Chapter Two

Vampires and St. Vladimir's Academy

I flinched towards the window of the car, trying to get away from the stares of the two Moroi in the backseat. The girl had long platinum blond hair, pale skin, jade green eyes, and a stick-thin figure, like most Moroi. The boy - who was watching me like a science experiment - had black hair, icy blue eyes, and pale skin as well. I could also get a good look at Dimitri, and I was definitely liking what I saw. He had a well-built figure, packed tightly with nothing but muscle, shoulder-length brown hair which was tied in a short ponytail at the nape of his neck, and dark brown eyes. Did I mention that he was tall? For the next few seconds, I completely forgot he was a vampire - or, half vampire - and only focused on how hot the guy was...and how sexy that light Russian accent he had made him. Then my morals slapped me in the face and I looked out the window. It didn't matter how drop dead sexy he was. He was a dhampir. An unnatural creature of the night.

"What's your name?" the blonde finally asked. "I'm Vasilisa Dragomir, but you can call me Lissa. And this is my boyfriend, Christian Ozera."

I glanced back at the two, momentarily surprised. Vasilisa Dragomir. The last Dragomir. The Dragomirs were one of the twelve royal families, once strong and powerful, but now only one remained. The girl sitting behind me. The Ozeras were also royal, but they were shunned, especially those directly related to Lucas and Moira Ozera. Like Christian. Christian was their son.

There was a reason that they were shunned. Lucas and Moira both turned Strigoi. Willingly. Now, everyone thought that Christian would turn Strigoi soon. I didn't care. I didn't like being around Moroi or dhampirs - let alone Strigoi. No Alchemist did. Sure, I wasn't like most Alchemists; I wasn't a religious nut or completely focused on work. I liked partying every once and a while and I liked dating. I was hot. Might as well make use of my body.

I finally answered the Moroi. "Rosemarie. Rosemarie Hathaway. But just call me Rose."

"You're an Alchemist?" Christian asked, not beating around the bush.

I nodded.

"That's cool," he said. "I've heard about them, but not that much. I've never met one before. What do you do?" Curiousity filled his dark features.

I bit my lip as tears filled my eyes. My date with Adrian just earlier came to mind. I'd gave away my secret to him...and he betrayed me. Dimitri glanced at me for less than a second than focused back on the road.

"Leave her alone, Christian," Dimitri said to him. We turned on the road Dimitri drove us on. "Do you know where you're supposed to be, Rose?"

"Umm...no. I'm not on an assignment or anything," I clarified.

"Where do you live?" he asked.

Tears threatened to pour out of my eyes again. Adrian. I had lived with Adrian. I didn't live anywhere. "No...no where." A tear escaped my eye and slid down my cheek. "I don't...I don't know..."

Dimitri was quiet for a few moments. He didn't look at me, but he didn't seem entirely focused on the road. He finally spoke, saying, "We're taking you back to the Academy, then."

"Academy?" I glanced out the window. Most Moroi and dhampirs went to an academy for school. I wasn't sure I wanted to be around so many unnatural creatures. "What academy?"

"St. Vladimir's Academy," Dimitri answered. "That's where Vasilisa and Christian attend school and where I'm stationed, though I'm going to be Vasilisa's guardian after she graduates."

I mulled over this for a few moments. An academy? I'd never actually been to an academy before, though I knew where a lot of them were located. An entire place full of dhampirs and Moroi...I shuddered. Could I really do it? I didn't think so. Just being around these two was freaking me out, though Lissa gave off an air of harmlessness and comfort. Finally, hesitantly, I nodded. I couldn't find the will to say no. And I didn't have anywhere to go, either. I really had no choice.

Dimitri nodded once in response. "I'll set things up with Headmistress Kirova when we get there."

The rest of the trip was in riden in silence, giving me time to think about what happened. Things had changed so quickly, from me and Adrian going on a date to me in a car with two Moroi and a really hot guardian. And Adrian and I weren't together. He never really loved me. I leaned my head against the window and sniffled a little. How could someone be so...heartless? How could you tell someone you loved them and not mean it? I wiped the forming tears from my eyes. I could see Dimitri glancing at me from the corner of his eyes. So were Lissa and Christian. I tried my best to ignore them as we drove to the Academy.

