A/N: Before I start, I have to say that I am shocked with the feedback this story is getting. I thought for sure people would hate me for making Dimitri this much of a monster while he was a Strigoi. It is nice to see that my habit for thinking outside the box hasn't ruined the popularity of this story.

Also, I want to inform you that Katya's part of the story has finally caught up with everyone else's. What is happening to her right now is happening around the same time as what is happening to Rose and Dimitri. Just be aware that they are in two different countries still.

KATYA

"The bosses are ready to see you now." Adam's sad yet angry voice pulled me out of the comfortable numbness that I had fallen into. I felt the chains that kept me fettered to the wall give as I sank to the floor. My legs were still too weak from my punishment to hold me up. "You do realize things would be a lot less painful for you, if you just cooperated and stopped trying to escape." Adam's voice found me again as he hauled me to my feet. "I mean, the other girls accept their positions in this world, and they are very well taken care of. If you acted more like them, you could be taken care of too."

I tried to let out a sigh of frustration, but it came out as more of a whimper when simply walking across the floor caused pain to sear across my back. I liked Adam, a lot. In fact, he was the only friend I had managed to make during my time in this God forsaken place.

Adam, a dhampir, worked for Marcus and Rebekah Masterson at their exclusive, supernatural creatures only night club, which just happened to be the place where Dimitri had dumped me before his trip. Adam, however, was a million times more compassionate than Marcus and Rebekah and a good majority of their clientele. He would food me when they would deny me food and take care of me after I was punished for something. He just couldn't seem to understand why I had to get out of there.

"Last time, I checked the other girls were here by choice." I whispered hoarsely. It had been at least a day since I had been given water. I knew that I was headed toward dehydration, but that didn't bother me. I had long since given up hope that Dimitri would return for me, and judging from my previously failed attempts, death was the only escape I would get from this hell. Hopefully, if I pissed Marcus off enough, he would kill me and get it over with quickly. "None of them were thrown here because a sadistic vampire decided he didn't want them anymore."

"Point taken." Adam answered. I imagined if the situation had been less serious, he would've been smirking at my response, maybe even laughing. Unfortunately, the truth was to horrifying.

The other girls were runaways of all varieties—humans, witches, vampires, and any other supernatural creature you could think of—who Marcus and Rebekah offered a warm, dry place to sleep and three meals each day in exchange for them working at the night club. Some helped out at the bar while others waited tables and entertained the clients by stripping. It just depended on were Marcus and Rebekah thought you fit.

Some clients paid extra for alone time with the girls. Alone time could be for anything, really—sex, feeding, or just a chance to throw the girls around a little. It just depended on how much the clients were willing to pay. Rebekah worked very hard to make sure none of the girls got killed during alone time. On the few occasions it did happen, Marcus personally destroyed the client responsible.

I suppose it was a nice arrangement for these girls who had nowhere else to go, but not for someone like me, who just wanted to get away from all the cruelty of the supernatural creature. I just wanted to be left alone to die. Was the too much to ask.

"Even so," Adam continued. "If you didn't keep giving them a reason to hurt you, I'm sure they'd treat you like everyone else. You could have a comfortable life if you would just give in."

"You don't get it." I said cringing as each step we took stung the still open wounds on my back. "I don't want to be comfortable, Adam. I don't want to be here. I just want them to kill me and get it over with."

Adam sighed as he flipped me up into his strong arms. I cringe as his arm touched my back through my torn t-shirt.

"I'm sorry." He whispered, but I wasn't sure if he was apologizing for my current situation or the fact that in trying to help me, he only hurt me more. "I don't think you're going to get your wish, though. Even though, your constant escape attempts and feisty attitude keeps you from making him money, Marcus likes you."

I can't help the snort that comes out at those words. Yeah, I knew how much Marcus liked me and my blood. My neck was covered in bite marks and bruises while my nether regions never seemed to stop throbbing anymore. Not to mention that whenever I wasn't being punished, I was in his bed with Rebekah watching him play. Occasionally, she would join him for the sex and the snack.

"He's not going to kill you anytime soon, even if it means looking you in a cage in his room for the rest of your life." Adam continued shaking his head. I could hear the disgust in his tone. It was the same tone of disgust he had whenever he talked about Marcus and Rebekah. It made me wonder why he was even working for them, if what they did disgusted him so much.

