A/N: Please take note that this story rating has been upgraded to M. I've started to realize that some of the language has been pushing the limits a little, especially since the introduction of our fiery OC, and there are some more mature scenes coming up. I hope this doesn't deter any of you T readers and if you think you might have some issues, feel free to PM me and I'll update the chapters with notes on mature scenes you may wish to avoid.

Ch 24

Eddie POV

Song: Trouble – TV On The Radio

Last night's events were interesting, to say the least. I didn't know much about this Spirit magic stuff, but something told me what Eva did in the gym, then again in Rose's head wasn't normal. I started to wonder what the full extent of her abilities were.

Could she hear my thoughts too? What if she's listening right now?

*tap. tap. tap.*

"Shit!" A knocking on my door startled me and increased my paranoia, despite how slow and lethargic the raps sounded. I hopped off the lounge chair I had been "relaxing" on and made my way to the door. When I opened it I had to bite down on my tongue to keep my eyes from popping out of my head.

Eva stood there with slumped shoulders, her red hair in complete disarray and sleep still written all over her face. "What are you doing here," I blurted out, unable to hide the panic in my voice.

She scrunched her brow at my stammered response and grumpily replied, "Abe wants to see us. And apparently, I am now his personal messenger sent to gather you and Rose."

I let out a gust of air in relief and gave her a nervous smile. "Yeah sure. Let's go."

"What are you so chipper about at this ungodly hour," her drowsy eyes narrowed at me. So, she wasn't a morning person. "Uh, nothing," I nervously scratched the back of my neck. "Sorry."

Eva crossed her arms over her chest with an annoyed look. "I can't hear everything you're thinking, Eddie."

"How did you—I mean, what? I wasn't thinking that. That's just silly." My nervous laughter had accelerated into rambling. I put my hand on the door frame and leaned into it, trying to strike up a casual pose.

"It's written all over your face," she made a circular motion with her hand while pointing at—what I imagined to be—the dumbass look on my face. I pursed my lips and tried to look anywhere but at her.

An amused sigh deflated her surly stance and she lazily dropped her arms. "It doesn't work like that. I mean, I could catch bits and pieces if I really tried, but I don't like to do that."

"Besides," she added. "It's not like I'd need to with you."

"What's that supposed to mean," I crossed my arms and feigned insult. "I'll have you know I am an extremely mysterious man."

She let out a modest chuckle and shook her head. "Yeah, sure you are."

A small sound at the end of the hall pulled our attention away from our droll conversation. I peeked my head out of my room and Eva leaned back to give me a better view. Rose was quietly closing the door to Dimitri's room, seemingly unaware that she had an audience. When she finally turned around and spotted us, she froze in place.

We all just stared at each other awkwardly before Eva finally spoke up. "Abe wants to see us."

Rose nodded and began moving her feet back towards her room. "Okay, be there in a sec." She whipped around and practically darted across the hall without another word.

Eva turned to me with a raised eyebrow and I just shrugged my shoulders in response, not wanting to get into that mess of a situation.

After a couple minutes, Rose met us in Abe's suite. Eva seemed a little more awake and she sat at attention as we waited for Abe to tell us what he wanted. I wasn't sure what the relationship was there, but she seemed to pretty much be at his beck and call.

I had been trying my best to keep my distance from him. Dimitri had warned me that Abe was a dangerous man and with him, nothing came for free. Seeing as I had no money or anything of value to give, I didn't plan on giving him an opportunity to make a deal by selling my soul to the devil...so to speak.

"We've tracked down the location of the Dragomir estate and received some information of recent activity." Rose sat up at the news and waited for him to elaborate. "At night several tinted vehicles have been seen traveling to and from the property with a lot of movement, but during the day things have been relatively quiet."

"What's the security situation," Rose asked. Abe opened his mouth to respond, but a thought flew out of mine before I could think better of it.

"Uh, shouldn't we wait until the others are awake," I interrupted. Abe looked over to me and I mentally scolded myself for attracting his attention.

"Don't worry young Guardian, they will be kept up to speed. But I wanted to discuss our plan of action with you three first so you can help convince the others without much fuss." Uh oh. I had a feeling Belikov was not going to like this. I swallowed and sat back in my seat while he continued.

