Chapter 4
Returning to Classes
The role of a guardian at the Academy does not usually include being captured in a cage of dated photographs, sketchy timelines, and meaningless maps, testimonies, and leads. But since I was assigned to be Valissa's guardian, and she was missing, that is exactly what my role entailed. Every waking hour was spent in a small office reviewing all of our information. I read the girls files so many times, I practically had them memorized. The intensity of the research provided an outlet to distract me from the loss of my friend and that pain subsided long ago. Months of interviewing friends and staff, searching the girls' internet history and belongings, and searching the campus for clues led to nothing except high levels of frustration and an internal struggle to control my anger.
Five days ago, a phone call from an alchemist created a whirlwind of decisions and planning, and I haven't rested since. The alchemist called to tell us that he had spotted the Princess and knew her location. In three days, I assembled a team and planned every detail our mission. I had no time to work out and hardly any sleep. We left 36 hours ago to get find the girls. Often, my emotions can cause me to act irrationally, and I exert a great deal of self-control to maintain the guardian persona, but with the hectic schedule and extreme exhaustion of the last couple of days, I could feel my concentration slipping and longed for a session in the gym to center myself.
Rose was meeting with the councilor to determine her schedule while I waited for her in the hall. Alberta and I went over my new schedule since my release from my research prison. Now that I understood Rose's motivation was to protect Valissa, I logically knew I couldn't blame her for the drawn out months of searching, but in my current state of fatigue, I did resent her for my denial of my usual workout and sleep schedule. But even if permission were granted for me to rest, I would not abandon my responsibilities for even one day.
"Since you'll be mentoring rose, I think it's best for you to observe her Guardian classes. You will be able to analyze her skills and determine your sessions' content. We will adapt your patrolling schedule next week when we have a better idea of the time required to work with Rose. For now, keep an eye on here." Raising her eyes from the schedules in front of her, Alberta seemed to see me for the first time today. Place a hand on my shoulder and dropping the professional tone in her voice, she asked, "Guardian Belikov, are you alright?"
A practices expression on my face concealed my emotions, but there was nothing I could do about the fatigue I was sure was in my eyes. "You can call me Dimitri, and thank you. I am okay." My smile, though forced, seemed to convince her. I couldn't know for sure, though, because Rose then joined us. Alberta and I escorted her to her first class.
Alberta became uncomfortable with the silence as we walked and tried to fill it. "Dimitri, I wanted to thank you for helping find Valissa—"
"My pleasure." It was rude but I didn't want to talk about it. She didn't seem to notice. Alberta smiles and we walked the rest of the way in silence.
We entered the student gym for Rose's first class, Advanced Guardian Combat Techniques, and her peers gawked at her return. In a move that reminded me of myself at her age, Rose immediately began joking with her friends when she noticed the attention. "Hey Mason, wipe the drool off your face. If you're going to think about me naked, do it on your own time." I sighed. Her banter was inappropriate.
The class, however, found humor in her words and relaxed some. "This is my time, Hathaway. I'm leading today's session," responded a disheveled red headed boy whose freckled disappeared as color rose to his cheeks. The look in his eyes and twist of his smile made it seem likely that he was indeed thinking about her naked. I felt indecent listening to their conversation.
Rose chuckled," Oh yeah? Huh. Well I guess this is a good time to think about me naked, then."
"It's always a good time to think about you naked," responded another student, breaking the tension in the room even further.
I shook my head, unable to stop the string of Russian words escaping from my lips, "glupaja devushka." Foolish girl. It bothered me that she was being so forward, especially in what she was wearing. She hadn't had the opportunity to change from the jeans and very thin t-shit she had wore to bed the night before—the night we captured her—and I realized, seeing her body for the first time, that the boys needed no invitation or reminder to think of her naked. The protective urge stirred in my stomach again.
I took my place along the outskirts of the gym with the other Guardians, my hands behind my back, my feet shoulder width apart. I could have reclined against the wall unnoticed, as the others had, but I didn't. I was happy when the uncomfortable conversation shifted to class and I was able to focus on Rose's techniques.
Rose paired with Mason and I noticed his hands (and eyes) lingered on her longer than needed, but she didn't notice. As they sparred, I was able to anticipated Mason's moves, my muscles reacting, and I had to focus my strength to maintain my stance on the wall. Rose, however, was struggling. I wondered how she would have done in the beginner's Guardian Combat class. She had talent, but undeveloped talent was still lacking against the practiced and perfected moves of her peers. It was obvious with some training though, she would be one of the best I have ever seen. If she can learn self-control.
