Hello my lovelies, how are we all? I hope you are all safe, warm and fed.
And I hope both sides of your pillow id cold tonight. Enjoy the next chaper/
As always let me know what you think.

Chapter 8

We landed at the beginning of the Moroi day, I yawned as I hit the tarmac. I felt surprisingly awake but in all honesty I still felt slightly drunk. I'd spent most of the journey asleep and with tiredness being taken care off now I was starving. I wanted food in a big way.

We travelled back to baba's house all feeling slightly sorry for ourselves. We entered to the Belikov's around the kitchen table enjoying breakfast. I noted the tall dark figure of my old mentor, but chose not to acknowledge him.

"Mr Mazur! I'm sorry I didn't think you'd be arriving until this evening." Olena spoke getting up.

"Abe, please, and no harm done. We've had a very eventful few days so figured we'd get here sooner so we could recuperate." Vika, Owen and I laughed from behind him. That's an understatement if there was ever one. I noted the nearly empty plates of food, they'd nearly finished the left overs that were in front of them which meant we needed to cook.

Brilliant! Owen and I had been teaching each other to cook, so we were more or less adequate now. I moved to the side of the kitchen opening the fridge and thanking Olena for shopping. I did a happy jump when Owen started taking ingredients out for pancakes, I loved pancakes. Olena jumped up trying to help.

"Sit down, we got this." Together we made a full Scottish breakfast, sausage, bacon, eggs, beans and toast, well except for the haggis, we were freshly out of that, and the British pancakes that Owen had made. There was a lot of food being cooked enough for the hungry 8 dhampirs and a Moroi. I put juice, tea and coffee on the table as Owen placed the last of the toast on the table. The Belikov's had left to get ready for the day leaving us new comers, Dimitri and Yeva.

It was almost as if the party had carried on, we were all talking and laughing. I teased Vika as her phone chimed with a text message. Dennis was messaging her. My phone followed as he sent me some pictures he'd taken. I scrolled through them laughing at each one.

I ran to what was my room pulling Vika in with me, we were to share a room when we were here. Which was fine with me. I'd miss Owen but I hoped I had gotten over my nightmares enough to last a night. We showered and changed making our way to the living room. Well Vika did, I detoured to the kitchen where Dimitri was washing up. I grabbed a tea towel and dried in silence. I placed the dry items on the side.

"You look well." Dimitri said to break the silence.

"Thank you, so do you." I finally fully looked at him, he looked like the usual Dimitri but he looked tired, like he hadn't slept in a while. Ok so he didn't look well, but I couldn't take that back now could I?

"I wanted to thank you, for what you did in Baia." He was interrupted by Owen walking in.

"Baby girl." He gently caressed my chin in his welcome. He'd showered and changed and he looked all gorgeous in combat trousers and white t-shirt. His dark skin looking like chocolate milk that I wanted to drink up.

Owen acknowledged Dimitri with a hand shake.

"Owen Reid."

"Dimitri Belikov." I knew Owen knew who he was but he gave no indication of it. Paul chose that moment to run in shouting and screaming.

"Aunty Roza, come on! They're showing pictures of your holiday!" I laughed at Paul, before leaving I turned to Dimitri,

"I did what anyone would do, no thanks are necessary." Before I allowed Paul to pull me into the lounge.

I found Vika sat next to the tv, my laptop out in front of her. She sent pictures on the screen, some I didn't know had been taken, some were baba's, mine and Owens, but I noticed some had to have been from Dennis and his friends as we were all in them.

In every single picture, no matter what we were doing we were all laughing. In the pool, when Vika and I had flipped together making a splash at the same moment. Pictures and videos of us in the pub dancing, singing, and hugging the locals, one video was me dancing with the old man in the Shoogly Pig. Dennis made an appearance in a lot of them, his laugh or loud voice could be heard in the videos, there were pictures of Dennis fake kissing Owen, another of us up on the bar doing the cancan his personality showed in every single one of those pictures. The pictures changed from the pub to those the torch walk, our tattoos on display all together, the Ceilidh, the fireworks and I was happy someone had captured Dennis and Vika's New Year's kiss, the group of 7 who were all hugging in a ring of people and the best of these was of the four of us, Vika, Dennis, Owen and I all connected and all looking up at the fireworks, the lights from them making the background blurry, and magical. It was a beautiful picture; it captured a quiet moment in the chaos of moment.

