A/N: I apologize in advance since this did not pass by my beta's capable hands. Therefore, any mistakes here are solely mine. I babble more below.

Disclaimer: All the characters, plots and awesomeness are owned by Richelle Mead.

Chapter One: The Culmination

I haven't done this childish act in a long while since I got back in the Academy. I read from somewhere that regression was a symptom of stress, so this might be the only indication that I was supposed to be jumpy. Because I was feeling a deadly sort of calm, to think Trials were just a few hours away.

I wasn't supposed to be sitting here in the sidewalk between the dorm building and the gym, watching the bright, sunny sky of June. I should be asleep like the rest of my classmates, getting as much rest as I could before the grueling trials.

Unfortunately, I wasn't getting any shut-eye so I tried to have a midday stroll on the school grounds.

Had it been that long that I was also standing here, freezing my feet to death, and Dimitri accidentally finding me here? It seemed like a lifetime ago. A thousand things have happened since then.

Guess what, dorm security still sucks.

The words in Dimitri's last letter echoed once more in my thoughts. There is no place in this world you can hide from me. Yes, I completely believed that. If Dimitri set his mind into it, then it's as good as set in stone. He will find me, the way I sought him in Russia. I had no fantasies of evading or hiding from him. I would have to make sure if we see each other again, I've already found the mysterious cure from Doru. That, or I have the necessary capacity to finish him off.

But first, I have to become a Guardian.

And that meant I have to head back inside my room and get at least a couple of hours of shut-eye before the Trials. I bypassed the still sleeping guard easily and slipped in my hallway. I walked lightly on the floor, not keen on getting caught on the last day of my being student. Almost there—

A scuffling noise came from the opposite end of the wall. Guardians talking in shushed whispers. Dammit. I quickly grabbed my room's doorknob and shut it quietly just before they turned the corner. That was too close...

"Rose?"

I jumped and looked around behind me. Lissa was sitting on my bed, looking very apprehensive.

"Shit." I clutched my chest and felt my knees weaken. "Lissa. Don't give me a heart attack before I even start with my Trials!"

"Sorry!" she whispered, standing up. "But I thought you knew I would be here so I didn't bother…"

Lissa had a point, I should have known she was here, or at least knew she was planning to sneak out to see me through our shadow-kissed bond. My thoughts about Dimitri clouded everything else, obviously. That has to stop sometime.

I raised my hand. "It's alright."

Wait a minute.

"What are you doing here?" I exclaimed. "Did you just sneak out?"

"Sshhh!" Lissa hissed. The whole floor would hear us."

I glared at her instead. "Well?"

"Didn't you just sneak out yourself?" she asked dryly.

"That's different, Lissa. And how the hell—" I groaned with the realization. "Please tell me you did not compel anyone on your way here."

She shrugged. "You have your ninja skills. I have mine."

Really smart Lissa, very charming. I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. "Lissa. You can't just go off and sneaking from your dorm in the dead of—"

She cut me off. "But I already did, Rose. I'm here."

I opened my eyes again at the hardness in her tone. Getting into trouble was my department, not hers. I sighed dejectedly. A thousand things have happened—and apparently, changed—since I went away. Clearly, this was one of these times.

"I really wanted to see you." she said quietly.

I joined her on the bed. "Is there a problem?"

She shook her head. "Not really… I mean, are you okay?"

"What do you mean? Of course I am." I answered.

"It's just…" she bit her lip apprehensively. "Aren't you nervous for the trials tomorrow?"

"Oh that." I smiled at her shrewdly. "Why would I be nervous when doing well tomorrow might be the only chance I have to be assigned to you? No pressure."

"Of course you'll be assigned to me, don't be silly." She said fiercely, ignoring my sarcasm.

"I need to get some of that optimism drink you take before going to bed."

She rolled her eyes at me. I gave a short laugh, but we both know there is a real, tangible chance that I might not be her appointed Guardian. With all the troubles I've been into, (half of them my doing), not counting the fact my two-time runaway stint from the Academy… Tatiana didn't even need to pull any strings to have me assigned in Antartica.

"You are ready, aren't you?" she asked, eyeing me.

I asked myself that a lot these days. The answer depended on the day. Sometimes I felt I could take on the world, and sometimes I just wanted to give up. But meeting Lissa's green eyes that held a lot of faith on me… I knew there was only one answer I could give.

"Yes." I said. "As ready as I'll ever be."

"Good. I trust you." She smiled.

I felt it through the bond, her complete faith in my abilities. It made my own resolve grow stronger. "Thanks."

