Shit.

No! Dimitri couldn't be coming! Abe had told him not to even let his parents know he was alive…

Shit.

"Lissa?"

She looked to me, a single tear running down her already stained face.

"When did he leave?"

She shrugged. "A couple of hours ago. We were thinking about the about the attack. He said something to me, and I was so scared. I'm sorry, Rose. I told him. I told him to go to his house. I'm sorry! I thought you'd be gone by now!"

"What did he say?"

She sniffled. "He said something like…'their only a few days behind if they knew about it so soon. They'll know where she is before us.' What was I supposed to say? I told him where you were. I wanted him to protect you!"

This was news to Adrian too. He was quiet, for once. He was so silent, it was kind of scaring me. Of course, he was just finding out where I was.

"When was the fight?" I asked Adrian.

"Three days ago."

I took a double take. "You didn't tell me about that until right now?"

Adrian shrugged. "We all had a lot on our minds, and honestly, what could you do?"

CRAP!

"So he'd be on a plane right now, right?"

They both nodded.

I took a moment to think it through.

It was obvious I would have to get Olena out of the house. But how would Dimitri act when he walked into an empty room? No. I had to get her out. This was serious stuff. Did he seriously think the Strigoi wouldn't follow him!

"Loosely translated, the information traveled along with the attack. That's how they knew where I was. It was a guess at first, I'm guessing. Lucky bastards." I kicked myself mentally.

"What do we do?" Adrian asked.

I sighed. "Why does everyone keep asking me that? I don't know!"

We were all hopeless.

"So he comes to Russia. What's the worst that could happen? His parents know that their only son is alive? What's the bad in that?" Lissa asked innocently.

I sighed and pressed myself against a tree.

"Everyone is going to follow him, Liss. The Strigoi already figured out where I am. Now the court isn't far behind. They'll kill me quicker than I can explain. I didn't even find who was out to kill me."

"Actually, Christian did say something…" Lissa said to me. I looked up instantly. She saw the spotlight was on her and swallowed. "Christian…saw someone. In the battle. He wasn't fighting, peruse, but he was at the back. He looked like…"

We waited for a moment, but Lissa didn't say anything. We pushed her along and it popped out of her mouth.

"Victor."

I smiled and shook my head in disbelief. "How in god's green earth did he get an army of Strigoi?"

She shrugged. "All I want to know is how to kill him."

I smiled, but it faltered. "Wait. If the information came here…what type of transport do you think it took?"

They looked at me like I was insane. "This isn't time for riddles, Rose." Adrian argued.

"No! Think about it. Do you really think Victor just piled a heap of Strigoi into a jet and flew them over here? The one that attacked me had a Russian accent. The Strigois wouldn't move. But he would."

"You think Victor's in Russia?"

I nodded. "I'm sure of it."

I needed to relax. So Victor was in Russia coming to kill me, along with the Court, although they wouldn't get here in time. I only just found out, its not like it will happen right away, right? Right?

Shit.

I dragged my feet down the stairs and rounded the corner into the kitchen. I searched the lounge room and the laundry room, but she was no where too be seen. I sighed and went back into the kitchen to make my breakfast. More cereal. Yum.

I scratched my head and piece of paper fell from it and onto the ground. Confused, I picked it up.

Had she really stuck it to my forehead? Well, I guess that was the only sure place she knew I would look.

Gone to get groceries

Will be back soon

OB

I slouched in my chair with the spoon sticking out my mouth by itself as I read the note. Shrugging, I set it aside and plucked the spoon from my mouth and dipped it in the bowl of milk and cornflakes again.

There was a knock at the door, three of them, before I got the strength to go and see who it was. I was so lazy nowadays, it wasn't funny. But that might also have something to do with the fact I only woke up two minutes ago.

I grabbed my hoodie and put it on, covering half my face, like usual, before opening the door. My eyes weren't even half open really.

But they were when Dimitri was standing at the doorstep.

"D-! I mean, yes? How may I help you?"

His eyebrows were scrunched together. "Um…Rosetta? Right?"

I nodded. "Yes. How may I help you?"

"I'm Dimitri Belikov. Olena's son? Is my mother around?"

I hesitated. It has always been my worst asset. "No. She's gone shopping."

