"Is there something you're not telling us?" Dimitri's tone was firm and unusually cold. It made me shudder thinking about the only other time I recall him being nearly this cold. When Dimitri was Strigoi.

Gabe shrugged, "I'm not too sure. Some of the memories... they don't really make sense. Time just seems to lapse differently." He gave him a meaningful stare. "You of all people must understand what I mean."

I noticed Dimitri's hands ball into fists. I cupped my hand over his and tried to sooth away the comment. "Is there anything you can remember that might bring us trouble?"

He nodded slowly, "There was a man. I had done some errands for him a few times. Mind you, these errands were of the Strigoi nature." He shuddered slightly.

"Do we need to be worried about him?" Dimitri had calmed down a little but there was still some tension.

"Maybe." Gabe clasped one of his hands over the other and rested his chest on them. "He seemed intent on just using me. My... friends, he once said they were of no use to him."

Friends seemed like a weird word refering to the Strigoi we had killed back at Gabe's hide out. They seemed more like minions. But then I remembered how fondly he spoke of Ariani and Erik. Like they had a little bit of a decent soul. In some way, to him, those two weren't that bad. Nicola and Marc had been the two he claimed he could have done without.

Adrian walked over to Gabe and looked him over, "Well at least we know he's not lying."

"How do we know he's not just trying to trick us?" Alek had chosen to take a place furthest from Gabe. "I think we should just rid ourselves of the problem all together."

Dimitri straightened himself and seemed to tower over all of us. "No. And you should do well to remember that I am here to enforce our first decision."

Alek backed down and sank into his spot. Gabe seemed to shrink under Dimitri's shadow. Somewhere along the lines Dimitri had become his keeper. And he wasn't planning on stopping until his task was complete.

He leaned against the wall and inhaled deeply, "This whole situation is beyond me..."

"Don't say that." I rested my hand on his and squeezed. "We don't have to do this. We can go back home. Where it's safe. Gabe can stand before the Council and plead his case just like we've done before."

He smiled softly, "It sounds tempting."

"And what about Sydney?" Adrian stood up slowly from his seat and took the center of the room. "The whole reason we came all the way out to the middle of Siberia was to make sure she was safe." His green eyes burned into me. Pleading with me to rethink our plans. I felt my heart ache.

I looked over at Sydney. She was just as taken back by Adrian's reaction as anyone else. Maybe even more. I nodded, "You're right. We cannot just leave her."

"The answer is simple." Gabe stood and when he straightened up he looked so tall and lean. "Just leave me. It's me they'll be looking for."

Dimitri pushed off the wall, "No. That's not an option."

"I'd rather survive as a dhampir than to have continued on as a Strigoi." He almost smiled.

Alek looked shocked. He recovered slightly, "Then wouldn't you rather live than survive?"

He nodded, "It's easier in theory."

"It's easier if you just let us help you." I felt a need to take action. A need to help. There was no way I was letting anyone just give up. "We can... we can think of something."

Oksana brought in a tray full of cups and a pot of what I assumed was tea. It definitely smelled herbal and sweet. "How is everyone doing in here?"

I smiled sincerely at her, "Actually, not all that great..."

"No?" Her expression saddened. "Is there anything I can do?"

Just as I was about to thank her and refuse politely, Adrian spoke up, "I think there might be." There was a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Who exactly agreed to Adrian's plan? I know I didn't." Sydney tugged on the cropped black shirt to try to cover her stomach. "Ugh this girl's wardrobe is so..."

"Sexy?", Adrian smirked as he slicked his messy hair style back.

She rolled her eyes, "I was going for more of the slutty term."

"Better than Nicola's." I adjusted the short skirt to cover the majority of my butt. Unlike the person I was disguised as, I didn't want to flash my lady bits to the world. "I still cannot believe all that girl owns are tight shirts and mini skirts." I caught Dimitri staring, "See something you like?"

He grinned, "It's nice to see everyone's adjusting to their outfits."

Sydney groaned, "Easy for you to say. You get the dark duster with your oh-so emo look, 'Eric'."

Dimitri tugged the collar of his dark grey duster and nodded, "I don't mind his style too much."

"I wish I could go with you all." Alek's grip tightened on his back pack.

"You can take my place..." Sydney's ill fated attempt to get the leather pants to breathe looked strained.

He laughed, "No, you can keep it." His face grew serious. "But you know where to find me if anything goes wrong. I can be there fast."

Dimitri patted his shoulder, "And we are greatful to have you."

