Chapter 22: Disclaimer I don't own anything but I would still love a review :D

"You look terrible" Said Lissa after Rose left. "Are you feeling okay?"

I shrugged. "It doesn't matter, does it? I turned out to be useful, it should be all that matter to you."

She seemed taken aback by my coldness and answer, I could see hurt cross her face and I couldn't help the wave of guilt that rushed through me. She didn't do anything to anger me; she was not the enemy…not really anyways. Who knew; we were maybe even friends before Adrian wiped my memory.

"You matter to me" she said barely louder than a whisper. She took a deep breath. "I guess you are not used to magic, why don't you go and rest for a while" she said gesturing to a close door, "it will take a couple of hours to get everything ready….well I presume you want to come right?"

"Of course I do."

"You know, nobody will hold it against you in case you didn't want to -"

I'm coming. I said with my best professional voice.

She sighed again. "Fine, see you in a couple of hours"

I entered the room, and it took my breath away. It was one of the biggest private libraries I had ever seen! I would have loved to spend days in that room to look at these books. However, it was really not the time, and place and the big leather sofa on the corner looked very enticing right now.

I sat down, and closed my eyes as an headache started at the base on my skull, could the magic create any damage? Could my brain be affected? My brain was all I had, and I was not even sure that taking that foolish risk was worth it.

I closed my eyes for what I thought was a second but was startled awake by someone nudging me.

I jumped out of my seat, and looked around. A tall dhampir, with smiling grey eyes was standing just in front of the sofa. "It feels good to have you back" he said pulling me into a hug.

I stayed frozen, not hugging him back, trying to remember anything doing with him….the sad part was that I couldn't even remember his name.

He pushed me back keeping his hands on my shoulders. "Sydney?"

"Yes…."

"You have no idea of who I am, do you?"

I shook my head.

He sighed letting go of me. "I'm Eddie, Eddie Castille and we should hurry the plane will leave in less than 30 minutes."

I followed him out of the room, but the main room but it was empty.

"They are already on their way to the plane" he said as if he was answering my unspoken thoughts. "But we'll be much faster, nothing to worry about."

"Are we close? You and I?" I asked as he really seems to be able to 'hear' my unspoken thoughts.

"I like to think that we are very good friends." He quickly glanced my way with a small smile. "We had our share of trouble to deal with; it sort of formed a bond you know."

"What did we go through?"

He shook his head. "Nice try but I can't tell you, let's wait and find Ivashkov, after that it will be fine."

"Do you think we will save him?" I asked as the plane came into view. It seemed like a simple question but I could feel a part of me, deep down, that was desperate for the answer.

Eddie stopped just before climbing in the plane, and turned toward me. "We have to; we just have to….We lost too much to let him go. And I know someone who would hate me forever if we didn't, someone who will never get over that…"

"Who?"

"You… "He replied, before getting in the plane.

"Are you sure it's him though?" Rose asked to Lissa as the plane cruised.

"For the twentieth time Rose yes, give me some credit! You never found Robert did you? And I know only person with a luxury house in the middle of Wyoming…."

"Victor Dashkov" added Dimitri.

"Yes! Rose whatever you say this cannot be a coincidence." Rose looked at me for a second as if I had my words to say here. She sighed and looked at Lissa again. "Okay and do you know the house well? I don't remember ever going there."

Lissa twisted her mouth in a grimace. "No I've been there once before I even started school, I don't remember anything."

"It's not a problem, we'll be there in broad daylight and I don't think they are that organized." Eddie added.

"They were organized enough to kidnap him" I said and when all the eyes connected on me I realized it was a mistake.

"He was not careful," replied Dimitri with his deep accented voice. "He had other things in his mind, he was focusing so much on his mission that he was easy to lure. Believe me Sydney, there was no challenge here."

"Is it because of me?"

"No, no it's not" Lissa rushed out before anybody could say anything else. "Adrian, was just being Adrian nothing to worry about."

"Yea don't worry Sydney" Said Christian, lifting his hands that were on fire. He locked eyes with me, and gave me his wicked smile. "We'll get your boy toy back."

I looked at them, three boys and two girls, without counting the 5 guardians sitting at the back of the plane, they were so determined so confident and a part of me ached to have lost the memories of them, they seemed to be a real family, a family I have been a part of.

When we landed, we took two cars but still stopped about a mile before the house.

"I can feel the pull Rose, he is here" Said Lissa, closing her eyes as we got out of the car. "There is….two spirit users in this house, one is Adrian but his signal is rather weak," she opened her eyes, and looked at me. "He is not in the best shape, you have to know that."

