A/N: I want to thank my Beta, Dimitri. and. Roza. 4E. Like always, you're absolutely amazing!

And of course, a big thank you to all of the people who read this story. You guys keep me writing! :-)

Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, profit from this story and all creative rights to the characters belong to Richelle Mead.

The original content, ideas and intellectual property of this story are owned by Ms. Belikov. Please do not copy, reproduce, or translate without express written permission.

Previously on A Blessing in Disguise…

"Hello, Roza." I heard that low and wonderful voice behind me.

I smiled. "Just couldn't get enough of me could ya, Comrade? I said I'd be back shortly."

A small white cloth was pressed over my nose and mouth before I knew what was happening.

I breathed in the bitter aroma and gagged. The whole world went fuzzy, I swayed, and fell to the ground. I heard that accented voice again.

"Don't worry, I've got you my dear…"

"ROSE!" I think that was Lissa screaming for me. I had no clue.

"Run!" I gasped. "Run as far as you can. Don't look back!"

She didn't move.

"Oh, bloody hell..." My head slammed against the ground.

Shit, things weren't looking too good for me.

I passed out.

LPOV:

I stood there frozen. I felt like a statue…unable to move because I was so terrified of what was happening in front of me.

I tried to scream but the sounds just wouldn't come out.

The man, who came out of nowhere, stood above Rose's unconscious body, staring down at her with a satisfied twist of his lips. When he lifted his head to look at me, I gasped.

There was something familiar about the guy, almost like I'd seen him before. He looked to be in his early fifties, with chin length brown hair and cold black eyes that held the same predatory gleam a shark did. It didn't help to ease my fear when I took in his massive height. I estimated around six-foot-eight or six-foot nine.

Somehow, I managed to find my voice. It was high and squeaky with fear, like the sound you hear when you squeeze a yellow rubber ducky. "W-w-who are y-y-you?"

The man took a step closer and the scream finally escaped my mouth.

He licked his lips with a hungry look in those black eyes. "My favorite sound in the world. Do it again."

I instinctively started backing away.

My first thought was to run as fast as my legs would take me, to get as far away from this man as possible. But then I glanced down at Rose's limp body. There was no way I was leaving my best friend alone. Sure, we were both going to get killed. But I sure as heck was going to fight for her.

"Tell me who you are!" I growled.

That sadistic smile vanished from his rugged face. He had a strong accent. "No more screaming? No running?" he pushed out his bottom lip in mock sadness. "Too bad. That is my favorite part of the deal. Now I don't get to have any fun."

The man pulled out a white cloth and a small brown bottle.

I froze, my body becoming paralyzed with terror once again.

He poured some liquid on it. "Oh, and by the way, my name is Alexander Drozdov. My son works at this academy."

He put one hand behind my head while the other shoved the cloth so hard against my mouth it caused my teeth to puncture through my lips.

I didn't have time to feel pain.

The instant I breathed in the bitter-sweet aroma, I was out. Everything around me went black and quiet.

DPOV:

My arms felt like jelly but I still managed to pull Roza on top of me. She laid her head on my heaving chest. "You up for another round, Comrade?"

Although my body screamed 'Yes!' My mind was telling me to be logical and let her off easy. "That's three times tonight, Roza." My hand trailed up and down her spine, causing her skin to pucker at my touch. "I'm tired. Let us get some sleep. Your body needs to heal."

She ground her hips against mine. I groaned. Roza lifted her head to gaze at my exposed flesh, she licked her lips in a hungry manner. The blood pumped hot and steady through my veins, shooting straight to the appropriate area.

God, she was so beautiful.

Those dark eyes pierced mine. Her tangled, waist-length hair spilled down her back and bare chest like a cape. Her golden skin was glistening and she smelled of fresh sweat. It was intoxicating.

"Really? You're tired?" she asked, raking her nails across my chest. "Because your body seems to be telling me otherwise."

I closed my eyes when she started placing open-mouthed kisses against my stomach. "Jeeze, Dimitri. You're always ready, aren't ya? I'm going to start calling you the Energizer bunny."

I pulled her roughly to my mouth and kissed her hard. "I guess you just have that affect on me, Roza."

"You were right." Roza's eyes widened. "You do have absolutely nothing to be insecure about."

I chuckled, satisfied and smug with her comment.

"Well, if you're too tired then..." she sighed and shrugged. "I guess we'll just go back to sleep."

