LAST SCION COMPANION STORY

by savannah0707

THIS IS A COMPANION STORY TO 'LAST SCION'. IT ISN'T REQUIRED THAT YOU READ 'ls' FIRST, BUT IT IS A GOOD IDEA. THIS COMPANION STORY FOLLOWS BELLAMY PEACE, GUARDIAN TO JESSE ZEKLOS, A MOROI ROYAL. BELLAMY IS FACED WITH A DECISION WHEN NEWS OF A LOST LOVE SURFACES. SHE WILL HAVE TO FACE HIM AND ASK THE QUESTION: WHY? WHY DID HE LEAVE? WHY DOES HE BLAME HER?

10. Something Isn't Right

PART 10

"The day you called me," Dimitri said to me, his eyes still on the floor. He wouldn't even look at me after I'd confessed to him that I had quit for any amount of time, "you could've told me."

"I could've." I was not arguing with him.

"You' didn't."

"And I regret that now. I was blinded by my emotions."

"I was the enemy." He repeated my words, letting them sink in. "You didn't trust me anymore."

"You were the enemy, Bridgette was the enemy. I didn't trust anyone. I didn't even trust myself, Dimitri. It wasn't about you."

He stood, moving past me and Aaron. "Yes it was. It was about you and me. I would've helped."

"You would've pushed."

"I would have helped you. You were struggling."

"You…" I stopped, unwilling to debate this same fact with him. "Maybe you could've helped." I conceded. "But I wasn't in a place to accept it. I'm sorry." I reached out, but he walked away, refusing to continue listening. Dimitri stormed out of the room and then out of the house. I joined Rose as she stopped in the grand foyer with me.

"Give him a few days Bells."

"I just disappointed the one person I never want to disappoint." There were two men in my life who had never intentionally disappointed me. Disappointing either of them in return was crushing.

Rose gave a mix of a scoffing laugh. "You could never really disappoint Dimitri Belikov. He admires you more than any other Guardian."

"Excluding yourself." I added, gaining a laugh from her.

"Give him a few days." She advised. "Then tell him he is being ridiculous."

It was days before I even considered approaching Dimitri again. On Monday morning, once Jesse and Sophie were asleep, Yuri and I were running our errands. We ventured a short drive to the Guardian administration district, making our way in and out of multiple buildings. I was hoping to find a file on a Guardian candidate for Jesse, as well as check on any updates to the impending trial of Mason Ashford. There was no new information. The last Council member had arrived days ago, but they were spending the week meeting with the Queen and her advisory Council first.

Next I told Yuri that we should stop and pick up a few loaves of the Borodinsky bread, a traditional Russian black bread, that Jesse and Sophie liked. We stopped inside of a very small Russian bakery before returning to the car.

"You have to face him Bells." Yuri said as we made our way through the center of Court. He pulled the car to the side of the street, and wanted to have a chat about this now. "Now he knows what happened in Switzerland. He knows why you did what you did."

"I always forget how big this place really is." My mind was wandering, avoiding this conversation as I looked in each direction.

"You are avoiding the problem."

"He's mad." I pointed out.

"He is forgiving." My husband countered. "Trust me, I know."

"He's going to yell."

"At you? Not likely." Yuri put his hand to mine. "But if he does, isn't it better to get it over with? Stop avoiding him. He is your favorite person."

"You are my favorite person." I kissed him sweetly, but it did no good.

Yuri got out of the car, and pushed me to do the thing I was dreading.

"You take the car. I'll see you back at the compound after you talk to your brother."

Yuri was right. I had been avoiding Dimitri for the last few days. I hated not speaking to him. I was used to seeing or speaking to him every day. And now, I was afraid of what he might have to say.

Fortunately, or possibly unfortunately, I knew where to find him. His schedule was pretty easy to memorize after all this time. Today was Monday, mid-morning. That meant Dimitri was off duty, and at the firing range. I pulled up to the outdoor center to see him concentrated and practicing his long range firing skills. He wasn't missing any of his targets. Not that I was surprised. I parked and waited until he finished, trying not to startle or sneak up on him.

"And the award for most predictable man I know goes to…."

He froze briefly, setting the safety on his weapon before placing it to a nearby table.

"You took your time." He said to me.

I wanted to smile at his response. "I was giving you time to cool off. You were so upset when you left the Zeklos residence. Is it safe for us to talk?"

I saw confusion in his eyes. I had used the word safe.

"Of course." He spoke in that calming Zen-like Dimitri tone. "Let's sit."

I sat with him. "So, how do you want to play this?"

He didn't speak. He kept quiet, reading me and my method of attack. Damn I hated when he did this to me.

"Why don't we just sit here and talk like two rational and reasonable Guardians." Dimitri suggested.

I raised my brow in distinct question, my expression giving away more than I hoped.

"Am I so unreasonable?" He asked. It was a clear enough question for him, but the answer was not as transparent.

"You have been known to have unreasonable expectations of me." I paused, seeing the look in his eyes change. His shoulders dropped. "But no." I went on. "You are more often than not, a reasonable man. And in this case, I wonder why you are being so rational." I had to know what switch in his head had flipped when just days before, he had stormed the gates of the Zeklos compound to yell at me.

"I have had time to think." His response was spoken in the most casual way. He folded his hands in front of him.

"And?"

"And I have come to the conclusion that condemning you for quitting would make me a hypocrite."

I listened to what he said, still his words made no sense. "Do tell." I was more than interested in hearing him go on.

"A day or two before Mason's funeral, I had a short and heated discussion with Bridgette."

I definitely wanted to hear this story. "Right before the funeral." I recalled the time. "Bridgette was mad at you, wasn't she?" Bridgette and Dimitri had their differences and difficulties most days back then, but right before Mason's funeral, she knew I had been having a rough go of it. She knew that Dimitri and I were having trouble of our own.

"Very much so." He confirmed her ire. "She reminded me of my own actions and reactions when Ivan died." Dimitri had been close with Ivan Zeklos. The two had been like brothers. Bridgette once said that you rarely saw one without the other, even before they graduated. "When Ivan died, I lashed out. I was inconsolable for such a long period of time. I felt alone." Now he had that serious tone. "I cannot blame you for your actions, when over the years I have come close to doing the same. Maybe you have more courage than I do." He admitted a closely guarded secret to me. "I have thought about quitting twice in my career."

"Once when Ivan died."

He nodded. "And a second time was right after being changed from Strigoi." Dimitri confessed.

"You were going to quit after becoming Dhampir again?"

"I thought 'why bother?' Why go back to taking these kinds of risks? I could leave it all, and live a quiet life somewhere else."

"What brought you back?" I must have asked the right question, because he was still willing to reveal the answers."

"Roza." I should've guessed. "And Christian." An answer I did not see coming. "When Lissa and Christian asked me to be an Ozera Guardian, I immediately said yes. I realized that this is the life I've chosen. It's the life I want. I have never said these things to anyone. Not even Rose." He told me, and he knew that I would never give up his secrets.

I sat quietly listening to him, happy that he would share such an important and potentially life altering decision of his life with me. And now I knew that Dimitri understood more than he could say.

"I'm sorry, Dimitri." I swallowed hard. What else was there to say? I wasn't going to make excuses for the way I had treated him after Mason's death, or why I had kept this secret between me and Aaron for so long. "I haven't said that yet. I haven't apologized to you."

"You don't need to apologize. You made a very tough decision Bellamy. And, you came back stronger from it."

"Did I? If I could go back and change things, if I could change my reactions or the things that I said…"

"You wouldn't.' He still sounded so calm and level-headed. "We cannot turn back the clock Bellamy. Your reactions after Mason's death were to be expected. You were going through a terrible loss, and I expected too much from you."

He unclasped his hands, placing one to my arm. I felt comforted by him again. When I stood, he stood with me.

"Do you want to take a few shots?" Dimitri motioned for me to practice with him.

"Nope." I shook my head. "I have to get back. Jesse's mum is arriving later today, and she is bringing the kids." I mentioned the kids, and watched as Dimitri's eyes lit up. As Ivy's Godfather, he was always excited to see the little ones at Court. "Plus," I groaned, "I am attending a royal function with Jesse tonight."

"You?" My brother scoffed. "You're attending a royal party?"

"Sophie decided to stay home with the kids, and Jesse has to go. He doesn't want to fly solo to this one."

The two of us parted ways, getting on with our day, and in a better place than we were. It was certainly easier for me to focus when I was not squabbling with anyone.

EDDIE

The door opened behind me, and for the first time, I did not care who it was.

