"Old habits die hard, don't they Dimitri?" Max said and Dimitri stiffened.

Old habits? I smiled awkwardly.

"What do you mean Max?" I asked him seriously and Dimitri coughed.

"Just that Dimitri has a thing for girls in compromising places or ages"

"Max that's enough" Dimitri said and anger filled his face.

I walked in frond of Dimitri and pushed him back.

"Stop it" I said glaring him. Max started laughing and I pushed him too. "You too Max or help me God!" I warned him.

Max raised his hands surrendering. He glanced at Dimitri one last time before he turned and walked out of the gym.

"Rose" Tom said touching my hand. "Max didn't meant it. You now he is a hot head." I nodded and smiled a little.

"I'll see you in while" I told him and turned back to Dimitri who was still glaring at the door.

The moment Tom was out the whole pissed off Russian bad ass facade ended. He looked pained and regretful so I waited for him to tell me what the heck was Max meaning.

"Roza"

"Stop!" I cut him off "Don't sweet talk to me to save your ass Comrade. I want the truth. It's not like I don't have a past!"

"You're right. I'm sorry." he said "Max was right. I have a 'thing' for women in strange situations. So it seems." he offered me a chair and we both sat down. "Well I was finishing the academy when I met Sasha. She was a year younger than me and Moroi. A Royal Moroi." he paused.

"Go on"

"When I graduated she told me that she would ask me to be her Guardian so that we could have a friends with benefits relationship. I went to the Court and they put me there because Sasha had ask for me. The year I was in Court I met Ivan Zecklos. He had heard about me and wanted me to be his Guardian. I told him about Sasha and he went to meet her so they could arrange things. Turns out they fall in love and get married. I didn't mind really. Sasha was just a girl and Ivan turned to be my best friend. Sasha did mind though. She kept coming at me until the day I asked Ivan to give me a week off. I was off when the Strigoi killed them. I still blame myself for that" he paused again but this time I let him take his time and sat there looking at him quietly. Finally he composed himself and started again. "I went back to Russia for a while to cool off. Tasha was visiting some friends"

"Wait a minute" I stopped him "Tasha? Like Tasha Ozera?" I asked staring with wide eyes.

"Yeah she is a family friend." he said defending himself but he talked to quick. "Rose I was broken and Tasha was there and she always liked me but we did nothing I swear. I never touched her."

"I can't believe that!" I turned my head so I wouldn't look at his face. "Makes sense now. Tasha is 7 years older and I'm 7 younger. Good for you Dimitri." I stood but Dimitri was in frond of me.

"Roza" he said I took hold of my hand. "Why don't you trust me?" he asked his Russian accent heavier than ever before.

"Trust is something that you gain Dimitri not something you make up!" he passed his free hand through his hair.

"Then stay and listen to me Rose" he said a little louder. He shook his head frustrated. "Tasha was the one who told me about 's academy and how they wanted extra Guardians. She said it was going to be good for me and take my mind off things but we never really were together. Please trust me!" he begged taking hold of my other hand too bringing it to his lips. "My Roza...please..."

"I need time to think"

"Of course but please..." I nodded my head and went to meet with Max and Tom.

I saw them before they did. Max was currently checking a Dhampir novice's ass and Tom was smiling to a Moroi student. How did I managed to survive the training with them untouched...i walked right to the frond and put my hands on my hips glaring Max.

"You are an asshole!" I told him waiting.

"Rose I'm gonna say I'm sorry. We care for you and.."

"Don't bring me on this one, you started it." Tom said to Max and then turned to me "though I do care about you too."

"You have a twisted way of showing it" I told them and started to ran to my classes. "I'll see you after class." they nodded their heads and waved me off.

I entered the class and I saw that everyone was there. Nice. I walked to the chair as quietly as I could and noticed Dimitri on the wall. I gave him a small smile.

"So Miss Hathaway is it there a reason for your slowness?" Alto asked.

"Errmm...i like to be fashionably late?" I asked and made the class erupt in laughs.

"Stop it!" Alto screamed and the class fell silent again. "Miss Hathaway..don't be late again. Ever!" I nodded and stay silent till the end of the classes.

I haven't see Lissa at all all day but I had other things in mind. Th bond informed me she was fine so I continued my day. After the classes I went o met with Max and Tom at the cafeteria. I soon as I sat with them someone called.

"Rose" I turned to see Mason coming over with a tray on his hands. "I kept some for you" he said showing me on the tray. There were 3 chocolate donuts on it and what it seemed like hot chocolate. "I came here last but I managed to steal some for you seeing you weren't here." he seemed to notice that we were not alone when Max cleared his throat -does he really want to annoy me that much? Mason turned a not so nice shade of red.

