I was moving through the crowd, cautious and stiff with my hands thrust into the pocket of my leather duster. People never cared to glance at me. I looked like any other normal man.

Anyone would think me as a rowdy gangster or would avoid me as a dozen other drunk guys roaming the streets of Novosibirsk at night.

But they never knew the real truth. I tried to keep to the shadows to prevent people from seeing the gleaming ruby eyes of me. I had only one mission. I sniffed in the night air. No trace is the scent I wanted.

The smell of human blood was overwhelming me.

"Focus, focus," I said to myself, "You have a greater goal."

I could force the burn in my throat to the back of my brain. Feeding and satisfying my desire for life could wait.

But this couldn't. "Rose," I muttered under my breath,"I am coming for you."

Pushing past busy, unsuspecting human I moved on for that one scent I wanted to breathe in again. The scent of love and desire.

I was getting increasingly frustrated with the delay.

Where would I search for her in this big city? It was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

A muscular fellow tried to push past me in an attempt to move forward. My anger took hold and I immediately grabbed him by the collar and pinned him to the road.

The fear in his face mafe me realise what I was doing. I immediately released him and sped off before he could suspect anything.

I was nearing the populated part of the city which housed all civilians. Keeping a watch out for any sign of guardians.

Then I caught the scent.

Lavender mixed with Rose...a mixture of earth and water and I could smell death. It was undoubtedly the one who would end my isolation forever.

" Roza," I murmured, the sound of her name soothed my ears.

Deftly I sniffed in the air for the source of that sound. The lead took me to an apartment beyond which the smell faded again.

She was here, in this very house. I had the urge to break into the house just then and steal her.

"No Dimitri," I told to myself ," You have to catch her alone. You can't come before her when she is with company. Only then can you convince her."

I walked away knowing in my heart that I would meet her tomorrow. Nobody can stop me from making her mine forever this time.

I entered an underground casino to while away the time. There was no going back till I achieve my prize. I took out the bunch of notes from my pocket , a part of the ever expanding, endless fortunes of Galina. I thrust the money on the betting table and took up the dice...

I was moving as fast as a I could without drawing unnecessary attention. Rose was hardly a few yards away and I could smell the intoxicating scent of hers.

She was with the other dhampirs and the party was moving casually.

I was chalking out a plan to get her alone. Should I call the locals of our group to distract the others?

No it would become a free for all. My powerful sense of smell was my only weapon.

I dared not go any nearer to get her as her Strigoi nausea would warn her of my approach. I wanted to catch her off-gaurd.

But what if she attacks me and we have to fight? Could I hit her back? What if she kills me? Well that would be a relief.

But could I make an effort to destroy her. Never. I would have to devise a way to incapacitate her and capture her.

An open fight will mean death for one of us. And I had some sinister feeling that if anyone in this world could defeat and kill me, it would be my Rose Hathaway.

Only she has the agility and technique to defeat me.

Suddenly for the first time after my awakening , I was afraid. Afraid of death, or whatever it is as I am already dead.

Suddenly I felt the smell of the other dhampirs, the smell of manly power and sweat disappear leaving behind her earthy lavender aroma.

She was all alone. Finally.

Was she armed? If my training had had any purpose she would have her stake in person.

My thoughts went back to mine. It had a D engraved on it. I had specially made it for myself.

God knows what happened to it after the cave incident.

There was a room where all silver I fused with Moroi magic were kept in Galina's mansion. They were collected from deceased or awakened dhampirs and morois and left till their magic is exhausted.

Now there was no one between me and my goal.

I quickened my pace.

"I will join you shortly, " said the voice to someone and the person broke away from the group and crossed the road.

I could see her graceful figure move towards an old woman who was speaking gibberish lying on her back ,in the middle of the road. She extended her hand as a sign of help.

This was her. Caring and helping.

Dark mahogany tresses tied in a ponytail, a tanned almond complexion ,with a mixture the agility of a gaurdian and the love of a woman.

Her Grace and beauty were enhanced by my increased vision. The night was bright as day for me. I could see each and every detail of her attire. She was smiling at something the woman told.

The lunatic was dancing in an odd way holding her coat like a grated ballet gown. I chuckled to myself. But then it was getting late and I knew I had to make my move.

Slowly edged forward and crept up stealthily behind her. The smell was overwhelming me and I longed to touch her and drown in her love.

She spun around as fast as lighting and whipped out her stake. It was just as I had taught her. In line with my heart. Then I heard a scream, "No."

I must have had given a smile of amusement. It was my nature at her usual reactions.

But my heart broke at that one cry. That one cry had the pain and agony to fill an ocean.

The surprise, hatred, shock, disgust all mixed with the doubt and fear made me feel all weak kneed. I had betrayed her trust.

But I had gone too far down that road to ever return back.

She seemed to take in every details of me as I stared at her in awe. She had never seemed so beautiful, my hands longed to touch her lovely hair and trace the perfect outline of her lips, I wanted to dream on about her ravishing beauty.

She held me spellbound and for a moment it was as if we had travelled to the past. She and me. We, the we which can never be together again.

She raised her stake to strike but faltered. I could see the dilemma in her eyes, duty versus desire, Love versus hate.

She dithered for a moment enough for me to realise that she couldn't make the strike. God knows why it made me angry to think that she forgot my lessons.

I had always drilled it into her a million times that Strigoi are not the same people you used to know. They change like me.

But I knew that she couldn't kill me just as I her. Love transcends everything.

But I had to go on with my plans. Without thinking further I said" You forgot my first lesson, Roza. Never hesitate." Then I hit her by my fist.

She was flung to the ground unconscious and vulnerable. I approached her limp form and knelt down beside her.

"You will forever be mine ,Roza, "I whispered, "We will be together." I gently kissed her forehead and then her lips.

As our lips met desire burned into me. Her sweet breath on my lips felt like heaven. I wanted to lose myself forever in her scent. I picked her up and hugged her to my chest and buried my face in her neck. I wanted to kiss her forever.

But I was in control. Once more my lips touched hers and then I started running. Running to get ourselves bound for eternity.