Hi again. I believe this is the longest chapter I have wrote so far. I am having a hard time stopping. :D Anyway, it took two days to get me somewhat satisfied with this chapter. It was hard to stop writing.

NOTICE: I only go three reviews from my last chapter, and I thought it was the best yet! Can you start telling me your thoughts? I love hearing what you guys think what might happen, and espically your favorite part in a certin chapter. You guys have no idea how much your comments makes me want to write. So keep in mind, the more comments I get, the more I write. Lol. Well enjoy this one.

I was half smiling when Jill came down. "Ready." She declared.

I walked up to her, put my hand on her shoulder, and gently looked her in her beautiful green eyes. "You are very brave to take this on. You will have fun, but there are going to be draw backs to everything decision you make. Remember, you can't make everyone happy. And there will me critiscism on you. People you like now, well you might have a different view of them later."

She nodded her head seriously. "I know. Lissa made it quite clear she doesn't like dealing with a lot of the royals."

I gave her a half smile. "Let's go." Everyone walked out of the door in a single file line.

"We have to go back to the hotel and get our things, Rose." Dimitri said.

I nodded. "God forbid we forget your duster." I said, eyeing his body, which didn't have his duster on as all of us pilled in the Hummer.

He didn't acknowledge that, but when I looked in the review mirror, Jill tried to hide a humorous smile. Emily and Jill were sitting close together, buckled in. Dimitri, sadly, took the driver's seat, which left me with shot gun. I frowned, thinking, not again. I only allowed Dimitri to drive here; I said nothing about driving back. We are going to have a serious talk when we get back to Court.

Dimitri started the car and we were off, back to the hotel.

We got to the hotel in one piece and not running a red light, and heading into on-coming traffic. "You got a room in the Hilton hotel?" Jill asked in amazement, as we drove up to the back way. If there was any trouble, we were hoping to avoid it by going through the back way.

"Yes. Rose wanted a massage." Dimitri said, face impassive and serious. I could hear his unspoken words: 'But she ended up drinking vodka shots instead.'

"How was it?" Emily asked, she sounded reluctant, like she is trying to get her mind off of something unpleasant.

"Wish I had one so I could tell you. I got caught up in a situation."

Dimitri grunted, and it wasn't in amusement. It was more like he was accusing and disappointed in me. But seriously, what else did he expect from Rose Hathaway? I was born reckless! Clearly, he doesn't know me as well as he thinks he does.

We all got out of the ca- nausea hit me. "Dimitri!" I said in warning. He knew that tone all too well. His stake came out as fast as lightening. And just as he took it out, a strigoi appeared.

"Get them out of here. I will handle-" more nausea hit me, warning me that there are more on the way, "them. Get out of here. Now," I said hastily and full of authority.

Dimitri gave me a nod while Jill and Emily hastily got back into the Hummer, needing no command to get back in the car. "Far and Fast, Dimitri." I yelled. And I remembered saying those words to Mason, minutes before he died. I pushed my guilt and loss in the back of my head, and focused on the task at hand.

Dimitri was just leaving the parking lot as a strigoi jumped at me with his arms wide out, giving me a clear aim at his heart. He was clearly human before becoming strigoi. I wasted no time and took the shot. He was dead. Now I just have to find the other strigoi.

Should have listened to what Abe said, I thought. I should have just left everything at the hotel and called them to tell them to just throw everything away. Nope, I had to be classic Rose. I just felt like running into trouble today, I guess.

Out of nowhere, something hit me on the side of the head. I saw stars at first, but quickly recovered, pushing the pain aside. I heard someone's malice laugh, and footsteps.

"So for once, the rumors are true. Belikov is back."

I looked over and saw a familiar man, but I couldn't place his name. I was waiting for him to come at me; element of surprise was my friend at this point. It seems as if this guy knows a little bit on how I operate when it comes to fighting strigoi.

"You don't remember?" He said as he came closer. Then it hit me. It was the strigoi I tortured in Siberia to get information out of him about Dimitri. I was sure my face gave me away, but I talked anyway.

"The weakling," I replied. "You were easy enough to torture; it will be even easier to kill you." That was unlike me. I never said anything about wanting to kill a strigoi. I killed them because I had to, but afterwards, I always felt guilty. Dimitri's words always remained in the back of my head, on how whenever we kill a strigoi, it's still technically taking a life.

"I don't think so. You see, I didn't come alone." I took in my surrounding then, and noticed behind that strigoi I tortured (I am going to call him Red, because he has red hair) there was three strigoi. I swallowed hard. This one, I might not make out of.

