He leaned in forward, but to my surprise I didn't flinch or hesitate. His mouth was getting closer, only a breath away from mine, but still no movement. Then his lips met mine. It felt warm and right. It didn't feel wrong like when I usually kissed Dimitri, like I was breaking a law or a rule. It felt right, like it was fate that brought us together. He moved back and his face looked like as if he had been bitten by a Moroi bite, it looked like as if he's world had been rocked. I touched his cheek and smiled.

He then locked me in a passionate embrace and kissed my lips hard. I had my arms surrounding his back and shoulders. His hands were on my hair. His hand curved around my elbow, moving slowly down my arm, across my ribs and over my waist, tracing along my hip and down my leg, around my knee. He paused there his hand resting on my calf. He passionately brushed my leg and set it around his hip. We stayed like that for a few minutes. Then I rolled right on top of him. He grabbed his blazer off; I had the honours of doing his tie. But then he started unbuttoning his shirt. I remember when me and Dimitri were in the cabin and he was… I froze and lay my back against the bed getting off of him. But at the same time, I saw something flinch in the woods outside my window. It was probably nothing, just a lost animal.

"What's wrong?" he asked as if he did something to make me upset.

"Nothing, it's just that well, I don't think now is the right time" I answered.

"That's fine Rose, I at least got to kiss you, and you know what, I'll wait for you. Forever if I have to." He was so caring and considerate. I felt horrible for stopping.

"Thanks, Adrian" I replied. I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. He gave me a smile in return.

"You, better get to sleep I think, well aren't you going to the Queen's palace tomorrow, to talk about some official business?" I asked deliberately changing the topic.

"Yeah I guess I better go, but I really am too tired to get back to my room, do you think I can crash here over the night? Just for tonight" he asked pleadingly.

"Erm, yeah sure, hang on I'll just go and get some spare sheets from downstairs, I bumped into a Guardian patrolling when I went to get you an ice pack, She doesn't know you here, so be quiet, I was afraid I would get in some sort of trouble if they found you here"

"Don't worry I'm a royal, I'll get out of it." He joked. "But thanks for covering for me, just in case I can't"

"No problem… hang on I'll be right back, I've got to go get the sheets" I ran downstairs to get some spares from the cupboard we usually get form every Sunday when we clear up our rooms. I found a spare neatly folded just behind a couple of towels. It was on the op shelf, and I found it difficult to reach, I had to go on my tiptoes.

I finally retrieved it, when a very worried looking guardian stood in front of me. I looked at her. She could have been a teacher but I didn't really recognise her. Maybe she was new.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I well…Erm" I had to come up with a good excuse. " I spilled some water on my bed sheets and I was just getting spare ones because I think the wet ones will take ages to dry off" I answered innocently.

"Very well then, I think you should go back to your room as soon as you're finished" I nodded in response.

"And, do you know a rose Hathaway?" She asked just as she was about to leave.

"Yes, actually that's me." I replied wondering why she wanted me.

"Well just a few minutes ago, a mysterious girl dropped this off for you, she didn't say anything else, just handed me this" On her hand was a blank envelope other than the words, Rose Hathaway clearly written on top. I recognised the writing but I didn't want to believe it.

"Thanks, I'll just go now then" I answered, I hope she didn't sense out the frightened feeling in my voice. She walked away leaving me still in shock.

I had to make sure she left before I opened it. The paper was quite weak so it only took me a few seconds to rip it open. My spine shivered. And I felt a shock straight into my very core. It was From Dimitri.

I walked rather slowly...deeper and deeper through the forest. The farther in I got, the more I felt uncomfortable and useless. I gripped the stake tightly that was hidden in a secret compartment in my leather coat. I assured myself I was in control, and I kept telling myself that I can do it. There was no need to be afraid. Maybe as long as I didn't show my fear he wouldn't see right through it. But who was I kidding, this was Dimitri was talking about, of course he would see right through it. But just in case, I still kept a brave face on public. It was a moonlit night. The moon was my guide but other than that it was pitch black. The note didn't have specific instructions to follow it had only said:

Roza,

Meet me in the Forest outside the academy; I need to talk to you privately about some things

It won't take long, just keep heading north. I'll be there. And don't bring anyone with you, unless you want something bad to happen to them. I won't hurt you, at least not yet.

