DPOV

We found her a few hours later, just like with Lissa drenched in a pool of her own blood. I think deep down I knew this was coming and I knew that she was deeply depressed, but I think I pushed it to the back of my mind and was waiting for her to make one of her witty comebacks or call me comrade one more time. But when I heard the news that they found Rose Hathaway with a stake in her heart, I knew that all my fantasies of her forgetting this or moving on were dead right along with her. When I walked into the room when Lissa had killed herself all I could think of was where's Rose, she must be here somewhere, shouting at someone. But when I saw her it broke my heart, but nothing could prepare me for what I saw in her eyes. In her eyes there was no pain, no sadness, no longing for someone to say this is a joke, Lissa's fine, everything's fine, because she knew it was over when she found her, just like I did when I found Rose sitting there. Life has always got the questions of what ifs? And they will always play on your mind and sometimes even make it seem like its real, and then it drags you out of the dream and gives you a harsh wake up call. Because sometimes I think of the what if's of that night, for example: what if Lissa hadn't killed herself? What if Rose had accepted this and moved on? But I knew these were the what if's and not the reality. I can't say I can ever truly imagine what Rose felt that day because in truth I can't, my best friend was killed but he wasn't like how Rose and Lissa were. But I can say I could see why she did it, because even in the end, even if Rose didn't know it herself, she was protecting Lissa and doing this for Lissa, even after she left Rose wanted to protect her, because they were sisters and I knew that Rose wouldn't be able to hold on much longer without her sister by her side.

Me and Christian had become protectors of Rose after that night, bringing her down for dinner or making sure no one said anything that might bring back memories of Lissa. Christian believed that she might be getting better as the week progressed, but they was still nothing in the eyes and with Rose if there was nothing in the eyes, there was nothing in the heart either.

I have always been told that fate has plans for people and so does destiny but I think for once in my life destiny and fate got it wrong, they weren't supposed to die. They weren't supposed to feel so desperate that they killed themselves. If I could have one wish it would bring Rose back, even if I saw her loving someone else it would mean she was back and she could live.

Once they had found Rose they immediately found me, asking me to come see something, like when I had found her in Lissa's room nothing would have prepared me, not even someone telling me she's dead because you know what, I wouldn't have believed them. I walked into the room and saw one of the most heart wrenching things I have ever seen. I didn't cry, I don't think I can ever cry for her lost life, but I think it might be because I knew she would hate if I did. I slowly walked towards the lifeless body strewn on the floor and peered down to see what she was holding and 5 smiling faces looked back at me. One of them was me and for once in that photo I saw no pain in my eyes for losing Ivan, I only saw joy for gaining Rose. I couldn't look at her anymore and turned towards the open window which showed the bright moon looking down on me, I felt like it was showing the sadness it felt for Rose as well, that was when I noticed the note fluttering on her pillow. It was a large envelope with no one's name written on the front. I carefully opened and saw Roses messing handwriting scrawled across the page and at the top in big bold letters was READ AT THE FUNERAL. So I stopped myself from looking at the rest of the page knowing the great depression that will come when I do but I will respect her last wish, because even though I didn't tell her often enough and didn't have the time to shout it from the rooftops, I loved her and even when she is 6ft underground, I will always remember her as the one who I will always love. Everyone else will just be a substitute of her.

I had zoned out about 15 minutes ago, for once not feeling the overwhelming peace I normally felt when in the church. It might be because the occasion was there funeral. Everyone thought it was best, seeing as though they died so close together and they were inseparable before, so why not now. I told Alberta that I wanted to make a speech at the funeral, she gave me a confused look but didn't question it. I wasn't really going to make a speech but just read out the letter Rose had wrote. I had kept myself from reading it all week, the letter lying heavily against the back pocket of my jeans. I was woken up from my daydreaming by someone nudging me, I looked to my left and I saw Christian telling me it was time to make my speech. I hadn't told anyone about the letter not even when I had found it, thinking it was better having it as a surprise or a curse, depending on what it said. Slowly I stood up and made my way to the podium of which Headmistress Kirova was just stepping down from. I turned to look out onto the hall of confused glances. Finally it was my turn to say something and they were going to listen no matter what.

