I had been waiting until this morning to talk to Rose about the St. Varvara Day carnival. I knew it was last minute, but I wanted to be sure that I had crossed all the 't's and dotted all the 'i's before bringing up the subject. As far as things stood now, Rose was still on heavy probation. I would have assumed that she might have some leniency after the whole Dashkov fiasco, but it seemed like she was still under just as much scrutiny as before.

As Rose finished up with her cool-down stretches, I shut off the stereo and pulled out my Queen CD, smiling as I heard Rose hum the final cords of "I Want to Break Free." Queen was one of a handful of artists I could play during practice that Rose would never put up a fight about. I slipped it into the case and tucked everything into the pocket of my duster.

"It's really not fair that guys get real pockets," Rose said with a bitter wistfulness as she shoved her now empty water bottle into her bag. "All we get are these useless things that you can't even slip your entire hand in, much less a full CD case. What did you want to talk about?"

I glanced at her curiously as she sat on the bench next to our twin gym bags. Her expectant look surprised me. "Who said I wanted to talk to you about something?"

"Really?" She looked momentarily insulted before she canted her head towards the clock on the wall. "You finished up practice ten minutes early. You only do that when you have an early shift—which I know you don't because you already told me yesterday that you'd be working during the carnival tonight—or we have to have some sort of discussion. Now, I don't think I'm in trouble, so what's up?"

I wasn't sure if I was more amused or impressed that she had noticed a pattern that I had never set out to create. Either way, she was right. I took the spot next to her, giving into the urge to be close, but not so close that we were touching. It was strange. During practice, I could spar with her, adjust her stance, or help her press into a stretch without issue. Or at least without any major issues. But all it took was one little brush of her hand outside of practice to send me spiraling.

I shifted a little further away, just for my own peace of mind.

"Well, you're right. I did want to discuss something with you." Her little victorious smirk at my admittance pulled a smile from me. "I know you're still on probation, but I talked to Alberta and Kirova, and you have permission to attend the carnival this evening. That being said, you can only attend the carnival."

The St. Vavara carnival was a tradition at the school. Part autumn fair and part Halloween festival, the St. Vavara carnival was a chance for students and staff to have a little bit of fun before mid-year finals. Last year was my first time participating, and for someone who never really celebrated a traditional American Halloween, it was quite a shock. I hadn't realized that everyone, including staff, dressed up for the event, and I ended up standing out like a sore thumb. This year, I was more prepared.

Dressing up wasn't the only tradition surrounding the carnival, however. The covert scavenger hunt was also a pretty big deal, especially among the novices. It wasn't sanctioned by the school since it consisted of minor crimes like theft and breaking and entering, but guardians tended to turn a blind eye as long as it wasn't blatant, nothing was permanently damaged, and any stolen goods were returned by the next day. Yes, kids who were caught were still punished, but it made for a good stealth and teamwork exercise for the novices.

However, just because the guardians would turn a blind eye didn't mean that Kirova would if she found out that Rose participating.

"No scavenger hunt, okay?" I leveled her a look, making sure she understood. "If someone catches you and reports you, then you'll be in more trouble than any of the other students. Don't give Kirova a reason to punish you." Punish meaning expulsion. I wasn't sure why that woman had it out for Rose, but she did.

"Don't worry, Comrade." She leaned over, bumping her shoulder against mine. "I wasn't actually planning on attending at all."

"At all?" I think she was trying to ease my mind by promising to stay out of trouble, but the fact that she would be skipping the festivities entirely was anything but reassuring. She had been through a lot in the past few weeks. Lissa's kidnapping alone would have been stressful, but she had also been forced to confront her friend turning Strigoi, attacking her, and then being killed in front of her eyes.

I rubbed the back of my neck unconsciously. Natalie's death still weighed heavy on my mind, too. She might not have been my first kill, but she had been a child. Only a few months younger than Rose. If I closed my eyes, I could still see her little grin as we conspired together to buy Rose a small gift. How could that have only been a few weeks ago?

I shook off the image, only for it to be replaced with Rose's sad stare. While we hadn't brought it up again since that night, there was still the lingering memory of the lust charm hanging over our heads. I didn't want to compare my guilt over Rose against my guilt concerning Natalie's death, but I had spent more than one evening in the church sanctuary trying to find peace over the incident.

The best I could hope for is that we could return to normal and forget the whole thing ever happened.

"Are you sure you don't want to attend, Rose? This is your last year here. Your last chance. You should enjoy it," I urged her gently, hoping that I could somehow get her to reconsider. Little opportunities to relax and have fun with friends didn't come around often in the field, and I didn't want her to regret things later by missing out.

"It's fine," she insisted with a little wave of her hand. "I found another book from Father Andrew that might have more information about St. Vladimir and Anna. Between that and a date with Michael Myers, my night is booked."

I hated the small spike of jealousy that peaked when she mentioned a date. I wasn't aware of a Novice Myers. Maybe he was one of the Moroi students? I knew I shouldn't, but I couldn't help but ask.

"Who's Michael?"

"Michael Myers. You know, the serial killer from the Halloween movies?" When I obviously had no clue what she was talking about, she laughed. "One of these days we'll have to do a slasher flick movie marathon. I'll get you caught up on all the baddies. Jason, Freddy Krueger, Pennywise, Jigsaw, Leatherface…all the classics."

Now that she mentioned all of those horror villains together, I could recognize them. I hadn't watched any of the movies before, nor did I really want to, but there was a part of me that found the movie marathon idea appealing. Not tonight, though. Or ever.

"It's obviously up to you, Rose, but I think you should go to the carnival and have fun with your friends. Not too much fun," I said pointedly, making sure that she understood that the scavenger hunt was completely off-limits, "but still. You deserve a little fun."

