Vulnerable

Chapter Fourteen

Rose's point of view

I had to keep my jaw from dropping as I inhaled deeply, trying to look as composed as I could. She was such a bitch. I didn't think it was possible to hate her more, but It definitely was.

"Aunt Tatiana," I heard Adrian speak up from the side. "I'm sorry for the disrespect but what gives you the right to ask her that?" his words were powerful and it sent a shiver down my spine.

Tatiana gave him a disapproving look that said, 'shut up.' "Or even better," she said, raising a brow. "What's going on with you and my great nephew?"

I swallowed, hard. "N-nothing, ma'am." I stammered. I really wanted to slap her right now; kill her; stake her, something.

Tatiana rolled her eyes. "Rosemarie, there is obviously something going on. My nephew doesn't stick up for non-royals without a reason to."

I opened my mouth to say something, but Adrian cut in. "This is a meeting for you to decide if she's got the skill to guard Lissa. Not an interrogation to pry into her personal life, Aunt. Stop."

I smiled inconspicuously at him and his eyes showed a faint smile of there own.

"Adrian," she warned.

"No Aunt, just make the decision so we can all leave." he said, cutting her off.

Tatiana sighed, but knew better then to start a fight. Especially in front of the other guardians and faculty. I knew however, I'd get it later, in one way, or another. "No, she's not fit to guard Vasilisa." She said, eyeing me, hard.

My jaw did drop then. "That's not-"

Alberta cut me off though and it was like I'd never said a word. "Can I have 3 good reasons why she is unable?" she said, eyeing Tatiana suspiciously.

Tatiana kept her cool to my surprise. "For one, she took Lissa from the Academy, putting her in danger."

"Hey, I've changed!" I said, outraged. Everyone ignored me.

"For two, I don't think your marks are high enough. And for three, I think you'd be more suited guarding someone like Jesse Zeloks."

I stood up then. "I am not guarding Jesse!"

"Are you refusing duty, Rosemarie?" she challenged.

I nodded. "You're certainly right."

She smirked, quirking a brow. "Well then, you're more then able to drop out and go out into the human world."

Headmistress Kirova sighed and put her hand up. "Enough!"

I looked to her and Alberta gave me a small nod, saying 'sit back down and shut up.' I did.

"I think Rosemarie's marks are stable and I also think that she's learned from her mistakes, Tatiana."

Tatiana nodded, "That may be so. But are you willing to take that chance?"

Kirova nodded. "I am, actually. I've got faith in her."

Alberta spoke up. "We lack female guardians. Talent like hers can't go to waste, Queen." she said gracefully. "She's a fighter. She's got that drive, that fire that will push her to protect Lissa no matter what."

I smiled softly. I was glad they thought that about me. Clearly, Tatiana still wasn't convinced. She'd never be. All because of my interest in Adrian, though, to be fair, he was interested in me as well. I wasn't just some cheap blood whore. I never would be.

Tatiana inhaled, deeply. "That is true."

"Exactly." Adrian spoke up before Tatiana could add the 'but.'

Her face was still hard, though, it didn't phase me. No way would I lose it in front of Tatiana, which she was trying to provoke. Bringing up Dimitri was lower then low and I think somewhere, deep down, she knew that. God, I missed him so much.

Stan jumped into the small argument, then. "With all respect, Queen, I think Rosemarie would be more then suitable to guard Vasilisa."

Kirova sighed, "Enough of this bickering. I think we should just take a vote. All in favour of Rosemarie guarding Vasilisa, raise their hands."

Surprisingly, the whole front table raised their hands... Except Tatiana. Yes, Tatiana had authority although, with the Headmistress and 2 best guardians on my side, she was definitely out numbered and out powered. She knew that and I could see the hatred toward me burning in her eyes. Old hag.

"Looks like the decision is pretty much unanimous." said Kirova.

Tatiana took a deep breath in. "That it is."

"So, ready to make the decision?"

Tatiana nodded. "I hereby declare Rosemarie Hathaway to guard Vasilisa Dragomir." I'd never heard such a loathing tone and she almost glared at me as she spoke the words.

I smirked. She knew I won and it killed her.

"Meeting adjourned."

--

"Rose!" Adrian yelled after me as I left the building.

I smiled as I heard his voice and when I turned around, he was only a couple feet away from me. I hugged him tightly and he hugged me back. "Thanks for covering my ass in there." I murmured to him as he chuckled.

"What are friends for?" Yeah, friends, that's what we were... right?

"Still, you didn't have to," I said, shrugging, pulling back. "But you did."

He shrugged.

"She doesn't like me, you know." I said when we were alone outside.

He nodded, sighing. "I know. But, she never liked anyone I brought to the palace."

Before I got a chance to respond, Lissa ran up to me, throwing her arms around me. "I'm sorry, Rose!"

I sighed and hugged her back, tightly. "What do you mean?"

"For not healing him..." she murmured softly, tightening her grasp on me.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Liss." I said, pulling back, smirking and winking.

Lissa smiled. "Thanks, Rose."

"No problem. Can you believe I'm your official guardian!?" I said, hugging her again.

"I know! It's... wow! It's unbelievable!"

Then I see Christian exit the building to, and walk over to us. "So, Ms. Guardian Hathaway, how's it feel?" he had a foolish smirk playing on his lips and I laughed to myself.

"Amazing... Better then amazing." I responded as he chuckled.

I took a deep breath in and smiled, leaning against the brick wall a couple feet away from Adrian.

"Rose," Alberta called out to me as she left the building.

I smiled when I seen her and went over, giving her a hug, though I knew it was extremely un-guardian-like. "Thank you, Alberta. So, so much." I said as she laughed, hugging me back.

"Of course. You're one of us, now, Rose. You've got a huge responsibility."

I nodded. "I know."

She pulled back, putting her hands on my shoulders, looking me in the eye. "He would be proud of you, you know."

She didn't have to say his name for me to know who she was reffering to. I nodded and gulped. "I just always pictured this day with him here... smiling proudly and giving me a big congratulatory hug when I was told Lissa would be the Moroi I'd guard... me being able to thank him for the being the reason this all happened." I felt tears sting my eyes and she nodded.

"I know, Rose. But he's looking down on you now, and he's wishing he could do all of those things, too." I nodded and looked down to my feet as she dropped her hands from my shoulders. "I know it's hard... I miss him too. We all do. He was definitely something special. And the fact that you two shared such a loving bond is wonderful... magical."

I took a deep breath in and nodded. "Yeah."

She smiled and then my mom came out behind her. I hadn't seen her on the panel, or anywhere by the doors, so I was confused.

"Mom..." I said, surprised.

She smiled and came over, pulling me into a hug. "I'm so proud of you, Rose."

I smiled softly. "I didn't see you in there."

Janine sighed. "I was more behind the scenes. If Tatiana knew I was there, I don't know what she would of done."

I nodded as we pulled back. Things had be rocky the last time we seen each other, but I seen her lean in for a minute.

"Dimitri would be proud."

--

A/N - well, I hope you like this chapter.

It didn't take me too long to write, but I got a new laptop, which really fooled me up. I had more then half written on our desktop, and I only switched the file over last night and finished it this afternoon.

If you review, you'll get a shout out in the next chapter!

The faster you review, the faster the next chapter will be out!

Review!

~DramaticField