Hi guys, sorry it's been a while, and also that the last few chaps have been short. I want the future chapters to be much longer, but if they are short, there will be a reason, I promise!

"What are you doing here?" Although I had gained her trust somewhat while we were on the run and even though I knew she trusted Rose, we were an exception; she, like every other alchemist, usually didn't trust any of 'our kind' as she delicately put it. Because of this, I saw no reason for her to be here, surrounded by the potential enemy. But the answer came to me before she spoke. "Human help," I said aloud, recalling what Hans had said on the ride here, "you're going undercover?" Sydney made a small, disgruntled noise at being described as 'human help'. "But why? I can't see this being out of choice." She emitted a humourless laugh. "Damn right!" she paused, seeming to carefully consider her next words, "Let's just say it's the last of my debts that need settled." Abe a voice exclaimed in my mind as I fit the pieces together of course he would have something to do with this. "Besides," Sydney continued, "not like I've never done it before remember?"

I did remember; she had acted as my slave, gone into the seedy tattoo shop that one of my Strigoi contacts owned and helped lured him out. Then I'd almost lost it; fallen into a dark pit of depression and despair; past the point of no return. But Roza led me back into the light, showing me the simple beauties in even the darkest alley. I mentally sighed; why did every train of thought I start have the same destination? I pulled myself back into the present and out of my memories and managed to find my voice. "Yes you have, but not to this extent. There are a lot more risks this time, more which can go wrong." I said which seemed to aggravate her more. "Well it's not like I have much of a choice in the matter. There's the little matter of my unpaid debt. And-" she faltered, as if deciding whether or not her next sentence was meant to be a secret or not. Deciding not, she continued, yet lowed her voice a little, "And Abe told me to keep an eye on you. He was very adamant in fact. You must have done something right." Sydney paused, then added as an afterthought "Or wrong."

Before I could respond, a voice, that sounded to have come from the bedroom to the right, shouted "Belikov?"

"Kitchen" I replied, shifting my full attention to the present, and to whatever information was about to be given to me. I hid all of my emotions from my face, creating a mask of my actual self. I was ready to do whatever was needed of me. Footsteps approached, and then Guardian Alto walked into view and stood in the doorway. "We have a meeting to attend." With that, he turned on his heel and left. He, like me, was now in full business mode and I respected him for that. I glanced at my watch, astonished the time had passed so quickly. I gave Sydney a 'this conversation isn't over' look. The only sign she gave that she understood was a short nod; a small, almost unnoticeable inclination of her head. I repeated the action back and left the kitchen and took the stairs up to the Guardian's headquarters.

It was all set out on one level; one large room with several floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall, looking out the same direction as the kitchen window downstairs. The apartment's walls were bare plaster and were an ugly uneven grey colour. In one corner stood a long table that was holding three computer monitors. Two of the screens were split into quarters, each part showing live images from different surveillance cameras. The third screen alternated between the cameras, showing a more detailed picture. On the same wall, slightly to the right, hung a large map of the town, onto which several lengths of string were pinned, signifying where different suspected Strigoi vehicles had been. Many of their destinations were the same; a large warehouse on the outskirts of town. Along with the string, there were also photographs taken of the suspected vehicles. There were cars and vans of all makes and models, but all had one thing in common; blacked out windows.

In the center of the room there was a large wooden table, currently occupied by blueprints and outlines for two different buildings; one was the Strigoi hideout. The other was the warehouse. At the head of the table, Hans stood hunched over the floor plans, studying them intently. I joined the rest of the group as they started to gather around the table. As I reached the table, Hans straightened his back and looked at us. "Right, this is how we're going to do it."

RPOV

When I opened my eyes, sunlight slanted through the windows to the right of me, casting bright colours onto the white stone columns and dark wooden pews from the depictions of saints set in stained glass. Looking at the tall, arched windows in this slanting light of sunset, the saints seemed more holy, more regale; lit from behind, making their clothing and the gold halos above their heads shine imposingly. Even though it wasn't morning for Moroi yet, it certainly wasn't midnight like it was when I entered. I must have slept, but I didn't feel rested or refreshed; I felt drained emotionally. Even when I told myself I should just get on with it and focus on the present, I knew I wouldn't be able to; not when the future's uncertainty had shaken me to the core. But there was no way of me seeing what would happen in the future.

