Don't kill me. Please don't kill me. I know I'm just stupid little person that deserves to be punished so bad that she won't sit for months. Sorry...

I know you had to wait for a long time, but I had a lot of work to do. I help to prepare Christmas Academy, which inculded selling food in horrible death freezing cold for two hours, decorating big hall and practising play. As a little role, but ‚good actress' I got to play every missing role on rehearsals. We played Russian story. Funny was, that main (or almost main) character played half Russian guy. Well, I was Ivan, Nastenka, Old-grandpa-wizard-that-looked-like-a-mashroom and Marfa when they were missing. The story is called Mrázik, if you are interested I can write plot of it. And my role was a bad guy that lives in forests.

The funniest thing was dancing Kalinka in men way in the end. We ended up just running in circles, because we couldn't dance in sync (Hey, we had only ten days!)

Isn't it funny that plot is actualy a word for fence in English?

These first chapters will just be like starting, they will go fast, and thn I'll write something more, like when Melody goes to St. Vladimirs or when she graduates... Ok?

Love you!

I don't own Vampire Academy.

Rose POV

Another morning when I just woke up next to Dimitri and felt pure happiness. Revision came to gym so it will be closed today and we just go there for and hour or so and the rest of day is free.

I saw our photos on my bedside table: photos of me and Dimitri, Dimitri and Melody, me and Melody and of course Melody. She is smiling, sleeping, wearing a Halloween costume with her best friend, even shouting on the pictures. I've got a lot of pictures. We are together in front of gym, in front of Corn Palace and the newest is from Moscow. We don't travel a lot, but it's wonderful when we do.

And it was already a year and a few months since we live with Melody, since we are parents. She is now fourteen and a half. She is beautiful and intelligent. She is more guardian with every day. We are so proud.

My gaze fell to window and I almost jumped up. „Dimitri," I whispered to my husband's ear. He just murmured something and continued sleeping. Yesterday night activities got him really tired (we were hunting Strigoi. I killed one and so did Dimitri. Ooooh, you dirty minds, what did you think I was talking about?). „Heeey... wake up..." I suddenly got an idea. He was lying on his side, so I sat on his hip bone and layed on him. I kissed him. „Do you want to build a snowmaaan?" I sang quietly. „Come on let's go and plaaay!"

„Nooooo!" Dimitri ruined my Frozen moment. I'm gonna cry.

„Dimitriii... It's snowing..." Dimitri opened his eyes and looked at a window. He smiled and kissed me. „Snow. Finally." He went to kitchen. „Well, what would you like to eat for breakfast today?" He asked. I'll never get tired of this.

„Hmmm, something snowy. What about... waffles?!" I smiled widely.

„Yeeeees, waffles!" He grabbed ingredients and started to make our breakfast. I decided to wake our daughter. I went upstairs and knocked on her door. I tried the same tactic as with Dimitri. „Melody? Do you want to build a snowmaaan? Come on lets go and plaaay! I never see you anymore, come out the door. It's like you've gone awaaay. We used to be best buddies, but now we're not, I wish you would tell me whyyy. Do you wanna build a snowmaaan? It doesn't have to be a snowmaaan." I sang the last sentence through the key hole. I heard some shifting and groaning behind the door and I knew I succesed.

Melody POV

WTF?! My mum is really crazy. It's morning. Why is she torturing me?! „Do you want to build a snowmaaan? Or ride our bike around the haaalls? I think some company is overdue, I've starting talking to the pictures on the waaals! Hang in there, Joan! It gets a little lonely, all these empty rooms, just watching the hours tick byyy..." From the sounds I heard I think she threw her back against the door and made clicking sound with her tongue. „Melodyyy..." she growled like a hungry bear. Wait. Hungry? Maybe. Bear? Definitely not!

„Muuuum. I'm sleeepinggghhhhhhrrr." I groaned.

„Na-ah, you're not, I can hear you taaalkiiiing! Hey, I've got a suprise for you!" She stepped to my room and placed something on bed next to me. I carefully opened one eye. There was a black box with golden letters. They were so curled that I couldn't read them from my position, but that wasn't the main thing. I opened the box. „Wooow... Mum, they are... beautiful. Thank you!" I hugged her.

„Do you like them?" asked familiar voice.

„Dad! Yes! Thank you so much guys." Dad sat next to us and hugged us both. „Well, what are you waiting for? Do you want to try them?" asked mum.

„I would love to but... Isn't it too hot for ice?"

„That's the best thing. Look out of the window, look, look, look!" I looked out and I saw beautiful amount of snow everywhere. Big snowflakes were still lazily falling from sky and covering everything around. In ten minutes I was ready to go out. When we drove to gym, we suddenly stopped. Door next to me opened and my bet friend Lauren sat next to me. I saw mum frown and then smile. I know Lauren looks a lot like her best friend Lissa Dragomir, she left her for dad.

