scrunching up her nose as she tossed the question around in her mind. "I suppose that I could call him now. I don't know exactly how willing he will be to help though," she answered truthfully feeling the need to be realistic.

Sydney could not speak on Abe's behalf and make promises, give false hopes, or make any guarantees. However, she expected that he would be interested in what these individuals had to say. The mobster seemed to be very invested in Rose and her well being for some unknown reason. Anyone looking around for her would eventually draw his attention. Somehow the knowledge would get back to him and it would be easier for all around if she simply expedited the situation.

Lissa nodded in understanding before looking around the table at her companions. She sensed that they all felt the same way that she did. When no one made a move to disagree, she continued. "I believe that is a chance that we are willing to take," was her swift reply.

Sydney gave her a curt nod and stood from her seat brushing invisible dirt off of her khakis. She was thin, much too thin for human standards. Her hand slipped into her pocket and retrieved her cell phone. "Excuse me," she said politely before spinning on her heels and heading towards the exit of the club. The alleyway outside would prove itself to be a more private and quiet location for her to make her phone call.

As the Alchemist moved passed them, Lissa reached out and placed her hand on the other girl's arm. The human tensed up at the action, halting her stride and turning to face the blonde Princess once more. "Sorry," Lissa apologized noticing Sydney's expression and removing her hand. She glanced around the table at her companions before speaking once more. "Tell him that Princess Vasilisa Dragomir would really appreciate his assistance," she stated confidently sounding every bit as regal as one would expect someone of her title to be.

Sydney stared, frozen in surprise, at the other girl for a moment. She did not know that much about Moroi politics, but she understood the importance of their titles. Princess was a high ranking title, and one she had not expected one so young to bear. She had not anticipated that.

"I'll tell him," she confirmed with a stiff nod before turning once more, making a swift departure from their table.

Adrian watched her leave shaking his head slightly. She look good, in fact, he found her very attractive, for a human. Once she disappeared through the door, he turned to his blonde friend. "Lissa…," he began about to question her decision of throwing her identity out so quickly and in such a public space, especially when it involved a supposedly dangerous individual.

Lissa spared a glance at her refilled glass blinking slowly carefully considering her response. She could not remember Adrian pouring her another drink, but it was clear that he had. "My name has to be worth something. If it helps Rose, I will do it," she stated firmly picking up the glass and downing the shot.

It was a risk to expose herself, but if they could use her title to their advantage, it was worth the risk. She was royal and the last of her line. Maybe that did not matter to the Alchemist, but perhaps it would mean something to this Ibrahim Mazur. Actually, she was counting on just that.

"Do you think we can trust her?" he asked pouring more alcohol into both his and Lissa's glasses.

It only took a moment for her to decide, and she replied with a curt nod. "I believe so," she said gingerly taking a hold of the shot glass. Ignoring Alberta's silent and disapproving state, she downed it quickly. She swallowed hard fighting through the burn, resisting the urge to cough and clearing her throat instead. "I could not see any deception in her aura, so why not," she explained with a shrug.

"I agree," Christian chimed in offering his opinion. He picked up his own glass deciding to take the plunge and indulge like his Moroi companions. The alcohol burned his throat, but it was a welcomed feeling. "She seemed on the up and up."

"We'll see," Alberta rebutted feeling the necessity to make her thoughts known. "I've heard many stories about this Ibrahim Mazur, and none of them were good," she began pushing her shot glass away from her towards the centre of the table. She did not want it. Lissa copied her example with her empty glass. "If she is working for him," Alberta continued tilting her head towards the door Sydney had disappeared through. "He's got something on her."

Adrian jumped onto the suspicions Alberta was raising. "Are you sure?" he asked, maybe a little too eager.

"Alchemists stay as far away from Moroi and Dhampirs as much as they possibly can," the Guardian elaborated on her statement based on her experience with the human organization. "For her to be wrapped up with someone like Mr. Mazur, she must be in deep." Alberta's investigative and observational skills had deciphered this information easily from their conversation with the Alchemist girl.

