I know, I know. Let's all kill Jess for making us wait so long! So sorry! I know there really isn't an excuse; but this is the first time I've been on the laptop in MONTHS! And I had it all uploaded ready to go, but it deleted after 60 days so I had to reupload what I had saved on my computer (not much!) So yes. VERY short chapter, I'm typing the next one now! This is just so you have at least SOMETHING after your months of silence from me. SORRY AGAIN !

Disclaimer: I don't own this, which is good considering I can't even upload when I say I will. Richelle sticks to time frames, at least.

Chapter 4:

"Long time no see, old man."

Abe Mazur stood before me, looking every bit the pirate mobster I'd thought him to be back when we met in Russia. He put on a look showing I'd offended him, but I saw the joking glint in his eyes.

"I'm surprised you're still in here. Knowing you, I'd half expected to see the door broken down and you on the run. Of course, that would make it harder to prove your innocence, so maybe it's for the better that you stayed locked up."

I laughed bitterly. "I doubt they'll believe my innocence anyway."

It was then that I noticed we were alone. After three months of being under heavy guard, I didn't really believe the guardians has suddenly stopped thinking of me as a threat.

"Alright, Zmey. What'd you do to dispatch the guards?"

Whilst my father could be charming at times, he was also the type to make threats- and back them up. In Baia, I had been on the receiving end of his threats, only to later find out it had all been for my safety and because his fatherly love for me had won through. Or maybe not 'fatherly love', considering we'd barely known each other at the time, and I hadn't even known we were related. However, just because things had changed between us since then didn't mean his nature toward others had changed in the least.

"It wasn't my doing, Rose."

Seeing my confused look, he continued. "You might like to speak with Pavel later though, he seems to be having fun catching up with old friends."

Now I understood. "So, Pavel's distracting them?"

Abe chuckled. "Hardly. Rose, you're coming with me."

I froze. "What? But my trial's not for another few hours!"

That was assuming I hadn't overslept, but something in Abe's expression told me I wasn't about to face the court just yet.

"Have some faith in me. I did swear you wouldn't go to trial, didn't I?"

"True as that might be, even you have your limits, old man."

He chuckled. "Rose, what would you say if I told you that you are now free to be a guardian again?"

I lay there blinking like an idiot, stunned. My eyes widened in surprise. "Today's hardly the day to joke around with me. Or are you trying to ease the awkward tension before my death sentence?"

Abe's expression hardened. "I told you: you will never, ever, ever go to trial or have to face a royal execution. Rosemarie Hathaway, don't make me say it twice. You're coming with me. No questions asked."

Shit. That was Abe's scary voice, and he was usingit on me!

Yeah so that's it. Sorry times a million again! Will hopefully have the next chapter up today or tomorrow; not making any promises just because even if I did, you wouldn't believe it!

Review if you want; but I'll upload the next one with or without it, I owe you!

LOVE JESS.