I do not own Vampire Academy, so usual disclaimers.

Rpov

I went further down into the cave, gripping the stake trying to feel my way in the dark. I felt myself walk into something, I guess it was a wall. I felt along but it wasn't a wall, a wall doesn't have clothing, they don't breath. I stumbled back wanting to get away but I was immediately dragged forward again, I whimpered not sure what to do at this precise moment.

"Be still Dhampir," a male voice commanded; my heartbeat picked up, I could feel my heart in my throat and he laughed. He gripped my arm gently and pulled me further down into the cave where there was a dim light at the other end.

"Please..." I whimpered not bothering to put up a fight just encase he hit my stomach. He turned to me and I could vaguely work out his facial features, he had shoulder length black/brown hair, white skin and red eyes but his facial features weren't hard and emotionless.

"What's your name Dhampir?" he asked, not bothering to look at me.

"Um... Rose you?" I whispered, not too sure if I wanted to know the name of my killer.

"What are you doing here?" he asked ignoring my question, I watched him and he slid down the wall sitting against it I frowned looking at him and he looked up. "What?" he asked frowning at me.

"Err, I am running away. Aren't you concerned?" I asked I still had my stake in a death grip.

"About what?" he asked back seeming bored.

"About me staking you," I said, he seemed to think about it but then he shook his head. "Why?" I asked.

"Because I can do this..." he trailed off and in a quick movement I was against the wall and his body, and his mouth at my neck I cringed away but he held me against him. "Don't worry Dhampir, I'm not going to kill you ... or bite you," he soothed me a little, what did he want? "May I ask you something ... it's not that personal?"

"Sure..." I breathed and I felt him stiffen against me.

"You're running away," he started and paused. "Why?" I sighed.

"Spirit Darkness, pregnant, the father of child left me, I can't graduate and ..." I sighed. "I need your help," I said.

"You're pregnant hmm..." he trailed off.

"Can you help me?" I asked and he looked taken back.

"So you're running away and you want me to help you?" he asked and I nodded

"Yes. I want you to help me but just please don't harm me," I told him and he just nodded. He finally took a step back and I realised that I didn't have my stake in my hand it was on the floor. I picked it up and I ignored the pain that flared. I heard him laughing I frowned and I looked up at him and he shrugged it off and he extended his hand to me. I took his hand and he laced his fingers with me, his hands were cold but smooth.

"Come on, we need to get out of here," he said and I heard footsteps coming towards us. I spun round and I saw about six figures in the darkness running towards us, they stopped about eight metres away and I had a rough idea who they were.

"ROZA!" a male voice shouted and I cringed back, I walked back into the Strigoi I looked up and he was staring straight ahead, he was glaring at Dimitri. "ROSE, come here now!" he ordered and once again I cringed back, he bent down near my ear and whispered.

"Let's go, that is if you're still coming?" he whispered.

"Yes," I croaked, and I felt tears running down my cheeks. I felt him nod against my neck and he wrapped his arms round me, I gasped as one of his hands were on my stomach and I turned to him and smiled and I he let go and he bent and picked me up bridal style. I locked my arms round his neck and he smiled.

"Rose," a female voice rang out and I knew who it was, Alberta. I looked back and Alberta had tears in her eyes, which she was fighting.

"I'm sorry," I called out and turned back. "Let's go," he nodded and turned in the direction of the exit.

"ROZA," Dimitri yelled or sobbed, I didn't care I was free of him and the Academy. I leaned my head against his chest and I vaguely hear a heartbeat I looked up startled and he chuckled.

"Don't be too surprised," he joked.

"Can I ask you some thing's, please?" I asked.

"Sure," he replied.

"What's your name?" I asked him.

"Carl Palmer," he nodded and I replied.

"Um... Why aren't you like the others?" I asked generally confused about why he acting this.

"I knew you were going to ask that," he sighed. "It's a tad complicated but in the end I don't want to kill to survive... I never wanted to become a monster." He brought up his hand and I could see a ring sitting on his finger with some sort of crest, I went to hold his hand to get a closer look. As soon as I touched the ring I felt some sort energy.

"The ring?" I questioned pulling my hand away, curious about what I was feeling.

"Family ring, I was given it before I was turned. My grandmother gave it to me, saying it would protect me from the darkness. I didn't know what she meant at that time. I still don't but I assume it's helping me. I assume..." he finished trailing off, not sure how to explain it.

Dpov

Alberta looked at me and we waited for the reply.

"Yes. I want you to help me but just please don't harm me," a female voice replied, and I knew it was Rose.

"Chase, Jean, Stan, Xavier. Get to the South end of the cave, NOW. We have a problem," Alberta ordered and then a minute or so the four of them turned up. We walked towards the tunnel where we heard the voices, stakes ready.

"Come on, we need to go." A male voice spoke and we saw two figures standing there with their hands together. One of those was Rose, she spun around hearing us approach and we all stopped not too sure what she was doing. I looked at the male, I felt myself flinch I knew him; although I didn't know that he'd been awakened. Carl Palmer, we went to the same Academy in Russia. We didn't get on at all. Put it like this, some people you can dislike but ignore them, but then there are people who you hate and well you can't ignore them and that's what happened between us.

"ROZA!" I shouted by accident sort of, hoping she would run back into my arms, but instead she cringed back into Carl, who was glaring at me. I guess things don't change. "Rose, come here now!" I ordered, she had to obey an official order, but no she cringed back into his body and he bent down. His mouth opened and I heard Alberta gasp and well Stan looked shocked, but he didn't bite her he seemed to be whispering.

"Yes," Roses' voice croaked, and I saw tears falling down her cheeks. I wanted to run over to her and wipe away her tears and sooth her until she stopped crying but something was holding me back. Carl wrapped his arms round her, and I swear I saw red. We heard Rose gasp, as he placed one arm on her stomach and one arm under her chest; she turned and smiled up at him and wrapped her arms round her neck and he picked her up bridal style. Soon as she was on his arms, I instantly wanted to drag her back to my side and get her to safety; I was brought out of thoughts by Alberta's voice.

"Rose," Alberta said, well her voice cracked. I looked back at her and there were tears in her eyes that were threatening to fall, I knew that his was killing her and if Rose was awakened Alberta wouldn't be the same.

"I'm sorry," Rose called out to no one in particular, and she turned her head back to Carl and nodded and then he nodded back and I knew he was going to run, so I started to run towards them but they had already gone.

"ROZA!" I shouted for the last time, knowing I wouldn't see her again not unless she came back to the Academy a Strigoi. I carried on running out of the cave knowing the others were following me, only they weren't anywhere to be seen. I sighed and faced Alberta, she had tears running down her cheeks and she looked lost. I looked around at the others, Jean looked shocked, Stan expression was mixed between anger and disgust, Chase didn't have any emotion showing, where as Guardian Skyle. He looked hurt, sad, broken and betrayed. I don't what I looked like but I'm guessing it wasn't good.

"We have to leave," Alberta said her voice was stone hard as was her guardian mask. We all nodded not having anything to say, we walked back to the Academy in silence everyone in their own thoughts.

Sooo what's ya think? Anyone guess that Rose would leave with Carl?

Vickie-Louise