A/N: Enjoy this next chapter.

Rose

Chapter 10

Present Day…

The sun was beginning to set as Josh had informed me that their colony was just up ahead. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever think that I would be spending time again living among the Keepers. The experience from last time had been enough to last me for a life time.

I let out a long breath. Here I go again.

I felt fingers reach for my hand, and I instantly pulled them away. I snapped my head in his direction. "What are you doing?"

Josh's expression was mixed with frustration and a bit of hurt. "I told you, the only way you can stay is if they think you are my betrothed."

Even though we had talked about it, a part of me still hoped he was kidding. "You don't think it's going to be suspicious that you never mentioned me, and then all of a sudden you come home with a fiancée?"

He shrugged as if this was no big deal. As if it happened all the time. "Who says I don't talk about you."

I grumbled in irritation. "Josh…"

"Look. You need my help. I want to help. This is the only way that will work. I promise I will be respectful and won't do anything that will make you uncomfortable."

I was actually surprised at how sincere he sounded.

I studied him for a moment, before finally relenting. "Fine." I put my hand up to silence him before he could open his mouth and say anything. "You are only allowed to hold my hand in and I mean only when absolutely necessary, or put your arm around my shoulders. Got it?"

"Got it, my buttercup."

"Call me buttercup again, and the engagement is off," I threatened.

He laughed, even though I wasn't kidding, as we started to make our final hike up the mountain and into the open cave I saw ahead.

My ankle still hurt, especially adding the additional stress I was putting on it by climbing up the hill. My arm wasn't any better. I figured my ankle would heal in another day or two if I took it easy, but my arm would be at least a few more days before I would be able to get full range.

Just as we entered the cave, we were met with five adults standing right at the entranceway, blocking our path from moving any further. Ten pair of eyes were glancing directly at me.

This was awkward. "Uh, hello," I greeted with a wave of my good arm.

Josh reached up to grab my hand, and it took everything in me to not instantly pull it back. I could see the five adults looking at each other, just as Rebecca and her daughter Cassie came to stand next to us.

The tall imposing man in the middle turned to Josh. "Joshua, what is the meaning of this? How dare you bring an outsider into our home, without even discussing it with us."

"I meant no disrespect, elder, but I would hope that you would find the same hospitality with my betrothed as you would with me."

Collective gasps among the group broke out, and I tried to stifle a groan.

"Betrothed?" The elder questioned.

"Elder Andrews, this is Rose Hathaway. One of the best Dhampir's you will ever meet. I request her sanctuary here at the colony."

"She might be a Dhampir, but she is no true pure bred," the lady next to Elder Andrews remarked.

"Hey!" I called out, a note of offense in my voice.

Joshua squeezed my hand tightly, which only made me want to pull it away even more. It felt all wrong. It wasn't a strong, calloused, hand that was as warm as Dimitri's.

"Why have you not mentioned her before?" Another male on the other side of Elder Andrews asked.

I looked to Josh, deferring to him. I know what I would say, but these were his people and something told me if I wanted their help, I needed to keep my mouth shut as much as possible and let him do the talking. Which was already hard for me to do.

"Because Guardian Hathaway works directly for the queen," he replied.

Another collective gasp filled the colony, everyone going silent. All eyes were on me again, studying me in various degrees as to whether the information Josh had just spoke was true or not. I stood as straight as possible fighting through the pain of my injuries to meet their appraisal head on.

"Speak, Dhamphir. Is what he says true?" Elder Andrews asked.

I cleared my throat. "Yes. I am currently on assignment on behalf of the queen."

The lady next to Andrews, who I assume was his wife, narrowed her eyes at me in disapproval. "Yet, you would take the time to dally with your betrothed instead of following her orders?"

I gritted my teeth, ready to give her a piece of my mind, when Josh spoke for me. "No, Lady Andrews, Rose was injured on assignment. She came to me—to us—for help."

"And how long are you requesting sanctuary?" the man next to the elder asked,

If I had to guess, he was some sort of advisor or friend to the elder. His eyes never left me, as he studied every interaction between Josh and I, and every response we gave.

"Only a day," I answered automatically. "I must get word to my team.

Elder Andrews and the woman next to him, looked at each other. "Give us a few minutes to deliberate."

I turned to Josh my voice low. "What's the probability that they will turn me away?"

He was trying to put on a brave face, but I could gather that behind his eyes it was more like a fifty-fifty decision on whether to let me stay.

