Statically speaking, the chances of the Strigoi targeting the Conta's was a slim chance. Slim, but still possible. The Strigoi were targeting St. Vladimir's, the academy with hundreds of young-blooded Moroi, both royals and non-royals. The school that had the last living Dragomir, and a chance of breaking through the guardian ranks and slaughtering the entire population of the academy. But, the question is, what if? What if. That's something we ask a lot. What if I left the Conta's to go and protect Lissa, and it turns out that the Strigoi come and drink this family dry, each and every single one of them. In the past few days I've been here, I already care about this family. Vivian, Henry, Alexis. Even Wren. . . dare I say, Julius. They don't deserve to die. Neither does Lissa, though.

My decision keeps changing. I can stay and take the chances of Lissa dying in the hands of a thirsty Strigoi, or I can leave the Conta's to fend for themselves, risk their everything, their lives, and protect Lissa, my bonded best friend. It shouldn't be hard for me, I should know what to do. I'm a guardian now, or at least for a little while. I have a job to do, a duty that I must fulfill. Vivian chose me to protect her family. How can I turn away from this? How can I be this selfish? Most importantly, how can I risk the lives of innocent children to protect Lissa, who's in good hands?

It's a seven hours away from sunrise, when I have to confront Adrian with my decision. Until then, I'm stuck with a decision that I can't decide. I wish Lissa were here to help me; at least she would understand. Here, I don't have anyone to talk to. This family, they're my charge. I can't ask them for advice on whether or not I should leave them in the clutches of blood-sucking Strigoi.

What do I do? The question rolls in my head over and over again.

I know what to do, though. Or at least, I think I do. I just need to stick with my decision and end this thing in my mind. Why did Adrian have to ask me that in the first place? It isn't any of his business anyway. . .

A growling sound pulls me from my thoughts, and for a minute I look around my room, staring at the dark corners and other places the lights don't reach. It's several seconds before I realize it's my stomach, and that I'm starving.

I glance at the clock on my bedside table, only to see that, shining in a bright, bulky red color, are the numbers 12:00. It's almost impossible that I've only spent a few hours thinking over my decision. But, I guess that's the way it goes. I suppose I believe that time flies by when you're in deep thought, thinking over the risks of good people's lives. Obviously I was wrong. Very, very wrong.

I pull on some sweat pants, hoping that I don't run into anyone on the way to the kitchen, and a hoodie before slipping out of my bedroom. Footsteps immediately sound from above, triggering thoughts of what in the world is up there. No idea, I think to myself, climbing down the steep stairs and flopping down on the last one.

Both the living room and the kitchen are empty, devoid of any living - or nonliving - presence. I quickly cut up some sausage and shove it into the microwave, smashing my thumb on the Add Minute button. The microwave's turntable immediately starts to rotate, the frozen sausage making my mouth water.

"How can you eat such disgusting food." A voice sounds behind me. I immediately swivel on my heel, readying myself for the worst. I suppose the worst is a correct way to say it.

Wren trails around the marble island, her slender fingers making little shapes in the glassy top.

"Wren, is it?" I ask, even though I already know her name. Anything to stall her from insulting me.

Her shaggy hair falls into her face, and she doesn't bother to move it away when she speaks again. "Yeah. Rosie, right?"

"No," I answer. "Uh, it's Rose."

"Really?" Wren raises an eyebrow. " 'Cause Alex calls you Rosie, and Julius calls you Rosemarie."

I remind myself to get Julius to stop calling me by my full name. After all, I don't exactly like to be called it.

"Rose is short for Rosemarie." I reply, turning just in time to see the microwave stop and start to beep. I open up the door and take out the china plate, grabbing a fork and biting into the juicy meat. Ready. When I turn to Wren, she's staring at me with disgusted eyes.

"Sorry if we all aren't bloodsuckers," I mutter, biting into another piece. All the while eyeing Wren curiously.

Wren waves her hand. "Yeah, whatever."

"So, are you-"

"All right, enough of all this nice crap," Wren says, her tone of voice going from casual, normal, to serious and. . . well, mean. I'm taken a back, but try not to show my surprise. "I have some things to say, and you better listen."

