Chapter 8

"Rose!" Olena screamed when she opened the door and pulled me into a hug. "Hello Denis, Lev, Art" she nodded to them, pausing when she saw Mikhail.

"This is my friend Mikhail" I replied, "Guardian Tanner."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Guardian Tanner" she shook his hand. "Any friend of Rose's is a friend of ours. You guys must be hungry, breakfast is on the table."

"Dimitri is coming soon" I told her happily.

"Dimka hasn't visited in two years" she sighed.

"He told me he loved me" I said as she pulled me into a tight hug. "I told him to come home, his family is here." Tears filled her eyes. Dimitri was her only son and the pride of her life.

I was greeted by Karolina and Viktoria with hugs. Yeva nodded but the smile on her face let me know that she was aware of Dimitri's revelation. Dimitri's other sister, Sonya, was at work. Then someone smashed into me from behind.

"Aunt Rosie!" Paul screamed. "Did you bring me a present?" I always came to Baia with a present for Paul. Usually it was something from one of the countries I had visited lately.

"I don't know" I said putting my index finger against my chin, "have you been listening to your mother? Working hard in school? Helping Yeva?"

"Yes, yes, yes" he replied jumping up and down.

"Then I believe I have something for you in my bag" I sighed, "but I can't get it until my bag makes it upstairs." Paul took the keys and ran to the car. He returned a minute later with my suitcase. My black bag with patches covering it trailed behind him. We listened to the thump thump thump as he dragged the suitcase up the stairs. We heard Paul scream with excitement. Then he came sliding down the banister.

"This is so cool aunt Rosie!" he was shaking the snow globe I had picked up in Novosibirsk. Inside was a statue of St. Basil's Cathedral. He loved the colors and décor of the great church when we met in St. Petersburg two and a half years ago. It was the only vacation they took.

"I'm glad you like it" I said ruffling his thick brown hair. He ran up to his room, no doubt to put the snow globe with his other treasures.

I moved over to the table and sat down with my family and friends. "He idolizes you" Karolina replied.

"Where is Anastasia?" I asked looking around. Anastasia Rose Belikov was Karolina's daughter, she was now five.

"Taking a nap" she said before two screaming children interrupted her thoughts. "Discovering her present I suppose."

"I found this really cute stuffed caribou toy while in Novosibirsk" I said. "She loves soft things."

We ate breakfast and talked about what everyone had been up to. Art, Lev, Denis, and Victoria went to Denis's house. Viktoria and Nicolai were together. Nicolai and Viktoria took positions at their old school as teachers. I washed the dishes while Olena took her grandchildren for a walk with Mikhail. Yeva sat at the table watching me. When we were alone she spoke up.

"She won't do it" she replied. I knew what she meant, I was hoping to ask Oksana to change Miss Karp back. "You will ask her anyways, but she will not agree."

"That's not good" I replied. "Is there anything I could say to convince her?"

"No" she answered.

"I have to try" I said drying my hands. We walked to Oksana and Marc's house.

"Hello Rose" they greeted me. I waved and met them in the garden.

We spent an hour or so talking and whatnot before I popped the question. "Oksana" I started, "I have this friend, Mikhail. He is in love with a woman, Sonya Karp." Marc instantly flinched. Oksana looked between the two of us. Then she concentrated on Marc. They were probably having a mental conversation.

"Don't beat around the bush" Oksana said.

"She's a strigoi and I need a spirit user to change her back" I blurted.

"No, no, no" Marc said. Oksana met his eyes.

"I'm sorry Rose, but Marc is right" she sighed, "it's too dangerous." We argued for a good ten minutes before I sighed in defeat. Yeva and I were headed back to the house when she stopped. I knew that look, Yeva was having a vision.

"You can change her back" Yeva said in her trance voice, "open your bond two ways. You have to bridge your minds together. Then she can act through you." She shook her head and continued walking. I turned around in search of Marc.

"Marc, I need help" I said walking up to him. "I need to open my bond two-ways." He agreed to help.

"Sit here" he motioned to a grassy area on the far side of the garden. "Now opening the bond will take effort from you and your bond mate." Shit I didn't have a way to talk to Lissa. "You should be able to contact her if you build a bridge between you." He sat down in front of me. "Close your eyes" I did, "now picture you and your bond mate"

"Lissa" I interrupted.

"Picture you and Lissa on different sides of a river" it was hard to imagine all the details but I think I did okay, "make sure it's a wide river and deep." Lissa flew back with the river bank. The current picked up speed. "Think about small rocks that just barely break the surface, you can cross them with some effort. Guardian training has prepared you with the balance and determination." It was true. "Lissa can't cross, moroi tend to be timid and unsure. She fears her life." I watched Lissa back away from the rocks. "You have to provide her with a safe path to your side. Build her a bridge."

