Chapte 1:
Greta POV:
"Hey, Greta." I look up when I hear my named being said by a Novice named Noah. I look in his direction and he jerks his chin towards the door. "I think you have a visitor." He says. I flick my head behind me and see my dad, Guardian Dimitri Belikov. His eyes rove around the room until he spots me. He motions for me come over to him. I get up off my knees and walk over to him. He leans down so we're the same height. I'm not much shorter than him but still a couple of inches off.
"Sorry to interrupt, vozlyublennyy, but you have to come with me." He says. I frown. "Don't worry. Your not in trouble. I just have to let your instructor know where you're going." I nod and watch as he walks over to one of the guardians keeping watch over the class. I lock eyes with Noah and his friend, Daniel. Noah mouths "what is it?" I shrug just before dad comes back. His eyes drift over to Noah and Daniel. He looks at them sceptically before ushering me off down the hall.
"What's this about?" I ask him. Even though I'm almost his height I still have to look up at him. "I haven't done anything wrong. At least to my memory." I say. He tilts his head to look down at me.
"I'm going to explain it when we get to Headmistress Kirova's office. Guardian Petrov and Alto will be there too." He says. I scowl. I don't particularly like Stan.
"Why Sta- I mean Guardian Alto. Why will he be there?" I ask. Dad doesn't look at me and all he says is.
"It'll be explained, vozlyublennyy." We continue our walk in silence.
When we get to the office, dad holds the door open for me and I walk in. Sitting in the middle of the room, behind her desk is, Kirova. She looks alright for her age. Her hair has started to turn grey at its roots and there are only a few wrinkles that grace her witch-like face. Well, I personally think she looks like a witch.
Off to the sides are Alberta, or formally known as Guardian Petrov, and then next to her, my most hated (and probably the schools) teacher, Stan Alto. Everyone outside of class just calls him Stan, but in class we call him by his formal name, Guardian Alto. He's very known for embarrassing kids for no real reason. I'm pretty sure my mother got her fair share of embarrassment from him in her years.
Both Guardians have there stone faces plastered on. I don't see how they can do that, really.
"Take a seat, Miss Belikov." Kirova gestures to one of the few seats in front of her. I give a polite smile as I sit down in front of her, but I think my expression changes to something more troubled. To ease my 'distress' she says "Your not in trouble, Miss Belikov. We're just here to talk." She says.
"Is this about my English grades? Because I'm trying to get them back on track." I say. My dad stands next to me and looks at me quizzically.
"Your grades are going down?" He asks. I nod
"Yeah. But only in English. We can talk about it later." I say quickly. "So," I look back at Kirova, "what's this about exactly. I can't think of any other reasons I'd be called in unless I am in trouble." I explain. Kirova cracks one of her not-so-evil looking smiles, but it quickly leaves her face and she straightens up in her chair.
"Miss Belikov, we have received a letter. Addressed to your father about you." She says slowly, choosing her words well. I notice my dad's head dropping a little. I place a hand on his arm.
"From who exactly?" I question. I can't think of anyone who knows me outside the school apart from my mother, Rose Hathaway, or the queen and her husband, Christian Ozera. But I couldn't think of any reason the queen nor her beloved would find time to write to me.
Kirova frowns, not quite knowing what to say, when Alberta steps forward. In her time, she must have been quite pretty, but the sun and constant work has shed her of it.
"Greta, you know of your father's... Past." She chooses words carefully, knowing that its a touching subject. But I nod all the same. "When Guardian Belikov... Was what he was, he was... Lets say very powerful. And when he was changed back, he gained many enemies among the stringoi. Very old and strong enemies." She says. I feel my father tense up with every word spoken.
My father and mother sat me down at the early age of seven and told me about it, among other things. I don't remember some of it, but I remember after he told me about it I gave him probably the biggest hug I've ever given anyone and told him I was glad I had him and not them. I pretty sure he started to sob.
Back in the office, I just stare at Alberta and don't say a thing. I answer her only to say that I do know what had happened. She continues. "When you were born, everyone in our society was stunned. The first dhampire-dhampire birth. It was incredible. Very soon, more of us were able to pro-create with each other. But that's against the point."
"And what is the point exactly?" I ask her.
"The point, Greta, is that the letter was a threat. Against you and your family." Stan said from his corner of the room.
"A threat from who?"
"The stringoi. When you were born, we tried to keep it as hushed as possible to assure your family's safety. Along with yours. We knew that it would get to the stringoi very soon, but still we did our best." Alberta continued. "This is the first threat we've received." Alberta held up a folded bit of paper I could only guess to be the letter. "This is the first we've heard from them about... Well anything. And they would only take the time to write something if they felt it was severely necessary. " she finished.
"This is really stupid question, but what does this have to do with me?" I ask.
"Because the letter wasn't directed at your mother and father. It was directed at you. It was threading you, not them." Stan said. He really look a bit exasperated. Nothing knew there. "From what we know from the date we received this letter, this is probably the first time the stringoi have found out about you." Stan says. He's about to continue when there's a polite knock at the door.
"Come in," Kirova says. And in comes a guardian I've only seen a couple of times around campus. I can't remember his first name but I'm sure it started with an 'S'. "Good of you to join us, Guardian Smith." She says. The guardian doesn't look that old at all. Maybe mid twenties. His hair is blond, his eyes an icy blue colour while his skin is a pale white. He actually looks like one of those sterotypical Swedish people, with the very distinguished features. He's tall, maybe an inch or two taller than me.