Lissa nodded once again acknowledging Alberta's point. She remained silent as she digested the information given to her. "What do you suggest we do?" she asked turning to Alberta for guidance. The older woman had much more experience with these kinds of matters than any of the other members of their group. Lissa trusted her judgement.

Alberta paused for a moment in consideration. As much as she disliked the idea of putting the Moroi in a dangerous situation, this was the only lead they had found in days. Already she could tell the small bit of information they had gained had slightly raised their morale.

"Tread lightly and proceed with caution," she replied glancing towards the entrance of the club checking for Sydney's return. The Alchemist was no where in sight. "We don't know what we are getting into."

Lissa was extremely thankful that the Guardian had chosen to tag along with them. Her calm demeanor helped ease some of her worries and doubts. They needed someone with a level-head who saw everything in a different perspective. Alberta's insight was invaluable.

Adrian rolled his eyes, the alcohol affecting his mannerisms as they were slightly delayed and exaggerated. "No need to sound so cryptic," he grumbled before downing another shot. So far, he was five shots in. Combined with Lisa's three, and both Christian's shot and Alberta's untouched one, that left the bottle nearly empty. "If Miss Prissy Pants has any info, I say it's all good," he remarked referring to the blonde outside.

The Princess rolled her eyes and snatched the opened bottle from his grasp. He let out a whine of protest, but she shot him a cold glare. "Shut up Adrian, you're drunk," she snapped placing the bottle away from him and next to Alberta for safe keeping.

The older Moroi pretended to look outraged, but it was obvious that his display was just an act. "I'm not drink," he spoke up in his defence. "I'm just buzzed," he reasoned more with himself than the other three people seated at the table.

"Sure, you are not 'drink'," Christian replied sarcastically copying his use of the wrong word. "We're in Russia, this stuff is much stronger than the shit we have back home."

"Oh, shut up Sparky, no one asked you," Adrian fired back grabbing Alberta's forgotten shot and tipping it down his throat. The burning sensation of the alcohol did not even seem to affect him anymore.

"Don't be obnoxious," Christian snapped rounding up the four empty shot glasses and stacking them next to the near empty bottle, away from Adrian's reach.

Instantly, Lissa inserted herself between the two boys to prevent the situation from escalating. The last thing they needed was to cause a scene. That would really give Sydney a reason not to help them as well as possibly getting them kicked out of the club by the security staff. Especially since Adrian had, clearly, had a little bit too much to drink. She had seen him drink more in the past, but he was consuming alcohol on an empty stomach, and drinking quickly as well, which was never a good idea. The only thing in his system was the alcohol and, as expected, it had all gone straight to his head.

"Can it, both of you," she scolded them both her eyes shifting between the two men. "This childish bickering needs to stop. Man up and act like adults. There are more important things to worry about than your nonsensical dislike for one another. Grow up," she ranted venting her pent up frustrations. Her tongue was most likely loosened by the three shots that she had taken, but she did not care. It felt good to say what was on her mind for once.

"Lissa's right," Alberta piped up having watched the bulk of their conversation in silence. "Neither of you are helping our case or, subsequently, Rose with your issues. If you two can't get along, the next time we do any recon work one of you will be staying behind with Jill and Eddie," she informed the two males leaving no room for further discussion.

Sensing this, both of them sighed. "Yes ma'am," they grumbled in response having been made to feel like bratty children by their female companions.

A few moments of silence passed between them before the door to the club opened and Sydney glided through the doorway. She pocketed her cell phone and made her way back over to their table, her expression blank. It appeared that both Guardians and Alchemists developed a similar visage to mask their emotions. Whatever their methods, they were effective.

The blonde girl came to a stop beside their table keeping a respectable distance between them. It was clear by the tension in her body language that she was still rather uncomfortable. However, she never vocally expressed it. Sydney clasped her hands together in front of her remaining silent and waiting to be addressed as she did not want to interrupt their conversation.

Lissa looked at her expectantly. "What did he say?" she asked perking up at the other girl's return. Her expression was uncertain, but hopeful.

"Does he know anything?" Adrian pressed eager for a response.