Lastly the pictures showed the Loony Dook taken only that morning. The screen in front of us showed Owen swinging me around, both of us in our bright tutus. Someone had filmed us doing the Loony Dook, I easily found us in our neon fairy outfits.

I watched as the green fairy grabbed the pink and threw her in the water, they dunked each other before stalking the purple one, then of a cowboy running up behind the purple fairy, carrying her into the water before disappearing under the waves. I smiled as everyone around us laughed calling us crazy. There were a few pictures after the video, mostly of our wet group congratulating each other.

The last picture I saw was Owen and me passed out on the plane, I was cuddled into him, my head resting on his chest, his arm around me, our blankets pulled around us. We were dead to the world but in our sleep we caressed each other, my hand resting in his free hand. I felt Owen behind me as he pulled me closer to him, he kissed the top of my head.

And that's when I became aware that Dimitri was watching us. I tried not to take notice of him but I found it hard, as soon as I thought of him I couldn't get him out of my mind.

It was early Moroi evening when I finally felt knackered I wanted nothing more than to rest and do nothing. I had changed into a large baggy woollen jumper; I pulled my long thigh high woollen socks on and felt instantly better. I had my pyjamas of shorts and vest underneath ready for bed. I padded down to the kitchen intending to make a hot chocolate, I found Dimitri sat at the table drinking from a cup and looking at the book in front of him.

"What are you still doing here?" I asked as I grabbed a mug to make my drink. "Sorry, that sounded ruder than I meant it to." Thankfully Dimitri didn't take it wrong and smiled.

"I've been staying here with my family, I haven't seen them in a while. It made sense to move in." He took a sip as I nodded from across the kitchen. "Looks like you all had a good time in Scotland." He said over his cup. I finished making my drink and sat next across from him.

"It was amazing. I think I'll need to go back every year. It was the most fun I've ever had." He smiled at me, a normal easy smile.

"What I was trying to say earlier. Thank you for everything you did in Baia. I am in debt to you. And Owen."

"No, I did what I did not because it's my job. I did it because I love them. You cannot be in debt with an act of love. I would do again it in a heartbeat. Just like you would."

"Still, I thank you." I smiled at his stubbornness. We really were alike, not like me and Owen alike but almost that Dimitri was the stubborn, dedicated yet loving part of me and Owen was my passionate, playful side that yearned to seek the most out of life.

It was quiet for a minute, neither one speaking but where earlier on it was awkward now it wasn't. Before I finally retired to bed.

I was running, the maze was too hard, I couldn't get through. I could hear Dimitri chasing me, he wanted me, he craved me. I needed to get away or I'd be dead, or worse, Strigoi. "Roza!" he called in a mocking tone of playful, "Where are you Roza?"

I ran, I had to get away, the maze finally let up, showing me the way to the bridge, Dimitri was edging his way across the bridge towards me, but behind me there was a brick wall. I had nowhere but go over the edge to the water to escape. I had no weapons and as I looked at him I could see the Belikov house burst into flames in the background, screams coming from inside, begging me to help. But Dimitri and his red eyes grabbed me, he held me tight making me watch his family die.

I woke to see Dimitri's face by mine, I screamed loudly, I tried jumping into position making me fall back. Vika was still in her bed and I had to scramble over her so I could stand.

"Roza, it's ok." I could hear his velvet voice trying to calm me down. His hands rose as he started coming closer. I knew he wasn't Strigoi, could see his brown eyes anymore but I couldn't make my body function all I could feel was his breath on me, my back to the wall making me watch them die, everyone dead. I backed further away into the corner looking to the door as I heard a door slam open and Owen came bounding in passing a full hallway. He saw me in an attack positon and jumped in to action.

Owen walked slowly towards me his hands out in front of him.

"You were dreaming baby girl. It wasn't real, he can't hurt you now, look. He's Dhampir. Dimitri is fine, you are fine. It's over, come back to me." His hand stopped a millimetre from mine, I could feel his heat. Tears fell freely down my face, not just because of the dream but because I could see pain shoot through Dimitri's face when he realised what I had been dreaming about.

