Vampire Academy – Book 1

Dimitri's Perspective

Hey this is my first book so please be understanding – Disclaimer!! These characters don't belong to me but to the wonderful Richelle Mead and no intended copyright infringement. Let me know what you think and I'll be sure to be working on it! Thanks! -Val

Chapter 1

I woke up from another terrifying number, seeing Zeklos face. I felt so disappointed in myself. All I had ever wanted growing up was to be the best guardian; I prided myself in my work. And now, after taking a simple vacation, he'd been murdered. I knew there was nothing I could have done, everyone takes vacations but I shouldn't have taken it. If I hadn't, maybe he would still be alive and I wouldn't be exiled here at the Academy. I had failed him. I remembered the funeral now, the way his family looked, their sadness; I could have saved him –if only things had been different. If only I had been there.

I went for a walk, unable to stay in this bed confined any longer, I just felt so tortured, and the sun would give me some fresh air. It was bright outside since the Academy ran on a nocturnal schedule. Usually, the sun chased away all of my nightmares, but this loss –was here to stay. I felt so guilty.

When I was growing up, all I had ever wanted was to be a great guardian. I was sure that if I trained as hard as I could possibly could I would be able to protect my moroi from any danger. I always had the highest marking in my classes, I worked to be the best at everything, and I'd been gifted with incredible height and strength. But in the end, all that skill and determination was for nothing because I failed, my charge had died.

As I walked along the walls of the Academy, I suddenly knocked into Alberta.

"Dimitri, what are you doing up this late?" she asked with concern.

"Couldn't sleep," I answered her.

"Still having trouble with your loss, Dimitri?" She asked, but it was more of a statement.

"Somewhat. I just feel like I should have been there, that I let him down. If I wouldn't have been on vacation, he would still be here today." I let out. I was so frustrated for myself and suddenly couldn't contain the words.

"Dimitri –you have to stop this. You were on vacation because you hadn't taken one in almost two years. And you don't know if it would have changed anything. You need to stop blaming yourself, you did not murder him, strigoi did. And honestly, you really should get some sleep. In a few hours you'll be leaving on that mission," Alberta reminded me.

"Yes, I hope all goes well," I told her.

"It will," she assured me, "you are very good you know. Just remember, the Princess has a huge value, she is the last Dragomir so be careful. Rosemary Hathaway, the novice that took her is not a bad fighter nor it she dumb, she would have made a great guardian one day if she wasn't so busy getting in trouble," she said.

"I won't," I answered.

"Ok. Then go get some sleep," she told me.

"Alright," I told her, I knew she was right. I should be worried about getting the Princess back. Who knows what kind of trouble those two have faced out there.

When I had heard the story, I couldn't believe it. Security was strong at the academy. It was easier to escape prison than the Academy, and managing to escape and go on without getting caught was completely unheard of, yet this novice who seemed to only be trouble and of no value from what I had been told had managed it. I reached my bedroom and tried to go back to bed. Soon enough, my mind relaxed and I was gone.

A few hours later I awoke to get on the plane, we'd been briefed on the plan. A few sources had realized that the two girls were staying on a college campus in a house, and we were to go there and retrieve the two girls.

I couldn't help but feel a bit of excitement. All that I had been doing lately was working out and patrolling the academy but really, it had only been giving me time to think about how things could have different had I only been there for my charge. Now at least I could focus all of my energy on something else. I was to lead the group. There were eleven of us guardians and we were well prepared. I thought the group was rather big considering they were only two troublesome teenage girls, but then again when one of those girls was the last of the Dragomirs, it counted.

I looked over the portfolio again, trying to memorize every angle. Suddenly a pictured fell out of Rosemary Hathaway, the novice, who had long hair and big almond, shaped deep brown eyes. Her beauty basically radiated off the image. I felt a bit immersed and captivated all of a sudden.

"Dimitri," called Alberta.

I looked up instantly realizing that I had been busy admiring the Hathaway girl, which was completely out of line. What had I been thinking?

"Yes," I answered Alberta.

"You ready for this?" she asked.

"Of course," I smiled to her, the last think I needed was for her to start worrying about me becoming incompetent.

The plane was descending now as we arrived in California. We decided to take three separate cars and leave them parked about a mile away. We would walk the rest of the way in the shadows, trying to avoid being seen by people. The last thing we needed was attention. It should be a quick grab and go. We pick to go late at night when at least there would be less people around. Unfortunately, they lived very close to a college campus, so people were barely settling.

