Chapter one!

Abe's words echoed in my head. "They don't send royal traitors to prison Rose. Everyone knows that. They execute them". The words spiralled and spiralled around my mind. If Abe was right, if this was the case then...then my life...my future and my fate all were at risk.

I wouldn't spend my life locked up like Victor who might I had, I freed should have. I would... I would die and there would be nothing I could do about it.

I guess now I know why Lissa was in such a state when I was escorted out of the court room. I felt her anxiety through the bond but there was nothing I could do. I couldn't run up to her and tell her everything was okay because let's face it...Everything's far from okay!

I can't really remember how I was bought back here, back to the holding cell that they had previously kept Dimitri in but I can remember stealing one last glance at him. Dimitri was so perfect I loved him so much yet I still couldn't read the expressions that lay upon his face. It was like he had gone to stone again...It was...It was as though the old Dimitri had come back. The Dimitri that could keep is feelings hid from the rest of the world... even me.

Everything had passed in a daze since the verdict of a trail came back. It's not a understatement to say that I am terrified. Would my own kind, my friends, and my family think for one minute that I could do such a crime? Could Dimitri think I could do such a crime? I had so many questions, so many thoughts and really no one could answer me.

My mind has been that focused that fixated on what Abe had said to me as he was walking off that I...I had completely forgot about the letter that the Queen had written for me. Was it really from her? I think so but what do I do? How do I act upon the information that she has just given me without alerting too many people?

I needed Abe. I needed to speak to him. I don't know him all that well but he is my father and I trust him. He has helped me immensely and I need his help now.

I didn't know how long I had been back in detention but I know it had been a while and like Dimitri there were guards on the cell. Not has many has Dimitri had but they were still there.

None of them would talk it was just a horrible, Constant silence that echoed the place. I didn't like it. In fact I hated it. Until I noticed the one Guardian I could talk to, until I noticed the one guardian who would listen to me and try and help me. That was Tomas.

I didn't give myself time to think before I was of the bed and heading for the entrance to the cell. "Tomas" I said in low whisper but louder enough for him to hear. I know he heard me because on the mention of his name he spun around and looked at me. "Yes Rose, What can I do for you?" he asked in gentle subtle tone. "I need you to get me a visit with Abe. I need to see him." I didn't mean to sound has hesitant as I did but there was nothing I could do about that know.

"Rose" Tomas said and in the way that he said it I knew he was showing sympathy for me but at the same time I also knew the next words he was going to say were. "Oh, Rose, I am sorry but, but we are under strict orders. No one's allowed in to see you. Not until. Not until we get the okay from the council."

My heart sank. I had no communication with anyone but the guardian in here and none of them could help me. I gave up I knew no matter what I said that there was nothing Tomas could do for me.

I sat back down on the bed and cradled my legs to my chest. I let myself go into Lissa's head.

She was in her room with Christian. Curled up in his arms. She was crying and he was comforting her. "Why won't they let me see her?" she was asking Christian. "She's all alone in there, she shouldn't be. I should be there. I should be with her." And then he spoke. I didn't even notice he was there but he spoke and she turned to look at him.

"She knows_" he looked into Lissa's eyes, really stared into her eyes and then he changed what he was going to say. "She is here now" Lissa didn't understand what he was saying but I could. He could see me in her. He knew when I was with her. "What do you mean?" Christian put in.

He hadn't stopped staring in to Lissa eyes. His brown eyes were gorgeous. If I had have been the in person then I would have gotten lost in them but I wasn't so I couldn't I saw what Lissa was looking at and by now she had rested her head back on Christians chest.

"What do you mean?" Christian spoke again. "I mean" Dimitri started. "I mean she's in Lissa's head and listening to us. She is with us." And that is when Lissa started talking to me.

"Oh Rose, I wish there was something I could do to make this better. I wish I could take your place. I'm sorry Rose I should have been there more for you. I shouldn't have left all the time. I'm sorry Rose."

She was speaking through her mind so I knew the others didn't hear a word of it and it is at times like this that I wish I could speak to her through the bond but I couldn't so I had to just listen.

"Rose" Dimitri spoke out. "We will help you. We will get you out of there. I promise you that. I owe you that much."

I was starting to get upset not once did any of them say I didn't do it, not out load anyway. I knew because of how Lissa felt that she thought I wasn't capable of something so awful and she was right. If I wasn't cooped up in here I would have been getting a case together to prove me innocent and find the real culprit of Tatiana's murder.

The way Dimitri had spoke to me made me think he cared but rose 'love fades' remember 'mine has' was all I remembered. It was the last thing I directly heard from Dimitri before I was bought here, well that was aimed at me and that was before he saw me through Lissa's eye's. He shattered me as soon as the words left his lips, my heart broke into a million pieces never to be whole again. He shattered my soul the moment he told me his love had faded.