I opened my mouth to ask him just that, but he pressed his fingers to his lips and lowered me back to the floor, gently. I understood this to mean that we were too close to Adam and Rebekah's room to continue being friendly with each other. I liked that Adam did so much to help take care of me and I didn't want to get him into trouble.

He wrapped his fingers I may hair and gave a gentle yank. I walked slowly forward on trembling legs staring at the floor. My heart rate picked up as we got closer to the room. Despite my constant escape attempts, I was scared to death of my new masters and wished desperately that Dimitri hadn't left me with them.

Adam knocked on the door three times.

"Come in." Rebekah's cold high pitched voice called through the door. I gulped as Adam pushed the door opened and dragged me through.

He shoved me just hard enough for me to stumble and hit the floor, but not enough to hurt myself.

"Excellent." Marcus's voice said from somewhere above me. I learned enough in the last few months not to look up until I was forced or ordered to. "Just the bitch I wanted to see. Thank you, Adam. That's all."

"Yes, Sir." Adam replied sounding as polite as possible. I heard the door shut as he walked out leaving me alone to face my fate.

DIMITRI

My mind was still on Katya and the horrible place I left her when I met Christian in the gym for our defense classes. It wasn't until I saw that Christian was already instructing the group of twenty or so Moroi in warm ups that I realized I was late.

"Mia, would you please take over for a few minutes?" Christian asked when he saw me.

"Of course." Mia Rinaldi walked to the front of the class. She, who had firsthand experience fighting Stigoi, was the first person to sign up for our class when Lissa suggested the experiment. She was already far more advanced than many of her peers in the class, but she was always willing to learn more and lend a helping hand when needed. She was definitely a Moroi I would want on my side in a fight.

Christian walked over to me with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Are you okay, man?" he asked. "It's not like you to be late?"

"I'm sorry. Rose and I…"

"You had a fight about what's ever been bothering you these last few weeks." He finished for me.

"How did you know?" I asked raising an eyebrow at him.

"She and Castile were just leaving when I came in to set up." He shrugged. "I caught the end of their conversation. To be honest, you should just tell her. She can handle whatever she it is."

"I have no doubt about that." I sighed. I didn't think so low of my Roza to think that she wouldn't be able to handle a tale of kidnapping, rape, and abuse. That wasn't my concern. I knew she wouldn't look at me the same when I told her about this, and I didn't think I could handle seeing the disappointment in her eyes when she looked at me. Or handle the rejection that came with a confession like this. "Her ability to handle it isn't what I'm worried about."

"You think she won't forgive you for whatever this is." Christian stated. I raised my eyebrows at him again. "Maybe, I listened to a little more than the end of the conversation." He confessed having the decency to look a little ashamed of himself. "You don't give her enough credit, man. Rose is an incredibly forgiving person with a big heart. True, she hides that side of herself well, but it's there. You should have a little more faith in that."

I sighed. I knew he was right on so many levels, but I also knew that difference between right and wrong, forgivable and unforgivable. Raping an innocent girl repeatedly because she reminded me of Rose was definitely unforgivable.

"Believe me you would think differently if you ever found out what I'm keeping from her." I told him. "You'd probably encourage her and Lissa, for that matter to stay far away from me. Hell, you'd probably never speak to me again."

Christian laughed at those words.

"Well, then, why don't we cancel the class, get a drink, and you can try me?" He offered. "And I promise that I will not say anything to Rose, regardless of what you say."

I sighed. I knew I would eventually have to come clean with everyone, but I wasn't sure Christian was the one first one I wanted to hash out all the details to. I would've rather told Lissa the whole story first, but the thought of how she would react to it scared me almost as much as Rose's possible reaction.

Lissa was even more compassionate and forgiving than Rose, but I was sure those emotions had their limits too. I didn't want Lissa to look at me any differently or even regret making me a dhampir again instead of just killing me.

Christian was different the two girls who were honestly the center of my world. Sure, he had become a good friend in the months since my restoration, but we were nowhere near as close as I was to Lissa or Rose, and his opinion didn't matter to me as much. Maybe, he would be a good test audience. Or maybe I was just tying the noose and preparing to hang myself.

