"Try not to panic, Rose. How far along are you?"

"Somewhere between eleven weeks three days and twelve weeks today," I whimpered. I'd finally stopped crying now the Dr. was here. "I've been going with the middle date of eleven weeks five days."

"Are you sure? You haven't had any imaging done have you?"

"No, but I know when it happened… There was only that five-day window… I've never been with anyone else," I confessed.

I was looking at Dr. Olendzki, but I could see Alberta doing the math. She looked at me in confusion. Celeste was still beside me holding my hand and trying to soothe me while Dr. Olendzki rolled me onto my back and gently pressed different points on my stomach.

"I think it's too late. My pants are wet," I whispered, hugely relieved Alberta had sent Eddie and Mason off to the infirmary to collect a stretcher. I didn't want them hearing this.

"I'll check in a moment, but that might be urine," Dr. Olendzki reassured me. "It can happen after a blow. I won't lie this is very concerning, but baby is only three inches long at this stage and still relatively low in the abdomen. But there are several risks we need to consider here. Is the father on campus? It would be helpful if we knew his medical history, particularly his blood group."

I shook my head, pulling out Dimitri's pendant I always wore on a long silver chain and clasping it in my hand.

"But I can find out." The last thing I wanted to do was ring the Belikov's – especially with the news I was pregnant but probably in the middle of losing Dimitri's baby. But I'd do it if it gave Junior a chance.

"I have all student medical histories on file," Dr. Olendzki suggested gently. "I can look it up if that helps, and anything you say is confidential. The father doesn't have to know you've told me."

I shook my head.

"What about staff?" I whispered faintly.

Dr. Olendzki's shock was obvious, but she quickly hid it. Alberta closed her eyes and shook her head. I could tell she didn't want to believe what she was hearing.

"Yes. I have staff records, too," Dr. Olendzki confirmed.

"And he won't get in trouble? What I tell you is confidential? He didn't force me…"

I could see she was struggling with it, but the Dr. nodded.

"No one will believe me, but I won't risk my baby, so I really am telling the truth. The only man I've ever been with was Guardian Belikov."

Alberta winced. Celeste soothed me, and Dr. Olendzki looked confused.

"Rose, you must be mistaken? Two Dhampir…"

"Can't have children together… Yes. I know. But I've never been with anyone else, and the timing is right. I don't know how, but this is Dimitri's baby," I said quietly.

Further discussion was interrupted when Mason and Eddie returned with a stretcher. Eddie looked at me with such compassion, but Mason wouldn't meet my eyes at all. Even one of my oldest friends hated me. And that started me crying again.

"Rose? We just don't have the facilities here to take care of you. We're going to need to take you to Missoula to the hospital there. If the baby hasn't survived, you'll still need medical attention, and if it has, you need to have imaging and blood tests. I'm going to go to the clinic and make some calls and get the medical histories together, but until I return, I need you to stay still and not get up. I'm going to give you a shot of something when I return."

She saw me start to object and immediately reassured me.

"It's medication to try and relax your uterus to stop any involuntary spasms. It's one hundred percent safe for baby. You might need to stay in hospital for a few days, but someone needs to stay with you…"

"I'll go," Celeste volunteered.

"I think that's for the best," Alberta said, looking every bit her fifty-something years at that moment. "I'll drive the two of you there and stay until we know what's going on," she said giving my hand a motherly squeeze. "Celeste? Why don't you go to Rose's room and pack her a bag? Bring underwear, pajamas and comfy sweats."

"Is there anything else you want?" Celeste asked me.

"Can you also bring my phone and charger, laptop, toiletries, pillow, the sleep shirt underneath and a few of my photos?" I pleaded. Celeste nodded. She knew that now, more than ever, I needed my little reminders of the man I loved.

"I won't be long," she promised. "I'll go via my room and pick up a few things I'll need, too."

Alberta waited until Celeste and Dr. Olendzki went on their way.

"Castile? Ashford? Put the stretcher down here and wait outside the gym until I call for you. No one is to come in here bar Celeste or Dr. Olendzki on my orders. If you see anyone, you know nothing. If anyone tries to come in here, stop them and get me. And if I hear a word about what's been said here anywhere on campus, I promise you neither of you will graduate," she growled. I'd never seen her so fierce!

