Thanks for coming back. I know it was cruel ending the last chapter like I did, but it was necessary. Thanks for all the awesome reviews.
If you think I own Vampire Academy, you're wrong.
Dimitri POV
If this guy in front of me doesn't get off his cell and speed up, I'm going to run him off the road and shove that phone up his ass! Me and a few other guardians are finally on our way to see what's going on with the Strigoi raid they left for this morning. I'm driving, obviously, with Guardian Petrov next to me. She's still the head guardian at the academy, but came to court on business and heard about the now missing guardians, and practically begged the Queen to let her come along. I know she always had a soft spot for Rose, almost a motherly affection for her. "Get off the road, jackass!" she yells in frustration to the car ahead. I look over to her amazed that she's expressing so much emotion. I've always been impressed with the amount of control she's had in stressfull situations. Her feelings for Rose must be stronger than I imagined.
"Don't worry, Alberta. We'll get there soon." I try to reassure her. She gives me a little smile, but anyone can tell it's forced. I know how she feels. I won't feel better until I see Rose alive and well for myself. This whole situation reminds me too much of Spokane. I just pray to have a similar outcome, hopefully better.
I pull up the driveway that the map we have tells me is the place. I see their SUV parked to the side but I don't see the house. My heart stops when I see smoke and fire burning on what used to be a house. I manage to stop the car and park it, but my legs are frozen. Cold sweat is beading on my forehead and my chest is so tight I can barely breath. I can't do anything but stare at the scene before me. "Belikov!" Guardian Smith yells at me. I snap out of my trance and look over to him. "Let's go investigate." he says. He gets out of the car along with the three other guardians that came along. Alberta reaches over and gives my hand a squeeze, letting me know I'm not alone. I just pray that we'll find Rose alive, hiding in the treeline or something. We get out and start walking over.
The fire is still burning and there's a lot of smoke. The entire house is collapsed, aside from the brick fireplace on the side. It's too hot to go through the debris to find any evidence. I can't look at this anymore. I try to keep the thought that Rose may be laying in the ashes away, but it creeps back in my head. I feel the panic rising inside me so I go to look around the property, hoping to find something good. I run into the the trees surrounding the area and search for any sign of Rose or other guardian. I call out to her over and over again. The longer I call, the faster my hope that's she's still here and alive fades. Part of me wants to drop to my knees and break down, but the other part tells me to be strong for Rose. I need to save my strength for when I find her, and I will. I hear the the sirens of a fire engine getting closer and closer. I run over to where the other guardians are waiting.
"I called the Queen and informed her of what we found. She had the human fire department contacted to put out the fire, but we'll be doing the investigation, with the stipulation that we'll share the findings with them." One of the guardians tells me. Fine with me. The sooner I can rule out that Rose is not among the ashes, the sooner I can find where she really is.
Lissa POV
Oh man. I can't believe how much homework I have, Calculus, Poli Sci and a term paper for English Lit. This is going to take me all night. At least I don't have as much as Christian. He's been putting off his term paper till the last minute and it's due tomorrow. Eddie on the other hand has it easy. The teacher's assistant in Political Science has a crush on him and let's him get away with late or half done assignments. At first he was embarrassed, but now he has no problem flirting with her for the extra help. Rose has definitely rubbed off on him.
"Lisss, have you seen my copy of The Handmaid's Tale? I can't find it." Christian yells from his bedroom. I swear that boy would loose his head if it wasn't attached.
"Did you check your bookbag?" I don't think he's even opened it yet. I bet he's going to try to guilt me into doing his assignment for him. Too bad for him I have my own work to do.
"Found it. Hey, have you read the book yet? What's it about?" he asks while walking into the living room where I'm trying to finish my paper. You have got to be kidding me.
"You haven't read it yet? Christian, how do you expect.." I'm cut off by a knock on the door. I throw my book on the couch while I get up to see who it is. I nearly fall over in shock when I see Alberta standing there. "Oh my goodness, Alberta. What a surprise. Please come in." I move aside to let her in, but she doesn't.
"Hello Princess, I just came to inform you that the Queen would like to see you and Lord Ozera in her parlor in ten minutes. Guardian Castile should also come too." she tells me.
"Okay. Do you know what it's about?"