"Novitiate Castile." Guardian Tverskaya acknowledged me as he walked into the gym, coming to stand by the wall to my left.

I didn't say anything in return, but looked up in silent response.

"How are you feeling?"

He wasn't the first to ask, he wouldn't be the last, and I was beginning to resent the question. How did people think I was feeling? I had gotten myself caught up in an outrageous harebrained plan to accompany Mason and Mia Rinaldi to Seattle, to attack Strigoi, by ourselves. I'd been beaten, fed on, and drugged by Strigoi. And I had now lost my best friend during that same scheme. How did everyone think I was feeling? I was struggling to make it through the day without screaming, and through the night without the nightmares.

"I'm getting better." I answered, not wanting to get any further into this particular discussion.

Guardian Tverskaya went quiet, not focusing on me or my answer for a moment. He looked distant very briefly as he fell into the transitory thoughts on his own mind. By the look in his eyes, I had a feeling he was thinking about the same person that I too spent hours thinking about over the last several weeks. I stopped what I was doing and faced him. I was looking to him in hope of an answer to my next question.

"I haven't talked to her." He mentioned. My hope disappeared with five words. "I haven't heard from her." He was of course referring to the mutual friend we shared.

I gave a single short nod. "Me either."

"I think that she is purposely ignoring my calls."

So, he had the opportunity to contact Bellamy by phone. I would keep that in mind.

"If she has heard everything about Seattle, I cannot blame her for not responding."

"She's probably mad. Very mad."

"I expect we should give her time to process." The Guardian was trying to sound reasonable.

"Do you know where she is?" I tried not to sound as hopeful this time.

"No."

"I wrote her a letter." I informed him. "But, I don't know where to send…if I gave my letter to you, could you get it to her?"

There was a distinct look of regret and sadness. "Eddie," He used my name, "if I say yes, if I accepted a letter from you, I would essentially be saying that I know where Bellamy is."

"But you don't."

"I do not." I couldn't tell if he was lying. He had no reason to lie, so I assumed he was being as truthful as he could be with me.

"Okay." I settled, punching the closest bag I could. "I just miss her. As angry as she might be, I wish she were here."

"We all do. But, that is no excuse to lapse in your training." The subject was temporarily changed. "I swear, you and Bells are so similar when you are training on the bag."

"She still beats the hell out of me when we spar."

"You and me both." We laughed together, and for the first time since I'd started missing her, it felt good to even smile about her.

"You are stepping out too early." Yuri advised. "Don't move forward until you are ready to hit. Think about your movements. Strigoi are a step ahead in the fight, so we need to always two steps ahead in our minds. Try again."

I did as he suggested, attempting a few times before I got it right.

"Good." Yuri said, leaving me to practice as he busied himself elsewhere in the building.

Towards evening, the space grew more crowded with whispering gossiping Dhampir. It was time to quit and return to my dorm. I saw that Guardian Tverskaya had the same thought. I figured I could catch him once more on his way out.

"Guardian Tverskaya." He stopped. "If you do happen to hear from her…" I approached the topic a final time.

"Eddie," I could hear it in his voice. He was considering his words as carefully as Bellamy would. He was her teacher as well as her friend, but it appeared that she had left her mark and heart with more people than me, " if I hear from her I will inform you. Maybe one of these times, she will pick up her phone."

"Yuri." Our conversation came to a halt. Dimitri Belikov was running towards us. "Guardian Tverskaya." He was more formal when he spotted me standing with the other Guardian.

"I'll go. Thank you, Guardian Tverskaya." I was set to leave the two to talk before Dimitri caught my arm.

""You should stay." Dimitri offered. "I have news about Bellamy."

Immediately I was stuck in place, curious to know where she was, what she was doing, and more importantly, how she was doing. "Is she alright? Where is she?"

"She wouldn't or couldn't tell me where she is, but she is as well as can be expected under the circumstances." Dimitri told us.

"Does she know about Seattle?"

"She has been informed." Dimitri mentioned, suddenly looking more crestfallen. "She knows about Mason, your ordeal, and she knows that Christian Ozera and Mia Rinaldi were also involved."

I winced. I could only imagine the heartbreak and hell that Bellamy was going through. I hoped that she was not alone as she went through it. I could also hope that I might see her again. Would she come back for the funeral? Would she stay away for good now?

"Guardian Belikov," An idea struck me, "could you help me get a letter sent? It's a letter for Bellamy."

Dimitri looked wary to accept my request, and I could only guess why he might hesitate.

"Please." I beseeched him. "If you can get the letter to her aunt Bridgette," I recalled that the two were close friends, "perhaps she would give it to my girl." I conveyed my affection for my friend. "Even if she doesn't reply; if she doesn't want to see me again, she needs to read what I've written. Please."

I must have hit some sort of sympathetic nerve in him, because Dimitri nodded in agreement, willing to help me.

"Get me your letter. I will do what I can to convince Bridgette to contact our girl."

I smiled, leaving the two Guardians to speak about Bellamy, or whatever Academy business they had.

BELLAMY

I had one final stop to make for the day, before I could get down to choosing new Guardians. I was meeting Shane in the royal courtyard to catch him up on anything I knew, had learned, and everything about Switzerland. I had the feeling he was still a little cross with me for asking his Moroi to keep my secrets. I arrived to see Shane and Aaron sitting beneath a covered awning. They appeared to be having a pretty serious discussion. I stood back, trying not to eavesdrop, but could hear that the two were discussing Aaron's on again off again relationship with Mia. The pair had been dating, if you could call it that, since my wedding. They were engaged at a point, but I was already well aware that Lucca and Larisa Drozdov were not especially keen on their son marrying Mia. Mia was not royal, but the biggest problem was Mia not being in good standing with Larisa after the Seattle debacle.

"I have to go deal with Mia." Aaron stood, seeing me walk towards the two. He smiled sweetly, turning back to Shane. "If you want to know the rest of the story, I should tell you about St. Vladimir's."

I slowed my walk, hearing Aaron mention St. Vladimir's to Shane. It was the rest of the story. Switzerland was only one part of the story.

"What happened at the Academy?"

"Everything else." Aaron was cryptic. He walked past me, brushing my hand with his for only a second.

I made it to Shane, and he looked far less calm than Dimitri had earlier.

"You didn't tell me the whole story." He accused. "You left out St. Vladimir's. What happened?"

""I didn't leave anything out." I countered smartly. "You asked about Switzerland. I told you about…"

"Bells, you're splitting hairs."

Maybe I was, but I was not ready to give him the details of what happened at St. Vladimir's after Mason's funeral. I was not ashamed of what I'd done, but I was not ready to hear the judgmental opinions from others. I was partly lucky when a shadow appeared to my right. Shane glanced at the approaching persons first, and I could tell by his expression that we were in for trouble. I turned to see Mason strolling towards us, Guardians in tow. Shane stood, purposely placing himself between me and Mason.

"Mase." He greeted the man. "What are you doing all the way over here?"

His voice was like a cold fire in my heart. "I was instructed to come and find Bellamy."

"You found me." I stood with Shane, moving to his side.

"I was told to give you this." Mason handed off a well-organized folder full of papers.

I saw the royal council insignia at the top of the first page, and felt my legs giving out.

"Both Councils and the Queen have agreed to a trial date."

"When?" Shane asked.

I sat back down. "Wednesday evening." I continued flipping and scanning through page after page of instruction and details. I stopped ten pages into the documents, pausing as I came to the first red flag. There was a list of people on the page. It was a short list, mostly full of Guardians. Halfway down the list I saw my name spelled out very clearly. Below my name, I saw another name. Christian would also be interrogated by each Council. I did not feel good about that, but I couldn't argue the decision after I had taken Chris to Vienna on a Guardian mission.

"The Moroi Council is asking me to appear for questioning during the trial."

"That's no surprise. You headed up the mission to retrieve Mason." Shane was careful about his words, reminding me of the events in Austria.

Mason was still standing a good five feet back from me. He had the nerve to look impatient.

"Was there more?" I inquired.

"Yes." He took another step forward, and I saw Shane tense. "I was told to bring a complaint to you."

"What have you done?"

"You assume I've done something.' Mason was extremely defensive.

"Haven't you? Who is the complaining party?"

"I am."

"You?"

"I get it." Mason went on with his martyred attitude. "You don't want to hear me complaining because you are mad at me."

"I'm not mad." I returned, setting him straight. "I don't know what I am, but I'm not mad. Who sent you to me with your complaint?"

He shrugged. "I'm not supposed to say."

"Why not?"

