A/N: Here we go! Enjoy this next chapter.

Thank you for your continued interest and reviews on stopping by to read this story. Whether good or bad reviews...they still mean a lot!

RossxArrow - This story will end with chapter 20. So, 4 more chapters after this one.

smoaknaroow - I don't always tend to follow the books exactly. I loved when Rose had Christian for her practice assignment and as the series finished...I really loved their relationship. I made them a parring on purpose so I could continue that brotherly/sisterly bickering. Plus, I also felt that with Dimitri and Lissa restoring him, that he really progressed from feeling that he "owed" her, to also a big brother/ little sister. Making him her guardian is something I wanted to do for some cute scenes in between. I do know that Hans is only over the guardians...but since most dhampir's do become guardian's I liked giving him a bit more of a role as if he watches as novices grow into becoming guardians. There's also an element in the new few chapters that I think you will see why. :)

Rose

Chapter 16

Present Day…

"Ow!"

I opened my eyes, finding myself back on the same concrete floor of the room I had been in previously.

There was immense pressure in my head, almost as if I stood up to quickly once I tried to sit back up and lean against the wall behind me. The vibrations got louder with each beat of my heart, each new panting of my breath.

The last thing I remembered, before being drugged again, was sitting in the office of who I knew to be the master—as he referred to himself—of this possible whole operation.

Dimitri.

The only thing I had gotten out of him, before things had gone south and they drugged me again. Whoever the mystery master was, he definitely knew Dimitri. We weren't just talking about his knowledge coming from in passing of hearing Dimitri's name or the amount of successful kills tattooed on his neck.

The master of this operation knew Dimitri.

The door to my room opened, Reed standing in the doorway. I had bypassed it before, but now I remembered why that name was ringing a bell. He had been the second in command to Marcus before his position suddenly became available and Dimitri took the job.

His look told me that he realized the moment I had come to that same realization. "Master would like to see you," he said, his words not a request, but again a demand.

I wanted to quip back with a witty remark that I would like to stake him right in the heart, but we don't always get what we want. I had to bite my tongue to keep the retort from coming out, unsure if I did that, they wouldn't get all stab happy with the needle again before I got the answers I wanted.

The one and only thing that would get me to comply would be the fact that this had to do with Dimitri. That feeling to want to gloat that I had been right all along, died in my throat.

I pushed myself to my feet, the pressure in my head starting to ease just a bit the more, the more I was awake, even though the pressure was still causing an annoyance.

Reed stepped out of the way, no surprise that another of his henchmen was waiting outside to lead the way. He followed behind me, but this time I noticed that we weren't going back in the same direction before.

As we left the basement area and back up to the main floor, we had turned in the opposite direction. It was then I knew why.

On the opposite side of the massive penthouse complex was a long rectangular room—probably the size of two master bedrooms—that were converted into what looked like a makeshift infirmary. My steps started to slow as we moved by it slowly, six cots set up with each one of them occupied with someone laying on the bed.

I couldn't tell if they were human or Dhampir, but I had could pinpoint right away the one Moroi in the room. All of them were laying flat on their backs on the cot, with an intravenous sticking into their arm. A white tube dangled from their arm to a bag being held up on a metal looking coat rack. To anyone who gave a quick glance, it would appear they were getting a transfusion, but I knew that wasn't the case.

Their blood was being drained from their body.

My fists clenched at my side, my lips pressing together. So, this was how they were obtaining the blood to make the concoction for their terminator Strigoi's.

The guardian in me wanted to immediately, break in there and stop this from happening, but I had no means to disarm the two Strigoi around me. Even if I could, by the time I could possibly make it in there and stop this, I had no idea if they were in the condition to run and attempt to make it out. I still didn't even know where all the exits out of the place were.

As we continued to walk down the hall, I noticed we were back to the familiar area from before, being taken back to the office I had spoken to their master previously.

Reed opened the door, shoving me inside as he practically forced me to sit.

A few minutes later, the door opened, and the same mystery master appeared. "Rose, have you calmed down since our last talk?"

