Okay. I'm sorry for the long wait and *insert overused excuse here*. Life has been *stupid, busy, suckish (take your pick)*. Don't worry, I do plan on finishing this story. Just to let that people who have already read this story I revised so that THIS CHAPTER ENDS DIFFERENTLY (I found the change neccessary for future plot). For those who are just beginning to read this story, don't worryabout it. Chapter four will be up within a week or two.
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy or any of its charaters, no matter how much I wish I did. :(
How? Why?
The only two words my brain was capable of making.
I shifted in the uncomfortable plastic chair found in the dean's office. After hours of sitting there in safety, I couldn't seem to get my body to understand that it was safe for the moment with guardians standing at least three feet away. I once again wiped my palms across my jeans in order to get rid of the moisture. Leaning my head all the way back until I was staring up at the bright lights on the ceiling, I let go of a deep sigh. After a few minutes, my eyes were starting to water from the brightness, but I welcomed the pain. It meant that I wasn't completely numb. It meant my body and mind weren't shutting down on me. If I could feel the pain, then it surely meant that I wasn't dreaming. When I closed my eyes, all I could see were little colorful dots dancing around. I would choose this over the image of a Strigoi's large hands wrapped around Ivan's fragile neck—that has been the main occupant of my brain—any day.
What got me the most was that I was caught completely off guard. Never had I thought I would see the day where Ivan would lose a fight with a Strigoi, ultimately ending with his demise, nor did everyone else for that matter. He was known for being a kick-ass guardian who had four molnija marks adorning the back of his neck. Countless times, he had been told he had the potential to be one of the best. As wrong as it was, in my mind, I saw Ivan as someone that was so good that nothing would happen to him.
I was proven wrong.
At first, all I could do was run. After all, it was Ivan's last dying word and wish: for me to run to safety. That's exactly what I did. I remember going as fast as I could possibly go. I remember that every time a foot of mine slapped against the tile floor, I could almost hear Ivan's word echoing in my brain. Run.
I ran my little heart out, and when I finally found guardians, I was so out of breathe that it took me a minute to form a coherent sentence. Once I did, everything started to string together becoming a blur that I didn't want to look too deeply into. Because at that moment, reality came crashing down on me.
My best friend was dead.
The sheer thought of never being able to joke around with my best friend ever again made a lump form in my throat and my stomach twist and turn. Because deep down, I knew he couldn't be dead. How could my life be the same without him? How could I go on without the one person that drew me out of myself and made me enjoy what life really had to offer?
I couldn't, that's how.
I was lost without him. This only made me realize how much I depended on him, as my guardian and my best friend.
My mental rant was interrupted by the door opening, and someone sitting behind the desk in front of me. I looked up to find Michael O'Donnell, Dean of Students at the university and fellow Moroi, move toward his desk and sit down. Mr. O' Donnell was pale like most Moroi who had a head of gray hair that seemed to have migrated down his face into a full blown beard since I first met him. In his pale blue eyes, I saw the things I didn't want to see. Pity. Sympathy. Sorrow. I looked away, not able to bare them along with my own tormented feelings.
"Mr. Belikov, I truly am sorry for your loss. I know you and Ivan were close." I didn't know how to respond, which led me to only nod my head. "I had just recently gotten off the phone with your father, and we have come to the agreement that you will take the next flight out to Pennsylvania. With the company of two of our guardians, of course."
In the back of my mind, I wondered how much say Mr. O' Donnell actually had in said "agreement". By the way he was fidgeting with his tie and the beads of sweat forming above his brow, my guess was none. It wasn't like this had never happened before. Most people tend to get this way after coming in contact with my father. Being a man of wealth in the Moroi world, he was known by everyone. Well, if you were the next in line for the crown, I guess that's what the standard reaction would be.
"I have arranged for Guardian Wagner and Ryan to escort you over. Your flight leaves in three hours." As Mr. O' Donnell mentioned their names, the two guardians stepped forward. Both were dressed in the standard guardian attire of black slacks and white button-down, topped with a black blazer.
It was then the reality of the situation hit me. Was it only about five hours ago that I was gearing up for a night out with Ivan? Life was giving me major whiplash. One second everything was dandy and swell. Then, the next, I'm in this mess, desperately searching for a way out. I looked down at the hideous rug underneath my feet. In my mind, I could almost hear Ivan saying, "This guy gets tons of donations a year, and he can't even buy himself a decent rug. It looks like someone barfed all over it and called it a day." On the inside, I smiled knowing that he would be completely correct. On the outside, I wore a grimace, as I got up from the plastic chair, and followed my two temporary guardians out of the office with the barf-rug.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
With two big, burly men next to me, I boarded the plane. Guardian Wagner—or just Adam because apparently Guardian Wagner was his father—was tall. Not as tall as my six-foot-seven-self, but tall enough. He had brown hair on top of his head, and a Scottish accent that sounded awkward mixed with my Russian one. There was also Guardian Jeremiah Ryan was one of the college's guardians. I recognized him from around campus in his security uniform with a taser gun underneath his vest, along with a silver stake, but not everyone needed to know that. We sat down in our row of seats waiting to depart. I sat in the seat next to the window with Jeremiah next to me.
I knew I should have felt safe with these two, yet I couldn't shake the feeling I had in the pit of my stomach. I guess, once I realized that there could be a Strigoi attack at any moment, I also found out that there was no place that was completely safe. I knew I was just being paranoid, which was confirmed when Jeremiah turned to me and I jumped. While I was having my mini mental rant, looking out the window, Jeremiah and Adam were having a whispered conversation. Adam, needing to use the "loo", got up and stalked down the aisle. Once he was out of sight, Jeremiah opened his mouth about to say something and then shut it, as if changing his mind.
"I know you probably… have heard this… a lot…lately, but… I truly am sorry… for what happened," Jeremiah had said eventually after opening and closing his mouth like a fish. Even though his statement was hesitant, I was touched that he said something. I knew that for guardians sentiments were hard to come by, which made the apology important.
"Thanks," I replied.
"I worked with Ivan. He was always so…" Jeremiah was at loss for words. I could see it in his face that he was trying to find the right words to describe Ivan, and I knew how difficult it was. Ivan was a great person. He was a goof ball. He was always coming up with witty remarks and doing weird things to make people laugh. He was outgoing and liked to have a good time but knew when to get serious. Ivan was brave, determined, and had this hero-complex where he put everyone else before himself.
"I know what you mean." We both nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, but man! I saw the tapes from the security cameras in the hall. And what you did? That was… amazing. I've never seen magic like that." My eyes widened in shock. How could I not think of that! When I killed that Strigoi by lighting him on fire, I was acting on impulse. The shear adrenaline and fear caused me to act and use magic offensively. I was screwed! Using magic like that, even for self defense, was against the law. Magic was something good and wonderful, not to be used for any sort of advantage, such as say… I don't know… kill a Strigoi. Jeremiah must have seen the hesitation in my face and put the pieces together. "Don't worry about it! No one's going to tell on you, okay? Just relax. I'm just saying it was pretty cool what you did."
Not knowing what else to say, I turned my head away from Jeremiah and Adam, who had just returned. All of a sudden, I felt the rough day's toll on my body. I was mentally and physically worn down. Exhausted, I tried to make myself as comfortable as I could—considering the small amount of space I was given. Leaning my head against the window, I closed my eyes, hoping to not see Ivan's face there.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Reviews/criticism is welcome =D
