A/N: So, I'm debating whether to create some drama around the whole "Alena's gone, now what?" theme, but I don't know how. But I have a little bit of drama planned in the next 2 or three chapters, so don't fret :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Academy. But I do own a very worn up copy of it.
DPOV:
"Roza, are you ready to go?" I called out from the front door, running a hand through my hair in exasperation. We were supposed to fly out to St. Vladimir's for Alena's first combat lesson, but at this point, we were going to miss our flight if Rose didn't hustle.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," she said as she flew down the stairs. I watched with amusement as she struggled to get her shoes on. She shot me a look of mock disapproval. "Didn't your mother teach you not to stare?" she asked jokingly, grabbing her suitcase and wheeling it down the driveway and into our awaiting car.
I rolled my eyes and she smirked as she hopped into her seat. I closed the trunk and jumped in behind the steering wheel, inserting the keys and starting the engine. An hour later, we were on Abe's jet which he had so kindly let us use. The flight was only a couple hours long, from Pennsylvania to Montana, but Rose fell asleep nonetheless.
As we both stepped off of the plane, Alena ran to us, shrieking excitedly.
"Daddy, Mommy, you're here!" she exclaimed as I lifted her off of the ground and peppered her adorable face with kisses. I let her wriggle out of my arms so that Rose could have her turn with her.
"Guardian Belikov, Guardian Hathaway," Alberta said cheerfully, walking towards us. I shook her hand and Rose embraced her warmly.
"It's been so long," Rose remarked as she withdrew from their hug.
"But we wouldn't have anyone else mentor our daughter," I added, looking down fondly at Alena who was gripping my leg tightly.
"It's my pleasure to be coaching the daughter of the two most prestigious guardians ever known," she replied with a smile. We all walked back to the parking lot, where there was a car waiting for us and another for Alberta.
"So we'll see you around?" Rose asked as we parted ways with Alena's mentor.
"Of course," Alberta called out as she got into her car.
On the drive back, Alena snuggled up in my lap and slept, cradling my hand in her tiny fists. Meanwhile, Rose called Lissa to make sure that Alexandra was alright; she was staying over at Christian and Lissa's until we got back.
We all ate dinner in the St. Vladimir's cafeteria and Alena introduced us to her friends. It was quite amusing to see the faces of all of the novices as we walked past them. Guardian Hathaway, who had died before and was the guardian of the Queen, and me, the guardian with more molnija marks than anyone in the history of dhampirs. We were quite the family and a famous one at that.
After dropping Alena off at her dorm and tucking her in, Rose and I walked back into our luxurious suite in guest housing. Tonight was going to be the night that I was going to tell her a secret that I had been holding from her for a couple of weeks.
As I watched her from the bed as she brushed her beautiful hair, I couldn't help but gaze at her gorgeous figure. She laughed as she caught me appraising her in the mirror.
"Getting a little excited there Comrade?" she asked, sliding into bed next to me. She started to run her hands down the length of my body, but I stopped her before I could lose my self control. It was a curse. I couldn't say no to her.
"Roza, we need to talk," I said, sitting up against the large throw pillows. She sat up as well, a look of questioning in her eyes.
"What is it?" she prompted me, still gazing at me quizzically. I took a deep breath and launched into a rant.
"A few weeks ago, I went into court for a royal conference because I had to accompany Christian. But turns out, I was actually one of the guardians chosen for a mission. Eddie, Mikhail, Pavel, a couple of experienced Moroi and I are going out beyond the wards to find out if there are strigoi in the caves, by the woods. There have been some questionable sightings, but with so many dhampirs and royal moroi here at the academy, we can't take any chances. And before you say anything, I want you to know that I specifically told Lissa to take you out of the mission and replace you with Pavel. I can't risk losing you," I said, not wanting to meet her eyes. "Our daughters need you," I whispered.
"But what about you? I can't lose you," she said frantically. I could almost feel her panic.
"I'm a guardian milaya. You know that I am more than capable of defending myself," I told her, trying to soothe her fears. I hadn't meant to scare her, even though I knew it was inevitable.
"But I also know that you won't think about defending yourself," she said, tears trailing down her rouged cheeks.
"They come first," we whispered together. I pulled her close to my chest as she sniffled.
"When are you leaving?" she asked, wiping her eyes. My heart fell.
"Tomorrow morning," I murmured as I stroked her hair. I could hear her fighting hard to resist the urge to cry. I rubbed her back, mumbling sweet nothings in Russian. Soon, she exhausted herself and I held her close to me as we both drifted off into a restless sleep.
