DPOV

It's been a few days since I heard Roza's voice. I figured that she knew that I was here in Novosibirsk, and she was doing everything in her power to get here to take me back to the States. I would have to tell her the real reason behind why I couldn't be with. My heart screamed to go back with the love of my life, but my mind told me to stay away to keep her safe. There was nothing more that I cared about that Roza's safety.

Vika and I just stepped out of the Chinese Restaurant for the 5th time this week. I know I can cook, but I can't be bothered. I'll be lucky enough to not burn down the motel room while I cook.

My thoughts always seemed to wander off to Roza. Her Smile. Her hair. Her laugh. Just her being. Being away from her was harder than expected.

The motel was only 5 minutes away. As Vika and I walked through the empty streets of Novosibirsk, I couldn't help but gaze at the star, which seemed to shine brighter than ever. The only source of light was from the moon. It looked beautiful. A cheesy part of me was hoping that Rose was looking at the moon as well; so I was indirectly look at her.

My mind wander back to when I first saw her in Portland. The way she protected the Princess, it surprised me. It surprised everyone. She was highly outnumbered and she knew it. But she put on a brave face. If it were anyone else in her place, they would've surrendered themselves in a matter of seconds. But not my Roza. In that moment I realized that she wouldn't let anyone come near the Princess, that is just how much of fierce guardian she is. Before that, I had only seen her in her picture from her file. The picture did not do her justice. Her photo was of her when she was probably 15, she was full of life and held mischievous glint in her eyes. My initial thought after looking at her photo was I want to get to know her, even though that sounded stalkerish.

Few moments later, I came back to reality, only to see Vika's panicked expression.

"Vika? Are you okay? What is it?" Her eyes snapped up to meet mine, and I knew there was a Strigoi somewhere here. My guardian instincts kicked in as I drew my stake out of my duster. Vika kept looking around to make sure if they were actually here or not. I nodded at her and we both slowly increased pace.

As we were about to turn right, a strigoi jumped out. He was tall, just a few inches shorter than me, in his late 20's, a few years older than me and seeing how big his muscles were, I was guessing he was a Dhampir before he was turned.

"Well, well, well. Look who we've ran into tonight." The boy snarled. Two more strigoi stepped out to stand next to him who seemed to be a leader of some sort.

The leader and one of his sidekicks lunged at me and the other one went for Vika who was standing behind me. I swiftly avoided them but my attention was also on Vika. Thankfully, I had given her my spare stake I kept with me. Even though she was only 16, I had gone over the basics of staking strigoi's and where the heart is. Teaching Vika about staking the heart also painfully reminded me of when I was teaching Rose. It was like Déjà vu. At such a young age, I don't know if Vika will have her first kill, but it's a possibility looking at our current situation.

I quickly staked the sidekick leaving the leader for myself.

"So how's Hathaway going? Miss her? Heard she was in Novosibirsk" I stiffened. He managed to miss a blow to the shoulder as he continued to talk about Rose. "It's only a matter of time before you both meet. Don't you think? Aren't you happy?" He was getting on my last nerve. I couldn't take it anymore. I tackled him and lined up the stake against his heart, and pushed in.

That's when it hit me, this was the first time I had staked since my return. I felt and overwhelming feeling engulf me, but I didn't have time for this.

I saw Viktoria finishing off her strigoi. I saw a big gash on her thigh, her jeans cover with blood. I quickly ripped off the stigoi's shirt. No, not in that sense, get your mind out of the gutter. I quickly tied it tightly just above the gash on Vika's thigh to stop it from bleeding.

"Will you be able to walk?" Viktoria nodded, her face strained. I didn't have time. We both had to get out of here and back to the motel. I knew how many strigoi were in Russia , Russia was the capital for the Strigoi population and one could just be strolling through here any minute. Viktoria wrapped her arm around my waist and we both made a run for it. We had been walking around for a 5 mins. We were just about to make a right turn, when something came flying into my face as the darkness engulfed me.