I collapsed again from the force of the feelings that had just hit me. I sobbed into Owen's shirt. Like always he carried me to bed, climbing in behind me. I fell asleep again with my head resting on his arm and he held me tight.

I awoke the next morning feeling like crap; I was alone in the room Vika's bed made and on my night stand was a new cold bottle of water. I looked out the window, it was dark out. I'd slept in. I pulled my sweater and long socks back on and made my way to the kitchen. At the table I found Lissa, Adrian, Christian, Vika, Owen and Dimitri. They'd been laughing, probably at my expense. Lissa screamed as I came into view.

"You're here!" She leaped up and hugged me tight and I hugged her tightly back, I had missed her. She was still squealing when I pulled back.

"Missed me ay?" I asked her with a smirk, though her smile was infectious. Owen pulled me to the seat next to his, he kissed my temple and passed me a couple painkillers. I smiled in thanks. My head felt like it had been rolled over with a steam roller. He made me a juice and started to make me some eggs on toast.

"Guys, how you doing?" I ask taking a sip of my water with my painkillers, swallowing them easily.

"Little dhampir, you're beautiful as always." I smiled at the charmer. I knew I must look like a wreck but I thanked him anyway.

"So we heard you became a party animal while you were away." Christian spoke up.

"Pyro, you would've loved it, Adrian would've loved it more. There was so much alcohol involved I'm surprised I haven't got alcohol poisoning." Owen placed a plate in front of me and I ate thankfully.

"So, what's the plan for today?" I asked the others, who were all talking amongst themselves.

"We're celebrating today. Mrs Belikov is shopping with the girls. Abe is doing whatever it is that he does and your mom went with him. That leaves us. Eddie will be here soon, he wanted to get a workout in before he came over."

"If we're lucky we may get a chance to hear you do karaoke, I heard it was unforgettable." Christian smirked at me.

"If you challenge you have to sing too. It's the rules." I said smirking back at him.

The table all burst into laughter.

With food in my stomach I felt so much better, I hadn't worked out in days and was beginning to feel antsy. Nothing a hard workout wouldn't clear.

"That's what she said." Owen muttered in my ear when I told him. I laughed and I slapped his arm in playfulness.

Dimitri stated he hadn't had a workout yet and Vika was eager to show him what she had learned over the past week. Owen and I always liked to work out so the Moroi, deciding they wanted to watch our workouts as they never get to see it, joined us.

Once changed I met the others in baba's home gym. It was very large, two of all the apparatus were in there plus two sparring mats. Dimitri was at the weights and Vika was on the cross machine. Owen had just started on the treadmill, I put my earphones in as I turned my running playlist on. I joined him on the twin machine, set my pace and ran. As I ran I made the machine tilt more and add more resistance making it as hard as possible for me. Soon I was running uphill, my body relishing in the workout.

With my music blared in my ears, the whole world fell away, just me and my breathing. I ran until I couldn't take anymore then switched the speed down to a jog. I did a minute of a jog before stopping the machine and jumping off. I looked up into the faces of my friends, they were all staring at me.

"What?" I asked their surprised gazes.

"Good form there little Dhampir." Adrian recovered quickly, I shook my head before heading for the mats to begin stretching. I stretched out my muscles in every position it made me feel so much better when I completed deep stretches, I was doing the splits when Owen walked over to me.

"My goddess, I am here to help relieve you of all that energy." He made a slight bow at me, I laughed at him whilst I grabbed his out stretched hand.

I put some music one, opting for a fat boy slim list. Ya mama came on, we circled each other waiting for the intro to finish, eyeing each other up. The second the beat kicked in we both tried to get the upper hand, both trying to take offensive, which resulted in us both going into full out mode.

One second he would gain a bit the next I would, both of us moving in sync, both trying to make the other one falter and failing.

I didn't think about the moves, just reacting to the movements. At one point Owen had me in a headlock which I got out of my kicking my leg out behind me knocking Owens feet out from under him.

We blocked, attacked, flipped, jumped, spun trying our hardest to gain the advantage over the other.

