A.N: Hey Guys

I don't have much to say except thanking you for the reviews. I hope you are going to enjoy this chapter.

Please don't forget to review as it really keep me going even when I'm dead tired lol.

Hugsies

Steffy

Chapter 16:

"Ok here is the drill," Said Arch as we approached the prison discreetly. "No time to discuss it." He added seeing I was about to argue.

Nobody at the Prison was aware of what we were about to do. As far as they were concerned, it was a real escape which was a good thing as it added to the pretends. We were not faking the urgency.

I pursed my lips and Adrian squeezed my hand to show me his support.

"You" he pointed to Adrian Eddie and I "you go in I'll stay by the door and keep contact with you if there is a move" he added taping the little ear piece he was wearing.

"How will--" I started but didn't bother finishing when he handed me a small ear piece.

"Don't insult me with stupid questions" he said not even bothering to look at me anymore.

"Hey! Being a 'super agent' is not a free pass for being an ass. Do you copy that?" I snapped.

He looked at me with what seemed to be approval. I was sure people didn't snap at him that often.

"I'll stay by the main gates, after you'd have done your voodoo crap to the guard" Arch said to Adrian.

I could see Adrian jaw muscles bulged but he didn't say anything.

"I'll keep an eye on the cameras, while you get him" he added looking to Eddie, Adrian and I as Pavel stayed in the plane waiting for us.

I was about to ask him who elected him big boss but I kept it shut as we had much more important things to deal with.

Adrian reached the guards at the entrance first as we stayed a couple of meters behind, hidden. We didn't need to raise their suspicion.

After talking with the guards for about 2 minutes Adrian gestured us forward.

"They'll do everything you ask them to do" he said to Arch pointing to the guards sitting in complete daze.

Arch nodded entering the small office looking at the screens.

"Lets go" said Adrian gripping my hand. "It's now or never."

I looked at him and smiled. I knew how much all of this cost him. I knew he loved me but he was still here, every step of the way, to save Dimitri even if it meant we wouldn't be together.

Adrian put the first guard to sleep and forced the second one to open the door to the corridor where Victor was held.

"You go first" said Adrian barely louder than a whisper.

I nodded and walked briskly to Victor's cell.

"Rose you're back!" he said standing from the bed where he was lying. "So… have you made up your mind?" He asked with a big smile.

"I'm here to get you out." I said through clenched teeth. It still killed me to let him out. I knew it was more like a temporary freedom but it was crazy nevertheless.

"How could--" He started but stopped when he saw Adrian approaching with the guard. Victor eyes narrowed with suspicion. I stopped breathing with apprehension.

Adrian locked eyes with the guard. "That's good... Now you are going to open this door" he said with a very calm voice.

"Yes… open the door" said the guard with a sleepy voice.

I kept my eyes on Victor whose eyes widen with understanding. He seemed to like what he was seeing.

"He is a dhampir…You are one of them, a Spirit user." He said literally marveling.

Adrian ignored him,

The guard opened the door and as soon as Victor walked into the corridor he burst into laugher.

"Who would have thought the rumors were real?" Said Victor shaking his head.

"What are you talking about?" I asked briskly.

"When I was at the Court awaiting my trial I heard rumors. Rumors that the nephew of the Queen got involved with my favorite rebel, but you know, I knew you were involved with the dhampir." He looked at Adrian who was looking at him with sharp eyes. "Well at least it was true as far as YOU are concerned." He added pointing to Adrian

"So what?" Asked Adrian.

"Nothing…I just find that rather ummm amusing."

"You gave me your word" I said cutting them off. "You said you'd help me."

"And I intend to keep my promise. Hate me as much as you want Rose but there is something you can't deny. I NEVER lied to you" he said locking his jade eyes with mine. "And I'm probably the only one."

I pursed my lips but didn't comment because it was true, good or bad, Victor only told me the truth. Every time I asked him something he told me what he believed was true.

"We need to move" said Eddie who was standing beside the door.

I nodded grateful.

"And where are we going?" Asked Victor as we exited the corridor.

"To Norway"

"So you figured it out?" He asked somehow impressed. I almost snapped at him telling him I was not as stupid as he thought I was but it was Christian who figured it out.

"Yeah well… it was not enough" I simply said.

"Maybe it was" he said evasively concentrating on Adrian who was working on the guard.

"You are very tired…you are going to sleep now and when you wake up you'll see it clearly in your head." Said Adrian with an hypnotic voice. "It was 3 men who attacked you, 3 Moroi in their 40's."

"It was 3 Moroi" repeated the guard.

"Sleep now." Said Adrian as the guard yawned and fell on the floor.

"Awesome!" said Eddie still not as used as I was to see compulsion.

Adrian winked at him and grabbed my hand. "Ok lets meet Arch." He said pulling me away.

Victor was following us with a little smile on his lips. Eddie was closing the cortege, just in case. I did believe that Victor was really going to help me, whatever his ulterior motive was, but I was not idiotic enough to trust him blindly either.

