Chapter 16:

I paced the floor while Lissa and Janine watched me. I couldn’t believe that Rose and the rest had managed to get away with so much in so little time without getting the slightest attention. I wanted to jump into action, wanted to go and find Rose to see that she were safe. But knew I couldn’t.

The look on Janine’s face told me she wanted to do the same thing. She shook her head, knowing what I wanted. “We can’t Belikov. We need to wait until there’s more information and the government approves.” She rubbed her arm, looking as worried as a mother of a missing child should be. “It wouldn’t be hard if there weren’t Moroi involved.”

I nodded. The Guardian Council may let us go, but the Moroi Government had other arrangements. They wanted more information. More than we could give at the moment. I sighed heavily. “I can’t just stay here and wait.”

Janine strode up to me then. “Maybe we should take this conversation elsewhere.” She threw her head back in the direction of Lissa. I nodded. From the look of determination on Lissa’s face, I knew we didn’t have much time before another Moroi went missing. And this time for good, considering how good Lissa is at compulsion.

We left Lissa shortly after making sure she was okay enough to stay in the lodge. She looked at me like I was an idiot. “I’m not going anywhere; I’d just make a mess of things, and get Rose in more trouble than she already is.”

I nodded, she was very smart. And as I closed the door to her room I silently wished some of her cleverness had rubbed off on Rose.

A few minutes later Janine and I had reported what happened with the other novices and Moroi to the guardians. They were as mad as I had been. Wishing they could do something, but knowing they couldn’t.

“Does anyone know who can help find them?” I asked as the day wore on and the sky turned a dark blue, a warning that night was approaching. We were running out of time. Rose could be anywhere.

They all shook their heads. I grunted and clutched my hands into fists. Trying to regain my self control. Rose could be hurt right now, or worse… and the others... they don’t’ stand a chance. I’ve seen them fight compared to Rose and they were nowhere near ready to take on a Strigoi.

Through all the mess and commotion that was going on I barely even noticed a sober Adrian. He stood next to Tasha looking just as concerned as all the rest of the Moroi. Which made some anger spark inside of me. He was only concerned for Rose.

Lissa made her way through the crowed and up to Adrian. He glanced down at her and smiled. Maybe she didn’t know anything, but if Rose and Adrian were together…

I was in front of him before I could even finish the thought. He looked up at me surprised and cocked his head to the side. “You’re a little anxious aren’t you?” He smiled at me, showing all teeth, even his fangs.

Most Moroi kept their fangs hidden from the rest of the world. They learned to eat around them and to smile without showing too much. But some, like Adrian and Tasha, had no problem flashing them around.

I looked at him evenly in the eye. Which made him flinch as his smile faltered. “Shouldn’t you? Rose is missing.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, I know. I’ve been trying to reach her but she’s not responding I think---“

It took all my effort not to grab hold of his shirt. “You what?”

He looked surprised at my sudden outburst but quickly dismissed it. “I’m a spirit user.” He glanced down at Lissa who was still standing by his side. She looked back up at me sheepishly. “I can walk in people’s dreams. Ask them information.” He shrugged like it was no big deal. “The works.”

“And you’re telling me this now?” I almost lost my self control again as I grabbed onto his arm dragging him away from the rest of the crowed. He stumbled and fought to keep his balance. Knocking people over in the process. “Dude, what the hell?”

I let go of him and glared. “Tell me everything.”

Adrian sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Sure, but not here.”

I didn’t have time for his stupid games, if Adrian was the closest thing I had to finding Rose; then I was going to get information out of him. “No…now.”

Adrian shrugged. “Whatever,” he seemed ultimately bored with the subject. This made my skin crawl. How could he be so calm when his friends were out there? Because he could buy more, a voice echoed in my head. “I can walk in dreams, but it only works if they’re sleeping. I can’t just…do it. I can get information out of them, but it’s risky.”

I glanced around to make sure no one was listening. “How risky?”

Adrian raised an eyebrow at my sudden interest in his power. “How much?”

“Adrian!” Lissa groaned. All this time in my quest to find Rose I had forgotten she was there. I silently scolded myself for being such a careless guardian.

Adrian put his hands up as if to surrender. “Relax, I’m kidding cousin.” He glanced down at Lissa before back up at me. “She’s still awake. We need to wait.”

I couldn’t let him out of my sight. And he knew that as he let me drag him back up to my room. Although he didn’t question it. Both Lissa and Janine followed us, wanting to know every detail when Adrian had gotten through Rose.

We all sat in my room, with Janine on the chair, Lissa sitting Indian style on the floor, Adrian laying on the bed, and me pacing the floor. It felt as if days were going by. Each minute was agonizing.

Adrian gave us the same report every three to five minutes. Saying that he can’t get a good read on her, that she’s still awake. But every time I heard that it was like music, sweet music. It meant she was alive, and okay. Whatever that might mean.

