Chapter 3

Vasilisa was escorted by one of the guardians that I didn't actually look actually didn't know. I was too busy looking at the school timetable that Rose held in her hands – She seemed disappointed at the amount of hours that she would be learning. I guess having that much time off makes you rusty and out of place. And the look on her face told me exactly that. Alberta and I was ordered to take Rose to her class. I walked in front of her, I was silent the whole way, I almost wished that I could take to Rose but small chatter – I wouldn't even know what to say but Alberta was there and to be honest I would look like fool. When entering the Gym all the novices seemed to be shocked – Most of them had their mouths are literally open. It made it almost funny. Rose took off leaving me and Alberta close but she didn't care as she was smiling – I was glad that she was able to still talk to other people, even the male species.

"Hey Mason, wipe that drool off your face. If you going to think about me naked – do it in your own time" Her voice was joking but half serious. No wonder they called her a whore – How she had the confidence to speak up about that thing straight away. Jealous. You want to see her naked... Don't you. No. Don't lie. I can tell. Remember I am you. ARHH! I screamed.

"This is my time Hathaway. I am leading today's session"

"Oh yeah?" She snorted. "Huh. Well I guess this is a good time to think about me naked then."

"Its always a good time to think about you naked" Some other kids butted in. I shook my head..

"What a waste of talent..." I spoke it quietly in Russian. I would mean no-one would hear me.

What a waste. Jealous. No. Stop it. What are these thoughts – Leave me alone she is a student. I hardly know her. Doesn't prove anything – She is so hot. I know. Then get with her. You know you want too.

"Enough!" The words burst out of my mouth. Alberta gave me the strangest looks. "Sorry." I said apologetic – placing my hand on her shoulder. These deep desires to ravish her were too strong. I put on a brave face and went to talk to my mother – It was one of the shortest breaks that I would get but it meant that I could spend some time finding out how everyone was...

...Ring Ring Ring...

"Hello darling – How are you?"

"I am good thank you mother. And yourself?"

"Of course I am fine, nothing happening interesting around here. – Apart from missing you."

"Oh mother, I will be back soon I promise – In a couple of months."

"That seems forever. I want to know how my Dimitri has been getting on?"

"Fine. I finally found Princess Vasilisa and Rose Hathaway"

"Well done darling – Oh I am so proud of you"

"Mother please. I am old enough – "

"Not to me darling – Always my handsome young man" I blushed slightly – How embarrassing. "Did you found out why they did it?"

"No. They are hiding something. Something that was powerful enough to make them to move out of here"

"Darling, they are girls, they will tell you at some point. Women" She chuckled.

"Thank you mother – I do have to dash though. Work. Tsk." My mother chucked again and blessed me with wishes and a good day.

Even though the talk seemed short I seemed good to talk even if it wasn't that long. I was gutted that I forgot to ask how everyone else was. I was slightly disappointed but I would have more time to speak to her later.

I was aimless wondering around when I spotted Alberta.

"Hey Alberta"

"You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah – Where you heading too?"

"Stan's class – Rose is back and since Stan is a dick, I am sure it will be interesting to watch."

"I am sure – I'll come with you, for extra measure" I winked as she snorted in laughter.

Guardian Alto had arrived a little later than us and seemed to notice that Rose was back in classes. "What's this? No one told me we had a guest speaker here today. Rose Hathaway. What a Privilege! How very generous of you to take time out of your busy schedule and share your knowledge" He's voice was mocking and sneer his words – banter from Stan was expected he was always pissed off. Even though you would expect teaching to be fun but with him not getting partnered with a Moroi – he took it out on everyone else. He gestured for Rose to stand up. "Well come on, come on. Don't sit there! Come up to the front so you can help me lecture the class"

She sank into her seat - Everyone could feel the embarrassment that filled the room. "You don't really mean –"

"I mean exactly what I say, Hathaway. Go to the front of the class"

A thick silence hit the class as the ones that were whispering were now silent with interest or horror. I was silent with interest as she walked up the front of the class and looked a bit surprised with the amount of people that were actually here, because the look on her face screamed stage fright.

"So Hathaway," Stan chirped. "Enlighten us about your protective techniques"

She seemed to be thrown off by what he said "My...Techniques?"

"Of course. Because presumably you must have had some sort of plan – the rest of us couldn't understand when you took an underage Moroi royal out of the Academy and exposed her to constant Strigoi threats" I frowned. Stan was right.

"We never ran into any Strigoi" Rose tried to defend herself, but everyone was staring and watching – they daren't say anything.

"Obviously – I figured that out seeing you're still alive" He snickered. I frowned again – I guess the extra training sessions would help her – maybe she would learn how much danger she put herself in.

She was silent looking down at the feet.

"So what you do? How'd you make sure she stayed safe? Did you avoid going out at night?"

"Sometimes." Rose spoke quietly and I knew it. There is no way that they could of survived with the Strigoi attacking many of the royals lately. Still I watched in silent as this conversation seemed to unwrap.

"Sometimes" Stan copied in a high pitched awful voice. "Well then. I suppose you slept during the day and stayed on guard during the night."

