The water was cold. And dirty. And fast. I should be grateful for that last one, though, because it was probably what saved me. The stake was still inside my chest, burning me from the inside out, but it had shifted from where it had been directed. Not much, I'm sure, but just enough.

Others would already be dead by now. I may not be able to drown, but human nature was a powerful thing and my body fought to live despite my immortality. My throat was coated in mud and my lungs were filling with water as I struggled to stay afloat. I couldn't think straight as my body rejected the sensations.

Eventually, my head broke the water and I was able to see the stars and the moon above me. More importantly, I was able to see the bank. It took almost as much strength as any of my previous fights, but I was able to swim to the edge of the water before using a fallen tree to pull me up the last five feet. As soon as I was able to feel the rocky shore underneath me, I collapsed against it. I was trying desperately to breathe, but it felt like every gasp was leaving me choking for air.

I knew what I had to do. I looked at the stake and hoped that it would remove itself as the wooden one had done before, knowing already that it was specifically designed not to. This wound would remain, slowly killing me unless I removed the stake myself.

Tearing a scrap of my shirt off, I tried to use the technique that I had used earlier with Nathan: placing the cloth between my hand and the stake as a barrier. Even as I began pulling, I could feel the slip of the wet fabric against the smooth handle. I had been able to push a cloth wrapped stake into Nathan, but pulling one out was much harder, especially at this angle. My head fell back as I steeled myself for the extra pain that was coming.

With my weaker hand, I grasped the stake – sans protection – and pulled. I could feel it burning my skin just as it had burned my chest, but it felt ten times worse against every nerve ending in my palm. I could feel it pulling out bit by bit, but I had to let go of it just to breathe after a moment.

I dipped my hand in the cool water, shouting several curses into the air (some were directed at Rose, some were more generalized) and then psyched myself up for another session of torture. After three rounds of this, my chest finally felt free of the burning sensation.

There was a sense of satisfaction in throwing the blasted stake as far behind me as I could. I enjoyed the sound of it tearing apart the brush and the thud of it against the dirt. I imagined its final resting place among the nothingness and laughed at the fitting end. Rose felt like she accomplished some great purpose, but she had done nothing. She was nothing. Useless, just like that stake.

Hesitantly, I allowed myself to look at my hand. There was a reason I had used my non-dominate hand. It still burned as if I had stuck it directly into the flames. It didn't look much better either. The skin was pink and blistered, torn in some places so blood was pouring out and where there weren't broken blisters, it was chapped and raw. I didn't even want to test the wound, knowing that it would only make the agony worse than it already was.

While I knew that it wouldn't become infected, I also knew an injury like this wouldn't heal within a day or two. Silver wounds always took a bit longer than others. Scratches still seemed like they were nothing when it came to healing, especially to the untrained eye, but the mark of a stake piercing my body would last several days. My hand... I wondered if it would heal before or after the wound on my chest. My guess was after...long after.

I pulled myself up and further from the water, reclining against a thick tree nearby. Its branches extended far and it was thick, thick enough that I wondered if it would provide enough of a shield during the day. I was exhausted and the energy it would take just to make it up the hill to the trail seemed out of my reach. How was I supposed to make it back to the Estate? Perhaps I could find a happy medium? Certainly, there was some cave or overhang that I could hide under for the day.

Hide?

There was no way in hell I was hiding.

Especially not now. I needed to make my push to take the Estate before someone else did or before it broke into total anarchy.

Unfortunately, that meant moving.

The ache in my body reminded me that immortality didn't mean that I was indestructible. I grunted as I lifted my body up, careful to keep my weight on one hand and tucking the other close against me. Each step became easier and harder at the same time. My momentum and drive pushed me forward, but my body begged me to stop.

When I made it to the top of the hill, a small glint among the foliage caught my eye. I didn't have to think more than a second to know what it was. That goddamn stake. I turned away immediately, following our tracks that led away from the bridge and back towards the estate.

A few steps after, though, I stopped. I smiled. Then I tore another piece of cloth from my tattered and ruined shirt before moving back towards the place where I knew the stake was. It was stuck, point down, mocking me. Wrapping the cloth around the handle, I pulled and was grateful that it was much easier from this position. It also helped that it wasn't stuck several inches deep into my chest.

I slipped into my back pocket of my pants that had somehow survived this whole ordeal, making sure that it was wrapped completely and securely, and then made my way back towards the Estate.

I reached the estate just before dawn. The walk took nearly three times as long as it had while pursuing Rose. As expected, the place was a mess. Several people were trying to establish order, others were crying out in confusion as to what was going to happen, and then several more were yelling in anger at the others.

My entrance wasn't grand. No bursting doors or blasting horns. There weren't cheers of support or vows of loyalty as they saw me. Many continued arguing until one voice rose above the rest.

"Dimitri!" Stephen called out to me from across the room, and many of the others fell silent. The rest quieted as the room did, slowly drawing their attention towards me. "We thought you had died with the others."

I raised a brow as the charge. "It takes more than Nathan and Galina to kill me."

"What about the dhampir girl?"

