Five
December 25, 1997
Rose
"I want my mama." Rose threw her gift across the room. The stuffed bear bounced off the wall, falling ungracefully to the floor. She glared angrily at Miss Wilson. "She promised."
Miss Wilson knelt so that she could look Rose in the eyes. "I know. Unfortunately, she can't come." She drew a deep breath. "Your mother was hurt by Strigoi. She's in a hospital, and will have to be there for some time."
Tears welled in Rose's eyes. "Why?"
"Why what sweetie?"
"Why they hurt her."
"Strigoi are evil. They hate everyone. Your mother is a great guardian, sworn to protect us from the Strigoi."
"And I'll be guardian too?"
"Yes little Rose, one day you will be a guardian, just like your mom. Do you want to write a card to her?"
Rose nodded. "I want mama better soon."
Janine
Moroi Hospital- St. Petersburg, Russia
"Glad to see you're still alive."
Focusing her eyes through the haze of pain and morphine Janine saw Mike Finn, her partner, standing at the foot of her hospital bed. She swallowed. Her mouth was cottony. Pain cut through her body like white-hot knives.
"How bad?" She rasped. The effort was excruciating.
"Three broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a few hairline fractures elsewhere. Overall, you're doing pretty well."
"You?"
"Bruises. Our charges are all fine."
She attempted to nod, but stopped as another shock of pain ripped through her. She moaned, which also hurt.
"Not so fast there. You'll be in the hospital for at least a month. Those monsters nearly killed you."
"Just the one. Hendrix?"
"Broken wrist and femur. He'll be on permanent Academy or archive duty when he recovers. The rest are fine."
"Strigoi?"
"Dead, none escaped. You got two. I got the one who downed you."
"Thanks."
He gave a wan smile. "Anytime partner. I'm just sad that you weren't able to see your daughter."
She closed her eyes, letting her tears be hidden.
"Go when you're medically cleared. You won't be back to full duty for a while."
"I will," she whispered. She opened her eyes, studying him. "I hate this."
He didn't speak, waiting for her to continue.
"I am barely a mother. The school is raising her. I miss her."
"You could resign."
"And do what? I'm a guardian. I have no other skills. I believe in our job. We can't let those monsters live."
"I don't know. I do know that you are doing your best. That's all any of us can do."
"What if I died? What would Rose think?"
"That you died a hero."
Janine closed her eyes again. What would be best for Rose? A mother who was a disgrace or one who was dead hero? The only choice she had was to keep fighting and live.
