They were under attack. Strigoi attack.

Calm down. You can't do anything. Her grip tightened.

It's not that I can't do anything but she must not do anything for her family… for her family… she keep repeating the words in her mind as she follows the dhampirs leading them to a safer place. As she followed them, she can't stop herself from looking at the window. She was mortified. The ground was a total chaos. There are dead strigois but the number of moroi and dhampir's dead body are just too many.

Her body was shaking. She can't stop it. Damn! When did I become so weak?

A hand grasped her hand. It was warm.

I looked into the hand and to the face of the caring woman who grasped my hand.

"Thea, everything's gonna be fine." Rica soothed her. "I'll take care of you" She nodded and smiled genuinely.

I know she meant it. She held her hand tighter. "Thank you, Rica" and somehow her body started to calm down.

Rica smiled. Rica is also a Moroi. She is a petite moroi which complemented her child-like face. She has been her friend for the past years she stayed at the academy. Her only friend. She was not like your average moroi who befriends co-morois.

It is not that I do not want to. But it is for the best. It is in order to protect them. The fewer she care about the more her secret will be protected.

Many tried to befriend her on her first day of school. She just declined their offer and chose to avoid them. Hence, people started calling her a geek. Well, not that her grades are very high. Nonetheless, she does not mind. As long as she is left alone, she does not care. She tried her best to look invisible at school and be all alone.

Until, one day, she witnessed a group of morois bullying Rica at the back of the school building. She was about to turn her back when those who were bullying her had just left and she saw Rica all alone, blank faced. She was not crying. There were no emotions on her face. She walked away. She does not want to have any friends. She can't afford to have one.

But what are you so afraid? That she'll betray you? Does this woman look like she will betray you? And you won't even befriend her. You'll just help her. What is wrong with you?

The next thing she know she was helping Rica. And the next thing she know they become great friends. She was more like her protector. I did not thought of her to have such personality. She seemed weak hearted on the first time I saw her, not even fighting back. But after that day, she changed. On that day, I was helping her, she promised herself never to be weak again. And she stayed true to her promise.

The next day, when those who bullied her attempted bullying her once again. They got what they deserve. Well, Rica was an air-user, an excellent one. She defeated four morois with her elemental power. She is awesome. I guess, emotions really drive one's elemental power. And ever since that day no one dared to bully her. Also, no one dared to come approach her. Using elemental powers to attack others is a taboo in the moroi-dhampir society. Despite, the school trying to hide the incident Rica became renowned in the school and was named the "air monster" which strengthened our bond more. Being with her, means people avoiding me. So I do not mind being with her. And then, we were both air users. Often times, we were not on school ground, we were above school ground. At the sky, seating on the clouds and just telling all sorts of stories and practicing our air element. She was her first best friend or her first friend that is somebody same her age. Way back home, she has no one except old people. And when I say old people I mean it. They were like 100 to 500 years old. Well, my parents are already 200 plus years old —not that it doesn't matter but I just grew tired of asking them plus I'm not so good with numbers. Unlike other couples, my parents were not gifted with great baby-making organs because I was their only child and I'm still seventeen years old. That is why she loves Rica. She loves her so much. She was like a big sister to her. Although, that would be physically awkward since I am way taller than her. But anyways, she was the sister she always longed for.

"Hey," Rica tapped her.

She was done reminiscing. She was back to the fearful reality she was right now.

"Hey" I answered back.

"We are safe now." She assured her.

She smiled.

Out of nowhere, somebody screamed. A lot were of people were screaming and running to their direction.

"What's happening?" I asked to myself aloud.

Rica tightened her grip on my hand. "The strigois have reached this place." She said.

We went back. However, a lot were already at the back and we are in the front line.

"Damn!" I heard Rica cursed.

The dhampirs protecting them were all dead. The strigois are now coming their way at us.

"Damn it!" Rica cursed once more and let go of her hand.

Her eyes widened.

"Rica, what the hell?" I asked looking at her, begging.

I know what she is about to do and I do not want her to do it.

"I'll protect you, li'l sis." She said.

And using her air power she forced the strigois away from us (the group of morois compressing each other at the farthest corner of the room just to stay alive and away from the strigois while Rica was all alone protecting them). Yes, Rica, was able to push the strigois back however there were other strigois who were stronger and can withstand her air element plus the fact that she is not used of using her air element this long for a long time. It has just been 10 minutes and Rica had turned pale. Her air barrier protecting us from the strigois is already weakening. And when one strigoi was able to get pass her barrier and is about to attack her that is when she had to step forward. She used her air power to throw the strigoi about to attack Rica. He went into the glass pane and fall. There's no doubt the strigoi is dead he was 500 feet away from the ground.

