Author's Note: Hey there all, first off I don't own anything. I wish I did but that is a totally other story. . . anyway, I do own the main heroin and a few of the guardians and villains as they appear.

Author's Lesson: Abe Mazur NEVER loses. ^^

Love, Loss, and Life: Chapter 1

I looked around and took a deep breath as I entered what many, including my half-sister, believed to be the lair of the dragon. Ornate with all the velvet and wood, I wondered how old the furniture really was, but soon realized that I didn't really want to know, because it would make me fear that I would fall right through the seat. I glanced quickly at all of the art-work, and brought my eyes to the door that had kept many a people's attentions over the last 400 years of court's existence. This was the door that her highness Queen Tatiana Ivanshkov would be walking through any minute. Her status didn't actually impress me like it did the other millions of people; she was merely a person who knew how to get what she wanted and exercised that knowledge to follow through. I smirked; I would be there some day.

I was snapped quickly out of my train of thought by the door creaking and four guardians walking in, followed by Tatiana herself, then three more guardians. The guardians lined the perimeter of the circular throne room and looked emotionless as they checked for threats. Tatiana moved in a fluid motion that made her look like she was hovering over the ground. Her tiara was white gold, encrusted with diamonds and sat atop braided hair. Her outfit was rather flowing, made of gauze that wafted after her as time went on. Her regal air was astounding.

I bowed slightly after she sat down, abiding by social protocol immaculately, and sat when she motioned. This was nothing but a meeting, but it could shape my future forevermore. "Lillian Ozera-Mazur, to what do I own this lovely meeting? Congratulations on graduating, by the way, I heard of the great surprise of many people when you got assigned three guardians, especially since they were the top three in the class. You deserve them too, you will accomplish a lot in your lifetime no doubt."

I took a deep breath and prepared to be the politician that I always wanted to become, "Your Highness, I am here today because I was wondering if you had any suggestions for me of a royal figure that I can learn from so that I may someday be involved in bettering the Moroi world. I would very much like to hold high power at the youngest age possible, perhaps to get a younger opinion on the counsel," I finished, throwing a confident smile on the end, you have to act royal to be treated royal my mother, Tasha Ozera, always said.

"Well," Tatiana continued as if she were pondering a thought while speaking, "You are a rising star in the Moroi world with impeccable tact and a sharp mind. Perhaps you would enjoy shadowing me as an assistant. It would not only get some much needed recognition for the Ozera name, but also take some of the infamy out of the Mazur name. Despite the overwhelming urge to wonder an ulterior motive, I do believe a younger voice in politics would help our world."

I sat in a combination of awe and delight. I figured that she was going to suggest, at best, the Ozera Princess not herself! I couldn't help a small smile that bent the corner of my mouth, not a big one as to break tact, but a smile none the less. "That would be most appreciated and above and beyond expectations ten-fold," I finally spit out trying desperately to speak as though I still had class.

"Wonderful," she said with a smile that I couldn't quite place and promptly rose from her seat, causing me to rise as well, "Then I will see you here at 9:00 pm sharp tomorrow to start. Have a nice day." And with that comment, and the finality in the tone of her voice I knew it was my cue to bow and leave the room. I exited the room feeling so excited that tomorrow I would intern with the queen!

As I walked through the palace doors my guardians quickly came to my side. Ever the quiet team, I wondered if one of them even had a voice. "Guys, I know you were trained to be invisible and all, but you really can talk. I don't mind, I am not like most royal brats." I said trying to get a word out of any one of them.

I glanced at all three, Pavel, my dad's choice guardian, looked away and wouldn't even acknowledge the comment, Dimitri, the top graduating guardian, nodded and somewhat grunted to my comment but still didn't open his mouth to speak. Finally there was Mikhail, the graduate right after Dimitri, who didn't respond but looked like he wanted to. He would be the one that I tried to talk to. "What is it Guardian Nasser? You look like you wanted to say something," I tried with a smile as an attempt to actually hear his voice for once.

"Please call me Mikhail, or Guardian Mikhail if you prefer, but Guardian Nasser is my mother and I don't respond to it half of the time. I want to save you if you're in trouble, which means I need to know you mean me."

I smiled, jackpot! "Of course Mikhail. I would be more than happy to. So, what was it that you wanted to say?"