I sat their mutely, knowing no response I would give would do me any favors. The only thing I cared about this point was getting answers, which meant I had to keep my anger and mouth in check long enough to find out what it was his plan was here. For Dimitri.

"Who are you?" I asked, getting to the first of my questions.

"I realize you might be too young to know who I am. In fact, the only reason you even met Dimitri is because of those earlier events."

I raised my brow. "Which is…"

"How much do you know about Dimitri's past before he was assigned to bring you and your queen back to your academy?"

So, the master here had done his homework. I deiced to go with the truth, since anyone that did know Dimitri would know. This wasn't information that was confidential.

"His prior charge had been killed. After that, he was reassigned."

There was a glint in his eye at my providing that information. The master's posture changed, his shoulders growing more rigid, even though his obvious practiced façade of calmness remained in his expression.

"Do you remember who that charge was?" he probed.

I suddenly wanted to know why he even cared, but calculated that cooperating at this moment would get me more answers than not.

Dimitri had spoken to me of the days before his charge, and best friend from their academy back in Siberia had been killed. They had traveled back home to Russia for business, but his charge had demanded that Dimitri take the day off. Dimitri hadn't seen his family in a while, and his charge knew how much family meant to the both of them.

I remembered the haunting guilt on Dimitri's face when he went against his better judgement and visited his family. That left Dimitri's charge with the second guardian in charge after him. Dimitri had told me that his second guardian hadn't been as skilled as him, no doubt sending him because Dimitri's charge already had him who was top of his class. Even then, Dimitri was already regarded as a god.

I had tried to remind Dimitri that he hadn't been there when the attack had occurred. That it wasn't his fault. That was precisely why the guilt had eaten at him. His charge and his entire family had been murdered by Strigoi under the protection of the second guardian. It had been a full-on massacre.

He blamed himself for giving into his charge's request to take the day off, even though he knew that his second in command was not at the level of Dimitri's liking. It wasn't fair of Dimitri to blame himself in that way. He couldn't control who would be assigned any more than one could control the DNA they were born with.

Though we lived by the motto that they come first, it wasn't fair that Dimitri couldn't have a life at all to constantly be at his beck and call if his charge had been insistent that he take the day off.

There had been times even with Lissa, pre and post queen, or Christian, that I couldn't be with them every second even if I wanted too. I could understand Dimitri's feelings that if it wasn't me or him guarding them that I would never feel totally comfortable they had the best protection.

It was one of the things that had initially first drew us together when he was my mentor and I was his student. No one understood how much Dimitri was hurting over losing his friend. How much he missed him. I understood him. I understood him better than anyone, because running away with Lissa, she was my best friend and I would have done anything for her. I saw Dimitri when no one truly did. And he saw and understood me just as well. Behind my childish behavior and mouthy ways.

But after everything that had happen over the last couple of years—mostly losing Dimitri—we had to realize that while we risked our lives day in and day out for them—gladly—we couldn't live our whole lives for them.

"It was his best friend from the academy. Ivan Zeklos."

Mystery master sucked in a large breath through his nose. "It wasn't just Ivan, though. Was it?"

I squared my jaw. "What does this have to do with anything? Is this what you want Dimitri for? Some kind of revenge? Maybe someone you knew from that family?"

His eyes bore into mine, the red irises flashing with the first glint of anger I was used to seeing from a Strigoi. As quickly as it was there, it was masked again. If this was vengeance, it was driving him much harder than any sort of bloodlust.

"A long time ago, it proved a very valuable lesson."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "And what's that?"

His tongue gritted across his teeth, his voice turning bitter. "That you guardians, for all of your training, for all of your rules…are just weak and expendable."

I tried very hard to keep the incredulity out of my voice. "It's us guardians that put our lives on the line so you can have the cushy lifestyle you want. To walk around without a care."

His expression darkened. "And how did that work out for Ivan? For Alice?"

My lips pressed together tightly. "It is Strigoi like you that did that."