She nodded, her bottom lip pulling between her teeth as she considered my words. "I'll think about it."

"That's all I ask." It was obvious that she had made up her mind on the matter and nothing I could say would sway her. I glanced up at the clock and noticed that the ten minutes I had set aside to talk to her were up, and if she didn't leave now, she'd be late for her first class. I tapped my pocket with the CD case hidden inside. "I need to put this away, but I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Bright and early." She rolled her eyes as she said it, just to ensure I knew she wasn't too eager. Rose wasn't actively resisting the practice sessions anymore, even the early morning ones, but Lord knows she couldn't admit to actually enjoying them. I couldn't blame her. I wasn't sure I wanted to admit how much I enjoyed spending that time with her either, at least not out loud.

"Bright and early," I echoed, turning towards the training center office as she gathered her things and left through the main doors.


I was able to breathe a little easier knowing that Rose had no plans to join in the illicit deeds that were bound to be happening later this evening. The school guard was going to do a final meeting to plan out how we would be covering the campus. As I told Rose earlier, the school was well aware of the little tradition the students put on each year.

Shifts were written on the large whiteboard, along with zone assignments. Some were patrolling ward lines like usual; others would be closer to the carnival and the events there. I was assigned to general patrol near the Guardian offices. We typically wouldn't have floating patrols like this, but it was necessary on a night like this.

The first couple of hours or so were uneventful, but just before my break, I heard my phone ping with a texted image. Someone must have caught one of the students still carrying their list around. I was surprised that one of them would make such a basic mistake. Just knowing what the kids were looking for would make it a whole lot easier to round them up. I looked over the items and the point values attached to them. 20 — ONE SET OF BOXING GLOVES 5 — CASE OF CHOCOLATE PUDDING 25 — FOYER PORTRAIT OF A PAST HEADMASTER 25 — GUARDIAN JACKET 20 — TEACHER'S FORMAL ROBE 15 — ONE VOLUME FROM THE SLAVIC CULTURE ENCYCLOPEDIA SET 35 — ONE OF MR. DWIGHT'S TIES 5 — SNORKEL MASK 50 — HEADMISTRESS KIROVA'S CAT EARRINGS* 5 — DRAMA DEPARTMENT WIG 5 — ONE MARACA 40 — ONE OF GUARDIAN BELIKOV'S CDs 30 — COPY OF MISS FEDIN'S NEXT ALGEBRA QUIZ 45 — QUEEN TATIANA'S MESSAGE OF BLESSING* 45 — GUARDIAN COJOCARU'S COLOGNE*

It was always impressive to see what ended up on these lists. Some were pretty basic, though I guess I had no clue where someone would get a maraca. However, others were downright impressive. Maybe even impossible.

The fact that my name was on the list didn't escape my notice, and I let out a groan. While I knew not everyone would be going for the high ticket items, especially if they thought that they could get enough of the smaller ones to make up the difference, there was guaranteed to be at least one person who would be trying to grab the 40+ point items. And since most people would assume that my CD collection and Guardian Cojocaru's cologne would be in our respective rooms, it was more than likely that someone would try to break into my place.

Before I could ask, a call came out over the radio. "We have people already monitoring the guardian residences; we'll post someone directly outside of Belikov and Cojocaru's doors. Let's get someone up to the Headmistress's apartment."

I was tempted to volunteer, but I knew there was another place I needed to stake out. My CDs weren't in my dorm but at the training center. Not many would know that, especially students. In fact, the only person who I'd really be concerned about was probably nose-deep in some ancient Moroi text. Still, it didn't hurt to check the area and keep an eye out.

I made my way towards the training center through the guardian offices, picking up one of the printed scavenger hunt lists and bypassing a trio of Moroi students who had been caught red-handed with a portrait of an old headmistress. They must have been going for the boxing gloves stored in the equipment closet off the Training Center office. It did surprise me that they were caught. Even before the scavenger hunt list had been revealed, we had someone posted there. While the gloves themselves didn't pose much of a risk if they fell into the wrong hands, the weapons safe was in the same room. The safe was where we locked up both the training firearms and practice stakes. True, they were secured behind a second set of doors with a specific key that only Guardian Petrov had a copy of, but the safety of the school was paramount and we took no chances.

Which was why I was surprised when I saw that the training office door was left open.

Perhaps it was just a mistake. After all, the light was off, but my gut told me that I wasn't alone. I cautiously peeked around the corner and into the office.

A form under a white sheet scanned the area silently, careful not to move anything unless absolutely necessary. The moment they spotted the box under the table—the one that had 'property of D.B.' written in black marker across the top—they rushed over to it.

I was about to call out to them when they ripped the sheet off, revealing a familiar silhouette. Dark hair, nearly black in the partial shadow, fell in loose waves down Rose's back. In one smooth motion, she knelt beside the table and gathered it in a handful, pulling it over one shoulder as she began to flip through the contents of the box.

Finding one that satisfied her, she snatched it and stood, turning around just before I could say anything.

Her eyes widened in surprise as she took me in, her eyes wandering over me from top to bottom. A smile ghosted on her lips at my get-up, and I suddenly felt self-conscious. Without a costume last year, I had felt somewhat like an outsider. This year, I had taken Rose's teasing to heart and thrown together a sheriff outfit out of some of my personal belongings and a few things borrowed from other guardians. It wasn't much; a wool jacket I hardly wore, the white dress shirt from my more formal guardian attire, a vest from Emil, and a tie from Yuri. I added my grandfather's pocket watch and a grey woolen hat as finishing touches. The hat was the only thing I had gone out of my way to purchase, but only because what self-respecting cowboy or sheriff wouldn't have a hat?

