~ROSE~

My hands automatically clamped over my ears as the fire alarm blared. It was only a matter of time before the thousands of candles around the room would trigger it, but man, it was the worst possible timing.

I started heading for the exit I had noticed earlier, but Dimitri suddenly pulled on my arm, stopping me and making me face him again. His face had gone completely blank; the flirtatious man that I had been talking to only moments ago was lost to a fierce mask of professional action.

"Rose. Go with Lissa. Stay right by her and don't leave her side." The way he said it was almost like a command, and the force in his voice didn't allow me to question him. Surprisingly, there was also some anxiety mixed in. "Go. Hurry. Stay by her and you'll be safe."

Safe? I was about to make some sarcastic remark about using Christian's fire and Lissa's Spirit to ward off the flames, when I noticed something in his hand. Out of nowhere, Dimitri had produced a silver stake.

This alarm had nothing to do with smoke and everything to do with Strigoi.

Fear and adrenalin started coursing through my body as I ran to where Dimitri had urged me earlier. Thankfully, Lissa was nearby. Her dress made her easy to spot. Eddie had her positioned near one corner of the room, standing in a defensive position in front of her. Christian was right behind him, looking ready to fight as well. Lissa had just spotted me and called my name, but it was drowned out by several large bangs as the barricaded doorways burst open.

I fought my way through the screaming and panic of others, making it to the trio before any threat. Eddie immediately pulled me behind him, and Christian tried to do the same. It didn't feel right though, so I stood beside the fire user instead. Lissa reached from behind me, taking my hand in hears and offering me a silent comfort as I took in what was happening.

There was too much confusion to focus on any one thing. The demons of my nightmares hunted with abandon, drinking from Dhampir and Moroi alike. It took me several moments to realize that I was watching people die right in front of my eyes, but as soon as I recognized it, I couldn't unsee it. There was death everywhere. My own fears started creeping up on me, making it hard to breath and I wondered how Eddie could stand so confidently against such monsters.

I tried to look for Dimitri, but even with his larger than life stature, he was lost in the chaos. I could see a large gathering off to one side, with more than a few guardians fighting off a large force of Strigoi. A couple of them bore a red pin on their collar, one that Eddie had pointed out to me earlier. They were part of the Royal Guard and my guess was that the Queen was behind the wall of warriors.

It was then that I started noticing something. While the Strigoi were more than happy to attack and kill anyone who crossed their path, they were targeting Moroi of Royal blood. I could see several of the more distinguished guests, ones that I had been introduced to tonight and at the banquet several days ago, already murdered across the room, and my body tensed because I knew now as well as ever that Princess Vasilisa Dragomir would be a prime target.

Almost as soon as the thought had crossed my mind, Eddie sprang into action, meeting the lunge of a shorter Strigoi. I had seen many guardians, including both Eddie and Dimitri, train in the gym. None of that held a candle to what I was watching now. Eddie's movements were swift and sure, and he killed the attacker in less than a few seconds.

The moment his stake was pulled from the man's body, I watched his eyes scan over the crowd. Mine followed their path until we both saw Dimitri. He was across the area that had been the dance floor, near one of the main entrances. Logic told me that he had probably been one of the guardians who had tried to keep the doors sealed.

If Eddie was an amazing fighter, Dimitri was practically a god. I was terrified as he came up against one aggressor after another, but each one quickly became his victim as he worked his way back towards our little strong hold. Between his focused attacks, I caught his gaze several times, as if he was checking our safety before moving on.

"Come on, Belikov." Eddie's murmured whispers barely reached my ears. "I can't take them all by myself."

All it took was one moment of distraction. Eddie noticed the new Strigoi the same moment I did, and it was a moment too late. He barreled into him, sending the guardian flying against the nearby wall. Even above the commotion, I could hear the tell-tale crack of bone. An image of red hair and freckled cheeks flashed in my mind at the sound, stealing my breath away as it mingled with Eddie falling unconscious in front of me.

I heard Christian curse beside me, accompanied by a gasp from Lissa. A quick flare of heat from my right was a sure sign that Christian was preparing to enter the fight next, but I knew that he was limited by his energy and it was very possible that it wouldn't be enough to win. Especially since the single assailant was now joined by a companion.

I knew it was most likely hopeless, but I also knew that I would do everything I could to keep Lissa and Christian alive as long as possible. They came first. I just hoped it would be enough.

