A.N: Hey Guys!!

I did my best to update today and believe me wasn't an easy thing to do but well you guys deserve it. You are so awesome.

I already figured what will be the subject of my next story ( I'll write it only when this one will be done) and it will be based on the Hunger Games series.

Anyways, I know this chapter is a bit slower than the others but it is done in purpose.

Don't forget to review...*Plllleeeeaaaasssseeee*

Hugsies =D

Chapter 13:

"Thank you for coming with me." I said to Adrian as we took off for our 3 hours drive to Missoula airport.

"Spending 6 hours in a confined space with you? It's my pleasure."

I rolled my eyes but smiled looking at the countryside I already knew by heart.

Adrian was the one who managed to borrow a car. They probably figured that, with his bank account, he could easily repay it if we had an accident. So he was driving, but even if I was not going to acknowledge it out loud, he was driving very well and I felt very safe with him.

"So the girl we are picking up… She can help you?" He asked more seriously shooting me a quick glance.

"Maybe… I'm not sure." I slightly shrugged. "She is an alchemist and--"

"An alchemist?" He asked but the surprise made him swerve a little.

"Hey!" I said reaching for the steering wheel.

"Sorry… Sorry" he said quickly "but…" he looked at me again probably to make sure it was not a joke. "You can understand that… I mean she is one of these bigots and she is about to enter the lair of darkness."

I had to laugh at that. "Yeah well it would be good not to mention that to her" I said reaching up to pat his arm without thinking.

He smiled "And why is that?"

"Well Sydney is pretty decent really. She is a bigot yeah, she has a pretty bad opinion of us but she has a good heart." I smiled remembering how she felt bad for me after she discovered my relationship with Dimitri.

"I see... So you say she is the less bigot in the bigotry group."

"Something like that. So maybe… well you know how much I like your personality but maybe you could just ummmm…tame a bit the whole cocky, flirty attitude when you'll be around her. I mean, " I chuckled "we don't need to fuel her whole theory of us being creatures of darkness."

Adrian stayed quiet for a minute probably pondering that. "Well if you don't want to scare the girl maybe she shouldn't meet Christian without supervision."

I laughed out loud and it felt good to laugh. "Yeah you've got a point."

"I mean even I, full creature of darkness, think Christian can be creepy at times." He added grimacing.

"Yeah I know he doesn't make a very good first impression" I conceded.

"Or a second, or a third…" Adrian added trailing off.

"Yeah... But once you get through all this cockiness, snarkiness and sullen attitude Christian is…" What could I say really. "Christian is… a very good person."

"Yeah… You guys grew a lot closer in the last 6 weeks, It's something that was impossible to miss." Said Adrian probably trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably.

I looked at his profile silently as he was driving. "Are...you're not jealous right?" I asked as it would be totally absurd.

"Should I be?" He asked quickly glancing at me.

"No! Of course not!" I said almost shocked.

He nodded silently.

Here we go again I thought groaning silently. "If I ever were to date anyone it…" I took a deep breath "it would be you." I said simply looking away as I didn't want to see his reaction.

After what seemed an eternity, but probably wasn't more than 2 or 3 minutes "It's…" Adrian clear his throat. "It's good to know." He said and I could hear the underlying emotions in his voice.

"Uh huh…." I said still looking out the window.

"I…" he started but never finished his sentence. I was pretty sure he was about to tell me he loved me and I was grateful he didn't because I couldn't reciprocate.

The rest of the trip was pretty silent we only talked every so often about very trivial things like the weather forecast or the possible colors of the graduation gowns.

When we finally made it to Missoula airport we both sighed with relief at the exact same time, making us laugh.

"We are not good with all that are we?" I asked getting out of the car.

"Well actually you are the one who's not good with all that my little dhampir" he said resting his hand lightly on the small of my back as we walked in the airport. "I'm just wary about what I'm saying as I'm scared you'll run off any minute if I say something I shouldn't" he added and it didn't seem to bother him more than that. He was just stating a fact.

"And I really appreciate that." I said sincerely. He was giving me the time and space I needed.

"I know you do" he said now looking at the big arrivals board. "Oh I got it," he pointed to the board. "Flight 2543 Gate 2. They should land in 10 minutes."

I looked around and started to walked down toward Gate 2.

As soon as we sat down, in front of the door, he took my hand mechanically and I didn't take it back. It was nice, and if it was what he wanted, I could at least concede that much.

Adrian looked down at our intertwined fingers for a while and I couldn't help to look too. It was funny how our hands could reflect all the differences between us.

His pale white skin clashed with my dark gold tanned skin that I acquired spending so much time in the sun. His fingers were long and delicate, his hands were wide but flawless. His skin was soft and no scars or burns were damaging them. My hands were petite but strong, my skin was covered with little scars and as much as I hydrated them my palms were slightly callous due to the number of hours I spent training and fighting.

Yeah…we couldn't be more different I thought still looking down.

I looked up but Adrian was still looking down, he was now tracing patterns on the back of my hand with his empty hand.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked gently squeezing his hand.