"Where do you think you're going? You little Vixen." I snatched Roza up and pulled her back into my lap. She giggled. "You knew what you were doing when you got me all worked up, Roza. Now you have to finish the job."

"Really?" she asked in disbelief.

Instead of telling her the answer, I showed her with a steady roll of my hips.

She closed her eyes, arched her back, and bit her lip. "Get ready for the ride of your life, Cowboy!"

I shook my head to banish the memories of last night away. It didn't help very well. My body was still caught up in the daydream and it didn't want to be bothered.

I took a sip of the now cold coffee and glanced at my watch. Roza had been gone for two hours. Something about that seemed strange to me.

Roza was notoriously known for being late. I often teased her about her inability to be on time, telling her that she would probably be late for her own funeral.

But when I told her to go get a fresh pair of clothes from her dorm, she seemed very reluctant to leave. I figured she'd be eager to get back and be with me.

The most time she should have taken was fifteen minutes…twenty tops. My stomach twisted and knotted in unease.

Something was , very wrong. My instinctive feelings were screaming this to me. And usually, my instincts were always correct.I flung open the front door to my apartment and took off towards the high-school building.

I had to find Roza. And I needed to find her soon.

RPOV:

My mind slowly but surely began to slip back into reality.

I felt sluggish and dizzy. Everything was black. The smell of dust, decaying wood, and the strong dour aroma of disinfectant invaded my nostrils from all directions.

I tried to open my eyes, but I couldn't move them, almost like someone was holding them down or…I had a blindfold on.

Shit.

All of the memories slammed into me like a moving train.

A small white cloth was pressed over my nose and mouth before I knew what was happening.

I breathed in the bitter aroma and gagged. The whole world went fuzzy; I swayed, and fell to the ground.

I wiggled my toes. Okay, that was a good sign. At least I could move. Now only if I could escape…

"Ah, the sleeping beauty awakens!" I sucked in a breath. That Russian accented voice sounded so familiar…

"Dimitri?" I croaked. My throat was so dry; it felt like I'd swallowed a bucket of sand.

I heard a deep chuckle.

The darkness suddenly vanished. I blinked a few times at the brightness, and then my eyes adjusted to who was in front of me.

I gasped.

I recognized that man from a photo. A picture that had been in my mentor's apartment. Alexander Drozdov was his name; I think…at least that's what Dimitri had told me.

Standing mere inches from my face, was the man who had pressed the cloth over my nose. That man who had kidnapped me.

Dimitri's abusive father.

"Am I not what you're looking for, baby?" he asked. "You look surprised. I do not mean to disappoint you."

I spit in his face.

He closed his eyes and wiped his chin off with his shirt, exposing some of the muscle underneath. That didn't help to settle my unease. This guy was nearly as ripped as his son was. It was going to be hard fighting him off when I escaped.

"You really shouldn't have done that." He lifted his hand.

Wham.

I cried out as his palm made contact with my cheek. For a split second, everything went blaring white.

I heard a small, soft whimper to my left.

I turned my head to see what it came from.

And that's when my whole world came to a sudden halt.

Lissa.

She was bound by her wrists and ankles to a chair, her mouth was covered in duct tape.

And she was completely naked.

I glanced down at my body and realized I was in the same state she was, minus that duct tape.

I let out a small sob as Lissa's tear filled, jade-green eyes met mine. "I'm so sorry."

She shook her head, and although her mouth was covered, her eyes spoke wonders.

Don't be sorry, it's not your fault. They said.

"You know what I find funny?" A new voice from behind Alexander said. It sounded oddly familiar.

"What do you find funny, master?" Alexander kept his furious black eyes on me, but there was a note of fondness and respect in his voice.

"How the killer was right in front of everyone's face, and they still didn't suspect me or have a clue as to who it was."

Alexander moved to my side, revealing the man who had been talking.

At the same time, Lissa and I gasped in surprise.

Victor Dashkov.

Or more importantly, my best friend's beloved uncle.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I blurted out.

He ignored me.

"You know what else is unusual?" Victor asked. "Your general was as clueless and as stupid as them all. He liked to pretend he knew what he was doing, that he was in control, but he wasn't. It was anyone's wild guess."

Shock numbed my limbs. Could it really be him? Could Lissa's sweet uncle, the one with the ill wife, be the one committing these horrendous crimes?

