Chapter eight

Walking into the familiar room a shock of despair overtook me. Covered with the blood of the dying victims, my surviving family huddled together; Mary practically bawling her pretty little eyes out.

"What's going on?" I finally spoke up. A few heads popped up to acknowledge my presence, the others; well they kept their heads bowed, as if for some secret reason they would not interfere with my curiosity. "What happened?" I asked warily, turning to Dimitri for answers. While Catherine, being the smart little angel that she was, saw the tension rise in the air and protested in my arms, wanting to get down. Automatically, I sat the fussy child down on the nearest couch, walking over to my silent husband. Standing patiently, I awaited for him or another one of my family members to finally speak up, anything will do. I just want to know what the hell happened out there. And why the hell is everyone giving me the cold shoulder? However, eventually with a sigh Dimitri turned to me and gazed into my eyes. He was hiding something, but what? "Dimitri, please just tell me." I encouraged him reluctantly, taking his hand into mine and giving it a squeeze.

"They know were here." He said in a low monotonous voice. It was a start at least, but they could be anyone. In the background, Benjamin gave a low, violent hiss that made the hair on my arms stand up.

"Who?" I asked hoping he would venture out on giving me some more information to the subject, helping my inability to understand what occurred only a matter of hours ago. Dimitri kept his eyes low and I was uncertain if he'd ever answer the question I longed to know the answer to. "Everyone." Wait a minute. It couldn't be, could it? He definitely wasn't thinking of… Nonsense it's impossible. How the hell would they be able to…? Unless they made a call to them… Did they?!

"You don't mean the guardians do you…" I said in a whisper not wanting to fully acknowledge the assumption I grew to. His answered this time, was by nodding his head. Why did he answer at all? This was not good. Hearing a playful squeak, I looked over at my little girl causing a new surge of stress to shoot through me.

"Yah thanks to those stupid peasants, now were all screwed. They're going to find us and then they're going to slaughter us all except for the lucky Dhampir girl over there, and if their feeling generous they might just spare the hybrid too." Ben angrily replied with another hiss to the ending of his statement.

"Ben." Mary said trying to comfort him. But he only stared back into her eyes.

"I don't want to lose you." He said truthfully, turning all levels of attraction he held for Mary into his voice. Wow I didn't think I've ever seen Benjamin so caring for… anything. "Mary they were being stupid, if they hadn't called the guardians." He shot me a quick dirty look. Oh so just because I'm a Dhampir means he's going to place the whole blame on me. "Which probably wouldn't have helped anyway, I might add, but since they did, were all sentenced to death."

Grasping on how serious the situation was I found myself asking, practically pleading. "What do we do now? How much time do we have?" I hastily awaited the answer. No one was in a talking mood today, but reluctantly Dimitri responded to my plea.

"Nothing, basically we wait here and wait it out. Hopefully they'll sweep out the area good enough that they'll have no need to search the house." He was lying of course, I could tell. He didn't believe any of his words that'd spoke, neither did I. He knew that they were all doomed and there was nothing I could do to help. Not being able to hold back any longer I embraced Dimitri into a hug. Hoping, that he would never let go, ever. I don't care what happened I'm not going down without a fight. It's not just in my blood, but it's for my family, my new family. "When they get here I want you to take Catherine and leave. Get out and run." Dimitri told me. Wait no. I'm not; I'm not going to run like a scared little girl. Nothing's going to happen to him, I won't let it. I'll go kicking in screaming, but until the final end I will not let go of Dimitri. I've lost and gained too much to have it all ripped away from me. Catherine will be fine. For all they know, she's some Moroi girl that Dimitri and his gang of Strigoi captured for a snack. Or even better, they could think I came all this way to Russia to turn into a "blood whore" and had Catherine in my travels over here. Whatever they may think I will not stop, I will not give in.

"No." I replied.

"Rose…"

"Dimitri I'm not leaving you, I'm staying right here where I belong." I told him cutting him off of whatever he was about to say. He gave me a painful sigh, but eventually he gave in, not because he wanted to, but if these were our final moments. He was going to spend every last second with me. As we held each other, I closely watched the little girl on the sofa fall asleep, completely undisturbed by the current events happening right outside. I wished life were that simple. So unaffected by the daily outcomes that life likes to trick, even the most commonest being into.

