A/N: Hey! So this chapter's shorter than the others, but finals are coming up for school so this is all I'm able to write at the moment. I'll update again sometime this week maybe with a longer chapter but after that I'm unsure of when I'll be able to update next. So bare with me for the time being and enjoy!

DPOV

"Put your back into it!"

I grunted in response to the annoying voice that called down to me. I jammed the shovel deeper into the tough earth, rammed my heel down on the metal end and pulled the shovel up. I then tossed the pile of hardened dirt towards the voice that was annoying me.

"Hey man don't get pissy with me! Hans gave me a long list of chores for you to do and at the rate you're going, I'll be 60 by the time they're all done." Daniil argued back to me.

It was late at night moroi time and I was currently digging in the royal court's large cemetery . It was ironic really that I was given the job of a grave digger. The moment I found out Roza was gone, I wanted nothing more than to bolt from this place, taking down whomever got in my way, and search for her.

But at the same time I was thinking of this, Guardian Croft pulled me back into reality as he told me he believed I truly was a dhampir again. I was somewhat relieved of the good news but I was more worried about Rose.

He then proposed a proposition to me, I was to be given various tasks around the court to complete, community service work to be exact. He said whether people were yet to believe I had been restored was something entirely different, but I could at least be put to good use seeing as I spend so much of my time in the gym or track. Stating if I was capable of physical training, I was more than capable of manual labor.

The Queen and Moroi counsel recently passed a law stating that in the event that something happened like my case-I was to continue to have five escorts, put through more tests, and free to live and work at the court, however I was not granted permission to leave.

I was sentenced to a one year's probationary period and at the end of the term, a report would be summited that would state if I was indeed restored to my original self, and not a threat. If I was condemned to be a threat, I would to be sent to Tarasov for a life's sentence of solitude. But if I was proved to be a dhampir again, at that time I would be given permission to apply to the guardian counsel to obtain my former guardian title back and return to active duty.

I was astounded by all of this. There were many members of the Moroi counsel that continued to claim I was still a strigoi. It all seemed very suspicious, but I wasn't going to argue it. Because unfortunately the law also stated if I broke my probation and left the court, I was to be executed immediately without question. THAT part sounded more like the counsel's decision than the Queen's.

But with all that good news, I still wanted nothing more than to leave and find Roza. But Daniil convinced me to stay. After my meeting with Guardian Croft, he pulled me aside...

"Dude I can see what you're already planning. It won't work. They'll shoot you without hesitation at the first sign of retaliation."

"But I have to find Rose. I need to..." I trailed off, too worried to speak anymore.

"I'm getting the feeling you love this girl, don't you. Guardian Hathaway?"

I just stared back at him with pain filled eyes. He caught onto the words I couldn't say aloud.

"Hm, right. And telling her you didn't helps this situation so much more." he sarcastically replied back.

I opened my mouth to speak but Daniil cut me off.

"Okay, say that you're still crazy for her. Running out of here and searching for her now isn't going to do you any good." I was outraged and he could see it in my eyes so he quickly continued.

"Not yet that is. Give them time to collect more evidence and find leads. She's a pretty damn good guardian and It'd be a real waste to lose her. The queen is even supervising the search. But let. them. do. their. jobs." I started to move away from him, I had enough of this nonsense. But he gripped my shoulder quickly and I froze at his next words. Because they were in Russian...

"I'll find out all that I can but in the mean time, be cool about this. If she's out there somewhere do really think she'll be happy if you become truly dead this time?" I scoffed at that. After the way I've treated her, she'd be doing cartwheels over my grave. "Stay here for now until there's more news. We'll find her. I give you my word."

I stared back at him, Daniil just agreed to help me. But how long could I keep this facade up? I knew if I didn't find out more evidence soon, I was going to leave no matter the consequences. I think Danik saw the indecision in my face so he nodded to the other guardians that were wary of our sudden exchange.