With one last glance towards Dimitri – who was working valiantly to reach us but was still too far away – I ran towards Eddie's limp form. His stake laid near his right hand, and I grabbed it before spinning to face my threat. My sudden movement was enough to catch the interest of two of the Strigoi and they turned on me immediately. I stepped over Eddie, faking as much confidence as I could, and took up the familiar position that Dimitri had spent months teaching me so religiously. My hand gripped the stake, feeling both heavy yet somewhat comforting. It was the only thing standing between me and certain death. Even now, my death felt like it was a pretty sure thing.

As the shorter of the two monsters started towards me, I could feel my body tense. Time seemed to slow for a moment as I took a breath, letting my instincts take over.

Even if he was smaller than his friend, the Strigoi still had a few inches on me. As he rushed me, I ducked to the left, using his size and momentum to throw him off balance before using the point of the stake to gouge his shoulder. The yell he gave shocked me, but not long enough for him to take advantage of my hesitation. I could see a wall of fire behind him, engulfing another figure, courtesy of Christian. Without a second thought, I kicked out, forcing the monster back into the flames.

Just like that, he was no longer concerned with me. While he was flailing around, trying to put out the growing inferno, I was able to find my mark. I put as much power as I could into my stake, coming from below the rib covering the heart and tilting upwards like Dimitri had trained me to at the Academy. I could feel the lick of flames at my wrist, burning me in a way I had felt once before, but I ignored it and pressed forward. There was one last look of desperate hatred before the light vanished from his eyes.

'They've become something dark and twisted...If they have any grain of their former selves, they'll probably be grateful,' I could hear Dimitri's guidance easing my shock, but I didn't have much time to revel in my kill – my third – before my next attacker was at my throat. Literally. I never even saw him coming. One moment I had been staring at a being that I had just murdered, soulless as it was, and then the next I was being pressed up against the wall, with my feet dangling off the ground. I tried to grip my stake, but it was no longer in my hand. It didn't matter where it was if it wasn't in my hand.

His eyes were only inches from mine, letting me see every detail of his red-rimmed irises. Perhaps it was the slowly depleting oxygen to my brain, but my mind took note that the red was just as varied as the rest of his eye. Most of it was blood red, but there were streaks of bright flame and spots of dark crimson. It was a terrifying thing to see, but there was a certain beauty to it. There could be worse things to have as my last sight.

But it wasn't. Just as my vision started to darken with black spots, those red eyes grew wide and a choked cry left his snarled lips before he fell to the ground. I fell against the wall, gasping to catch my breath and strong hands grasped my arms desperately. When my sight became clearer, I found that the red eyes had been replaced by the much more appealing chocolate ones.

Dimitri looked me up and down, examining me with both his hands and eyes for any injury. "Roza!" I saw him stripping me of a black dress. "Roza, talk to me." I saw him carrying me in his arms across the quad as he pleaded for me to hold on. It was the first time he had admitted his feelings were real, even if we could never be together. "Roza! Are you okay?" I saw the man who had become a part of me so thoroughly, that my heart had remembered him when my mind forgot.

– DIMITRI –

I always feel a bit of fear when in combat. It's a good thing generally. Fear produces adrenalin, and adrenalin makes you more aware and focus. However, it's possible to have too much fear, where you start to question yourself, doubt your choices, and hesitate. It only takes a moment of hesitation to make a fatal mistake but even knowing that...I couldn't help it.

I took one last look at Rose. I couldn't shake the feeling that if I didn't memorize her now, I would never see her again. But the moment was brief before she ran towards Eddie and our Moroi. If I couldn't protect her myself, I trusted Eddie to do so. I knew he would protect Rose with as much vigor as he would protect both Lissa and Christian.

I ran towards the main entrance, where I could see several other guardians struggling to secure the door. I knew it wouldn't hold long, but every moment we could keep the Strigoi out was another moment that we could secure the long list of Moroi inside.

Knowing that this event would have more than its fair share of high ranking royals, there was a security plan in place. There was a panic room prepared, one that I could see the Royal Guard already ushering Queen Tatiana into. Eddie will get Rose and the Moroi in there, I reassured myself. He knows what he needs to do.

No sooner had I reached the door than I heard a large crack of the wood giving.

I fought one enemy after another, not even bothering to take their appearance in before taking them out. I could see others falling beside me. I heard the grunt of Guardian Coffey to my left, dissolving into a strained gurgle as his breath was choked out with his own blood. There was no time to mourn him though, not if I wanted to stay alive. I staked the monster that had just killed my peer and moved onto the next.

Whenever I had the chance, I glanced towards the area that I had last seen Rose. Eddie was still there. Why was he still there?

