Hey everybody! I know that this update is WAY overdue, but I have gotten really busy with the start of my senior year and all of my extracurricular taking time on my weekends, so it makes it hard to write... But I found time to get this done for my loyal readers! So, thank you for reading this chapter even though it is way past due. Hopefully, you will all like it, but so I know what you all want... You have to review! Thanks Y'all!

~ShadowhuntingDamphir2014~

Heart of a Huntress

Chapter 2

When my monster mother's mind came out of the stage of cerebral shock, she lunged for Dimitri, her talons (as I call them) outstretched and ready to pry the flesh from his bone. But, knowing her and having anticipation on my side, I jumped in front of him. I threw my arms out in front of me to protect us both, and blocked most of the attack, but not all of it. It ended with my mother attempting to choke me, with Lissa and Christian both trying to pry her hands away from my throat and screaming for help, as I bent backwards over Dimitri. My mother continuously released strangled snarls and guttural grunts. After 5 minutes or so, by which point I should have been a deep shade of purple and barely breathing, help arrived in the form of Mikhail Tanner and Eddie. They both pulled my mother off of me and Mikhail threw her outside the door, slamming it shut in her face. I slid to the floor, gasping for breath, while Eddie and Christian picked me up. Just before Lissa reached forward to heal me, I fell into the dark abyss that is unconsciousness.

When I woke, Lissa was siting beside me, holding my hand. I had to blink a few times, clearing my vision from the blinding lights above.

"I don't care if you are in a relationship with him but tell me one thing. Did he force you?" She whispered. I looked around to see that we were alone.

"What?" My stunned mind couldn't keep up at the moment. I guess I was in shock.

"Did Dimitri force you to have sex with him?"

"No, we haven't done anything like that. We only train." My voice became strained at the end and I know it cracked. "Liss, I love him."

She nodded her head and squeazed my hand briefly before letting it go. "Fine. I'm happy for you. Just don't come crying to me when he breaks your heart."

I didn't understand what she was doing and she left before I could ask. I sat in my bed, shocked, when Eddie came in. He knew the same as Lissa now, but I didn't have much confidence left after what Lissa did, which is unusual for me, because come on, I'm Rose Hathaway. He just looked at me with love, understanding, and a tiny shred of pain. Eddie didn't say anything, and that worried me more than what Lissa might be doing now. Eddie wasn't generally a quiet person unless he was pissed beyond belief or sleeping. And Eddie was clearly concious, in full control of what he did next. I didn't try to defend myself when his hand raised and suddenly came flying at my face. Next, I heard a sharp, crystal clear clap as his skin met with the flesh of my face. My head flew to the left as his hand came to rest at his side. Eddie slapping me was the least I deserved. He now knew why I couldn't be with Mason when he was alive. But then he started talking.

"Why the Hell would you do this is Mason? You knew how he felt about you!"

"Why do you think I couldn't be with him Eddie? I didn't love him that way. You and Mason were my best friends, aside from Lissa. You two were my brothers. You, Mason, Lissa and I were our own little family. I couldn't love him the way he wanted because he was like my brother! It would have been cruel of me to lead him into thinking he could be with me, only to hurt him. I told him to leave and was fully prepared to die in Spokane. Mason made the choice to come back for me, and in all honesty, I wish he hadn't. I wish Mason would have left and let me die because I don't deserve the shit my 'friends' are giving me right now." Everything came rushing out in such a hurry. I had lost control of my emotions. "If this is how you and Lissa are going to treat me from now on, go for it. But just remember that I got your ass out of Spokane alive. I was the one who has been there for all of you as the strength you didn't have. Lissa's family died right in front of her. If she would have let me die, you would have never had to worry about me. You would never have lost Mason. But you never would have had the memories we made either." I had been through enough and wanted nothing more than to get away. I carefully pulled the needles out of my skin and stood on shaky legs. I walked, unsteadily, to the door and opened it. Before exiting, I turned to Eddie. "I hope you're happy now, because I'm not. Have fun knowing you just killed me." Then I turned away and walked out. I have had plenty of practice sneaking out of places so it wasn't hard for me to get away from the infirmary without being caught. I wanted to be alone for a while, so going back to my room was out of the question. It was the most obvious place to look for me, aside from the gym. So, instead, I went to the one place that nobody would think about. I went to the old guardian cabins on the edge of the wards.

I walked to one that was in better condition than the others and gently pushed the squeaky door open. Then I went inside and closed the door behind me. The winter weather was starting to lighten up, but it was still freezing, and I was outside in booty shorts and a tank top with no shoes for Christ's sake. So I walked inside and got something to eat, because luckily the cabinets still had some parishable food items. I cooked some mac and cheese in the microwave before walking over to the bed and sitting down. The place was kind of dusty, since it had been so long since it had been used, but it was actually a really pretty place. I finished the mac and cheese, threw away my trash, and washed the dishes. Yes, I understand it may come as a shock, but this isn't my first time in a kitchen. I can secretly cook, but nobody knows about it, aside from myself obviously. After washing the dishes and cleaning the cabin a little, I went over to the bed and changed the sheets for a clean set I found in the closet. After that, I changed the blankets and fluffed the pillow. Then I layed down under the thin blanket and realized how cold it was in the room. So I went back to the closet and got a few more thin blankets, before grabbing the comforter as well, and went back to the bed. After having 5 very thin blankets and a massively thick comforter, I crawled into the bed and let the new-found heat caress my body. As I laid there, I thought of how much I had changed, and of course about Dimitri. I imagined what it would feel like to have his arms embracing me in a way that wasn't sparring. I didn't like seeing Dimitri as the stoic warrior at all times. I loved and cherished those precious moments when his mask would fall and I could read his emotions like a book. Finally, after many hours of thinking about how I wanted to change some of my past, I was able to succumb to the unconsciousness and fall into a deep, restful slumber.

