So, the next chapter is up!

As I promised, here is a short summary for those who had skipped the last chapter:

Rose get's tortured by a Strigoin named Steve for several months. After a while Rose starts to hear Dimitri's voice, telling her to stick through and to hold on to be rescued. One day she must ahve said his name out loud, because Steve asked her about him. Rose still wants to protect him, so she claims not to know him. Steve threatens her to kill Dimitri when he should find anything about him. One day he does and the beating Rose gets is the most brutal one.

That's it, now enjoy the next chapter!

CHAPTER 11 – The Rescue Mission

The night was pitch black. A small motor boot raced across the ocean towards a small island that was barely visible. Four hooded figures where crowded, each one determined to finish up their task as quickly and quiet as possible.

Cutting off the motor when coming near to the island, the four figures took out wooden rudders, moving the boot forward silently. As soon as the bottom side hit the beach, the figures jumped out, pulling the boot out of the water and hid it behind some bushed, lined at the beach. Then all four spread into different directions silently, their only way of communication was a small headset. Within a few moments no trace of the intruders could be seen anymore.

One of those figures, a tall man, moved silently towards the big house, located in the middle of the island. His task was the most important one – to get in, get the victim and get out again. The others would have to make sure that his way was clear at all times.

Having reached their position, each one of them gave a short info to let the others know. As long as they wouldn't be at their respective locations, the tall man wouldn't be able to get inside. Crouching down below a tall bush, his eyes never leaving the small not guarded entrance at the back of the house, the man waited patiently for his comrades to take their positions.

As soon as the signal came that the last one had reached his position, the man jumped up and hurried towards the small wooden door. Summoning all his strength, he opened the door by taking it out off its hangings, making as little noise as possible. Walking through the now opened entrance, he turned around and leaned the door against the frame. If somebody would come by unexpectedly he would see that the door had been opened and it also would remain a possible escape route.

Slowly the black figure walked through the darkness of the room, making his way towards the staircase. Taking step by step, he pushed up his tall frame, trying to get a glimpse in the next room. They had no information where he would find the victim so he would have to make his way through each of the rooms in the building, always being secured by two other Guardians, one remaining outside to keep their escape route clear.

So he kept on searching each room, avoiding random Strigoi, leaving them to his companion who took them out silently with ease. With each room she wasn't in, his fear of being too late grew the same as the dread in which state he would find her in. If he would find her after all.

When he entered the last floor, it left him to only one room. Hoping he would find her there, he slowly walked to the wooden door, hearing no sound behind it to tell him if she was here or not. Bracing himself for the worst, he opened the door and walked briskly into the pitch black room. Only one small window, unable to reach in its height, spent some light, enlightening a small frame lying on a small bed in the back.

Seeing the torture equipment in this room made his blood boil. Glad that the Strigoi, who had done this to her, had already been killed by his colleague, he forced his gaze back onto the small frame on the bed.

He recognized her at once. He saw the long waves, which used to be full and shiny, was now tangled into knots and dirty. Her face was pale, covered with bruises and her lips dried and bloody. What the rest of her body looked like was something he could only guess but feared the same. Pulling off the thin sheet, he had to fight hard to keep back a growl as his anger was about to explode. Her body was covered with scars, bruises and open wounds.

As soon as he had pulled off the sheet, her body was exposed to the cold air in the room and started to shiver immediately. Starting to stir, the savior quickly threw his black jacket at her shivering form, keeping her warm and carefully cradled her in his strong arms. He needed to get her out as soon as possible, seeing in what bad shape she was. Retreating out of the room she had been held hostage in for the past three months, he silently made his way back to the boot where he would meet up with the rest of the team.

Taking one careful look at her beaten up face, Dimitri had to fight back a sob that threatened to escape forcefully.

Was this a new trick? Was it possible to copy a smell that meant heaven for me?

Slowly my mind started to kick in and pushed me to wake up. Something had changed and I was too afraid to find out what it was. I wasn't sure if I could endure another of Steve's sick games, putting me in so much pain and agony.

Again I had the feeling that something was different, when the warmth of another body enveloped me, luring me into a feeling of safety. Maybe I was in heaven already, having not noticed that I had died since the last brutal beating. Hoping that it was over now, I tried to open my eyes but didn't succeed. My lids were too heavy.

"Am I dead?" I asked curiously, barely recognizing my hoarse voice.

A deep voice chuckled, making a strong chest beside my face rumble and letting me groan in pain. "No, definitely not."

I knew that voice from somewhere, but couldn't place it. Letting my mind rest on that task, I felt myself drifting off again. Somehow the feeling of safety still accompanied me and so I gave into the temptation of sleep, letting my mind work on the question where I had heard this voice before.

"Oh my god, Belikov! What have they done to her?"

Another voice I recognized. It was my mother and suddenly, hearing the name, realization hit me who my savior exactly was. Dimitri. The person in the world I loved most and had feared to see again.

"Dimitri?" I whispered, not knowing where I was or who was around.

"Yes, Rose. It's me. You're save now." He answered, his voice thick with bottled up emotions.

When I heard him saying that one sentence I was longing to hear for so long, I felt a tear escaping my eyes and sliding down my cheek. My heart was beating rapidly, caused by the happiness I felt.

