Black Ink

by Foamy

What if Rose never escaped Dimitri on the bridge. Trapped under Dimitri's spell and under his complete control, can she be saved before it's too late? But, does she want to be saved? Once everything around her shatters, will she be able to pick up the pieces again? Rated for dark themes, violence, sexual content, and foul language. UPDATED: Chapter 10 now up!

11. When People Run in Circles

AN: There is a warning at the end of this chapter for some events coming up. I just want you all to be aware, so you could take a look at it as I feel it's important for the road ahead.

I hit a block on this chapter and I just could not get it to a point where I was happy, but I took my time and eventually got there. To me, this is kind of a filler chapter, but still necessary. However, like the last chapter, this ended up being super long, so I hope that makes up for keeping you all waiting so long.

I also want to apologize in advance for the length of the next few chapters. There are a lot of things that I need to fit into the next 5 chapters to stick to my outline. With that being said, enjoy!

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

BLACK INK

ACT I: In the Arms of the Devil

Chapter 10: When People Run in Circles

---

"And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had

I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take

When people run in circles it's a very, very

Mad world, mad world."

~ Gary Jules – Mad World (Originally by Tears for Fears)

---

Rose was alone once again. It had been a few hours since Juliana had made her presence known, and she was still a mess of tension and anxiety. The Dhampir sat on the couch in the main area of her apartment with her legs pulled up to her chest. Her arms were wrapped protectively around her legs, holding them close to her body. Rose was alert, her eyes trained on the locked door that led to Dimitri's office. The door that had been breached and her sanctuary had been violated. It looked completely untouched, like nothing had happened at all. As if Juliana had never been there. Unable to sleep after the incident, Rose was hyper vigilant in watching the wooden door determined not to be caught off guard again. Needless to say she was on edge.

Once the Strigoi had left, Rose had stripped off her clothing and spent at least an hour in the shower, scrubbing her skin almost raw. She wanted to erase every trace of the terrifying ordeal. However, the warm water did not alleviate the itching feeling that was crawling beneath her skin. She only left the shower because the water was growing cold. Even after all that effort, Rose could still feel Juliana's tongue on her face. She felt disgusted and it made her stomach churn, which also made her feel nauseous. It was like a chain reaction. Each symptom amplifying and triggering the next.

Darina had yet to make an appearance and Rose wondered where the witch had gone. Since her arrival, Darina had been here every day to check in on her. Rose had grown accustomed to the witch's company, and the apartment felt awfully empty without her presence. However, it also made her suspicious. How convenient it was that the one day Darina does not come around, Juliana invaded her space. This did not seem like a coincidence.

Rose had been left alone for hours. Far too long in her opinion. Fear gripped her as she heard the sound of the lock on the door being pulled back. Rose sucked in a breath, her body tensing and becoming rigid. She was not frozen in place, but chose to remain so, her eyes remaining locked on the opening door. Relief shot through her and she visibly relaxed as her eyes landed on the tall form of Dimitri as he walked into the apartment.

Instantly, Rose stood up and shot forward into his arms. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, resting her head on his chest as she pressed her body against his muscular frame. He stood still for a moment in confusion before he returned her embrace. His stance remained rigid, but Rose hardly noticed his stiff posture. His presence immediately eased her anxiety and made her feel safe. No one could hurt her when he was around, he would not allow it. Dimitri would protect her. She did not know when she had become so dependent on him, but she did not question it.

"I'm so glad it's you," she whispered, holding onto him as if her life depended on it.

He was surprised to hear both the fear and the relief in her voice. His hold on her tightened as he felt her body start to shake against him. Something had to have happened to cause such a strong emotional response from Rose. It was clear that the Dhampir was really shaken up.

"Who else would it be?" he asked her stiffly, his voice void of emotion.

Her voice was quiet as she responded, almost reluctant to speak. As if whatever she had to say was going to displease him. "You left me alone," she began her tone cold and filled with accusation. "You left me all alone, and she came here," she whispered harshly.

Dimitri gripped her shoulders roughly and pulled her away from him, holding her at arms length. "Juliana was here, in your room?" he asked alarmed by her announcement. Rose nodded looking down at the floor. "Did she hurt you?" he asked raising an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes as he noticed her eyes fixated on the floor.

Rose shook her head. "No, I'm ok. Just spooked is all." Her gaze remained cast downwards as she spoke, her hair shielding her face as she refused to meet his gaze.

Annoyed at this behaviour, he grabbed hold of her chin, forcing her head up, making her look at him. Rose winced at the movement, pain flashing in her eyes as her neck stretched irritating the bruises residing there. Dimitri scowled noticing this. He tilted her head up higher hearing a hiss of pain from her. Immediately his eyes fell on the hand shaped bruise forming along the column of her throat. The skin was stained with pale blue on one end and a purplish colour where the tips of Juliana's fingers had applied pressure. The marks were barely noticeable at the moment. However, he could tell that the bruising was deep and would grow more pronounced over the next few days. There were also tiny scratches left behind from the woman's nails that were red and upraised. Angry welts marring Rose's smooth and tan flesh.

Dimitri's eyes darkened dangerously as outrage filled him at the sight of the damage. They were so dark that they appeared black. With the glowing red ring around his pupils, he looked every bit like the terrifying monster he kept chained up inside. A monster that could burst free at the slightest provocation.

"I will kill her," he growled releasing his hold on her and turning to leave the apartment.

"No don't!" Rose cried reaching out and grabbing his wrist to stop him. Not that she could hold him back if he wanted to go.

This action did not amuse Dimitri. The moment she touched him, he whirled around capturing her wrists in his grasp, holding them tightly. Rose squeaked in surprise at his abrupt movements, her eyes wide.

"Why do you feel the need to lie to me?" he demanded, scolding her, and turning his barely controlled anger onto her. Her complete ineptitude to comply with a simple request was most infuriating.

Rose blinked a few times, taken a back and intimidated by the rage she could see burning in his eyes. Most would not be able to see it, but she knew Dimitri. She could still read him like a book. That had not changed.

"I'm sorry," she croaked feeling his grip tighten as his patience with her ran thin.

He inhaled deeply, scenting her fear, and it appeased the predator in him enough to release her. It was abrupt causing her to stumble back a few steps due to the suddenness of it. "You are starting to irritate me Roza," he warned, his voice deep and low in timbre. "I told you not to lie to me," he spat through clenched teeth.

His stare was intense and Rose's eyes shifted to the ground again unable to meet his gaze any longer. Goosebumps broke out over her skin and she suppressed a shiver. "I promise I won't do it again," she insisted biting her bottom lip to keep from saying anything further.

Dimitri scoffed crossing his arms over his chest. "You've said that before," he countered immediately calling her out.

Rose hung her head in shame. He was right. "It's nothing that won't heal," she muttered pathetically.

He snorted. "Don't minimize the situation Rose," was his sharp reprimand. "You clearly do not understand the gravity of what has transpired here."

The young woman winced at the condescending tone he used. He was talking down to her as if she were a child. Normally this would piss her off, but the inferno she could see in Dimitri's eyes completely disarmed that feeling. Instead, it made her stomach twist with anxiety as fear coursed through her body. She was not oblivious to the danger he posed. Rose kept her eyes on the floor. This was both out of fear and to avoid provoking him. There was Hell in those eyes and it was overwhelming.

Dimitri let out an annoyed sigh, uncrossing his arms, sensing that this conversation was not going anywhere. "She shouldn't have been able to get in here," he commented eyeing the metal door leading out into the hall. "How did she get in?" he asked. When met with silence from the young Dhampir, Dimitri growled low in his throat. He slammed his hand against the bookshelf. "Answer me!" he demanded.

Rose jumped at the loud bang, her head snapping up as the sound jostled her back into awareness. Her eyes were wide as they locked with his once more. "She came in through your office," she began the words tumbling from her mouth almost too quickly. "She bent the handle back and forced the lock open. She put it back when she left."

His eyes immediately turned to the door he had just walked through. He had found nothing out of the ordinary when he had returned to check on his 'pet'. Everything appeared to be as it should. Knowing what had taken place in his absence, he was enraged at Juliana's egregious violation of his property. However, it also unnerved him that she had managed to do so, so easily. He had some changes to make to correct his error in allowing something like this to happen, and he had to do so sooner rather than later.

His hands clenched at his sides. "I'm going to have to reinforce the lock on my door. Apparently, people like to invade my personal space," he grumbled. Being in charge and having others not respect and fear him as they should was growing most tiresome.

Rose relaxed feeling the weight of his anger shift. It was still there, but it was no longer focused on her. She nodded, not in understanding, but simply to show that she was listening to his complaint. She lacked the words to respond. However, she did agree that something needed to be done.

"I don't feel safe here," she confessed when he had fallen silent.

Dimitri sighed. "Of course you don't," he agreed stiffly. "Juliana has made sure of that." His voice was cold and he scowled, a foul taste filling his mouth when he spoke the other Strigoi's name.

"I don't like her," Rose commented shaking her head. Cautiously, she approached him. Dimitri immediately opened his arms, wrapping them around her as she sought comfort from his presence. "She scares me," she confessed quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"She should," was his flat retort.

"I'm sorry for lying to you, I just didn't want to make you mad," she explained resting her face against his chest. Despite the anger she could feel rolling off of him, this is where she felt the safest. Here in his arms.

Dimitri's hands moved up from her waist to grip her shoulders, his lips pulled into a thin line. "Be that as it may," he started, moving her away from him. Rose's half-lidded looked up at him. "I don't appreciate it."

Rose dropped her eyes again. "I know," she offered lamely.

His stern expression remained etched on his face. He gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her chin upwards and forcing the young Dhampir to meet his eyes once more. "The next time you lie to me, Roza, there will be consequences," he informed her, his voice low. There was no mistaking the threat in those words. It was clear that she was now skating on thin ice.

Rose hesitated for a moment as she digested his words. "I understand," she stated biting her bottom lip.

"Do you?" he inquired with a raised brow. When she nodded, he released her. "Don't make me have to hurt you. I will have no choice if you disobey me again. Are we clear?"

"I'll be good."

Dimitri was unconvinced, but nodded accepting her assurance. He would give her this one last chance. Her habit of keeping things from him needed to be curbed immediately. He could not afford these kind of distractions. They made him look weak. Rose needed to understand the one concept she had not yet seemed to fully grasp about their situation. This was no equal partnership for they were not on the same level. She belonged to him. She was his property and that meant that she had to follow his rules. Behaving, however, was something that was not always easy for the dark haired young woman. The consequences for her failure to conform to her new role would be severe. If necessary, he would break her to get his point across. She would be obedient.

His eyes shifted between Rose and the wooden door. "I have matters I need to attend to," he announced adjusting the collar of his duster and striding towards his office without giving Rose a second glance. He was fed up with this discussion.

"No don't!" she cried reaching out and grabbing a hold of his wrist to stall his retreat.

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes, masking his annoyance. He stopped, turning enough to face her. "What do you want?" he asked growing impatient.

"Don't leave me alone," she requested, her eyes pleading with him to stay.

Dimitri shook his head. "Darina will be back in the morning."

Rose let her anxiety show. "What if she comes back?" she suggested biting her lip harder, almost breaking the skin.

"Roza…"

"Just stay with me, Dimitri. Please?" she now begged and was unashamed to be doing so.