"I won't say anything," Eddie promised faithfully, talking to Alberta but looking at me. "I've got your back, Rose."

Mason stepped forward awkwardly before kneeling beside me, looking at me for the first time.

"You're one of my best friends – I'm here for you Rosie," he promised. "You have my silence too." When he pulled back, I could see his tears.

"Thanks, Duckie," I whispered, crying myself. "I'm sorry…"

The guys left Alberta and me to stand and guard the doors of the gym.

"I'll only ask you once, Rose. Is it really Belikov's? You don't need to lie to me."

"I'm not lying, Alberta. That weekend was my first time… And I've not been with anyone else…"

"I should never have let you go," she groaned.

"It wouldn't have changed anything. It would have happened no matter where we were," I whispered, and I meant it. I closed my eyes and rested my cheek against her palm. "I know he's probably not coming home. But he was the one for me, Alberta. And even with this, I'll be forever grateful we had those few days together. I really do love him, and I'm always going to."

I kept my eyes closed. The pain in my stomach was starting to abate, and I hoped that was a good thing.

"Have you made any decisions?" Alberta asked, stroking my hair with her free hand.

"I was hoping to keep it quiet so I can graduate. After that, I have no idea."

"Did you want me to call anyone? Your mother?"

"Not Janine!" I moaned. "Please! Until we know what's going on can we keep it to ourselves?"

"Of course," Alberta soothed. "Don't worry about anything right now. Let's just focus on you and the baby."

"Junior," I whispered softly. "I'm calling it Junior, for now."

I opened my eyes and looked at Alberta. She had tears in her eyes. She leaned down and kissed me on the forehead before going back to stroking my hair. It was the first time she'd ever been so affectionate with me, and it meant a lot. I rubbed my face against her hand again and closed my eyes again.

"Junior," she agreed.

We were sitting in silence when Dr. Olendzki returned. She checked my abdomen again and then helped me take off my sweatpants and underwear before covering me with a warm cotton blanket she'd brought from the infirmary.

"Good news, Rose. There's no sign of blood, so it looks like the fluid was urine," she said brightly, bundling my soiled clothes up into a medical garbage bag. "It's not uncommon in a blow like that."

I was hugely relieved, but also embarrassed that I'd peed myself. Celeste arrived back carrying a couple of duffel bags – one for me and another for herself.

"Thank you, Celeste," I murmured. "Can you grab me a fresh pair of panties and sweatpants?"

With a little help, I got myself dressed again. Dr. Olendzki was handing files across to Alberta, along with instructions on who to see at the hospital.

"You'll be in a private room, and an Ob/Gyn will be looking after you. A Moroi physician will also visit you," she said. "I've de-identified Guardian Belikov's medical file and am sending that too, but there's nothing significant in there. Are you certain he is the only… possibility… as the father?"

"Yes. We're in a relationship Dr. Olendzki."

The doctor looked to Alberta who nodded wearily. "It's the truth."

Dr. Olendzki looked troubled.

"Then I advise you not to reveal he's Dhampir. A Dhampir / Dhampir pregnancy is likely to attract a lot of attention if word gets out. They'd want to do all sorts of tests on you and the baby. While I trust the Moroi doctor you'll be seeing, I'd feel happier if that information was kept as quiet as possible. I'll do some research from here and find out what I can."

"Thank you," I whispered. It hadn't occurred to me that our miracle baby might become a guinea pig for testing, but I wouldn't put it past the powers that be to try it. That's if our miracle baby had survived. I hadn't known how much I already loved Junior until now – when there was the chance I was losing it.

Before I knew it, Alberta had called Eddie and Mason back in, and I was rolled onto my side on the stretcher. Dr. Olendzki gave me a couple of shots, one in each leg, and I was covered with the blanket. "I can't give you much because of the baby, Rose. But you might feel sleepy - don't fight it – you need to rest."