There was something else nagging at her. I kind of expected her to ask the question soon, since she backed off from asking me too much. This night however, she had to know. "So… have you received anything from…?"

I shook my head. "No. It's been quiet."

Dimitri sent me letters—every week since the day I got back. His words were all full of adoration and love and I could have gotten butterflies in the stomach for it—if not for the fact that he always looked forward to my death by his hands the moment we meet again. His last one was a message to wish me well for the Trials. Of course he knew what was happening. Dimitri and I had a conversation once about Strigoi not being omniscient. I know that was true, but the way he knew all the activities in my world… it was like he was everywhere around me.

"I wonder why that is?" Lissa thought aloud. I could feel the worry from her.

I sighed. "I'm guessing he doesn't want me distracted and end up messing my trials. Because that would mean I won't graduate and get kicked out of the wards."

"Or we're just in the eye of the storm." She said quietly.

I nodded slowly. I couldn't tell her I was more afraid of Dimitri being quiet lately than the time he kept sending me his death threats of love. But there was nothing I can do as long as I was still a novice.

Lissa laid back on my bed. I followed her, stretching my body. Mustn't forget the warm ups before I go in there tomorrow.

"In a few days we would be leaving St. Vladimir's." she mused.

My eyes were on the ceiling, looking at the silly glow-in-the-dark stickers Lissa insisted she put up during our first year here. "Don't tell me you're going to miss it."

"Won't you?"

I tore my eyes to look at her, and she was studying me. I felt a sort of melancholy through the bond. She felt a little sentimental. Maybe I should too, since that was the normal thing to feel. But then again when did I ever think like anyone else?

"It's just a place." I murmured. For some reason I suddenly remembered Baia, seeing those books Dimitri loved as a child. "We leave places all the time."

Lissa thought of my answer and noticed something was off… but she let it go.

We were quiet for a moment, but it wasn't a tense silence. I still felt her worry, but her faith and trust me were the stronger feelings I got from the bond.

I got up. "It's getting late. I should sneak you inside your dorm again."

She shot me a dark look. "Rose. I can handle it. I got myself out, didn't I?" Lately, Lissa was all about showing me how much stronger she was than before I left. I suspected she did that because she was afraid I'd change my mind about her coming alone in my little suicide mission. And yes, I couldn't deny sometimes that I wish I hadn't made that promise. If something happened to my bestfriend…

I rolled my eyes and put up my hands in mock surrender. "Okay hotshot. I'll see you later."

Lissa surprised me by throwing her arms around me and hugging me tightly. It was a few seconds later before I wrapped my arms around her too.

"I wish you well Rose…" she whispered. "…not that you need any luck."

I froze, recognizing the words. Dimitri had just written that in his last letter. I wish you well today as you take your trials---not that you need any luck.

Both of the people I loved most in the world have complete faith in me to pass the Trials. I should feel so lucky. But between the possibility of Lissa coming into contact again with Victor Dashkov for his prison break, and Dimitri's obsession to kill me—both of those moments waiting for me as soon as I graduate—I wondered how my life has become so twisted at this point.

Then again, I didn't have a choice did I? One or both of these things will happen; it's only a matter of time. So I better not mess this up.

I ruffled Lissa's perfect hair. "Thanks Lissa."

#-#-#

It usually starts innocently enough.

A field of grass, the wind making waves among the green blades. The sky is a perfect blue, the way blue is supposed to be colored in fairytales.

And then I see a maze made up of tall hedges. But it doesn't frighten me—instead I'm always curious to enter. Before this I never thought that dream Me can still be so stupid. I mean, can't I be NOT reckless even in my dreams, just for once?

Apparently not, because I enter the maze every time.

Of course I did not know where to go. I'm instantly lost a few steps and turns later. But it's alright, my dream me thinks. Just walk ahead, don't hesitate. No problem, since it's like second nature to me. Act now, think later. Good job, dream Me.

Crawling blue flowers decorate the walls of this path. I decide to follow them because the blooms looked… cute. Brilliant decision. I let my fingers trail the hedges lightly as I walk.

And then… the nausea starts.

A Strigoi was close by.

My walk turns into a run. But I don't know if I can outrun the Strigoi this time. The nausea grows quickly, more quickly than I had ever felt—meaning the monster could jump on my neck anytime. I scramble for the exit—there was always a reliable one in this stupid dream—and I reach it… just in time.

