First Lessons

October, 2004

Rating- MATURE, contains sex and violence

Third Person POV- Dimitri

"When I'd been learning to write and throw books at my teachers, he'd probably been kissing girls. Probably lots of girls, considering how he looked." - Rose's thoughts on Dimitri, Vampire Academy, pg. 142.

Dimitri Belikov prided himself on always being aware of his surroundings, of always watching everything, and of always putting his Moroi first. At the moment however, even though he was on duty, the nineteen-year-old guardian was distracted. He was currently being a far guard for Lord Ivan Zeklos. Ivan was walking with Lady Karina Conta and one of her guardians on duty, Ludmila Pavlova-Conta. Ludmila, or Luda for short, was the distraction.

Luda and Dimitri had grown up together in Baia, they had gone to school together, and they had always been fond of one another… very fond. They hadn't spoken to one another in over a year, aside from a few e-mails, since they had been assigned to different parts of the world. He lived in Moscow, Russia most of the time while she lived in Vancouver, Canada. They had always known that they would devote their lives to duty, but it had been hard to leave one another.

Now they were together again, as far as duty was concerned. Their Moroi were attending a week long event in Moscow with several dozen other royals which was hosted by one of the Szelsky lords.

Ivan and Karina had met and formed a flirtatious relationship at the prior night's dinner, which was why they were walking around the city today. Since Ivan already knew Dimitri and Luda, the acquaintance between Ivan and Karina had been inevitable- the mutual interest had been unexpected.

Dimitri and Luda had not had the time to say anything to one another beyond brief greetings and guardian plans. Two other guardians were part of their current security detail, also far guards. Dimitri looked to them at regular intervals, the way he had been trained to do, but his eyes kept straying to her.

They returned to the Szelsky mansion just before sunset. Dimitri and his fellow guardians' shifts came to an end shortly thereafter. Ivan and Karina walked one way, while the off duty guardians walked another. Not so subtly, Luda slowed her pace, allowing their two partners to walk ahead.

"I've missed you," she said. The familiar sweet tones of her voice thrilled him. He hadn't realized how much he had missed that sound.

"I've missed you as well." He looked at her and smiled. She was already grinning up at him. Looking at her stole his breath away, as it always had. Her pale grey eyes were so familiar and so full of emotion. "Do you want to grab dinner with me?" He made a motion back toward the exit.

"I'd love to."

So they walked back outside, telling the guardians at the gates that they were going to grab dinner at a nearby cafe instead of in the dining room. The nearest restaurant was a short walk from the mansion. They ordered their food and sat across from one another, content.

"How is Canada," he asked.

"Boring. I know that I shouldn't complain, but I swear that I our literary analysis class was more interesting than standing against the wall while they debate budgeting and employee efficiency."

He laughed. "That bad huh?"

"It's not bad exactly. I do like guarding Kara, she's great, and my half-sister after all. When I'm not on duty, we usually just hang out or visit the family. But I miss Russia. I miss our language. It's so tiring to hear only English or French day after day. I miss everyone back home. I even miss your grandmother scolding me for wanting to be a career guardian instead of becoming a mother who stays in Baia."

He reached out and took her hand. "You'd be safer in Baia."

She snorted but didn't pull her hand away. "But I wouldn't live a life that I want. I need to fight the Strigoi. I don't want to just sit back and wait for some Moroi to get me pregnant. If I have a child, I want to be a wife as well; or at least to remain a guardian. Guardian Hathaway has a daughter and is one of the most respected guardians in the world."

"You know which guardians have children?" He was somewhat amused by that fact.

She rolled her eyes. "Of course I do. Well, the women at least. I want to prove to myself, if to no one else, that I can do everything I want in life. And well, I look up to Hathaway. I admire her for having a child and still being a guardian. Her daughter is apparently already spoken for by the Dragomirs for their daughter."

"I remember hearing something about Janine Hathaway's daughter being close to the Dragomirs. She must be a talented fighter for Prince Eric to place his faith in the girl. How old is she?" Dimitri had never looked into the personal lives of his colleagues, though he had heard murmurings about the Hathaway girl and the Dragomirs.

"Twelve or thirteen I think? I might ask Hathaway, since she's here."

"Are you planning to have a child?" He tried to not be jealous; she wasn't his. Still, he had known Luda since they were children, and he wanted to protect her.

She flushed red. "No, not now anyway. Maybe one day if I find the right Moroi. I wish… I wish dhampirs could have children together." She looked at her lap.

He squeezed her hand. "I know."

Their eyes met for a few moments, conveying emotions which couldn't, shouldn't be spoken. They pulled away, shifting to their food and lighter conversation. They fell into a comfortable, familiar way of talking; catching up on their lives since their assignments had begun.

When they were finished, they walked back to the mansion. Sunset had passed, and evening shadows had fallen. They were both alert for Strigoi, though there were enough people around for the risk to be minimal for two guardians. When they were within sight of the mansion, she grabbed his hand and pulled him into a side alley. She embraced him, sighing against his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "I missed you so much," she murmured, pulling back slightly and looking up at him.

Instead of saying anything, he kissed her. It was foolish to be in an alley at night with their defenses down, but they were nineteen and he hadn't touched anyone like this in over a year. They pulled back, breathing heavily but not letting go.

