Chapter 1

I faked a kick to a knee as Lucas attacked me and went for a left hook. It was just a millisecond but it has done the trick. He jumped back clenching his jaw. "Damn Ivashkov. I have a date tonight. Keep it down."

"Never stopped you before Ashford." I smiled at my current boyfriend. I know dad's gonna freak out when he finally finds out, but... We are good for now. Twins will probably tell on us pretty soon. I gave him a grin. "So sexy," I smirked.

"Ashford, Ivashkov! Come over here!" Mrs Petrov shouted at us. Well, what a good timing to fool around when "the Boss" is around. We ran to her. She was here at St. Vladimir's since Her Majesty's times. For her to come personally. "Be a bit more discrete or I'll have to have a talk with your parents. Miss Ivashkov, fallow me." For me to go supposedly to the headmaster usually meant that twins did something or parents came. And I don't mean only my parents. I include parents of my closest friends to it. Well... Not those of Lucas.

As I guessed it was the twins. Gavin and Mallory were a year and a half younger than me. Both were fourteen and beside gender and eye colour they were identical. Both sported light blond hair a bit longer than mine and wavy while mine was straight honey-blond and cut at jaw length. Mallory had brown eyes and Gavin's were blue-green. Mine was silver with a slight hint of blue. Beside twins I saw our oldest brother, Declan, standing near a window. People usually addressed us when dealing with twins. Not that it did much good.

Headmistress Kirova gave us all a sharp look. "This time you are not in trouble." She said as if she knew my previous thoughts. "Your parents called in. You'll be staying during a break."

"What?" Declan exclaimed. It'll be for the first time.

"They didn't specify why, only that it has something to do with your grandfather."

I paled. I saw Jared Sage just once and there was no way they would have such big troubles with Nathan Ivashkov who finally came to terms with the reality that is our family drama. Jared, I mouthed.

Gavin just rolled his eyes. "So they are off to an adventure and we are stuck here." Declan laughed.

"You two stay here. You can proceed to next class." Headmistress Kirova made the twins stay and we quickly left.

"So they have done something after all." I sighed.

"As always." Declan smiled. He was the most different of us. With brown eyes and curly black hair. The twins sometimes joked that he was adopted. When parents were around I saw a disturbed look on dad.

"At least they hadn't managed to overdo Ma'am Rose." He laughed. That was true. They didn't run off from school with a moroi, kill a strigoi left and right...

"Just don't say it when they can hear you or they will." I sad uneasily.

After some more small-talk, we arrived in front of a chemistry class and separated. I took my seat next to Lucas. "So?" He asked looking at me. He could tell that something was off.

"Mom and dad have some business so we are staying over the break." I sad.

"You can come with me. Mine would love it." He said happily.

"But then they will have to know." I shook my head.

"Not really." He gave me an encouraging smile.

"OK. Even thou I feel bad for leaving Declan alone with the twins." He laughed at that and we both quieted as Mr Walker entered the class. Chemistry was an easy subject for me. Mom decided that it would do us good to know all that she was thought, minus propaganda. It helped a lot but she soon decided that some parts were best to skip around the twins. They were dangerous without chemicals. I smiled as I rad what we were supposed to do today and started on it.