I feel like I've never really known Dimitri. There were times that we were in perfect sync, and in times like this I knew for sure that he was my soul mate. And if there is something I know in this world is that I truly love Dimitri with all my heart.

But suddenly everything changed. How could he sleep with my best friend? That is what I don't understand. He said that his love for me had faded. Did I believe in it? No, I really didn't at the time. But now… Now everything is different. I've always seen Dimitri like someone who would never hurt me, but… he did.

Lissa… I don't even know where to start. She has always been my best friend. I've always loved her as a sister. I would give my life to protect her. Then, why would she do what she did? How could she ruin our friendship?

And there's also Adrian… I don't know what to think about him. Adrian is certainly one of the most handsome guys in the world, and he knows that. But all the money and beauty Adrian have didn't change the fact that he was having problems… Problems with spirit. Adrian has always said that my aura was dark. But I wonder how his aura is now. The way he has behaved lately… well, it wasn't the Adrian I knew. He used his magic to heal Viktoria and a few minutes after that he was acting all mad and unreasonable… Sure Adrian is a little crazy, but not that crazy. All I know is that I have to help him. I own that to him after everything he did for me.

As if my problems weren't enough I found Viktoria almost dead on a park. What was she doing here? The last time we saw each other we ended up fighting over her boyfriend, Rolan. I found out Rolan was just playing with her like he did with her sister Sonya and like he tried to do with me. Of course I had to do something, so I found a way to keep them apart, which Viktoria didn't like at all.

Now I know that she understands what I did and I know that she would do the same thing for me.

As if she knew I was thinking about her she suddenly opened her eyes.

"Hey, you're awake." I said as Viktoria was sitting up on the bed. She looked at me and quickly looked away. "Are you ok?" I asked her.

She nodded but still remained in silence.

"That's good." I said relieved. "When I saw you at the park I… I didn't know what to think. Why were you there anyway? I mean, why are you in London? I thought you were supposed to be at school. Oh, but that doesn't matter. I am so happy to see you. I missed you so much."

I hugged her but she didn't move. She was staring at her hands, her eyes wide.

"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked and she nodded again. "Look, Viktoria, I know that when I got out of Baia we didn't… Well, you said some bad things to me, but I want you to know that I forgive you. I'm not mad, ok? You are my friend and will always be."

Slowly very slowly her eyes met mine. Her eyes were deep brown just like her brother's. "You're not mad?" She asked, her voice husky and her expression was a perfect guardian mask. Well, it must be a family thing.

"No," I assured her. "Of course not."

She started laughing but without humor. "You… you are not mad." She kept laughing and said something in Russian that I didn't understand.

"What is so funny?"

"The funny thing is that you mean it." She said and looked at me. "It is good to know that after you ruined my life you're not mad." Her expression was no longer neutral, it was hateful.

"What? I ruined your life? How?"

"You're the reason why Rolan doesn't want me anymore. I don't know what you did, but it's your fault that Rolan is not my boyfriend anymore!" She yelled at me.

Oh, so that was it. She still hadn't realized that Rolan was a bastard.

"I was protecting you!" I yelled back.

"Really? Well, Rose, I don't need your protection." She was still yelling. "Like I said before, you aren't my brother. So stop acting like him."

Stop acting like him. Was I acting like Dimitri? Maybe, but I needed to protect Viktoria. She may not be my sister but I loved her and I wanted the best for her. "I'm sorry, Viktoria –"

"You have to be sorry. You. Ruined. My. Life."

"No. I didn't ruin your life like you think. Rolan is not the right guy for you, try to understand this. You deserve better."

"But, I don't want better, Rose. I want him." She said and tears started coming out of her eyes. "I love him. I want to be with him, no one else. You just don't get it."

"Yes, I do." I totally understood Viktoria. Actually, I understood a lot more. I knew that when you love someone, no matter what that person do, or say, or even who this person is, you love him or her. You love this person like there's no tomorrow. You see this person like he or she is the most wonderful thing in the whole world. I knew that because it was how I fell for Dimitri.