„Hello. How nice morning, isn't it?" she asked.

„Yes, are you coming with us?"

„Yes!"

Soon, we parked next to gym. „Ok, we're going to do our job, we will finish soon and then we get you to school, okay?" dad asked.

„Fine." I said and grabbed Laurens hand. We ran to ice rink. Yes, this was my present from parents: beautiful black skates with golden rose on it and even my name printed: Melody. It's lined with white fur and it's so beautiful. Laurens skates are classic white with pink ornaments on it. We skated and after a while my parents came to us too. I missed Philip, but I was having a good time anyways.

I felt sad when we had to go, but mum gave us a drive to school and hummed Jingle Bells all the time.

I found someone waiting me next to my locker. Daniel. I was suprised, because he is super hot. „Melody? Hm, such a nice name. I wonder if you are as nice as it." He looked at me with look that makes your knees shake and your head spin and your heart beat faster then when you run five miles in ten minutes.

„You can find out."

He smiled, came closer and said: „Okay, so in week at eight in front of Steve's?" Steve's was very favourite restaurant. Hm, nice.

„Okay, see you there." I was smiling. Lauren heard everything and smiled at me too. But there was a person that wasn't smiling. He was frowning. „I don't think it's a good idea." Said Philip.

„But Phil, how can you say that? I finaly have a chance to date someone and you say it's not a good idea?" I felt a bit hurt.

„Lea, I know you feel lonely, but if he is going to your first boyfriend, then I'm less then disapointed."

„E-Excuse me? Do you have better idea? Do you think I can point my finger at someone and he will fall in love with me? Do you think that is how it works?"

„Why not?! Just open your eyes, would you?!" he shouted. I was not afraid, I could easily hit him, but I stepped back a little because of his sharp tone. „Uh, I'm sorry, I just... Lea, do you know him? Do you know how he is?" He grabbed my shoulders. I thought about it for a few seconds and I admited it: „I don't know him. But do you know him?"

„No."

„See? Don't worry, my parents made sure I am able to protect myself." I said.

„Yes, I know, I saw them fight. It's pretty cool! Until the moment when they started making out but that's another story... okay, you may go, but be careful, please."

„I'm always careful." I smiled.

„Yes, just as when we went out and you climbed on that tree and we phoned your dad because you couldn't climb off or that time when you stepped to that hole and we..."

„Okay, okay," I said. I didn't need him to remind me of times when I wasn't training and almost fell from everything I climbed on.

/*/*/*/

I came home. I found no one, but after a while my phone rang. Daddy.

„Yes?"

„Melody, listen very carefully, okay?" he said, his voice like string archer is about to leave. It was strange. It was scary. Like something was happening. And probably was. „Dad? What's wrong?"

„Just listen." He was whispering. „You need to take your mobile, two stakes and silver case with yourself. You phone Lauren and tell her she needs to take things for a week. You must do it in two minutes, okay? You come to her house and wait for your mother. She will drive you to our house, okay?" House. It's more a small cottage, mum got it from dad on her 22nd birthday. We all love it. „You know where you find suplies, right? Okay, so you will have to stay there. You will have another instructions in there okay? You have an hour. Love you."

„But daddy what happened? Daddy?!" He left. I took a deep breath and ran to my room. I packed some things for me. We had clothes there, but I packed some more, just for every case. I took two stakes from my parents bedroom and also a silver case wich looked like from FBI.

I phone Lauren. I thought she won't answer, but, finaly, she did. „Hello? Mel?"

„Hi. Lauren I-"

„Wait!" she shouted. „Melody, my parents are not home., Mum should be and they are not answering my calls. Can you come over? I'm scared." I knew Lauren so much. I knew she was brave when she was around people. But with me... she was comfortable. She said everything to me.

„Lauren, listen, we haven't got much time. Pack things for a week, some winter clothes and shoues too. Your phone and everything, okay? Don't ask, just do it and wait for me."

„But Melody, wh-"

„Just do it." I put cell phone to my bag, locked the door and ran down the stairs. Temprature got lower and I start coughing when I got out. God, it will be freezing in cottage. I moved and in twenty minutes, I was knocking on Lauren's door.

„Melody! They are still not here and they are not answering but I packed and..." Her breath went out and she was breathing hard.

„Just calm down. My mum will be here in five minutes, Just bring your things and dress something warm on. Okay? It will be alright." She did what I asked for andf we waited. As we stood, I noticed her hands.