"Do you have a roommate," he asked.

She frowned. "Yeah, you?"

He nodded, also frowning. They couldn't be seen together like this around the others, not if they wanted to keep their affections private. At that moment however, they really wanted to be alone. "I can ask mine if he wants to do something else for an hour or so tomorrow when we're off duty."

She nodded in agreement. "I'll do the same, just in case."

They kissed again for several long moments before pulling away with reluctant sighs. For a few moments they held hands, breaking apart as they reached the gates.

"...a good friend of his was a distant cousin of Tasha's family; that was how the two of them knew each other." - Rose's thoughts on Tasha and Dimitri, Frostbite, Ch. 9.

'The speaker was a dhampir a little younger than her, his Russian accent thick. He stood taller even than Vinh, with the kind of face that probably made girls swoon, and every bit of him was composed and respectful. "This is Dimitri Belikov," said Vinh. "He's part of the group of novices who are visiting Court. You can trust him."' - Tasha Ozera and Dimitri Belikov's first meeting, Vampire Academy 10th Anniversary Edition, The Turn and the Flame.

Inside, they made their way to a common room where several dhampirs and a few Moroi were gathered. Many were standing around, speaking with loud, enthusiastic voices. Most were speaking English, though there were a few speaking Russian. Shortly, the standing Moroi and dhampirs made their way to the edges of the room, pulling away chairs so that a space was cleared at the center of the room.

Dimitri and Luda stood near the door, watching curiously. A tall, black-haired, Moroi woman stood facing one of the guardians, called Alwood, and it looked like they were going to fight. A moment later they did, to cheers and encouragement.

"Get him Tasha," shouted Ryan Ozera.

And then, Dimitri knew who she was- Natasha Ozera, whose brother had turned Strigoi only to later be killed. She was essentially an outcast in Moroi society, but that hadn't stopped her from making herself known in certain circles. He had met her in passing, a few years past, during the crisis involving Lucas and Moira Ozera.

The sparring between Tasha and Alwood was very basic parrying. She had a certain level of skill, not as much as a seasoned guardian, but she was still good. John Alwood was a young guardian, twenty or twenty-one, and had obviously never fought a Moroi, let alone a Moroi woman, before. His moves were tentative and anxious while hers were sure and quick. She flashed him a pretty, distracting, smile and used her distraction to trip him and pin him to the ground. A moment later she got up, laughing as she held out her hand to help Alwood off the floor.

Ryan Ozera clapped his guardian on the back, laughing with his cousin. "Maybe I should get a replacement guardian if you're so easily distracted by a beautiful woman."

Alwood smirked. "Maybe I'll just let you fight off the beautiful women from now on."

Their joking elicited laughs from everyone in the room. Ryan saw Dimitri and walked to him with Tasha. "Dimka, how have you been?"

Dimitri smiled at Ryan. They had become friends over the past year as Ryan and Ivan often travelled together. "I've been well."

They clasped arms briefly before Ryan spoke again. "Glad to hear it. This is my cousin Tasha; Tasha, Guardian Dimitri Belikov, or Dimka to his friends."

Dimitri clasped Tasha's hand, smiling. He studied her face, observing the contrasts- beautiful but damaged, elegant but fierce. "A pleasure to meet you again Tasha."

Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Dimka?"

Beside him, Luda giggled. "It's a nickname for Dimitri."

"It suits you. I'm glad to meet you again as well."

Ryan looked between them, confused. "You've met?"

Tasha's expression turned dark. "He was with a group of novices who were visiting court when Lucas and Moira turned." Heavy silence fell for a few moments. Tasha forced a smile. "At least these are much happier circumstances."

"Indeed," Ryan agreed. He looked at Luda, realizing that she had yet to be introduced. "My apologies, Guardian…."

"Ludmila Pavlova-Conta," she replied.

Ryan looked at her in surprise. A dhampir with a royal name was uncommon, to say the least. While she might not have been well known herself, her father was certainly known, for his marriages if for nothing else. Her father, Lord James Conta, had married three times, once to Karina's mother- Lady Elisa Dashkov, then to Luda's mother- Yana Pavlova who was a dhampir, and now to a Voda. Elisa had died in a skiing accident when their daughters Alexandra and Karina were three and one. Three years later, he later married Yana. Yana had been turned Strigoi five years past.

James Conta had kept his children in schools near their mothers' families but had brought them together for holidays. Luda being her half-sister's guardian was a good and sensible match. In fact, long ago it had been common for royals to have dhampir children for that very purpose.

"I've heard of you," Tasha said. Her tone was light and matter of fact, but Dimitri could see a flicker of annoyance in Luda.

"I've heard of you as well." Luda's tone was so neutral and her face so placid that it was difficult to tell if she was challenging Tasha or simply stating a fact. She continued after allowing the tension to build for a few heartbeats. "I think that learning to fight is admirable. Too many people run and hide after tragedy, but you fight back."

Her words earned smiles of approval from both Tasha and Ryan. Dimitri resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Only Luda would try to annoy someone she was complimenting.

"Most people would disagree with you about Moroi learning to fight," Tasha said.

Luda shrugged. "I've been known to fight against tradition from time to time."

