Author's note: It's been a while, but I've been busy with Uni work! I'll try and update more frequently! Please review and let me know what you think of this chapter.

Dimitri's POV

In the early hours of the morning I crept out of my house into darkness. The air was thick with the smell of rain, and the sky was bruised with dark clouds. Despite the chance of an onslaught of rain I began to run. I'd been cooped up for too long and I needed to break free. At first my pace was slow, but soon I was running at full speed. My legs finally lost the stiff feeling that had been plaguing them for days. I loved the freedom. I loved the fresh air. I loved the night. But the beauty of everything around me was diminished due to Rose's absence. I missed her so much. It had only been a few days but I ached without her presence. It felt like I couldn't function properly without her.

Day Fifteen without Rose was clearly no better then any of the other days. I wasn't entirely sure I could survive much longer without her. Maybe that sounded dramatic. Maybe you think I'm over exaggerating, but I felt her absence in everything I did. It felt like she was taking pieces of me with her whenever I thought about her. Soon I would be a hollow shell. Our time apart would have been easier to handle if I knew she would return, if I knew that she would find a way to forgive me for everything that had happened, but I knew that might never happen.

I had to accept the fact that I might have lost Rose forever. I had to begin to think about what I would do with my life now that she was no longer in it. But it hurt too badly to even consider the fact that I'd lost her. She was my one true love, my soul mate. I couldn't comprehend existing without her in my life. At least while I was a Strigoi I didn't have to worry about sadness or love. I didn't have to worry about guilt, or any other emotion. It was a life of darkness and evil, but it was peaceful in its simplicity. I only had to focus on surviving.

When I finally stopped running I was shocked to see that the darkness which had surrounded me when I departed had melted away, leaving room for the harsh light of day. The sun was high in the sky already, hidden beneath a blanket of clouds. The burning in my chest and muscles told me that I'd been running for too long. I tried to draw breath into my lungs. I felt like I'd been deprived of oxygen too long. I panted, gasping for breath.

Eventually it became easier to breath, but my muscles still ached; partly from disuse over the past few weeks and partly from running so fast and far. I could feel my heart pulsating in my chest. It beat against my rib cage as if it was threatening to force its way out.

I looked around, finally taking in my surroundings. I was surprised to find myself back at the bridge. I'd somehow run all the way here without even registering where I was. The bridge looked frail, like it could fall at any moment. The wood was practically rotted. It looked weak, which was ironic because this place held two memories for me that was so strong. This was the third time I'd ventured to the bridge. The first had been when I was trying to awaken Rose, and the second time was when I was trying to awaken her mind and allow her to regain her memories.

I slowly walked to the bridge, sitting near the edge. I let my legs dangle off the side while I rested my arms on the fragile rail. I felt hopeless, defeated. I was lost. Rose was my compass. She guided me. Without her I didn't know what to do. I felt like my world had lost its purpose and direction.

All I had left were the memories she'd erased from her mind. She remembered everything now, but it still hurt to think that she'd erased everything so easily. It hurt to know that she was able to walk away without a word and leave behind everything, like us, and the love we had for each other. I thought that would last forever but I was wrong.

I could only hope that one day I could get her back.

Lately life seemed increasingly difficult. Mostly that was due to Rose's absence, but it was also because I couldn't seem to shake Lissa or the rest of the gang. They'd been holed up in Russia since Rose left. Thankfully Lissa hadn't gallantly stormed off in search of Rose, but I knew she'd been trying to track her down. Like a dog with a bone she just wouldn't give up.

Lissa and Adrian had been frequenting Mark and Oksana. Oksana had been welcoming and friendly, but whenever I went with them I could tell Mark didn't like having them around. I knew he was a good guy. His problem wasn't them being there. I knew he had a problem with his wife using spirit. I knew how it affected Rose, and it would affect Mark the same was. I never said anything, but I always thought Lissa was selfish using Spirit knowing what it would do to Rose. It seemed cruel to do that to someone, to let that darkness consume them.

Rose's POV

Before the sun began its accent in the sky I made my way to the gym. There was something about being in the gym that was so relaxing. It reminded me of my time at St Vladimir's Academy, back when I was just beginning to learn how to be a Guardian. I spent the time before class sparring with a dummy. It helped to relieve the stress I felt. My new job was great. I liked the new life I was creating, but that didn't mean my memories of my old life was erased. Dimitri's name seemed to pound through my head like a drum. All day, everyday he was the person I thought of.

I didn't know how to forgive him, and I felt so much bitterness towards Dimitri and Lissa for the pain they both put me through. This was only my second week teaching so I didn't think all my memories of Dimitri would vanish as soon as I found something to occupy my mind, but I wished that was the case. I couldn't deal with the pain. I wanted to be free from it.

Eventually my alone time was over as Oliver and the class filed in one by one. As I prepared todays lesson I noticed they were all grouped together, whispering excitedly. I smiled at that. These gossiping teenagers would soon be thrust into lives as Guardians. I was starting to see how unfair that was. We all had to risk our lives in order to protect the Moroi. They come first. Just looking at how happy they are made me sad. Some of them would meet their end sooner then they should in order to protect a race of royals who deemed themselves superior to us. It didn't seem fair.

For as long as I could remember I'd wanted that life. I'd wanted to be Lissa's Guardian. It was what her parents had wanted, and I'd dedicated myself to my training with that one goal in mind. Now I wasn't even speaking to her. Hell, I'd moved to London to get away from her. It was crazy to see how much my life had changed. My best friend was no longer in my life. I didn't even know how to feel about that.

Oliver walked over to me, an odd look on his face. "You know, the craziest rumor is going around the school today." The look on his face suggested I should have heard about it but I'd been so busy in the gym that I hadn't been around anyone else.

"Oh okay," I laughed, "And what rumors that?"

"Well," Oliver said, "Apparently some badass Guardian is the new mentor at the school. I don't suppose you know who that is."

"Oh…" I sighed.

It had taken longer then I thought it would. I knew stories of me had circled through Moroi society, but it had felt good to be unknown. I didn't know how much the kids had heard. I didn't know what stories they'd been told. But now I knew it was only a matter of time before Lissa and Dimitri found out where I was.

"Oh?" Oliver laughed. "That's all you have to say? Oh?" He seemed to find that amusing. "I'd heard stories of you, but I never put it together when you got here. You're so young, yet you're one of the greatest Guardians we have."

I let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah, well I had a good mentor."

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