Chapter 4

DPOV

Even though I had just witnessed Rose feeding off of a bear I just didn't know what to think or do. I was completely and utterly astonished with what had transpired in front of me and I was flummoxed. How was she doing this? She is supposed to be feeding from me!

So as she started to walk towards me, my defence mechanisms went up and I held out my hand for her to stop. I needed her to just stop and give me a moment to take in the reality of the situation and gratefully enough she stopped and stood mere feet away from me. It was just all too much to process so I did the only thing I was trained to do when you are in a tricky situation, I slowly backed away from her and turned to run.

" Please Dimitri don't leave me!...Dimitri I need you" Rose's voice stopped me in my tracks. I froze and was utterly shocked How can that be her voice, she sounds exactly the same, that sweet, gorgeous sound. I slowly turned around to face Rose but I did not make any attempt to walk towards her. I just stood there trying to read her and desperately aching for her to speak again so that I could confirm once again that this was my Roza.

"Dimitri, please. I won't hurt you". There it was! That sound, that voice that only belonged to my Roza. I could pick her out in crowded room because I was so in tune with her, from hours of listening to her and forming our powerful connection. I broke out of my trance and asked Rose what was troubling my mind.

"Rose this is impossible how are you controlling yourself you should want to be killing me, feeding off me?". I could not hide the faltering morbid curiosity that was laced in my voice along with disbelief.

"I don't understand it myself! The need is there don't under estimate me but my feelings for you.. they are so strong. I desperately need you!"

"No! I don't believe you, this is not possible!"

"Please Dimitri, believe me I would never hurt you, I love you so much and I desperately need you, please!" She sounded so honest that I could not hear any signs of deceit and she had proved herself through her actions alone.

Once again my mind was struggling with conflicting emotions as I watched Rose step towards me but this time I did not back away. She wiped the rest of the blood away from her face with the back of her hand, this action caused me to flinch but I stood my ground. She looked me dead in the eye relaying a thousand messages and walked right up to me so that we were mere inches apart.

As I stared into Rose's eyes I couldn't help but also take in all of her, I noticed every new detail of her body – the red rings around her eyes, the deathly paleness of her skin, the hint of fangs just under her top lip. Yet I could not deny the chocolate brown eyes staring back at me employing me to trust her, to trust our love and that is when I made my decision. I took Rose into my arms and kissed her fiercely as I needed desperately to confirm that this was still my Roza. She replied with a desperation that matched my own and we became lost in each other. Her tongue invaded my mouth and I was all to happy to accommodate and our tongues danced together in unison as we were desperate to prove our love to each other. Until I remembered that my love was actually a Strigoi as my tongue grazed along her new fangs and it was like a bucket of ice cold water thrown in my face and I broke away from the kiss. With this small accident I unwillingly swallowed a tiny drop of venom and I felt it release into my bloodstream causing just a hint of elation, which took me by surprise. At first I was shocked and feared my reaction to the venom, but then almost instantaneously I felt myself going in for another kiss just to get a bit more taste of that sweet elixir- what the hell has gotten into me. I snapped out of my daze quite quickly and pulled back even further from Rose.

Rose being unaware of what was residing in my mind and my subconscious desire shyly looked up at me and apologised, "I'm sorry comrade, I still need to get used to this".

Although I was trying to come to terms with all of this myself I knew that it was just an accident and wanted to quickly move on, so I gave her a quick nod of understanding. As I looked into her eyes once again I knew one thing was definite, that this was my love and I would to anything in my power to protect her. I knew that trouble would be brewing with the oncoming storm of guardians that would most likely backtrack to these caves to reclaim their loved ones after battle. So with my decision made I knew it was time to leave these caves in search of a safe haven for both of us.

"Come Roza let's go while it is night".

Rose complied and we made a run for it somewhere where we could be safe, but where. I was desperately raking my brain for ideas as we fled through the night. It had to be a place where we could be safe from the sun when daylight arrived, I just prayed that with all the odds against us that we could make it in one peace and that this willpower that Rose has been gifted with could hold out.