ROSES POV

I slunk around the corner of the building and into the back alley. After my run in with Dimitri and Tasha 2 weeks ago, I decided I needed to get active, to go and find this strigoi that turned me. So naturally I went to the largest city around, Novosbirsk. And was using my newly acquired status as 'Rose Hathaway Badass Strigoi strigoi-killer' to get information. I figured if this guy was able to mount an attack on court that he must be a high ranking strigoi.. if strigoi even have ranks? I dont know, I just knew that since I was going around killing other strigoi for information I was getting one step closer to the bastard.

I found myself standing outside a busy nightclub, The Renigade. I had discovered from a nasty, dirty piece of strigoi that it was a very popular destination for them. Because of the darkness and the noise, the pumping music and the flashing lights meant that they could get close to people without them getting a proper look at their faces and realising they werent normal. I made my way inside, using the back door so that I didnt have to go through the bouncer or the line out front.

I made my way straight to the bar, taking a seat in the corner and ordering a shot of Russian Vodka. It burned all the way down my throat and I felt the heat of it as it reached my stomach. I surveyed the busy club, horny teenagers grinding on the dance floor, guys leaning against the bar watching the girls move. God, how I wished I was one of those girls, without a single care, just here to have fun... unfortunately that was not the case, I was here for a reason. I was waiting for him to show up.

I had gotten a tip off last night that a certain strigoi was going to be showing up in this bar, as he supposedly does every couple of days. Im not totally sure it will be the right guy but I have all night to wait and see. I watched as a very obviously drunk teenage boy with spiky brown hair glanced at me, then he did a double take. A wide grin spread across his face and he started making his way over to where I was sitting. Here we go, I thought to myself as I ordered another shot.

"well... hello beautiful. Whats a gorgeous thing like you doing here... alone?" He asked with that stupid smug grin on his face. His eyes raked up and down my body. Taking in the tight, mid thigh length red dress that gathered around my waist and sat against my boobs, pushing them up and accentuating them more than necessary. I knew I looked good, and he obviously thought so too.

"oh honey, You havent got a chance in hell with me. Now get out of my face before I break something you dont want to lose." I said with a fake smile on my face. He didnt take the hint, instead he took the seat next to me and leaned one elbow on the counter, his other hand landed on my thigh and he started sloppily running his hand up and down. I threw back my second shot before grabbing his wrist and twisting it making him yelp in pain,

"I said get lost." I growled at him, glaring menacingly. I swear he may have pissed his pants as he turned and hurried away with a very scared look on his face.

I sighed, turning and sitting down I ordered my third shot When I heard that voice. It was one I remembered for all the wrong reasons. I was about to turn and look at where it came from when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"well, well, well, look who we have here." He purred in my ear as he turned me to face him. His black hair fell slightly over his forehead and his blue eyes glistened in the flashing lights of the club. "this look suits you very well my dear." He smiled at me, taking in my pale skin and red tinged eyes. I collected myself enough to smile back at him, I didnt want him to know that I wasnt really the bloodthirsty evil monster I was supposed to be so I figured I would play along. "I never got to really introduce myself did I?" He asked as he took the seat next to me.

"No, no you didnt. And yet you seem to know me very well." I interrupted him.

He laughed and ordered himself and me a drink. "My name is Riley." he said taking a sip of his drink and watching me with his piercing blue and red eyes.

"Its nice to finally put a name to the face. Ive been searching for you, you know." I said picking up the drink he had ordered for me and taking a slow sip. He arched an eyebrow questioningly at me. I just shrugged my shoulders, "you seemed very interested in me becoming what I am, but then you just up and left."

He chuckled quietly, "oh that. yes im very sorry for leaving you like that, I had... things... I needed to take care of first." it was his turn to shrug, looking away as he spoke and into the crowded dance floor. "anyway... you're here now... care to dance?" He asked raising from the chair and holding one hand out to me. I drank back the last of my drink, wondering if this was really a good idea, but I figured I was better to stay on his good side untill I figured him out more, So I took his hand as he lead me out into the grinding, bumping mess that was the clubs dance floor.

DPOV

"Ah its no use." Lissa yelled throwing her hands up into the air, she looked both exhausted and annoyed.
I continued bouncing Alex on my knee, watching her with amusement. Shes been trying for the last 2 weeks to try and get into Roses head, since she realised that Rose could still feel her emotions she thought maybe since Roses emotions were heightened, or supposed to be heightened, that she might be able to get in and find out where she went.

"Calm down Liss, maybe... maybe its not even possible. Maybe the bond is too weak now?" Christian spoke from beside her on the couch, placing a hand on the small of her back.
"But... I need it to... I need to know where she is. I need to know that shes not hurt, or dying from what Tasha did to her." She growled Tashas name, though it was more like a kitten growl than anything menacing. After that night I yelled at Tasha, she had taken off. Going back home to court we all presumed, though after what she did I couldnt really care less what she does anymore. Shes no longer a friend to me and I made sure she knew that. "We need to find her, before something bad happens to her and we cant save her..." Lissa trailed off as her eyes starting brimming with tears. Christian pulled her into his arms and held her while she cried.

