AN – Ok, so this is a direct take off from where we left off. In Dimitris room just after they you know ;).

So, the timings for this. In the Art/Celeste chapter it was 11am when they woke. Therefore is 11pm human time. The timings are all nocturnal. So, if its 11pm VA time it's actually sunlight and 11am human time. It took me a while to get my head around it so thought I would clear it up... This is happening before that phone call. I should of put that chapter after this one but here we are..

Only read through once so hope it makes sense and there isn't to many errors!

Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 21 – The Aftermath.

My head rested on his chest in pure bliss. I couldn't believe we had lost control like that. Ok, I'll rephrase that. I can't believe Dimitri lost control like that, I've never had that much to begin with.

''Please stay with me. Don't leave me. I need you, more than I need air to breath.'' Dimitri whispered into the quiet room, in a voice filled with vulnerability that I never thought I would hear from him.

I snuggled closer into his chest. ''I couldn't. Not now, even if I wanted to.'' I felt Dimitri tense. ''Not that I ever wanted to. I just wanted what I thought was best for you.'' I mumbled and he relaxed again. His hand rested on the small of my back started stroking up and down my lower back.

''You. You are what is best for me. I love you.'' He kissed the crown of my head.

''I love you too, Dimitri. I won't ever leave you.'' I whispered into the barely lite room.

''Were you really going to let me go? Even though it was hurting you so much?'' He asked after a few moments of silence.

''Yes. I honestly thought you wanted her.'' I shuddered. ''It didn't matter how much it would hurt, devastate and destroy me as long as you were happy in life, that's all that mattered.''

''The fact you were willing to do that. Just makes me love you even more.'' He muttered and I smiled into his chest and I pressed my lips over his heart.

''Can I ask you something?'' I asked. I felt him nod his head, his chin hitting mine. I pulled back to look at him as he raised an eyebrow in silent question. ''In Lissa's room, what did you not say just as she came out of the bathroom? It's been bugging me since.'' I quizzed. I'd been wondering this amongst other things since it happened.

He chuckled at my question. ''Really? You couldn't figure it out by what I said before?'' I shrugged in response. I had a pretty good idea, I just wanted to hear him say it. ''I was going to say I enjoy spending time with you.'' He sighed. ''As soon as you ran out of that gym that day, I regretted what I did. What I said to make you believe I didn't care about you and it was all the charm. I just didn't want to ruin your reputation, before it was even made. I knew why I did it. All the reasons we couldn't be together but that didn't stop the hurt it caused me. Knowing I'd inflicted that pain onto you.'' He mumbled.

Now it was my turn to laugh. ''We were both worried about ruining the others reputation, yet never discussed it with the other. Instead we just presume what is best for the other.'' I chuckled. ''I think we need to work on that.''

''I think that would be for the best.''

''I just thought of something.'' I laughed at my own thoughts; they were spinning quicker than I could catch them. He just raised an eyebrow. ''We never were going to make it to graduation, were we? That was the plan. This.'' I gestured between us. ''wasn't meant to happen again until I graduated. That was your rule, and you broke it. I was right.'' I gloated. I knew we were never going to make it. The second he said we had to wait; I knew. The connection we held was too strong.

''Yes, you were. And if I'm honest. I knew it too. I knew I wouldn't be able to stay away from you. This just speed things up I guess.'' He mumbled.

I laughed but quickly sobered as another thought crossed my mind. I knew he was worried about my reputation and our standing in the Moroi world and as mentor and student, and obviously my age but that didn't explain for his reaction after the charm. He had to know it was just the charm. ''Dimitri.'' I said seriously. Sitting up next to him, causing him to mimic my action and sit opposite me. ''After the charm. Why were you so guilty? You were consumed by it. You wouldn't listen to anything I said. Why?''

''For the reasons I said.'' He mumbled not looking at me. That was my first clue that he wasn't being completely honest with me. He had lied to me so many times I knew that was one of his tells now. ''It wasn't your choice. You weren't in control, you didn't consent.''

''Neither were you. Neither did you. We were both victims of that charm.'' I spoke with truth lacing every word. I knew he had moved past this, but I needed to know the real reasons.

''I couldn't believe that at the time. I spoke to my mother afterwards. She said the same thing. That it was the charm. But I couldn't admit it.'' He spoke to his mother about this. OH GOD. What did she think of me? ''Deep down I guess I knew it was right. I knew how charms worked but I didn't want to let it be an excuse for my actions. Because I knew the truth. I had taken something from you when you weren't in the right frame of mind to give and that made me as bad as him.'' He said the last word with complete disgust, and I knew right then what caused this whole ordeal. It was his worst nightmare. Becoming anything like his father.

I grabbed his face in my hands, kneeling in front of him, forcing him to look at me. ''Dimitri. Listen to me. You are nothing like him. You could never be. Not even in the worst of times would you ever become even a little like him. I get it now. But listen to what I am telling you, because I won't repeat myself again. If that charm wasn't there. If that had happened without the charm, it would have still happened. I was a willing participate. We both had to have them feelings for the charm to work. You know this.'' I spoke.

''I know that. Now. But it wasn't as it should have been. Can you honestly say it is how you imagined your first time?'' He asked. As he asked that my immediate answer would have been no, I didn't expect it to be as rough as it was. But I still wouldn't change it. Because it was with him.