About thirty minutes there, we were pulling through iron gates and into a parking lot. We all got out of the car and Dimitri told Christian and Lissa to get to their dorms and for me to follow him.

"Where are we going?" I asked, trying to keep up with his quick pace and long strides.

"Headmistress Kirova's office," he answered. "She's in charge of the Academy. Hopefully she'll be able to get you a place in the guest dorms to stay." Dimitri gave me a glance. "Have you finished school yet?"

I shook my head. I was way behind in my schooling. The Alchemists figured I'd been getting schooled by someone, but in reality, I hadn't been schooled since they took away my tutor of sorts when I was fifteen. Yeah. I was way behind. I did a little math or English every once in a while on my laptop, but other than that, well...I never liked school in the first place.

His eyebrows knitted together. "How old are you, Rose?"

"Seventeen," I answered.

"We can probably get you put in some senior classes, then. Until we can call the other Alchemists," he added.

I was really hoping they could get into contact with my co-workers quickly. I would also have to inform them that I'd told Adrian the Alchemists' secret, but hopefully I could get some time before I told them. They most likely wouldn't be too happy with me. Alchemists weren't supposed to be able to fight compulsion. I, however, had a stronger resistance to compulsion than most humans.

We arrived at the headmistress's office, and I immediately took a disliking to the vulture-like creature. She had sharp features and gray hair, as well as a tall and slim figure like most Moroi. I had a feeling we wouldn't get a long very well. The vulture glanced at Dimitri from her computer screen and turned her chair towards us. Then she saw me.

"Guardian Belikov," Kirova said, standing up. "Who is this?"

"This is Alchemist Rosemarie Hathaway," Dimitri informed her.

"Rosemarie Hathaway," Kirova repeated. "It's nice to meet you."

"Wish I could say the same," I replied. I was known for my sarcastic and witty attitude, especially towards figures of authority. It made my job kind of difficult sometimes. "And just call me Rose."

She scowled at me, and it seemed like she'd just had the same we-are-so-not-going-to-be-friends realization I'd had minutes before. Kirova turned to Dimitri, who shot me a look. "What is she doing here, Guardian Belikov?"

"I was driving Vasilisa and Christian back here when I saw a Strigoi pinning Rose against a wall. I fought him, but he ran away before I could kill him," Dimitri explained in that faint Russian accent of his. "She has no place to go so I brought her here. I thought we could get her in some senior classes until we could call the Alchemists."

Kirova thought about this and turned to me. "Miss Hathaway, how old are you?"

"Seventeen," I said. I decided to leave out the fact that I hadn't had any schooling for two years. I didn't particularly want to join a bunch of fifteen-year-olds. Especially unnatural fifteen-year-olds.

"Very well," Kirova said. "I'll see what I can do. We'll call the Alchemists tomorrow morning. Today, you can have one of the rooms in the guest building and can join the seniors in their afternoon classes." She wrote a few things down on a piece of paper and gave them to me. They were numbers and classes, and I figured it was which classes I was supposed to go to at what times. "Guardian Belikov, show Rose to one of the empty rooms."

Obediantly, Dimitri nodded and led me out of Kirova's office. Kirova gave me one last scornful look before we exited and Dimitri began talking to me.

"You can join the students for lunch, but you might want to sleep until then," he told me.

I glanced up at the sky. It was completely dark. Then, it clicked. The academies ran on a nocturnal schedule for Moroi convenience. Shit. I hadn't slept at all. I was definitely going to make use of that time.

"So I only have to go to these classes for today?" I asked.

"Yes. Unless the Alchemists say otherwise," he confirmed.

He led me to an empty room, which was actually really cozy. He left me there, and I immediately passed out on the bed, after setting my alarm clock for lunch time. My dreams weren't, unfortunately, peaceful. Instead, I dreamt about my night with Adrian. I dreamed that I caught him screwing Cecile in our bed. I woke up, tears streaming down my face and the alarm clock going off. I shut it off and wiped the tears from my eyes. I missed Adrian, and there was a hole in my heart, but I knew I didn't deserve him. I was extremely glad that Cecile had interrupted. I was glad I hadn't given my virginity - the one innocent thing about me - to that jackass. But Adrian had left a scar on me. A permanent scar. One that not even plastic surgery could fix.