"Security is a bit of an issue and the only movement during the day is the sporadic delivery of humans now and again. Sometimes they come out, sometimes they don't. However," he looked to Eva as he spoke, "we may be able to work this to our advantage." She nodded in response, apparently understanding what he was getting at. I, on the other hand, was still completely lost.

"What are you saying," Rose asked, making me feel somewhat grateful that I wasn't the only one who was clueless.

"I can create charms for us to disguise our identity," Eva explained. Abe nodded for her to continue and it was obvious then that they had already discussed this. "Rose and I will pose as humans and Eddie as a guard."

Yep. Dimitri definitely wasn't going to like this. He had been adamant about not letting Rose out of his sight since he found us, and I was pretty sure walking into a Strigoi den posing as humans was the last thing he wanted her to do. "Okay. And why just us? Will the charms not work on the others?"

"Once we are in there, if they are looking for a specific person, the charm could break. It's a fragile spell. Lissa asked Adrian to bring her Christian so it's likely that some of these people know who they are and are even expecting them. They might even be looking for Rose, but with two girls coming in instead of one it will throw them off. And Belikov is too huge. Unless the guard we take out for you to replace is also the size of a bear, he'll stand out like a sore thumb."

"Once you are inside," Abe continued, "You'll just need to get your hands on some kind of evidence that we could use. Rose, you said they were in an office discussing their plans last night, I'd say that's the best place to search."

I looked around Eva's chair to Rose, waiting for her shoot down the idea. She thought about it for a minute, her hand contemplatively scratching at a tear in her jeans. "And how long will this charm last? An hour? Less?"

There you go, Rose. I knew I could count on her to find some whole in their absurd plan to get us out of this mess.

"It will last as long as we need. That is, if we don't give ourselves up in any way. Or get caught," Eva responded.

Pfft, that was a vague answer if I'd ever heard one. I knew there was no way she would go along with it after that. I sat back in my chair a little, feeling a sense of relief.

"It's risky, but Eddie and I can handle it."

What the fuck?!

I couldn't believe the words that just fell out of her mouth. Was she serious? I didn't even need to say anything back, she could read exactly where my thoughts had led from my stunned expression.

"How many times did we sneak in and out of Kirova's office undetected? And that was without a disguise and a cover." Was that seriously her best argument?

"There also wasn't a band of Strigoi, hiding out from the sun on the floor below," I muttered.

"Come on Eddie, where's your sense of adventure? Just imagine it's the field exam we'll probably end up missing," she jibed.

The girl was seriously disturbed. "Ugh fine," I let out a dejected sigh. "When do we leave?"

"Really," her shock and excitement were even more troubling. "That was easier than I thought. I had like, ten other great convincing arguments to throw at you."

"I said I was in it for the long haul, didn't I? I never thought it would lead to something this outrageous, but nevertheless, I'm in. You can tell me these so-called 'great arguments' along the way." When I'm kicking myself in the shins for agreeing to this stupid idea, I mentally added.

Rose had told Dimitri and me about her conversation with Abe and how we were going to need to get some proof to help prosecute the Mână for what they had done. Our main focus was Lissa, but if this would help take down those sick bastards that killed Arthur and who knows how many other innocent people, I had to at least try. The three of them looked all too pleased with themselves for a group that was planning to break into a Strigoi den, but their confidence helped ease my nerves a little and somehow made me feel like we could really pull it off.

"Now that we've gotten that over with," I leaned forward placing my elbows on my knees. "Who's going to tell Belikov?

DPOV

Songs: Wanted by Bon Jovi, The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Queens of the Stoneage

"You can't just expect me to—"

"Everyone out!" Abe's thunderous demand interrupted yet another one of my fleeting arguments since he and Rose divulged their plan to us, and caused everyone else in the room to scatter like ants. I should have felt some sort of uneasiness by his tenor, but all of my emotions were currently being poured into my building rage.

Once the door shut behind him and we were the only ones left standing in the room, his dark glower slowly eased in my direction, bringing menacing words with it. "Do not mistake me for someone I am not, boy," he emphasized the last word in an attempt to make me feel unsteady, but all it did was take me back to a time when another Moroi with blood the same as mine threatened all that I held dear. I clenched my fists and tried to keep my lips from curling over my teeth in a snarl.

"Remember our deal, Belikov? You will do what I ask." His words projected finality and I could see Pavel in the corner, always lurking, ready to intervene if needed.