Don't think like that, Rose! I thought. Then you really won't make it out. Suddenly, a song called Time of dying by Three Days Grace came in my head: I will not die. I will not die. I will survive! That is just what I will do. I have to, for Jill, for Lissa.

I quickly analyzed my surrounds, and thought about how I was going to deal with them. I looked at body mass. Red was defiantly the smallest threat here, not just because he was skinny and had little muscle on him, but because he was going to let his minions deal with me. If I go for him, then I would have the element of surprise. However, his gang of bloodsucking parasites will come at me even before I make my move on Red.

Without thinking, I leaped out at the closest one, and staked him. He clearly wasn't expecting me, or even a female my size to have so much strength. I began to wonder if he ever heard of the existence dhampires. With the force of a small semi, I punched him in nose, knocking him off balance. I then staked him in the heart, and looked for another one to stake.

I didn't have to look for long, because just like that two more strigoi were on me. One looked like he had blue hair. The other was a female, and had to be Moroi before awakened. They both flew at me- literally- flew at me. I managed to dodge them, by jumping to my left a few feet, but I knew that would only buy me only a moment. I had to find a pitch for or something, anything, that would give me an edge and leverage. No, that would take time.

Once I abandoned that thought, I decided to go to the girl. She was less of a threat, since she was a Moroi before the transformation. Once she hit the ground and turned towards me, expectantly of a fight, I went at her with a speed she wasn't ready for and staked her. Her shocked wide eyes soon went blank, indicating she was dead.

I was half way turned to go at the male, when the male knocked me down to the ground. Again, Three Days Grace came back into my head: on the ground I lay, motionless in pain. I'm living a nightmare.' That's it. I need to be motionless; still. If I being to make a move, then he will see what my moves are before I make them. The strigoi with blue hair was sitting on stomach and was leaning slightly over to keep my arms above my head. What is it with men and putting women's arms above their head lately?

The strigoi leaned down in my face and growled. "I liked her." He made no attempt to hide his fangs. He gave me the most malice glare he could manage. It scared me a little bit, but if it was Dimitri who gave me that glare, I think would have died.

"Then you must have bad ass taste." I retorted. "She was a blond! Don't you know blonds are dumb?" That was such a lie. Lissa is a blond, and the smartest person I know. He growled at me again, reaching down to grab my hair.

I was waiting for that move. With guardian quick reflexes, I reached up with my free arm and grabbed the side of his shoulder, quickly throwing him off me. I moved on top of him, just like I did in the court yard months ago with Dimitri. The strigoi was struggling, trying to get me off of him, while I was getting a good hold of my stake. Then, just like I did on the court yard with Dimitri, I staked him. This time, I wasn't holding back. I let out some spirit darkness before I staked him, knowing I needed to get rid of some of it that was building up inside me. My stake went through him, and felt it hit the ground, indicating it went all the way through and out.

I quickly pulled my stake out of him and got up, ready for Red to come at me. I didn't need to glace around to find him; my nausea sensor was going off.

I turned around with lightening speed, and saw Red, looking-can you believe it- afraid. He looked at me with wide eyes, knowing he was messing with the wrong person.

"What the fuck are you?" he yelled a he backed up as I advanced on him.

I gave up walking up to him, not wanting to chase him around the whole town. I ran up to him, and slammed him against the Hotel's wall. "Say my name!" I yelled.

He didn't speak, which was okay. I have more important things to interrogate him about. "Who else knows about Dimitri?"

He didn't say a word. "Who!" I yelled, shaking him hard. When that didn't work, I brought my stake up to his throat and held it there. He began to try to wiggle out of my hold, which was impossible; it was adamant. I could see, from where my stake is at, that he was getting burn marks that quickly turned into mean looking blisters. It looked horribly uncomfortable.

"I'm not going to tell you!" He said, and he sounded furious. As well as he should be. He is letting a female get the better of him. He came here to win a fight, and he is losing. Hell, he should give up now. I killed all of his men in less than ten minutes. It had to be some kind of record. I wished someone was timing me on this. I could be in 'Ripley's Believe it or Not' books, and maybe even Guinness World Record books too.

I smiled my most malice smile I could manage. He swallowed hard, but still wouldn't say a word. With my stake to his throat, I swiftly and quickly dragged the sharp edge of my stake against his throat, and sliced it. It wasn't a small slice either. Blood poured out, and he screamed in pain.

