AN: New chapter, yay and this one is about twice as long as usual. Well that is because some plot is finally kicking in and I had a blast writing this. So have fun.

This chapter has two cameo's, one from the Vampire Diaries and one from the Vampire Academy and we'll get to see Adrian and Kol's fun night at the Dragon Room, which ends, well, you'll see.

Warning: Violence, some mental health issues and vampiric themes (blood drinking/feeders)

Chapter 4: Factory Girl.

The Dragon Room was a reputable club, at least among a certain layer of the Moroi society. That was one of the reasons why Adrian had been ignoring it in favor of human nightclubs in the city. One of the other reasons was that it was owned by none other then Abe Mazur, who on the list of people Adrian didn't want to run into, was pretty high up.

So why was he going? He honestly didn't know. His drinking binge was starting to get boring and no matter how much he drank, or with how many girls he flirted, his mind still wandered to Her. He needed something, anything to occupy his mind and well, hanging out with Kol Mikaelson was a lot of things, but it was never boring.

So Adrian payed the cabdriver after getting dropped off in the shadiest looking warehouse district in town. The sun had just set and the encroaching darkness made the empty warehouses and factories look like giant brick predators that were just waiting to pounce. The place really looked like it would be crawling with vampires and Adrian couldn't help but smile at that.

He walked into an alley which lead to another abandoned looking factory, but this one had two very unpleasant looking bouncers guarding the door. As Adrian got closer he realized they were dhampirs, but they didn't have that Guardian look about them. Some of Zmey's henchmen no doubt.

"Good evening fellas." Adrian said as he walked up to them, making sure to show his fangs as he was smiling.

They barely glanced at him before opening the door. Great security these guys were.

"Thank you, my chatty friends." Adrian uttered, before strolling into the club.

While the outside had looked like all the other run down buildings in the area, the inside would have fitted better in an old country house in a fancy part of England. Thick carpets lay in the floor, velvet drapes hung on the walls to obscure the brick and mortar of the building. Antique furniture was scattered around the massive hall, some of them half hidden in nooks and crannies for a more intimate place to sit.

Despite the early hour most of them were already taken by wealthy young Moroi, by the looks of it.

A human girl with the glassy eyes of a feeder took his coat and for a moment Adrian felt a pang of hunger. He hadn't fed since he left Court, five days ago now. A place like this would have a dozen feeders ready for the clientèle to use, but Adrian wasn't sure if he trusted anyone that worked for Zmey, even high on vamp bites feeders.

The bar was huge and golden and it was stocked with more different types of liquor then even he could name. Another human girl stood behind the bar, only she didn't have that feeder look about her, her eyes were clear and focused.

Taking it all in Adrian couldn't help but dig it. Zmey was a manipulative bastard, but the man had style.

He ordered a martini from the bartender, who even laughed at his shaken not stirred comment, despite probably hearing it ten times a night. He leaned in to flirt with her some more when the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He turned around and sure enough, Kol was walking over to him, looking no worse for wear after their little adventure last night, the lucky bastard.

Just to humor his curiosity Adrian focused on Kol's aura. He hadn't been drinking yet, so his powers were still unmuddled and clear and he could see it without trying too much. Obviously it was mostly orange, for his confident and egoistical nature. There was some murky red there as well, for passion and anger and recklessness of course. But then there was another color, mixed in just at the edges, that Adrian hadn't seen before. It was a dark blue, so deep it was almost black, but it had an indigo sheen to it. It was barely noticeable but it was there and Adrian had no idea what it meant.

"Well look at you, Ivashkov, black and blue look good on you." Kol drawled, his eyes fixated on Adrian's face.

"I know right?" Adrian replied, ignoring his aura findings. "I'm considering getting punched in the face on a weekly basis, you know, to keep looking this tough all the time."

"Well if you ever need help with that, I'd simply be honored to oblige." Kol winked before turning to the bartender. "The usual, love." He drawled and to Adrian's amazement the girl nearly melted before she started pouring him a whiskey sour.

Two hours and too many drinks later Adrian slumped in his chair at the table Kol had gotten them. He was feeling woozy and lightheaded and not from the alcohol. He was starting to reconsider his stance on using Zmey's feeders. This was the longest he had ever gone without blood and it was hell.

As if he could read his mind Kol looked up at him and said: "I wasn't kidding yesterday, you really do look like shit, Ivashkov." He was smiling but there was almost a look of concern in his eyes as well. "You look pale enough to pass for a Strigoi."

"I haven't exactly been on the healthiest of diets for the last few days." Adrian admitted. "And I have been punched recently. In the face. Really painfully."

"Ah I see. You've been living of booze and self pity then." Kol pretending to sound understanding. "Well that won't do. Come on." He downed his latest drink and got to his feet, motioning for Adrian to do the same. "Feeders first, then ridiculously expensive food in ridiculous small portions after. I know just the place." He had that look on his face again, expecting him to do what he said just because he said it.