Sydney felt awkward under their attention. She reached up and brushed her hair out of her eyes. "You're in luck," she informed them with a small sigh.

Adrian's eyebrows knitted together as he considered the possibilities her words could entail. Still, regardless of his drunken state, he knew that her statement did not answer his question. "So, he's heard something?" he pressed scrutinizing the Alchemist's features for any clue to her response. Normally he would just rely on spirit to read her aura, but he was in no state to use magic. He could not even if he tried.

She blinked a couple times surprised by the intensity of his stare, which caused her to shiver. "No, not exactly…"

Before she could explain any further, Adrian rolled over her giving her no chance to do so. "Then what?" came his annoyed and snappish retort.

The harsh way in which he spoke earned him a slap on the shoulder from Lissa as punishment for his rude interruption. She glared at him, a look which he returned in kind, but he kept his mouth shut and for the third time that night so far.

Lissa turned back to Sydney folding her arms elegantly in her lap. "I'm sorry about him, please continue," she said offering the other girl an apologetic smile.

Adrian was being extremely rude and difficult this evening for no reason at all. His behaviour did nothing to help their cause. Lissa wanted to make it clear that Sydney knew that Adrian did not speak for all of them, only himself.

Sydney gave a nod of understanding. She was not going to allow the antics of one determine her opinion of the whole group. So far, they had been courteous to her, and so she felt obligated to respond in kind. "He wants to meet with you," she informed them. As she spoke, she shifted her feet and rested her hands on her hips having nothing else to do with the appendages.

Lissa sat up straight her spine going rigid and her eyes widening in surprise. Out of all the possible scenarios she had considered, meeting with Ibrahim Mazur had not been one of them. Her mouth opened and closed a few times as she struggled for a response. She was not sure how to feel, honoured, or afraid. Uncertain, she glanced at Alberta, who remained stone faced, for some kind of guidance. When the older woman said nothing, she bit her lip nervously feeling her anxiety begin to rise. A warm hand came to rest on her own, offering her support. She recognized the touch instantly. Surprised by the gesture, she turned to look at Christian who gave her a curt nod of reassurance. His small gesture helped to stifle the mild panic she felt and calm herself down. It was exactly what she had needed.

The Princess closed her eyes and took a deep breath before replying. "When?" she asked shifting her hand under the table to grasp Christian's. She squeezed it gently in thanks, a gesture which he promptly returned.

"Tomorrow night," Sydney announced moving her arms to cross them over her chest. She was growing slightly restless due to her close proximity to the three Moroi. They seemed nice enough, but she did not trust them. She could not trust them. Hell, she did not even trust Abe.

Lissa was flabbergasted he wanted to meet so soon, but she did not let that show on her face. She had been caught off guard too many times in one evening. "Wow, so soon," she remarked without delay. Keeping her expression as neutral as possible, she pressed on. "That's great, where?"

The Alchemist shook her head. "That doesn't matter," she replied them leaning heavily on her right leg.

The dismissive way in which she said this did not sit well with any of them. The unease and tension were thick in the air, their mistrust evident as they looked to one another. Christian squeezed Lissa's hand again and she glanced at Alberta for assistance.

The Guardian cleared her throat before speaking up on behalf of her and her companions. "Actually, it is important," Alberta began her voice firm and filled with authority. "We need to know when and where," she stated maintaining eye contact with the shady Alchemist. Her words came out much harsher than she intended, but she did not give that any thought.

Sydney was unaffected by this. She shrugged her shoulders sliding her hands into her pockets. "I can't offer you more. He did not give me any of that information," she explained flatly.

Lissa blinked confused by her response while Adrian groaned loudly in frustration. "How does he expect to meet with us if we don't know where?" he asked exasperated by the empty response.

Sydney huffed, her cheeks reddening under the Guardian's watchful eyes. "Would you let me finish!" she snapped her brown eyes glaring at him.

Alberta rolled her eyes and decided to interrupt before the spirit user could say anything further. Being argumentative would get them no where. What they needed was answers and Adrian's inebriated state was not helping matters.