Eddie and Mason each took an end of the stretcher and started carrying me towards the main driveway. We must have hit the change between classes, because there were people everywhere and we had to pass through the commons.

"Just close your eyes and pretend you're asleep," Celeste counseled under her breath, so reaching up to hold Dimitri's pendant again, that's what I did. The last thing I could remember was being lifted into the back of a van. There was a mattress on the floor, and I was rolled onto it, resting on my side. Celeste sat beside my head helping me rest my head on a pillow.

"We're ready, let's go," she said. I heard the rumble of the van beneath me and then I fell asleep.

"Ah, you're awake." I opened my eyes to find my head resting on a pillow. I was lying on a single military-style bed. Slav was lying on a similar bed next to me. "They must have used a lot more sedative on you – I've been awake for a couple of hours."

My head was spinning, and my mouth was dry.

"Where are we?" I croaked out.

"We're at the Strigoi compound," he murmured. "We're in a locked Guardian dorm. There're some of the guys from the other cells here. We're here to be processed to see who they want to join their army."

It was my worst nightmare come true.

"Alan? Liam?"

"Dead. From what I can gather from the others, we'll have up to three or four days here before we'll be considered. We'll either be turned or killed," Yaroslav said softly.

"I know what I wish for," I said, hoping for death. And then I remembered my Babushka's words. I knew better than to discount a dream in which she spoke to me. If she said there was a chance – hope for me to return to my family and be with Roza - then maybe I needed to reconsider. But not as Strigoi. I would rather die than be turned.

"Why didn't they just turn us?" I muttered, slowly putting my thoughts to rights in my head. Whatever they'd used to knock me out had been potent.

"Apparently that's part of their 'ethics.' First, they need to decide if they want us. And if they do, we need to choose to give them our allegiance. If not we'll be killed."

"But we get a choice?" I asked, surprised.

"According to what the others say, yes," Slav replied looking equally as surprised. "Not that they're great choices. But it is good to know if I choose not to be turned, I won't be."

The way Slav was speaking left me in no doubt as to what his decision would be.

Strigoi. With a code of ethics? It was an entirely foreign concept to me. But then what did I really know about this army? They were clearly a very different entity to anything I had seen before. Not that I was itching to sign up. But I liked the idea that I had some type of choice.

"So what happens now?" I asked lifting my head slowly to look around me. We were in a fairly standard group dorm. Twenty identical metal beds in four rows of five in a massive room. As well as the beds, there were tables and chairs at one end and a television on the wall. At the other end were four doors that looked as though they led to bathrooms. Compared to the Church where we'd stayed before being deployed, this was spacious and well appointed.

"From what the others say we stay here until we're called," Slav tilted his head towards the large mirrors running down the opposite wall – obviously one-way glass - the inference being that we were potentially under constant observation. "And then we're turned or not."

I slowly sat up in bed. My head was still a little woozy, but it was clearing fast. I looked around recognizing faces from the Church.

"Are most of the guys here ours?" I asked.

"About seventy percent. A few are from a raid on a Royal home between here and Omsk, and there are a couple who were captured on leave in Novosibirsk."

Looking down at myself I was still wearing my duster, and at the foot of my bed was my duffel bag.

"Check – but everything was still in mine minus my stakes," Slav commented.

I riffled through my duffel bag, and yes everything was there. But it was Rose's photos which were most precious to me, and slipping a hand into my pocket I could feel they were still there. Not that I'd bring them out here. I couldn't afford to show any sign of weakness or anything that could be used against me. But just knowing I still had them soothed me.

My hand in my pocket fingering the edges of the photos, my mind wandered to Rose. Would they tell her I'd been captured? Would she assume I'd been turned? I didn't want her stressing or worrying about me, although I knew she would in any case. Still, Babushka seemed to think there was a way out of this. That I had a decision to make.

I closed my eyes and leaned against the metal bedhead. I looked deep into myself. Could I do this? Was I willing to do whatever it took to get back to her? I thought about what Babushka had said. I thought about how happy Rose had been for at least part of those few days we'd shared in Missoula, and I made up my mind. While there was a chance, any chance at all I could make her smile like that again, then I'd do it. I opened my eyes, my decision made.

