OK so here is the next chapter I hope you guys love this chappy! Thank you for all the kind reviews. Sorry for the delay on uploading, it's crazy in work. Too many deadlines at the moment but I promise to get the chapters up as soon as I can. Plus I am working on finishing the other two stories I have here too.

Chapter 10 –

It had been three days since we had been brought back to the academy and in that time Dimitri had never come to visit me. It was obvious that he was avoiding me now we were back in St Vladmiri's.

I headed in the direction of the gym, which was located at the other side of the academy. I hoped that I would find Dimitri there.

Just as I was about to turn the corner to the gym I over heard voices coming from inside the gym. I knew it was rude to eavesdrop and was just about to turn around and make a quick exit when I heard Dimitri's voice. My curiosity got the better of me and I leaned forward to listen to the conversation.

"Dimka?" I heard Tasha speak.

"Hmm?"

" Have you had a chance to think about my offer yet?"

" I ..I'm assigned to Princess Dragomir, I can't just.."

"I know but Lissa will have any amount of Guardian's ..Plus she will have Rose after they graduated,"

"It's just that…"

"You and I can start a family. I know you want kids Dimka."

Oh. My. God.

Time froze. My heart stopped beating. I realized at the last moment that they had stopped speaking well Dimitri had and then I heard footsteps moving closer to the door of the gym. I stepped back too late to hide as the door flung open and Dimitri walked out.

Tasha followed close behind him. The rage boiled inside me as I thought of the conversation I had just heard and what was worst he had kept it from me. After what had happened in the cabin, after he had confessed he loved me. Was he going to take that Bitch up on her offer?

I stood there with my mouth wide open too shocked to move by what I had over heard. Dimitri looked in my direction and our eyes connected. He knew that I had heard the conversation between them.

"Roza?" Dimitri called out.

I raced out of there not wanting to hear what he had to say. I knew he would follow me anyway as I kept running.

"Roza stop!"

I felt a warm hand touch my shoulder and I look up to see a worried look on his face.

"When were you going to tell me about Tasha's offer?" I spat

"….She asked me before you and I…"

"So are you going to be her guardian?" I asked, mouth quivering.

Damn it I was not going to start crying in front of him.

" I –I"

Just then Dimitri's phone began to ring. Cursing under his breath as he pulled a slick black cellular phone from his back pocket of his jeans.

"Belikov,"

He listened as a frown creased his brow. Someone else at the other end was giving him orders.

"Yeah, she's here beside me," He said as he turned his head towards me "We'll be right there,"

He hung up on whoever it was and put the phone back in his jean pocket.

"What's going on?" I asked

"Comrade?"

"When the Strigoi attacked the academy …they took..Moroi and Dhampirs."

"Rose they some of your friends too,"

"Who did they take?"

"Eddie, Adam, Lucy,"

The list went on and I could feel the rage building inside me but this time it was for my friends and what the Strigoi had done.

Dimitri and I walked, silently across the academy grounds to where the Guardian's where holding a meeting. I really wanted to talk to Dimitri but now wasn't the right time.

Alberta nodded at the both of us as I pushed past her and Tasha.

We found my mother and the rest of the group studying a map. They spoke in hushed tones discussing something too low for me to hear what was being said.

My mother looked up as I approached her, "Rose"

"Mom,"

"How are you feeling?" My mother asked.

"Hmm fine I guess," I sighed " Lissa healed my leg and the bruises too."

"Good, where going to need you and some of the other novices out there too."

With that she gathered everyone around and explained the plan of action and that we would be hitting the caves from the exit and the entrance. Blocking both sides would give us the advantage.

Those kidnapped by the Strigoi were usually written off as dead. But I couldn't give up on Eddie and the others. I knew if they where in the same position that they would do the same too.

We moved at a brisk pace towards the caves. We would have to hurry if we where to make it to the caves before dark and catch the Strigoi by surprise. But we wouldn't have much time before they heard us with their superior hearing.

We feel silent as we approached. I guess nobody felt like small talk.

At the cave's entrance the group divided into two groups. Dimitri, Alberta and my mother where leading the group. Stan and some of the other teachers stayed back with the second group.

I watched as the sun began to set behind the mountains leaving us in total darkness. I quickly glanced at Dimitri just as he was about to go inside the caves. He turned and mouthed something to me before disappearing inside with the other guardian's.

We waited for what seemed like hours before some of the novice Moroi and Dhampirs that had been held against their will by the Strigoi.

After a little while nobody else came out of those caves. My heart hammered against my chest. I feared that something bad had happened to Dimitri or one of the others.

Then I heard Guardian Belinsky's walkie talky crackle, "

"Have we lost anybody yet?"

"No but we need more in there. We need to block the other end…"

"Let's go,"

I didn't waste a moment and followed Mark inside the caves. It was darker inside the caves then it had been outside.

I could sense them before they where upon us. I thought we would have the advantage of surprising them. They wouldn't be expecting us but the Strigoi where all around us just like in my nightmares. It was just us against them.

Following Mark and some of the other novices deeper into the caves as I gripped my stake tighter in my hand. The sounds grew louder as we came upon the other guardian's fighting Strigoi.

I quickly jumped into battle mode and tackled the nearest Strigoi. Then my hand snaked out and I drove the stake through his heart. His red eye's widened in surprise as his body collapsed to the floor below us.

I focused my attention on the next pair of red eyes that glared at me. We moved in circles around each other before he landed a blow to the stomach. I flinched as he landed another one. He was fast and stronger then me.

Then out of nowhere another Strigoi pushed me hard against the jagged interior wall of the caves. The Strigoi was tall and built like a tank. He had me pinned tightly and I couldn't break loose from his vise like grip. The more I tried to twist the tighter he held me.

It was becoming more and more difficult to breath as the Strigoi fangs inched closer towards my neck. I thought this was it –this was how I was going to die.

"Roza!" I knew that voice, that thick Russian accent sounded almost pained.

From the corner of my eye I saw Dimitri like death in a cowboy duster charging towards the Strigoi. Within sections Dimitri had shoved the Strigoi off me. The Strigoi was fast, so fast. But Dimitri was fast too and blocked his attack….

I really hope you guys like this –What do you think Dimitri was trying to say to Rose? I'm sorry I had to leave it there but I will try to update soon. What you guys want to see in the next chapter? Alittle Rose /Dimitri time perhaps? Please Review and let me know.