"They were able to do that because they were weak. Because they were led to believe they were protected by a god, when they were guarded by weak individuals that cared more about their own wants and wishes instead of their lives." He snapped.

"This is about revenge," I pointed out. "Whoever Ivan or Alice was to you, you blame Dimitri for this."

He gave me a long appraising look. "Yes," he admitted without hesitation.

"Why?"

He guffawed. "Why does anyone want revenge?"

He was going to make me work for it. "Not power. You seem to have enough of that as it is." He nodded approvingly. "Not money." His brow arched letting me know I was right once again. "That leaves love. Were you in love with Ivan?"

He tried to hide it, but his expression gave him a way. "Not in the way you think."

The words were like a damn breaking in my mind. As if there had been a missing puzzle piece that just fit back into place. The scratch at the back of my head that kept yelling at me why I couldn't pinpoint the feeling of why I felt like I knew him. Ivan's face from a picture Dimitri had showed me—one we had kept in our home as a reminder of the Moroi and best friend he lost—flashed behind my eyes.

"You're his brother."

It wasn't a question for me any longer. As I looked at every inch of his face, it was the spitting image of Ivan Zeklos. Was Ivan a twin?

He regarded me thoughtfully. "Very astute, Rose. Again, I can see why Dimitri fancies you." He paused. "Maybe if it had been you guarding Ivan that day, things would be different."

"Ivan never mentioned he had a brother. Why was that?"

His look turned ominous. "Ivan and I had our differences."

It was my turn to have the upper hand here. I could see there was more to it. More than he didn't want to tell me. Something he had obviously done to create some sort of conflict.

Dimitri had always talked about Ivan in a respectful way. That he was kind, fair, and loving to his family. That he had always cared about his family. It was the sole reason he forced Dimitri to take that day off to be with his own family when they had gone back to Russia.

If Ivan never mentioned his brother before, if he made it seem that he didn't exist, something had to have happened for that to occur.

"Ivan never spoke of you. If I had to guess, he didn't even tell his best friend, guardian, and someone he looked at like a brother that you even existed." I goaded.

"How dare you!" He remarked, his tone reproachful.

I didn't shy away, my gaze holding. "I'm right. You might have turned yourself Strigoi, but that doesn't mean it takes away your past sins."

His steps were quick, his hand around my throat as we squeezed. The second time in a short period I had seen the Strigoi rage in him. "You know nothing," he hissed.

"Igor!"

It was Reed behind us. It wasn't a warning or a reprimand as it was a reminder. Like a master on the leash to pull him back. If Igor Zeklos wanted Dimitri for revenge, he wasn't going to get it if he killed me beforehand.

His hand and around my throat eased, before he removed it altogether, stepping back to smooth out his collar of his shirt as if his little outburst never happened.

Igor's eyebrows met in a stern line over the disappointment in his eyes. The rigid set of his broad shoulders was the only thing to remain of his previous anger. "My brother had the unfortunate habit of taking things to personally. Felt that if you didn't abide by his rules and morals that you could be easily forgotten."

My nose twitched. I was definitely on to something. "What happened, Igor? What happened to make him want to forget you?"

His eyes were tense and narrow, face ghostly white, as whatever memory he recalled came back to him. "Ivan was a hopeless romantic. He had been in love with the same woman of our village since before he could walk or speak. He never had the strength or guts to act on it," he said, a note of disapproval in his voice.

I rolled my eyes. "Let me guess, you loved her too?"

His eyes narrowed. "There are more emotions than just love."

There it was. I had assumed that the reason for his revenge against Dimitri was because of his love for his brother. Maybe in some weird twisted Strigoi way, it was, but this was something else. Igor was right. It wasn't just love. It was jealously that seemed to be driving him now.

"You were jealous of Ivan. Because she loved him."

He swallowed. "He didn't deserve Beth. She followed him like a puppet for years. Willing to do anything for him. Day after day, he would leave her hanging for a date or declaration of love, and it never came."

"What happened?" I asked, even though I felt I already had the answer.

"I convinced her that she deserved better. That she deserved someone who knew what her love was worth. That she should be cherished instead of tossed aside."