RPOV

My mind was still reeling from the phone call. I had run out of tears, if that was even possible. At this rate, I didn't believe what was real and what wasn't. I was sitting on the motel's bed with Adrian by my side, his arm around my waist and my head leaning against his shoulder. I reluctantly pulled away from him. I had my lover to go find.

As I got up, I pulled Adrian up with me and gave him a bone-crushing hug. He was my best friend. He was my rock. I loved him. Not like how I love Dimitri, but as a friend. I owe him a lot.

He wrapped his strong arms around my waist as I wrapped mine around his neck. "Thank You, Adrian. I love you. So much" I hid my face in the crook of his neck. "I love you too, little dhampir" he breathed into my hair. I felt horrible. Not because of what Adrian said to me, but because I couldn't return his feelings. He was in love with me. I can't even comprehend how hard it must be for him.

After a few moments, I pulled back to look at his appearance. He was a mess to say the least. His eyes were bloodshot red, from the lack of sleep and from not feeding, his hair messier than usual. He looked really pale. I noticed that he was scrutinizing me under his weak gaze just as I was.

"Adrian..?" His eyes snapped back to meet mine. "Wh-When was the last time you, um fed?" After a few moments, recognition covered his features.

"Little Dhampir, no. I'm not going to feed from you. I'm sorry, I can't". He took one look at my face and realized what he had just said. "Oh, no sorry. I didn't mean it that way. Rose, you don't understand how hard this is for me. You just going after cradle robber hurts me enough. I have – no Rose, let me finish – I have feelings for you that run so deep. You allowing me to drink your blood, it's going to make it so hard for me to stop. It will make me crave for you" He finished his rant. The sane part of me screamed to stop myself, but the other part knew this was the right thing to do. I don't have the money, the reputation to return to Adrian. It's the least I could do.

"Adrian, you must realize that I'm not offering myself to you because I'm addicted. This is my way of repaying you" I leaned back so my hair pushed aside revealing my neck. Adrian hesitated ever so slightly, but what I offered was powerful. Adrian gave in, leaning to press his lips before his fangs. My breathing hitched. The euphoria and rush that it sent through me was amazing. It had only been a few months since I had done this. The last time I did, was with Dimitri. The memory alone too damaging and hurtful, I pushed it out of my mind. Too soon, Adrian pulled back. The colour returned to his face again and he was normal.

We both walked out of the hotel and into the small restaurant located on the same floor. Lissa had booked the room so we could have some degree of privacy. As we approached the entrance of the restaurant's entrance, I noticed the 2 guardians patrolling the outside. With a slight nod to them both, Adrian and I slipped inside.

I noticed the 2 guardians standing at the back of the room. Lissa and Christian had taken their place together so did Eddie and Mia. They had become awfully chummy over the past couple of days. They looked like 2 teenagers in love. Mia looked at him the exact way I used to look at Dimitri.

Adrian nudged me forwards. Lissa sensed my arrival and was out of her chair in mere seconds.

"Rose!" she jumped and embraced me in a hug, "Are you okay? Do you need anything?" Ah Liss always the worrier.

Her excitement faded just a bit when I noticed her look at my bite marks. Her eyes flickered between Adrian and I, it seemed that she had connected the dots. I could feel a bit of jealousy rise in her, but she shook it away.

Behind us, Adrian coughed.

Lissa dragged me to the table where everyone was seated. I replayed the events that had occurred. The phone call and everything before.

"Rose I understand your need to bring Dimitri back, but do you even know where he's been taken?" It was Mia who had spoken. Everyone else was looking at me for an answer. I must applaud Mia for her courage. Even after having the crazy adventure she went on with Mason and Eddie, she never backed down. Now, when I think of when Lissa and I were found and brought back, Mia hated our guts. But after everything, we actually had grown so close.

"Well, no I don't. But I know someone who might be able to help us" I was positive that he would help me. I borrowed Lissa's phone and dialled his number. He helped me a lot and I'm sure if I put in a favour, he would surely help me. The line kept ringing until someone finally picked it up.

"Mazur" He said in deep, gruffly voice.

Andddd cut! That is it for this chapter! Remember to rate and review!