"I know they seem rigid and closed off, but they are good people. They will do the right thing, and let you stay."

We seemed to wait forever until Lord Andrews and Lady Elenore—returned with their decision.

"The guardian can stay for the night." He turned to Josh. "You will see her to the healer and be responsible to make sure she follows our customs and our ways. Is that understood?"

Josh did a slight bow, gripping my hand to follow suit, but remained standing. "Thank you, Your Lordship."

The five elders—if that is what they all were—stepped away, most of the colony moving on to their task or responsibilities, but there were still enough lingering around that seemed to be too fascinated with my arrival that they chose to gawk and stare.

I yanked my hand free from Josh's, wiping it down my pants at how sweaty it had become. I could see the bit of hurt in his expression at my action, but it was a reminder that once again there was nothing between us.

Cassie came running up. "You get to stay. Yay!"

Yay, indeed!

Rebecca pulled Cassie to her leg. "I would be happy to show you to the healer." She offered.

"I can do that," Josh stepped up, his face a little eager.

"The elders will want to see you first. We can escort her and then you can meet us there," Rebecca insisted.

Josh frowned, but didn't put up another fight. He assured me he would be right back—not that I was rushing it—while he went to go and talk to the elders. I felt comfortable in Rebecca's company, so it didn't bother me.

We started walking in the direction of what I assumed was the healer, as I watched as her daughter, Cassie jump and skip on the smaller rocks and tree branches ahead.

"So…are you and Josh…"

Her eyes went wide. "Heavens no," she remarked quickly.

It was hard not to smirk, seeing that most of the female population gave the same reaction to that question.

Her face turned somber. "Don't get me wrong, Josh has been great with my Cassie. He has been extremely kind to me, looked out for us, but I think that is because we are both outsiders."

The piqued my interest. "You're an outsider?"

She nodded. "My mate, Peter, was a Dhampir for another colony. He was asked to come here to help with their defenses last year. There had been a death with a Strigoi and it appeared to be old."

I could see the twisted frown in her expression. The pain in her eyes as she shared her story with me. The fact that she used the word was confirmed that he had likely died in the attempt to kill the Strigoi.

Dimitri and I had worked with the Keepers of Josh's former colony. While they trained daily like us Dhampir's at the academy, their fighting was more unrefined and fluid since they didn't have all the ways of technology and learning new methods. They could only obtain so much from the books they might be able to borrow from the library.

"He died saving two others from the colony," she finally said, and I could hear the agonizing note in her voice.

I had recognized that myself when Dimitri had been taken from me on that rescue mission we had done in the caves. Her Peter sounded a lot like my Dimitri, and if she loved him anywhere as much as I love Dimitri, I could sympathize with the ongoing grief she must be dealing with.

"I'm sorry," I said, meeting her gaze, hoping she could hear in my voice that they weren't just words, but that I truly knew how she felt.

She gave me a small smile, before she rubbed her arm, and turned back in the direction of where Cassie was oblivious to our conversation, walking and singing along as we went.

"I miss him. I will always miss him. But at least a part of him is still with me."

My eyes followed where Cassie was. Dimitri and I didn't have children, but the time I had spent with his family when I had lost him, it meant everything to me. I had hoped with having Cassie, it brought more comfort to her pain.

We turned past another boulder to an opening of another cave. "Here we are," she announced.

As we stepped in, we were met with a human female that had long brown hair, and kind eyes. She was older, wrinkles prominent at the corners of her eyes, but her smile lit up upon seeing us.

"Healer Agatha, this is Rose Hathaway. She could use your services," Rebcca stated.

Agatha's eyes roamed over me, smiling at me warmly. "Come in, dear. Let me tend to you."

I moved in, the deeper we went into the cave, the warmer and cozier it went. At the back, there was an illuminated candle that lit up the space. There was a rock that surprisingly was shaped in that of a lounge chair, that had a couple of pelts thrown on top.

Agatha guided me over to the stone seat, and beckoned for me to sit. She turned back to Rebecca. "Rebecca, could you be a dear, and see if you could find some alternative clothing for our guest, Rose?"

Rebecca bowed slightly. "Of course. I'll be back."

Agatha waited until she heard Rebecca's steps grow distant, before she turned back to me. "Now, then, why don't you tell me what hurts."

