A/N: Hey everyone! This is my first Fanfiction so please be gentle :) Please Read and Review because I would love to hear your thoughts.
Because I must even though it is in the description - All character belong to Richelle Mead.
Love at First Sight.
I pushed open the doors to the gym, tired. When I agreed to extra lessons I never expected them to be so early in the morning or should I say night. I caught sight of a man sitting on the floor, back against the wall with a ruffled western novel in his hands, looking quite content, great I get the cowboy.
His shoulder length brown hair and god-like face told me it was Guardian Belikov. Not only was he a hot Dhampir but he was the youngest guardian, being only twenty four and the only one I've heard about with six molnija marks on the back of his neck. This man was a killing machine and a total god!
He was also Christian Ozera's guardian; Christian's parents had turned stigori, evil vampires who kill dhampirs and Moroi. Moroi have special magic, a heartbeat and can out in the sun but stigori are dead, powerless and deadly. They had threatened to awaken Christian but his Aunt Tasha had Dimitri assigned to make sure Christian was safe. Rumour was that Tasha likes Dimitri more than a friend and who would blame her!
I felt a smile tug at the corner of my lips, god was I lucky. I thanked the heavens above that I was failing so badly in combat class, that Kirova assigned me with a mentor to give me extra lessons. And boy was it worth the early mornings.
He looked up at me and I saw him try to hide a smile, I obviously was not what he expected.
"I'm Rose Hathaway." I said calmly as I stretched my hand out politely. He looked at me curiously then shook my hand. I thought I would melt in his warm touch but I kept my face composed.
"I'm Dimitri Belikov, your new mentor." I could hear his slight Russian accent as he spoke and it was amazing, making me tingle. He flashed me a quick smile before standing.
He was taller than I expected 6, 5 and with the black t-shirt he wore, it was hard not to stare at his muscular chest. He placed his book on the floor where he was sitting and looked me over. I felt my stomach flutter as my eyes met his amazing chocolate coloured ones.
"So how can you fail combat class?" He asked with the same curious expression on his face. "I hear you're a tough one, I think they've lost count the amount of people you've punched." I saw he was trying his hardest not to laugh at his remark but it didn't surprise me that he had read my file.
"For one you have to turn up and two, I get kicked around being the only girl. You kind of start to lose interest."
There wasn't a lot of female guardians, many where men. Women decided to stay behind and have Dhampir children and many where used as blood whores by Moroi men. I was the only girl who was in my combat class in particular and I hated it. Of course there where female novices in my year but not many compared to Moroi. Novices were what dhampirs are called when they are learning how to become guardians to protect the Moroi, vampires.
I slung my gym bag on the floor near his battered book before sitting in his place.
"So what's on the agenda?" I asked in my 'bored already' voice as I crossed my legs and gazed at Dimitri.
"First, we are going to find out exactly what you already can do." He gestured for me to follow him as he walked out of the gym to the field.
Here there was a faint outline of a track etched into the ground. It was chilly in the night air, my eyes fell on the setting sun and I felt the twinge of annoyance. I loved the sun but due to the Moroi schedules I hardly see it, only when it's setting like this.
I sighed and turned to Dimitri, he too was looking up at the sun and it made his slightly tanned skin look amazing.
"I want to see how many laps you can run in ten minutes, don't worry I'll run with you." I took that as a challenge, I never really did much running and it wasn't long before I had a stitch and had to slow down. I was so unfit!
I heard him laugh as he came to a stop, by then I was bent over struggling to catch my breath. Dimitri jogged over to me; I was amazed to see he wasn't out of breath.
"Come on, let's try the weights." I wanted to hit him, how could he work me so hard on our first session?
We walked into the weights room and I groaned as he set the level, I watched him effortlessly lift it up in one hand. I quietly sighed to myself as I saw his muscles rippled under his shirt. Then he handed it to me.
It did look lighter than it was, I gripped it with my left hand and felt its full weight, it was so heavy it weighed my arm down. I could feel my muscles protesting as I tried my hardest to keep hold of the weight.
I was so glad Dimitri eventually took it off me, placing it back on the rack. He nodded and strode back into the gym, I reluctantly followed know what was coming next. We were going to fight and I saw Dmitri's face wash with humour before his face went serious.
