It's been a while. But I'm on my stepmom's new computer (which is the coolest thing EVER!!!) so I am quite happy. XD

Disclaimer: Dimitri Belikov? He's not mine. (Damn.) Rose Hathaway? Not mine, either. (UGH.) Uhm... Tony? Yes, he's mine. But I'm not happy about it.

P.S. In this story, Strigoi can control whether someone turns Strigoi or not. It all has to do with venom, and they can control that venom. Sooo, yeah. It plays an important role in the story.


Previously...

Dimitri's smirk faded. He closed his eyes, his eyebrows furrowing. When he opened them, he looked extremely guilty. The sentence he uttered chilled my heart.

"Only if I kill you."

-----

I blinked. "What?"

He sighed, looking at the ground. "That's the only way I can leave."

Now, I loved Dimitri. I loved him with my heart, soul, and body. But I'm sorry, I would not die at the hands of the man I loved. It was cliched, and I just wasn't going to do it.

I began to back away, my eyes widening. With his being a Strigoi, I wasn't sure if he was considering that option, or if he still had the sanity to stay and let me live. Dimitri's eyes flickered to mine and widened when he realized what I was doing.

"No, I'm not - I mean, I'd never -" He sighed, swallowing, raking a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, Rose. I wish I could go with you, I really do."

"I wish you could, too. Is there not a way to trick them or something?"

He shook his head. "Not without me drinking from you, there isn't. Running wouldn't do any good. They'd eventually catch us."

"Is there a possibility that you could just . . . stop?"

Incredulous red eyes met mine. "Stop drinking from you? Just stop?" His voice was tinged with disbelief.

"Well . . . yeah." The more I said it out loud, the dumber it sounded. I mean, come on, Strigoi just didn't stop drinking blood because they felt like it. They were monsters most of the time, and to ask something that challenging of Dimitri right after he'd been changed was crazy. I had complete faith in him, but it was easy to tell that even he thought the idea was impossible.

"Roza, think about it. The odds of that happening are slim to none. I just can't . . . stop because I want to."

"Has it ever been done before?" I countered. This had to work. This was our only shot. I could play dead, and hopefully Tony and his friends would be too distracted by my flowing blood to realize that my heart was still beating.

"No," he admitted. "But I don't like it. You could become Strigoi as well, and then, if you are carrying a child, what would it become? Strigoi? Human? We don't know, Rose, and I can't take chances with you." He cupped my face in his icy hands. "You are too important to risk on a chance."

"I'll be fine, Dimitri," I insisted. "It would be better if I had you with me than going solo. And if I turn Strigoi, then I get to be with you forever."

"Roza, I -"

"Shhh," I whispered, touching his jaw softly, not afraid of him in the least. "This will work. I know it will. But I have to get you away from here."

Dimitri glanced back at the cave dismally. "If I hurt you, I'll never be able to live with myself," he mumbled.

"You won't hurt me."

He brushed my hair from my neck. "I love you," he whispered into the skin of my throat.

"I love you, too, Dimitri."

Hesitating, he asked, "Are you sure?"

Dimitri was stalling, and he knew it. "I am positive. I believe in you."

He inhaled slowly, and then there was a pricking sensation. I could hear his throat swallowing, and he moaned softly. I tried to stay calm, hoping that would help in some way. After a second or two, the world started to spin.

"Dimitri," I whispered. He didn't move an inch. Spots were appearing in front of my eyes, and in the back of my mind, I wondered how long I had to live. Even as I knew I was dying, I couldn't blame Dimitri. I had forced him to try this. "Dimitri, stop," I gasped. My ears were ringing, and I felt cold. "Please," I whispered.

A soft growl slid between his lips. When I heard that sound, I knew I was done for. He was no longer dhampir. He was a Strigoi, and right then, the only thing that mattered was my pulsing artery. He was focused on the thing that was giving me life. And he needed it to live, too.

But there was one thing he needed to hear. He didn't necessarily have to live with himself if I died. He could walk into the sunlight tomorrow morning and be gone. He'd be ashes. But a few hours can seem like an eternity when you've lost someone you love dearly. I know. I've been there. He could not live without knowing this - however long he chose to live. Whether that was seven hours or eternity.

"I love you," I managed to whisper before the darkness surrounding me pulled me under.


CLIFFY!! Again. LOL.

Tell me how I did and what you think happened. PLEASE. I thrive on reviews. They are my oxygen.

PM me. Ask questions. Review. Etc. You guys know the drill.

XOXO

-Jessica