She can barely hear the crowd behind her grasped in astonishment. There were also a lot of whispers but it is not of her concern as of the moment.

Rica looked at her, "What are you doing" she asked in a very weak voice.

I smiled, "This time. I will protect you. You can rest for now." She kissed her forehead.

She tried to smile. "I'm sorry but I am out of energy." She said as she collapsed on the floor. Moments later, her barrier was gone.

She then created her own barrier. She then counted. Thirty eight strigois were out in her barrier. She can hold the barrier an hour maximum however, there is no assurance that help would come after an hour. Creating the barrier for an hour would exhaust all her energy and if no help comes all her effort and Rica's will be futile. They all gonna end up dying in these strigois bastards' hands. She was left with no choice. She closed her eyes and imaged forming 38 silver stakes from her aura. First the earth element to form the stake. It took almost all her energy to form the stakes. She was sweating. Her body was stiffening. She was just on the first phase and her body seemed to not last anymore. Combining both the water, air, and fire she fill it in the stake. Gradually, the wooden stakes turned into silver stakes. Using her air power, she sent those stakes to all thirty eight strigois. She must aim for their heart. She cannot afford to lose. She have used all her energy creating the stakes and barrier. The heart. Hit the heart, I beg of you. The seconds of waiting if those strigois hit by her stake would wake up were like hell. She kept wishing they were dead. Minutes had passed and they are not standing. She lied on the floor dead tired. And then she heard the students scream.

She can particularly hear, the blond woman, ah yes, Lissa Dragomir, the last of the Dragomir Royal bloodline. "Get away, a strigoi is about to attack you!"

A strigoi? But how? I made sure they were all dead. Then she forced herself to stand but it is only her head she was able to lift. The strigoi she thought she shoved off earlier is about to attack her. She tried to defend herself trying to summon the last bit of energy inside her but she was worn out of fatigue. The strigoi just a few steps away was fast approaching her with his devilish grin. "Damn it! My body's numb. I can't move" she silently cursed. She closed her eyes. So this is game over for me. Never thought I'll die at such young age but nonetheless, I am proud of myself. I was able to protect my sister. For what it's worth, I'm glad. She smiled as her eyes closed waiting for the strigoi to kill her. A minute had passed but she could not feel any pain instead she felt a splash of something liquid in her face. She opened her eyes only to see Rica, her face a few inches away from her. And the strigoi beheaded. Just a few inch away from Rica together with a sword. She touched her face. Some of the strigois blood is still spilled on her face. She then wiped off the blood.

"Hey, what are y…you…" tears sprung from her eyes. As she looked into her chest. It was bleeding. There is so much bleeding...

"Don't cry. Damn it! I never thought you were this great of a fffighter." She exhaled heavy breathing. "WWWhy didn't you tell me. I cccould have asked yyyou to teach me."

She was crying. " .. everything's fine. You're fine. I'm here for you. You'll not die. Okay." She tried to make an earth potion. But nothing. Nothing was coming out of her hand.

"Hey, somebody.. can somebody help her. Those earth users. Please. Come and help her." She wiped the tears on her face.

Students from the group stood. An air user student put his hand in her nose making it easier for her to breath. The earth users gathered their hands together, the next thing she knew they have stripped Ricca and where putting the earth potion on her wound.

"Hey" Rica grasped her hand.

"Thank yyou for being my li'l sssis. I wwwill always llllove you, ya kkknow!" she held her hand tighter.

"I love you, too. Okay. So hang in there." She was crying.

"Her heart's been crushed." The female earth user said.

"Impossible…" she was hopeless.

"Can't you do anything else?" She asked hopelessly.

Lissa approached us. She put her hand over her chest. Closed her eyes. She was concentrating. Sweating hard. "it is not working. It's the depressants. I'm so sorry. I badly want to help." She looked at me teary eyed.

I did not understand what she tried to do. She was about to ask about it but then… but then she felt Rica's hands... It's slowly losing its grasp on her hand. "Thank yyo—" and she's gone.

She was losing it. She can feel it.. her wrath… it's taking control of her. "Get lost. Everybody, I beg of you. Get out of this classroom. Please!" she screamed.

Lissa looked at her. I gave her a begging and desperate look.

She nodded.

"Didn't you hear what she say. She said leave!" Lissa screamed.

"But it isn't safe" a man shouted.

"So is here!" she shouted and flames start consuming the room.


A/N: Please don't get discourage reading the next chapters because of the heavy drama of the first chapter. Things will get lighter as the story progresses. Happy reading!

© EIRAMAROC