Hey guys. I want to apologize for taking so long creating this chapter. I hope to be able to post more frequently and with longer chapters. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter and remember to leave reviews to let me know what you think :)


The room was quiet as everyone pondered what was just said, I don't think that they were expecting things to get more complicated than they already were. A cough drew my attention, and I looked up towards the source to see Eddie stepping forward a bit.

"I think I kinda speak for everyone when I ask this; what do we do to stop her from waking them and taking control?" He spoke with determination.

Next, to me, Erik spoke up. His voice rang with authority. "We find the other relics or at least one of them. If she doesn't have all the pieces then she cannot unlock the army or control them, then the only thing we would have to deal with is her rage and her army that is defeatable."

"That all sounds great but how are we going to fight against that monster and her minions when we don't even know how to fight them? Not to mention that seventy percent of the palace Guardians were wiped out and that the Moroi refuse to learn to fight back when we only had one enemy." Tasha voiced out with sarcasm.

"We don't even know where to start looking for the other relic pieces," Mia said shyly.

I looked at my team, and I knew that they would always do their best at gathering research and answers to these kinds of things. However, as much as I hate Tasha, she did have a point. And Mia made a valid statement.

"My team and I will contact our resources and see what we can find. Maybe I'll be able to strike a few deals here and there to get us the information that we need. When it comes to fighting, Erik and I can teach you." I calmly responded while staring Tasha dead in the eyes. Erik however, stiffened when I mention making deals.

"That's not a bad idea Rosie," Christian exclaimed. "But we can't defeat Celeste with our small group. We are going to need a lot of people in this fight. Maybe if we contacted the Queen and discussed this with her, see if she can finally convince the rest of those snooty Royals that fighting is the only way out of this, alive that is."

From there on, everyone started talking about ideas and nodding their heads at each other words. Except for Tasha and Vasilisa, who just sat there looking annoyed and tried to shoot down every idea that was spoken. When I looked at Dimitri, I was surprised to find him already looking at me. He wore his mask of indifference around everyone, but his eyes were swirling with emotion. I could see sorrow, longing, anger, and fear. I was so focused on Dimitri that I flinched when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"You should go hunt Rose; you are going to need the energy and strength for tomorrow when we start training." Erik's deep voice was sent a shiver through my body.

Turning my head to the left, I looked at Erik and nodded my head. Not missing the look in his eyes that said we would talk later. I stood up and glanced back at Dimitri, he was glaring at Erik, and his eyes screamed with jealousy and anger.

I waved my hand up at the others in goodbye and headed towards the front door. When I opened the door I was greeted with pitch black and the cool breeze of the night, and just stood there, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness and all its glory. The night sky looked dark blue instead of black, the stars twinkled with mischief, and the wind beckoned me with delight.

I turned to my right and immediately took off towards the forest, dodging countless of trees and running in no particular direction. Breathing in the scents of the forest as I searched for a meal. After what felt like fifteen minutes I caught the scent of basil and pine, there was an Elk nearby. Letting my instinct take over, I jerked to the left a continued to run until I got close to my prey. When I was close enough to spot it across the field of grass, I ducked into a crouch and skillfully crawled closer until I was only twenty feet away from it.

Judging by the size of it and the way it looked more muscular, I assumed it was male, and a young one at that since its antlers were only seven inches in length. Which in all honestly is a good thing, it will probably try to run instead of putting up a fight. Taking a deep breath and getting into position, I pounced at the Elk, aiming for the jugular. It tried to buck me off, but as soon as my fangs pierced its flesh, it stopped and became limp.

Its blood was hot and thick as I sucked it down my throat, growling in pleasure as my thirst was being quenched. Before long the Elk was drained of its blood, and I dropped the carcass onto the forest floor, leaving it for the other predators of the land.

As I walked back in the direction of where I came, a sound so light yet clear caught my attention. I stood perfectly still and listened for more; I was not disappointed. Off in the distance, about five miles from where I stood, was the music of the Fae. I smirked at the knowledge that it was probably a Fae ring, trying to lure humans into there unsuspecting deaths. The Fae are always so helpful sometimes that it amazes me.

Instead of letting humans die in whatever tragic way fate had planned for them, the Fae lure those that are already close to death and bring them into their world. Where they are treated like royalty for three days and given anything they desire before they send them into the afterlife.

I continued to walk on, silently listening to their music and the sounds of the forest. The walk back to the house must have taken me three hours, but it only felt like fifteen minutes to me because when I reached the edge of the forest that opens up to the back yard, the sky was turning a bright velvet purple.