Owen made a strike towards me across the face, it connected with my left side, hard. It was an accident and I knew he regretted it the second he had done it. I used that distraction and using my whole body I smacked him to the ground, my hand at his chest in an instant. Effectively winning the fight. I rolled off him and into the mat. He rolled over so he was leaning over me, stroking where he had struck me.

"I'm sorry baby girl, I'll get you some ice." He started to move but I pulled him in close.

"You are so hot right now." I whispered into his ear, I can feel it when his whole body shivered in response. There was a clearing of throats making us laughed and finally we get up of the ground.

As much as I tried to ignore Dimitri it was hard not to notice him staring at me when I moved to my water bottle on the bench. I knew a lot of those moves he'd taught me, but there was a lot of Owen in there and some of baba's other Guardians too.

Vika grabbed her brother pulling him to the mats. They circled each other, unlike Owen and I, they weren't accustomed to sparring each other yet. They we're slower off the mark, but when Vika finally gave up being patient I could see that she had gotten quicker over the week, she wasn't good enough to get Dimitri down yet but. But she did give it her best shot, even managing to get in a few hits in before she got taken down.

"I see Roza has been training you Vika." Dimitri smiled at his sister then at me making me I smile back.

"Well someone has to teach her to kick your butt, it can't always be me." I laughed putting my water down.

"Can you take Dimka?" Vika asked me her eyes glistened with the thought as I nodded.

"Who do you think kicked my butt into shape?" I smiled at her, she looked at me with wide, bright and excited eyes.

"And a lovely butt it is indeed." Adrian said winking at me.

I turned to glare at my friend, "Watch it Ivashkov."

"Oh I do little Dhampir, I do." I rolled my eyes at him.

"Go on then, take him down! I've never seen anyone beat Dimka." Vika spoke eagerly, I could almost see her need to bounce she was so excited. I shrugged at Dimitri before he smiled back, be both made our way to the sparing ring I could vaguely hear fall out boy in the background as we both stalked each other.

Normally when we sparred I'd go on the offensive straight away but Owen had taught me some new tricks as had all of baba's Guardians. Dimitri tensed, he was going to strike and as he did I leapt out the way, rolling to the floor before righting myself and kicking him in the back of the knee. He stumbled slightly before focusing on me again.

Dimitri advanced again this time he expected me to roll away again but instead I kicked him in the stomach and as he bent I used his shoulders and back to propel myself over him and again kick him from behind.

I smiled at him when he faced me again, I could see his mind working this out. I was faster than him, a lot faster but I was also smaller so he tried to overpower me with his mass, instead I slipped between his legs and while on the floor I kicked his butt, literally. He turned instantly trying to pounce on me to hold me down. But I rolled just in time to miss his full weight and stood but before I could completely right myself he scooped my legs out but I managed to angle myself so I landed on top of him, straddling his waist I let my hand fall over his heart.

"Sorry Comrade." I smiled at him before I stood and backed up extending my hand to help him up.

I looked back to a now bouncing Viktoria. "I can't believe you beat him!"

"And so it begins, the student has surpassed the teacher." Christian smirked before walked over to me to congratulate me. But I shook my head, this wasn't a moment to congratulate me this wasn't a victory. Had I really out grown Dimitri?

That evening we all celebrated a Russian Christmas, we hadn't had the chance to celebrate Christmas in the end due to the attack. After a very gorgeous meal where everyone sat together and laughed all the while keeping the conversation light even though the fact that the Belikov's had run from hunting Strigoi.

I had thankfully bought Lissa's and the guys presents as I figured I would be posting them but as it was I could give it her in person. I let Lissa open hers, I'd found a picture of us from just before the crash and framed it. It showed Lissa and Andre trying to teach me to dance at one of their parents parties she was in a green dress and I was in a red one, we were both 15. It was the last picture I had of us being normal kids, no heart ache, no spirit bond and no crash. In the background you could see Eric and Rhea dancing, they were a little blurry from the movement but you could see it was them.

I got nervous when she didn't move, she just stared at it. "Where did you find this?" Her voice was strained as she tried to control her emotions.