Lissa ended up nodding off and in no time she was passed out on the floor. My roommate wasn’t going to be in tonight, he had watch post at the eastern gate. Seeing this, Lissa sleeping on the velvet floor, I decided to pick her up. She wasn’t at all that heavy. If anything she was a good twenty pounds lighter than Rose.

But that was expected, Rose was a dhampir, and was packed with muscle. Born with it even. And Lissa was a Moroi, slim and super model like in the human world. Her head was cradled against my chest, her feet dangling free in the air. Both Janine and Adrian didn’t question me. It was simply the right thing to do.

I placed her on my roommate’s bed. She practically got lost in all the pillows. After draping the bed’s covers over her I returned to my place in the corner, leaning against the wall.

I knew I should be tired, but the adrenaline and anxiety ran too strong in my blood. Keeping me up and alert. I had expected Adrian to slack off and doze off, but he didn’t. He simply kept his eyes open, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Janine looked at me with concern lined on her face. She hadn’t slept at all lately. “Do you believe Adrian?” she looked over at the Moroi boy on the bed. I knew he could hear us, although he chose not to show it.

I looked at Janine confused. “Believe what?”

She looked down at her hands, which were folded neatly in her lap. “That he can find Rose…”

I nodded. “I have to believe him, he’s our only chance in getting Rose back.”

More silence. Then Janine cleared her throat. “I just hope we get her back soon before something bad happens.”

I placed a hand on her shoulder. “Me too.”

A couple hours went by and the sun started to rise, turning the sky from a light blue to a very rosy pink. I stared out the window, eyes still alert and awake as ever. If we didn’t find Rose soon, I was sure I was going to do something stupid.

Then Adrian started mumbling. “Little dhampir. It’s about time.” He waited a moment before adding: “Still got your protection.”

There was a long pause. Janine and I looked at each other, both curious as to what was happening, and concerned for Adrian’s health. Janine walked over and kneeled down next to Adrian, careful as to not disturb whatever it was he was doing.

Lissa started stirring then, so I walked over and woke her up. She mumbled something before wiping sleepily at her eyes. It was amazing how well rested she looked, even after three hours of sleeping.

Adrian spoke again in a dreamy state. “It’s our dream.”

My heat fluttered then. So it was true. He was there, with Rose, right now. It was only a matter of time before he revealed where she was. I looked at Janine, her eyes full of hope. Mirroring my emotions.

Lissa looked at him and then back up at me. “What’s wrong with him?”

I shook my head, and put a finger up to my mouth. I was afraid that if anyone talked in the real world Adrian would lose Rose and we’d lose all contact with her.

Lissa took the hint and kept her mouth shut. Staring at Adrian with fascination and awe.

“People share dreams all the time, Rose.” Adrian continued.

The sound of Rose’s name made my heart beat faster. Come on Rose, where are you?

More silence, and then: “honestly, I don’t know. Everyone has light around them, except for you. You have shadows. You take them from Lissa.”

Lissa, Janine and I looked at each other confused. Lissa’s eyes full of curiosity. She was smart enough not to say a word, although by the way her body tensed up I could tell she was anxious. I put a reassuring hand on her back, in hopes to calm her before she made an outburst. After a minute I had realized what I had just done.

I forgot how different she and Rose were. I had expected Lissa to act up and talk without thinking, just like Rose would. But instead she stayed quiet and stared at Adrian, eyes wide.

“I can’t get into it right now, that’s not why I’m here.” He paused again, concern and worry masked his features. It was the first time I had ever seen him sober and worried for someone else that wasn’t him or liquor. “Where are you?”

There was another brief pause. “No, that’s not what I mean. In the real world. Where are you?”

I looked anxiously at the clock, we were running out of time. Soon Rose will realize it’s a dream and wake up, and we’ll have to wait even longer.

I leaned forward, placing my elbows on my knees staring at Adrian. His face turned to pure pain and concern then his eyes fully focused on what I assumed to be Rose. “Where? Where are you, Rose?”

A moment later Adrian bolted out of bed as if he had been jerked out of it. He looked frantically between all three of us. “She’s in a basement. With Christian and Mia.”

I let out a deep breath that I hadn’t realized I had been holding. Rose was in a basement, or perhaps underground… underground!

I shot out of my chair and raced for the door. But not before Janine could grab hold of my arm. “What is it Belikov?” I could tell that she was trying to keep calm and business like, but her tone faltered into worry and pain.

“Rose… I know where she is.”

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Surprise!!!!!

So I had to think long and hard about this chapter because it was so tricky. I thought adding Adrian into the mix might add some excitement (: Well I hoped you guys liked this surprise Chapter! well besides Natonat and RawrLauraNinja who already knew it was coming! Hope you guys liked this chapter and please tell me how I did!

<3LittleDhampir18