I was slowly brought away by the faint sound of footsteps and then the door being opened. I didn't really wake up, and fell back into the sleepy haze, until someone had me crushed against their torso.

"My God Roza, don't ever do that to me again."

I knew that voice! It was Dimitri. My cell phone had never been returned to me in the infirmary, so I didn't have a time or date.

"What happened Comrade? What's wrong?"

"Roza, the guardians have been looking for you for two days solid."

"What?! Two days? Tell me you are joking."

I looked up into his eyes and saw the terrified glimmer and the relief that burned so brightly in his eyes. He wasn't joking. Wait, this is Dimitri. He never really jokes. But I still loved him. He pulled me close again, crushing me against him, and it was welcomed. I had, apparently, spent two solid days sleeping and I was alone. Then, everything from Lissa to Eddie came rushing back to me. Everything happened because I fell in love with Dimitri. Like I had a choice! We were made for each other, even with the age difference and us both being guardians one day. I remembered the horrible feeling of being alone, without my friends. Unexpectedly, I pushed away from Dimitri, rose to my feet, and ran out of the cabin. I heard him rise to follow me, and I heard his screams for me to stop, but I kept going until I reached my dorm room. I threw the door open and slammed it closed, locking it before Dimitri could get inside, and began to throw random amounts of clothes in my backpack (which I had emptied of all school related contents). Then I put in the few reminders I wanted to keep with me and cherish for the rest of my life, seeing as how I may never return here or see the ones I love again. I could hear Dimitri banging on my door and yelling for me to "open up or come out." It ripped my heart to shreds to ignore him but I had to get out of here. Maybe, someday, I would be able to hold Dimitri in my arms again. But, at the moment, I couldn't risk his life. Since becoming a 'Huntress', I had become the biggest threat to Lissa and Dimitri. I had to leave to keep them safe.

The banging on the door was getting louder but farther apart, meaning he was putting force into trying to open it. He was going to ram my door down. I quickly grabbed my secret 'cash stash' from my mysterious father over the course of 18 birthdays/holidays/school ceremonies. Sure, the money would tide me over for a little while, but it would be nothing compared to having my father there. My mom had abandoned me to the academy and my father had never even bothered to be in my life, as far as I knew. I could hear my door frame cracking now, so I stashed everything I had into my backpack, zipped it up, and ran for my window. I threw it open just as Dimitri busted down my door. I gave him one last sorrow filled look that contained a wistfulness of the life I longed to have with him. Then, as if he saw what I would do next, I jumped out the window. I lived on the third floor, so it was a long drop, but when I impacted with the ground, I landed on my feet and rolled, just like Dimitri had taught me. I looked up over my shoulder at him, and saw the one thing that shattered my battered soul. I saw a lone tear roll down his face and fall, where it landed on my heart.

"I love you." I whispered to him before turning and running.

I didn't know where I was really headed, I just knew I had to get out of sight, get into the trees and run until I was intercepted by the fence. There, I would climb over and run as far as my feet would take me. I didn't know where I would go, or why I was even running, but I knew I had to get away to protect the people I loved most. After running for a few hours (silently thanking Dimitri for all the running, and building my stamina) I finally came to a stop in a small clearing. I hadn't packed any food or water, and I was getting thirsty and tired from exhaustion. I had to keep going. I had to make it to Missoula tonight, get a bus to Seattle, and then a plane ticket to Russia. I remember Dimitri once telling me about his family, and how the Belikova women knew of all the legends that were lost to our people in the modern world. Surely, they would know all about the Huntress legends. Maybe they could help me! Yes, that is what I would do. Dimitri had long said how he wished to return to Baia and see his family one day, but he would never leave his charge, he would never leave Lissa because he knows how much she means to me, even if I'm not there. He would stay and protect her for me. For all they knew, I was dead by now. I would stay that way. I would disappear and change myself to keep them safe.

Hours later, at a walking pace, I made it to Missoula. I went to the nearest store and bought a bright blonde hair dye kit and some colored contacts. I bought enough snacks and food to get me through the night and the long journey that would ensue tomorrow. I mean, I am going to Russia. I found a cheap motel room that would get me through the night. After a shower that turned my muscles into jelly, I went to the bed and immediately fell into a peaceful slumber that was dreamless. As I slept, I swore I could hear Dimitri calling for me. I wanted nothing more than to turn around and run back to him, but I had to know how I could keep them safe.

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~ShadowhuntingDamphir2014~