Guys, I am SO sorry. Honestly, I am. I left a little AN because I had to do research and FanFiction was distracting me. Then, because all I'd done was revision, I had homework to catch up on. Then it was my birthday, so my Dad gave me some updates for my computer so I didn't have it for a week. And then my Mum lost our internet passcode so I haven't actually been able to go on much since mid-June. Thanks so much for your patience. I honestly didn't mean to leave it this long (especially with the cliff hanger).

So here's the chapter you (may or may not) have been waiting for:

Shit. In a flash, my mind analysed our positions. Most of the male guardians were out cold on the floor. Lissa was standing in the middle of the garden completely unprotected. And me? I was staring into the face of a Strigoi. Handcuffed. I repeat: Shit.

I didn't want to shout Lissa's name, for some reason to do with letting out information, so in my mind I yelled

Lissa! Duck down! Hide your face and get inside! In my peripheral vision, I saw her nod and then I turned my attention to the Strigoi. I whacked him across the face and he yelled out. I locked my arms around his neck, just like I'd been doing with the guardians and he cried out. Silver! The handcuffs were made of silver and charmed with the elements! Clever! I rammed them into him, attempting to strangle him until he went out cold. Then I rummaged through Dimitri's pockets, found the key to unlock my handcuffs, stabbed the Strigoi and woke up Dimitri. His eyes widened.

"Is that all of them?" I wondered aloud. I couldn't see anymore.

"No..." he murmured softly, and then we were ambushed. I shrieked, attacking two of them, barely noticing the bright light in the corner.

ChristianPOV

"Quick, Christian!" Lissa hissed, and tossed me a set of keys. Sonya-my 'guard'- fumbled with the lock and let me go. Then the female guardians went to join Rose and Dimitri. The Belikovas backed up in a semi circle, pressing Lissa, Olena, Oksana, Yeva, Adrian, Sydney and I back towards the safety of the house. Mark was bravely trying to defend us against any Strigoi getting thorough our main barricades. There were dozens of them. I was preparing to put up a fireball in my hands to defend Lissa, but I turned and she wasn't there. Where the hell are you, Liss? Of course, I wasn't getting a reply. I looked around and-oh shit.

LissaPOV

What can I do? What can I do? The male guardians were all out cold around us. They were Strigoi targets and could also be useful in helping Rose and Dimitri, who were looking battered and exhausted already. I crept past the Belikovas and inched towards the first guardian. I pulled in the magic, hoping to get him conscious, when a ring of light went up around me. I glanced up into Christian's anxious eyes, trying not to get distracted by how amazing he looked backed by the fire. I smiled at his protective circle and we set about scanning the grass for guardians to heal, only breaking the circle to let them out. I could help, and I was going to do everything in my power to.

SydneyPOV

I stared in shock at the battlefield unfolding before me. I'd been startled when Rose and Dimitri had fought just three, but fighting a whole army? I was aghast. Not to mention how much cleaning up this would need. The barrier of Belikovas in front of me were now fighting their own enemies. I shivered, hoping they didn't get through.

RosePOV

I finished off my 7th Strigoi, but they were relentless and I found myself with another enemy. Then, suddenly, there was a scream from behind me. I whipped my head around and saw-well, I don't know what. Then the Strigoi took advantage of my distraction and shoved me into Dimitri. We tumbled like dominoes and the Strigoi leapt towards the Moroi. I shrieked, but there was nothing I could do.

AdrianPOV

The Strigoi reached out and bit into Sydney's neck. She shrieked at exactly the same time I yelled. I leapt at the Strigoi, tugging helplessly on his arm. He cuckled and let Sydney go (thank God) and turned to me instead. I yelped and turned desperately to spirit. Not even thinking about it, I pulled and pulled until a barrier of shining golden light appeared between us. The Strigoi rammed into it but bounced back off. Angrily, he tried again and again as I began to build a wall around the entire semi-circle. Then a small ball of the same golden light appeared in my hands. I twisted my hands and pulled on it. It felt like plasticene, and I formed it into a large shape. Then, using all my might, I flung it at the Strigoi. I gasped as he burst into flames and began to build another when, suddenly, I collapsed.

SPOV

The golden walls fell away as Adrian collapsed and the Strigoi burst through. I saw Rose finish with her Strigoi and come running, but she was too late. I screamed as the Strigoi snapped Adrian's neck and turned on the rest of us. This was the end.