''Honestly?'' I asked and he nodded. I moved from my position pulling him down onto the bed with me and moulded myself back into his chest. ''I wouldn't change it for the world. Was it how I imagined, of course not. It was a little rougher than I imagined it would be.'' I felt him flinch beneath me at my words, but I snuggled closer. ''But that couldn't have been helped. I know for a fact, if you had known, if you weren't being controlled by that charm. You would have been as gentle as you were tonight. The charm -Victor- is to blame for that. I wouldn't change it though, because it was with the person I love. Someone that I know deserved that gift.'' I said sincerely, looking up straight into his eyes so he could see the truth of my words.

''I wish. Beyond anything. I wish tonight could have been your first time. To be how you wanted it. How you deserved it to be.'' He nuzzled my hair with his nose. ''maybe we could pretend?'' he asked, face hided in my hair as if he knew what my reaction would be.

I pulled back and stared at him. Outraged he would even suggest such a thing. ''No! I will not pretend that never happened. That is the first time that I thought you had feelings for me. I will not let that memory go!'' I insisted.

''Ok.'' he conceded, hands held up in defeat. ''We should get some sleep. I know you shouldn't, but stay for a while? I don't want you to just leave.'' He whispered. I didn't want to leave at all. I wanted to stay. Oh, how I wanted to stay but I knew I couldn't. It would be easier for me to sneak out now than it would first thing, there would be too many people then. I would stay for a little, I couldn't sleep because I needed to go back to my room. We couldn't risk getting caught. I wouldn't risk him.

We snuggled back onto the bed. Me resting back on his chest. He kissed my head and ran his fingers through my hair. ''One more thing. What did you say before? In Russian?'' I asked.

I felt his smile in my hair. ''You really want to know?'' He asked and I nodded. ''I said. I love you forever. You are mine forever. My one and only. And one day I'll marry you.'' He muttered. ''I meant it. One day, Rose Hathaway, I will marry you.'' I smiled wildly at what he just admitted, hoping beyond hope that it would come true. I bent my head back and kissed his jaw before settling back onto his chest. Stroking his chest with my fingertips, I felt him shudder beneath me and smiled again.

''Just promise me you won't pull out a ring until I have a two at the start of my age. Preferably longer.'' I muttered smiling wildly. Marrying him would not be so bad, especially if it meant we got more days like this.

''I promise I won't until you at least have a two at the start of your age'' As he said this a smile formed on his face and a suspicious glint came in his eyes like he was planning some. Oh hell what did I just get myself into. Suddenly his face changed into a look of concern. ''Can I ask you something? Without you getting mad?'' He mumbled as he tensed beneath.

I swallowed deeply, considering what he just said I did not want him to ask this question right now. I was not ready for that. I knew one day he would ask, and I would say yes without a second thought but after what I just said, surely, he couldn't be asking it…

''Earlier. When I saw you outside? With Adrian.'' He tensed again and I instantly relaxed and then a giggle erupted from my chest. He was jealous. Clear as day jealous.

''That isn't a question.'' I muttered when he didn't continue, knowing this would just annoy him more.

''What were you doing with him?'' He finally asked, quietly.

''Not what you are thinking that's for sure. I met him last night after. Well you know. He tried hitting on me the same as earlier today and I didn't respond to it….'' I stopped talking when I felt Dimitri grind his teeth and tense even further. Apparently, I had said the complete wrong thing. ''Look it was nothing. I went outside for some fresh air and he happened to be outside. We spoke for maybe two minutes before Liss showed up then you did shortly after.'' I explained.

''He has a reputation.'' He whispered.

Ugh. What is with everyone and telling me about his reputation. I could tell his reputation a mile of with how he thought every girl would fall at his feet. ''So, I keep being told. But I do not have any interest in him. I have you. And I sure as hell bet, he couldn't make me feel the way you just did. And I have no desire to ever find out. I love you. Just because other guys hit on me doesn't mean anything. The same for you, I hope, if other girls hit on you.'' I said in frustration. Why did it always end in us arguing whenever we were together. I hated it.

''No other girl could even come close to you.'' He mumbled.

''See. I feel the exact same. You have nothing to worry about. Forget Adrian.'' I persisted. I didn't get a response to that, except for a gentle kiss of his lips to my head and a squeeze against my hip.

''The rule still stands by the way. This can't happen again.'' He muttered sleepily after a few minutes of silence.

''Seriously?'' I exclaimed. I felt him nod again. ''What about why we are still at the lodge? We still have a few more days.'' I asked hopeful.

''If we find the time.'' He chuckled.

''Oh. I'll make sure we find the time.'' I muttered and I heard him sigh as his breathing evened out. I never thought I'd see the day he fell asleep before me. I usually fell asleep fairly easily, well unless I had things on my mind. I waited a little while longer until I was sure he was asleep. It was only 11pm, (11am human time) so not too late in our night but hopefully the corridors would be empty.

I climbed out of bed. Careful not to wake Dimitri and hunted my clothes down which had been flung around the room earlier. As I moved around the room, I blew out all the candles he had set out and was glad he did. He tried to be romantic and boy did it pay off. I glimpsed over towards the bed and eyed his perfect body in all its glory. I walked back over, to his side an pulled a sheet over him and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips. Giving a satisfied smile as I saw a bruise developing on his neck from my earlier advancements. Let Tasha think he was hers now.