Seeing the desperation in her eyes, he clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Fine," he conceded, although, it was clear that he was not happy about this need she had to be in his presence. It could be most tiresome. "If it will calm you down," he added gruffly.

All Dimitri wanted to do right at this moment was hunt down Juliana Tarus and force her to answer for her transgressions. She had no right to defy his order, no matter who she may be. Whatever status she claimed in this world did not matter to him. This was his compound and he was the one in charge here. Juliana was trying to provoke him into action and, if that is what she wanted, Dimitri would show her that he was not to be trifled with. The woman had overstayed her welcome and he would tear her limb from limb if she dared to cross him again. That promise of violence was something that would soothe the savage beast raging inside of him. However, he could not do that if he had to coddle the young Dhampir. It was growing quite bothersome as of late.

Still, Rose was important and he had an obligation to protect her. If he failed to do so there was a possibility that she would try to escape again, and he could not have a repeat of that experience. If he had to run after her again, she would not get another chance. She was his and no one else's. Rose could not leave. He forbade it. He would destroy her before he let her go. Mentally or physically it mattered little, either way would satisfy him.

Relief flooded through Rose at his words despite the harsh tone of their delivery. She was completely oblivious to the storm that churned inside her undead lover about her very presence here. Nor did she realize how close to the edge he really was.

She let out a breath that she was not aware she had been holding. "Thank you," she stated in gratitude.

He sighed, shrugging off his duster, folding it, and lying it over the back of the sofa. "I may need to be alone at times, and when I do I will be in my office," he explained flatly, annoyed that he now had to play the babysitter. He had intended to merely check in on Rose and come back later during the day before heading out for the evening. Her request threw a wrench into his plans. "I have a compound to run."

Rose nodded in understanding. "That's ok, I just want to be near you."

"Of course you do," was his short retort.

Sensing his disapproval, an idea came to her. "Besides," she continued feeling her heart speed up its rhythm as the thought crossed her mind. Her cheeks flushed with colour as she licked her lips feeling the anticipation rising within her. "You still need to feed, don't you?" she suggested, biting her bottom lip hoping that she did not seem too eager.

Her implied proposal instantly captured his attention. He looked at her, those dark eyes of his shifting as the anger moved to the back burner giving way to a much different emotion. The desire he possessed for her blood.

"Are you offering, Roza?" he asked with a raised brow, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. This idea definitely helped improve his dark mood. He was rather thirsty.

Rose could not help the shiver that his question sent down her spine. The deep velvety tone of his voice mixed with the sultry flow made her knees feel weak and her body ache with anticipation. "Yes," she confirmed almost breathlessly.

Dimitri closed the distance between them, his eyes cast downwards never leaving hers. His hand cupped her cheek before he moved her hair back, brushing it away to expose her neck and shoulder. He eyed the healing bite marks there as Rose tilted her head in invitation. He inhaled deeply biting back a groan at her scent. It was intoxicating this close.

"How can I refuse such a tempting proposition," he crooned brushing his lips against the soft skin along her shoulder.

Rose let out a gasp which ended in a low moan as Dimitri sunk his fangs into her exposed flesh. She whimpered in pleasure as the euphoria swirled through her system causing her body to go limp in his arms. He drank from her greedily, effortlessly supporting her weight which kept her upright. He loved the effect he had on her. How easily she melted into putty in his hands to mold in any way he saw fit. She was the perfect distraction. A balm that soothed his rage into a dull smoulder. It was still there, under the surface, but her blood kept the worst of it at bay. Right now, in this moment, this was all that mattered.

Juliana Tarus could go fuck herself.

---

It was their second day in Baia and the 'Rescue Crew' were no closer to finding Rose. Even with the information Abe had shared with them thus far, they were currently in a stalemate. Given the short passage of time, and despite the need for more intel from Abe, things were looking positive. However, only time would tell, although, time was now of the essence. Hopefully, this stall would only be temporary and they would make some progress soon.

Once everyone had settled down, after their initial meeting the day before, Lissa and company were introduced to Abe's Guardian, Pavel, and they were properly greeted by the brunette woman whose house they had all invaded so suddenly. This woman turned out to be Olena Belikova, Dimitri's mother. This was his family's home.

Olena did not seem to mind the six extra people now crowding her home. She was a warm and welcoming woman and a gracious host for she had opened her house to them without hesitation. Abe, Pavel, Janine, and Sydney had left leaving Lissa and company in the care of the Belikova family who did not seem to mind having so many unexpected guests. There were two unused, although not empty, bedrooms upstairs. With some effort they managed to shuffle things around to put the boys in one room and the girls in the other. It was a tight fit, but it would have to do. Thankfully, it would only be for a couple days until they could find somewhere suitable for them to stay. They did not want to impose more than necessary.

As it turned out, Rose had come to stay with the Belikova family for a while during the Easter holiday a few weeks back. Olena had expressed her gratitude towards their friend for coming such a long way to inform her of the terrible fate that had befallen her only son. It was clear the woman was still grieving the loss, but she did not let herself get worked up over it. Instead, she chose to tell them all about Rose's time in Baia. It was a little awkward considering what Dimitri had done so far during his short time as a Strigoi, and knowing that he was the one holding Rose hostage. However, if that news bothered the mother of four, she did not let it show.

That evening they had met the rest of the family, including a very pregnant and cranky Sonya. She was the only one of the Belikova women who seemed annoyed by their presence. However, the most curious of them all was the old woman, Yeva. She did not appear to speak much English, but it was clear that she at least understood them. How much she understood though was unknown.

Yeva was polite to their group save for one, Adrian, whom she glared at with her lips drawn tight. There was something about the spirit user that rubbed the old woman the wrong way and she was not going to let him forget it. No one knew what her issue with his was. Not even Olena seemed to know her mother's reasoning, but she did not question her elder. That was not her place.

It was in the middle of the afternoon and Adrian, Christian, Eddie, and Lissa were seated in the living room. Jill was upstairs, having a nap, and Alberta had disappeared somewhere. After their meeting the night before, with Olena's insistence, their group had retired to the bedrooms upstairs for some much needed rest. Any fallout from the revelations during their meeting with Abe, or internal discussions over the last twenty four hours had been put on hold. Now as a new day was upon them, and since they had nothing better to do, it was time to hash out what had happened. There was a lot to unpack but Christian was fixated on one specific issue. A very important one at that. Dimitri Belikov.

"Why didn't you tell us everything from the start?" Christian demanded, his attention directed at his ex-girlfriend sitting on the edge of the couch adjacent to him. He wanted her to explain herself.

Eddie could not help but nod in agreement. He was not angry like Christian was, but he did not appreciate their deceit. "Keeping secrets could have put us at a disadvantage," he chimed in letting his opinion be known.

"Yeah, we deserved to know!" Christian snapped before either spirit user could respond. Overnight his annoyance had shifted to anger and it was getting harder to control himself.

Lissa hesitated under his scrutiny. She took a deep breath and cleared her throat before speaking. "We planned on telling you guys…" she started before her ex-boyfriend interrupted, cutting her off.

"Pfft…when?" he scoffed in complete disbelief. He hated being lied to or intentionally misled. "You've had plenty of opportunities to fill us in so far," he ranted in an accusatory tone.

"We wanted to make sure you two were not going to go off half-cocked into a potentially deadly situation," Adrian interjected taking the heat off of Lissa.

This situation was not her fault. In fact, she had warned him that something like this would happen if they withheld the information from the others. He had chosen to remain silent regardless of what their feelings would be about his decision. In Adrian's opinion, it was what was best for the group.

Christian did not seem to agree with the spirit user's assessment of the situation. "What the actual fuck," was his exasperated outcry. His foul language earned him a glare from Lissa, but he did not notice. "You honestly think we're that stupid?" he spat taking offence to Adrian's criticism.

Adrian sighed running a hand through his messy hair. "You don't have the best track record there, Fire Boy."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" he bit back clenching his fists in his lap.

Lissa shook her head. "Adrian, this isn't how to go about this," she spoke up hoping to quickly diffuse the situation before it escalated.

However, Christian refused to let it go. "No Lis, he needs to answer the question."

"Did you forget about the stunt you two pulled at the Lodge and what subsequently happened in Spokane?" Adrian questioned with a raised brow.

Eddie's gaze fell to the floor at the mention of their disastrous escapade in Spokane. "That's a fair point," he admitted sadly, his shoulders sagging.

"Hey," Christian interjected. "I went with Rose to stop Eddie, Mason, and Mia. That is not on me," he argued in his own defence.

"What about when Viktor Dashkov took me?" Lissa stated in an effort to support Adrian's reasoning and why she went along with his suggestion. When the dark haired Moroi turned to look at her, she shot him a pointed look. "You stowed away in the car and almost got yourself killed," she reminded him.

Christian opened his mouth to speak, however, he stopped himself before he did. He paused to process her words. "Ok, you have a point there," he admitted. "But this is a totally different situation."

"Is it though?" Adrian countered.

"It's more dangerous," Eddie chimed in before Christian could argue further. His expression was hard, serious. When all eyes were on him, the Dhampir continued. "If we want Rose, we have to go through Strigoi. Through a Strigoi Guardian Belikov."

Lissa nodded in agreeance with Eddie's statement, but did not add to it. There was no need. They all knew what was at stake and what would happen should they fail. "We also thought that if we told you, and you no longer wanted to take part in this mission, that you would try to stop us," she explained folding her hands in her lap to keep from fidgeting.

Eddie immediately shook his head. "I wouldn't have done that," he stated trying to mask the hurt look on his face.

"Me either," Christian grumbled clearly offended by the assumption.

"I didn't want to take that chance," Lissa confessed feeling very guilty for thinking the worst of her two friends. She bit her bottom lip and looked down at her hands. "We were going to tell you when we had more information. Something to lead us in the right direction."

"That doesn't make it right," Christian argued annoyed by her excuses. He had every right to be. The point was that they should have been informed from the get go, period. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. "Especially now that we have dragged Jill in to this," he added.

Adrian shrugged his shoulders dismissively at this. "It was her choice."

"Yes, a misinformed one," the fire user snapped in response.

"I agree with Christian on this," Eddie stated tilting his head in Christian's direction. "Jill is too young for this."

"You guys are right," was all Lissa could offer up on the subject. "We should have been more transparent," she concluded solemnly, her eyes downcast focused on her folded hands once again.

A small but tense silence settled over them for a moment before Eddie cleared his throat to speak. "Does Alberta know?" he asked looking to the Princess for an answer.

Lissa nodded unfolding her hands and fiddling with the sleeve of her shirt. "She told me she knew back at the hotel in St. Petersburg," she replied tucking her hair behind her ears. "She overheard me and Adrian talking. I think that's why she wanted to come with us."

Christian hit his knee in frustration. "Great, so we were the only ones left in the dark," he complained, glaring at his ex-girlfriend.

"At least we know now," Eddie commented pleased that, at least, Alberta had known the full scope of their mission. It made him feel a little better about the situation. If Alberta had not made them turn back, she must have some kind of plan on how to deal with the Strigoi that were between them and Rose.

"I'm sorry. I was just doing what I thought was best for the group," Lissa apologized quietly.

Eddie placed his hand on her knee. "It's ok," he assured her offering a small smile, squeezing her knee gently. "I get it," he stated with a nod before removing his hand.

Christian scoffed leaning back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest. "Yeah, sure."