"That is for the Queen to tell you. Ten Minutes." She turns and walks away. Hmm, I wonder what's going on. I get Christian and Eddie and we walk over to talk with the Queen. When we get there, I see Adrian and Tasha sitting and waiting while Dimitri and Alberta are standing on guard with a few other guardians I've seen around. Adrian looks a wreck. He has his head in his hands, elbows resting on his knees, slightly rocking back and forth. I look around the room for Rose, but she's not here. I take a seat next to Adrian.
"Adrian, do you know what this is all about?" he looks over to me and shakes his head before dropping his head again. The feel in the room is so depressing. Even Dimitri looks pained though you can tell he's trying to hide it. This isn't good. The Queen finally comes in and it looks like she's been crying. He eyes are a little red and puffy. Something is definitely wrong.
"I'm sure you're all wondering why you are here. I'll get right to it. I've had a team put together to track a certain Strigoi who has been after Adrian. This morning we found his hideout and a team of guardians were sent out to destroy him and his followers. We believe they were sucessful, but in doing so, they also lost their lives. Guardian Hathaway was the leader of the team and is believed dead." What? That's impossible. Rose can't be dead. It feels like someone let all the air out of the room because I can't breath. My head starts to spin as I try to take in what she just said. Christian pulls me to him and begins to caress my hair as he whispers to me. I can't understand what he's saying, it's all a blur.
"That can't be right. This is Rose we're talking about. She's the best." I say looking over to Christian shaking my head frantically. " She can't be dead. I would know. She can't be." I can feel the tears brimming in my eyes, but I won't let them fall. I have to be strong for Rose.
"I'm so sorry Vasilisa but we found this in the ashes of the house that burned down." she motions to Dimitri who brought a silver stake to me, her stake. It's the one Adrian bought her for a graduation gift. It still looks beautiful. Her name is engraved on it along with a rosebud. She takes that stake everywhere she goes. I take it from his hand and hold it tight against my chest. I feel Christian wipe the tears off my cheeks I didn't even know were flowing. I can literally feel my heart rip in two as the realization hits me, she's gone. She's really gone. Somebody pries the stake out of my hands as I sob into Christians chest. I look up to his face and see silent tears falling from his eyes. Seeing him cry makes my tears flow even faster. I feel Christian pick me up and walk away. He doesn't say anything to me all the way back to our apartment. He probably can't. He lays me down on my bed and climbs in beside me. He holds me close to him all night and lets me cry. I don't know how long I cried into his chest, before sleep finally claims me.
Adrian POV
I've been waiting around all day for any word from or about Rose. I left so many messages on her phone, I filled up her voicemail. The waiting is the worst. I think back to the dream we shared last night and realize she was hiding something from me, again. The way she started to panick as she was waking up. How she clung to me for dear life as if trying to stay with me in the dream. The way she told me to never forget how much she loves me, as if it was the last time she might ever see me. I should be mad that she lied to me, but I'll do anything just to have her walk through my door right now.
I've been a pest to everyone all day. Even my aunt, the Queen, refused to see me. That only solidified my suspicions that she knows where Rose is and why. This feeling I've had all day hasn't gone away, but is more of a background hum know. I haven't eaten all day and I feeling a little weak. I don't really have an appetite right now, but Rose would be pissed if didn't take care of myself in her absence. I walk down to the feeders and get my daily dose of blood to keep my strength up. I head back to my apartment, feeling better, and an idea hits me. I run the rest of the way, slamming the door open as I head to my bedroom. Why didn't I think of this sooner? I'll try to dreamwalk with her. I know it's a long shot, but at least I'll feel productive. I lay on my bed and get comfortable and concentrate on Rose. It's not hard to do since I dreamwalk with her all the time. I focus on her mind and try to reach her, only to feel like I'm running into a wall. I've never felt that before. It's not like it feels when she's awake and I can't reach her. It feels like there is a barrier up, keeping me out of her head. On one hand, that pisses me off. But on the other, it gives me hope that she's still alive. In trouble, but alive.
I'm about to try again when there is a knock at the door. I sprint to the door hoping for word on Rose. I open it to see Guardian Petrov at my door. I thought she still worked at St Vlads.
"Lord Ivashkov, the Queen would like to see you in her parlor in ten minutes." she says with no emotion in her voice, but her aura tells me another story. She's sad, very sad. This isn't good. I thank her and run back to my room to throw my shoes on. Finally, I'm going to get some answers.