He took a deep breath and Pavel shot him a warning look, sighing he lied, "Oh it's nothing Lady Ozera-Mazur."

I shot a look at Pavel and then stopped and turned to Mikhail in the middle of the grassy courtyard in front of the guest royal housing, "Just tell me. Pavel is not your charge I am, and I say if it affects you, it isn't nothing."

He stared at me, conflicting emotions in his eyes, "Well I was wondering if I could possibly have this Saturday off in the later hours to go to dinner for my girlfriend and my anniversary?"

Awe, I thought, he's in love! "Of course you can! If you would have told me sooner I could have gotten you reservations at La Francis de Dines, but I digress." I started walking again but quickly added, "By the way, I want you all to call me Lily not Lady whatever the hell. I am 18 not 80."

I was about to comment because I saw Dimitri smile a bit, often I caught him smiling at me when he thought I wasn't looking, but my boyfriend and his little sister, whom I vehemently despise, walked past us. I motioned for my guardians to stay back, let them not talk to each-other if they were so dead set against talking to me.

"Andre," I said smiling and giving him a quick kiss. He was dressed, oddly to say the least. Compared to my blue summer sleeveless dress and heels, his solid black suit, black shirt, and green tie looked just depressing. His eyes, the beautiful pale green color that always showed such joy showed total distress. "Wait, Andre what's wrong?"

He stared down at me, "Lil, my parents just died in a car accident. I am now Prince Dragomir." His eyes looked like the load of the world was on his shoulders, when in all actually, it was only most of it. Dragomir was one of the twelve ruling families that led to the status quo of our society. He and I were both part of the twelve royal families. The oldest member of each family was considered the prince or princess. Most families were huge, with a lineage that would astound anyone. The Ozera family, where half of my lineage was from, and where I took the Lady part of my name (if you weren't the prince of princess you were lady or lord and then your name if royal), was in and of itself more than three hundred people strong. The Dragomir in its prime had just as many, but it was widely know how powerfully persuasive they could be, and the strigoi started to target them as a plan of attack. As of yesterday, there were only four left: Prince Dragomir, Andre's father, Lady Dragomir, his mother, Lord Dragomir, Andre himself, and Lady Dragomir, Andre's kid sister Vassilla who goes by the name Lissa. Now only two remain, Andre and Lissa. That made Andre prince.

I stood there in shock; I didn't know what else to do. I had always liked Andre's family, and they I, but this was out of my league of social protocol. This didn't happen, no one died like this. Both elder members did not die in a family! I had to say something though, "Andre, oh my god I am so sorry!" I spoke in a quiet voice. All this time I have been pinning for a counsel spot or higher and now he is thrust into it against his will. I grabbed his hand and pulled him into a hug. I knew it wouldn't fix it, but it would help. . . I think.

His arms wrapped around my waste, a familiar feeling that now was foreign. "It'll be alright," he mumbled into my ear at first, letting my black hair shield him as he let a solitary teardrop fall, "I'm just worried about Lissa, how am I supposed raise her, rule, and not go insane?"

"I'll help in every way that I can whatever you need or want me to do," I said almost immediately without a second thought. This wasn't about politics, nor about trying to get ahead, but rather just helping my 20 year old love, Andre. I wasn't a huge fan of his sister; quite frankly I hated her because she was friends with my half-sister, the dhampir Rose Hathaway. Even though neither her nor Rose knew we were related by father, Abe Mazur, I still didn't want to be anywhere near her. However she was still 13 year old girl who needed help, and more importantly she was Andre's blood.

He let out a half choked laugh and pulled a bit away, not removing his arms but looking me in the face. "I know you would, Lil, but I don't want to take you down with me. I-I my mother and father left a note as they died they wrote it. They were saying goodbye." Andre's eyes grew distant as he looked off into the far side. Taking one hand off my waist and putting it in his jacket pocket he handed me the not. I pulled my arms from around his neck and began to unfold it when I heard him mumble, "Not out loud, Liss cannot hear it. At least not yet, maybe when she is older, but not yet."

I finished unfolding and saw the blood smudges from their fingers on the edges. Taking a breath I began to read the note, promising myself I wouldn't stop until I finished reading it in its entirety. And so it began: