I tried my best to keep my breathing steady. But I felt so vulnerable going up a staircase. So exposed to any wondering eyes. There as no doubt in my mind that there would be serious trouble if anyone happened to being going up or down. There was nowhere to stash an unconscious or possibly dead body. Because if it came to that I would have no problem with killing a Strigoi.

Mia tapped my shoulder and pointed to the hall we were approaching. It went in for about three feet and then split into two halls. Just like the second floor. I nodded and signalled that we would separate into our teams once we got up there. She nodded and signalled the others.

Dimitri suddenly pressed an arm across my chest and pressed me up against the wall. I in turn did the same to Mia. She let out a soft gasp but instantly caught it. It came out sounding like a pin drop in the empty halls.

I looked up and followed his gaze. Then I heard it. Someone was walking around up there somewhere. It suddenly got very quiet. Until I heard a door shut. He finally relaxed and released me. He signalled for us to keep moving.

The halls were pretty much a copy and paste of the second floor. Nothing signified any room was more important than the other. Which was a problem. The least a bad guy could do was put a big flashing sign on his door with letters made of colorful lights that said 'Bad guy here!'. That would have made this process so much easier. But unfortunately we didn't have that pleasure. So we split into our assigned teams.

I stayed back to watch Mia, Eddie and Alek reach their side of the hall way. Dimitri quickly pulled my attention back. We slowly made our way to the end of the hall on our side. Once more we were split into the small two man groups. Gabe and Adrian went to the room positioned straight across from our's.

This time Dimitri opened the door slowly.

"Who is it? What do you want?" The voice on the inside sounded irritated.

Dimitri and I traded glances. He cleared his throat, "Lily said you needed us." Lily being the unconscious servant I had just choked out. Thank God for all that information from the Watchers.

The man scoffed, "What? I haven't said a thing to Lily." We heard feet shuffling to the door. He pulled the door open and glared at Dimitri. His blue eyes ringed in red. "Oh, it's you."

He had shaggy blonde hair and thin tight lips. His skin was so pale. It reminded me of chalk dust due to his freckled cheeks. But he was dressed nicely. He wore black slacks with a dark grey shirt and black suit jacket. Even his shoes were black, pointed, and glossy. Classy.

He nodded, "Yea. I guess she must have made a mistake."

The Strigoi smiled cruelly at me, "Why are you tagging along, Angela?"

I looked at the ground, "She sent me with him. I'm just following her orders."

"God, that Lily thinks she's running our slaves." He scoffed, "Bitch." He waved us out of the way, "Where is she now?"

"I'm not sure. She said she had other things to attend to," Dimitri made his voice small compared to its normal fullness. His voice was naturally rich. Now it almost seemed timid.

He let out a stifled growl, "Damn it!" He pointed at Dimitri and me, "You two stay here. I'm going to find that stupid brat. Thinks she can do as she pleases just because Maestro favors her. I don't know why he hasn't sucked her dry yet." He kept mumbling as he walked away.

I sighed, "That was insane."

"I should have just taken him out," Dimitri raked his fingers through his hair.

"Come on. Let's plant the bomb before he gets back," I pushed him into the room. Luckily the place was furnished from ceiling to floor. And I didn't mind his taste in decor.

The walls were lined with retro portraits and paintings. Each framed in black. The big screen T.V. was sitting on an impressive entertainment center. And speakers sat at the corners on the room. Surround sound. The black leather sofa looked stuffed and soft. I wondered how it would feel to sit on it.

I made my way to the furthest corner of the room. There was a small box table there with a lamp. A small stack of books sat on the edge. I picked up the books and sat the bomb beneath them. It blended well. He'd never notice it. Unless he decided to read a book.

Dimitri took the bomb out of there and gave me a face that looked he was saying, 'You cannot be serious.' I just shrugged. He scooted the table forward and slid the bomb against the corner of the wall behind it until it came to rest on the floor. Completely out of sight.

We both got up and hurried back to the spots at the door. The Strigoi was just down the hall heading back our way. We straightened up and waited for him to approach us. Which didn't take long due to his fast pace. He came to a stop in front of us.

"I couldn't find her," he snarled as he ran his fingers through his hair. "What exactly did she say to you?"

I shrugged, "Just that we were called up here."

He made a face, "Why would she...?" His eyes went wide as he looked passed us. I turned my head only to find that Adrian and Gabe were sneaking out of their room. "Hey!"

Both of their heads spun in our direction. Dimitri was quick though. In one swift motion he had pulled his stake out and thrusted it into the Strigoi's chest. His eyes went wide and then blank. His body went limp in his arms.

I looked around to make sure nobody was alerted. I grabbed the Strigoi's legs and helped Dimitri stash him in the room. Once we placed him on the couch I sighed, "See? Even if we had left the bomb beneath the books nobody would have ever known."

He smiled, "Funny."

Adrian waved at us from the door, "Hurry."

We locked the door and walked out into the hall with them. I looked back, "Nobody was in your room?"