"As long as he is still breathing, I can figure something." I will just need my memory back first to know how much I'm ready to sacrifice for him I added to myself.

"We're going to circle the perimeter" said Dimitri to the guardians. "I'll go with Christian Rose and Lissa using the side entrance, Eddie will go with Sydney using the back door. You" he said pointing to a huge blond Viking looking guy "you'll come with us. You" he said pointing to the four other guardians "will split in two teams. One will take the front door to create a distraction and the other will circle the perimeters and don't let anybody escape are we clear?"

The general and almost synchronic 'YES" made me jump a little.

"It's going to be fine" Said Eddie, adjusting the listening devise in his ear. He squeezed my shoulder. "We'll save him."

We separated then and Eddie even if he was at least 7 inches taller than me and had about 60 pounds was much quieter as he walked.

"We have to wait for the signal" he whispered as the back door came into view.

We waited for what seemed to be forever, but it couldn't have been more than two minutes, just enough time for me to imagine all the scenarios, everything that could go wrong.

"Let's go!" Said Eddie, grabbing my hand pulling me toward the door that he kicked in one try. "We're in….Yea, ok I'll meet you there. Adrian is in the basement" he said, pulling me out of the kitchen.

"What will I be doing?" I asked breathless as I had to almost run to keep up with his giant strides.

"You take care of him, in whatever state he is now, you are the only one who can reach him."

"But—" I had no time to finish, as he pushed me against the wall before starting to fight two men guarding a wooden door.

Eddie has a small smile all along like he enjoyed kicking some ass.

"Go down, find him and meet us in the back" he said kicking the door to the basement. "They need me in front."

"Okay…." I answer to myself as Eddie was already gone.

I got down the stairs realizing that Eddie didn't even check the basement. For all I knew a guard could be standing there and I couldn't fight for the life of me.

But at the bottom of the stairs was only Adrian tied up in a chair, with his chin resting on his chest.

I rushed to him, lifting his head, my hands on his cheeks. "Adrian! Adrian it's me."

He let out a faint groaning sound.

"Open your eyes, we…we need to get out."

He opened one eyes, and this simple movement seemed extremely laborious. "Sage, you shouldn't be here." He let out with a raspy voice that broke my heart.

"We have to move."

"I can't"

"You can, Adrian you will!" On an impulse I kissed him, and when his lips connected with mine, it felt like a wall broke in my mind and all the memories that had been taken away came back. It was like being punched in the stomach…I was left breathless. "Oh Adrian I love you so much." I gave him butterfly kisses all over the face.

Adrian sighed with content. "Go Sage, they'll be back."

"I'm not going without you". I went behind him to untie his hands and when I came in front to untie his feet I noticed he was asleep again.

"Adrian come on…." I rubbed his cheek. "I can't carry you."

"Blood, I need blood…" he whispered, keeping his eyes closed.

I looked at his face again, and finally noticed how deep and dark were the circles under his eyes. How long did he go without blood? I turned toward the door when I heard shouting way too close from our location, we needed to move now.

Without even pondering it, I unbuttoned my shirt and exposed my neck before grabbing him by the back of the neck and pulling his face to my neck. "Drink."

"No," he moved slightly "not you" I can't do that. Not after your sister and…"

I pulled his face to my neck again. "It's not the same, we have to if you don't we'll both die here because I won't leave you here….it's your call."

Adrian stayed silent, but after a couple of second I felt the sharp pain of his fangs piercing my skin, it faded quickly and was replaced by a sort of tingling feeling that went through my veins making me light headed. It was like we were getting even more linked together, much more intimate and right now nothing matters more than his lips on my burning skin.

Way too quickly he let go of me. "It's ok if you help me I'll be able to walk." He said much more clearly

I stood up, swaying a little bit but dong my best to hide it. Adrian wrapped his arm around my shoulders as I wrapped my arm around his waist.

We walked slowly up the stairs, and I couldn't contain my sigh of relief when we reached the back door and I saw Eddie standing there.

"It's fine they are all neutralized."

"Robert?" Asked Adrian leaning even more into me, the little strength my blood gave him was starting to fade fast.

"Out for now, We are good to go, Dimitri went for the car and call some guardians nearby." He extended his arm to take Adrian. "Sage you are bleeding! Let me help you."

"It's nothing "I said, tighteneing my hold on Adrian.

Eddie eyes widened with understanding "You—"

"We all have to do what you have to do." I meet his eyes. "Let's go."

Eddie didn't add anything and simply helped Adrian on the other side.

"I love you Sage, so much….Thanks for coming for me."

"I'll always come for you, Always." I replied meaning it with all my heart and soul.