"Don't know. Probably because they know it's driving you nuts to deal with me. I assume they feel you and I should work out our shit."

"It was you." I took a guess. "You sent yourself. I mean…"

He laughed out loud, and Shane instantly took my hand, expecting me too lunge forward. "You think I would seek you out willingly?" He made a good point. I was nowhere near first on his list of helpful people these days.

"Fine. Don't tell me who it was." I had bigger things to worry about at this point, so giving credit or concentration to whatever game was being played was not important to me. "What is your complaint?"

"I was attacked." Mason pointedly said.

"Here at Court?" Shane asked.

"In my cell." He cleared his throat. "My apartment." He then made a correction.

"Is this some sort of joke? Are you…"

"Bellamy," Mason was insistent, "I was attacked. My guards were there to help, but I…"

His guards were with him and still he was attacked? So why was I being bothered with this? Why weren't the Guardians assigned to accompany him going to Administration?

Mason had stopped talking. He was glaring at me.

"I should've known you wouldn't take this seriously."

"Whoa." I stopped him.

"Tread lightly, Mason." Shane warned the other man, ready to step in between us again.

I stood, taking a step closer to Mason. "You can question many things about me. I have done many questionable things in my life." I dared him to agree. "But, do not bring my integrity as a Guardian into question. After what you have done, you have no right to dictate how I handle any type of situation here at Court, or as a Guardian. I will speak to your Guardians as well, and I'll relay your complaint to someone in Court Administration; someone who knows the protocol to deal with these things." I chastised him while keeping my temper in check as best as I could.

"Did you get a look at the person or persons who attacked? Height, weight, hair…?"

"He was wearing a mask."

"You're certain it was a he? I mean, it wouldn't be the first time a woman attacked a Dhampir here at Court."

Shane touched a hand to me again, his arm slowly wrapping around me, recalling the attack I endured with Katja and Illiya.

"I'm sure." Mason replied, watching the interaction between me and Shane.

"Was it a Guardian or Moroi? How were you attacked? Are you injured in any way? Someone will take photos of any injuries you have."

"Bellamy, these questions are…"

"Necessary." I finished for him. "These are necessary questions, and you would know that if…"

This time he cut me off. "If I were a Guardian?"

I didn't respond. I did not need to.

"Where were your guards?" Shane asked another question.

"They were where they always are." Mason used an annoyed tone. "They never let me out of their sight."

"They are doing their job." I made a final statement before taking what information I had, and walking away from the row about to start between me and Mason. The remainder of my day was heavily planned out. Not to mention I now had to rapidly prepare for an inquiry in front of both Councils the following day.

"I will do what I can." I twisted to see the expression on Shane's face as I was ready to leave him with his friend.

"Bells, we aren't finished. I want to talk about…"

"I know. We will. I promise."

Shane put his hand to mine, smiling. "Later." He confirmed.

I left the courtyard, returning to my vehicle, and sped off, now forced to make another stop back at Guardian Admin. I walked back in to see the same Guardian at the front desk. She was small and looked as though she had only recently graduated from one of the Academies.

"I need to file a complaint." I told her, and she began to take the little information I had to give her.

"Wait here." She instructed, disappearing into one of the back offices. I stood impatiently, plotting revenge on whoever thought it would be funny to make me Mason Ashford's errand girl. They would pay.

"I certainly was not expecting to see you today, Guardian Pearce." I heard a commanding voice come from behind me as the building's front doors swung open and closed. Lucca Drozdov stepped up beside me.

"I have a few errands to run while Jesse is asleep today." I said, greeting him in return.

"It is nice to see you since your return from Austria."

No doubt the man knew every detail at this point, about the mission to Austria. I only smiled before we both went silent for a while.

"I don't suppose there is anything you might be willing to tell me about the upcoming trial," I brought up the subject, not expecting much, "considering the Moroi Council has called on me to be its witness against the accused."

"I'm sorry," Lucca returned as I'd expected, "I am under the strict orders of the Queen to keep quiet."

I should've known. A gag order had been placed on the Council members on both sides. I was not going to get anything out of anyone.

"I understand Lord Drozdov. Thank you anyway."

The front desk Guardian returned to her desk, setting down a handful of papers. She looked at me with a puzzling expression.

"Guardian Petrov would like to see you immediately in her office." She stated, giving me the directions I knew by heart.

I excused myself from the Moroi royal, making my way back to Alberta's spacious office. I walked in, and she was happy to see me. I was not happy about disrupting her day and her responsibilities for the Court. I went through the process of telling her about Mason's complaint, and then explained why I had been sent to give it.

"I assure you, it was no one in this building who made the request that he bring his complaints to you." Alberta made very clear. "You have enough on your plate as it is. No to mention," her voice was sympathetic, "I know your history with Mr. Ashford is a dangerous subject, and that the two of you are not…"

"We are not on the best of terms." I diplomatically cited the fact that Mason and I could not go five bloody minutes in the same space without one of us screaming at the other.

"It was not anyone in this building." I thought out loud as we spoke. "But, do you know who it was to give Mason the order?"

Sheepishly, Alberta gave a nod.

"But you will not tell me either."

"I have been sworn not to say." I was getting so tired of secrets. "I can say that it was done with the best of intentions."

"You know what they say about the best of intentions." My tone was as derisive as I could sound. "If that is the case, it brings only one person to mind."

"It was not Dimitri Belikov."

I sat for a moment longer, running my hands through my hair.

"What do I do about this trial? I only have two days to prepare." We had also briefly discussed the few details I knew.

My former instructor, and now friend stood, moving to a cabinet at the side of her desk. "You do as you would with anyone else, in any other circumstance. Stand your ground." She advised me. "Be yourself. You are an honest person, even under the worst of conditions. Be that same girl, Bellamy."

Alberta spoke as if she had known me my entire life. It felt good. I felt as though I were talking to Bridgette sometimes.

"You have been through more than most Guardians Bellamy."

"I'm worried about saying the wrong thing. I'm worried that I will do more harm than good with my honesty. You know how often it gets me into trouble."

She grinned. "It has also kept you out of trouble. Trust that." She then looked more reflective. "Let me ask," And clearly she was in an interrogating mood herself, "are you afraid they will sentence him to death?"

"My drawn out sigh said much. "I'm afraid that they will. And, I'm afraid that they won't. Honestly, I don't know which answer I am more afraid to hear."

"There!" I thought she might shout. "That is exactly the honesty you need to use when being questioned tomorrow."

I agreed to do as she suggested. She also suggested that I get some rest for the remainder of the day. That was not going to happen.

"Too much to focus on." I said. "Jess and Sophie both need new Guardians." I piqued her interest.

"Anyone specific in mind yet?"

"Maybe." I was hesitant to reveal the candidate I had in mind for Jesse. "One."

"Out of how many?"

"I lost count."

MASON

"That girl is never going to forgive me, is she?" I leaned back as we watched Bellamy drive away. "Do you think she'll ever look me in the eye again?"

Shane smiled, visibly unsure of what to say to me. "This is Bellamy Pearce we are talking about."

I laughed a little. "Is that your way of saying that I haven't got a shot in hell at being on civil terms with her?"

"It's my way of saying she's been through every level of hell, and it took her a long time to come back to us."

The look in his eyes was much different than I had seen in these last several weeks when bringing up Bellamy with Shane. This was a look I had not seen since we were all back at the Academy.

I gave a shorter sigh. "I need to ask you something." I said solemnly. "Depending on the verdict at my trial, I might not get another chance, so I need to know. How bad was it? Others have their versions and opinions, but I want to hear it from you."

Shane knew exactly what I was referring to. He knew what I wanted to know. His eyes turned away, and his shoulders dropped.

"Looking back," We both heard before Shane could start talking, "there was a change in her eyes." The voice was one of the few I had wanted to hear after all these weeks of silence and isolation.

"Eddie." I spun around to see the person I once knew so well. He stood a good five feet away from me, and I noticed every change in his face.

"I thought you weren't supposed to talk to me yet." I was not trying to goad him into a conflict, but I worried that Bellamy would blame me for this confrontation. She did not trust me, and these days she blamed even the slightest change in weather on me. I did not want to face her wrath for something I had not planned, even if I was happy to see Eddie Castile. "Bellamy said that we aren't supposed to see or speak to each other. There is an order, and she made it abundantly clear that I…"

"That's her rule." Eddie defiantly interrupted my protest.

"I am under the impression that her orders get followed like a law. She'll blame me if she knows you're here without her consent." I countered.