There were more Strigoi than we had originally planned for. I could see our security plan falling apart at the seams as more death and destruction was doled out all around me. I knew the fall out would be huge, but my primary goal shifted from the room at large and shrinking to those that were still trying to hold their own in the far corner.

I started working my way towards them, catching the moment when Eddie took on an incoming Strigoi. The fight was short lived, with Eddie coming out on top. He wasn't so lucky the next time though.

I saw him fly several feet, landing against the wall harshly and hitting the floor. My fear amplified immediately. Two other Strigoi were closing in fast, and I was too far away. I was too far away. I wouldn't get to them in time because I was too damn far away.

I locked eyes with Rose for half a second and I could feel so many words pass through us. I begged her not to do something rash, but all I saw was a regretful apology in response. I was still fighting my way towards her, but suddenly she ran. I watched her as she knelt next to Eddie's limp form, drawing the attention of the two of the Strigoi and turning to face them with stake in hand. She fell into a defensive position, but the look on her face was anything but confident. She looked determined, sure, but she also looked like she knew she wouldn't win.

It takes a whole lot more than simply knowing the combat moves to win in a fight. Perhaps win isn't even the correct word. Survive. It takes more than just combat skills to survive. It takes the determination to strike. It takes the courage to open your guard for just a moment – leaving you vulnerable – so you can overthrow your opponent with a killing blow. Above all, it takes the understanding and acceptance that you may not come out victorious.

My struggle to reach her was halted when I came face to face with my own assailant. As hard as I was trying to ignore the chaos around me and get to Rose, I couldn't avoid the direct attack.

A loud shriek sounded over the crowd, drawing my eyes towards Rose and the others as I pulled my stake from the now-dead monster in front of me. Her attacker was clutching his arm, his blood staining the silver on her weapon.

Christian had set a second Strigoi on fire, using his magic to engulf him in flames that he couldn't escape. I knew it was something that was draining on him, but we had discussed defense tactics and when he was out numbered with no place to run, this was his last resort.

Rose used the flames to her advantage, kicking her enemy into the fire and using it as a diversion so she could make her kill. Unfortunately, the shock of it all seemed to hit her at that moment.

I was only a few feet away now, but it still wasn't close enough. Out of nowhere, a third Strigoi swooped in. Within a heartbeat, he had her up against the wall by her neck and I could see her desperately clawing at his hands and trying to free herself. The stake lay uselessly underneath her dangling feet. She didn't scream. She didn't have the spare oxygen to do so.

Nothing else mattered at that point. I pressed forward, knocking through another possible challenger rather than engaging in combat. Someone else could take care of him. I only had one focus now. I had to get to Roza.

Finally, as her eyes were starting to lose the battle with consciousness, I struck. My stake plunged deep enough into his back to pierce through his chest on the other side.

The hand choking Rose immediately released, and both she and the monster dropped to the floor. I kicked the Strigoi away from us, grasping at Rose and checking her for injury. My hands trailed her arms, her neck, her face. Besides a few scrapes and some certain bruising, she seemed to be alright.

Eventually, her breathing slowed and returned to normal. She gently pushed away my hands, and rubbed some of the lingering ache away from her throat. "I'm fine, Comrade. I'm fine. Go check on Liss and Sparky over there."

I let out a grateful sigh, offering her a hand and pulling her up to a standing position before turning to do as she suggested. It was just like Rose to worry about her friends before anything else, and to remind me to do the same even when I rather focus on her. She knew just how to get to me too, using that old nickname and everything...

Wait.

I turned back suddenly, facing her with wide eyes and what I assumed to be an expression half way between shock and hope. Rose peered at me from under her lashes, supporting herself against the wall. As soon as our eyes met, she bit anxiously at her lip and nodded.

I wasn't sure how to react. A part of me wanted to run back to her, hold her close, and thank God that my Roza remembered me. The other part was hesitant, knowing that there was nothing wrong with the woman I had been getting to know over the past two weeks and wondering how this new turn of events would change things. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to say.

Roza made the choice for me. "Go. They come first."

They always come first...even when our worlds were crashing in around us...they always come first.

Author's Note

It happened! It finally happened! Rose has her memories back, so the question is...now what?

Thank you for staying with me with that doozy of a cliffhanger last week. We had lots of guesses as to what the noise might have been, but I was surprised how many thought it was a gun shot. But seriously, we needed to see Strigoi at some point, right?

On a side note...writing fight scenes are hard. Any other fic writers have issues with it?

Thank you for reading, reviewing, following and favoriting. I really appreciate your love and support. Have a great week!