Hey guys! This is my first fanfiction story and I am actually writing this for my personal project for school. So all comments and notes of Criticism are welcome.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the first chapter and I will regulary be updating that rest of them :)

~*~Chapter one~*~

HER SCREAMS AWOKE ME FROM MY dreams. Lissa hadn't dreamt of her parent's car accident since we had run away. But with the stress of everything that's been happening, her spirit side effects are starting to get to her.

I wish I could go to her and hug her and tell her that everything will be ok. But I had been stuck in this cell for over 48 hours and still hadn't heard a scrap of news. I wasn't allowed visitors, which for once, I was kind of glad. Even though I would love to be there for Lissa, I couldn't bear to see right now. Not with knowing that her life is about to be turned upside down again. But with no-one to talk to, and with Lissa's spirit side affects starting to seep into me, I am starting to go crazy.

Thomas, who is a guardian here at the royal court, has been the only familiar face I have seen. I met him when I was trying to steal files out of the guardian's headquarters. He had discovered me, and could have turned me in, but in our confrontation we discovered that we had something in common. It was something that nobody else could ever understand. We had both lost the person we loved. But not in death, they had suffered a worse fate. They had both been turned Stirgoi. But when I told him that there might be hope, that there might be away to turn Dimitri back to normal, he let me go.

And I had been right. My best friend and Moroi, Lissa, had charmed a stake, used to kill Stirgoi, with a fifth and almost unheard of element called Spirit. She had been able to stake him through the heart, which was all that was needed to change him back to the man that I love. But, it turns out that he didn't love me anymore.
I almost began to cry as his words echoed through my mind. "Love fades…"
I sat up on the cot, trying to push back and forget the past.

I didn't want to think about Dimitri, not when I had other important things to worry about. At that moment, Thomas walked up to the bars of my cell and gave me a sympathetic smile. He asked the two other guardians nearby if he could have a moment to speak with me alone. They were hesitant, but finally nodded and walked down the hall, just out of earshot. I stood up and slowly walked over to the bars. I almost tripped several times. My legs were shaky and numb from having layed down for so long.

"What's up," I asked. "I'm guessing that you're not here for a friendly chat."

His perfect guardian facial expression gave away nothing, but his eyes told me everything. He didn't look too pleased about what he was about to say next.

"They've decided when to hold your trial, and how you'll receive your… punishment if they find you guilty." His voice faulted at the word punishment. We both knew that it wasn't just going to be a slap across the wrist or a jail sentence. My life literally depended on the way the trial would unfold.
"

So, when is it?" I tried to sound brave when I asked, but I knew he could see right through me.

"It will be held in five days." He said it has nicely as he could, but it still felt like a slap across the face.

"Great, only five days left to live." I walked over to the side wall and let my body slump against it.

"Don't say that Rose. There's still hope, you'll be able to find the evidence you need to prove your innocence." He was trying so hard to keep my spirits up, but we both knew the truth. I was a lost cause.

"Please, just stop. We both know that isn't going to happen. Whoever framed me did a pretty damn good job, and even if there was some proof out there that could help me win this case, there is still the plain fact that I am stuck in this stupid cell!" I hadn't realised I was yelling until I had stopped.
"Sorry," I apologised. "It's just all a bit too much."

We stayed in silence for a few minutes until I remembered something. I fished out the Queen's note and walked back over to where Thomas was standing. I handed him the note, which he took curiously.

"What's this?"

"It's a note that I need you to pass on to Adrian for me," I didn't ask, but Thomas understood the importance from my tone and stealthily slipped it into his jacket.
"And please, tell him that he needs to wait until the right moment to tell Lissa. And that the only other people who can know about this are Christian, Eddie, Mia and you. If you don't want to get involved, I understand. But this is something that Lissa really needs to know, so please make sure he gets it." He looked slightly shocked that I had picked him as one of the people to trust. But a small smile spread across his face in appreciation.

"I will make sure he gets it and I will help the Princess in any way I can." I nodded and thanked him, grateful that Lissa would have one other person willing to help her.

"Do you reckon I could have some alone time, please?" I asked. He nodded and began to walk away, but I quickly stopped him as I remembered the question that I was sure he was trying to avoid answering. It hurt me to ask, but I needed to know. "Thomas?" He turned on the spot and met my gaze. "How will I be punished?" I could see his face droop in grief. He looked like he wasn't going to answer, which only increased my fear. "Please?" I begged. "I need to know."

He sighed deeply, and answered, "If they find you guilty, you will be hanged by the neck until death."
I quickly whipped away the tears that had escaped my eyes, and spoke with as much strength as I could.
"Thank you," I managed. He nodded stiffly, not knowing what else to say, and left me to curl up into a ball and slip into Lissa's head.