It seemed logical at the time, but now face to face with the girl who took merciless joy in taunting me over my novels and duster, it felt like way too much. Why couldn't I have gone for something simple? Rose was literally pretending to be a ghost…

Or was she?

I took a closer look at her costume, which had been hidden earlier under the sheet. Dressed in all black, a logical choice for her clandestine adventure, her clothing was studded with red and white stickers, each with a different name written on them. A different identity.

I almost had to commend her on her cleverness. She was a thief. An identity thief.

However, clever costume or not, she was still stealing and participating in something that would get her in a world of trouble. Had I not been the one to find her, she would have been in hot water.

"Rose," I said, closing the door behind me and keeping my voice low enough that we wouldn't be heard by anyone lingering in the hallway. It made the room darker, but there was still enough light filtering in through the small window to keep us out of total blackness. "Do you have something you'd like to tell me?"

"Sure, lots of things." She gestured towards the box of CDs. "Starting with how to download music. It'd take up a lot less space, you know."

She was right, of course. But that was beside the point. "Rose, you're doing the scavenger hunt, aren't you."

"What makes you say that?" I glanced at the CD in her hand, and she quickly pulled it behind her as if it could somehow be 'out of sight, out of mind.' "Jesse's band is terrible. Did you ever consider that maybe I wanted to change things up? Bring a new vibe to the carnival?"

"No. That's something I would never consider." With how much she protested against my music, she would have to be desperate to actually choose it over whatever was playing on the makeshift stage that I had helped set up earlier. However, I had some even more damning evidence. I pulled out the scavenger hunt list, handing it to her. "Also, I've seen this."

She didn't take the paper, already knowing what it was. Her shoulders fell with a groan, and she looked up at the darkened ceiling in exasperation. "Damn it. Someone's always stupid enough to have it on them when they get caught. They need to burn that thing. Or eat it."

"This is serious," I warned her, closing the distance a little more. The last thing I wanted was for her to get caught right now. "I thought you'd learned your lesson about reckless stunts—that you intended to take your duty to Lissa seriously from now on."

"I am," she insisted. "I'm doing this for her."

I bit the inside of my cheek, staving off the need to scold her. "Rose, don't start—"

"No! I'm serious!" Her voice rose a little as she tried to persuade me but lowered again as I stuck my hands out and hushed her. "One of the prizes for winning this thing is chocolate bacon truffles. Now, I know what you're thinking: disgusting."

"Actually, I wasn't thinking that." I was more concerned with keeping her out of trouble at the moment. I couldn't care less about whatever prizes had been compiled for this madness.

She grimaced, her nose wrinkling up in an almost adorable way as she mistook my protest for actual interest in the treat. "Don't say anything else. If you're into those, I don't want to know. I'd rather live in ignorance. Anyway. Christian really is into them. They're apparently, like, one of his favorite things ever. And his birthday is coming up, and Lissa really wants to give them to him as a present."

Her excuse was so roundabout and convoluted that I couldn't tell if she was telling some twisted truth or the world's worst lie. "Do you really expect me to believe that?"

"Do you really think I'd make that up?" She looked both offended that I had even questioned her and disappointed that what she was saying was the god-honest truth. It suddenly became painfully obvious that she had no interest in the prizes or the scavenger hunt itself except to help Lissa. I don't know why, but that fact almost made things worse. Rose would always sacrifice herself for Lissa's sake, including putting herself in danger of expulsion for a box of chocolate. Perhaps I needed to have a discussion with the Princess about what was acceptable to ask from your friend and guardian in addition to helping Rose set some boundaries.

"Come on, Comrade," she continued, stomping one foot in mild annoyance that she had been caught and was now dangerously close to losing the whole reason she had done this in the first place. "I know you're honor bound to uphold the laws of this school and all that, but can't you cut me some slack? Think of everything Christan's been through. His parents. Victor. All he asks in this world—besides liberties with my best friend—is some candy that was probably created as a horrible accident. Don't you think he deserves something good for once? Don't you think it's about time the universe gives back?"

She gave me a look that shouldn't have had an effect on me but somehow still did. She was literally batting her eyes in a ploy to sway me, and damn it, it was working. No. I couldn't let her win on this one.

"Rules are rules. They can't be manipulated because of one person's wants, and this isn't a small thing. This scavenger hunt is the worst kind of chaos. Theft, breaking and entering. It's a terrible tradition." What seemed relatively harmless even a few hours ago was not taking on drastic new stakes for us, and I was now much more wary of the whole thing.

She clasped her hands in front of her, biting her bottom lip for a moment and looking at me with doe eyes. "More terrible than seeing your own parents hunted down in front of you? More terrible than being mauled by psi-hounds? More terrible than finally having friends to share a birthday with after years of loneliness, only to be deprived of your favorite—"

"Enough," I relented, looking away from her and shaking my head in defeat. It was no use. Rose's attempt to manipulate me with the numerous tragedies of Christian's life wasn't what finally did me in, but the knowledge that Rose was determined to do this one way or another. If I couldn't keep her from getting into trouble, the only option I was left with was keeping her from getting caught if at all possible. I'd try to help her get out of here without being discovered, and hopefully, my CD would be enough to win her whatever points she needed to be done with the whole thing. "Go. Get out of here. I won't report you, but if another guardian catches you, I can't do anything for you."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I felt a pair of arms wrap around me in a hug before releasing me just as quickly. "I swear, this is a one-time thing. Just a quick throwback to the old Rose in order to serve the greater good."