Love, Dimitri

I just remembered I had left Adrian in my room. I hope he doesn't notice my absence is too long otherwise he might start looking for me and expect the worst. There were stars but very hard to see because of the trees and barks covering the dark sky. Surrounding me, I could hear all the nocturnal animals scatter, my senses where stronger than humans but not as strong as Strigoi. I was sure that Dimitri could sense me, way before I could sense him. But because of me being shadow-kissed I guess my senses would come in very handy in times like these. But that didn't matter in his letter he said that he would fight me, and he will not just attack me from the behind. I didn't know which way I was headed, which was stupid and reckless. But I know I had to find him, I had to end him. I knew exactly what he was doing; this was one of his tricks, trying to keep e away from civilisation or population. T o leave me stranded.

So it would be quick and easy to kill me. No screams. No pain. Just a bash on the head will take its blow; he doesn't even need to look me in the eye. This kind of news will probably end up on the front page of the school's newspaper; headlines will read ROSE HATHAWAY FOUND MURDERED IN WOODS.

I was about to give up, but that's when my Strigoi senses strengthened. He was here... and he wasn't alone. The smell of his aftershave sent chills along my spine. But to my surprise, it also sent a shot of electric current to my empty dormant heart. I didn't know to either feel safe or in danger. Too long has that scent meant safe in my book. But I think in this case, it meant certain death... I wasn't going to give up without a fight, even if this means I loose my life in the process. But no way, is he going to walk around the world as a Strigoi. He appeared out of the shadows

"Roza, I've been waiting for you, what took you so long" he had a slight tone in his voice which I didn't recognise. Not thinking of the consequences, I went in for the easy kill. I ran up to him, with as much speed as I can. But as I suspected, he dodged it. In a second he appeared behind me and grabbed my neck. I breathed heavily, with just a tiny movement of his arm could break my neck. We stood there like that for a while. I could hear him, breathing in my scent. His mouth was only a few centimetres away from my neck. I didn't want to get bitten. I remember Lissa's bite, the venom that comes out during a vampire bite if like bliss, the most perfect thing in the world. But a Strigoi bite was off the scale, It was a thousand times better than the others. If I got bitten I was almost certain I would fail. If he bit me on the neck, I would probably go weak at the knees and fall into his arms begging him to come back to me. He ran his fingers along my hair; I remembered what he said in the letter, the feeling of my hair like silk, and the smoothness of my skin when he touched it. His soft tender lips kissed along my neck until it reached the corner of my lips. I held my head up high, scared of moving.

That's when he spoke "That was a bit disappointing Rose, what have they been teaching you at school, I'll give you one last chance" he whispered in my ear, in a seductive tone. From that moment he let go of my neck. "I'm sorry to disappoint" I answered.

I guessed his tone wasn't the only thing new. On his left was a Girl, about my age, with dark brown hair and features which faintly resembled mine. It was almost uncanny. How was this even possible? I gasped in shock, stood there motionless.

"Rose, I would like you to meet my new... girlfriend, this is Ariena" Dimitri said firmly.

"I...Err..." I was speechless. He had already found someone to replace me, maybe he really didn't need me after all, all those things he's said to me before in the cabin, all the things he said to me ever, was all lies. Dimitri taking in my reaction stood there, and looked me in the eye, and liked what he saw. My reaction certainly pleased him that I was hurt. It felt like I had just been punched in the gut. But at the same time, feeling upset and angry, I was actually happy for him, at least one of us had moved on, and this was just part of the process. He had found Ariena and back at St. Vladimir, Adrian was there. I guess things just happen because of fate. I wiped the hurt look on my face and showed a confident one.

"Why did you call me here, Dimitri? What did you want? To gloat your new girlfriend in front of my face and to prove that you've moved on" I shouted.

"You're not Jealous are you, Roza?" he smiled.

"No, of course not, just tell me what you want or I we will just get this show in the road and make the killing faster" I knew exactly what he wanted.

The Brown haired Girl, whose name I completely forgot finally spoke. "Don't you dare speak to him like that, you pathetic little bitch" So she didn't have a very nice attitude.

"You and Dimitri certainly had a romantic history, but he is mine now, and nothing you can do is going to take that back, so you might as well move on, because it obvious he has...Why don't you go and find someone else you weak bloodwhore"

That tared it, I instantly got my stake out and plunge it deep into her chest, she was pretty easy to kill but I was just guessing that she was new so she probably didn't have much experience in fighting. Only in swearing and flirting. I wondered though, Dimitri could have easily prevented that, but to my own surprise he just stood there and watched the two of us pick a fight like it was like a series of his favourite show. He had a smile on his face.

"I always knew you would win, best in the class, I guess she was just a bit too stupid to realise that I trained you"

"How come you didn't save her" I asked

"Because I don't really love her" he replied with the smile non-existent. Not looking me in the eye but his face looking downwards.