Now it was nighttime, as opposed to the brilliant blue sky I was seeing before I entered the maze. But that wasn't the part that catches my attention. It was the flaming car several feet away from me, black smoke enveloping the horizon. It looked like it had just exploded and caught fire. Poor car, it did seem like a nice make—

There was a pretty blond girl crouched over another body. And then with horror, I realize there were three more charred bodies around the weeping girl. I realize this and proceed to run to them, but at about this time, something would stop me.

Or rather, someone.

"Rose."

I whipped around. It was Dimitri. And I knew this was a dream, because it was his familiar brown eyes that beseeched me, not red ones. He looked so… sad.

I wanted to comfort him, and I took a step forward to him, but another voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Rose! Rose! Please wake up! Open your eyes… please…"

Lissa?

I looked back at the burning car. Why, it was Lissa! My beautiful bestfriend was crying over… the body? The black smoke from the car was making it difficult to see… I took a few steps to get a clearer view. Lissa propped up the body that she was crying over, tears streaming on her face.

No matter how many times I dream about this, it always gets me everytime.

The broken body was mine.

I wanted to run to her, but a sharp tug on my arm halted me. I turned back around in the other direction and saw that it was a Strigoi Dimitri holding me forcefully to him. The shock never gets old. He held my face roughly.

"Roza." His voice was rich, dark and menacing. It made my hairs stand. I tried to pull away but my movements were sluggish, like treading in murky water.

He gave me a twisted smile. "You can't go to her. It's too late."

I wanted to scream NO I have to help Lissa! But I couldn't speak.

"You want to go to her." His thumb caressed my lower lip. But I did not derive any pleasure from it. I was horrified that he talked as if he read my mind. "Lissa will bond you to her, you already know the ending of this."

Lissa's cries went harder. It was an awful, gut-wrenching sound that I hope never to hear again in my life…

Dimitri forced me to look at him. His eyes were terrifying.

He moved his lips near my ear. My fists balled against his chest in an effort to push him away, but he was like a wall. Surprisingly gentle fingers fluttered to my neck, brushing my hair away.

"She had already claimed you once, Roza." He whispered, voice deadly. I froze. "Now it's my turn."

He opened his mouth and I saw his fangs.

And then it was at this blessed (or blasted, depending on my outlook for the day) moment where my eyes would jerk open, reminding me it was just the stupid nightmare yet again.

My eyes were staring at the ceiling for several minutes before I realized that I was awake. Wide awake. God, those nightmares have got to stop. If they didn't scare the bejeezus out of me, they would be extremely irritating.

I got out of bed and stretched my muscles experimentally. Everything's in working order—physically at least. I shuffled to the small bathroom and splashed water on my face.

All those years in the Academy led up to this day. I waited for the rush of panic or worry to hit me—but still there was none. The haze of dead calm was still firmly in place.

#-#-#

The Trials were one of the biggest things in a novice's career—it is the defining moment that would determine our future as full-fledged Guardians for the Moroi. A lot of fanfare was prepared for it, including turning one of the school fields into a huge obstacle course full of dangers that would test our skills we supposedly have learned in our stay in the Academy. Rumors of nets, pits, booby traps, and a dark maze were some of the hottest piece of news to sweep in the dormitories as of late. The latest I heard were psi-hounds, and although I thought it was some exaggeration, I've already fought a pack of them when I didn't have half my skill now. It didn't bother me as much compared to my worries about myself. What if I falter? If I second-guess my actions inside? What if I hesitate—again?

Alberta was satisfied with what she saw of my performance the moment I got back to school and training again. She took over Dimitri's mentorship and I was grateful she took the time to personally assist me.

Although… nothing would ever be the same again.

I studied the swelling crowd. It steadily grew by the second. My pulse began to race. Ah, great. Adrenaline is now coursing in me. I was worried about the dead calm I've been feeling since yesterday.

Lissa was already somewhere around there, but she wasn't sitting with Christian. To my complete astonishment they weren't back together. I still haven't gotten the chance to bug Christian or Lissa about it since I was neck-deep in training, but that's all going to change when I ace the Trials.

So if Lissa wasn't with Christian, then she's with Adrian to cheer me on. Another loose end. I knew I promised Adrian a real chance to be together if I ever got back. Surprisingly, Adrian wasn't pushing me about it. We've barely talked about us ever since I got back—oh sure, he was the usual flirty, half-crazy, half-seducing Moroi I knew, but his patience did not escape me. Of that I was grateful, but I knew I can't keep him waiting forever.

I'll face everything after the Trials, I silently vowed. Nothing else matters but the enormous test I have in front of me.

I walked steadily to the waiting area for us novices. It was a large wooden barracks that housed all of us before our names are called in the field. It was only a matter of time before everything starts. I should probably start on my warm-ups soon.