I scoffed. "You stole the woman your brother was in love with!"

"She was never meant to be his," he snapped. He shook his head. "He should have cherished her." He turned back to me. "He should have realized that when he found us together, that as my brother, he would want me—us— to be happy!"

"Oh, please!" I sneered. "You said it yourself. This wasn't about love. This was about you being jealous that when push came to shove, she still wanted Ivan. She chose Ivan. You used her confused emotions to get her to be with you, knowing it would not only ruin that connection between them, but crush your brother in the process."

I had gone through enough counseling appointments from my ghost seeing days to know exactly what was going on here. Ivan was everything that Igor was not. That kind of jealousy was toxic and could ruin relationships—obviously.

"You know nothing of our relationship," he hissed. I decided it was best to keep my mouth shut and let him continue. "Ivan and I were meant to go to the academy together, but after he found me with Beth, he calmly walked out and told me that as of that day forward, I was dead to him. That he didn't have a brother any longer."

"For a brother that wants nothing to do with you, you sure are going through a lot for revenge."

He frowned. "I had hoped that Ivan would come around." His voice turned solemn mixed with anger. "You just don't abandon or give up on family. You can't just cast them away like you can a friend. We are blood, and us being brothers was worth more than him just throwing it away like I didn't matter."

"But he didn't," I guessed.

His lip curled upwards. "He never got the chance. He was killed because of incompetence of the guardians and Dimitri Belikov's selfishness."

"You're unbelievable!" I spat. "You have the gall to try and blame Dimitri for your mistakes. You can't even own up to your own faults."

He sneered. "And neither has he."

I jutted out my chin, straightening my shoulders so I appeared as tall as possible. "I will never let you hurt Dimitri." My words were spoken as a promise.

He tsked. "Oh, Rose, that is where you are wrong, my dear girl. You're just a means to an end. As soon as I have Dimitri, there will be no more use for you."

My look was defiant. "If you know anything about me, then you know I don't just give up that easily. I won't do anything to help get Dimitri to you so you can enact whatever revenge plan that you have."

He shot me a calculated smirk, that chilled me all the way to my core. "I don't plan to kill you, Rose. There's somebody else that has plans for you." What? Someone else? "But we're Dimitri's concerned; you will help."

"No, I won't."

He came to stand right in front of me, bending slightly so he could look directly into my eyes. "I know you know some of the benefits to our newly created Strigoi."

I did, but I wasn't about to share that with him. I wasn't going to let him know how much or how little we knew about how to stop more of them being created. How to kill them.

When I didn't answer, he continued, "It's been a painstaking process, but one that has proved the fruit of our labors. See, it's not that we just can only go into the sun, but we found a way to maintain our prior abilities, while morphing that with the benefits of Strigoi."

"That's impossible!"

His brow arched. "Is it?"

If what he said was true, this was in fact dangerous. If Moroi or Dhampir's could keep part of their benefits of their former selves while also inquiring the benefits of Strigoi they would become unstoppable. They could create thousands of them, for every eighteen years at least, to make and train one of us guardians. Not to mention the Moroi.

"I still don't see how that's going to make me want to help you. If you think threatening to make me a Strigoi, will get me to do your bidding, you're mistaken."

His smile was cold. "I don't need to turn you, Strigoi, Rose." The door to his office opened, a Moroi in his fifties walked in and straight to Igor. "Rose, I would like for you to meet a longtime friend of mine. This is Joseph Tarus."

Ryan's father?

"I see that name rings a bell for you," Igor added.

I didn't know if Ryan's father knew yet that his son was actually dead dead. Or if he had known that his death came at my hand.

"What does he have to do with anything?" I asked.

Igor crossed his hands in front of his stomach, his face lighting up with pure pleasure. "Joseph is one of the best spirit users I have come to know."

"No!"

For The first time, I felt the fear. Igor knew it too. "You see, Rose, I don't need to turn you, Strigoi to help me. All I have to do is have Joseph here compel you and you will be my little soldier." I gasped, my heart feeling like it was being ripped from my chest. "You will end up doing whatever it is that I ask of you. Including betraying the love of your life."