Silence swarmed like a black cloud through the finely placed home. The distant screams still swelled during the night, but a new sound emerged one that swallowed the screaming and made in vanish. The guardians had arrived. Whether they knew of Dimitri's presence here, I had no clue. Up until our recent discussion, everyone else has been deathly quiet. Catherine still laid asleep, alone on her originally spot of slumber . I didn't even think of moving her. Hell I haven't even moved since I brought her down here, but here I stood one hand of Dimitri's wrapped around my waist, listening for any nearby intruders to come even a breath away to the our sanctuary.

Time passed and the noises of victory only increased throughout the night. Then my worst nightmares came true. Banging on the door erupted throughout the house as the guardians plunged in the Strigoi filled home. Like old times I went straight into attack mode, but unlike old times I was still fighting good, except this time on a different team. Kicking the first body in sight, it went flying back into the night. Then turning to the next one I bravely fought seeing the glistening of a silver stake shine in the moonlight. So these jackasses didn't know I'm not a Strigoi, no matter I'll make them realize it myself.

Plunging and weaving through the crowd I made out the various lines of my family, and of my friends (none of whom were which the guardians fighting us). Then like an evil wind the fight took a new turn as I saw bodies escape into the night, fleeing from the outnumbered fight, not knowing which of who's side they truly were on. Then all contexts snapped into me. Catherine, oh shit no. My baby. Jutting my way to the couch I quickly saw that it was empty. And just like that a flare blew inside of me, causing me to attack with every possible notion of my body. I didn't kill anybody if that's what you think, but oh boy was I pissed. Those bastards had my baby and I was going to make them pay for taking her.

That is until a shriek pulsed through my ears. It wasn't a happy shriek either. More of one those heart pounding, goose bump rising, horror screams. And I knew the exact person from who it came from. My new best friend Mary. Getting a visual on her, I quickly examined as she was being towed away by some of the guardians that I should have been fighting side by side with. Instead, we were opposite teams, it's funny on how fate really works, isn't it? But instead of standing there like an idiot, I budged toward her, trying to fight off anyone that got into my way. I knew for a fact that once they got passed the threshold, I could forever kiss her good bye. Not on my watch though. I needed to save her.

But realizing my standing position, I already calculated that I would be to late on reaching her, but I didn't let mathematic statistics get me down (besides I suck at math anyway). This is Mary, she's in trouble, and I should be able to save her. Despite any of the many consequences to get in my way. Then like a strike of pure graceful effect the first guardian dragging Mary fell. And then, the next one. Startled, because I wasn't the one of who had effected those blows. I unintentionally tried to make the being of Mary's savior. Should have known. The one to save Mary was none other then Mary's emotionless, weird humored husband. With only a backwards glance Mary escaped into the night, hoping for myself that she'd make it out.

It would seem that the whole guardian community came to hoard off the Strigoi. There were striking bodies all around, and just as Mary leapt out from sight, however, Ben wasn't as lucky as Mary, because right when Mary disappeared Ben was jumped by the guardians he threw to the ground. Calling out as I rushed towards him, in desperate need of at least helping him. But then I too was restrained, before even taking a step into Ben's direction. Shit.

Being blinded and gagged I didn't give in without a struggle. It took what felt like twenty guardians just to hold me down before they finally got the ropes tied around my wrists and mouth. Assholes they still thought I was a Strigoi. Hadn't my bad ass skills and slightly slower reflexes confirmed that I was a Dhampir. Damn, most of these guys need glasses, if they can't even see at least that much of my species. And aren't Dhampirs suppose to have good vision anyway, what the hell is that? Of course, I didn't speak any of these words allowed to my captors. Instead, I just let them drag me through the frigid cold, surprised that no one had tried to lay a stake on me yet. Maybe this was a new form of torture. Torture your prisoners of when exactly their death will commence. Assholes. No matter, I'm a strong fighter I can handle this. Couldn't I? Okay so I really did like being alive, I mean I have a child. Wherever she might be.