Thankfully my back was turned to the crowd and whoever had dared questioned me about her because my annoyance would have been clear on my face. I knew someone would ask about Rose, but I hadn't thought of an explanation as to why she wasn't here by my side yet. I could just say I killed her. But I still wanted her to eventually stand with me. I couldn't very well do that if I insisted she was already dead.

But there was another way. One that would earn me credit in my fight with her, as well as my reign here.

Turning, I faced the crowd. "We fought. She used the same stake that killed both Galina and Nathan to pierce me in the heart and got away. But I survived."

"She staked you...and you survived?"

Even Stephen looked skeptical, though he worked hard not to show it.

"Nobody has ever survived a staking. How do we know you didn't just let her get away?"

I growled, stepping towards the naysayer. "You need proof of my words? You don't believe that I speak the truth?"

He stood still, his face solid by his eyes screaming in fear. I smirked.

"Fine, since my word seemed insufficient to prove to you that I survived, I'll offer you indisputable evidence."

I stood back, stepping on a stair so that I was slightly above the crowd before moving my shirt to the side so they could see the full damage of the stake right above my heart. To the unknowing eye, it would have been a direct hit. Even to the skilled guardian, it would look like a hit that should have killed.

Many people stared in surprise, some even gasping at the sight.

"That's impossible. Nobody survives a silver stake."

I raised my chin, letting the full mantle of leadership to fall on me as I made a decision that would seal my position as the ruler here.

"I'm not most people."

I pulled the stake from my back pocket letting the protective cloth fall away and held it up above the crowd. The metal against my already blistered skin roared in pain, but I grit my teeth through it and kept my face passive as the crowd began to cheer and chant. To them, I had done the miraculous; not only could I hold the bare silver of an enchanted stake, I could survive a direct hit to my heart and survive. Why wouldn't they follow such a powerful and almighty commander?

Seconds later, I dropped the stake at my feet. Someone felt the need to test its power and hissed at its sting, making my perceived power only that much more magnificent to the others. With that, I allowed them to confirm amongst themselves that they would follow me. I didn't doubt that they would do so after I had shown them what I could do.

Meanwhile, Stephen followed me as I made my way to the sanctuary of my room.

"How did you do that?" He was obviously not as convinced of my apparent divinity as the other seemed to be.

"Which part?"

"How about both? Or all? Killing Galina and the others couldn't have been easy."

"I had help with them," I confessed honestly as he tried to keep up with my quick strides. I needed to get to my room quickly so I could soothe and bandage my hand. "Rose took out Galina while immobilized her, and Nathan ...well, he and the others weren't really what you would call 'difficult.'"

"What about Rose?"

"She got away," my chest rumbled with anger. "I wasn't lying. She staked me, but the river must have dislodged it just enough that it didn't fully pierce the heart. I survived, but it was only by sheer dumb luck."

He cursed. "It would have been better to turn or kill her."

I glared at him. I knew that already, but I didn't need him to confirm it for me.

He lowered his voice. "And the stake? How did you hold it?"

I answered it by showing him my left hand. The marks were worse, with larger blisters and more blood, but the upside was that the pain was nearly gone because the palm was practically numb now. It was a bad sign to be sure, but I would take the pain relief where I could.

Stephen cursed again, but instead of it being one of sympathy, it was one of pure shock.

"I need to wrap this, and the others need to believe that my hand is perfectly fine. I will have it unwrapped when I'm out and about, but I'll keep it hidden. I'm right handed rather than left, so that should be fine."

He nodded. His mouth was open as he still stared at the angry red marks.

"What I need you to do now is go back and make sure they are making the right choice. Our plan still stands. Galina is gone and it is up to us to take over. I'll be back as soon as I get this taken care of but I need you to go out there and tell them that I'm the new head of the Estate. Take names of anyone who puts up a fight and I'll deal with them later. Got it?"

With a final nod, I sent him off.

He was at the end of the hall when I called back to him. "And get me that stake back!"

He didn't question why but ran off all the same.

The cool water brought relief to my hand once more. I let the water run over it for nearly ten minutes until my fingertips were just as numb as my palm before I gently set my hand on the clean washrag to dry. The long bandage beside me was already prepped and I hesitated to put it on. I knew it would initially bring more pain, but eventually, it would also protect me from the pain around me as well. The trade-off was necessary, if unpleasant.

Watching the clean, white gauze wrap around my knuckles, I could almost see another memory. Hands, gauze, words, and glances. It was all shifting, though, fuzzy and incomprehensible. I shook my head to clear the sensation. I was just exhausted and my mind was playing tricks on me.

As I sunk onto the bed in my room, I wished that I could truly sleep. Laying here and breathing deep to relax my body would only do so much. It did absolutely nothing to soothe my mind. I replayed every moment on that bridge over and over again, trying to imagine what I could have done differently. If I had moved quicker. If I had shifted my weight just a little more? If I had just forced her to the ground and taken her by force. Nathan had done that to me, taking the choice away, and I had thought it would be better to give her the choice. Now she was gone.

