BAMM!!!!!! Chapter 6!! I'm so proud of myself right now :) I've barely had any internet, I'm been writing for about 15 minutes a week! It was killing me! I know it might not be the best chapter ever, but hey! Give me a break. And don't forget to review! I miss you guys sooo much! Cheers :)

I also want to thank a very special reader of mine, Kirsty, for always leaving me lovely reviews! I feel horrible for never writing you back, you should make an account!!! lol! *hugs*

Disclaimer: It belongs to Richelle Mead.

Chapter 6

"She can, can't she."

I looked behind me, where the voice had come from. My Mother was standing in the doorway, an unreadable expression on her face. Crap.

"Hey Mom!" Eddie forced a smile, "You're home early."

Guardian Hathaway slowly entered the room, her face expressionless. I turned my head and saw that my new friends had unconsciously come to stand in a straight line, facing my Mom. Smart kids. The whole scene reminded me of when a general confronts his army.

I almost burst out laughing when I saw Mark begin to shake. I guess I should go save them.

"Awe, come on Ma! Stop scaring my friends."

I began laughing in a very forced manner and stared Eddie down until he began laughing too.

I gave my Mom a knowing look and her face relaxed slightly.

"What are you kids up to?"

After quick introductions my friends started blabbering on to my Mom about how I kicked Eddie's butt even though he was a whole foot taller than me. My face heated up at their praise and I found a fascinating smudge on my sneaker that I just had to stare at. It really was a beauty.

I suddenly felt a pair of eyes on me and looked up to see Hunter staring at me. I don't think he even noticed that he'd been caught. I've had tons of guys stare at me in the past, but his stare was… different. It wasn't a look of lust or a glare. It was almost like wonder, yet something else entirely. My heart began to pound under his gaze. Only one guy ever looked at me like that.

The same guy that put the beautiful necklace around my neck.

The necklace that might save my life one day.

Feeling self-conscious, I cleared my throat loudly and Hunter seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in. Instead of looking embarrassed like I thought he would, his face was etched with guilt. What was that about? Had he never stared at a girl before? I looked up into his ice blue eyes for clarification but was even more confused. You could even say that I was shocked. Regret.

Before I could decipher anything else, he quickly turned around and walked away. Leaving me completely shocked. Shocked because of his expression and something else. Something that went straight to my heart.

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"IT WAS IRRESPONSIBLE, CARELESS…"

My Mom was even better at yelling than Kirova. Which is saying a lot. Maybe it's because she's so scary looking when she wants to be. Kirova reminds me of a vulture. Janine reminds me of… I don't know, a phoenix maybe? Ya, a phoenix! What, with the red hair and all.

I looked at her, not really hearing what she was saying. Maybe because I've heard it so many times before. She was breathing hard, looking completely outraged. It was kinda funny actually.

I looked over at Eddie, who looked like the obedient son. Except for the slight slouch, which told me he was bored too.

"Rose, are you even listening to me?" My Mom asked in a normal voice.

I looked up and saw that my Mom was completely exhausted. She might be scarier than Kirova, but she didn't have the endurance that Kirova did. That was something you could improve with more practice. Trust me; I helped Kirova practice a lot. A lot.

"Yes, I heard you. I'm sorry that me and Eddie acted so foolishly. It won't happen again." I learned the hard way that it was always better to be polite. Might just shave off a week of grounding.

"Yes, well…" Janine stammered. Clearly confused by my mature answer. And people said I didn't have it in me. Shame on them!

Before she could say anything else the microwave alarm went off. My Mom suddenly stood up and ran up the stairs, to her office.

I remembered her saying something about it being some sort of special alarm, the first day we arrived. Something about… a strigoi attack! That was what she said!

I ran up the stairs, Eddie on my heels.

When we entered her office, I stood there in shock. The room had miraculously transformed into our own personal guardian's headquarters. Computer screens whizzed and beeped in all directions.

Guardian Hathaway – a completely different person from the one who was talking to my friends just minutes ago – stood in front of what looked like the main computer. She was typing furiously, but still looked calm and in control.

She turned to us when we entered the room and started barking orders.

"Rose, grab the weapons and stakes from the gym! Eddie, go get the jeep ready!"

We went to work immediately.

As I was grabbing the equipment from the gym, my head was spinning and my heart was pounding loudly. This is what I've been waiting for since I got here! As I went to grab the stakes I stopped short. Was I even ready? Could I kill… again?