"You don't!" She yelled. "You do not. Your life is perfect. It is wonder land. You would never understand how I feel. Never ever!"

"Perfect?" It was funny that she was saying it. My life seemed perfect for her? If only she knew… "My life is not perfect. It is far away from perfection."

"Ha, Rose, ok. Your life is the most perfect life I've ever seen."

I don't know why but Viktoria saying that my life was perfect only made me remember every imperfection it had. Mostly, I remembered Lissa and Dimitri…

"You have no idea what you're talking about." I said closing my eyes. Control yourself, Rose. She is just mad. Control yourself.

"Don't you think I heard the news?" She said getting up. "Dimitri is not a strigoi anymore, is he? Your amazing best friend brought him back, didn't she? Well, congratulations! You have your boyfriend back. You have the perfect best friend. You have the perfect life." When she finished, her cheeks were red.

"You don't have any idea what you're talking about. So, please be quiet."

"Don't I? I know you're life is perfect so don't – "

"Viktoria, just shut up, will you?" I yelled and felt my eyes burning. She seemed pleased seeing me almost crying.

"Why would I? You have the perfect life. Unless… Did Dimitri break up with you?" My face must have shown that something was wrong between me and her brother because she smiled cruelly. "Oh, look at that. He dumped you, didn't he?"

"Shut up!" I yelled.

"That's a good thing that Dimitri broke up with you, you know? You deserved this. What did you do? Did you cheated on him? Because –"

"Viktoria. Shut up!" I yelled and something in my voice made her really shut up. We stayed a few seconds in silence and suddenly I wanted to prove her that she didn't know anything. I wanted to prove her that she was being a total spoiled brat. "You have no idea what I've been through." I told her. "Do you really want to know what happened between Dimitri and me?"

She stayed silence almost like daring me to continue. "Well, I'm going to tell you then." And I did. I told her everything. Every single detail since the day I left her house. She didn't say anything while I was talking but I could see in her eyes the horror she felt when I told her that Dimitri while strigoi used to drink from me everyday. I could see pity in her eyes everytime a tear escaped my eyes. I could see every emotion that she felt. Sadness, fear, sympathy, surprise and finally happiness when Lissa brought Dimitri back to his original state.

"You did it, Rose. You did the impossible." She said amazed.

"It seems wonderful, doesn't it? Almost like a miracle." I said and she nodded. "But I'm not finished yet."

Her eyes went wide, almost like she didn't believe that there could be more. Well, if I were her I wouldn't either. Telling her the last part was the hardest. I told Ambrose and Tatiana but I don't know why telling Viktoria was ten times worse. Maybe it was because I now finally realized that I would never be able to trust Dimitri or Lissa ever again. Or maybe was the fact that I won't even see any of them again. How could the most important people in my world be this cruel to me?

Not your world, Rose Hathaway's world. I suddenly thought. You're now Rosemarie Mazur and in Rose Mazur's world there's no Lissa or Dimitri.

When I finished I was crying so hard that I don't even know how it was possible. Stop it, Rose! You can't cry over them. Stop crying!

Viktoria had been so quiet that I'd almost forgotten she was here. At a point I felt that I was alone talking to myself. That's why I was so surprised when Viktoria throw her arms around me. "I am.. so… so so…sorry!"

I hadn't realized that she was crying just like me until she spoke. Slowly I hugged her too. I couldn't even believe that the girl who was yelling at me earlier would be hugging me now. But lately I couldn't believe lots of things.

"I am so… so… sorry, Rose." She kept saying.

"Hey, it's ok. It's not your fault." I said.

"But, my brother, Dimka… How could he? After everything you did for him!" She shook her head. "I don't understand. I am sorry."

"It's not your fault." I repeated.

"But… the way I treated you, the way I've been treating my family…"

"Hey it's ok now."

