The majority voted for DPOV. So, DPOV it is!

And like I had said before—I know that sensei is a Japanese term. The Mandarin is xiangsheng and I don't think I like to use that. Yeah, I just don't like to use that. I have a note; if any of you have been offended by my jokes or some of my curses, I am so sorry about it. Someone had reviewed me to stop writing "cowering like a gay" because it's disrespect to the homophobic. So… I'm sorry about it. Forgive me?

And a recap for the people who didn't know what the locket thing was all about. Remember my eleventh chapter? Pre Summer Invite? Yeah, if you read it carefully, you'll know why Dimitri was so weird about Rose's locket. Alberta gave Dimitri some kind of special "assignment" at that chapter. She showed Dimitri a locket with a label. If you wanna know what the label was, read the chapter again. It's italicized, hard to miss.

If y'all got more questions, please do put them in a review.

Chapter Nineteen

A Lengthy DPOV

I couldn't believe it. The girl that has been haunting my dreams was in front of me… half-naked. But somewhere at the back of my head, I knew that this was just a dream. A dream that I had been replaying many times this day. Or night.

"Belikov," I heard someone call my name. I met Guardian Sterling's silvery-grey gaze. "Can you check the dhampir dorms? I caught some novices sneaking out of one Moroi room just a while ago."

Guardian Sterling was one of the Moroi worshipers. He acted like a robot all the time. A robot set only to protect Moroi. Once he had lectured me about how Moroi were important to us dhampirs. He had said that our life (or his only) only consisted of one goal. And that goal is to protect Moroi not only from Strigoi but everything—charge or not.

You must have thought why he was in an academy instead of getting his own charge. It happened this way—he got his Moroi. He was not royal or anything special but just plain old Moroi. His Moroi didn't survive for even two months when he was the guardian. Sometimes I just understand why he was like that. If he was a better guardian than he was now, I would have understood him all the time. I know that it wasn't moral to blame him for his charge's death, but I feel obligated to. He wasn't a really good guardian.

But despite all my thoughts about him inside my head, I only nodded at him and walked off to check the novices' dorm. I checked the woods if there were novices sneaking around and I this feeling at the back of my head that I was expecting someone. Someone who had been dancing inside my room—dammit Belikov! She's your student for Christ sake!

I momentarily closed my eyes and pressed my fingers on my temple to let out the memory—or the thoughts at the least. I knew full well that that was impossible to do, so I started walking again. This time, I had an eerie feeling. I quickened my pace and what do you know? I found the matron asleep. It was unusual and suspecting for matrons at these times to be drowsy. The matrons' shifts just changed not an hour ago which means she's supposed to be fresh from the bed.

I plucked away the book on her face and put it on the table. That's when I noticed a handkerchief. It wasn't wet but the smell was rotten—making me slightly tipsy. And then just beside where I put the book was a bottle of spilled chloroform. It hadn't dissolved so much yet so that meant it hadn't been there for long.

With a slightly fogged up mind added with building anger, I ran from hallway to hallway—trying to see if anyone had invaded some rooms or escaped. When I reached the second floor, I saw Rose. She looked sleepy and slightly confused.

I was about to say her name and ask her what was she doing out of her room at this time but stopped myself. "Miss Hathaway, is something wrong?"

"Er…" she hesitated and grimaced. "—somebody inhabits my bathroom, Guardian Belikov. It's not okay. It's—a completely atrocious for them to…" she stopped and made a wild gesture with her hands, and wrung them again and again. "Can you, just, get rid of them for me?"

At her information, my anger flared up. I knew I had no right to be, but… hell, those people who were probably inside Rose's bathroom were the one who knocked out the dorm matron. It just wasn't what Rose said that made me angrier; it was because I had a hunch at who those people were. And the chloroform I had inhaled didn't help me to calm down. I must've looked scary because Rose looked a little shocked.

