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Chapter Twenty One

Rose

It's daytime. Bad things can't happen during the day.

'Bad things can happen anytime', Dimitri's words from the Badica house rang in the back of my mind. And even though that event had indeed occurred during the night, it taught us a valuable lesson. Worse things are coming, and we are no longer safe in the light of the sun's rays. Humans didn't have restrictions on when they could walk about.

The screeching sirens stopped after a few minutes, leaving the air thick with tension and the grounds silent as night. Peeking out my bedroom window, the sun still hung high in the sky, though it was a bit cloudy out. I couldn't see a single person walking around, and the curtains of my neighbor's house were all drawn closed. It is the middle of the Moroi night, so that was to be expected, but normally you would see a Guardian or two patrolling the grounds while the rest of our world slept in ignorant bliss.

Imagine Dragons 'Demons' rang from the speaker on my phone, signaling an incoming call from Adrian. Locating it quickly, I answered on the second to last ring.

"What is going on?" I asked before he could greet me.

"There was an attack a few miles away last night, they just discovered it. Auntie ordered Court to be on lockdown until they could establish if there is a threat," he explained calmly, "I am on my way to you now, I talked to Dimitri, they are staying in Scranton at a hotel for the rest of the night, your Dad called a few of his men to guard the premises."

Knowing Dimitri, and the rest of our family is safe and accounted for I breathed a sigh of relief. But there was something Adrian didn't advise, "Who was it?"

I could hear his breath hitch over the airwaves, "I don't know exactly who all was there, but," he paused again, swallowing deeply before releasing another heavy sigh, "it was a Conta residence."

I hadn't a minute to process the devastating news before Adrian walked through the front door. Without another word, he pulled me to the couch and onto his lap, wrapping me tightly in his embrace.

My emotions ran on hyperdrive, fear, sorrow, and uncertainty surged through my veins like liquid fire. After the attack at the Academy, it was believed that the Strigoi involved- the few that made it out of the caves- fled back to whatever hell they had come from. Leaving us hopeful that this stint of destruction was over. However, that does not appear to be the case. They are still here, hell-bent on ending the Royal lines, destroying our society one family at a time.

The Conta's were one of the smaller clans, much like the Badica's- so losing a few would be detrimental to their family line. And depending on who all was involved, it may strike far closer to home than I am prepared for.

Camille's parents lived less than an hour away, and she was currently staying with them until leaving for college in a few weeks. And Meredith is her Guardian.

"Everything is going to be okay, Little Dhampir, I promise," Adrian whispered, placing a gentle kiss on my hair while his hand ran the length of my spine.

Wiping my eyes, I looked toward the door, "I need to know who all was there," turning back to him, "Want to go with me to see Hans?"

"I don't think now is the time," he shook his head, "With Court on lockdown, and the Guardian's surveying the house, Hans is probably stretched thin enough."

Nodding softly, I agreed. I should have thought of that, but my mind wasn't in Guardian mode right now, but rather overrun with worry for my friends. Camille and I have never been close, but after seeing the damage done at the Badica massacre, I wouldn't wish that on her. And Meredith and I grew up at the Academy together. From the age of ten, she was one of the only other female novices, leaving us no choice but to become close by graduation.

"Tell you what, I'll call Auntie and see if she can give me any information, will that help?"

"Yes, thank you, Adrian," I squeezed him around his shoulders.

"Anytime, Little Dhampir," he kissed my forehead before moving me off his lap, "Why don't you go wash your face while I make the call."

Padding up the stairs, I washed my face clean of the tear tracks and checked in with Lissa. It has been months since I last forced myself into her head. Not once since I found out I was pregnant had I been sucked in for any reason, or voluntarily reached out for her. I'm not sure if munchkin was helping keep a barrier up, or if there hadn't been an event strong enough to draw me in. Either way, I honestly wasn't complaining.

Letting go of my own thoughts, I focused on Lissa. My bathroom transformed into a cute double suite hotel room. Thick white comforters covered the bed, dark wood furniture decorated the space. Dimitri stood guard next to the main door, Mom next to the window. Eddie was laying on one of the beds, presumably catching a few hours rest before switching shifts with one of the others. Lissa and Christian sat side-by-side on the end of the other bed, talking with Dad.

A knock sounded on the door, shifting the Guardians into high alert. Dimitri withdrew his stake from the sleeve in his duster, looking back to Mom before checking the peephole. Declaring the person on the other side a non-threat, he unlocked the two deadbolts, revealing a bewildered Sydney on the other side.