"What Bellamy doesn't know this time, won't hurt her." I saw Eddie look around m, giving Shane a look that said not to say anything to her, or argue his decision. "You've been asking questions since you returned to Court. You have talked to Bellamy," I scoffed, "you've talked to Rose, to Shane, Dimitri, and I heard you were given permission to sit down with Aaron Drozdov." There was another look given in Shane's general direction. "How about you talk to me." It wasn't a question or request.

"None of us saw the exact moment when the changes occurred." Eddie started. "I should've. He was still feeling guilt about her? "I couldn't see past my own guilt, regret, and my grief." His eyes met mine. Now I could see the damage I had done to him. "Your death set something off in that girl. She wasn't just shattered by your death. She was so damaged that repair was impossible. You will never understand how hard it was for us to see her fall apart like that."

"She was broken." Shane added in a pained whisper.

"Bellamy had to rebuild herself piece by piece, into a completely different girl. You are right for thinking she is not the same girl you knew. She was changed in some of the best and worst ways. We were all changed, but Bellamy took the longest time to level out." Eddie took a single step towards me. "Now you're here, standing in front of her, back from the dead, and I'll be damned if I see her destroyed by you all over again. I won't see her fall like that again."

"I don't want to destroy her." I told both men. "I never wanted that."

I could see the rage and hostility forming in Eddie's eyes.

"And what about me?"

"You? I didn't… Is that why you're here? You want to blame me too?"

"I'm here for Bellamy. I will protect her for the rest of my life. What you did had repercussions in all of our lives. What you did was selfish. You didn't think about anyone but yourself." Somewhere along the line of this conversation, I had incited Eddie's wrath. Never a smart idea, as it could match Bellamy's wrath any day.

"So she was in love with Ozera too, so you had a broken heart. We all go through heartbreak. It's part of growing and growing up. You don't throw in the towel because some girl goes looking for what she needs somewhere else." Eddie was irate, but to call Bellamy 'some girl', was nowhere close to accurate.

"Some girl?" I returned spitefully. "You and I know that Bellamy was never just any normal girl. She was…"

"You didn't love her!" He shouted.

Shane was on his feet again, facing us as we fought, continuing to keep the guards that followed me to the side.

"You never really loved her. You still have no idea what love is. It's sacrifice and putting the other person first. It's selflessness. It's what you see in Bellamy and Yuri, or Rose and Dimitri." Eddie used both Rose and Bellamy against me now. "You were everything to Bellamy, and when Rose returned, you thought you could…"

"Huh. You sound more jealous than concerned."

"Are you kidding? She broke my heart too." He admitted. "She chose you. She broke many hearts with her decision. You had her." I could hear that protectiveness rising in him again. The place Bellamy held in Eddie's heart was deep. He would kill for her. "You had all of her you lucky bastard, and you were playing with her emotions. You let her believe she was the only one you cared for. Is there any doubt why she fell apart then, or why she is now?"

I held back another scoff. "Bellamy's problem is not me this time around. It's her."

Eddie lunged as I gave my opinion, caught at the last second by Shane, moving swiftly between the two of us. My guards were with Shane, all three separating us, pushing us back away from each other. Shane was speaking low to Eddie, his hands keeping the man in place as they talked. Another couple of seconds, and my guards were escorting me far away from the continuing conflict in my life.

AARON

"This is no longer up for discussion." My father was trying not to raise his voice as he and my mother joined forces in the same debate we had at every other family dinner. Again we were "discussing" my on again, off again relationship with Mia Rinaldi. Mia and I had been officially dating, if you could call it that, since Bellamy and Yuri's wedding. We ended things shorty after Rose and Dimitri's Court wedding ceremony, after Mia and I lost our child. She was expectedly upset, and blamed me, complaining that I was not giving her the support and attention she deserved. She said that I had been preoccupied with other royals and responsibilities. We reconciled again shortly thereafter, but things were never the same. My mind and heart often drifted in other directions.

Unfortunately, neither of my parents ever truly approved of Mia. She was not royal, and she was not in great standing with many at Court, after the Seattle affair. After a longer than needed debate over my personal life, and a few threats to arrange a new relationship, I walked out of the room. I found my Guardian and friend standing at attention outside of the room.

Shane looked more troubled than he had since we last spoke. He had more questions after learning about Switzerland.

"I know I probably shouldn't ask." He kept his voice low as we walked through the house. "Maybe I should." He wavered, not really knowing if he wanted his questions answered or not.

"What is it?"

Shane inhaled deeply before diving in.

"Are you in love with her?" He looked as though he were intruding on some new secret that I was keeping from him.

"No." I denied, but his suspicions that I was hiding something bigger than Switzerland were not gone. In a way, I was hiding more, but I feared what divulging the information might do to others.

"Were you ever in love with her?"

This was a more difficult and far more complex answer.

"I…" As my Guardian, Shane felt as though secrets should not exist between us. I agreed. "I may have been in love at one point, but that was a long time ago."

"At St. Vladimir's?"

"Yes."

"What will you do now?"

"About Bellamy?"

"About Mia." Shane corrected, dropping the subject of St. Vladimir's temporarily.

"I don't really know yet. What choice have I got?"

"As much as we all love Mia," He was comforting, "your parents are never going to sign off on a marriage to her. They'd rather cut you off financially before letting that happen." He joked, but his joke was not too far-fetched.

We separated, and I left to speak with Mia. This was not going to be a composed or reasonable conversation.

BELLAMY

By the time I finished all of my planned and unforeseen errands for the day, it was time to meet Jesse's mother at the airfield. It was a short drive, and Yuri was already waiting in the receiving room inside of the hangar.

"You look exhausted." He pointed out, kissing me and pulling me close as soon as I entered.

"Good." I replied back, grateful to have a few minutes to ourselves again. "I look the way that I feel." I proceeded to give him quick updates about the trial and my day, including my latest short unsolicited interaction with Mason.

"That kid has a lot of nerve." Yuri was displeased to hear about the things Mason had to say to me.

Not long after our conversation, the expected jet was pulling into the hangar, rolling to its final stop. As the pilots powered down the jet, the first of Ekaterina's Guardians disembarked. Celil Demir waved a hand at Yuri and I as we made our way to the small set of stairs.

"Hello Bellamy." Celil's distinct Turkish accent greeted me. He smiled, greeting Yuri as well.

The two men quietly started to speak as I waited in place, finally seeing two little bodies appear in the same doorway. Jaden and Ivy Zeklos were now both in primary school at St. Vladimir's. While Dimitri, Yuri, and I had voted for St. Basil's Academy, Jesse and Sophie ultimately decided that St. Vladimir's was the better fit for the time being. Jaden rushed down the steps, his blond hair shining under the lights above. The little kid flew into my arms, hugging me as soon as he was descended. I was not just Jesse's head Guard, but also godmother to his son. Ivy also hugged me before rushing to the arms of her own godfather. Yuri picked the little girl up into his arms, laughing as Ivy giggled. The children would be here at Court only for a few days while on short holiday from school.

Ekaterina appeared next, looking royal in every way. She smiled brightly at me and Yuri, also greeting us both with familiarity. Where Howard Zeklos was more formal and rigid with Guardians, his wife was friendly to us all.

"It is good to see you again, Bellamy." She spoke "It has been too long."

I agreed. It had been months since I'd last seen Ekaterina, while Jesse and I chose to stay in the UK when we were not traveling for his Court position.

"How is my son?"

"Happy and healthy." I updated her with information. "He and Sophie are excited to see you and the kids."

With that, Ekaterina was ready to head home. Once she and the children were buckled into their car with Guardians, three cars all drove away.

We soon arrived back to the Zeklos property close to seven-thirty. Jesse and Sophie were already awake, wandering the house. Ekaterina was first to greet her son and daughter-in-law, as she stepped into the open foyer. The two parents then proceeded to hug their very missed children, enthusiastically listening to both little ones talking a mile a minute about school, their new hobbies, and their friends. Once the kids took off into the house, Jesse stopped me at the base of the staircase.

"Are you okay?" I could see in his eyes that he was inquiring about some specific event, although I was not willing to wager a guess at what.

"I'm fine. Are you okay?" I flipped the question to him. "How did you sleep?" I placed my palm to his cheek.

The expression I'd seen seconds ago, grew increasingly troubled. "Well, that's the thing. You see, I…"

"Bells," Sophie was exceptionally excited, interrupting us, "I have a gift for you. We have a gift for you.' The woman was unwilling to hide her elation. "Since you are graciously attending this party tonight with Jesse," her hand ran sweetly through her husband's hair, "he thought that you might like a gift. I helped pick it out."