I gulped as I stood in front of him, I was ready for his attack, and well at least I thought I was when his fist grazed my cheek. It didn't hurt but it stung, he came at me again and I was relieved when I managed to dodge it. I had no time to do a happy dance when his leg swung out; I tried making a grab for it but failed as his foot collided with my thigh.
I stumbled back, refusing to give up. I was used to being kicked about and I wasn't going to stand for it from Belikov. I huffed and flew my arm out to punch him but of course when fighting against an expert guardian god you wouldn't succeed.
He cupped his hand over my fist before it came in contact with his cheek, twisted my arm and in seconds had me pinned. I growled in frustration as he realised his hard grip and let me stand. He nodded and walked over to his book, picking it up in his big hands and turning towards me.
"You have a lot to learn Rose; I'll see you tomorrow morning." I sighed in relief that was it, the pain was over.
I allowed myself one last look before I grabbed my bag and dragged myself towards the changing rooms where I stripped down and gratefully jumped in the shower; feeling all the cool water run down my back made me relaxed.
It wasn't long before I was dry and dressed in my normal jeans ready to tackle the normal school day at St Vladimir academy.
After the school day had finished, I was relieved to finally go to my room. I stripped down and slung on my pyjamas and jumped into bed.
The next I knew I was waking up to the sound on my alarm clock. I groaned at the thought of getting battered by Dimitri again but when I thought of rolling on the floor with him, the idea of getting up didn't seem so terrible.
Once I was dressed in my loose trackies and tight sports top, I made my way towards the gym, skipping with the thought of seeing Dimitri. I knew as soon as I walked in that he would be sitting against the wall with a battered novel in his big hands but to my surprise he wasn't.
I pushed the gym doors open to see nothing but darkness, I continued to squint my eyes but saw nothing. I decided he might be late and I would wait outside but as I turned someone tapped my shoulder. I saw no one behind me when I turned and placed it up to paranoia but once I turned again I felt the slight tap again.
I knew I wasn't alone in the darkness and whoever it was I was going to show them you don't mess with Rose Hathaway! So I turned back again waiting for the tap and sure did it come. I grabbed the warm hand that had tapped me and twisted it; I could hear a slight 'ah' in protest but before I could do anything else I found myself pinned on the floor.
Panic began to rise as I heard the breath close to my ear, it was when I smelt the amazing aftershave I knew it was Dimitri. I sighed in frustration, I wanted to show off what I did know but instead I made a total ass out of myself.
"Dimitri? Can you please get off me now?" I asked and he realised his hold almost instantly, once I was free I sat up, the lights flashed on and I noticed I was still at the entrance of the gym. I looked over at Dimitri and I felt my heart skip a beat, he looked gorgeous as he lent across the wall next to the light switch. His cheeks were slightly rosy from the exercise and his hair was a bit messy, but he still looked like a god, even more so.
"I thought we would start with a run first." He said in his faintly accented voice. Once again I followed him out towards the field.
This time I didn't try to out run him or anything, I just went at my own pace and it frustrated me that he stuck close to my side, keeping with my pace. He didn't seem bothered but it was a relief once he finally got bored and decided he will teach me some skills.
It took me a while to pick them up but Dimitri was patient or at least he didn't show that he wasn't. I managed to use the kick move he showed me against him but I was scared to put any force behind it just in case I hurt him, and that hesitation was what got me once again pinned against the cold wooden floor.
That move gave me the advantage in combat class, I wasn't afraid to hurt the boys that enjoyed hurting me. Mason, my usual partner was nice and I felt bad once he toppled over clutching his stomach after I delivered the blow. I felt so guilty.
Mason must be the only decent guy in my year and I had fun flirting with him as he did with me. I knew he had feelings more than friendship for me but I preferred to have him as a friend rather than hurt his feelings because of my flirtatious nature.
As I helped him hobble to the infirmary I couldn't help but keep apologising. This was all Dimitri's fault and he had told me not to use these moves on other novices but the rebel in me couldn't resist. So it was his entire fault.
"I'm so sorry again Mason!" I said as I helped him climb on the bed as Dr Olendzki came in with a disapproving look on her face as she saw me.
"I'm fine; it's probably not going to bruise." Mason reassured me, I felt so bad when he turned the full power of his blue eyes on me, telling me I should leave it alone. I sighed and ruffled his red hair.
"My little soldier." I teased as Dr Olendzki placed her cold hands on Masons abdomen, pressing softly, I could see Mason try not to yelp.
