Thank you so much for all your reviews! I had some extra time yesterday so I decided to type out another chapter.

I was listening to David Archuleta's "Something 'bout Love" while writing this. It's a really nice song. Hahahaha anyway, ENJOY!

Disclaimer: The characters of this story belong to the one and only, Richelle Mead.

Chapter 12

The last thing I heard was Dimitri screaming my name. And then, I blacked out.

I know what you're thinking. Rose Hathaway being captured by Strigoi? Impossible. Well, believe it buddy cause it just happened.

When I woke up, I was tied up in a room, sitting on a chair. Oh well, at least they provided chairs. I was sitting beside a few Dhampirs and Moroi. There seemed to be 4 Dhampirs including myself and about 10 Moroi.

We were all sitting on respective chairs and bundled up together in this small room. I turned around to see another group of Moroi on the other side of the room. They were tied up harder than we were. Judging by their faces, it hurt.

Just as I was about to take more notice of my surroundings, the door opened. Two Strigoi came in, both pale skinned and red-eyed.

Both were male but one was blonde and the other had light brown hair.

Dumb blonde noticed me looking at the Moroi on the other side of the room.

"Fire users." He informed me. "We heard about your little stunt in Spokane a few years back and we're not taking any chances this time."

I rolled my eyes at him. As I was about to say a witty Rose Hathaway remark, the other Strigoi came up to me.

"Finally, Rosemarie Hathaway." He said.

"Glad you know who I am. I must have made some kind of mark in the undead Strigoi world."

He snickered. "You've killed so many of us. Besides, who wouldn't know who Princess Dragomir's best friend and guardian is? It's such a shame she got captured and now the poor princes is all alone…" He dragged the last word like some psycho. Close your eyes and you'll match a pervert's face with loads of make up and a high-pitched voice to that tone.

"You'll never get to her."

"Silly little Rose, you're here, which means the princess is somewhere in Baia. It's easy to look around a small place like this." He laughed evilly.

Damn it, he's right. I have to distract him somehow…

He moved away and turned to the others. "You have two choices here." He spoke to everyone. "First option, you join us. Second option, we feed." He continued.

"Third option, kick Dimwit and Dipshit's ass. I think the answer is pretty obvious if you ask me." I pissed him off.

"Shut your mouth." The dumb blonde ordered.

"Hey Blondie! Why is it so hard to make a blonde snowman? You have to hollow out the head." I don't want the Strigoi to go after the others. So what better way than to direct the attention to myself. The Dhampirs captured seem to be Novices and the Moroi looked terrified.

I know, I have a best friend who is blonde and I'm telling dumb blonde jokes? My best friend may be blonde but she ain't stupid.

"Shut up Hathaway." The brown haired guy replied.

"You know, I'll never understand you Strigoi. There are always two options." I complained. "Die or join us" I mimicked him. "Seriously, do you people have anything better to do? Like, I don't know, have you tried sun tanning? Reading a book by the seashore? You can walk out in public you know. Ever heard of contact lenses?" Boy, was I really pissing them off.

"Be quiet!" The blond snapped. "Make your decisions fast. We'll come back everyday to check on you. And when you don't give us an answer each day, we'll start to kill you off. One. By. One." And with that, they stormed off.

I looked around to all the panicked faces. "Alright, don't panic. We're going to be fine. The guardians are tracking us down now as we speak and panicking isn't going to help." I told them, hoping they'll calm down a little. I doubt they'll give us food so they shouldn't waste their energy like that.

I looked at my surroundings. We didn't have any water so the water users are no use. The fire users are no used either when they're tied up like that. We have earth users and the air users. But what can the earth users do? I know Victor used Earth to charm and object but these Moroi are to young to know how to do that. They can rot wood too but these chairs are made out of plastic.

Air users. That's it!The air users can do what that idiot did to Lissa years go. Force all the air into them until they're head feels like exploding.

"Anybody here specialize in air?" I asked, silently praying.

