I just want to thank MDiaz13 for your recent comment, I hope you had an amazing new year and I hope you will enjoy it, so thank you. Also this is going to be a short chapter, cause I was trying to update this, but for some reason it has been saying that I can't because of it not working, you know, but I can assure you that Chapter 21 will be a lot longer, I promise you, I Love you guy xxx
Dimitri POV
Hartleigh's story burned through me like a hot branding iron piercing my heart, I honestly did feel what she was feeling... Guilt... Sadness... Wishing could have done more for my best friend, but unfortunately I couldn't, but I couldn't compare to Hartleigh because I've never been in her shoes, she had a tragic past. After her she had calmed down and by the time it was my time to leave, she didn't let go of me, instead she clung onto me tightly, it was sad to see because of her revealing past, but she knew I had to go back to work sooner or later, eventually she did, but it took a bit more time as she still grieved about her parents.
~~~~A few hours ago~~~~
"Hey... I have to go now, but I promise I'll be back soon" Silence. Her head still resting on my chest and her fingers clutching onto my shirt really tightly as she refused to let go. Poor thing, she really did go through a bad time, didn't she?
"Hey... you know I'll come back, I have to don't I?" I joked, trying to lift the mood a little, but nothing was coming from her. But then I realised something, I forgot to tell her about her being moved today, maybe she'll lighten up a bit and fell better, though I know it won't be enough, I reckon she'll be happy to hear that she'll be away from this place and have a bit more room to rome around in.
"You know, I forgot to tell you something this morning"
"You did?..."her voice a bit croaky from crying, Finally an answer, I was really starting to become worried on whether she would even respond to this.
"Yeah, do you want to hear it? I think you might like it" Slowly she lifted her head up and looked up at me with those big red eye, almost like a puppy looking up at you with curiosity.
"Okay" She said quietly, her expression wasn't as bright, but still almost sad, maybe moving her will be will at least brighten her mood.
"You're not going to be in here any longer as were moving you to a new location, how does that sound?"
"That sounds good" She smiled a little, I gave her a small, soft smile back.
"We'll be leaving today, hopefully when the students go to bed"
"That's fine"
"It'll be day time, but don't worry, I have something to keep you safe from the sun"
"It's not sunscreen is it?" She said, in an attempt to joke, I chuckled.
"No, it's not"
"Fair enough, I suppose"You could tell she was trying to make a joke to make herself feel better, but I knew that she would only be making herself worse by doing so. I know this because of Rose, because of how she felt when she lost her best friend, Mason, and when I lost mine. She shouldn't try to be happy for others but for herself. I continue to stroke her hair as I knew she probably wouldn't let me go anytime soon, we stayed quiet for another few minutes, until she spoke.
"I'm sorry"She said suddenly, what is she sorry about? About earlier? Has has no need to be sorry about that, as I felt her pain.
"What for?"
"For over reacting about the slightest things, about earlier even"
"You don't need to be sorry for anything, we all have our moments" She sniffled, like she was about to cry again, but she didn't, instead she whiped her eyes and sat up straight on my lap and looked up at me with still a hint of sadness and sorry in her eyes.
"You... You said you lost someone... A friend, who was he?" I'm glad she mention this, because it might make her feel like she's not alone in losing someone that she cared about, thought she's lost more then one, it's good to let others know their not alone in situation like these, it makes everything understandable.
"My best friend, Ivan, he was killed by Strogoi some years past. Unfortunately I was on my break when this happened, so I suffered as much grief as yo did when you lost your parents" She looked really sad again, but nodded her head in understanding.
"I'm sorry" She expressed with sorrow. I shook my head and gave her a slight smile.
"Don't be, to be honest though I know grieving won't bring the ones we love back, we have to still stay strong for them. No matter what" I encouraged. A small smile started to form on her face and she nodded her head.
"You're right, it won't bring them back, but I guess I have to stay strong, whether anything happens or not"
"Whether anything happens or not, there is no guessing. You WILL be strong, there is no denying that you won't"
"You think?" She asked me, with a look of wary on her face, almost as if she was unsure of herself trying to keep strong, but I know she will, she has been so far, until earlier that is, but at least she opened up about everything that she's been fighting for.
"I don't think, I know" Her smile grew softly.
"What are you family like? The ones who live In Russia I mean" She asked me.
"They're the kindest people you'll ever meet, my mother, she'll treat you like family once you enter her home, my sisters wil too, they all insist on it once you show your respect"
"Do you have any brothers?"
"No, but I have a nephew, his names Paul, we're both the only boys in our family"
"Wow, sounds like such a bummer"
"It is, torturous too" they vague memories of my sisters always bickering about things with me and growing with them terrorising me and other things, it wasn't the greatest childhood of being the only boy, but I love my sisters no matter what, even if they did make me go insane.