I guess there was only one way to find out.

"I suppose Lissa will tell you, if I don't." I finally said. "I may as well cut out the middle man."

KATYA

I was still kneeling in the center of the room, staring at the floor when Marcus's fancy brand name dress shoes appeared in front of my face. I heard heels clicking on against the hardwood floor and knew Rebekah was coming up behind me.

The fact that the two were coming at me from both sides scared the shit out of me, but I didn't dare look up. I knew I would be punished if I did, and my body couldn't handle more punishment right now. It was still throbbing from the whipping I had received for my attempted escape.

I felt Rebekah's long nails scrap across my scalp before her fingers wrapped in my hair and she yanked my head up so I was looking directly into Marcus's evil red eyes.

His shoulder length blonde hair fell around his angular face. I had to admit, if he wasn't a terrifying vampire, he would've been pretty cute. I was ashamed to admit that I considered his six pack abs to be a slight turn on when he took his shirt off before he started raping me.

With the way Rebekah was holding me, I couldn't see anything other than his face, but I knew he would be wearing a fancy three piece suit. It was his usual attire for opening the club and visiting his clients. I was sure Rebekah was wearing one of slinky black cocktail dresses and a pair of stiletto boots. Her long brown hair would've been done with curls falling around her face.

I took a couple deep breaths and did my best to keep any fear off my face, but I doubted it worked very well.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Marcus growled.

I knew he was referring to my recent, badly planned, failed escape attempt. It actually involved me simply running through the open front door of the club when I thought no one was looking. I didn't know what came over me. I knew there was no chance that I could've made it out of the club, but that's not why I did it.

"Only that I'm sorry." I choked out as best I could. It was hard to talk with Rebekah holding me at this angle.

"You should be." Marcus replied.

"I wasn't finished." I said. I knew this was a bad idea, but it was the only way to get what I wanted. "I'm sorry that I didn't make it out, and I'm sorry your chosen punishment wasn't good enough to kill me."

Anger flared in his red eyes, and I barely had a chance to brace myself before he backhanded me across the face. Rebekah released my hair and I fell to the floor with a cry of pain.

"Oh little girl." Marcus laughed placing his foot on my head, and putting a great deal of pressure on it. I cringed but refused to give him the satisfaction of a verbal reaction. "Your death is the last thing we want, isn't Rebekah?"

"That's right." She replied walking over and digging the heel of her boot into my back. "In fact, I think we'd like to keep you around for a few more months, possibly years. You are just that entertaining."

"Exactly." Marcus removed his foot from my back. "Stand up!" He ordered and I rushed to do what he said while keeping my eyes trained on the floor. This wasn't going anything like I had hoped. Was simply dying too much to ask? "Look at me." My head snapped up so my eyes met his. He grabbed me by the chin and pulled me a little closer to him. I was so used to the stench of reeking vampire that it didn't even make me feel sick to be so close to him anymore.

"Besides," He whispered almost seductively. A shiver went down my spine. "You are too beautiful to just kill." He pushed me away as if suddenly aggravated. I stumbled back into Rebekah who grabbed me around the throat effectively stopping any chance I had at defending myself.

"You could make us so much money." She sighed if you just learned to cooperate.

"Go to hell!" I said through my teeth.

"Eventually, darling, but I'm still having too much fun up here." She laughed.

"Back to the point." Marcus walked up to us with a smirk on his face. "We don't wish to kill you just yet, but we can't trust you to be out in the club or alone and unconfined. It seems you can always find your way out of the places we try to keep you, so we are going to change that right now."

"How?" I asked trying to keep the shake out of my voice. He backhanded me across the other cheek this time.

"I did not give you permission to speak." He growled. Tears blurred my vision as I forced myself to look back at him.

"I'm sorry, Sir." I uttered the required response without much emotion.

"Not yet, you're not." He said patting the cheek he just slapped. "But you will be later, tonight. In answer to your question, though, you will now be spending every moment of your life in this room. Only coming out when Rebekah or myself deem it fit. At which point, you will be required to wear a collar and a leash. That way we can control you at all times."

I gulped as I remembered Adam joking about Marcus keeping me in a cage beside his bed. Dread swept over me as I looked over to the corner where the king size bed sat. Sure enough, there was a large gold cage set up beside it. I wondered if Adam was trying to warn me about this, or if it had just been a coincidence.