"There was," Adrian looked nervous.

I felt a chill run up my spine, "What happened?"

"I killed her." Gabe's voice sounded cold. "She tried to attack Adrian."

He tried to smirk, "Women just can't seem to get enough of me."

This was a horrible time to be joking around. "We didn't even hear a thing," I looked at Dimitri who only confirmed my statement with his serious face.

"Well I don't think you would have," Adrian cringed.

"You don't want to know," Gabe was staring straight ahead.

Dimitri nodded, "Let's just find the others."

We had made it to the four way. And the unthinkable happened. A flash of water whipped passed me, just barely missing my chest. I gaped at the clash of shadows across the hall way. Then natural instinct kicked in.

I charged forward. The first person I spotted was Mia. She was cornered at the end of the hall by two Strigoi. But where the hell are Eddie and Alek? My heart dropped horribly and I charged at the first Strigoi. He turned once he realized I was there but wasn't quick enough to see my high kick going straight for his face.

It connected beautifully. He went crashing into the door and failed as he struggled to stand back up. He snarled at me and then suddenly flinched slightly. That's what I thought. Or at least that's what went through my mind before Dimitri shot passed me and landed a solid right hook crossed his jaw. He slammed against the door again.

Dimitri grabbed him by the collar and was about to mount him when the creature kicked him off. I had never seen someone just do something like that. Not to Dimitri. My heart was pounding. From excitement? From anxiety? I didn't care. My feet carried me towards the Strigoi anyway.

I went for a fake swing. While he was busy trying to block what was never coming I swept his legs out right from under him. His head bounced on the ground like a bowling ball. But I couldn't stop attacking. He could bounce back any second. So I pulled out my stake.

He smiled wickedly at my weapon and jumped back up to his feet, "Come on!"

And I did. I sliced through the air with the silver flashing just by his face and chest. He was quick to dodge each attack. And he started his own attack efforts. Which was a mistake on his part. He left an opening. But even then he was able to dodge the full blow. I still caught him and was able to drag the stake across his shoulder, down to his chest. He snarled in pain.

But was quickly silenced once Dimitri's stake pierced his heart from behind. All I could see was the top of Dimitri's head and the silver peeking out from the Strigoi's chest.

He made a horrible gargling sound before finally falling to the floor limp. Dimitri yanked the stake out of him and wiped the blood off with the Strigoi's shirt.

I turned my attention to Mia. She was breathing heavily, holding her side. Blood was oozing out from between her fingers. I ran to her and held her up. The Strigoi that she was fighting was now on the floor, beheaded. Water was splashed around him and soaked into his clothes. She had used water to cut off his head.

She winced when I set her down to sit. I looked her over, "Are you seriously hurt?"

She nodded, "I think so. It's getting... harder to... breathe," she gasped for air.

"Adrian," my heart was racing. So much adrenaline was coursing through me that I began to feel my magic snake its way into my chest.

He grabbed her arm, "Here. Lay flat so I can see."

She stretched out. Moaning in pain as she tried to keep still, "Damn. That bastard. He got me... got me pretty good."

"Shh. Just stay still. We're going to take care of you," I grabbed her hand she squeezed. "Just hold on, Mia."

Adrian moved her shirt up so that he could see the wound. It was pretty bad. There was a long slice along the higher part of her rib cage. I could tell it was deep by the color of the blood. It was dark and thick. Adrian clasped his hands over it and shut his eyes. It took a minute but then the results came up. The wound was closing right before my very eyes. It helped to loosen the tension that I had built up on my own shoulders. But the tingling in my chest was still there.

She released my hand and sighed, "I'm feeling a little better."

Adrian took in a deep breath, "Yea. I would think you were considering I just healed you." He looked tired all of a sudden.

I placed my hand on his shoulder, "Are you okay?"

He smirked but even that looked weak, "No sweat, little dhampir."

"Adrian..."

"Where's Eddie? And Alek?" Dimitri was standing over us. A hint of relief on his face.

She lifted a heavy hand and pointed to the door I had knocked the Strigoi into. "There. Quickly. Eddie. He was hurt."

I instantly shot up and ran into the room. I paused for a moment as I was passing the living room. There was a dead body slumped up against the couch. But it was Strigoi. There was a silver stake poking out of his chest. I only panicked more. No. Eddie. Please be alive. And my heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I walked in just in time to see him sitting up. He was rubbing his neck and groaning.

"Eddie!" I went to him. "Any injuries?"

He was about to shake his head but let out a soft groan. "No. My neck just hurts."

I wasn't too surprised he said that. There was a huge red mark from the front to the back of his left side, right under his jaw. If I didn't do something there was a possibility of it swelling up. I nodded, "I can heal that."

He smiled, "I nearly forgot you could."

I placed my hands on his neck. His skin was stinky with sweat and blood. I frowned as I gathered my magic, "Why do you have blood on you?"

He gave me a strange look, "Blood?" He touched his neck and looked shocked, "Mia. Where's Mia?!" He tried to get up but I just pressed him down.

