The tornado that was my mother came through the house like whirlwind. Stg. Quinn was true when she said she was going to contact my parents, but I didn't expect Mom to make arrangements to leave her case to fly home.

The stern look on her face when she came into the house was a little terrifying, especially when it was directed at Dimitri.

"Where were you?" she demanded as she set her briefcase on the counter.

"He wasn't at the party, Mom. He was in a lecture," I defended. Mom's eyes lingered on Dimitri before she moved towards me, wrapping her arms around me in a bone breaking grip. I was stunned and my eyes found Dimitri's over Mom's shoulder before I returned her embrace.

"Are you hurt?" she asked. I shook my head.

"Did he touch you?"

I pulled back and shook my head. "Not really. He hit me and ripped my shirt, but I fought him off," I said, "I remembered what you said about using my legs if necessary."

Mom's lips were pursed, and she cupped my cheeks, looking me over. "Good girl," she whispered with a nod of her head. I gave her a tight smile and let her go so she could get a cup of coffee, knowing that she most likely took the red eye.

Mom had never been a particularly open mother. She was usually closed off or firm, but seeing her rush to me, made me feel young again. When I was little she was a but mushier, but I think she hid behind the shield she kept for work.

I knew that what she did was difficult and that she never wanted to bring her work home, but I think she forgot to bring herself home sometimes. I watch Mom take her blazer off and pulled her short red curls from the tight bun she kept her hair in as she sat at the counter.

"Tell me everything, please," Mom said after taking a sip of her coffee. I looked at Dimitri and he stood up and came to sit with us at the island, his hand coming to rest on mine on the counter.

I used the grounding of Dimitri's hand on mine as I recapped what happened last night, stopping a few times to take a breath to keep myself composed. Mom had her 'work' face on as I spoke, asking me questions or for me to go into more detail.

I couldn't understand why she was asking me questions similarly as the police did. AS I got to the end, she asked me about what the police asked me, what i did, who I talked to, everything.

"Did you give a statement?" she asked Dimitri.

"Saturday."

Mom shook her head. "Do you need to go back for a statement follow up?"

"I don't know," I said, "Near the end was a bit of a blur."

"If you're requested, I'm coming with you," Mom said, "I don't want anyone trying to turn any of this around on you."

I nodded and Mom picked up her phone and excused herself, walking out of the room. I could hear her talking but couldn't make out anything she said.

"What is she doing?" I asked Dimitri because I knew that he could hear her.

Dimitri listened for a moment before looking at me. "She's talking to someone from her work about Nathan. She wants information on him before one o'clock."

I pursed my lips but didn't question it further, getting up and stretching my arms over my head.

"I should probably get ready for school," I mumbled.

"You don't have to go if you don't want to," Dimitri said softly, brushing his fingers over the small bruise on my temple. "I feel like I keep seeing you bruised or injured lately."

I frowned but cupped his cheeks. "I'm fine," I promised. Dimitri sighed and nodded, pulling me into his arms and pressing his lips to mine.

"Even if you tell me you're fine, I'm still going to worry about you," he said with a smile.

Eddie seemed to be acting as my personal bodyguard since I stepped into school. Eddie was there in an instant and kept himself between and everyone else. He ever snapped at someone when they stared at me too long. If he wasn't my loyal bulldog in the hall or in the class we shared, Christian was lingering.

"What?" I whispered at him in our art class while I sketched out my final assignment.

"Just checking on you," he said.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Did Dimitri ask you to do that?"

"No," he said shortly, "I'm doing it because in a very weird and twisted way, we are family and I actually give a shit that a member of my coven was attacked."

I raised my brows at him. "Wow, don't get all mushy on me, fire crotch."

Christian rolled his eyes at me. "Easy. I'm also checking in because of Lissa."

I felt myself back down at that admission and let my tense shoulders drop. "Is she okay? I know that she was worried about me."

Christian shifted in his chair so he was looking at me directly. "No. She was distraught when she heard what happened. I tried to explain that you were okay, but she was…Well, you know how Lissa can get."

I nodded. "Unbearably mothering?"

"I was going to say concerned," Christian said with a chuckle. "But really. Are you okay? I won't report back to anyone, or Dimitri. But I know that Mr. Alto is going to ask as well."

"I'm okay. I was a little shaken up the night it happened and convinced Dimitri to compel me to sleep so I wouldn't have nightmares. I felt dirty, " I said quietly.