After an hour of enduring her peers' inflicted assault, Rose's torture ceased. "No practicing, huh?" Mason mocked.
Roes groaned a painful response. Mason helped her to her feet as she professed her feelings for him. "I hate you." She was nursing a few sore spots as they spoke.
"You'd hate me more if I held back."
"Yeah. That's true." Good girl. She seemed to realize she'd learn best when pushed, and I would surely challenge her limits in our sessions.
"You actually did okay," Mason lied.
I missed a bit of their conversation as they turned away to gather their belongings. Well, Mason gathered his. Rose didn't have anything with her. They left the gym and I followed them to their next class.
"Don't take this the wrong way…" Mason hesitated, concern in his words. "I mean, you really are a scrapper, but there's no way you'll be able to take your trials in the spring—"
He voiced one of the concerns of so many, but I was determined to train her well. Not only did I see her potential, I refused to let her prove Kirova right about Rose. I missed the rest of their conversation as their peers congested the walkway, separating us, but I followed Rose into her next class, Body Guard Theory and Personal Protection, and felt sorry for Rose as Stan Alto entered the classroom. Rose was about to face another round of humiliation.
I liked Stan enough, most of the time. He was focused and dedicated to his role as guardian and teacher. He viewed his position as an honor—not a responsibility—and felt personally insulted by Rose's decision to run off with Valissa. Rose was his student, and he felt her defiance poorly reflected on him.
Before accepting the added responsibility of mentoring Rose, I didn't understand his feelings. Seeing the anger in his eyes fortified the weight of the responsibility I had accepted. I didn't agree that Rose's decisions reflected on his abilities, as she was never more to him than one of twenty-five in a classroom, but she was to me. She was my apprentice, now, and every choice she made would directly reflect on my ability to mentor her. I worked hard to maintain a perfect and respectable record. Could I trust Rose not to mar it?
As I expected, when Stan spotted Rose, he singled her out, "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 with us." His sarcasm was nasty, his sneer threatening, but Rose didn't respond to his baiting. "Well, come on, come on." He continued. "Don't sit there! Come up to the front so you can help me lecture the class." His fake kindness emphasized his dissatisfaction with Rose sitting in his class. He obviously felt that she should not be allowed to return.
Trying to make herself smaller, Rose slumped in her seat. After an uncomfortable moment, she nervously replied, "You don't really mean—"
"I mean exactly what I say, Hathaway. Go to the front of the class." He snapped each syllable of each word, all friendly pretenses gone and distain dripping from his words.
Show no weakness, Rose strongly walked to the front of the class. She confidently flipped her hair over her shoulder and I again noticed the inappropriateness of her shirt and wished I'd allowed her to change before returning to the Academy. When she turned to face the class, her eyes swept the room meeting mine. She blushed and looked away. I had relaxed my guardian expression to give her an encouraging smile, but I don't think she caught it.
"So, Hathaway. Enlighten us about your protective techniques." Stan was enjoying himself. I hoped Rose would maintain her self control.
"My techniques?" Rose questions, the music in her voice ringing through her nervousness.
"Of course. Because presumably you must have had some sore to 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."
"We never ran into any Strigoi." She was fighting her control.
"Obviously. I already figured that out, seeing as you're still alive," Stan's emphatic tone stressed each syllable again. Rose pressed her lips into a hard line, holding back her retort. But Stan continued his cruelty. "So what'd you do? How'd you make sure she stayed safe? Did you avoid going out at night?"
"Sometimes."
"Sometimes." Stan was angry. "Well then, I suppose you slept during the day and stayed on guard at night?"
"Er…no." Rose's cheeks betrayed her, showing her embarrassment.
"No? But that's one of the first things mentioned in the chapter on solo guarding." Stan paused. "Oh, wait, you wouldn't know that because you weren't here."
"I watched the area whenever we went out." Rose's words were cold and I suspected they were an edited version of what she really wanted to say. I was proud of her control.
"Oh? Well that's something." Stan's sneer made it clear he thought that meant nothing at all. "Did you use Carnegie's Quadrant Surveillance Method or Rotational Survey?" Rose didn't respond. My fingers were bruising my hands and I realized just how angry Stan's treatment was making me. My fists were tight behind my back. "Ah. I'm guessing you used Hathaway Glance-Around-When-You-Remember-To Method."
Rose's anger bubbled over and she snapped back, "No! That's not true. I watched her. She's still alive, isn't she?"
