When we got back to St. Vladimir's Academy around midnight, and everyone knew about the massacre. The vampiric school day had just ended. Dimitri ordered both of us to immediately Rose to your dorm room and Jasmine to the tower and get some sleep. Dimitri, of course, looked alert and ready to take on anything.
Dimitri headed off to consult with other guardians about the attack, and we promised him we go straight to bed. But both Rose and Jasmine had their fingers crossed behind their backs. Instead, both Rose and Jasmine turned toward the library once Dimitri was out of sight. We needed to see Lissa. Rose feels through bond told us that was where she was. Rose and Jasmine heading to the library.
It was pitch-black as we walked along the stone walkway that crossed the quad from Rose dorm to the secondary school's main building. Snow completely covered the grass, but the sidewalk had been meticulously cleared of all ice and snow. It reminded Rose of the poor Badicas' neglected home.
The commons building was large and gothic-looking, more suited to a medieval movie set than a school. Inside, that air of mystery and ancient history continued to permeate the building: elaborate stone walls and antique paintings warring with computers and fluorescent lights. Modern technology had a foothold here, but it would never dominate.
As Rose and Jasmine slipping through the library's electronic gate, We immediately headed for one of the back corners where geography and travel books were kept. Sure enough, We found Lissa sitting there on the floor, leaning against a bookcase.
Rose said, "look what I found?" Vasilisa looking up from an open book propped up on one knee. She brushed a few strands of pale hair out of her face. Vasilisa said," Welcome home, Jazz. Vasilisa's boyfriend, Christian, lay on the floor near her, his head propped up on her other knee. He greeted Rose by way of a nod. Jasmine walked up and glanced down at Christian said, "What up Pryo? Christian stared up and seen Jazz looking down at him. Give one of his smiles.
Vasilisa asked, "when did you get back?" Jasmine said, "earlier. But Rose and I had to leave to take Qualifiers. You know I would have come to see how you were doing? But Alberta stop me and told me that I had to my Qualifiers with Rose and go with Cowboy. "Christian laugh at what Jasmine called Dimitri. Rose could feel the tension and fear in her; it sang through the bond.
Valissa said, "They're saying...they're saying there were six or seven Strigoi. And that humans helped them break the wards." Jasmine said, "it true!" Rose leaned her head back against a shelf and Jasmine put her head on Rose's leg laying down like Christian. Rose put a hand on Jasmine's shoulder.
Christian said, "Really! I figured that was just a bunch of hyped-up paranoia." Rose said, "No! We was there."
Lissa's eyes widened, shock coursing into us from her. Even Christian. The poster child for "smart-ass looked grim. If not for the horribleness of it all, I would have taken satisfaction in catching him off guard.
Christian said, "your joking!"
Rose started playing with Jasmine's hair.
Lissa asked, "softly is something wrong?" Are you both okay?"
Rose looked up from Jasmine with a worried look on her face. Vasilisa looking back down at Jasmine. Lissa knew that Rose was worried about something and wasn't ready to say what it was. Looking at Jasmine and seeing tears from her eyes. Vasilisa said, "What wrong tell me what it is?" Rose said, "I worried about Jasmine. Her power growing. Vasilisa could understand Rose would worry about Jasmine. Jasmine looked at Lissa with pain in her eyes. Vasilisa looked at Jasmine with love and understanding in her eyes.
(December 2)
Jasmine walking class on bodyguard theory stopping in her tracks. Watching at a woman standing there with auburn hair was cropped and curly, and her brown eyes were currently narrowed in thought. Dimitri looking at Jasmine's face and seeing the surprise on her face."Thinking to himself who is that woman and why Jasmine surprise that she here?"
Jasmine walked up to the woman and say, "Mommy!" Janine snapped out from her thoughts. See Jasmine smile staring at her. Janine said, "My sweet, Jasmine." Jasmine said, "How have you been?" Janine said, Good! How have you been? Jasmine said, "Great! I get back from my trip to Russia."