"She's fine. Adrian's fixing her up. We got here just in time," I started making the magic flow into him. He instantly relaxed. I ran it through him just in case there were any injuries he hadn't noticed. But he was right. The only thing I could see or sense was the one on his neck. So i just focused on that.

Once it was gone I pulled the magic back into me. It settled in my chest and I thought about 'storing' it like Adrian had taught me but I changed my mind. I could be needing it again soon. Especially after all the noise we had just made.

I got up and helped him to his feet. He smiled, "Thanks, Rose. Where's Alek?"

"Over here," Dimitri called out.

We made our way over. Alek was sitting up on a chair breathing heavily. He looked really upset. It was probably due to the big bump on his head. "Those guys got the jump on us. We didn't even hear them come in."

Come in? "We were in the hall way. We didn't see anyone come up?" Dimitri and I exchanged glances.

"They came from my room," Mia said as she walked in with Adrian supporting her weight. "I had walked in alone. To plant the bomb. But there were men in there. Four of them. And they attacked me once they realized I wasn't who I was disguised to be."

I was dumbfounded, "How'd they figure that out?"

"Probably her scent. She's Moroi. It's a vampire thing," Adrian shrugged. "I'm pretty sure that's how the dead chick back there knew about me too."

"Well you did a great job fighting them off," I praised.

Eddie nodded, "Yea. And the fighting ended up coming into our room. But it was so sudden. And they over powered us."

Mia sat down beside Eddie, "I wouldn't be alive if you hadn't taken that blow for me." She rested her head on his arm.

"No, you wouldn't be alive if they hadn't gotten here in time. While I was unconscious on the floor. I couldn't really protect you." He looked away. I could tell he was upset with himself. It was just like that time with Mason. He felt so useless.

I shook my head, "No. You did save her. If you hadn't then she would have been gone long before we even got here." I pointed to the dead Strigoi in the room, "Pretty sure you took him out."

Eddie smiled, "Yea. He was pretty stupid though. Jumped right on my stake."

"Either way you took one out," Adrian gave him a pat on the shoulder.

Mia nodded and looped her arm with his, "Exactly. Come on. Let's finish this."

He seemed convinced. So long as people believed in him Eddie could just keep his head high. It was one of his many endearing qualities. He never gave in. Not when there was still a chance. He was a protector. A true Guardian.

He pulled his stake out of the lifeless body as we passed. We walked out of the room cautiously. Dimitri and I took the lead while Gabe and Eddie took the rear. We wanted to keep the Mia and Adrian surrounded. We had to finish this. And the only way to do that was to take out the main man. Maestro.

We decided he had to be up here somewhere. But it was going to be hard figuring out where. We didn't know who was all here and what rooms were occupied. The Watcher's information only gave us so much. I shut my eyes tightly and thought. How the hell do we take out an entire floor of Strigoi by ourselves? Then it hit me, "I have an idea."

"Dear God," Adrian shook his head.

Dimitri turned me to him, "Please tell me it's nothing insane."

I bit my lip, "It very well could be."

He frowned, "Then no, Roza."

"But..."

"I said no, Rose," his voice was firm. "No."

I scowled at him, "Will you at least listen?"

"It could be a good idea." At least Mia was on my side.

He rose a brow, "Okay."

"Okay. We'll need to get Mia and Adrian out of here though. At least off the third floor. Then we will get all the Strigoi to come out. Make alot of noise."

"Are you crazy? That's like ringing the dinner bell for these things!" Alek glared.

I smiled, "Once they are all out you need to hit the ground. I'm going to use my magic."

Adrian grinned, "The sun. Your going to try that trick of your's again." He nodded in approval, "That's a pretty good idea. Considering you remember how to do it."

I shrugged, "Yea. I think so."

"You think so? We're going to take this on chance because you think you can do something you've done before?" I was getting pretty tired of people doubting my abilities.

"I don't know, Roza." Dimitri was looking at me with concern.

I cupped his face in my hands, "Trust me. I can do it."

He gripped his hands around my wrists and stared into my eyes. There was a definite battle going on inside him. I just hoped my side won. He sighed, "You better know what you're doing."

I laughed softly, "I pretty much almost always know what I'm doing."

"That's reassuring," he shook his head. "Alright. Mia and Adrian, you think you two can make it back to the servants' room?"

She scoffed, "Yea, because going down stairs is such a hard task."

Adrian shrugged, "We'll manage. Just give us three minutes. Five tops."

"Okay. Then head out. Gabe, Alek, Eddie and myself will wait for them to clear before we start making the noise." He looked back at me, "You just get ready."

Adrian and Mia ran off towards the staircase. Adrian turned and gave me one last smirk He nodded his head and mouthed the word, 'You can do this.'

I smiled at him until he was gone. That smiled quickly faded. I was really hoping I could do this. Because if I couldn't get this off in one shot then we'd be swimming in a hall way of Strigoi.

By Shadow Kissed Mori