I know it is probably really bad starting another story, when I can barely update the ones I have started, but Heartbreak and Happiness is nearly finished now and I have been dieing to write up this story, it's been in my head for ages.

In case any of you are wondering, Tasha and Dimitri don't have a bond in this story, I just need a Moroi to run away with him so he would have to be brought back again.

I really appreciate all reviews and opinions on my story :) Thank you :)

Trading Places…

Summary.

What if it was the other way round? Rose Hathaway is a 22 year-old guardian who works at St. Vladimir's Academy. She is bonded with Lissa who is dating Christian. Adrian still stays on campus to practice spirit with Lissa and try his luck with Rose. When she is sent to Russia to retrieve runaways Dimitri and Tasha, will she handle the situation the same when she begins to develop feelings for him…

Chapter One…

I stood hidden under the shade of the trees looking into a window in Baia, Russia. I could just make out the figures of Natasha Ozera and Dimitri Belikov. They had both run away from the Academy a year ago and we had failed to locate them until now. I saw Tasha get up and walk over to the fridge, open it, speak to Dimitri and then walk somewhere else. Dimitri got up to join her and he grabbed a coat. This was it.

I spoke rapidly into my communication device. "They're going to be coming out in a minute, get ready to restrain them."

I heard murmured responses telling me they were ready. The front door of the apartment block they were staying in opened and they walked out onto the pavement. They were strolling, clearly not expecting to be confronted. I did notice that Dimitri was scanning his surroundings. Novices were always taught to check the area for possible threats when guarding a Moroi, so I was impressed that he was doing so. Until his eyes landed on me.

He squinted, trying to get a better focus. He was still looking when a human walked by with a dog on a lead. As soon as it passed me, it began barking hysterically. For some reason, animals don't like Dhampirs. Aside from annoying the hell out of me, the dogs reaction had informed Dimitri that I was a Dhampir. He spoke quickly to Tasha, who's eyes widened. Then they began to run.

Once again I spoke to the rest of my team and they sprinted off in the direction the pair were heading. We were a lot faster than them because we were fully trained guardians. Dimitri appeared to be out of shape, he was also with a Moroi, who would slow him down considerably. The train station was ahead of them, so I knew that was where they were running too.

Just as they began to have hope in their faces, I stepped out in front of them, successfully diminishing all chances they had. The hope quickly disappeared and was replaced with determination. They weren't going down without a fight, that much was obvious.

Flames danced on Tasha's hands. She had specialized in fire - just like her cousin Christian. Before she had time to act, two guardians grabbed her from behind and the fire went out. Now I just had the untrained novice to deal with. No problem. He had a look of fury on his face and his hands were balled up in fists. "You won't take me away from here." He warned me. His voice had a slight Russian accent. I analysed his words. He didn't say he didn't want to be taken back, he said he didn't want to leave here. He had come to this place for a reason, it wasn't just a random place to escape too.

While I was puzzling over his statement, his fist came at me in a sloppy offensive manoeuvre. I blocked it easily and kicked out at him. It hit the intended spot on his leg and he stumbled backwards, almost falling over. I instantly took the advantage and swept his legs out from under him, successfully knocking him down. I pinned him, straddling his waist.

I took this time to look at him properly. He was tall, really tall. Six-six or six-seven at least. He had shoulder length brown hair that was tied at the nape of his neck in a ponytail. He was wearing a long leather coat that I couldn't see properly while I was sitting on him. It looked kind of like a cowboys though - a duster. Generally, he was hot.

"Do you give up now?" I asked, sweetly.

He glared at me. "Never." He hissed, struggling in my grip.

I laughed. "Well, it doesn't look like your getting anywhere, so you haven't really got much choice." I said sarcastically. I might have to be polite in certain situations, but normally my sarcasm was in full throw. Especially towards Adrian and Christian.

He finally gave up, realising defeat. I got up and offered him a hand and he took it reluctantly. "Don't even bother trying to run again. We're much faster than you." I told him. He glared at me again, before placing a mask on his face, cutting off his emotions from showing. I could only tell that he was still furious from the fire in his eyes.

We drove to the airport where a private jet was waiting for us. We had around ten guardians with us. An excessive amount if you ask me, almost as many as the queen herself travelled with, but Kirova insisted that they were high risk and we need this many. Obviously not true, I took that Dimitri kid down in seconds.

I had Tasha and Dimitri separated, just in case, their whispering looked highly suspicious. They both shot me glares, which I found rather funny. I sat down at the front of the plane next to Mason. Mason Ashford was one of my best friends. He was also a guardian at St. Vladimir's and we had gone through the whole of school together.