"Janine said What?" Jasmine could feel that there was a tone in her mother's voice. Making her feel like walking in line. Jasmine said, "I was in the international program. I was sent to St. Basil's academy in Russia for three months. Didn't Headmistress Kirova send a message to tell you?" "Janine said No!" "In shape tone." Jasmine said, "ow! I need to get this sign by our instructor."
Janine grabbed the file from Jasmine's hand. Opened it open and started looking through it. Looking at the different papers and said, "I see you get high marks in your classes." Jasmine said, "Yes! Mommy." Janine said, "you completed the program in two mouths?" Jasmine said, "Yes! Mommy."
Janine said, "But you were in Russia for three months?" Jasmine said, "Yes! Mommy. I was staying with the Guardian Belikov family." Janine looked up at Jasmine and said, "I will talk to Guardian Belikov about that." Jasmine said, "Yes! Mommy." Jasmine was scared and holding on to one of her french braids. Janine closes the file and said, "go sit down. I get this sign for you." Jasmine said, "Yes Mommy. Jasmine turns and almost runs to sit.
Dimitri thought to himself, who was this woman that holds power over you? Damon said, "what wrong?" Dimitri said, "who that woman in front of the class?" Damon said, "Janine Hathaway. That is Rose's and Jasmine's mother. Guardian Janine Hathaway did have a pretty stellar reputation in the guardian world. Dimitri thought holy shit! Now understand why Jasmine was surprised to see her mother here. What is going to happen when Rose realized that mother here?
Dimitri saw Rose walking with Mason. Rose glancing at her mother with surprise was happy or not. Watching Rose sitting down at her desk. Looking over at Jasmine that stilled looked worried that might get in trouble for something. Rose and Jasmine so different from each other like day and night. But to see Janine Hathaway make them worried or scared at the drop of a hat.
As the class begins the each of them started with stories about saving the day. Damon was watching Jasmine. Want so much hold her in arms and make her worries go away. As Jasmine played with her hair when scared. Dimitri watched Damon and see the worry on his face as watch Jasmine. Thinking to himself, damn you, could stop watching at her. Moving his down to the front and watched at Rose and could listening to the man's story. Start listening to the man's story.
Jasmine's thoughts going mile minute." Start feeling the magic side boiling to surf again. Jasmine started to breathe hard. Dimitri turns to notice Jasmine breathing hard and started shaking. Moving to the side and whisper in her ear slow down your breathing. Started slowly counting. Try to relax. Jasmine started slowed her breathing and started counting. Dimitri moving back behind her. Just in case something happens. Looking down at his watch and they still have a half-hour to go. Move his eyes to Damon's total worry that he missed it.
Miss Hathaway." Stan's deep voice rumbled through the room. "Please take your things and go wait outside for the remainder of the class."
Jasmine reached started to grab her things. Dimitri put his hand on his shoulder. Say stay calm and low voice, not you. Rose was kicked out of class. Jasmine looked worried. Dimitri said, "just relax."
(About five minutes)
Before the class let out, Janine slipped out of the room and walked over to where Rose sat in the hallway. Janine looking down on Rose, she put her hands on her hips in that annoying way that made Janine seem taller than Rose was. It wasn't fair that someone over half a foot shorter than Rose could make Rose feel so small.
Janine said, Well! You see your manners haven't improved over the years. Jasmine still has manners. Rose stood up and felt a glare snap into place. "Nice to see you too. I'm surprised you even recognized me. In fact, I didn't even think you remembered me, seeing as how you never bothered to let me know you were on campus."
Janine shifted her hands from her hips and crossed her arms across her chest, becoming if possible even more impassive. "I couldn't neglect my duty to come to coddle you." "Coddle?" Rose asked. Janine said, "I wouldn't expect you to understand. From what I hear, you don't really know what 'duty is. Not like your sister does." Rose said, "You don't know anything about Jasmine and me. I know exactly what it is. Better most people."
Janine's eyes widened in a sort of mock surprise. Janine used that sarcastic look on a lot of people and didn't appreciate having it directed toward Rose. "Janine said, "Oh really? Where were you for the last year?" Rose demanded, "Where were you for the last five?" Would you have known we were gone if someone hadn't told you?" Janine said, "don't turn this back on me. I was away because I had to be. You were away. So you could go shopping and stay up late."