Through her eyes, I could see the millions of twinkling stars that filled the night sky. It was daytime for Moroi, and Lissa was sitting on one of the Courts benches next to her boyfriend Christian Ozera. He had his arms wrapped comfortingly around her, as they listened intently to what Adrian was saying. It didn't take long to figure out what they were talking about. Me.

"Five days!" Lissa exclaimed, practically jumping out of her seat. "But that's so soon." Christian tugged her by the arm and she slowly sank back down onto the bench. Adrian was lounging on the perfect green grass, while holding a bottle of alcohol. Through the bond I could also smell cigarette smoke radiating off him. Poor Adrian, I knew he wouldn't be coping. Not with all that had happened with his Aunt and … me.

"Well, it's not up to us. They probably just want to get this over and done with as soon as possible so they can get everyone to calm down and go on to elect a new ruler." Adrian said, taking a swig from his bottle.

"But why do they have to do it like… that?" Even Christian couldn't come to say the words.

"They wanted to do it publicly, as they think it will put everyone's mind at ease. And also, the Royal Court loves their old fashioned laws." He sighed and put down his drink. "I just wish they would at least let us see her. I can't bear the thought that the next time I'll see her she'll have a rope wrapped around her…" He abruptly stopped, realising that someone had joined the group. Lissa had realised this to, and smiled politely in greeting.

"Hey, Dimitri," she said. I could feel my heart pound rapidly in my chest. His gorgeous brown hair was in his usual pony tail, and he was wearing he's usual duster. Dimitri nodded in greeting to Lissa and then spoke hurriedly to Adrian.

"Who where you just talking about?"
Adrian stood up, which was amazing considering how drunk he was. Then again, he's had lots of practice.

"You know exactly who I am talking about," he said sharply. "And don't pretend you care about Rose either. You hurt her and I am not going to let you do it again." Adrian was pissed and looked like he would lunge at Dimitri at any moment. Sensing this to, Christian got up and stood in between them.

"Come on. Fighting isn't going to help Rose now." His maturity shocked me, and I think even him. Lissa walked up to Adrian and placed a hand on his shoulder. Looking him deeply in the eyes, she tried to calm him down. Dimitri stayed silent the whole time and finally, Adrian sighed and grudgingly walked away.
Christian was the first to break the silence.

"Well, that was a first."

Lissa looked away from where Adrian was retreating and sighed.

" Yeah. I've never seen Adrian act like that before." Christian smiled sheepishly.

"I actually meant that that was the first time I've actually stopped a fight, instead of encouraging one." Lissa couldn't help but smile.

"Looks like you can be taught after all." She walked over to where the boys were standing, feeling a little happier. She turned her attention back to Dimitri.

"What do you want to know about Rose? I can't tell you much, and I'm not even sure if it's true..."

"Just tell me everything," he asked. His eyes looked worried for a second, but I knew I had just been seeing things. He didn't care about me anymore, at least not in the way I wanted him to.

"Well..."

"Excuse me Princess Dragomir, but do you know where I can find Adrian Ivashkov?"
Thomas was the one to interrupt. He was still in his guardian uniform, which gave Lissa an idea. She hadn't met Thomas before, so she didn't know what kind of guardian he was or what kind of connection he had to me.

"I do. And I can tell you where he is, but do you mind if I ask you a question first?" She let her aura fill with a little bit of compulsion so that he would be more committed to answering. If she had known him though, she would have realised he didn't need any.

"Of course Princess."
She glimpsed at Dimitri for a split second and then asked, "What do you know about Rose Hathaway?"

"I know quite a lot," he said, smiling knowingly. "And I am guessing you want to know everything I can tell you?" Lissa simply nodded, and out of the corner of her eye I could see Dimitri shift uneasily. I wonder why he was so curious about my welfare. Then again, he probably just wanted to be kept up to date. Thomas kept his face neutral as he spoke.

"Rose is being kept guard in one of the Courts high security cells. I am one of the guardians who have been keeping watch. We knew each other before the incident, so I believe that she is innocent and have been helping her whenever I can.
"She will be at trial in five days and if she is found guilty, she will be hanged by the neck at sunrise the very next day." He looked at Lissa sympathetically and then turned to where Dimitri still stood. He was looking at the ground now, a million emotions spreading across his face. "I am really sorry, but I have to go fine Mr Ivashkov."
Lissa thanked him and gave him directions to where Adrian would be. He turned to leave but was stopped when Dimitri finally spoke.

"Thomas." I shouldn't have been surprised that Dimitri knew him. He knew everyone. "How is she?"
Thomas faced Dimitri and let his eyes fall to the ground.

"Not good," he finally answered. "I haven't known her for long, but she seems really down and depressed compared to her usual fiery and strong attitude. It's like she's already given up."
Lissa had been busy concentrating on Thomas and when she looked over to see Dimitri's reaction, she realised he was gone.
Not wanting to see anymore I slipped back into my own head and drifted off to sleep.

Thank you all for reading :)
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All feed back and criticism are welcome.
Next chapter will be up shortly.