All the blood drained from my face.

Dimitri.

Reed and the other Strigoi, grabbed hold of my arms, forcing my head against the back of the chair. I attempted to break free, but my strength was no match for all of them.

Joseph stepped forward, his cold hand grabbing hold of my chin and yanking it to face him. The look in his eyes, told me this wasn't just because Igor had ordered him too. He had already known his son was dead. He had known it was at my hands.

"No!"

I tried to fight, but they were too strong.

"Look at me, Rose!"

I closed my eyes, tears coming out of the corners of each of them. He gripped my chin harder to the point where I felt my jaw was going to break, my eyes instantly opening.

He started to look into my eyes everything going out of focus. I felt a warm cloak of comfort and peace wash over me. I wanted it to wrap around me and hug me.

"That's it, Rose…"

Yes. This place was nice. This place was comfortable. This place was safe.

He started to repeat words in my head. That Igor was the only person that loved me. The only person that cared for me and wanted me to be safe. That he would die to protect me, and I would do the same in return. That I wanted to please him. Anything that he wanted of me, I wanted too gladly do it for him. A passion and need deep in my soul I had never felt so strongly before…all for Igor. My only allegiance was to him and him alone. My past…friends and loved ones no longer mattered. They no longer had any hold over me. They didn't exist.

Don't matter….

His whispers were gone, my eyes closing as the warmth enveloped me fully, until I was at peace.

My eyes opened, both Igor and Joseph glancing back at me with warm and inviting smiles.

Igor took my hand in his. "Now, Rose, what will you do to make me happy?"

My grin was predatory. "Bring you Dimitri Belikov, so you can kill him."

Dimitri

We were back at Rose and my safehouse, as the base operation, while we combed through the remaining documents and information.

"So, wherever this Svoboda cooperation is, Rose is probably being held," Eddie, remarked, sitting on the sofa, eating from a bag of chips.

"Yes. Except every document, every search just points us in a different direction. As if the company exists, but then doesn't exist," I pointed out, my frustration growing that we seemed no closer to Rose with each passing second.

I couldn't fail her. I just couldn't…

"It keeps shuffling hands likes funds would move between accounts," Mikhail added.

I stood, my hand on my chin. Rose had been gone now for at least a couple of hours. We knew she was taken by a Strigoi. It didn't make any sense though. Everything leading up to Rose being taken by Ryan, was because they wanted me. Now they had her, why hadn't they called to use her as leverage? I was so sure that was the play. Which meant, if I wasn't getting the call…something could be very wrong. I didn't want to take my thoughts there, because if there was no leverage…

I turned back to Mikhail. "We're missing something," I said. "The club, it's a way to funnel what was needed. Even a source to lure prospects, but there is no way they are calling the shots."

Eddie dropped the bag of chips on the coffee table. "You think someone else is running the show."

I nodded. "I'm certain. Marcus had every intention of delivering me over to someone else. He wanted Rose as the leverage to do so for my cooperation. Someone else is calling the shots and using the nightclub as the heart of the operation."

I looked back at the phones I had taken from the security details. Like Rose and mine, they were burner phones, so the phone numbers we were able to retrieve were also located to other burner phones. More dead ends.

Buzz. Buzz.

All of our heads turned to the table. One of the burner phones I had taken started vibrating around on the wooden table. I picked it up in my hand, the word unknown flashed across the screen.

I nodded to Mikhail, who was back at the computer, the software already installed to start recording the conversation as soon as I picked up.

"Hello?"

"Dimitri Belikov."

"Where's Rose?" I asked.

"She's comfortable for now," the voice on the other end said.

There was something about the voice that bothered me. Something that sounded so familiar and yet I couldn't exactly pinpoint what that was.

"Let's cut the games. You took her to get to me. I will gladly come as a trade. So, tell me where you want to meet, and I will be there."

"Alone." The voice on the other end said more of a statement rather than a question.