"I already said yes. You don't have to keep convincing me." Despite myself, I was smiling. Between her unbridled joy and the brief embrace, I couldn't help it. I was weak when it came to her. I wasn't sure how she had managed this hold over me, or if she even knew how strong that hold was, but it was dangerous. Still, I wasn't ready to let go of it.

I went to grab the box so that I could hide it from other prying eyes when I noticed something. "Why do you need two CDs? The list says one."

"This is all I've got," She said, holding my Animotion CD up.

I crouched down and pulled the box out. Maybe Rose had shifted things while looking? No, there was a second CD missing. "A-ha is missing. It should be right at the beginning."

"Maybe you didn't put them in the right order." A slight look of concern crossed her features.

"I always put them in the right order," I said, giving her an affronted look that she'd think any less of me. To prove my point, I pointed to the area up front. "Look, you can even see the gap. One there, and one here for what you took."

"Someone's already been here." Her face fell, dismay quickly giving into disbelief. "It's impossible. There's no way to get in."

I tilted my head towards the CD in her hand. "Isn't there? You did."

She snatched the sheet that was still left on the ground where she had dropped it earlier, holding it up to me as if it would make a difference. "I disguised myself as Mertens. How could anyone have had an idea that good."

"It doesn't have to be that good," I told her, shoving the box back into its original spot. Perhaps if Rose realized that someone else had already come and gone, she'd give up on the ridiculous idea and just go back to the carnival. Maybe she'd be content to have fun like a regular, non-criminally active student. I knew it was a long shot, but a man could hope. "It just had to be good enough to get in here and take my CD."

"If they were in here…" She gasped, a sudden realization coming over here. "They've been in the training room."

She rushed out of the office and into the main training room as I called her name. Checking to make sure nobody followed us, I took off after her just in time to see her open the locker that held all the boxing gloves. There were usually hung in four rows of three, and right there, on the second to the top row, the center set was missing. Eleven out of the twelve pairs. Someone had managed to snag one.

"Ahh." The thin metal door to the locker slammed close and sent an echo through the room. She turned, sinking to the floor with her head in her hands. "Sixty points. I sneaked in here, right under Alberta's nose, for sixty points—which now mean nothing if Shane's team was the one that got these." She rasped her knucks on the locker behind her without looking. "And considering they're kicking everyone's ass tonight, that seems pretty likely. We can't close those twenty-five points with whatever Mason and Eddie dredge up from the rec building. Maybe there's a chance to win if we can score a teacher's robe, but that's not a big margin, and it only works if he doesn't get anything else. And I doubt he's given up."

At this point, she wasn't talking to me but simply working aloud some plan of action that could still earn her team the victory. Unfortunately, she was coming up empty. She shook her fist towards the ceiling in dramatic exasperation. "Ugh. Universe, you're a bitch."

I should tell her that it was over. To give me back my CD, pack up, and call it a night. But seeing her come so close to her goal and only to miss the mark had me mirroring her disappointment. I groaned, knowing what I was about to do was idiotic, even as I unfolded the list and looked it over.

"I can't believe I'm saying this…but aren't there other things you can get that are worth more? The headmaster portraits are right in the school's foyer. And Mr. Dwight keeps his tie collection in plain sight in his classroom." I had actually considered asking him for a tie before Yuri had offered up one of his own. I now wished I had gone with my original plan so I could just hand it over to her. It seemed like it wouldn't have mattered, though.

"Got it. Got it." She said, raising a hand and counting off some of the items they had already managed to snag. "And a guardian jacket. And Cojocaru's gross cologne."

"You stole his Oblivion?" I shouldn't have been impressed, but I was. I also shouldn't hope that it would stay missing, but again, I did. The stuff smelled horrendous.

She nodded, lifting her head to meet my stare with a despondent one of her own. "The only thing that could guarantee the win for us is Kirova's cat earrings. Getting into her room's impossible under normal circumstances, and everyone knows that she stayed home sick tonight. The earrings got put on the list before anyone realized that. Rose Hathaway can do a lot of things, but that might really, truly be where I have to draw the line."

She was right, of course. Getting those earrings was probably the only way she would win tonight. And it was impossible, even for her. At least, it was impossible if she had to try all on her own.

Together, though…

I cursed every step as I slipped back into the office and grabbed a pen and sheet of paper. This was a bad idea. A very bad idea. I hated seeing her so upset, though, especially over something she wasn't doing for herself but for someone she cared about. I hated seeing her selfless effort ruined at the finish line, especially knowing I could help make things right. It was stupid—idiotic even—but I knew I would do almost anything to help her smile, even if it meant breaking the rules.

I sat down beside her, close enough that she could look over the map I was starting to sketch. I could feel her body tucked against mine, but I shoved down the little thrill that elicited and tried to focus.

"Kirova has a bigger suite than the other teachers, but they all have the same layout." I drew a large rectangle with several smaller ones inside it to show the distinct rooms. "Living room, bedroom, kitchen—"

"Kitchen? The Moroi teachers have their own kitchens?"

"That's just the way it is," I said, parroting the same words I told myself anytime the disparity between our race and the more privileged Moroi became glaringly obvious. Did I like it? No. Did I have any way to change it? Also no. And at the moment, we needed to focus on our plan of action to help her win those stupid chocolates for Lissa and Christian. "But look. This room right here? That's her bedroom, and the wall looks like this. That's because there's a hidden staircase in it."

She narrowed her eyes at the thicker line I drew indicating the secret entrance. "Since when."

"Since always. It's part of the emergency escape system."

The 'secret tunnels' were an urban legend among the students. However, they actually existed, and while they weren't as well kept as they once were, they were still utilized here and there. There were various safe rooms and other secure areas around the academy, and about twice a year, there were staff drills to make sure that each place was still accessible and in proper working order. Celeste had been the last one to check this particular safe zone, but I had been the one to clear it the time before.

