Chapter two

Rose

Rose knelt on top of the hill, a mile outside of the city. Below her she could see a small doe lapping at water by a creek. Rose poised her arm, angling her bow, counted to three, took a deep breath, and released her red arrow. She watched as it spun through the air, hitting the unaware deer on it's side. A flock of crows nearby took off into the previously peaceful sky.

"Whatcha doin'?" Rose jumped out of her crouch and spun to face Mason. She was just glad she'd shot the arrow already, or else he would've been the one dead right now. On top of that the deer would've been gone. It wasn't easy to find food outside of restaurants anymore. The animals had learned to steer clear of the surrounding woods.

"Dinner." Rose said bluntly, heading down towards her catch. The ginger followed.

"Need help getting it back?" Rose rolled her eyes. She knew Mason had a crush on her and felt bad that she didn't feel the same way towards him. Anyway she was dating Adrian Ivashkov. She didn't have any feeling towards the royal Moroi. He just bought her expensive things. Rose plastered a smile on her face.

"Why not Mase." It gave her satisfaction to see Mason happy. She knelt at the deer's side and yanked out the bloodied arrow. She washed it in the creek and set it back in the pack. Together, Rose and Mason carried the deer back to the warehouse.

"FOODS HERE!" Nikoli, a little four year old screamed at the top of his lungs. Immediately, Rose was circled by ten little kids. The older ones were either at work or drinking. Eddie stood by the door with his mom. He walked over to the group and smiled.

"Man Rose you got a big one!" He exclaimed. Rose and Mason dropped it next to the fire in the center of the room. Rose shrugged.

"Ya, well I'm not the one cooking it." Rose mumbled. She walked over to her mattress which sat in the farthest corner of the warehouse. She wasn't much of a talker and enjoyed her privacy. Next to her bed she had a large chest with a lock. Like Rose, a lot of the kids were thieves so she protected her things in the way she could. The key was on a chain around her neck, protected from greedy eyes. Inside the chest Rose had a n extra blanket for the winter, a cloak, a few extra dress, and a decorative sword, all of which were stolen. She also had a few presents from Adrian. The only present she really ever wore from him was a long locket with a little sapphire jewel in the center.

Rose opened the chest and pulled out a new looking cloak. "Where are you going?" Eddie asked when Rose reached the door.

"Out." Eddie might've said something but Rose didn't hear him. She wouldn't be back for dinner. She headed down the cold streets, hugging the cloak close to her. In the distance, the castle gleamed.

The closest bar was two to three blocks away. Rose had enough money for one drink. That would be her dinner. She sat down on the bar stool. On some nights she was thrown out. A few of the bartenders ad a problem with serving unaccompanied women. Tonight though she knew this one. She handed over the coins and asked for her regular. When the guy turned his back someone hugged Rose from behind.

"There's my little Dhaphire! How are you tonight?" Rose groaned mentally.

"Now now Adrian!" She hissed at him. He took no notice in the attitude. He kissed her on the cheek and took the unoccupied stool on Rose's left.

"What's wrong Rose?" She shrugged.

"Nothing's wrong Adrian. I've just and a long day." Adrian pouted his lip.

"Would my little dhampire be happier if I took her shopping?" Rose immediately perked up. She smiled.

"Well," She said sheepishly. "There was this one dress I was looking at…" Adrian smiled.

"Say no more! Finish your drink and I'll get it for you." Rose gave him a lingering kiss on the lips.

"That would deffinatly make my day." No more than ten minutes later Adrian and Rose were walking out of a high priced shop with a new dress. She snuggled deep into Adrian's arm as they walked. Just being around him made her want to gag. She knew she was laying it on thick but all in all she got what she wanted.

The time was short lived though. Adrian and Rose were in the market, passing a fruit stand when a group of ratted kids ran up to them. The youngest looked about eleven. The oldest was Rose's age. "Hey Rose! Hey Adrian!" The youngest one said grinning. She was missing a front tooth.

"Hello Sam!" Rose said patting her on the head.

"You Commin'? We were supposed to meet an hour ago!" The older kid complained. Rose looked over at Adrian who was holding her dress. He smiled at her.

