A.N: Hey guys!!

Thanks for the reviews. I hope you are going to like this chapter. Oh by the way did you guy read The Hunger Games?? OMG I absolutely adored it! I couldn't put it down so I ran to the shop to buy Catching Fire this morning.

Anyways in the poll Shadow kiss is winning.

Don't forget to review you know I love reading you guys.

Take care

Steffy =D

Chapter 11:

"Well maybe you all share the same basics but you have a special gift more developed than the others." I twisted my mouth thinking "like a specialization in the specialization."

The three Spirit users looked at me with wide eyes. It has been three days since Oksana arrived and I spent most of my alone time with Mark Christian and Eddie, dutifully avoiding Adrian, especially never getting alone with him.

I was actually getting pretty good at dodging him and I could see it was getting on his last nerve. I knew I was being childish but I couldn't help it.

As for Mark he was pleased to share his knowledge with me but each time I tried to talk about spirits, he was closing himself like an oyster.

"What…What did you say?" Asked Lissa still looking at me like I was an Alien.

"Well…" I shrugged looking at Mark who was sat beside Oksana. "You are all super good at compulsion, seeing Auras and stuff but Lissa is really a master at healing even if you two can do it of course but she put way less effort than you into it. You Oksana you can visit people mind and do many cool trick but Lissa and Adrian can barely graze thoughts." And thank god for that. I added to myself.

"Ok… but they are only working on it since like 3 days." said Christian casually leaning against the wall by the door.

"All I'm saying is that even if they work for years they probably won't get as good as she is or if they did, it would be far more energy consuming for them." I said looking at him now. I felt better exposing my crazy theory to him as he was probably as unstable as I was for following me in my crazy still undecided plan. "Maybe that's why, even after so many months of training, that Lissa still can't dream walk and maybe she will only be able to do it for short period or stuff like that." I said with a small smile looking at Lissa again.

Lissa seemed to like the idea that she couldn't dream walk not because she was too weak or not good enough but just because it was just the way it was.

"Maybe Lissa is supposed to be the super healer, Oksana the super mind reader and Adrian the dream walker well the creepy stalker really." I added on a humorous note.

"Some women find that charming!" He said with a fake offended tone.

"Yeah well sorry we're not Edward fans here… Stalker don't particularly give me the hots!" I said dismissively. "Not that you showed up in my dreams or anything recently" I added wanting to slap myself almost straight away as understanding lit up his face.

"Not bad…not bad at all!" Said Mark approvingly. "That's completely possible."

"Look at you all brainiac!" Said Christian shrugging from his position against the wall walking to sit beside me. "I hope you didn't give yourself a brain hemorrhage figuring that one out."

"Go immolate yourself!" I said punching his shoulder playfully.

"Oooo did you buy a dictionary?? Immolate?? Nice" he said with his goofy grin tousling my hair.

Lissa clearly her throat to attract our attention.

"I…yeah." I simply said with an apologizing smile.

Adrian was looking at us with sharp eyes and Lissa envied my friendship with Christian more and more. A small part of her was scared that I was pulling away, that I didn't need her as much as I used too when she needed me even more.

I decided to have a chat about that with her soon enough because even if Christian now occupied a place in my life and heart it could never compete with her, she was my Lissa, my best friend…my sister.

"It's actually very bright" said Mark ignoring the little teasing. "And I think it's probably right, each Spirit user being more effective in certain aspect than other…it makes sense. "

Maybe we need to combine all these aspects to save--- I started to think but stopped almost straight away. I refused to think about the way to save Dimitri that involved too many people, if things turned badly, the probability of death being pretty high, I didn't want to have too many lives, or death on my conscience. I had already too many.

At this moment there was a knock at the lounge door and some waiting staff came in with some food. The smell was so mouth watering that I immediately guessed it was not coming from the Academy kitchen. I was pretty sure that the food they were cooking here had for only goal to punish us I mean come on no food could be that tasteless, for no ulterior evil motives.

"You did that?" I asked Adrian pointing to the trays full of food.