"No one anymore, I have been watching from afar. One of my spies saw Belikov had miraculously turned back dhampire. I had to pay a visit. But you killed my spies, so no one but me knows."

"Who broke into the Alchemist records?"

"I don't know."

I banged his head against the stone wall as hard as I could. With that amount of force, it would have killed any human, dhampire or moroi. "Tell me, damn it! I know you know."

He looked disoriented for a few minutes, but quickly recovered. "I don't know!" He yelled, and I bet he was angry because he was hurting.

I realized that this is useless. Without a second thought, my stake met his heart and he was dead. No more Red. I needed to find shelter and safety. My thoughts lingered to my Hummer, where the girls and Dimitri are at. I decided to walk down a few blocks, thinking Dimitri would have stayed, but would have kept a distance from me and the strigoi. I knew I could have called Dimitri, but I wanted to keep my voice down and not draw any attention, just in case if there were more strigoi in the area.

A walked up and down a couple of blocks, and I haven't spotted any burgundy Hummer. I was about to whip out my cell phone to see where he was when a vehicle turned the corner and picked up speed. I braced myself for an attack. When it stopped, the passenger window rolled down. Then a familiar accented voice called my name. "Rose, get in."

I got in, and looked at Dimitri. "Go back to the hotel."

He looked at me like I was crazy. "Absolutely not, they could still be there."

"Then do you know the hotel's address?"

"Why do you need the address?"

"I promised Sydney that whenever I made a kill, I would call her so she can deal with the bodies."

His face turned hard and serious. "We will go there, but we won't get out. Do you understand?"

I nodded. He drove back to the hotel, but he stopped and pulled over to the curve. On the stone wall of the hotel are black, metallic numbers. "88743 North Street." Dimitri said calmly.

I was already calling Sydney before he even spoke. It kept ringing and I prayed I would not get her voice mail.

"Rose?" She finally picked up!

I let out a breath. "I was wondering if you were ever going to pick up."

"Is…"I heard her walk and close a door. She was most likely going into a different room. "Is everything alright?"

"I'm a little beat up, but fine. Listen, you got four bodies to take care of at 88743 North Street in Ann Arbor."

"Oh god, is the girl alright? Dimitri?"

"Dimitri got Jill and her mother, Emily, out while I handled them. We are on our way to Court. Don't tell anyone that we are on our way back, but give everyone an update, saying I am close to solving the case."

"I will. Are you sure you are alright Rose? You sound a little…out of it."

"I'm fine." I forced out the words, my throat felt tight. Every time I thought about Sydney, I thought about Adrian. My eyes started to fill up with tears. "I will see you soon." I barked out the word 'you.' A part of me wanted to run away and not go back to Court.

"Alright, see you soon."

"Okay." And I hung up this time. "Drive." I commanded Dimitri.

He made no movement and neither did I.

"Out," Dimitri commanded gently.

I got out of the car, wondering why he wanted to get out. Didn't he say we weren't going to get out of the car? We walked about fifteen yards, over to where I killed the strigoi. He looked the bodies over, seeing the damage I created.

"Rose." He said when he looked down at Red. He said my name in what sounded like amazement and disgust. "What did you do?"

I turned and looked at Dimitri. "Just another interrogation." I said automatically with no emotion.

"We don't play with strigoi, Rose. We kill them." He said dangerously.

I played innocent. "I did."

Dimitri looked around and he went still. "Rose…" He shook his head. I had a feeling he was hiding a smile.

"What?" I asked curiously. "Jealous that I got to interrogate them?"

He looked at me then. "You killed all four of them?"

I rolled my eyes. I would like to say that I did it before, but I haven't. To be honest, I was quiet impressed with myself. If anything, I deserved more than just a gold start. I deserved a fucking trophy.

I pointed at Red. "Red didn't know anything about the burglary of the Alchemist records. I also found out that no one but him and his ruthless gang of bloodsucking parasites know anything about your transformation, so you are safe."

"What now, thought?" he asked.

"We leave. Get Jill and Emily to court as fast and safe as possible." I turned to go back to the car, but Dimitri grabbed my bicep.

His face looked somewhat worried. "What is going on with you Rose?"

"With me?" Why is he asking me this? He doesn't even care for God sakes. "I should be asking you that question."

His hold on my arm tightened. "How so?"

I didn't want to answer that question. "We should get back." Besides, I didn't want to leave Emily and Jill alone. Even though the car was a few feet away, I know what strigoi are capable of. Whatever Dimitri wanted to talk me about, can wait; this mission was more important. We walked back to the Hummer, got in and drove off.