I glanced around the area and was surprised to see Dimitri sitting in one of the lawn chairs with a lantern on the deck floor next to him. I arched an eyebrow in curiosity and leaned against the trunk of a tree, trying to figure out why he was out here in the first place.

He just sat there; his face pointed up in the direction of the sky. His lips were moving in what looked like a silent prayer. Looking at him, I felt this sense of sadness and longing. I miss him. I've tried for so long not to miss him, but over these last few years, it felt like I was incomplete. Even now, when he is so close within reach, I miss him, and it's hard to fight against the feelings I've felt.

I began to walk towards him as quietly as possible, never taking my eyes off him. As I got closer, I started to notice the dark circles under his eyes, the stubble of his beard, and the way he just looked tired and worn out.

I was about seven feet away from him now, and I was surprised that I was even able to sneak up on him undetectable. Hmm, I am going to have to go over this in training later.

"I know you are there Rose."

I smirked at his statement; there is the man I knew. I froze in place as I watched him open his eyes, but he didn't look at me, he looked at the stares.

"How did you know it was me and not some masked psycho with a scythe?" I joked...

He smiled at my remark, "I've always been able to tell whether it's you or not Roza."

No matter how many times I hear him say my name like that, it still sends a pleasurable tingle through my body. I basked in the feeling for a second before walking closer and sitting on the wooden step beside him, not missing the way that he flinched an inch away from me. That small flinch hurt me more then I thought possible. Tears started to form into my eyes, and the familiar ache in my chest began again.

"Am I that much of a monster to you? I'm still the same person Dimitri. Well maybe not the same, I did change in the last three years since that day." I spoke quietly, trying to not disturb this calm atmosphere. "I can understand that after seeing the carnage for earlier that you would be a little distrustful. But, I came to you guys before it happened. I showed you that I was still me and not some blood lusting and power-hungry bitch."

I looked at him, not caring that he saw me cry, and was taken off guard to see that he was looking back at me. His eyes were wide and filled with regret. I watched him move from his chair and slowly lowered into a sitting position next to me. I closed my eyes slowly, enjoying the waves of heat that were coming from him. Until I felt a touch on my cheek, then my eyes snapped open and saw that it was his fingertips.

"Your skin is so pale Roza. It was tan before; it reminded me of honey. And your eyes were the softest brown that made me feel warm and comforted. But now, there a smooth and hard indigo color, like marble." His fingers then brushed lightly through a couple of strands of my hair.

"Your hair is still the same though, if not softer. I always thought you had such beautiful hair; I still do."

"What is your point in all this Dimitri?" I asked, staring into his dark brown eyes, seeing the longing in them.

"I want to start over again, with you. I know that a lot has changed and things are different, but I've missed you, Rose. I was wrong when I told you that my love for you had faded. I was just too stubborn and too deep into my self-loathing that I pushed away from the one person that I should have ran to." He spoke softly, revealing just how vulnerable he felt.

He cupped my face between his hands and pressed his forehead against mine, causing my breath to catch. I could see the blush in his cheeks, and I could hear just how fast his heart was beating. Closing my eyes, inhaling the smell of his aftershave, I tried to slow down my own fast beating heart.

"How do you expect me to believe you, Dimitri? You have called me a monster. You have hurt me with not only your words but with your actions as well. And not just in the present, but in the past. How can I trust you?" I whimpered. All these years, I've been mad at him, but I've never stopped loving him. I've tried, lord knows I've tried. But I can't forgive him yet, the pain he caused me won't just disappear on a whim. I won't just blindly fall back into his arms.

I opened my eyes to look at him, letting him see all the hurt he caused me, still causes me. His brown eyes widened in despair at what I told him. And I could feel desperation rolling off of him in waves.

"I am sorry Roza, so sorry! I was just confused and afraid. Please, just give me a chance. We can start as friends or even less, just please, let me be close to you." His begged, his voice was hoarse.

I placed my hands over his and gently removed them from my face, and he let them fall to his sides.

I let out a deep sigh and looked up towards the sky, trying to find answers from the stars.

"We can start as friends," I stated. Looking back at Dimitri, who let out a breath of relief, I leaned forward and nuzzled my face into his chest. "Thank you for apologizing."

I felt his arms wrap around me protectively and press me closer to his body. I took comfort in his warmth and found that sleep was creeping its way through my body. I gently tugged at on his shirt and whispered, " I got to go. I'm getting sleepy."

Instead of answering me, he slid one of his arms under my legs and pushed us off the floor and started carrying me towards the door that led into the house. I smiled in delight; maybe the world was on a path towards destruction. But a girl can get used to being carried to bed.