I could hear him calling after me, and all of a sudden, I became aware of other people moving through the morning crowds... towards me.

---

I, as a guardian, had a few problems with this little predicament. Sure, I acknowledged after the attackers got close enough for me to take a good look at them: they weren't Strigoi, unless the vamp clans had actually decided to invest in contact lenses.
No, they were human. I didn't know whether or not I should be worried; horrified. Since when did the Strigoi have humans working for them? That was seriously so messed up. I shook my head, horrified. They were closing in on me.
So, I knew they were human. That was a comfort. I was better, stronger, faster than all of them put together. It was actually the sort of being in a massive crowd that worried me. I couldn't go into complete frenzy mode in public... so, what did I do?

My name is Rose Hathaway. I'm the most well-known, badly reputed novice – or now, ex-novice – at St. Vladimir's Academy, and I've kicked many a Strigoi ass. What did I do? I ran. I turned and ran like a bat out of Hell, which is why 24 hours later, I could be found stumbling across another long and winding road, towards another airport.

There was a cold, biting wind that rattled my bones, and made me shudder; made every step forward even more difficult. I was tired, and I felt extremely stupid for feeling that I should be able to trust the people I hitch-hiked with.
The skies overheard were filled with the dull roar of plane engines as the great machines lowered themselves to the ground. I knew I wasn't too far away now. Even so, I'd been running for an awful long time, and I felt exhausted.
I trudged up to the entrance, after about another 45 minutes' walk. I'd watched the cars pass by with a longing expression for the feel of soft leather, even if it would only be for a couple of minutes. – But I couldn't let that happen again. I dragged myself to front reception. The woman there looked at me disgustedly.

"Can I help you?" She asked, wrinkling her nose slightly as though I were a bad smell. I narrowed my eyes, and cleared my throat.
"Yeah, I need you to stop gawking like you've never seen travellers before. And I need a flight to Siberia," I told her shortly. She blinked, frowned, and then turned to her computer screen, and began hammering various keys.
"We've got a couple of flights headed over in about three hours... to Omsk, Yakutsk, and also to Kyzyl, today. Where abouts are you looking to go?" I paused. Where was I going? "You do know where you're going, don't you?" I hated the smug tone to her voice.
"Yes, I do," I said curtly. "I'll be headed for Yakutsk, then."
"Right," she said sceptically. She printed me out a ticket. "You'll be leaving from gate 18 in three hours, then." I snatched my ticket from her, nodded, and turned heel towards my gate. About a half hour later, whilst I was slumped in one of the chairs watching the departures screen intently, I decided I should find out where exactly I was headed. I pushed myself to my feet, seized up my bags and went to the nearest store.
There was one of those annoying blonde girls behind the counter. I disliked her from the first sight of her. She was chewing on her lip, and filing her nails. She looked a mess.
"Hullo," I said as politely as I could. She glanced up and observed me with distaste.
"Hi..." she said vaguely.
"I was wondering if you could help me," I probed her. She was supposed to know this crap, wasn't she? But no. Useless idiot.
"Yeah?"
"Um, okay. Where abouts in Siberia is Yakutsk?"
"I dunno. Do I look like I know geology?"
"You mean geography?"
"Or that." Her eyes narrowed. "I don't know." She turned away indignantly.
"Stupid cow," I muttered, and turned to leave...

Of course, walking straight into someone. A very solid someone. I looked up. Damn. A very... interesting looking someone. I ducked my head.
"Excuse me," I said, trying to dart by him. He grabbed my arm.
"Yakutsk?" I blinked.
"Sorry."
"You're going to Yakutsk?"
"I am." His grip on my arm tightened.
"I wouldn't go there if I were you."

The cashier was giving us a very strange look. Other customers, too, were glancing in our direction.
"I think," I said slowly, "it would be sensible if we sat down and discussed this in more of a remote location." He nodded, although he still didn't let go. I allowed the stranger to haul me back into the airport lounge.
When we'd reached an empty cluster of chairs, he let me go. I slumped into one of them and regarded the guy warily. He was tallish... quite good looking, tanned. His voice, I had noticed, had a familiar Russian lilt that sent a pang through my heart, even if I wasn't completely aware of it.
The resemblance he bore to Dimitri struck me like a hard slap. My eyes were stinging, but I chose to ignore it.

"What's wrong with Yakutsk?" I asked him, deadpan. He sat down opposite.
"I know who you are," he said. "I heard them say your name. You're in danger, Rose Hathaway. They've seen your face now. They know where you are, and where you're headed. They... they know your love. And they want to find you.
"Now listen carefully. Yakutsk has had... an uprising," he continued swiftly, seeing my want to interrupt. "I do wish you'd sit still and listen. Yakutsk has had an uprising... of their lot. They're making dangerous moves. They're attacking for no reason. There have been occasions where they've attacked humans in public. We thought it'd never come to this.
"We don't know what's happening. We fear the worst. We know they've been getting stronger... but somehow, their latest additions from your school have boosted them somewhat. They know you now. All of you are in danger. They can use their fledglings' memories... extract them brutally... some new development on their part..." he trailed off.
"Okay hold up," I said. "So you're telling me that we're all in danger. I knew that anyway."
"This is different. There'll be a lot more trouble now."
"And why's that?" I asked.
"Because..." a pained expression flitted across his face. "They have my cousin. — Your lover."

Phail for the short chapter T_T
And sorry I haven't updated since I posted the first chapter... a very long time ago. I was really excited about this story, you see. The ending is going to be so epic... ohmygosh. Just thinking about it is getting me hyped up. However, I am in year 11, so I am currently right in the middle of my exam period. This chapter right here is me procrastinating. I don't want to revise =(

Anyhow. Reviews will be much appreciated.