Hey guys, I'm sorry that I've taken ages to update, I've had to move and start a new school and stuff, I have a few chapters written but finding time to type them has been a major problem. I'll try to get onto a regular updating schedule, I hope you guys like this chapter, thanks for waiting, I hope you enjoy it :)

Revenge is A Dish Best Served With a Stake

Chapter three

::ROSE POV::

I sighed for what seemed like the billionth time in the hour. What should I do? Could I really just give up on Dimitri and I after everything that had happened? I knew one thing for sure, I couldn't just lay here staring at the ceiling anymore, it was all so…so frustrating. That was the closest feeling I could think of to describe the pain and confusion, the agitation threatening to burst out of my every cell at any moment.

Jumping off the bed, I decided that that I couldn't just sit still. I was going mad. Rummaging though a pile of clothes on the floor, I found a pair of black three quarter length running leggings, a black sports bra and a baggy deep blue tank top. I threw the clothes on, tying my hair into a high ponytail and after finding my old pair of trainers, I spent about five minutes hunting down my iPod before heading for the gym.

The gym was empty save for a couple of recently promised Guardians. As I walked in they looked up, recognition in their eyes. They were probably at St. Vlads. around the same time, not that I cared as long as they stayed out of my way.

I spent what felt like five minutes on the treadmill, the time on the treadmill 's dashboard flashed 20:47, I'd come in at about 5:00pm which meant that in actuality I'd been on it for over three hours. I still felt so much frustration and rage so I let my fists get acquainted with the training dummies before moving onto the obstacle courses that were supposedly meant to improve Guardian skills on a range of terrains, but I strongly suspected that they were just one of the Queen's sadistic torture ideas to ensure that the majority of the Dhampir populous shuddered at their solo future career option.

By the time I was done, I was bloody knuckled, and bruises covered what I suspected to be almost every inch of my skin's surface area. On top of that I was exhausted, having to focus just to maintain my balance. As for the gym, well let's just say they'll have to be doing some serious equipment replacement. I couldn't help but smirk at the thought, too tired to even bother laughing at the Royal expense.

Sluggishly, I walked in the general direction of my room, slowly dragging my feet as I moved. At this rate I was probably going to get mistaken for a zombie. I wasn't really watching where I was going, my eyelids felt too heavy to bother keeping themselves open. They suddenly snapped open however, when I walked into a soft, warm fabric wall. I looked up to see the Moroi King of Annoyance himself, Christian Ozera.

"They obviously taught you how to watch where you were going in Novice training, Rosie dearest" he said, his tone mocking, but piercing blue eyes shone with concern and a restlessness akin to my earlier agitation.

I tried to think of a sharp retort but came up with nothing, my mind felt so groggy. I missed my bed so much. Ignoring Christian I drifted into a dream, thinking about how soft and fluffy the pillow would feel against my cheek and how the blanket – I was snapped out of my reverie by Christian, his concerned face just a few centimetres from mine.

"Yo Rosie…Rosie, Rose?" he said, waving his hand within my peripheral vision.

As he spoke I could feel his breath on my lips "Hey, are you alright?" his voice was low and husky with concern, "who was stupid enough to piss you off?" he said chuckling. My lips tingled in anticipation at the proximity.

I stood there, slightly intoxicated by him being so close. What was he talking about? Flexing my fingers to return the feeling to my body I winced, remembering the gym session I realised he was talking about my appearance.

"Would you like some first hand experience of what happened to them?" I said smirking

"Now there's the Rosie I know" we were very close now, too close, I could feel his heat radiating through the thin fabrics that separated our bodies.

"Shut it fire crotch" my face was burning red, I was sure of it.

He straightened up and took a step back, his expression serious again. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I…I could take you to Lissa, you know, so she can heal you" he said hesitantly, looking away.

"She's been pretty weird lately, huh?" he looked back at me, surprised.

"You noticed too? I thought that I was being a clingy bastard and misreading the whole situation, though" his fists clenched "she has been has been spending a lot of time with that damn Belikov"

With those words my mind started the decent into the darkness, images and thoughts that brought with them jealousy and hatred for my best friend threatened to consume every inch of my being. I couldn't let it happen, I wouldn't let the darkness take over, not right now with Christian here.

"That did not just happen, we actually…" I burst out laughing, this new wave of strange positive emotions washing away the darkness.

Christian stood there looking at me bewilderedly "What?" "Are you definitely sure you are okay?" he asked slowly.

"Dude, we actually agreed on something for once" I said between laughs, making the phrase sound more fragmented and myself sound slightly demented.

He smirked "I guess we did. No one can ever know about this horrifying event" he faked a shudder before the serious expression returned, this time the ice blue that was his eyes filled with pain. "I can't help but wish that you'd disagreed with me, I want to be wrong this once more than ever" he sighed his fists clenched again as he glared at the floor.

He sighed one more time then looked up at me, meeting my eyes. Giving me a lazy smirk he offered me his hand.

"Come on Rosie, I've seen zombies look more alive than you do right now, I'll walk you to your room, I may even drop by later with some donuts, chocolate, that's if I'm feeling especially nice.'