"I do." Answered a guy who seemed to be about sixteen or seventeen. He had jet back hair and grey eyes.

"Me too." Answered a soft voice. The girl with a soft face and blonde hair seemed to be about fifteen or sixteen. She had piercing blue eyes and she reminded me of Mia.

"So do I." Answered a deep voice beside me. Another guy about seventeen years old. He had green eyes and brown hair.

Three air users. Better than I expected.

"Alright, I know you guys are tied up but do you think you could shift your chair here? If I talk too loud, the Strigoi might hear me." They nodded and tried to jump their way towards me.

Once they were close enough, I whispered, "Okay guys, listen carefully. I need you to use offensive magic. Yes, I know it's illegal but desperate times calls for desperate measures." They nodded in agreement before I continued.

"I need you guys to force as much air as you can into the Strigoi's body. Their brains will feel like it's about to explode. I'll figure out the rest. When I give you the signal, you guys have to listen to me." They nodded once again.

"You." I nodded towards the girl. "What's your name?"

"Jen" She answered. She seemed skinny enough.

"Do you think you could slowly wriggle your hands out from that?" I asked, hoping.

She nodded. "They're pretty tight but I can try. They should be starting to get loose if I wriggle long enough."

"Good. Now, don't make it seems obvious that you're free. We need to make the Strigoi think that you're still tied up. Now, once you're free, I want you to force as much air as possible into one of them. Understand?"

She nodded.

"While she's doing that, I have a knife and I'll but myself free. I'll fight the Strigoi while Jen takes the knife and quickly cut the two of you free."

I had a knife stashed inside my heels. Lissa had them custom made so that I would always have a weapon with me, even when I'm on dates or in this case, reunions.

I had a silver stake strapped on the outside of my upper thigh. It was safely in a holder so that it wouldn't hurt me. I figured the Strigoi would check my leg but not my thigh.

"You." I pointed to the guy with grey eyes. "What's your name?"

"Mason." He answered and I felt my chest tighten. Mason. Now is not the time to remember that. I have to focus.

"Mason, I need you to cut the others free, starting with the Novices. They have combat class and whatever happens, they'll be able to protect you. And then the fire users. They'll be able to burn the Strigoi if something were to happen to the Dhampirs. What's your name?" I asked the last guy.

"Sean."

"Sean, I need you and Jen to get the fire users and yourselves ready in case there are more Strigoi out there. All of you need to work together and help. The Dhampirs are Novices so they don't have stakes so when you get out there, run. Use your magic only when necessary. Use it just to distract them and then you run." I instructed them.

"Now go back to your positions. They'll notice you moved and know we're planning something." They nodded and shifted back.

I decided to fall asleep and see if Adrian would be there. I needed him to know.

Just as I have predicted, Adrian was in my dream.

"Rose! Dimitri told us what happened." he quickly informed me.

"I don't know where I am and there are loads of Moroi here."

"Dimitri had a meeting with some guardians. They said that they might know where you guys are."

"What?" I asked in disbelief. They know where we are? How'd they figure that out so fast?

"They captured a few Strigoi sliver and practically interrogated them using a silver stake. They all said the same thing after much interrogation-" I cut him off.

"Hold up. Much interrogation? How long has it been since the whole Strigoi thing?"

"About two days." What the-

"TWO DAYS? I WAS OUT FOR TWO DAYS?" I practically screamed. Two whole days?

"Anyway, they said that there's an old warehouse not far from Baia. It's far enough for the Strigoi to carry all the Moroi and Dhampirs there before sunrise. After two weeks, they'll move. They won't stay at one place too long."

"So let me get this straight. We are in a warehouse?"

"Yes."

"And are the others coming to get us?"

"Nope." What?

"Why not?" we're trapped, we have a day till someone dies and they're not doing anything?

"The sun is still up. By the time they get there, it'll be sundown and the Strigoi will have the advantage. They're waiting for sundown so that when they get there, it'll be sunrise and the Strigoi are trapped.

