5 years earlier

I laugh uncontrollably as Lissa and I tumble out the doors and away from the party that was celebrating my day. "Do you remember that day…." she suddenly dissolves into laughter. "When you tried to baptize that cat?" I look at her face and I can't control my laughter any longer. Back in the first grade there was this old stripped tabby cat that would follow Lissa and me everywhere. One day after I was dragged to church I decided I wanted to baptize the cat, you know so it could get in heaven. Well that's what I told Lissa really I just wanted to see what would happen.

"Cats do not like water in anyway." I follow her further into the woods, "I was covered in cuts for days."

She turns toward me and smiles, "It never touched me." I scrawl at her which just makes her dissolves into laughter again.

"Hey! Do you remember when I jumped out the window with a trash bag as my parachute?" I ask laughing as I think back to a time when bruises and broken bones were a daily thing.

The happiness flows through the bond as she remembers all the nights we spent causing trouble and sneaking out. "I can't believe all the stuff we did back then Rosie." I smile as I think about us when we were in kindergarten then middle school and finally where we are now. We've been through so much but I wouldn't change it for anything.

Our laughter dies down as we walk away from the booming music and alcohol; I catch a slight movement out my right eye. Staring closer I realize that there's a shadow blending in with the snow covered trees and bushes. Grabbing Lissa I pull her behind me and keep one hand on her.

The shadow steps out and the height gives away who it is immediately.

Dimitri.

I smile and take a step closer until I realize that he's dressed from head to toe in black.

Oh great another test.

I react instantly reaching for my 'stake' I'd been given for the trials that I thought had ended yesterday. I turn toward my attacker; I have to defend my moroi. I feel Lissa step away from my protection and turn just as thousands of lights are turned on. She set me up, I had thought our walk was aimless but really I was lead into a large field where just about the entire school sat waiting. Waiting for the ultimate showdown, student vs. mentor.

Standing across from him is something I expected to say the least. I knew that one day we would have to spar in front of others and I had prepared myself physically along with mentally. Despite this I still had this part of me saying that I couldn't fight him, that he was my Dimitri. I push that part to the back of my mind he isn't my Dimitri right now. He's the strigoi threatening Lissa or at least that's how I'm going to think about it.

I spring towards him hoping to catch him by surprise, a feat I've yet to accomplish this time included. I may be fast but he was faster, always faster. He lands a blow to the side of my head making my world spin. It doesn't hurt at least not right now. Later it would hurt like a bitch. We continue to attack, exchanging hits and misses. We are too evenly matched; he taught me everything I know. I can anticipate him just like he can me and before long we're in a sort of dance.

He knows every move I have except one. One that could cost me everything or win everything for me. He jumps toward me but I slid across the ground beneath him jumping up and wrapping my legs around his neck and instantly flipping him onto the ground knocking the breath from him. His momentary pause gives me just enough time to grip my stake and bring it down onto his heart.

"Dead." I win.

The crowd around us begins to cheer and continue all the way back to their dorms. I hang back hoping to catch Dimitri. I guess luck is on my side because I see him walking towards me. "Rose I need to have a word with you." He sounds and looks so formal as he walks toward me with his guardian mask in place. I guess he didn't approve of the move. I stop walking and wait for him to reach me. "Do you know how dangerous that move was?" He sounds mad and it pisses me off.

"Yes I do but guess what it worked." The attitude oozes from my voice and his eyes find my and the disapproval is evident.

"What if next time it doesn't? If you die then Lissa dies. Is that what you want?" I push my feeling of guilt back as my anger grows. "You're not acting like a guardian Rosemarie."

"What the hell Dimitri you aren't a strigoi! I wouldn't try that move with one so chill the fuck out." My voice never rises above a normal tone but the venom is easy to hear. He turns to look at me guardian mask down and I can read him like a book. He's a book full of regret and sadness, one you would never read but one that I've already read. "What's wrong Dimitri?"

"Rose I'm leaving to guard Tasha." The nausea that fills my stomach isn't because of any strigoi this time but because of him. The man I love more than anything. I search his face for any emotion but he has his mask back up, I feel my knees buckle moments before I realize I'm falling. Raising my eyes from the ground I look up towards him.

"I can't do this without you." The weakness I'm showing doesn't even bother me for once because right now all I know is that I'm losing him and it's killing me. All I can see is a life without my Dimitri. A life with no old western books, bad music, Russian accents, cowboy dusters or being called Roza.

"You can Rose. That's what you just showed the entire academy. You've learned all I can teach you and now I have to go."

"Please stay." My voice sounds so broken and unlike me that I think it catches him off guard.

"Don't make this any harder Rose. Please." The weakness in his voice causes my eyes to tear up. Standing up I walk towards him.

I have to let go and make this easier. Hearing him sound so weak is wrong.

"Goodbye Comrade." I say placing my hand on his arms before I turn and walk back towards my dorm.

"Goodbye my Roza." I turn back and watch as he sits on the ground.

"Love you Comrade." I whisper loud enough only for myself to hear.