My head turned to my Moroi, my apathy for receiving gifts from him displayed on my face.

"What have you done?"

Jesse shrugged, his own indifference rivaling mine. "It was delivered an hour ago. The box is on your bed."

I wanted to finish the conversation we'd started moments ago, prepared to dig into whatever was bothering him, but I could sense him sharing in his wife's anticipation.

There was indeed a large black clothing box, wrapped in a gold ribbon and gold bow waiting on the bed as I entered mine and Yuri's room at the compound. Jesse had informed me after inviting me to be his official date for the evening, I was not allowed to wear my uniform to this party. I was not a Guardian for the night. Despite the fact that I was always his Guardian, I accepted his request. I opened it quickly, pulling out a long formal dress. The deep midnight blue color was stunning. One side of the dress cut seamlessly up to my hip. It was exactly the kind of dress I would pick for myself.

I took a few more spare minutes to check into some last minute tasks in the Guardian office of the house, leaving just enough time to shower, slip into my new dress, and style my hair. I kept my makeup to a minimum as usual, giving a final look at myself in one of the mirrors before returning to the foyer. I armed myself as best as I could in such a slim dress. Jesse was ready before me for a change, waiting somewhat patiently at the bottom of the expanding staircase. Yuri took my hand as I descended the last step, twirling me around to get a look at the dress our Moroi had chosen.

Sophie was more than pleased. "I knew it." She squealed. "I knew that dress would look great on you."

I smiled sweetly back at her. "You didn't have to do this." I reminded her and Jesse of my disinterest in their purchasing gifts for me.

"Yes we did." Sophie argued. "You are willing to take my place tonight, and I am grateful. I get a night with my kids before they go back to school. The dress is the least we can do."

She and Jesse were sincere about the gesture, and in complete agreement. I couldn't argue. Jesse kissed his wife as I said good night to Yuri. He and Sophie had their own plans to see a movie with Jaden and Ivy, before stopping in to see Dimitri. My Guardian half-brother would be elated to see his god daughter. The man was clearly destined to be a father at some point, in some way.

Jesse and I left the house together, finally able to talk privately about the trouble he felt earlier in the day. He helped me with my dress as I attempted to climb into the driver's side of my SUV, considerately closing the door before climbing into the opposite side himself. Once in, we started our drive to the Conta residence. When Jesse and Sophie first asked me to attend this party as a stand-in, I declined the offer at once. Camille Conta and I had never truly been friendly with one another, and after my return to St. Vladimir's, I was certain she would attempt to royally sabotage me or Jesse at some point. I had not told Jesse why Camille disliked me so much, but he also made a point not to ask.

"You do look great." I heard Jesse say as I drove down a dimly lit path, trying not to concentrate too hard on the night ahead. "I didn't say it back at the house, but you should know."

"Thank you, Jesse." I accepted. "You look great too."

The Conta house finally came into view as we broke through the dark paths. I'd never been to this place, and never had any specific reason to, so as I pulled the car to a stop in the circular driveway, allowing valets to do their job, I admired the current atmosphere. We were expected to show proof of our invitation to the soiree before being admitted to one of three receiving rooms. Jesse gave our invitation to a man standing guard at the front doors. Once in the receiving room, we were expected to wait. We would be announced to the other guests at the party in due time. It was a different feeling being on this side of things. Usually, my duty as a Guardian would have me already standing in position inside of the party. I would not be expected to sit, smile, and provide polite conversation with other guests as a Guardian.

It didn't take too long for Jesse to be announced with his date. He took hold of my hand as we exited the first receiving room, appearing at the door of the ballroom. Jesse was surrounded by aristocrats and Court politicians nearly as soon as we walked through the open doors, and as his date for the night, it was my job not only to be his Guardian, but to provide him with appropriate gestures, conversation, and an escape if necessary. His emotions were pretty settled as he worked the room, keeping hold of my hand much of the time. He was in conversation with one of the many dignitaries visiting Court, his attention distracted when I felt a tap on my own shoulder. Larisa Drozdov stood a foot from my left side. She look as elegant as ever, offering me a glass of champagne. I refused, passing it off to Jesse, our eyes subtly meeting. He was in deep conversation with one of the many Ivashkov royals. Jesse gave a slight nod to me as he spotted Larisa next to me. I let his hand drop from mine, whisked a few feet away as soon as I did.

"I was hoping that I might see you this evening." Larisa started. She had an agenda when it came to me, and I was not oblivious to her game. "Although, I admit I did not think to see you dressed so…"

My attire had thrown her at first. "I am standing in for Sophie Zeklos." I informed the woman, my Guardian posture returning to my muscles as I moved further away from Jesse. " She has a prior engagement, so Jesse asked me to fill in as his date for the party."

"It is kind of you to step in." Larisa was being far too sweet and engaging for my taste. , but I smiled. "I am pleased that I have an opportunity to speak to you Bellamy." Larisa was finally getting to her point. She wanted something. "I would like to know if you have time to take a short meeting with me and Lucca soon. A private meeting." She added.

Lucca and Larisa Drozdov wanted a private meeting with me? There was only one reason for that. I remained uninterested in their offers, but it would be bad manners to refuse meeting with any royal. I accepted.

"I'm sure I can find time to meet with you soon Larisa. I will call tomorrow to set something up."

She smiled, pleased that I had accepted to meet with her and her husband. A few more minutes of polite conversation, and she was off to find others to speak to. I wanted to find my way back to Jesse, but I dared not interrupt the conversation he was now trapped in. Howard Zeklos had now joined into the conversation Jesse was having with the Ivashkov gentleman. His emotions were nothing to worry about. His stress level was rising, but nothing I needed to save him from. I took a few minutes to admire the architecture and décor in the room. The Conta residence was smaller than the Zeklos compound, so this ballroom did not fit as many people. I looked around, continuing to keep my guard up as I did in these situations. Guardians dotted the outer walls of the room, closely guarding their Moroi and others during the festivities. I spotted Shane standing in a far off corner, his eyes trained to the center of the ballroom floor. I walked over, dodging Moroi and servers. His arm instinctively slid around my waist as I reached him.

"Where has you Moroi disappeared to?"

Shane indicated to the center of the room, pointing out Aaron. Aaron was currently standing face-to-face with none other than Camille Conta herself. The two were clearly having an intense angry discussion.

"When did he start talking to Camille again?"

Shane made a face. "She caught him on his way inside, insisting he speak to her."

"And you immediately but respectfully made any excuse to get away as they talked."

Shane gave a nod of confirmation and we laughed quietly, watching Camille struggle not to yell in public as she continued to plead her case to Aaron. I had forgotten all about my attire until Shane eyed me.

"New job?" He grinned coyly.

"Sophie is with the kids tonight."

"After all these years, you finally agreed to a date with Jesse Zeklos." Shane joked with a small laugh.

I ignored his laughable remarks. "Are you going to step in and rescue Aaron at any point?" I saw Camille really starting to lay into the other Moroi.

"If he needs me to." Shane was not willing to get in the middle of any of the current issues between Aaron and Camille, and frankly I did not blame him.

"He broke up with Mia earlier today." Shane casually revealed.

"Again? What was the reason this time?"

Shane was not willing to say, but after he'd heard about Switzerland, I was sure he had his own guesses. We were quiet as we stood together, happy to watch Moroi dance by us and through the room. I had my eyes on Jesse for a while, until he was able to sneak up behind me. Aaron managed to escape Camille long enough to return to Shane.

"Bellamy," Aaron's voice caught in his throat, "you look…you look…"

"Pick your jaw up off the floor, and put your tongue back in your mouth." Jesse warned, half in jest half serious.

"Your beauty never ceases to amaze me Bells." Aaron finished, frowning at Jesse.

I appreciated the compliment as always, even if Jesse didn't.

"Let's dance, Bells." Jesse offered, placing himself between me and Aaron.

I concentrated on the music flowing melodically through the room. It was a Viennese waltz.

"I don't know that you can keep up." I teased him.

His hand reached out, again proposing a dance. "Try me."

Another moment, and we were spinning around the dance floor in frame, our feet moving speedily in sync. I saw heads turn, and eyes follow us, as Jesse and I danced fast, pressed together as we kept up with the tempo.

"I wasn't aware you knew how to waltz, let alone Viennese waltz." Jesse was discernibly impressed by my dance skills.

"I can do a lot of things you are still not aware of."

He was smiling now, and I could sense the contented reaction in his emotions.

"After all this time, you found a way of surprising me."

I smiled back at him, relaxing for the first time since we'd arrived.