I counted my breaths in my head and tried to control the boiling blood surging through my veins. When I felt like I was somewhat in control, I finally spoke. "So you're saying if I do this, our deal is done?"

Abe's malicious laugh resounded through the room and I bit back another repulsed sneer. "Of course not. You think this amounts to the debt that you owe? You will do this because I tell you to. I am the only thing keeping you here. And you of all people should know, when I see an issue I have no problem removing it." I knew exactly what he was referring to. I had seen the men sent to my mother's care. I had heard the whispered rumors echo through Baia. But I still wasn't letting this go. I was about to tell him exactly that but sensing my opposition, Abe cut in once again.

"All it would take is a phone call to the Guardians," my words froze on my tongue and halted any objections I was about to deliver. "This group would no doubt benefit from you being here. I've seen your skills in action and know you have been a large support to Rose. However, if I feel you are no longer able to fulfill your purpose I will happily inform the Council of your whereabouts and let them take action. I highly doubt you will be able to help Miss Hathaway from behind steel bars."

Zmey didn't earn his ruthless reputation without reason. He had me wrapped around his finger and by the look on his smug face, he knew it too. It was an argument I couldn't win and I was left feeling completely defeated by the guileful serpent.

"Now that it appears you have seen reason, why don't you go and find something to do to pass the time until they safely return back with what we need." I wanted to reach across the room and slam his head into the wall. I wanted to hit him in the face over and over until it was coated in a thick layer of his vile blood. I looked over Pavel a couple times, assessing how many different ways I could quickly take him out before Zmey had a chance to flee the room. Instead, I brusquely turned away—admitting defeat—and walked to the door. He was right, if I wanted to be there for Rose when it counted, I had to comply with his demands.

Yet, when I reached the door, I placed my hand on the cool wooden surface and paused. It dawned on me that this wasn't just his request. "You're mistaken."

"I beg your pardon," Zmey snickered.

"You are not the only thing keeping me here," I turned around to face him once again, my confidence suddenly rising. "Rose is. I'll go along with this plan, but only because it's what she wants. I could give a shit about your threats. My life doesn't matter to me anymore, only hers does."

I trusted her the night before to enter Lissa's mind, and she was strong enough to face her worst fears. I needed to maintain my trust in her and show her that I saw her as an equal, not just as a novice. If I continued to coddle her and protect her, she would eventually resent me for it. Rose could do anything she put her mind to and if this was something she felt she needed to do, whether I liked it or not, I would accede.

I stood there proudly, waiting for Zmey to lash out at me again for insulting his abilities to inflict harm and make good on his threats, but was shocked when something else took over his normally self-assured demeanor. It was almost like…admiration.

Before I could think too much about it I turned again and pushed through the doors, leaving him and Pavel in the room behind.

\

I eventually found my way to the library, thinking that it would be the last place that any of the others would wander near. At least there I could get some privacy long enough to collect my thoughts.

Wrong.

It couldn't have been more than ten minutes before someone came looking. When the door cracked open, I half expected it to be Rose—so I was sorely surprised when a mess of red curls popped through the opening. I turned my back away, pretending to examine the shelf of books in front of me and pointedly ignored Eva. The click of the door shutting gave me false hope that she had taken my not so subtle hint that I wanted to be alone and left, but her light footsteps behind me told me I wouldn't be so lucky.

"I need to talk to you."

I kept my back to her and my mouth shut, refusing to acknowledge her and still hoping she would just go away. Not the most mature move, but my patience was running thin and I wasn't in the mood for whatever bullshit Abe had most likely sent her here to tell me.

"Are you going to at least look at me, or are you just going to stand there and pout all day?"

"I do not pout." I let out a groan and turned to meet her mischievous gaze.

Eva crossed her arms in response to my annoyed tone and walked over towards one of the book-lined walls. After looking them over for a moment, she reached out her hand to a row and admiringly ran her fingers along the assorted spines. "I've always loved books," she quietly admitted. "They were pretty much my only escape back home. I wore out our collection within the first two years of arriving there, so when a new shipment would come in I would spend all day pouring through them. Travel, adventure, history, mystery," she put an ominous emphasis on the last genre and gave me a peculiar look.

In any other circumstance, I might have used that little tidbit of personal information to probe more out of her, but my curiosity about where she came from was overshadowed by my earlier mood. "What do you want, Eva?"

"Abe isn't to blame for you not coming with us today. I am."

