Rose
Meeting Abe was one of the weirdest experiences of my life. He knew more about me than I knew of him. Had my story really reached Russia? Great I wanted to blend in but now wherever I go people are going to know me as the wrong alchemist. It wasn't the best way to be known. And maybe not everyone knows I mean Abe is a famous mobster boss, it's his job to know everything. He probably just got the information from the court. I went back to my room showered and changed for the day.
My wardrobe looked so…plain. I remembered what I said to Lissa about going to the mall together to buy new clothes. As a parting gift I found the alchemists had taken away all my money but left me five thousand. I was in desperate need of new clothes. I am going to be a guardian now and I don't think I will do such a good job protecting Moroi in a pencil skirt and blazer. Still I changed into a beige blouse and a rose pink skater skirt. No make up, I decided to take Dimitri's advice on that, but I still added my favourite lip-gloss. I was obsessed and there was no way I could part with it. Once I was ready I grabbed my books and slipped my feet into a pair of nude heels. I was also going to need to buy appropriate shoes when we go to the mall.
I walked into the dining hall where everyone was finishing breakfast. The smell of chocolate donuts hung in the air and made my mouth water. The moment I walked into the room I felt everyone's head turn to me; it was my first day all over again. Lissa sat with Natalie and a group of others and called me forward to her table. I joined them and they all continued to stare. I ignored it best I could but that all stopped when someone tapped me on the shoulder.
"Hey Rose, heard you got a little crazy last night," it was Jessie. Jessie had a reputation to be a party boy and a major player. He was one of the hottest guys here and I had seen him checking me out a few times but I wasn't interested. "If your up for a repeat, I'm free later," he said and winked.
"What are you talking about?" I asked confused. He just laughed.
"And I thought you were innocent. I was wrong, you're a bad girl" and with that he left without another word. I turned to Lissa.
"What was that about?" I asked.
"Well…remember what happened with Mia last night?" she asked. I nodded my head. "Well there's a rumour going around that you hooked up with Ralf."
"What!" I shouted outraged.
"I know it's not true. You weren't even at the party that long," she said. I was surprised she could remember considering how out of it she looked.
"What about Ralf and Mason. They must know it's a lie," I said.
"Mason has tried to convince people but Ralf is saying its true and that…" she said but paused.
"What. Tell me"
"He said you let him drink your blood." I was frozen. Drinking blood during sex was seen as one of the dirtiest acts for dhampir's and Moroi. It was a bloodwhore act and now the new school gossip featuring me. I stood up and took off before Lissa or anyone else could say anything. I didn't care about gossip, I could handle it and I knew I would just have to hold my head high and block out everyone around me.
I finished the day feeling miserable. All I wanted to do was sleep off al that had happened but of course had training with Dimitri. I came to the gym exactly on time, as usual, and found Dimitri with his nose stuck in one of his western books. As usual he was breath taking with his hair tied into a small ponytail. Strands were loose and framed his face in a way that made him look even better, if that were possible. I snapped myself out of my daydream and remembered he was my instructor.
"So, fifteen laps right?" I asked about to head out the door.
"Not today Rose," he said putting down his book and coming over to me.
"What do you mean?" I asked getting confused. By now I had managed to memorise his daily training routine with me, starting with fifteen years. He seemed like a person who didn't like things being changed so something serious must of happened.
"No practice tonight, I am taking you to see a guest." A guest? Who? "Follow me Rose," he said and I obeyed. His voice was strict and I knew he was my instructor not my friend right now.
We left the gym and walked over to a tree where someone was standing in the shade. As we approached I could make out some of her features. She had auburn curly hair chopped to shoulder length. Her skin was white but not as white as Moroi. All in all she looked like a descendant of queen Elizabeth the first. Finally we were close enough that we could talk.
"Rose, meet Janine Hathaway," said Dimitri. A gasp caught in my throat as he said that name. I knew who she was. Since being here all I had done was wonder if I was going to meet her. They had told me she was coming but I thought she would come later on. I felt stupid standing there staring at her. I couldn't see much resemblance. Her hair was auburn and curly, mine was dark brown, almost black and wavy. Her skin was white, mine had a soft tan that made me look exotic. Her eyes however were a perfect match. The deep brown that I considered one of my best features, was staring back at me almost like looking into my own soul.
"Mom?" I finally managed to say.
"Hello Rosemarie," she said confidently. She looked as professional as Dimitri and I could see her face was serious probably using her guardian mask. I know that if my daughter were standing before me for the first time in 16 years I would have to use a mask to cover my nervousness. I smiled and before I could stop myself, I leapt forward and hugged her. She smelled familiar to me. I expected her to wrap her arms around me and hug me back but she didn't. I let go of her and stepped back to give us space. She looked pissed for some reason but I didn't ask.
"I had wanted to meet you for a while" she said.
"I really wanted to meet my real mother and-" I started but she cut me off.
"I am very disappointed with how you have turned out," she said. I was stunned frozen.
"What?" I asked as it was the only word I could choke out.
"Look at you. Your too thin a strigoi would through you across the room before you could get close enough to stake them. You have no muscle on your arms or legs; they are like sticks and would snap from running too hard. Your hair too long it will get in your eyes or someone can use it as a way to capture you. You're too soft. You weak form being with the alchemists," She said.
"And whose fault is that!" I shouted. Through her little lecture I felt anger rising in me. I tried to keep it inside but that last sentence lit the match.
"What do you mean?" she asked raising one eyebrow.
"You're the one who left me to be with them. You left me and now you want to see me. If you kept me like a real mother would I wouldn't be in this mess. I wouldn't have to start all over again feeling like an outcast with nowhere to belong. If you had kept me I could have been here from the start trained and ready. And I am not weak. I may have not fought strigoi but I have been through hell." Once I had finished my speech I turned on my heel and ran back to gym. I had nothing else to say to her. I didn't let the tears come after all she may be my mother but she wasn't before and I had no feelings for her. I had to let my anger out one-way or another. I started punching and punching at the first punching bag I could see. I must have been focusing too hard because I had no idea Dimitri was behind until he spoke.
"Your hairs getting in the way again," he said. I continued punching.
"I'm not cutting it like her. My hair is mine and she can't tell me what to do. After all that's what a mother is supposed to do but she isn't my mother" I was so angry.
"You don't have to cut it," he said and he pulled me away from the punching bag. I sighed.
"All female guardians do. She said people could use my hair against me."
"They can, that's why you wear it up," he said his voice low with a hint of a Russian accent that made goosebumps appear on my arms
"I don't have to cut my hair?" I asked making sure I heard him right. His had come out and he run his fingers through my hair. He had a look in his eyes I had never seen before in his. Once his fingers reached the end. He looked me in the eyes and touched the loose strand that he had just brushed behind my ear. It felt so slow, almost as if time had frozen and we were stuck staring into each other's eyes. After a couple of seconds that moment was over and I knew it was nearly time for dinner.
"Rose try to get to know her. She is your mother after all," I sighed and nodded my head in agreement. And with that I turned on my heel and left.