Reluctantly Adrian got to his feet.

"Well if you insist, lead the way."

Kol lead him down some industrial stairs to a different part of the club, which managed to look even more expensive and exclusive. It was a long stretched hallway, with many closed doors on either side. A dhampir guard had waved them through, but Adrian had the feeling very few people were actually allowed in this part of the club.

"There's a girl here." Kol said as he stopped by a door in the middle of the hallway that looked no different from the others. "and I swear she tastes like honey. Stay here, I'll see if she's free."

He opened the door and went inside. Adrian only saw a glance of the room inside before the door closed again. It looked a bit like a reception area, with a young Moroi man standing behind a desk with a computer on it, flanked by two more dhampir guards.

A few moments later Kol came out again, triumphantly holding an ornate key in his hands.

"We're lucky, love, she's in today." He drawled clearly pleased with himself.

For a moment Adrian thought about stopping this all. Going into a creep VIP area of a club owned by Zmey? That was a recipe for a full blown life time movie disaster. But he was just so damn hungry. Just the thought of blood made his mouth water. So against all of his better judgment, which wasn't much but still had some sway in his decision making, he followed Kol down the hall again, where he opened a door.

The girl sat in a small room, lounging on a fainting couch, reading a book when they opened the door. She put it on the delicate looking table in front of her and looked up smiling at them. She was tall and skinny, with brown hair that fell to her shoulders and a long face with eyes that seemed to be too big for it. Adrian couldn't help but notice that her smile faltered slightly when she looked at Kol.

"Lord Mikaelson." She said sounding a little terse.

"My dear Vicky." Kol smiled back, closing the door behind them. "How have you been?"

"Good." She said, non committing. She glanced over at Adrian for a moment and he couldn't help but feel that there was some history here that he was unaware of.

Kol motioned at her dramatically. "Go ahead, Ivashkov, she's all yours. I already fed today."

The girl gave him a quick smile, before she undid the scarf she was wearing and exposed her neck. Adrian had to force himself to simply walk over and sit down like a normal person, instead of an hungry beast. He sank his teeth into her and it was heaven.

For a moment he forgot all about where he was and who with. He had been so hungry, without even realizing it and this girl tasted so good. Kol hadn't been lying, her blood was as sweet as honey.

Strength was flowing back into him, making him realize just how weak he had gotten. He savored the taste for one long moment, before finally breaking away from the girl. She lounged back on the couch, that far off look in her eyes and a goofy smile on her lips.

"I needed that." Adrian sighed.

Kol was suddenly beside him, clasping him on the shoulder.

"You look better already."

There was a mirror on the wall and Kol was right, he did look better. There was color on his cheeks again, his eyes shone brighter and best of all, his bruise was starting to heal already, turning a different shade. The cut by his eyebrow was already gone.

"I hate to say this, but this was a good idea." Adrian said reluctantly.

"Said with such astonishment." Kol shot back. "Everything I do is always a great idea."

They left the girl to ride out her high and made their way back up to the main club to get their coats. Adrian snorted at that statement

"They don't always work out, but I always end up having fun." Kol added in a drawl as they stepped outside, his smirk working over time.

The nights air felt good and Adrian took in deep gulps of it. The dhampir guards didn't even blink at them and Adrian saluted them as he followed Kol to where his car was parked.

Tonight had been a good night and that was something that had been pretty rare in his last few weeks. Kol was a dick and Adrian remembered that he still wanted to punch him for the other night, but hanging out with him was, well, easy. He didn't have to try and pretend to be anyone he was not. After everything that had happened, with Rose, at court, with his mother, just being able to be himself was weirdly liberating.

"A penny for your thoughts." Kol said, amused by his change of mood, no doubt.

"Just thinking about how much money I am going to make you spend tonight. I'm going for bankruptcy. Poverty would suit you." Adrian joked

Kol laughed. "Then you have got a lot of work set out for you."

They turned around a corner, into a deserted street and suddenly someone was beside him, half hidden in the darkness. Adrian had no time to respond before the figure grabbed his arm and yanked him back. As he stumbled Adrian let out, though he would never admit it, not the most manliest of startled screams.

The figure turned to him and it took Adrian a moment in his surprise to realize that he actually knew this guy.

"Eddie?" He exclaimed as his mind tried to race up to what was just happening.

"Adrian." Eddie replied sternly, his face in a passive Guardian stare.

"You know this kid, Ivashkov?" Kol asked. He was still standing on the same spot as before and while he was still smiling, Adrian could see he was tensed up, ready to react if needed. The smile he had on was a farce, his eyes were suspicious.