In a low voice he said, "Besides you've put your body through hell recently. Eat right and sleep and you'll have more strength to leave and search for her." He did have a point. During that meeting I was starting to feel vertigo from being awake so long. I was in no condition for a fight, let alone a break-out. I composed myself and gave him a curt nod. I had to stop tormenting myself for Roza's sake.

Pleased with the message I was giving off, Danik laughed, raising his voice as he slapped my back and switched back to English, "I really wasn't joking when I said you looked like shit."

I laughed along with him, playing the part. The other guardians immediately relaxed and began escorting me back to the apartment.

It's been two days and I was already seeing progress with my body. I forced myself to eat and sleep while I worked for the court and took on the role of being unsuspicious. During that same time, Daniil leaked information to me about Rose. But I still wasn't satisfied. They were not doing a very good job with their search.

My mind was constantly bombarded with waves off worry. I had no idea of whether she was alive or dead or worse. I mentally added. Rose was out there somewhere, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to her. I had to find her. I did it once before, back when I worked at the academy when she was a novice but I had a whole team of guardians with me and more connections back then.

Now she was a skilled guardian that went missing. This was going to be close to impossible to do. It would being like searching for a needle in a haystack. But I had a profound determination to find Roza. I wanted her safely tucked in my arms. But I knew that last part was impossible. How could she ever forgive me for what I've done?

Treating her the way I did as a strigoi was bad enough but what I did when changed back was far worse. But only one thing was repetitively ringing in my mind. I would do anything if it meant saving her. And with that line echoing in my head, I jumped up and out of the fresh new grave.

I knew I had to be very careful about what I was going to do over the next few days. Daniil was a good friend and I knew he wanted to help me in any way possible, but he had done enough. I needed to leave and start the long mission to find Rose on my own.

"It's about time." Daniil muttered to me as I handed him the shovel. He left to return it to the supplies shed as my other four escorts started leading me to my next job which was filing in the records vault that was in the basement of the Guardian Counsel Building.

Shortly after, Daniil joined us as we descended down the cool concrete steps of the building. But as we walked over the railed landing that led to another set of stairs, I paused as I noticed a poster that was taped on the cinder-block wall. I froze in my tracks at what I saw, it was a picture of Rose with bold lettering across the top and bottom. I read it quickly and sucked in a breath of air.

WANTED CRIMINAL: ROSEMARIE HATHAWAY

Suspect Warranted for High Treason. Accused murderer of the late Queen Tatiana Ivashkov. Reward granted to the capture of Hathaway.

I was appalled. How could they think Rose would do something like this? And for that matter, pin this on her when she was a missing person! My fists balled up in fury. Daniil noticed my sudden tense stance and nudged my arm forward, "Come on man, keep moving. It's nothing-"

"YOU KNEW?" I shouted in Russian. He gulped and opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off with another question, "HOW LONG! HOW LONG HAVE THEY THOUGHT THIS!"

"Since this morning" he replied back in Russian, but he quickly switched back to English as he said, "Take it easy Belikov. Just keep moving and forget about this." he said trying to cover for me but I've had enough of the pretending. My jaw flexed as I readied myself for a fight. He sent me a glare trying to send the message to back off, but I ignored it.

Like an automatic reflex, I went for two of the guardians closes to me. I rammed their heads together and they immediately fell down as they went unconscious. The next two guardians went to restrain my arms as they tried to bound my wrists with flex cuffs. I swirled around in agitation as I kicked one guardian in the stomach that sent him falling down the flight of stairs while I grabbed a hold of the other and shoved the side of his head against the steel railing.

I was about to go after my last guard when I realized it was Daniil. But no sooner had I come to that realization, I was taken off guard as his arms yanked me away from the now knocked-out guardian. I staggered back and then that's when I felt the back of my head make contact with the hard wall and everything went black...

A/N: Ooo, cliff hanger! But don't worry i'll try updating again on Friday. Review!

~Fabulous