I stared at her blankly, unsure if she was covering for him or bragging.

"I know you are hiding something. And I don't trust secrets. Especially when lives are at stake." She looked over to my hip where my weapon was safely secured in its holster, seemingly amused by her accidental pun. I, however, was not.

"My private business is exactly that. Private," I gritted through my teeth. "I am not obliged to share anything with you, just as you are not expected to with me."

"That may be true," she shifted her position and walked towards one of the lounge chairs, resting her hands on its leather back. "But the fact that this is something you are hiding from everyone else is what is troubling to me."

I remained still with my Guardian mask in place, refusing to let her see whether or not her words were having any effect on me. It appeared her patience was about as slim as Rose's. Realizing I wasn't going to give, she let out an exasperated sigh and attempted to run a hand through her tangled hair.

"If you can't even share it with your closest confidant, then how do you expect me to have any semblance of trust in you? Keeping this secret from Rose is distracting you and distractions are the quickest way to get yourself killed out there." That last line sounded exactly like something about half a dozen of my professors in combat training had drilled into us at St. Basil's. I suddenly wondered who she had gotten her training from. "I'm not sure why you're hiding it anyways," her eyes rolled as she moved to the front of the chair and plopped down. "No matter how bad it is I'm almost positive she would handle it just fine."

"Rose is strong. She can handle anything," I thought aloud, not meaning to voice it.

Eva looked at me like I had just said something completely idiotic. "No," she laughed. "Because she's in love with you."

As much as I wished that were true, I didn't waste a second on her false observation. Sure, Rose and I had gotten closer and she was finally accepting my friendship, but that's as far as it would ever go. She had made it perfectly clear that Vasilisa was the only person she had room for in her life now and she wasn't going to let anyone get in the way of that again. Least of all, me. I shook my head and leaned against a nearby sofa, turning my body perpendicular to hers. "You obviously don't know Rose as well as you think you do."

"Oh, please. I can see it bright and clear in her aura," I looked over to her curiously as she continued. I wasn't entirely sure of the extent of her powers and this was the first time I had heard her speak about auras. "Every time you're around each other it lights up, and when you touch her it's like the sun. So is yours," she gestured over to the space around me. "Why do you think I had you grab her hand when she was in the Princess' mind?"

I thought about the distressed state Rose was in through the bond, and how she seemed to relax under my touch. Then later that night when she came to my room and slept while wrapped in my embrace. It may have meant something more to me, having her close and safe under my arm but it couldn't have been anything other than comfort to her. She trusted me and was just seeking out someone to relieve some of that pain after witnessing her best friend as a monster.

"Jeeze, do you always overthink everything?!" Eva's unabashed comment pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts and I pushed myself off the edge of the couch. Even if her last accusation was partly true—alright extremely true. It wasn't a secret that I tended to examine the details of situations a little longer than necessary, but that didn't mean she was right about everything. I knew that Spirit magic was slightly different among users so who was to say she could really determine Rose's emotions or not?

Either way, they would be leaving soon and I was done with this conversation. "Don't you have somewhere to be?"

Eva let out another annoyed sigh and hopped up from the chair, walking out of the room without another word and finally leaving me alone with a new worrying thought. As much as I didn't want to admit it, she was right. I needed to come clean to Rose, especially if she was starting to lean on me for a source of comfort. I would gladly stay by her side and be that reassuring boost she needed for as long as she asked—even if she would never feel the same way about those small moments as me—but the truth of the matter was I would be leaving as soon as we restored the Princess.

Abe had made it very clear today that he hadn't forgotten about our arrangement and he would gladly hand me over to the people I had been running from since I left the academy if I didn't comply. Rather than letting her get closer to me and rely on me, I needed to start giving her some distance. Otherwise, the sudden departure might cause her more harm. Now I just had to find a way to bring myself to do it.

RPOV

Song: Voodoo by Godsmack

"And then there's the chance that we'll get to—"

"Alright! Jesus, Rose I get it! That's enough. You are the queen of convincing arguments, okay?" After about my seventh point, Eddie had finally had enough. I smiled to myself at the small victory and leaned my head into the space between the two front seats to check out the GPS. We were almost there from the looks of it.

Picking up on my observation, Eva reached down to a bag at her feet and pulled out two silver necklaces. She shoved one over to me. "Here," I reached out to grab it and her hand retreated before it made contact with mine. "Who will I look like," I asked curiously.

