Hey everyone!

It's taken me a while, but I've finally got a new chapter =)

It's the longest so far, and at this point, IT'S MY FAVOURITE!

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed! Your support was very motivating.
I like the way it ends - I don't think you'll argee though =P

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: All characters belong to their rightful owner, Richelle Mead. I own nothing - except this plot and Alexei.

Chapter 8

RPOV

Alexei had long since gotten bored with the toy stake he'd picked up. He wasn't interested in the rattle I gave him. In fact, he didn't like anything that made a noise. So he had reached out and grabbed the plastic stake.

It now laid forgotten next to him, with a bunch of little teeth marks all along it.

Deciding that he must be hungry, I called for Stephanie to find out how she fed him while I was out for the count.

I was secretly hoping that I wouldn't have to feed him like a human child; those teeth scared me.

She came through the door a few seconds later with a piece of cloth and a bowl of warm water.

"What are those for?" I asked curiously.

"These are to clean up after he's fed – he can be a little messy."

She walked over to Alexei and sat in front of him. Stephanie then lifted him up so he was sitting on her lap, and pulled back her sleeve.

Her wrist had tiny, barely-there bite marks that probably wouldn't heal.

That's when I realised what she was about to do.

I interrupted her "Would you mind if I tried it?"

Reluctantly, she replied, "Sure."

Alexei was passed to me and I put him in the same position.

He didn't hesitate. His mouth was on my wrist before I could blink, and I felt the familiar pull as my blood went into him.

With each swallow, my surroundings slowly disappeared until I couldn't see anything.

If I was expecting the endorphins and the high you usually get during a bite; I was completely off

Instead, I was surrounded by whiteness.

I was no longer in my body, I was somewhere else entirely.

Pictures appeared, colouring my vision with blues and reds.

Those pictures turned into something else.

I saw myself a few times, mainly when I was unconscious. I looked so pale and the cords covered my arms.

That picture was replaced with another.

This one showed Dimitri with his hand slowly reaching towards me, and the snapping back.

Finally, everything went white again, and Alexei appeared; only, he was taller and on his feet.

"Do you know where you are?" he asked.

I jumped slightly at his voice; since when could he talk?

"Yes…I think," I must be in his head…but…how?

"Good. We must hurry. They're coming."

"They're coming? Who are they?" I asked curiously.

But he was gone.

I was back in Alexei's room; with the cot, the toy stake, and Stephanie.

Alexei was still in my arms, but he was no-longer drinking.

"Here, use this," Stephanie held out the cloth and I wiped down my arm.

"Does that always happen?" I questioned her.

"Does what happen?"

"You know, do you see-" I looked over at Alexei, who was trying to tell me to be quiet, "never mind," I finished.

She watched me for a few more seconds, then stood up and left the room.

"Are you going to tell me what that was about?" I asked.

A lapis lazuli blue ring suddenly appeared to circle his pupils.

Look for yourself

A voice answered. It wasn't spoken aloud; instead, I heard it in my head.

I had just enough time to look down at a grinning Alexei before I was forced into Lissa's head.

Out of habit, I checked for the threat. Usually I'm only pulled into Lissa's head when her emotions are going haywire.

However, her feelings were only calm – if a little anxious.

She was in a plane, on her way to…oh crap, she's going to Novosibirsk.

But how do they know?

I looked further into her head.

They had received a call from Daddy Dearest – thanks a lot Zmey – who was somehow told…never mind. Abe could get information out of anyone.

The better question is: How did Lissa get to go?

Looking even further into her head – at this point I was developing a headache – I discovered that after Lissa's fifth, successful attempt at sneaking on board, they had given up; deciding that there was no way to stop her. They had already wasted two weeks.

I waited for another minute or so, to see if anything would happen.

But after sitting in the same seat, staring out the same window, and absolute silence, I gave up and pushed myself back into my body.

I looked back to Alexei, who, by the looks of it, hadn't moved a muscle.

"How do you know so much?" I questioned in disbelief.

Which part do you mean?

"That! How do you comm-" I stopped myself; this is a baby after all, "How do you talk like that?" I corrected.

Whenever I drink someone's blood – yours for example – I receive information and memories just like you do. I learnt English and a small amount of Russian on the first day. However, due to my physical age and level of development, I can't actually speak yet.

As for communicating like this; I just stumbled upon it.

He finished.

I changed the topic, "So, is it just the guardians that we need to worry about?" I wanted to know as much as I could.

No, there's also-

He was interrupted by the sound of the main door opening; followed by Dimitri's voice.

"Rose!"

"In here," I replied, and signalled for Alexei to continue.

He shook his head and hastily said:

I'm sorry, I can't talk much longer. Prepare for battle; a war is nearly upon us.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Now review, tell me what you think.

What do you think will happen in later chapters?

~Serious~