So, let me give you a little background on me. I've read Vampire Academy 4 times overall and some of the books 5 times. I love it. Clearly. It was what got me into fanfiction and there's been a story I've wanted to write for a while and I decided that I just needed to do it. So here is the first chapter, it's kind of the prologue but I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know what you think.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Vampire Academy. I could never have written something so awesome. All characters/rights belong to Richelle Mead.

RPOV

Shopping for a wedding dress is not my idea of a fun morning, but Lissa insisted that it couldn't be "just any dress of the rack" and that it had to be as special as the day was going to be. I argued that white is white and that it's obsolete - I know right, big word - since we both know virtue is a word that describes neither of us. She laughed saying tradition is tradition and since so many couldn't be met, she would meet this one.

I knew exactly what she meant by that of course. Ever since Lissa was little she dreamed of the day her father would walk her down the aisle to her awaiting prince charming, ready to become Mrs. Whoever-it-was. She would have her father-daughter dance and her mom and Andre would make a speech, as well as her new husband's family. That wasn't meant to be though. Her family was dead, Christian was hardly prince charming - well at least in my opinion – and he had no family left either. She wouldn't become Mrs. Ozera rather he would become Mr. Dragomir since it was her duty to carry on the Dragomir line.

So, grudgingly, I sat in the waiting area declining endless offers of champagne – I was on duty after all – nodding and smiling to every tailor-made dress she tried on. I have to admit when she found the perfect one the smile was genuine. It was beautifully simple, like her. It was beautiful silk that touched the floor and accentuated her petite curves. The lace sleeves gave a vintage touch which suited her perfectly. I knew this wasn't the dress she would actually wear. She would have it replicated, made from the material of her mother's dress. If she couldn't be there is person, Lissa would take a piece of her with her down the aisle. It was so stunning I really did begin to get sucked into the ceremony of it all, the wedding I mean, so much so that I almost missed the sound of footsteps coming from behind her.

"Damn" I cursed. I knew we shouldn't have shopped outside the wards without tighter security. I know she wanted this to be a private moment but I really should've put my foot down. As her head guardian, I had every right to over-throw her decision here but I knew how badly she wanted this so I caved. Of course I caved, I wanted this to be special – despite my snide remarks all day – as much as she did.

I leapt into action immediately, my inner monologue aside, pushing Lissa towards where her two other guardians were poised ready to attack. My gesture made it clear they had one job; get Lissa out. They moved instantly, practically carrying her from the dress shop – with her still in the dress – towards the exit. She screamed profanities, obviously. She never could be a gracious victim. As soon as I heard the door close, I felt relief flood into me. She was safe. They would keep her safe. Now I just had to deal with the immediate threat.

I honestly didn't think it was much of a threat, just one strigoi. I could handle that, hell I think I could handle 10 - I'm that good. One was no problem. I blocked and dodged for a few minutes before going on the offence, finding an opening for his heart as he tried to move and punch me in the jaw. I reached him first. My stake made contact with his chest and I twisted it up through his rib cage and sternum. Feeling him go slack against me, I shoved him off with my stake still in his heart.

Covered in blood, both mine and his, I turned to comfort the most-likely stunned human shop owner. Trying to come up with some amazing excuse as to why I'd just pulled out a weapon and killed a man, I was stunned to see her dead on the floor with another strigoi leaning over her. Bastards, I thought. I went to my pocket for my stake, only to remember it was still in the other strigoi's body. Stupid, Rose. Stupid. I tried to look for a weapon I could grab easier than a stake lodged into a body but failed to find anything. I decided my best option was to fight as long as possible and try and get my stake when I had an opening. Great plan, no. But my plans were never great, they were sub-par at best.

As it turns out, plan (a) was worse than I thought. The second strigoi was stronger and had clearly had much more blood in its lifetime than the one I'd just killed. Another mistake on my part – always take out the bigger threat first. As she came towards me with lightning speed, her red eyes boring into mine, I thought about the best way to fight her off. I was not going to die. One strigoi. I could take on one strigoi, stake or no stake.

I put everything I had into trying to stall her as long as possible – my plan (b). I knew the other guardians wouldn't be coming back until Lissa was safely behind wards but I also knew back-up would be on the way and if I could hold out long enough, I might just survive. I dodged and blocked, knowing that going on the offence was pointless. This fight was about endurance and even though hers was superior to mine if I could just keep fighting, I might make it out of this.

I thought of Dimitri. I thought of Lissa. I thought of Adrian, Sydney, my parents, even Sparky. Everyone I loved would be willing me to survive this. I could not, I would not, let them down. Not again. I'd died too many times and I would not put them through it again.

I fought harder than ever fought before. I was clever and quick but so was she. For every kick I dodged, she had a fist curled ready to strike. She definitely wasn't moroi before she was turned. She was a dhampir. She was a guardian. She knew how to fight, which made it that much harder to stay one step ahead.

I don't know how long I dodged for but I was tiring fast and it became clear back-up wouldn't arrive in time. Time to go back to plan (a), I thought. It was then I made my final mistake. I saw my opening. I blocked a punch to my face by grabbing her wrist and pulling her down so I was pinning her, a nearly impossible task since her strength dwarfed mine at the best times and this certainly wasn't that. She struggled beneath me but I used all my strength to keep her pinned as I lifted her head and twisted her neck, hearing it crunch. Hard. It wouldn't kill her but my mother had once told me, my whole class actually, that breaking a strigoi's neck will give you enough time to stake them. I'd never had to test the theory until now – I'd never wanted to, it was too much of a reminder of Mason. But right now, I hoped she was proved right.

Her red eyes rolled back as I went to retrieve my stake. As it turns out, I'd stuck the bugger in there hard and it was not easy to get it out. It was just about free when I felt her hands on my neck. Not enough time, I thought bitterly as everything faded to black.

So, there it is. Please let me know what you think. I already have the next few chapters drafted out and the whole plot in my head but I'd love to know what you think. I know the summary doesn't give too much away but I don't want to spoil anything.