I ignored her expression—the anger was taking its toll—and I practically flew to Rose's bathroom, not hesitating on opening it. My guess was confirmed when I saw two blonde girls pouring pink liquid on one bottle.

They heard me get in and they looked back before shrieking. Shrieks were natural to girls—I know, I had grown used to them considering I lived with my sisters most of the time—but the sound of them didn't make me feel any better.

"Excuse me, ladies, the matron was found unconscious downstairs and someone—whom also owns this room—reported that somebody had snuck into her room without any permission." I was a little surprised at how loud and scary my voice sounded, but I didn't care. These girls deserved a punishment and my face and lecture wasn't enough for them.

Despite my warring emotions, I stayed calm outside. The girls, I noticed, were one of the Conta twins (I don't know which one was) and the infamous Katrina Lesdaux. Both of them looked frightened. Even the fearless Lesdaux looked like she was about to wet herself.

I almost felt sorry for them.

Well, that was gone after I saw something dawn inside Katrina's eyes. She looked at me with persuasive amber eyes. "We can explain, Guardian Belikov."

"Save your explanation for the Headmistress." I snapped and they looked more troubled than before. I knew what they were thinking. They Headmistress was known for her intense dislike to people who didn't follow the rules. Moroi or not, she looked at them the same.

I swiftly escorted them out of Rose's bathroom.

"But that's unfair!" Katrina screamed immediately, and did things that I didn't know that girls did.

I could almost sense Rose's humor at this.

"We shall discuss that arbitrary with the Headmistress." I said coolly despite my wanting to slap the girl to stop her from being hysterical.

Kathy looked at Rose and pointed a finger at her in a way that was making my anger flare more. "You," I wasn't too surprised at how acerbic her voice sounded. Rose looked like she did, though. "This is your entire fault." Katrina growled.

"This is none of her fault, Lesdaux." I told her, the warning in my voice not concealed. I didn't think about what Sterling would do if he heard me say this to a Moroi. I just didn't care. The fog on my mind was still there—I probably inhaled more chloroform than I had known because I was a little reckless on what I was doing.

Lesdaux gaped at me in a manner that was disrespectful to elders. Even though I was a guardian—hired to protect Moroi—I think I could kill one right now.

"What did you call me?" she hissed and glared at me with hard eyes. I wanted to poke those eyes until they pop out of their sockets.

"Lesdaux, as far as a guardian is concerned, we do not have an obligation to call you anything but your name or last name." I told her. That was the truth, her parents' status weren't any more important than a dish rag in the Moroi community.

"You do not have the right to say that to me!" Lesdaux screamed in front of my face. That almost did it, but I held onto calmness. Taking in Rose's presence and her optimistic attitude.

"Come on, Kathy, I already have insomnia. Could you do worse things than try to wake me up?" Rose asked and she sounded more tired than before. I looked at her and I could see dark circles under beautiful dark eyes.

She glared at Rose. "You," she pointed at Rose again. It was hard not to acknowledge the part of me that wanted to break her fingers. If not, her whole wrist. "You were not here when I got in."

Rose looked a little more awake at this. Her eyes flashed with defense. "Uh, if you haven't been too blind and excited, I was there—" she pointed at the open window in her room. "—sitting and reading Kierkegaard." And then she pointed at a copy of The Book on Alder on a chair.

Lesdaux didn't back down, though. She held her chin high and did something that I never think or want to see.

She spat literally at Rose. It landed on her collar bone and Rose didn't move—which surprised me. She just stared with Katrina, disbelief etched all over her face. I, too, was frozen shocked.

But half a second later, she responded. She slapped Katrina across her face. The sound of her palm hitting Katrina's face was so sharp, it made me flinch. And Rose, looking a little smug, pulled Katrina's long blonde hair… wig.

I never thought I'd seen anything so ugly before. Katrina's hair…

I unconsciously heard a scream before I went into action. Katrina was about to pull Rose's hair too. I didn't want to let her touch Rose's beautiful hair so I acted without thinking. Did I say that I inhaled chloroform? Yes, I did. Maybe this was one reason I did what I did, but other than that, I felt dignified. I was still angry at the girl… she has been trouble for years.

