Chapter 3:

I bounded at Sarah and went in for a kick, we were in a training session and I was winning.

"Mark!" I had my mothers man eater grin plastered on my face as Sarah scowled but smiled as she shook her head.

"With parents like yours I don't understand why they don't just make you a guardian and get it over with."

"You're just a sore loser."

"I don't know why, I am so used to it." I laughed and practically dove for my water bottle, hilarity ensued but I didn't care; I was drinking life! "You need help my darling Lina. What did you and Alex talk about yesterday?" She inquired and I smirked, she always wanted to know everything.

"Just about what Brian said, Alex didn't know about it."

"Protective boyfriend?"

"Protective boyfriend." We heard the teacher call us over and made a group surrounding him.

"Students, tomorrow we will have be having guests at the school and two of them will be coming into class to see you all train and to help you train also, take them up on their offers to help you and ask them any questions about being a guardian in the field and I'll see you tomorrow." With that we walked out of class and I leisurely strolled to Stan Alto's theory class, Sarah had stayed behind to ask the teacher something about her kick. In the corridor, just as I was about to go into class Brian Zeklos rammed into me and knocked me down with his fatness.

"Sorry Belikov didn't see you there, I guess you do your job well, dirt like are better when you are out of sight and out of mind." I rolled my eyes and picked myself up, picking up my books as I went. I chose to ignore him and just walk into class but his chubby arm prevented me from doing so. "I guess that's why Alex dates you, because you will be in the background and leave him to carry on with his affairs in peace." Not this again. "He will get married and have moroi kids, royalty and then just carry on with you on the side. Making more of your scum. But then again you may not need him, you mother is some sort of freak and had you so maybe you will turn out the same, or maybe your mother just cheated on your dad." That was it, he can insult my relationship all he wants but he will not mess with my parents. I removed his hand from my shoulder like it was a dirty rag.

"First of all Zeklos; anyone with half a brain will realise that my dad is my dad; the genetics are unmistakable. Second you have no business in my relationship with Alex and how dare you call my mum a freak! She is better then anyone and not to mention could save your ass anytime and anywhere. Scum like us save your ass from Strigoi so you better start treating us with more respect or I swear to god I will push you into a Strigoi nest and leave you to suffer." My books were forgotten, I think they were somewhere on the floor as I pushed him each time I started a new topic, by now we had a crowd and I didn't care, the Hathaway temper was rising far above the Belikov restraint and I let it fly.

"Belikov!" Before I could even begin another raid Stan's voice bellowed and echoed in the hall and Brian got cocky, I hated that smug expression. I turned around to face Stan and smirked.

"Yes sir?"

"What do you think you are doing?"

"Teaching a stupid Moroi a lesson he needs."

"You threatened a royal with death." My shoulders hunched, crap!

"You heard that huh?"

"Oh I heard it all. Detention on Friday night for two weeks."

"But…" He cut me off with an icy glare and I remained silent, he then looked up at Brian Zeklos, his glare still remained.

"Mr Zeklos, I suggest you do not provoke Miss Belikov further or I shall give you detention also." With a firm nod and lie that he wouldn't do it again Brian Zeklos walked away scot free. "Miss Belikov I suggest you get to class." I picked up my books and sulked all the way to class.

Nothing much happened after that, Sarah scowled at me for fighting and not kicking his ass and classes went on as normal. I was exhausted and after dinner rushed into my dorm, my safe haven. It was small, I was in a single room and the walls were white. It wasn't much but I made it home, I filled it with pictures of my family and friends and my life here at St Vlads and a big frame holding a picture of my parents and myself the last time when we went to Russia. We are all wrapped in warm clothing and in front of one of the palaces with massive smiles on our faces. I loved that picture; I looked at it almost every night. I had a quick shower and fell into bed. The moment my head slammed against the pillow I fell asleep dreaming of my family and of course kicking my dads butt.

I woke up to the shrill of my alarm, it was telling me that I had to run, not from anything of course just run otherwise my dad would probably torture me, or take away my phone. I dragged myself out of bed and got changed into my running gear, I walked over to the field and began my laps I focussed on the scenery ahead of me and tuned out the world as I ran. I was on my second lap when I heard someone come up behind, usually Alex drops by for a minute or two so I didn't really slow down. Nor did I notice that this person had a lighter sound when they ran.

"Karolina." I screamed and almost tripped over my own feet at my dads Russian laced voice; I gripped my arm and held me steady so that I didn't fall. I looked up at my annoyingly tall father and smiled, I raised up on my tip toes and wrapped my arms around his neck hugging him tight. I missed him.

"Hi daddy! What are you doing here?" He let me out of the hug and raised an eyebrow and smirked at me.

"You don't listen in class do you?" I remembered that in training yesterday the teacher said something about guests and I kicked myself for not thinking about my parents when he said it.

"Of course I do, it just didn't compute." He laughed and hugged me again.

"Tell me something Lina. Have I not taught you anything?" I looked at him with my eyes wide.

"How do you mean?" Maybe he knew about my argument yesterday.

"I told you never to zone out when you run, to always be aware of your surroundings." I exhaled a breath and smiled.

"One time thing, I swear." He smiled and got a sneaky look in his eyes, what was he up to.

"Race you?"

"You're on." We lined up and got ready to race.

"Mark, set, go!" And we were off.