"It doesn't matter. As long as you don't look like you," she responded curtly.

"That means I'm hideous doesn't it," I said as I hooked the clasp behind my neck.

Eddie glanced at me in the rear-view mirror with squinted eyes. "I don't see anything different."

"That's because you know about the charm. We won't be able to tell it's working, but trust me it is."

Trust Eva? Ha! I considered for half a second telling her exactly how little trust she had earned from me this far but thought better of pissing her off before we waltzed into a house possibly full of incognito Strigoi.

"Abe said that there would be some guards patrolling the outer perimeter. Pull over up ahead and we'll walk the rest of the way." I pointed to a small clearing in the tree line where we could easily conceal the car, but still make it out quickly if needed. When the car was parked Eddie sent a quick text to Abe, letting them know we had arrived, and we all made our way towards the house.

Finding and subduing a guard took less than ten minutes and Eva quickly created a charm for Eddie to wear. I was somewhat surprised that the guard was Dhampir. Was he oblivious to what was going on in that house? Was he compelled? Or did he know, and was on their side? The last thought made a twist in my gut. Sure, Dhampir weren't always treated the best, but how bad could his life have been to end up siding with Strigoi? I tried to ignore that last thought and focused on the crunch of the gravel path leading to the house instead.

So far, everything was going according to plan. We were stopped by another guard who told Eddie they weren't expecting a new batch so soon, but he was quick on his feet and appeased the guard by telling him he found us high as a kite wandering in the woods and didn't think the guests inside would mind an early meal. The other guard nodded in agreeance and we walked right in.

As soon as we were inside we all relaxed a little. Which was ironic since this was the riskiest part, but I think we all half expected to not even be able to make it this far. "Feel anything yet," Eddie asked.

I focused on my feelings and besides the rising butterflies I sometimes got before a fight, my stomach seemed steady enough. "No. They must be in a different part of the house."

Eva gave Eddie a curious glance and I obligingly filled her in. "I can sense when the Strigoi are near. Shadow-kissed, remember?"

Her expression didn't change and rather than waste time going into details I motioned them towards the staircase I had seen through the bond. "Come on, this way."

The office was easy to find and we stealthily made our way in undetected. Eddie quietly closed the door behind us and I moved to the large desk, sparing a single glance at Rhea's favorite painting. When I looked down at the documents though, I was sorely disappointed.

"None of them are in English," I groaned. I cursed myself again for never paying attention to foreign languages and Eddie gave me a look that said he wouldn't be much help either. "Great. How the hell are we supposed to know if any of these are worth a damn?"

Eva grabbed one of the documents and tossed it aside. She picked up another and began scanning over it before shoving it at my chest. "Wait. You know French," I asked.

"I know lots of things," she cockily replied, keeping her focus on the mess of papers. She continued tossing the majority to the side, deeming them as useless. I started to think they were all a bunch of bullshit and this had been a huge waste of time when finally, her eyes perked up. This document was in Russian and she ran her finger over passages above what looked to be a list of names. "This is it. This is what we need."

"What is it," Eddie asked excitedly.

"It's a contract. See here, there are signatures from people who have accepted and a list of others who are in the organization."

I looked underneath it to another document with the same watermark design at the top. It looked to be from the same stationary and there was a map on it with more Cyrillic script. "What's this?" I shoved it over to Eva's face. She gave me an annoyed look, but when she glanced over it her face went white.

"It's a map of court," she whispered. "This part here talks about points of entry and emergency exits. There are also highlighted sections where specific Royals live."

"Which Royals," Eddie and I asked in unison.

"The ones on this list," she raised her left hand still holding the contract. Harsh realization chilled my bones. They were organizing with Moroi to help take down court. If the Strigoi tried to infiltrate on their own, they would be stopped by the wards and Guardians before even setting foot inside. But with the group of Mână on their side, helping them sneak into certain weak spots and unpredictable areas, they had a real shot at succeeding.

Voices down the hall quietly carried into the room and we all jolted at the sound. "I thought you said you could sense them," Eva accused nervously.

"I can," I defended. "It's not Strigoi." I gripped onto the two documents in her hand and she rustled up a few more, shoving them at me just as the office door opened. A Moroi man and woman entered, their casual conversation halting as soon as they saw us standing there in our stuporous state.