"But that will cost us a day. The Strigoi are killing one of us per day if we don't agree to turn!" I exclaimed. We can't risk any more lives.

"There's no other way Rose!" he screamed back. He took a deep breath. "Look, I know what you're thinking but we'll loose more lives if we go now."

I hate to admit it but he's right.

"Adrian, I have to go. There are a bunch of teenagers there and half of them are scared to death." I explained to him.

"Alright Little Dhampir. Just try to distract the Strigoi as long as you can. Do you have your phone with you?" he asked.

"I think so. I never really noticed. It's still in my pocket it guess." I had a well-disguised side pocket that I usually stuff things in there in case of emergencies like this.

"Well, if you feel a constant vibration, that's Dimitri calling, telling you that they're there." he gave me a heads up.

"Alright Adrian. Thanks." I gave him a small smile.

He returned the smile and gave a small wave. "I'll see you soon, Rose. Don't do anything stupid." I rolled my eyes as everything blurred and I woke up.

I woke up just in time for the Strigoi the come in.

The blonde one came in first. Time to put plan distract-dimwit-and-dipshit in motion.

"Hey dimwit! Where's you gay lover, Dipshit?" The other Strigoi came a few seconds later.

"There he is..." I said sarcastically.

"Be quiet Rosemarie."

"Hey Blondie! What do you call a blonde behind a steering wheel? An air bag." I joked and he shot me a death glare. I faced the light brown haired Strigoi. "Hey don't worry, you ain't so bright yourself." I gave him a smile.

Within a blink of an eye, he came to me, gripping my neck.

"Be quiet or I will snap your neck." he threatened.

"Come on, let's be honest here shall we? Let's look at the reasons why I should not die. One, you'll never figure out where Lissa is, two it will be a waste of talent to kill me instead of turning me and three, you kill me and the blood just spills everywhere. I don't know about you guys but that's just a waste of good blood." I tried to negotiate, Rose Hathaway style.

He was silent for a moment and then pulled back. "Alright. Then you will be the last one to be turned or die. You will watch every one in this room suffer until they either die or join us."

"Fine with me. Hey, how many blondes does it take to screw in a light bulb? One cause it takes one miraculously smart blonde to figure out what a light bulb is and what's it do."

"Shu-" I cut him off once again.

"You know when it's a good time to shoot a blonde in the head? When you have an air pump to re-inflate it." I grinned.

"Silence!" The brown haired Strigoi snapped.

"Hey! How many Strigoi does it take to change a light bulb? None cause they already think they're bright enough anyway." I think that did it.

He grabbed my neck and pulled me up, the chair no longer in contact with the floor. "I don't care if you're the key for us to get to the princess. I'll kill you right here, right now." he hissed.

Just then, I felt my phone in my pocket vibrate. I grinned.

"JEN! NOW!" I screamed and she immediately moved her hands a little after wriggling a few hours and forced as much air as possible into the Strigoi's body.

That's all I need. I took the small knife out of my heels and cut myself loose quickly.

While the Strigoi were gone, I reached for the knife, since the chairs were pretty low, and I started to cut most of it off. So now, I just needed to cut a small portion and I'm free.

I ran towards the blonde Strigoi while taking my stake out from the strap, staking him immediately. He was shocked at first but with Strigoi speed, he came up to me really quick.

I passed Jen the knife to cut loose the others while I fought with the Strigoi. I had to admit, he was good. As I was about to stake him, the door burst open and a few more Strigoi rushed in, shocked at the scene.

I shoved the stake into the Strigoi's heart while the fire users were too busy helping me.

I staked about three Strigoi before I realized that the door was wide open.

"RUN!" I screamed to them. "RUN INTO THE SUNLIGHT. NOW!"

Dimitri came in and realized the Moroi and Dhampirs needed help. "DIMITRI GET THE KIDS OUT!"

He looked at me, struggling with three Strigoi. "NOW DIMITRI!"