Going alone was suicide. Rose was taken by Strigoi, which meant wherever she was being held probably had the place crawling with them. Regardless, this was still about me. Whoever this was on the other end of the phone, end's game was me. I would never let anything happen to Rose because of me.

"Yes, alone," I agreed.

Mikhail looked up at me once I agreed to the terms.

"I am so looking forward to chatting with you, Dimitri. It's been a long time coming."

The phone disconnected. A few seconds later, the phone beeped again, an address procured on the screen.

"Yeah, you can't go alone," Mikhail obviously pointed out.

"He will kill her if I don't," I answered simply.

"He'll kill you both regardless," Eddie chimed in.

"I know that too," I replied.

"So, what… is this your way of telling us you're doing some kind of suicide mission?" Eddie asked irritably.

I gave him a look of disgust. "No. But I can't run the risk of anyone spotting any of you before I have any idea of what's going on in the inside. Where they have Rose."

"What do you suggest?" asked Mikhail.

"We prepare teams. By them giving me this address, they're going to know that will be planning something. We just have to outsmart them."

A knock on the front door of the apartment had us all stilling.

"Are we expecting anyone?" Eddie asked quietly.

I shook my head, bringing my finger to my mouth as I crept towards the front door of the apartment. My hand snaked around the stake at my waist. I threw open the door, my hand at the ready, but stopped.

"Whoa! Easy, there Belikov!"

"Christian?" I grabbed him by the shirt, dragging him in as quickly as possible, looking outside for his backup or in the event he was followed.

"Jared will be along shortly," he informed seeing I was wondering where his Guardian was.

I crossed my arms over my chest once I had put away my stake. "What are you doing here?"

He looked at me as if the answer was obvious. "Lissa and I both thought I would be best used here. She is sending three more Moroi with fire element and one earth element that are trained to be able to fight alongside you."

"Cool!" Eddie remarked.

"This is dangerous. We cannot put Moroi life in danger."

Christian scoffed. "And we can't let them kill you or Rose." He turned to Mikhail. "I'm sure he was just telling you about going in alone because that is what we know the next call will be demanding."

Mikhail frowned. "We already got it."

"I won't risk, Rose," I said sharply.

"No one wants that." I had forgotten how much Christian had grown over the years. How much I liked how he and Lissa were for each other. For all his teasing and banter back-and-forth with Rose, they actually cared for each other as friends. "We know their compound is going to be crawling with these enhanced Strigoi." His palm came up flat with a flame of fire in the shape of a ball. "So, it's only fair that we fight fire with fire."

The door opened; Christian's second guardian in charge, Jared walked in trailing along with one other familiar face.

"No!"

"I told you I'd be back," Josh said smugly.

I growled; turning back to Christian who shrugged, but had a wisecracking grin on his face.

"Don't blame me," he said, holding out his hands. "Apparently your girl made a deal with him that for her sanctuary at his colony, we would pay for him to attend an academy to become a guardian."

Josh grinned. "You are looking at the newest novice guardian at St. Anna's Academy," he beamed proudly. "So, what's the plan?" He asked, grabbing the bag of chips Eddie left on the table.

I snatched them from his hands resisting the urge to groan. And punch him. "For you to sit down and be quiet. And try not to get in the way."

An hour later, we had formulated a plan. I was insistent that I would appear to be going in alone. Until I had Rose safely in my arms, I refuse to do anything that would jeopardize her safety.

Between the extra resources that Hans had sent, we had a team of fifty guardians, four fire Moroi, one earth Moroi and one novice Keeper at our disposal.

The team to be broken up into four teams of thirteen. Jared, Mikhail, Eddie, and Tom Foster—who had come from St. Anna's were the squad leaders for their perspective teams.

We didn't have much to go on with the building plans of the address provided, so we had to base our plan of attack on what we did have. One team would be positioned outside to catch anyone fleeing. It was decided that would be Jared's team, while Tom, Mikhail, and Eddie would breach the inside.

