I woke up the next morning to a persistent knock in the door. I wasn't ready for the day. I was still in a different time zone and didn't get to bed until late. Well past my bedtime for the matter. I got out of bed to open the door. There stood my parents in the doorway. I looked passed them and quietly thanked them that they didn't bring Jesse. "What are you doing still in your pyjamas?" Janine spoke. "We are to meet and see the grounds for you during the full moon." I still wasn't happy being woken up so rudely. I motioned for them to enter the room as I went to change my clothes in my closet. It was just large enough for me to move around comfortably. I wore a simple t-shirt and jeans. I wore the trainers that I had yesterday.
Within ten minutes my parents and I was in the main building waiting for the faculty member that was supposed to show us the grounds. They were showing us my classes and the building that was made for me. I was still not use to the monthly change that happened, but I was slowly coming to terms about it.
"Ah there you are Mr. Mazur and Mrs. Hathaway." I heard a feminine voice spoke from across the room. I looked up and saw a lady walking toward us with someone that towered her behind her. He had his hair tied back to the nape of his neck, a buttoned-down white shirt the was folded up to his elbows and black slacks. I looked back up to see an incredibly good looking exceptionally handsome man in front of me. I looked to his eyes that were chocolate brown that were endless. His face was expressionless as he stopped with the women. I was brought out of my trance when the lady spoke. "Right, this is Mr. Belikov and I am Alberta." She motioned for the freakishly tall guy standing in front of me now. "He is Rose's English and Combat teacher. He will be showing the ground her at St. Vladamir's and the cabin." Mr. Belikov gave a slight bow as he was introduced.
"Pleasure." He spoke with a slight accent. I couldn't tell what it was from the one word he spoke.
"You're not coming with?" My mother spoke.
Alberta had shaken her head, I gotten an air a wisdom from her. Just but what I could see from her, I knew I could come to her if needed. "I would be happy to show your family around. Is it just you three?" I could hear the accent that laced his words as he spoke. I wanted him to continue speaking, it was intoxicating just hearing it. They were saying the goodbyes to Alberta with the promise of having lunch together after we taken the tour around campus.
I stayed quiet while walking through the hallways as my parents ask question after question for Mr. Belikov. He didn't break his composure to anything my parents through at him. Once we saw where my classes were being held, we were walking towards the back of the academy. Mr. Belikov turned his attention towards me "Rose, what do you think so far?" I stared at him, finally pinpointing the accent that was holding me on to each word he spoke. "Rose." He spoke quietly. Shaking my head, looking passed him and saw my parents were in heavy debate. I turned my attention back to him, he had his hands held behind his back as he walked, mine swung beside me.
"The architecture here is far more beautiful than any building back in Vermont." I said looking around, we were passing by the trees going into the forest in the back of the Academy, I knew the cabins were coming up. "I made a challenge to myself to see every inch of St. Vlad's before I graduate." I glanced down before continuing "I'll most likely get lost in achieving that – "
"Perhaps I can show you around when you decided to go strolling?" He cut me off before I could continue. Snapping my head up to look into his eyes, I could see that he was just as I was by him saying that. He cleared his throat, "That's if you wish. I've been at the Academy for three years now, I'm sure you'll find friends to show you around though." He seemed to cover his misstep. His face returned to the blank expression he had when I first met him with. Why did he do that? Better question, why did he offer to take me on a personal tour of campus? I chose not to overthink what I just witness as we reached the cabin that was made for me. It was larger than I could have hoped for. I was expecting some small shack in the woods. I shivered at the thought reminding myself to not watch horror films back-to-back. Mr. Belikov unlooked the door of the cabin.
I stepped through the door, not expecting much when it came to the inside. All I needed was a safe space, where no one will be. I have only turned in front of my mother. She taught me how to behave and to calm the wolf inside. "Is this up to your satisfaction?" Mr. Belikov asked. I nodded.
"Is there a toilet here?" I asked. It would be a shame if there wasn't one in sight. He nodded as he told me to follow him along the way. There was a full bathroom in the back of the cabin.
"They weren't sure exactly what you needed but figured that you'd need to shower or use the toilet before returning back to campus." He said, I know it's well pass assuming, but I still wondered how much they had told him.
"And out of the faculty, who knows of Rose abilities?" I rolled my eyes at Abe's vagueness. Mr. Belikov caught my eye with a slight smirk before fixing his attention back to Abe.
He closed the door of the restroom, breathing before speaking "Only a few know, not much with knowledge though. Only me and Alberta know she has a transformation on the full moon, while Sonya – Ms. Karp and Mr. Alto knows she has supernatural abilities." He finished. Why was he special as the same as Alberta. I questioned him about it. "Alberta is in charge of the teachers here at St. Vladamir's, so she must know in order to help you. She intrusted me cause I'm both your English and Combat teacher. When Combat comes into play, there will be anger, frustration, complications that arise that I need to be aware of in order for this to keep secret as you all wish." A part of me notices that he had stepped towards me, but still not as close to cause intimidation. "Is there anything I need to know to look out for?" He asked. I rummaged through my purse and pulled out a small paper that had a list that I prepared. I had kept track since transforming, so I could help not turning in the worse place possible. That's why I went to the toilet at the airport before I don't something I regretted. He scanned it, "Body boiling temperature." He spoke silently.
This is where my mother spoke up before I could, "You'll be able to feel it a few feet away from her." She looked towards me, nodding. I shook my head not wanting to continue this. "Rosemarie." It was hard to control, I couldn't control turning on a full moon but when I got mad or beyond frustrated when I started transition. I glanced up towards Mr. Belikov, before taking a few steps backwards, keeping eyes out for around the building. From there I thought back to the night four months ago, how terrified I felt. How angry I felt at the airport, when I first changed on the full moon just a year ago. My breathing was turning ragged as my body started to boil, turning the from ice to a scorching cup of coffee. My vision started to blur as images started to flash before me, in my minds eye. I stepped back further, knowing my body heat was becoming aware fast. I looked up towards my mother, she was saying something that I couldn't hear anymore. I knew my eyes had changed into something else. To my wolf eyes, they were the first thing that changed – apart from my body heat. My breath still ragged, my mother was still nodding towards me, before nodding towards Mr. Belikov as he started towards me. He was coming into view as he came closer. He was speaking, they were still muffled as he came closer. Slowly they went from muffled muppets to muffled words. He was a few feet in front of me. I stepped back, not wanting to hurt him.
"Rose." I heard. Not know where it came from. I heard my name again. Something gripped my shoulder, I glanced at the hand that had me – it was Mr. Belikov. His hand was cool to the touch, instantly cooling my body temperature. "Rose." I looked up, seeing his face above mine.
"See that's how its done. Rose does well to calm herself already but somethings there are times she might need help." I could barley hear her as I was focused on the hand on my shoulder. I chanced a look up to him. He was smiling at me.
"I'll be happy to help Rose." He said more to me than to everyone. He removed his hand from my shoulder, taking a step back from me as he cleared his throat. He raked a hand through his hair before returning his attention to the paper I gave him. "Could you explain the rest of these and ill look out for them."
We continued through the list I gave him as I explained what signs to look out for. Mainly my attitude, any physical changed such as my eyes. Once finished we returned to the school to meet Alberta for lunch. Mr. Belikov had left us to finish grading and reports that he need to get done before start of school tomorrow.