"Thanks." I whispered, not sure whether he understood or not.

Slowly Dimitri's arm encircled my shoulder, lifting me slowly off the floor I laid on, my head resting against his broad shoulder. "Here, drink."

A glass of water touched my lips, the cool liquid tasted like heaven. I'd never thought I would enjoy drinking plain water so much. And of course did I drink with too hasty gulps, so that at least half of the water didn't reach my dry tongue. "Slowly." Dimitri chuckled again. The water left a burning pain on my bloody lips.

When I had enough water, Dimitri slowly pulled me up, guiding me to a more comfortable seat.

"Why can't I see anything?" I asked, after trying to open my eyes unsuccessfully.

"Because we had to put a cooling cloth over them. They were swollen badly, but I think I can remove it now." Dimitri answered, leaning my sore body against his. "Keep your eyes closed for a while so they'll adjust to the light." I felt the cloth being removed, but still the sudden light hurt my closed eyes. Hissing I leaned my head against his chest, resting my eyes in the shadow between our bodies. Carefully, Dimitri wrapped his arms around my shaking form, creating a safe place for me until my eyes got used to the light.

After a while I tried again, doing better now. Still having Dimitri's arms wrapped around me, I started to slowly take in my surroundings, though with a blurr. I could see my mother, looking at me sadly. There was Kevin, hunched in a corner and giving me a reassuring smile as well as a tall woman I had never seen before. She looked like a nurse to me but I couldn't be sure.

"Do you want something to eat?" Dimitri asked me, looking down at me with a small smile. His brown eyes were filled with concern and sadness, but I could also see determination shining in them.

Returning his smile, I gave a short nod. Sitting me down slowly onto a chair, the unknown woman stepped forward, handing me a small cup of soup.

"Hi, my name is Janet. I'm here to take care that your body will get the needed nutrition to heal. I know that you must be hungry, but please take it easy. Your body hasn't gotten any food for some time now and it needs to get used to it again. Give it time and soon you'll be able to eat everything you want." She sounded professional, but I could see some emotion, I wasn't able to place. Surely everybody here had heard what had happened to me, concerning the sadness in their eyes, but she gave me the illusion of actually really knowing what I've been trough.

Thanking her, I quickly grabbed the spoon and started to eat the soup. It tasted awesome to me. Too fast I had finished up the soup, quickly realizing that it was not good at all. When I felt my stomach revolting, I excused myself and dashed towards the toilet. Taking in my surroundings for the first time I saw that I was on an airplane, the furniture looking much like they did on the private jet of my father.

But I didn't have any more time to think about where I was, as I threw up everything in the toilet until my stomach was empty again. Seeing my arms in the light of the small toilet, I felt hot tears behind my lids, making their way down my cheeks. As the train of tears got more and more I felt my body being shaken by sobs I had held back for so long. Crying in front of Steven had being a weakness I had always fought and never given into. Now, that I was safe again, I let the sobs shake my thin frame, wrapping my arms around my torso to keep me from falling apart.

"Rose?" Carefully Dimitri opened the door, crouching down in front of me when he saw the state I was in. Wrapping me up in his arms again, he silently lifted me off the floor and carried me into a smaller room where we could be alone. Sitting down in a seat carefully, he kept me wrapped up his arms, slowly rocking me fore and back again.

When the sobs had subsided after a while, I quietly asked. "Why did he do this?"

Dimitri sighed, resting his chin on top of my head. "I don't know, Roza. I don't know."

"I'm scared, comrade. I'm so scared." Again the tears started to escape my eyes.

His arms tightened around me without squeezing me too much to hurt me. Then he let go, turning my face softly up to meet his gaze with his finger. His eyes shone bright with determination and affection. "Rose, I can only imagine what he did to you. And I can see that he did things to you beyond my imagination. But let me help you recover. I'm not promising that it will be easy nor that I can help you every time. Some things you have to do on your own, but I'll be with you every step of the way to catch and support you. Let me help because you have no idea how much it pains me to see you like this." He closed his eyes briefly, not wanting me to see the pain. "Let's do this together, Roza!"

I felt a small smile tug at my lips and gave into the temptation.

"Thank you, Dimitri. Thanks so much. I'm glad that you want to help me getting through this. I'll make a promise, too. I promise to always tell you when there is something that makes me feel uncomfortable. But I'm also asking you one thing that is important to me: please never pity me or feel sorry. Treat me as you have always done. Give me the feeling of being a normal person because I can't stand it when somebody pities me. Please do this!"

"I promise, that I will do this." His voice was like velvet. Snuggling back into his comfortable embrace, I felt myself getting tired again. But there was something else on my mind I had to get off first.

"Dimitri?" I asked him.

"Yes?"

"Let's go somewhere else. I need to get away from them. From the sorrow in their eyes."

Dimitri did ponder this request, not answering for some minutes. When I felt him smiling, I knew he would be with me all the way.

"I think I have just the perfect place. Have you ever been to Russia?"

With a smile on my lips I drifted off into the depth of sleep.

How did you like it? I actually didn't want to dwell on the death of Steve. Maybe we'll find more out later? ;)

Don't forget to give me a review!

Thanks.

Lilian85