His expression doesn't change, he doesn't blink.

"Where's Adrian?" I demand finally, my voice coming out as a hiss.

Viktor smirks at me, his expression revealing nothing. "So many men you're forced to juggle, mmm?" he taunts, not touching on a response to my question. "I'm sure Belikov is alive with jealousy."

I can tell his patience is wearing away.

"Leave Dimitri out of this!" I spit defensively. "You wanted to talk to me. You used Adrian as a threat. I came for him, and I'm not about to get sidetracked."

Viktor smirks again, lips turning into a cruel smile. "You're right, my dear. So I have a proposition for you. The Ivashkov boy for Vasilisa."

I blink at his forwardness. Then again, Viktor was never one to hold back when he wanted something.

"What?" I gape. "These people are not pawns in your twisted games! I'm not going to trade my best friend for my..."

Viktor raises a brow, awaiting my answer.

I growl. "I'm not trading Lissa for Adrian. I plan to come out of this with both of them. I am done letting you hurt Lissa, and I sure as hell won't let you hurt Adrian. You've screwed with me long enough, Viktor."

Oh God, if Viktor knew what Adrian could do, knew that he was a Spirit User, I might never see him again. I had to play this right.

"My dear, I'm not trying to screw with you, as you so sweetly put it. I'm simply proposing a trade."

"Where is he?" I croak. "I want to see him."

Viktor clicks his tongue, shaking his head. "Do you not trust me? Very well. Bring him in..."

From behind him, two dhampirs enter, each clutching one of Adrian's wrists.

"Rose!"

"Adrian-" I start towards him, but the dhampirs swarm, blocking my view.

I spin back to Viktor, hissing, but the man simply shrugs. Pleadingly, I face the rows of dhampirs that stand between Adrian and I.

"What are you doing?" I plead. "You've been trained to protect these people, and now you're holding them captive!"

"You Guardians are being enslaved!" One young dhampir argues, looking sickeningly smug. "You don't even realize it!"

"Enslaved?" I laugh. "We're being paid. We've got the option to move around, quit if we want to!"

A cocky male steps up. "You can't! You've been brainwashed since you started training."

I want to throttle the kid. "Brainwashed? We've been brainwashed? You're the ones fighting against your own species! You've been convinced that we're all evil, that Viktor's plan is the right one. Did you know that he's already tortured and kidnapped Lissa Dragomir once before? Did you know that he convinced his own daughter to turn strigoi?"

From the growl that emits his throat, I can tell that Viktor isn't pleased when the dhampirs begin to exchange nervous glances. Nevertheless, I continue.

"And what abou-"

"Enough, Rosemarie!" Viktor snaps. I can tell I've hit a nerve. He knows enough not to touch me, but his hands are fisted, his jaw tightened.

His face is inches apart from mine, and we glare at each other. Viktor doesn't get angry often, but when he does, he's absolutely intolerable.

I growl. "What do you want? I want Adrian, but I won't let you get anywhere near Lissa. I'll die before I let you hurt her!"

Viktor's thin lips twist into a smile. "That can be arranged, my dear. Hurting you would be the easiest way to affect Vasilisa. But then, I suppose it's not as easy as it sounds. I've already tried..."

A sudden wave of horror hits me, and I immediately take a step back. "What are you talking about?"

"The train, Rosemarie. Do you really think that the train you and your former-strigoi boyfriend just happened to be on was the one targeted. Honestly, Rosemarie." He gives me a sly smile, and I can feel as the entire world drops out from under me.

"You... You tried to kill me!" I screech. "What the hell is wrong with you? You've killed hundreds of people! You're crazy! You've lost it, Viktor. Is this all to get Lissa? She's not going to heal you!"

Shaking his head, the anger disappears from his eyes, and he smirks. "Oh, Rosemarie. I fear I might have overestimated your intelligence. Your inability to see the big picture is startling. I am not only focusing on something much larger. Vasilisa was only being used to heal me, for the time being, at least."

I bite my tongue, barely able to keep from throw his own naevity back into his face. Here he was, wanting Vasilisa to heal him, while he held a Spirit user in his hands.

Sorry this is so short! I am really having trouble coming up with material. Well, PM me or comment if you have any ideas to help me out!