Chapter Three

It was beyond cruel for them to make us walk straight through the commons to get to Headmistress Kirova's office. Especially when it was morning for the vampire world, so the commons were more so crowded than usual.

Our walk of shame mercifully ended, though our new setting didn't really improve things. Most of our escorts left us once Lissa, Rose, and I were seated. Only Alberta, the Captain of the schools guardians, and Dimitri stayed.

Kirova fixed her angry eyes on us and opened her mouth to begin what would no doubt be a major bitch session. Though a voice of another stopped her.

"Vasilisa," I had realized there was someone else in the room but I think Lissa and Rose hadn't noticed. That was careless for a guardian, even a novice one like Rose and I.

Prince Victor Dashkov, Lissa's Uncle, rose from a corner chair with a great deal of effort. Lissa sprang up and ran to him, throwing her arms around his frail body. Lissa and her Uncle spoke briefly before he addressed Rose and I. Kirova let them have a few more moments and then stiffly drew Lissa back to her seat.

Here comes the lecture, I wish for one day that I could be rash and just tell the self-righteous bitch to suck it, but anyway Kirova started off laying it on thick to Lissa then she switched to me.

"I don't know what got into you Miss Knight. You were the top student in all of your classes, you've never acted out, never so much a tarnish on your record." I hung my head in shame even though I knew what I did was right. When she was done with me Kirova ripped into rose.

"You, Miss Hathaway, broke the most sacred promise among our kind; the promise of a guardian to protect a Moroi. It is a great trust, a trust that you violated by selfishly taking the Princess away from here. The Strigoi would love to finish off the Dragomir's, you nearly enabled them to do it." Kirova went on as if it was Rose's plan to kill of our friend. Lissa argued that, that wasn't the case.

Rose snapped, "I did do my duty!" Dimitri and Alberta both flinched but left her alone.

"Rose calm down." I said quietly this outburst wasn't going to help us. I notice Dimitri watching me, probably wondering what I was going to do next.

"We did keep her safe, we kept her safe when none of you could. We took her away to protect her. We did what we had to do, you certainly weren't going to." Rose ranted, at least she wasn't yelling though.

Kirova stared at us, her face was blank. "Miss Hathaway, forgive me if I fail to see the logic of how taking her out of a heavily guarded, magically secured environment is protecting her. Unless there's something you aren't telling us?" Rose bit her lip. I looked between the two before sighing.

"Lissa was getting threats." That's all that was going to be said that was all they needed to know. Kirova demanded more but as I said nothing more was going to be said.

Dimitri stepped in to help in our defense which slightly caught me off guard. Rose eventually caught up in the moment.

"You got cheap foreign labor to protect Lissa?"

"Rose!" I snapped, "He's a distinguished Guardian."

Kirova turned to Dimitri with an "I told you so look.", "You see? Completely undisciplined! All the psychic bonds and very raw potential in the world can't make up for that." Kirova said indicating to us both. "A Guardian without discipline is worse than no Guardian." It was like a slap to the face. I had so many remarks that I wanted to shoot back but instead bit my tongue.

"So teach them discipline. Classes just started. Put them back in and get them training again."

"Impossible, they'll still be hopelessly behind their peers."

"No we won't." Rose argued but no one paid her any mind.

"Then give them extra training sessions." Dimitri said. They continued on while the rest of us watched the exchange. Dimitri might have tricked us, but it occurred to me that he might very well keep us here with Lissa. Through our bond I could feel her trickle of hope.

"Who's going to put in the extra time?" demanded Kirova, "You?"

Dimitri's argument came to an abrupt stop, "Well, that's not what I…"

Kirova crossed her arms with satisfaction. "Yes, that's what I thought." Dimitri gave me a quick look, I didn't know if he was doing this for me because of our bond or for the fact that Dhampirs are in short supply to be Guardians.

"Yes," he said finally, "I can mentor Dina and Rose. I'll give them extra sessions along with their normal ones."

"And you suggest they go unpunished?" Kirova asked.

"Find some other means of punishment. Guardian numbers have gone down too much to risk losing two more. Girls in particular." Dimitri answered.

Victor even spoke up for us. With all the thoughts running across her mind Kirova sighed.

"If they stay, here's how it will be," she said turning to us, "Your continued enrollment at St. Vladimir's is strictly probationary, step out of line once, and you're gone. You will attend all classes and required training for novices your age. You will also train with Guardian Belikov in every spare moment you have, before and after classes. Other than that, you are banned from all social activities, except meals, and will stay in you dorm. Fail to comply with any of this, and you will be sent away."

"I understand." I said and jabbed Rose in the ribs.

"Fine. I accept."