"What was the conversation with your father about?" I used the moment to change the subject, and I saw Jesse scowl faintly. Earlier in the night, I'd seen his father insert himself into what I assumed was a strained political conversation between Jesse and another member of the royal Court. Jesse was never happy to have his toes stepped on, professionally speaking.

"Howard is a ranking member of the Queen's royal Council." I reminded him of his family's standing, and of his father's position at Court. "Your father's opinions and his influence reach far."

"He undermined my attempt to smooth over relations between Jared Ivashkov and Vasilii Voda. He doesn't think I'm capable of doing my job correctly."

"Of course he thinks you are capable Jess." I reassured Jesse, his satisfaction now turning to open indignation. "Things are just a little more tenuous at Court between Council members and the aristocracy. Everything is strained. I'm sure Howard did not mean to step on your toes Jesse. Many of the Ivashkov's are in disagreement with the orders to overturn protocol, and return a Dhampir who willingly turned to Court. The Ozera's aren't too happy about it either."

Court and societal rules were very clear. Turning Strigoi, and being turned were two completely separate decisions. Willing and Unwilling were two separate facts that dictated different protocols and punishments by our laws. Mason being returned was a disregard for those laws.

"There has been a lot of hostility behind the scenes between the Ivashkov's, the Voda's, and even the Ozera's." I informed my politically savvy Moroi. "Your dad is only doing what he can to keep the peace." I was defending Jesse's father and the job being done to settle the building acrimony over the decision made to send Guardians after Mason.

"So am I." Jesse said. "And how do you know about the fighting?"

Jesse and I had held off from talking about Court politics for the last several weeks now. More accurately, we had ignored the problems. We hadn't taken the chance to stop to talk about any of it. We talked about everything else. My head really was not in it, so revisiting the subject was not an option. It would only make things harder.

I gave a small shrug as best as I could while we danced. "Between the Guardian Council orders, demands of your dad and members of the royal Council, I know more than I'd like." We both went quiet, and I suddenly felt the need to share more information with Jesse. "I have been called by members of the royal Council, to testify and speak at Mason's trial."

Jesse's upper body went rigid. "There is a set date? When? Do they want you to tell them about capturing Mason? Can I be there with you?" He had more questions than I was anticipating, some of which I had no answers for.

"The trial starts the night after next. I'm sure I will be criticized and interrogated about Vienna, as well as other moments between me and Mason. I'll also be cross-examined by the attorney Mason chose. Raoul Charles." I said the name, and immediately Jesse was ready to know more about the man.

"Can we take a walk?" Jesse whispered as the hypnotic sound of the music faded into the room, voices filling the empty space. "It's getting stuffy in here babe." This was code between me and Jesse. It meant one or both of us needed an escape.

I nodded to him, and he was pulling me through the crowd to the nearest exit. We made it from the ballroom dance floor to the outdoor terrace in a matter of seconds. It was a record for both of us. The temperature had dipped more than a few degrees. The air was crisp, on the verge of unbearably cold. Without a thought, Jesse took his jacket off, placing it around my bare shoulders.

"Thank you." I said to him, looking at the property lit up for the night.

The Conta lands covered less acreage than other royal properties, but it was still vast, some of the area taking my breath away. I stood , watching a few lights dance their way across the grounds, my head turning to Jesse as he stood at my side. He was apprehensive about something specific.

"Something wrong?" I asked, knowing the answer.

He took my hand again. "Come on." He insisted, leading me to a small set of stone steps. "There is something that I want to show you."

Again, I had never visited the Conta house until tonight, so whatever Jesse wished to show me would be new to me. I was game. I was not up however, to a full hike in the middle of the night. We were still walking at a fast clip exactly eight minutes after leaving the terrace, and the safety of the party.

"Where are we going, Jess?" I asked my Moroi as we continued our trek. "It's not exactly easy to walk a mile in these shoes." I pointed out the heels I was wearing at his request.

Jesse didn't answer me, I also refrained from telling him that we were being followed to this far away spot he was taking me to. My first instinct said that we were not being stalked by Strigoi. That did not mean we were not in danger. My free hand went to my upper thigh where I had a stake.

"Jesse, let's not go any farther."

"It's just up ahead." He was pleading. "You'll love it. I promise.'

I relented, my guard up higher though. A short time and walk later, we finally stopped, standing at the edge of a cliff. The clouds still shined through the dark, illuminating the tops of a forest below. I stood at the edge of the cliff, feeling my life swirling into the void in front of me.. I took a deep breath, and the air was clean.

"It reminds me of that mountain we hiked in Scotland last year." Jesse reminded me of the short weekend we had taken with our significant others. It had been a relaxing short time away from any troubles. As lovely as the view was, my concentration began to wane. He was still keeping something from me.

"Why are we here?"

"At the party?" He knew what I was referring to.

"Here as in out here. Why did you bring me all the way out here?"

"I thought you might enjoy the scenery."

"And?" I knew something more was up. The way he had looked at me earlier in the evening was still weighing on me. "Out with it Jess."

"How was your day?" He asked me.

His question completely threw me for a moment. "What?"

"Your day." Jesse repeated. "How was it?"

"Fine." I didn't mask my confusion. "Busy. What does my day have to do with…"

"What did you do all day?"

"Jesse," I used my most humorless tone, stopping the useless attempt he made to avoid my inquiries.

"Bells, do you really think I would ask you these questions right now without a purpose? Humor me."

I considered what he said, and played along. "My day was packed today. I went to multiple Guardian administration buildings trying to locate a single file, I met Dimitri at the firing range to have a chat," I did not give details on why I needed to chat with Dimitri, and again Jesse did not ask, "then I met up with Shane Reyes."

"You didn't see anyone else today?"

"What is this question and answer session about?"

He urged me to answer this last question.

"I…"I hesitated, feeling the same feeling creep in. "I saw Mason.'

Jesse looked as if he had known I had run into Mason earlier.

"I figured it was him.' He said. "You saw him around noon, or just after, right?"

"Yes." I confirmed the approximate time.

"You asked how I slept," Jesse was starting to further explain his odd way of prying into my day. "The truth is, you woke me out of a dead sleep around twelve this afternoon. I tossed and turned for hours. I was worried, and terrified."

"I woke you?" I was lost once again.

"Your emotions woke me." Jesse went silent for a few seconds, catching his breath before continuing. "Bells, the emotions you felt today, I have never experienced anything like that from you."

I now felt like I'd had the wind knocked out of me, exhaling. Everything that I was feeling when Mason stopped to demean and accost me, Jesse had experienced through me. It slipped my mind that I should mask my emotions.

"I am sorry Jess." I apologized.

"I have never felt fear in you. Not on that level." He told me what he felt. "You were terrified to your core today Bells."

He was right. Facing Mason was starting to rattle me more and more. The more I learned and heard from Mason was stating to twist me up more and more.

"There was one other emotion," Jesse went on, "that quite frankly, scared the hell out of me." Out of the blue, Jesse moved in closer to me, his arms circling me, "You didn't fail, Bellamy.'

I tossed his arms off of me, taking two steps away. "What do you mean?"

He was a roller coaster of emotions.

"The emotion I felt in you, it was failure." He drew attention to what he had experienced. "It took me hours to place that one. You've never felt that. You've never failed at anything Bells."

"I've failed at plenty of things, and you don't know what you're talking about." I denied.

"I think I do." Jesse was smart, and he knew me so well thanks in part to our emotional bond. I was ready to come back with a defensive argument, so engrossed in our words, I missed the sound of approaching footsteps.

"It continues to baffle me that you two have never had a relationship. You are fighting like an old married couple. Really Jesse, I find it hard to believe you haven't shagged her, considering how passionately you…" Camille had been chasing behind us, keeping to the shadows up until now.

Jesse didn't speak but I could feel his temper rising.

"I have to assume that you got what you wanted from her at some point too."

He despised the idea of anyone even suggesting that he and I may have at any time in our relationship been intimate. It was hurtful to Sophie. I had to agree. It was also hurtful to Yuri.

"You're spying on us." I stepped in, allowing Jesse to simmer down. "You've been following us."

"I haven't."

I tilted my head, smirking over at Jesse. "I am a Guardian, and I am very good at my job Camille. I sensed you long before we made it here, so what do you want?"

"Aaron won't talk to me. He won't even listen to me." The woman complained to the wrong two people.

"Can you blame him?" Jesse spoke under his breath.

"He won't talk to me because of you." She blamed me for the mess she had made.

"I am hardly the cause for the problems between you and Aaron."