I put her into a headlock, my arms squeezing at her neck tightly that she coughed.

Everything happened so fast that I didn't even know that it happened in true life. I had never put a girl in a headlock before. Well, maybe except for guardians but I rarely do them now. Even with Rose's trainings, I still don't do that.

Katrina thrashed in my arms and I didn't have a choice but to look help for Rose. I signaled for her to do the paralysis technique she has been doing since her first day of school. I was glad that she understood directly. I didn't know where she got her pin, but I didn't care. Katrina stopped moving.

We heard a scream and we looked up to see the Conta girl. She looked horrified and very frightened.

"If you don't keep your mouth shut, I'm gonna have to bash your spine like what I did to Kathy's." Rose warned, but I was sure she was half-joking. Only half-joking because I was sure that she could bash anyone's spine at any time.

I called one of the most indifferent guardians on campus as I supported Katrina's still form. I guess I should admit that I felt disgusted that I was touching the girl that I had attempted several crimes in the academy. And the school "slut" too.

Just seconds later, the guardian I called arrived, impassive as always.

"What happened?" he asked me.

I grunted. "Got inside in other novice's room." I replied tersely.

He shook his head and took the paralyzed Katrina away from me. I felt more than a little thankful at that.

"Kirova?" he asked over his shoulder.

I nodded and held a hand to the frightened Conta. She hesitated; looking at my hand like it was a venomous cobra, and then shakily took it. She glanced quickly at Rose then went with me.

Before I could get out, I told Rose, "Get some sleep Rose. We're travelling to court today." I was a little concerned, she had insomnia? I was sure she was joking but the look on her face didn't make me feel assured.

"Sure," she called over her shoulder and closed her door.

When we got into the Headmistress' room (she wasn't at her office), I took off the pin on Katrina's neck. She still didn't move but I wasn't stupid enough not to know that what Rose did took time to wear off. The Headmistress opened her door, took one look at the girls, and then ushered us inside. She let me explain what happened and then after that, she told us to go back to our watch because she'll handle the girls herself.

*An hour before jets take off*

"Guardian Belikov," Alberta called to me from the door of the conference room. "One minute?"

I nodded and followed her to the glass patio. She didn't waste time—she retrieved a brown envelope from the vault at the corner of the room and handed it to me.

"The Queen isn't as patient as she says she is." was all she said before patting the envelope on my hand and nodded, indicating I was good to go.

*At the jet*

I was one of the guardians assigned to check in on royal Moroi. I tried my best to hide the disgust off my face at the mention of Moroi. My inference to Moroi now were a little different than before. I knew that Katrina was not in the royal section, but still.

As soon as I got inside the section, I scanned my eyes around the room, not really looking at something in particular. My gaze landed on Rose… why was she here? That wasn't really a surprise, Rose could get anything she wants—and when I mean anything, it is anything. I passed by their line of seats and I saw Christian Ozera. He was looking—er, leering at me. I could see that everybody was holding their breaths and it wasn't long until they laughed. Ah, I finally got it. I really thought that Christian was serious about… having an interest on me.

I shot the novices a speculative look and walked off, ducking my head a little.

"Love-struck people," I heard Rose say and I couldn't hear her anymore.

I chose the rear of the section to guard because it was the farthest place from the Moroi. I could still see Rose from here in my place, though. That was the second reason I chose to sit here. I knew that it sounded like what a stalker might do, but I can assure you, I am not into stalking.

You're just a pedophile, I accused myself. It hurt me a little to think that that accusation was true. I didn't want to acknowledge it, but there was just one part of Rose that makes me lose control. I didn't want to be aware that I was growing fond of her. Not just any fond, but fond fond. Like attraction, affection, you name it. Hell, it just wasn't one part of Rose that got to me. Every part of her made me want to lose control. Makes me say, "Screw the academy's rules," even though I didn't curse in English.

