A/N:

Hello Boy and Girls!

I'm back with a new story!

This story will have super short chapters (for real this time, between 500-1000 words each).

I'll also be updating very frequently, probably every other day.

Be warned, it's going to start off slow and then get shoved into warp speed.

I've said too much.

Anyway, here it is, hope you enjoy!

Much Love,

PK

Dimitri Belikov never had an easy life. Yet of all the bad things that had happened to him, he wasn't sure which was worse - getting turn into strigoi or getting restored to dhampir. Either way, he was sure no good would come of him remaining at Court. Not to himself (not that he deserved any good) and certainly not to those around him. It was his time to be a little selfish.

The only good thing that happened to him of late was that he was legally declared dhampir. That allowed him to wander aimlessly around court to suffer the stares, the whispers and the shame.

"I'm sorry, Princess", Dimitri said to Vasilisa Dragomir when he came to break the news of his departure. His resolve was so great that he had brought along a duffle bag, full of his meager belongings, making it clear there was no point in arguing or trying to convince him otherwise. Parting with her was the last thing he planned to do at court before leaving for good. "I'll never be reinstated as a guardian. And I'm not sure I want to be. I've given enough of myself to this life. There's nothing left to give", he said apologetically.

Lissa could read in his aura that he was racked with guilt. This time, a different kind of guilt than what she usually saw in him. She suspected it stemmed from Dimitri breaking his promise to devote his life to hers. It was a promise she never wanted him to make, but at the time, Lissa thought it was for the best to let him be and not push him.

She patted the back of his hand. "It's alright Dimitri. You're allowed to want to pursue a different path. One that doesn't cross with mine", she smiled. She hoped he realized that she was trying to ease his guilt and release him from his promise. "I'm sorry too, but I have to ask you to do something before you leave".

Dimitri nodded reluctantly.

"You need to tell Rose that you're leaving. In person. She deserves to hear it from you", Lissa could see the pain she was causing Dimitri. But he needed to hear it. "After everything she's done for you, Rose should at least get a chance to say goodbye to you". When Dimitri looked at the princess skeptically, Lissa decided enough was enough. He needed to know just how far Rose went for him. "You really don't know what she's done for you? Haven't you ever questioned how I came across an insane theory that strigoi could be restored? And how to do it?"

Lissa launched into the story of how Rose got wind of an old wive's tale in Russia, about a spirit user who restored a strigoi. Lissa went on about how in the search of this spirit user, Rose broke her greatest enemy out of a highly secured moroi prison, she endanger countless lives when she stopped Eddie from staking him in Las Vegas, not to mention the havoc her quest reeked on her own career along with her relationship with Adrian and her friendship with Eddie.

"She gave up everything to save you". Lissa let the gravity of everything Rose did for him sink in before she spoke again. "I know you're hurting, Dimitri. But so is Rose. The least you can do is say goodbye before leaving this time".

Dimitri wasn't sure who he felt more indebted to, but he did agree with the princess. He should tell Rose he's leaving. He owed her that much.