Dimitri's POV in Spirit Bound Vampire Academy

Chapter 3a

The endless hills of Pennsylvania made it very much different to Montana's rocky landscape. I spared a glance at its scenery, before turning away. I had plenty of time to think, now it was time to take action. I was so focused, I barely acknowledged the the azure skies, which lightened in colour by the rising sun.
What I had noticed, was her hypnotic scent. Rose was here, meaning that she had gone to the Royal Court. Whilst she had a place to stay at, I didn't. Not yet. Galina had a list of all the estates and shockingly, there wasn't any here. They went as far as building them in Europe, but how could they forget Moroi central?
Many of the occupants of this state were Strigoi, which isn't a surprise since many of us targeted the royal Moroi. With that in mind, they certainly do need a place to stay. The beauty of Pennsylvania was their caves, there were so many. What was the Moroi, who built the Royal Court, thinking? When there were so many shelters for the Strigoi, why choose to keep safe here?
No matter, they were doing us a favour. I instructed the Strigoi and humans to shelter in the caves, which Boris lead them to. Sonya Karp had spent some of her new life here, before she was told of the estates. She knew about these caves, just like Boris and Donovan, who had also lived here before. Just to be certain, I followed Rose's scent, and found myself standing in front of where I had expected she'd be at: the Royal Court
I smiled in triumph, turned away and sprinted towards the nearest cave. Weak rays of painful sunlight lit the night sky, making contact with my skin. I flinched as my skin began to smoke, but kept my pace. The sun hadn't even risen yet and those rays burnt like molten iron. I couldn't begin to imagine how it felt to die this way, in thick hellish flames. Why had I adored the flaming blow of the sun before? The memories of being a dhampir, the thoughts and beliefs, felt so foreign. I could hardly believe they had been my own.
The caves became darker the deeper I went. I rushed to the furthest corner and paused, ignoring the whispers of the Strigoi and humans that followed. The damaging effects of the sun slowly reversed, as my blackened thick skin returned to a gleaming white. I watched it with impassive eyes, back against the dry walls. My legs slowly gave in, and I collapsed onto the floor out of boredom.
"The Royal Court, you know where it is." My eyes landed on a human I had known to be as Oleg, I made eye contact and he shuddered. "Go, just your group. Call if necessary." He nodded, before half of the humans walked towards the only source of light, and known exit.
I spared a moment to absorb my surroundings. Unsurprisingly, the cave wasn't "caveman-like", it was actually quite modern. If you consider the fact that Strigoi would live in these, then it didn't come as much of a shock. Sure, the walls were a earthy brown, that matched the ground. But it still had chairs, and tables, and many other types of luxuries. It even had electrical lighting, I discovered and switched it on.
I now noticed the finer details, the cracks in the walls, the dent from the impact of fists. Crusted blood splattered in areas, something told me this blood had been from a Strigoi. There were no bodies in sight, which I was thankful for. The rotting stench of a corpse wouldn't be something I could handle right now. Not in the hours I had to kill before the glow of the moon became visible.

*****

I let a full day pass, almost two, without doing anything productive. There was nothing left for me to do, other than wait for Rose. Once she plays her part, it'll be the end of the show, and her. She wouldn't believe that, even when against all odds, which is why I am certain she will step out of those wards. It was also another reason why I had fell for her, despite the risk.
It was the middle of the night? Or day for me? I wasn't sure, but the sun had taken shelter and placed the Earth into darkness. The moon now ruled the land, its silvery lighy, cool and chilling, contrasted the glare of the sun. I stepped out of the caves, stretching my limbs. I had been there for a long time, and my muscles were slightly stiff.
I savoured the strangely cold moonlight for about a millisecond. Hardly noticeable amongst the Strigoi, I hoped. I was demanding of blood, to satisfy that undying thirst for that sweet, sweet drink. I leisurely strolled through the streets, as if it were a walk in the park. That was, until, I reached the darkest of streets. Perfect.
I grabbed a victim at random, a short lonely male, and bit him. I didn't bother with an introduction, he wouldn't need it where he was going. The second the crimson drops landed on my tongue, I drank uncontrollably. The alluring scent of blood, blended with the addictive taste was amazing. I was once met again with the endorphin-like haze that followed. I had only ever been bitten once---before I was awakened---that feeling had never left me. Nor will it ever, not when the resemblance of feeding and being fed from, felt so similar.
It made sense why the humans Moroi feed from, found the sensation pleasant. And the suffering they faced when classed as obsolete, I could almost relate. If I was suddenly unable to drink blood, I'd genuinely go crazy. One of the likable aspects of an eternal life like mine, was blood. The taste . . . I'd never be able to put it into words, to put the true effects of blood accoss.
I concealed the body in a nearby cluster of trees. The expression of the man infront of me . . . He looked so peaceful, so cheery, just like most of my other victims. I killed him, ended his life and he died a happy man. He plunged into the unknown realm, or death, grinning whilst some of us Strigoi may never cross that bridge.
I suddenly began to question my actions. I had constantly talked of how Rose had missed out on infinite power and life. How she would die because of this. What if I was the one missing out? What if there really was a better place planned for me?
That was nonscence, it had to be. If not, if there really was a better place, or heaven, there was also a hell. I'd be there, with the deaths I've caused. I shook my head. I needed to leave, the night isn't going to last forever. I had zoned out, that far from reality that I failed to notice the one thing I was really intent on tracking in the first place.
The blood was still warm, I could feel it pumping through my body. The short burst of energy allowed me to run at full speed. People, buildings, places flashed past me, and became nothing but a blur. My shoulder length brown hair flapped in the wind, and cool air caressed my exposed skin. My leather duster danced in the wind, mimicing a cape. If creatures of the night had capes.
The night was still blooming, and I had plenty of time to do as I please. Though Pennysylvania was still new in my eyes, I found nothing interesting, or out of the ordinary. It looked like any other US state I'd ever been to. Looking it the greenery reminded me of home, how I longed to return and rule my own estate. It felt like years since I had been there: the hedge maze and its jasmines, the rich blood red of the carpet, even the paintings which I faintly recognised.
I skidded to a stop infront of the Royal Court, a lazy smile plastered on my face. Rose, my Roza, I told you I'd be watching. I'd never let you leave without me knowing---
I stiffened. Why couldn't I find it, Rose's scent? I circled the building and sighed in relief, I just barely caught her scent in the wind. It was there, but like at the Academy, it barely lingered. She had left, that was clear. It must have been hours ago, in daylight, judging by the strength of her almost non-existent trail. What puzzled me was the fact that she had escaped past the spies, without them noticing.
If they had known, they would have called me a long time ago. "Come here." I yelled at a spy. He rushed forward, driven by fear. "She's already left, weren't you watching properly?"
"We did, all of us. She was no where in sight." He answered respectively, his eyes cast towards the ground.
"Did anyone leave in daylight at all?" I demanded. He thought for a moment.
"Yes, just one male guardian alone. He went by car." No one else at all, strange. "He returned a few hours later alone." I looked at the others to see their reaction, but they just nodded in agreement.
I turned towards the Courts one more time before turning back to the human. I would have killed that human, I really would, but my recent feeding left me in a good mood. Rose hadn't infuriated me at all, I was already expecting her to leave. I was also hoping for an accurate trail to follow. That seemed like too much to ask for the humans, apparently, I had to rely on myself to do the work.
With her dying scent, I wasn't sure I'd make it in time.

*********************
Full chapters are long. So, I have split it into two for quicker.

x_aNoNYMouSTaCHe_x