I pictured ropes linking the sides. They appeared. Then I placed the boards of the bridge. One by one I put each individual board into place. When I was halfway across the river, the bridge fell. I grabbed a rock and pulled myself up, hopping back to my side. I tried again with the same result. Ten more times and I still couldn't build a solid bridge. SOLID! I knew what to do. I imagined building a concrete bridge. It looked like a regular road bridge. I stepped out onto the first rock, the bridge started to form. I jumped from rock to rock, creating each section of the bridge. I made it to the other side and turned back to see a very sturdy bridge. I took Lissa's hand ready to guide her but she pulled back afraid. My bridge was dark. I imagined some street lamps lining the bridge, lighting the way to my side. Lissa smiled and ran across the bridge.

Am I dreaming? Lissa's thoughts came in.

No you're in my head Liss, I thought.

"Rose!" she screamed, "I can hear you."

Well don't let other people hear you I told her, or they may think you are crazy. I can hear your thoughts and you can hear mine.

This is so cool Rose, she was so happy that it made me smile. Are you smiling because I am happy?

I guess I will have to get use to you being able to read my thoughts, I replied. Listen Liss I need your help.

She read my thoughts of the current situation. Let's try it!

We need to try something small and simple first I thought. I opened my eyes and looked around.

Where are we? She was taking in the whole scene, including Oksana and Marc. She read the thoughts running through my mind. There Rose, let's try to bring back that dead bush.

I knelt down by the bush. She ran through the way she had done this a million times. I placed my hand on the plant. Use me like your own body I told her. I felt the magic swelling in her than shooting through the bond. I directed it with my fingers into the plant. Instantly it grew and flourished. We were both amazed and screaming for joy in our heads.

Rose we did it, she was smiling. I think we will have no problem changing back Miss Karp. It feels right to use you. It's like you're a part of my body. I can feel you and your thoughts. This is amazing. I guess she read my thoughts about the not so great moments, sorry.

I will come to you again once we are ready with a plan Lissa, I thought before turning the lights off on the bridge.

"That was crazy!" I shouted. Oksana smiled, "is it the same for you?"

"No" Marc replied, "we are in love and are more open to each other. Guardians naturally mask themselves. We mask our emotions, thoughts, and our bodies. It's the way they raise us. You block Lissa because of this. If you were bonded to a man that you loved, he would have no problem reading your thoughts." I nodded in agreement.

"I have to head back to the house" I said turning away, "Lissa and I need to charm a stake."

I ran all the way back to the Belikov house. I ran up to the room I always stayed at, Dimitri's old room. I pulled out a spare stake and attempted to reach Lissa again. This time it was as easy as flipping on a light switch.

Hey Lissa greeted me, I'm ready to try.

I could get use to this, I didn't have to worry about explaining what we have to do. I placed the stake on the bed. I raced through Lissa's thoughts to see how she performed a charm. I placed my hands on the stake and closed my eyes. I felt Lissa calling spirit. She spoke to it like a child asking to go to the playground. She told it exactly what she wanted it to do. Spirit came through the bond and down my arms until it leaked out of my fingers and into the stake. I opened my eyes to see the slight silver glow.

It worked she thought.

Thanks Lissa, I will let you know when we are going to rescue Miss Karp. I closed the bond and crashed on the bed. I felt like all my energy had drained out of me. I awoke when Mikhail entered the room. He had arranged some blankets on the floor, refusing to leave my side just in case. What worried me was that he and Yeva had had some kind of talk. They knew something that I myself didn't know.

"She comes" Yeva said in the middle of dinner. The sun had been down for only an hour. "Outside the city, she waits. Ten of them. She thinks they can take two guardians easily."

I stood up strapping on my dagger, yatagan and two stakes. "Where?" I asked. She pointed to the south. "Ready?" I asked Mikhail.

"I was born ready" he replied.

"Let's go" I said opening the door. Viktoria and Nicolai had decided to join us, but I made them agree to wait five minutes before following. We didn't want to take a chance of the strigoi fleeing. Mikhail and I passed through the city. Art, Lev, and Denis waited at the entrance to the church. "Five minutes" I mouthed and held up five fingers.

We found the place easily enough. Mikhail froze when he saw Miss Karp. I too was taken aback. I pulled Lissa to me through the bond. She too was startled by Sonya's appearance. Sonya Karp had been crazy but she always looked nice and gentle. The woman standing in front of us looked deadly and confident. Lissa was uncomfortable with the numbers. She had never seen a group of strigoi like this since the night Dimitri had kidnapped her.

"Mikhail" her voice rang out in laughter, that evil strigoi laugh. "I always wanted to have you with me. I didn't want to steal your life, but here you came to me."

"Stay away from her" I told him, "remember what I told you, kill as many of them as you can and leave Miss Karp to me." He flinched.

"How is the Dragomir princess?" Sonya cocked her head in an unnatural position. "She will go crazy you know."

"Not anymore" I replied, "we have gained control, something we are going to help you with." I nodded to Mikhail. Lissa gasped seeing my thoughts of what we were going to do.

Mikhail took out a small knife and sliced into his hand. Five strigoi lost control and charged him. The battle began.