Oh shit.
That's what came into my mind when I first saw Alberta behind us, my head was turned towards her yet I knew she couldn't see Blade. I would have laughed at her face but right now wasn't the time, she was pissed. Beyond pissed, furious actually.
"This better be not what I think it is." She asked, the words said through gritted teeth.
"It depends on what you think is going on." I replied in a true Rose way but it only made Alberta even more pissed.
"That Guardian Belikov is helping you raise him as if he was 'like a son'." I sighed in defeat.
"Then yes, you would be right but Alberta. I found him around some trees this morning. I couldn't let anything happen to him, he was so helpless and looked too vulnerable." Tears sprang forth but I held them back. At the look on my face Alberta seemed to soften up to the situation but she was still angry.
"You could have taken him to either Headmistress Kirova or myself."
"But you wouldn't have let me keep him!" I blurted out. Dimitri, who was silent through the whole conversation so far, spoke up.
"Guardian Petrov, I'm only helping because Rose asked me to. It's not everyday you find something this cute, it's hard to say no to a face like that." He said the last bit while looking down at Blade, a small half smile on his face. Alberta sighed which bought both my and Dimitri's attention back to her.
"I suppose I could let you raise the child Rose but-" I cut her off.
"Wait? Child?" I laughed humourlessly. "You thought I asked Dimitri to help raise a child!" She nodded which only made me laugh a little harder and with a little feeling.
"I don't see how this is funny Rose." She was getting mad again.
"It's funny because it's not a child." I looked down and noticed that Blade was gone. My eyes widened and I looked at Dimitri.
"He's gone Dimitri!"
"What? He was right there a moment ago…" He said something else but my mind tuned it out as I set out to search for Blade around the gym.
"Blade! Blade!" I called twice before I stamped by foot on the floor, becoming impatient. "Blade Mason! Get you little stubby arse here right now!" I almost screamed. I then heard soft, padded steps and slight panting. Turning around I found Blade… With a stake in his mouth. I laughed as I picked him up, removing the stake from his jaws.
"Arf!" Blade barked out as I grained hold of the cool, slick metal.
"Where did you get this Blade?" I asked him, dangling it over his face, his paws trying to swipe at the object which only made me giggle.
"So… It's not a child?" Alberta asked still confused.
"Nope," I popped the 'p'. "He's this little guy right here." I turned around and gave Alberta the full view of the little rascal. On sight Alberta cracked a grin before letting out a small chuckle.
"A puppy? You found a puppy?" Her voice held humour in it, mirth shining in her eyes as she looked at Blade and I.
"Yes. I found him in the forest around the perimeter. He was yelping and in so much pain, covered in blood. I picked him up and took him to Liss where she healed him. When I was trying to leave for training Blade wouldn't let me leave. And… He didn't seem to like Lissa, or Dimitri for that matter. I had to bring him and," I paused, chuckling to myself as I remembered the book. "I don't think he likes Stan either."
"Guardian Alto's seen him?" Both Alberta and Dimitri asked.
"No but when I went for a quick shower I returned to find Blade with Stan's class book in his mouth and it was ripped to shreds." I laughed as I replayed the scene in my head. Maybe both Guardians had the same image in their heads because they both chuckled under their breaths. I then turned serious as I walked towards Alberta, Blade cradled in my arms like a mother would hold her newborn.
"Alberta. I can't get rid of him, not right now. He could be traumatized and have trust issues. I think I'm the only one he trusts and I don't want him to be put down, he's only a pup." I looked up at her with wide eyes, silently begging her not to turn me in. Blade had the same thought, his eyes grew impossibly bigger then before and it looked like he was pouting. Alberta gave in just like Dimitri did.
"Okay Rose." I punched a fist into the air and I could feel Blade's stubby tail whipping against my arms.
"But," I groaned, there was always a but. "He would be treated as a project for you." I was baffled.
"A project? What kind of project?" Alberta grinned like a kid in a candy store.
"The project will be to see if you can train Blade here to be a Guardian dog. Like those dogs human police use to track down criminals except you, with help from Guardian Belikov, will train him like you would train a Novice. He would be trained to fight off Strigoi." It did sound kind of ridiculous but if it was the only way I can keep Blade then I'm all for it.
"Sure Alberta." I then turned my head to Blade. "Hear that boy? You get to stay with me, train with me and help me kick Dimitri's arse!" I beamed at him as his little tail went faster then I thought possible.
"Arf, arf!" Blade said, his tongue hanging from the side of his mouth, body wiggling along with his tail. I giggled at the sight before Dimitri interrupted me.
"Rose. It's time for class, you don't want to be late." I groaned, my next class was Alto's. I then had a wicked idea.
"Alberta, can I bring Blade to classes with me?" I asked, Alberta just shrugged.
"I don't see why not Rose but why?"
"Well, if you're saying I have to train Blade Mason to be a Guardian then shouldn't he go to class with me? You know, to learn about guarding and stuff." This made Dimitri roll his eyes, I think he knew what I really was thinking. Alberta, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to what I was thinking and agreed. I felt lighter as I skipped into the change room with Blade. I changed as he watched me the whole time and was surprised when I was stopped by Alberta when we were leaving. She held out her hands; a black leather handle was in one hand with a two meter chain just touching the ground. In the other hand though was just awesome; it was a collar, red leather with 3 inch spikes all around it. I stared at it in wonder. Alberta chuckled.