"Who else?" He said with his cocky grin.

As we started eating some Chinese food I couldn't help to look at Oksana and Mark and how they were with each other. They were not touchy feely but the way they looked at each other, the way he delicately brushed her hand. That deep love made my heart ache.

"See a dhampir and a Moroi can be happy together" whispered Adrian to my ear.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even hear him come to stand behind me.

"I never said it wasn't possible" I said still looking straight ahead finishing the chicken fried rice on my plate.

"Do you envy them as much as I do?"

"I don't envy all the trouble they had to face to be together, I don't think I could." I simply said knowing I was an hypocrite because my relationship with Dimitri did face as many trouble than they did, if not more, but I did fight for us.

"Yeah it all depend who you're fighting for" he said a bit colder like if he was reading my mind.

"It depends if the person is worth fighting for" I retorted quickly glancing back to his puzzled look.

I sighed. "Nevermind."

"I'm going to the feeders" said Lissa almost at the door.

"Wait I'm coming with you!" I said jumping on the occasion. "It's getting late anyways."

"Yeah better call it a night… I heard you youngsters have some exams to revise" added Oksana with a small smile.

I grimaced as Lisa confirmed.

They arranged to meet tomorrow in the afternoon but I was to pleased to have a fighting study session with Eddie so I could zap the afternoon "Spirit training" .

I knew I would pass my finals without any trouble. It was not being cocky or anything but I didn't think that a lot of persons, guardians included, could fight as well as I did but I needed Eddie to pass with flying colors too. We needed to stay all together so he had to be attributed either to Lissa or Christian.

"You know how sometime you can't control the way your power works right?" I asked Lissa as slowly walked to the feeders.

"I know that…" she trailed off warily.

"Well I can't help it either and I can't feel how you feel" I said stopping in the path to face her.

"Oh…'' she said embarrassed the red creeping to her cheeks.

I nodded and caught her hand. "Nobody could ever take your place in my life Liss."

She looked up to me her jade eyes full of wonder and doubt.

"I know I let you down before I'm not denying that but I love you so so much."

She gave me a small smile. "I love you too Rose" she whispered.

"And please don't even think that anybody can take your place in my life or in my heart because…because that's never going to happen. Not now or in a million year. You are my Lissa, my sister and nothing or nobody could ever change that ok?"

Lissa nodded again.

"It's true that Christian and I share something. We're friends and I care about him very much but…'' I smiled a goofy smile. "He will always be the sarcastic smartass with an attitude."

Lissa hugged me tightly and I could feel the relief coming from her. Silly girl! Then I thought of my future crazy plans and the smile I had vanished.

"Also you need to know that…'' I cleared my throat not really knowing how to say that. "Well you know during my next adventure if I have to leave you on the side…safe for a little while it will not be because I love you or trust you less than anyone else. It will be because I love you more and that I'd need all my mind to do something and that if I worry about you well…I can be weakened."

Lissa looked at me without a word.

"Please Lissa you have to trust me on that." I said more urgently. "If one day I tell you to stay aside, not to follow me, I'll need you to step aside, no questions but I'll make my way back too you always." I smiled. "Guardian or not."

Lissa seemed to ponder that for an eternity, she was wondering why I would ask her something like that and I had planned something too dangerous.

"I promise" she finally said realizing how much faith she had in me.

"Good" I said taking her hand leading her in the commons to the feeders.

Lissa got Alice, Crazy old Alice as a feeder today. Christian always enjoyed having her and Lissa didn't mind that much either. Blood was blood.

"So Rose keeping Lissa safe?" She asked me as Lissa sat beside her in the cubicle.

"Always Alice." I said scanning the room.

"But who is keeping you safe?"

I snorted. "I can take care of myself."

"Good good. Since the danger is getting closer, you need to be ready…Keep her safe by keeping yourself alive."

Lissa froze and I looked down to meet Alice half gone gaze.

"What?" I asked not able to hide my trouble.

"The danger is getting closer and closer. Even closer than you think it is. The army is being raised, they won't leave without what he wants."

