Chapter 9

Rose woke to a door slamming. She panicked for a moment, trying to flail as her eyes adjusted to the dim lantern light. Taking a deep breath, she took note of her surroundings. It looked like they were in a cellar. The walls and floor were caked in dirt, and hanging from a hook in the corner was a dusty lamp that give off a hazy light. Glancing around she noticed that Eddie and Mason were still unconscious but Christian was looking right at her. He seemed to be trying to get her attention. When he caught her eye, he gestured with his head, trying to get Rose to see what was behind her. Twisting as best she could, Rose caught movement out of the corner of her eye. She started. Just off to the side of them was another Moroi, a girl with ringlet blonde curls. She looked half dead, her skin much paler than was normal for a Moroi.

"Hello." The girl whispered, her voice harsh from disuse. "My name is Mia. I'm sorry they captured you. Do you have ideas of how to get out of here?"

Rose stared. She couldn't think of what they could be holding them hostage for. It wasn't normal for Strigoi to act like this. It was rare for them to leave anyone alive, let alone hold 5 prisoners.

Thinking back to the last time Rose had been pulled into Lissa's head, she realized that some of the rumors must have been true. 3 weeks before the call for more guardians came, Lissa had overheard Priscilla Voda and Daniella Ivashkov at a party talking about the attack at the Badics' the week before. Rose slipped into the memory.

Lissa wound through the crowd. It was moments like this that she missed Rose. She had grown up outside of Court and while normally she didn't mind, after the accident, it was up to her to schmooze and keep the Dragomirs in action. She knew those that were her age, but with this party, most of them weren't there. Adrian was in the corner talking to one of the guardians, and Camille and Aaron were dancing. Standing by the punch bowl, Priscilla was looking somber. Her eyes scanned the crowd.

"Priscilla. Is it true?" Daniella sidled up to the elderly woman, her green eyes piercing the blue. Priscilla sighed.

"Which part? That the Badics' wards were staked? That humans are working with the Strigoi? Or that there were at least 6 of them?"

"Why are they suddenly hunting in packs? Are we all in danger or just those living on their own?"

"We don't know the answers yet, hopefully new evidence will come to life. In the meantime, the Queen is holding council meetings to determine what we are going to do. You will keep this to yourself, yes?" Priscilla suddenly realized how much she was sharing and looked around. Lissa caught her eye, standing just a short distance away with a dazed look on her face. "Excuse me Daniella."

"Vasilissa, anything you heard is to be kept to yourself. I know you are worried, but your safety has been assured. We have doubled the guardians in your town as the Queen knows you won't move to Court yet. Though the offer still stands."

"Thank you, Princess Voda. I am glad to know that the Queen is trying to find a solution." Lissa bowed and retreated back to the sidelines. Her head was spinning. What would Rose say when she got back home? Lissa knew chances were that Rose had already seen what was going on, the bond tended to work when she was worried.

A loud bang snapped Rose back into her own head. Mason had woken up and toppled his chair over. Christian started laughing. "Only you Mason, would attempt to leap out of a chair you are tied to."

"Shut it Christian. We have more important things to worry about than Mason's inability to not fall over." Rose was looking around the room. It was clear they were in some kind of cellar. The lights from the lanterns didn't light up the corners and Rose worried about what, or rather who, could be lurking there. "We need to focus on how to get out of here."

"Yes, I would love to hear your plan on how to get out of here. You are a little tied up at the moment aren't you? Don't worry, you will be able to go free. As long as one of your companions choose to become one of us. Young Christian or pretty Mia. Which one, which one. Who will choose to throw off the shackles of mortality and join us in the glorious immortal life. Simply pick a dhampir to drain, then turn the others. It's quite simple. There is no other way to escape."

A tall Strigoi stepped out of the shadows into the light of the lantern. He walked to Eddie and tipped his head up. Eddie tried to fight back, but to no avail. "Until you make a choice, there will be no food or water provided. I however am very thirsty, and while Moroi is very decedent, I do enjoy dhampir as well." With that he sunk his teeth into Eddie's neck. Taking a step back, the Strigoi glanced around the room. "Don't take too long to decide." Laughing he melted back into the shadows, his footsteps audible this time. A door squeaked open then closed with a slight click. Everyone glanced at each other, thinking what they would do.

After that time blurred. Rose drifted off to sleep at one point.

"Finally! Is everyone ok? Rose, where are you?" Adrien appeared and frantically started asking questions while wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.

"Adrien- can't breathe!" Rose gasped, pushing him back. "How long have we been gone? Is Dimitri freaking out? You haven't told him who I am, have you?"

"You've been gone about 50 hours, yes he is freaking out. In fact, he is currently scouring the woods for you. Apparently you made quite the impression on my cousin. No I have not told him who you are. I wouldn't without your permission."

"Thanks. We are in a cellar somewhere, we've only seen one Strigoi since we got here, but he has drunk from Eddie twice. We don't have much time before he'll be gone." Quickly telling Adrian where the Strigoi had found them by the cliff, it wasn't long until Rose woke up. A plan was formulating in her mind.

Dimitri strode between the tents, purpose in his steps. He couldn't help but think of the girl he had saved. She was strikingly beautiful, but more than that, he knew her. He couldn't remember where from, but he knew he had heard her laugh before, the tinkling charm she showed when talking to Adrien. His smile faltered as he thought back to how easily they had interacted. Adrien had shaped up quite a lot lately, but he was still the same playboy cousin Dimitri had always known. Shaking his head, Dimitri entered the circle of light provided by the fire in front of Adrien's tent. There was no one around. Mustering his courage, he poked his head inside Adrien's tent, worried about what he would find.

"ADRIEN! Where is she?" Dimitri's roar startled the sleeping Adrien, causing him to roll of his cot.