"Rose?" Her gaze fell heavily on me. "Why is she out of her room?" she asked Yuri, without looking away from me.

"I'm not completely sure but I was just escorting her back to her dorm-"

"-You know, miracle of miracles I am capable of speaking for myself." I remarked. Which to be honest, probably wasn't the best idea.

"Very well then Miss Hathaway, Just what exactly are you doing out of bed?"

"Um…Well…You see, I…I had a bad dream and…I just needed some fresh air so-"

"So? If I'm not mistaken, windows are provided in each dorm and I'm sure that if they are opened they allow plenty of fresh air in. Am I not right?" "Well yeah there are windows but-"

"No buts. I will take it from here. Rose, come with me."

"BUT-"

"-What did I say?" Bowing my head in shame I left Yuri's side and followed Alberta inside. From behind her I could make out her Molnija marks. Despite their brutal background they had an air of honor and grace about them. I couldn't count exactly how many she had as her collar covered some. I bore two Molnijas of my own.

It's funny but if you had told me a year ago that by this time I would already have two of these lightning-y tattoos (given that I would have believed you instead of most likely calling you something along the lines of creepy-time-traveling-stalker-creep-person-thing) I would have leapt a foot in the air and cut my hair to prepare to show them off to the world.

Yeah, it didn't really go like that. When I finally received my first molnijas I wasn't exactly pleased about it. Having them done seemed like admitting to myself that it had all really happened. You see I had followed mason, a friend of mine (or Boyfriend as far as he was concerned), to a spot in Spokane that the guardians believed Strigoi were hiding at. Yeah I know, Spokane, but hey, Strigoi aren't that classy. While we were there we were captured and I had to during are escape I saw them kill him. I can't remember much after that, it's all a bit of a blur but I do know the facts.

I single handedly decapitated two Strigoi with a blunt sword.

Sound impressive, well it is, but not something I'd do again in a hurry.

We came to an office, unfortunately I was no stranger to this room. I had been dragged here on many occasions. Most memorably by Dimitri when-

Yeah that's a funny story. Alberta had sat down behind a desk and was looking at me with, of all things, concern. "How have you been feeling recently?" It was so unexpected that I actually turned round to see who she was talking to. Ant there I was thinking they only did that in movies.

"um..OK?" Her eyes bore holes into me.

"This dream you had earlier was it anything to do with the events in Spokane?" There it is. "As stressful as a guardian's first kill is, Rose, the after effects must be swiftly overcome."

"Yes of course, Al-Guardian Petrov, I mean I'm fine it's just…"

She took a deep breath and sighed. "I understand that the changes of Guardian Belikov leaving and the upcoming Field Experience can have some tiring effects on you too, but none of this gives you the freedom to break rules. Now see that you stay in your dorm and that this never happens again, understood?" I had no choice but to vigorously nod my head. I turned towards the door.

"Rose, I'm sorry." I could have waited to hear what else she had to say but it's not every day that I get let off this easily, so I bolted.