I was also aware of his crush on me. It had always been there, but I ignored it as much as I could. I just didn't feel that way about him and so I hoped one day he would find someone else. It was starting to look unlikely though. "Well that definitely wasn't worth ten guardians." Mason said, repeating my earlier thoughts.

"I know." I chuckled. "They didn't exactly take much restraining."

Mason laughed. "No one takes much restraining when they are being attacked by you."

It was true. I had graduated top of the class. I was now Lissa Dragomir's - the last Dragomir's - guardian. We had been best friends since we were five, but when we were fifteen, something else happened. Lissa and me had been in a car crash that had killed all of her family. As well as me. Lissa had unknowingly brought me back to life, creating a bond between us. I could now feel her emotions and sometimes I got sucked into her head.

After the accident, she had become depressed and began cutting herself. Everyone thought it was just because of her families death, but it turned out it was more. Lissa had specialized in the element Spirit. Although it was great magic, it harmed her mentally and she became depressed when she used it. We had almost run away, but decided against it at the last minute. I had found out that I could take the darkness from her though and it kept it away from her. The only downside was that it made me mad and lose my temper quickly.

While we had been at school, her uncle Victor Dashkov had discovered her healing abilities and tortured her into using it on him to cure him from the disease that was killing him. He was in prison now, but the memory still haunts Lissa and me.

Lissa had also met her boyfriend Christian Ozera at school. They have been together since they were seventeen. Me and Christian used to have an awful relationship. We still make sarcastic comments and annoy each other, but really we're like brother and sister now. We would be there for each other if it was needed. Certain events had made us closer. One of them being Spokane.

One Christmas, the whole school had been taken to a ski lodge after recent Strigoi attacks. During this time Mason, Eddie and Mia had taken off to hunt Strigoi that had been staying in Spokane. Me and Christian set off to stop them from doing anything stupid. We ended up all being captured.

Although I managed to kill both of the Strigoi, Mason had been almost dead and I still blamed myself for letting that happen to him.

While we were at the ski lodge, we met another spirit user - Adrian Ivashkov. Adrian had some kind of weird obsession with me, but like Mason, I just didn't feel that way about him. So, I ignored it as much as possible, but unlike Mason, he constantly flirted and threw sexual suggestions at me. It was a lot harder to ignore than Mason's occasional appreciative gaze.

Adrian had some back to the Academy with us and now lived here to study magic with Lissa, much to my annoyance.

After graduation, we had moved to the Royal Court for a while, until Lissa had been offered a job to stay and teach Spirit to students who specialized in it. People now specifically came here to study with her. Christian taught offensive magic classes in fire to people who wanted to learn. Mia helped him, but taught with water.

Mason had been assigned to Lissa with me and Eddie got assigned to Christian. Mia and Eddie were together now. They were a really sweet couple. We all lived at the school like a happy family.

The plane flight was long, coming all the way from Russia. I decided I would go and talk to Dimitri. I wanted to know why he was so apposed from leaving this place. I sat down next to him. He was staring straight ahead. When I sat down, he gave me a quick glance then returned to staring at the chair in front. "What do you want?" He asked sharply.

I sighed. "I wanted to know why you didn't want to leave."

"It's none of your business. You've got us back haven't you." He said snarkily. I had a feeling if I wasn't trying to get answers out of him, I would like him a lot.

I chuckled. "I guess. I just wondered that's all." I told him. I didn't make any attempt to move from my seat, I stayed put, wondering if he would tell me eventually. He continued to stare ahead and it didn't look like he was planning on doing anything soon, never mind tell me his secret reasons for not wanting to leave Russia.

Soon the time difference and long flights caught up with me and I began to get very tired. Before I knew it, I was out.

When I woke up my head was leaning on something very comfortable. I automatically snuggled further into Dimitri's shoulder. His duster was also wrapped around me, along with his arm. It tightened slightly when I tried to move. I knew he was asleep as well, because his head was rested on the window and soft snores were coming from him. I could feel someone looking at me, so I turned around to see a very amused looking Mason watching me. "What?" I asked him.

He chuckled. "Nothing."

I undid myself from Dimitri's coat and arms, then walked back over to my seat next to Mason. I plonked down on the seat and yawned. "What did you get out of Belikov?" He asked me.

"Nothing." I grumbled. "He wouldn't tell me anything, so I decided to stay there until he cracked. I fell asleep instead."

Mason raised his eyebrow. "Apparently."