Adrian rolled his eyes. "Don't blame Lissa," he spoke up in the Princess' defence. "The decision not to tell you was my idea," he explained trying to take some of the heat off of Lissa. She had wanted to tell them about Dimitri, but he had convinced her to keep it between the two of them. "She was only doing what I asked."

This admission set Christian off again. "Of course it was your fucking idea."

"Christian, stop," Lissa snapped swatting his knee for his foul language. They were guests in this house; it was rude.

"Yes, this is getting out of hand," Eddie stated voicing his agreement. He rubbed his hands on his legs. "What's done is done." He turned to Christian, a determined expression on his face. "This conversation is over," he stated firmly.

"Are you kidding me?" he cried outraged that Eddie would side with Lissa in this. The Dhampir had been just as angry about being left out as Christian had been, when they had discussed the matter in their shared room the night before. He had thought they were in this together.

Eddie did not react to his outburst, remaining calm and collected as was expected of him. "Arguing about this now will get us nowhere. We need to move forward, not backward. It's best if we focus our energy on something else."

Their conversation was interrupted by a firm knock on the front door. The sound was not overly loud, but it immediately ceased their discussion and shifted their attention to the entrance of the house. They had company.

Olena emerged from the kitchen, an apron tied snuggly around her waist, wiping her hands on the dish towel in her hands to dry them. The mother of four had been busy washing the dishes in the sink so that she could begin preparing dinner for her family, as well as her many guests. She draped the damp towel over her shoulder as she approached the door, speaking softly to herself in Russian. She paid no mind to the group seated in her living room.

When she opened the door, there was a young man standing there, waiting patiently, with a friendly smile on his face. He was a Dhampir and looked to be around the same age as Christian, Eddie, and Lissa. He had messy bronze coloured hair with brown eyes. Olena seemed to know him as she smiled warmly before greeting him in Russian, which he returned wholeheartedly.

"It's good to see you Nikolai. What brings you by?" Olena asked the young man, switching to English. This was mostly for the benefit of her other guests as she did not want to be rude by excluding them.

The young man's cheeks dusted pink, and he scratched the back of his neck nervously. "I was wondering when Vika was due home," Nikolai stated suddenly feeling self-conscious about his inquiry.

Olena's expression softened. "She should be here Saturday morning. She's taking the shuttle after class," she answered softly giving the teenager a knowing look. It was no secret to her that Nikolai had a crush on her youngest daughter. The boy made it very obvious. Olena thought it was rather cute.

Nikolai nodded in acknowledgement, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Do you mind if I stop by and see her?" he asked politely.

A small laugh flittered from her lips, her eyes crinkling in her mirth. "Of course not. I'm sure she'll be happy to see you."

The corners of his lips turned up into a small smile at Olena's comment. It was then that movement behind her caught Nikolai's attention. Glancing over the older woman's shoulder he could see into the main area of the house. Instantly he spotted the group of unfamiliar faces seated in the living room.

His brown eyes widened in surprise. "I'm sorry for interrupting," he began his cheeks reddening further, embarrassed. "It seems like you have a full house right now," he commented sheepishly.

Olena scoffed waving her hand dismissively. "It's no bother to me. These people are here looking for someone," she explained simply, not delving into detail.

At Olena's explanation, Nikolai's smile fell and his expression grew serious. "Who?"

"Do you remember the girl who was staying with us over Easter?" she asked already knowing that the young man would remember. Rose was a hard person to forget, and she had really made an impression here.

He blinked a few times in surprise before his shoulders stiffened. "You mean Rose?" he inquired quickly recalling the beautiful and hard-headed girl that Viktoria had introduced him to a few weeks before.

The way Nikolai said her best friend's name immediately caught Lissa's attention. It was clear that her missing status concerned him. The blonde Princess rose to her feet, her gaze focused on the Dhampir standing on the front porch. "Do you know Rose?" she asked politely.

Nikolai bristled at her stare and schooled his expression, putting his mask in place. "I met her a couple times," he began slowly. "My brother knew her better. They spent some time together, I mean, they hunted together," he added realizing just how that had sounded.

"Hunted?" Eddie questioned curiously, remaining seated on the couch.

Nikolai nodded in confirmation. "Strigoi," was his simple reply. "My brother and his friends go to Novosibirsk periodically and kill the Strigoi that wander into the area," he continued scratching the back of his neck once more. "At least, that's what Denis told me."

"Denis is your brother?" Adrian asked for clarification.

"Yeah. They call themselves 'the Unpromised'," he explained shifting his feet nervously with all of the eyes on him. "They're not sworn Guardians."

"I've heard of groups like that," Alberta interjected from the doorway to the kitchen.

She had come in through the back door having been working out in the backyard. The Head Guardian had wanted to do something productive with her down time. Keeping herself in fighting shape was a benefit to their group and their efforts. She had overheard their conversation from the kitchen when she had come inside for some water.

"It's tough, and dangerous, but it's what he wants to do," Nikolai explained rolling his shoulders to release tension. "Him and his group just got home yesterday."

Lissa perked up at this news, hope filling her eyes. "Can we talk to him?" she asked eager to find some new information about her friend. "He might be able to tell us something that could help us locate her," she continued justified in her request, clasping her hands in front of her.

"We're very worried about her," Eddie chimed in.

With his hands in his pockets, Nikolai shrugged his shoulders in a non-committal fashion. "I can ask him, but I don't know if he can tell you anything," he explained not wanting to put words in his older brother's mouth. He honestly had no idea if Denis knew anything useful. However, it was entirely possible that he could.

Olena placed her hand on the young man's arm, squeezing it gently. "Anything could help," she said her tone gentle and reassuring.

"We would really appreciate it," Lissa implored her fingers twitching with the urge to fidget. While she did not want to get her hopes up, she was dying for something they could go off of.

The young man looked away in thought for a moment before he gave the Princess a curt nod. "I'll see what I can do," was his honest response.

It was a non-committal answer, but it was enough to satisfy Lissa. "Thank you," was her genuinely grateful reply.

Nikolai nodded at the Princess' gratitude before bidding Olena farewell and waving to those in the living room. Without another word he turned walking off the front porch. They watched as the young man walked down the street, heading towards the main area of town. Once he had disappeared from view, Olena closed the door and wordlessly made her way back to the kitchen to finish her interrupted task.

"The Unpromised?" Christian questioned aloud with a raised brow. It was not posed to anyone in particular.

It was Alberta who answered his inquiry. "Some Dhampirs, in communes like this one, don't always complete their training as Guardians, or they choose not to serve as Guardians after graduating," she began to explain. "Some of them decide to be proactive and go hunting the Strigoi rather than protect the Moroi," the Head Guardian stated.

"Like vigilantes?" Jill piped excitedly from the stairs, drawing attention to herself.

The knock at the front door had brought her down to investigate. Groups like 'The Unpromised' were only heard of in fiction, like comic books and movies. The idea of real vigilantes working to rid the world of the Strigoi was very exciting to think about.

Alberta shrugged dismissively. "Of sorts," she replied noting the similarities, although there were some key differences. "These groups have high mortality rates. Most of them don't last long." Her expression was grim and her voice remained stern.

"I'm surprised Rose would involve herself with people like that," Lissa commented knowing how much the events in Spokane had affected her best friend.

Mason's death had been a sobering experience and Rose's attitude had shifted quite drastically as a result. She had become more dedicated to her training than ever before. Those events in Spokane had made her work harder and take things more seriously. Going rogue was not something she could picture Rose doing, not anymore. Then again, on the same note, Rose did leave the Academy, withdrawing from her training, practically throwing away everything she had worked so hard for. All for someone she loved. Someone who was not Lissa and that the Princess had no idea about until it was too late. The more Lissa thought about it the more she realized how little she knew about her best friend.

Rose knew Lissa better than anyone, sometimes even better than Lissa knew herself, but could she really say the same thing? With everything that had happened over the last few months, all the changes, and the secrecy between them, did she really know Rose? There were so many signs that said she did not. It was as if the two were strangers instead of sisters. Lissa truly was a bad friend.

"I'm not," Eddie chimed in, which earned him a weird look from the Princess. The Dhampir shrugged his shoulders in response. "With what she came here to do, I'm not surprised at all," he stated in explanation, defending his opinion.

"Neither am I," Alberta agreed seeing the logic in Rose's decision.

Rose had a good head on her shoulders and, although she was sometimes impulsive and would dive in head first without hesitation, her actions were not, usually, without reason. She was looking for Dimitri and the truth is that she had a far better chance of finding him if she actively sought out the Strigoi rather than waiting to happen upon one at random. Also, hunting in a group was far better than going in alone. There was safety in numbers. The idea made perfect sense to Alberta.

"I think it's a very Rose thing to do," was Christian's opinion on the subject.

"It was rather smart of her," Alberta added tilting her head to the side with a smirk on her face. "There is safety in numbers," she stated voicing her thoughts.

Adrian snorted at the Guardian's choice of words. "Yeah, a lot of good that did her," he spat bitterly.

"Adrian…," Lissa started with a sigh before Adrian continued to speak, raising his voice and talking over her, effectively cutting her off.

"This whole mission of hers was fucking stupid," he ranted angrily, running his hand through his hair vigorously before rising to his feet. "I can't deal with this shit right now. I'm going upstairs," he announced clenching and unclenching his fists, walking briskly towards the stairs, and brushing passed a concerned and confused looking Jill.

As he did so, Adrian grumbled quietly to himself. However, he was not quiet enough to avoid being heard. It was angry mutterings of seemingly random phrases, such as 'good job', 'stupid' followed by a random slew of expletives, 'why the fuck did I do that', and 'fucking cradle robber'. All seemed to be self-deprecating terms as he was clearly talking to himself. This muttering continued even as he disappeared from view. His negativity only seemed to be getting worse as the days passed, and it was beginning to grow worrisome. He was letting the darkness get the best of him.

Christian's brows furrowed, an annoyed expression forming on his face as he watched Adrian leave. "What crawled up his ass?" he remarked with his usual snarky tone.

Jill looked between the two men before shrugging her shoulders in a silent display of her ignorance. She liked Adrian. He did not treat her like a kid. However, the reason for his drastic mood shifts was a mystery to her.

Lissa only sighed and shook her head. "I don't know," was all she could say.

"We all react to stress differently," Alberta offered up as an explanation.

Although she did not approve of the spirit user's behaviour, she could understand it given the situation they were currently facing. Adrian had borne the brunt of the financial and emotional burden of their mission. He was as close to this situation as Lissa and it showed. While he did try his best to be supportive, it was hard to maintain that front constantly. Even Guardians could not always be positive. Quite the opposite really.

Christian scoffed at this. "Yeah, 'stress', sure," he commented using finger quotes.

"Christian don't start," Lissa snapped with a groan. This was not the time nor the place for her ex-boyfriend to start complaining. "I don't want to hear it."

Eddie nodded. "Yes, I think we've had enough arguing for today. We can talk later when everyone is a bit more level headed," he stated being the voice of reason.

"Where are you going?" Christian asked as Lissa rose to her feet and made her way towards the kitchen.

"I'm going to see if I can help Olena with anything," Lissa explained smoothing the wrinkles out of her shirt. "It doesn't feel right to have her wait on us after we have taken over her home."

This idea seemed great to Jill. "I want to help too," she announced happily.