"Yeah." Adrian said, looking back at Eddie, who was still holding him tight. So tight that it hurt even. "Shit Castile, you nearly gave me an heart attack. And hold me any tighter and you are going to break something." He tried to tug his arm free, but Eddie held his iron grip.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" Eddie asked and Adrian could see anger seethe underneath his trained calmness.

"What are you on about?" Adrian asked. "Why are you even here?"

"Let go of him." Kol said, almost casually, from his spot a few feet away. Eddie payed him no heed.

"Running of like that. You had everyone worried sick, not knowing if you were alive or dead in a ditch somewhere. Lissa has been uneasy for days and Jill can barely sleep, she's so upset."

Hearing that was like a slap to the face. He hadn't even thought about how his flight would have affected them, least of all how it would have affected Jailbait. And why should he, a small rebellious part of his mind said. Why should he care about any of them. This was his life, not theirs. Nothing Eddie could say could make him feel guilty for leaving.

But he hadn't finished.

"And Rose almost abandoned her post to come and drag your ass home."

Rose.

How strange these things went. Just moments ago Adrian had been thinking about her, with no pain, no bitterness, almost as if he were free of here. But this, this was a low blow, a sucker punch right through his heart and if he didn't know any better, he would say that it stopped beating.

Rose was going to drag him home? She was going to come and tell him what to do? Rescue him?

The darkness stirred and coiled around him tight and Adrian flinched back as if stricken.

"She doesn't care." He spat out, yanking his arm again and this time Eddie did let go.

Kol stepped closer and Eddie gave him a concerned look and suddenly Adrian was laughing. He didn't know how he could do that at a moment like this, but let's face it, this was funny. This whole thing, his whole life, was fucking hilarious.

She was going to swoop in and be his savior. Save him from himself. Be a good little Guardian and protect the Moroi royal.

"None of them care, Castile." He laughed. "They just don't want to look like the bad guys here. They want me to be alright, so they can stop feeling guilty."

Eddie was now staring at him as if he was stark raving mad. That just made Adrian laugh more, throw back his head and be a lunatic.

"I'm alright. Don't you see? Go tell them that, Castile. I'm al –fucking- right."

"Adrian." Kol said softly and it threw him for a second, cause Kol never called him by his first name. His smile was gone now and he looked at him with serious concern in his eyes. Adrian would have liked it better if he had been smirking at him, smiling at him like he was some kind of joke.

"You've lost it." Eddie whispered and there was actually pity in his voice.

Pity.

Pity in Dimitri's eyes.

The darkness coiled tighter, like a snake around it's prey.

"You're going home with me." Eddie added. "You need help, Adrian."

He grabbed his arm again, probably ready to drag him all the way back to the Court, but Adrian was ready this time. He swung his other arm back and to his own surprise, Eddie didn't see it coming and he landed a punch on the side of the dhampir's face.

It wasn't hard and by the looks of it it hurt his fist more then Eddie's face, but it stunned him enough for Adrian to stumble back to where Kol was standing.

Eddie looked at him, shock and hurt in his eyes. He stepped forward, but so did Kol, sliding in front of Adrian for some reason. Adrian tried to push him away, but Kol stood his ground.

"I think it's time for you to leave, Guardian." He said and Adrian had never heard him sound so mirthless and stern.

"Look at him, he needs help!" Eddie exclaimed, pointing at Adrian.

"He doesn't seem to want it from you. So get lost. Run back to court and your little child queen. We have no use of you here."

Eddie set his jaw determinedly and took another step forward. Maybe he thought that he could take on Kol. Maybe he thought that his mission was more important then his own well being.

As in the club the night before Adrian knew what Kol was going to do, before he did it. This time he had ample time to stop him, but he didn't. He simply watched in stunned silence as Kol flicked his hand and Eddie's sleeve caught on fire.

Eddie cried out in pain and shrugged off his jacket as fast as he could. Kol moved his hand again and this time a garbage can behind Eddie exploded in a fiery mess, showering him with burning trash. He tried to cover his face with his hands and screamed as it burned him.

For a moment all Adrian could do was watch. Watching Eddie struggle was almost cathartic. If only the others could be in his place. If only She ...

Kol lifted his hands again, but this time Adrian stopped him. Despite the darkness, despite some part of him wanting to see him and everyone he knew burn, he knew that it was wrong. Eddie was his friend. He probably only came here because Lissa send him. Adrian didn't hate him, he didn't hate anyone but himself. If someone should get hurt it was him, not Eddie.

"That's enough." He said, keeping the darkness at arms length, fighting against it's influence and Kol lowered his hands, giving him a nonchalant shrug.

"If you say so. Shall we?" Kol motioned towards his car, the keys already in his hand.

Adrian glanced back at Eddie, who was slowly getting up, nursing his burned hands. What had they done?

What had he done?