Adrian worked on the guards in the entrance compelling them to believe the same description of the attackers than the guards inside the prison.

We rushed to the runway where the plane was waiting.

As soon as we reached it, the motors of the planes started to roam. Pavel probably did see us coming.

"You're going to go with them" said Adrian coldly to Arch.

"But I'm your Guardian I'm--"

"Yeah you have to do as I say!" Snapped Adrian. "It's your job remember."

Arch pursed his lips and nodded.

"If that's not love" said Victor with a small laugh.

"I go with Eddie and I'll met you there" he said to me.

"Meet you where?" Asked Victor curiously.

"I'll tell you in the plane we really need to go now" I said dismissively keeping my eyes on Adrian. I knew they would just take the car and drive to the Dragomir Cabin which should take about 9 hours. Yeah they should make it before sunset.

"Hathaway!" Barked Pavel from the plane making me laugh.

"Oh joy! Your number one fan is here too." Said Victor with incredulity. "Why would he even agree to help you?" he asked suspiciously and I could see I had to find an answer fast or Victor would not move.

"He has to… he is one of Abe Mazur guardian and an order is an order."

"Abe Mazur again" Said Victor trailing off. I could see he was thinking.

"I'll tell you everything in the plane" I said more or less sincere. "Please move."

Victor walked beside Arch to the plane, I was behind them.

I had a foot on the first step when I felt someone pulling me back hugging me tight.

"Be careful" whispered Adrian in my hair.

"Same to you, be safe" I said reluctantly getting out of his embrace but I didn't want Pavel to burst a vein.

I looked into his eyes for a minute and maybe he saw something he liked because he bent down to kiss me hard and I kissed him back.

"I love you Rose."

"I'll see you soon" I replied, and right at this instant, I hated myself for not reciprocating. I walked into the plane without a look back.

"Please Rose, come sit here" said Victor with an inviting tone but I knew I didn't have much choice.

Pavel sat across from us probably to show Victor that he would be listening.

Victor quickly glanced at him with a smile playing in his lips.

"So Dear Rose, I never thought you would do that."

"You knew I would try" I said with a bitter smile. I knew Victor well enough to know he was playing me. "You just never thought I would succeed."

"Possible" he said with a glint of humor in his eyes. "Which lead me to ask what I'm dying to know…What did you promise to Abe Mazur to get his help?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked crossing my arms on my chest in a subconsciously defensive position.

Pavel took his glasses off and shot me a warning 'be-careful' glance.

"Well at first I thought he contacted me as a freebee." Said Victor with a slight shrug. "You know for you to trust him. Then, when you came to visit, I got curious and I thought that maybe he wanted you as a guardian I mean…" he grinned "I can't judge I wanted you to guard me too."

I pursed my lips but kept my mouth shut.

"But now…now it's different. He is far from being honest but Abe Mazur going into a criminal venture for someone else? Not likely." Said Victor scrutinizing my face. "So I can't help to wonder what on earth did you promise him or gave him for him to do that."

"What do you think?" I asked coldly.

"Well I know you are going to be an exceptional guardian but you are clearly not worth that much…no offence."

"Non taken" I said quickly glancing at Pavel who was doing his best not to smile.

"So I can't help but think about something else and that…" he shuddered "that would be just shocking and disturbing coming from you but I guess you are maybe really ready to ANYTHING to save your dhampir."

"How is that---" my eyes widened with understanding as Pavel jaw locked with anger. "You are one sick bastard!" I gasped quite happy that Arch was not here to hear those accusations as he resumed to take his seat beside the pilot.

"Well what is it then? Tell me Rose, what do you have on Ibrahim Mazur?"

I shot a glance at Pavel who just shrugged probably meaning it was my call.

"Look at me Victor…really look at me." I said locking eyes with him "Look at my hair, my eyes…my skin tone." I smile slightly "my attitude that you described as, if I remember correctly, my ability to bend the fine line between right and wrong as long as it meet my interest. Tell me now…Who does all that recall you of?"

Victor looked at me quizzically for a minute or two before bursting into laugher. "Of course!! It's so evident!! But I would have never thought that Janine Hathaway could…" he stop shaking his head still laughing.

You and I both I thought but kept this remark to myself.

"So you are his heiress? That's…something."

"I'm proud of being his daughter" I said defensively, head high.

"As long as it's fine by you it's fine by me." Said Victor crossing his legs. "So we're going to Norway? Where exactly??"

"That's what you are supposed to tell me. You knew your hint wouldn't be enough to lead me to your brother". I said not able to conceal the anger in my voice as well as I wanted to.

"We're going to Stavanger" he said still smiling. It actually took all my will power not to smack his smile away. "And I gave you all the answers Rose… Know that much."

"I--"

He raised his hand to shush me. "I gave you the 'Alexander Kielland' part and actually it's all you needed to know."

Pavel stood up to go to the cockpit probably to tell them where we were going.

"Give me a break" I snapped.