Jill liked Olena, and wanted to help repay the Dhampir woman for her kindness in any way that she could. She practically skipped as she made her way across the room, falling into step with Lissa, both girls disappearing into the kitchen.

"Eddie, would you like to join me in the backyard?" Alberta asked before taking a sip from the water bottle in her hand. "It would be good for both of us," she suggested, offering him a small encouraging smile.

The younger Dhampir shrugged. "Yeah, sounds good," he replied rising to his feet. "I'll just go change."

The older Guardian nodded. "I'll be out back," was all she said before turning and heading back outside.

Eddie glanced at Christian before heading upstairs leaving the dark haired Moroi alone in the living room.

Christian leaned back in his chair putting his hands behind his head. "Guess it's just me," he mumbled to himself with a small sigh.

---

It was a few hours later when Nikolai returned to the house announcing that his brother had agreed to speak with the Americans. In fact, Denis had been very curious about the group of Moroi that his little brother had told him about. That they were searching for their missing friend. Rogue Dhampirs, like Rose had been, rarely had anyone come looking for them, let alone a group of Moroi. Their apparent devotion to their friend had intrigued the unpromised Dhampir. Such a thing was completely unheard of.

Adrian had opted to stay behind at the Belikova's with Jill, who had promised to keep an eye on the spirit user. He claimed that he had not slept well the night before, but that was just an excuse. The truth was that Adrian had spent most of the night, after speaking with Abe for some time, drinking away his frustrations. As a result, he was sporting a rather sizeable hangover, which was making the young man much more irritable than he had been recently. This information helped to explain, although not justify, his outburst and grumbling earlier. With his mood so low, his presence at this meeting was more likely to be a hindrance rather than provide anything useful. It was best that he remained behind.

Nikolai led the rest of their group, Alberta, Christian, Eddie, and Lissa, over to his house to speak with his older brother. It was a short walk away, only a few streets over. Their house was smaller than the Belikova home, but it was only Nikolai, Denis, and their mother who resided in the single-story dwelling. It was enough for their small family.

As they approached the house, Nikolai noticed the extra vehicle pulled up out front and knew that they had company. This discovery was no surprise to the young Dhampir as he expected Denis would tell his friends about Rose's American friends. They must have been interested as well. The others behind him followed Nikolai up the front steps and into the small house.

As soon as they entered, four sets of eyes were immediately upon them. In the main room they were met by four more Dhampirs, three males and one female. All of them were fairly young, appearing to be a little older than the teenagers present. The female was, unsurprisingly, the smallest of them all. She had long brown hair, which had been pulled up into a messy bun, with freckles littering her face. One could describe her as mousy. The two males sat on either side of her on the sofa and had very different appearances than one another. The one on her right was tall and lean with ashy blonde hair and slate grey eyes. The other one, on her left closest to the door, was not quite as tall, though he would not be considered short in any capacity. He was well-built, more so than his friend, with short black hair and brown eyes.

The final Dhampir in the room sat in an armchair, adjacent to the couch, facing the front door. It was clear that he was the oldest of them. He had a similar build to the darker haired Dhampir on the opposite end of the sofa. His hair was the same bronze shade as Nikolai's, and they also shared the same brown eyes. With the similarities in their appearance, it was obvious that this person was their escort's brother, Denis.

Denis sat, leaning back against the chair, sharpening a stake in his hands. The subtle but steady screech of the metal grinding against each other was unnerving. He nodded at Nikolai in greeting the rhythmic movement of his hands never faltering.

"Hey Denis," Nikolai greeted his brother with a small wave. "These are the people I was telling you about," he explained gesturing to the group of four trailing in behind him.

The older boy stopped his movements, placing the stake down on the coffee table in front of him. The metal hitting the wood made a dull 'thud'. "Right," he began clearing his throat. "You're here about Rose," he stated leaning forward and resting his elbow on his knee.

"Yes," Lissa spoke up with a nod, stepping forward. "I'm Lissa and these are my friends Alberta, Christian, and Eddie," she announced gesturing to each individual as she introduced them.

Denis followed her lead. "This is Lev, Tamara, and Artur. My crew," he stated each person nodding in acknowledgement as he said their names. "Tamara doesn't know much English, so excuse her silence," he explained swiftly. "What can I do for you?" he prompted raising a brow.

"Rose is a good friend of ours," Lissa began tucking her long pale hair behind her ears. It was the simplest explanation as she did not want to go into great detail. "She's missing," she managed to force out.

"Yeah, we're here looking for her," Eddie chimed in sensing that this group would be more receptive to another Dhampir rather than a Moroi.

Alberta knew exactly what Eddie was doing and shot him an approving look. His assessment of the situation was very astute. "Do you have any idea where she could be?" she added, questioning the group of unpromised Dhampirs before her.

Denis was silent for a moment, thinking, before shrugging his broad shoulders. "No clue," was his flat response. "We weren't together for long," he clarified picking his stake back up and rolling it in his grip.

"We know Rose," Lev spoke up, gesturing to the other Dhampirs seated on the sofa as he did so.

Artur nodded once agreeing with his friend. "Yeah, she was hunting with us for a while," he remarked. His accent was much thicker than the other two males. It was a little more difficult to understand him because of it. "She had us capture some, she would question them, then let them go." He paused for a moment before adding, "She was looking for something."

Lev shook his head causing his hair to fall into his eyes. "Not something, someone. Dimitri, I think she said his name was."

"Yeah, Viktoria's brother," Nikolai exclaimed instantly recognizing the name and Rose's connection to him.

"She just disappeared one night." Artur shrugged his left shoulder. "We just assumed she found what she was looking for."

"Yeah, and once she found it, she just left," Lev added in for his friend.

"Well, that's not what happened at all. I wish it was," Lissa stated despondently.

Denis' expression grew serious as he sensed that something sinister had taken place. "What do you mean?" he asked interested in what the blonde Moroi had to say.

"What happen?" the girl, Tamara piped up. Her accent was so thick that it was hard to understand what she had said. However, when she spoke it drew everyone's attention which clearly made Tamara uncomfortable. It seemed like the girl could understand them well enough to follow the conversation.

"She was captured," Eddie bluntly stated.

"Captured," Denis repeated slowly, processing this information. "By who?" he asked leaning back in his chair as he regarded his guests with intrigue.

"Strigoi," Alberta spoke up answering their question.

"The one she was looking for," Lissa added solemnly. "Dimitri has her," she clarified when she realized how vague that sounded.

Denis remained silent for a moment, pondering their words carefully. He ran his hand over his stubbled chin and cleared his throat before speaking. "Are you sure?"

Lissa nodded curtly. "I'm certain."

"Not to sound rude," Denis continued picking his stake up from where he had placed it on the table. He began to twirl it in his grip. "But how could you possibly know that?" he probed, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Seriously?" Christian scoffed in disbelief.

Lissa shot her ex a disapproving look before turning her attention back to the unpromised Dhampir. "We know because we managed to contact her a few times over the last few weeks," the blonde Princess explained trying not to give them too much information. She did not know yet if they could be trusted.

However, unfortunately for them, Denis was not satisfied with that response. Ever observant, he immediately picked up on her attempt to gloss over the information. "And how did you manage that?" he asked raising an eyebrow in suspicion.

Christian rolled his eyes. "That's not important right now."

"I'm a spirit user," Lissa explained ignoring the annoyed look she received from Christian when she proceeded despite his statement. "One of our other companions is one as well. Our magic can do many things and it's not well known or understood," she continued realizing they would get no where without a proper explanation. "Our friend can visit people's dreams. That's how he contacted Rose."

"She's in serious danger and we need to get her out as soon as possible," Eddie added for emphasis.

Denis seemed to ponder this for a moment before pointing the sharp end of the stake at Lissa. It was not in a threatening way, but more as an extension of his arm. "Who is she to you?" he inquired.

Lissa's eyes hardened and her gaze locked with Denis'. "She's like a sister to me. My family," she replied firmly without hesitation. "Rose is all I have left."

There was a few moments of silence as the weight of the Princess' words filled the room. It was clear by the way she spoke that Lissa meant every word of what she said. It was undeniable that she cared deeply for Rose.

"How bad is it?" Lev spoke up breaking the pensive mood they had all found themselves in.

Alberta was the one to respond. "Bad."

Artur frowned. "I thought she took off, not that she got captured," he remarked solemnly.

Lev nodded his head dramatically. "Yeah, we thought she was indestructible," he confessed honestly. He had admired Rose greatly and he had learned a lot from her in their short time hunting together. She was one tough chick and was just as deadly as she was beautiful.

"Even the mighty can fall," Alberta stated knowing the truth of those words all too well.

Denis agreed. "That they do."

"Do you know where she is?" Artur asked curious to know how much information they had managed to gather regarding the whereabouts of their captive friend.

"That's the thing," Christian piped up rejoining the conversation after Lissa brushed him off. "She only told us that she was in Russia. We don't have an exact location."

"I hate to say this," Denis began cautiously, "but I'm not all that surprised."

Christian narrowed his eyes at the older man. "And what do you mean by that?" the fire user practically demanded.

"I liked Rose, but that girl was always running head first into trouble," Denis clarified, picking up his sharpening stone before his hands resumed the task of sharpening his weapon as he had been before.

"Rose was brave," Tamara stated with a firm nod. Admiration could be seen in her eyes. The older girl had admired Rose because of how fearless she seemed to be and how talented she was in her abilities. Rose's presence and prowess on their last hunt had made her feel safe and more confident in her own abilities.

Denis scoffed in disapproval. "Brave, but reckless," he retorted glibly.

"Everyone has their faults," Lissa spoke up in her friend's defence. "Rose isn't perfect, but she's loyal and fiercely passionate in the things that she does."

"She was tough, I'll give her that," was all Denis said in response.

"Do you have any information? Anything you could give us would help," Alberta butted in drawing the conversation away from Rose and her flaws and into a more productive direction.

Denis shook his head. "Afraid not. We know about as little as you do. She was with us, then she vanished as quickly as she came."

"We helped, but Rose mostly did her own thing," Lev explained with a shrug.

As he said this, Tamara rose from her spot on the couch beside him. Wordlessly, paying no mind to the others around her, the brunette Dhampir left the room and disappeared into the kitchen.

"How are you looking for her?" Nikolai asked having remained silent throughout the exchange.

Eddie rolled his shoulders back glancing at Alberta for approval before speaking. "We have someone with connections looking into possible locations for us," he explained curtly.

Denis eyed him suspiciously knowing only one individual who would be capable of accomplishing such an arduous task. "How much is that costing you?" he inquired turning his attention back to the movement of his hands.

Lissa hesitated for a moment before replying, contemplating her words carefully. It was clear that he knew they were working with Abe. That knowledge may have just lost them the Dhampir's trust. "We have a mutual interest," she stated bluntly.

The admission only seemed to make Denis even more suspicious. "Well, then you don't need our help," was his dismissive retort.

Artur reacted first by turning to his friend in surprise. "We should help," he disagreed.

Denis scoffed stopping his movements once more. "And what would we do to help," he questioned focusing his attention on his dark haired friend. "What can you do that Zmey can't?" he pressed when met with a blank expression. One of the last things he wanted to do was get mixed up with Zmey. That man was nothing but bad news.

Artur thought for a moment before rolling his shoulders back. "We can fight."