I quickly headed into the bathroom to clean myself up and got dressed. Once I was dressed, I wrote a quick note to tell him I left, that I love him, and I'd see him in the morning after skiing with Mason.

I silently unlocked the door, looking back to ensure I hadn't woken him and snuck out of the room. Checking the corridor and seeing it empty I stepped out and the door clicked shut behind me. Breathing a sigh of relief that I had managed to sneak out undetected. In that moment I felt like some spy or something, I chuckled to myself as I headed down the corridor and towards my own room.

I was halfway down to corridor when I decided while I was up here, I would see if Mason was still up for tomorrows ski session. I walked back the couple of steps to his door and knocked. Luckily there wasn't exactly a curfew for students while at the lodge. We were still expected to be in our rooms at a decent hour, but no one really enforced it, they couldn't really. The place was too big.

To my surprise, although not really, it wasn't Mason who answered. Shane Reyes a fellow novice stood in the doorway. Looking equally shocked to see me standing there.

''Rose? Where is Mason?'' He asked in greeting. Confusion clear in his voice as he looked around me. I attempted to raise an eyebrow in question, obviously failing miserably.

''What? What do you mean? I came here to see him?'' I asked, the hairs on the back of my neck telling me something was wrong.

''No. He said he was going to look for you.'' He eyed me like I had gone crazy.

''Well he didn't. I was coming to check he was still up for the ski session tomorrow. Why was he looking for me?'' I questioned.

''No clue. When he got back from the gym he was fuming. Completely off the rails angry. I'd never seen him like that. Spouting some nonsense about how the guardians knew where the strigoi were but weren't going to go after them and how if they weren't willing then he would.'' And there was that fear coming full front to my mind. Surely, he wouldn't? Mason wouldn't be so damn stupid to go out there and face them. How the hell did he even know where to look?!

Suddenly the earlier conversation me and Dimitri had had, in the gym came to my mind. Mason had left the main gym and was in the locker room when Dimitri had told me. Could he have overheard what was being said? I tried to think back to them few seconds before he had walked out of the gym. He hadn't acted like his normal self. He ran out of there quicker than ever. Even before when he had left the gym back at the academy if Dimitri was there, he would always come up to me and say bye, not just wave from the distance.

It dawned on me then. He heard everything. He must of. He heard what Dimitri said, not just about the strigoi and that the guardians weren't going to act on it but also where they were. Surely, he wouldn't be so stupid as to go alone.

''Shane. When exactly did you last see Mason?'' I asked urgently. I needed to get a head start on him. I needed to find him before he got too far and before the guardians found out.

''I don't know. About four hours ago?'' I peeked around his shoulder to the clock I could see on the bedside table. 11.45pm. Damn I took longer to leave Dimitri's room than I thought. So that meant Mason left at 7.45pm. Near sunrise. Least if he had already made it outside of the wards, he would be safe. At least for now.

I looked back at Shane, nodded and turned on my heel, walking away from him. I stopped when I heard him shouting after me. ''Rose! What's going on?!''

I turned again, looking directly at him. ''I'm not sure. I'm going to try and find him. If you don't hear anything from me by morning. Alert the Guardians.'' I said. I'd hope he listened to me. That he would wait until morning. I didn't want to get Mason in trouble. I wanted to get him back before they found out. I turned again once I got an ok from Shane and headed to the next room I could think off.

Eddies.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. No one had seen him. Or even Eddies for that matter. I got to his room and his roommate said he'd gone out with Mason. DAMN IT! I slammed my fist into the nearest wall. Splintering the wall slightly with the force behind it. They could not have been that stupid. Surely someone would have seen them and stopped them. They could not just get out of the gate without getting past the Guardians so how the hell had they. How on earth did they get past trained guardian?!

I felt like screaming. I had no idea what to do. My fists continued slamming against the wall, softer this time but it still helped. I just needed to think. I needed to think of a plan. I pushed away from the wall. Deciding I would just walk around searching for them. It was better than nothing and there was no way in hell they had gotten out of here. They would be somewhere, they had to be.

As I spun around, I came face to face with a guardian who was looking at me concern. ''Are you ok?'' He asked. I didn't recognise him. Probably a guardian of one of the Moroi here visiting their kid.

''Yeah, just searching for my friends.'' I said. ''I haven't seen them all day.''

''Well it's getting late. Maybe you should head back to your room and look tomorrow? I'm sure they are fine.''

''I don't know about that.'' I muttered under my breath so low he couldn't hear me. But he saw my lips moving.

''Sorry. I didn't catch that.'' He said. I shrugged, not really wanting to repeat myself. ''Ok, how about this. I'll help you look for them. What do they look like?''

''Really?'' I looked up at him as he nodded in confirmation. ''Both male. One with red hair the other with sandy blonde…''

''You can stop right there. I know where they are.'' He interrupted. ''There with a blonde girl.''

''Yeah there's a lot of blonde girls.'' I muttered getting annoyed at his vague answer, realising that there was also a lot of red headed and sandy blonde-haired boy, yet he seemed pretty sure he knew who I was on about.

''Short hair, kind of like a pixie cut. Moroi. Blue eyed. Blue sparkling eyes.'' He murmured wishfully as his eyes glazed over. Short blonde hair. Moroi. Pixie cut. DAMN IT!