A small smile flicked across Dimitri's lips while Tasha and Ryan both looked at her with approval. They chatted for a few more minutes before Dimitri and Luda left for their rooms, genuinely tired after having worked their shifts during the day. They reluctantly parted with a kiss outside her room.

"When I was seventeen, I met Ivan Zeklos. We weren't like you and Lissa, but we became friends, and he requested me as his guardian when I graduated. I was the top student in my school. I paid attention to everything in my classes, but in the end, it wasn't enough. That's how it is in this life. One slip, one distraction..." He sighed. "And it's too late."- Dimitri to Rose, Vampire Academy, pg. 124.

Dimitri's next shift was close to sunrise, the end of the Moroi day. He and several other guardians stood along the perimeter of the room during a formal dinner. The guardians watched the dinner guests, each other, and all access points throughout the night. His eyes kept finding Luda, wanting to tell her that his room would be free for them to be together when their shift ended. When their eyes would meet, he could see that she wanted to be alone with him just as much as he wanted to be alone with her.

His eyes also fell upon Janine Hathaway throughout the evening. He thought about what Luda had said about admiring Guardian Hathaway. He admired her as well. Even though she was only in her early thirties, she had an outstanding reputation among the guardians, and a very high number of Strigoi kills. For her daughter to have already caught the eye of the dying line of Dragomirs could mean that the younger Hathaway might some day surpass her own mother.

After the dinner, the Moroi mingled. At one point Ivan joined him against the wall. "I forget how boring your job is most of the time."

"Most of the time you don't make it boring."

Ivan laughed. "Rest assured that this is just as boring for me as it is for you. My only distraction from the politics is the beautiful women." He looked around, his eyes observing the aforementioned women. "Speaking of which, have you and Luda..." His voice trailed off. Ivan was one of the few people who knew about the on and off relationship between Dimitri and Luda.

Dimitri shook his head, somewhat exasperated. "Duty comes first." Seeing Ivan's skepticism, he gave a different, reluctant, answer. "We didn't find the time yet."

"Now that's more like the two of you."

Dimitri raised an eyebrow but kept his face mostly neutral. Ivan was his charge and his friend, but at times he was aggravating. "What about you and Karina?"

Ivan sighed, resting his back against the wall beside Dimitri. "We're enjoying the week together before she returns to her father planning a marriage between her and a Lazar." His gaze wandered to where Karina stood with a group of women, chatting amiably. "She doesn't want to marry him but she'll do it anyway. I'm glad my parents aren't so pushy."

Dimitri studied Karina Conta. She was pretty, with straight blonde hair, big blue eyes, and the slimness which all Moroi women had. She and Luda actually looked like sisters, though Luda was shorter and curvier due to being a dhampir. Eventually she looked at Ivan, her false smile turning real. She excused herself from her group and walked to them.

"Ivan, Guardian Belikov, I was wondering if you would like to escape from here?" She seemed somewhat annoyed, though Dimitri could see that irritation fade as she looked at them.

"Where to," asked Ivan.

"The billiard room, to play pool. I will go crazy if I have to hear one more scrap of gossip from this lot."

Ivan wrapped an arm around her waist and she relaxed against him. "There'll be more gossip down there, not to mention the gossip our departure will create."

She sighed. "Let them talk. I want my sister to come as well." She looked at Dimitri. "Think you two can get out of watching the wallpaper to join us?"

Dimitri actually laughed. "I'll get her. We'll tell Guardian Hathaway that we are escorting the two of you."

"Perfect," she said, grinning at him.

With a nod, Dimitri walked from them to Janine Hathaway. The petite woman was in charge of the guardians who were in the mansion, organizing and coordinating all of their schedules. "Guardian Hathaway," he said in greeting.

She regarded him with guardian formality and vigilance, as she would anyone. "Guardian Belikov, is all well?"

"Yes," he answered. "Lord Ivan Zeklos and Lady Karina Conta are leaving the hall and have requested that Guardian Pavlova-Conta and I accompany them for the evening." He decided against mentioning that they were going to be playing pool within the mansion.

Her eyes scanned the room, assessing the situation. She gave a brisk nod of her head. "Of course."

He gave her a nod of acknowledgement before walking to Luda. She gave him a small, formal smile. "Guardian Belikov."

He stood close beside her and spoke in a hushed tone. "Our charges want to play pool, and we are accompanying them."

She looked up at him, eyes sparkling. "Hathaway let us go?"

His eyes danced with the same amusement. "Of course, but I also didn't tell her that we would be playing pool, just that we were accompanying them."

"Wonderful," she whispered, clearly pleased.

"There's more," he said, leaning down so that his lips were close to her ear. "My roommate will be out once our shifts are done." Stepping back with a small smile on his lips, he could see the genuine excitement which radiated from her at his words.

"Glad to hear it," she said, attempting a neutral tone.

They walked to the door where their charges were waiting, both smiling broadly. Together they walked through the long halls, until they reached the billiard room. Inside, they found several games in progress, and a much more relaxed atmosphere.

Ivan made his way to where Ryan and Tasha stood, already playing a game. Karina, Dimitri, and Luda followed him.

"Care to make it a six way?" Ivan asked, grinning at his friend.

