I know it's been a really really long time and please don't kill me. I finished nursing school, graduated, and passed my State boards. I began my first RN job and it has been a little hectic finishing everything plus my previous job being closed down and me being laid off…. But besides that Life is amazing right now so I have finally found the time to go through and fix this. God willing I'll have the next update in a few days. I'll start on it the first thing in the morning when I wake up. I'm off for a few more days so hopefully I'll get this story finished at least before the year is up. I am having a few deviations from the first draft of this story so expect something's that might shock you. No one is safe from my devious mind.

Thanks so much for the reviews I've received and the belief you guys have in me! They are amazing and I'm so sorry I've disappointed you!

Any mistakes you find are indeed mine; I don't have time for a beta so I'm just human.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize, well except for Derrick, Selene, Shadow and Alexander.

Everything seemed to be going pretty smoothly, we'd made it to the highway in record time. I couldn't tell exactly where we were going but I knew we were heading south. Who knew all that drilling the directions in our heads at the academy would pay off?

I listened to the random songs that came on the radio and my passenger "Lissa" stuck his head out the window. I occasionally listened in on Derrick's mind. He was focused on driving and wouldn't tell me anything about where we were going.

Damn him.

I knew we were going to have to pull over soon and rest. The sun was starting to rise and Lissa and Christian couldn't handle being in the sun for too long. It would weaken them and Lissa being in her current state, would be easily weakened by the rays of the sun.

I checked the rearview and still saw nothing. It was just Derrick's truck and my car on the road. The surrounding area was still covered with trees. I'd say we'd been on the road for two hours. We were away from the court and were just preparing to enter West Virginia.

Damn we make good timing. Although I truly hope all the movies about West Virginia was wrong. I couldn't deal with any inbred cannibalistic crazy people right now.

I've already had to deal with crazy and Alexander's looming shadow was ever present in the back of my mind. Derrick had told me that with Selene protecting me, he couldn't control me but I couldn't be too careful.

Without the ever presence cheerfulness of Derrick the full impact of what was coming was hitting me. I could lose someone I cared dearly about in the next few weeks. Lissa with her children, Comrade, yes, even Christian, and Derrick. I don't know what I'd do if I lost Derrick.

I gripped the leather steering wheel tightly underneath my hands. I don't know what the hell is going on but I need to stop thinking like this.

I took a deep breath in and changed the radio station.

Move bitch began to play and I couldn't help but laugh. I hadn't heard the song in forever.

Actually not since I stopped partying and drinking and starting taking guarding seriously, Wow I've changed.

My phone chimed and drew me out of my thoughts.

There's a hotel a few miles up, we are pulling over there and letting Lissa and Christian rest. 3 you.

I smiled at the heart as I sent a K. I wasn't one for texting while driving, I mean, I'm a kickass guardian, what kind of death would it be if I survive all these battles and die wrapped around a tree because I was looking at my phone?

I was driven out of my thoughts as a shiver went through my spine and my stomach decided to cramp up.

"Shit." I murmured out loud as I reached out and turned the volume down and casually looked into my rearview.

About fifty feet back was a black dodge charger with tinted windows. I picked up my phone and hit speed dial.

"We've got a tail Derri-poo" I spoke as he answered.

"I noticed a couple of minutes ago, they aren't close enough yet, but darling if they start getting frisky. Lead em away" he drawled as I heard some country song playing and Christian groaning.

"Will do, love you guys."

"Love you baby boo" Derrick purred before he hung up. I heard the distinct roar of the hemi engine and I noticed the charger was gaining. Fast.

Well, guess it's time for this show to get on the road. I looked back in the rearview seeing the headlights drawing closer. I sighed, shifting my hand on the shifter.

"Drop your socks and grab your crotch Shadow, it's going to get a little bumpy" I purred pressing in the clutch and shifting. The engine roared to life as I swung out just as the charger roared in where I'd been. I shifted again as I flew by Derricks' truck. I swung back in front of him just as an eighteen wheeler flew down the other lane. Derrick laid on the horn line I knew he would. The charger roared past him as the eighteen wheeler laid on the horn and slammed the breaks.

The charger veered off on the other side of the road onto its shoulder as I gassed it. I could see his headlights and I knew he'd be after me.

I'd rather me than the others. I watched as Derrick and the others, who I couldn't see, turned and pulled off onto an off ramp.

I drove on keeping an eye on the rearview. The headlights had disappeared but I know, Strigoi could see in the dark. Nearly better than I could.

Glancing ahead of me, I noticed an exit to what looked to be a little back road, it looked curvy as hell so why not?

I quickly shut my headlights off as I turned onto the ramp and took a quick left. There was a small church on the side of the road with a deer eating grass in the front yard.

I zoomed by it praying that it wouldn't have friend ready to run out in front of me.

With no idea where I 'm going, I could only hope to lose them.

I drove on the small stretch of road that looked to me like it was heading to bum fuck Egypt. There were long stretches of wooden fences and broken down barns.

"This is some creepy shit shadow, if I see a cornfield I'm turning around. I've got enough supernatural shit to deal with. We ain't throwing in Jeepers Creepers" I couldn't help but say glancing around at the fields of hay that I passed. The large black dog was just looking out the window. Seemingly completely at ease in the current situation.

"You are a weird doggie" I murmured, shaking my head at him. Of course, he'd put up with Derrick all this time, no wonder he was weird.

I changed the channel on the radio to some kind of old rock station.

"There is a house in New Orleans, they call the rising sun" I reached out and changed the dial as a shiver ran down my spine. "Oh my god I'm getting out of here." I gasped, stopping the car when I noticed a small driveway. I pulled into the gravel driveway and shifted into reverse.

I leaned back to look and started to back out but shadows bark made me turn around.

What I saw made a sweat break out and my heart to pound. I never thought I'd see him again.

With bright red wavy hair and a lean muscled build. I couldn't believe it as I met his blue eyes.

Mason Ashford was standing in my headlights wearing the exact same clothes I'd seen him wearing the night that he'd been killed. His neck was still facing the wrong direction but his eyes and face were turned toward the lights. Facing me, his mouth moving and the only word I could make out was "Rose"

"Shit"

Don't kill me, I graduated and passed my state boards and begin my first job. I am truly sorry and I'm going to finish this, you guys have my word!

Reviews would be amazing. Thanks so much.