"Mason these are my former mentors Guardian Presal and Guardian Bones." I introduced them.

"Bones like Tom Bones the one who saved the Voda baby from the fire chased by four Strigoi?" Eddie asked coming from behind us. Tom smiled.

"Yes." he scratched the back of his head. "I did save the baby but the Strigoi were six and I have this scar to remind me the rule." he paused and lifted his shirt to show them the scar that nearly cost his life. The scar started from his naval and went to his back following the line to his shoulder. "I had secured the baby's safety and I was ready to stake the first Strigoi but I didn't." he paused. "The Strigoi was a dear friend of mine before he was turned and I was young" he let his shirt fall back to its place. "Don't hesitate! That's the rule that will save you lives and.."

"Run" I added smiling to my old mentor. Ok I see why me and Tom were close but I can't say the same about Max.

"That's right." Tom said with an approving smile to me.

"Blah, blah, blah," Max said like we were wasting his precious time. "Running might save Rose that runs like a bullet but you guys should fight" he told Eddie and Mason. "Most of the times you can't just run." it was his turn to show the battle scars. People started to gather around. Not just novices and students but Guardians and Teachers as well. Max lifted his shirt showing them the bites on his back. The bites had disfigured his back so bad that some girls turned to look away. "I tried to ran. I wasn't that fast but I tried having in mind that the Strigoi chasing me wouldn't do anything in public. The moment I exited the mall with my charge we saw them. Two Strigoi waiting and one was behind us. I fought them off staking two of them and I had my Moroi run. I was about to turn and fight the other Strigoi but he was faster. I could feel the bites on my back and his claws tearing through my flesh but I couldn't defend myself. The only thing I had in mind was my charge Annabelle. She had managed to get away but would she managed to find a place to hide until the Strigoi finished me off? I could feel my powers draining and the dizziness of the bite was taking me over. Then I felt the Strigoi on top of me." he looked at Tom.

"I was there" Tom said. "Annabelle found me and told me to run and help her Guardian which I did." he paused and then turned to look someone behind us.

"I'm pretty convincing thank you" a Moroi around 25 was standing there looking at Max's scars.

Her face was full of sorrow and regret. Max lowered his shirt and looked at her. Her skin was pale like all Morois but what made her stood up where her blond her and jade green eyes. It remind me of Lissa's but since Lissa was the last of the Daragomirs she must be a Dashkov. She turned and looked at me.

"You must be Rose" she said smiling. "I've heard so much about you!"

I gave her a full smile and then turned to the crowd and dismissed them. I thanked Mason for the donuts and told him we will talk in class. Annabelle seemed amused with something that Max said but I didn't hear.

"Nice to meet you" I told Annabelle and shook her hand. I felt a familiar energy through her touch and I instantly knew why I hadn't heard whatever Max said. "You are a Spirit user" I said and turned to Max. "You died in that battle didn't you?" I asked him lowering my voice.

"How do yo..." Annabelle started to ask but then she did that thing Adrian does to read auras. "You're shadow kissed" she turned to Max "There are more." she was smiling like a crazy person and I knew it must be a side effect of spirit.

"Two more here" I told her smiling too.

"Two?" she asked "Really? Where are they?" she looked at me waiting.

I closed my eyes and focused on Lissa. They seemed to be with Adrian but it was kind of blurry. Lissa was looking at Avery laughing. Avery looked at Lissa and I felt a little sting like someone was blocking me. I knew it wasn't Lissa or Adrian but who? 'Get out bitch' Avery's voice came screaming to my ears and I was out. I shook my head and saw Annabelle widening her eyes.

"You said too but I sensed three there" she told me.

"So did I" I said and we all ran to the guest housing where Adrian lived.

The windows were open and I could see the small figure of Lissa standing there.

"No" I screamed and I saw Avery's head coming out as well.

'You're so annoying' Avery's voice sounded again and I went blank like someone erased the picture.

"I can't see" I screamed shaking my head. I felt Annabelle's touch and soon I could see again. "We have to get it" I told them and ran to the stairs. There we saw Simon and Reed behind him.

"A Guardian?" Max asked confused.

Simon didn't waste any time attacking us. I saw Reed behind him running to the room. I knew I had to get there but I couldn't pass trough Simon.

"Rose come with me" Annabelle said to me and we exited the building. "You and the blond girl have a bond right? So we should try help her take control of her body!"

"How?" I asked frustrated by the simplicity of her plan. "she can't hear me!" that confused her but shook it off for now.

"I will help. Just reach her and get ready to fight." she instructed me and I was in!

so Avery already made her move...a Dashkov appears...what are your thoughts? give me five reviews and i'll post again tomorrow...