"There's a lot of pictures from around that time that I never looked at, it was too hard but while in Istanbul I found the stick with them on." I then passed her another wrapped present. She opened it to a photo album. Inside were all the pictures from our childhood, growing up together and then as we grew into teenagers, the photos evolved to us being on the run then finally the last picture I had in there were of us at our graduation with us were Eddie, Adrian and Christian. I could see the tears in her eyes as she looked from the album to me. In an instant she'd thrown herself into my arms squeezing hard.

"Rose, this is the best thing I've ever received. Thank you so much." I smiled at my best female friend.

I'd tried to give thoughtful presents to each of them, Olena got a voucher for a photoshoot. I knew she didn't have any pictures of her growing family and now that Sonja had had Katya and Dimitri was with them she could have a family portrait done. I had originally got one for a Baia photographer but after asking Abe I'd found a Dhampir photographer here at court. It was important to me that it was a Dhampir photographer that was used so that it made Olena and her family feel more comfortable.

I gave Adrian a silver ring that I had gotten Lissa to spell, it was a lovely ring but the fact that I knew it would help his darkness was also part of the present. Christian got some novelty fire underwear but I also got him a fire magic manual I found in Abe's library, he told me I could pass it on to Christian, after all he wasn't a fire user. Eddie received a couple plane tickets to his family along with a waistcoat stake holster.

I'd given Yeva a deck of tarot cards, it was meant as a joke but the joke was on me as she loved them along with a scarf I'd given her. Janine I had been lost as to what to get her, so I had given her a lovely red scarf, she could wear it to formal events over a dress or with a coat. She loved it which I was happy about as I had no idea what she liked. I gave Abe a picture of me and him from last month. It was a picture of us around the patio fire, I was sat on the floor in front of him as he braided my hair but I was leaning back and laughing at him as he got the brush caught in my mane of hair. For obvious reasons I didn't have any pictures of Abe and me, this was my first. Owen had taken it and I was grateful when I found it. I'd changed it to a black and white picture but otherwise it had been unedited.

Vika, Karo and Sonja, I gave vouchers to, I knew they didn't have many clothes and being at court meant they wanted to fit in with their fashion so this voucher was for any shop in court. I gave Paul some cards and board games and for the babies I gave an outfit and a toy that only left two people Owen and Dimitri. I erred if I should get Dimitri anything but knew I'd feel guilty if I didn't when I had given everyone else something, I was really stuck on what to get him I wanted something personal but didn't say I love you so after thinking long and hard I got his present and wrapped it up.

Abe passed both his and Owens presents out at the same time. Dimitri laughed when an ipod fell out and in the play lists were up to date music but I'd been nice and given him country and 80s music too.

"So you aren't stuck 20 years behind the rest of us comrade." I smiled at him before turning to Owen who opened a box to three long sleeved henleys, which he laughed at.

"You only got these so you could steal them."

"You are definitely right Mr Reid." I chuckled, I loved his clothes and now we were in the same bed most nights I had taken to wearing his shirts to bed.

I on the other hand received some great presents from my friends. Lissa had given me a silver necklace with a picture of us inside; she'd charmed it for me so it could help with the darkness. Adrian laughed as he gave me his present which when I opened it I realised why. He'd also given me a silver ring but he'd charmed it himself, which I loved. It was a plain band and inside the band was a hidden diamond which he'd had engraved with Little Dhampir. The a was the diamond.

"Adrian, this is too much." But she shook his head.

"No it isn't. It's a selfish present in a way, it makes me feel better if I can help with the side effects of darkness. I know how hard it is to have the darkness always lingering." He said showing me the ring he'd placed on his own finger. I got up and walked over to him, I sat in his lap and cuddled him tightly. Adrian really was a great friend.

"Thank you Adrian, I love it." I kissed him on the cheek before returning to Owen. I loved that Owen wasn't jealous, I wasn't sure how it would go down with my two ex's in the room, but he didn't seem to batter an eyelid even after I had sat in Adrian's lap.

Owen and I went to bed early, I stole one of his shirts before getting in making him laugh, I cuddled into him and welcomed a dreamless sleep that I had with. I woke early enough to see the light outside. I hated being on Moroi time, I already missed the sun. I tiptoed out of the room making sure not to disturb Owen or Viktoria.