Early next morning, I awoke to the sound of Rose retching in the toilet. I flew out of bed and swung open the bathroom door just in time to witness last night's dinner pouring out of Rose's mouth and into the bowl. I grabbed a glass of water and handed it to her as she righted herself.
"Are you okay?" I asked, shooting her a concerned look.
"I'm fine, I just don't have a good feeling about you going out there today," she explained, sipping the water. I sighed and kissed her forehead.
"Roza, please don't worry. I promise you that I will return to you and our beautiful children alive," I murmured. She nodded and I felt her relax in my arms.
I changed into my guardian attire and ran into the kitchen, stopping dead in my tracks when I saw the plate of food waiting for me. I looked at Rose skeptically.
"You hate cooking," I mused as I sat down to eat my bacon and eggs. She gave me a pained smile.
"If you're going to get yourself killed, you might as well do it on a full stomach," she said, her voice sounding hollow. I set down my fork and pulled her into my lap.
"Don't say that," I told her as she buried her face in the crook of my neck. "I told you, I will come back alive. I've done it for the past eight years that we have been married and I will continue to do so," I said firmly. She pulled her head away and placed a hand on the side of my face.
"I love you," she said, pouring her heart out into those three simple words. I kissed her softly.
"I love you too," I said. "And I will come back."
She gave me one last kiss and I walked out the front door, sneaking one last glance back. Rose waved goodbye and she pretended to have an itch on her cheek, even though I knew fully well that she was wiping away tears. I sighed heavily and trudged to the conference room.
"Everyone ready?" I called out as the entire crew finished strapping on their weapons.
"Let's do this," Eddie announced as he led the way into the woods. We all stepped with caution through the rip in the fence, feeling the ripple of magic leave us as we stood outside the wards, completely exposed. We stealthily crept to the caves, completing a 360 degree hunt around the area. Everyone turned up empty handed.
"Ugh, this was a waste of time," a moroi named Gale said. I was about to chastise him for his lack of persistence when I saw a pair of red eyes blink at us from the bushes.
"Code Red, defensive circle!" I called out and the guardians immediately formed a ring around the moroi, protecting them from possible harm.
Another pair of eyes came out from the dark. Then another, and then another. Soon, we found ourselves surrounded by about twelve strigoi. We were outnumbered, 12-8. With a growl, the first line of strigoi launched themselves at us.
I parried the first blow easily and so did the rest of the guardians. I heard Gale shout, "Fire users, strike!"
The guardians all ducked down, like we had practiced, as the two fire users shot streams of ruthless fire from their hands. Four strigoi went down, screaming as their flesh burned them down to nothing but ashes. Unfazed, the next group of strigoi charged us, this time with 6 of them running at us. I delivered a kick to the first strigoi's gut and staked him easily, and continued in this fashion for the next two strigoi. I heard the sickening thud of Eddie's body crumple beside me as a strigoi raked its claws across his chest.
"Air users," Gale shrieked, trying to slap Eddie awake. Another two of the moroi twisted the air in the strigois' lungs, suffocating them and therefore making it easier for us to stake them. The last two took one look at their deceased team and ran off with their increased speed, towards the darkness.
"Is everyone okay?" I called out tentatively, dismissing Eddie as just an unconscious figure. He would come to soon enough.
"Belikov, what happened?" Pavel asked, gasping and pointing at my chest. I was confused for a second, until I glanced down at myself. I was dripping blood from three slash marks on my shoulder and I had a gash on my lower leg. I frowned, not comprehending why I wasn't feeling any pain.
"Must be the adrenaline," I muttered to myself. I would feel the pain soon, when the effects of my pumping energy subsided.
"Look out!" Gale screeched, but it was too late. One of the surviving strigoi had come back, and I recognized him as a former moroi in our defensive magic program. He was an earth user.
The strigoi sneered and directed its hideous red eyes at me. "Guardian Belikov shall be no more," he spat out before he willed the ground to rise. A wall of solid dirt rose in between our ranks, effectively splitting us into two groups. The strigoi then slammed the wall of dirt on top of me and Pavel, laughing maniacally as we both shielded ourselves from the boulders. The last thing I saw was Pavel scrambling out of the impending pile of dirt and rocks and rushing the others to safety.
A/N: DUN DUN DUN! Will Dimitri make it out alive? Or will he die knowing that he fulfilled his duty as a guardian? Review or I'll kill the handsome Russian. *mwahahahahahahaha*