Lissa had started crying again. I think she knew that there was nothing that they could physically or possibly do to get me out of this mess. No one could. Not even Abe and he can do a lot of things that would be impossible to people.

I couldn't bear to see Lissa like that so I came back to my own body. I was shocked to see Tomas Leant over me with two other guardians stood behind him.

"Rose" he spoke loudly and I jumped up "What?" I asked "Come with us" Tomas replied. Where was I going now? Where were they taking me? The trail couldn't be now could it? Not so soon! He put the cuffs on me and escorted me through the door that led to the entrance and stood there at the desk was...My mouth dropped.

Janine Hathaway!

My mother stood there. She came running straight to me as soon as she caught a glimpse of me. "What mess have you gotten yourself into now Rose?" She always put on a hard face so I didn't expect anything more from her but when she hugged me I was dumbfounded. I wasn't expecting it at all. She stepped back then and stroked my chin. "Take the cuffs of her" she said and Tomas looked hesitant but did has she asked.

I was shocked that the guards had actually paid attention to her. They had made it easy for me to run but somehow my mother knew I wouldn't. At that moment that is when I realised that my mother trusted me to do the right thing even when I was in so much trouble.

There was a little seating area not far from the main reception desk and she pulled me over to it. Tomas followed but my mother spoke sternly. "Let me speak with Rose... Alone!"

"Your shocked to see me?" she said "Y...Yes, you're the last person I expected to see." I spoke honestly and the truth was she was the last person I expected to see. "I understand Abe is already here" it was another question "he's somewhere." I spoke.

My mother would know what the punishments would be if I was found guilty so before I even realise I was asking I was half way through the first question.

"Abe said royal traitors don't go to prison. Is he right?" When she looked at me in the way that she did I knew that I meant more to her than she ever let me know I also knew that what Abe said was right. Who was I to second guess the Smey.

"Rose" she started but I put in. "If...If I get found guilty of what there accusing me off...will they execute me? Is that what my punishment will be? My life." I could see the tears in my mothers eyes forming and I also knew that, that would be happening to me.

"Rose" she spoke again at the same time as stroking my cheek. "I won't let that happen. Not to you."

She was in pain. She was scared, terrified even. I knew that just by looking at her. "How do you plan on doing that?" I asked "The evidence. It wasn't me. How did they get it all? They want it to be me. It's a set up." And with that I hung my head.

I felt emotionally exguasted. I didn't expect this to happen to me. I didn't expect someone to kill the Queen but hey that happened.

"Rose, I won't let them hurt you. I won't" and she had tears now. "Rose you are all I have in this world and I am not letting them take that away from me."

I had never seen my mother like this before yet I was happy she was. It made me realise she wasn't a stone after all. It made me realise she wasn't cold and most of all it made me realise she really did love me. She really loved me.

We were embraced in a hug when the doors flew open and in walked Hans. He looked shocked at the scene in front of his eyes but he didn't mind. He knew me and I could tell by the look on his face he believed I was innocent but he had a job to do and that job was to protect and enforce the law was not broken on anyone's behalf.

"I came to tell you they said Rose could now have visitors but I suppose you have already been letting her."

"No" Tomas was the only one that spoke "We let her mother see her, that is it. Besides Hans you can't seriously think for one minute Rose would do what they say she did can you?"

Hans looked at Tomas in shock as did some of the others. Did people really believe me to be guilty?

"No" Hans spoke up. "I do not believe Rose would do such a thing. She is a great guardian, one of the best and I know she can be reckless at time and that she does break the rule but murder. No I do not believe Rose is capable of that."

It was then that most of the guardians in the room agreed with him and I knew just at the sight that they didn't believe I was guilty but still they had to enforce the law and follow orders from the royals. Not all of them believed me to be innocent but most...the ones who knew me or had met me did and that was enough for me to know people had faith in me. People actually trusted me.

I still had my head lent on my mother when Hans came over to me. My mother nodded to him and he did the same in return. "Rose" he spoke at the same time placing a hand on my knee. "You have our full support, but just because we support you doesn't mean that we can break the rules. You're going to have to go back down to the cell. I am sorry but that is the rules. They shouldn't have allowed you up here in the first place" and then my mother spoke "Hans with all due respect I understand what you are saying but Rose is no danger to anyone, herself maybe but us no. She will not run I can assure you that. Rose will see this through but then you know that yourself already."

"Janine I know you will not want to see your daughter locked up but if the royals find out. If they know what we are doing, we will all be in trouble. The royals believe her to be dangerous and all though we know or think she will not do anything you have got to remember she is one of the most prestigious guardians there is, she is one of the strongest. I have a job to do I am sorry if you don't like that but I have a law to uphold. Rose I'm sorry but there going to have to take you back to the cells. Your mother can go with you and rather than speaking through the bars I will allow for the cell to be open but up here, I am sorry I cannot take the risk of you being up here. I hope you understand besides I am under strict orders not to let Vasilisa Dragomir or Adrian Ivashkov anywhere near you because you're a high security prisoner and I am sure that now they know visitors have been authorised it won't be long before there her. So I am Sorry I cannot risk you being here."

