I unlocked the door dizzily and stepped inside the house. I slipped out of my shoes and slung my bag on the floor before heading up to my room. The others followed suit. I hung up my blazer and slumped onto my bed. Rose joined me stiffly but the man, whose name I still didn't know, stood erect by the door. I grabbed a bottle of water and unscrewed the cap, twisting the lid in between my fingers.

"So," I began. "Who are you?"

"I am Rose Hathaway," sighed Rose, "and this is Dimitri Belikov. We are guardians from St. Vladimir's Academy." She gestured to Dimitri standing in the corner. I really looked at them now. She was similar to me, but a few years older. Maybe eighteen or nineteen. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a high ponytail which trailed down her spine and wispy bits of hair fluttered around her pretty face. Her eyes were a pale brown but had a fierce look to them. In her jeans and black hoodie, she looked ready for anything. Dimitri was gorgeous. He had chin-length brown hair and a perfectly chiselled face with a light shadow over his chin. I could tell that underneath his thick black jumper would be lots of muscle. He seemed strong and protective, yet soft and gentle at the same time. He looked a couple of years older than Rose. She'd got good with grabbing him.

"Ok. So, where is St. Vladimir's Academy?"

"Montana, USA. It's a school for Moroi and dhampirs. You're a dhampir." I wasn't entirely sure I believed her, but after today's event with the vampire dude, I was okay with it.

"What is a dhampir?" I took a swig of water, but almost spat it back out on her next words.

"Half human, half vampire." Dimitri was right beside me, patting my back so that I wouldn't choke. I swatted his hands away. I couldn't believe how casually she said it.

"Half human, half vampire. You expect me to believe that I'm half vampire?" They nodded. "Oh come on! I'm not that gullible! Vampires don't exist...right?" I was suddenly not so sure.

"They do. Good and bad vampires."

"Good and bad vampires?" I raised an eyebrow sceptically. It sounded like a horror movie gone wrong. Dimitri took over.

"You were attacked by an evil vampire. They're called Strigoi."

"Strig-what?"

"Strigoi. They are Moroi, dhampirs or humans gone evil."

"What are Moroi?"

"They are good vampires." Rose sighed impatiently at the information she'd had drilled into her since she was young. Moroi were at this school, and dhampirs trained to protect them from Strigoi. Apparently I was a dhampir, and that was why I didn't get ill or cold so much. Apparently I was stronger and faster with better reflexes than human. The only part that really troubled me was going to the academy.

"How can I leave my family?" I asked. "My Mum and all these people who've cared for me? What will I do? And my school. I'm going to be an architect, not a guardian. I'm top of my class!"

"Well, you're gonna have to," Rose stated simply.

"Er, you're forgetting one thing," Dimitri added. They shared a silent look.

"What?" I demanded.

"They're not your family."

I blinked out of my stupor.

"N-not my family?" I stammered out.

"No." He kept his face calm.

"Well. That's new."

"She seems calm," he whispered to Rose.

"You wait," she replied, staring at me as the thoughts began to form in my head. If she wasn't my mother then...then...

"Oh my God! She's not my mother? You mean I went through all that for nothing! I can't believe this!" I was suddenly outraged. My parents had divorced when I was about eight, my father leaving my mother to look after me and my younger brother alone. I'd been through so much trouble with it, and then they weren't my family? It was insane. Unreal. Dimitri and Rose watched my outburst patiently, waiting for it to blow over. It soon did. "So, if she's not my Mum, who is?"

"Well," Dimitri began, "all dhampirs have a Moroi parent and a dhampir parent. Your Mum was a brilliant guardian, but she didn't want you in the academy until you turned thirteen. The problem is, your adopted mum didn't want to let you go. That's why you moved last year. But we've found you now."

"Do you...do you know my father?"

"No. Sorry. Not many dhampirs do."

"Well, why did my mum not want me?" I was seriously offended by this.

"She didn't want to quit her guardian job, so we told your adopted mother about moroi and dhampirs etc and she promised to keep you until you were thirteen." Well. This was new.

"So," Rose wondered. "Are you coming with us?" There was a bang downstairs and I could hear my adopted brother Sam chatting away to 'Mum' about what he did in football club this evening.

"Honey?" Mum called tentatively. "Are you home?"

"Yeah ,Mum!" I answered. "I'm in my room doing homework." Well, I wasn't really. That had been postponed. To a probable never. I heard her climb the stairs and I braced my self as Rose and Dimitri stood beside me. My door creaked open to reveal her in her work outfit.

"Oh," she breathed. "Who's this?"