Chapter 37: The Trials

Here they are the Trials! I hope they live up to your expectations. I am not good at fight scenes please remember that while reading.

RPOV

Two days had passed and it was now the day of trials. Each student would be given three tasks. The first was to fight one on one with a guardian while blindfolded. The second was to run an obstacle course with a dummy the size and weight of a Moroi on our backs while fending off attacks and the third was to go five on one with the Guardians. They would all be timed.

They asked me to go last so that the other students wouldn't be as nervous. I waited patiently in a small tent while the others had their test. Dimitri had wished me good luck and so had my friends before leaving to watch from the bleachers.

When it was my turn I grabbed my practice stake and headed for the middle of the field. Alberta was there waiting for me with a blindfold. "Good luck Miss Hathaway." she said before moving quickly away. I didn't know with whom I'd be fighting. It could be any Guardian on campus. Alberta, Stan, Celeste or even Dimitri for all I knew. I hoped it wasn' t Dimitri he was too good.

I felt a slight rush of wind from behind me and I knew I was being stalked. I crouched into a fighting stance and waited to be attacked. It came swiftly from the side and I was ready. We scuffled a bit each getting in a few good swings, but neither losing our footing. I knew for sure that it was not Dimitri I was fighting. The attacker was too short which made it more difficult for me since I was used to being shorter than the person I was fighting. I could feel Lissa's excitement and anxiousness from the crowd.

Dimitri and I had practiced fighting with me blindfolded on more than one occasion. I now knew why he did that. The attacks came faster and harder and without cease I was getting tired and my attacker had yet to falter, I stumbled back after receiving a strong blow to the chest, I was about out of maneuvers, but at the last second I anticipated a charge from the left correctly and was able to throw my attacker to the ground. I held him down with my foot and placed my practice stake directly over the heart. Man this guy was small. I thought as I located the heart.

The crowd erupted in cheers and although I was breathless I had passed the first trial. I pulled off my blindfold and looked at the Guardian I had pinned down on the ground.

"Mom?" I gasped. My mother lay on the ground disheveled and breathless with a huge smile on her face.

"Congratulations Rose. You fought very well." She complimented me.

Wow I had taken down my mother the badass in a fight blindfolded. I smiled and gave her my hand to help her to her feet.

I glanced quickly out into the crowd and found Lissa waving at me with excitement.

My mother handed me my next task. I strapped the dummy to my back and boy was it heavy. Much heavier than Lissa.

I entered the obstacle course and fended off simultaneous attacks by several guardians. First Alberta then Yuri and Celeste double teamed me and then finally Stan. I made it to safety with time to spare and my Moroi charge still intact. I had passed my second trial.

They took the dummy gave me some water and then it was onto my third and final task. It was a level playing field just me, my practice stake and five Guardians dressed from head to toe in black. The first to come at me was Stan. He lunged at me and I quickly staked him using a maneuver Dimitri had taught me. Then before I had a chance to move Alberta and Celeste were practically on top of me. I fought hard and managed to stake Celeste, but Alberta was very skilled and managed to evade my attempts.

As soon as Celeste was out of the picture I felt a hard jab to my left shoulder. I kicked backwards my foot connecting with a body and as I turned to look I saw my mother fly clear across the room. It bought me a few seconds as Alberta lunged for me again just as I felt someone approach me from the side. It was Dimitri and he was fast. He reached me and had me on the ground before I could move. I quickly managed to get to my feet. He and Alberta were circling me. My mother joined them and it was three on one. We grappled long and hard and I managed to stake Alberta first and then I got in a good roundhouse to Dimitri's face causing him to fall backwards which allowed me the opportunity to jump on my mother's back and stake her from behind. She just nodded and stepped out of the way. Then it was just me and Dimitri.

He was good and I thought for a second I was going to fail my trials, but then I heard Lissa's voice come to me through the bond.

Rose you can do this remember you beat him once in the field experience and you know all of his moves. Go get him! Knock that Russian on his ass! She cheered encouragingly.

That was all the strength I needed to put up a good fight. We fought hard and long and just when he thought he had me pinned I used a move I'd seen my mother do during the rescue mission. It worked to my advantage that he was so much taller than I was just as it had worked for my mother. As I kicked his legs out from under him I saw his face turn to shock and then pride as he knew I had him beat. I threw myself on top of him and jammed the practice stake over his heart with force. I was breathing heavily as was he. His eyes met mine and the message they conveyed could not be put into words.