But there was someone who could. As soon as the though came to me, I left the gothic beauty of the cathedral and went across court to the one person who could give me some insight into what might happen.

"Oh hello. Do you have an appointment?" A Moroi woman asked nonchalantly, as if I hadn't just burst through the doors, breathing heavily in what was the very small hours of their morning. At first glance she looked low twenties, but on closer inspection it became evident most of it was achieved with an inch thick layer of makeup. She reminded me eerily of the blood whores from the Nightingale in Saint Petersburg that I had encountered. Her questioning eyes were the only thing that reminded me I needed to respond. "Err, no." I said eloquently, "I'm looking for..." my words trailed off as I saw a disgruntled, and slightly dishevelled, looking Ambrose walking towards me from the corridor on my left. He looked up at me, sighed and muttered something under his breath. He inclined his head, the only movement I saw that he wanted me to follow. As I started off towards him, the receptionist started to protest. "It's alright Marie, she's with me" The receptionist only nodded and settled back into her chair, giving me a dirty look. I couldn't figure out why. Then I funny registered what Ambrose just said. "Why did you say that? She thinks I'm, you know, with you." He looked down at me a little amused, but still mostly annoyed. "Not my fault if she took it the wrong way" He said, completely unfazed. Realizing it was a lost cause to argue, I changed the subject. "Why are you so pissed? You're usually annoyingly happy all the time." I'd meant it jokingly, but he didn't find it particularly funny. "Well, you'd be pissed if you were dragged out of bed to 'go find Rose', when you should be sleeping," I could see his point. He opened a door and gestured for me to enter, "I'm sure you can find your way from here, I'm going back to bed. See you around Rose." Ambrose said, before turning from me and walking further down the hallway.

I peered into the room. I instantly recognized it as the reception area outside Rhonda's room. It was exactly the same as it was when I had last been here, however there was no woman behind the desk. The door to Rhonda's room was opened halfway, and I took this as a sign that I should go straight through. I walked straight to the door, but hesitated at the doorway, unsure of whether I should knock or not. Though before I made a decision, Rhonda spoke from inside, but didn't move from her seated position. "When did social etiquette start bothering you, Rosemarie? Come sit down, I've been expecting you." Her last words sounded so clique and overused, that I felt the need to pick holes in her logic; un-guardian like, yet very Rose like. "If you were expecting me, then why did you need to send Ambrose to find me?" I said with a smirk, leaning casually against the door jam. Contrary to the reaction I was expecting, she laughed quietly, shaking her head a little. "Oh, Rose. It would seem you are still much the same person I met only a year ago. And why not increase the chance of my prediction being right? We must all take a proactive role in our own fate at some point, Rose. Now come, sit. It is late and I would like to go back to sleep."

I entered the room, taking a seat opposite her as I had the first time we met. Something about what she had said was wrong; I was completely different to who I was back then. "I'm nothing like I was back then." I said, a little harsher then intended. Rhonda looked into my eyes, and sighed sadly. Then she looked down, busying herself shuffling cards as she spoke, "I agree, much has changed. But who you are has not. Now, let's go for five cards, shall we? We have a little time. "With that, she dealt five cards onto the small round table between us.

The first card's picture didn't conjure much hope. The Tower was printer across the bottom. The picture itself showed a man and woman falling out of a lighting-struck tower, which sat atop some cliffs; this could not be good. I sighed loudly. "I already knew it wouldn't be good; just tell me what it means." Rhonda looked at the card with a concentrated expression on her face. She finally looked up "There are a lot of things it could mean." I waited for her to say more, but she didn't. "Such as?" I asked. Rhonda seemed to deliberate what to say before speaking. "Well, it could be something simple like simple disruption of well-worn routines or a change in routine. Or it could be much more serious. Sudden violent loss, ruin and disturbance, dramatic upheaval, change of residence or job sometimes both at once, widespread repercussions of actions. But at the end comes enlightenment and freedom." She spoke in a matter of fact way. "But which is it?" I asked, feeling faint, I couldn't get the words out of my head. Sudden violent loss she had said. Sudden violent loss, sudden violent loss, sudden violent loss. The words drowned my mind and made my world spin. I had to focus on the other cards which sat on the table. Rhonda looked at me, staring hard into my eyes as if she were trying to find something from within me. "I'm sorry, but I can't be any more specific on that card, there is nothing clear coming through to me" She genuinely seemed regretful, and confused. But in that moment I didn't care. The whole reason I had come was to try and get answers; all I had gotten was more questions. And the certainty that something bad was going to happen.