"The headmistress—or headmaster—has their own private escape?" She huffed. "I sure don't."

"The school's builders made those decisions a long time ago. Don't get caught up in the politics right now." I pointed to the makeshift map in my hands, marking the entry and exit points. "If you came through one of the secret tunnels and up the stairs, you could slip into Kirova's bedroom and take her earrings."

She rolled her eyes. "Pfft. Well, yeah. If I could go through the secret tunnels, I would've finished this scavenger hunt eons ago, Comrad. We've all heard the rumors about those doors. They don't even take keys, right?"

Rumors were often filled with falsehood and exaggeration, but in this case, they were right. "They require a thumbprint to access. Every teacher—Moroi or dhampir—has authorization to enter."

"I'm a big fan of the James Bond stuff, but unless you are suggesting I cut off a teacher's hand, I don't see how I'm going to get an authorized thumbprint."

I said nothing as the realization slowly came over her. Her jaw dropped as she suddenly realized what I was offering. "Are you…are you offering to help me break the rules? Rules are rules. Someone told me that."

Throwing my own words back at me had me rethinking things. This could do more than get Rose expelled. It could probably get me fired. I shot her a look, one filled with exasperation towards her and her ability to drive me past my own sanity, as well as disbelief towards myself that I even allowed it.

"Rose, you're making me change my mind." This was crazy. I started folding the paper before she placed her hand on top of mine to smooth it out again.

"No, no. I'm grateful. Really." She never lost her look of surprised amusement and offered me another smile. "But you have to understand my shock. You're Dimitri Belikov. Campus badass. Defender of justice. You're even dressed like a sheriff, for God's sake! It's like Lissa being an angel. Your personalities run so deep you can't even escape them when you're in costume. You're supposed to dress up like who you want to be on Halloween and St. Vavara's Day. Not who you already are."

"You want to be an identity thief?" I asked, lifting a brow at her explanation.

For a moment, she looked excited that I had actually understood her costume. "Hell no. I'm Rose Hathaway. Why would I want to be anyone else?"

Cheekiness aside, Rose really did hold herself with a confidence that few would ever manage yet that she had somehow mastered. I knew it was more than pride. She knew who she was and didn't make apologies for it. She liked who she was. Which was good because, for better or worse, I liked who she was too.

"You're running out of time if you want to pull this off," I said, bumping into her shoulder playfully and relishing the smile that earned me. "Don't tell me it's too risky for you."

She jumped to her feet, brushing her pants off before turning to offer a hand. "Why does everyone doubt me? You're just like Mason."

I laughed, knowing that her words were meant in jest but still feeling a little slighted by them. Mason was her friend and partner in crime. I wanted to be more. In a way, I knew I already was. Rose and I had been dancing around the feelings we both knew we felt but ignored for the greater good. That didn't mean they weren't still there, though. It didn't mean I stopped thinking about her when I shouldn't or wishing for things I knew I couldn't have. Perhaps that's why I felt slighted by her comment. Mason could have those things, even for just a little while. They would always be out of my reach.

"Why are you doing this?" She asked a bit more soberly, genuine curiosity overcoming her as she picked up the CD and grabbed a pair of boxing gloves from the locker behind us. "I can't imagine what kind of trouble a teacher would get into if you're caught."

Major trouble. Which meant we couldn't get caught. I avoided her eyes as I gave her an easier-to-swallow excuse. "Well, I supposed the universe really does owe Christian. And I'd better get that CD back undamaged."

When I finally felt brave enough to look at her, it was clear that she could see through my white lie. The urge to reach out and touch her cheek and confess that I was doing this for her was strong. I wanted to tell her that I craved her smile. I craved her laugh. I craved her happiness and was willing to do almost anything to make it a reality, even if it cost me.

Those were dangerous words, and even if I felt them in my heart, I couldn't admit them out loud.

"Come on," I said, leading her towards the closest access point. Thankfully there was one in the training center.

"I always wondered what this door was," she murmured absentmindedly as I pressed my thumb against the nearly invisible fingerprint pad.

The moment the door opened for us, I pushed her inside ahead of me. She reached for the light switch, but I batted her hand away. "Everything about these are tracked. Already there is a record that I've entered tonight, but it's not the kind of thing that would catch anyone's attention." I hoped, at least. "We do regular checks of the doors. But start turning on lights, using power… that'll raise a few questions when the logs are reviewed."

Even in the darkness, I closed my eyes and tried to imagine the mental blueprint of the campus that I had worked hard to memorize when I first arrived. The staff building was west of here. This break-off connected to the main artery that snaked below the central courtyard and under the Academic buildings. That meant a left, left, right, left…left? No, it would be another right. Then bypassing several break-aways until we hit the staff building.

As my eyes adjusted to the lack of light, I could start to see some details. Rose followed behind me as best she could, but after stumbling a few times, I slipped my hand into hers, intertwining our fingers as I led the way.

It took us about fifteen minutes and one nearly-missed turning point before we reached the stairwell.

"This is the Moroi staff building," I told her quietly, even though there was no chance that anyone could overhear us. "She's on the top floor."

We walked up the four flights. Headmistress Kirova's residence was the only apartment on the fourth floor, so it was easy to identify her door. I didn't want to chance anyone inside hearing us, so I pulled Rose ahead of me, took her hand, and guided it to the small button that would grant her access.

The action was only meant to help her as we tackled the next barrier in her goal, but all at once, I became aware of how close we were. There wasn't much room on the landing, so holding her in front of me meant that she was all but tucked against my body. I could step back. I could stand on the first stair rather than on the landing next to her. But I didn't want to.