I gave her a rundown of my injuries. She asked if I minded removing my dirt-soaked sweater and pants, in order to get a better look. Seeing that Rebecca would be coming back with something that was actually dry, I was more than happy to part with them for now.

She examined my ankle first, poking and prodding, all the way her eyes flickering to my face each time to see my level of discomfort with each manipulation. When she was done with my ankle, she moved to my shoulder, which was still far to tender for my liking. She did the same, with moving and jamming her thumb in before she pulled back and came to rest on her own stool like stone.

Her eyes scanned my face and the rest of my body, no doubt taking in the remaining cuts that were at this point almost already healed.

She turned to the side, where she had bottles and little wood bowls set up and started picking certain items out as she lined them up next to her. She grabbed a few pieces of linen before she turned back to me.

"Your ankle appears to have just been a sprain, but your movement is good. I will wrap it for you, but with your Dhampir healing abilities you should be fully restored in a day or too," she informed, grabbing a hold of my ankle and rested it in her lap.

She wrapped it tightly and meticulously, before she lowered my foot and asked me to stand to put weight on it. It instantly felt a lot better, and as I took a few steps around the cave; I was able to put more weight than before without even flinching.

"Did you pop your shoulder back in?" she asked, an inquisitive note in her tone.

I nodded; as she grabbed a green like cream substance from the table next to her, stood, and came around to my back.

"You did good work. You were taught well. You shouldn't have any lasting problems once it fully heals in a couple of days, if you allow it to rest."

"Thank you."

She took a handful of whatever it was in her bowl and began to spread it on my shoulder. It went on cold at first, but as she slowly started to massage it into my skin, it got warmer, and then hot. My eyes closed, letting the warmth of whatever it was, slowly start to ease my tense muscles.

"What is that?" I asked.

"It's a salve," she explained. "The alchemists provide us the necessary basics of vaccines and such, but most of my other healing proprieties come from herbs that I can turn into almost anything."

"The smell is lovely," I observed, loving every minute of her easing the tension and the pain.

She chuckled. "That's the chamomile, dear. It helps with the inflammation and swelling."

After another couple of minutes, she returned back to the seat in front of me, taking a seat as she eyed me. My eyes fluttered open, and she had that look on her face, that look I had seen from my guardian teachers like Alberta, when she wanted to ask me something, but was working up a way to ask without the risk of me shutting down.

"The colony is buzzing around with your arrival," she commented.

I sighed. "I'm amazed news can travel so fast among these caves."

Agatha smirked. "My dear, you are quite the most interesting thing to step foot into the colony in over a year." She turned to grab another piece of small linen as she dipped into what smelled like some sort of antiseptic as she cleaned my cuts.

I couldn't help myself but ask once she had mentioned the fact that it had been a year. "Is that since the last Strigoi? Since Rebecca lost her mate?"

A look of surprise dawned on her features, as she dipped her linen again before attending to another of my cuts. "Rebecca told you about that?"

"Yes."

She nodded. "I see that you have experienced such things before. Then if you are a Dhampir that works for the queen, it is bound to be a necessity of the job."

I swallowed, because even at such a young age in my life, I had seen far too much death and suffering then one should have to see. Lost so many friends and colleagues that I respected.

"Yes," I repeated numbly.

"Someone you loved?"

I nodded. "Once."

Dimitri's face flashed before my eyes. Even though I had him back, there were still too many days and nights when nightmares would creep into my mind and dredge up those awful days when he was lost to me. The days when my heart ached at having to see him as a Strigoi and knowing that it was up to me to stop him.

Then Mason's face flashed before my eyes. I didn't love him like Dimitri. I never could. Even if the brief weeks I attempted to date him when Dimitri told me that we could never be, that I needed to move on with my life, Mason and my relationship was always a friendship. Probably more like brother and sister, which was why losing him hurt all the more. Especially, since I still carried around the guilt that I felt his death was on my hands.

"So young, my dear. Time goes on…and the heart eventually heals, even if it doesn't forget," she said wistfully, her expression looking past my shoulder in the distance as she continued to dab at my cut.

If I had to guess, Agatha may have once had a mate or someone she had cared about, that was now lost to her. She blinked; snapping out of wherever she must've gone, before she looked back at me.

"And now you have Joshua," she said, her tone neutral.

I tried to school my expression at the wince, but I could see that she saw my emotions before I had masked it.

"Yes," I said glibly.