Rose said, "you have no idea why we left," Rose's voice's volume rising. "And you have no right to make assumptions about our life. When you don't know anything about it." There was no one we could go to. When we didn't have hard proof. Besides, we've been learning that we're supposed to think independently." Janine said, "On learning. Something you missed out on for a year. You're hardly in a position to lecture me about guardian protocol." Jasmine keeps up with the train something missed out.
Rose said, "Yeah? Well, that's not what my teachers think. Even after missing all that time, I've still caught up with everyone else in my class." Janine didn't answer right away. Finally, in a flat voice, she said, "If you hadn't left, you would have surpassed them." Rose said, "you always loved Jasmine more than me." Janine looked hard at Rose and turn to the door. Saying No! Rose. "I love both". But right now. I have to go be with you sister." Walking back inside the classroom.
Jasmine stood middle of Dimitri and Damon waiting for Janine walking back into class. Janine walking up to all three of them. Say which one of you is Guardian Belikov? Dimitri said, "I am!" Janine said, "I would like to speak alone." Jasmine was playing with her french braid again. Dimitri said, "That would be fine."
Janine turns back to Jasmine handing the file back to Jasmine. Jasmine reached out taking the file carefully and pulling it to herself. Janine said, "The paper has been a sign. Now go to your next class." Jasmine said, "in a small voice Yes! Mommy." Turn and started walking away with Damon right behind her.
Jasmine walking to GYM, before everyone else get to the gym. Sit down on one of the mats and open one of the notebooks. Start reading information on the control of the powers.
Dimitri walked up to Jasmine and said, "Guardian Hathaway unhappy with academy right now. She stormed right into Headmistress Kirova's office. Information Kriova didn't send messages to inform her that daughter Jasmine gets into the international program after the fact. Jasmine said, "Good thing that your still alive. Cowboy." Dimitri said, "Guardian Hathaway lead into me after Damon and you left. Jasmine said, "I sorry! That what want mothers to do. I guess." Dimitri laughing.
Jasmine said, "I almost lost control of my powers in front of my Mommy and everyone." Dimitri said, "I caught you before break free." Jasmine said, "Thank you!"
Rose came storming into the gym and walked up to one of the dummies. Rose said, "The heart is there, and the sternum and ribs are in the way. "Can I have the stake now?" Jasmine said No!" Making Dimitri, Rose turn and look at Jasmine. "Jasmine said, "you're not ready." Rose said, "why not?" Jasmine stood up and walked over to Rose. Because your upset with our Mother right now. Rose said, "Damn right! I am upset with our mother."
Jasmine said, "I didn't have a choice to make my first kill. But I want you to have a choice. If you still want to learn. Cowboy gives a practice one and not a real one. "Dimitri thought Jasmine want Rose to have a choice! "Everyone has a choice. Jasmine and himself didn't have a choice.
Dimitri said, "how do you get through the sternum and the ribs?" Rose had unhappy look on her face. Jasmine said, "I know this answer." Dimitri said, "sit down." Rose sighed. Rose figured out the answer to one question, only to be given another. Typical.
Dimitri knew in time Rose would be ready. But not to day. Jasmine was right about that. Thought a choice! What the hell was twin so different from each other and same at time. Which made Dimitri smile little without Rose or Jasmine seeing.
Rose and Dimitri spent a large part of the practice going over that, and he demonstrated several techniques that would yield the quickest kill. Every movement he made was both graceful and deadly. Dimitri made it look effortless, Jasmine knew better.
When Dimitri suddenly extended his hand and offered the practice stake to me. Keep real one for himself. Jasmine would look up and realized Cowboy understand what she said. Going back to notebook keep read. Rose reached out and took the practice stake from Dimitri hand.
Dimitri said, "I can't believe you're holding back." Rose said" "Aren't you always teaching me to hold back?" Dimitri said, "not on everything." Rose said, "But on some things." Jasmine said, "what these things might be I wonder?" Making Dimitri and Rose look at Jasmine. Jasmine didn't look up at all keep reading the notebook. When practice end took the practice stake.