"What the hell are you doing in here," the woman spat. If we had been standing anywhere else, and not clutching a pile of documents, we might have been able to pull an excuse out of our asses. But we were caught, and royally fucked.

The man looked down at the papers crinkled against my chest and his eyes went wide. I braced myself to charge at any oncoming backup he was about to call in, but instead, he raised his hands and took a deep inhale. Without warning, a furious gust of wind rushed towards us. I desperately latched onto the papers in my hand as the others flew off the desk and whipped across our faces. Eddie swatted at them, trying to clear his line of sight, but I didn't dare move my hands from their gripping hold. I could feel one of the parcels start to loosen from my grasp and tried to turn away, but the wind seemed to be coming from every direction. Sheets sliced against my cheeks and I was having trouble keeping the blasting currents from shooting into my nose and mouth. Just when I thought I was about to lose my grip, the tornado of papers spiraling around us stopped and they tranquilly began floating to the ground. I shook my now loose hair out of my face and darted my gaze over to the door.

The Moroi man was clutching his throat, gasping uncontrollably. It was like every part of the storm that had just surrounded us was invisibly forced down his throat. "What are you doing to him?! Stop," the Moroi woman shrieked. I looked to my left to see Eva's furious stare focused on the man, her teeth grinding and her fists clenched at her sides. She was controlling his magic and using it to suffocate him.

Without missing a beat, Eddie rushed over and slammed the man's head into his knee, knocking him completely unconscious. I quickly followed behind and with one clean punch to the jaw, sent the woman flying to the ground and landing jointly beside the air user. Eddie could have handled them both on his own, but I knew he wasn't too keen on hitting females, especially when it wasn't a Strigoi, and decided to save him the trouble.

"I think that's our cue," he replied breathlessly and I neatly folded up the papers before stuffing them into my jacket. Eva appeared beside us, looking a little out of sorts from the use of her magic. Eddie reached out his arm to help her, but she quickly swatted it away. "I'm fine," she scolded. "Let's go."

We made our way up the familiar stairs and towards the main room we had entered from. Eva was slowing with each step, and I could tell she would need to be carried soon enough. When we reached the living room my worries proved themselves right and Eva collapsed onto the carpeted floor. I was impressed she held out as long as she did and reached down to hoist her onto Eddie's back. Just before I could get her up, my hand shot to my stomach in a worthless attempt to alleviate the overcoming nausea.

Noticing my familiar tell, Eddie scooped Eva off the ground and into his arms. I reached over to a heavy artifact sitting on a nearby end-table and chunked it at one of the tinted windows. I felt slightly guilty as pieces of broken glass fell to the ground and Rhea's disapproving look sprang from my memory. Beams of light shot into the room through the shattered window and I hoped it would buy us enough time to make it to the door. I followed behind Eddie, covering his back as he raced him and Eva through the streaks of light separating the room. He adjusted his hold on her when we reached the front entry and swung the door open. Just before he stepped through, I felt a grip on my shoulder pull me back, taking a piece of my shirt and the necklace with it. My body flung against the wall near a darker corner of the room and Eddie whipped his gaze around. I shook my head, trying to righten my vision before facing my attacker. When I set my sights on him, I froze in place at the distinct demon before me.

His pale hair hung loosely over his shoulders mirroring his pristinely white ensemble. The pointed beam of light strategically behind him created a celestial glow, giving him an almost angelic appearance. But that face-splitting smile revealed his true devious nature. Nathan.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the little Dhampir bitch that has been causing such a ruckus." I resisted the urge to gag at his sickening voice and met his intense stare. Realizing that I wasn't intending to make a move to retreat, Eddie tossed Eva onto the sunlit porch and turned around to face us with his stake in hand.

But before either of us could make a move, Nathan soared over to me with incredible speed and wrapped his skeletal fingers around my throat. "Tsk tsk tsk. Let's not be hasty," he looked over to Eddie, poised for attack. My back was pinned against the wall and my hands were wrapped around his wrist, desperately trying to pull out of his hold. "Make a move and I snap her throat. Do you understand?"

Eddie gritted his teeth and Nathan returned his focus back to me. "Hmmm, I could turn you now. Save Vasilisa the trouble she has been putting herself through. But that would be too easy," my air was quickly cutting off and I was having a hard time seeing straight. "I think it's time our Princess learned a lesson on who is in control here. I'm sure dropping your dead body at her feet would be a sufficient reminder." The pressure on my throat tightened to the point that I wasn't sure what would kill me first, the lack of air or the snap of my neck. I heard Eddie yell something, but dark circles were invading my senses and I couldn't make it out.