"So, you are telling us that he didn't share any of that information with you at all," she repeated the human's words drawing their attention back to the main topic of discussion. She leaned forward in her seat and folding her hands neatly on the table. "I apologize if I offend you, but you must understand how ludicrous that sounds."

"I understand your concerns, really, I do, but there is only so much that he will tell me at any given time," she explained growing increasingly irritated with the group. She did not get paid enough for any of this. Actually, she did not get paid at all. She was just an intern.

"Why?" Adrian pressed instantly curious.

"It doesn't matter anyway," she continued dismissing the conversation before anyone else could speak up. She pinched the bridge of her nose feeling a headache coming on. It was distracting and effecting her patience. "He will give me that information when the time comes."

Christian snorted loudly at this. "What's that suppose to mean?" he asked wishing that the blonde Alchemist would give them a straight answer. Her words could be interpreted many ways.

Sydney crossed her thin arms over her chest again, a look of displeasure forming on her face. She thought the answer was obvious, but she must have been wrong. However, her response was not what any of them had expected. "Because I'll be escorting you there."

Rose bolted out of the comfort of her bed by the sound of the metal door of her apartment opening. She had not been sleeping, but merely lounging in the quiet comfort with a magazine she had slowly been flipping through. It was a little boring, however, because all she could do was look at the pictures, but it was something to do. Although she did not know the time or have a window to see the sky, she sensed that it was still early in the evening. If she were to trust her instincts, the sun would only just be beginning to set. Her instincts were usually right, and rarely led her astray, even despite her recent fugue state. Her internal nocturnal clock had been ingrained into her brain for so long that it was second nature.

Her body was instantly alert, and all sleepiness was forgotten as her awareness detected the presence of another. Quickly, she climbed over the bed, moving across the room in the process. She easily navigated the blackness to her door, all the while listening for any sounds within her apartment. All was silent. An uneasy feeling settled within her making her feel tense. Ever since Juliana had come to stay at the compound, Rose had been dreading an encounter with her. The dark haired Strigoi seemed eerily interested in her and Rose feared that one day, the woman would find a way into her apartment. Dimitri had dismissed this idea, but, despite his assurances, the issue still nagged at her. Slowly and as carefully as she could, she turned the doorknob opening the door.

Cautiously, she stepped out of the room, and relief flooded through her. Her visitor was not unknown to her at all. It was Dimitri. She should have anticipated as much. She felt silly for assuming the worst, but at the same time, she would be foolish not to take Julianna's presence into consideration. The woman was dangerous.

"Is something the matter?" Dimitri asked her noticing the relieved expression that came over her face when her eyes met his.

Rose intertwined her fingers interlocking them and shifting them back and forth absentmindedly. "I thought you were Juliana," she admitted quietly.

Dimitri rolled his eyes and shook his head releasing an irritated sigh. "We've had this discussion Rose," he scolded her annoyed by her state of paranoia. He felt it was an unnecessary waste of her energy to be afraid of something that would not happen. Not while he was around. "Julianna can't get you without going through me first, remember?"

Suddenly, she felt foolish as though she was over-reacting to the situation. The chastising tone in his voice made that all the more obvious to her. "I'm sorry," she muttered looking down at the floor.

He sighed again reaching out and placing his large hands on her shoulders. "I can see your side of things. She could crush you if she wanted to," he said nonchalantly. Rose winced at this statement, but Dimitri did not seem to notice the effect of his words. "That doesn't matter now." He dismissed her concerns not willing to dwell on them a moment longer. He did not have time to waste. "I don't have long to stay," he informed her allowing his hands to drop back down to his sides.

Her heart dropped and a feeling of disappointment swelled within her. A quiet, "Oh?" was all she could muster in response.

He gave her a curt nod in confirmation. "There is a purpose to my visit tonight," he piped up reading the emotions on her face clearly. It was far too easy once he figured out how to read her.

She perked up at his statement, suddenly curious. "Oh?" she repeated, although, this time, with much more enthusiasm.

An amused smirk pulled at his lips at her eagerness. "I brought you a gift."

"What kind of a gift?" she pressed trying to mask her excitement.