"So long as we're talking about pool," Ryan replied, a mischievous smirk twisting his lips.

Tasha rolled her eyes. "You should really ignore him. He's nothing but trouble."

Ivan observed her briefly, assessing who she was. "Funny, people say that about you, Lady Natasha Ozera. Truth be told, they say it about me as well. Perhaps we troublemakers should stick together?"

"I'd like that, Lord Zeklos," Tasha replied. "Shall we play three versus three?"

"Sure," Karina said. "I think we women could beat the men don't you?"

Ryan looked at her, amused. "Lady Conta, it would be far from honorable for us men to win against you three."

Luda snorted. "Sounds like too much boasting Kara, I know you and I can beat Dimka and Ivan, and I'm certain that Tasha can take her cousin out."

With a few more words, mostly playful boasts, the men and women began a game against one another. It turned out that Dimitri and Tasha were the best players out of the six, each sinking more balls than the other four. The women won the first round, thanks to a trick shot by Karina. The men narrowly won the second due to Dimitri's skill. In the tie-breaker, Tasha was the one who won the round and the competition for the women.

"I told you we would win," Karina said triumphantly to Ivan.

He wrapped an arm around her waist and grinned. "I don't mind losing to you."

The intimate gestured earned quite a few looks from the other Moroi in the room. Dimitri wondered how long it would be before gossip of their affair spread throughout the Moroi world, likely a few days. If the rumor became sordid enough, Lord Conta might need to look for a new match for his daughter. Dimitri suspected that Karina really didn't care what anyone thought about her.

Ryan coughed, breaking the pair apart. "Shall we play again?"

"I think I'd rather watch this round," Karina said, her eyes wandering toward the bar in the corner. "And have a drink."

Luda responded before Ivan could abandon the game. "I'll join you in sitting out, though I can't join the drinking while I'm on duty."

"I appear to have lost to your sister," Ivan said in mock abasement. Karina looked at him, eyes alight, and whispered in his ear. He flushed red for a moment before kissing her.

Lord Conta would definitely need to find a different match for Karina. Although, if she and Ivan were to get together...

Luda looked at Dimitri while her sister and his best friend kissed. Her eyes betrayed her thoughts. She wanted to be doing what Karina and Ivan were doing, but with Dimitri. He looked at his watch, two more hours. Glancing back at her, he saw her smirk. She had seen him looking at the time.

"Lord Zeklos, I know that my sister is irresistible, but we are in public."

They broke apart, both embarrassed and immensely pleased with themselves. Tasha and Ryan merely shook their heads in amusement.

Straightening her dress, Karina spoke up. "Why don't the four of you play a couple rounds while my sister and I watch?"

They agreed, this time Tasha and Ryan played against Dimitri and Ivan. After returning with drinks, Karina and Luda stood to the side and watched, cheering for their men to win. Ivan and Dimitri did win, though only because Dimitri was the best player out of the four.

They walked to one of the couches after playing another round. Dimitri and Luda stood while the other four sat. They could have joined the others on the couches, but standing apart was easier than sitting together when all either wanted to do was tear the other's clothes off. When their shifts ended, though Dimitri and Luda had hardly been acting as if they were on duty, they politely excused themselves and walked from the room.

They said nothing as they walked, though Dimitri could feel the tension radiating from Luda. When they reached his room, he checked that it was empty. A moment later, he pulled her inside, locking the door behind them.

She was on him the second his hand left the door. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and her lips were on his lips. He pulled her close, running his hands along her back, pushing up her shirt. She raised her arms as he pulled off her shirt and bra in a single, swift motion. He bit her neck as she tugged at his belt and zipper. Growling in frustration, she pushed him away, stripping off the rest of her clothing while he dealt with his own pants. She jumped into his arms as his pants dropped, kissing his face and neck. They stumbled to the floor. He was inside her before they ever bothered to get his shirt off.

She wrapped her legs around him, desperate for him, for his touch. She clawed at his shirt, pushing it up so that she could touch his back. One of his hands ran along the length of her body while his other hand grasped her hair. She moaned as he pushed within her. At some point his shirt came off. She dug her nails into his back, digging deep scratches into his skin.

Their pace slowed, their eyes met. He saw in them love, lust, and amusement. He knew that his face showed the same emotions.

He pressed a kiss to her lips, pushing hard into her as he did. She gasped, shuddering at the sensation.

He shifted, pulling her onto his lap. A moment later, with her legs wrapped around his waist, he walked them to the bed. She pushed him gently, and he lay back, allowing her to rest her hips on his and ride him.

The sight of her was magnificent. She rolled her hips as he pushed up into her. He wrapped his hands around her waist, steading her. She gasped and moaned, shuddering as they moved.

When they were finished, they lay together on his bed, exhausted and satisfied.

"I needed that," she mumbled.

"So did I," he murmured into her hair.

She pressed her back against his chest, sighing. "I'll miss you when I go back to Canada."

"I'll miss you too." He ran a hand along her side, stroking the soft skin on her hip.

"I heard that you killed your first Strigoi," she said, suddenly shifting the topic.

"Yes, I did. Ivan had been visiting one of his friends in Athens when I saw a Strigoi near our car. Brandon, my guarding partner, remained in the car while I went out and staked the Strigoi. He barely put up a fight, I think because I surprised him."

