Disclaimer: I don't own anything apart from the plot and a few characters :(

Chapter 5

RPOV

The blow to my face sent me flying into the wall. The impact left me breathless. I fell heavily to the ground and groaned in pain. I could hear footsteps coming at me. The Strigoi lifted me up and flung across the room. I was powerless. I fractured my ankle, had a black eye and could barely breathe.

Now I know what hell feels like.

Anger was burning through my veins and I desperately wanted to kill this Strigoi for putting me through this excruciating pain. My vision became blurry which terrified me. This doesn't usually happen to Strigoi, right?

With a terrifyingly loud war cry, he lifted me up by my neck and threw me against the door to the room.

But a second before I hit it, Dimitri opened the door. He caught me while I was in mid-air and looked down at my figure in confusion. My breathing was shallow and I must have looked like a wreck, because Dimitri's intense eyes darted towards the Strigoi.

"What is the meaning of this?" Dimitri demanded.

The Strigoi looked very uncomfortable to be in Dimitri's presence. I only then noticed that Dimitri still held me close to his body.

"I ….uh…Tallon sent orders for me to-"

Wait, Tallon? What? Or maybe it was a different person. Surely Raiden's brother wasn't still alive.

"You only obey orders that I give. Tallon doesn't run this institute, I do. Now, go," he growled.

I let go of a shaky breath and felt a sharp prick on my hip. I looked down and saw that Dimitri had one of those ninja throwing stars. This one looked so sharp that it could decapitate someone. I narrowed my eyes and tried to refrain from smiling.

Dimitri was still glaring at the Strigoi, so I purposely snuggled closer to Dimitri. He was slightly caught off guard, and held me tighter. I let my arm go limp against his body and then snatched the star and flung it at the Strigoi.

I took pleasure in hearing the slicing motion of the star moving through the air. The Strigoi didn't even see it coming. The next second, his head was decapitated.

I slumped against Dimitri as the Strigoi's lifeless body fell heavily to the ground.

Silence filled the room, but I didn't dare look up at Dimitri.

I was already prepared for round two of the beating.

But it never came.

Instead, Dimitri walked over to a long table that I only just missed when the dead Strigoi threw me across the room. He set me down to the desk's edge and opened a draw to reveal a first-aid kit. He unrolled the bandage and started to wrap it around my ankle.

"But," I protested, "it's already starting to heal."

He didn't answer. He just kept wrapping it around and around until it ran out. After securing it, he sighed and looked up at my black eye.

"Your eye isn't black any more so I don't have to tend that," he said.

I nodded and said, "Thank you."

We stared at each other in silence, but it wasn't awkward. It was rather…relaxing to be near each other again. He was looking at me through Strigoi eyes now, not his dhampir ones. I had a feeling that this was it. This is what he'll be for eternity. A Strigoi. And Tasha too.

I can't imagine how heartbroken Christian would be; knowing he not only lost his parents, but now his aunty too.

I looked away, trying not to visualize what Tasha must look like.

"I'm sorry about that," he said sincerely.

I shrugged. "Whatever."

He sighed. "Rose-"

"I don't want to hear it, Dimitri," I said, and then looked at him. "I want to go home."

"Not until you give me what I want."

"I don't have her," I said fiercely.

"I don't believe you."

"Believe what you want, but I know I don't have her. Why would I take her in anyways? I hate you and I hate Tasha," I spat, glaring at him with all my might.

His expression hardened.

I was playing a dangerous game. But Hope's life depended on it.

"I know what happened that night, Rose. I'm not an idiot. After Tasha delivered the baby, the nurse took her away. We didn't even get to see her before we got attacked. Tatiana took her and gave her to someone. And now if you don't give her back to me you'll pay the price," he said harshly.

I noticed how we were both leaning into each other but not touching.

"I'm glad that baby never saw you or you're damn wife-"

"Tasha's not my wife."

"Then why sleep with her?"

"I was ordered to."

"Bull-efing-shit," I growled.

"I was. Do you seriously think I love Tasha? No, Rose. I love you. After all this time, I still love you."

I tried not to feel moved by his outburst.

"You betrayed me," I said dully.

"And you didn't betray me? You went off with another man."

"Whom is far more better for me than you ever were!" I yelled.

He was caught off guard and that's when I planned to attack. My ankle was healed.

I kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying backwards, and darted for the door. I ran into it, knocking it off its hinges and bolted down the hallway.

The hallway was dark but on the end of it was a door. Opening it and running inside, I found I was on a balcony. I could see the city's bright lights in a distance. The dark, peaceful night didn't seem so peaceful any more.

"Rose?"

My whole body went numb at the sound of her voice. I didn't even sense anyone was up here, but as I slowly turned I saw her in the shadows. She slowly moved into the light, her glossy black hair swished gently in the wind.

Tasha.

Her face was shadowed but I already knew she was smiling warmly at me.

"It's so good to see you, Rose," she said.

Oh my God, I can't believe this is really happening. Tasha, sweet, funny Tasha was standing on the same balcony as me and was Strigoi.

I couldn't really see her eyes and I was thankful I couldn't. Her voice had the Strigoi hardness to it, just like every Strigoi had.

Just then, Dimitri and a few other Strigoi men burst through the door I went through just a moment ago.

Dimitri looked at me first, then noticed Tasha.

"Rose, don't move," he warned.

A Strigoi behind him walked cautiously towards me, as if trying to capture me. Every step he took, I took one back until I was on the edge of the building.

"Take another step and I'll jump," I said in a low, menacing voice.

The Strigoi stopped where he was and looked nervously back at Dimitri. Dimitri gestured for him to go back behind him.

I noticed Tasha take a step towards me.

"I mean it," I growled, showing me fangs.

She held her hands up but stayed where she was.

"Rose, all I want is to talk to you. I promise you won't get harmed-"

"Already did," I growled.

Her brow furrowed and she turned to Dimitri.

He gave her a quick shake of his head, and Tasha nodded, then turned back to me.

"All I want is my daughter, Rose."

"Don't have her."

"I think you do."

"And I think I better be going," I said, looking down to the alley below. I wouldn't hurt myself if I landed properly. It was a six-storey building, near Novosibirsk city.

I should be able to outrun them to the city then leave the country and go back to Spain.

"Rose?"

I looked back to see that Dimitri was only a few paces after from me.

"Please?" he begged.

That was the first time I've seen him begging as a Strigoi.

I narrowed me eyes and spat, "Go to hell."

Then I jumped.

A/N: I have a feeling I won't be able to update this week because of exams. Sorry that it has taken me so long to update :(

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