It was silent, and no one would talk, so I went to Lissa. She was eating pancakes that Christian made her. I smiled, he is going to make a wonder bitch wife. I could see him dusting the furniture, feeding the cat, doing the dishes…vacuuming, but most importantly, making Lissa and me dinner.

Christian was about to speak when there was a knock at the door. "Bet you a kiss it's Adrian."

Lissa smiled. "I don't need to bet, I know."

Christian raised an eyebrow. "How? Can you can sense him?"

"Yes, but that's not exactly how I know. He texted me that he was going to come over, he said that Sydney wanted to meet up with all of us and hang out."

Christian opened the door and Adrian and Eddie walked in. A few minutes after Christian shut the door, anther knock at the door. This time, I was surprised to see both Sydney, my mother and Abe walk through. She must have been in a meeting with Abe.

I felt alarm flash through both, Lissa and the bond. "Rose." She said worried.

Adrian stood up. "Is she okay?" he sounded truly worried, which surprised me. Though it shouldn't; he is my boyfriend for goodness sake. He should be worried about me.

Sydney looked at Abe, and Abe smiled at Lissa. "She is fine, my dear. Just a little beat up."

"How much is a little? For all we know she can be in a hospital and in a coma." Lissa yelled, upset. That surprised me; I thought she would be calm about this. I guess everyone is surprising me today.

"My darling daughter is doing fine, Vasilisa." Abe said, calmness gone. He was in serious mode now. "Rose just called Sydney. From what Rose told Sydney, is okay. But you know Rose, she never tells the full story."

"What did she say?" Eddie asked.

"There was a fight."

Adrian tensed up from what Lissa saw.

"It was a close call, I can imagine, but she is alive, which counts. She killed four strigoi, and from what the video cameras showed us, it was all under ten mintues."

"That's some kind of record." Marked Eddie

The room was quiet. "More evidence." Christian declared in a whisper. I don't think it was meant for anyone else to hear, but from what Lissa observed, everyone heard.

"What do you mean?" She asked him.

Christian shrugged. "We all know Hathaway is a badass, this just proves that she really is one."

"I don't-" My mother started to say, but for some reason, Christian glared at my mother, cutting her off from talking anymore.

"You won't understand; you don't even know your own daughter. But as for people who know her, her real family," Christian emphasized on the 'real' part, "we do. I once told Rose the story about my family, and what I thought of those guardians. I once told her they were like 'walking death' and that there will be a day when she will be like them, and I won't even mess with her. It seems like that day has come. She has surpassed every guardian. Killing those four striogi in that amount of time is just proof.

"Christian is right. Rose has become quiet the protector." Adrian agreed. He looked at Sydney and smiled warmly. She smiled back, but they both looked away, like they were ashamed.

Mmm. I wonder what they have to be ashamed over. Sex. Adrian cheated on you, a voice in my head said.

I got out of there, wanting nothing to do with anyone or Court. I went back to my own head to think. I need to think clearly. I defiantly needed to do something with Adrian. Break up with him, before he breaks up with you. You know it's going to be bad, you can make it less painful. You do it, that voice said, coming back to me.

Go away! I thought. But that voice had a huge, painful point that I could no longer ignore. Adrian wants to be with Sydney. I can see it. It is so painfully obvious, and I would a real bitch to ignore someone that has that much chemistry with someone. So I wont ignore it, but I am still not going to give up on him without a fight.

It was about forty minutes before anyone spoke. "Four strigoi?" Emily asked in amazement.

"It was nothing." I said, but it was a lie. "Dimitri taught me well. If anything, he deserves the credit."

"I want Jill to have you as her guardian." Emily said with strict and demanding authority.

I smiled in affection and in sorrow. "I doubt that will happen."

Jill looked taken back. "Why?"

I sighed and looked out the window. "There are things that even the best of actions can't erase from my record."

"I doubt that, but what did you do?"

I smiled my smile that said I had a secret. "Nothing that anyone will ever find out; I know how to play my cards."

Jill smiled. "But that is you. You're the best."

I laughed with humor, feeling warm over the complement. "I wish I could say that, but the truth is, I am just lucky. Even Dimitri will tell you that. My first kill…it's," I swallowed hard, remembering that day. "…killing strigoi is not as glorious as everyone thinks. I can remember looking up at the guardians, and thinking of them as gods and Heroes."

"What was Dimitri?" Jill asked, knowing I looked up to him.

