AN: Hi! This is my first venture into VA fanfiction. This idea sort of popped into my head late one night and I had all these ideas about plotlines and I couldn't sleep until I got some of it down. I don't know if this has already been done (I'm sure it has), but I hope this is interesting nonetheless.

I imagine this taking place after Vampire Academy – in the timeframe of Frostbite. Obviously, the roles have been reversed between Rose and Lissa and because of this, other things have obviously changed. I hope it makes sense, but if something is confusing, please let me know – I'm very open to advice etc.

Thank you and I hope you all like it! Updates won't be particularly regular but should be somewhat steady since the chapters aren't too long (yet).


The start of a new term never filled me with joy. After having spent the summer at my home in London, retuning to Middle-of-Nowhere, Montana was not the most appealing scenario. The fact that it was my final year didn't make it any easier – there was nothing to do at St Vladimir's except play the political game all Royals had to play. Without Sofia, it would be even harder. My heart dropped at the thought of my previous Guardian.

"It'll be fine," Lissa, my best friend, told me, smiling gently. She always seemed to know what I was thinking as well as feeling. "No one expects you to forget Sofia just like that."

Tears burned my eyes as Sofia's name was mentioned. Up until two weeks ago, she'd been my Guardian, the one sworn to protect me and my race with her life. Her death at the hands of the Strigoi who attacked us had proven just how loyal she and her Dhampir kind really were.

I nodded to Lissa so she knew I heard her, but I knew it did no good. I saw her eyebrows draw together as she felt how devastated I was through the bond. The stupid one-way bond that meant she could feel my emotions, even see the world through my eyes. The bond that had formed when I had saved her life two years ago.

Vasilissa Dragomir was a Dhampir, a member of the race that protected us, the Moroi, from any harm that would come to us. She wasn't my Guardian yet, but it was guaranteed that she would be once we graduated – after all, why let a bond like ours go to waste? Besides, I didn't want anybody else guarding me; I didn't trust anyone but Lissa and Sofia…and the latter was gone now.

"Look we're here," Lissa said to distract me from my own sadness. I looked up out the window and saw St Vladimir's Academy towering over us. The place I would call home for one last year. Another year that would surely be filled with hours labouring in a classroom trying to control my element: Spirit. Lissa had been the one to discover that the reason I'd not specialised was because I was a Spirit user – a being who could perform extraordinary acts…but with a price. My 'act' was healing, but over the summer we had discovered what that price was for me: my sanity. And it seemed that the price was also Sofia's life. The irony that I could heal but couldn't save one of my best friends was not lost on me – Sofia may have lived, but I would have completely lost my mind. Lissa wouldn't let me and I knew for a fact that Sofia wouldn't have wanted it either.

The car slowed to a stop outside the doors and I tried to brush my emotions away. I had a part to play in this castle – the part of a Princess, the final member of the Hathaway line. So I plastered a smile on my face, squeezed Lissa's hand one last time, and got out of the car. Sofia was gone and I couldn't dwell on 'what ifs' here as I had been doing for the previous weeks.

"Rosemarie! How wonderful to see you again!" Headmistress Kirova beamed at me from the doorway, although it looked like it took her much more effort to smile than it did to shout us like she usually did. I soon realised the reason for the smile: the school's Governors were here and were looking expectantly between Kirova and I. What was going on?

"Miss Hathaway," one of them began, stepping forward slightly. I didn't recognise him but he was surely from a Royal family or at least spoke on behalf of one. "It has come to our attention that you are currently without a Guardian. We'd like to offer you one our best to, er, compensate for the loss of Guardian Dakovra."

It was a miracle I kept the smile on my face with that blow. It wasn't unheard of for Moroi to develop a close friendship with their Guardians, but it was still somewhat unusual. Guardians were disposable to the Moroi and were expected to remain invisible unless requested otherwise. Their insensitive way of telling me that Sofia would be replaced filled me with a sense of dread that this man would never understand if he didn't love his Guardian as I had loved Sofia.

"I'm happy without a Guardian; I have Lissa…" I tried to reason, but as soon as the words were out of my mouth I could see the Governors shaking their heads with disapproving looks on their faces.

"That will not do, Miss Hathaway," the man spoke again, completely dismissing my desires as Royals tended to do. "You are a Royal. Really you should have two. But alas, we are limited. Anyway, Guardian Belikov has already been assigned to you."

With this, he made a hand gesture to one of the many Guardians stood by the doorway. Dressed all in black, a man stepped forward. I blinked in surprise – he was young – older than me, of course, but still young – and incredibly attractive. Dhampirs were always seen as attractive to Moroi, purely because they were so different from us – they were exotic. But this man (he was not a boy, that was for damn sure) was handsome in a different kind of way. Tall, really tall, dark and he had a face that was so…interesting. He looked…wise.

"Miss Hathaway, this is Guardian Dimitri Belikov – your new Guardian. Belikov – this is Rosemarie Hathaway."

I gave him a tight smile and started scowling at Kirova and the Governor. "Really, Lissa can protect me. I don't need, or want, another Guardian. I'll be here all year and I doubt any Strigoi will attack the school."

It was bad, so so bad, that I tried to use a little Compulsion in my speech. I didn't dare use it in full on so many people at once, so many Moroi, but a little bit wouldn't hurt anyone. Except me if I used it any more. I could tell that it was no use anyway when the man's face soured. "Miss Hathway, Belikov is your new Guardian whether you approve or not. Miss Dragomir is not a Guardian yet – she is a Novice." He spat the word out at me like it was poison.

"A Novice who could still kick your—" I heard Lissa growl behind me.

I put out an arm to stop her moving forwards and tried to send calming feelings through the bond. Play the game, Lissa. You can't get angry with these people – it will do nothing.

"Very well," I sighed to the man, glancing back to my new Guardian. "If you'll excuse me, Lissa and I need to unpack."

With that, I grabbed Lissa's hand and strode into the castle, not looking back to see if Dimitri was following. I assumed he was – that was their job, after all.

We'd only walked a few paces into the hallway when I heard an excited voice call for Lissa. We both whirled to our left to see Mason Ashford, another Dhampir who was crushing badly on Lis, grinning at her.

"Where have you been all my life Vasilissa?" He flirted, gallantly taking her hand and placing a sweeping kiss to it.

Happy that she had someone to joke around with but unwilling to witness, as always, the vast amount of attention she received, I smiled at them both.

"I'll catch you later, Lis. You and Mason have the summer to catch up on and I need to eat anyway."

Lissa looked like she was about to protest since she knew I was still upset over Sofia, but she knew me well enough to know when I needed some time alone.

They both smiled and waved to me as I walked off down the hallway, smiling politely at those who greeted me. I glanced behind to see if Dimitri was following. He was. Realising that I could have offended him before outside the doors, I slowed down to speak to the man who was to be a permanent fixture in my life for the foreseeable future.

"It's nothing personal against you, Guardian Belikov, that I don't want a Guardian. I'm sure you're as adept as they say, but really, I have no desire to be reminded of the fact that I'm weak and vulnerable and in need of protection."

"Of course, Your Highness. And please, call me Dimitri." His voice was deep and smooth with a hint of a Russian accent. It was as attractive as the rest of him.

"Rose is fine too," I replied, throwing a small smile at him. I may not have wanted him there, but the fact was that if we were to ever come across Strigoi, he would give his life to protect mine. That was worth respect, regardless of my childish impudence.

"Rose," he repeated, offering a restrained smile in return.


Any comments would be appreciated!