Christian felt numb. He could no longer hear the guardians as they exchanged notes on the drive back to the ski lodge.

Mason...dead.

No...it was impossible. Reality punched Christian in the gut then as the events of the night were truly sinking in. This was not how this day was supposed to end. He and Rose had left the ski lodge to save everyone...

Christian slowly brought his arms around his body so that he could hold himself. He tried to stop the incessant shaking but his body had other ideas as loneliness over took him. Christian wished that he had not been separated from the rest of the group but he wasn't the only one. Rose was with Dimitri and Mia was with Eddie therefore three SUVs took the group back to the ski lodge.

Christian sat in the back seat alone and was digging his nails into the leather. The roads stretched on for miles but eventually he arrived and the gates were immediately thrown open. A crowd was waiting for the army of SUVs as news had filtered through, of the imminent arrival. Immediately Christian found himself being ushered through the awaiting crowds and through the ski lodge until he ended up in a room alone. He was ordered to sit behind a desk as two guardian stood opposite him and on either side of the door.

"What's going on?" Christian asked but they didn't reply.

()()()()()()()

Upon hearing the news of the arrival Lissa had left sprinting from the safety of her room despite the protest of the guardians. The cold and dark weather surrounded her as she arrived outside. Lissa ran up to the crowds and soon had to fight her way through them as they watched, the SUVS all park up in a row. Lissa could barely see over the many heads but caught a glimpse of Eddie and Mia. They were visibly shaken and had to be assisted in their movements towards the lodge. Their faces were hauntingly gaunt.

"Excuse me but I have to get through!" Lissa cried as she jostled and elbowed people out of the way. "Rose. Christian," she called out.

It took her another minute to wrestle her way to the front and only then did she spot Rose emerging from an SUV. Dimitri was assisting her. Lissa could not process the rush of emotions that surged through her. First it was pure relief but that was quickly followed by fear and worry. Lissa felt like a hand was closing around her heart, strangling it.

"Rose, Rose!" Lissa continued to shout but Rose wasn't listening.

Just then Lissa heard screams from the crowds. Lissa's head had turned in the direction to where a large majority of the crowd were staring. She watched as two guardians carried a stretcher where a body lay draped in a white sheet. Lissa's legs instantly went weak. It was like she had been ducked into ice cold water. She was barely able to breathe. Lissa's knees buckled.

However, eventually she managed to pull herself together as she remembered her best friend. Lissa turned her attention back to Rose but by now she had been handed off to another trio of guardians.

"Rose!" Lissa cried. Snow was rushing in all directions underneath Lissa's feet as she ran. She was only a few feet away when she suddenly found that she was no longer progressing towards Lissa. There were arms around her waist.

For a moment her heart soared. Christian… However her heart soon plummeted into her stomach when Lissa turned and was met by Dimitri.

"Let me go. I have to see her," Lissa shouted as she struggled against his hold.

Dimitri stood steadfast. "Princess please this isn't the time."

Lissa took no heed of his words and continued to struggle more and more the farther Rose got from her. "Sod off!" she yelled out, "You can't stop me from seeing her!"

Evidently, Dimitri was managing to do exactly that.

"Listen princess she is in shock and therefore is in no fit state to talk," Dimitri reasoned.

Once Rose was out of sight he loosed his grip and Lissa took the opportunity to elbow Dimitri hard in his chest. Dimitri being the trained Dhompair knew that it was coming and moved slightly to the right to miss the major impact. However he still pretended to be hurt and let Lissa go.

The princess's cheeks were flushed from her exertion and her white skin was now rosy pink, making her look more human.

"What the hell is your problem?" she seethed, "I'm her friend!. What are you to Rose?You don't have the right to decided who gets to see her!."

Lissa saw a flash of something cross Dimitri's eyes but she couldn't tell what.

Dimitri composed himself then. "Princess you need to calm down." This only caused Lissa's frustration and anger to grow but before she could snap he continued. "Look Rose watched Mason get killed after he tried to save her… but she managed to kill the two strigoi responsible."

For the second time Lissa felt her lungs constrict as she gasped for air. The news sent her reeling. It was Mason underneath the sheet… Suddenly Lissa's stomach churned. She was sure that she was about to throw up as images of the friendly guy raced through her mind. No not Mason. He was so kind natured and sweet…not the guy I use to tease Rose about…

Dimitri watched silently as Lissa held her chest and covered her mouth with her hand. He realised that there was nothing he could do to comfort Lissa but more importantly he didn't even how to.

Therefore with a nod he began to walk away. "You can see her tomorrow," he said over his shoulder.

Lissa was too overcome so it was only when Dimitri was nearly out of sight, when she remembered about her boyfriend.

"Wait! Where is Christian!?" she yelled after him but Dimitri didn't hear.

20 minutes later

Rose's mother entered the room where Christian was being held. She had on her usual stern expression however lines of grave concern were etched into her face.

She cut straight through the crap. "You have got some explaining to do?" Janine stated and there was an edge to her voice.