"Yeah, if they're going after Strigoi, we should help," Lev agreed. None of them had known Rose for long, but all of them had a great amount of respect for her. He did not like the idea of sitting on the sidelines when someone he considered a friend was in trouble. "The more of us the better, right?"

Denis' expression darkened and his hand clenched tightly around the cool metal of the weapon in his grasp. "We all have our reasons for doing what we do," he began, his voice lowering into an almost threatening tone. "Rose made her own fate searching for something she should have left alone. Leave it at that." There was a finality to Denis' words that let them know exactly how against this idea he was. He had no desire to discuss the matter any further.

Lev sighed in annoyance that their 'leader' did not seem to share their sense of allegiance to Rose. She had saved their necks many times with that Strigoi sixth sense that she seemed to possess. "Denis…" he said before he was abruptly cut off.

"I want to help," Tamara announced speaking slowly as she walked back into the room. She had a case of beer tucked underneath her arm.

Artur reached out taking the case from her and put it down on his end of the coffee table. "We're not like the Moroi," he argued opening the box. He retrieved two cans offering one to Tamara who took it with a nod of thanks. "We take care of our own," he concluded popping the tab of the can.

Lev nodded several times taking a can for himself. "She'd do the same for us," he reasoned more confidently now that all of his friends were backing him up.

"She would," Eddie chimed in agreeing with Lev's assessment of Rose's character. His friend had that 'no man left behind' attitude, unless it was herself.

Lissa was surprised by their willingness and eagerness to help them in whatever capacity that they could. They seemed to genuinely care and it warmed her heart. It was just like Rose to make an impression and have people who barely knew her want to help her. It was very touching really.

Denis scoffed rising from his seat, but only enough to retrieve a beer for himself before settling back down. Despite his seemingly relaxed posture it was clear from his expression that the Dhampir was irritated.

"Are you guys seriously considering this?" His friends all nodded swiftly in response. "You guys are nuts," he commented in exasperation before taking a large drink from his beer. He drained half of the can in one go.

Denis' attitude seem to annoy Artur who scowled at the older man. "You know, you don't have to come with us," he stated, his jaw clenched. "You're not the boss of us, we can make our own choices without your input," he continued gruffly.

There was a small 'ting' of metal as the aluminum can in Denis' grip dented inward from his tight hold. "I never said you had to follow me," he fired back narrowing his eyes at Artur clearly offended by the accusation.

"Then stop trying to tell us what to do," Lev interjected smoothly shooting his dark haired friend, at the opposite end of the sofa, a pointed look. "This is something we want to do," he concluded firmly speaking on behalf of his companions.

Denis could not help but shake his head in disbelief. "We just got back," he retorted in protest.

Artur merely shrugged in response to his attempt at an argument. "So?"

Tamara rolled her eyes at the exchange between the two men. "Enough," she interrupted. There was a small pause as all eyes moved to the brunette. "We go," she announced with finality.

Lev nodded in silent agreement before turning to Denis. "We can do this with or without you," he began taking a drink from his beer. "The question is…"

"Are you in or out?" Artur finished for him.

The older Dhampir paused considering their words, his eyebrows furrowed in thought. After a moment, Denis let out a sigh in defeat. "Alright," he relented before downing the remaining half of his beer. Once emptied, he crushed the can and tossed the crumpled metal onto the floor. "But if shit goes sideways, don't blame me."

Alberta took this as her opportunity to speak up. "We appreciate your assistance," she stated politely.

Denis snorted in disbelief, unmoved by her sentiment. "Sure," he retorted with a scoff. "Guardians like you think little of Dhampirs like us," he criticized, his eyes narrowing at the Head Guardian.

Alberta did not seem at all effected by his harsh gaze. In fact, she shrugged her shoulders in response. "That matters little to me," she replied honestly. "We all walk our own path, whatever it may be."

"We want the same thing," Eddie interjected joining the conversation once more. His sharp gaze focused on Denis. "That's a good reason to stop with the hostility," he continued without pause. "We're not here to judge you."

Denis resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He did not like it, but Eddie was right. They had a mutual understanding. There was no need to put up a front. "Yeah, yeah," he replied waving dismissively.

Sensing the discussion had gone as far as it would for now, Alberta stepped forward producing a small rectangular card from inside her coat pocket. The card displayed a series of numbers. She offered it to Denis, holding the card between her fingers. Denis slowly took the proffered item.

"If you want to help," The Head Guardian began keeping both her voice and expression neutral. Professional, yet also authoritative. "Contact us at this number," she continued one finger tapping the card. "We will coordinate everything with Mr. Mazur once we have more information."

"Name the time and place and we'll be there," Lev stated on behalf of his two friends beside him, who both nodded as well.

Denis' eyes scanned over the card, lifting it up to catch the light. His eyes shifted to the two Dhampir and two Moroi standing among them. "I look forward to it," was all he said. However, the tight and guarded expression on his face did not share any sincerity with his words.

---

Rose sighed in frustration, laying back on the couch of her apartment, staring up at the ceiling and counting the square tiles above her. She had already done so six times thus far today. It had been four hours since Dimitri had left her. He had kept his promise and remained close to her during the day. He had made his exit as soon as the sun had begun to set.

However, Darina had yet to return as Dimitri had assured her. This was the source of Rose's currently mounting anxiety. The witch should have been back by now. Had something happened to her on her excursion? Did Dimitri blame Darina for what happened with Juliana and did something to her? With her continued absence, Rose could only speculate.

The only time that Darina made herself scarce was when Dimitri came to visit, which was understandable. Whether it was from her natural fear of him or at his request, Rose was uncertain. However, knowing Darina and Dimitri both, she leaned more towards the latter as the truth.

While the witch was clearly afraid of the Strigoi, there was a defiance and toughness in her that she tried to keep hidden. However, Rose could see it clearly, and if she could see it she knew that Dimitri could too. He had always been far more observant and intuitive than Rose was, and she doubted that characteristic had changed in his transformation. That resistance within Darina could get the witch into trouble if she chose to act on it. Rose hoped that did not happen here. She did not think Darina would survive if she did.

Rose immediately sat up at the beeping sound coming from the door leading out into the hall. The lock disengaged and the door swung open. To Rose's relief, Darina walked through the door. She had a large canvas bag slung over her one shoulder. The witch eyed Rose curiously noting the Dhampir's relieved expression as she quickly shut the door behind her. There was an audible click as the lock turned. Once it had, Darina visibly relaxed. It was clear by her actions that Rose was not the only person on edge.

Darina paused just inside the room taking in Rose's haggard appearance. Her eyes narrowed as they lingered on the bruising along her neck which had grown deeper and darker in colour over the last several hours. "What happened to you?" she asked placing the bag on the floor beside the door.

Rose did not bother to answer and instead posed a question of her own. "Where were you?" she demanded in an accusatory fashion, pointing her finger at the witch, as she jumped to her feet.

The tone in her voice seemed to confuse Darina. Her head tilted to the side and she raised an eyebrow. "What happened?" she repeated her concern for the Dhampir and her mental state growing. Rose had never been this agitated before.

The dark haired teenager crossed her arms over her chest. "I had a visitor," was her terse retort.

The way she spoke told Darina that by 'visitor' she meant someone else and not Dimitri. Rose would not be behaving in this manner if that had been the case. Darina cautiously approached being careful not to move too quickly or to provoke the younger woman. "Are you ok?" she asked hesitantly.

The Dhampir glared at the witch. "Do I look ok?" she fired back harshly, gesturing to the bruising on her neck.

Darina winced at both the sight of the injury and the sharpness of her response. She did not like the snarky tone of her voice. It was still hoarse and raspy from Juliana's treatment and the sound of it made Darina feel guilty for leaving the young Dhampir alone in the lion's den without her for too long.

"I'm sorry," she stated sincerely offering Rose an apologetic smile.

Seeing her reaction, Rose deflated. What happened was not Darina's fault, it was Juliana's. It made no sense for her to be angry or upset with her witch companion. It was pointless really. They were in similar situations. Darina did not get to decide what to do and had no control over such things. She too was there to cater to Dimitri's whims, although in a much different and less physical capacity.

Rose sighed in defeat. "No, I'm sorry. I'm just on edge," she offered up sheepishly in explanation.

Sensing the emotional shift in her friend, Darina slowly approached the younger girl. "What happened Rose?" she asked again pressing for more details. Her had voice softened along with her expression.

Rose sat back down on the couch unsurprised when Darina moved to sit beside her. The two women sat together in silence for a few minutes as Rose pondered what to say, reliving the events of that morning in vivid detail. The memory sent and involuntary shiver down the young Dhampir's spine. Darina noticed this and reached over taking Rose's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze to show her support. It was clear that whatever had happened in her absence had effected Rose greatly. Darina remained silent, patient, waiting until Rose was ready to speak.

Rose's brown eyes shifted to the door leading into Dimitri's office. The door Juliana had breached to invade the Dhampir's private space. The sense of security she had once felt in her apartment was now tainted by the female Strigoi's presence. The veil had been torn off and she no longer felt safe. At least, not without Dimitri here with her.

The gentle pressure from Darina's hand pulled Rose out of her thoughts and back to reality. Feeling awkward by her wandering mind, she cleared her throat ignoring the pain she felt from the action. "She came in through his office," the Dhampir began her eyes still focused on the door in question. "She grabbed my throat so I couldn't breathe." Rose spoke quietly, her free hand moving to trace her fingers over the bruises on her neck.

Wordlessly, the witch gently grasped Rose's chin. Angling it up, she pushed the Dhampir's long hair back to get a better look at the marks. They looked better up close, but still deep. They would darken further before they would start to fade. Darina frowned lightly probing the bruises noticing the Dhampir try to hide the wince from the pressure.

"Does it hurt?" She knew the answer, but she wanted to know what Rose would say.

Rose shrugged, pulling away from the other woman. "A little bit," she replied downplaying her injuries.

Darina was not fooled. The witch rose from her seat, walking to the door and picking up the canvas bag she had left there. Her hand rooted through the bag searching for something inside as she made her way back to the couch. She placed the bag on the seat beside her producing a small plastic container before putting the bag down by her feet. It looked like a container of moisturizer. She twisted the lip, opening the container, before tilting Rose's head again ignoring the Dhampir's feeble protests. Her fingers dipped inside, scooping out a paste-like substance and rubbing it on the damaged area of her neck. Rose let out a hiss at the sting from the cuts residing there as the substance touched them. Darina apologized but did not stop her ministrations, continuing to massage the creamy substance into her flesh.

"What is that?" Rose asked curiously noting the pungent, yet not unpleasant, aroma.

"It helps promote healing," the older woman explained applying more of the substance to her skin. "I went to get supplies and thought it would help with the bite marks."

Rose blushed looking away from her friend as she saw Darina's eyes move to the fresh bite marks left by Dimitri a few hours before. While the witch might not know of the whole blood whore taboo in the Moroi world, Rose felt self-conscious about the marks and how much she enjoyed being bitten.

"So that's where you were," she commented finally having one of her many questions answered.

Darina merely nodded. "What did she want?" the witch inquired returning the Dhampir's focus to the main topic of their discussion, Rose's unexpected visitor.

Rose shrugged again. This time she did not know the answer, although, she had her suspicions. Women like Juliana always had ulterior motives to their actions. Everything was planned out beforehand. Everything was intentional. Deliberate.

"I think she wanted to toy with me and provoke Dimitri," she offered up in theory.