I stand there, shocked, which isn't normal for me. Then again, nothing's been normal for me since I came here.

"Ever since you came along, everybody's been idolizing you like you're some goddess." I drop my plate on the marble counter-top, watching Wren. "And not a very pretty one at that," Wren adds.

"T-that's not true," I say defensively, my body going into a defensive mode. "Sorry to break it to you, but no one in this household 'idolizes' me."

Wren sighs. "Sure they do. Henry follows you around like a lost puppy, Alexis is a kid; she doesn't know what she's doing. And Julius acts like he's in love with you or something."

"Your point is?" I ask, ignoring the 'Julius acts like he's in love with you' part. If anything, Julius and I are only good acquaintances. Nothing more. Nothing less. Still, I don't want people, especially a teenager like Wren, to go around telling people rumors about Julius and me. That would probably mess up a lot of things right now. I'm already in a messy state, with everything going on. I don't need a hormonal teenager spreading gossip about me.

"My point is," says Wren. "This is my house, and I'll have my throat ripped out before I let you take control of it. You're just some lowlife blood slave that's wiggling your way into this family. And no way are you going to be here permanently. I'll make sure Vivian doesn't hire you permanently, and I'm definetely not going to let you make the moves on my cousin."

"Whoa, isn't this a little out of hand now?" I ask, raising my hands up.

Wren glares at me. "I'll make sure you're gone by the end of the month. Don't believe me? I get what I want, when I want, and how I want. You are nothing compared to me. This is my house, and I'm in control. You will never, ever stay here. I'll make sure Vivian disposes of you and your uselessness."

Before I have time to answer, Julius walks into the kitchen. He looks between Wren and me, a puzzled expression on his face.

"Hello, Wren," he looks at me and nods his head. "Rosemarie. What's going on in here?"

Wren spins on her heel to me, a fake, but very convincing smile on her face. In her eyes, though, I can see hatred in them. "Nothing, Julius," she says in a very sweet voice. "Rose and I were. . . talking."

Wren turns and walks out of the kitchen, passing Julius on the way out. I release the breath I had been holding in, my lungs clinging to the fresh air that I had held back since Wren started threatening me. I stare down at my fumbling hands. What the heck did I just hear?

"Rosemarie?" I hear footsteps, and in just a few seconds Julius is in front of me. "Are you all right?"

I scowl, dumping all the dishes in the sink. I turn and start to walk towards the exit - or entrance, depending on how you look at it. As I fasten my pace, Julius grabs my arm, yanking me back towards him.

"What happened?" Julius asks, his eyes studying mine. I ignore his stare, making no eye contact.

I reach across the island, scooping up my cup. "It's none of your business. Now back off and leave me alone." I spit and brush shoulders, almost running out of the kitchen. Before I disappear around the door frame, I turn and say to Julius, "and stop calling me Rosemarie. It's Rose. Get it right."

With that, I turn and rush out of the kitchen, leaving Julius with a shocked expression on his face. When I glance back, I think I see a bit of hurt in his eyes.

Oh, well. Who cares?

I spend the rest of the day locked in my bedroom, rereading Romeo and Juliet, occasionally having to catch myself before I shuck the book across the room or rip off the spine. All the while, my head spins, making me dizzy and dazed. I don't focus on the words, the Shakespearan language. Only the conversation I had with Wren - if you can call it a conversation. I barely got a word in.

And Julius.

If I had to guess, he's probably mad at me. Angry. Surprised. Thinking that I did him wrong. Maybe I did. Maybe I was a little to harsh towards him. After all, the entire thing was between Wren and me. In this case, Julius isn't involved. I acted out of anger, and I regret it now.

Apparently, somewhere in the short time I'm thinking about Wren and Julius, I fall asleep.

"It's all in your head, little dhampir."

The inky darkness that surrounds me shimmers and starts to disappear. Instead, it evolves into the top of a mountain, cool and snowflakes falling from the silver sky above. Below the tall tip that I'm on, large pines and the other greenery circle the mountain, forming a large forest that I could easily get lost in. The blizzard subsides into only a little bit of snow falling around me.