"I'm glad you made it out unscathed."

He kissed the back of her head. "So am I."

"Was it difficult to kill? To take a life?"

He was quiet for a long time. At last he drew in a deep breath. "Fighting was easy. We have been trained for it since we were children. Killing though, it stays with you."

She placed on of her hands in his and squeezed. "It's our duty."

"It is."

They were quiet for a long time before Luda spoke again. "Have you heard from Galina lately? I know that you were close."

"She is going to Prague soon. We spoke the other week."

"Do you remember when she caught us?"

He laughed. "Which time?"

"Mmm, I was thinking of the first time, in your room."

"When she scolded us for ten minutes while we struggled to keep ourselves covered with my sheets?"

She giggled. "Yes, that would be the time. At least she gave up after the third time she caught us."

"True, that was when she began to roll her eyes and mutter under her breath about learning to hide better. She should have just left us in our rooms."

She shifted onto her back, looking up at him. "I miss those days. More than anything I wish we could just live our lives freely."

He cupped her face with one hand, running his thumb against her cheek. "We're guardians."

"I know," she said simply, bringing her lips to his. "I want to stay here tonight."

He curled against her. "I wasn't planning to let you leave tonight."

They were startled awake when the door opened suddenly. Luda swore and pulled the sheet close around her naked body. Dimitri's roommate looked at them, his expression concerned and distracted.

"The two of you need to get dressed. Everyone is gathering in the ballroom. Strigoi killed some Moroi in the city last night." He turned and left, shutting the door behind him.

A moment later, they were out of bed and dressing. Less than five minutes after Dimitri's roommate had left, they were on their way to the ballroom. They took the first seats they could find, which were close to the back of the room. Moroi and guardians filled the room, and everyone was on edge.

Janine Hathaway stood at the front of the room, speaking in hushed tones with their host and several others. Dimitri recognized a human, an Alchemist, in their small circle. Eventually, the circle dispersed and Janine stood alone. The room quieted slowly, realizing that she was going to speak.

Once she had their attention and had greeted the room, she told them what had happened. "We have received a report that last night a family of Moroi were killed in the city. It has been confirmed that they were killed by Strigoi." Gasps of fear came from the gathered Moroi while the guardians tensed. "We will be investigating the attack today and ensuring safe travel arrangements for anyone who wants to leave."

She waited until the room quieted again. Her voice was firm, assured, and calm. "Rest assured that everyone is safe within these walls. Lord Szelsky is welcoming common Moroi from the city into his home until we know this threat has passed."

Lord Szelsky spoke next. When he finished, the Moroi were dismissed so that the guardians could receive instructions. They were briefed on the more grisly details of the attack. A family of five Moroi, three adults and two children, had been killed in a car. The car had a flat tire which one of the adults had been attempting to fix.

"From what could be determined," Janine was saying, "this was a planned ambush. A board with nails in it was found nearby, which is believed to be what caused the tire to blow."

Many in the room murmured darkly at her words. Strigoi planning an ambush was dangerous, very dangerous.

"We have decided to send pairs of guardians into the neighborhood where this attack happened to ask if anyone saw anything. We need to know if this is a threat which will continue or pass."

They were sent out in pairs, consisting only of native Russians. Dimitri was paired with Luda, which gave them ample opportunity to talk, though they mostly focused on the task at hand. He would send her to the doors of the houses they had been assigned, while he waited nearby. They knew that she was less imposing and might receive more answers.

The day was long and fruitless for everyone. Either no one saw anything or no one was talking. They returned to their rooms that night exhausted, with no word of encouragement for the worried Moroi royals.

In the morning, news of another attack arrived. Three Moroi had been killed in a similar fashion, only a few blocks from the previous night's attack. They were sent out again in pairs to see if any lead could be found. More and more common Moroi were flocking to the Szelsky mansion while most of the royal guests began to leave the city.

Dimitri and Luda sat in the common dining room before heading out. Ivan, Karina, Tasha, and Ryan had joined them.

"Do you want to go home," Luda asked her sister.

Karina shook her head. "No, not yet. I'm safe enough here, and I know that you're needed."

"I could help," said Tasha.

Dimitri raised a brow. "They're only sending native Russians into the city to ask questions."

"I could…" Ivan began, only to be cut off by Dimitri.

"No. I can't guard you and ask questions at the same time."

Ivan sighed. "I could compel people to speak."

Tasha's eyes brightened. "So could I." Dimitri, Luda, and several nearby guardians glanced at them uneasily. Tasha stood, frustration plainly visible in her face and body. "Eight Moroi in two days are dead and there are no leads. Do you expect us to do nothing? Oh wait, of course you do. The Moroi do nothing but sit back and wait to die, hoping that throwing dhampirs at the Strigoi will be enough. Let us help."

Her voice was hard and loud, and many were staring. She didn't care. She looked at Dimitri, as though he had some authority in the matter.

Ivan spoke up, his tone low. "You can't stop us from joining you. Compulsion might be what we need to help end these murders. Threats during the day are minimal."

"And I can take care of myself," added Tasha. "I've managed on my own without wards or guardians for years now. I'm not afraid."