"Then I will wait for her."

"No!" I said too quickly. "I mean, I'm not allowed to let strangers into the house. She told me you were dead…you could be-"

"Have I met you before?" he asked suddenly, cutting me off.

I kicked myself internally.

"Fine, you can come in, but I'll make a call."

He walked into the house, knowing where everything was.

This is the first time he has been in this house with me, I thought suddenly. It's so nice not having to kill him.

I moved swiftly into the kitchen and picked up the phone. He watched me carefully as he sat down on the table, his eyes squinting slightly. Could he hear my heart beating a hundred miles for him? I seriously didn't think so. His had never done the same.

He made his choice.

I dialed Abe's mobile as I walked around the corner, out of earshot.

"Hello?"

"Abe! You have to call Olena. Tell her she can't come home. Tell her there's been another attack." I whispered intensely.

"Rose?" he whispered back. "What's going on? Are you alright? Where are you?"

"I'm fine! But…Dimitri's in the kitchen right now."

"I TOLD HIM-!"

"I know!" I cut him off. "I can get him out of here. You just have to keep Olena away."

There was a pause. "Okay."

"Thanks."

I hung up quickly, slammed the door open, and head butted Dimitri so hard we both fell over. I groaned and rubbed my head.

"What the hell? When someone moves into a room when they are on the phone, it means they don't want you knowing what they're talking about. It's none of your business anyway!"

He stood up quickly and offered me his hand. I denied it and stood up myself.

"Keep my mother away! What is going on?"

Nausea swept over me.

How many times did I have to swear today?

Just behind Dimitri's head, there was the wicked grin of a Strigoi. I breathed in, then breathed an almost silent command.

"Duck."

He heard me and instantly did it. I through my stake at the Strigoi, knowing it wouldn't be like one of those cool movies where it stabs them right in the heart. It didn't go in at all, but it caused the distraction. It might have burned him a little, though, but not enough to do any damage.

I ran towards the Strigoi, sliding under his grasp as he tried to grab me. I picked up my stake and sliced a deep cut into his ankle. He let out a screech and tried to kick me away, but I was quicker. I came around from the front, him noticing straight away.

"ROSE!" Dimitri screamed out. I saw him from the corner of my eye. He had meant to say Rosetta, but it seemed right to him that my name was Rose. His eyes widened.

The Strigoi had me on the ground now, hovering over me, trying to direct the stake away from his chest. He was trying to reach my neck.

"Any last words Rosemarie Janine Hathaway?" it hissed.

I nodded. "Rose Hathaway." I gasped.

It's eyes frowned. "Rose Hathaway?"

I kicked out his legs from underneath him and he came toppling on me, staking himself on impact. I helped ram it in, a pure shot. He went limp on top of me, and I pushed him aside so I could stand up.

Our blood mingled together. The stake had been semi sharp on the other end. It had cut a small circle in my chest which was bleeding freely. I ignored it.

Dimitri was in shock. He didn't talk. Heck, he may have not been breathing either.

I didn't expect him to run towards me and kiss me. I knew he didn't love me.

He made his choice.

"Roza." He breathed.

"Hmm?"

He stood still across the room. "You're-"

"I'm surprised, comrade. I would have thought you would figure out that I can't make up fake names on the spot. I thought maybe you knew me at least that much. I guess I was wrong."

I kicked the Strigoi into the fading sunlight, enough to burn him at least. We both stared at the pile of ashes.

Everything Dimitri and I had left.

HEY!

Okay, so I have some bad news :(

I may not be able to post the next chapter tomorrow. Going around my grandmother's house for the night, and there is no way I would be able to write on her computer without some serious magic. I'll fight for it, but if I don't post tomorrow night, that's the reason and I'm sorry.

To make it up to you, I have left no cliff hanger on the end of this one (unless you seem obsessed with this story like most of the people who have commented. Love you guys!)

I almost started crying at this last bit. I knew I had to cut it there, just to be sort of evil ha-ha.

Thanks for sticking with me and I am open to any ideas about what should happen. I have an outline in my head, which I'm building up to, but ideas would be muchly appreciated. And if you want more fluff? Tell me you want fluff! Ha-ha

Lauren :)