"What does he want?" I asked trying to sound detached but I could almost make her answer in my head 'you, he wants you'

But instead Alice eyes almost went blank. She smiled looking at Lissa, removing hair from her neck. "Whenever you want princess."

When Lissa was done with her feeding we stayed quiet for a little while lost in our thought.

"Do you think she was talking about--"

"I don't know Liss" but I knew deep down it was the only real danger in our near future. Dimitri was as much as a badass alive or undead and if he wanted in I knew he could do it.

"But Alice is crazy right?"

"Yeah she is but…" I shrugged. "You know what let me just figure all it out. I'll come out with a plan."

"Yeah?"

"Of course!" I said trying to reassure her.

"Rose can I have a word with you please?" asked Stan pretty cordially seeing us leave the commons.

Lissa did find him at the gym after our fight and healed him no question asked.

We were now a lot more cordial to each other. Maybe that fight did help ease some tension between us. Well we were far from being buddies or anything but we were not on each other throat anymore.

"Go to your room Liss, it's almost curfew anyways I promise we'll figure something in the morning." I said trying to sound far more confident than I actually felt. I wanted to wait till graduation before executing any crazing plan we would come up with but I never thought that it was possible for Dimitri to find me before that.

She seemed to calm down. She hugged me, nodded to Stan and left. I looked at her till she entered the Moroi dorms before concentrating on Stan.

"What can I do for you guardian Alto?" I asked as politely as I could.

"Is there something wrong?" He asked pointing to the Moroi dorm.

"Not yet…but maybe soon."

"Soon?"

"I'll keep you posted" I shrugged dismissively. I needed to warn the guardians soon enough that Dimitri was on his way, security around campus needed to be increased or I needed to leave campus and make it common knowledge…Yeah!! That could be the solution. "Anyways…."

"Yeah it's about your practice exams. We were talking with the board and you know we wanted to know if you wouldn't mond be the last to take it because…well with all the training you had and the experience--"

"I might discourage the others?" I tried.

"That's….that's the general idea yeah." He said grimacing.

"Honestly whatever. If you guys think it's for the best."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it." I said uncomfortable. Stan was not one to thank people and me in particular.

"Tomorrow? Training?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world" I said not able to conceal the sarcasm in my voice any longer.

"I bet" he said shaking his head walking in the common.

I was walking back to the dhampir dorm when a voice came from beside the old oak tree.

"Why are you avoiding me?" Asked Adrian coming to full view. "I've been back three days and where is Rose? Everywhere I'm not."

"I'm not avoiding you" I said turning to face him.

He laughed but it didn't reach his eyes. "Oh Rose who do you think you are talking to? Ralph Sarcozy?!" He sighed. "You know you're the biggest hypocrite I have ever met."

"Moi?!" I shrieked a bit louder than intended attracting the curious look from some of the students that were going back to their dorm.

"Yeah you." He said still calm. "You told me that I should tell you how I feel and now that I did you are avoiding me!"

"I…" I looked around. "Do you really think that's why I'm avoiding you?!"

Adrian gave me is best 'duh' face. "Yeah well I don't see why then!"

I sighed. "Well I can't be weird out because of the bull you served me last week."

"Bull?!" He ask with incredulity.

"Well you left for a week and didn't even give me a call so…" I shrugged "allow me to doubt your sincerity dude."

"That's…" He started and I saw anger flash in his eyes. "If I left it was for you!" He hissed with anger. "I was with your father we…" He looked around. "Lets go somewhere quiet."

I nodded as now he got my full attention. Him and Abe?? Together?!

"My room?" He asked and for the first time it had no double meaning.

"Okay let's go ."

As soon as we made it to the room Adrian turned toward me and he was still angry.

"Do you really want to know what your dad and I did during the week?" He asked crossing his arms on his chest.

"Do you really need to ask?"

Adrian sighed. "None of us are crazy Rose. That's…that's why Lissa was here that morning. I know you well but she knows you better than anyone else. I just wanted her to tell me to what extend you could defy authority…pretty scary!!"

I just sat silently trying to keep my feelings in check.