For a moment, in the dark, silent, hidden corridor, I wanted to steal this moment and seal it away in the safety of my memories.

I wrapped my fingers around her hand tighter as I felt her lean into me a little. The sweet fruity scent of her shampoo invaded me, overtaking my better senses and good intentions. Even though I knew I shouldn't, I allowed us this one second of wishful thinking. I allowed her to find comfort in my embrace as I let my cheek brush against the silky strands of her hair. The temptation to turn her around, wrap her in my arms, and kiss her was strong. So damn strong. But I resisted.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself before whispering into her ear. "You don't need a thumbprint to get out of here, but don't push that button yet. We don't know if Kirova's in her bedroom. I'm going to get out of here and pay her a friendly visit. You're going to have to gauge the time it'll take me to get back up the main stairs before you make your move."

"I can do that." I could feel her nod against my chest. Even though I had broken our earlier moment, I was still holding her close. I tried to justify it by saying I needed to stay as quiet as possible, but even I knew it was a flimsy excuse. "But how do I get out without your thumbprint?"

"Put something in the door when you enter the room. The sensor'll stop it from closing. When you're finished, go back to the bottom of these stairs, and I'll meet you." I didn't want to force her to find her way through the dark tunnels, but reaching the bottom floor shouldn't be an issue. "There's a nearby exit."

"Got it."

"Good luck, Roza," I whispered into her ear, squeezing her hand one last time before letting her go. "Give me the rest of your goods. I'll hide them in the holly bush on the west side."

I made my way down the stairs, CD and boxing gloves in hand, as quickly as possible. I didn't want Rose waiting by herself any longer than necessary. The door to the main tunnel let me on the ground floor near the janitorial closet to the building. I cracked it open a little to make sure nobody was around before slipping through the door. I knew there was a security camera at the front entrance, so I slowed my pace a little as I walked through the space so I didn't draw attention to myself. Thankfully, Rose's stolen goods were able to be hidden away underneath my jacket, and the moment I was able to hide them away, I tucked them behind the bush.

Then I made my way back up to the fourth floor as quickly as possible. The whole errand was done within only a few minutes, but I knew Rose's patience wouldn't last much longer.

I knew we had stationed someone outside the Headmistress's door after the list had been revealed. While unlikely, it was a simple precaution just in case one of the students were foolish enough to try to enter through the main doorway. Celeste greeted me with a smile before checking her watch.

"You're here early. I wasn't expecting my break for a little while longer."

I checked my own watch, seeing that it was about seven minutes until shift change. I quickly made an excuse for being here. "I figured I'd let you off a few minutes early," I said, the lie slipping from me a little easier than I'd like to admit. "I can take over."

She gave me a big grin, jumping off the bench she had been relaxing on. "Thanks! I heard they're selling churros for a dollar down at the carnival. Those things are practically addictive."

"They really are," I agreed, even though I had never had a churro in my life. However, the pure excitement in her eyes as she mentioned the treat made me think it was worth a try.

She all but skipped away, leaving me alone without a second thought. As soon as she was out of sight, I went to knock on the door. Just before doing so, I switched to ringing the doorbell instead. Not only would it draw Kirova out of the bedroom, but Rose was also more likely to hear that over a knock.

I took only a moment for the door to swing open, revealing the older woman along with the smell of chicken soup. She was wrapped in a thick pink robe with her faded black hair pulled up onto a messy knot. Little strands of hair fell free around her face, creating a shocking contrast to the typically put-together woman I was used to.

"Guardian Belikov," she said, rubbing at her watery eyes. "What a nice surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were doing alright."

"That's so nice of you to stop by." She grinned, looking slightly dazed. She was probably on some medication, and in any other circumstances, I would have cut the conversation short and encouraged her to rest, but I needed to give Rose as much time as possible. "But really, I'm doing fine. It's just a cold."

"I'm glad to hear it," I glanced behind her towards where I knew the bedroom was located. "The door was slightly cracked, and I could see a shadow behind it. She needed to hurry, but there was nothing I could do to urge her to move faster. Kirova caught my stare into the apartment and began to turn to see what I was looking at, so I quickly tried to catch her attention again. "Everyone's been concerned. A number of students have asked about you at the carnival."

"Have they? Well, that's very kind, too."

They hadn't, of course. I had heard a few kids mention that she was ill, but they seemed ambivalent about the news for the most part. Kirova wasn't known for her popularity among the students. Had it been Alberta, I'm sure several of the novices would have asked us to check in on her. Even if she was strict in practice, outside of classes, she was actually quite kind and compassionate. Perhaps not as maternal as she was towards Rose, but concerned enough with her students to care about their wellbeing and help them succeed.

Kirova lowered her eyes, scanning my outfit for a moment before giving me an appreciative look. Initially, I assumed she was just looking at my costume. She hadn't been the first, and I was sure she wouldn't be the last. However, there was something behind her look that made me slightly uncomfortable, and I took a small step back.

"I don't know if anyone's told you this, but you really wear that vest quite well." Those meds must have been stronger than I initially thought because there was no way I could imagine her saying something like that in normal circumstances. "It's a pity you don't wear them more often. I'd have no problem with it, you know. Instructors are welcome to dress as they like, so long as school policies are adhered to."

"I think this will be a one-time thing." I knew it would be a one-time thing.

Her smile faltered a little. "That's too bad. I've always thought the way a man wears a vest says a lot about him. Not many can pull it off, but you've got an exceptionally well-muscled chest."

Rose needed to hurry.

This wasn't the first time someone had taken a little too much notice of my body. It was to be somewhat expected. Guardians were all but required to be in peak physical condition. Even though I was pretty used to it, it almost always made me uncomfortable. Having the Headmistress not only stare but also comment on my body was beyond uncomfortable. It was…well, it was practically harassment. In any other circumstances, I wouldn't stand for it. The only reason I was still standing here was because of Rose.

The Headmistress continued with her inappropriate commentary, not going so far as to touch me but definitely enough for me to want to run out of there and forget the whole thing. She was serving a few more uncomfortable "compliments" when I saw Rose peek through the bedroom doorway.

Her look of fear was the first thing that grabbed my attention, quickly followed by her hands miming a door opening and closing.

Oh no.

I tried to keep my face as passive as possible, nodding as Kirova spoke to keep her from turning around. However, my eyes must have made my concern quite clear because a wash of guilt and regret colored Rose's expression.

I desperately tried to figure out a way to get her out of this. The only other exit was the front door. Or the window. However, that was an impossible solution with us four stories up. Perhaps I could lure the Headmistress out of her apartment somehow? No, I didn't want to encourage whatever was going on any more than absolutely necessary.

Still, if it saved Rose…

I glanced back toward the bedroom, but Rose had already disappeared. Appearing a second later with a knotted bedsheet in hand. She wasn't planning on…she couldn't be…

And just like that, she was gone again. I felt the momentary temptation to burst into the apartment and keep her from doing something so monumentally stupid and dangerous, but a voice from the stairway kept me in place.

"Oh hey, Dimi—" Yuri paused, realizing that the Headmistress was present before amending himself. "Guardian Belikov. I thought Guardian Spencer was stationed here."

I wasn't sure what lie to offer, but thankfully he let them off the hook pretty quickly. "It doesn't matter. I'm here to relieve you."

"Thank you," I said, managing to keep the desperation out of my voice. I was ready to be done with this. Turning back to the Headmistress, I tried to give her a polite nod. "I'm glad you're feeling better. I hope you're able to get a little rest."

As quickly as I could without drawing too much attention, I slipped into the back stairwell and started making my way downstairs. I made it one floor before I started hearing some shouting outside. There could only think of one reason why there would be such a commotion, and if my suspicion was correct, I needed to find Rose before the others did.

I took the stairs two at a time, pausing only a moment as the clang of a door opening and slamming shut again echoed through the concrete chamber. I barely caught a flash of dark hair turning the corner as it sped away from me towards the lower floors.

"Rose?"

She spun, her initial shock fading into relief at seeing it was just me and not another guardian. "No time to talk, Comrade."

"I thought you climbed out the window. I was going around to meet you."

"Kier's out there," She said simply as if that was enough of an explanation. "I had to adjust. Also, the laundry room's screen is going to need replacing."

I groaned. Sure, it probably wouldn't be the worst damage caused by this ridiculous scavenger hunt, but it was more than I was hoping for. We descended the final levels before I opened the door back into the main hallway, checking to ensure the coast was clear before waving her through. "Come on. This way."

I guided her down the hallway towards the window at the end of it.

"I can fit," she said when she caught on to my impromptu strategy. "But you'll have to lift me."

"I know. The holly bush where I put the gloves and CD is right below. Hopefully you can grab them and go."

"More rule-breaking." She almost looked amused at my fall from grace. "Tonight must be a record for you."

"I've done worse."

Her face flipped from minor amusement to pure unadulterated shock. I instantly regretted my unintentional admission as I saw the myriad of questions starting to form behind her eyes. I knew she'd eventually corner me and demand an explanation but now was hardly the time or place.

"You're running out of time, Rose." My warning shook her from her stupor.

I held my hands out, weaving them together into a step to hoist her up. She held my shoulders as I lifted her until she could grasp the windowsill. Once she opened it, she looked back at me.

"You know, I'm becoming an expert at getting in and out of—"

She shifted just enough to throw her off her balance, and I quickly caught her before she could tumble to the floor. One moment she was halfway out the window; the next, I had my arms wrapped around her waist, her body pressed tight against mine, and her face just inches away from my own.

I should have let her go. I knew that. There was no reason to be holding her this close. If someone were to catch us like this, it would probably be worse than her being caught in Kirova's residence. Maybe.

Still, I couldn't let go just yet. The last time Rose had been in my arms, we had both been under the influence of a charm. Now, it was just us.

I wondered if she was remembering that exact moment. Or if she ever thought about it like I sometimes did. It probably made me a horrible man, but there were nights when all I could do was think about how right her body had felt in my arms. Her skin under my fingertips. Her lips against my own.

I hated myself for it, but I wanted that night back. Under different circumstances, of course, but still. I craved that one brief moment between us.

Her eyes flicked towards my lips for a brief moment.

I shouldn't. I couldn't. But as I brushed Rose's hair back from her face and tucked it behind her ear…I almost didn't care.

I nearly gave in when the sound of shouting from the lobby snapped me out of my daze.

Boosting her up again, I helped her slip through the open window. I heard a small yelp and the sound of rustling leaves as she made what I imagined was a not-so-graceful landing and then reached up to close the window.

Half a second later, Guardian Kier appeared from around the corner.

"Hey, did you see a student come through this way? There was one sneaking out through Kirova's window."

"Someone got into the Headmistress's apartment?" I said, feigning shock that someone would be so bold.

"Yeah." He almost looked impressed.

"Do you know who it was?" Please say no. Please say no.

He shook his head. "No, they snuck in through a window before I could get a good look."

Thank God.

"I'll keep an eye out. Maybe they're up on the third floor."

"Thanks." He ran towards the stairwell, and once I was sure he was far enough away, I took off towards the main quad, hoping that Rose had made it safely to wherever she needed to be. I didn't see her among the main crowd of carnival goers, but I also hadn't been called over the radio to deal with her, so I had to assume she made it alright.