I smiled. "Is," I corrected her. "A god." I went back to my story. "They were tough, and I wanted to be tough too. I wanted to have fun and kill the bad guys like they did. When my mom dropped me off at the Academy, I had the urge to make her proud of me. I wanted her to be proud to be my mom, and I wanted to be close to her. But as years passed things changed, I changed. I got tough like I wanted, but I realized that it's not as easy as I once thought. I also realized that there are important things to worry about and do, than worrying about who is dating who, and who likes who. I needed to protect the people I care about and the moroi race. I also wanted to protect my own race."

"Be a school guardian." Jill suggested.

I shook my head. Thoughts of that horrible night of the attack on the Academy flew back into my mind. "No."

"Why not?" She asked curiously.

"When you are good at something, you make enemies, Jill. I have a lot of enemies. Most of them are strigoi. If I go back to the Academy," I felt a pang of homesickness, but quickly pushed it away, "the strigoi will make another army and attack. I won't allow them to do that again because of me."

"What do you mean, 'because of you'?"

Shit. Way to go, Rose. Let everyone know your theories. I turned and looked at Dimitri, who took his eyes off the road and looked at me, giving me a look that said he wanted to know as well. I quickly turned back to the window, looking out, but not seeing anything but my past.

"It wasn't long after my first striogi kills. I don't know how they knew it was me, but Isaiah and Elena were not alone. They were part of a cult or something. I don't know. The point is that they wanted revenge on me for killing them. They decided to hit my home base."

"The Academy!" Emily breathed out with shock and fear.

"Yeah. They got their revenge on me, alright. But that won't ever stop me from killing them. One day," I vowed, "I will hit them so hard, like they did me, they won't even dare mess with me."

"That's crazy talk Rose." Dimitri exclaimed, eyes still on the road.

"It is what I was made for, D."

He shook his head. "I don't know about that."

"It's what Ronda said." I defended myself. Rhonda was the tarot card woman. Also Ambrose's aunt.

Dimitri let that go, but I could tell he was thinking about what I said.

Time passed and before I realized it, we were at court.

"Do you know where Lissa is at?" Dimitri asked.

"What a stupid question."

Jill laughed, and I went to Lissa's head and came back to my own.

"She is at the park."

Dimitri drove to the park and parked once he saw her under a weeping willow tree. I saw Abe and my mother, along with Eddie, Sydney and Adrian.

Everyone got out, but my eyes were on Sydney and Adrian in complete and udder shock. They were a few hundred yards away from the others. Adrian had his hands on her face, and he looked like he was about to kiss her.

My heart broke. My walls laid in ruin.

"Rose?" Dimitri asked. I could practically see his eyes follow to where mine laid. I thought I heard his intake of breath. "What's going on?"

I swallowed hard for the millionth time today, and shook my head. The sun was about to rise. The drive here took all day. Dimitri and I got out, and I started towards Adrian and Sydney in what felt like a ghost walk. The scene in Christian's room left its marks and was replaying in my mind. I should have gone to Lissa, but this was about me. And I needed to fix it.

Just as I walked up, Adrian's lips found hers. I stopped dead in my tracks and all the will I had to fight for him, vanished. My heart didn't break; it either exploded or disappeared, I wasn't sure which. I didn't feel anyone bump into me, or hear them call my name; it was all a blur to me. I just saw Adrian's lips on Sydney's. It was like everything wonderful and bright in the world left.

All hope for a new and beautiful life was destroyed.

Adrian lifted his head, as if he heard a familiar name, and met my hurt and shocked gaze. His whole body went stiff, his eyes widened in shock. But what hurt the most, is he stood his ground and took her hand.

We looked at each other for what seemed like hours, but in reality it was only five minutes. I dragged my eyes to Sydney's face. She looked afraid and ashamed.

"Rose, it's my fault." Sydney said. "We didn't want you to find out this way."

"I knew it!" I yelled, and I felt the first of many tears flow down my face freely. I looked back at Adrian.

Adrian looked down. "How…how could you-"

"The dream." I said disconnected, and I felt disconnected with reality, like this was all a dream. "You wouldn't look at me, let alone touch me!" That hit a nerve, and began to yell. "Oh, but once I mentioned Sydney's name, you smiled like it was Christmas morning!" I turned, needing to somewhere, anywhere that I can be alone.

"Rose, I'm sorry." Adrian said and I heard him take a few steps towards me.

I turned around at blinding speed. He seemed shocked and slightly afraid- of me or how fast I turned, I wasn't sure. I tried to glare at him, but I couldn't. I just looked at him, and I felt betrayed. I shook my head. "No. Don't be."