Staring at him now, I knew the answer…but I didn't want to believe it.

"Perhaps your precious mentor could have actually found a suspect or at the very least, a lead, if he hadn't been so busy screwing Natasha."

I growled.

"However, I cannot say that I am not happy about that." He laughed and pressed his hands together as he paced back and forth. "I am actually quiet overjoyed. It's always an advantage to have someone on the inside, you know, be one step ahead of the game."

My stomach dropped in dread. "What? She's apart of this whole ting too?"

Victor stared down at me with a smile on his face, his skin crinkled around his eyes. "You are smarter than you look, Rosemarie. I am impressed."

"You're sick."

He shrugged and waved his hand. "Come here, Natasha."

I wanted to hurl over and throw up when Tasha appeared beside Victor, and smiled. "Hello, Rose. Hello, Lissa."

I used to think she was beautiful, with that raven-black hair and those smoldering blue eyes, and the way she was always sweet to everyone. But looking at her now, in those blue scrubs and surgical cap, she was nothing but a monster. A monster and a murderer just like Alexander and Victor were.

Victor ran a hand over her cheek. "Natasha has been extremely helpful. Like I said earlier, it's always good to have someone on the inside. Someone who can give me updates on the police." he paused. "She's been my eyes and ears of St. Augustine's. Telling me everything I need to know. She's also on good terms with the General," Victor snickered. "And that's always an advantage, correct Natasha?"

She wickedly grinned and kept those cold eyes on me as she spoke to Victor. "Correct, master. It has been an advantage in more ways than one." she winked.

I wanted to claw her eyes out. I yanked on the ropes tying me down.

"Why are you doing this?"

The three of them exchanged a glance. "Shall we tell her?"

Victor nodded. "I pay my employees a reasonable amount."

I gaped. "You're doing this for money?"

Alexander and Tasha nodded.

"You're torturing young women, keeping them alive while you remove their organs, and then killing them…all for money?"

"Yeah, that pretty much covers it." Alexander said.

"Why didn't you just let them go?" I asked. "There was a possibility they'd live"

Victor laughed. "Without a heart, that's unlikely. Besides, if they did, do you really think they'd keep their mouth shuts?" His lips twisted into a sadistic grin. "No. They'd run to the police the minute they got out of here. I'd ruin my reputation. I'd be branded as a murderer. I don't want to spend the rest of my life in prison."

"Then you shouldn't have killed them."

"I had to save Maryanne."

"Huh?" I asked in confusion. "How is killing teenage girls going to help save your wife?"

"She's dying. She needs fresh organs."

"Huh?" I asked again, even more confused.

Lissa was completely still beside me. I think she was in shock.

"Do you know what Sandovsky's syndrome is, Rosemarie?" Victor asked.

I shook my head.

"Sandovsky's syndrome is a chronic disease that eats at all the vital organs, slowly and painfully, and it eventually kills you. That is what's happening to Maryanne. Her condition is worsening. I'm running out of time."

"Why kill them though?" I snarled. "Why can't you…I don't know…get organs from the hospital like normal people do?"

"From the hospital?" He barked out a harsh laugh. "Because of Maryanne being sick and older, she would be last on the waiting list. It would take months, even years for them to get any of the organs she needs. And Maryanne would be dead by then. That is why."

"They'll find us."

"Who?"

"The police. And they'll arrest you. You won't get away with this."

Victor, Alexander, and Tasha shared a glance at one another before they busted up laughing.

"What is so amusing?" I spoke through clenched teeth.

"Do you really think anyone cares if you go missing?" Victor didn't give me a chance to answer. "Or any other cadet for that matter? You're all just a bunch of corrupt teenagers sent to that military academy. You parents won't care if you're gone. They actually prefer it that way. I'm doing your mother and father a favor by giving them one less problem to deal with."

Victor paused and paced back and forth. "That is why this is the perfect place for me to…what's that word? Ah, yes. Kidnap." He chuckled, and the sound made me want to scrub my skin raw. "That is why this is the perfect place for me to kidnap you. You're a female, you're young, you're body is healthy and fit—thanks to your lover and mentor, General Belikov."

I gathered saliva in my mouth and spit in his face. Calmly, his fist swung out of nowhere and connected with my jaw. My head knocked to the side. I groaned in pain.