"Rose." Someone called behind me. I froze on my tracks. I knew that voice anywhere. I slowly turned around. Oh man.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. Abe Mazur frowned. I mentally assessed my tone—how come it came out so hostile? Old habit, I guess.

We looked at each other. My father—mental cringe—looked so out of place with the rest of the crowd with his flashy trademark scarf and gold accessories. Not to mention his beard and moustache that framed his face that made it plain he wasn't from here. Damn right he isn't.

He raised an eyebrow. "You don't think I can let this pass, can you?"

I glanced around before looking back at him. "Are you even allowed here inside the campus?" I was pretty sure Turkish mobsters would not be too welcome in the academic institution.

"Since a lot of my money were spent for this field, I'm wagering I can stay if I want to." he replied with amusement.

Oh right. I almost forgot. One of my pirate mobster father investments is making my school happy even with all the rule-breaking I had going on.

"Uh, you mean you just came for the moral support?" I asked unbelievingly.

He nodded. "And the betting."

I knew it. I groaned. "You can't just bet with students here. This is a school for crying out loud—"

He waved me off with a lazy hand. "Who said anything about betting against students?"

"Who else are you betting with?" I gasped. "Guardians? You're betting with my teachers?!"

"Just focus on the task at hand, Rose." He replied, unconcerned. "And besides, Young Ivashkov seems to know what he's doing anyway—"

My mouth fell open. "You're betting against Adrian?" I don't know why, but I had a distinct impression that my father didn't like Adrian that much. Or in any case, just waiting to spring something nasty on him. I think it has something to do with Adrian being an Ivashkov but I haven't gotten into it yet.

"With." He corrected me. "We're on the same side."

I glared at him. "And whose side is that?"

"Yours." He replied as if it was obvious. "Although we have a little side bet between us about how long it would take you to clear the field."

I stared at him.

"Adrian said you would clear it within four hours." Abe said, his eyes past me and on the field.

"And you betted…?"

He returned his gaze on me. "Two hours. He didn't see what I saw you went through in Russia."

I couldn't speak. He was right in a way, I haven't told Adrian any details on what happened. Only Lissa knew. But before I could say anything else, Janine Hathaway suddenly appeared behind me. Oh great, just what I needed, family pep talk.

But she didn't speak to me first. She rounded on Abe. "Are you distracting her? You shouldn't be talking to her about unimportant things!"

"We were just talking, Janine." Abe replied quietly, none of the airy voice he had earlier. I decided to follow his lead.

"Uh. Yeah."

She narrowed her eyes as she looked at us. "Both of you are bad liars. Rose, you need to go to the waiting area now."

Abe nodded and reached out to lightly pat my cheek. "Do well, child."

"Er, thanks." I replied awkwardly.

"We'll be celebrating your victory tonight. So don't get yourself too messed up."

"You should take down your arrogance a notch or two, Zmey." I muttered.

My mother actually snorted. "Impossible. Where do you think you got it from?"

Abe had the audacity to smile at us slyly. He then quickly turned around and headed for the bleachers before I could yell something rude at him.

"But it's true, he does believe in you so much." My mother mused.

I rolled my eyes. "Because of the money he bet on me."

"Regardless."

"Great."

Then my mother did something I wasn't entirely used to: she put her hands on my shoulders and squeezed them gently. My mother and I, although much has improved in our pretty much slippery relationship, were far from close. It just wasn't going to happen magically in a few months. She had her own responsibilities and I had mine. But I didn't doubt anymore the fact that she cared about her daughter.

"Don't think about it Rose. All that should exist to you is getting on the other side of that maze well and unscathed. Do you understand?" She gave me a little shake. "Nothing else matters right now but that exit sign."

I nodded, a little taken aback by her fierceness. "Alright."

"And Rose…" she paused as if unsure. The horn that signified the last call for all the novices just sounded off. But we remained trapped in each other's eyes. I waited.

"You do know your father is not the only one who believes in you?" she said.

Maybe if this moment happened a year ago, I would brush this off with a snarky comment or make nothing out of it. After all, she was the person whom I never pleased.

But things are different now.

More or less, Janine Hathaway is actually telling me that despite everything—and I mean everything from Lissa and I running away, the Spokane incident, spirit troubles and my dropping out—she was proud of me as her daughter.

"I know." I said. I hoped she knew that I understand what she can't say.

She nodded as if satisfied and gave me a little push towards the waiting area. "Go."