"I want to come as well," said Karina.

"No!" Ivan and Luda shouted in unison. Karina glared angrily at them both.

"Why not?"

Luda was the one to answer in a calm, soothing voice. "I'd worry too much if you came with us. I want to know that you are safe, here."

Karina softened and sighed. "Fine, but I want you to come back to me safe and unharmed." She looked at Ivan. "You too."

Ivan kissed her cheek. "Anything for you."

Shortly thereafter, Dimitri, Luda, Ivan, and Tasha left the mansion and went to the scene of the previous night's attack. They were given many curious looks by the other teams of guardians, but no one questioned them. After several hours of asking around, with the assistance of Moroi compulsion, they finally found a lead.

They were questioning an old human woman, and with a little coaxing from Ivan, she revealed that she had seen two very pale people in the area a few nights in a row. She had noticed them watching people and had seen them wander into a nearby abandoned building once or twice.

With that information in mind, Dimitri called in his findings. Ivan and Tasha were sent back to the Szelsky mansion with two guardians who had been nearby. Meanwhile, Dimitri and Luda watched the abandoned building. They spoke little as they waited for backup to arrive, focusing only on the task at hand.

"Most Strigoi used to be Moroi who purposely turned. Sometimes they're Moroi or dhampirs turned by force. It doesn't matter. There's' a strong chance you might know one of them. Could you kill someone you used to know?"

"I guess so. I'd have to, right? If it's them or Lissa..."

"You might still hesitate," said Dimitri. "And that hesitation could kill you. And her."

"Then how do you make sure you don't hesitate?"

"You have to keep telling yourself that they aren't the same people you knew. They've become something dark and twisted. Something unnatural. You have to let go of attachments and do what's right. If they have any grain of their former selves left, they'll probably be grateful."

– Dimitri and Rose, Vampire Academy, pg. 234.

As a team of ten, they entered the abandoned building. Janine Hathaway was their leader, and she gave them brief details of their task- look for evidence of Strigoi and don't try to be a hero. Inside, they branched off in pairs, searching for anything suspicious. They all wore earpieces to radio one another in case any issues arose.

The building was silent except for the sounds of their boots on the concrete floor. Their jacket lights and the hazy afternoon sun which filtered through cracked and missing windowpanes was all the illumination they had. The building was dusty. Everywhere were broken chairs, tables, and machinery. In several rooms, holes in the floor showed a lower level, hidden in darkness. They found a broken cage elevator which looked like it had been built in the early part of the nineteen hundreds. Its cage opened ominously into the darkness below.

When the ground floor was cleared, four went upstairs, four went downstairs, and two remained as watchers on the ground floor. Janine, Dimitri, Luda, and Alwood went to the lower levels.

They were soon plunged into darkness, their lights casting grim shadows around them. Their boots scraped the floor. Their breathing seemed far too loud in the deafening silence.

They came to a series of closed doors, opening each in turn. In the third room they saw the bodies. Four humans, drained of blood. Alwood was sent back to radio the others that Strigoi had definitely been in that building. After the message came through, he and two others arrived.

The six guardians continued into the dark, moving as quietly as possible.

Dimitri swallowed hard. He had been trained for moments like this his whole life, but he suddenly felt unprepared. He looked at Luda, and she glanced up at him. They were both afraid, but both ready to prove themselves in battle if needed.

They found more bodies in other chambers, some had been dead for months. It seemed that they had stumbled across a Strigoi lair right in the heart of Moscow.

Other than bodies, that level of the building was clear, no Strigoi. They went down again, further into the darkness of the building. Around them, plaster had fallen from the walls and ceiling, casting strange shadows on the walls. The ruined elevator's cage was bent and twisted; sharp metal bars protruded from it.

Twenty feet after the first door, Alwood was slammed into a wall. He slumped to the ground, unconscious or dead. An instant later, Dimitri saw the tall, pale Strigoi. Janine was on him in a flash, but he threw her back as well.

She didn't hit the wall, but stumbled to the ground. She recovered as two female Strigoi approached. Janine, Lawrence, and Violet went for the females. Dimitri and Luda fought the male Strigoi.

He was ancient and very, very fast. Dimitri dodged his attacks, kicking out when he could and spinning away when needed. He too was pushed backward, but he recovered quickly, trying to get back into the fight.

The ancient Strigoi was pursuing Luda, forcing her to back up. Luda wasn't fast enough to go on the offense against him, and she was quickly losing ground to maneuver.

"No!"

Startled, everyone, including the Strigoi, looked toward the voice. It was one of the female Strigoi. With a start, Dimitri recognized her as Yana, Luda's mother.

"She's mine," Yana snarled, slamming Guardian Violet Simms into the support beam. A sickening crack resounded when her head hit the metal.

Janine, taking advantage of the distraction, threw herself forward at the other female Strigoi. Janine and Guardian Lawrence fought that Strigoi, dodging her hands, legs, and fangs as best they could. The female Strigoi was fast, though not as fast as the male Strigoi. Janine was able to jam her stake into the female's back while the Strigoi was fighting Lawrence. The Strigoi screamed in pain and shock. Janine removed her stake and plunged it in again, straight into the monster's heart.