She stopped attending to my cut, her hand resting on mine as she laughed. "Dear, I don't for one second believe that a boy like Joshua could have claimed your heart."

I was about to deny the claim, seeing as Josh was adamant that in order for us to be able to stay, they had to believe we really were betrothed. Dimitri's face flashed behind my eyes, only segmenting that even with knowing that information, it felt like betraying him and everything we meant to each other.

"No, he could never," I admitted.

She patted my leg. "Anyone could tell by one look at you that you are a warrior. Only one in return could be deserving of all that you might have to offer."

I like Agatha. While she was older, she seemed much wiser behind her years. She had this motherly demeanor that put me at ease. While my own relationship with my mother, Janine, was getting better in the last few years, I still couldn't help but wish that as I sat across from Agatha, I wished my mother could be more like her.

"Thank you," I said, humbled by her instant perception of me.

She smiled warmly. "Do you have someone worthy of you?"

My mouth instantly curved into a wide grin. "I do." My lips turned into a frown. "I miss him."

Her expression turned thoughtful. "Ah…young love. I can see it shines bright in you."

I looked up, my brow arching. Agatha wasn't a Moroi or a Dhampir, but the words she uttered almost made me feel as if she could have been. As if she could have been a spirit user.

I rubbed my hands together. "We got separated." I looked out at the direction of the cave where I knew the opening was. "I know he is out there right now searching for me."

Every time I had closed my eyes since I had jumped over the cliff, I saw the haunted look in Dimitri's eyes as he had known what I was going to do. The last thing I had seen of him taking a step forward, knowing that he wouldn't be able to stop me.

I hated that I was putting him through this pain, but I knew he would do everything in his power to find me. He wouldn't rest until we were together again, just as I hadn't when he had been taken from me.

"You'll be together again," she said with certainty.

"Thanks."

"Would you tell me about him? Is he as fierce as you?"

I laughed. "Worse. He's the best of us."

Steps to our side pulled our attention back to Rebecca who had returned with a pile of clothes in her hand. She offered them to Agatha.

"I figured you didn't seem like the kind of person to want to wear dresses or skirts, so I did my best to find you something among our males' clothes that would work."

I gave her a grateful look. "Thank you, Rebecca. That's extremely thoughtful."

Agatha passed me the clothes, a simple shirt and pair of pants. They were a little big and baggy, but they would do the job. Rebecca picked up my discarded clothes from the floor.

"I will have these washed and see what I can do to mend them before you have to leave tomorrow."

"You're too kind," I said, my heart warming even more to her since we had met.

"It's no trouble. It's nice to have some excitement around here."

"Rose, here was just about to tell us more about her beau. Dimitri, was it?" she asked.

I laughed nervously. It was one thing to admit the truth to Agatha, but I didn't want word getting around—since it seemed to easily spread—that Josh and I had been lying just to stay for the evening. The elders didn't cross me as the forgiving kind.

Rebecca's face grew with an excitement. Something told me these ladies probably didn't get a lot of girl talk, and if I was being honest, I didn't get much of that with Lissa these days with her queenly duties and now this assignment.

"If you are worried that I will say something, you don't have to be," Rebecca said, when I hadn't said anything. "While I know there is some sort of history with you and Joshua, I don't for one second believe it was anything romantic."

That earned a laugh from me. "Not even remotely. But Josh did try and fight for my hand, to which Dimitri easily put a stop to that."

Agatha came with the last of the linen to wrap my arm for my shoulder, as I began to answer all of their questions about my life as a guardian, my history with Josh and the Keepers, and most importantly, about that man that I was crazy in love with.

Later in the evening, most of the colony, including Agatha, Rebecca, and Cassie were all sitting around the fire as everyone enjoyed a bite of their dinner and opportunity to converse with each other now that the work for the day was done.

Cassie slid up next to my side as she finished the bit of poultry and greens that were put on her plate. Josh had plopped himself down on my other side, hardly leaving me alone once I had finished up seeing Agatha.

Most of the scrutiny over my being in their colony had died down, but even in colonies like the Keepers, there were quite a lot of females that didn't like I was there. Especially ones that were married or were attempting to court other males within the colony.

Cassie's little hand rested on my thigh, bringing my attention back to her. Her big brown eyes looked up at me, making me wonder if something had been on my face.

"Rose, can you tell me a story?" she asked, once dinner was done and the crowd had thinned out but for only a few of us.

