Hey thanks so much for the reviews, I love hearing from you all. I've hit a mean writers block at the moment, doing my best to get through it but don't worry too much, still got plenty of material to come :P enjoy.
Disclaimer: None of the Vampire Academy characters are mine, only my plot and Guardian Aden so far are mine

Chapter 14

I let Mark lead me back to Lissa. He pulled me gently through the house and into my bedroom; I sat on my bed and stared out the window until I felt and heard Lissa enter the room quietly.

She sat down in front of me, silent, waiting for me to talk.

"I think you should see if you can heal my scars." I whispered, afraid that if I spoke louder I would break the magic of this moment.

She stared into my eyes, making sure I was serious then nodded slowly. She grasped my hands and seized hold of the magic, allowing it to flow free and into me.

I felt the familiar sensation of being hot, cold and hot washed through me: I had closed my eyes and kept them closed, afraid to see if it had worked; terrified to see if it hadn't.

"Rose. Open your eyes." Lissa called gently and I did. Slowly.

I stared at my arms: my clear, smooth, tanned arms. I felt my neck with my hand and found it smooth. Gone. The scars were gone. I lifted my top to reveal smooth dark skin, and awesomely toned; and although my hip had a very faint line, only noticeable if one knew it was there, the rest of my stomach was clear. I traced the mark lightly with my fingers, strangely pleased it had remained. Lissa moved towards it, to heal it completely, but I stopped her.

"This scar is a reminder to forever stay cautious. Never over-estimate your skills and to treasure the life you have. This was my first and I had nearly died when I received it. Let me keep it."

Lissa nodded and placed her hands in mine.

"Do you want to try healing the darkness?" She asked after a moment.

"No," I answered, "You shouldn't do too much, and besides, I don't think it would work just yet. We have to reconnect first. Learn to trust one another again. Find that balance Oksana and Mark were talking about."

Lissa frowned, "But I do trust you,"

"But I don't trust myself" I replied, more honest that I would normally have been.

She continued to frown, but didn't attempt to persuade me otherwise.

"Okay but Oksana has taught me to charm objects, so I've charmed this for you to wear." She held out a plain silver ring and I slipped it onto my finger. I didn't feel any immediate difference, but then I was calm at the moment.

"So will you show me your stake?" Lissa queried, genuinely curious to see my stake of five years. Eddie had indeed kept it and finally given it back when I had promised not to immediately disappear once it was in my possession again.

I nodded and stood, moving away from the bed. I crossed the room and grabbed the stake from the dresser; the stake had been cleaned and now nearly sparkled in the faint light. I gave it to her and she inspected the handle.

"My God Rose there must be over a hundred marks carved here." She half-yelled.

"Two hundred and forty-eight to be exact."

She looked at me sharply, "You knew the exact number? Why not just tell me?"

"Would you have believed me?" I retorted, my tone slightly sharper than it needed to be.

"Oh. Good point." She looked back at the stake, an expression of awe on her face, and ran her fingers gently over the engraved edges. "That is an incredible number..."

I yawned slightly, feeling the day's events. Lissa quietly stood and placed the stake back on the dresser. She turned to me.

"Guess I had best let you sleep."

I felt an unreasonable pang of fear at her saying that and I awkwardly asked,

"Liss... would you... do you think... could you stay with me tonight?"

Lissa looked surprised but quickly agreed.

"Of course Rose." I felt her quiet understanding; she felt a similar need to be close as I had.

After changing I crawled into bed and Lissa joined me. I lay on my side facing away from her, staring at the wall.

"Does it bother you?" I whispered into the darkness after a long moment.

I felt Lissa roll towards me.

"Does what bother me?" She whispered back.

"That I have killed so much. And not just Strigoi." I was partially afraid of her answer and she didn't reply for some time.

"No, it doesn't. I know you only killed to save yourself and later because you were under the influence of my spirit darkness. I know you have changed Rose, but I believe that we can get back to how we had once been."

I felt tears in my eyes and a sob caught in my throat; my chest felt tight and my breathing was harsh.

"Rose, roll over." Lissa commanded in a stern voice and I obeyed. I rolled into her open arm and she held me tight as the tears boiled over.

I eventually fell asleep and thankfully my dreams were my own.

I woke up in Lissa's arms, my head resting on her shoulder, sensing she was still deep asleep I quietly climbed from bed as not to wake her. I tiptoed to the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror, shocked by the change.

My face was now softer, revitalised and kinder; it still held some of the old hardness and was weather-worn, but now it enforced my attractiveness instead of denting it. My eyes glowed with emotion and I noted the poor state of my hair, making a mental note to get it cut today. I also needed to go shopping as I changed into the same stolen work out gear I had been in yesterday and snuck from the house.

I jogged down the pathway, it was early enough that the sun was barely setting and I managed to enjoy some last minutes of natural light and heat before the Moroi day would begin.

I picked up the pace and decided to return to the gym for a decent workout.

It was empty except for... Guardian Aden. He was at the weights, pumping hard. He looked up at my entrance and immediately stopped to stand and approach me.

"Guardian Aden, you're up early." I greeted friendlily.

"As are you... Rose, I take it."

I raised an eyebrow, "How did you know that?"

"Lissa talks of you frequently and I had heard rumours of your return." He answered with a slight smile.

I looked up at him; I hadn't noticed before but he was rather attractive. Dark tamed hair cut short and well defined facial features. He looked to be mid-twenties and he had broad shoulders, a muscular frame and I felt an unfamiliar sensation stirring in my stomach. His eyes were a powerful green that caused a deepening in the stirring sensation in my stomach.
"I've heard rumours about you. Apparently you are quite the established fighter. How about a spar?"

I smiled and accepted; both stepping into a fighting stance we faced off. He made the first move, stepping forward to strike. I lashed out with amazing speed with a kick at his knee and was slightly surprised at being blocked. He was fast. I twisted out of his grasp and circled him cautiously. Again he attacked first and I blocked both blows, hitting him back. We exchanged blows until he got through my guard; briefly. He attempted an upper cut into my chin but I limboed back and avoided it, then turned and hit him cleanly in the jaw with my left fist; I completed the turn and struck him with my right elbow into his ribs. He staggered to the side and I used it, ducking down, I swept my foot out: knocking his feet out from under him. He fell heavily and I pounced, grabbing a hold of his arm and twisted it into a submission hold. He struggled furtively then tapped out.

I hopped up and he rolled over to sit up; I gave him a hand up.

"Well, some rumours are apparently true."

I smiled, "Ready for round two?" I still had energy to burn and he nodded eagerly.

I was used to his fighting style now and again I got him into a submission hold.

"Wow, I swear you just got better. How many molnija marks have you got?"

I hesitated, and then told him the truth. "Two."

He raised an eyebrow in obvious disbelieve; I turned and showed him.

"No promise mark? Well that explains why you're not Lissa's guardian." He smiled at me and I again felt that peculiar stirring in my stomach. He stood back into a defensive stance but I felt Lissa calling for me through the bond.

"Sorry, uh, Lissa needs me. Maybe we can do this another time?" I told him, slightly regretful; I didn't bother analysing that, just said bye and left.