"I'll take it back to my place." He said as if reading her thoughts. Rose ws worried, preferring to have the dress in her procession rather than his. But she sucked it up and peckedhim on the lips.

"Thank you Adi." She pecked him on the lips. The little one began pulling her away. They walked down fifth avenue towards a bunch of royal houses.

"You were suppose to meet up over an hour ago!" Sam cried.

"Sorry kid." Rose laughed. "I got a little… caught up."

"Ya" The older kid snorted. "Being a prostitute." Rose punched him square in the face. They boy fell down but instead of jumping back up and fighting her he just laughed.

"Shut up Luka. I am not having sex with Adrian Ivashkov." Rose sneered. "Just thinking about t makes me sick. You know he smokes?"

"ya but he's so damn hot!" Another kids said.

"Shut it Nikki, no one wants to hear it." Luka growled. Nikki crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. Rose groaned.

"Can we just stop talking about Ivashkov?" The group laughed. "Which house Luka?" They were planning a raid a few miles away, closer to the castle. Luka's eyes lit up with the thought of the possible score.

"Oh ya right! This family went on vacation yesterday. Heard it was somewhere closer to st. Petersburg. They'll be gone for a whole month. The cold wind whipped Rose's face making her flinch. She held onto her hood. "From what I've heard they might even have some drugs… if you know what I mean." Rose rolled her eyes. Some of the kids were druggies, wasting all the money they had on pot. She wasn't in that crowd.

The group gasped at the house before them. It was huge with at three floors. "Back window's open." Luka said. "Come on!" Sam stayed on the sidewalk preferring to be the look out. Rose jumped through the broken window landing softly on the other side.

"You guys do what you want." Rose called behind her. "But I call the basement." She opened the door and walked down the creaking stairwell. She found a candle sitting on a counter and lit it with a match.

Dimitri

Dimitri leaned against the balcony. Tasha's hand rested on his shoulder. His twenty fourth birthday was coming up and he wasn't excited. Party plans party plans party plans. It was all his sisters talked about. "Be calm Dimka." Tasha soothed. Dimitri released his fists and shook his head. He didn't want another birthday party. Why couldn't everyone understand that? Tasha sighed and looked out towards the city. In the darkness the lights of houses gleamed.

"For once," Dimitri complained. "I'd like to walk outside without any guards. No offense Adam."

"None taken sir." Adam, Dimitri's guardian said.

"It would be nice to be normal for once." Behind his back Tasha rolled her eyes. She hated when Dimitri did this but she never told him that.

"You are normal Dimitri. You're just a 'special' kind of normal. Remember you're the heir to the throne." Someone cleared their throat.

"It's time for you to leave Natasha. Thank you for coming." Dimitri's father said dryly. Tasha forced a smile and bowed gracefully.

"Thank you for allowing me to be in your son's presence my liege." She turned to Dimitri. "I'll see you tomorrow?" He nodded and followed her out of his room.

"Why'd you make her leave father?" Dimitri demanded. Alek glared at his son.

"Don't give me attitude Dimitri." He wiped a smudge off of his shirt. "Anyway, I'd like you to join me for a meeting. It starts in five minutes." He stopped by the door. "Do not be late."

Rose

Rose set another antique plate into her knapsack. She had no idea how long she'd been down here and her back was starting to hurt but she had to keep going. Even if this stuff was worth only a few measly coins. It wasn't everyday Rose found a deer in the woods. Last week a three year old had died from starvation. She was older than those kids, she'd lived longer. They needed to eat. She needed that money for them. Rose knew that people didn't see her as caring but in her own way she tried.

"STOP!" Someone yelled above. Guards, Rose thought. In her surprise she dropped the knapsack. She looked around the room for a hiding place.

"Search the perimeter."

"A boy escaped through the back window!" Rose blew out the candle and rushed into a back cabinet. She pushed herself to the back and slid downwards until her butt hit the floor. Fur, she realized. Fur coats hung on racks all around her. She tried to quiet her breathing but it was mixed between excitement and nervousness. Feet pounded down the steps and a bright light lit up the room, not a candle; possibly a torch.

"The neighbors said they saw three dhampirs come in here." Someone said. "One left." Rose shut her eyes.