"Er... no"

"No? But that's one of the first things mentioned in the Chapter on solo guarding. Oh wait, you wouldn't know what because you weren't here" I was watching as Rose gave a sickening look that she wanted to swear and possibly attack him.

"I watched the area whenever we went out" She said in an almost desperate voice.

"Oh? Well that's something. Did you use Carnegie's Quadrant Surverillance Method or the Rotational Survey?"

She stood in silence. I had almost forgotten the name of methods it had been ages when you use them because when it come to it – you know what to do, you don't remember the name – just like anything really.

"Ah. I'm guessing you used the Hathaway Glance-Around-When-you-remember-to Method" He was in fits. It was starting to annoy me.

"No!" She almost screamed. "That's not true. I watched her. She's still alive. Isn't she?" Stan moved closer to her face

"Because you got lucky" he almost whispered.

"Strigoi aren't lurking around every corner out there" Wait a second. Yes there is. "It's not like what we've been taught. It's safer than you guys make it sound" She was just shooting words at him without thinking.

"Safer? Safer? We are at war with the Strigoi!" he yelled. "One of them could walk right to you and snap your pretty little neck before you even noticed him – and he'd barely break a sweat doing it. You might have more speed and strength than a Moroi or Human, but you are nothing, nothing compared to a Strigoi. They are deadly, and they are powerful. And do you know what makes them more powerful?"

She away from Stan and straight at me – She stood with eyes filling with water. What a Jerk. She was going to be punished for her actions – She wasn't dead and either was the Princess. What she did was stupid. But brave.

She whispered something unbearable.

"What was that? – I didn't catch it."

She spun back to face Stan. "Moroi blood. Moroi blood makes them stronger"

I zoned out when Stan went on a rant about Strigoi and watched as Rose took her seat back in her seat. She was silent the whole time and looked like she was uninfluenced about what happened.

After she left – I went and personally spoke to Stan.

"Stan"

"Dimitri – Don't thank me"

"Getting some sick pleasure of making a girl cry is wrong"

"She was fucking stupid – With the last D –"

"Where she was ready or not it doesn't matter now. Kirova was dealing with her punishment"

"Ha. Don't act like you were there" he pointed a finger at me.

"I was there" I said in a calm voice.

"Sure"

"Yes – In fact I am going to give her extra sessions"

"Tell someone who cares"

In a dark voice I said "I am warning you. I will tell Kirova that you bullied your student and you'll know who she'll believe so leave her alone. She's agreed to her terms and accepted her punishment…"

He was silent.

"Bye Alto"

I walked out in a huff. Prick. You want to protect her. Bless I almost punched the wall that was next to me - What had I done. How stupid. I agreed with Stan but the hurt in her eyes. ARRRGGHHHH. Leave me alone. Fine.

I spend most of the time after walking around the grounds. Until it was lunch. That's when Rose seemed to catch an eye of me and walked close by. "I suppose you saw what happened in Stan's class?" The question caught me off guard and looked at her to ensure she was talking to me.

"Yes" I answered.

"And don't you think that was unfair?"

"Was he right? Do you think you were fully prepared to protect Vasilisa?"

"I kept her alive" she speech was mumbled and she was looking at the ground – What a silly girl.

"How did you do fighting against your classmates today?" I asked. She would then understand why she surely wrong then and by her silence. She knew. "If you can't fight then –"

"Yeah, yeah, I know" She snapped. Oh yes she knew. I watched as she tried to keep up with my walking and slowed down for her.

"You're strong and fast by nature. You just need to keep yourself trained. Didn't you play any sports while you were gone?" I was hoping sure would say yes for the sake of the Princess.

"Sure – Now and then" Not the best response I was looking for.

"You didn't join in any teams?"

"Too much work. If I wanted to practice that much, I'd have stayed here"

I gave her an exasperated look. I was maddened. What a pathetic thing to say. "You'll never be able to really protect the princess if you don't hone your skills. You'll always be lacking"

Thank goodness I was going to give her lessons – She's still a little girl.

"I'll be able to protect her" No Rose. Not when you can't even beat your class mates.

"You have no guarantees of being assigned to her, you know – for your field experience or after you graduate" My voice was harsh. "No one wants to waste the bond – but no ones going to give her an inadequate guarding either. If you want to be with her, then you need to work for it. You have your lessons. Use me" Ha. Use me – don't you wish. "Use us or don't. You're an ideal choice to guard Vasilisa when you both graduate – if you can prove you're worthy. I hope you will."

She seemed to ignore my comment "Lissa, call her Lissa"

I walked away. Again too annoyed again. The rest of the day I had off.

I basically sat in my bed the rest of day and read a book called roughing it – A prequel to Innocents abroad. Roughing it follows the travels of young Mark Twain through the Wild West during the years 1861–1867. After a brief stint as a Confederate cavalry militiaman, he joined his brother Orion Clemens, who had been appointed Secretary of the Nevada Territory, on a stagecoach journey west. I buried my mind in this.


Bless. :')

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