I glared at him, but didn't retort to his comment. I quickly fell asleep again, on Mason's shoulder this time. I couldn't help but think how it wasn't quite as comfortable as Dimitri's. Mason however looked like he was going to die a happy man.

We arrived back at the school after a hell of a long flight and changing planes three times. We still had Tasha and Dimitri, which was a good sign. When we got back to the Academy, we were told to take them straight to Kirova's office.

Me and Headmistress Kirova have never seen eye to eye. When I was at the Academy, I was sent to her office more times than I could remember. She looked so relieved to be getting rid of me at graduation. We had stayed at the Royal Court for a bit, until Lissa came back to teach spirit. Lissa thought she should be able to help other people rather than just learn about it for herself. We had been here for about six months now. She was devastated when I came back. At least I couldn't get sent to her office for being naughty anymore.

I opened the door to her office and stood at the back, while Dimitri and Tasha sat down in front of her desk. Mason stayed stood against the back wall with me. Kirova instantly launched into a rant about how irresponsible they had been. How Dimitri had neglected his duty and that he shouldn't have taken a royal Moroi away from the heavily protected Academy.

Dimitri was getting annoyed. "I didn't ask her to come with me. I told her I was leaving and she begged me to take her with me. I told her no. It was too dangerous and that she should stay here. Don't blame me for Tasha leaving." He told her.

I could tell he was telling the truth. Tasha looked like she would follow Dimitri anywhere like a lost puppy. She obviously adored him, but he didn't seem interested at all. It was just like me and Mason.

"You should have stopped her." Kirova told him bitterly. Before he could respond to her, she spoke again. "It doesn't matter though, Tasha will be staying here. You, however, will be sent away. We don't have any reason to keep you here, so you will leave."

I couldn't quite decipher the look on his face. He had that stupid emotionless mask on. I didn't want Kirova to let a novice like him go though. He clearly could be one of the best. "What!" He exclaimed. "You can't do that!"

"I can do whatever I want Mr. Belikov." She said coldly.

"Err, Headmistress Kirova, I think it would be a waste of talent to send Mr. Belikov away. He could be a great guardian. I think you should give him a chance." I told her.

She gave me a death glare. "Mr. Belikov deserves no chances. He should have just stayed and taken the responsibilities he was faced with, rather than running away."

Mason spoke next. "Guardian Hathaway is right, it would be a shame to loose such a promising Novice. The numbers have gone down considerably lately." I could tell he was trying to save Dimitri because I was, rather than actually wanting Dimitri to stay.

Kirova looked mad, but I could tell she knew we had a point. "But he is hopeless behind, he will need a mentor. Are you volunteering Guardian Hathaway?" She sneered.

I paused. I had not expected that. There was no way I could mentor someone. I couldn't teach someone how to be a good novice. All I could do was kick other peoples asses. "I don't kno-" I began.

"Precisely." Kirova interrupted. "He will be sent away."

I looked at Dimitri again. He wasn't looking at me so I couldn't see his face. However, I knew for a fact he would be a great Guardian. When we had caught him, you could see the determination in his eyes. It would make him powerful. I sighed. I knew I had to do it. "I can be Dimitri's mentor."

Her eyes widened. "What about punishment." She insisted. She really didn't want Dimitri to stay here, I wonder what he did?

"I'm sure you can find someway to punish him which doesn't involve him being sent away." I reasoned.

She huffed and turned to Dimitri. She had no chance but to let him stay now. "You will train with Guardian Hathaway before and after school for an hour. You will be put on house arrest and banned from all social activities."

He grunted and then nodded. I could tell he wasn't happy, but he didn't seem the type to argue like I would. He would just sit and suffer in silence. Oh, these training lessons were going to be fun. Not.

Kirova dismissed them after she had finished. Naturally Tasha didn't get any punishment. She was the Moroi after all. I still found it unfair how the Dhampir's were always second best to them.

Mason turned to me after we had left her office. "That was nice of you." He said.

I laughed. "There not words that normally come out of your mouth when your talking to me." I teased.

He laughed. "Your not that bad Rose. Your going to have to get up early now though." He joked back.

I resisted the urge to bang my head against something. "Oh god. It just gets worse." I complained. "He had better end up being the best bloody novice in this place when I'm done with him so I know it was worth it."

Mason chuckled. "Anyone training with you would end up being the best novice."

I punched his shoulder lightly. "Let's go tell Lissa about my new assignment." I suggested.

He nodded and we both walked towards the Moroi teachers dorm.