Adrian and Sydney were waiting for us at the house. Sydney's hands covered her face and Yeva knelt beside her whispering gently. Adrian was pacing the floor with a strained look on his face. He looked up at us as we walked in. His eyes widened once he noticed Dimitri was carrying me.

"Are you alright? What happened?" He looked really worried.

Dimitri laid me on the couch. "She's feeling sick."

I shook my head, "I'm fine now. Just a little dizzy." I tried to sit up but my stomach complained so I laid back.

"Sick?" He took my hand. I felt warm waves enter my body.

I pulled my hand away, "I'm fine, Adrian. Really. It was either the pregnancy symptoms or the dead body but it was just puke. I'm fine."

He looked a little hurt. "I could ease it for you."

"There's no need to hurt yourself just to ease some nausea." I smiled trying to reassure them all that I was fine.

He shut his eyes, "You all saw it? The body?"

Dimitri nodded, "Yes. How did you find it so fast? She couldn't have had an aura."

Adrian shook his head, "It wasn't her aura that I saw. There was another one but it quickly dispersed as it moved. But that's where it started. In that hall." He clenched his fists. "I should have spotted it earlier."

"It's not your fault. None of us knew that would happen." Dimitri looked just as pained as he tried for his comforting words.

He scoffed, "But I'm the one with the power to check for these things. I was careless." He sat down and buried his face in this hands. "It could have been so much worse."

Viktoria forced a harsh laugh, "Worse? What's worse than a girl being killed?"

"It could have been one of you!" Adrian's gaze shot up and burned on her. She flinched back. I felt my body jolt quickly as well. "They could have gotten one of you."

My heart sank. It was a cruel thing to say but in the back of my head I understood what he meant. It would have been horrible losing anyone we knew and loved. Having it being a stranger wasn't any better but that cold and selfish part of me felt relieved. It could have been one of us. Viktoria's eyes watered. Alek pulled her into his arms and hushed her. My heart sank until I felt it in the pit of my stomach. It smothered the queazy ache that was just there.

"We should look into this." Dimitri looked all business. His face was so serious. Like stone, showing no other emotion than being determined.

Adrian shook his head, "There's no need. I know what happened."

"You do?" Dimitri's brow rose.

"Couldn't you tell? She died of blood loss, am I right?" He gestured to all of us for comfirmation.

I nodded, "Yea. She was so pale. Her skin was so unbelievably white." Flashes of her body laying on the floor ran through my mind. I shook head and placed my hand to my forehead to erase the image.

He looked down at his hands, "It was a Strigoi." He weaved his fingers together and rested his chin on them. "When I first heard the scream I started looking for the source. It took just a few seconds before I spotted it. A dark aura. It was so fast and before I knew it, it had gone." He bite his lip.

"But it did it out in the club? Out in the open?" Dimitri paced the floor now.

"No." He pressed his weaved fingers to his mouth. "Her aura was never present. I would have caught at least a miniscule part of it if she was drained. He wanted someone to find it. First he killed her then he planted her body there."

I frowned. This was so confusing, "Why would a Strigoi do that?"

Dimitri paused in his tracks, "For attention. He's trying to get someone to notice. But the question is 'who'?"

"Maybe we should be asking Gabe." Alek directed that to Dimitri.

He nodded slowly, "I think it'd be our best shot at figuring this out."

Adrian shook his head, "That'll just have to wait. We still have our meeting with Maestro tomorrow."

"Gabe can take care of it." Dimitri dismissed it so quickly.

He scoffed, "Yea, I don't really trust your buddy Gabe going into that meeting alone."

Dimitri glared at him, "Why? Because he was Strigoi?"

"It wasn't exactly too long ago."

He scowled, "It wasn't even his fault."

Adrian shrugged, "I'm just saying I don't trust him just yet."

"He's trying to help!" His voice rose but he toned it down. He inhaled deeply and sighed heavily trying to calm himself.

I rested my hand on Dimitri's shoulder, "Are you alright?"

He nodded, "I'm fine."

In some ways it wasn't even necessarily about Gabe. It was about Dimitri. He was still haunted by his memories of when he was turned. It may have not been for long but it didn't take long for a god to wreak havoc. He took innocent lives and even managed to capture me and hold me prisoner. I had nothing against him. I didn't hate him or hold him at fault for any of it but he did. Somehow it always managed to circle around back to him. Whether it was a situation or someone verbally pointing it out. He was constantly reminded of his Strigoi past. And in his mind he must have thought if we couldn't trust Gabe, who was a restored Strigoi, then how could we truly trust in him?