Mia. It had to be. And if I had to guess by the dreamy glazed overlook on this guardians' face, he's been compelled. I've seen compulsion when me and Lissa was in the human world. I knew the look. Mia must be good.

''Ok. That doesn't tell me where they are.'' I replied getting agitated.

''Oh.'' He shrugged. ''I let them all out of the gate like two hours ago.'' He muttered in his dreamy state.

''Why would you do that?''

''Because the girl asked me to.'' He shrugged. ''Hey at least you know why you can't find them now!'' he sighed happily.

''Yeah. Thanks.'' I muttered frustrated as I turned away from him.

Now what the hell was I going to do. I had to follow them. I knew that. I knew I needed to get out of here and help them. They probably had no weapons or anything to protect themselves with. If the strigoi found them, they'd be dead within seconds. But how in the world was I going to do that. How was I going to get out of here without anyone knowing? They used Mia to get out. Mia compelled someone to get out. There was no way in hell I would risk Lissa, even when I knew she was damn could at compulsion. There was no way I would be risking her. She was my Moroi. Hell, even if she wasn't, I still wouldn't risk her!

Idiots! Both of them. Putting a Moroi at risk. Why would they take her with them? Why?! Why didn't they just use her for the compulsion and then leave her here. Safely behind the wards. Even as I thought it, I knew why. They didn't want to risk her telling the guardian. Idiots.

As I wondered the halls, I knew I would soon be getting told to head back to my room if I bumped into any of the academy guardians if I was spotted. I needed to think of something fast and act. I knew I needed to get out, that was a given. I had to go and get them idiots back and bring Mia home safe. Preferable without anyone else finding out.

I'd just thought of a plan. A stupid plan but it was my best bet. I would sneak out not far from the gate, but far enough away that I wouldn't be spotted. The perimeter was only checked by guardians, there wasn't any other security like fences surrounding us so it should be fairly easy to sneak out. Especially now the sun was up. They limited the patrols around the wards in sunlight, saving the guardian strength for night-time when the bigger risk was about. But with sunlight meant I didn't have the cover of darkness for protection so I would have to be careful.

I was heading towards the exit of the lodge when I saw someone. Someone I would rather not see. I tried to move out of his eyeline, but I was too late. I was so damn close. Only about five steps from the door when I heard his voice shouting me.

''Rose! Where are you going?!'' Christian yelled.

''Damn.'' I muttered as I looked up to meet his gaze. Of course, he would see me. ''Nowhere. Where are you going?'' I shot back. I had a pretty good idea where he was coming from, but I couldn't understand why he hadn't stayed. He had just come out of the corridor that lead to Lissas room. He raised an eyebrow silently challenging me to ask.

''Like you don't know.'' He smirked while my face contorted in pain at having that information confirmed. Even though if I'd be focused on Lissa the past few hours I would have known myself. Luckily, I was distracted with something else. I smiled at the memory of me and Dimitri. Finally. I sighed. ''Ok, stop smiling. That's creepy. Where are you going?'' he asked again. I wiped the smile of my face as I went to walk past him.

''Nowhere. Go back to your room.'' I shot at him. Unfortunately for me he grabbed my arm, spinning me around to face him.

''Rose. Tell me. Where are you going?''

''To rescue some idiots.'' I mumbled under my breath.

''What was that?'' he asked.

''Nothing!''

''Rose! Just tell me!'' he shouted in response.

''Ugh! Fine. I said I was going rescue some idiots.'' I admitted in defeat. Hopefully if I told him, he'd be able to alert someone if we weren't back by morning. ''Mason and Eddie with Mia left the lodge to search for Strigoi.'' I informed. ''I'm going after them to drag their stupid asses back here before one of them gets hurts and I need you to not tell anyone. At least until the morning. I don't want them to get into trouble.''

''Screw that. I'm coming with you.''

''No. It's bad enough they have one Moroi with them when they don't have any weapons. Adding another Moroi to the mix would be a complete disaster.'' I implored.

''Well it doesn't look like you have any weapons yourself.'' Christian said.

''Exactly! That's why you are staying here. Alone.''

''But I do have money to get you where you need to go. Which I'm guessing you haven't thought about.'' Damn it. He had me and he knew it. Damn it!

''Ugh! Fine! Hurry up!'' I muttered in frustration. ''God, if you die Lissa is going to kill me!'' I sighed as we walked away, heading towards the exit I was walking to before.

''Good news. If I die, the likelihood is that you will die to. Thereby Lissa won't need to kill you.'' He shrugged as he smirked in my direction.

''Yeah. Not helping.'' I replied as I pushed the door open and headed straight towards to gate but slightly to the right. This way we would avoid any guardians. I hoped.

''Urm. Why are we going this way? The gate is over there.'' Christian mumbled from behind me.

''No shit. And how do you think we will get out of the gate? They aren't just going to let us wonder out. They'll know we are academy student.'' I said as Christian nodded looking down. ''Exactly. So, we go out through the side. It's the only way. Unless you are any good at compulsion?'' I asked hoping he would say yes so, we had a backup plan, when he shook his head no, I carried on straight forward. Sticking with the original plan it is then. We continued in silence after that. Ducking behind a rock, we made a beeline for the ward line and crossed it successfully.

Once over the protective barrier I felt a weight start pushing me down as shadows danced in my vision. I shook my head, trying to shake the shadows away. They cleared after a few minutes thankfully, but I could still sense the weight trying to get closer as we continued deeper into the surrounding greenery, heading towards the roadway leading in and out of the lodge.