I had my faults to. I kissed Dimitri. So how is this any different, but…still. It hurt. And it hurt bad. But to my utter surprise, I felt somewhat calm. If I was looking him or any other moroi in the eyes, I would have thought I was being compelled, but I wasn't.

He took a few steps towards me, and for every step he took, I took one backwards. "Don't touch me. Just…just be with Sydney. Wish you two the best." I only half meant it. I turned my gaze back over to Sydney, who stood right where she was, but she had her full attention on me. I was breaking down, and all my strong willed walls were down, crumpled into sand and rock.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this." She said, shaking her head with a tears coming down her face. "He was only trying to help me out, and make me feel more comfortable being around the moroi and dhampire race…"

I gave her as small sad, gentle smiled and sighed. It was love. They were in love and they knew it. It reminded me of how things were when Dimitri and I were…not quiet together, but in love. Knowing that, I knew my tears were coming down heavily. No, I didn't stand a chance with Sydney Sage, or against love. I could not fight this, even if I wanted to.

"Love is like that, Sydney. You can't force love." If my throat got any tighter, it is going to have a hemroid in the throat in the morning. "You have to take it while you have it, and hold onto it. Don't let go. Embrace it and don't fight it. Enjoy it while you can."

I looked at Adrian and with the rest of my mental strength, walked forward, putting my hand on his shoulder. With the most sincerest face that I could manage up in this situation (which I am assuming is not very good) I looked him in the face. "Be with her."

He looked back at me with apologetic eyes.

I shook my head. "Don't be sorry. Be happy."

I turned away military style and walked away. I got in my Hummer and drove off. I wasn't sure where I was going; I just knew I needed to be alone. Realizing that, I shut off my phone, not wanting any interruptions. I kept driving for hours. But soon, the gas tank said it was on low fuel, so I pulled over to a Speedway, and got gas. My belly grumbled, telling me to feed it, but I ignored it. I needed to think. Cope.

I looked at the clock on the dashboard, a while after I left the gas station. I noticed I have been gone a total of ten hours. Everyone would be worried. A part of me didn't care. I just needed to be alone.

I decided to pull into a Holiday Inn hotel. If I went back to my room, I would find Lissa and a lot of other people looking to comfort me. I didn't want their comfort or pity. I wanted to be alone.

I checked out a room and laid down on the bed. I don't want to stay here, I thought. And when I meant here, I meant in court, and even in the country. I want to travel. I need to travel. But it's more than just travel. Earlier today, I told Dimitri what Rhonda told me, that my future was to kill strigoi. Maybe that was what I am supposed to do. Maybe I wasn't meant to be Lissa's guardian after all. I am good at killing strigoi, but all my life, I have wanted to protect Lissa. Maybe I was meant to just kill. Kill the striogi.

And if I stayed, I would see Dimitri and Adrian every day. I would see Dimitri devoting his loyalty and life to another woman- Lissa. He might even reconsider Tosha's offer. God, knows she still wants him. I would still be in love with him and always waiting for him to remember his love for me. But I am not one to wait around for long. I need something to do.

Then there is Adrian with Sydney. I am sure I would get use to them, and eventually be happy for them, but I would always be envious of them, because they have one thing that I will never have; love and each other.

No. I needed to get out of here for a while. Dimitri wants to Lissa's guardian, so I don't need to worry about finding a good guardian for her. I can pull a few strings for Dimitri and get him reinstated with honors. I will go away, but to where?

A thought hit me; why not go back to my hunting group? All I have to do is explain what happened and I am back in. Hell, after everything I have been through, they will view me as a goddess again.

I sighed, but I don't want that. I never wanted that. I will make book my flight in the morning. I will also design my own weapons. If I am going to hunt strigoi, I am going to do with new weapons.

I kept tossing and turning in bed, but I couldn't get any sleep. I turned on the TV and sat up in bed, thinking that the TV will send me to sleep.

It did the opposite- instead, it gave me ideas. I watched three movies, all of which gave me great ideas. I guess Hollywood is a little bit insightful.

Sword, I thought, I want a sword and an outfit. I need an outfit, like that Seline chick from Underworld. She looked damn hot in that black leather outfit. But, I need something that is threatening, yet somewhat sexy and causal. Just in case if I need to go into a public area. But back to the sword, it needs to be a one-of-a-kind sword. Something you can't replace-

There was nock at the door.

Wow. That was one long chapter! But I couldn't stop writing. Please review and give me your thoughts and ideas. I need to know!