He stepped further into the room gesturing over his shoulder as if beckoning someone to come closer. Behind him, a woman entered through the hall door. She appeared to be in her late twenties, quite a bit older than Rose. Her stride was slow, tentative, her eyes wide with caution. She was short, much shorter than Rose. The woman barely cleared five feet. Her frame was thin, and that was made much more obvious by the way her clothing hung off of her form.

It was clear that she was human. Faint bruising marred the skin of her upper arms and darkened the left side of her face. There was no evidence of bite marks, or puncture wounds of any sort, on her neck. Still, it was obvious that she was being mistreated by someone. Despite this, the flames of defiance still burned within the depths of her hazel eyes. Her light brown hair was swept up into a ponytail keeping the long strands out of her face.

The woman's eyes turned to Rose, and shock filled her features. The look only lasted a brief moment before her expression hardened and she shifted her focus onto Dimitri's back. She scowled with disgust, contempt, and malice all flashing both in her eyes and across her face. It became clear that she had not been informed of the circumstances of this meeting, and by her reaction, Rose could see that she was not pleased.

Regardless, happiness surged through Rose at the sight of the other woman. Dimitri had been true to his word and had brought someone else for her to talk to. She did not need to beg or plead. He cared for her enough to understand her need for companionship. A feeling that she knew that he did not particularly share.

Dimitri cleared his throat gesturing for the mysterious woman to approach. Obediently she complied although at a much slower pace than Dimitri liked. He moved his hand behind her to rest against the middle of her back. The woman immediately tensed up at his touch, but she did not resist or pull away. He gave her a firm push towards Rose, and she stumbled forward a few steps. She quickly managed to regain her footing, but her stance remained rigid.

Dimitri glared at her before shifting his attention to Rose. "This is Darina," he introduced the young woman with a nod in her direction. "She will be your companion when I'm not available," he explained his eyes turning back to the woman. Darina sucked in a breath clenching her hands into fists at her sides. "Darina, this is Rose." This time, he gestured towards Rose with his hand.

Without hesitation, Darina held out her hand, which Rose eagerly accepted. Within her eyes, Rose could see a deep sadness but also compassion and sympathy reflected back at her. However, her expression remained flat, neutral, concealing her emotions. Rose smiled in greeting attempting to coax one out of Darina in return, but her countenance refused to budge.

"She has access to this level of the compound and will also be in charge of your meals from here on out," he stated keeping his eyes on the woman at his side.

"Nice to meet you," Rose offered up nervously. Darina merely nodded in response.

Dimitri rolled his eyes in annoyance but said nothing about the matter. "Darina will come by every afternoon and keep you company for a few hours, clean up the place, and make sure you have food for the rest of the night," he explained his eyes turning to Rose. "Is that acceptable to you?"

Rose paused, thinking for a moment before nodding slowly. "Yes, thank you."

He returned her nod with one of his own. "Good," he stated before adjusting the collar of his duster. He looked between the two women for a moment before speaking again. "I will leave you two to get acquainted. I'll return tomorrow night to see how you're getting along."

As he turned to leave, he placed a hand on Darina's shoulder. She jumped slightly at the sudden contact, sucking in a breath. Dimitri leaned down, his lips inches from her ear. "Don't get in my way," He whispered menacingly. He had not said it low enough to go undetected by Rose's impeccable sense of hearing. In fact, it was almost certain that he had meant for her to hear the distinct threat.

Dimitri spared each woman one last glance. Although, his eyes remained on Darina much longer than they had on Rose. He turned abruptly and left the room. The only sound was the metallic click of the lock being latched into place and the gentle thud of Dimitri's retreating footsteps.

The two women stood in an awkward silence. Two strangers thrust together by unnatural circumstances. Darina shifted her feet clasping her hands together in front of her. The stiff set of her shoulders illustrated her discomfort.

Rose studied her for a moment, curious about the other woman. There were many questions swimming around in her brain and she longed to voice them. However, she felt it would be too much too soon. Instead, she chose a different approach.

"You're human?" she asked phishing for confirmation despite knowing it to be true. It is quite obvious that she was not of the supernatural persuasion.