"As I was saying…" Victor pressed his palms together. "You are the perfect candidate for the surgery." He smiled and clapped, as if he was excited. He pointed at me. "I have a good feeling about this one. I believe she is the answer to all of my problems."

Tasha and Alexander nodded in agreement.

"This will defiantly help, Maryanne." Victor said. "Okay, enough chit-chat. Let's get to work, shall we?"

"You really think you can get away with this?"

"Let me answer that question with a question," Victor said. "Do you think anyone cares if you're gone? No."

I shrugged, despite the fact that my blood was boiling with anger. "Maybe not me, but her." I jerked my head towards Lissa. "You bet your ugly, wrinkly, and old ass that they will give a damn if she goes missing."

A felt a searing sting as his hand connected with my cheek again. "Shut up!"

"Are you stupid?" I laughed. "She's one of only two nurses at St. Augustine's. Her parents are filthy rich. Don't be an idiot, just let her go!"

"I can't."

"Why the hell not?"

"She'd run and tell the authorities. I can't take any risks." He walked over to Lissa and brushed her blonde hair to the side. She whimpered and flinched away from his touch.

"I'm sorry, dear. I love you, you know that right?"

She screamed muffled curses through the duct tape.

That made me proud.

"I wish it didn't have to be like this." Victor took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

He glanced at Alexander. "Put her on the bed!"

Lissa and I screamed at the same time. Her scream was from fear, mine was from pure rage. I felt like I was going to explode.

Dimitri's father untied the ropes and effortlessly threw her small body over his shoulder. She tried to fight, but she was no match for him. He was strong, so so strong. I could tell that from the way her threw her down on the bed and immobilized her.

"Stay the fuck away from her!" My voice was so loud, so deep, and angry…that I didn't even recognize it as my own at first.

Victor ignored me. I watched as he filled a syringe with clear liquid from a vile. That same bottle I'd dreamed about.

"Sorry, baby girl. You were just at the wrong place at the wrong time." he injected the contents into her arm.

Lissa's screams turned to moans, her naked body went limp.

I started balling my eyes out, feeling helpless and hopeless.

This was the end for her. For both of us…

But I didn't give a damn about whether I lived to see another day. All I cared about was Lissa. I only wanted to protect her. And here I sat, tied up and unable to fight. The only thing I could do was scream and pull on my restraints. I'd failed my best friend. The only person in this world besides Dimitri that I'd ever cared about.

I yelped as a sharp pain suddenly pierced my skull and my head was jerked backwards by my hair.

I was met with a pair of ice-blue eyes.

"So you're the one Dimka is so fascinated with?" Tasha smiled cruelly. "I'm going to have fun with you."

A scalpel cut across my cheek, deep and long.

I screamed.

APOV:

I was rolling a cigarette with rich Turkish tobacco when the door suddenly flung open.

"Shit!" I jumped and spilled everything onto the ground. I looked down at the mess and waste of tobacco. "Shit!" I repeated.

The Russian stood there. He strode towards me, with graceful and powerful movements. "I need to talk to you."

I gulped and automatically took a step back. "Ah, listen." I cleared my throat harshly. "About that…that stuff is legal. I-I-I got it from a friend—"

He gripped my arm. "Where is Rose?"

"Not on my dick, that's for sure. Ya know what I mean?" I laughed, trying to lighten up the tension in the air, but groaned when he squeezed so tightly my arm felt numb.

"I'm not here to play games, Ivashkov. Where is she? Have you seen her?"

"Last time I saw her was when you broke down my door. And we were…well, you know." I sighed then muttered softly, "Cock-blocker."

"Rose and Lissa are missing."

My whole body stiffened. "What?"

"Rose and Lissa are missing." Dimitri repeated slowly, as if I was mentally challenged.

"How do you know?" I demanded.

"This is how I know." He flashed something white in my face. It took my eyes a moment to adjust. It was a card, with a picture of Lissa on it. It almost looked like an ID, but it wasn't.

"What's that?"

"An identification card," Dimitri said. "Lissa's medical license. She's required to wear it when she's working at all times."

"So…?"

"She hasn't clocked in yet. She was supposed to work today," he glanced at his watch. "She is four hours late. And according to Dr. Olendzki, and all of Lissa's coworkers, that is not like her at all."

I felt sick to my stomach.

"I need you to find them. Now."

I nodded, already knowing what I had to do.