While Janine and Lawrence were fighting the one Strigoi, Dimitri found himself being passed by Luda's undead mother. Belatedly, Dimitri realized that Luda had frozen in her tracks, staring at the monster who had been her mother. Yana was still approaching, directing her fury at the male Strigoi.

The male Strigoi let out a chilling laugh before spinning toward Luda. He moved so quickly that Dimitri only saw a blur. The Strigoi had used Luda's freezing to his advantage and grabbed her. He bit into Luda's throat, drinking her blood as she struggled uselessly against him. Yana jumped on the male Strigoi, attempting to pull him away.

The male Strigoi released Luda, throwing her like a rag doll at the elevator cage. Hitting the twisted metal, she screamed.

Two more screams erupted one from Dimitri and the other from Yana. She began attacking the elder Strigoi in earnest, fueled by a hellish hatred. Dimitri used her distraction to run at the male Strigoi, staking him in the heart. He didn't hesitate to pull out his stake and spin, slamming it into Yana's heart. The two Strigoi fell to the ground, dead.

Shaking, he looked around, but saw no threats. He could see that Janine was on the radio while Lawrence checked on Simms and Alwood. Dimitri turned to Luda. His heart stopped.

Her eyes were open. For the moment, she was still alive. He knelt in front of her, one hand went to her face while the other found one of her hands. Her fingers were growing cold and limp.

"Hold on," he whispered.

She tried to speak, but merely rasped as blood trickled from her lips. He dared to look at her back. He saw the blood. She was impaled. Two metal rods were in her back, one likely in a lung.

"Don't die on me, please." He looked in her eyes and saw that she knew what was happening. She knew that she was dying. "I love you. Please stay with me."

He had never told her that he loved her. She had never said that she loved him. They couldn't love. They were guardians.

A tear trickled from her eye. She moved her lips, trying to say something. At last, she managed two words, filled with pain. "Love you."

Her eyes closed, but he could still hear her raspy breathing for several long moments. Eventually, he felt her hand relax while her gasping breaths stopped. After that, he felt nothing at all.

"Not all marks are badges of honor." – Dimitri to Rose, Frostbite, Ch. 4.

There were no more Strigoi in the building. There were, however, more bodies in the lower levels of the abandoned warehouse, along with two living Moroi children. The children were terrified and emaciated. After they were cleared medically, the children were welcomed to stay with the Szelskys until relatives could be found. Guardian John Alwood survived the attack, though he had several major injuries. Guardians Violet Simms and Ludmila Pavlova-Conta both died.

Dimitri worked with the teams as they cleared the building. Human bodies which could be identified were given to the Alchemists so that the police could close missing persons' reports, the rest were disposed of by the Alchemists along with the Strigoi. Moroi and dhampir bodies would be identified and returned to their families or buried in a Moroi and dhampir cemetery. As the Strigoi were destroyed, Dimitri stopped them from destroying Yana right away.

He looked at her, studying the woman he had killed. He remembered her from the time he was a young boy. Yana had made sweets for Dimitri and his sisters a few times, which they ate with Luda, Karina, and Alexandra. She had given him extras for being so good with all the girls. She had allowed Dimitri and his sisters to stay over when they were too frightened by their father to remain home. She had washed his bloody hands after he had beaten up his father. He looked at Luda's body, which was now lying on the ground. She was pale and bloody. The blood from the bite on her neck had stained her clothes and caked into her blonde hair. Why had her mother tried to protect her, even as a Strigoi?

"I want a container for this Strigoi's ashes," he said. Everyone in the room looked at him in shock. "She was her mother." He could feel the weight of his words sink in to everyone around him. Eventually, someone pressed a container into his hands. He watched as the Alchemist dissolved Yana's body. When she was dust, he scooped up some of the ashes into the container and sealed it. She would be buried with her daughter.

When Dimitri returned to the Szelsky mansion, he was met by Ivan, Karina, and Tasha. He could tell that they knew, but they were waiting for him to confirm or deny what they had heard. When he met Karina's eyes, she collapsed, only to be caught by Ivan.

They walked together to an out of the way room, where they all slumped onto chairs. "Yana was there," Dimitri said quietly.

Karina's eyes shot to him. "No." Yana had been her stepmother for fifteen years, the only mother Karina had known.

His hand went to the container in the pocket of his long leather coat. "She tried to protect Luda, but she wasn't fast enough. I wasn't fast enough." He squeezed his eyes shut, drawing in a shuddering breath. "Where would you like her to be buried?"

Karina let out a strangled sob. Dimitri looked at her as she shook in Ivan's arms. It was a long time before she pulled herself together. "Baia," she said eventually. "That was her home. My father needs to know, and Alexandra, and our younger brothers and sisters."

"I'll call them," Ivan said.

She curled against him for comfort and he pulled her close. "Thank you." They sat in silence for a long time. Eventually, she turned to Tasha. "Can you teach me to fight?"

Tasha looked at her in astonishment. "Yes, I can."

She nodded solemnly. She had calmed, giving her voice a flat quality. "I'll talk to you more when I get back to Canada. At the moment I need to plan my sister's funeral." Karina stood. Ivan moved to follow, but she shook her head. "I'll find you later. I'll be there when you call my family. Talk to Dimka, he needs you."