Darina nodded once. "Technically yes," she replied hoarsely. The woman cleared her throat before elaborating on her reply. "I prefer the term witch." Her voice was soft with the hint of an accent. She had not spoken enough for Rose to identify it, but it was clearly there.

A confused expression flashed across her face. "Witch?" Rose spoke slowly, turning the word over in her mind "So, you can do magic?" she asked curiously.

Her gentle inquiry was a sort of peace offering. If the two of them were going to be forced to inhabit the same space periodically, it would be worthwhile to try and get along. To get to know one another.

"Yes," she confirmed lowering her voice in case someone were listening. Darina would not put it past the Strigoi to spy on them. It would be wise not to underestimate the things they would do, especially one as menacing as the one who had brought her in here.

"That's kinda neat," was Rose's lame attempt to make conversation. The thought of human's possessing magical abilities seemed completely bizarre to her. At the same time the idea greatly intrigued her. She had never heard of such a thing. Perhaps it was a well kept secret amongst their kind, and she appreciated Darina's honesty for telling her.

Rose could not help but notice the dark bruising along Darina's upper arms and the large one rapidly growing on her left cheek. It was evident that she had attempted to cover the mark on her face with make-up, but she was unsuccessful. To a human, it would be barely noticeable, but to Rose's Dhampir eyesight she could still make out the dark spot through the products on her face. The marks concerned Rose greatly. Although she did not know this woman, she never liked to see people being hurt. However, her silent observations did not go unnoticed by Darina.

"Are you alright?" Rose asked her quietly after a brief period of awkward silence.

The older woman stopped for a moment surprised by the gentle tone of Rose's voice. She stiffened, her spine going rigid. "I'm fine, why do you ask?" she forced out, her jaw clenching.

She stared at her blankly annoyed that the woman seemed oblivious to what she was referring to. "You're all bruised," Rose replied bluntly.

The witch snorted and raised an eyebrow at the younger girl. Rose was instantly envious. She still did not know how to do that. "So are you," the witch fired back.

Rose blushed at the suggestive tone in the older woman's words. "That's different," she muttered her eyes falling to the floor as her hand came to rest on her neck over the bite marks residing there. She shuddered feeling the indents from Dimitri's fangs underneath her fingertips. Her neck and shoulder were quite heavily marked now from his attention.

"I can see that," the witch snapped her words coming out a bit sharper than she intended.

Darina saw how Rose flinched at her words and she visibly relaxed. The tension between them dissolved in an instant. Both of them were in enemy territory with no means of escape or a way to communicate with the world outside of the compound. Being hostile to one another would help no one. It would only be a hindrance. To survive this place, they would need each other.

"Sorry, that came out much harsher than I meant it to," she apologized offering the Dhampir a small smile. She truly had not meant to be so snappish with the younger girl. Being here surrounded by death just made her feel on edge.

Rose shrugged, indifferent. "It's okay.

The sudden shift in the older woman's attitude only added to Rose's confusion. When she had first arrived, she had been standoffish and defensive. However, now, all of a sudden, she was being warm and caring? Rose did not like it. Suspicious, her brown eyes narrowed scrutinizing the human, witch, before her.

"I want to get this out of the way," Darina began crossing her arms over her chest noticing the chill that seemed to fill the room. It made a shiver travel up her spine. "I have no intention of harming you in any way. Just so you know." The more she spoke her accent became more pronounced. It was definitely Russian, which was not surprising.

"I wasn't worried," Rose answered truthfully. Darina was no threat to her. She was human and she could defend herself against her if the need arose. Despite her current condition, she was still a Guardian. A warrior. A weapon.

Darina brushed passed her and to the table where she had left the remnants of her dinner. The woman looked around before spotting the small garbage can in the corner. With quick steps she picked it up and carried it to the table where she began to dispose of the wrappers, containers, and scraps littering the surface. Once the clutter was cleared away, she returned the bucket to the corner and disappeared into the small bathroom. There was a sound of rummaging and running water for a few moments before the other woman returned with a wet cloth in hand. Rose watched her intently as she began to wipe down the table stopping to scrub at spots where condiments and sauces had dried onto the surface. Rose was not always the cleanest eater, especially when it came to delicious and greasy fast foods.

