DPOV
Today was the day I received my guardian assignment. After dedicating my whole life to training, and having had to work extra hard on my control in the last six, I was hoping to get my best friend, Ivan. Or at least someone nice.

The letter arrived and I opened excitedly, but with a hint of trepidation. I'd been top of my class, but that didn't guarantee my worth for an assignment such as Ivan. Though falling guardian numbers meant nearly everyone received a royal simply because there 'wasn't enough of us to go around'. It was a sick system, but I couldn't say a word.

Rosemarie Mazur care of Ibrahim Mazur, I read, Turkey. Oh crap! Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap! I had not just been officially assigned to that powerful businessman, had I? And what was with being assigned his infamous daughter? There wasn't a soul in the world who didn't know Rosemarie Mazur was the only dhampir child to have her own guardian... or should I say guardians? Because every few years she was assigned an extra one. And it wasn't as if it wasn't known she was a spitfire and dangerous in her own right. She'd had eyes on her since birth, so everyone knew she had a temper, and a strength and repertoire of battle moves well beyond her eleven years- twelve now, I corrected myself- which she wasn't afraid to use.

I was brought out of my thoughts by a knocking on my guest room's door. I opened it to see Ivan, the best friend I'd likely never see again.
"Hey!" he cheerily stepped in the room, wearing a smile as bright as a million watt globe.
"What's got you so happy?" I asked curiously.
"You got assigned to me, didn't you? So we've got college and the rest of our lives ahead of us, right?"
My face fell into its emotionless state. "No, Ivan," I said with sorrow filling my voice. So much for emotionless shadow guardian.
"What?" he asked in shock.
"I didn't get assigned to you," I repeated, letting my emotions show, he was my friend after all.
"Then who?"
"Zmey and zmeyette," I responded, and I heard the fear in my voice as I realised what he could do to me.

What she could do and have done to me, because the whole world knew he doted on her. Me being her sixth guardian was evidence enough. She'd acquired that nickname at the mere age of four for 'accidentally' stabbing a client of Abe's in the hand with a fork at a luncheon meeting. It was said the client had upset her somehow, though no one knew how or why. It was just as well apparently, because a month later it had been revealed the client had been creating a diversion for another one to attempt to steal her. That was the first time her guardian detail had increased from one to two personal guardians. She'd had a personal guard since the day she'd been born, literally, because there had been an attempt on her life hours after she'd been delivered.

"Y-you got assigned to them?" he asked, completely stunned and disbelieving.
"Yeah. I did."
"Well then..." a cheeky look crossed his face. "Let's make a day of it, then!"

That night I was on the plane and headed off to Turkey. I had multiple stopovers and slept on the flights and mused over what my life may now hold. Danger was for sure, though it would now also come from Moroi. Difficulty, if I had to deal with one of Rosemarie's temper tantrums or dissuade her from a plan if I knew of it. Would it mean returning to an Academy? And how luxurious would the house be? Would I be travelling with Abe or following Rosemarie mainly? And what threats would the little girl face?

"Ahh, Dimitri," greeted zmey when I stepped into the baggage claim.
"Mr Mazur," I returned.

I knew this outrageously dressed businessman too well. He liked to visit my family after after I'd punished my Moroi father. That said, he'd never brought Rosemarie around. She was hidden as much as possible because of her high public profile. Unlike now. The little girl was perched on her father's hip. She was half asleep since it was early morning, her cheek rested on his shoulder and her eyelids blinked slowly, her curly dark hair was splayed around her and shaped her face though it looked as though it had only had a hand run through it instead of hours with a brush. From what I could see of her arms and face, she had a deep tan that occurred from sun-baking. The girl was twelve! Though I had to admit it made her look like a normal cute little girl, not one who could stab me with a fork... and make it look like an accident. Her dress also made her look deceptively innocent and harmless to the passerby. And to think she was my charge.

"Rose, Kiz, meet your newest guardian," Abe gently said to his daughter. I'd never seen this side of the mobster, but I guess I'd better get used to it.
"Another, Daddy?" she whined sleepily.
"You're lucky to have him," he warned. "He's an officially assigned one and the best of his grade," explained Abe.
"But Daddy, I don't need another!" she argued, now fully awake. "I'm good on my own!" huffed the defiant girl.
"Rosemarie Jane Mazur," Abe said in a reprimanding father way. "You're in more danger than even a day ago."
"Still," she had to have the last word as she jumped out of her father's arms. She pulled on my trouser leg and I nearly had to sit cross-legged to look her in the eye. "Hi," she greeted with an award-winning smile that, even with her two missing teeth, made her look like a child model. "I'm Rose."
"Hello, Miss Mazur," I greeted with a smile of my own to avoid scaring her. I was sure she had to be used to it by now, but I knew I was scary enough with my height.
"I dunno if I like you..." she muttered in Russian. That both surprised me and didn't. Her father spoke all three languages, English, Turkish, and Russian, so why not her too? She looked away then met my eyes boldly with her chocolate brown ones. "Yet."
"Now why would that be?" I asked in Russian.
"You're big and dangerous." After a moment she added, "And young." I laughed a little at that. I was so much older than this innocent child, nearly twice her age, yet she seemed to think I was a baby guardian. Which I guess I was in a way. I was barely eighteen, newly assigned, had never seen a Strigoi, and certainly hadn't yet killed. She was so right while also being so wrong.
"I'm not that young," I responded. "I'm just young for a guardian, Miss Mazur. I just finished school."
"What's your name?" she asked sweetly.
"Dimitri, Guardian Dimitri Belikov."
"I may get to like you, Dimitri," she mused. "I'm Rose, Rosemarie Jane Mazur. Only ever call me Rose," she directed.
"Of course, Miss Mazur," I said. To be a gentleman, I took her little left hand and kissed the back of it ever-so lightly and quickly. The little girl giggled and smiled, brown eyes shining and loose longish dark curls bouncing.
"I might get to like you, Dimitri," she repeated, cute as a button. She was only a year older than my littlest sister and I couldn't help but wistfully note how well they'd get along if they ever met.

"You're the first guardian who she's claimed to not like yet giggles at," noted Abe as we walked to his two SUVs. One, I learned, was especially for transporting the little Rose. "I think you're going to be her near guard," he mused. "Work it out with the others, but I think it's going to work best for her to have you closest to her."
"Whatever you ask, Sir," I obediently agreed.
"Good. Because I may just need you to be the guardian of hers who plays with her. She's had more family time and involvement than most novice guardians. But she hasn't yet had a guardian who plays with her. Trains her? Yes, they've done that. But played with her and made her feel like the little girl she is? That they haven't... until you. I know I can trust you with her."