"Yes, dear." Rebekah whispered. "That's your new home. You will stay in there at all times, unless Marcus or me need you for something."

"I don't think about trying to escape from this one, either. If you come out without permission, an alarm will go off in the club, and the consequences won't be pretty." Marcus sneered getting right in my face. "Like I said, killing you isn't an option, but it would be a real shame to mess up that pretty face of yours." He gave my cheek another condescending pat before stepping away.

"And don't think we'll change or minds about killing you." Rebekah said turning me around to face her. "If this attempt to keep you in your place, doesn't work, then we will just sell you to the highest bidder, then you won't be our problem anymore."

She laughed then shoved me backward into Marcus.

"We need to get upstairs, love." She said. "The place is filling up fast tonight."

"We will." He replied running his fingers over my neck. I gulped because I knew what was coming. "I just need a little drink first."

"I was thinking the same thing." Rebekah smirked closing in on me.

"Please, not tonight." I begged trying to break Marcus's hold on my waist. I was still trying to recover from my punishment. I didn't need to lose more blood.

They both laughed, but Rebekah didn't stop her approach. Marcus twined the fingers of his free hand in my hair and yanked my head to the side exposing more of my neck while Rebekah grabbed my wrist. I wasn't sure whose fangs pierced my skin first, but the second they did, my world erupted in pain.

DIMITRI

"Shit, man." Christian said as I finished the story of Katya and me. That was, of course, after he downed what was in his glass. "How old is she?"

"16." I answered.

"Fuck." He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was silent for so long after that, I thought for sure he was about to tell me off. Instead, he looked me in the eye. "I can see why you don't want to tell Rose, but it needs to be done. I mean, she's going to find out eventually."

I gave him a warning look prepared to remind him of his promise.

"Hey, it won't be from me, but these things have a habit of getting out. She'd prefer to hear it from you before rumors start and things get blown out of proportion." He continued holding his hands up in surrender.

"I know. I'm going to have to everyone soon, because I can't just leave her where I dropped her." I explained. "Those vampires will complete destroy her, if they haven't already. I just so worried this is going to the thing that she can't forgive me for. What if she decides that I was too much of a monster to be the man she loves?"

Christian shook his head, pouring us both another glass of whiskey from Lissa's private store. Yes, it was completely illegal for her to have it, and for me to be condoning drinking with a minor, but Lissa was queen and Christian was her boyfriend. What were the guardians going to do, arrest the three of us? Besides, it was nice having someone to talk to, and the alcohol was obviously helping him process this.

"Don't tell anyone I said this, but you and Rose have that storybook kind of love that everyone looks for. God knows, I love Lissa and she loves me, but it is nothing compared to what you and Rose feel for each other. She will stand by you, through everything, Dimitri. Yes, she may be upset at first, but when it is all said in done, she'll still love you."

"You really believe that?" I asked. It surprised me that Christian knew so much about mine and Rose's relationship. True, he was close to us, but he never struck me as the type to pay this much attention to things, or even be this deep.

"Let's see, she dropped out of school to chase you all the way to Russian to put an end to your suffering as a Strigoi." He ticked a number one of his finger. "She broke a man out of jail, in order to find out how to make you a dhampir again." He ticked a second finger. "She didn't stop loving you or fighting your rejections when you didn't believe you were worthy of her any longer." There was number three. "And the more she hears about your months as a Strigoi, the more she loves you and tries to remind you that it wasn't you." He ticked four and took another drink of his whiskey.

"If she still loves you after all of that, she will still love you after this."

"Are you sure about that?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Because I have no choice. I will not allow Katya to suffer any more than she already has."

"If anything, the fact that you are willing to do what's right at the risk of everything you and Rose have will be enough to keep her from hating you."

"I really hope you're right, because if I'm going to do this, I have to do it today."

A/N: Well, what do you guys think of this chapter? I hope the stuff with Katya wasn't too confusing. Also, I know I said Dimitri was going to talk to Lissa before he made his decision but, for some reason, things felt more right with Christian. I figured, with his family's history, he'd be the best at understanding what Dimitri is going through. I hope you guys agree. Let me know what you think