Could you believe what I did last chapter? I was almost as shocked as you were writing it, I've known that I was going to do that since like chapter 10 and I never really knew exactly where I was going to throw it in so, Surprise! :D
I'm sorry for the slow updating but I'm trying my best, life is really weighing on me. But I'm trying my best and I hope that's what counts the most.

Previously: "I'm getting to that." I held my breath, was it anyone at the academy or maybe the royal court?"
The Szelsky's were attacked. The guardians did their best, your mother did her best but there was too much commotion."
"Is she dead?" I asked.
"Most likely, her body wasn't found."

Chapter 18: Leaving

"Where are you going?" Jake asked me, he looked at my suitcase, unzipped and lying open on my bed, and all the clothes strewn across my room. I sighed and debated whether or not to take or leave my favorite pair of heels. They were too impractical and while I tried to come up with reasons to keep them, I knew that they wouldn't be useful at all.

"I'm leaving." I glanced at him. "Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

"Ouch, that hurt." Jake now stood next to me, obviously not understanding my seriousness. "Where are you going to go?"

"Leave Jake." I told him without glancing at him tossing a dress into the leave pile.

"Only if you tell me where you're going."

"Can I tell you later? I'm not leaving until tomorrow and I just want to get packing done." I was lying, I was leaving tonight, as soon as possible, but I just wanted Jake to leave.

"Fine, I'll bring snacks then and we can talk it over. I've wanted to speak with you for a while now." Jake, seemed to understand that I didn't feel like talking. I pushed him out the door.

"Yeah, sure thanks, whatever." I closed the door and locked it to keep from any other visitors. It was late in the vampire war, a few hours ago Alberta had paid me a visit and told me that my mother was most likely dead. I sat on my bed, my eyes burning and my chest hurting, and remembered the conversation we'd had.

"What do you mean 'most likely'? Why haven't you guys sent out a search party or something? Where exactly was she attacked?" I yelled at her. She looked me in the eye gently but warily,as if I would attack her.

"There are no extra guardians to send out Rose. None of the Szelsky's were taken so the need for rescue Isn't what the council is focused on. They're busy trying to sort out all the hysteria all the Guardian-less Moroi are causing and the Szelsky's were vacationing in Istanbul."

"But my mother's been guarding the Szelsky's for 20 years, probably more. She's the best, they need her!" I sounded hysterical but I was, I was desperate. I needed my mom. She can't be gone, she's still alive but she needs help and someone needs to help her.

"I know Rose, she'll be missed but we can't spare the guardians. I'm sorry." She walked out of my room with the guardians that came with her, they sent me an apologetic look and left. I threw on my shoes and jacket and I ran to the only person I knew who could have helped me. I knocked on his door, well I banged, and Anthony opened up, alarmed.

"What is it Rose?" He asked but then seemed to know the source of my stress.

"You know? Anthony, you know what happened?" he nodded once. I felt relief go through me. "Good then you know why we need to assemble the guardians or something."

"Rose," he looked at me. "I can't do that."

"Yes, you can. All you need to do is give me like five guardians. I'll go with them, I'll risk my life. My mom is important. She's one of the best Guardians around. We need her."

"I know, but Rose I can't just give you supplies for your rescue. Guardians are already scarce and with this new attack there will be a lot of parents calling to make sure their child is protected to the best of our ability. I can't Rose. Not without a bigger reason."

"So you won't help me?" I stared him down. He held my gaze but shook his head giving me a sorrowful look.

"Fine." I quipped, holding back all the word's I wanted to call him. "Then good bye." I left and I didn't turn back. Wheels were turning in my head, I was going to save my mom. Without anyone else's help.

I finished packing, I remembered the last two things I had to do before I left. I zipped up my book bag. It was heavy but manageable. I looked down at the clothes I'd been wearing today. I should shower and change. Who knows when I would shower again. I looked at my watch, the first plane out of Seattle towards Istanbul stopped in London and it left in 6 hours. I had time. I showered and changed into stretchy blue jeans, the black shoes Stephanie bought me and a t-shirt. Not the most fashionable outfit but It was comfortable and easy to move in.

I remembered the two last things I had to do before I left. I sighed, looking around the room to make sure there was nothing else I had to do before leaving. It was late and only a few guardians would be out. I turned to my window. I was a few stories up but there were a few window sills I could use to climb down. I tossed my bag down first and it landed with a low thud. I threw one leg over and climbed down as quietly as I could. I had to jump the last few feet but made it unscathed. I ran across the field towards the teachers wing

I knew Adrian and Lissa would be there. There were a few empty rooms on the first floor where I knew is what they used for guests. There were three rooms in all and I snuck a peek in one of the rooms. There was a pink suitcase sitting on the floor with a few heels sitting around it. I left that window, I wasn't ready to face Lissa yet.

The next room had an empty bottle of vodka sitting on the floor. Adrian was passed out a few feet from the bottle. I rolled my eyes. I took a quick look around and tapped on the window. Adrian didn't move. I checked to see if the window was locked, it wasn't, and I pushed it up. I quietly climbed through and closed the window. I pulled down the blinds, just in case anyone peeked through.

"Adrian?" I kicked Adrian's foot lightly. "Adrian wake up."