I hurriedly entered the waiting shed for the novices. As I stepped in, I felt everyone's eyes on me. Some were a bit admiring, some surprised, some superior— What the hell? I averted my eyes at once and spotted Eddie Castile quietly stretching in a corner. I quickly walked to him.

"Rose." He said in greeting.

"Why do I have a feeling that there's something weird going on here when I showed up?" I demanded in a harsh whisper.

"That." he said wryly. "They were betting if you'd show up."

Perfect. First my father, then Adrian, then my classmates are betting on my fate. I shook my head and cocked an eyebrow at him playfully. "And you, what did you bet for?"

He straightened up from the wall and flexed his hands. "I didn't need to bet. I know you'd be here."

I propped a leg against the wall. "Thanks, I guess."

We stretched quietly for a while, oblivious to the noise around us of novices agitated about the ordeal upon us. Being with Eddie was quite comforting. Maybe because he was one of the few people whom I knew have seen what was worst out there—being with Strigoi. Was this Trial going to be of some use to us once we step outside the school?

"I couldn't help thinking about Mason today." Eddie said. "He would be jumping up and down in excitement right now."

I turned my face away to hold off the spasm of hurt I suddenly felt. Yes, he should have been here, laughing and talking with us, trying to stave off the nervousness.

Mason should have been here, like Dimitri. He should have been the one to finish what was left in my training. None of those things are going to happen now.

I faced Eddie with a grin on my face now. "Mason would probably volunteer to be first in line and egging us to do the same."

"Let's make him proud, Hathaway." Eddie held a hand to me.

I shook it. "Hell yeah."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Alberta and Stan enter the room and stood at the middle. The horn sounded off again, a long, hair-raising noise, then stopped. The crowd outside roared with cheers and applause. I'm guessing that was the final signal.

"Everyone, gather around." Alberta called, loud and authoritative. Everyone huddled quickly in front. Eddie and I hovered at the back.

Alberta spoke when the noise died down. "I do not need to reinforce the importance of this event in your education as guardians. You already know from the moment that you entered this institution what were the needed requirements to graduate from being a novice. This is the final Trials."

She paused. The tension was palpable in the air. If I stuck my tongue out I could probably taste it.

Alberta continued. "Names are to be called one by one, although it is inevitable that you would meet each other inside. It is forbidden to attack your classmate. The only thing you need to defend yourselves from are the Guardians wearing all black. Guardians wearing white are there for supervision. You do not attack them.

"There are five exits situated in the northern section of the field all with different routes and challenges to each path. You need to overcome four major trials inside, and one final battle. There is no time limit, but your score is dependent on how fast and decisive you are inside. Merely overcoming is not enough; how you do it is crucial as well."

Four major trials and one final battle. It isn't too hard to guess that we need to fight a Guardian in hand-to-hand combat before we can get out. But as for the other trials… I had no idea. It could be anything.

Stan spoke up now. "All movements are monitored inside. Any discrepancies from the rules will result to your immediate expulsion. And I trust that no one wants that in this final stage of your education."

We all exchanged grins. Nope, not now.

"Everyone who passes the exit and performs satisfactorily for the Guardian Council will bear the Promise Mark by nightfall." Alberta said. Her eyes found me in the crowd and nodded slightly. "Goodluck to you all. The Annual Trials of St. Vladimir's Academy will now begin."

The crowd dispersed. Any minute now they would start calling our names.

Eddie and I didn't speak again. Both of us were lost in our own concentration. When he was called, he gave a nod and went to the other exit that was the starting point of the maze.

I remembered my mother's words: Nothing else matters right now but that exit sign.

Right. There's no Lissa, no Victor Dashkov, no Robert Doru and no Dimitri.

Only this.

"Hathaway, Rosemarie!"

I walked to the opening, surprised with the calm in my steps.

A/N: This is a story that was too long to be a one-shot, and not enough to turn into a full novel-length. Originally, this was supposed to be a fanfic version of Spirit Bound, but instead this will only focus on Rose's Trials. Remember kids, some things in life don't go according to plan.

I have doubts about sharing this since (1) I'm in the middle of some quarter-life crisis right now (newly-graduated, finding a job I won't hate), (2) a little disappointed since this could have been a lot more (3) the piece did not pass the hands of my beta.

Then again I figured, I need to purge some stuff sitting in my laptop right now so I can start on the things I really need to work on. That includes seeing some stories I've written to the finish… and "finish" means publish. So here we are.

The rest are written out already, so expect steady updates from this one.

As always, thank you for reading and I'll appreciate all the thoughts you would share by reviewing :)