No one was up yet and after checking the time I realised why, it was 4pm. I shoved on some jeans and socks from the dryer and rummaged in my gym bag for my ipod and then from my normal bag I grabbed my book. I took a tea out to the back garden, my feet shoved into my boots and Owens thick coat keeping me warm in the Pennsylvania winter. I sat at the small table and after turning the patio heater on I sat back and read. I'd started Alice by Christina Henry and though it was a lot darker than the original Alice in Wonderland, I was enjoying it a lot. I wasn't sure how long I'd been here for before I heard movement, it had started to get dark and I wouldn't have been able to see but unbeknownst to me someone had turned the lights on around me. I looked up finding Dimitri carrying a couple mugs and walking towards me. I marked my page before sitting it down.

"You ripped your book." I looked down at the cover and laughed shaking my head.

"No your adorable niece ripped my cover, Zoya thought it would be funny if she went into my bag in Baia." He passed over a mug, I noted that it was hot chocolate.

"What time is it?" I looked around at the now dark sky around us.

"Nearly 6, I was going to go for a run, but I wanted to talk to you." I sipped the chocolate and welcomed the heat as I spread through my body.

"What's up?" I asked him wrapping my hands around the cup, bringing feeling back to my fingers.

"You're having nightmares about me in Russia." He stated, his face unreadable.

I shook my head looking at him again. "No, I'm having nightmares about a Strigoi in Russia. That Strigoi is not you. You would never physically hurt me." I couldn't say he'd never hurt me, cause emotionally he'd crushed me. "You see in my mind they are two different people."

"But the other night…"

"I was shattered, hadn't slept properly for what 3 days? And I'm not used to being around you, yet. It's been months and waking from that dream to you in front of me, it was a shock to the system. Hell, I stopped having them until we went to Russia." He didn't look like he believed me.

"What do I need to do and say for you to realise I don't blame you for Russia! Because I really don't, it wasn't you and you are not it. One day you need to forgive yourself for what your body did while you weren't on control of it. You need to let it go." He stared at me for a moment, we sat in silence for a while before I saw movement in the window, Owen stepped out in jumper but no coat. He sat next to me, seeming at ease.

"Morning chocolate thunder." I turned to him he gave me his sexy smile in return.

"Good morning Angel fish, you know, you could've worn your own jacket." He teased me.

"Yes I could've, but then I wouldn't be surrounded in you." I laughed "Right." I got up and shed Owen coat giving it back to its owner before grabbing my two mugs and book. "I'll go get breakfast started." I walked inside leaving my current and my ex-boyfriend alone.

"Kiz, how would you feel about a trip to Italy on the way home?" I passed Abe the orange juice as I sat down next to him.

"Why? What's in Italy?" I placed some pancakes and bacon on my plate before tucking in.

"Carnival." I racked my brain before answering.

"Isn't that when they go around in costumes and masks?" I looked up at him as he smirked and nodded. "You're going to make me dress up aren't you?" He out right laughed and winked at me. "Old man, you had me in a freezing river in Scotland in the winter you don't want to spend a fortune on a dress I'll wear the once." He still smiled at me with a knowing face. "You've bought one already haven't you? Why do you hate me?" Baba laughed harder at me before handing me a card on it read.

Ibrahim Mazur
Invites you to attend the Carnival masquerade ball.
Venice, Italy

"I don't have a choice do I?" He shook his head as Owen started laughing. "I don't know why you're sniggering, if I'm going so are you, after all you are my Guardian. And didn't guys wear tights back then?" I smirked at him as his face fell into a look of shock. "And they had white faces with wigs." I raise my eyebrows at him before digging into my food.

"Did you say that he was your Guardian?" Dimitri asked from the other side of the table.

I nodded, "yes it seems, even though I'm a hard-core Guardian myself I still need protection from baba's rivals." I shook my head at my father. "You know the likelihood of someone getting to me is remote right?"

"Gül, I'm not risking it, not while you have no charge, you aren't in wards and you live in a remote place. When I leave and take the Guardians with me, it leaves you vulnerable. I'd rather be over protective now and keep you safe rather than not have Owen there and you get hurt. It's as simple as that." I smiled at my father, I knew he cared about me and I liked it.