"Could be," Darina agreed rubbing more of the salve onto Rose's neck, ensuring that the bruises were liberally coated, before closing the container. She decided to leave the bites alone for now. She did not want to use too much of the salve. "I'm sure he didn't take that very well," she commented tossing the small container back into the bag.

Rose scoffed at this. "Not at all. He was pissed."

"He didn't hurt you, did he?" the witch asked eyeing Rose carefully as she did so. Unlike the Dhampir, she did not hold any warm feelings towards their Strigoi keeper. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Darina hated Dimitri and would rather see his head on a pike.

"No he didn't," she replied adamantly, shaking her head as she did so.

Darina nodded, satisfied that it was the truth. "Good," was all she uttered in acknowledgement.

Rose placed her hand on her neck, running her fingers along the darkened skin feeling the numbing effect of the salve. It muted the pain and left an odd tingling sensation behind. However, it was not unpleasant, although, the same could not be said for the smell. The pungent and earthy aroma it emanated burned her nose, but she could ignore that. She would get used to it soon enough. The cream-like substance truly did help to ease the discomfort she had been feeling due to her assault. The witch's thoughtfulness and act of kindness was greatly appreciated.

Darina watched her movements and the corners of her eyes crinkled in amusement. It had taken her quite some time to gather the necessary ingredients and for her to prepare the mixture, but seeing what had happened to the Dhampir, Darina was glad she had gone through the effort.

"Feeling better?" she inquired gently.

The witch's voice seemed to snap Rose out of her thoughts. "Yes, thank you."

The older woman smiled patting the Dhampir on the knee. "I have something for you," she announced before reaching for the bag.

Rose watched with curiosity as the witch searched through the contents once more. However, this time she did not have to search as hard for what she was looking for. It was only a moment or two before Darina pulled out a plastic grocery bag. The thin plastic was wrapped snuggly around the bundle inside protecting it from the other contents that were tucked inside the cream coloured bag.

"Here," Darina stated holding the bundle out for Rose to take.

The Dhampir eyed the crudely wrapped package curiously before gingerly taking hold of it allowing Darina to release her grip. It was soft, but heavier than she anticipated. "What is it?" she asked not taking her eyes off of the mysterious gift in her hands.

"Pants." A simple and direct response.

Rose's nose wrinkled up, not in disgust, but rather confusion. She easily peeled back the thin plastic revealing the neatly folded material inside. It was denim, worn and soft. She ran her hand over the thick fabric before unfurling the garment. Jeans. They looked like they might fit her, but it was hard to tell. They were not new, but that did not really matter, but it made her curious.

"Where did you get these?" she asked casting her gaze to the older woman beside her.

"They're mine," Darina supplied simply with a one armed shrug. "Might be a bit tight, but they should fit."

The Dhampir frowned, her hands dropping to her lap, the jeans still clutched in her hands. "I can't take these," she stated firmly.

The witch immediately shook her head. "You can, and you will," she insisted shooting Rose a sharp look. "You need them more than I do."

Rose knew that look and knew that there was no point in arguing with Darina. Her mind was made up and these pants belonged to her now. She bit her bottom lip as she held them up again her fingers twitching as she briefly inspected them. After a moment, she stood up, trying to hide her excitement, and stepping into the garment. She had to shimmy her hips as she pulled them up to get them over her hips and thighs. Darina was right, they were quite snug, but they did fit. It was not surprising because the witch had a few less curves than Rose did.

Once the jeans were secure around her waist, Rose pulled off the flimsy skirt she had been wearing. Her hands slid down her hips and the sides of her thighs as she looked down at her body. It felt nice to be covered. She had not realized until now how much she had missed pants. That was not something someone usually had to deal with. Suddenly, she wished that she had more than one pair. It was so strange how the simple addition of a piece of clothing could give you a sense of security. Like it was a piece of armor protecting her from the world. That was a feeling that she really needed right now.

While Rose was preoccupied, Darina had wandered to the kitchenette. She emptied the bag in her grasp, putting the contents away as she fluttered about. Most of the items were food stuffs but there were other necessities as well. She left those items in the bag, placing it on the counter once she was finished. It was not much, but Darina had not had a lot of time to procure what she needed. Eventually they would need more and she was not sure when she would be able to go out again. It would have to do for now.

Once she was finished with her self-assessment, Rose turned to look at Darina. "Thank you," she said sincerely, wrapping her arms around her torso.

A warm smile blossomed on the witch's face, softening her normally stiff features. The expression made her look younger. It suited her. "You're welcome," she replied pleased that her size estimation had been accurate.

Darina grabbed the bag again and disappeared into the small bathroom where she placed it in the sink. She left it there to put away later. Heading back into the living room, she clapped her hands together. "Now, how about we get you some food?" she suggested enthusiastically trying to keep the mood positive.

Before Rose could respond a loud gurgling sound could be heard coming from her stomach, as if it agreed with the older woman. In reaction to both the sound and the sensation, the Dhampir looked down, resting her hand over the rumbling of her empty stomach. It really had been a while since she had last eaten, and after letting Dimitri feed from her, she would need a good meal.

She looked up at Darina once the sound stopped. "You read my mind," she replied barely able to refrain from laughing at the perfect timing of it all.

The same could not be said for Darina. A quiet but genuine laugh escaped her which made Rose's composure crack. She too began to laugh.

---

"You know, it's hard to sleep when there are people staring at you," Christian grumbled in complaint.

The dark haired Moroi had his eyes closed as he laid flat on his back on the bed, upstairs, in one of the bedrooms in the Belikova home. His hands were clasped together, resting on his stomach, as he tried to relax enough to, hopefully, fall asleep. When he had agreed earlier to help Lissa with her efforts to dream walk, this was not quite what he had in mind. Lying on the bed with both Adrian and Lissa hovering over him. The two spirit users were watching and waiting for him to fall asleep so that the Princess could try to connect with his consciousness and enter his dreams.

Lissa frowned at his comment, but she had to agree with his assessment. "He's right. This isn't working," she stated her lips tightening into a thin line. "We won't get anywhere this way," she added turning to Adrian.

"Do you have a better idea?" Adrian asked her with a raised brow.

Christian pushed himself up into a sitting position. "Yeah, maybe wait until I actually fall asleep," he suggested in a sarcastic tone. "You know, at night, when we have been sleeping."

"Christian don't," Lissa chastised quickly before an argument could start between the two men. Her patience for their frequent bickering was growing thin.

Having Christian and Adrian fighting was completely counterproductive to their task and would do nothing but aggravate her. If that happened there was no way that she would be able to concentrate enough to try and dream walk. She needed to remain calm, composed, and to maintain peace and tranquility in order to commune with her magic in the way she needed.

"There is no need to be facetious," she added once she was satisfied that the two men both listened to her request. "Christian is right, it would be better to try this when he is already sleeping," she explained in complete agreement with her ex-boyfriend's suggestion. It made perfect sense to her.

Adrian rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up in the air. A physical representation of his frustration. "Fine," he cried out. "We'll try again later," he grumbled annoyed to be putting the matter off yet again. They were never going to accomplish anything if they continued at this rate.

"Adrian, you need to relax," Lissa interjected before the other spirit user could go on another rant as he had earlier this morning. "It's only a few more hours. I should get some rest before trying again anyways," she explained feeling a little lightheaded after the effort of tapping into her magic.

It had been a couple days since she, or the other Moroi in their group, had last had blood. She would have to ask Abe about locating some feeders for their group. There were four of them and they would all need blood, and soon.

Lissa sighed, rising to her feet from her position kneeling beside the bed. "Let's wrap this up for now," she suggested patting Christian on the knee. "We'll try again later," the Princess added shooting Adrian a pointed look.

Christian nodded. "Good idea." There was no sarcasm.

Adrian only rolled his eyes before turning to leave the room. His unnecessary silence was not only rude but also showed his frustration. The abrupt change in his attitude just days ago at the hotel was alarming. Perhaps the gravity of the situation and their increasing desperation to find their friend were really taking their toll on his emotional and mental health.

As he opened the door the Princess called out to him. "Remember we have to meet with Mr. Mazur and his people tomorrow," Lissa reminded him.

The older spirit user sighed shaking his head as he spoke. "How could I forget," he commented with tight lips nearly slamming the door behind him as he left the room.

The tension in the air seemed to disappear as soon as Adrian made his exit. However, an awkward silence was left in his wake. Lissa shifted her feet in discomfort unsure of what to say or do now.

It was Christian who broke the silence. "I'm sorry Lis," he apologized. Despite his complaining he honestly wanted to help her. His inability to fall asleep made him feel as though he was letting her down.

The Princess sighed again. "It's not your fault," she stated turning and sitting down on the edge of the bed beside him. "I may be too ambitious, she continued her fingers intertwining as she began to wring her hands together. "What if I can't do it?" she quietly voiced her fear, biting her bottom lip.

Christian frowned and placed his hand over hers stopping her movements. "Then we'll figure something else out," he assured her giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "You're being too hard on yourself."

Although they were no longer romantically involved, Christian still held strong feelings for Lissa. He could see better than anyone how much this situation was getting to her too. How much the pressure was effecting her. The Princess was normally very practical, level headed, and confident in her abilities. It was hard to see her struggle and not being able to help her in any real capacity. Still, he wanted to support her in any way that he could.

Lissa fell back onto the mattress, stretching out just beneath his feet. "I just want to talk to her," she admitted, her green eyes focused on the ceiling above. "It's driving me crazy not knowing if she's ok."

The dark haired Moroi gently nudged the girl with his foot. "She's Rose Hathaway. If anyone can survive being held by Strigoi, it's Rose." As he spoke, Lissa rolled onto her side to face him, resting her head against her propped up hand, looking at him expectantly. "That girl is like a cat. She's got like nine lives or something," he remarked with a small chuckle at his analogy.

Despite the topic of their conversation, Christian was trying to cheer Lissa up. He did not like seeing her so down in the dumps. Although, he truly did believe in what he was saying. He had gotten to know Rose better during their field experience together, and after witnessing her abilities and resourcefulness during the attack on the Academy, he thought she was the toughest person he had ever met. There was no doubt in his mind that she could maneuver herself in such a deadly situation. Rose was going to be one badass Guardian, that is, if they could get her out of there before it was too late.

A small laugh escaped the Princess at the comparison, knowing that he was trying to lighten the mood. She appreciated the gesture and too had to agree with his statement. "It sure seems that way, huh?" she replied with a small smile. "I hope you're right."

He returned her smile with one of his own. "Me too."

---

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Dimitri demanded his glowing red eyes fixed on the dark haired woman standing before him.

Juliana smirked tossing her long hair over her shoulder. "I could ask you the same question," she quipped completely unbothered by Dimitri's ire, which she was secretly relishing in. It amused her greatly that it had been so easy to rile him up.

His eyes narrowed further his expression now a glare. A lesser person would cower under such an expression, but not Juliana Tarus. In fact, being the recipient of his temper seemed to please the older Strigoi, although she tried to stifle that glee. He could still see it clearly shining in her eyes. This only added to Dimitri's fury.

"How dare you disrespect me in my own compound," he spat not allowing her behaviour to go unanswered for. Since her arrival Juliana had created chaos in his home and disrupted his plans. He needed to know why.

The woman let out a melodic hum further illustrating her amusement in his attempts to reprimand her. Dimitri had yet to realize that he had no real power here, not over her. "You shouldn't make it so easy then," she replied with a small chuckle, that smirk never leaving her face.