"I am so, so, so sorry, Rose! I didn't mean anything that I said. I can't believe that I was so mean to you. Please forgive me! Ple-please!" she said between sobs.

"It's ok, Viktoria. I'm not mad. I forgive you." I was a little sad with all the things that Viktoria said before, but I know she didn't mean any of that.

"No, it's not ok. I am sorry." She said crying even harder than before.

"Please Viktoria, don't cry."

"I'm so sorry. You can't even imagine how sorry I am. About everything, about Rolan, about you and Dimka… I can't believe that Dimitri would do that to you. I just can't."

"Yeah, I know." It so not like Dimitri do what he did. What he did was wrong, dirty. Why on Earth would he sleep with Lissa? To hurt me? That is something I'll never be able to forgive. Never.

"When you left," she sighed. "Sonya talked to me. She listened everything we said and… Well, she found out about Rolan and me. The she told me everything, everything that happened between Rolan and her. It was the exactly same things that happened to me. He took us to the same places, said the same things… Everything was just the same." She closed her eyes and more tears came out. "At first, I didn't believe her. I didn't want to believe, you know? So I started to be rude to everyone. I said things that I regret. I didn't go back to school… I didn't want to. The next day I went to Rolan's place. He said that he didn't want me anymore. He said terrible things to me, but I thought that you were the one who told him to say those things. I thought… I don't know what I thought. So I started follow him everywhere, begging him to be with me. My family said that I was crazy, they tried to help me and they did everything they could… But I wanted Rolan even though he didn't want me anymore."

She stopped almost like she was reviving everything. I want so badly to say something but I thought it was better if I stayed quiet just like she was when I was talking. Thankfully it didn't take long for her to speak again.

"I followed Rolan everywhere and he always would yell at me to leave him alone." She closed her eyes and opened again. "I saw him making out with lots of girls but I thought it was a way to call my attention. I thought it was a way to show me that I should try harder to get to him. But as the time passed I realized that it was true. He has never cared about me."

"When did you stop following him?" the question escaped my mouth.

When she looked at me her eyes were sadder than ever. "I didn't."

"That's why you are in London, isn't it?" I asked her even though I knew the answer.

She nodded. "Next week an important moroi meeting will be held here in London and Rolan is going to participate. When our neighbor told us that Dimitri was back I said to mom that I wanted to go to Court see Dimka and she was so happy that her son was back that she didn't even hesitate in letting me go. So I took her money and instead going to Court I came here looking for Rolan."

"Did you find him?"

"No." She answered.

"Viktoria, do you know how I found you?"

She shook her head.

"I stumbled in you! You were lying on the ground and didn't even feel it. You were dying! How do you let a man do that to you? I understand that you love him but what about your dignity and integrity?"

"I'm sorry." She said in a small voice.

"I'm not the one who has to hear it. At the end you're the only one who is going to be hurt."

"I'm already hurt, Rose." She said.

"Then, why don't you stop? Why don't you move on? He is the father of Sonya's baby!"

Her eyes watered even more. "I don't know. I mean I really love Rolan, but I guess that when everyone said that I couldn't have him, I wanted him even more, you know?"

"Viktoria… this is stupid." That sentence pretty much sums what I was thinking.

"I know." She gave a small smile.

We stayed silence for a few moments until she spoke again.

"Thank you." She said.

"For what?" I asked.

"For everything. For saving me from myself." She said like it was obvious.

"What does it mean?"

"It means that you were right about everything. I was acting like a stupid brat. I promise you Rose, I'll never see Rolan again."

"Well, that's a good start." I said.

"You know what would be an even better start?" She asked smiling.

"What?"

"Food. I'm starving." As Viktoria said I realized that I was hungry too.

I smiled and nodded.

We ordered room service and even though Viktoria didn't eat for two or three days I still ate more than her. Well, there were things that never change. It was kind of funny that three hours ago we were all sad and now we're laughing while watching Friends. Things with Viktoria were that easy.

But something told me that we still had an important thing to do.