No, because this scar ran deeper than skin.

I hurried out to the commons to get some lunch. I was hungry after my whole ordeal, but I was still a little tired. I hoped that I'd be able to get back to my human schedule soon. This definitely wouldn't be good for my health.

After I got my lunch, I sat down at the only empty vampire. I looked around, but all I saw were vampires, vampires, and more vampires. I quickly returned my attention to my lunch, nibbling at it a bit. Normally I would eat anything at the pace a Strigoi could run, but now, I was too nervous to really eat. A few moments later, I wasn't the only one. Luckily, it was only Christian and Lissa with their trays of food.

"Hey, Rose," Lissa said. "I thought that we would sit with you since you don't know anybody and it might be kind of weird to sit in a room full of vampires."

I nodded. "Thanks, guys."

Apparently Lissa and Christian weren't the only ones with a fascination for me. A red-haired, blue-eyed student - a dhampir, I noticed - joined us. He grinned at me and Lissa smiled at him.

"Hey. Heard the new girl was sitting here and thought I'd join," the boy said.

"I'm not a new girl. I'm just staying here for a few days." Or however long the Alchemists felt like torchering me for. Which, with the reputation I held and people I had grudges against, could be a while.

"Nice." He ate a fry off of his tray. "I'm Mason Ashford, a novice at at St. Vladimir's. You?"

"Rose Hathaway. I'm an Alchemist," I informed Mason.

"A what?" he asked, confused. He had no idea what an Alchemist was, but then, few of the students probably did.

"An Alchemist. I'm a human." I pointed to the lily on my cheek. "The Alchemists' symbol. We keep the Moroi's secret from humans and dispose of Strigoi bodies." I repressed as shudder as I remembered being pinned up against the wall by that...that thing.

Mason's eyes lit up. "Cool." A boy - also a dhampir - sat beside Mason. He had sandy blond hair and hazel eyes. Cute, just like Mason. "Rose, this is my best friend and fellow novice, Eddie Castile. Eddie, this is Rose Hathaway. She's an Alchemist."

Eddie was apparently one of the few who did know about Alchemists and nodded. "Nice to meet you, Alchemist Rose Hathaway."

"You too, Novice Eddie Castile."

He smiled at me. I could tell we were going to be good friends, no matter what species he was. I let them all see the small piece of paper that Kirova had given me. I found out that Mason would be escorting me to all of them and that I'd see Lissa in the first two classes, as well as Christian. It seemed the two were inseperable; not even the school could break them apart. I'd always liked strong people.

"So how do you like St. Vladimir's so far?" Lissa asked me.

I shrugged. "It's nice, I guess. A lot of people. Kirova's kind of a bitch."

The boys choked on their food. Christian said, "You only just now realized that?"

Lissa smacked Christian's arm. "Christian! Leave her alone." She focused back on me and rolled her eyes. "Don't mind Christian. He's always like this."

I nodded and Christian leaned over and nuzzled Lissa's neck. "You wouldn't have me any other way." I felt a pang of jealousy deep within me, remembering what Adrian and I had almost shared. Those two were completely in love, that much was clear. At least he wouldn't cheat on her and lie about loving her, I thought bitterly. My heart ached for Adrian, but not as bad as it had been hours ago. I was puzzled, not that I wanted the heartache. But I felt kind of guilty for not missing him more. I brushed that guilty feeling away and looked at the two.

"Um...guys?" I said. Apparently they'd forgotten they had an audience and Christian had began kissing her neck. Eww. "We're still here."

Lissa blushed bright red. "I-I'm sorry, guys."

Christian growled a little. "Then go away."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes, but in the end the urge won out. The bell rang, signaling everyone to go to their classes. I followed Mason, trying to keep my distance from the other students, to the math classroom, hoping that I'd be able to go home as soon as possible.