She had a strange damage. It was like she was alergic to any temprature lower than 30°C. Wich means that her skin is cracked, red and in winter even almost purple. Sometimes is like paper, and in that time, i tis enough to squeeze her arms to fists and her skin tears and bleeds. And that happens pretty often. I know that she must carry handcream with her everywhere. This strange damage is also only on back of her palms and fingers. Everything covered with long sleeves is perfectly smooth and pale. Like Moroi.

Now, she was gripping handle of her suitcase so hard her skin cracked open and blood trickled down her arms and colored snow around her legs. It was beautiful. Red on white. But her hands needed help. Where were her gloves? I knew she was in pain but she wouldn't admit for world. I pulled of my gloves. Then I realized that it would be even more painful for her, so I prom ised myself I will clean and bandage it in car.

Mum finaly came. We quickly got on back seats of car. Mum said hello to us, but I could see she was nervous. She was biting her lip as she turned whee to left side more then needed.

„Mum? Laurens parents... are missing. Mum?"

She bit her lip again. It was a miracle she didn't taste blood already. „We got it." She murmured. I understood that this is at least part of their desicion to send us to forest. House. Cottage.

Lauren, however, didn't get it, she couldn't. „Can you help them? Are we going to them?"

„Lauren, my dear, I need you to make me a favor. Okay? You and Melody will go our cottage for a while. Your parents won't be there and me and Dimitri neither, but you will do it alone. Melody will have a little work for a while, but thats okay. Your parents love you, okay? They will be next to you by the end of week. You just need to stay calm. And that is what I need from you. I need you to be there for Melody and stay safe. I would do... anything to protect my friends, and so would Melody. Don't worry, everything is alright. It's just a trip." Yeah, sure. Lauren is not that stupid. And another thing, she did a pause because she left her best friend. But it was for her love, so that is okay.

Her phone rang. „Dimitri?"

„Roza. They are coming. I move to next one, okay? Just bring girls to place. I will wait you there." Mum had her phone connected to car repruductors so we heard everything.

„Dimitri? What happened?"

„Nothing, just a change of a plan. Just a little, don't worry."

„Dimitri!" We could hear voices behind. They weren't friendly. They were ice cold. Lauren couldn't hear it, but we, Damphirs, could. „Dimitri, are you okay? What's that? Dimitri! Dimitri!" Dad left.

Mum was even more nervous. She was going faster that she should. „Girls, don't phne anyone except of this number." She handed me a paper. It was elegantly written number and name Sydney next to it. „Just emergency. Melody, I hope you remember everything. And try to repeat your first aid lessons, okay?" In school, we practised this twice a month. One time, it was everything just quickly. Second time we got just one thing, i fit was broken arm, leg, need CPR or frostbites.

„Okay, mum."

„Don't worry love, I'm coming." She murmured to herself. I am sure it was for dad.

We got to cottage. Almost. We still needed to climb up a mountain. A part of it. It was freaking cold there, like in Russia (or northern part of Russia). We carried all up and Lauren started to unpack her things in my room.

„Melody. Situation is worse that we said Lauren. Her parents were kidnapped by Strigoi. They are alive, but we have to get them out. They want us, you know? I promise it will be okay, but we will need your help for a while. But today, just rest. And have your phone with yourself. Melody, you must say Lauren everything about us. What we are and what we do. Everything. She will get tattoo as alchemists when we come back so she won't say anything. Okay? Melody...I love you. Your dad loves you too. We both love you so, so much and we are proud." I saw tears in mum's eyes. She never cried. Almost. „If anything went wrong... if we won't survive, then,..." she hugged me so strongly I almost couldn't breathe. „We love you, okay? We love you."

I gently pulled away and wiped a tear from her cheek. „I love you both, too. More than you can imagine. Just... stay safe and alive, okay?" Great, now I almost cried. She hugged me once more, gently this time. She kissed me on forehead. „We will. Love you."

And she left. I went to little room. We called it little room because it was little and my parents didn't want their guardian computer and things in living room, so they put it there. I started computer. It was the best, no chance of not-working.

I went up and found Lauren sitting in my room on bed. We took turns in shower and laid in bed. It was double so after a while Lauren came closer and whispered: „What do you need to tell me?ô she heard it. She heard everything. „How much...?" I asked.

She didn't even need me to finish the sentence. „Everything. I was sitting at stairs, just a few metres from you, but behind a wall so you didn't see me. Now, explain. Explain what are you. Explain why they wouldn't survive. Explain that tattoo. Tell me all that secrets. I need to know them because now you sound like you are an extra FBI family." She tried a joke and I saw her smile. I also rtemembered I forgot to take care of her hands. But she still didn't me to do it. Never.