He knew that he should not react, but there was something about this woman that irked Dimitri. She had this irritating ability to see right through him and know exactly how to draw out the response she wanted. Juliana was in complete control and she wanted to make that known. This was all simply for her own pleasure and that fact infuriated Dimitri more than anything. Oh how much he wanted to smack that smirk right off her fucking face. He managed to hold onto his composure, but barely.

"You invaded my space and laid your hands on what is mine," he seethed through clenched teeth. "Rose belongs to me," he growled when she did not react.

She sat down in the chair to her right. "As you have said," she responded looking down at her fingernails clearly showing her disinterest in his lecture.

"I could kill you for less," he pressed determined to make his point.

A small chuckle escaped her at his empty threat. "You could try, but we both know you won't do that," she challenged, her confidence unwavering. "Honestly, I have a minimal interest in your precious little Roza," she replied maintaining her calm and indifferent demeanour. "She means nothing to me."

Dimitri eyed her suspiciously. He found it odd that Juliana would waste her time seeking Rose out when she had little interest in the Dhampir. If she merely intended to provoke him, although her methods proved very effective, there were other almost equally effective ways she could have accomplished her goal. Things that would have been much easier to pull off. He was missing something vital and he also knew there was no chance that she would explain herself to him. However, her statement piqued his interest.

"Is that so?" he asked tilting his head to the side expecting an answer to his inquiry.

"Yes," Juliana confirmed picking up the half empty glass resting on Dimitri's desk in front of her. She let out a melodic sigh, swirling the deep red liquid around in the glass before taking a sip. She grimaced at the taste. "Although," she continued the amusement still clearly evident on her face. "The same could not be said of others."

Dimitri leaned back in his chair, his arms crossing over his chest, as he stared her down. "What do you mean?" he asked latching onto her leading statement just as she anticipated he would.

The dark haired woman put her glass back on the desk, pushing it away as if the glassware had offended her. "She's the daughter of the snake," she remarked crossing her legs. "He will come for her, you know that, don't you?" she asked with a raised brow.

He scoffed at her statement, unimpressed. "I can handle Zmey." He was confident in his conviction.

Juliana shook her head with another chuckle. "Only fools underestimate their enemies, Dimitri," she chastised in and almost sing-song tone.

"I am aware of what Ibrahim Mazur is capable of," he snapped back. In fact, he knew very well the power the man possessed. His eyes narrowed and his lips pulled back exposing the tips of his fangs. "You don't need to remind me."

"He's looking for her, your pet," she stated bluntly. "He's not the only one either."

He scoffed again. "I'm not scared of Janine," he remarked coming to the conclusion that she was talking about Rose's mother. He had heard reports that she had been seen skulking about. In fact, he had expected as much from the decorated Guardian.

Juliana hummed jovially a knowing smile spreading across her face. "I wasn't talking about the red head," she mused her tongue running over her painted lips.

She looked like the cat who caught the canary. Completely predatory. There was a mischievous glint in her eyes that told him she knew something that he did not. Something of consequence that, based on her almost delighted expression, would matter a great deal to him. Whatever it may be, it was clear that Juliana was quite eager to share this information with him.

Dimitri looked at her expectedly gesturing with his hand for her to proceed when she paused as if to torture him with her silence.

"One of my little dolls told me that Princess Vasilisa Dragomir has left St. Vladimir's with some 'friends' and has made landing here in Russia," Juliana revealed tapping her fingers on the arm of her chair.

This was not what he had expected. He was taken aback and froze in surprise. His shoulders stiffened and his jaw clenched. "The Princess is here," he stated rather than asked.

She nodded before continuing. "Apparently, they've come looking for your little Dhampir as well. She sure makes an impression, doesn't she?"

"They won't fine me," Dimitri informed her plainly, glossing over the latter part of her statement. He found it irrelevant.

"Rose found you," she countered without pause.

"She did not find me, I found her," he corrected uncrossing his arms, sitting straighter, and folding his hands on the desk.

His lack of reaction did not dissuade Juliana from resuming. "Rumor has it that they have joined with Zmey." She paused again as if to gage his reaction. Dimitri did not give her the satisfaction of a reaction, choosing to remain impassive. "Trust me Dimitri, it is only a matter of time before they come knocking on your door," she remarked in an almost mocking and condescending way. "You're not invisible."

"Why are you telling me this?" he snapped irritated with her constant prodding. He was having a hard time controlling his now volatile anger, which she was trying to draw out of him. That was one battle he refused to let her win. "Why do you care?"

Juliana shrugged her thin shoulders. "I don't," she replied flatly. "I thought I would share something you might find interesting is all," she explained that smug smirk returning to adorn her face. "I'm just putting things in perspective."

"Perspective?" he retorted in question.

From Juliana's sly and joyful expression it was evident that she was thoroughly enjoying taunting the taller Strigoi opposite her. He was one of only a few that she had met through the years that had sparked her curiosity. It was very impressive that a newly awakened Strigoi was able to build such a formidable reputation so quickly. Such a thing was a true rarity in this brutal world they lived in, and she was determined to see it for herself, by any and all means necessary. She found great pleasure in pushing his buttons, testing his self-control, and trying to draw out the beast within him. Her efforts so far had proved that he was much stronger than she had originally thought. Having now met the man behind the reputation, she was fascinated.

Juliana chuckled again, biting her bottom lip, before elaborating. "You have backed yourself into a corner my dear," she began. "You're about to be attacked on all sides with nowhere to run."

He rolled his eyes at her exaggeration. "As I said, I can handle Zmey," he repeated firmly rolling his shoulders back. Her insinuation that he was incapable was condescending and it was rather insulting as well.

A disappointed sigh escaped her when he did not rise to take the bait. "Of course," she muttered after he had not given her the response she wanted. However, this did not stop her from pursuing her efforts. "Be careful," she warned in that annoying sing-song way that grated on his nerves. "A trapped animal always strikes out against those closest to them."

This statement set Dimitri off. "Enough!" he roared slamming his fist down on the desktop, rising to his feet. "I am done listening to you," he seethed towering over the woman seated on the other side of the piece of furniture.

Although she had achieved her goal, Juliana was unimpressed. While his aggressive anger was fun, and quite sexy, it was also very predictable. It was far too easy. She sighed also rising to her feet. "All brawn, no brain," she grumbled brushing the invisible dust off her thighs.

Dimitri's eyes narrowed at her. "What was that?" he asked coldly, his body rigid as he clenched his fists tightly at his sides. He needed to resist that urge he had to smack that smug look from her face.

She may have said it quietly, but Juliana knew that he had heard her clear as day. That had been her intention. "You heard me," the older woman countered. There was a challenge that shined in those crimson lined depths of hers.

He held himself back choosing to use his words rather than his fists as he truly wanted to. "I have plenty of brains," he ground out through clenched teeth. He was on the edge of snapping and it took a lot of effort to restrain himself. He would not tolerate her disrespect any longer.

Juliana scoffed resting her hands on her hips. "As you've shown so far," was her sarcastic reply. A brief silence passed between the two predators as she sized him up, unintimidated by his burning stare. A lesser person would fall apart under such a gaze, but not Juliana. She clicked her tongue after a moment raising her perfectly groomed eyebrow. "I'll believe it when I see it."

Dimitri maintained eye contact unable to look away. To do so would mean that she had won and he would not give her that victory. Now that he knew her, now that he saw her, he could never turn his back or look away.

"I want you gone," he informed her, although, it was more of an order than request.

His declaration made her laugh, and she did so loudly. Dimitri thought he could order her around, and she could not contain herself. The idea was comical. Juliana Tarus answered to no one, a fact that he would learn soon enough.

"Oh, I'll go," she commented her lips curling back up into that mocking smirk. She would cater to his whim, however, it was of her own volition and not because he wanted her to leave. She was done here for now. "I won't be far." The taunting way in which she spoke did not go unnoticed. "I'll be watching you," she assured him.

With that said, the dark haired Strigoi turned away, sashaying her way to the door that led out into the hall. Dimitri remained standing, eyes locked on her retreating form, unwilling to look away. The insinuation and the underlying threat laced within her words made him distrust this woman even further. There was something about her that put him on edge.

She glanced over her shoulder meeting his gaze. Unintimidated, she licked her lips giving him a small, three finger wave. "Ciao, Dimitri," she called to him before making her exit.

The door closed with a loud thud behind her. As soon as Juliana disappeared from view, he sat back down in his seat with an annoyed sigh. The politics of this world were truly tiresome. He ran his hands through his hair, covering his face, resting his elbows on the desk top. He breathed deeply in an effort to settle his raging temper and maintain his control. However, that was much easier said than done. Dimitri growled in frustration vocalizing his inner feelings.

Only a moment passed after Juliana had left when he heard the door to his office open again, signalling that he had yet another visitor. Dimitri cursed under his breath, moving his hands away from his face to see who was bothering him now. He was not surprised to see that it was Adam standing before him.

"What do you want?" Dimitri demanded in a clipped tone. He was not in the mood to deal with Adam and his conduct. The other man annoyed him to no end. He had no doubt that Adam had been hovering about eavesdropping on his conversation with Juliana.

Adam could not help the cheeky grin that was plastered on his face. "You know it's not fair that Juliana gets to play with your Dhampir toy and the rest of us don't," he complained.

Dimitri groaned inwardly. He did not need this right now. His self-control had already been tested more than he thought possible in the last twenty-four hours. He did not know how much more he could take before he snapped. If, or rather when, he did, it was not going to be pretty. All he knew was that he was ready to explode and the next person to cross him would pay the price for that infraction.

"Did you come here to gloat?" Dimitri challenged his cold gaze locking onto the other Strigoi as he approached.

Despite the question, Adam knew better than to respond to his superior's accusation. As much as he enjoyed poking the bear, he also wanted to keep his head. Besides it was much more fun when Dimitri did not predict his gibes. The dark haired man met his gaze, unphased, stopping a few feet away clasping his hands behind his back. That irritating look was still present on his face.

When Adam did not speak, Dimitri continued. "I did not allow anything. Juliana acted of her own accord."

This made the other man chuckle. "You're lucky that she left her in one piece," he quipped shifting his stance to cross his arms over his chest. "I wouldn't have," he remarked unable to stop himself from commenting.

Dimitri chose to ignore the last part of his statement. It was a smarter decision to pick his battles. This was not one that was worth his time. Adam was merely piggybacking off of Juliana and trying to provoke him into action. Just as he did with the undead woman, who had been employing the same tactics, Dimitri refused to give the idiot the satisfaction of having done so. Especially not so quickly after the last point he had made when Adam had been the one to assault Rose.

"It was a miscalculation," was Dimitri's gruff response.

Adam raised an eyebrow in question. "A miscalculation?" he pressed curiously.

The other man ran a hand through his hair, gritting his teeth, before folding his hands neatly in front of him. "Juliana's interference has created complications. Complications that I need to rectify," he explained flatly. "I cannot afford any more upsets in my plans."

"You mean your plans for the girl," Adam suggested tilting his head to the side slightly.

Dimitri growled low in his throat. "Is that all you think about?" he snarled. "Tread carefully Adam, I am not in the mood," he cautioned glaring at the other Strigoi.

