'Call Me Crazy'

Author's Note: Welcome to Chapter 22, Call Me Crazy… Call me crazy, but I think it's going to be good! Review and let me know what you think.

Adrian's POV

After Christian filled me in on all the details I was still shocked that he'd managed to find her, and so easily. St Joseph's Academy, like all the others, was filled with royals, including many Ivashkov relatives of mine. So why was it that I'd heard nothing? Well…probably because I spoke to none of my family, besides my aunt.

I was truly out of the loop, and that was a disadvantage. I'd assumed I hadn't heard anything because Rose was keeping a low profile somewhere remote and far away. But no…she was actually close by, right out in the open. She had left this life of hers and completely replaced it was a new one. I was actually offended. I knew she was upset with Dimitri and Lissa but I was sick of her treating me like this. She only bothered with me as long as I was useful to her in some way…and it was breaking my heart.

It was illogical, my feelings for her. She couldn't be the amazing divine being I saw in my head, because she was far from perfect…and she treated me horribly. Yet I was unconditionally, irrevocably in love with her and there was nothing I could do to prevent it or break the compulsion she had over me. Love for Rose ran through my veins, like fire, burning me with every breath I took. I wanted nothing more then to move on, to find happiness in some lesser being but I couldn't. Anyone would pale in comparison to my Rose. My beautiful, fearless Rose. Yet she didn't care enough about me to even say goodbye. She didn't care enough about me to apologize for breaking my heart once Dimitri returned. She just didn't care…

"So," Christian said enthusiastically. "We know where Rose is now, we can go after her."

"No…" I replied in a defeated voice. I wanted nothing more then to go to her, to comfort her and be there for her. But she didn't want that. If she wanted that she wouldn't have left me here. If she wanted my friendship she would have asked for it…or at the very least she would have said goodbye. Instead I got nothing. I would continue to get nothing from her for the rest of my life. It was time I stopped pretending that I mattered.

Rose's POV

After a rigorous day of teaching and performing my Guardian duties I spent some time with Oliver and some other Guardians. I never knew they could relax, but they were actually pretty fun, even the older people. In the Guardian's building they pumped the music and went crazy. It was a relief to know we could still have fun, considering our lives were all pretty much life-and-death all the time.

"Hathaway! Why aren't you dancing?" Oliver pulled on my arm, trying to get me on the dance floor, which was really just a regular floor without the furniture so there was more room. "Let loose, have fun. Turn off Guardian mode for the night!"

"Yeah, c'mon!" Patricia agreed, throwing her arms in the air and spinning around, giggling. "It's our night off!"

I laughed with them, but I couldn't bring myself to dance tonight. I had a weird feeling in my chest and it had been there all night. I knew it was coming from the bond. Lissa was anxious and annoyed and a thousand other things. I felt like her spirit might be affecting her. But I just had this weird feeling that something wasn't right…

I took a deep breath and tried to remind myself that I didn't need to care anymore. Lissa had demonstrated to me time and time again that she didn't need me. She was the reason I left, partially, so I needed to just try and forget about her.

"I'm just going to go," I said distractedly. Patricia waved, but Oliver cast me a suspicious look, like he knew something was going on. I gave him a reassuring smile and left. I could feel Lissa anxiety growing and I had to fight the impulse to dive into her head to make sure she was okay. Obviously letting go of a lifetime of friendship was difficult.

I quickly made me way outside where a cold blast of wind welcomed me. The sun was just beginning to set, which meant the Moroi had been sleeping for a while. I tried to calculate the time difference between here and Russia…I assumed that's where they all still were. Alberta hadn't said they'd left yet. From my memory it was about six hours difference. Something like that. So it was around midnight there.

I took another deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. When her feelings got this strong they felt like they were my own. I closed my eyes and opened them a second later to realise I was pacing.

"Are you okay?" Oliver appeared out of nowhere.

"Fine." I replied. I needed to relax. Lissa was with Dimitri, Adrian and Christian in Baia, or somewhere close to that. She was fine. I just had to remember that.