"Sorry I'm late, Headmistress Kirova. I was held up with some of the novices." He said and I notice he has a faint accent that I can't put my finger on. Oh, now I remember. He's one of our defence teachers, but only for some of the novice classes. Sadly, he has not graced any of my classes with his gorgeous presence yet, or probably ever will. It's sad really because he's actually quite handsome.
Kirova nods at his comment and gestures for him to join Stan in the corner of the office.
"Greta this is Guardian Sam Smith. He..." Kirova was cut off by my words.
"You teach the defence classes, don't you?" I ask. "My friend, Alice I think, has a couple of classes with you. She says you're a very good teacher." I say and then flush. I don't think I'm meant to be talking in this sort of meeting. But either way he smiles and thanks me. I turn my attention back to Kirova who is giving me a glare. "Sorry." I say. "Go on." Kirova rolls her eyes and tells Stan to continue.
"As I was saying, the stringoi have found out about you. Which is a problem. Do you remember Jillian Mastrano? Why she left?" Stan asks.
"She left because of the threat of Moroi assassins. But that apparently isn't my problem." I say to the room.
"We know this." Alberta says. "But we're going to do the same sort of thing with you."
"What? Ship me off to Palm Springs?" I ask. I really shouldn't have blurted that out because no on but Eddie Castille, my dad and a few other guardians knew the location. But since the Dragomire line has produced three children, two of them sons, the threat on her lessened and she was able to come back to the academy and graduate within two weeks of her return.
"Not to the same location, because its a risk to you, and also predictable. No, we're sending you in the other direction. South-east instead of south-west. Although no alchemist will accompany you."
"So who's coming with me?" It's Kirova who answers my question.
"Well, a couple of guardians have offered their assistance but only two will accompany you." She says and clasp her hands together.
"Which two?" I look around the room.
"Guardian Alto and Guardian Smith will be going with you." Alberta says. I groan. I don't realise I've done it until I get glares from both Kirova and Stan.
"Is something the matter, Miss Belikov?" Stan question is loaded. I hate those type of questions.
"No. Sorry. I just remembered I had an assignment due for... Philosophy. Due tomorrow." I stammer a bit. I hear dad chuckle beside me a murmur something about me being just like 'Roza'. I'm actually sad that my name is just 'Greta', there is no equivalent in Russian for it. Just Greta. Unlike my mother, who's equivalent is 'Roza'. Stupid naming system.
"When do I leave for, where ever it is I'm going?" I ask them hastily. I really wanted to get put of there. Fast.
"We're sending you to Goose Creek in South Carolina..." Alberta starts
"South Carolina! But that's so far away!" I exclaim. "Isn't there somewhere closer?"
"We knew you'd say something like that," dad said. I look up at him with pleading eyes. "I asked them to look for other places, but when I looked I found that its one of the safest places to send you. There are less people in South Carolina than California, though there are enough people to ensure there isn't any suspicion. We're also putting you in the city. You're close to the coast. We also know of a community of Moroi and dhampires near by. You'll be safe there." He says. I know he's thought about all this. He always thinks deeply about stuff like this. I nod but look down at my lap.
"When do I leave?" I ask, not really caring who gave the answer.
"At the end of the week. We'll leave on the Saturday morning and be in South Carolina that evening if we're lucky." Stan says. "We've rented out a house in the otter city."
"Are we going to pose as family members?" I was going to add 'like Jill' but decided against it. Alberta answered
"Yes. Guardian Smith and yourself will pose as siblings while guardian Alto with pose as your father. Greta, you will continue your guardian training with both guardians while away. Guardian Smith as your defence and offence instructor and Guardian Alto as your classroom teacher." She said. "The academy will not set you work but both of your instructors will deal out work they believe necessary. No arguments."
"What about my trials?" I ask. I was nearing the end of my senior year at St Vladimir's, and the main part of that year were my trials.
"We're still debating whether or not you come back to St Vladimir's for them. We don't think so though. We're worried that the stringoi may know of them and attack, we just don't know yet." Dad said. I nod and look back down at my lap.
"Is that all headmistress Kirova?" I ask as I look up.
"Yes, Miss Belikov. You may go back to class now." Kirova said and I got up and moved towards the door, my father in tow. Stan, Alberta and Sam stayed behind. Probably talking more about me.
When I get outside that office, I breathed a sigh of relief. It always felt stuffy in there anyway. When I got to the corridor, I lean against the wall and close my eyes.
"Well, that's... Surprising." I say and open my eyes to see my fathers deep brown ones staring at me. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I was talking to your mother about it and she said that we should wait until you understood it better. We had an argument about it but eventually we both decided that the people who were taking you were there and it was explained in the right way" he hesitated at the last part.
"Will you come and see me? Will mum?" I ask, hoping the answer is yes. But from the look on his face its probably no.
"I can't, and your mother is busy with her duties. It also risks your exposure, and I just want you safe." He put his hand on my cheek and looked at me affectionately. "What have you got on now?"
"Another defence class." I say.
"Come on. I'll take you." He says with a small smile. I huff.
"I thought you were going to say I could have the day off." I sigh as he walks with me down the hallway to my next class.