Adam merely shrugged his shoulders. "Just making conversation," he replied feigning innocence. "You're too sensitive."

Unfortunately for Adam, Dimitri could see through his charade. This conversation was not worth his time. "Get out," Dimitri ordered nodding his head towards the door Adam had entered from. He was done.

The smirk fell from the other man's face. "Wow, how rude," Adam commented pretending to be offended by Dimitri's immediate dismissal. The taller man's foul mood had little effect on Adam. Actually, he thoroughly enjoyed seeing Dimitri in an agitated state. "You were much nicer to Juliana. You don't order her around the same way you do to us," he commented with a hint of accusation.

Dimitri snorted. "I can't control what that woman does," was his sharp retort.

Adam countered this immediately. "But you get to control what I do?"

"Yes, I do," Dimitri replied firmly and with finality.

A heavy silence settled between the two men as they stared at one another. Moments passed by, neither of them making a move. Neither giving into the other.

After a couple minutes, Dimitri let out an annoyed sigh. "Why are you still here?" he demanded.

"You can't keep her forever," Adam informed him, all teasing and joking aside. He was serious.

Dimitri ignored him. "Leave Adam," he ordered displeased at having to repeat himself.

Adam shook his head determined to have his point heard. "You will let your guard down sometime Dimitri, and when you do that girl will be gone," he stated, his voice lowering taking on more of a threatening quality.

The other man needed to understand the truth of the situation. Dimitri was delusional to think this set-up he had was going to work long term. It had only been a few weeks and his plans were already beginning to unravel. Moreover, his obsession with the Dhampir was a weakness that he was nearly flaunting. With her here, everyone knew exactly what to use to get Dimitri to bend.

Adam continued. "Either on her own or she'll be taken out by someone else. It's inevitable," he concluded feeling as though he was pointing out the obvious, but still felt compelled to bring it up.

Dimitri rose to his feet towering over the other Strigoi just as he had with Juliana minutes before. "Is that a threat?" he nearly growled in question.

"I'd call it an assurance," Adam clarified calmly rolling his shoulders as he spoke.

His jaw clenched and Dimitri resisted the urge to lash out both verbally and physically at the idiot before him. It took every ounce of his self-control to refrain from doing so. "Get out of my sight," he forced out.

Adam rolled his eyes at this. "Whatever you say, asshole," he grumbled as he turned to make his retreat.

He valued his life too much to push his luck any further. By the tension in the taller man's body, Adam was one wrong move away from causing him to snap. As glorious as that would be to behold, it would be unwise as Adam would be on the receiving end of that wrath. Dimitri was one of only a few Strigoi whom Adam knew he could not beat in a fight. Not with brute strength. The Russian Warlord was a beast. An unstoppable force that was equally as calculating as he was strong. Dimitri had used those skills to his advantage, which had paid off in spades for he was now in charge of their outfit despite being so new. As much as Adam hated to, and would never, admit it, Dimitri had truly earned his place amongst their kind. Even still, that did not mean that Adam had to like the guy.

Dimitri watched Adam walk to the door just as he had done with Juliana before him. However, unlike the dark haired woman, Adam did not turn back nor did he say anything further. Although perhaps that was for the best. Any further commentary would not be well received. Instead, he made his exit, slamming the door shut behind him. The loud bang of the heavy door echoed throughout the room, blocking Adam from view and sealing Dimitri off from the rest of the world once more. He was alone at last.

Dimitri remained still for a few moments, awaiting another interruption, before letting out a heavy sigh. It had been a long and trying day for him and he was done dealing with others. The silence was welcome as he found solitude in his own space with no outside interference. He leaned back resting against the chair, letting all the tension leave his body. He sighed again, tilting his head back to look at the ceiling.

When they had killed Galina, Dimitri had thought that would have been the end of things. That all the obstacles between him and the seat of power would be gone and he would be in charge. That his power would be as absolute as Galina's had seemed to be. Now he understood that it had all been an illusion. A farce to make Galina seem more powerful and influential than she really was. That was all it was. Truthfully, although his station had been elevated by his former mentor's demise, he still answered to someone and he did not like that. Especially when his superior was one such as Juliana Tarus. She had no respect for anyone or anything.

All that mattered to him was himself and Rose. Although, keeping her was becoming more difficult as time went on. Her needs were growing and his ability to keep her safe was waning the longer he kept her here as she was now. She was a liability. This place was a boiling pot and it was about to overflow with Rose at the center of it all. The fallout would be destructive. He had no doubt about that, but he had no idea who would be left standing in the aftermath.

Juliana had made it clear when she warned him that his time with Rose was limited. If what the elder Strigoi had said was true, then his time was running short. At least, if he wanted to keep Rose unchanged. He could not deny his attachment to her Dhampir form. She was just so easy to manipulate.

Dimitri's desire to awaken Rose had faded when he had brought her back after her escape attempt. If he turned her Strigoi she would be just as strong as he was. She would be his equal and their dynamic would have to change. He would no longer be able to control her or feed from her. If she wanted to leave she would do so and he could not stop her. No, he wanted her as she was for as long as he could have her. To keep her under his thumb.

However, he had to face the facts. As much as he enjoyed her presence, Rose was becoming more trouble than she was worth. He had a lot of thinking to do.

---

Christian felt calm and relaxed as he laid on his back with his eyes closed. The silence around him was a welcomed comfort as it helped to clear his troubled thoughts. Thoughts about their situation and pondering their next move. He could feel the warmth emanating from the fireplace he could hear crackling across the room. That heat enveloped him like a cocoon, which served to relax him further. Fire had always been a comfort to him. Being a fire user, that was not unusual and not all that surprising either. Honestly, it was the first time he had felt at peace in weeks. Not since before the attack on the Academy and before he and Lissa had broken up.

Letting out a deep breath, Christian opened his eyes finding himself in a familiar, yet also unfamiliar, place. The attic space above the church back at St. Vladimir's. His and Lissa's safe place. However, it was much different than he remembered. First off, there was a fireplace here. There was not one in this room back at St. Vlad's. This room was a bit larger, clean with all the clutter having been cleared away. The furniture was neatly arranged, cleaned, and uncovered ready for use. He was laying on one of the sofa's that had once been covered with a sheet and filled with dust. The usual musty scent that normally filled the room was also noticeably absent. The light was dim, the only sources being the fireplace and a few groups of lit candles scattered throughout the room.

Christian rose to a sitting position as he took in his new surroundings instantly noticing the various differences. This room, although it appeared to be the same, did not properly align with his memories at all. This was not real, but an illusion. A falsehood or altered reality. It felt like a dream, but different in a way that he could not pinpoint. It was not bad or uncomfortable, something was just amiss. It was an odd and foreign sensation to him.

The dark haired Moroi stood, eyes still scanning the details of the room. He was trying to discern more differences in those finer details that proved this place was really not the attic space he frequently sought refuge in. Instead, it was somewhere else that looked almost the same, but where, exactly, and why. He was not so sure.

The wooden double doors across the room groaned loudly as they opened. A bright light pouring into the room momentarily blinded him as it assaulted his sensitive eyes. He squinted, hand sheltering his eyes as they tried to adjust to the sudden influx of light. However, this did not last long as the doors were closed plunging the room back into a semi-darkened state. He dropped his hand from his face, blinking rapidly a few times to clear his vision of the green dots left behind from the exposure to the bright light. After a moment he was able to focus on the figure that had entered the room. A very familiar face.

"Lissa…" he began almost hesitantly. He was a little confused. "What are you doing here?" he asked her curiously.

The Princess looked the same as she had earlier in the evening when they had all gone their separate ways for the night. Her long platinum hair was pulled back and neatly braided keeping the long strands out of her face. They pink bunny pajama pants and tank top she normally slept in was her current choice of attire. The only difference he could discern was that there was this strange ethereal glow to her skin making her look even paler than usual. It was a bit eerie.

Lissa could only shrug in response to his question. "You tell me," she simply countered.

Christian scanned the room once more before his eyes settled back on his ex-girlfriend. "Why are we here?"

"I don't know honestly," was her reply. She stepped further into the space her eyes also giving their surroundings a once over. The Princess hummed in approval running her hand along the back of one of the couches. "This is how I've always wanted this place to look like," she mused in a dreamy tone a small smile on her face. "Warm and cozy."

Christian froze for a moment as he processed what she had said. "Wait…this is your image?"

Lissa turned to him. "Well, yeah," she answered as if it were obvious. Like he should have known that.

He stared at her even more confused now than he had been moments before. How did she not yet clue in to what was happening here. "Lissa, you're showing me this," he informed her bluntly.

Finally, the lightbulb went off and the realization of what he was saying sunk in. Lissa's eyes widened. "You know what this means right?" she asked trying to suppress the smile that was threatening to take over her face.

Christian could not help but smirk at the spirit user's barely contained excitement. "Yeah, I know…" he began only to be cut off by the excited blonde.

Lissa grabbed his shoulders shaking him slightly in her grip. "I did it!" she screeched practically jumping up and down in her elation.

He laughed genuinely happy for her accomplishment. "You did it," he agreed placing his hands on her, his fingers sliding over her skin to gently stroke her wrists.

Christian had never doubted that Lissa could dream walk. The trouble was convincing Lissa that she could do it. She was her own worst enemy and often second guessed herself and her capabilities. To him, Lissa was amazing and he wished that she could see herself the way that he saw her. He loved her. Even though she had hurt him badly, he could not help but love this woman.

"I knew you could," he told her honestly. His affection for the Princess was clear in his voice and on his face.

Their eyes locked and they stared at one another for a moment. Lissa stepped closer closing the gap between them. The Princess tilted her head upwards brushing her lips gently against his. Christian froze in shock at the unexpected intimacy. However, it only took a few seconds for him to snap out of it and he pressed his lips firmly against hers. His hands slid up her arms and down her back before they settled on her waist, resisting the urge to pull her even closer.

Quickly, Lissa pulled away from him a deep blush spreading across her cheeks. However, she did not step away from him. She nibbled her bottom lip embarrassed by her outburst. She had just kissed him without thinking.

She smiled sheepishly at him. "I'm sorry." Truthfully, she missed him and the closeness they used to share.

Christian shrugged his shoulders dismissively, his fingers gently massaging her sides where they rested. "Don't be," he replied softly with a gentle smile. "I'm not complaining," he admitted quietly.

Lissa cleared her throat the red on her cheeks darkening a couple shades at his admission. "Thanks…for helping me."

His one hand moved to stroke her cheek. "Don't mention it."

Lissa leaned into the gesture opening her mouth to speak only to be cut off by Christian tilting her face up again and kissing her. This time Lissa was the one taken by surprise. He pulled her closer wrapping an arm around her waist, and holding her against his chest. Feeling the warmth of his body against hers she felt safe. It felt right. She kissed him back relaxing in the comfort of his arms, melting into his embrace.

---

AN: Just a fair warning, the story is going to get very dark for the next few chapters. Chapter 11 to 16 are rough as Rose's captivity continues and her decline progresses, so be prepared for some of that. Some very sensitive topics are coming up, and I wanted to give everyone a head's up now as I am the only one who knows what's going to go down. I will put up a warning if I feel it is warranted, so you can skip parts if you don't want to read such content, as I know that some things coming up could be upsetting or triggering. It may take some time to get the next chapter up, but I am already working on it. Like the last couple chapters, and the next few coming up, it is going to be a long one.

Hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you think!