He gave quick nod and got the rest out. I swiftly moved, wiping the stake onto one of the Strigoi's face, enough to make him distracted and scream in pain while I staked the other one. Once I was done with him, I turned to the original Strigoi and staked her. Two down, one to go. Where is she?

I whipped around to see her torturing Mason. No. Not again. I won't let him die. Not this time.

I grabbed the Strigoi by her shoulder and punched her face hard enough for her to wince. Dimitri came back and I screamed to him, "DIMITRI, GRAB THE KID AND GO!"

Mason was on the ground, bleeding, too weak to move.

"NOW DIMITRI! DONT WORRY ABOUT ME, GRAB HIM AND GO!"

I momentarily distracted the Strigoi while Dimitri carried him out.

"Don't come back for me! Make sure the kids are safe!" I ordered him.

It's not the time to argue right now. I diverted my attention to the Strigoi and staked her effortlessly.

I was starting to get a little weak from the lack of food and water but I can't let that get to me now. As I was about to go out, two more Strigoi came in. Where are these Strigoi coming from?

I tried to stake one of them but he was too fast and experienced.

The other guy grabbed my arms and held it to my back. He gripped my wrists so hard, I let go of my stake.

The other Strigoi punched and kicked me repeatedly while I was exposed. I winced in pain but refused to comply. He landed a blow on my head and that did it. My head was throbbing and as he was about to sink his teeth into my neck, someone grabbed him from the back and staked him.

Dimitri. He grabbed the other Strigoi who tossed me to the ground and staked him. Dimitri ran to my aid.

"Rose! Stay with me."

My head hurt so bad, my eyes were closing.

"Why'd you come back? What about the kids?" I whispered.

"Roza, don't close your eyes. Stay with me." he begged as he carried me.

"I..." I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. The pain was starting to come.

"Come on Roza. You can't go to sleep on me now. Keep your eyes open. Please." he begged once again, dashing to the outside.

The sun was shining brightly, causing my eyes to close even more. That warehouse was pretty dark.

He quickly spoke to a guardian rapidly in Russian. She nodded and he ran towards a car.

He placed me in the back seat of a car and went to the front seat. He placed the key in the ignition and sped away.

"Roza, keep your eyes open Roza. Please, for me." he begged again.

"I can't." I managed to breathe out.

"No Roza. Please..."

"I just want to rest my eyes for a bit..." I gave the excuse.

I don't know how long it was, but after speeding on the road, miraculously avoiding any traffic police, we reached his academy.

DPOV

I carried her and ran towards the infirmary.

"Keep your eyes open Roza, I'm begging you, please." I shook her a little in my arms.

"Why'd you come back?" she asked.

"I...I just had too. Roza, keep your eyes open. Don't let them close. Please."

"Why?" she asked again.

"If you close your eyes, you...you just can't okay?" I don't want to think of any possibility that she won't be able to open them again. I don't want to loose her, not now, not ever.

She gave a light chuckle. "You know what I mean." Yeah. Yeah I do.

"Why?" she asked again.

"Because I...I..." I couldn't finish. Those words were stuck and wouldn't come out.

"I NEED HELP!" I screamed once I was inside the infirmary. People were rushing to Rose's aid.

"Dimitri..." she weakly said. "Why?"

"Because I..." they're on the tip of my tongue. Why won't I say it?

"I..." they took her out of my arms and placed her on the bed and pushed her towards the operation room.

"Because I love you." I finally whispered, but she was too far for her to hear. I stood there, feet rooted to the ground.

"I love you." I whispered once again, even though no one heard me.

Aww. Dimitri came so close to telling her. Oh well, third time's the charm right?

Plus, did anyone realize that that was the first time Dimitri called her Roza?

Anyways, please review! I'm begging you.

Next chapter is the chapter when Rose gets a little…high. There's a preview of it in the chapter before this.

I think I'm going to have so much fun doing the next chapter. It'll probably be up…next week? I have no idea. I'm writing it now actually.

Well, the more you review, the faster I'll update!

Thanks!

Lydia.