"You know that wasn't your fault, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah. But we all know how the rumour mill works here," I said dryly.

"I could compel some people if you wanted me to," Christian offered.

"Can you even do that yet? Also, have you heard about Ms. Karp?"

Christian rolled his eyes. "How do you think I haven't been expelled yet?" Christian explained with a grin. I chuckled to myself and shrugged.

"Do what you gotta do, fire boy," I snickered as I returned to my canvas. Christian leaned over in his chair, the chair balancing on two legs.

"What is that supposed to be? We were supposed to do movie covers."

I rolled my eyes. "It is a movie cover. It's a surprise for Dimitri," I said. Christian twisted his head so that he could figure out what I was sketching and knocked the chair over, falling to a heap on the floor.

I grunted a laugh and shook my head. "Good job," I muttered to myself. Our teacher asked what all the ruckus was about and Christian stood up, brushing his hair back.

"Lost my balance, won't happen again," Christian said, brushing off his jeans. I was shaking so hard as I tried to keep my laughter contained. Our teacher turned away and Christian stood over my shoulder and squinted at it.

"Okay, I can't figure this out."

"The Searchers. It's a John Wayne movie that Dimitri likes. Well, actually he really likes the book, but I'm making this work," I said as I erased the leg of one of the horses.

"Huh, lame," Christian bleated.

I shook my head and smacked him. "Go away," I muttered, "You're going to rub off on me. My reputation is already trashed right now."

Christian mocked me in a high-pitched voice as he went back to his chair. I hooked my foot around the leg of his chair just as he was going to sit and pulled it, making him fall again. I snorted a laugh this time and hid my face in my arm, cackling into my sleeve.

"You're a bitch," Christian muttered and then was chastised by our teacher.

Christian came and sat at our table today and I saw the odd looks he was given. I shrugged and left it be, turning to Mia and telling her that I won our bet. Mia rolled her eyes but nodded. I enjoyed the warm sun on my skin and sighed, clipping my hair up so I could feel the heat on the back of my neck and shoulders.

"How was your day," Eddie asked.

"Fine," I said, "How was yours, Max?"

Eddie scoffed and grinned at me. He knew I was implying that he was acting like a guard dog, particularly the dog he had named Max who would guard his little sister's bedroom while she slept.

"It was fine."

I nodded and picked at my fries, wishing that I had something better than fries when Christian tapped my shin with his foot.

"John Wayne, six o'clock."

I turned and smiled at Dimitri. "Hey you," I said, "How do you keep getting onto school property?"

Dimitri set a paper bag on the table in front of my cardboard fries. "I think you forget that I am friends with Alberta."

I shrugged and unravelled the bag, peering into it. I fist pumped the air and let out a little squeal, turning and plopping a wet kiss on his lips.

"You are the best boyfriend," I said.

"I live to serve," he said. "Plus, you kept having dreams about it and I figured if you didn't eat it soon, you'd have to ask for it."

I hummed and grinned at him. "Is that it?"

Dimitri shook his head. "No, I wanted to come and see you. I missed you."

I hummed and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Well, I will never say no to you coming to see me for that reason," I said cheerfully, "But my lunch is almost over."

"I know, but even a few minutes is better than nothing," Dimitri said softly. I grinned at him and pressed my lips against his. Dimitri's hands rested on my hips and he ran his tongue against the seam of my lips, beckoning for entrance. I indulged him even though I knew I had all but five seconds before one of my friends made a lewd comment or threw something at me for sucking face.

I pulled back after a moment and licked my lip, biting my bottom lip as I looked up at him.

"Has Ms. Karp come back yet?"

Dimitri shook his head with a frown. "No. Mikhail is torn up over it. There is concern that she got hurt or… well, other concern."

My brows furrowed together and I frowned. "I couldn't begin to imagine what that feels like," I said quietly. Dimitri nodded and squeezed my hips gently, the buzz of concern fluttering through his thoughts.

"I'll see you tonight?" I asked, raising my brows at him. Dimitri nodded and pecked my lips again before stepping back. Dimitri waved at my friends and clapped Eddie's shoulder before leaving, catching Alberta on his way back into the school.

I sighed to myself and turned back to the table, finding Christian already in the bag Dimitri bought me.

"Get!" I exclaimed, slapping his hand away. Christian pouted at me but pulled one of the cannolis out anyways, biting into it.

"HEY!"

"You cannot bring those here and expect me not to eat them. If I bring them to the hub again, I'm gonna get slapped! And Tasha hates the smell," Christian whined. I narrowed my eyes at him and sat down, taking the other cannoli out and biting into it.

