Hey guys! Sorry for the loooooong break, but I've been really busy with school related stuff. Anyway, that's all over now, so here's the next chapter!

Dimitri

Atlanta was widely known among American Moroi to be one of the country's biggest Strigoi hubs. That was why, even as we exited the airport in broad daylight, we were on the alert.

The sun shone down on Christian's pale skin, and I knew we couldn't spend too long in the sunlight. "Let's find a car," I said.

Once we'd rented one and were on our way to downtown Atlanta, Christian said, "What's the plan, boss?"

I turned to Janine, only to find her staring expectantly in my direction. She was waiting for me to give the orders. I found that astonishing, given her seniority and her many more years of experience.

"Let's find an area frequented by Moroi," I suggested. "Perhaps they'll be able to point out areas that have seen increased Strigoi activity recently."

"And if that doesn't work?" Christian asked.

I didn't respond, and it fell to Janine to answer. "Then we hunt Strigoi."

I didn't want to think about how difficult it would be to hold down and interrogate a Strigoi. I'd done it before, and it hadn't been easy. I hoped it wouldn't come to that, especially not with a Moroi there.

We sped into central Atlanta as the dying rays of the sun illuminated the city, turning the glass towers golden. Choosing a busy area in the hopes of spotting Moroi or dhampirs, we parked our car and headed onto what appeared to be a busy shopping street.

At sunset, it was still early enough for humans to be up and around, and it was also the beginning of the Moroi day. Still, as we looked around, most of the shoppers appeared to be human. That didn't surprise me. Moroi and dhampirs who chose to live among humans had to keep a low profile.

We stood there for maybe an hour as human shoppers brushed past us. Janine and I were trained guardians and simultaneously scanned the street for signs of danger, with Christian sandwiched between us in a protective gesture.

I was about to suggest that we try another area when Christian pointed. "There, on the other side of the street."

Janine and I looked where he'd pointed, and sure enough, a Moroi woman was weaving between the human crowds on the far side of the street. She was blonde and in her mid-twenties, and didn't appear to be worried or concerned, but nevertheless she kept a brisk pace. She was dressed casually in a T-shirt and jeans. We started to follow her from a slight distance.

She turned suddenly and ducked into a small door that I hadn't noticed in my haste to follow her. Exchanging glances, my companions and I crossed the road and followed her into the door.

It was just a small bar, starting to fill up with human patrons. At each of the tables, a small candle burned in the centre. The Moroi woman was heading for the counter. From the way the bartender greeted her, she was probably a waitress coming in to work the evening shift.

I knew three of us might alarm her, so I turned to Janine and Christian. "Could you two grab a table? I'll ask her a few questions, and then join you once I have some answers."

They obeyed without question, and I headed to the bar just as the Moroi woman reemerged from the back, now wearing an apron. When she saw me, she raised her eyebrows.

"I didn't expect to see a guardian sitting at the bar by himself tonight," she said, keeping her voice low enough that the humans around us couldn't hear. "We don't get too many dhampir patrons."

"I'm Dimitri Belikov," I said. "I'm here on royal business, and I'd appreciate any help you could give me."

Her eyebrows inched further up her forehead. "The queen sent you?" she inquired. When I nodded, she jerked her head towards the seat. "Take a seat. Let me get you a drink, on me."

I nodded in thanks as she poured me a glass of beer. "Thank you."

She handed it to me and wiped her hands – calloused hands, I noted. This woman had known outside work. "I'm Amelia. Amelia Lewandowski. What can I help you with?"

"Strigoi," I said bluntly. "Have there been any increases in Strigoi activity in any part of Atlanta lately?"

A flicker of unease showed in Amelia's eyes, but unlike most Moroi, she didn't recoil from the subject of Strigoi – more credit to her. "Yes," she said. "There's a neighbourhood down in south Atlanta. It's famous among humans for gang activity, but Moroi and dhampirs living in the area know that it's also a Strigoi hotspot. Recently, there've been more Strigoi attacks there, even Strigoi sightings by some lucky dhampirs who got away."

I nodded gravely. That might not necessarily be where Rose was, but it was a good lead, and one we had to investigate. "Thank you." I turned to go.

Amelia grabbed my wrist before I could, showing faster than normal reflexes for a Moroi. My eyes widened, impressed. "Wait. If you're going there, you need backup." I opened my mouth to protest, but she cut me off. "That area's dangerous. And you'll need someone who knows the area well to go with you."

"I really don't think that's a good idea," I said. "We're going to investigate a rumour, and if it turns out to be true there could be a lot of Strigoi there. We don't want to risk any Moroi lives."

"Oh yeah?" Amelia nodded at Christian. "What about him?"

Christian, sitting at a table with Janine, looked startled to be noticed.

"That's different," I said. "He's key to the investigation."

Amelia quirked an eyebrow. "Don't baby me," she said hotly. "I'm not like most Moroi. I've trained in self-defence, and I want to hunt Strigoi. And," she said before I could interrupt again, "I'm a fire user."

As if on cue, the candle at Christian and Janine's table erupted into flame. Immediately, Janine snatched a glass of water from an adjacent table and chucked its contents onto the fire, extinguishing it immediately. Christian, however, stared wide-eyed at the charred candle, then turned to face Amelia. His eyes glinted, knowledge kindling in their blue depths as he dipped his head, acknowledging another fire user.

"If I can be any help to the queen, I want to be," said Amelia. "Strigoi have attacked me before, and I lit them up. I won't hesitate. Let me go with you."

I stared at her. Here was an oddity in all senses of the word. Amelia was scandalous by any Moroi standard – a Moroi who used magic offensively and was prepared to face Strigoi head on. My guardian training was screaming in my head, reminding me of the guardian mantra: They come first. Moroi lives couldn't be put in danger by combating Strigoi. And I didn't even know this woman – she couldn't be trusted with this mission.

I shook my head. "I'm sorry. We have to do this alone."

Reviews please!