Gabe waltz in and looked around at all of us, "Are you supposed to look like that?"

"Like what?" Adrian looked around at us too. "I think I've done a pretty good job."

"You all just looked sort of... blurry to me." He squinted his eyes.

Adrian clasped his hands together, "Oh! That. Well you see how this works is that if you know we are in disguise or if you know us then you'll notice some things. Such as", he gestured to Gabe, "blurred vision."

He tilted his head and looked like he was thinking it over. "I guess that makes sense."

"Do you really think I didn't put my best into these disguises?"

"And Oksana." I corrected.

He nodded, "And Oksana."

Gabe shook his head, "No, no. I'm not doubting your skills but it's all still very strange to me." He looked down at his hands as he ran them together. "I'm still adjusting."

"Tell me about it." Sydney dug the tip of her heavy boot into the ground and sent a small patch of dirt flying.

Adrian nudged her, "You nervous?" She just gazed at him sheepishly. That was enough for him. He hesitently rose his hand and cupped her jaw, "Don't be. You can do this."

She nodded and a hint of a smile appeared and just as quickly was pulled back, "Thank you."

Gabe took center ground, "Are you all sure you want to do this?"

There was a quick moment of silence that was easily over taken by Dimitri's voice, "The only question left to really ask is 'Where to?'"

He nodded, "Then off the pits of hell we go."

"Not the greatest of references." I glanced back at Sydney who still looked ready to faint.

He followed my gaze and frowned, "Sorry."

Getting to the place wasn't hard. The guy might as well have posted up a sign that said, 'Strigoi here!'. It was dark and dreary looking and sitting nearly smack dab in the middle of where there plenty of clubs and bars. In fact, it looked like a night club. It wasn't until I had one foot in the door that I realized it was one. The music was blaring on the inside. Colored lights flashed across the room, lighting up bodies pressed against bodies. It smelled like sweat, liquor and smoke. Something I'm sure Adrian was use to but I was getting nausious. There was something else. Something I couldn't quite identify yet. It was sweet but also metalic.

"Follow me!" Gabe's voice was barely audible over the boom of the music and voices.

I grabbed Dimitri's arm to keep from getting shoved back into the crowd. Sydney was tucked behind me and clinging to my tight shirt making it all the more tighter. Only Adrian seemed to glide through the crowd with ease. He was probably use to this sort of thing with his late night escapes to party.

The room that emerged before us was small and kind of cramped. And there, sitting in the farthest corner sat a extremely pale man. His eyes were obcured by the lighting but it was obvious that he was Strigoi. The tiny room started feeling way too small for me. I was beginning to feel claustrophobic.

"Ah, Gabriel." His named rolled of the man's tongue in a new accent. Almost sounded like a hint of French. The man stood and I'm pretty sure he was at least six feet tall. He was dressed in a fine black suit with a dark colored button up. A bright red hankercheif peeked out of the pocket on his jacket. He put out a hand for Gabe to take.

But he didn't take it. Instead he bowed his head, "Maestro."

He grinned, "Such formalities. I should think we know each other better than that."

What the hell was that suppose to mean? I shot an uneasy glance to Dimitri who seemed unphased in his act of gloom. I had nearly forgotten we were here as someone else. I quickly flipped my hair over my shoulder in a dramatic way and pursed my lips the way I'd seen Nicola do before.

The man looked us over, "And I see you brought your people with you." He smiled at me and I felt a shiver crawl up my spine. It wasn't a pleasant feeling at all to be looked at by someone like him. His gaze was intense and felt like they were disecting every little detail about us. "Nicola. Don't you look exceptional."

I tried for a smirk and put on my best accent, "Why, thank you."

Light flashed across his eyes. "Something seems a bit different about you." He looked me over again.

I reached for any kind of response. "Maybe it's my hair." I flipped it again. "I did something a little different with it. That and my makeup", I batted my eyes.

He smiled, "That must be it then." He gestured to the leather couches, "Please. Take a seat. This won't take too long."

"I'm sorry we haven't come by sooner. There were some complications." Gabe took the seat closest to the man. His posture was still looking a little tense. Maybe he was just as nervous as the rest of us.

He nodded, "I'm more than sure. There have been reports of a group of Moroi and Dhampirs going around Russia tearing apart Our kind." He glanced at me, "I would hope that you are taking some precautions."

Gabe smile looked wicked, "I doubt we have any need to worry about some stray band of 'Strigoi Hunters.'" He scoffed and forced a laugh. We all in turned made agreeing little sounds.