My mother was just about to speak but I cut her off there was no way I was going to let her get into a argument with Hans. Besides I was tired of fighting the people who wanted to help me. The people who believed in me so I spoke to cut my mother of "I understand. Your only doing your job and no one can criticise or judge you for that." And then I stood up "Lead the way then Tomas" all whilst I did this my heart was sunk. I wouldn't cry in front of them that is something I would never do. Believe me I wanted to cry more than anything but I wouldn't I would keep a stone face. I wasn't going to let them see me weak. I was pissed that this was happening to me and my blood boiled but at the same time my heart was sank as I felt weak because I knew there was a big chance I was going to die and never get the chance to properly see Lissa or say goodbye.

As I walked over to Tomas my mother was behind me but the door swung open again and in walked the two most important people to me. Lissa and Dimitri along with Dmitri's guards. By the gasp and the words that escaped my mother's mouth I think she was in shock to see Dimitri again. "It's true then you have been turned back. Wow this could change everything."

I don't think anyone was really paying attention to what my mother was saying because Lissa threw herself at me "Oh Rose, Rose, are you okay?" but I was fixated on Dimitri. I didn't care what he said he still loved me I know he does.

"TOMAS" Hans screamed "NOW" by that Tomas knew what Hans was talking about and so did I. I turned to follow Tomas when Lissa screamed "NOOOO!"

"Rose don't go" she was pleading with me and Tomas was tugging at me to go with him. "Tomas give me a minute Okay" by now the entrance to the holding cells was full you could barley move. Yet everyone here supported me. None of them believe I had done it and that comforted me even if I was going to die soon.

"Liss I have too. I don't have a choice. Believe me if I could leave with you right now and go and do some of the things that we normally would do I would in a shot but its not possible right now. I don't want to get anyone in trouble but the longer I stay up here the more likely I am. Do you think for one minute I want to be stuck down there because I don't I really don't but I do not have the choice? I'm sorry Liss but I have to go back." I gave Liss a hug I hated seeing her like this it really tore at me but there was nothing I could do.

"Rose" she spoke softly "I'll be down shortly" I nodded to her knowing all the time that she wouldn't be coming down there, knowing all the time that Hans would never allow it, that he would not break the courts strict ruling on visitors so I followed Tomas down to the cell I'd been in earlier. I thought my mother would have followed us but she didn't. We had left everyone up in the entrance shocked. In fact you could hear the noise and commotion from up there were me and Tomas wore and two other guardians that had also come.

Has I was put back in the cell I felt my eyes water. "Tomas, Thank you, Thanks for sticking up for me. I appreciate it." He looked shocked that I had spoken to him but he smiled at me "I have faith in you Rose, things will figure themselves out. To many people rely on your help" and with that he locked the cell and left.

I was alone again. I could feel all the anxiety, hurt, anger and stress going through Lissa's body she really needed to calm down. Seriously calm down.

I was worried about her but instead of focusing on her I curled up and cradled my legs to my chest. I wanted to cry. Do nothing but cry but Dimitri stood at the cell door. Tomas was letting him in.

As soon as the door flew open he was next to me in a shot. His arm went around me in like a hug from the side. "Oh Roza, My Roza, what are we going to do?" I just looked at him. He had called me his Roza. His Roza. Does that mean he wanted me?

I leant my head on his chest and it felt great. It felt so right and then my emotions got the better of me. I started crying into Dimitri's chest. "That's it" he was saying "Let it out" and I did. I must have been with Dimitri for ages in silence before I got it together. He'd been comforting me stroking my hair whilst I was crying telling me to let it all out but once I got myself together. I felt stupid. I, the Rose Hathaway never cried, never got defeated yet here I just had and in front of Dimitri of all people.

I jumped up out of his arms and he looked startled "What is it Rose?"

"Why are you here? What did you come for?" I spat out. He looked at me confused like the answer was the most obvious thing in the world but then he spoke "Because you need me Roza and I don't want you to leave this world me being the last person to seriously hurt you" Oh no he didn't just say that. He didn't just act like he's given up.

"You came for-You came so you wouldn't feel guilty when they execute me" I screamed. He flinched. I was looking at him but he was stoic, he really had lost his feelings for me he really didn't care anymore. All the fighting I did all the pain I went through to bring my one true love back was all for nothing because the Dimitri I once knew would never come back and that hurt more than him being dead. It hurt to be rejected.

"Get out" I screamed at the top of my lungs and the words echoed through the entire building that even the guards on duty jumped a little.

"Roza gi-"

"Go, leave me alone, give me some time. I need time to take it all in."

"Roza I'll be back" and with that he was half way down the corridor which led to the entrance and one of the guardians that had witnessed it all was at the door locking it. And me well...I was on my own AGAIN!