We'd made it to the largest mall in Spokane after a few hours of travelling. We presumed this is where they would be. This is the most likely place Strigoi would hide. Christian was right. I did need him. I needed him to pay for the bus fare here. But honestly, I would have figured it out. The sun was beating down and it was affecting him badly. Thankfully now we were inside the mall he was in some protection and was able to recover slightly before the next leg back to the lodge. But we still had to find the other three first.

As luck would have it, we weren't searching long. We turned the first corner in the mall and there sitting outside a coffee shop were the three musketeers. Looking defeated but thankfully alive. I picked up the speed. Not worrying to much about Christian behind me as I strode towards my classmates. As I grew closer a whiff of coffee surrounded me and I nearly stumbled as a wave of nausea rolled over me but as soon as it came on it vanished. I saw Eddie look up at my advancement and saw him swallow harshly as he nudged Mason alerting him of my presence. Mason looked up just before I got to their table with a look of utter disappointment on his face. I'm taking that as if they didn't find anything. Good.

''Ros...'' Mason started.

''Oh no. Don't you Rose me. What were you both thinking? One leaving the lodge without a guardian. Two leaving with a Moroi with no weapons! What the hell were you thinking?'' As I said it, I heard the contradictory in my voice. I myself had left the academy without a guardian and with a Moroi with no weapon and I had been gone for two years. But this was different. I left to protect Lissa. Not to hunt strigoi. There was also the fact I was here with Christian.

''They weren't doing anything! They knew where they were, and they were just sitting on the information and not acting! We had to do something!'' Mason excused.

''It wasn't confirmed. It was a suspicion. They weren't sure. So, tell me, did you find anything?'' I asked.

''So, it is true. You did know?'' Eddie asked before Mason could answer me. I raised both my eyebrows at them waiting for my answer first.

''No. Nothing. We went into the basement and we found nothing. No evidence.'' Mason admitted.

''Well that's good. If they had been down there, you'd all be dead.'' I mumbled as I turned to Eddie. ''Yes, I knew.''

''So, Guardian Belikov told you. Why?'' He asked.

I gulped. Crap. I hope that was all Mason heard. Dimitri telling me. I hoped Mason hadn't heard anything else. ''I don't know. Because he trusts me.'' I shrugged. ''And I'm probably going to lose that trust now because you idiots acting on the information you overheard. He's going to think I said something. My first instinct was the same as yours, but I wasn't stupid enough to actually act on it.'' I said.

''They weren't going t…'' Mason started.

''So, you thought you would? You thought you would risk your life, that of a fellow novice and a Moroi to search for a potential threat. One that the guardians were already looking into. One that you could have now given our hand to. They could have been down there, and you just didn't notice, and you've just shown them we know where they are. They may know we are on to them.'' I wanted to yell at them. But I knew we were in a human mall so there was a possibility of being overheard and that would not be good. ''Just come on. Let's get back before they realise we have gone.'' I sighed.

Thankfully they didn't argue with me and all got to their feet. We headed towards exit. Back to safety.

They stupidly convinced me to go into that basement and check it out before we left and headed back. We'd gone down there, they had wanted to prove that nothing was down there, but they were wrong. There was something down there. A list of letters. The beginning letter of each royal family. The strigoi were banding together to take out the royal Moroi. Two letters had markings against them. Probably indicating the recent attacks.

We were rushing back to the bus stop and managed to get lost which ended with us in a dead-end alley. An Alley, a van and guns. That's what led us here. We got ambushed. Ambushed by humans and we couldn't do anything about it. They put a gun to Mia's head like they knew we wouldn't risk her life. That how we ended up sat in a darkened basement. No light except for the small dull ceiling light hanging in the middle of the room. Not that it mattered, with our enhanced eyesight. We could still see fairly well.

I didn't know how long we had been here. Me and my smart mouth had gotten me knocked out so now I didn't know how long had passed. I had no clue if it was dark yet. I didn't know if the guardians would have been alerted that we were missing. My head felt a little fuzzy, but I didn't think I was concussed. I wasn't hit that hard, but the shadows were back, and I was struggling to push them back now.

I looked around the room. I saw Christian and Mia over in the corner to my left. Mason and Eddie were to my right. Eddie next to me and Mason next to him. Weird. Why would they separate us? They had no reason to separate us. No reason they would kno... That's when it hit me. Another wave of nausea. Just like outside the Badicas. Like I got in the mall, but it felt different. A rolling in my stomach. Just as my brain was piecing it all together the door opened, and we were faced with the real enemy.

Two strigoi. Red glaring eyes taking us all in. One looked to be ancient. The other didn't look overly old at all. My age when she was turned but that's all I could say. She could still be a decade or more older than she looked. The older one. I knew he was ancient. His skin was deathly pale. Pasty in colour, almost translucent with a slight greyish tinge that you would see in a corpse. And his eyes. He eyes could bring fear with one glance. They were such a blood red you wouldn't be fooled into thinking he survived on anything other than blood. It looked as though his eyes were a deep ocean of all the blood he had spilled, well drank.