Tasha excused herself shortly after Karina left. Dimitri buried his face in his hands, resting his elbows on his knees. Ivan said nothing. His only action was to rest a hand on Dimitri's shoulder while both men cried in silence.

The next day, Dimitri and Janine were in one of the ballrooms with most of the guardians who were at the mansion. One at a time, they sat and received their molnija marks. For Janine it was one more mark among many. For Dimitri, they was his second and third marks. Afterward, they had a moment of remembrance for their fallen colleagues.

The following day, Dimitri, Ivan, and Karina, along with Brandon Allen and Jason Smirnov, who were Ivan and Karina's other guardians, boarded a train to Omsk. From Omsk, they drove to Baia. When they arrived, they settled into a home which belonged to Ivan's family, and prepared for Luda's service.

Guardian Ludmila Pavlova-Conta had been cremated. Her ashes, and those of her mother, would be interred in the cemetery which lay just beyond the borders of the village. Their names and the words "Eternal Service" would be etched upon the plaque where their ashes would rest.

Dimitri felt nothing throughout the service or during the memorial. His family was there, hugging him and offering him encouragement. He didn't really know what they said, but he was glad they were with him.

He only drank because Ivan forced the cup into his hands and ordered him to drink. When he started, he really didn't want to stop. He could still see the moment the Strigoi grabbed her. What if Dimitri had reacted faster? Could he have saved her life?

He drank, hoping that it would push away the memories of Luda. Yet every time he closed his eyes she was there, in one memory or another. Even the good memories twisted into the image of her bloody corpse.

The next morning's hangover made him promise to never, ever drink that much again.

"You will recover- I know that now, and I'm glad. But you aren't there. Not yet. Losing someone you care about is never easy." – Dimitri to Rose, Frostbite, Ch. 23.

Dimitri was practicing punches in the gym of Ivan's house when Ivan appeared. The memorial had been three days ago, and they would be going to another memorial with the Conta family soon. Ivan sat on a bench, his expression troubled.

"What's wrong?"

Ivan looked up, studying him with a wan smile. "I was thinking about how to tell Lord Conta that Karina and I are dating, which will totally ruin his plans for her to marry that Lazar."

"I think that is the least of his worries right now."

"You're right, of course. Did you know that the guardians have already picked out a replacement for her?" He stood, clenching his fists, voice shaking. "She was her sister! It's bad enough that you dhampirs are treated like machines, but Luda was her sister. And you..." He shook his head and took a few steps closer. Dimitri stepped back, not certain what exactly Ivan would do. "You loved each other."

Dimitri closed his eyes, trying to reign in his emotions. "We did."

"And yet, you both went off doing the guardian thing. We come first, right?" His voice dripped with venom.

Dimitri said nothing.

"If you ever fall in love again." Dimitri tried to protest, but Ivan spoke over him. "If you ever love anyone like that again, you keep her. You cherish her and love her."

"What about you?"

Ivan threw his hands up in disgust. "I don't care! I loved her too. I'm sleeping with her sister. I love you. I want to see you happy. If that means I have to hire her as some assistant just so that you will have a normal life, then that is what I'll do! I don't care about the system. I care about the people I love and their lives. We lost a friend, and that will take a long time to heal. But some day, if you fall in love again, you keep her."

He shook his head. "I can't." This time Dimitri spoke over Ivan's protests. "I don't think that I will ever love someone again. Losing her..." His voice cracked. "I don't know if it's possible to love that deeply more than once in a lifetime."

Ivan pulled Dimitri into a tight embrace. They both needed the support of a friend right then. They pulled apart after a while, trembling.

"Give it time, my friend." Ivan said. "Wounds hurt less in time, and some day, some day you'll find a woman who means more to you than anything else in this world."

Dimitri gave Ivan a tight smile, not believe for an instant that his words were true.

AN:

The next chapter is still rated M, and set in the present.

This was the third chapter I wrote. I really wanted to explore Dimitri's past. Hope you liked it!

Reasons I love this series...

Once upon 13 years ago, ironically for this chapter it was 2004, I went to Russia and volunteered at a summer camp. The camp was an hour-ish away from the city of Tyumen, in Siberia. I turned 17 there. My interpreter's name was Lyudmila, and she was called Luda. One of the campers was named Yana. They bear zero resemblance to the characters in this story, but I remember them fondly and was thinking of them as I was getting into this series again. (I am 100% hoping they are alive and well, unlike their namesakes in this chapter.)

So, I love this series because it reminds me of the people I met when I was in Russia.

Other reasons I love this series...

Lehigh University is local to me. My highschool graduation was held at Lehigh, and when our local school districts held a model UN, it was held at Lehigh (I participated twice). My friends and I who read the series as it came out were super excited by the Moroi court being relatively local. Eventually I plan to write a chapter where they take Sydney to one of the local car shows. Every summer there are two pretty big ones here for really old cars.

I've been to Montana twice, because my great-grandmother used to live in Anaconda, which is relatively close to Missoula.

I've been to the Corn Palace in South Dakota... I was 10, I don't remember much about it. They design the outside of the building with various colors of corn. Every year is a different design.

Relevant to Bloodlines- I've been to the Getty Villa and Palm Springs.