I gently squeezed his shoulder, "I'll go with Gabe tomorrow."

"No." Dimitri grasped my hand firmly. "It's too dangerous."

"Why? Gabe will be there," Adrian said mockingly.

Dimitri glared at him, "Maestro could try something sneaky. Gabe told us how he has a thing for Nicola. What if he...?"

I shook my head, "But he won't try anything. Gabe will be there to help me if I need it."

"But you don't know how strong he is." He cupped my cheek. "I cannot risk you."

Adrian clapped his hands loudly together, "I'm going with them then."

"Adrian", I started to protest.

"Don't try to talk me out of it. If we're letting you go then I have to go. I could help with my magic." He looked like he was trying to think it through.

Sydney stood up from her spot, "Then I'm going too."

Adrian shot up beside her, "No."

"Why not? I could help." She still looked a little dazed.

"It's going to be hard enough trying to keep Rose safe. I cannot have you there to worry about too." He stared down at her from his height.

She stared back at him. I had never seen her with so much determination in her eyes. "I. Am. Going. I never said I needed anyone's protection."

"Sydney," he covered his face with his hands. "This is not negotiable."

She nodded, "Exactly. And that's why I'm going."

He looked at me, desperation in his eyes, "Rose? Some help here?"

"She's coming." I smiled at her.

"No, no. Come on! Is anyone else in this room thinking clearly besides me?" He threw his hands in the air.

Yeva laughed out loud, "Я вижу, кто носит брюки в ваших отношениях, Моroi!" She winked at Sydney, "You have some fight in you, алхимик."

Sydney blushed, "спасибо, Yeva."

"What does any of that even mean?" Adrian squinted at them both.

Dimitri grinned, "I think her mind is made up, Adrian."

He glared at Dimitri, "So now you're okay with Rose going?"

"I'm not 'okay' with it but she'll have you and Gabe there." He tightened his hold on my hand. I returned the feeling.

"And what are you going to be doing, Dimitri?" Adrian said his name so satirized that it even made me feel a little upset.

He just kept a straight face, "I am going with Alek to see if we can find anything once we get a name from Gabe."

"Uh-huh." He held his chin between his pointer and thumb. "Let me get this straight, Gabe is leading Rose, Sydney and myself into a den of lions while you and Alek play detective?" He dropped his hands and shrugged, "Sounds fair, doesn't it?"

"Adrian, stop it." Sydney looked red in the face. "That's enough already. I don't understand why you have to keep pushing. We all have our roles in this. None are more risky than the other. I am willing to do whatever it takes to fix my life even if it means walking into 'a den of lions'. So put on your big boy pants, get with the God damn program or go home."

The room went silent. I couldn't believe my ears. I was nearly tempted to slap myself to see if I was dreaming. Sydney Sage had just swore. Yea, it was mild but for her that was something epic. I felt time slowly sift away as I tried to find the right words to follow her 'Adrian Lecture'.

"Я люблю ее." Yeva smiled and patted Sydney's back. Her smiled dropped just momentarily, "Только не использовать имя Господа напрасно."

Sydney smiled meekly and ran her hand over her golden cross around her neck, "Sorry."

"You need to stop doing that." Adrian pointed at Yeva. "If you don't mind, share with the class."

She grinned, "Don't get so upset about it, Moroi. I didn't say a thing about you."

He frowned, "It's Adrian."

"Меня не волнует, Моroi." She waved him off and started making her way up the stairs. "I'm going to bed. It's late."

We all waved and said our good nights until she was locked away in her room. Adrian turned to Dimitri, "I have this feeling that woman doesn't like me."

Dimitri shrugged, "Don't take it personally. I think it's all male Moroi in general."

"Oh, lucky me." He started patting his pockets. A smile spread on his face as he pulled out the cigarettes he was searching for. "I'm going to step outside."

Sydney watched him walk out. Disappointment would be the best way to describe the way she watched him. I felt for her. He was falling back on his old vice. On the brightside of things, he wasn't drunk. Although he had had one drink he was able to control himself. I wasn't sure if that one step forward was enough to make up for this step back.

She sighed heavily, "Has he always been like that?"

"Believe it nor not he's actually made some progress." I smiled sweetly.