"No it's true. Alexander Kielland was born in Stavanger, Norway. Once we'll get there there is a park called Breiavatnet where there is a statue of Kielland in the center."

My eyes narrowed with suspicion did he really mean that? Was it really THAT simple. "And what next?"

He chuckled. "Next well there is a street parallel to the park where you can find a monastery."

I was about to say 'How in earth was I supposed to figure that one out?' But I was glad I kept my mouth shut.

"By the way the monastery is called St Vladimir" he added with humor. "I'm sure anyone could have figured it out even the guy in there" He said pointing to the cockpit door where Arch was as Pavel already resumed his seat across the aisle. "Even if he is probably barely more intelligent than a plankton."

I couldn't help but smile.

"So why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you tell me that if it was that evident?" I asked challenging him.

He smiled "Because I knew that even if you did manage to find him it would be useless. It would like he is talking a different language and I'm the only translator around." He cocked his head to the side. "I knew you needed me, no matter what."

I just nodded. Adrian was right then, Robert Duros brain was fried and Victor was the only one able to interpret it.

I couldn't help but yawn, except the hour I slept on Adrian's shoulder it had been more than 24 hours since I slept.

"You better sleep for a little while Rose, it's not like I can go anywhere" said Victor matter of factly gesturing to our surrounding.

I closed my eyes and decided to pay a little visit to Lissa in order change my mind a little.

She was making the bed in one of the main bedroom in the cabin.

"Are you ok?" Asked Christian leaning against the doorframe.

Lissa shrugged dismissively. "I doing fine." She didn't want to show her weaknesses to him. She didn't want him to be near her because he felt bad for her, because he pitied her.

Christian closed the door and leaned on it.

"Lissa you can fool them but you can't fool me." He said nicely. "I know you way better than that. Are you ok?" He repeated again.

Lissa sighed and sat on the freshly made bed.

"I'm worried" she said looking down,

Christian went to sit beside her taking her hand in his. She loved the contact, she was craving for his touch but she thought that he didn't love her anymore…what a fool!

"Adrian phoned, everything went according to plan. Rose is on her way to Norway, Eddie and Adrian are on their way…The house will be ready for the Strigoi."

"I know it's just…I'm not sure I can do it." She said looking up to meet his eyes.

"Oh…" Apparently Christian was not expecting that. "It's all good. I know Rose will be more than happy not to have you involved in all that. I think she is waiting for the first chance to send you back to the academy."

Lissa couldn't help her little smile. She was not questioning our friendship anymore. She realized I was mainly an overprotective best friend. "No that's not the problem" she said confidently. "I mean we are the best of the best here with all our powers overly enhanced. I'm not scared about that."

"Look at you all bad ass." Said Christian chuckling.

"Yeah we even have more help than we asked for."

"You bet!!" Christian ran his hand through his hair. "Rose is going to freak!"

Freak? Why would I freak?? Who was helping? I thought trying to search Lissa's mind but she was all over the place I couldn't get anything that made sense.

"No my problem is… facing him again" she said and I could see Victor clearly in her mind. "I want to be strong, I don't want Rose to feel bad for bringing him into our lives again, because lets face it, if the situation were reversed if yo-- if someone I loved was Strigoi, and if there was only the slimmest chance for that state to be reversed, I would do exactly the same thing but…but I'm just terrified."

I felt like a knife plucking deep into my chest. I was making Lissa face the person she hated the most. All that only to try to save Dimitri. I was so selfish but the problem was that I just didn't feel bad enough to stop it all.

Christian trapped Lissa's face in his hands, and without breaking eye contact, closed the distance between their faces. He didn't kiss her but he was so closed, their noses almost touching that she could feel his warm breath caressing her face.

"I'll be here with you, you will be safe because…because I love you and probably always will. We can work it out, all of it." he said before crashing his lips on hers.

Lissa started to kiss him back with hunger and passion and I decided it was my time to exit her head before clothes started to fall.

I smiled settling more comfortably on my seat. Things were starting to get back to the way they were supposed to be. The golden couple was finally back together having their happy ending. Maybe I would get mine too I thought before falling asleep.

Rose Angel wake up I heard Adrian call me and my eyes shot up with surprise. I looked around but only saw Victor reading a magazine and Pavel who was keeping a sharp eye on him.

Adrian? Is that you? I thought feeling idiotic but with everything that was going on maybe telepathy was possible but no, it wasn't the case, since nobody replied. I was probably dreaming about him but that was just…strange.

"Where are we?" I asked the voice still full of sleep.

"I was about to wake you" said Pavel, "We should land in about 30 minutes." He pointed to the back of the plane. "I bet you can find something to eat in there."

"Thank you" I said and nodded a cordial 'hello' to Victor going to the back of the plane as my stomach was starting to rumble very loudly.

As I started to nibble on the crackers I found, I realized that we crossed more steps now. Based on Andre calculation, in three days I would be face to face with Dimitri, and it will all end then. After months and months of speculations, insane hopes and great despair I would get my answer in three tiny days and then what?? The unknown was more terrifying that anything I faced to this day.