Reviewed and reposted April 16, 2011
I do not own VA but that which is mine I share with you.
Chapter 3: Starting over
Rose POV
I tried to sleep but kept tossing and turning. An angry growl from my stomach gave me a reason to get up. I snuck down to the pantry that was just off the lounge on the first floor of the dorm. The guard at the front desk looked up at me but did not give me a hard time. Being 18 did have some privileges around here. In the pantry I grabbed a bag of chips, and another bottle of Ginger ale. I nuked a Hot Pocket and took my midnight snack back to my room. I sat at my desk and ate my food as I read one of the reference books I had about Shadow kissed Anna and St Vladimir. It was nearly 6pm when I finished my food. I decided to go ahead and get ready for my day.
I took an extra-long shower and reflected on my conversation with my mom. I was amazed at how close I felt to her now. I guess that once we let down the barriers, we were finally able to have the relationship we both longed for.
As I walked to my room I could see that there was something on my door step. It was a Perfect red rose and an envelope. At first I thought it was another message from Dimitri. I opened it slowly and was relieved that it was not from him. It was however from Adrian.
~~*~O~*~~
Dear Rose
I admit that I was instantly attracted to you when I first saw you. This is no surprise to you I am sure. I am sure you believe I am that drawn to anything female. This is not totally true, although I do have a reputation for womanizing. I have taken advantage of the fact that I am wealthy and royal. I did not have to pursue women, they have always pursued me. I never took advantage of any innocent women. Those with whom I am ashamed to admit to sleeping with were the Moroi woman who tried to use me to climb up the social ladder.
You are different. My royal status and money had no meaning to you. Your shadow kissed aura intrigued me. I have never met anyone with an aura like yours. I have never met anyone like you before. The more time I spend with you I see how beautiful you are on the inside. In fact your inner beauty makes your outer beauty that much greater.
You do have your 'charm and wit' both of which I do truly enjoy, especially when you point them at Christian Ozera. But you are so ferociously faithful to your friends. You are so dedicated to protecting Lissa that I do believe you would give your life for hers. Above all I admire the passion with which you live your life.
Mostly I cannot put into words what I feel for you. I know that you still love Dimitri. I know that it will take a long time for you to grieve for him. I promise not to push you. I want to be there for you and take care of you the way you take care of everyone else. I want to be for you, what you are for me.
I am going to give you some space to think. Come seek me out and we will talk about it.
Friend or lover, I would be proud to be part of your life.
Adrian.
~~*~O~*~~
I read this letter several times.
It was 7:30 the dining hall would be serving breakfast about now and I wanted to meet up with Lissa. I had to ask about the strange new abilities she had. There had to be some kind of explanation. These were things that she could never do before, so why now? I ran though the quad and only slowed when I was close to the dining hall. I opened myself to Lissa's feelings so I could get a better idea of her location. She was happy today. I was back home and getting back in school. She was glad to have her best friend home and safe.
I spotted her in line with two trays in her hand. She handed me one when I came up to her.
"Good morning Liss."
"How was the talk with Janine?"
"Surprisingly good, I think that we will never be the same again." I bit my lip. "Lissa, about last night, did you feel me in your head last night? Could you feel me when I was talking to my mom?" A huge smile lit her face.
"Cool huh? It just started happening over the past few days. I am not sure how to work things but well when you are with me in my head I can hear your thoughts. Also I am starting to have a general hum on your feelings now too. When you were getting really mad I felt it. I wanted to calm you down and without even realizing that I was trying to, I felt myself calming you so you could think clearly."
"Did you get into my head?" Her smile faded a little.
"I did try but I can't. I hope you are not mad. I have wanted to be able to do that for a long time."
In truth I did not like the idea but I could see how happy the thought made her.
"If it happens, I'll take it as another shadow kissed anomaly."
I piled scrambled eggs, French toast and bacon on my plate. I added to that a chocolate doughnut and two milks. Lissa had just come from the feeders so she only had a yogurt.
"Wow you must be hungry, that is more than you usually eat."
I had a good appetite, Dhampirs usually did. When you work out as much as we do in training, well you burn a lot of calories. Thing is I had not been training for a few weeks. When you added this to the snack I had a few hours ago, this was a heck of a lot of food.
"Stress eating?"
I thought nothing more of it and dug in. The food was so good, I ate everything.
After breakfast Lissa ran off to meet up with Adrian and I went to meet up with Alberta. I found her walking my mom out of the office.
"There you are Rose, right on time."
Mom turned to me looking all official and guardian like.
"Rose I need to see you I after your done here. I have to go back to my Moroi but there are some things I need to discuss with you before I go."
"Yes ma'am."
I gave her a smile as I turned and followed Alberta into her office. She had my re-enrollment paperwork ready for me to sign. All my classes were to be the same as before I left.
"Alberta, what about the trials, I missed most of them?"
"I have spoken to the Alchemist and I was told that you killed five Strigoi while on your own and that you were part of a group that killed several more. We have taken these into consideration and have decided to pass you on your trials."
"Thank you so much!"
"I have also spoken to your teachers and your math teacher wants you to make up all the assignments you missed."
I gave an audible grown.
"Sorry Rose, it's the best I could do."
"I know, thank you."
"Rose I have something more to talk to you about. I want you to think it through and answer me honestly."
"OK."
"Rose your mother wants to transfer her post to become Lissa's second guardian. She wanted me to make sure you are ok with this before I turn in her paper work."
I sat back in my chair and thought for a minute. At first I felt like she did not trust me to do my job right but I thought back to last night. I realized that she was thinking of both me and Lissa. Dimitri was still alive and still Strigoi. Of all people he would know my weaknesses. He could potentially find me and kill both Lissa and I. Also they were asking my opinion, like a respected peer.
"There is no other guardian I could trust with Lissa's life more than Janine Hathaway. If she is willing to transfer I would work with her. I don't think that Queen Tatiana would allow ether of us to be Lissa's guardian though because she hates both of us."
"Leave that to us… Both your mother and I have connections; in the Guardian Council and few outside influences."
I left her office feeling like things were headed in the right direction. I would probably be Lissa's guardian after graduation. I now had a much better relationship with my mom. I still did not know if I could take Adrian seriously. He had proven to be a true friend and there was an attraction between us but I really didn't like all the drinking and smoking he did.
I did not get to spend too much time talking to mom before her flight. She gave me Abe's number and suggested that I invite him to my graduation. As we walked to the tarmac at the other end of campus, she explained that it would take a month for the transfer to happen. I saw her off and went to find Lissa.
I went into her head as I walked back to the main part of the upper campus.
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