He looked up to meet my eyes, his emerald eyes darker than usual. "I was looking at our hands and thinking how we are completing each other. The light and the darkness, day and night." He smiled and shook his head. "Silly I know… What about you?"

"I…" I smiled. "I was thinking that we needed to have a video camera for when Sydney will meet Christian."

I could see in Adrian's eyes that he didn't buy it but he was nice enough not to comment.

I smiled again and leaned in to kiss the tip of his nose. It was not a romantic kiss per say, but it was a bit more intimate than a kiss on the cheek. It was actually exactly our 'status' right now: more than friends but far away from dating.

As soon as my lips connected with his nose I heard a 'urgh' sound coming from my right than a little 'I'm going to puke'

I laughed. "Hi Sydney" I said turning to see her. "It's nice to have you here."

She was dressed with a pair of black dressing pants, a yellow button down shirt and her hair were tight in a very strict bun. That was Sydney alright.

I stood up and hugged her. She hugged me back awkwardly.

"I'm sorry for interrupting your…PDA." She said looking at Adrian through narrow eyes. She didn't like Moroi and didn't hide it.

Adrian stood up and came to stand beside me. "Don't worry about it" he said with his usually cocky grin. "I'm your chauffeur Miss Daisy" he added with a small bow. "My name is Adrian Ivashkov" he said over politely "you can call me Lord of Darkness." He said winked at me. "It's how you youngsters are calling Dracula nowadays right?"

I gave his a chastising look. I did warn him! Argh!

Sydney threw him a dark look "Fine…Lestat." She said frostily.

"Come on Sydney lets go." I said taking her bag on the floor. "How is the red hurricane doing by the way?" I asked and it was enough to make her speak for a good hour.

We were about half an hour away from the Academy when the silence started to weight.

I turned around to look at Sydney on the back seat and smiled.

She smiled back. "So where will I sleep? With you right?" She asked hopeful.

I opened my mouth to say that she will have her own room in the guest pavilion but I closed it again. She had trouble to sleep the first nights with me…She would never be able to rest in a building full of Moroi.

"I... yeah. We can arrange that of course." I said trying to figure how I would manage to move in the guest building with her but I knew that I could sweet talk Alberta and I needed to tell the truth to my mother anyways… lots of shouting there I thought grimacing.

Adrian probably noticed my discomfort because he raised one eyebrow and said " you are going to sleep together? Uh…. Can I watch?" and it did the trick, I burst into laugher.

"In your dreams Lestat!" Snapped Sydney.

"I wouldn't say that if I were you" I said still laughing, knowing Adrian ability to dream walk.

Sydney looked at me puzzled, I just shook my head dismissively.

"So except the super vanishing potion, do you have anything else Strigoi related that can help me?" I asked trying to change the subject.

Sydney discreetly glanced at Adrian. "I'll tell you about that later ok?"

Adrian chuckled. "Ooooo we wouldn't want to talk in front of the big evil Moroi" he said with laugher in his voice. "We never know maybe I can go sell those secrets to the KGB."

"Stop it please." I said calmly reaching for his right hand on the steering wheel and brushed its back softly.

"I'm sorry" mumbled Adrian quickly glancing at Sydney in the mirror.

"You can talk in front of him you know" I said turning a bit more on my seat to have a better look at her. "I trust him with my life." I said sincerely. "Him and all my friends" I added quickly not to mislead her. She'll have to talk in front of them. Each player had to know it all. "Do.. Do you know why you're here?"

"Well not really" she admitted. "They said that you needed me for something pretty big, That could change everything but that I won't end up in jail."

"That's about right." Said Adrian keeping his eyes on the road.

I nodded without a word. I knew Sydney well enough to know she was going to freak out when I'd mention the jail break because…organized or not, she won't see it with a good eye.

I sighed. "I'll tell you everything tonight" I said as I knew she would be far more comfortable with me explaining everything to her if it was just the two of us. "Oh just one thing you can be as rude as you want with Adrian and even Christian."

"Christian?" She asked quizzically.

"Oh yeah, you are just going to love each other!" said Adrian marveling and I couldn't stop my playful smile. I really didn't need to encourage his behavior but he was always good at amusing me.

"Yeah well…Just try to be nice with Lissa please" I said locking eyes with her. "She is very sensitive and one of the nicest person I ever met. I…I will not tolerate rudeness toward her." I simply stated.

"I'll be on my best behavior" she said lips pursed.

"Thanks" I said deciding to ignore the coldness. "But well you'll see, they are all fantastic… in their own ways."

She snorted but didn't comment.

"It's going to be tough for Alberta to swallow that one." Said Adrian completely ignoring Sydney presence now and I thought she was grateful for that. "I mean why on earth would an alchemist show up to stay here?"

"I can have friends outside of the Academy!" I tried.

Adrian burst into laugher. "Right!!" He glanced at my face and probably saw the indignation. "Oh you were serious?…Of course you can!" He said trying to backtrack but it was too late.

"Asshole!" I said looking away. But I wasn't really mad and he knew it.

"But you love me just as I am." He said teasing.

I just grunted.

