Here's To You

Here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it.

Richelle Mead owns all original VA.

That day was long and hard, but I was dreading what tomorrow would bring. I tried to push it from my mind for the time being. Lissa and I were spending the evening together since we hadn't gotten to spend a whole lot of time together. I told her about my dinner with Tasha, my confrontation with Adrian and how I felt so much lighter now.

"Rose, you look so much better. Your aura is also a lot brighter too. I'm glad Abe knew someone who could help." She said. We were in her room watching a movie and munching on popcorn. "Do you think you'll see Adrian tonight?"

"I don't know. I hope so, but I don't know. If I do, I'm going to treat each night like it's our last."

"Well, I'm glad you got things sorted out. It makes for a much happier Rose." Lissa smiled.

"So Liss, tell me about you and Dimitri. How are things going? What have I missed?" I asked.

She started telling me about all the lovey dovey stuff they had been doing. I was really happy for them. They deserved to be happy. They both had been training just as hard as I was, so the last few days they hadn't seen a whole lot of each other. I felt for them but I was glad they were in my corner.

When she was done she asked the next obvious question. "What do you think this special training is?'

"I don't know, and frankly, it kind of scares me. I mean I have my nausea warning system, but I'm not sure how I can use my other senses to defend you guys."

"Well, I guess that is what you need to work on. We'll find out tomorrow." Lissa was as confused as me.

We parted ways and I made my way to bed. I wasn't sure if I would see Adrian but I hoped I would. When I was finally asleep I felt arms wrap around me. They held me tightly but something was different. When I turned over, it was Adrian but he was beginning to fade. I reached up and touched his face.

"The time is coming isn't it?" I asked almost a whisper.

"I think it is. When you forgave me, it set my soul free. That was what I needed. I feel my soul being pulled to the next world. But I will stay as long as I can." I leaned up and kissed him.

"If it's time for you to go, then you should. You need to be at peace." I said, beginning to tear up at the thought of not seeing him anymore.

"We have tonight then. Let's make the best of it." We kissed deeply then. We made love for the last time then talked and laughed. It was a good night. Then came time to say goodbye.

"I love you Adrian. I will always love you. You have been my best friend and my lover and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I will miss you so much, but I will never forget you." Standing there looking into his emerald green eyes there was so much more I wanted to say, but I couldn't find the words.

'Little Dhampir, my love. I have loved you since the first time I laid eyes on you. You altered my heart and soul in a way I never thought was possible. I will always be with you. Don't ever doubt that. We will meet again. Live your life to the fullest and love again. I know you will. I love you more than I ever thought possible, more than I thought I could ever love another person. Be happy." With that he leaned in and kissed me until he was completely gone.

A tear ran down my cheek as my love disappeared from my life. The only person I was sure I would ever love was gone. I had no idea what lay ahead for me, but I would make Adrian proud. That I knew.

I woke up with tears pooling on my pillow. I needed to get the sheets changed and take a shower. It was too late to call housekeeping so I got a shower and wrapped up in my bathrobe and poured a glass of vodka and walked out on to the balcony. I watched as birds flew on the breeze and the squirrels scurrying up and down the trees getting ready for the oncoming winter. I raised my glass to the sky and smiled. "I love you Adrian. Goodbye my love." Just then a light breeze blew up and ruffled my hair. I knew it was Adrian. I took a sip of my vodka and put my head on the back of my chair.

I stood in the gym with a blindfold over my eyes. No, it wasn't anything kinky or a surprise, well I guess surprise could explain it. I was supposed to be using my other senses to track my opponents. Lissa wasn't allowed to be there, they weren't sure if she would tell me through the bond what was coming. I was supposed to be focusing on my sense of smell and hearing.

Abe had brought in a man to help me. His name was Eugene Jackson. He was in his forties and an accomplished fighter, Strigoi hunter, and a long time friend of Abe's. Abe thought he would be the perfect person to help me learn to use my other senses, but when I walked in and watched him fight with Dimitri he seemed to fight just like normal sparring. When he finally took Dimitri down, he turned around and what I saw shocked me. His eyes were white. There was no color what so ever to them. I assumed he was blind.

Abe introduced me to him, they called him EJ. He said it made him feel younger. He had an electronic walking stick, it was pretty cool actually, and he was extremely intuitive. He could tell just by listening who was smiling or when someone moved, he could even hear conversations that were taking place across the gym.

"Rose, EJ, why don't you two take some time to get acquainted. I think it'll help if Rose understands." Abe then turned towards the other and started barking orders at them. EJ and I walked towards the track.

"So, I'm sure you're wondering what happened to my eyes?" he asked knowingly.

"Of course I am. Is that always the way you start conversations though?" I asked with a little laugh.

"No, of course not. I usually wear sunglasses so people don't immediately see my eyes. But when fighting they become a problem. When I turned around though, I sensed your shock. I figured it would be your first question. It usually is." He seemed very content with his situation. I wondered how long he had been blind. "Right after I graduated college, I was twenty-four, my charge and I were attacked by two Strigoi. I got my charge to safety but the Strigoi wouldn't give up. I lead them into a warehouse, I finally took one out, and the other was still coming on strong. I turned around and grabbed a jug and went to hit him with it. I was trying to distract him enough to get a clear shot at him heart. Little did I know he had a gun. When he shot, the bullet hit the jug, exploding it into my face. The bullet hit my shoulder and I went down. Just then another guardian entered and took him out, but the damage to my eyes had been done. The contents of the jug was bleach, and it completely blinded me, leaving my eyes white, at least that's what I have been told." He laughed and I was surprised he could find humor in this. "Anyway, I didn't want to give up my guardian status, or retire as the guardian committee called it, so I began training using my other senses. Learning to hone in my skills with my hearing, smell and touch. It's amazing the new sensations you get when you are without your sight. This is what you and I will be working on. You will notice that every person, every thing has a specific scent, as well as magic. You'll learn to use your ears to tell you when someone has moved, even if they think they are doing it silently. You'll notice how the air around you moved as someone else moves, the scent of the air when someone uses their magic, and how to move out of the way. It will take some time, but we have it. I will be doing a lot of training with you and I will also stay with you as you and your friends head into battle." All of a sudden I realized how our group was growing. If it kept up, we would be going in with an army.

"Well, I'm looking forward to learning all I can. It should be fun." I said.

"You may not be saying that after today."

"You don't know my definition of fun do you?" I smiled as I said that.

"No I guess I don't." He laughed. "Well, let's go get started. But first, you must wear this." He pulled out a blindfold and handed it to me. "Your training begins now.

The big training is beginning. I hope you enjoyed it. I will be updating again soon.

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