"So you will still do me favors?" His eyebrow rose and sat at that angled, waiting for Gabe's reply.

He shrugged, "Depends on the favors. You know my rules."

The man laughed haughtily, "It's just so unreal. It's rare to find a man in Our circles to hold themselves back with such rules and regulations." He slapped his knee, "And that's what I admire about your work, Gabriel." His grin grew so wide that he exposed his fangs. "Your discipline and commitment makes you trustworthy and very capable."

"Thank you, sir. Now about this favor?" He lounged back into his seat and smiled.

Maestro nodded, "Right, to business." He waved away the three men standing guard nearby and they quickly dispersed. Then he leaned forward. "I would need you to be willing to push the envelope on this one."

Gabe leaned forward as well and frowned, "What exactly do you mean?"

A cruel smile crossed the man's face, "The two assistances that have been working for me have been nosing into parts of my work they shouldn't be. Now they either want in or they are going rogue. As you know I do not take well to threats."

"Why haven't you just taken care of them yourself?" Gabe leaned back into a comfortable position. "It sounds like it's a quick fix."

I felt disgusted by the conversation. Who could throw lives around like that? Of course that was a stupid question to ask in this sort of situation. They were Strigoi. And it was a well known fact that taking any kind of life meant little to nothing to them. It could have even been considered sport to them.

"You see, in there lies my dilema." He cleared his throat and pulled out an envelope from a small brief case beside his chair that I hadn't noticed. "I cannot be the one to do the deed. I have eyes on me and those eyes want me to keep my hands clean but get the problem taken care of."

Gabriel opened the envelope and pulled out a small stack of papers. He layed them out on the table for us all to see. There were pictures of two people. A young woman. Obviously human. She was dressed in a pant suit with her blonde hair pulled tightly into a high bun. The other was an older woman. The grey in her hair was starting to show but her features were still pretty. Her short brown hair barely grazed her shoulders and her thin lips and high cheek bones made her look like she probably scowled a lot of the time. The names read in bold print as 'Kathy Goughty' and 'Jeane Wright'. Which was which, I couldn't say.

Gabe eyed the papers and nodded, "Does the style or the means matter?"

"No." He glanced down at the papers as well. "Just get it down."

"And my payment?" Gabriel gathered the papers and placed them back into the envelope.

He nodded, "Will be sent to your account as usual."

"How much?"

He scribbled on a small piece of paper and slid it over to Gabe, "How does that sound?"

Gabe picked it up and grinned at what he saw, "That's cutting it a little short considering the time limit given for this little favor."

"That's generous considering that it's only two this time."

Only two this time. This guy was really starting to get under my skin. At this point I was ready to pounce on him and plunge a stake right through his heart. But there was that tiny voice in my head telling me otherwise. Sometimes I wished it would just shut the hell up and let me do what I thought was right. And killing this Maestro was the rightest thing right about now.

Gabriel stood up, "I'm sorry but it's a no this time." He dropped the envelope on the table and signalled for us to get up as well.

The man forced a laugh, "You're saying no?"

He nodded, "I believe so. And I want out."

His smile faded quickly, "Out? You know there's only one 'out' for this type of business."

Gabe spun around quickly and was face to face with Maestro. "Then lets cut ourselves a little deal, shall we?"

His smile returned, "What kind of deal are we talking about here?"

"You release me from your services if..."

"If?"

"If I do this job, no payment required."

His looked like he was thinking deeply. "Sounds intriguing." He weaved his fingers together and rested them on his lap. "I'll have to run it by The Owners in order to approve it, of course."

Gabe nodded, "Of course."

Maestro stood up and bowed his head slightly. "We shall reconvene in, lets say, two days?"

Gabe glanced around at the rest of us. We all nodded or shugged as if to say 'Do we really have a choice?'. If this was Gabe's way out then it was what we had to do. He turned back to Maestro, "See you in two days."

We all stood and started walking out when he called over to us, "And Nicola."

My body tensed up and I tried my best to gracefully turn to face him. "Maestro?"

He smiled, "Cannot wait to see what you wear next time." I wasn't sure if it was his comment or his perverted grin that made me sick to my stomach but I suddenly felt the need to blow chunks.

Instead I just smiled, batted my eyes and turn away before he could detect the look of utter disgust starting to appear on my face. It was then I noticed the tension in Dimitri's face. His hands curled into fists and his knuckles had gone white. There was no doubt that Maestro's little comment had gotten to him as well. I grabbed a hold of his hand as we entered deeper into the crowd of people. He looked down at me and smiled sweetly but there was still some signs of his tension. I had to release my hold on his as we exitted.