Or I could have just told her those words she so desperately wanted to hear. Love was a weakness that made people do stupid things. It was one of the reasons I had fallen in that cave. But those weak emotions could also be a powerful tool. They could manipulate and twist those who were weak into doing what you needed. Nathan had bent Ina to do his bidding with promises of love. I had persuaded Rose with physical favors but had neglected those little emotions that might have been the linchpin to her decision because they didn't bring me any pleasure as well.

I never thought I'd see the day where I'd admit that Nathan was smarter than I was. At least I could rest comfortably knowing that he'd never know.

A knock brought me back to my current reality.

"Sir," a hesitant, quiet voice sounded through a crack in the door. "I brought you the stake you asked for. Mr. Volkov said you wanted to keep it as a trophy."

"Yes. Just place over there on the table." I gestured towards some random area in the room, hoping that she'd figure it out. She didn't question me for a moment as to why I didn't want to touch it but did as I asked.

"Do you..." she hesitated. "Do you need anything else...Sir?"

My eyes were closed and my head resting on the pillow, but it was easy to hear the offer in her voice.

"Blood."

"You can use me," her voice had gone from timid and coy to desperate in a second.

I opened one eye to glance at her. It looked like it was taking all her self-control just to stay put by my door. "Unless you are looking to die at my hands today, I suggest you bring me another feeder. I need more blood than you can provide."

She sighed, looking depressed before making her way to leave. With her hand on the knob, she turned back towards me. "Just so you know, Sir, it would be an honor to die by your bite. I can't think of anything better."

I nearly laughed hearing the door close behind her. These humans were crazy, doing nearly anything for a bite. I could understand the desire to earn their awakening, but being grateful just to die by a Strigoi's bite? I had heard it all.

As promised, the young man who had been sent to me didn't last long. He was drained quickly and did more to energize me than any amount of rest could. The soreness was still there, but at least I had the ability to move about without looking like the walking dead.

I sent for Stephen afterward, conferring with him about the next steps. He eagerly let me know that a majority were on board for the change in regime, and those that were questioning me had been warned to leave before I made my next appearance. They were already packing their things and making plans to head out sundown.

Stephen had also taken the initiative to start having Galina's personal items moved out of her room so that I could take it. In a symbolic move, he suggested moving into my room, even though it was no bigger than any other room meant for her underlings. However, it would send the sign that he was my second. I had to admit that I was glad he was on my side of this takeover. For someone who seemed to quiet and unintrusive, he tended to have a strategic mind that could cause issues if he truly decided to revolt.

I agreed and sent for some human servants to start packing my own personal effects while I oversaw things. He did the same. Everything would be finished within 24 hours, and in 48, the Estate would be ours.

It did leave me a bit bitter, though. Everything had worked out well, but also so far from what I had planned. As helpful as Stephen had proved to be since I decided to work with him, he wasn't my Roza. We would never be as in sync as Rose and I were. I could manipulate him, but I wouldn't be able to anticipate his thoughts, motives, and needs like I could with Rose. He would never be able to work alongside me, battling beside me like Rose could. Our fight with Galina had been proof of just that. Even with her trying to escape, she was there when I needed her. She would always fight by my side when I needed her, even when her mind told her not to. It was inevitable. We were inevitable.

I eyed the stake on my nightstand again. She probably thought I was dead. Why would she think anything different? I had dropped from view into a rushing river and probably hadn't surfaced until I was far enough that she wouldn't have been able to see me, even if she had waited to look for me.

Perhaps I should let her know that our battle wasn't over, just postponed.

She would eventually return to St. Vladimir's. With my 'death' out of the way, she would be doing everything in her power to graduate and continue her duty to Lissa. Serving the Princess for the rest of her life. Pathetic.

She deserved so much more. I could have given her more and she threw it all away.

I took out a pen and paper, tapping the pen against the desk as I thought about those final moments.

You forgot another lesson: Never turn your back until you know your enemy is dead. Looks like we'll have to go over the lesson again next time I see you- which will be soon.

Remembering just how much she had wanted to hear those words, I smiled as I signed it with a flourish...

Love, D.

I gave it to one of the attendants to send to St. Vladimir's. He looked at the address but didn't acknowledge it, knowing that he didn't have a right to. As soon as she arrived, it would be waiting for her.

And I'd be waiting for her the moment she dropped her guard.

Author's Note

That's it, folks! Blood Promise: Dimitri's Point of View is officially over! I hope you all enjoyed it because, despite some (very) rough spots, I sure did.

No question of the week. In my "end of story" tradition, I'd like to ask you what you liked and disliked about this story, my writing style, or anything else you can think of pertaining to the story. As long as you are nice about it, I'm really open to criticism. I also like compliments, but hey, constructive criticism makes me a stronger writer overall.

HOWEVER, if you really want to give me props (and I kinda hope you do) some amazing person made a page for me over on Goodreads! I don't know who you are, but you are wonderful. Now, several people have already reviewed and added my books to their "read" or "to read" list, but if you want to add your kind words then you can go search my pen name over there and you'll find my stories. Thank you!

Once again, thanks to everyone who reads, reviews, comments, and shares these stories. You are amazing. I'm blessed to have you in my life. I'll be taking a short break while I prep for the next installment, so be sure to put me on you "fav authors" list to get updated when it comes out.