"You're right, it's unbelievable." She sat back down on the couch and rest her head on her hands. She watched the door for a minute more before focusing back on the group. She sighed, "So what's the plan?"

Going over the details made it all sound so simple. The fact being it wasn't going to be. Gabe and Dimitri discussed the known active Strigoi in the area where the dead girl was found. After getting a list of names Dimitri and Alek were to go over some known hiding places and hang outs. Alek, being the one with the information, would lead the investigation. I liked thinking of Dimitri as the muscle of the operation. Then Gabe, Sydney, Adrian and I were meeting up at the bus stop we officially met Yana at. We'd make our way to the club and have the meeting discussint the details of what we have to do to clear Gabe from his debts. If worse came to worse, we'd have to defend ourselves and try to escape. Of course we all were hoping it never got that far.

The next day, I wasn't exactly looking forward to going to see Maestro. Especially wasn't looking forward to being away from Dimitri. Our kiss probably lasted longer than it should have. He held me against him. The curves of our bodies pressed perfectly together. He always fit me in every way.

"You come back to me safely." He rested his head against mine. His gaze so intense.

I cupped his face in my hands and admired his gorgeous face. My heart melted, "I'll be fine. We all will be. Don't worry."

"I can't help but worry." He ran his fingers across my cheek and pulled me in for another kiss. "I love you, Roza."

A knot started forming in my throat. "I love you, too." I pulled away slowly. It was a struggle to fight my body's will to stay within his arms. It made my heart ache.

Sydney slipped the charm on my wrist, "Are you ready?"

I smiled at her, "Funny. I'm always the one asking you that."

"Well, not that I'm looking forward to it but I'm eager to get it over with." She shrugged, "And it doesn't hurt to have you there."

"And Adrian." I acted like I was adjusting the charm.

She blushed, "And Adrian."

It felt strange hearing her admitting to it. Then again she had been surprising me lately with how bold she had become. "I'm glad someone's not in denial anymore."

She shrugged, "Why lie? I feel safe with him around."

"That's all?" My hopes wilted a little.

She looked over her shoulder where Adrian was leaning against the door way. "I'm not too sure yet."

From the look in her eyes I could see that it wasn't just his security that she yearned for. I had seen that look on a few people already. Sonia and Mikhail, Lissa and Christian, Oksana and Mark, in Dimitri's eyes when he watched me. It was a deeper thing than simply wanting someone. It was a passion that burned within us when someone closest to our heart was just within reach. You wanted more than anything to just reach out and have that all too familiar feel. That pure, raw, electric touch coursing through you. I'm not saying that Sydney knew that feeling just yet but the look was there in her eyes. In her softened stare.

"Let's get going." Adrian looked down at his wrist watch. "We're suppose to be meeting with Gabe in ten minutes."

I nodded and looked to Sydney, "Then let's get this over with." I sent one last glimpse at Dimitri and held his gaze there for a second before tearing my eyes away and walking out the door.

Gabe was waiting at the stop. His tall sillouette reminded me of Dimitri. I shook it off as we approached him. He smiled, "Are you guys set to go?"

"Yea. How do we look?" I dangled my charm on my wrist.

He nodded, "Blurry. Like last time. So I guess that's good."

Adrian smirked, "Yup." He slicked his hair back.

Gabe gestured down the road where the club laid shrouded in darkness, "Shall we then?"

It felt the I was walking on a never ending road. In my mind it was so much faster leaving last time than it was getting there this time. The ground felt like sand as I walked on. I must have gotten lost in thought because the next thing I knew I was standing in front of the doors. Gabe held the door for me. I thought about thanking him but I was on auto pilot. I walked on towards the back. Sydney grabbed onto me and tried to say something. I didn't catch it. It was too late to ask her to repeat it once we were in the folds of the room. Maestro sat in the same place he was last time. Only his suit was a little different. He wore a dark green today beneath the black.

"Gabriel, a pleasure." He stood at our arrival and bowed his head slightly.

Gabe returned the bow and we followed suite. "Maestro."

He grinned, "Please sit. I have some news."

"Good news or bad?" I crossed my legs once I sat but quickly uncrossed them. The skirt was so short I thought my butt cheeks might peek out. And there was no way I was giving this creepy guy a show.

"Well that's entirely up to you." He squinted at me.

Gabe leaned forward and cleared his throat out loud, "If you don't mind, I'd like to hear the proposal. Did they agree to my offer?"