The uneasiness in my stomach began to grow as the need for our plan grew nearer to go into motion. This plan needed to work, because I couldn't fail Rose. It was my job to protect her. I couldn't lose her. I couldn't live without her.

"Good luck," Mikhail said, his hand resting on my shoulder, as I checked my weapons one last time.

"Thanks."

"Hey, Dimitri!"

I turned; Josh coming towards me. As much as I protested that he would be coming along on this mission—that he was too much of a novice—I knew it was the only choice we had. Sometimes he did remind me a little too much of Rose. He was resourceful in the fact that he would find a way if someone had told him no.

"Rose believes in you. As much as I hate to admit it, she obviously loves you." I arched a brow, because I knew of his infatuation even back when we had been on the run. Apparently, he still hadn't wanted to believe he would have no chance with her. "Just bring her home. Okay?"

I nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a couple of seconds before he went and joined his team. Eddie's team.

I hopped into my SUV intent on going to rescue the woman that I loved.

As soon as I pulled up to the compound, I was already greeted by two Strigoi and Marcus Parker.

"Dimitri. Dimitri Belikov." He said my last name snidely. "We meet again."

I was sure now that he knew who I was the entire time. The more and more pieces that we were collecting together, the more I felt so stupid for not seeing how calculated this whole operation had been to begin with. The only comforting notion was a nice big blackeye he was sporting thanks to me.

I gave him a sharp nod. "Let's get this over with."

I started walking, Marcus at my side while the two Strigoi hung back behind us. I couldn't run the risk of using any communications to get back to the teams, in the event they checked or swept me for bugs, but there was still one option up my sleeve.

It was old, and then some of the younger guardians considered more of a dinosaur era type of communication, but it would be something that wouldn't be picked up on their devices if they scanned me.

Morse code.

As we walked, the clicker I had concealed in my hand sent back to information to each of the squad leaders. I was there only eyes on the inside, until Rose was safely with me before the attack.

Finally, Marcus stopped us at a door, letting us all in. As I stepped in, it was Reed's Strigoi face I was met with.

"So, this is the infamous, Belikov," his scratchy voice commented.

I scanned the room, but there hadn't been anybody else. Marcus stepped in behind me along with the two remaining Strigoi before the door shut.

"Where is she?" I demanded.

"They will be here shortly."

I always considered myself a patient man. Someone that could separate emotions and do what was needed to get the job done. The longer I stood in this room not knowing where Rose was or what they might be doing to her, caused an ache of longing in me so strong I felt like I could keel over. The real feel of fear at losing Rose made it even worse.

The door opened at the back of the room. My eyes snapped up first as a man entered. I stared at him in confusion.

"Ivan?"

I didn't even have time to recover, my eyes flickering over to the person following right behind him.

Roza.

But this wasn't my Roza. Her eyes glanced at me for a fleeting second. No recognition. No indication that she even knew me at all. I stiffened, a war brewing in my chest as my hands clenched tightly at my sides.

"Roza," I said in a strangled voice.

She titled her head to the side looking at me. "Is it time, Master?" She asked obediently, her head turning to him instead.

"Not yet, my darling, Rose. But soon."

She looked straight ahead at me. I tried to get her to look in my eyes, but she refused to even meet my gaze. Her eyes blinked closed as she dropped them half mast, before she looked up and straight ahead. My chest was tight with worry, I stood their quietly as I stared down at her still form. There was an emptiness looming behind her eyes.

"Roza?"

She didn't even look my way. The sound of her name offered no recognition. No smile like she used too when I would say her name.

"The Rose Hathaway you once knew is gone." I glanced back at the man. Ivan? "I am not Ivan. I know it hurts right now, Dimitri. Feel the pain I have felt these years."

A chill went through me.

"When I am done with you, I will give you more mercy than you deserve. Mercy that you failed to give my brother." He paused, stepping over to Rose, putting his hands on either side of her shoulders. A growl escaped my lips. "And when you die, you will know you die without doing the one thing you were top of your class to do…protect her."

"I will kill you." Each of my words a promise.

The man smiled. "Then, shall we begin."