"I wish I had siblings, but from your point of view, I can imagine that growing up with them wasn't exactly something you enjoyed"
"No, but you'll love them"
"Sounds like you have a good family, but what about your dad? Does he play a part with you and Paul? I mean seeing as you boys can't be ones, right?" I started to feel uncomfortable, now she mentioned the man who had been absent for almost my life and the bad things he had done to my mother. He had no right to be talked about in this situation, nor had he deserve the right to be named 'father' and... I didn't really want to talk about him in front of a twelve year old girl, I didn't want to make her feel bad knowing that there was someone else who had a tough life like hers and I didn't want her to show me sympathy about it either, she was still young and needed sympathy herself.
"My father... Isn't a part of my life anymore" I smiled trying to contain my anger of telling the truth of what I had done to my father from what he had done to my mother, Hartleigh was too young to understand and I doubt she'll want to know the truth about him.
"Did I upset you?" She asked me, looking almost upset her self when she asked me.
"No, no, no, no" I said quickly.
"It's just that, my father wasn't a good person and there is a tradition that Moroi fathers leave to be with Moroi women, that's all I can say" I smiled in reassurance, she nodded her head in understanding. She then suddenly wrapped her arms around my neck and embraced me in a hug. I did not react at first, I was stunned, frozen in place, My guardian insticts were kicking in , telling me to push her off me, but I didn't. But then I suddenly found myself wrapping my arms around her as I felt comfurt in all of this.
"Thank you, Dimitri" She whispered quietly, a smile emerged on my face, I felt a surge of happiness shoot through me as my encouregment to help Her seemed to be paying off after many years of her seemed trust issues and I was glad I could help, even if she would have told me she didn't need it. I was grateful.
"You're Welcome"
~~~~Present~~~~
I was due to see Hartleigh within the next forty minutes or so for her lunch, but before I was to leave I needed to see Lee about something and I hope it's something he can help me with and at least, hopefully, something I can use to help Hartleigh as well, though I know that her parents are gone, I can only assume that maybe she might have more family that may be still alive.
As I train my student for their usual training, punching dummies, doing wieghts, sparring with each other, I saw Lee walk into the class room, walking towards me, I hope it's about my message I had sent him earlier and not about Kirova, as I know she is meant to send me my new timetable soon and to give me more information about the cabin.
"Lee" I greet him, he waves his hand and responds.
"Hey Belikov, saw that you wanted me, so what's it you want? Might want to make it quick though, because I have to get Hartleigh's lunch for you to then come and get"
"I want you to do some quick research, on someone, when you have some free time"
" Really, What kind? And on who?" Praise the lords if he helps me with this.
"I want you to look up Hartliegh's backstory, where she's from, if she has any remaining family left, any medical history, mainly birth certificate, any sort of identification, anything like that I need you to look up in your spare time" Yes I know I shouldn't rumage through Hartleigh's life, but I do need to know these things so that I can be wary of her more and hopefully help her.
"Of course, not that I want to but hey it gives me something to do, Wait what?!" He almost shouted, which was nearly loud enough for the whole class to hear, but luckily they didn't and he sounded shocked when I started to mention this, but hopefully he'll understand.
"You heard me" I uttered. Lee stared at me in shock
"Why? C-can't you do it yourself?" He almost stuttered, like he didn't want to do this, but all I was asking was a simple favour for his spare time and nothing more.
"I would but I am unfortunately busy, so please do you think you can?" I advised, he took in a deep breath and sighed.
"Yeah sure, okay, but why do you need this information?"
"It's complicated really, but basically I want to know if she has anymore remaining family, that all I can say for now"
"Yeah sure, I can look up some things, when do you need them by?"
"When ever really, but make it soon"
"Sure thing boss, need a full name on her though"
"I only have a date of birth, it's November the 5th, 1991, I think?"
"Okay, I can try and dig into it and see what I can find, I'm sure I can find something for ya"
"Thank you and get some books"
"Beg pardon?"
"Some teen fiction books for Hartleigh, she likes to read and I'd figure it will give her something to do while we wait for Kirova to inform us about the council" I was still waiting to hear about what was going to happen about all of this, about Hartleigh. I remember Kirova still saying that she would like to see Hartleigh soon, I am unsure when, but I can imagine it would be soon so that she can give evidence to the council. I strongly am starting to disagree with the fact of having the council being involved, it should have waited, now I am literally starting to get worried on how much time I have left before Hartleigh is deemed executed or experimented on. No one knows better then knowing the council then the royal families, the people involved with the council and the Headmistress.
"Got it, anything else?"
"No, you can go now"
"I'll see you soon, Belikov" And with that he walked off to continue to do his thing. It felt wrong doing this, I won't lie, but in the end I know she won't tell me more about her family life, because she's scared of being hurt and that's probably why she won't open up more and maybe I can help her along with others who are willing to help her too, even if she is different to them. Finding out all this information can help me and others understand her, even if things turn out for the worst.
I just hope Hartleigh forgives me if she ever does find out about this.