"Viktoria, you have to call your family." I suddenly said.

Just like I was expecting, her happiness was gone as she stared at me. "I can't."

"They have the right to know you're ok. When was the last time you talked to them?"

"It's been three or four weeks, I'm not sure." She said thoughtful.

"You see? They must be crazy after you. Viktoria, call them." I said pointing at the room's phone.

"I mean it, Rose. I can't. I was so mean to them." She said.

"They love you Viktoria."

She seemed to think really hard on what to do when she finally said. "Fine, but can you speak to them? I don't think I can."

"I think that you should be the one to talk to them." I didn't like the idea of being in the middle of their families problems.

"Please, Rose."

No matter how many times I tried to convince her that she should be the one to talk to her families she still didn't want to. So I called the Belikov's house.

Although I didn't know Russian I could easily recognize Olena's voice as she answered the phone on the second ring.

"Hum… hey, Olena. Hum… It's Rose." I said my voice shaking.

"Rose!" Olena said out loud. She started saying something more but I couldn't understand.

"I'm calling to let you know that Viktoria is fine. She's with me." I said and didn't feel the need to tell her that a few hours ago she was almost dying.

"Oh… Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you, Rose. I was so, so worried!" She said and I heard her giving a cry. "Sonya! Karolina! She is fine. Viktoria is fine!" Olena yelled.

I didn't say anything else because… Well, I didn't know what to say.

"Oh, Rose… thank you so much." She said relieved.

"Hum, there's no need to thank me, Olena." I said embarrassed.

"Yeah, there is. Tell me how Dimitri is… Is he ok too?"

"Yeah, he's fine." I said trying not to think about him which was really difficult considering I was talking to his mother.

"I'm so happy, Rose. Thank god Viktoria went to Court. For a moment I thought that she could have ran away with that boy, Rolan… Did she tell you about him?" Ohh, Olena thought that we were at Court, and well, she was right that Viktoria tried to find Rolan.

"Don't worry, she's fine now." I said carefully not to mention where we were. I didn't know if Olena should know that we were in London so it'd be better if I didn't say anything.

"Can I talk to her?" She pleaded.

"Sure." I said and gave the phone to Viktoria. "You can do this." I whispered to her and she nodded.

She started talking in Russian with her mother and as the thing got too sentimental I felt the urge to get out of there because it was too personal. Viktoria didn't notice as I got out of the room.

As I didn't have anything better to do, I started looking for Adrian. I looked everywhere, in parks, bars, stores… I walked for at least two hours and didn't find him. Maybe I should tell Tatiana that Adrian disappeared, he's a moroi after all and it's dangerous for him to be alone.

When I got back to the hotel it was already dark outside. Viktoria was watching TV. "You're back." She said.

"Yep." I said and sat beside her on the sofa. "How's your family?"

"They're fine." She said smiling. "Mom was happy that I am with you. She misses you."

"I miss her too." I said smiling as I remembered the sweet Olena. "Did you tell her that we're in London?"

"I didn't." she said.

"What are you going to do now?" I asked her.

"Well, I'm with one of my best friends in London. I guess there're lots of things to do." She smiled.

"Oh, really?" I said giving her a full smile.

"Yeah, there's just one thing that I've to tell you." She said suddenly serious.

"What?"

"You were wrong." Oh, damn it. What was she saying? Would we go back to the Rolan subject? "You said that we'd always be friends."

It took a moment to process what she was saying. "You… you don't want to be my friend?"

"No, we're not friends, Rose." She said and I was shocked. Then she started laughing "We're sisters."

I didn't even realize that I was holding my breath until she said that. I started to laugh too.

Maybe Viktoria and I would be ok, even though our hearts were broken. After all we were sisters.

…

I am sorry, guys! I know it's been so long since I last updated. School has been crazy! But as it's Carnival here in Brazil I don't have classes until Thursday so I decided to update! Yay!

Did you guys like this chapter? Please review!

xoxo

Mandy.