"Hello everyone, I know that most of you are here for the Princess's side of the funeral rather than Roses, but that makes no difference. When I went to Roses room after hearing the news, I found a letter on her bed, I opened it and at the top it told me to read it at the funeral today, I haven't read it, so like you I don't know what it says."

I get it out of my pocket and take in a deep breath not knowing that what I say next will change guardians all around the world.

"Dear everyone, yes it's me the amazingly cool Rose Hathaway. You really didn't think you could get away from me that easily now, did you. Yep even from the grave I can crack a joke, I bet even now a smile is on your face just from hearing my name."

I look up and see that she's right most of the guardians and nearly all of the students have a smile on their lips; I take another deep breath and keep reading.

"So as you all probably know I'm dead, well I guess you have kind of worked that out seeing as though you're in a funeral service mourning about little old me, well its either that or you having a huge party to celebrate, I hope it's the first one.

Me and Lissa as you already know where like sisters, but I could say we were even closer than that seeing as we shared a bond. She saved me that day when her family all died in that car crash and I was supposed to as well, but she saved me by bringing me back. And when I found her that day, with the blood surrounding her, she told me she would do it all again if she could. Well that touched my heart, but when she died it felt like half of me had been ripped out and thrown to the dogs. All I could feel is emptiness. Now before that I was lined up as Lissa's guardian and I was lucky, I was nearly guaranteed to guard someone I loved and I didn't mind if I gave my life just so they could keep there's. Well most of you aren't that lucky, you are stuck with Moroi who are ungrateful, treat you badly and don't care if you die. Seeing you as replaceable. We lay down our lives for them and in return we are called blood whores and made to think our lives don't matter. Newsflash Moroi our lives do it matter, without us you would be dead. Would you like me to spell that out D-E-A-D. There you go even your tiny brains should be able to comprehend that.

This is a letter for the guardians who write now are lining the walls of the room protecting you, I bet half of you didn't even realise. I think I deserve one last wish don't you, so here it is, I want to declare war on the motto we have to live our lives by. They come first. No you don't. We are equal. So quit your jobs guardians because I bet half of you are thinking I don't want to be here right now. So do it, quit, stop the cycle continuing. What I want is for Dhampirs to be honoured just as much as royal Moroi when they die and be respected among the Moroi and not seen as things you can have because you can't, it's an honour for you to have us not an honour for us to protect you. So have a life guardians fall in love, have a career except for guarding or teaching, go into the world and think I'm free not I'm stuck with them.

In the laws it says guardians cannot have relationships with other guardians. Scrap that. I loved Dimitri Belikov and he's a Dhampirs. Don't be afraid to fall in love with each other because it's not a crime, it's just love and you can't stop that. Okay I'm going to wind this letter up, for once in my life I will say please, please guardians choose a different life do it now shout it as loud as you can, that you quit and be proud to do so. And fall in love with whoever you want because I did and I'm so glad I got to know the real meaning of true love. Thank you Dimitri. So I'm going to go now and unfortunately for you, yes especially you Stan I know your their silently crying, I'm going to stop talking and let you take action. Thank you for everyone who made my life great but mainly thank you to Lissa who just made my life happen.

Have a great life

Love Rose"

I stopped talking then and looked up to see a mixture of expressions, confusion, anger, sadness but most of all determination. Then the first person walked up to headmistress Kirova and said the words so many would repeat after him "I quit." Then it was like a chain, there were those two words coming from everywhere across the room. But the one that surprised me the most was the familiar voice, this voice surprisingly was mine. I said those two words and I knew I had given Rose what she wanted I could feel her smiling down at me. But I also knew she had given me one last present a silent gesture for me to live my life and start again because, she changed guardian's lives forever but mostly importantly she changed mine forever.