He helped me up and before I knew it all of my friends and my mother were surrounding me and congratulating me.

"Oh my God Rose you were incredible. I knew you'd be the best." Lissa cried.

"You're a force to be reckoned with Hathway." Christian admitted hugging me. "I wouldn't want to get on your bad side."

"Why thanks Sparky."

"Little Dhampir you did me proud!" said Adrian lifting me off the ground in a tight embrace. He kissed my cheek before setting me back on my feet.

"You fought well Rosemarie and I'm so proud of you." My mother said her voice thick with emotion. If I wasn't mistaken there were tears in her eyes.

"I knew from the minute I laid eyes on you that you'd be the best Guardian there ever was." Dimitri whispered in my ear. He put his hand on the side of my face and stroked my cheek softly.

And just when I thought everyone had congratulated me I was shocked when I saw Abe making his way through the crowd. He was flashy as ever, Guardians flanking him on both sides, but the smile on his face was unmistakable.
"Kizim you were fantastic." He raved as he pulled me into a hug. "In all my years I've never seen anyone take down Janine Hathaway with such force." He said in awe.

"Good to see you again Guardian Belikov." Greeted Abe holding out his hand.

Dimitri didn't seem too happy that he was there, but as always was the picture politeness.

"I'm glad you could make it to see Rose's trials. Will you be staying long?"

Abe's eyes narrowed slightly. He knew Dimitri wasn't fond of him, but he didn't act as if he cared.

"Actually I will be staying through Sunday. I don't want to miss seeing Rose after the Promise Marks tonight or Moroi graduation on Saturday where Rose will get her charge assignment." He responded easily.

"You're staying?" I responded excitedly.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world Kiz. I know you didn't know it at the time, but I watched you walk across that stage once before." He said with a smile.

I gasped. "You came to my graduation?"

"Of course. You're my daughter." He replied as if it were nothing.

"That was nice of you seeing that my own mother didn't make it." I gave my mother a dirty look.

Janine glared at Abe. "You weren't supposed to go." She said angrily.

"Hush, I do what I please." He said dismissively.

To my surprise she backed off. Wow he really was a little scary to have Janine under his thumb.

"I will be staying in guest housing." Said Abe. "See you later tonight Kiz." He kissed my forehead and swept out of the tent like a Royal.

"That man is so frustrating." My mother said clenching her fists.

I laughed.

We all disbursed as I would be needing to shower and change in order to go to my promise ceremony later this evening. Lissa, Adrian, Christian and Abe would not be able to attend as it was only for Dhampirs. It made me feel good to know that they would be waiting for me after though. At least Dimitri and my mom would be there and Eddie of course who had passed his trials with flying colors just as I knew he would.

The ceremony was solemn and as we each repeated the Guardian oath the room was full of unspoken regret for the one student that was missing, Mason.

After the ceremony Lissa had planned a small get together in one of the common rooms. It was okay for Dimitri and I to go public with our relationship now so he didn't feel as awkward attending as he usually did. He actually wore his hair down and he was dressed casually in Jeans and a tight grey long sleeved thermal. He seemed more relaxed than ever and almost happy.

Lissa had pizzas delivered and there was a big chocolate cake that read Congratulations Rose and Eddie!

Adrian had even managed to spike the punch.

I laughed as I'd already had three cups before Dimitri had tried some and nearly spit it out. "

What is in this?" he demanded.

I played dumb. "What do you mean? It's punch." I couldn't help but snicker a little as Lissa choked trying not to laugh.

"Haven't you ever had Jungle Juice Dimitri?" asked Lissa innocently. I don't know how she kept a straight face.

He looked confused. I'm pretty sure they had another name for it in Russia.

"It's a concoction made from 90% random liquor and 10% fruit punch." Came a female voice as she entered the room.

Cue creepy movie music…. Who do you think it is and what did you think of the Trials?

Okay so I finally let myself read the first chapter of Sprit Bound on Richelle's website yesterday and it nearly had me in tears! I am so excited for May 18th I could just bust! I have a feeling that Adrian is going to get used and dumped before the series is over. Sadness!