I was in the front lines. I think the air was actually cool, but I was sweating and tense –ready for whatever was the come. We walked to the house, each of us sticking to the shadows. We would have to invade the house as quietly as possible and I stood close to the trees so as to not be seen. I stopped, then realizing we had gotten to the house. I saw her then, Rosemary Hathaway, she looked tired and seemed to be having some sort of conversation with the black cat. I stuck to the shadows, trying to assess the situation. There could be other people in the house and we didn't want to hurt innocent bystanders.

Then I came to a halt at the closest tree to the house, careful not to move, the other guardians stopped as well, all of us turned into statues. The cat suddenly looked out at the tree, damn, he'd seen me, he tensed up, as expected, animals didn't like dhampirs. Rosemary then eyed the window and approached, looking out into the darkness. I tried not to move, but judging by the way her expression changed I could tell that she saw me. I then disappeared back into the darkness to alert the other. I told them to surround the house, that she had seen me. They told me we should invade now, but I contrasted, she had only seen one man, this way the two girls would run out and there would be no witnesses.

We then all encircled the house, assuring that they would be caught regardless of the direction that they ran out.

Suddenly, I saw the front door open, I tensed, adrenaline pulsed through my veins –they were making a run for it. I hurried along, taking notice of the two girls, the blonde one, the princess had only fear in her eyes, panic really and I could very faintly hear their hushed whispers.

On the other hand, Hathaway, the one with the long dark hair held no fear in her eyes any longer –instead determination. My impressions at the academy had been that these two girls had left because they didn't want to follow the rules and just have fun. I found that a little hard to believe looking at them. Something, something was there. An unspoken bond and Rosemary seemed so determined to protect the Princess I could hardly believe it was about having fun. I didn't believe someone that determined to protect would not be more interested in being reckless.

The two girls struggled, so much fear in their eyes, they had no idea what was to come. I then saw my opportunity. I wouldn't give them any chance to escape and charged forward. I heard one of them ask in a trembled voice, "Do you hear that?"

We were almost to them. They tried to run, but they were hardly fast enough. I was sure Rosemary could run faster but I supposed that she chose not to so that she could stick to the princess, dhampirs were much more physically adapt than moroi. I saw what they aimed for then, there was a sole car in that area of the parking lot, a green Honda and Rosemary began to pull out a pair of keys, I picked up the pace and stepped directly in their path –there was no way I would allow them to get in that car.

Rosemary came to a screeching halt, jerking back the Princess with her; at least her reflexes weren't completely hopeless. I saw recognition in her eyes that told me she had realized I was the man staring at her from the trees. The others slowed, realizing that we had them; I don't think she had realized that there were almost a dozen of us. If she would have, would it have stopped her from trying to escape? There was no way she could get out of this situation, we had them and they looked resigned, ready to surrender.

Rosemary pressed up against Lissa, putting her behind her and looked up at me, nearly growling, she let out, "Don't touch her!" through gritted teeth. I don't think she realized that we didn't mean any harm, I realized how much she cared for the Princess right then, here she was, ready to take on almost a dozen guardians by herself –even if it got her killed-just to protect her. I didn't see that a lot, the kind of passion in guarding, the willingness to give up her life immediately. I didn't expect that from her.

I held out my hands to her, I didn't want her to get hurt if she didn't have to and I didn't think the other guardians would try avoiding conflict when she seemed so offensive. I hoped that she would realize that my intentions meant no harm and spoke as I stepped forward, "I'm not going to—"

I saw her attack immediately, and like a cobra I knocked her off and sent her backwards, I didn't mean to hit her so hard and seeing her lose her footing heading towards the floor with her hip, I reached out and caught her arm pulling her towards me. As I did, I caught a glimpse of her neck. She reached up to touch her throat and realized that she still held to dark spots of dark blood on her neck. She had given blood recently. It made sense –it was the only way Lissa could have survived. But she must be so weak and drugged up.

She looked embarrassed then, clearly aware of the taboo that ensued with permitting someone to drink from you. She pulled her thick long hair down and completely covered her neck. It surprised me too that she must have given blood a very short time before the attack. I knew of the kind of effect it had on a person, the endorphin rush, the light headedness and weakness. I couldn't believe she would try to run in that state or try attacking such a large group so much more advanced than her.

She jerked out of my hold and our eyes met. Hers were beautiful and showing defiance, she backed toward Lissa now, bracing herself for another attack.

Then Lissa spoke, "Rose, don't." I didn't think Rosemary would change her mind, but then her fierceness faltered, and she calmed down. I could see the tension escaping her as she realized that there was no way to win right now and sensing her resignation, I stepped forward looking at Lissa, trying to look as calm and composed as possible. I swept a bow and introduced myself, "My name is Dimitri Belikov. I've come to take you back to St. Vladimir's Academy Princess."