The Room was breathtaking. So elegant and high class. This seemed like it was for posh people, I felt out of Place. Even though I tried fitting in, I still had a queasy nervous feeling in my stomach. I and Lis stood side by side, waiting for our... dates. Although, I hardly think this is even necessary to come to the Century Masquerade with a Date. I couldn't care less but Lissa on the other hand was ecstatic. Hiding behind the heads of a few suit men in silk blazers was Christian. Without even a glance back, Lissa ran straight into his arms in a tight embrace. I didn't mind for once being ignored and left behind, because i knew Lissa was happy and content. I stood by myself still waiting for Adrian. The clock ticked by, and still no sign of him. I was getting bored and impatient. Although the orchestra playing peacefully in the background calmed me down. ... ... ... That was it! I had waited half an hour, I walked across the hall and out the exit, but someone was blocking my way.

Adrian.

"You looked beautiful"

"Don't even start with me Adrian" I glared at him.

"Did someone die?" he joked, laughing.

"This is no time for jokes, Rich Boy, I waited half an hour for you, and you stood me up, I am leaving"

"I'm sorry, I had some business to take care of, and I assure you, Disappointing you was the last thing I wanted to do this evening, will you forgive me?" He held out his hands and worked his puppy dog face to full power.

He seemed so sincere and his eyes were on me, almost hypnotizing. I can't believe I was going to fall for this. A part of me despised him and told me to run away as far as I could from him and never look back. Another part told me to take his hand, and hug him tightly as he holds my hand. I can't believe I'm doing this... I took his offered hand and a wide grin spread over his face. He escorted me to the dance floor

Everyone was doing all sorts of dances, the waltz, and the tango. Some I didn't even recognise. I jerked away and hesitated.

"What's wrong little Dhamphir?"
"I can't dance" I whispered embarrassed.

"Could this be? The Great Miss Hathaway unable to do something? Someone better pinch me to make sure I'm not dreaming" he joked. I pinched his arm as hard as I could.

"Oww, what was that for?" He asked.

"You said someone better pinch you so I did." I chuckled. "But Adrian I'm actually serious, I can't dance"

"Come on, take my hand, I'll teach you"

I felt touched by his offer, but I know deep down, this was going to go terribly wrong. The pace was quite fast and upbeat. I was just about to ask when Adrian left me and walked towards the orchestra section. He whispered something in the guy's ear. I was too far to hear what he was saying. He returned and placed his hands on my hips, which made me feel uncomfortable. He felt me flinch and took in satisfaction in my discomfort. He gestured my hands and rested it around his shoulders. The beat of the song was slow and steady and I could tell from the very fi5rst note it was a love song. He moved in closer and made the wide space between us more intimate. Our fronts were basically touching, and hugging but moving at the same time. I wrapped my arms around his neck as I leaned my ear against his chest, directly on top of his beating heart. That was the moment I knew just how much he loved me. I could hear his heartbeat, it was like a butterfly's wings, it rapidly quickened. A few months ago, this would have felt really awkward to me. But today it felt safe, I felt protected. I looked up, at his face, and his eyes gave me a message, so deep so sincere that it made me feel bad that I couldn't see it before, but of course I had my reasons, he probably did this with every girl, to make them fall in love with him. But this moment right now, he actually made me feel special. He leaned down, his lips just a cm away from mine. I could smell his breath; it made me want him more. I so wish he wasn't using compulsion on me right now. His scent reminded me of Dmitri's aftersh... this was wrong. I backed away, just the exact moment the song finished. I was imagining he was Dimitri. The moment was so perfect, and Dimitri had to come and ruin it.

"What's wrong?" He asked looking at me earnestly.

"Nothing, it's just, erm, to early, I can't do this Adrian."

"That's fine Rose, at least you tried, but I just have to say this to you, I love you Rosemarie Hathaway, I do, always will, and always have from the very moment I saw you. I even started loving you before I knew half the reasons why I should. I'm giving you my heart, you don't have to take it, but I'm giving it to you anyways. So now you know, I will always be there for you no matter what, you can count on me. I won't let you down, I promise you that."

"Don't say something you don't mean, you might think you mean it now, but what about tomorrow or in a year or in 10 years will you still feel the same? Like I said, don't do something you don't mean, because I might do something Crazy like mean it"

"BUT I DO MEAN IT Rose, you mean the world to me."

"I know you say that now, and I will give you a chance I promise, but I don't think I'm ready"

"Okay, that's all I wanted to hear" he replied

"Come on, we better go, I think there serving dinner" I smiled. I felt his hands still on my waist, I grabbed his hands and smiled.

"Sorry, got Caught in the moment" He apologized.

We walked to the tabled just in time for dinner. I was about to ask where we were going to sit, when I saw gold plate tags at each table. The names of the royal families. Ivashkov, the biggest table as because they were the biggest family. Badica, Ozera, Dragomir, Zecklos, Sarcazy, Conta, so many of them. I walked away from him, knowing what the queen might think of me and Adrian being together. But his hands gripped my arm and suddenly tightened.

"You don't need to go away and sit with Lissa; I've got a spare seat next to me"

"Oh, but people might get the wrong idea of us"

"Yeah that would be a shame wouldn't it? He chuckled.

He escorted me gracefully to the biggest table in the room. As I sat down, I saw the queen give me a straight face AS If I had done something wrong. Dinner was unsuspectingly awkward. The food being served was so fancy. Starters were something called 'hors d' oeuvres and Escargot', main course was Canard a'la orange and dessert was either Crème Brulee or Diz riz torte. Drinks were all types of French wine, and a bit of whiskey.

"Would you like a drink Mr Ivashkov?" the man asked.

"Yes, thank you" Adrian replied.

I thought he was just going to get one glass but he held 2 in his hands. Time passed by, the plain chatter kept at a reasonable sound. But that wasn't what worried me, next to me was a drunk Adrian.

"Mooree plleaughe" He asked drunk.

I tried to stop him "Adrian stop, you're getting drunk" I insisted taking the glass of his hands.

"You're so pretty tonight Rose" He mumbled

"Thanks but you have got to stop drinking!" I begged at him.

Instead he stood up; I tried to follow him, to track him down. But the movement of people dancing and the continuous chatter confused me. Everywhere people were in fancy clothes. So I couldn't really tell them apart from people's hair colour. I finally found him... and he wasn't alone. In the corner of the ballroom with one brunette and one ginger women cradled around him like a snake tightly gripping a man's body. His lips full frontal snogging the feisty brunette. She carefully most likely deliberately sat on his lap, the other had his arms carefully around her shoulders. I can't believe him. The nerve. I had walked into a threesome.

"Adrian..." I asked standing still in shock.

"Oh, hey rose, come and join the party" he smirked.

"I WILL NOT join your little bloodwhore fest."

I ran out as fast as I could, tears streaming down my face. I actually thought he was different that he had changed. That he actual meant those entire things he said to me when we were dancing. I feel so stupid. This whole night was a mistake from the beginning; I should have never said yes, I knew I was going to regret it.

Everyone, the majority of students had gone to the Celebration; the camp was practically abandoned and quiet. That was when it struck me. The gut wrenching could breaking feeling I was feeling couldn't be sorted. There was no Dimitri to run to when everything was falling apart or when something was wrong. No Dimitri to run to when I was crying. No Dimitri to run to cradle me in his arms as i sob into his chest. No Dimitri to tell me "Everything is going to be fine, Roza". I for the first time in a while now, felt completely alone.