"Um…"

"Cassie, it's not nice to put people on the spot," Rebecca reprimanded.

Her face fell, looking down to her lap. It made me sad, and the last thing I wanted to do was be the reason to wipe away her good mood.

"No, I don't mind. I have lots of stories I could tell you." As I started going through my mind to edit all the ones that I knew were a little to adult for her ears.

"Rose has some amazing tales," Josh agreed.

I looked back at Cassie, even though everyone else in the small group leaned forward with interest as well. I guess Agatha had been right. I had been the most interesting thing to come upon this group in a while.

Cassie brought her finger to her lips as she thought long and hard about the request. "Something happy," she said. "Oh, and exciting." I nodded. "And dangerous and if it has to do with princesses, that would be a plus."

I arched a brow. "Is that all?"

She giggled. "Your funny."

Josh threw another log onto the fire pit in front of us, as I took a deep breath and began.

"Once upon a time, there was this princess, who was in such danger that she made the courageous decision to escape with her best friend, and her protector. Until the day came, where a solider, so strong and valiant came to bring them back to the king…"

All eyes were on me, as I sat back, and started to tell the story of my life.

By the time the story was over, the remaining adults had left, only leaving Cassie, Josh, and myself, since Rebecca was called away in need of something for Elder Andrews. I had promised I would keep an eye out for Cassie.

It had been twenty minutes, and before I had known it, Cassie had managed to crawl upon my lap and curl herself to sleep.

Josh turned to me. "She likes you," he observed. "She hasn't been this excited and talkative since her father passed away."

I frowned; looking down at the little girl sleeping in my arms. Normally, children and I really didn't get along. They didn't like me, and I had no clue what it was that I was supposed to do with them.

As I looked at her eyelids fluttering as if she was in some sort of dream, there was a tiny pull on the inside of my chest. I recalled Rebecca's words from earlier in the day about her loss of her mate, and the fact that she at least had Cassie as a way to remember him by. It brought be back to the days when I had lost Dimitri.

I was too young to even think about children back then, but the thought of having a little piece of him around to have eased that comfort of his loss, would have been easier if we could have grieved together.

Dimitri always wanted kids. Another low point in my life. A time that I had thought he was going to go and be with Tasha, because she could give him what I could not. Dhampir's couldn't have children together, which was why most female Dhampir's had flings with Moroi, in order to maintain our race.

Once Dimitri had been restored, we had learned a couple of Christmas's back, that the restoring process had caused something to change in Dimitri's makeup. It meant that now I could give Dimitri the one thing he wanted…children.

I still didn't know if children were something I wanted. It would make sense from a duty to bring more Dhampir's in the world, but I always thought back to my childhood with absent parents, and knew I never wanted to do that to my kids.

Dimitri ever being patient, had said there would be no rush and we always had time. With our seven-year age difference, I was still on the younger side, and age didn't really matter when it came to men. He was willing to give me a few years and discuss it later on, to see if it was something we would still want together.

I knew if I said no, he wouldn't push it. He had always said he loved me and our love was enough, but a part of me still felt guilty knowing that he wanted to build a family. Even when we had discussed it, he had made it clear several times that if the answer was no, we would be fine. That the one thing he wasn't fine with, was giving me up.

Still, ever since Adrian and Sydney adopted Neal, after his mother was killed in the raid and his father took off to keep from anyone finding out that he was the first child produced from a restoration from Strigoi, I could see the want in Dimitri's eyes anytime we had a chance to babysit.

Cassie let out a little content sigh, bringing my attention back to her. She was so cute, it made me smile. Looking at her, my aversion and fear of possibly having kids, didn't suddenly seem so scary after all.

"Do you want them one day?" Josh asked, looking over at me and then Cassie.

"Maybe," I answered truthfully. "My job doesn't really allow me to think about it much."

"I do," he said proudly.

I looked over at him, surprised by his admission. "You! You want kids?"

He nodded eagerly. "Of course. Could you imagine a whole bunch of little me's running around? It would be awesome."

I cringed at that part. "Lord help the woman that has to take care of them." He opened his mouth, sending me a longing look, but I shot him a pointed one. "It's not me."

He frowned, but didn't say anything else to that. After a pause he did ask, "Does he want children?"

"Dimitri?"

His expression soured. "Yeah."

I looked back at Cassie and smiled. "Yeah, he does. He would love them. He comes from a big family and they are close."

