Thanks for all the reviews, story alerts and favorites. I went to bed and woke up with my mailbox full. It's awesome that you seem to enjoying it so far.
A/N: .me had asked if the Adrian I had mentioned as Rose's brother was Adrian Ivashkov. Yes, he's one and the same, but instead he is a Dhampir like Rose. As is Eddie, who is Rose's cousin. In fact most of the Vampire Academy characters I'm turning into Dhampirs. My story focuses on mainly on the novice part of Vampire Academy. So if you read a character's name, chances are he/she is a Dhampir. Just go with it for the sake of the story.
Chapter 2:
I was just finishing loading the dishwasher when I heard the patio door open and close.
"Good it's you", I heard from behind me.
I turned around and saw my brother, Adrian, holding three glass tumblers precariously in his hands.
"Three?" I asked, trying but failing to quirk up my eyebrow.
Adrian of course saw this and grinned at me. He was only a year older than me, and even though sometimes he irritated me, we had a good relationship.
"Well, not all at once of course", was his only response, quirking his eyebrow in the way he knew I always envied.
"So summer vacation is almost over", I said changing the subject while I crammed his glasses in the top shelf and placed the required amount of dishwasher detergent into the opening.
Adrian groaned. "Don't remind me. In three days, I'm back to guardian training. Oh, yippee!" he replied sarcastically."
"I wish I was off training to become a guardian. Instead I'm stuck at home training to be another Martha Stewart", I mumbled wiping down the counter with a wet rag.
Adrian took a few steps closer and put his hand on my shoulder in a comforting gesture. "I'm sorry sis, I know you would make a great guardian, I wish I could help".
Something in his voice started my brain spinning. Could I do it? It would be insane. Impossible. I couldn't possible pull it off, could I?
"Rose? Rose? Earth to Rose?" I saw motion in my per phial vision.
"Huh?"
Adrian pulled his arm back down to his side.
"You just spaced out. What you thinking about, you had the weirdest expression on your face just now".
"Just some crazy idea. Come on, help me set the table, oh great novice". I changed the subject, pulling his arm in the direction of the dining room.
Later, we were all sitting at the dinner table eating when mom decided to drop a bombshell on me.
"Rose, you are seventeen, it is time for you start learning how to keep a house. Soon you will be married to a Moroi and will be having your own babies".
"Time for me to have a litter", I mumbled under my breathe.
Adrian heard me and almost choked on the water he was drinking.
"So I've decided to enroll you in finishing school-"
"What?" I cut in.
"Since you obviously won't take the time to learn those things from me".
"Finishing school? What is this? The 1900's?" I demanded, feeling the panic rising up my throat. I pushed my plate back, suddenly losing my appetite.
"You will start in three days, the same as Adrian, so I'm made arrangements for you both to take the train together. The two campuses are near each other", Janine continued completely ignoring my last remark.
"Shit!" I exclaimed.
"You will learn how to act like a proper lady", she responded sending a pointed look at my direction.
"What if I don't want to be a proper lady?" I responded hotly.
"You don't have a choice. You also don't have a choice on whether you are going in three days either, so I suggest you go up to your room and start packing"
As soon as I reached my room, I threw myself on my bed and screamed into my pillow.
"Agh!"
I heard my bedroom door open and felt my bed sink down. I turned my head to the side, and saw Adrian sitting on my bed with a sympathetic look on his face.
"I'm sorry sis; I know that this is the last thing you wanted".
"Can you imagine? Me, learning how to curtsy, drink tea with my little finger pointing up, sitting ramrod straight". I muttered in the dark room. No one had bother turning the light on.
"No I can't say I can see you with a flowery dress on sitting having tea with those little cucumber sandwiches" Adrian responded.
I shuttered at the mental picture.
"I wish I could help", he said the darkness.
The idea I had back in the kitchen popped back into my head. At the time, I thought was impossible, not worth the risk. Now, the more I thought of it, it still seemed impossible but worth risking it.
"You said that earlier. Do you really mean it?" I asked getting into a sitting position.
"Of course, but I don't see how I can't get you out of going to school in three days. I don't think mom will be changing her mind".
"Oh, I am going to school in three days. Just not that finishing school. I'm going to Vampire academy. With you. To become a guardian".