Chapter Two

BRIDGETTE:

After being dismissed by the Headmistress, I was instructed to introduce Dimitri to my very extraordinary niece. As we made our way across campus and through the female Dhampir dorms, I was sure he would say something to me. I honestly wasn't sure if his silence was caused by the shock of what I had told him, or if it was something more. Dimitri and I had been close not only as friends once upon a time, but we had also been close in the biblical sense as well. Basically, we were "friends with benefits" after graduation. Our lives had taken different paths. Strong, moral, gorgeous, wonderful Dimitri had become a Zeklos Guardian. He and Ivan always were thick as thieves. It was no surprise when they stuck together. The end result was more than sad. It was a shame. I started out as a Voda Guardian, able to move back home to London after school finished in Russia. After I had miraculously made it through a battle between me and five Strigoi on my own, my frightened Moroi charge with me, I was made the youngest Guardian elected to the Guardian Council. It was a prestigious and unheard of outcome, but I loved my job. Just because out duties had eventually separated us, it did not mean we needed to be strangers. I meant it when I said I missed him. I wanted him to say something. Anything.

"I'm sorry about Ivan." I attempted conversation with him. The silence was killing me. "When I heard his Guardian had been killed too, I thought…" Big mistake. This probably wasn't the best subject to approach. Even I still had trouble with it. We both still grieved for our friend.

I still got no conversation out of him. I did however get a look of regret and sorrow. Was he really going to continue being so difficult? Damn, he was frustrating sometimes. We arrived at Bellamy's dorm room just as she was moving the last of her things inside.

"Bellamy."

"Hi aunt Bridge." She looked up at me, eyeing the god-like Dhampir at my side with a wide disbelieving stare.

Yeah, if possible, Dimitri Belikov was even more intimidating. Wait until she started to train with him. If she thought I was hard on her, she had a few surprises coming her way in the coming months.

"Bells, this is Guardian Belikov." I introduced the two, taking a step back. "He and Guardian Petrov will be the ones training you over the next few months. He is one of the best Guardians our society has, and I expect you to listen, observe, and do as you are instructed."

I knew Bellamy did not like being treated like a project for the Council to play with and manipulate, but I also knew that there was absolutely no one like my niece. We needed to know as much as possible. The circumstances of her birth were a mystery to the Council, but I had a theory. It wasn't one I discussed with anyone, including the other Council members, but it was the best guess I had about her abilities. Bellamy gave me a weak smile full of disdain, stepping closer to Dimitri.

"Hello Guardian Belikov." She offered for us to enter her room.

"Bellamy." He addressed her.

I could still hear the trepidation mixing with inquiry in his voice as he studied her. It was often difficult for the others who knew about Bellamy to accept her fully, but if I knew Dimitri, he would come around fairly quickly.

Bellamy looked my friend up and down. Her own politeness was dripping with veiled dissidence. "Obviously training with you won't be easy. I would expect nothing less. I don't anticipate you will withhold pain and real work. In fact, if you're anything like aunt Bridgette, I have a lot of ice baths in my near future."

Dimitri came back to life then, his control and discipline well noticed. "You seem prepared. I will be working out a schedule for your training with myself and Guardian Petrov. I assume you will also be attending classes?" He looked to me, and I assured him that Bellamy would also be studying with the other students at night.

"Her courses are being constructed as we speak."

Dimitri gave a sharp nod, making his way to the door. "I will let you know when we will be training as soon as possible." Before he left, he faced me. "Can we talk? Privately?"

I still needed to help Bellamy get settled, and make sure she wasn't going to throw as much of a tantrum as she had at her last training assignment. I'm still surprised that the officials at St. Solomon's didn't kick her out before her training finished. Her bitching and rather loud complaints had been much of the reason the Council pulled me out of the field to join her this time around. She didn't have to like being here, but she would behave. I promised to meet Dimitri in thirty minutes instead.

"He doesn't like me." Bellamy grumbled as the door closed being her new trainer.

It was starting already. "You don't know that. He barely said a word to you."