"You have him under some sort of spell."

"Don't be daft." I blew off her accusation. "What Aaron does with his life, is his decision. If he is still upset with you, that is your own fault."

"If you hadn't poisoned him against me, he would…" She paused, and I was tired of hearing her talk. "Maybe I shouldn't be surprised that you and Jesse get along so well too." She was preparing to insinuate more about mine and Jesse's relationship.

"Be careful what you say." Jesse stopped her, his tone more of a threat than a warning. This was a tone I rarely heard from Jesse. "Bellamy is my Guardian, and one of my closest friends."

"I know exactly what she is to you." She continued to push him. There was nothing more I could do for her. Jesse was in attack mode.

"Failing to show her respect is failing to show me respect.' His low tone was not letting up. "I am the international royal liaison to the Queen and Council." He reminded. "Losing favor with me can be detrimental to a person's Court standing." He didn't need my help. He had his own leverage. "Losing Bellamy's support can easily risk any support you or your family may gain with me."

Questioning or threatening the Conta Court standing would bring Camille to her knees. Jesse took my hand, bringing me closer to him.

"Of course," Jesse offered, "I would be happy to run back inside and explain to Carlo and Marianna Conta why I will no longer entertain meetings with them."

Without another word, Camille apologized to Jesse, sending me a fleeting look. It was the best I would get from her at this point. She turned, leaving me and Jesse to continue our discussion, but I didn't want to finish our discussion here.

"If you insist on not returning to that party, can we make an excuse and leave?" I suggested to him. "I don't want to talk outside in the cold."

He agreed with me, reminding me that we would revisit our conversation later. I waved a hand in response, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with him. An hour later, we'd said goodnight to any necessary persons, and were exiting the Conta house. We waited together for my car to be brought back to us, but we said nothing. The drive back home started out relatively silent too. My phone played an upbeat song by Queen that usually would've put me in a good mood.

"Turn here." I heard Jesse say out of nowhere.

"What? Where?"

"Right turn coming up."

"Why?"

His out of the blue change in direction was not going to take us back to his house, and there was no short cut coming up. I had already learned all of the short cuts from house to house.

"Turn!" Jesse insisted.

I jerked the wheel to the right before missing the turn down a dirt road.

"Where are we going?" I demanded to know.

"Just keep driving."

I did as he said, continuing to drive down the dirt road that had no street light, following the directions given.

"Take another right, and then a left." Jesse finished.

I followed the roads, coming to a stop on a back road in the middle of nothing and nowhere.

"Why are we here Jesse?" I demanded

"I want to talk."

"Well, this is not the place for us to talk."

"This is not the place, back at the party was not the place to talk." He was challenging me.

"Guardians and their Moroi do not drive to deserted areas like this to 'talk'." I returned. "This is how rumors get started. People like Camille Conta will get the wrong idea."

With that said, Jesse took off his seatbelt, hopping out of the car. He walked to the front of my SUV, climbing up onto the hood.

"You might as well come join me." He yelled over the engine, so I did. I kept the car running low, keeping the headlights on, and securing my weapons as I exited the driver's side. I sat beside him, my hands nervously clasping and wringing.

"I didn't mean to upset you back at the party." He sounded apologetic. "I wasn't trying to pick a fight with you, or…"

"I know."

"It really freaked me out when you felt all of those emotions about him today." Jesse was careful not to use the words 'failure' or 'Mason', and I understood why.

"You don't need to apologize." I said, unable to look at him as I spoke. "You were right. Any time I am around Mason, I feel like I failed. It was so long ago, and I still feel it."

"Why?" Jesse was as close as he could get to me. "What he did was not your fault Bellamy." Jesse sounded so sure of his statement.

"I know that he made his choices."

"You're afraid of him." He then proceeded to reveal more of my emotions, but he was not entirely accurate about this one.

"I'm not afraid of Mason as a person. I'm afraid of what he is capable of doing. I'm afraid we captured him too easily." I let the words slip out, wondering if I was making a mistake by bringing the issue up.

"You think he has some ulterior motive for being caught?" I couldn't quite gauge Jesse's words. Was he considering what I said, or did he think I was crazy to think it? I didn't answer, so he changed the subject.

"About what Camille said, about you and Aaron…"

I hated keeping secrets from Jesse. They weren't necessary, but I also knew how he might react if he suspected anything between me and Aaron, even in the past.

"Camille has had a lot to say about you and Aaron. She claims to have proof that the two of you were caught together back at St. Vlad's." His eyes turned to the ground. "I know it was a long time ago, but…"

"Jesse, you saw where my head was when I returned to the Academy. I was in no place to be in someone else's bed. I had a hard enough time getting over Christian. The last thing I wanted was a random Moroi hookup. Besides, do you want to tell me that Aaron was thinking about me back then? He was going through his own trauma. I tried helping him through that."

"True." Jesse agreed. "But you would tell me if you…"

"If I shagged your best friend? I like to think that Aaron would tell you too."

"Yeah," Jesse chuckled, "he would be the first to tell me. He was pretty into you before you left."

"Don't be ridiculous." I laughed the idea off. "Aaron Drozdov has never been 'into me'. He was with Mia, and then Camille.'

Jesse wrapped his arms around me, holding me close again. "You would be surprised, Bells."

I leaned in against him, closing my eyes for a few seconds, escaping the emotions of the last eighteen hours. "Can we stay like this forever?"

Jesse hummed. "As much as I would enjoy that too," Yuri might want to trade places with me at some point."

I chuckled at his answer.

"And I like your husband too damn much to take you from him."

"I feel the same about your wife."

Jesse kissed the top of my head, both of us completely relaxed for the first time in weeks.

"What do you think I should do?" I asked, and Jesse tightened his arms around me, feeling my fear rise again.

"I think that you should face your demons." Jesse said to me. "Very few people get the chance to have someone come back from the dead. When it happens, I think it gives the living the opportunity to really say what they feel."

I twisted my head to look at him. "You've certainly changed your tune."

"I've had a chance to see and feel you going through this. I say deal with Mason, let him go, and then we can finally leave Court."

"So that's your game." I played. "You just want to go home." I could feel the smirk on his face. "Me too sweetheart."

Another thirty minutes of silence, Jesse and I were recharged and ready to return home. I pulled the car into the driveway, shutting off the engine at three-thirty. We walked inside, both disappearing to change before I located Yuri and Sophie watching a movie together. I took Yuri's hand, pulled onto his lap, as he kissed my neck.

"I missed you tonight." Yuri mumbled into my neck. "How was the party?"

"Eventful." Jesse answered, appearing behind Sophie.

"Mia stopped by a few minutes ago." I was told. "She looked kind of upset."

I gave a nod. "Shane mentioned that she and Aaron broke up earlier."

"Again?" Both Yuri and Sophie said.

"I should go see her before the sun comes up." I attempted to stand, to no avail. "I promise to be back soon."

"Ten minutes?"

"Probably not that soon."

Yuri reluctantly released my waist and neck. I left the house again, wondering if I should tell Yuri about my talk with Jesse. On occasion, I know it bothered Yuri when Jesse was more in tune with my emotions, and when he could get to the bottom of my problems faster and easier than Yuri. I wondered if I should bring up Mason, and what his return was really doing to me. Then I wondered if I should bring up my real suspicions. The sun was another two hours away from rising when I reached Mia's place. The lights were still on, so I knocked.

"This must be a social visit." Mia said as she opened the door, looking up and down at my attire. I could hear the antipathy dripping off of her words. Her body language spoke volumes. She was cross. Usually she was thrilled to see me before sunrise, but the look she gave me now, would've sent a less courageous person into hiding.

"Sophie said you stopped by to see me."

Mia crossed her arms, guarding herself. "You weren't there."

"I was attending the Conta party with Jesse."

"With Jesse?" She laughed. "You attended that party with Jesse?" Was it so hard to believe? I was his Guardian. Helping Jesse was my job, and that role meant playing a part sometimes.

"I talked to Shane earlier. He said that you and Aaron split up again. What happened?"

"You tell me." She stated. Clearly I was to blame for her problems with Aaron too.

"What does that mean, and why are you acting so tetchy? What is it you think I've done?"

The tone of our conversation changed again as her eyes swept up to meet mine. I could see all of the sadness, the uncertainty, and the disbelief exuding from her.

"He has feelings for you." Mia stated very firmly.

"Who?" I kind of figured who the 'who' in this conversation might be, but didn't want to assume.