The next card wasn't as easy to decipher. It showed a man riding a white house and holding what looked like a staff with a green Reith hanging from the top. Behind him stood men, bowing their heads to him. They also held staffs. I counted six of them altogether. It didn't seem too bad; besides the fact that it was upside-down, which, judging from experience couldn't be good. "Ah. The six of wands." She said pointing at the second card, indicating to the man on the horse. "He is known as the lord of victory. He is the bringer of good news. But-" she began, but I interrupted, already knowing where this was going. "But it's the wrong way up, so it's the opposite right?" I said, feeling my heart sink. She laughed softly before replying. "Who is the psychic here? Not exactly the opposite." That helped a little. That is up until she started to speak again. "There is so much fear, so much confusion, indecision," she looked back up at me, speaking more urgently, "Don't let your fear of outcomes cloud your judgment. Do not let it change the choices you make." The urgency left her eyes, and she took a calming breath. "That idea is also coming through this card. You will miss an opportunity through fear of the outcome if let fear take over." The third card she was indicating to looked like the inside of a church. Three people stood, seeming to talk to each other. Behind them was an archway made of stone. Intricately carved into it were three circles in a pyramid arrangement. Each of the circles had a five spiked star inside which crossed over itself.

The next card sat the right way up this time. It read The Magician at the bottom and showed a man standing in a garden surrounded by vines. Above his head there was a strange twisted halo above his head. In his right hand he held a small dagger above his head. Rhonda looked down at the card slightly confused. "It's strange, there is such a sudden change. There is a sudden show of self-discipline in you.

The last card was facing down. I reached out to turn it over, but Rhonda gently swatted it away. I looked up at her but she was concentrating on the downward facing card. She smiled slightly and wrapped the card in cloth. She then handed the card to me. She never spoke, but I knew not to unwrap it. The cloth was soft in my hands, made of deep red velvet. "You will know when to come back. Then I will tell you what I saw." I looked at her incredulously. "What? Then you could just make it up, saying as it would have already happened." She merely shrugged at me shrugged at me and said "Perhaps." The way she said, I could tell that this conversation was over. "Take care Rose."

I left the building in a daze and headed the way towards my apartment. I thought of what I had heard. None of it made sense to me, but after last time? I wasn't sure anymore. Especially after meeting Dimitri's grandmother. I entered my apartment, feeling completely exhausted yet so far away from merciful sleep. As I entered I went straight to the kitchen, deciding on an early breakfast as I hadn't eaten yesterday, but in the doorway I stopped in my tracks. There was a new addition to the kitchen counter; A bottle of Vodka. Next to it sat a glass with a letter propped against it. The paper was folded in half and read Rose across the front in a hand that wasn't instantly recognizable. I approached the bottle cautiously, unsure as to how it had gotten in here when the door was locked and I lived on the third floor. I reached for the letter, unfolding it slowly and reading the slanted, charmingly sloppy writing inside. The note consisted of two lines, neither of which showed any warmth.

It always helped me

A

Even without any real signature it was obvious who it was from. And honestly, in that moment, I wished I didn't. Because my life was already filled with enough negative emotions without reminding me of the guilt I felt. I stared at the bottle, willing it to show me a way out of this. I remembered so many times in the past waking up with a hangover and a gap in my memory where half a night should be. Those times I regretted having forgotten the night before, but today it seemed like the best thing in the world; to forget, at least for a little while to be able to numb every pain that I felt. And to sleep, the thing that was evading me at all costs, to be able to catch it so easily.

In that moment, it was all clear, simple and so, so easy. I made my decision. I picked up the bottle, leaving the glass and note on the counter and headed towards my bedroom.

To forget.

Back to DPOV to start next chappy. And before anyone points it out, RPOVs and DPOVs aren't at the same time. Dimitri's was a kind of step back to rose's, so I could show his perspective on the events. Just thought I'd clarify. Also, if you would like the full meanings of all of the tarot cards, or to see what they look like, the website is .com/ Have fun trying to find out what the last card was! Mwahahaa! Feel free to Review; it makes me happy :)

Gina xx