He nodded; a noise from in front of us, let us know that Rebecca had returned, her expression melting at seeing her daughter curled up into my arms.

"I can take her," she whispered coming closer.

Somehow, the thought of her just leaving, made me sad. "I don't mind," I said softly.

I could see the grateful look in Rebecca's eyes, but I knew she was going to insist. "It's best if I take her back to her bed. I fear she is already growing to attached to you, and you are leaving tomorrow."

It was the first time I even felt a bit of sadness to have to leave. I nodded; leaning back, so Rebecca could step in and lift Cassie into her arms. The little girl had been so tuckered out, she didn't even stir as she was lifted from my arms and into the arms of her mother. Cassie placed a soft kiss on her forehead, smiled at Josh and I, and then left the area.

"I'm sad you are leaving us tomorrow, too," Josh admitted.

"I was never meant to stay."

"I know," he said dejectedly.

I could tell he was hoping that somehow my short time with them here would suddenly change my mind and forget about my life I know and love to just stay here. I would never be happy or fulfilled here. That I knew.

I yawned; actually, tired between not really getting a good night sleep from last night, and then the trek we had to make just to get to the colony.

Josh stood. "You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow. I should show you to your sleeping quarters."

I laughed.

"What?" he asked.

"No quip or attempt to try and tell me that my quarters would be with you?"

He grinned. "Would it work?"

I shook my head, my look pretty much telling him it would be a fat chance. "Sorry, but no."

He kicked a small rock in front of him. "That's what I thought." He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "I hope he knows how lucky he is."

I noticed that anytime he would mention Dimitri, he would never call him by his name.

"He does. So do I," I replied.

He nodded; his head tilting in the direction away from the fire pit. "Come on, I'll walk you to your quarters."

Once we were at the door, he stood outside, and I could tell he didn't quite want the night to end. I was tired, and I still wanted to do everything I could to make sure he didn't get the wrong idea between us. Nothing…nothing would ever change my feeling or my love for Dimitri.

"Goodnight, Josh."

He flashed me a smile that didn't really reach his eyes. "Goodnight, Rose."

I had slept better than the night before, but my sleep was still restless being in surroundings that I really didn't know. It was still hard to fully rest, when my thoughts and body longed for Dimitri.

Knowing that today I would be able to go to town, filled me with renowned energy and hope that I would be able to get in contact with him and if lucky see him today.

Making the decision to take Ryan with me eliminated the initial threat, but that still didn't mean that we had found out who the boss was behind the operation. I knew that Dimitri had been a target, and without me by his side, it left me nervous and worried that whomever was after him would try again, especially when I was out of the picture.

"Your clothes," Rebecca had said, once she had seen that I was awake.

I took them from her, grateful for her ability to mend them and give them back. The clothes I had been wearing weren't terrible, but they were baggy and would certainly make it more difficult with the journey ahead, or in the event if we accounted for any trouble along the way.

I dressed quickly, meeting, Rebecca, Josh, Agatha, and some of the other colony members outside. The smell of whatever they were cooking for breakfast was underway, and my stomach started to growl.

"Rose, sit here," Josh beckoned, an empty spot next to him.

He had a plate filled with eggs and bacon for me. I graciously took the plate, eating every bite that was given to me, including a few cups of water to keep hydrated for the day.

Once breakfast had concluded, Agatha stepped forward to do a quick check of my injuries to make sure I was ready for the journey ahead.

"Here," she said, placing a smile pouch in my hand.

I opened it up to see a small amount of the salve she had used the day before on my shoulder. "That's too kind, but I can't…

"You can, and you will. Make sure to apply generously," she said.

"I will."

She pulled me into an instant hug, and I found myself wrapping my arms around her. "Stay safe, little warrior."

I smiled. "Thank you, Agatha. I hope we will see each other one day."

She nodded. "Likewise."

I turned; just as the five elders from the day before approached the area. Anyone that wasn't in the middle of performing tasks, quickly scurried away, while others, lowered their heads as what I assumed was a sign of respect.

"Thank you for your hospitality," I said, my eyes meeting each of theirs.

"We bid you luck on your journey ahead," Elder Andrews, replied dryly.

I noticed his wording and tone seemed that he was glad that my presence would be leaving their colony. The feeling was mutual.

"Ready?" Josh said, bending down to grab a pack.

"What's all that?"