"we'll find her...Rose is smart, she wont do anything dangerous... she knows we have a way to bring her back. Whatever shes doing it must be important for her not to have come back yet." I spoke quietly, watching my son giggle and smile as I bounced him. He was growing so much every single day and it hurt knowing that his own mother wasnt able to see him. But I held hope that Rose would come back anyday now, where ever she was atleast she knew that we could help her... atleast I hoped we could really help her, I still wasnt 100% sure about this staking thing, but for now it was our only chance.

I placed Alex on his blanket on the floor just as my cellphone rang beside me, I glanced at the caller i.d and had to do a double take. Reaching out I pulled it straight to my ear. "Roza?!"

There was loud noise on the other end of the phone, almost like the phone was right up to a stereo with the volume turned up. I strained to listen for a few seconds untill I heard her voice. "Why do you want him? What good is Belikov?" I heard her voice, it sounded almost snarled, like she was someone else...

A deep male voice answered her... it sounded familiar but I couldnt put my finger on it... "We need his... skills. Hes a very talented fighter, but he would be so much better as one of us... dont you think?" He sounded like he was hitting on her, trying to sound seductive. I growled at the thought of one of those monsters trying to touch my Roza.

"Dimitri... whats going on?" Lissa asked quietly, I just noticed that they had gone quiet and were watching me intently. I put my finger to my lips indicating for them to be quiet, she just nodded but kept her eyes trained on me.

The music over the phone started to get quieter and I could hear rustling like they were walking away from the sound. "So.. how do you plan on getting him? You've already failed once, I watched that fight... your guys were severly out matched." Roza spoke to the male.

His throaty chuckle came over the phone, "That was just a test, I needed to know exactly who was at that house, I was there you know? I stayed even After the fight..." He trailed off and I heard a swish of movement and then a strangled off gasp. "I know about you, Rose, I know something is up with you... a normal strigoi wouldnt have walked away like that... You didnt even hurt that bitch that tried to set you on fire." he growled.

Her strangled reply had me tensing up, the sound was painful to hear as she tried to gasp with each word. "They had guardians... If I had attacked her... they would have... killed me."

"You think Im stupid Rose? I know you still care for him, you still Love him..." he snarled the word Love like it was a dirty word, "but what I dont understand is how. How do you look like this, and still feel emotions?" He sounded thoughtful as he spoke.

"I wish I knew." Roza answered in that sarcastic way she used to.

RPOV

I tried to pull his hands from around my throat, this guy was fast and so strong it was insane. I thought I had him fooled until he spoke again, "I know about you, Rose, I know something is up with you... a normal strigoi wouldnt have walked away like that... You didnt even hurt that bitch that tried to set you on fire." he growled at me.

I had to think fast, I wasnt sure if this guy would kill me without a second thought or wether he actually needed me. "They had guardians... If I had attacked her... they would have... killed me." I choked out gasping for breathe as his fingers tightened slightly.

"You think Im stupid Rose? I know you still care for him, you still Love him...but what I dont understand is how. How do you look like this, and still feel emotions?" He asked, looking straight into my eyes.

He was getting on my nerves, "I wish I knew" I replied sarcasticly, narrowing my eyes at him. He just laughed and released my throat, his arms coming up in an overly exhagerated shrug. His smirk gracing his face once again.

"Well either way, Belikov and Castile will be ours soon. Very soon." He laughed before turning his back to me and walking back inside the club. I shook my head and raised one hand to gently rub my sore neck. I knew I would need help if I was going to kill this guy, and as much as I didnt want to involve him I knew I would need Dimitris help, I pulled my phone out of my bra where I had hidden it.

"Dimitri?" I asked, hoping like mad that he hadnt hung up thinking it was someone butt-dialing him or something.

"Roza, Whats going on? Who was that?" His accented voice came over the other end. I let out a breathe I didnt know I was holding.

"that was Riley... The strigoi who turned me." I said, I heard his sharp intake of breathe and the low growl that came straight after. If this hadnt been so serious I would have commented on how damn sexy that one noise was.

"Roza you need to come back. Where are you?" He asked, I could hear the concern and the worry in his voice and I could only imagine the look in his eyes.
"I cant Comrade... I cant risk being around everyone...I might hurt them..." I whispered back, I didnt want to start thinking about all the people I couldnt see and hadnt seen in the last 2months. I thought for a moment, "but...I need your help."

"Anything. Ill do anything for you Roza." He answered without any hesitation at all.

I closed my eyes, "Come to Novosbirsk... Just you. Dont tell the others where youre going because I know that they will force you to let them tag along but I cant risk them... I dont even want to risk you... but I dont know what else to do..."

I heard some shuffling around on his side of the phone "Im leaving right now. Ill call you when I get there and you can direct me to wherever it is your staying" He whispered back.

"okay...and Comrade?"

"Yes Roza?"

"I still do love you." I whispered.

I heard him chuckle on the other end, the sound made my heart skip a beat. "I love you too My Roza. Forever"