It was nerve-wracking waiting to see her again. I knew I couldn't ask anyone about her whereabouts without seeming suspicious, so I had to wait as patiently as possible. Remembering Celeste's earlier enthusiasm, I grabbed one of the churros from the nearby cart. I could see why she was so excited, but I had to admit that I didn't enjoy it as much as I probably should have. Not with worry twisting in my stomach.

Eventually, I spotted Rose sitting on a bench near the dunk tank. Lissa was beside her, and I saw a look of joy cross her face as she practically tackled Rose in a tight hug. Rose and her team must have won the competition.

I couldn't help but smile. I knew that we had taken an enormous risk, but it was all worth it to see Rose so happy. That didn't mean I was eager for a repeat performance anytime soon.

Mason ran over to the pair, interrupting their conversation and pulling her away from Lissa and towards a large group of kids gathered near the funnel cake stand. The art teacher, Mrs. Alders, was passing out small gifts to a few students dressed in various costumes. I vaguely remembered something about a costume contest. I approached the group, assuming it was now safe to do so, when Mrs. Alders glanced over Rose's shoulder and gave me a curious look.

"Oh. Did you give one to Guardian Belikov?"

Her question confused me for a moment before I followed her gaze to the spot just above my jacket pocket. A red and white "HELLO, MY NAME IS…" sticker clung to the wool, with a name written in messy sharpie over the blank space. It must have transferred from her costume to mine earlier during her escape.

Rose's eyes went wide as I quickly covered for us. "Yes, she gave it to me earlier. She knows I am a fan of Judy Blume."

I could tell Rose was holding back a laugh, her lip pulled between her teeth and amusement dancing in her eyes. I took that as my cue to leave before anyone could ask any more questions.

Two days later and a school-wide assembly about the sanctity of rules, Rose was riding high on our little escapade. While nobody knew the real story about that night, it was clear that it would become yet another legend of this old school. Not just among the students, either. While the guardians couldn't outright applaud the student who had managed the seemingly impossible feat, it was easy to see that there was some sort of awe and respect given to whoever had masterminded the caper.

"Don't feel that smug," I told her after one of our early morning runs, playfully shoving her shoulder as she recounted how Mason was still begging her to tell him the truth about that night. There was an unspoken agreement that we would never tell another living soul, but it was amusing to see how persistent that boy seemed to be about the whole thing. Still, I didn't want to encourage her behavior. "The scavenger hunt went too far. The campus will probably be on lockdown next year."

She shrugged the warning off. "It hasn't been able to stop us before. What makes you think they can now?"

"Because they—we—haven't been trying as hard as we could," I admitted. "Sure, no one approves of all the theft and trespassing, and if you're caught, you're punished. But… there's always been an understanding among the guardians that trying to do the impossible is good for you—the novices, at least. Stealth and problem-solving aren't bad qualities, given the jobs you'll face in the real world. Kirova doesn't feel the same about the Moroi, and after this…well, like I said, some of the methods we've held back on aren't going to be held back anymore. Expect a lock change right before the carnival next year. And more patrols."

Of course, neither of us would be around to see next year's competition.

"I'll be the end of an era," Rose said with a rueful sigh. She pulled her bag out of one of the lockers and gave me a wry smile a second later. "But I guess I'll go down in history yet again."

I remembered her words from the other night. "Another reason why you don't want to be anyone except Rose Hathaway, huh?"

She sat on the bench, turning away from me a little as her brows furrowed. "I know I said that…but sometimes…well, sometimes I wish I could steal another identity. Someone older. Some who isn't guarding the same Moroi who…other people are guarding."

She didn't look directly at me, but I could catch a cautious glance from between her lashes to make sure I got her meaning. I did. And…I understood. Sometimes, more often than I'd like to admit, I wished for that too.

Eventually, my silence forced her gaze to mine, and I could see the nervous edge in her expression.

"Someone like that…would make a few things easier." It was a dangerous thing to say out loud, but I didn't want her to feel like she was alone in her wish. "But someone like that wouldn't be Rose Hathaway. And I'd rather live in a much more complicated world than in one where she wasn't around."

Her eyes softened, the less-than-hidden meaning clear. It was true. I would rather have Rose in my life, as difficult as our non-relationship was, than live a life never knowing her. Loving her.

"Well," she said, putting on a trademark smirk and breaking the heavy feeling between us. "Lucky you, because here I am, so your world is about as complicated as it can get. But it might also get a little more delicious."

"Oh?"

She unzipped her bag, looking back at me before pulling a gold-and-blue box from the bag. "Ta-da! Haberlin's dark chocolate bacon truffles."

"Aren't those Christian's?" I asked between my laughter.

She shook her head. "No, Lissa has those. This is my own box. Camille gave one to Mrs. Alders too, and it ended up in the prize bin. Here. Have one." She opened the lid and held it out to me.

"Rose…if I didn't know better, I'd say you broke down and tried these."

"Quality control," she said, shrugging off the accusation.

"There are only two," I noted, leveling her a meaningful look. "Out of twelve."

"Lots of quality control." She picked up one of the two, holding it out victoriously. "And I'm giving the last one to you, Comrade. You should be flattered. Because even if it's complicated, I hope you realize there are perks to having Rose Hathaway in your life."

She popped the treat into her mouth, leaving a small dot of chocolate on her lips that tempted me far too much. Instead of giving in, I grinned and reached for the last truffle.

"Oh, I do, Roza. I do."


Author's Note


Happy Halloween! Thank you for reading "Hello My Name Is Rose Hathaway" from DPOV. This is one of my most popular requests and I hope you enjoyed it!