I take in a deep breath of the icy freshness, crispy and comforting. I close my eyes and rock my body back and forth. "I would love for this to be real," I say, peeking out of one of my eyes to see Adrian walking towards me.

"It's as real as it will ever be," he says, bundled in a itchy-looking jacket. "Have you made your decision?"

Crap, I forgot. "Um. . ." I stop doing what I'm doing and face Adrian directly, giving him complete eye contact. "Adrian, look. We can stand around here and argue, and freeze our butts off-"

"Not necessarily."

"-But since I'm not in the mood, I'm just going to come clean and clear."

Adrian nods, a hint of a smile on his lips. "All right. Go ahead. Speak your mind."

"I'm staying," I announce. "Isn't it obvious? What else can I do? Do you think I would really risk so many lives when Lissa is perfectly safe and happy? I'm not a heartless beast. And the only reason I hesitated was because. . . I don't know. It doesn't matter. . ."

I continue, "this is the real world. I'm an actual guardian, and my job - my duty - is to protect those that need protecting. This family needs protecting; they need me. And for you to think that I might actually leave them to the Strigoi? Shame on you. So that's it, Adrian. That's what I choose. I'm staying. Now you can leave me the heck alone."

"Now," Adrian says, snickering. "Was that so hard?"

A strangled grunt escapes my lips, and I shove Adrian playfully. He grabs my arms and pulls me into a hug, surprising me. Yet, despite the surprise, I wrap my arms around Adrian and breath in the familiar smell. Cologne, cigarettes, and home.

"We miss you, too, little dhampir," Adrian murmurs.

I smile against his thick coat, and muffle myself deeper into the fabric. Cold. That's what I am. I'm cold. "I'll be home soon, Adrian. I'm sure of it."

"You will never, ever stay here. I'll make sure Vivian disposes of you and your uselessness."

I recall Wren's words in my head, realizing it's true. I won't stay, not permanently. I will be home in no time. Back with Lissa, with Christian and Adrian and Eddie. I'll be back home soon. The thought warms me to the bone, that one day I'll return home. One day will be very soon.

I hope.

Adrian shifts and I realize we're still in the warm embrace. I pull back slowly, ignoring the sudden pull in my heart that I'm losing yet another part of home. Adrian is one of the only people I can see; he's the last of my home that I can rely on to see every night or day. I hope that never changes.

"Adrian," I whisper, "what am I going to do?"

"What do you mean?" Adrian asks with his lips pursed. We both focus on another mountain ridge, covered in snow and perfectly still.

"I. . ." I trail off, knowing that I can't tell him the truth. I cannot admit my feelings about being homesick and missing all of them, includin Adrian. Heck, I bet if I tell him he will be on cloud nine for the rest of the spirit-induced dream visit.

"What is it?" Adrian asks, a bit of concern leaking into his voice like water from a faucet.

I take a deep breath and shrug, shaking my head. "It doesn't matter. I'm just. . . hoping I made the right decision."

Adrian smiles. "Of course you did, little dhampir." He gazes at me for a long time, as if soaking up every feature in my face. It doesn't make me uncomfortable like it does when it's Julius in place of Adrian. Suddenly, he frowns.

"A-Adrian?" I ask barely above a whisper. "Everything okay?"

"I have to go," says he. "Someone's waking me up."

As if right on cue, my vision fades a little. I grip Adrian's muscled arm and bite my lip. I can't lose him, not right now. I haven't even gotten to ask about Lissa. And what about the Strigoi? What about them?

"You can't," I say, sounding almost child-like. Like I'm pleading that he must stay. "Adrian, you can't go. I still have things to say!"

Adrian cups my face in his hands and gives me a side-smirk. "It's going to be okay, Rose." He places a gentle kiss on my forehead. "I promise to visit you later."

"But. . . I need to talk to you now," I say, followed by a pitiful whimper. I can't lose him now.

"I promise."

And with that, Adrian and the Montana mountains fade into black, and I wake up from whatever deep sleep I was having before.