"Remember to keep quiet." I lay down on my couch and closed my eyes, focusing all of my thoughts on Rose and Lissa.

"Don't you need to say some prayers and light a few candles…or something like that?" Dimitri asked.

"No. There's no time for that." I said. "Now shut the trap."

It was about twenty minutes later when the world around me went silent and black.

Good, I was finally asleep.

Everything flashed white. Suddenly, my vision cleared and I was in some sort of meadow.

The grass reached past my knees and pink flowers dominated the field. The sun shone brightly on the mountains and tall pine trees. To my left, there were deer drinking from a creek.

Everything was absolutely beautiful.

"Hey, Bambi." I waved at the baby deer.

She trotted over to me. I smoothed my hand over her brown fur.

I had to remind myself this was a dream, not reality. And I needed to stay focused. Two young girls' lives depended on me.

I thought of Rose. Her dark brown hair, her smile, those big eyes…

Suddenly, a loud thundering noise broke out as gray and black clouds spilled through the sky.

I looked to my left and the deer were gone. The flowers disappeared. Day switched to night. Everything just went…ugly.

"Shit." I muttered. This wasn't good.

Rain started pouring and lightening filled the night.

I felt something touch my foot. I glanced down. There were snakes slithering across my shoes. I held in my gasp as I started running. "Shit, shit, shit, shit!"

Rose and Lissa were definitely in trouble. I knew that because the snakes and horrible weather represented evil.

"Rose!" I called out to her as I ran through the weather. "Lissa!"

"Over here." Rose appeared out of nowhere. She had on a white dress and was bare feet. "I'm over here."

I grabbed hold of her hands. "Where are you?"

"What?" her voice held a tinge of surprise and fear.

"I need you to tell me where you are, baby." I smoothed down her soaked hair. Rain fell into my eyes and my whole body started burning, like someone had poured gasoline and lit me on fire.

I doubled over in pain and groaned.

"Tell me where you are."

"I-I...I don't know were I am."

"Think about it. Think hard." I whispered. "We don't have much time."

I watched her forehead crease and her eyes squint as she went deep into thought. A moment later, she bit her lip.

"I...I think I was taken."

The burning increased, until it became nearly unbearable. "That's right, Rose. Keep going, you're doing great. Just please," I dropped to my knees and clutched my stomach. "Hurry the fuck up!"

I heard her gasp. "Victor."

That one word was all I needed to know.

DPOV:

Adrian had been sleeping for two hours when his body suddenly jolted, as if someone had electrocuted him.

He didn't open his eyes when he spoke in a voice that didn't sound anything like him. "I need a pen and paper. Now."

I quickly searched his apartment and handed him what he needed.

With his eyes still closed, the hand holding a pen started to scribble lines and numbers on the paper quickly, as if it had a mind of its own.

I paced back and forth anxiously, like a keyed up lion. I needed to do something. I needed to save Rose. I just couldn't stand here and do nothing. My hands shook and I had the urge to punch something.

So I did.

My fist went through the wall.

Adrian didn't seem affected by the loud bang at all as he continued to sketch. When he was finally done, he opened his eyes and slid the paper over to me.

I picked it up and studied the drawing. It looked like some sort of map. I knew all of the roads like the back of my hand.

"She's there." He pointed to a spot just fifteen miles south of St. Augustine's.

I shook my head. "Not possible. That's where Victor Dashkov's estate is."

A moment of silence passed over us. So deafening and quiet, you could hear a pin drop.

As realization settled in my chest, I stared at Adrian in shock.

"Yep." He nodded with pursed lips. "It looks like you've finally got your murderer." He clapped his hands and stood up. "We better hurry up before Rose and Lissa become victim number four and five."

RPOV:

I screamed and pulled on my restraints until my wrists and ankles bled.

I heard my best friend's soft moans.

Realizing everything I did was useless and there was no way to save Lissa, I closed my eyes, unable to bear the thought of watching them torture and mutilate her right in front of me.

What seemed like hours later, I heard gurgling noises and slapping sounds, like someone was rinsing their mouth out with Listerine over and over again.

Lissa's organs were being removed, I realized.

The sound of an electric saw being turned on made me close my eyes tighter and sob harder.

Eventually, the moans stopped completely and everything went silent.

Me eyes peeked open, taking in the sight before me.

I hurled forward and threw up repeatedly.

Lissa, the one person I swore to God to protect, was dead.

And I was next.