"So, if you can do magic, why are you here?" Rose asked eager to learn more about her new companion. "Couldn't you just use it to bust out of here if you hate it so much?" she prodded hoping that her questions did not irritate the other woman. She was not trying to be annoying, but she had never met an actual witch before, and she wanted to know more about them.

Darina turned to face her. "They have restricted my use of it." Her expression was stone and her eyes cold as she spoke. Hatred burned in her hazel eyes, and she scowled returning to her cleaning viciously scrubbing at another blob of dried sauce.

Rose tilted her head to the side, curious. "How?" she asked wanting to know more.

The self proclaimed witch stopped for a moment, her lips drawing into a thin line. "Curious one aren't you," she remarked before resuming her task. "That could get you into trouble around here," she added with a small sigh. "They use drugs that mess up my control," was finally the answer to Rose's question.

Rose's eyes widened and she looked down at the wooden floor averting her gaze. "Oh, I'm sorry," she mumbled out in apology. It would suck to be forced to take a drug against your will that took away a part of you. Rose had an understanding of this as Lissa had gone through a similar situation when she had started taking her antidepressants after Viktor Dashkov had kidnapped and tortured her.

The elder woman sighed heavily standing up straight and running her hand across her forehead. It was not an annoyed sound, but rather one of defeat. "Don't be," she assured her offering up a small, although ingenuine, smile. "It's not your fault. It's his," she seethed her expression darkening as she referred to the man who had brought her here.

Rose's head jerked up to look at the witch once more. "Dimitri?" she questioned immediately interested.

Darina made an appreciative humming sound. "So, Mr. tall, dark, and scowlly has a name," she mused more to herself than to the other woman in the room. A small amused smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Good to know." The last part she said so quietly that Rose had barely heard her.

Did she just say what Rose thought she said? Tall, dark, and scowlly? Was that even a word? "What?" was all that came out of her mouth in her confusion.

"Names are powerful things," Darina explained cryptically.

Still dumfounded, all Rose could do was agree. "Sure."

The older woman stood from her position bent over the table and she tossed the wet cloth aside. She wiped her damp hands on her thighs before turning to face Rose. Their eyes met and Rose could see the determination shining in her eyes. What that fire in her eyes meant she was uncertain.

"I don't know why he chose me," Darina began clasping her hands neatly in front of her once more. "But I'm sure that there is a reason, beyond us, that I'm here with you."

The young witch did not want to go into the details about how she ended up in this mess, but she sensed there was a purpose to her presence here in this compound. There was a nagging feeling that there was something that she was meant to do. What that was she had yet to discover. Only time and patience would give her that. All would be revealed in due time and the pieces would fall into place. Such was the way of the world. It was full of mystery and uncertainty.

Rose resisted the urge to roll her eyes, Of course she would say such a thing. She was a witch. "Who knows," Rose replied dismissively.

She did not really believe in a thing such as pre-determined fate or in having a 'destiny' so to speak. Despite all that she had seen and learned over the last few months, she remained a skeptic. Although, that opinion was slowly changing.

The two stood in an awkward silence for a moment. They were two strangers thrust together by unusual and unnatural circumstances. Despite their obvious differences, they were the same in that respect. Darina shifted her feet, clasping her hands together in front of her again. Her eyes scanned Rose from head to tow taking in her dishevelled and rumpled appearance. After a moment she let out a soft sigh, breaking the silence.

"C'mon, let's get you cleaned up," she announced gently wrapping her fingers around Rose's wrist leading her towards the bathroom. Rose did not argue and allowed herself to be pulled into the small room without a fight.

AN: Now we've met Sydney and Rose has a friend, maybe. Next chapter, we get to meet Abe! ;)

I also want to note that I kept my promise to myself and finished this chapter within the timeframe I gave myself. I did slack off a bit when I shouldn't have, but I managed to get it done. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I feel that I may have rushed it a bit at the end, but I didn't want to draw it out any longer.

Let me know what you think!