The night air was a welcome escape as we walked down the street to the bus stop. I still felt like I was in someone else's skin and Maestro's little unwanted attention left me feeling grossas I took a seat.

"Everyone alright?" Gabe leaned against a pole and folded his arms over his chest.

I groaned, "Not really."

He gave me a look of sympathy, "I'm sorry about that. I should have warned you that he has this 'thing' for Nicola."

"Had." Adrian corrected as he took his spot at the opposite pole from Gabe.

He frowned, "Right. Had."

"I nearly threw up in my mouth." Sydney ran her tongue over teeth and made a sour face. "That was just the most uncomfortable scenario I could have ever imagined." She shivered at the thought.

I nodded, "Tell me about it. I was about ready to kick that stupid grin off his face."

Dimitri laughed, "But I am glad you held your ground, Roza."

The nickname warmed my heart. "I have matured and mastered my control quite a bit since St. Vlad's."

"St. Vlad's?" Gabe looked confused.

"It's were I trained Dhampirs. A school for Us." Dimitri took a seat beside me and I purposely leaned against him just to feel that connection. I needed to chase away that crawling feeling of being molested by a creepy Strigoi. And what better way than to replace it with my Russian's touch.

Gabe caught on, "So you were recruited to be a Guardian trainer." He looked at me, "Your trainer."

"Actually he was suppose to administer my punishment." I felt a slight blush rush to my face.

He laughed out, "I should have known."

I eyed him, "What's that suppose to mean?"

"Nothing. It's just that you seem like you'd be the kid at school who would be the, uh, trouble maker." He smiled after his statement.

I stiffened, "I didn't start trouble."

"No but it always seems to find it's way to you." Adrian smirked and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Am I really being ganged up on here?" I looked to Sydney and Dimitri. "No help?"

Dimitri shrugged, "What they are saying isn't exactly inaccurate."

I gaped, "You too?"

"Well I actually met you because you were looking for trouble and I had to be called on to save you from trouble so..." She shrugged, "I'm not the best reference to look at."

I tilted my head, "Okay I can understand where Sydney is coming from but the rest of you don't really have much ground to stand on." I double looked at Dimitri, "Well maybe you do."

"How about we start strategizing for our next meeting with the Count?" Adrian pulled out a cigarette and put it to his lips.

Sydney gave him a stern look, "How about we don't discuss it in a cloud of smoke?"

He paused just before lighting up. He looked her over and sighed, "Okay, Syd. You win." He slowly took the cigarette and put it back in his pack with a look of longing as he place them back in his pocket.

I couldn't help but stare at the odd pair. Adrian Ivashkov, the bad boy smoker/ drunk that once held extreme feelings for me. The same guy who goes off on wild tangents when his Spirit magic takes hold. His devilishly good looks and capturing green eyes. Then there's Sydney Sage, the Alchemist on the run. Non-smoker/ non-drinker, good girl, innocent in nearly every way, do-gooder, health nut, and perfectionist. Then I rechecked. I suppose opposites do tend to attract. Who knows! Maybe she'll be a good influence on him. I couldn't stop the grin from forming on my lips.

Dimitri looked over at them then back to me, "What?"

I shook my head and directed my attention to nothing in particular. "Nothing. Just an interesting thought."

He leaned close to my ear, "About them?"

I smiled, "Maybe."

"Me too." He brushed my hair back and tucked it behind my ear. His lips grazed my cheek and I yerned for that kiss.

I turned my face to him and instantly got drawn into his gorgeous smile. His eyes lit up by the waning moon. It was a moment I wouldn't mind keeping as a picture. Add another one to the list. And then that moment ended.

"Gabriel?"

We all spun around in surprise. I noticed Dimitri had instictively reached for his stake. Then I noticed, so did I. My hand hovered no more than a centimeter over the sheath.

"It can't be you." The figure emerged from the shadows. Her wrinkles obscured her eyes and her greying hair was pulled back with small strands falling forward across her face.

He looked her over, "Should I know you?"

She smiled, "So it is you." She looked us over. "And who are your friends?"

He looked lost but attempted an answer anyway, "Uh, Erik, Marc, Nicola and Ari.."

"No." She said it so suddenly it caught him off guard. "What are their real identities?"

By Shadow Kissed Mori