Christian was completely flustered. "Eh… Rose wanted to bring back mas..." He started but then his voice trailed off "She wanted to bring back Mia and the others so to assist i went with her.

Janine seemed unimpressed. "What will it take for you kids realize that this isn't a joke! Why didn't you get back up? You should have called a few guardians instead of running off."

"I guess i wasn't..." Christian started again.

"You weren't thinking," Janine cut in, "and now a student is dead."

The pair hadn't heard the door opening. "Please Ms Hathaway I think you should take it easy on them...they have been through a lot."

Christian looked up then to see Dimitri standing in the doorway. He was immediately to his feet. "How is Rose?" Christian asked desperately.

Dimitri was unmoved. "She is in shock."

Janine watched silently as Christian's face flooded with anguish and concern. He roughly combed a hand through his hair before holding his head.

Janine sighed. "Take a seat Christian and tell us everything...then you are free to go."

Dimitri stayed as Christian recounted the tale and watched anxiously when he mentioned the fact that he had used magic to escape. Both Dimitri and Janine's eyebrows lifted at the news. Christian figured that since currently Rose was in no fit state to talk he was required to do so but he had nothing for the guardians...he was unable to fill in the events with Rose, Mason and the strigoi...

"I wasn't there...i don't know how it..." Christian struggled to say. He was quickly starting to feel overwhelmed...as if he was drowning in forty foot seas and unable to fight his way to the surface.

Janine nodded. "Okay...you can leave."

Christian stood and much to his dismay the shaking had returned. He could barely keep himself composed as his body spasmed.

Janine felt herself momentarily feel compassion for the young man...he was just a teenager…a normal teenager that didn't understand the dangers of the real world and imagined that they were invincible. He had been through a lot not just today…but as a child.

Janine's eyes softened. "Go get some rest."

Christian just nodded meekly as he left the room. He was starting to feel numb again. His legs were growing weak as he descended down the stairs and soon Christian had to drag them. Once out of sight and in an empty hallway Christian paused to rest against a closed door. Images were flashing through his mind…the strigoi…Rose…but soon he found himself falling back into the past…his parents came into view…Tasha…blood…guardians…death….mason…death. By this point the tremors had got worse and Christian had squeezed his eyes shut against the harrowing experiences that were returning. His heart rate was excelling at an uncontrollable pace.

Then he heard it….

That sweet voice.

"Christian."

Christian eyes slowly opened and only then did he see Lissa standing at the end of the hallway

Lissa was a mess. Her emotions were dipping and rising like a rollerc oaster because as she looked at Christian. She first felt elation and relief but this quickly transformed into confusion and deep despair but she eventually landed on anger. Christian froze upon locking eyes with her. He had seen everything flash through them. He stood up straight then but in the blink of an eye Lissa was standing in front of him.

Christian barely had time to brace himself as Lissa began hitting his chest. "I can't believe you did such a thing! How could you do this!? What were you thinking?"

Christian continued to take her fists but eventually he grabbed a hold of her and held her hard against his chest. By this point Lissa's arms had gone limp and she was weeping into his shoulder.

"You left me," She sobbed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I thought I lost you and Rose."

Christian held her back tightly and pressed her head against his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he whispered as they both sank to their knees.

Lissa had refused to leave Christian's side and due to the nights events no guardians had tried to stop her from entering his room. The couple soon settled into bed and with a little more comforting Christian managed to send Lissa off to sleep…as for him… sleep was impossible.…hours may have passed.

Christian continued to stare up at the ceiling. However after the long stretch of silence the sound of approaching footsteps caused him to sit up.

Christian's ears had perked up at the sound of the imminent arrival.

"Lissa…?" he said as he turned to his right.

She wasn't there.

Christian only now found that he was in an empty bed.

His eyes rapidly scanned the room…

Just then the door burst open.

Christian started. "Tasha!"

His aunt ran straight for him. "You have to hide Christian. They are here!"

Christian eyes were popping. "What? Tasha who is coming? What are you saying?"

Tasha didn't answer his question and instead just grabbed his wrist and dragged him along. They both walked through the hallway. Suddenly Christian was recognizing all the paintings that hung on the halls… confusion over took him as they were climbing down a flight of stairs and they hit the second floor. He heard the screams and the clash of metal. Christian stared at his aunt and somehow his vantage point was much lower than he remembered. Tasha's face was distorted with fear. He had never seen her so scared as she looked over the banister and onto the first floor. She saw something that caused her face to grow pale.

The next thing Christian knew Tasha took off with him in tow down the hallway of the second floor were every inch of the walls had been covered in expensive paintings. She stopped abruptly in front of a painting of saint Vladimir. Tasha quickly removed it and much to Christian's surprise there was a small square door.

"What the-" Christian started. However Tasha had already open the door and was stuffing him inside a cupboard.

"Aunt Ta…" Christian started but was muffled by her hand.

She looked deep into his eyes. "Listen to me little Christian whatever happens you stay inside here. Do you understand?"

There were so many questions racing through his head as well as emotions however Christian just nodded.

Just then there was a scream that resonated from somewhere nearby and the next thing Christian knew the door had been thrown shut and everything went black.

Minutes of silence passed before he heard shouts. It sounded like there were at least two people. "Where is he?"

"You tell us where Christian is?"

Christian felt himself jump and his heart raced.

He then heard his aunt yelling. "I won't tell you. I will never tell!"

Her screams soon filled the air.

Christian sank his nails into the floor as his body began to shake uncontrollably with in fear.

"Tell us!" This phrase was shouted continuously

The sound of pain and violence was terrifying.

Things crashing and thudding.

However after what felt like an eternity there was silence.

It was too quite now.

Christian could no longer hear anything but shallow, faint breathing.

This to Christian was somehow even more terrifying. It sounded like death…silence always did. Christian felt his eyes begin to well up so he quickly brought his hands to smother his mouth. He could not let his sobs be heard.

"I will give you one more chance?" a voice proposed.

Christian heard his aunt. "Go to hell…" she said but Christian could hear that she was struggling to breathe, "You might as well kill me."

Christian could no longer sit still. How could he live with himself if he did?

Suddenly Christian pushed the door roughly. "NOOO!" he cried out as he tumbled out of his hiding place. The next thing Christian knew he was lying flat on his back with the painting of Vladimir lying far to the left. He must have thrown the picture that had been covering his hiding place.

Christian quickly scrambled to his feet with his fangs drawn.

However he froze when he saw the scene infront of him.

Tasha was lying in a pool of blood. One side of her face had been entirely ripped open…raw, red flesh was exposed. Christian felt bile rise to the back of his throat. Tasha's eyes were glassy and she was staring up at him.

Christian felt his tears roll down from his eyes.

Everything got a million times worse when he looked up from his aunts body to see who had done this too her.

His mouth fell open.

He couldn't believe it!

No they had to be body snatchers or something. Those people could not be his parents…and yet they looked like his parents. Although there were things that were off about them. Their chins were blood soaked and their fangs were drawn out but It was the sinister red eyes that scared him the most.

"Mum….Dad?" Christian asked questioningly as his lips quivered. They looked at him then and displayed nothing upon seeing their sons horrified and confused gaze.

They tried to move closer to Christian but he backed away, sobbing

"Why?" is all Christian could ask.

Christian watched as his mother opened her mouth. She was about to speak but then the next thing Christian saw was a stake… a bright silver stake protruding from where her heart was.

Christian screamed.

He felt like he was falling…

…falling through darkness

"Christian! Christian!" A frantic voice was calling for him.

Suddenly his eyes shot open. Christian sat bolt upright.

He felt hands on his face. His vision was filled with a girl with green eyes and blonde hair. "Christian," she was the one who had been calling for him.

Slowly Christian began to register that his body was drenched in cold sweat.

Lissa was without a doubt alarmed as Christian's eyes rapidly scanned the room.

"They were coming for me. They were coming for me," he whispered frantically

Lissa had to hold onto his face and stare straight into his panicked blue eyes. "Christian you are not with your parents. You are with me."

It took Christian a good 10 minutes to realize that he was in fact in the ski lodge. He was not 10. He was a teenager. His aunt wasn't hurt she was only a floor down from him, sleeping soundly. A nightmare, just a nightmare.

Lissa left Chrisitan's side for a mere moment to collect a flannel and a bowl of cold water. She began to wipe Christian's face with the soaked flannel.

Lissa then held his face against her chest. "Hear my heartbeat," she demanded. I want you to breath slowly in and out," she encouraged. "Match my pace."

Eventually Lissa managed to calm Christian down. Therefore she drew away so that she could pull off his drenched top. Lissa tossed it to the ground before forcing Christian to lie back down again. Suddenly the princess found that she was angry with herself. How could she be so selfish? How could she have been selfish enough to allow Christian to sooth her to sleep when she had not even asked how he was? Of course such an event would traumatize him and bring back suppressed memories.

Lissa re-soaked the flannel and began dabbing at Christian's brow and face again before moving onto his bare chest. She tried to cool down his feverish state. Lissa muttered soothing things. It was her turn to comfort.

Christian found himself whimpering. "My parents… the strigoi…It's my fault they died," he mumbled.

Lissa did not have to ask Christian what he meant. The strigoi encounter had resurfaced that horrific night for him. She just dunked the flannel back into the cold water before wringing it out.

Lissa shook her head as she began to dab. "It is no more your fault that Mason died than it is Rose's, for Mason running back and trying to save her." She continued to cool him down, in between peppering his face with kisses. "There is no danger here for you. You are with me…you are with the one that loves you."

Lissa continued to whisper comforting things. She watched as Christian's turning and tossing subsided as the soothing words and cold sensation calmed him. Slowly exhaustion was taking him and Christian soon found himself falling back into darkness.

This time he did not dream.