Maestro sat back and weaved his fingers together. "Yes. They agreed that once you complete this last task your services will no longer be needed." He put down the envelope containing the job's information and tapped on it. "So, do we have a deal?"

Gabriel looked at us like he was looking for our approval. I nodded to answer his unspoken question. He turned back to Maestro, "It's a deal. Once this is done I am out of your services for good."

"Then I suggest you all get to work fast. You only have a few days to get this done." He reclined back into his seat and smiled wickedly.

He picked up the envelope and tucked it under his arm, "We'll be in touch." We all stood to walk out. It went by faster than I could have hoped for.

"One moment, if you will." He stood up straight. Only then had I noticed just how incredibly intimidating he truly was. He was like a dark shadow looming over us.

Gabe sighted heavily like he was irritated. I'm more than sure it was an act due to the fact that even I was starting to feel a little unnnerved. "What now?"

He smiled and fixed his eyes on me, "Nicola, may I have a word with you?"

I noticed Adrian stiffen but he was quickly over shadowed. "Only if I am present", Gabe took a stance in front of me. His chest puffed out and hands clenched. He was strikingly similar to Dimitri.

"Why? Is she your woman?" Maestro's smile turned cruel.

Gabe grinned, "And if she is?"

He shrugged, "Well from what I had observed it didn't seem like you had much interest in her. Or rather her in you."

I placed a firm hand on Gabe's shoulder. "I don't like to mix business with pleasure. Coming here is pure business. Why should we feel the need to show affection?"

"Indeed." Maestro's smile dimmed to a frown and his eyes darkened. He waved us away, "Leave. I have no other use for you as of now."

We turned our backs to him. I felt his eyes on me. It was so uncomfortable that I ducked out of view as soon as we were out of the room. I shuddered and felt a hand land on my shoulder. I was quick to brush it off. But then I saw Gabe's smile.

He was looking down at me with some concern in his eyes, "Are you okay?"

I nodded, "If you don't count the digust I feel in the pit of my stomach then yea. I would say I'm okay."

"I'm sorry." He frowned.

"You don't have to apologize for that creep. It's not your fault." I tried for a convincing smile.

He shook his head, "But it is my fault. I'm the reason we had to meet him in the first place."

I shrugged, "I guess you got a point there." He looked to the ground as we walked out the door. He almost looked sad. I nudged him, "Don't be so down on yourself. At least you had my back."

Adrian smirked, "And I'll admit I was wrong about you Gabe. You're a pretty alright guy." He patted him roughly on the back.

"Thanks." Gabe's lobsided smile made him endearing.

When we got to the bus stop I dropped down. My body sagged with relief. Sydney sat down beside me and I leaned on her shoulder. "How are you holding up, Sydney?"

She shrugged, "A little relieved. But it's not over just yet."

"Yea, I know what you mean." I started playing with a strand of my hair. "How exactly do we do this job without actually doing this job?"

Gabe sighed, "I have an idea but it's going to take some smooth talking and convincing on these unsuspecting victims."

Adrian grinned, "I can totally help you there."

"I'm not too sure if that's a good idea." Sydney pressed her lips together.

"Why's that?" He gave her a curious look.

She looked sheepishly away, "Well, sometimes what you say doesn't rub well with others."

He laughed, "Oh, I can be a very charming person. I just like giving some people a hard time." He winked.

She reddened, "That explains alot. Thank you."

"Come on. Don't act like you don't like throwing around derisional conversation with me." He smirked.

"Derisional? Really? Did you have to look that word up before using it?" She grinned.

He nodded in approval, "See?"

I laughed to myself. "Seriously, what are we going to do about this?"

"I was being serious." Adrian gave me a puzzled look, "Don't you trust me?"

I looked at Gabe, "Well... "

Gabe nodded, "Sounds like a good idea. Doesn't he have the power to compel someone?"

"And that handy feature is enhanced by my Spirit magic," a smug grin spread on his face.

Sydney frowned, "Would he have to go in alone?"

"We can't very well send you in with him. You're human. They'd catch onto you in a place like that." Gabriel looked like he was in deep thought.

Something stuck me as strange, "In a place like what?" His face dropped and went slightly pale. His gaze shifted to me. "Gabe? You've been there before, haven't you?"

He turned away, "It's not something I'm proud of."

"So when you said you had done some errands for him before you mean you've done a similar job?" Sydney was now up and staring at him. Disbelief floating in her widened eyes.