When we made it to the Academy I told Adrian that I was going to see Kirova with Sydney and to tell the other I'll see them as soon as I could, probably tomorrow.

"Yep." He kiss my forehead quickly. "See you later Rose…" he turned to Sydney. "See you later Jesus."

She just glared at his retreating form.

"Don't mind him." I said laughing

"Are you dating? I thought…." she ask nonchalantly as we walked to Kirova office. "I don't know what I thought" she added finally.

"No we're not dating but…" I gave her a quick sideway glance. "He is very important to me."

"Right." She said simply I didn't know what she thought about it.

As expected Kirova was very curious on why I invited an alchemist to stay here and how we became friends in the first place but she accepted to bring a second bed in my room. I think you couldn't be suspicious with me…the little heroin.

Just after they brought the bed in the room Sydney started to tell about the Strigoi related potions.

"Well the one to attract strigoi is pretty stupid" she said emptying her small bag in my half empty dresser.

"We never know.. It might turn out to be useful one day."

There were a light knock at my door. It turned out to be my mother.

I introduced Sydney to her, and to my surprise, she was very cordial with her.

"Rose can I see you 5 minutes please?" She asked pointing at the door.

I nodded "yeah...I'll be back in a few" I said to Sydney.

"Don't worry about it" she said dismissively.

My mom walked us quietly to an empty lounge upstairs.

"So?" I asked sinking on the sofa.

She locked the door behind us and came to sit beside me.

"I'm the one who should ask that."

I looked at her with confusion.

"Rose come on." She said with slight exasperation like I was underestimated her. "I know you are preparing something but…For a Alchemist to get involved it has to be big, very big."

I opened my mouth but said nothing. I couldn't fool her and I knew that. "You're going to be mad."

"I'm not going to get mad" she said patiently.

"You're going to shout…a lot."

"I'm not going to shout…Come on tell me" she said and I could see she was doing her best to control herself.

I took a deep breath and told her everything in one go, before I lost all my courage.

When I was done she just stared at me. I could see she expected a lot, but that was not the case.

"I…" She sighed before looking at the forest painting on the wall. I knew she was not really looking at it. "It's impossible" she finally said quietly after 5 long minutes.

"What is?"

"Convincing the Judicial board to let Victor Dashkov out even under supervision." She shook her head. "Even if you had proofs on tape."

"Well" I shrugged slightly coking my head on the side. "Adrian did convince them" I said looking straight into her eyes.

"How on ---" She stopped her eyes widening with understanding. "He did…that?"

I nodded silently.

"It's…Go back to your friend Rose before she starts worrying." She said standing up. "We'll… talk about that another time I need time to absorb it all."

"Yeah I bet" I said actually astonished that she didn't made my ears bleed with her shouting. "I'll see you tomorrow."

My mom unlocked the door and I could see she was still lost in her thoughts.

"Tomorrow… yes." She padded my shoulder.

"So what are we going to do now?" Asked Sydney when we got ready for the night.

"Now? Well…We're going to get ready for the war ahead" I said trying to sound far more confident than I actually felt.

I was about to drift into sleep when I felt myself being pulled into Lissa's head. Her powers were really increasing with Oksana's help, she could now almost summon me on purpose.

She was crouched behind Adrian's small kitchen counter but she was not afraid, she was just uncomfortable. She was not supposed to be there, since it was way past curfew, but scanning her mind I could see she came up because she was curious about Sydney and our friendship. Adrian and her had just started to chat when my mother came in. Both Lissa and him decided it was better for her to hide than to explain her presence in the room.

I couldn't see them from where Lissa was hiding but I could hear them clearly enough.

"Rose told me everything" said my mother so calm it surprised me.

"Told you what?"

"About you convincing the High Judicial committee for Victor."

Adrian stayed quiet.

"Do you even know how dangerous it was for you to do that boy?" She asked but she was not mad just worried.

Boy?! Lissa and I thought simultaneously, my mother never called anyone like that.

"Don't you think I know that?" He asked sounding resigned.

"But why?? You know it's not helping her and yourself to go in this crazy plan."

Adrian stayed quiet for a long time, so long that Lissa was considering showing herself.

"I had no choice" said Adrian in a hushed tone. "You know Rose as well as I do, you know how much Belikov means to her. She made him a promise and she was going to find someway to try to save him with or without me and I would rather be a part of it." I could hear the loud intake of air. "I can try to keep her safe, to stop her from doing something that would destroy everything…destroy her."

"But have you considered the possibility that it might work and if it does, she will choose him and you--"

"I'm irrelevant" he said quickly. "I don't want her to settle for me… I want her to choose me" He said and I could hear the sadness in his voice. He knew that it would never happen, I could never choose anyone over Dimitri and the resignation in his voice hurt me.

I got out of Lissa's head and realized silent tears were falling down my cheeks. Sydney was looking at me quietly with concern all over her face.

"Are you ok?" She asked uncomfortably.

I nodded quietly. "Yeah… I'll be better in the morning." I just hate hurting the guy that owns only enough of my heart to hurt us both. I added to myself.