"Hmm?" He mumbled, eyes fluttering. He looked up at me and started to sit up.

"Little Dhampir? Were you unable to resist my charm? At last, my Rose has seen the light." He held out his arms. "Well don't be shy, come to papa."

"Adrian, I need to borrow some money." I ignored his advances.

"Money? What do you need money for?" He asked confused. Rubbing his eyes and flattening his wrinkled clothes.

"I'm going on a trip and I need your help."

"What kind of trip? Are you running away or something?" I hadn't expected Adrian to question my motives so much. I did not want to explain my entire plan to him.

"Yeah, kind of. Can you just lend me money? I'll pay you back if-when I get back." Crap, if he knew that I was going to do something dangerous he wouldn't give me money.

"If you get back? If those are the circumstances than I can't give you anything." I scooted closer to him placing one of my hands on his forearm. Adrian stared at my hand before looking back at me.

"Please Adrian?" I begged him. "Please help me, I can't tell you where I'm going but don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I'll come back and I'll be Lissa's guardian and she'll marry Christian and have cute kids. You'll eventually fins a cute Moroi too, Adrian. We'll all be happy. Just let me go now." I begged him, I realised when I was speaking how everyone can be with the one they loved except me. I loved Dimitri, he had to marry Tasha. I've given up on him. I already lost Dimitri and I couldn't bear to lose my mother too.

"Rose, that didn't exactly sound like a happily ever after. You can't stay Lissa's guardian forever. You should be happy too, not just watch from the sidelines." I laughed humorlessly.

"Not in this life, Adrian. I have to guard Lissa, she's my best friend and the last Dragomir-"

"And you're the only Rose Hathaway!" Adrian said almost frustratingly. "I hate that you have to give up your life for someone else. It doesn't matter who it is. You are not just a Dhampir, you're a person. and I, I don't want you to be sad." I couldn't breath, I wasn't sure if this was what he was really thinking or if spirit had somehow changed his attitude. I thought about what to say and took a breath.

"That's why you should help me, Adrian. This is my last opportunity to do something I need to do before I'm a guardian. Help me, Adrian, please. You're the only one who can." I rubbed his arm.

"Rose, I, okay, I'll help you." He stood up and walked over to his side table. He picked up his wallet took out a few bills and handed them to me.
"Thanks so much Adrian. I'll pay you back."

"You don't need to do that. Just promise me a favor, you're just lucky that my parents stopped cutting me off."

"Okay fine. But I think I'm going to need a little more money than this." I counted the bills. I couldn't believe he kept this kind of money in his pocket, but it still wasn't enough.

"I know Rose, just go to this address and they'll help you finish the transaction. I'll call right now but I figured that you were kind of in a rush." Adrian pulled me towards him and I wrapped my arms around him.

"Thank you," I mumbled into his chest.

"Just, come back Little Dhampir. I've got a few ideas about how to cash in my favor." I let go of him, grabbed my bag and crawled out of the window. I went to Lissa's bedroom. Her window was also unlocked and I crawled through. I saw her lying peacefully on her bed and I decided not to waken her. I squeezed her hand.

"Rose," She mumbled. "Don't go." I was startled until I realized that she was just dreaming. It hurt even more to think that she would lose me twice. Once in her dreams and again in reality.

"Sh, everything is going to be okay Lissa. I'll be back soon, don't worry about me." I looked at her again and promised myself that I would check in on her every day.

"Bye Lissa." I left her room too walking towards the patch of woods I'd visited with Jake. I would have to go through there since it would be the easiest way for me to escape. I looked around and sprinted toward the patch of woods. As soon as I made it there, I would be free. It was about a quarter of a mile from where I was and it was an easy run. As soon as I knew I was protected in the forest I set out.

"You forgot something Rose." A deep voice said from behind a tree. I recognized the voice and scowled.

"Oh yeah? and what exactly did I forget?"

"Me." Dimitri stepped out into the light. He as wearing jeans and his famous brown duster, he looked gorgeous as usual. He was also carrying a book bag.

"What are you doing here?"

"Did you forget that I know you almost as good as you know yourself. We're connected and as soon as I heard about your attack. I knew that you would go after your mother. I also knew that you don't have enough experience and I have to come with you."

"What about Tasha?"

"She'll be fine without me for a while."

"Well that's great but you're not coming with me." I glared at him.

"Rose, I don't think you can stop me." He looked at me seriously. I had no idea why he wanted to come so he probably had an ulterior motive.
"I had no problem taking you down in the academy and even in the gym."

"Don't worry. I wont allow you to do that again. You can't escape me Rose. Plus, you need my help. Do you even know where you're going?"
"Sure I do." I didn't.

"Well I happened to have read the file on the new attack. I also asked around and I can tell you exactly where they were attacked and even a few locations of Strigoi hideouts." Damn. He had me. I needed help and it looked like he was the only one who could. I looked away from him and thought about exactly what my choice was. I could ditch him and go on a wild goose chase or I could let him come with me and suffer a heart ache. I might grow to love him even more. Or I guess I could let him come along only until I get the information and then ditch him. I'll ignore him and refuse to think of him. I'll close myself off and let my instincts lead the way.

"Okay, fine. You can come."

And... done. :D Hope you guys loved it please oh please Review. Every one is highly appreciated. :D