"Stanton wants me to stay with you if that is okay," she spoke so low I could hardly hear her from Lissa spot deep in the room.

"Of course," Dimitri moved to the side, letting her slip in, hugging close to the wall.

From what I know about the Alchemist, they truly despise us, everything about our existence is wrong to them, but I had held hope that she would loosen up after spending time with the gang. Seeing that we aren't all 'evil creatures'. Not saying she hadn't made any progress, because from where we started she has run a marathon. Engaging in conversation more, eating like a normal person, and treating us like human beings. However, she still didn't like being too close or secluded with any one of us alone, particularly the Moroi.

"Did you receive any details from your people yet," Mom asked.

Sydney gave a small nod, "They just sent the reports." Handing a stack of papers to Dimitri, he walked over toward Mom to look them over, "Fewer casualties this time, but the scene held the same evidence of human involvement," she shuddered at the end of her statement.

"Who was it?" Chris asked.

Mom and Dimitri shared a knowing look, both holding their masks strong, but I could see through them. Already aware of the home belonging to a Conta family, I could see in their eyes my fears had been confirmed.

"I am sorry, Lissa, Christian," Dimitri whispered, handing them the list of names.

Christian took the list in his hand, holding it between the two for them to see who all had fallen victim to this band of Strigoi. Lissa's eyes landed on Camille's name first, her finger tracing over the printed black ink. Oh God- this can't be happening. Not again.

Continuing further down, passed the other three Royal names, the Guardians were listed. I only recognized the one. The only one that mattered to me. Meredith Crain.

Rose? Are you there? Do you see this? Can you believe it?

Yeah, Liss, I see it. I responded to myself, knowing she wouldn't hear me anyways.

"What happens now?" Sydney spoke again, drawing all eyes to her.

"We will stay here for the night," Dad answered, "I have six Guardian's rotating shifts outside, we will be safe here. Tomorrow at first light we will travel back to Court, provided Tatiana lifts the lockdown," he paused, the wheels in his mind creaking with thought, "and you will be joining us," he looked directly at Sydney.

"What? No, Stanton only said to stay with you all until you went back to the Court."

"Ms. Sage, it isn't safe for you to be here alone, even if I leave a handful of Guardian's behind. I would feel much better if you were behind the wards with multiple levels of security. After all the whole reason you are here is that of my daughter. It's only right that I ensure your safety."

Lissa's eyes floated between Dad and Sydney. Sydney looked as if she was going to have a complete meltdown, but Dad was not going to let up, and she knew it.

"I need to clear that with my superiors."

"Allow me," he smiled. Standing from his seat, he pulled his phone from his jacket pocket, dialing a number as he walked through the connecting room door, closing it behind him.

"You can stay with us, Sydney," Liss offered, "At least you know all of us, and these guys will protect you," she waved a finger between Mom and Dimitri.

"Little Dhampir," I felt Adrian's hand squeeze my shoulder, pulling me back to myself. "Is she okay?"

"Yeah," I shook my head, clearing her thoughts, "Sydney gave them a list of the victims."

"Oh," he stood straighter at the mention of her name, "and…."

"Camille and Meredith were both on it," I whispered, letting a lone tear trickle down my cheek.

"I… I don't know what to say other than I am sorry, Rose," he wrapped an arm around my shoulder, drawing me to his chest.

I simply nodded into him, unable to express how broken my heart was at this moment. During our senior year, in Stan's class, we talked about Guardian life expectancy. In the first year after graduation, twenty-five percent of the class would be killed in the line of duty. Fifty after two years. And Seventy-five by the end of the fifth. At the time it hadn't resonated with me how quickly these people I have known for most of my life would no longer be a part of it.

When we lost Mase, it felt different. When he was killed, I saw it as a terrible tragedy that took a young life far too soon. But now, with Meredith, I see it as a statistic. Part of the job. The inevitable. And it is still heart wrenching to think about.

Stepping out of Adrian's arms, I dried my eyes for the millionth time today, "On the plus side, I have good news for you," I forced a soft chuckle, to which he lifted one eyebrow. "Sydney is going to be coming to stay with us."

"Really?" a boyish grin split his face, his eyes lightening with love.

I took a moment to simply appreciate how happy he looked at this very second. Ever since I met him, he never seemed truly happy about anything in his life. Despite growing up with everything he could ever want or need, Adrian has never actually been happy a day in his life. But the look on his face right this moment, priceless.

His eyes crinkled from his wide smile, his lips straining to spread wider, and I shit you not, I can hear his heart skipping beats.

"Yes, really, so be on your best behavior, Ivashkov."