"Because you got lucky." My anger boiled as Stan continued constant stream of humiliating questions. Of course, everyone was upset the Princess was in danger but Rose did protect her for 2 years at her own personal risk—and sacrifice; I recalled how Rose flipped her hair over her shoulder exposing her bare neck to Valissa. Why couldn't anyone acknowledge her success? And besides, no one actually uses Carnegies Quadrant Surveillance Method or Rotational Survey. They look good on paper, but usually, they aren't practical. Understanding the principals isn't as important as having good instincts, and Rose had great instincts.
I could see the frustration build in Rose and it looked like she was fighting off tears, but for the most part, she controlled her temper. Stan threatened her grade and field experience, and Rose was defeated as she returned to her seat.
Her following classes progressed much like the first two. She was reminded again of her physical inferiority to her peers in weight training, but she didn't quit. When lunch approached, it was apparent she was relieved.
I quickened my pace to catch up with her, slowing it again to match her slow and labored movements. She was in pain. "I suppose you saw what happened in Stan's class."
"Yes."
"And you don't think it was unfair?" As much as I didn't agree with him, I wasn't going to undermine him to a student.
"Was he right?" I avoided her question. I could use this as a teaching experience. "Do you think you were fully prepared to protect Valissa?"
Ashamed, broken, she responded, "I kept her alive." She meant more than just protecting her, she sustained Valissa as well. I didn't comment on that.
"How did you do fighting your classmates?" My question offended her, but she comprehended my intention. "If you can't fight them…"
She interrupted, defeated, "Yeah, yeah. I know." Her head hung. Her words were laced with the punishment she was inflicting on herself. I decided to be less harsh. I didn't want to completely break her; I just wanted her to grasp the importance of her training.
"You're strong and fast by nature. You just need to keep yourself trained. Didn't you play sports while you were gone?"
"Sure, now and then."
"You didn't join teams?"
"Too much work. If I'd wanted to practice that much, I'd have stayed her." Her attempt at joking was defensive and she was being difficult. Very difficult. She needed to drop her guard for me to help her.
"You'll never be able to really protect the princess if you don't hone your skills. You'll always be lacking."
"I'll be able to protect her," Rose promised. I believe her. It would be hard work to develop her skills in time, but she would do it.
But she needed to realize, "You have no guarantees of being assigned to her, you know—for your field experience or after you graduate." I was emphatic, but I tried to keep an edge from my words. "No one wants to waste the bond—but no one's going to give her an inadequate guardian either. If you want to be with her, then you'll need to work for it. You have your lessons. You have me. Use us or don't. You're an ideal choice to guard Valissa when you both graduate—if you can prove you're worthy. I hope you will."
When Rose spoke, her words were automatic and lifeless. I wasn't sure she even realized what she was saying. "Lissa. Call her Lissa." I smiled unnoticed and walked away.
I meant what I had said to Rose. She had the ability to succeed and I wanted her to prove her worth at the Academy. I told her she was an ideal choice to guard Valissa—Lissa—but I didn't only mean because of her bond. Lissa's royal status guaranteed her two guardians and I needed the second one to be someone I know and can trust. I still have a lot to learn about Rose, and she has a lot to learn, but somehow, I already trusted her. She and I would do well guarding the Princess together. You have me. I hoped she heard the unspoken vow to see her through this.
Unconsciously, I had walked to the gym for a workout, but as approached the front doors, I no longer had the energy. I decided to report back to Alberta about Rose's day and clear the office I had commandeered as headquarters for the girls search team. As I briskly walked back towards the commons and administration building, I passed Prince Victor and his guardians. His expression struck me. Hungry. Mischievous. Dangerous. His guardians seemed intense. All my original suspicions came back to me in a rush and I could sense something was wrong.
As he passed, he shifted his appearance to be more haggard and worn down, looking extremely ill again. There was no doubting his illness, but I realized that he used it to manipulate others to get what he desired. I froze when he called out to his target behind me, "Rose." His voice was weaker than he appeared a moment ago, and I slipped behind a tall hedge to listen. Something about his demeanor made me nervous.
I couldn't see Rose, but I had a clean line of sight of the Prince and his guardians. Something about them reminded me of old American Mob movies, complete with a Mob boss and his muscle. Prince Victor's protection looked more like enforcers than guardians.
"Mr. Dash—er, Your Highness. Hi." Rose's voice seemed to have more life in it now, but it seemed forced. Strained. Exhausted. I could relate.
The Prince and Rose exchanged pleasantries, her voice becoming terse. Then Prince Victor changed the direction of the conversation. His words were hesitant, but an eager glint in his eye indicated he was leading up to his true intention for the conversation. "I wanted to tell you… I understand the gravity of what you did, but I think Headmistress Kirova failed to acknowledge something. You did keep Valissa safe all this time. That's impressive."
Dismissively, Rose responded, "Well it's not like I face down Strigoi or anything." She sounded broken. Regretful almost. Because she put Lissa in danger?
Victor continued still eager. "But you faced down some things?" One henchman shifted uncomfortably.
"Sure. The school sent psi-hounds once." That caught me off guard. There was no record of that. I had considered it, but deemed them to dangerous. I would have to ask Alberta about it. Victor muttered a remark of astonishment that Rose brushed off, "Avoiding them was pretty easy."
"I've hunted with them before. They aren't that easy to evade, not with their powers and intelligence." His guardians nervously glanced at each other. I wasn't sure why it was making them uncomfortable. I personally wasn't a fan of psi-hounds because I didn't like the psychic connection they shared, but many Moroi families had a few. They were useful for hunting and home protection. TO see guardians unease at the mention of psi-hounds was unusual.
Victor questioned Rose more about the encounters in the human world, doling out compliments. He also encouraged her academics, at which point hi guardians took a step forward, as if being summoned by a code word. In a hushed voice I had to strain to hear, Prince Victor continue, "You also have your bond." Between his quiet voice and his henchmen's step closer to the conversation, I was certain this was the topic for which he sought out Rose.
Rose didn't respond, and Victor persisted, "The histories are full of stories of guardians who could feel when their charges were in danger. I've made a hobby of studying up on it and some of the ancient ways. I've heard it's a tremendous asset."
"I guess." Rose's tone was polite and uninterested.
"What is it like, if you don't mind me asking?" I minded his questioned, but what could I do about it? His guardians moved closer to the conversation again.
"It's… I don't know. I just sort of always have this hum of how she feels. Usually it's just an emotion. We can't send messages or anything." She was omitting some of the true, I was certain.
"Too quickly for natural conversation, the Prince questioned, "But it doesn't work the other way? She doesn't sense you?" Rose's response must have been nonverbal because Victor questioned her further, "How did it happen?"
"I don't know. Just started 2 years ago." A hind of discomfort could be heard in Rose's words.
"Near the time of the accident?" A long moment of silence passed while Victor gazed at Rose, trying to read her expression. I wished I could see her. After a moment, enthusiasm returned to Prince Victor's face and he exclaimed, "I can still barely believe this. It's been so long since this has happened. If it did happen more often… just think what it could do for the safety of all Moroi. If only others could experience this too. I've have to do more research and see if we can replicate it with others."
"Yeah." Rose seemed eager to leave.
"Perhaps we could—"Victor's invitation was cut short when he was seized by a coughing fit. His guardians rushed to his side and escorted him indoors. I heard Rose walk away and I stayed hidden where I was, thinking.
The two bondmates in my hometown, Oksana and Mark, went to great lengths to conceal their bond. I always had the impression there was something dangerous about it. Victor's desire to exploit it made me nervous. He was too eager, as were his guardians, and the conversation was too strange to just be pleasant chit chat. Victor wanted something and I wondered if he got it.
When no one was around, I freed myself from my hiding place and continued to the office I had occupied for months.
"Belikov?" Alberta called out to me from her office. I leaned insider her door. "How did Rose do the rest of the morning?"
"She's further behind than I had hoped, but she has talent. With dedicated practice, she will be able to catch up."
"Good. I don't want to see her fail. I don't want to see her talent wasted."
"She's starting to realize the seriousness of her mistake. I think she understands the danger she put the Princess in. She'll do what she needs to be her guardian."
"Good." Alberta's response was a dismissal. I considered asking about the psi-hounds, but I was unsure how I could explain my knowledge.
My hesitation to leave caused Alberta to study me. "Dimitri," she said, losing all formality in her tone. "You need to go rest. Rose has 4 hours before class is out. Use them for yourself."
Hearing the command in her friendly words, I nodded and headed towards the novice dorms where my room was. Students were leaving lunch and heading to their next classes. Despite my attempts to ignore their chatter, random comments caught my attention.
"…And Rose said plenty of humans are willing to feed. They had no trouble getting Lissa blood…"
"…I heard Rose was pregnant. Wonder what they did with the baby…"
"…Rose is a trophy. She'll be my sex slave in no time…" My head snapped up as a Moroi senior bragged to his friends. His confidence made my skin crawl.
My mind was blank as I entered the dorm and went to my room. I was exhausted and my short break was welcomed. I glanced in the mirror on the wall and noticed the dark shadows under my eyes. Everything about my appearance seemed to droop in fatigue and suddenly, sleep seemed inevitable. My eyelids were heavy and half closed as I walked towards my bed. Before my head hit the pillow, I was fast asleep. A dreamless sleep.