I shuddered. Looking away. I saw Eddie tense as the realisation of what had just walked in took over. Me, well my nausea was a permanent fixture now. The rolling of my stomach was making it really hard to concentrate and I really needed to concentrate if I was going to find us all a way to get out of here. That's when I realised. The Badicas, right now. Both times I got nauseous before I noticed the strigoi. Could it be that I had a built-in sensor for when strigoi was near? How is that even possible. I checked that into the back of my head, for something I would think about later. If we ever got out of here that is.

''Oh. I see you brought us our presents. You got more than we thought. We only saw three in the mall.'' The man said happily towards the humans in the room. I refrained a reaction. Unfortunately, the Moroi didn't get the memo and I heard Mia whimper from the far corner. I shot her a look but before she could see the man strigoi move at lightning speed. Grasping her face in his hands and leaning close only making her whimper more. ''MMM, you do smell delightful.'' He murmured softly causing another whimper from Mia. I wished she would look over. I wished she would look at me and see that she needed to stop. She needed to be brave. ''However, I'm not going to hurt any of you.'' The strigoi continued sighing. ''No. we are going to play a game. We are going to wait.'' He started as he released Mia and stood up. Standing in front of both Moroi. ''We will wait until one of you gets so thirsty that you can't help but need to feed, but you won't just feed. You will choose to join us. Join us in eternal life and one of those'' he pointed towards me, Eddie and Mason. ''will be your meal. So, choose. Which one of you will awaken and which one will be food.'' He sighed happily again as another whimper left Mia's lips.

''None of us will. We wouldn't join you. We won't do that to our friends.'' Christian said. I had to hand it to him, he sounded braver than he should at this moment.

''Oh, but you will. The temptation will be too much!'' he chuckled darkly as he spun towards us. Facing away from the Moroi with a glint in his eye and I knew. I knew in that second what he was going to do.

''Use me!'' I yelled. ''don't hurt them. Use me!'' He was going to bite one of us. I knew what it was like to be bitten, I could at least try and fight the endorphins. The others wouldn't be able to.

''What! Rose no!'' Mason yelled catching on pretty quickly. ''don't touch her! Use me!'' Just this once, I wish he would stop trying to be a hero and shut up. I shot him a look, but my face was ripped to the side and my eyes met the blood red of my capture.

''You'd like that wouldn't you dhampir. You'd like me to use you.'' He said, I could see a sparkle in his eye. ''You dhampir women are all the same. Will do anything for the bite.'' I tried to shake my head, disgusted at the thought.

''I am not a blood whore!'' I spat towards him.

''Maybe not yet. But you know the feel of the bite. I can sense it. I've been around a long long time. I know when someone has been bitten before.'' He whispered, leaning in closer to my neck as I shivered involuntarily as his fangs grazed my neck but didn't break the skin. ''See. I was right.'' He muttered jollily and as quickly as he was at my neck he was away, and I heard a scream from beside me. My head snapped towards the sound as I saw the strigoi at Eddies neck as little drops of blood leaked from the wound he was currently sucking on. I looked up to Eddies face as his eyes where glazed over, overcome by the high.

Looking past Eddie. My eyes went to Mason and we had a silent conversation. Both of us agreeing we needed to get out of here. We just didn't know how.

I don't know how long we had been down here. It could have only been hours, but I was pretty sure it had been days. At least two days. The signs were there. The Moroi looked weak after not feeding for a while. They could go a day without any noticeable difference but after that it was a downhill fall. They looked weak, deathly pale, eyes sunken into their heads and looked sick. I remembered the look from the first few days when me and Lissa had ran. We hadn't thought about her need to feed and she got sick. That's when we knew the risk of using feeders would be too much and she began using me.

We needed to get out of here before something bad happened and they succumbed to the evil wishes of Isaiah as we now knew he was called. I had been blacking in and out of consciousness ever since we arrived. The lack of food and any kind of hydration was getting to me. They hadn't offered us anything. As dhampirs we were built to survive tough conditions. Trained to survive them, the Moroi weren't. I looked over at Christian and Mia once again. Mia was sleeping or appeared to be asleep. Christian was staring back at me.

We stayed locked in our gaze for a while. Trying to form a plan but nothing would work. Our guards – humans – were still here in the room. If we tried anything, they would kill us, since they still had those guns, they call a weapon.

Isaiah and his shadow Elena had come back a few times. Each time taunting us. Taunting the Moroi by drinking from Eddie. Saying one of the would live in eternal life while the others would die. One of them just had to say yes and they would be released.

Eddie bless him was pretty much completely unconscious. Only waking when Isaiah returned, begging for another hit of endorphins which he was always glad to receive. It should make me sick that he was so glad to get the next high. And I would be if I didn't know the feeling. If I was honest, I was just a tiny bit bitter that it was him getting the hit and not me.

I pulled once again on my restraints. Zip ties bound all our hands behind our seats. They bit into the skin where I pulled at the restraints repeatedly in the beginning. Now I gave a few heartless tugs and gave up quickly. It was useless.

Since being here I had been sucked into Lissas head a few times due to her heightened emotions of both me and Christian being missing. The first time I saw Dimitri with her. All of them. Lissa, Dimitri, my mum, Alberta, Celeste, Art, other school guardians and even Adrian were all in a room trying to figure out where we were. It wasn't until about an hour after the meeting had starting that Shane showed up. Thankfully giving them a small lead.