"We weren't due for another stop in town for a while, but since I am taking you there, I thought I would pick up anything we could use."

Just before I could leave, Cassie flung herself at my leg. "Rose, please don't go," she pleaded, her voice coming out wobbly as she clung to me, her little eyes filling with tears.

It broke my heart.

I knelt down, taking her hands in mine. "Do you remember the story I told you last night?"

She nodded; wiping at the back of her eyes.

"The best friend, the protector, her duty is not yet complete," I said, hoping to make her understand.

She still looked sad, but I could see she understood. She wrapped her small arms around my neck and burrowed her face into my neck. "Good-bye, Rose. I'll miss you. Please come back."

I pulled back. "I'll try," I replied, being careful not to promise something I knew I wasn't going to be able to keep.

Josh and I began our journey back through the woods, which was a five-mile hike to the edge of the mountain, where the colony kept an old truck for when they needed to haul larger items.

I had never been gladder to see a vehicle in my life, by the time we had climbed in and made the ten-mile drive to the nearest town where the colony would be able to pick up supplies as well as meet the alchemists when needed for medical and other supplies.

Josh pulled the car into a small convenient/grocery store and shut off the engine.

"The owner, Billy, is nice. He should let you use the phone."

"Thanks," I said, my hand on the car door handle.

"I…I could come with you, if you want."

"I'll be ok. I'll be right back."

I hopped out of the car, aware that the small town that Josh had driven me too consisted of this grocery store, gas station, a library, and a car repair shop. Josh had let me know that the next largest town was at least twenty more miles down the road.

I walked into the store, the ding of the bell on the door, making a burly man with a red cap and plaid shirt look up from the counter where he stood leaning over the cash register.

"Are you Billy?" I asked.

His eyes scrutinized me as if he was trying to recall where he had met me before. I had him pegged that he wasn't the kind of guy that wanted to embarrass himself by forgetting someone even if he had no clue who they were—like me.

"Can I help you?" he asked back.

I turned on my full wattage smile. "My friend Josh says you might be able to help me. I'm a bit lost and was hoping to call a friend."

His face relaxed when my request wasn't something astronomical.

"Sure." He plopped a phone that looked like it was right out of the eighties on the desk. "Have at it, sweetheart."

I walked over, nodding my thanks, as I picked up the phone and dialed the number of the burner phone for Dimitri. We had both been given burner phones that we would use on assignment. Each week, we would dump the current phone, drive to another neighboring town and pick up a new one.

I counted back the days in my head, hoping that the last phone number I had, hadn't been a week yet.

"Come on, come on," I said into the receiver, my back to Billy as I watched the door.

When the number went to the voicemail box that we hadn't set up, I cursed inwardly and set the phone down. Billy's hand reached out to take the phone, but I clapped my hand back on top.

"Please…one more."

He sighed; but motioned me to continue. I picked up the phone and called the next place I knew was close by and could hopefully get a message quickly to Dimitri.

"St. Anna's Academy," Ian's assistant answered over the phone.

"Hi, this Rose Hathaway. I need to speak with Headmaster Croft or Sonya Tanner, right away."

"Oh, my God. It's you. Just…just hold on," she replied.

The line went silent for a moment, before the line picked back up, and Ian's voice came on the other end. "Guardian Hathaway?"

I sighed in relief, now I had finally been able to make contact. "Yes, Headmaster Croft, this is Rose Hathaway."

"We've been looking all over for you. Where are you?"

I looked around the grocery store, the name of the small town on a map right at the counter near the checkout. "A small town in Riverdale."

"Are you ok?"

"Minor injuries, but I'll be fine. Where's Di—Guardian Belikov?"

"He's with the search party since you went over the cliff. They found the body," he answered.

That was the first piece of good news I had heard since I had been taken and jumped off the mountain.

"I need an extraction," I said, getting to the point, seeing the signs that Billy was starting to get frustrated with the longer our conversation went on.

"I will call Guardian Belikov right away. Stay there. Someone will come and get you as soon as they can," he ordered.

"I will." I pulled the phone from my ear, when I heard Ian call back out my name. "Yeah?"

"Be careful. Things have gotten more chaotic since we shook the nest."

I took the phone from my ear and placed it back on the receiver, handing it back to Billy as I nodded my thanks.

As I made my way to the car, Josh was still sitting in the driver seat where I had left him.

