Evening Loves, I am sorry for the delay in updates. This time of year is very difficult for me, so thank you for dealing with my erratic updates.

Thank you for the new favs/follows/reviews, I really appreciate you taking the time to leave them. It brightens the dark days.

Now, I don't like the long A/N, so I will fill you in on more at the end.

Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty Seven

Dimitri

My finger ran around the top of my glass, over and over, mesmerizing me in a trance of peace- serenity if you will- where the outside world didn't exist any longer. No one and nothing could touch me. Here in this moment, all is right, all is calm in the midst of chaos.

The bell above the door chimes, signaling the entry of a new person- people rather. I watch without looking, listening to the sound of their voices, the movements of the stools across from me, and the slap on the bar top.

"A round of the usual, Larry," one of the men call out. Larry, the bartender, gives him a simple nod before pulling four Michelob Light Beers from the cooler, popping the tops and setting them out in a row, he then proceeded to pour four shots of whiskey.

Another man mumbled his appreciation, before tapping the shot glass on the bar and throwing it back, letting out a satisfied sigh as the amber liquid burned his throat. I was all too familiar with these types of men, I loathed them. They reminded me of him, low life pricks that believe the world is at their beck and call. They can and will do anything they want without someone stopping them.

If they had been my focus tonight I would have shown them how easily they can be stopped, how quickly they can fall off the high horse they ride around on. But I had different business to attend to.

Abe and I, along with his fleet of Guardians, discussed where to begin our search for two days. Coming to an agreement earlier today that the best place to start would be in the major cities, as it is easier for Strigoi to hunt in the metropolitan areas, and branch out from there. So we packed up and headed southeast to Philadelphia.

There are several things that I know about places like this. It's dark, dirty- in ways other than it's level of sanitation- and it's a breeding ground for dhampir women, or as Guardian Carter called them earlier, bloodwhores. He learned rather quickly that I do not take too kindly to that term. Carter is currently on suspension at the hotel, nursing more than just his ego. In addition, where Moroi gathers, Strigoi linger- establishments like this one provide them with plenty of choices and opportunities to feed.

Making eye contact with Guardian Henderson who sat across the darkened space, occupying a booth with Guardians Kaplan and Hensen. Henderson is the head of Abe's Novosibirsk home, ranking well amongst our group as a Blood Master Five, he is a skilled Guardian, and a master of arms. Everything from firearms to explosives, he is the go-to for all things defense.

He tapped the table twice, signaling he had not seen anything worth discussion yet. It is still early in the night, or day depending on your view, hopefully, things will kick off soon enough. According to Abe, this location is most active between eleven PM and one AM. I didn't want to think too long on how, or why, he knows that, but the intel was welcome. My watch told me we had another hour before the fun began.

"You okay, Son?" Larry leaned over the bar, almost yelling for me to hear him over the booming voices of our companions. "You've hardly touched your drink, not your cup of tea?" he chuckled.

Laughing lightly, "No, it's fine, I just have a lot on my mind."

"Talk to me," he threw his towel over his shoulder, resting his elbows on the bar, "You don't seem like the type to drown his sorrows in the water of the gods, so tell me, what brought you here?"

I circled the top of my glass again, wishing I could have a taste of the premium vodka inside, but Abe would have my head if I drank a single drop. I wasn't really sure what to say to him. Larry seemed like a decent enough person, as an older Dhampir, most likely having to retire or was medically discharged from the field, he held an air around him that just made you feel comfortable in his presence. He didn't push or pry into your business, but he would sit and listen if you started talking. But what could I tell him that he wouldn't read into too much?

So I decided to go with the oldest card in the deck, "Woman problems," I laughed, "I bet you hear that a lot."

"Considering that's all they," he nodded his head toward the group of Moroi, "come here for, yeah, you could say that. But I don't normally hear that from Guardians such as yourself, so tell me, who is she?"

"My everything," I whispered, "She's dhampir too, a Guardian to a Royal at Court, and I…." I halted my words before spilling our secrets. Changing directions, and hoping Rose never hears of this conversation, "I think she is sleeping with her charge." I hung my head, both hoping to hide the fact that I am lying through my teeth, and in shame for even taking it there.

"Have you talked to her about your suspesions?"

"Not yet, I was called away on a mission and didn't want to bring something like that up over a phone call."

"Smart move," he nodded, pulling his towel from his shoulder he wiped the bar, though there was nothing there to clean. "What makes you think she is being unfaithful?"

"Just the way they are," I shrugged, "I know he has a reputation for doing things of that nature, I just hoped it wouldn't happen with her." I am so going to hell for this.

"Well, until you talk to her, don't assume anything, you know what they say right," I rose my brow, "when you assume something, you make an ass of you and me. Never assume," he pointed a finger at me, punctuating his advice.

"Got it," I tapped the bar, nodding my head to him.

"You want something else, a water, or soda?"