He nodded slowly, "Yes." His answer came out huskily.

She turned away abruptly. Like she couldn't stand the sight of him. Her hands clenched into fists and a gentle tremble in them. I gave her a sympathetic glance. I could only imagine what she thought of him now. "Why hadn't you bothered to mention that before?"

"I did..."

"Not to this extent." Adrian was staring away from him too. I think after that admittion that he thought Gabe was a 'pretty alright guy' was being replayed in his head with regret. "All you said was it was of Strigoi business. Not that you had gone to this particular place." He crossed his arms over his chest tightly.

Gabe sighed and raked his fingers through his hair, "There's not many places to really find Strigoi around here. And I never thought to mention its details."

"Of course not, "Adrian scoffed.

I needed to think. Now that we were getting into the details of things it was getting complicated. It seemed like the more we planned the more there was to reveal on Gabe's end. Dimitri would like to have this information as well. I pulled out my cell phone and dialled him up.

"Who are you calling?" Gabe watched me with worried eyes.

"Dimitri," I said it so deadpan that he dropped his head.

He picked up after the second ring, "Roza?" His voice sounded concerned.

"We're fine. There's just a few things I want to run by you." I looked at Gabe. He hung his head low as he sat on the curb.

The conversation wasn't too long. Once I finished explaining the whole ordeal Dimitri's reaction was silence. I could only imagine what was going through his head. Honestly, in her position, I would have been upset. Dimitri had chosen to trust gabe and for him to keep something like that from us was setting him back.

"Where is he now?" His tone was low.

I tilted my head at Gabe as if Dimitri could see me, "Right here."

He sighed, "We'll meet you all at the house. Alek and I are already on our way back. We've done all we can for today."

My heart quickened, "Did you find anything?"

"Nothing too big to mention but we found a few clues. I'll run it by the group once we're all safe at the house." He paused, "Where are you anyway?"

"The bus stop." I thought it would have been obvious. Then again he could have thought we were already at the house. It wasn't very far from here. The walk wouldn't take long.

"Well get to the house. Call me if anything happens, okay?"

I laughed lightly, "It's not far from here. I doubt anything eventful will happen."

He sighed heavily, "Just in case something does know that I am just a phone call away."

I could tell he was serious. Always worrying. "Okay. I love you."

"I love you, Roza." I loved the sound of my name. Or maybe it was that I loved the way he said my name.

The line clicked and I lowered the phone. Gabe was still looking depressed sitting on the curb. I kneeled beside him, "Everything's fine."

He nodded, leaving his head low, "Did he say what's going to happen next?"

"No. Just for us to meet them at the house. They found a few things thanks to the list of names you gave him." I stood up and put my hand out. "Let's get going." He took my hand and I pulled him up.

"That's all he had to say?" Adrian was standing behind us.

I shrugged, "Pretty much. That and get home safe."

He smirked, "We're not that far from the house. I don't think anything too exiting is going to happen."

"That's what I said."

He turned to Sydney, "You ready for the walk?"

She smiled shyly, "Not that I have much of a choice in it."

"Is something wrong?" I couldn't help but notice the bitterness in her tone.

She softened and looked off into the dark, "No. It's nothing."

"Are you sure? You sound kind of..."

"I said it's nothing." Her tone was firm and harsh. She kept her back to us.

Adrian's smile turned stale and he eyed her, "Syd." Adrian tried reaching for her.

She turned suddenly, "It's Sydney, Adrian. My name is Sydney."

He frozen and his face went blank. He approached her slowly, "Okay, Sydney. What is going on?"

"Nothing," her voice softened but sounded like it was about to crack. She put her hand to her head, "I think I'm just cranky because I'm tired." That time her voice did crack.

I felt sadness settle into my chest. She was obviously stressed out. Would she be sane if she was even remotely content going through all of this? I kept my distance. There was no way she wanted someone's comfort right now. No, she just needed room to breathe. Going through a transition like her's would leave anyone a little shaken and stirred. But she was strong. She made that clear each time she helped. Each time she dove into our messes, no questions asked. Sydney Sage, the rouge ex-Alchemist.

Adrian forced a laugh, "How about we get some coffee?"

Sydney's expression softened. If I wasn't mistaken I could have swore I saw a tear run down her face. Just one small, slip-up of a tear. She nodded, "That sounds amazing right now."

By Shadow Kissed Mori