"Do you two still sneak off together, and…"

"Whoa!" I held my hands up, palms facing the other woman, trying not to shout at the accusation being made. "I hope you are talking about Yuri, because my husband is the only man I sneak off with these days." I took in another deep breath. "I'm going to need a few more details. Whom are we talking about?"

"Aaron." She spoke as though I should've known the answer,.

I rolled my eyes. "Not this again."

"Camille said that…"

"Stop." I held up a hand again, bringing this particular topic to a screaming halt. "Camille is behind this. I should've guessed." I had no doubt that after I blew off her accusations, and Jesse berated her for insulting me, Camille had likely gone to her so called friend, spreading the same rumor to the one person who was upset enough at Aaron to believe. I had to say something.

"She said that she saw you and Aaron together at the Academy. You were all over each other."

"That is a ridiculous rumor, started because Camille is angry that Aaron is still angry with her."

"Mia wiped at her eyes., spreading the trail of tears to the side of her face. "Why is he upset with Camille?"

"You know those two." I offered. "She is always trying to push his buttons."

"Do you think he wants to be with her now?" Her disdain was twisting into suspicion more than curiosity.

"No. If the two of you broke up, it is not because Aaron wants to be with someone else."

"Even you?" Her tears were about ready to start falling again.

"I'm married."

"That doesn't mean he can't have feelings for you."

"He doesn't have feelings for me." I was eighty-five percent sure my statement was true.

"Then why did he break up with me?" She was crying, and I was sure this would not be the last time this evening or the next that her tears would fall. She wanted answers that I did not have.

"I don't know. What did he say to you?" I had gone from defensive to comforting.

Mia finally let me inside her apartment, doing her best not to completely fall apart in front of me over Aaron. "He said things aren't the same between us."

"Things rarely stay the same in any relationship." I responded, sitting with her, hoping to alleviate some of her worry.

"Exactly." She felt the same. "You and Yuri have managed to stay together. How?" She asked. "How do you manage it?"

"Flirting." I wasn't entirely joking. "He still flirts across the room with me, and I do with him."

"There must be another reason; some reason Aaron doesn't want to say."

Again, I had my suspicions, but I didn't want Mia anymore upset than she already was.

"His mother." She surmised aloud. Her crying temporarily let up as she searched for a new reason.

"What about her?"

"She doesn't like me. She doesn't approve."

"Larisa Drozdov doesn't like a lot of people." It was a fair statement. Over the years, I had learned that Aaron's parents had collectively approved of one Moroi he'd been in a relationship with, and Vasilisa Dragomir was now Queen, and practically engaged to Christian.

I left my friend an hour later with as many questions as she'd started with.

When I returned to the compound, the sun was just peeking over the horizon. The house was quiet upon entering, despite all of the roaming Guardians. Jesse and Sophie were already tucked away in their room after putting the kids to sleep for the day, but I shouldn't have been surprised to see Yuri still up. He was waiting for my return, and clearly wanted to have a chat wit his wife. I entered our bedroom across the hall from Jesse and Sophie's room, to find him sitting at the edge of our bed. I suddenly thought back to what Jesse had mentioned earlier in the evening. He wanted me to face my demons. He wanted me to face Mason, to say the words I'd been too afraid to say yet. I pulled off my jacket and threw it onto a chair near the bed.

"Jesse said that you two had a short confrontation with Camille Conta." Yuri spoke before I could.

"Aaron is still upset with her, and she still blames me for his hostility." Yuri knew what all of this meant. He knew the story behind the story.

"You should get ahead of this problem before it takes root here at Court." He smartly advised.

"I know."

"What will you do?"

"I don't know." I let him pull me back onto his lap, his arms circling around my mid-section. "I should talk to Shane soon." I closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of Yuri's breathing as he nestled his face into my neck, humming in response to the things I said. "Earlier tonight, Jesse gave me some advice. He thinks that I should face Mason once and for all about the real issues between us."

"Jesse said that?"

"He surprised me too." I gave a short laugh, hesitating to ask my next question, but I knew that if if anyone, Yuri would have firsthand knowledge in this area. "Yuri, how did you deal with your monsters?" I started. "How did you finally face your demons?"

"Illya and Katja." He guessed pretty quickly where I was headed with my questions. Like me, Yuri had lost the one he loved. He thought Katja dead, just as I thought Mason was dead. We had both been fooled by past loves who had now come back from the dead. Yuri shook his head, removing me from his lap as he stood, walking a few feet away.

"I didn't." His eyes lowered to the floor. "I didn't confront my demons. I was not brave enough to ask the questions I needed to ask." He twisted back around to me. "But you are. Jesse is right." Words I never expected to escape Yuri's lips. "You have the chance to put all of this behind you if you choose. You have the chance to ask questions I wasn't brave enough to hear the answers to."

"If I choose.' I repeated his words. "If I am brave enough."

Yuri bent down and kissed me sweetly. "You should get some sleep. The next few days are going to get rougher. This trial will take most of your energy and concentration."

I really didn't want to sleep, but Yuri was right. I would need more energy and focus. I found my eyes closing not long after my head hit the pillows. My body was telling me I was more tired than I wanted to admit. Through the darkness of sleep, my body succumbed to the dream state taking over. A figure was emerging in the same twilight, taking shape, and moving closer. The outline of the shape soon became a person. I recognized him immediately. Mason.

One into full view, I saw that he was smiling. This was no jovial smile. The look on his face unnerved me. His eyes held violence and a wickedness to them. I had seen this look before in others. The more distance he closed between us, the more detail I could establish and see. His blue shirt was stained in red. The color was a shade. It was a shade I knew all too well. Blood. There were dots and streaks of it on his cheeks as well. My stomach started to twist, and my chest tightened. I could feel a scream rising up in my chest. Mason was holding something in each hand. It all started to connect . The look in his eyes, the blood splattered on him. Light touched his hands, and my scream finally escaped. He was holding two severed heads in his hands. The faces were easily recognized. My eyes were fixated on the horrific dead faces of Jesse and Christian.

Seconds later, I could hear the fist of my Moroi banging on my bedroom doors. His emotions were frantic, panicked, and twisted in some of the worst ways I'd ever felt. I could hear Jesse shouting, but my whole system, mind and body, was paralyzed by my own fear. Was it possible? Could Mason hurt Jesse? Would he kill him? And Christian….

My eyes sluggishly opened, my shoulders shaking. I realized that Jesse was shaking me. He was practically sitting on my chest, desperately trying to get my attention. My vision took longer to focus on my Moroi. I felt myself break down into sobbing tears the instant I recognized his face, his features full of worry, but alive. Both Yuri and Dimitri were standing with him, each equally as worried.

"What the hell were you dreaming about?" Jesse pulled me up against him, my arms holding him in return. Jesse held me close, his breathing ragged and shaky. I couldn't keep him close enough to feel safe.

"Something isn't right." I shook my head against his chest, knowing that my dream was not an arbitrary as it seemed. "Something is very wrong." It was more.

"Wrong with you?"

"No. Wrong with Mason." All three men looked confused that I might still concern myself with Mason's well-being. "None of this makes sense." I attempted to explain my not so new gut feeling. "There are pieces that don't fit this puzzle."

"Like what?" Jesse curiously questioned, eventually letting me go as I stood from my bed.

"Why?" I questioned in return. "Why would he come back now? There has to be a reason. He has been able to hide all these years without detection from the Guardian Council. What changed?" I was throwing my clothes back on as I spoke.

"Coincidence." Dimitri took a shot, but I heard Jesse scoff.

"We all know that Bellamy doesn't believe in coincidence. And after all these years of working with her, neither do I. She is asking questions that should've been asked long before the Councils put her on a [plane to go after him."

The four of us spoke for a while longer, but I was not getting as far in my argument as I wanted. The nightmare I had never would've set me on edge or further raised my suspicions, but for the fact that I was not the only apprehensive person when it came to trusting the motives of Mason Ashford. I was wide awake and fully dressed once again before noon, unwilling to let myself fall back to sleep. I could keep going. I needed to keep going, and I needed to get to the bottom of what I felt. First however, I needed to speak to Shane. I asked my friend to meet me somewhere less conspicuous. If I was going to finally divulge secrets about St. Vladimir's, I hoped for as little distraction as possible. Shane arrived at the park I chose minutes after me, skeptical of my location choice.

"Aaron is still asleep." He said, and I knew why he made his point to mention it.

"I know. I want to talk to you alone. You and I both know that there are two sides to any story. Aaron can tell you his side when he chooses, but I want you to know why I did the things I did at the Academy."

Shane sat down beside me, sharing the small blanket I laid out. We would be here awhile.