I could see now what Rose was wearing. It was a black female military coat and it fit her like a glove. Practically second skin. I wonder how it feels—dammit Belikov! Shut the hell up, would you?!

I focused my attention to other things. But not for long. I saw a flash of movement at Rose's direction.

Miss Rinaldi was there, glaring at Rose, and held up a magazine to smash it on Rose's face. I was about to jump in on them when I saw Rose's eyes open and she took the magazine smoothly away from Miss Rinaldi's grasp. I was kind of amused. The girl had reflexes faster than a cat's, Belikov, I told myself. She doesn't need any rescuing from anything.

I looked at Rose and Mia bicker a little then Rose stood up, standing tall with her—I couldn't help but note—very sexy heels.

Damn, did I just say sexy?

She nodded when she passed by me and it was enough to whiff her scent in my direction. As usual, she smelled fresh and the same—not that I minded but I liked how she smelled. She smelled like roses and orange blossoms and everything fresh.

I just stood there outside the rest room's door where she was and it felt awkward. I decided to move away from my spot but the jet jumped violently—it was natural. I heard a loud thump inside the door.

"Holy mother-fornicating poop." I heard from the other side of the door. It was Rose. I chuckled, amused.

Seconds later, another string of curse words came out from her mouth and I should say, it wasn't pretty.

I walked to the door and knocked at her door. "Rose, are you alright?" I asked, sounding a little concerned.

"No, I'm not," she grunted.

My face scrunched up. "What's wrong?" When she didn't answer, I asked, "Do you need help in there?"

The rest room's door opened and she pulled me inside, without effort.

"Yes, I need your help." she told me and held out her hands, looking pointedly at her sleeves.

"Oh," I gently pulled on the sleeves but when it didn't move an inch, I pulled a little harder. This time, the jacket's sleeve moved a little. I held her arm at bay while I pulled on her sleeve. I noted at how my body heated at my skin contact with her.

When I finally pried off the first sleeve, I looked up at her and asked, "Where'd you get this coat?"

"From my sensei."

"It's very… tight." I told her and that was the truth.

"Sorry. I hope it's not too small for you to take off." she told me, and I got the feeling that she was joking around. "You never got this verbal before."

I cocked my head to one side and proceeded to pull the sleeve out of her arm. It took more time for me to pull this one sleeve off but eventually, I did it. I handed to her her military coat back and I saw something glitter from her chest. I looked away, hoping Rose didn't notice that I just looked at her chest.

"Nice outfit. Fits the weather here." I told her.

"I had to wear it. I heard it gets really hot here during summer days. I'd like to do sunbathing." She said.

"You should," I said when I glanced back to look at her on the mirror. It was hard not to acknowledge the naked skin her backless vest showed. "There's a beach just a mile out of court. I could take you there if you like." I offered her a genuine small smile.

A wide grin spread on her lips. "You don't mind?"

I shook my head. "Calling out for the rest of the week. Queen's orders." A look of surprise spread on her face. "I don't really mind, Rose. I'd rather be out rather than stay inside—" I stopped and pursed my lips. I had said some things that I didn't really mean to. This was what I meant about Rose making me lose control.

She smiled at me and nodded, clearly telling me she'd be glad to go then turned back to mirror and fixed her hair.

I was still at the door when I finally looked at the silver thing that thing between her breasts. It was a locket. It was the locket. It had to be. It looked the same and the thing written on them were the same. I refused to shake my head at the impossibility of the moment.

With one last glance at the locket, I got out, feeling as if something in me had been ripped.

Okay, guys. Despite Dimitri's POV, his life and thoughts and still a mystery to us. RPOV would be next. I would write DPOV from time to time. I don't really know when, but I'll tell you if I want to and then I'll give y'all the choice to pick again.

Leave a REVIEW, please.

Love lots,

Kate :D

xx

P.S. I'm sorry if there are wrong grammars and typos! I am too lazy to check them!