"What is this 'hub' the two of you keep talking about?" Mia asked curiously. I blanched and swallowed my cannoli slowly, hoping to buy time.

"It's like a teacher's hang out thing," I lied poorly, "Dimitri goes there a lot and I think Tasha is a teacher of some sort too."

Mia looked at me puzzled and then at Lissa. "A what?"

"It's like a country club for teachers," Christian supplied, eyes meeting mine.

"Yeah, like a country club," I repeated, hoping that it would be taken as an answer that satisfied. Mia shrugged and took some of the fries off my tray.

"And you go there?"

I shrugged and licked some of the filling off my finger. "It beats being home alone," I mumbled over my bite. Lissa ticked her head in a gesture that meant she accepted it.

"How many of us are dreading tomorrow?" Mason asked, speaking for the first time since Dimitri came by.

"All of us," Lissa groaned. I looked at her with a grin.

"Aww, poor Lissa. Don't think you're gonna get perfect?"

Lissa's head thumped onto the table. "My parents expect it," she grumbled. I felt for her. It was one of the only reasons why I didn't stress about exams. My parents had learned that it was best to expect a 'c' in class, Lissa's demanded perfection.

I also knew that it did not go over well with them when she told them she dumped Aaron.

I was starting to panic a little. I thought the cover I picked would be easy to paint, but I quickly learned that my paint didn't want to cooperate with me.

I had set myself up in the garage, deciding it was better to paint her than in my bedroom. If I spilled paint on the floor again, my mother might strangle me. So I took up residence in the garage for three hours, paint splattered on my jeans and hands. I was feeling discouraged and was starting to hate the colour orange.

"Roza?"

"In the garage!" I called out, wincing when I realized yelling at someone who could hear me from here even if I whispered, may not have been the best idea. I sighed and rubbed the edge of my hand against my forehead, trying to figure out how to make this work. The door leading inside opened and Dimitri stepped out, still dressed in his clothes from work.

"What are you working on?" Dimitri asked with a smile.

"It's not finished, but come look," I said as I dipped the brush into the cup to clean it. Dimitri came around and stood behind me. I felt a sense of joy flow through him.

"The Searchers," Dimitri said.

"Oh thank God, you know what it is. I was starting to think that it was just a mash of colours," I said glumly. "I cannot get the colour right."

Dimitri hummed and kissed my temple. "The colour is perfect. The colour of the horses' coats is perfect too," Dimitri encouraged. I sighed and brushed the edge of my hand over my forehead, trying to push my hair out of my face. My hands were covered in paint from where I used my fingers to get the right texture or to smudge, but I hadn't thought about putting my hair up.

Dimitri's hand moved mine out of the way and ran his fingers through my hair, gathering it at the back of my head.

"My hero," I chuckled as I felt him fasten my hair with a tie. I tipped my head back so I could look up at him, finding that he used his own tie to fasten mine back. Dimitri grinned at me and kissed me before letting me face forward again.

"I'm sorry I'm not going to be much fun tonight, I got to get this finished," I said sadly, gesturing at the canvas.

"That's fine," Dimitri said, "I am more than happy to watch you paint."

I blushed to myself and went back to the canvas, dipping my brush in the orange paint again. The sunset on the movie cover was pretty but it was hard to replicate. Dimitri made comments of praise or input as I painted, and I found myself talking while I painted. I could feel a sensation of relaxation and calmness flow through me and was grateful for Dimitri.

He understood that my love language was spending time together.

By the time I finished the painting, it was well past midnight. I sighed and looked at it, deeming that it was acceptable. Not that I could really do anything else tonight, I was half asleep. I cleaned up my things and Dimitri lifted the canvas off the stand, setting it against the wall to dry.

"It looks amazing," Dimitri said.

"Thanks," I yawned. "I better get at least a 'b' on this."

"I'm sure you will," Dimitri said kissing my hair. I sighed and washed off the paint on my hands with a bit of paint thinner before going into the house, washing them in the sink as well.

I was sure to use more soap than I usually would, lathering my hands so I could get the thinner off my hands. Once I was done I shut off the lights and headed upstairs, Dimitri in toe.

"I did have a different idea of how my night was going to go, but I'm just too tired," I yawned. Dimitri smiled at me kindly and laid down, opening his arms for me to be ready. I got changed quickly and climbed into bed.

"Only four more days and then I'm done high school," I yawned.

Dimitri hummed and kissed my hair. "When do you expect to hear back on your applications?"

I grimaced and looked up at him. "I didn't submit them?"

"What do you mean?" Dimitri asked softly.

I sighed and rested my cheek on his shoulder. "I chickened out. Mom made some comments about how the only place going to school for art would get me is nowhere. She said that it was pointless, and if I wasn't going to do something worth while, I had no business applying."

"When did she say this?"

"A few weeks ago," I said quietly.

"Oh, Rose. Don't let her discourage you," Dimitri soothed but I shrugged. I didn't want to push the topic. I was already tired and my ability to be pleasant didn't last long when I was tired.

"It's fine. I'm not really good enough to get in. It's more or less a hobby," I said closing my eyes.

"You don't give yourself enough credit," Dimitri whispered again, rubbing his hand over my arm.

Mom seemed distracted when I got home and I wasn't used to seeing her distracted. Baba sat at the island too with his laptop, but he wasn't looking at it either. The real kicker was finding that Dimitri was here as well.

"Is everything okay?" I asked hesitantly.

"I spoke to a contact at work about Nathan Gregory," Mom sighed, " I have some concerns."

I sat down at the island and folded my hands on the counter. "Okay?"

"He has a record, but it's been expunged multiple times," Mom explained, "And when I had Gigi do some digging we found some things we didn't like."

I took a slow breath and toyed with the hair tie around my wrist. Mom looked at Baba and then back at me, turning baba's laptop towards me.

"Have you ever heard of something called 'The Gathering'?"

"No," I said quietly. "Should I have?"

"It's better that you hadn't, but it's caused some issues," Baba added, "Issues with Dimitri's history."

I looked at him and he frowned and rested his hand on my back. "I told your mother," he said, "I needed to."

"Told her as in?"

"As in I haven't completely wrapped my head around the fact that your boyfriend was there the day you were born? Yes. But, I'd rather know you are with someone who is hopelessly devoted to you than someone who may potentially play with your heart," Mom with a sigh.

"The Gathering is a group that works with the Strigoi," Dimitri said after a few moments of silence. I knitted my brows together.

"Like people who would help Strigoi ambush parties?" I asked quietly, thinking back to Camille's party.

"Exactly," Mom said and pushed the computer towards me. "Apparently, Nathan has been working with The Gathering for years. It looks like it's a generational job as well. Any time he got into trouble, people with influence made it disappear. I can only assume it's due to what Dimitri calls compulsion, or simply, blackmail."

I swallowed and moved the cursor over the screen, scrolling through the files that had been expunged. He had hurt other girls before, but someone made it all go away. Someone helped him be the vile person that he is.

"What does this mean exactly?" I asked.

"It means my job just got more difficult," Baba grimly said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because we, the Guardians, keep the existence of these races secret. We protect the Ekons, and once upon a time, Moroi and Dhampirs. Moroi were a race that was similar to Ekons. The required blood to survive, but could be sustained on food for periods of time. Moroi were mortal in a sense. They could wield the magic of the elements. They could go out in the sunlight and their appearance wouldn't change, but the sun would cause discomfort."

"Dhampirs were the offspring of Moroi and Dhampir, or Moroi and humans. They had increased strength and senses, but no immortality. They were considered and seen as the protectors of the Moroi. But over the years the Dhampirs started to die off due to Strigoi, and so did the Moroi."

I took it all in and swallowed thickly. "Are they all gone?"

"Most. You see the rare Dhampir, but not a lot."

"And you're part of the Guardians?"

"We adopted the name from the Dhampir warriors. Instead of putting our lives in front of the Moroi, we help conceal the Ekons."

"But they also work with the Alchemists," Dimitri but in. "The Alchemist mainly worked to keep Strigoi and Moroi's existence secret. On occasion, they help with humans who have run in with Strigoi. They help clean things up."

I rubbed my hands over the sides of my head. "This is so much," I groaned, "None of this makes any sense."

"It's a lot to be thrown at you," Baba said, "Plus, Dimitri and I have known this our whole lives."

I looked at Baba dryly and sighed. "There doesn't happen to be a book on all of this that I can use, is there? I feel like I need a manual."

Dimitri looked thoughtful for a few moments before nodding. "I don't have any at the hub that you haven't read, but I can get there," Dimitri offered.

"I think that would be best," Mom said, "She isn't the only one who needs to know all of this.

Let me know what you think!