"I'm not surprised you are the reason behind this Miss Hathaway." What was that supposed to mean? Sure I agree I have put many boys in here thanks to my competitive nature but not once had I felt so bad for it. Mason was my friend and if it was anyone else I would have laughed and walked away, calling them something like 'wimp' or 'douche', but Mason was not like other boys, he was sweet and caring.
"I'm so sorry again Mason!" I whispered before ruffling his hair and leaving the room, I really did feel sorry and I was prepared for the shouting I was going to get off Dimitri.
It was lunch and I wanted to see Lissa. Vasilisa Dragomir was the last princess of the Dragomir clan and also my best and longest friend. She was a Moroi and a spirit user. It wasn't until last year when we realised that Lissa hadn't specialised in her Moroi magic, we always knew she could heal people and use amazing amounts of compulsion, mind control, but we never knew why.
Mrs Karp, a crazy teacher who worked at St Vladimir's, was also a spirit user, she was the one who told Lissa and I about spirit and taught Lissa everything she knew. While spending extra lessons with Mrs Karp Lissa learnt how to dream walk, where she can enter and control people's dreams, me being the main person.
But by using spirit came consequences. Mrs Karp slowly started to go mad with the amount of power she used. Spirit was much different compared to the other four elements. Spirit uses the Moroi's power and the connection to the world where the other elements used things like fire, water, air and earth.
Spirit was not common and was kept a secret due to how powerful the Moroi who had the magic was. The power to heal came with a huge responsibility and Spirit was not a magic to use constantly, like I said it will soon drive you crazy. Lissa was on some sort of anti-depressant pill to stop her from going crazy and now she is off them and completely fine, mainly because she doesn't use her magic unless she absolutely need too.
If it wasn't for the car accident neither of us would have discovered Lissa's element. Lissa and I were in the back of the car and Andre, Lissa's older brother and her father was in the front. I can't remember how exactly it happened but I remember being the one who crashed into the tree.
Lissa father and Andre died but I could never figure out how I survived, I remember Lissa was crying and then I felt warm and everything was white, the next I knew I was in hospital perfectly fine with the odd scratch. I remember seeing Lissa so ill looking and I placed it up to worry, until she collapsed of starvation. She needed blood and I didn't hesitate to give her some as she needed it.
It was then she told me what really happened in the car. She had reached over and healed me, I had died. She had brought me back from the dead and it used so much power she nearly died. Ever since I have been 'resurrected' I have this sort of bond with Lissa.
I can feel her emotions, feel where she is and now and again, certain emotions pull me into her head and for that moment of time I am her. I see what she sees; I hear her thoughts and feel her emotions. It is well freaky, especially when she is with her boyfriend Christian Ozera, the same one who Dimitri spends time protecting. He too is a royal so their love isn't forbidden, they can have children and expand the Dragomir and Ozera line as they are the only hope to save their dying family line.
I could feel Lissa as soon as I was in the dining hall, I could feel her pulling me towards her.
Liss? I asked through the bond, did I mention we also can talk to each other though our minds, it's amazing when you want a private conversation when you're around prying ears.
What's up? I heard her calm voice enter my mind as soon as I called her name.
Where are you? I can't see you? I did another swoop of the room but she was nowhere to be seen.
I'm with the feeders! I headed towards the small room to the back of the dining hall. I received a funny look as I walked past the nurse towards Lissa. She had just finished.
Feeders were humans who were willing to be bitten; most of them were simply addicted to the endorphins rush brought on from the saliva. I have been bitten many times by Lissa, she hates it when she forgets to feed and has to feed off me but she knew I didn't mind. I wasn't addicted or anything, I was definitely not a blood whore but for her I would do anything, she did bring me back from the dead.
"Hey!" she said as she walked towards me, linking her arm in mine and leading me towards the dining hall. She knew how much I hated the feeding room, it smelt like a hospital and the smell of blood made my toes curl.
Dhampirs were half Moroi and half human. Although Dhampirs are half human we can small the blood thanks to our Moroi half giving us extra senses; we are built to fight and Moroi are built to rule and hide behind their guardians.
"I'm starving are you?" she asked as pulled me towards the food line. Moroi eat normal food as well, they need it as much as Dhampirs and humans do just that they also need blood to survive.