The second time was just Lissa and Dimitri. Looking at him through her eyes, I could see the pain reflected in his eyes. Not knowing where I was, being worried about me. I knew I was thinking highly of myself, but it was the only thing keeping me going. Thinking that he was more worried about me than the rest of those here. Because of what we shared. I knew deep in my heart I was right. He would mostly be worried about me. Probably going stir crazy not knowing where I was or if I was even alive, but I hoped he was also worried about the others too. Luckily Lissa wasn't very observant, she didn't pick up on the floods of emotions coming from Dimitri as she was to wrapped up in her own worry. I just hoped it stayed that way. We didn't need her asking questions.

The third and final time I got sucked in was the most shocking. It was Lissa and Adrian. Sat in a big ball room at the lodge talking and when I heard what they were talking about it all made sense. The weird things he had asked me. The comments he had made to her. He was also a spirit user. He specialised in different things. One being dream walking which after hearing him explain it to her I thought back to that dream just after I met him, and the realisation dawned on me that it was him using spirit. It wasn't a dream at all. Or it was. Oh, I don't know!

Thankfully he'd managed to dream walk me once since we were stuck here. I didn't manage to get through much as I just thought I was dreaming. It was before I knew. But he'd relayed the message on to the guardians and they were working tirelessly to find us. I didn't know why, it was pointless. I didn't even know where we were. How the hell were they meant to find us?

Returning my focus back to Christian and our locked gaze an idea occurred to me. I tried to convey my message by pulling my restraints and looking at his hands, but I didn't know if it got through. ''Boy, we could really do with some fire in here.'' I muttered as I pretended to shiver, repeating the actions with my restraints trying to relay my message. It was no use. He didn't understand. I sighed and was promptly told to shut up by our captures.

It could have been hours later that the first of us broke. Christians voice rang loud in the silence we found ourselves in. ''Enough of this! I'll do it! I'll change!'' Christian yelled.

''What! No. Christian!'' I returned. ''What are you doing? You can't.'' I looked at him, pleaded him not to. To just stay strong a while longer but as I met his gaze, I saw him shake his head and a small inconceivable smirk came across his face. Could it be he actually got my message. Or at least I hoped he'd got my message. In one last effort I pulled on my restraints again trying to look behind me as I mumbled ''You'll burn in hell for this!'' He just smiled. I was half sure he got the message.

''Just let me go! Let me change!'' he yelled again as he pulled against his restraints. One of the human captors moved towards him with scissors to break him free as he continued. ''But I want her. I want to drain her.'' He smiled, a crooked smile and my heart dropped. He didn't get the message. Once his restraints were released, he stood and stumbled so with the help of the human guard he made his way towards me. Not even making eye contact he brought his lips down to my neck. I felt his teeth graze my naked flesh, but he did puncture the skin.

''No! Don't! Christian use me!'' Mason shouting just as I screamed out in pain. But not from a bite. No. He'd done it. He'd gotten the message and the plastic around my wrists was burning. He was burning through my restraints while his lips made suckling noises at my neck. Giving the illusion of him feeding. I stopped screaming, gritted my teeth as the burning pain shot through me, knowing that what I needed to do to sell this game and my body against its better judgement relaxed into it. My skin was burning but I made sure to relax. I didn't want to give them any reason to believe something was up.

I saw the human captor release Christian fully just as the restraints snapped. I pushed him away and lunged towards the human. Punching him square in the face knocking him out with more force than I thought I was capable of in my current position. I spun quick on my heels after grabbing the scissor from his hand as he fell just in time for the second human to be upon me. I raised my hand and stabbed him in his neck. Regretting it instantly but knowing it was a him or me situation. I froze as my eyes caught the final captor who had his gun raised posed to shoot. Aiming right at my chest.

My gaze met his and a smile spread across his face. He knew he had won. He had the upper hand. I was no match for a bullet. I didn't want to break my gaze from him to see where Christian had got too as I heard the click of the bullet going into a chamber, I closed my eyes. Bring a memory of me and Dimitri from the other night to my mind. The memory of us finally giving in to each other played in my mind as I waited for the bullet to hit me and take my life.

''No!'' I heard a voice yelled. Still with my eyes closed waiting for the sting I knew was coming. After another minute and the bullet didn't come, I risked opening my eyes and ruining the memory I had created for myself as I saw Mason standing before me.

How did he get free?

I looked down and saw his wrist were also burnt. Christian must of set him free also. I looked past him, down to the floor and saw the human with the gun unconscious. I spun around seeing the guy from earlier stirring so I walked over and brought the heel of my shoe down against his head effectively knocking him out or maybe killing him. I wasn't sure and I didn't care. We had to get out. This was the only chance we would get.

We'd made it safely out of the basement. Stood just in the doorway of the main floor we couldn't hear anything but that didn't mean they weren't around. After we cut Eddie and Mia free. Christian did something he hated and took a drink from the already deceased human who I'd killed with the scissors. He gagged a little which at any other time I would have laughed but we needed him stronger than he was. He only took enough so he could support himself and Eddie, as drinking from a deceased person was hard apparently.

Me and Mason being the strongest took the lead. Christian held Eddie up and luckily Mia was able to mostly support herself but needed some help to climb the stairs. So, it left me and Mason able to fight. I risked a peak around the door frame. Looking for any danger when I saw none I turned back around.