"Exactly!" She screeched. "He barely made eye contact. He looked… I don't know. Shaken?"

I gave a quiet laugh. "Dimitri Belikov is someone you must coax and lure out of his protective haven. It won't take you long. Just keep poking and pestering him like you are so well known to do Bellamy."

She actually stuck her tongue out at me. "Keep talking to him." I urged her.

She didn't seem to believe me yet, shrugging her shoulders before she refolded her clothes, placing them into color coordinated order.

"How do you know Guardian Belikov?"

"We went to school together." My chuckle was soft as I recalled our days back then too. "We competed for the top spots in our courses, and eventually became close."

"When you say close…" Bellamy sat on her bed, fishing for information that I was not about to share with my niece.

"Bellamy." I warned her, saying nothing more on the subject. "I have to go meet with Dimitri. Will you be…"

"I'll be fine aunt Bridge. Have a good day."

"Get some sleep." I smiled at her sweetly before leaving, hoping her first night of classes later would go smoothly. I wouldn't see her until after that. I had to ask the hall matron for directions to Dimitri's room. Once I knew the way, I stopped by the room I would be using for the next six months. There was something important I needed to take with me.

He didn't answer on the first knock or the second. Finally, on the third knock, his door opened, gaining a surprised reaction from me. I think I heard myself gasp. He was wearing a towel. Nothing more-just a towel. I attributed his laugh to my surprise.

"I thought I would be finished before you arrived." He spoke to me. "Come in." He stepped aside. "I will only be a few minutes."

I agreed, stepping by him, the scent of his soap filling my senses. The most difficult task in the world had just become not touching him without permission. I sat down on a nearby chair, relaxing into it as he disappeared to get dressed. When he finally re-emerged, I had to admit-the man looked better than I remembered. Those dark eyes, that glorious hair, and that spectacular body that made you want to fall to your knees professing unworthiness, or at the very least, made you want to send God a bottle of wine for creating this great work of Art. I smiled, causing him to tilt his head to the side.

"Just a joke in my head." I mentioned.

Instead of further questions, the friend I'd missed so terribly, lifted his index finger to summon me to him. No way did I hesitate. I jumped from the chair, flying into his arms, and slamming into his well-built chest as we hugged again. This time he really hugged me, holding me close and tight. I was a good foot and a quarter shorter than him, so he had to lift me up off of the floor. I breathed in the mix of his after shave and shampoo this time, feeling another moment of unworthiness.

"I have missed you Bridgette. God, I have missed you."

I could feel his breath running across my neck. I felt his mouth slowly lean in, kissing me lightly, possibly gauging my reaction. I couldn't help .it. I relaxed, tilting my head a bit, giving him the access he wanted.

"I've missed you too Dimitri."

He set my floor to the floor, lowering his head to kiss me fully. I had waited for this moment from the time I had walked into Ellen Kirova's office. Reluctantly, we broke the kiss, backing away, breathless and in need of more air.

"I have a gift for you." I told him, needing to take a step back before I did something we'd both regret later.

The trip I made to my room beforehand had been in Dimitri's favor. He looked interested, so I stepped back a few feet to where I had set down a gift bag full of gifts for him. Handing it over, I saw a glint of reservation. That all changed when he opened the bag and peeked inside. Sitting down on his bed, he pulled out book after book while I stood watching that twinkle in his eyes become a glow.

"I started collecting them as the Council sent me to different Academy's and cities around the world. I even found a few in Russian."

Western novels had been a fascination of Dimitri's for years. He was always reading at least one or two, so after we were separated, I started to collect them as a reminder of him. When I heard he would be here at St. Vladimir's, Ipacked up as many as I could, deciding they were of better use to him than me.

"Bridgette," He swallowed, his voice low as he stood. He walked closer to me. He reached me in two steps, snaking his arm around my waist. All of those desires once between us came flooding back. "You are amazing Bridgette."

How could one pair of eyes render me senseless and stupid in a matter of seconds?

"You didn't have to do this."

His mouth moved back to mine, his fingers moving into my hair.