Ignoring the feeling of doubt that was growing in my stomach, I got what I needed and headed back up the stairs. Mom and Eddie were in the kitchen, hastily going over the plan. After filling me in and strapping on the equipment, we headed out.

__________________________

The room was completely dark, except for a single candle. An old woman, a vrajitoare, sat before the candle. Completely in a trance. A dark figure stood across the room, watching her intently.

Her dry, brittle lips formed soundless words. Everything else was still, silent. The lips paused for several minutes, and then a surprisingly strong voice came from them.

"She's coming."

The dark figure slowly grinned. His red eyes shining in anticipation.

_______________________

"What the hell are we looking at?" I whispered to Eddie loudly.

We had just arrived at the destination that had set the microwave alarm off. Normal people go grab a fork to eat their ready-to-eat-pasta with. We go grab stakes and set out to kill a couple strigoi. I never said our family was normal.

We were standing inside what looked like an abandoned warehouse. There was absolutely nothing here. Trust me, I had to go check. Besides a couple of vomit worthy rats, it looked like no one had been here for a long time. Hence the name Abandoned Warehouse.

"There's nothing here." My mom said, stating the obvious. "Must have been a false alarm, let's go."

As we were walking out, I stepped on something that made a crunching sound beneath my foot. Please don't let it be a cockroach... I thought. I lifted my foot and saw a circular button that was flashing red.

"What the f-" The next thing I knew, I was free-falling into a dark pit. The last thing I saw was Eddie and my Mom's faces peering over the edge over the hole, screaming my name. The trap door closed, and everything was pitch dark.

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"Ow!" I landed on what felt like a stone floor. Right on my spine. Ouch.

I hastily stood up, trying to get my bearings. I let my eyes adjust to the darkness, and with my dhampir senses I could clearly see my surroundings. I had landed in some kind of stone tunnel, like the ones they always have in Disney movies.

I was on high alert, my mind instantly remembering the attack in my Mom's office. Had I just accidentally landed in some sort of trap? Or had someone purposely wanted me to come here? If someone had wanted me here, how did they know I would step on that stupid button in the first place?

I tried to sense if there was any strigoi nearby. I didn't feel nauseous, so I was fine, for now…

Before I could do anything else, my walkie-talkie started beeping. I turned it on and my Mom's voice instantly came on.

"Rose! Where are you? What happened?"

Static came on and I pushed the button to reply.

"I don't know! I pushed some button on the floor and this trap door under me opened up!"

"We know that, stupid. Where are you?" Eddie's voice came over.

I rolled my eyes. "I don't know-"

I turned around and screamed. A tall, dark figure stood over me, completely motionless.

"Rose!!! Rose!!! What's happening?!?"

I gasped for air and turned back to my walkie-talkie.

"Nothing. It was nothing. Just a… uh… really big rat. Sorry!" I made up on that spot.

I then turned to the dark figure.

"Mason! What are you doing here?!?"

He just looked at me, his expression sad as always.

My Mom came over the walkie-talkie.

"The trap door won't budge. Is there another way out of there?"

I looked around me some more. The tunnel ran a ways down until it was pitch dark. I didn't know what was down there and I didn't exactly want to find out.

"There's a tunnel. I don't know where it leads, but it seems to be the only way out. What should I do?"

Janine didn't answer right away and I knew she was thinking it through. Thinking of all the different scenarios.

"Do you have your stake with you?" She asked, almost reluctantly.

"Yes." I answered instantly.

My hand went to my necklace instead of to the stake at my waist.

"Alright. Be careful. I mean it Rose, no goofing off."

"Copy you." I answered my heart beginning to pound loudly. "Over and out."

I put my walkie-talkie back on my waist and turned to Mason. I looked at him for a minute and he slowly nodded his head, then he disappeared as if he was never there in the first place.

I turned in the direction of the tunnel, taking a deep breath. I pulled out my stake and with a final glance at the trap door above my head; I began to slowly creep down the long, dark tunnel. Not knowing what I'll find at the end of it.

So what'd ya think? Brilliant, so-so, or just plain awful?? I wanna know! I go back home on Aug. 10. So I'll update again sometime that week. Thanks so much for being so patient you guys. I've heard nothing but kind things :) REVIEW!! Pretty pleazz?

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