At least he was in a safe position. He had gotten Eva out and along with the others, they could still save Lissa. My loss wouldn't defeat them. Christian would stop at nothing and I was grateful she had found someone like him to be a part of her life. I hoped Nathan killed me. I welcomed it. Because anything was better than the alternative.

I closed my eyes and thought of the picture in Dimitri's bedroom. His lighthearted smiling face next to his childhood friend gradually bringing me peace.

Then suddenly, a gust of air flew into my lungs, burning them in the process, as the grip around my throat loosened. My knees gave out when my back was no longer being held up by Nathan's grasp and my palms crashed into the floor as I violently sucked in breath after breath.

"Nathan," her sweet voice pulled my vision from the ground and I snapped my attention to where the sound had come from. I could tell it wasn't the first time she had said his name. His body was frozen in place under her control, but his face was still coiled in a hateful sneer. "I told you Rose was mine."

Her possessive tone was unnerving and I became just as statuesque as the Strigoi standing above me. I had witnessed Lissa through the bond, seen the extremities she was capable of, and felt her cold, dead heart but none of that prepared me for seeing her in person. She was still so beautiful. Her elegant grace radiated off of her and if I didn't know any better, I would think it was still the same sweet girl she used to be. But the tiniest glimmer of her red eyes fixed on Nathan's instantly gave her away.

"Aw c'mon Princess. I was just having a little fun," Nathan's expression morphed into a wry smile, making him look like a naughty child who had just been caught by his scolding parent. "Besides, you know I wouldn't do anything to harm our alliance."

Despite just getting it back, I held my breath as I awaited Lissa's response. She stayed in the shadows, the beam of light separating us from the other side of the room and her hard expression was difficult to read. Her eyes never left his and I could hear my pulse beating in my ears as I waited for Lissa to command Nathan to bring me to her. When she finally opened her mouth to speak, her words sent chills down my spine. "Alliances are for those who are too weak to empower themselves."

Nathan didn't even attempt to hide his shock as his eyes widened like crimson saucers and his arrogant smile went slack. "You're looking a little pale, Nathan," a smile crept up and over Lissa's fangs. "You look like you could use a little sun."

His body began moving away from me and his face frantically shot down to his legs. Each slow step caused him to panic more. Then came the begging. "Vasilisa wait. Stop. I wasn't going to kill her, I swear."

Lissa's fierce gaze remained in place. Sensing an opportunity, Eddie rushed over to me and helped me to my feet. We shuffled over to the door, careful not to go on the other side of the light as Nathan slowly moved towards it. "I awakened you! You owe me!" Nathan's hysterical shouts echoed down the hall and I could sense more assailants would be upon us soon. We stepped over the unconscious form of the guard who had stopped us earlier and I wondered when that had happened. As we reached the door, I latched onto the frame and halted our escape.

"Rose, what are you doing," Eddie sharply asked.

A seething urge inside me was holding me in place and the sick curiosity took hold. I had to see it for myself. I turned my head to see Nathan slowly stepping into the beam of light. His legs immediately burst into flames as if they were doused with gasoline. His curdling screams pulsed through the room while the consuming fire crawled up his torso. His flesh began melting off his bones as the relentless flames licked across his limbs, creating a sickening scent of hot, rotted meat. That familiar pale hair was long gone and his blazing red eyes rolled towards the back of his head as his torched skull convulsed in agony. When he finally fell to his knees, his bones cracked in two and I knew there was no coming back.

I didn't dare look at Lissa for fear of getting trapped in her overpowering compulsion and darted through the door. Eddie helped a barely conscious Eva off the porch floor and we scrambled our way to the tree line. I didn't look anywhere but straight ahead until we were safely inside the car. Eva slumped into the backseat, trying to catch her breath and Eddie fired up the engine before his door was even shut. We darted away from the house and I finally allowed myself one glance behind us, all the while terrified that Nathan's flaming form would be chasing us through the woods.

A/N: Okay, I know this is the longest chapter ever. I was planning to stop after the DPOV but didn't want to make y'all wait another 2 weeks for the next chapter :). Hopefully, you didn't get lost in there.