Getting up, I grabbed my duffel and then the towel folded over the foot of the metal bed.

"Showers down that way?" I asked Slav.

He nodded. "There's everything you need in there. They run on a nocturnal schedule, so apparently, dinner will be arriving soon."

He didn't have to say it – I knew what he was thinking. As prisoners in a Strigoi compound, we were better treated and accommodated than many Guardians were during their normal working lives.

I walked towards the four doors, choosing one of the middle bathrooms. While there were no windows or obvious cameras in here, and the only mirror was on the door of the medicine cabinet so not two-way, I worked on the assumption that I was still potentially under observation. So keeping my bland Guardian façade on, I used the lavatory, then getting the wet pack from my duffel bag I shaved. Finally, I stripped down and showered, washing and even conditioning my hair. Slav had been right – everything needed was here, and even the hot water was plentiful.

Not wanting to take too long I stepped out of the shower and toweled off, tied back my hair and dressed in jeans and a sweater. None of the other Guardians had been wearing their uniforms, so I saw no reason to either. Carefully repacking my duffel, I made sure the bathroom was in the same state it had been when I entered the room before slipping my duster back on, grabbing my towel and duffel and walking back to my bed. I'd only just hung the towel over the end of the bed to dry when the doors at the far end of the room opened. Strigoi in uniform wheeled in large carts, rolling them against the wall near the tables and chairs. On the bottom were plates and cutlery, when they lifted the covers on top there were large metal containers filled with food. Dinner.

Following the cue of the others, I lined up with Yaroslav, collecting a plate and serving myself from the plentiful offerings. Beef goulash, mashed potatoes, peas, carrots, corn and a bread roll. There was also juice and water to drink. Sitting at a table with Slav and a few others from the Church I ate in silence, listening to the talk amongst the others. Apparently, after the food was removed, tea and coffee would be brought in, and the lights would stay on until 9 am, after which it was lights out and sleep time.

We'd finished eating and had stacked our cleared plates back onto the bottom of the trolley when the doors opened again, and the Strigoi were back to collect the food. While they weren't friendly, their demeanor wasn't threatening either. And I was surprised to see that the Guardians tolerated their presence readily enough. No one was jumping back in alarm. It seemed bizarre to me – this acceptance of the creatures we'd spent our entire lives training to fight. Looking around at the others, I started to wonder whether perhaps there was something in the food because this calm didn't seem natural. Catching Slav's eye I could see his thoughts were headed in a similar direction.

The trolleys were being wheeled out when another Strigoi came in. Holding a clipboard, "Guardian Belikov?" he enquired, looking around expectantly. Taking a deep breath, I stood.

"Yes."

"Guardian Dimitri Belikov?"

I nodded.

"Follow me, please. Our commander would like to see you."

Slav looked at me questioningly, and I shrugged. I had no idea why I'd be called and so quickly. The other Guardians watched me curiously as I followed the Strigoi from the room. Knowing everything I did could have a severe consequence, and that even the tiniest bit of information could help my cause, I kept myself alert – looking about me and mentally storing every observation carefully away for future consideration. If I got a future, that was.

We walked through long, utilitarian corridors, up several sets of stairs and then into more luxurious parts of the compound. There were many Strigoi – all in uniform. Some guarding doors, some training, some even appeared to be relaxing. Honestly, were it not for the red-ringed eyes one could be mistaken for thinking it was a Guardian facility.

After ten minutes of walking, we approached a large set of double doors. Gold and imposing, four Strigoi were flanking them.

"I have Guardian Belikov – we're expected," the Strigoi said.

One of the guards knocked and opened the door. "Nathan and Guardian Belikov," he announced, stepping back so I could follow the Strigoi I now knew to be Nathan into the room.

Inside was an opulent sitting room, decorated in light blues and golds. It was luxurious but at the same time feminine.

"So, Dimitri. What do you think of my little place here?" a lilting voice asked in amusement.

While I wasn't accustomed to hearing it when she wasn't barking instructions out to me in the gym, I recognized the voice immediately. My old mentor. Galina.