"So what was this then? Some kind of sick test"

He breathed, and finally admitted "I saw you with him Rose, I saw you with Adrian this evening, you were together, and you were hugging. But that wasn't all, you even kissed. I bet you two even had sex. I was the person looking outside you window. Didn't you think that hurt me? How could you do that to me? I thought you loved me, but instead you dump me for a sick spoilt Royal who is probably just playing you"

"He's not, spoilt..." Although he was a bit but I didn't admit to that, he was just rich and wanted to spend his money on me. That wasn't a bad thing. He just really liked me. So I couldn't really give them back, maybe because well firstly it would be rude, secondly some of them, I couldn't actually give back. I didn't really give much attention to his player ways but sometimes I figured I didn't actually say thank you enough. People like him and Mason actually showed their affections for me. And even though at the time I loved Dimitri, I actually really appreciated them trying.

"What were you doing anyway...? Spying on me" I asked curiously

"And he isn't playing me, Dimitri, he told me he loved me, we have to move on sometime, and he was always there, he didn't leave, and may I add he doesn't want to kill me"

"I wasn't spying on you, I just had to make sure you were safe, I check up on you once in a while because I care about you, and the option is still always there Rose, all you need to do is ask, and I'll turn you myself"

"I love you Roza, and when I saw you with him... The feeling was indescribable, I felt like my whole soul was ripped apart and shredded to pieces. I took Ariena here to make you see that I have also moves on, that I didn't love you, but that was impossible because I can't do anything but Love you..Please join me" his eyes were so pleading.

"I love you too Dimitri, But you have changed this isn't you anymore, and it was the old Dimitri I fell in love with, not the cruel one who takes people for their own use, and not the kind of person who would send me death threats but..." I hugged him, being that close to him actually surprisingly made me feel safe.

"I will always always love you" I admitted

"I love you too, Roza, more than you will ever know, I've missed you" He sighed

Then from that second, his lips found mine, I forgot about everything, even Adrian. All I wanted was to be with him. This reminded me of that time when he took me to that place. He left me stranded in his bedroom and took a sip of blood every time he came to visit. I know these makes me sound really cheap and everything but even though it carried bad memories I still loved him. Every day I would wait for him to come back. And when he did it made me feel alive and wonderful. The kiss was familiar, his mouth felt right on mine. Dimitri wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to him in the shadow of a tree. This reminded me of when we were fighting; it showed the same kind of fierceness and animal side of us. He kept moving his lips down, I moaned in pleasure. But then his mouth reached my neck. I gasped.

"No, stop!" I almost screamed

"What's the matter with you? Come on, it will only be for one quick second"

"No, don't" I hesitated.

"Come on Rose" He used the same tone as before and it frightened me.

From that second, I ran. I heard his footsteps behind me, I looked behind to check, which was foolish. Then out of nowhere he appeared in front of me.

"Come on Rose, you don't want to do this" He had a dark look on his face

"Leave me alone Dimitri, I'm Serious" I stared.

"What are you going to do, huh? You've got nothing, you tried your best once, but your best wasn't good enough. You used your only stake on Ariena, I could easily kill you right this very spot."

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" I shouted at him as loud as I could. It felt strange, me saying it to him.

I ran as fast as I could, trying to trace back my steps, this was foolish I thought to myself, going to the forest alone by myself, thinking that Dimitri wouldn't hurt me. Very foolish, I still hadn't got it in my memory that things change and people change, it was reckless of me to think that it was the old Dimitri who wouldn't hurt me. The gates where appearing ahead. And I could see the lights off the school. I rushed into the narrow crooked road and ran straight for the gates. They were just about to close. Curfew ended an hour ago. But the gates were always opened for the teachers who where away for the day and couldn't come back before curfew times. I made it just in time before the black iron gates shut. I looked back behind me to check he wasn't there. I glanced saw no one. But I heard a crunch not far away. Behind the Trees I could see his shadow faintly. My arm stiffened. I turned my back and headed back to my dorm before anyone found out I was missing. Its better no one finds out of our little secret meet, Especially, Lissa and Adrian.

I walked back to campus, unaware of my surroundings. I was just 10 minutes away from my dorm, I just wanted to get freshen up and go to bed. I had a few cuts and bruises but they didn't bother me. Much. It stung a bit; I think I stood in a stinging nettles bush when I couldn't see where I was going, I could tell because my foot itched like crazy. I reached out to scratch my foot when I caught the scent that was so familiar I didn't need to look. Adrian…