"Not much, I did something bad." I dropped my head to stare at my feet. I was she was looking at me waiting patiently but through the bond I could feel her curiosity.
"Dimitri showed me this move and told me not to use it on another novice but I couldn't resist! And I hurt Mason, he's ok but he's in the infirmary." I saw her shocked expression as she shook her head.
"Rose, maybe next time you should listen to Guardian Belikov!" her voice was calm but I could hear the slight hint of annoyance, she hated it when I did something stupid because I do things before I think. I never thought of how much damage I could have caused Mason and then I would feel completely terrible.
"Don't worry I will next time." I reassured her as I grabbed a bagel and placed it on the tray, Lissa just looked at me and shook her head, and I didn't have much of an appetite. She grabbed a healthy salad and once we paid for it lead me to our usual table.
Lissa and I sat with a small group of friends, Mia, Mason, Natalie and of course Christian. I never used to get on with Mia, she used to be a major bitch towards Lissa and I, all because she used to go out with Lissa's brother Andre and he hurt her feelings.
Quite pathetic considering he is no longer able to defend himself or Lissa, Mia once was one of my victims, I had punched her in the face after she spread rumours that I had hooked up with Jesse Zeklos and let him bite me during, of course it was a lie. It's true that Jesse and I went to his room and made out a little but that was as far as it went, let's just say my name is now marked.
As for the annoying Natalie, she is Lissa cousin. Her father Prince Victor Dashkov has taken Lissa under his wing, looking after her as if she was his own daughter, I could see sometimes Natalie gets jealous of this but she is too nice to say anything about it. Sadly Victor's kindness will be short lived as he has Sandovsky's Disease and will soon die.
Mason eventually arrived and once again I kept apologising but I was so glad he was alright and still able to walk.
"Mase, I'm sorry! I should never have used that move, I was told not to!" I saw a grin spread across his face and I knew he was going to make a joke.
"Anything's worth tangling with you babe! You're such an animal!" He made a claw and swiped at me, I could help but laugh; he was such a clown. I knew I was totally forgiven but I would make sure I wouldn't use anymore moves Dimitri teaches me unless he says I can, although I will probably forget and do it again.
Of course the next morning I didn't expect anything less than to get shouted at by Dimitri, as soon as I walked into the gym he looked up at me from his book with angry eyes. He stood and I could keep my eyes off him, he was extremely sexy when he was angry.
"What did I tell you? Did you even listen?" His voice was calm but I could see the anger rise in his eyes and I knew that soon his super-control will slip.
"I...I..." I couldn't speak, I had no words. Not only was Dimitri completely sexy when he was angry but he was also terrifying. Remind me never again to piss off a Russian.
"You're what Rose? Did you even apologise to poor Mr Ashford? My guess is no. Did you even think about how much you could have hurt him?" I felt the anger bubble up inside me, who was he to judge me? He's known me for what three days and he already thinks he has me summed me up.
"You know nothing about me only what you've read in my file. Mason is my friend and I hate that I hurt him, I have been bloody apologising ever since so don't start with me!" I let my anger out, my voice become a shout by the time I had finished. I was so angry I wanted to take it out on him, but most of all, I wanted to kiss him and the desire to do it was begin to win out.
I stepped away from him, stopping myself before I did something I regretted, before I kissed him and crossed that forbidden barrier. I saw surprise flash across his face at my outburst but he didn't say anything about it.
"Well, maybe you should think before you act!" His voice was calm but it still had that hint of anger. I knew it was stupid what I did and I knew I needed to start thinking before I act, like he and Lissa have told me but I can't help my competitive nature.
"I'm sorry!" My voice was full of anger and venom as I turned and stormed out towards the field, I knew he was going to ask me to run anyway so I beat him to it.
I slowly jogged around the track, let off steam. I was vaguely aware of someone behind me but I didn't stop, I wouldn't let Dimitri off that easy. He knew nothing about me, I have no ideas what is in my file but I can guess and if he believed rumours than he was no better than anyone else.
"Rose, just stop for a minute." Dimitri said as he finally sped up and stopped in front of me, grabbing my waist as I tried to run around him.
"Let Me Go!" I yelled as his arms stopped me from running off, he was strong I give him that.
"Rose, I just want to talk to you!" he yelled back as I continued to struggle.
All of a sudden the scenery changed and I was in the dusty old loft above the church, there were dusty old boxes cluttering the floor but they had been pushed against the walls to make room for a blue blanket.
"I got your text, what's so urgent?" Lissa's emotions had pulled me into her head and from the look of the loft it was a special day for her and Christian I could feel she was so tired; he had pulled her out of bed for some unknown reason. She tried to think but came up with nothing, and she was too tired.
Christian came over to me and kissed her tenderly on the lips, her stomach fluttered and her happiness grew.
I tried my best to pull myself out of her head and I couldn't. Lissa and Christian continued to kiss, getting more intense and I knew I didn't want to be in her head.
"Happy anniversary!" Christian said as he kissed her and handed her a little blue jewellery box, wrapped in white ribbon, my guess was a necklace and Lissa's was the same.
Finally I was pushed out.
I shuddered as I returned to my own head and the first thing I saw was a worried Dimitri.
"Rose?" I blinked a few times before I nodded. I was laying flat on my back on the grass with Dimitri kneeling next to me, his face was completely confused.
"What happened?" I shuddered and shook my head, no one was really suppose to know about Lissa and I, Kirova and Mrs Karp know about our bond and Christian but that was it. We couldn't risk people knowing about Lissa, they would use her for stupid things and eventually it would kill her.
"It's nothing, Leave it!" I said in a low warning voice, I knew it wouldn't scare him like it would others but I knew he also wouldn't drop it.
"Rose, is this about Lissa?" I tried my hardest to hide my expression but I knew he knew he was right.
"Maybe?" I wasn't going to give anything away. I stood and turned flicking my hair deliberately, making my way towards the gym.
I could hear him walk behind me; I didn't look back as I walked into the gym and sat against the wall ready to take orders. He sat next to me, crossing his legs as he took of his sweater. I couldn't help but ogle at his muscular stomach as he pulled his black sweater over his head.
"I know Rose!" He said, placing the sweater in a bundle next to him and looking at me. I didn't know what exactly he knew but I had a good idea and I was interested in how much he did know.
"Lissa has spirit and you and her are bonded although no one apart from you two know why. You won't tell anyone for some reason and all the trouble you get in is by protecting her. You might only be seventeen but you hold a lot of secrets. You don't act your age and I know that because you think you need to be strong to hold Lissa together."
I looked at him, mouth wide open. I didn't realise that he had summed me up, he hardly knew me yet he knew me. He knew what I was going through only I didn't think about it the way he put it.
I knew I had to be strong for Lissa, if I didn't I knew she would know something was wrong and that was how the depression would come back. And I get into fights a lot because of Lissa but I wouldn't change that, I knew if I didn't she would use her magic and if she's angry her victim could end up dead.
"How?" was all I could manage? He smiled, I could see in his eyes that he was wondering whether to tell me or not. What would I do to them? Whoever it was has broken the rules we had set and will pay, eventually.
"Headmistress Kirova told me because of me being your mentor. She said that I had a right to know in case you did something odd like suddenly run off or zone out." That bitch! I couldn't believe her, I understand her side but she still had no right to tell him without telling us. Who else had she told? The whole academy?
I felt my anger shoot through me but I held back, I knew Dimitri wouldn't let me get out of the gym let alone anywhere near Kirova.
"Well, remind me never to tell her anymore of my secrets." I joked. I looked at Dimitri and his smiled made my heart skip.
I liked him like this, relaxed and smiling. He wasn't being a guardian or a teacher, he was being a friend.
"You know you can tell me anything." he said in his accented voice. I knew now would be totally inappropriate to kiss him but it didn't mean I didn't want too. I just gave him an answering smile.
"So, Why Western novels?" I asked trying to hold back a laugh as I picked it up and waved it at him. It surprised me, he appears to be a mystery murder type of guy but no, western novels. I saw the smile grow on his face and he laughed quietly but I heard it so clear; I felt like I was drowning in it.
"I'm not sure really? It's just an escape for guarding; cowboys have no rules, no expectations and no limits. I would kill for a life like that but I have no choice." I saw longing in his eyes as he gazed at the book in my hands.
"I know the feeling, I love Lissa don't get me wrong but I'm too much of a free spirit to be put in a uniform and be ordered around!" I realised how easy he was to talk too, I could tell him things I haven't told Lissa and on things like this we understood each other, we were similar spirits.
I suddenly leaned over and unexpectedly pressed my lips to his.
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