Then time stood still. The guardians had halted me to a stop, then very rudely I might add, shoved me down upon the frozen Earth. My arms out stretched to catch my fall. Unbinding the cloth from my eyes, I was quickly blinded by the Russian sun. Causing my eyes to blink open on focusing, as I stared up at the guardian hovering over me.

"Why?" he said "It wouldn't appear as if you were a Strigoi at all. Welcome back Rose." He said as he gave me a friendly slap on the shoulder.

"Do I know you?" I asked clueless as to who the hell this guy was.

"Oh Rose I'm hurt don't you remember me, we went to school together, I was the guy you used as a punching bag during our field assignment, remember." He broached.

"Ryan Aylesworth." I blurted out. Surprised to find him here, interrogating me, of all people.

"You got it, and just for your information I still haven't forgotten a bit of what you did to me our senior year." He smugly stated to me.

"Well I would like to say I'm sorry." I said in a almost perky voice."But I'm not." I reinstated into a menacing tone.

"Oh Rose you haven't changed at all since you were expelled from school." He said.

"Expelled, I left." I told him confused as to where he heard this information from. School gossip, of course.

"Oh did you know?" He queried amusingly. God this guy is still an ass. I thought some hard core field experience would harden him out, but boy was I wrong.

"Then why am I here, as you can see I'm not a Strigoi?" I remarked.

"That may be, but as you can see they are, and we know you have some kind of information on the others that have escaped." Looking over to where he was pointing to, I saw my husband and Ben tied up similar as to the way the bonds that were tightened onto my own skin.

"Dimitri." I acknowledged exasperated. No please not him, have me but not him. "I'll give you whatever you want, but please just let them go." I whispered to Ryan. I didn't need to be selfless in a situation like this. Dimitri was in more danger then I was at this point and if anything were to happen to him... Cocking back his head Ryan let out the ugliest laugh I've ever heard.

"You actually think that I'd would let a pair of Strigoi go, just because a Strigoi lover said so. Rose I have no idea what you've been on in these past years, but don't worry we'll have you un-brainwashed in a jiffy." Clenching my teeth I spoke through them, furious as to the way Ryan was insulting me and my family.

"I'm not brainwashed you idiot, you've just miraculously turned into more of an asshole since the last time I saw you." I seethed angrily at him.

"Is that so Rose, look at you. I'm not the one kneeling here, being prosecuted for the issue of trying to actually protect these savage creatures." Am damn proud of it too, I so subsequently wanted to say.

"You say one more asshole filled comment about them and I will…" I warned.

"And you'll what Rose, your pathetic." It had to take up to three guardians just to hold me back from ripping his bastard head off. "Face it Rose you've changed." Wow and for the first time I had to agree with him, I have changed, but that didn't mean I wasn't against it. I'm glad that I've changed. In a way I have become a better person since I left the academy.

"Well you know Ryan sometimes change is a good thing, it makes us all less assholes when we change." Scoffing into his face as he stepped into the center of our small uneven circle.

"Fine Rose, I thought you'd play fair, but know I can see how it's going to be. Let's just want on how you do locked up, maybe then you could possibly shed from light to our questions." I threatened.

"You're such an idiot, even if I did know where they were, which I don't." I stated firmly glaring into his bastard eyes."They'd already be gone by the time if I give you any information."

"You underestimate us Rose, but you'll learn in time. Once your back on our team." I said to me confidently

"There are no teams if you would just listen!..."

But he cut me off "We'll see as for these Strigoi." He stated trying to make me feel better I guess. It still made him look like a cheap jackass. "Lock em' up, try to get some answers from them." Wait a minute they weren't going to kill him, what the hell? It wasn't that I was unset (Hell not to that). I was just surprise.

"I know." Ryan told me reading my facial expression."But under the law of queen Vasilisa we have the right to interrogate Strigoi if it's necessary." He finished with a shrug.

Forcing me onto my feet the guardians started to move us on, but like hell I wasn't going down with a fight. Trying my best to fight back, I managed to shake off one of my captors and immediately headed for Dimitri's direction. However, about a quarter of the way there arms wrapped around me forcing me onto the cold Earth. Suddenly, as the remainder of my body fell to the Earth's floor, a sharp, swelling pain shot through my head. Causing the whole world to go dark and then finally swarm into blackness. Hearing all but a slight call of my name, as the day vanished from light.