''I'm going to have a look around. Stay here.'' I directed at Mason before taking the gun in my hand and loading, ensuring a bullet was still in the chamber ready to shoot if needed. It wouldn't kill them, but it might give me time. Which I doubted but at least it was something. Mason was about to respond but I shot him a look. We didn't have time to argue.

I stepped out of the safety of our hiding spot and walked into the hallway, as I rounded the first corner I smiled as I saw the front door and the obvious sunlight shining through the small windows at the top. The rest of the house appeared dark and blacked out. Protecting to strigoi from the sun's rays and certain death. If only I could get closer to some windows and rip the protection down. But I didn't have time. For now, the walkway was clear. We had to take the risk and make a run for it. It was far from the basement to the front door. We could make it. If we were quick and quiet. Two things that didn't mix well but we had to try.

I turned and headed back to the basement. Relaying the information and Mason agreed with my plan. I brought up the rear as he was at the front much to his dismay. He thought he should be at the rear, but I played the 'I've already killed strigoi' card as being the most experienced one in battle. A low blow but right now I didn't care.

We made it. Well we got the door open and Mason got Christian and Eddie through the door before the now familiar roll of nausea fell on me and I spun around just as the enemy rounded the corner.

''Mason, grab Mia and run!'' I yelled behind me not risking a glance back to see if he listened or not. Just a yell from Mia that confirmed it, or I hope confirmed it.

My eyes met those of the creature before me and they sparkled in the sunlight. Not standing directly in the light but there was enough in the room to limit its possible moves. Good for me. Bad for him. I took a step backwards, hoping that one step would bring me into the light and to safety when suddenly the light got blocked.

A shadow casted across the doorway and that was all the protected the evil son of a bitch needed to go for me. He tried grabbing me and succeeded, yanking my arm and pulling me towards him. Luckily Dimitri had covered this in training, and I was able to break free before he pulled me towards his body. Isaiah growled frustrated I was able to break free and went for me again. I gave myself a quick glance at the door I had now moved further from. There was no hope I would get free now. I would have to fight my way out and with no weapons that was not looking good. My eye caught movement just before my gaze flicked back to Isaiah and I saw Mason standing in the doorway wide eyed, staring at me.

''Rose! The swords! In the lounge! I saw them on the way in!'' He yelled just as Elena collided grabbed his arm and pulled him towards him. I took off, ducking around Isaiah and making a beeline for what I presumed was the direction on the lounge area. I saw the swords, luckily there was two and grabbed them both all while holstering the gun in my waistband. I might need that later.

I heard a crash behind me and spun to see Mason landing on the table to the side of the room. Going straight through and landing hard on his back. He recovered quickly and leap back up.

''You son of a bitch!'' I heard Isaiah gurgle from outside the room and wondered what had happened. Knowing we probably didn't have long until both Isaiah and Elena were on us, I took action.

''Mase! Here!'' I yelled as I threw a sword through the air. Like people do in movies. And just like those movies Mason caught it. He gave me a large grin as if to say 'did you see that' but was quickly distracted by a straggled cry coming towards him. A quick check around the room told me Isaiah hadn't followed. Weird. But I couldn't dwell on that for long as Elena barrowed into the room and charged Mason.

I joined the fray. Two against one was good odds. We had this. I just hoped Isaiah wouldn't show up before we finished her. Mason made a stab against her chest, immobilising her although she tried to break free, while I brought my sword up and started cutting into her neck. With her squirming, trying to break through, it made my job harder. Cutting through the skin and tendons, muscle and then bone was harder than it looked. The sword was also blunt, hadn't been used in years which made it even harder. After swing after swing I finally got through and her head fell to the ground.

I spun when I heard clapping behind us and faced Isaiah once more. ''Mason. Go! Run! Get everyone to safety. Call the guardians!'' I yelled as I pushed him towards the door. He had a free run if he would just go.

''No, Rose! I'm not leaving you!'' He yelled in reply.

''I need you to. You need to help them and get me some help by getting the guardians! GO!'' And with another push he went. I knew he had gone because I heard him shout further away from me, from the door.

''I'll come back. I won't leave you! Thank you!'' And I could hear the emotion in his voice. He knew as well as me that it would be too late by the time he got the guardians here. I would be dead. No doubt. I sent a silent pray up even though I didn't believe asking Dimitri to forgive me. I hoped beyond anything he would be ok without me. That he would be happy.

I looked forward. Staring directly at the soaking wet monster who would no doubt be my end today and without thinking pulled the gun from my waistband and shot. For a brief second I wondered how on earth he got so wet and why he hadn't come to Elena's rescue but then I realised I didn't care. Mason was safe. Everyone was safe. Shot after shot fired off until the whole clip was emptied into the beast's chest. Nothing happened. It didn't stop him. In fact, it just made him angrier.

''Oh. I'm going to enjoy killing you. Slowly.'' He said with a sinister smirk on his face as he took a step closer. My sword went up and aimed towards him but before I could even bring it down, he ripped it from my hand. Grasping the edge of the blade, throwing it off to the side. His other hand came down in a sharp hard punch to my abdomen and I screamed out as pain ripped through me and the world started to turn. My last thought being Dimitri.

AN- Yeah, I know. Another cliff-hanger. You're going to hate me even more for what I have planned now. Please review if you feel like it

I know Mason dies. But I couldn't. I couldn't do it. Just this once he lives.

I'm going to stop apologising for not updating more frequently as I will never change. I update when I can but just know I will complete this story. I promise.