"Water would be great, thanks, Larry," I gave a small smile, nodding my appreciation.

I drank the glass greedily as soon as it hit the table, only now realizing how thirsty I had become since arriving. Refilling my glass, Larry headed down to the other end to handle the Moroi patrons, and I took a moment to look around.

The bar was sectioned into four main areas. The bar itself, the dance floor, booths, and tables. The dance floor took up space at the front, right behind the full-length windows. Midway from the front to the rear of the building sat rows of 'mingling' tables, the pedestal style round tops with no chairs. The far wall on the east side housed the booths, approximately ten total, giving people the false allusion of privacy in the faux leather. And finally the bar, spanning the west side, about twenty feet long and home to the 'lonely' patrons.

IE. Me.

I didn't mind much. Appearing to be a simple man drowning his sorrows kept people away from me, allowing my eyes to wander the crowd without notice. Dozens of people had arrived in the last ten minutes, quickly ramping up the volume, and odor, of the room. Catching Henderson's eyes once more, he gave a slight shake of his head, my only response a single nod.

Minutes turned to hours, time ticking by and nothing suspicious occurring. Moroi men would disappear to the back of the bar, and resurface after twenty or thirty minutes. Tossing a twenty from my wallet, I waved a goodbye to Larry and headed out, Henderson and his two not far behind me.

Taking a left, I proceeded back toward the hotel three blocks up. I shouldn't feel bad about not finding anything tonight, after all, it was our first outing, yet I can't help the sense of failure as I stride down the sidewalk. I had this crazy idea in my head that I would find her quickly, ending everything before it can get any worse. She didn't deserve to walk the world as a monster, she deserved peace. I want to give her that, but finding her may be harder than I bargained for.

Night after night, we drew the same cards, never winning our hands.

An entire week of searching out different bars, stalking dark alleys and trying to find the location of the blasted waterfall from the Conta house, we were still coming up empty. Not one single Strigoi sighting. My hope was running low, glass desperately close to empty. But I couldn't give up, not yet. I had to keep trying, for Rose and our child, their safety and security. For Galina, so she can see her brother again, and be happy. Lastly, for me, to know I did something to protect my family.

Falling back on my bed I let out a frustrated grunt. At almost five AM I should be out cold, but my mind wouldn't shut off long enough for me to fall asleep. Rose would still be in bed, so no use in trying to call her to calm me. The hot shower relaxed my muscles, but not my brain. Where is she? Why is she doing this? Why can't I seem to get a single hint to find her?

My phone rang, drawing me out of the endless game of Jeopardy in my head. "Babushka? What's wrong?" I answered in Russian, my native tongue flowing effortlessly.

"Nothing is wrong here, but I have been seeing things, Dimka, bad things, are you well?"

"What kind of things, Babushka?"

"Demons of the night, they want you."

You could say that, I thought to myself, "Have you seen a place or person?"

"Not exactly, I only know you are too far away, you need to go home."

"Home? As in Baia?"

"No," I could almost see her rolling her eyes. "Where is home, Dimka?"

"Court," I whispered, "Roza."

"Get back to them, Dimka or things will get worse. When white blankets cover everything, they will come. You need to protect your family, child. Go Home."

With that, she disconnected the phone, and I was on the move shoving all of my belongings into my duffle. I had just pulled the zipper closed when a quick rap sounded on the door.

"Belikov, open up, now," Pavel's voice carried through the thin metal.

My fingers fumbled with the latches, refusing to work in my current state of unease. Finally, I managed to undo the three security bolts, flinging the door open to see Pavel dressed and his bag slung over his shoulder.

"There was an attack outside of Court an hour ago, one of yours from the Academy was there," the pounding in my ears made it hard to hear, but I comprehended the information just fine. "They got him, but he told the Guardians more were coming, we have to get back."

"I think we have time before that happens, it hasn't started snowing yet," I whispered the last part to myself. Babushka said that when white blankets cover everything, they will come. It hasn't been cold enough for it to snow yet, we still have a little time to prepare.

"I don't know what you are talking about, but let's go, pack up, we are leaving in ten."

Turning around, I grabbed my duffle and flipped the light switch, "I'm ready now."

Author's Note:

I hope you enjoyed this update, things from this point are going to shoot up and we will be coming to a close soon.

On the super bright side:: Love or Loyalty, for those who know about that, is halfway through re-write and edit. I am looking to have that up New Years Day. It will be published under a new name, which will be posted on Facebook before I publish. If you aren't following me there, you are welcome to do so. Stay in the know about new stories, updates, and everyday things with me. The link is in my Bio.

Lastly: If you are reading this, and you are following me on Facebook, there is a post of a picture and a hint at the new name for 'Love or Loyalty', if you guess that name correctly, you will be sent a very special sneak peek of the most amazingly heartbreaking- at least it is to me- chapter of that story.

Don't miss your chance!

All My Love,

Dream