I know, people asked for me to continue, and you probably thought i'd abandoned the story. I haven't, but i've had exams on this week, and i've hardly had time to eat, let alone write. To make it up to you i will try to get another chapter up tomorrow, but I can't promise it will be done. Only 2 more exams to go though. So i'll be back to normal soon.

BTW thanks for the review ect

I gained control soon after that. I don't know what happened. It was like i was there, but i wasn't. I was very tired after the mental battle, unbearably so, but the appearance of what the unawakened vermin would call 'my conscience' made me decide what to do about Rose. Having her here, it drove me crazy. In the literal sense of the word.

Having said that. I don't think I could kill her. Sure, my skills are superior, but what a waste of talent. She'd be a useful ally, and with her sense of humour, maybe she would annoy Nathan. Scratch that, she will annoy Nathan to no end. Maybe i'll keep him around. Deal with it as you see fit. Galina had said that only a few days ago. Well, Galina, This is the most fitting way i think anyone could've dealt with it. Screw waiting. If i had Rose as an ally i'll easily be able to take everything over. If I change her sometime within the next two weeks I will be able to make the next transaction with the humans. Futher solidifying a relationship. If i went and got Rose now we could plan together, and she could hone her skills more thoroughly.

I glanced over at the car. Twisted around the trunk of a large tree. Apparently tonight wasn't going to be the night. I'd come back tomorrow. When I had a more information, a proper plan and a working car. Besides, my headache was getting worse. I best rest up. But would rest cure me?

I had this funny feeling, like change was coming. It was a welcome prospect to be sure, but my gut instinct told me It wouldn't be the way I imagined it. Unease settled over me and I tried to divert my thoughts down a more joyous path. Rose. Sinking my teeth into her neck, feeling her grow weak-

I Felt my control slipping, ever so slightly, like the wall I had put up between myself and the thing in my head had weakened, as if it's fighting and thrashing was doing some good.

I concentrated, trying to build the wall back up, but it was difficult. I knew I could explode at any moment, like I was holding a pin in a grenade, and if i shifted, even just slightly, i would lose my grip on everything.

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We set out early the next day. I took one other girl, I can't even remember her name. But I knew she could fight anything but authority, and that she had enough control not to eat Rose, or try too. We sat in the heavily tinted car, the tension between us growing as the tyres rolled over the road. We got to the building they were staying at just before sundown, unable to go outside we waited.

A couple of dhampirs came out of the building - including Rose - their clothing indicated that they were just going for a walk, but the look on their faces suggested they would, and could spring into battle at any moment, they literally breathed tension. Once they were out of sight we followed, able to follow the strong scent from inside the car.

Their walk wasn't long, but they were on edge the whole time, and the group kept looking at the sun like it was a lifeline. For them it would seem that way. They looked in disdain as the sun disappeared behind the mountain in the distance and doubled their pace, almost running.

They got to their destination, there was another Dhampir waiting for them out the front. They then turned around and walked back the way they came. They arrived at where they were staying and they all looked as though they were about to go inside, but then, Rose turned to the larger Dhampir and said something, he nodded and walked off, while Rose walked in the other direction. It seemed fate was on my side.

I felt my control slipping a little when I got out of the car and told the girl to back be up when I had knocked her out. I knew she'd know I was coming before I got there, but it would only give her a small advantage. And, given her nature, I was pretty sure she would hesitate. For a second a small part of me wished she wouldn't hesitate, that she would remember my lessons and stake me before I had the chance to attack. But it was a very faint and fleeting voice, very easy to ignore.

Rose was talking to a homeless women, a very crazy one by the looks of things, the old lady continued chatting away happily as though her and Rose had been friends for years, and I could see that Rose was slightly pre-occupied, then suddenly, she laughed, the old lady was turning around in circles singing some sort of song like a crazy person, and Rose was laughing. Typical. The voice in my head grew louder, but it was still a pretty pathetic attempt in comparison to yesterday's episode.

The women continued talking quickly, and i decided to get Rose now, with only the one old lady here, as opposed to 4 other guardians, that would just use unnecessary effort. I instructed the girl with me to come out with me, but stay invisible and only come if the others came outside. She ran off into the cover of the trees. I walked up to Rose, stopping just behind her.

The woman's face saw me, and immediatly she stopped talking, within the second Rose was facing my direction with the stake out. She was quick, but I saw her falter when she took in my appearance.

"No" she whispered, as if she believed that I wasn't there. She hesitated. Just like i'd expected. There was a part of me that was screaming. Telling Rose to remember her training and plunge that stake into my chest, along my ribs and through my heart, just like she'd practiced, but another part of me was amused, that she'd come all the way to Russia to kill me only to freeze. Her hand tensed around the stake, but her face remained in the same conflicted mask. I didn't bother move into a defensive position, If she did attack, i could defend myself in an instant.

The part of me that wouldn't shut up, was, for once, silent, but I could feel the ridiculous amount of emotions inside me. Hatred, thirst, hope, relief, disappointment, and worst of all ... Love. It was remembering all the little things about her, the way her hair glistened in the light, the way her lips curved, her perfectly straight nose, her all-knowing eyes, the way her neck felt under his lips.

I stopped listening, or tried to, and focused on the aim. Capture Rose.

"Roza," i said, adding a taunting, seductive edge to my voice "You forgot my first lesson: Don't Hesitate."

Without anything further, my hand lashed out and connected with her head. It knocked her out cold.

I could hear the crazy old lady running, or trying too. But then I heard my partner catch her. She picked her up and started to walk back to the car. Meanwhile I picked Rose up and stuck her in the back seat.

"What do you want me to do with her?" the girl asked

"Whatever you want" I replied, hinting. She got it, and without further ado, she sank her fangs into the old lady's neck. Then promtly withdrew.

"She tastes like shit" She said, I just laughed.

We were both getting in the car when another Dhampir came out of the building, he saw us and immediatly ran to attack us, his stake poised, I hit him in the head and got in the car. I couldn't be bothered for a fight. I sped down the dark road, my inner "conscience" screaming profanities at me all the way.

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