I practically run over the guard standing outside the parlor door. I've waited all day for some fucking answers and I'm not going to wait a second more. I walk in and see Tasha sitting down and Dimitri standing by the wall, in guardian mode. I go right to him and look him in the eye. I cringe at what I see on his face, though he's trying his best to keep it as stone. I don't even bother to ask what he found out, he probably can't tell me anyway. I sit over by Tasha, who looks confused as to why we're here.
"Do you know what this is about? Dimitri couldn't tell me. Is this about the Offensive Magic Committee?" I want to scoff at her for thinking of something so trivial right now, but she probably has no idea that Rose has been missing all day. I just shake my head at her, not wanting to talk right now.
Oh god, more waiting. I hate this. I feel like I'm going to burst is someone doesn't give me some answers right now. I rest my head in my hands and start rocking in my seat to ease the feeling of panick rising inside. I here the door open and footsteps walking my way. It's probably Lissa and Christian. I feel someone sit down next to me. "Adrian, do you know what this is all about?" Lissa asks. She's been at school all day and is just as clueless as Tasha. I look up to her and shake my head. I don't think my voice would cooperate with me right now, so why bother. My aunt walks in followed by the usual guardians and sits in front of us. I look at her face and see the tell tale signs that she has been crying. That's unusual for her. She's very good at keeping her feelings out of her work ruling our world.
"I'm sure you're all wondering why you are here. I'll get right to it. I've had a team put together to track a certain Strigoi who has been after Adrian. This morning we found his hideout and a team of guardians were sent out to destroy him and his followers. We believe they were sucessful, but in doing so, they also lost their lives. Guardian Hathaway was the leader of the team and is believed dead." My entire world stopped. They think she's dead. They aren't going to go look for her. I know she's still alive, I can feel it. I don't think I moved or even breathed for quite a while. I could hear crying all around me, but I'm just numb. This is unreal. They're telling me she's dead, but she's not.
I glance over to see Christian picking up an hysterical Lissa and walk her out with Eddie on their heal. Tasha places a hand on my shoulder in an attempt to comfort me. "Oh Adrian, I'm so sorry." she says through her soft sobs. The fact that everyone is so resigned to believe that she's dead is really starting to piss me off. I stand up and let Tasha's hand fall away. I don't need comforting right now, I need to find Rose.
"She's not dead. So stop this nonsense and go look for her." I say to Tatiana with an edge I've never used with her before. But instead of being scared or mad at my words, she looks at me with pity.
"Adrian, I know how much you loved her, but she's gone. Look." she says as she motions to Dimitri. He's holding a silver stake in his hand. At first I don't understand what she's on about, until I notice the etched rosebud on the side. It's the stake I gave Rose for graduation, when I found out she was assigned to me. It's her favorite. I take it from his hand and just stare at it. She never goes anywhere without it. No, this doesn't mean anything. She's still alive.
"So, she dropped it before she escaped. Why are you so sure she's dead?" I look to Dimitri for answers since I assume he's the one who found it.
""The house they were searching was burned to the ground. I found this not far from one of the bodies." I take in the information and close my eyes trying to fit it all together. I can see how they would think she's gone, but the feeling inside me is telling me otherwise.
"How do you know the body was her? I'm telling you, she's not dead. She needs our help. We have to help her." I plead to my aunt.
"Adrian, I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but you have to accept the fact that she's gone. We have retrieved all the bodies and are conducting DNA tests on all of them to ensure that Stephan is among the dead. It's going to take a few weeks to get the results back, but then you'll have your proof of her death. I just hope it doesn't take that long for you to accept it." She says sternly. I know the truth. And the truth is she's out there somewhere, waiting for me to come find her. And that's exactly what I plan on doing, with or without anyones help.
I turn away from everyone and head for the door. When I get to the threshold, I stop and turn around to address them. "You may have all wrote her off as dead, but I can't, I won't. I know she's alive and I'll find her and bring her back." I turn and walk back to my apartment as fast as I can. I grip her stake in my hand, feeling the silver burn into my palm. "Don't worry baby, I'll find you, if it's the last thing I do."
I just love Adrian. Wish him luck. Thanks for reading and don't forget to review.