"Are you sure, because you don't look-" that's all I heard before I was thrown into Lissa head. I sucked in a deep breath…

Through Lissa eyes I only saw darkness, and trees. She was freezing…wherever she was it was cold. I could feel her heart racing…and she was surrounded. I couldn't believe it…but there was at least twenty Strigoi surrounding her, malice smiles on their faces and their eyes gleaming red.

My heart felt like it stopped beating.

This couldn't be happening.

I could feel the tears on Lissa's face as she shivered in front of them all. She was afraid of dying, and she knew she would. How could she survive this? She knew they'd kill her. I felt sick just thinking about losing her forever.

"You're a long way from home." One Strigoi chuckled. "Didn't your Mommy ever warn you about the big bad wolves that lurk in these woods?"

"Shut-up." Another one barked. He stepped forward, pushing his way past the others. I could feel the power radiating off him. He was very old, which meant he was very powerful. The others seemed to understand and accept this because no one argued with him.

He walked to Lissa and placed a cold hand under her chin, lifting her face so she had to meet his eyes.

"What's your name?" He questioned. I could feel him using compulsion. I felt my heart beat even faster. She was the last Dragomir. They would kill her in an instant just to end her line.

"Vasilisa Dragomir." She replied instantaneously.

Whispers erupted all around her, and a cold grin spread across the older ones face.

"Oh Princess," He chuckled. "What are you doing so far from home?"

I ripped myself from her head. Oliver stood before me looking shocked and concerned. I could feel tears streaming down my face. My heart felt like it was throbbing and breaking simultaneously. My mind was going a thousand miles a second. I had to get back and help her, but she needed help now, not in a few hours when I could get a flight there.

"What's wrong?" He asked frantically.

"Lissa, she's been taken." I replied. Suddenly I realized I was on the ground, and Oliver had his arm wrapped around me.

He looked shocked. "Your best friend? The Princess?"

I nodded, trying desperately to control the tears so I could think clearly.

Suddenly Oliver had his phone out, talking to some Guardians, trying to get a rescue team together. But it wasn't good enough. I had to call the others, I knew that. They were closer and they could get to her faster!

Oliver hung up his phone looking mildly satisfied, and then he was dialing away again, this time booking tickets to Russia. Two. I guess I was getting some company, not that I minded. Oliver was a nice guy, and he was definitely a god Guardian. I felt like we'd become friends so having a familiar face would be good. He hung up again and helped me stand.

"Pack and meet me back here in five minutes. We have a private plane waiting for us." Oliver ordered.

"Thank you." I attempted to smile. "Oh…can I borrow your phone?" I hadn't had a chance to get one yet. Well I'd had the chance I just hadn't bothered.

"Of course." He nodded, handing it over immediately. Then we both went our separate ways. I'd memorized Dimitri's home number when I'd lived there before. I wasn't there for too long, but it felt good having a home, so I'd remembered their number because I had wanted to stay there instead of returning to reality.

I dialed the familiar number, and heard Dimitri's mum answer.

"Hello, it's Rose. Is Dimitri there?"

Lissa's POV

So how did I end up here? In the woods, surrounded by Strigoi and freezing my ass off? Good question. It all started just a few hours earlier when I'd overheard Christian telling Adrian where Rose was. I knew they wouldn't let me go after her…so I left without telling anyone.

Obviously I was caught up in the moment and didn't take note of the time. The sun soon disappeared completely from the sky, and I anxiously made my way through the dark while wishing I'd worn layers.

Call me crazy, but I thought I would be fine.

Obviously I was wrong.

"Take her." The leader of the group snarled. "I want her alive." Ever since he'd compelled me to tell him who I was his eyes had been gleaming like he was a kid in a candy store…

I felt sick. I just hoped Rose wasn't ignoring the bond. I hoped Christian had returned and realized I was gone. I hoped to God someone had noticed I was gone. If not, then I would soon be dead. Probably before they even realized I wasn't there.

REVIEW and let me know what you thought! Ps…sorry for the long hiatus. University has been insane this semester, but luckily holidays are very soon, like a few days away soon! Yay! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEWWWW!