Chapter One - The Announcement
A/N: Hi there! Long time reader and writer, first time publisher. This idea came to me about three hours ago and I've just been frantically writing since then. This is the first chapter (no, really?), and I've got some outlines for a school years worth of studying and funtimes so I'll see how that pans out. Anyways I just wanted to put the first chapter up and see how it goes.
Please review I'd love to hear your thoughts, I'll try and put the next chapter up tomorrow night but no promises - biology excursion to examine plants and stuff...
The first chapter offers a smidge more explanation on what is actually happening so if you've clicked on this thinking "hmm what's that about?" then read through it's not long... hehe... but this pretty much sets the stage for what follows.
Enjoy :)
Disclaimer: The following story is based on the excellent works of J.K. Rowling and Richelle Mead, they are not mine. Not including the characters you don't recognise, which are mine.
Also: Being Australian, I may have a few spelling variations to what you may or may not be used to, just skim over them and try not to let them get to you. But let me know if you think there's something wrong :)
...
Principle Kirova called us to her office at the end of the school day.
Outside, the sky was starting to brighten. It was a dark shade of purple, and the horizon to the east held the faintest of glows.
Rose came with me, and, at Kirova's request, as did Eddie, Christian, and a couple of other novice Dhampirs who I couldn't name, though Rose seemed to know them.
One was a girl, who had her long wavy hair tied in a ponytail, and she was talking to a tall boy with short, black hair. There was another novice walking silently behind them with shoulder length, sand coloured hair which he'd tied into a ponytail.
With his hair like that, he must be one of Dimitri's worshippers.
"Good afternoon, everyone." Kirova welcomed us into her office, where a number of chairs had been brought in to accommodate us all. She used afternoon like the rest of us did. It might be early morning, but it was the end of our waking day, so after midnight was 'afternoon' and before midnight was 'morning'. Not exactly, but in a greeting sense, that was how we worked.
"Sit down, we have much to explain," a new voice said, and Dimitri appeared out of the shadows to my right. I may have jumped a little, as did Christian, but none of the novices seemed fazed.
"Lissa, take that one," Rose said, pointing me to a soft, blue-cushioned chair right in front of Kirova's desk. It was obviously for me, being Royal and all.
To be honest, I can never quite get used to all of this special treatment, and everyone else will keep surprising me with new ways of care. Like getting the most comfy looking chair and not having to sit behind anyone. No one moved until I had made my way through the assembled chairs to the one Rose had indicated. I looked at them shyly before taking my seat, and then Christian came to sit by my left.
After that, the novices had a bit of a scuffle over who got which chairs, though no one tried to compete with Rose for the chair to my right. Eddie was behind me and Christian, with the girl to his left and the two boys to his right behind Rose. Dimitri remained standing by the wall and Kirova came around to take her seat.
"I hope you realise how grave the situation is," the Principle began, "as it has been decided by the Board of Governors and the Heads of the Royal Families that St. Vladimir's location is no longer safe."
There were gasps at this, though no one interrupted with words. Kirova's voice was too serious for idle banter and arguing.
"The Strigoi attack has brought us to the conclusion that this school's location is now known outside of our confidants, and we cannot risk anyone's lives by remaining here. Wards and guardians can only help us so much if the Strigoi are forming large bands and working with humans."
"What are you gonna do with us then?" Rose asked, leaning forward. "Where will we go?"
"Rose," Dimitri warned, and she bit her lip and sat back a little.
"We are building a new school," Kirova told us. "We had originally hoped to simply divide up the student body and send you to different Moroi establishments until the new school is ready, but few schools have the resources for more students. In total, the other schools here can only accept a quarter of the senior student body, and half of the the middle school and elementary students."
"So we're off school until you've built a new one?" Christian grinned, but I quickly silenced him with a glare. This was no joking matter, no matter how much Christian hates school.
"Hardly," Kirova replied, giving him a similar glare. "We have been put in touch with an English school who has offered to take everyone, and they have prepared for everyone to come over in a fortnight. For now, we have agreed to send ten students to help ease our students with theirs."
"Is it for Moroi and Dhampirs?" Eddie asked from behind me. It was a valid question. I know for a fact there are three schools here that only offer Moroi education, but none offer Dhampir-only so it's not very even, especially when there are many more Dhampirs that Moroi.
"Neither," Kirova said, and Rose choked.
"So what; a school for humans?" She demanded. "How's that going to work?"
"Miss Hathaway, calm down. It is a school for witches and wizards."
"So they're like us?" I asked, my mind reeling with the information. "They study the elements; they could teach us so much if that's the case. I've read British Magic is slightly different to ours, they could have their own spells for things we've never even thought of trying. They could have... People like me." There could be spirit users who could help Rose and I control the bond. I could learn to control it better and keep the darkness from hurting Rose.
"Not quite, Princess. They actually are witches and wizards. They learn wand magic that isn't tied down to the elements; levitation and the like. They even fly using brooms, and some of these older wizards can shape-shift into animals."
"Flying on broomsticks?" Christian snorted, "Is this a joke?"
"How are the parents going to agree with sending us to London for school?" I asked. "Or wherever it is. How are we going to pay for it? How do we get there? What-"
"Princess, I assure you," Kirova said, "Everything has been or will be taken care of. Payment will not change from the normal school fees everyone pays, and your curriculum will not be altered, save for a few extra classes that you may take if you'd like. They cannot allow us to attend magic classes, as they require an inner magic we do not have. But some of their subjects do not need wand-magic, and you may undertake one of them along with their first years if you're interested. In the meantime, you will study as you would here. There will be the same tests and exams, and you must pass them." Her eyes flickered over Rose a little longer than anyone else's as she finished.
"So why are you telling us this?" Eddie asked.
"You seven have been nominated to be among the first ten to go. You may decline, but know that after two weeks you will be going anyway. Does anyone wish to stay?"
No one said anything. I was eager to try this new school, if only to find someone like myself among these British magicians. It seemed a small chance, but I would take it.
"Very well," Kirova smiled, happy we had all accepted, "We are still short three people. There are a number of other choices, but we thought it best to find a group that know and got along with each other first. Are there any suggestions?"
"Can Adrian come?" I immediately asked. I was not going on a hunt for more Spirit users without him. "He could help out in their cafeteria if anything, but please can he come?"
"As I understand it, they do not need help with meal services. Something about Elves doing all the cooking and cleaning. Now that is not an excuse to be a mess everywhere you go. However, Princess, I will send an invitation to Mr. Ivashkov, and whilst I doubt he has any demand on his time here, do not count on him coming with you. Anyone else?"
"Mia Rinaldi," Rose said. I looked at her, and she shrugged at me. "She's not so bad once you get to know her and she's not trying to socially murder you. Besides, she could probably do with a break from people here anyway."
"And she's working with me," Christian said, giving me a knowing look before turning back to Kirova. "We're paired for a Moroi Culture assignment; it wouldn't be fair to our grade to split us up for two weeks, how would we get the work done on time?" The teachers here didn't yet know that they were practicing offensive magic.
"Very well," Kirova said, writing Mia's name down on a list in front of her. "Anyone else, or shall we choose two others to go with you?"
"Could Stephania Kahlua come with us?" asked the girl beside Eddie. Rose gave an annoyed groaning noise that only I heard and slumped down in her seat a little.
"I'm afraid not, her mother had just had a son and I doubt Miss Kahlua would like to be taken from her mother and brother any sooner than she must."
"Thank God." Rose muttered.
"Princess Dragomir, Mr. Ozera, I was hoping you might have some Moroi suggestions to even out the group a little?"
"Jesse Zeklos." Christian said after a moment of thought.
"You're not serious, are you?" Rose scoffed, looking past me at Christian, who looked cruelly happy about something.
"Come on, can you imagine that asshole if he was the only one of his group coming with us to a school where they're so different from us? He'll be a regular source of entertainment."
"Mr. Ozera. That is not what I meant when I asked for suggestions." Kirova frowned at him.
"Actually, Headmistress Kirova, Jesse would be a great help." I said, turning up my compulsion just a little bit. Kirova looked at me, not in the least suspicious as I continued. "I've been helping Christian and Jesse practice a fire spell they found in an old Romanian book and they're getting really good at it, please may he come with us?"
"Very well," Kirova said, blinking before turning back to Christian. "But you had better be on your best behaviour. The same rules that apply here apply over there; no bullying, no thievery, no misbehaving."
"Yes, Headmistress," Christian said, nodding solemnly.
"Alright, we need one more person. Princess?"
"Um..." I really couldn't think of anyone else I wanted to come, so I turned to Rose. "Can you think of anyone else to drag along with us?"
Rose looked at me with her eyebrows raised before taking on a very thoughtful look. She could feel me through the bond; just pick any Dhampir worth bringing, someone nice, someone who won't be rude to me or Christian. Maybe a friend for that other girl. Then she smiled.
"Can we bring Katalina Petrovsky?" she asked. She felt my confusion through the bond so turned to me. "She's a novice with me and Meredith. You'll like her, though she's pretty quiet."
"Very well," Kirova said, adding Katalina's name to her list. "Please head to your rooms at once and pack your belongings. You do not need to take your uniforms, you will receive new ones upon arrival. However novices; take you training clothes with you as your combat lessons will continue as usual. Be back here in two hours, sunrise, and we'll head off."
"So soon?" I asked, startled.
"Princess, this is a dangerous situation," Kirova told me, "We need to get everyone to a new, safe location."
"Where are we even going?" Christian asked. "All you've said is an English school."
"Apologies, we will all be heading to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, who's location is well-guarded and apparently magicked into being unplottable. I'm not sure how they managed that, but it's somewhere in the Scotland."
"We're flying to Scotland?" Rose asked.
"You will be going to London first, where you will be able to be fitted for new uniforms and get school books, and then catch a train to the school. The train leaves at eleven o'clock on the first, eleventh and twenty-first of every month. It takes the day to get to the school, and there will be other magicians on the train so be on your guard."
Rose nodded fiercely, and I could only imagine Eddie and the other novices behind me with similar looks of commitment. It scares me how willingly they would put themselves in danger to protect myself and other Moroi.
"Very well, off you go. Guardian Belikov, see to it that Miss Rinaldi, Mr Zeklos and Miss Petrovsky are notified and ready to leave in two hours. Make sure they don't tell anyone what's going on, we'll have an assembly later this week to inform the entire student body."
Dimitri nodded and left at once.
"I will see you all back here soon." Kirova finished, "Don't take too long with your goodbyes, it is only two weeks."
The next two hours were a slight blur, but I was packed quickly and as Christian was too, we dropped our suitcases off at the Headmistresses office andwe took a silent stroll around the courtyard to say goodbye to St Vladimir's.
I think I took this school for granted. If we weren't compromised, I would not have to worry about the outside world until I graduate, and I guess I just wasn't ready for it yet. I know it's just a school, and I hope it won't be torn down – surely it's heritage listed or something? – but I grew up in these walls.
I was here since kindergarten, when Rose had thrown a book at a teacher to save us from spelling. It was here that I learnt magic, basic fire and air spells. It was in this library that I spent night after night searching for answers to why I hadn't specialised. This was where I found my faith, found love, found sadness, found sanctuary, and I didn't want to leave it any earlier than I absolutely needed to.
Though I guess the current situation means I do need to leave. I am the last of the Dragomir family and I cannot let this great Royal Line die out. It has meant too much in the past, we have had some of the greatest monarchs in American history. I will not let my ancestors down.
Christian was nice; he held my hand but remained quiet. He's good like that; he knows when to talk, but he also knows when to just be there for me and not say anything at all. It's why I love him.
I went into Church to see the Priest one last time. He said he was staying with the Church to catalogue all the documents the Church hid. He'd been doing it for a year or so now, and without students he would be able to focus more on it and finish it quicker. He might even find out more about how St. Vladimir overcame his spirit darkness with Anna, something Rose and I had approached him about not too long ago.
We sat for some time on a stone bench on the edge of campus, facing the slow sunrise. The sky was by now starting to colour, with pastel blues and purples, and the clouds were framed in orange and pink. It was a magic in itself. Air users can occasionally control various weather phenomena but it takes a strong user teamed with an equally strong water user to orchestrate a beautiful sunrise such as this.
Rose came to join me with not too long to go until our deadline. I guessed she knew through the bond that I needed a quiet space, so she sat there quietly, comfortably sitting shoulder to shoulder with me, whilst Christian held my hand and slowly drew circles with his thumb. He was a strong comfort in times like this.
I don't know why leaving felt so foreboding. It didn't feel wrong, I wasn't scared, I couldn't sense any danger like when Victor and Natalie were such a threat or even back before Rose and I left the school. It was a different type of scared. And we weren't just leaving for Moroi Court a couple of states away; we were going to Europe, to a school for teenage magicians-in-training.
I may be a little scared of change?
With the eastern sky turning orange and flecks of gold announced the sun's near arrival, we knew it was time to go, and soon we were back at Kirova's.
The Dhampir girl from earlier was there, along with whom I assumed to be Katalina. The two stood side by side with an awkward air of trying and failing at talking, though Katalina herself was quietly watching everyone and everything. Her hair was the same dark brown as Rose's, but it was cut short to keep her neck bare and instead grew out in every direction but down. Coupled with her glasses, Katalina did not look like a guardian, but I guess she holds the advantage of not looking like an immediate threat. A situation which I'm sure works for her.
Jesse was there, looking none too pleased with his arms crossed and a sour look on his face. Christian smirked beside me but said nothing.
Mia was there, looking confused but excited. I wonder how much she knows yet? She smiled when she saw us and came over to say hello.
"Did you guys hear? We're going to London! How cool is that?"
Excitement bubbled out of Mia like I'd never thought possible. Looking at us, you'd never know she used to hate my guts. "I asked Kirova and she said they can look into bringing my dad over to work at the school! For wizards – what's that about? Maybe we can try getting wands, too, do you think it could make our magic stronger?"
She turned to Christian and continued, barely pausing for the breath I'm certain she'd need to keep talking "Christian, we could use them for offensive magic, surely they know more attack spells than us? Do you think they'd have them banned as well? Ah I'm so excited! It'll be good to get away from the Strigoi here, too. I asked a Guardian who said they'd been there before and he said there's practically no Strigoi there! Why haven't we gone there earlier?"
"You're anticipating this a lot more than I am," I smiled at her, " Aren't you scared of leaving?"
"Why would I be scared?" She grinned at me, "Loosen up, Princess, life's an adventure, get on board!"
"Is everyone ready to go?" Kirova appeared at the end of the hallway and beckoned us all to follow her. I picked up the suitcase I'd left here earlier and followed everyone else. Jesse had stormed off ahead, followed by the Katalina and the Dhampir girl, the sandy-haired boy, and then myself with Rose and Christian. Eddie and Mia were behind us, talking animatedly about what possibly awaited us, and behind them was the last Dhampir boy from earlier.
Apart from Jesse, everyone was excited to get on the plane and all of us were glued to our windows as the school fell below us and then behind us. The windows were tinted but I drew the curtain anyway and began to fill with so much anticipation I didn't know it was physically possible.
A tear may have fallen, but I wasn't sad. It's always upsetting to say goodbye to such a large part of your life, but at the same time it's not a part of life to stay in the same place, and the same routine, forever. Change is a part of life as much as anything else is; you have to embrace it to enjoy it. I am now resolved to be embracing of this new chapter in my life. And I have my best friend and my boyfriend to share it with.