"I knew you would like it. The spikes are charmed silver but the charm only activates when Strigoi are near." I reached out as she was talking, feeling the light weight on the collar in my hands.
"How… How did you get this in such short notice?" I asked.
"I've had it for a while. About twenty-five years ago the school had a mascot, Silver, this was his collar and no one has used it since." I grinned as I knelt down on the ground in front of Alberta, standing Blade in front of me then placed the collar around his neck. It fit and I couldn't be happier.
"Though Rose, that collar is only meant for battle with Strigoi, you can buy your own for him if you want." I squealed and pulled Alberta in for a hug but pulled back when I heard Blade yelping. She then handed me the leash –which I clipped to the hook on the collar- before allowing me to leave. Instead of picking him up I walked him with the new collar and leash. Blade was thrashing around in an attempt to get the collar and leash off. I stopped in my tracks and turned around to him.
"Blade Mason, you will stop trying to escape this instant. If I'm stuck at this school then you have to be stuck with that collar." When that didn't work I added, "You want to stay with me don't you?" This got his attention. "Then that collar stays on or you leave." This caused Blade to whine and we continued walking. Soon enough we reached the commons where all the students get fed their daily intake. Upon arrival everyone went quiet but not because of me but because of Blade. His chest was puffed out, head held high and walked without a care as to all the stares. Then, in one wave, all the girls started.
"Awe! He's so cute!" It was in perfect synch that you would have thought they rehearsed it. I made my way to Lissa, who was with Eddie and Flames wasn't anywhere to be seen so far.
"Rose! You didn't tell me you got him a collar!" Lissa screamed out to me as I sat down, Blade jumping upon my lap before placing his paws on the edge of the table.
"I didn't Liss. Alberta caught Dimitri and I talking about Blade and said I could keep him as a project. It just so happened that she had a collar and leash due to a school mascot about twenty-five years ago." I said in one breath. Looking at the table I saw a tray of donuts. I reached in, grabbing two; one was chocolate glazed while the other was plain. Just as I was about to take a bite out of the chocolate Blade bit a chunk out of the plain.
"No! Naughty Blade! That was MY donut! You eat the healthy crap not my donut!" I yelled at him but he shot me the 'puppy dog pout' and I caved with a sigh.
"Fine, take the rest of it you bastard." I said to him but ran my fingers through his short fur on his head, between his ears.
"So Rose, who's the pup?" Eddie asked, trying to sound light but I could tell he was hurting.
"Blade, Blade Mason." I turned to Blade. "Blade, this is Eddie. Eddie's a friend so no growling." I said sternly. Eddie just grinned and reached over to scratch under his chin. Blade's head tilted up a little, one of his back legs thumping against my thigh.
"He's a keeper that's for sure." Eddie said as he moved back. Just then Flames came up behind Lissa, his signature smirk on his face.
"Who's a keeper? Rose's new boyfriend? You're not going to eat this one are you Rose?" Lissa, while taking a sip of a bottle of water, spitted it out over the table.
"Liss! Over the donuts!" I whined then heard Blade whining too. Boy, this dog was too much like me. Everyone on out table just laughed.
"Well, well. This doesn't happen to be Rose's new boyfriend does it?" Flames asked as he reached forward to pat Blade's head. I smirked, having a feeling that Blade doesn't like Flames and before long I had my answer. Blade moved forward like a good little boy but when Christian was close enough, opened his mouth and tried to take a bite out of his hand. Christian reacted just in time and pulled his hand back, falling over in the progress making both Eddie and I laugh.
"Jesus! That dog is feral Rose!" He complained.
"No he's not. He just realised what Lissa hasn't."
"And what's that Rose?" Lissa asked while I smirked.
"That Christian should keep his hands to himself and not be touching other peoples property." I said with a pointed look at Christian as he scooted over, away from Blade and I. I looked down at Blade, his little tongue sticking out of his mouth and tail wagging rapidly, he looked so innocent.
"Yep, that's definitely Rose's dog." He mumbled under my breath causing me to roll my eyes. I was about to say something back when a voice interrupted me.
"Hey Rosie, is that dog the only male you get close to now?" Jesse Zeklos asked as he stood behind me. I turned around on my seat and faced him, Blade still in my lap.
"If that were true I bet he's more of a man then you Zeklos." That caused people listening to snicker and chuckle while Jesse fumed. Without much warning Jesse reached down and plucked Blade from my lap.
"Give. Him. Back. Jesse." I said in fragmented sentences, barely containing my anger while that bastard smirked at me.
"No. I think this little pup should stay with m-" Jesse didn't get to finish due to Blade. Blade's growling was louder then thunder as he glared –as much as a dog could- at Jesse, the spikes in his collar growing bigger, now up to about 5 inches. Jesse, looking like he just say a Strigoi, grew scared shitless. He quickly gave me back Blade before running off. As soon as my boy was in my arms the spikes stopped growing and he was back to the happy-go-lucky Blade. Just then I heard a ring to signify that classes have started. Placing Blade on the ground we walked to our first class; 'Advanced Bodyguard Theory' with Stan Alto. As we walked I stayed silent, thinking about the strange event with Jesse.
This pup is going to turn my world upside-down.
Yay! Second chapter done! Just to tell you (if you haven't looked at the profile page) I'm posting pictures! Blade Mason and his collar from Alberta is posted and so will every other thing Rose and the gang by for him (although some may be altered a little). What do you think about 'the project' and the reaction to Jesse? Please review and make my day. n_n