I thought for a while. How to explain? „Do you know that I see every single hair of yours right now? Every smallest detail. My parents and lot of other people do too. I can hear what you whisper even when I shouldn't. I can do lots of things. I am just as strong as that guy, what's his name, Ed, and even stronger. I am kind of like superhuman. I can't fly or anything, and I'm not quick as light, but I am kind of stronger than I should be." She gasped. Ed was lifting 180 kg weights and I just said I'm stronger than him. I just said I am a superhuman.

„Who did it to you? Why did they? How?" She looked sad and pity was all over her face.

„No, no, no, I was born like this. My parents too. Well, my adoptive parents and my biological mother. Father not. I am glad. You know, when you ask what we do... my parents were trained to be bodyguards. But a little extreme. Their lives would be in death danger every second of day and night, but then, they quit, mum didn't even start.

At first, she loved that job and her training. But then, she fell in love at school. Mistake. For them, at least. Sso when dad died and she brought him back to life, they both realized they don't want to give up their lives for people that will exchange them imidately and ran away."

„To Chicago? They started their gym. When was it?"

„About six years ago. She was fresh eighteen and dad was twentyfour, soon to be twentyfive."

Lauren counted something in her head. „But then.. he was her teacher... wasn't he?" she asked confused.

„Clever girl. Yes, he was. No one knew about their love. Not even mum's best friend, whom she was supposed to guard after graduation. Dad too, but he wanted to get reasigned so he could be with mum so they won't put her best friends life in danger. Her name is Lissa, by the way. And we are called guardians. When I will be seventeen, I will go to another school for five months to show them I'm capable of being guardian. Wich I think won't be problem since my parents are training me and they are legends."

„Really? But... You still didn't explain why do you have those... skills." She moved so she could see my face better.

„Well, you know those stories about Vampires..." I began.

„No, you are not going to say you are a Vampire." I just looked at her.

„No, Melody." I still looked at her without moving or saying anything.

„I don't believe it." Not moving an inch.

„Melody...?" she was now almost pleading me to say I'm just kidding her. She looked so pleading that I wanted to act like biting her to her neck for a second, but I threw it away. This was serious, no time for jokes.

„You know, I'm not. There are three types of Vampires. Or two and a half." We smiled, we both loved Two and a half Men. „Well, one is called Moroi. They are kind, peaceful Vampires that drink blood from feeders and eat food. No Moroi would hurt you. Okay, that's not... okay, so every Moroi controls one Element."

„Like magic?" Lauren sooo loved Harry Potter. And unicorns. And everything magical.

„Yes. Then, There are Strigoi. You remember that bad Vampires? Stereotype? Well Moroi are pale, but Strigoi are white. If we and Moroi hear, see, smell and feel better and are quicker that human, their are ten times more. And they don't eat food. They just kill for blood. Worst part is that they don't feel. They are just happy when they kill. They are unnatural."

„More than other?" she joked.

I laughed. „Yes, yes more unnatural. Anyways, Moroi have twelve Royal families. And Strigoi like to play a little game. Some eat just Moroi, some more selfish and stupid even only Royal. But Moroi don't fight with magic, so they need protectors. And there comes that third kind, or half kind if you want." I smiled. „That's me. My parents and lot of others. It's called Damphir. We protect Moroi. Well, most of us. Most of Damphir women raise children. Some, but really only a few, live in ‚normal' human world. Just like my mother and me used to live."

„Wow, that's... amazing, but... does that mean you can die very young?"

„Yeah."

„Wait, are there Princess' and Princes?" She was amazed.

„Yes, even a Queen right now. Or king sometimes. You remember mum's best friend Lissa? Well, she is Princess Vasilisa Dragomir."

„Wow. How is it? I mean, living in world like that?" she looked at me with curious eyes.

„For me, normal. Harder is that when you are a human, you don't know if Strigoi kills you, because you don't know about them. When you are a Vampire, you know you can be killed any second. But we are prepared for it. We are prepared to give uor lives for Moroi. But, spme of us fall in love and... everything is wrong. Almost. And now, good night."

„Melody? Will you protect me?"

I thought about her question. I know she meant now and following days we will spend here, but what if I will have to protect her even then? I thre it out of my head, it was nonsense. „Yes. Good night."

„Good night."

So that's all! We are in school again... How are you doing?

I also wanted to ask you something... Can you write me something about your Christmas and New Year's traditions in your country? I know it sounds weird, but I just want to know about them from someone who lives there.

BTW, today I was at Olympiad in English. Do you have similiar competitions, too? Or the same, because we (in Slovakia) have got Olympiad in Slovak, too. I ended up second, with 1,5 point away from winner. But I knew from beggining she is better than me, last year she was the best too. But I was suprised I managed to get to second place anyways. My favourite part was speaking part, mostly making up a story about picture in front of me. And yours?

Thank you for everything and love you!

Your

BelaRoza