"Were you able to make the call?" he asked, once I leaned into the window of the truck.

"Yes. They are going to alert the search party and then someone will head here right away. If you have to go…"

He scoffed. "Are you crazy? I am not leaving until I know you are safe."

"Thanks," I said appreciatively.

My hand reached for the door handle to get in, when to my right at the edge of the wooden terrain of the highway that we pulled off, there was a flash of sliver light that caught my eye.

"What?" Josh asked, his eyes following in the direction where mine had gone.

I squinted, using my heightened senses picking up on the leaves moving and not in a way that would be by and animal. My hearing also picked up what sounded like a whistle in the wind.

"I don't know…"

Something deep in my stomach felt uneasy the longer I looked over there. Part of me wanted to just ignore it. It was probably just an animal or my eyes playing tricks on me, but the guardian part of me wouldn't be able to rest. If there was something out there, something dangerous and I ignored my gut to check it out, and someone was injured, I would never be able to live with myself.

"Stay here," I said, standing straight and pushing away from the vehicle.

Of course, Josh did the opposite, hopping out of the vehicle and coming around to stop me. "If you are going over there, so am I."

I let out an exasperated sigh. "I don't even know if anything is there. Besides, if there is, it would be nice to know backup is here in case you need to protect anyone."

"What I need to do is back you up and protect you," he argued.

"I'm fine. Just stay here."

He blocked my path again. "Your injured. If that is a Strigoi, which by the way you look, you think it's a possibility, I can't let you go in alone."

Now I was irritated. "Ok, first. I have fought Strigoi in worse circumstances then this. Second, you're in no position to tell me what I can and can't do. And third, if you were to back me up, what exactly would you even have to kill it?"

He had been about to argue, when he realized what I already knew. He had no sliver stake, which outside of cutting off their head at this point, was the only thing to still kill a Strigoi.

"Don't you have a backup?" he shot back.

I did, but that was before my first one had been taken from me. Last time I had seen Josh fight, he had been decent, but nowhere near the level of being ready for a stake. Great, now I did sound like Dimitri.

I still remembered the first hundred times I had asked him why he wouldn't train me with an actual stake and his only excuse had been because I hadn't been ready yet. It was later on, when he finally had me try and stake the practice dummy that I understood why.

If Josh did back me up, and the worst were to happen, the last thing I needed was for a Strigoi to be walking around with a stake that he could use to harm innocent humans, or even our kind.

"Just stay here," I ground out, my tone letting him know it was non-negotiable.

He huffed, crossing his arms. I could tell that he was hurt that I didn't trust him to back me up. "Fine."

I tried to reel in my temper. "Look, if I don't come back in five minutes, then something is wrong. You get in the car, and you go." He was going to open his mouth to protest, but I cut him off. "This is serious, Josh. I need you to trust me on this. Because if something does go wrong, you are all I have left. Understand."

He nodded gravely, understanding crossing his features. I gave him one last nod, and then started moving in the direction of the woods. My hand snaked around my back, my fingers finding the grip of my stake in the holder on my waist.

As I crossed the road and into the edge of the forest, the hairs on the back of my neck stood. I looked everywhere in the area that I had seen the sliver light, but found nothing. I stood quietly for a moment, attempting to see if I could hear the noise, but also got nothing.

"Great. Maybe I'm back to seeing ghosts again," I muttered to myself.

After another minute, and going an extra few feet into the woods to find nothing, I chalked it up to exhaustion and too much adrenaline pumping through my body. I released the stake around my waist, pushing back down my sweater, and started to make my way back to the car.

As I broke through the tree line, I could see that Josh was leaning against the truck, his eyes glancing from the clock on the grocery store and then the area where I was standing.

I shot him a little wave and a gesture that basically said everything was fine. Even from here, I could see him visibly relax as he went over to the driver side to climb back in.

Then I heard the whistle again.

I turned my head to my shoulder to take a peek, my hand already going for the stake on my waist, when a hand clamped over my mouth and an intense prick at the side of my neck.

I fought against the hand, but my body started to sway, my vision going blurry. I could see the end of the syringe of the needle that was still in my neck. I only had a few seconds left. I could feel the wooziness coming on.

As I looked back to the SUV trying to get Josh's attention to look my way, I saw two big black SUV's pull into the parking lot. Dimitri's long legs exited the car.

My heart soared at seeing him.

"Di—"

Then…everything went dark.