As the flames grew tall, consuming Marlen, wiping all traces of him, I swiftly moved towards the fighting duo. I plucked off Nathan from Nina:s throat and tossed him across the room. He snarled, his eyes burning Ruby red!

"I turned you!" he spat.

"Exactly. You turned me. You don't own me!" I put emphasis on the word 'own' as I dodged his tired frantic attacks.

"Do you pledge your loyalty to me, now that Galina is out?" I whispered to Nina. "Yes Sire! I have nothing to lose now!" I eyes showed hurt and dissapointment on Nathan. He was cheating on her for long. He deserved it.

"Then finish him off!" I wave my hand.

Between us, we soon had Nathan down. And I left her to finish the job of destroying the body while I raced through the window and jumped out. Rose must not have gotten far. There is still a chance that I could turn her — this time against her will. She is still s kid and so naive. That's why she isn't understanding the benefits of immortality.

I moved cautiously through the hedges. The air had her scent. I caught a whiff and followed the train. Rose couldn't have run a lot.

"Roza!" I called out. Hoping to let her know I'm coming. Her staking me had obviously increased the stakes in the game. Roza was more of a prize to me now. I had to have her.

The smell wasn't strong enough still to trace her. I need to get her exact coordinates in the hedge. There were no footsteps.. Nothing.

"Roza, I know you're out there," I called. "I can smell you."
It'd be a shock for her to know I survived. I was trying to bait her into giving up her location.

"I won't kill you, not if you give yourself up. I owe you. You took out Galina for me, and now I'm in charge. Replacing her happened a little ahead of schedule, but that's not a problem. Of course, there aren't many people to control now that Nathan and the others are dead. But that can be fixed." I announced with pride.

Obviously she saved my life. I should've let her go if I was a man enough but being a Strigoi had addled my sense of right and wrong. And it's the same controlling voice commanding me now in my head as I chase after Rose.

The path ahead of me split, and I randomly chose the righthand path. I knew the paths and how to get out of it. And if Rose's capacity for escape was any good, she'd be ahead of me in the same path.

"I'm not upset about you attacking me, either. I would have done it in your place. It's just one more reason why we should be together." I shouted one more time, thoroughly enjoying the game.

"You're still dangerous, though. If I find you, I'm probably going to have to kill you. I don't want to, but I'm starting to think there's no way we can both live in this world. Come to me by choice, and I'll awaken you. We'll control Galina's empire together." I announced into dark. The trellis ulof moon flowers lining the hedges gave off a very strong scent. I was confusing scents.

Lavender and earth. I stopped for a second, collecting my thoughts, blocking out all other distracting smells. Yes! I could focus now. She was close.

I almost laughed. I couldn't have found him if I wanted to in this mess. If I'd had that kind of ability, I'd-

"Even if you get out, where will you go?" I called. "We're in the middle of nowhere." I hoped my words would actually make her see reason that fight was futile and maybe she'd give up without a fight. But I knew better than to even expect.

A turn to my left led to another wall of glossy green leaves. I sidestepped it quickly and headed in the opposite direction when the fiends came into vision. They looked like vast expanses on nothingness in the dark with scattered, scraggy trees.

I saw the faint purple glow on the horizon. The lights of the city of Novosibirsk, our operating base in Russia. Its then I heard the rustle of footsteps scurrying away fast. The grass wasn't dry but the footsteps were clear to me.

"Roza," I sighed, picking up pace too as I sprinted off into the night.

Leaves left over from last fall crunched as she moved. The noise would gave away her location.

“Rose! I swear it’s not too late.” I announced.

I softly treaded the grass much quieter than she had been. My senses were on hight alert, signalling me that Rose was near. I moved very slowly, very carefully, my eyes roving everywhere.

“Roza . . .” I spoke softly. “I know you’re here. You have no chance of running. No chance of hiding.” My gaze was fixed low. Did I see a faint stirring of the bushes? Was she hiding behind a tree or crouched down?

A few more steps.
“Roza . . .” I felt the smell like a overwhelming flood of emotions.

Still scrutinizing my surroundings, I took one step forward. Then another. And then another.

What if she wasn't on the ground?

I looked up just as the moment she jumped down, slammed into me, knocking me to the ground back-first.