"You promised to stay safe not to go into any crazy scheme but I…we know you and one day…" he walked to the seat opposite to mine. "One day you might decide to break him free and we couldn't let you become a traitor. I couldn't let you become one."

"I don't understand." I said confused.

"Well we convinced the judicial board to let do the research by letting Victor Dashkov escape, well…under very high supervision but still." He winked.

"I… what?!!!"

"Yeah you heard well, Victor will think it's an escape but it will be all organized." He smiled "well we'll have two secret service agents serving as guardians but you know…it won't ruin your whole life."

"You 'convinced' them?" I asked scared to realized what he meant. "How did you that?"

"I think you do know how I did that." He said patiently keeping his eyes in mine.

"Compulsion…" I whispered. "You compelled the judicial committee! Do you even know how risky that was?" I asked amazed by the insane risk he was taking for me. "Ivashkov or not… I shook my head. You could have been accused of treason too!"

"Don't you think I know that?" He said so calm I wanted to slap him. I would never forgive myself if anything would have happenned to him. "I needed your father influence to organize the meeting then well….it was very light compulsion don't worry the arguments were pretty valid."

"I don't…I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything I didn't do anything I didn't want to do. I…" he ran his hand through his hair and stood up. "I promised to always be here for you Rose, to support you even if you go crazy on me and…" he shrugged. "That's what I intend to do."

I jumped from my seat and hugged him tight. I didn't care if I was crossing the line again. He was so good, he was always there for me and it actually hurt me to know that I could never love him as much as he deserved to be loved. But part of me loved him of course, but that part was just an insult to what he deserved or even to what I fell for Dimitri…Dimitri.

I got out of Adrian arms and I could see he was reluctant to let me go.

"But why didn't you try to compel Victor I mean….if he reveals the location of his brother…" I started but I was scared to sound ungrateful.

"Well I did consider that but you see you told me Victor said his brother was a bit ummm…lets say impaired."

"Completely coocoo yeah."

"It's another way to say it." Said Adrian laughing. "But you see I couldn't help to ponder that, if Victor brother was a Spirit user powerful enough to bring back a Strigoi, why did he need to kidnap Lissa to be healed?" He asked rhetorically.

I was glad that question didn't require an answer because I didn't think about that and I wasn't pleased about it.

"So my guess is that his brother is really too far gone to do magic and so…" he shrugged before taking a strand of lose hair from my face, placing it behind my ear. "We need Victor to unlock the probable mess that is Robert's mind." He added letting his hand slide along my neck before resting it on my shoulder.

I was glad to have all these people ready to help, I didn't have to do it on my own and that was maybe what will make me win. I just needed one more ally now. "I need to get out of here...the Academy I mean."

"Why? You promised to graduate Rose!" Started Adrian getting unnerved.

"No sorry I mean I need to get out of the Academy as behind the protecting ward." I said catching his hand intertwining our fingers. I knew it was bad to do that since it could lead him in but I just enjoyed being with him, his dried, hot strong hand in mine made me feel a bit better, safer…as silly as it seemed. "I need to talk to someone"

"Ooooo I see." He said pulling me to him still keeping my hand in his. He wrapped his free arm around me. "No actually I'm lost. May I ask you who you want to talk to?"

"Yeah it's Andre Dragomir." I said simply.

"Ok maybe I shouldn't have asked."

I laughed. "Nah I mean it. I need a favor from him and ghost or not he will have to do it."

"Ok… okay" said Adrian letting go of his grip around my waist but still keeping my hand in his. It was quite passed curfew now but neither of us cared that much. "Let's go talk to the ghost" he said like he was talking about a random subject.

I shook my head but cannot stopped my smile.

"Come here" I said gripping his shirt with my free hand and pulled him to me giving him a chast kiss on the lips. With everything he had done he deserved that much and deep down I knew I wanted to kiss him, his lips felt good on mine. "Thank you" I said letting go of his shirt.

"Anytime my little dhampir…anytime" he said quickly kissing my forehead before pulling me out of the room.