DISCLAIMER: I do not own VA however I do own the written material in this story and the made up characters that appeared in Memoirs. This includes new characters that will appear later on in this book.

Please note. I am currently reading the Bloodlines series. If you have not read the series I would suggest reading it. There will be no spoilers in this story. The Bloodlines series storyline is not 100 percent in this story. Once I have read the entire series, I will be doing my own story.

Chapter One: Change

"Because these things will change
Can you feel it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down
This revolution, the time will come
For us to finally win."

-Change by Taylor Swift

Alana POV

I huffed as I took my seat at our usual table in the school's cafeteria. Leila mimicked my actions. We looked at each other and laughed.

"Two classes left and we officially don't have to worry about tests and classes for two months!" Leila said playing with the salad she had dosed in ranch dressing.

I smirked, "Yeah instead we get to worry about weddings and oh...you know just saving the world."

Leila laughed as she took a tiny bite of her salad.

I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, grazing my molnija marks as I did so.

It had been three long weeks since I had received my tattoos. And since then it seemed they had become a glowing bright neon sign above my head that yelled 'Stay back or I will eat you'. The only person who would even partner up with me for defense classes was Asher. Everyone else seemed to be scared of the girl who had killed two strigoi before even being promised as a guardian.

Life at the Academy had fallen back to normal…or well as normal as it could after all the changes we had all been through.

For one being the fact that I was now taking lessons from my own father. It was a battle I had lost when I had exclaimed that Eric would be back next school year and I could continue my lessons there. Yeah, mom was having that. Neither was dad for that matter. So I had finally agreed to take lessons. Reluctantly I might add.

Thinking of Eric had me on edge. He had not returned back to the Academy and no one had heard from him either. He had all but disappeared and it scared me to be so worried about someone who clearly was not going to fight for me.

As if on cue the one person who would fight for me came in and walked straight for us. Asher and I had fallen into a very 'flirty' friendship as Leila put it. She was right though. Parts of me felt guilty that I was probably leading him on but parts of me relished in the joy of being wanted. Relished in the fact that Asher wanted me and it was very apparent in everything he did.

Asher sat down across from Leila and me, a tray of food on his plate.

He gave me a smile and then glanced at my own tray, "You going to eat all of that?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, "So what if I am?"

Leila took another bite of her salad and shrugged, "Have we not learned our lesson on teasing Alana about her abnormal eating habits."

I turned my glare on her. She looked at me and shrugged again, "What? It's true. You've been eating like a garbage disposal lately."

I took a bite of my ham and cheese sandwich, "Well you can thank the famous Rose Hathaway and Dimitri Belikov for that. They have me taking two lessons a day."

Asher whistled, "Wish I had parents like that."

Leila tossed her napkin on her, "At least you have parents that don't force you to marry."

At that the table grew silent.

Leila's wedding was only a few weeks away and to say she was unhappy about it was an understatement. Leila recovered first and grabbed her barely eaten salad, "I'm going to go get a feeding in."

Then she was gone leaving me alone with Asher. I felt bad that my best friend had to live through all of this.

Asher shifted in his seat, "Guess I should have kept my mouth shut."

"Leila's strong. She knows you didn't mean to upset her."

I picked up my own plate as Asher fell in step beside me. He nudged me almost sending my tray flying.

He laughed, "Ready to get your ass kicked today in class?"

I smirked and doing a Hathaway trademark stuck out my hip and rolled my eyes, "Why Asher! I thought you never would ask." Then I flipped my hair and we both started laughing just as the bell for the end of lunch signaled.

Rose POV

The scene before me was quite hysterical. Lissa looked like she was about to have a conniption fit and Christian was jumping around every time she seemed to breath.

I felt Lissa's frustration slip through the bond and couldn't help but want to laugh harder.

"Lissa, no coffee. It's a potent drug that can seriously lead to problems for the babies."

Lissa was starting to shake with anger. I knew part of it had to do with spirit but most of it was her own anger towards her husband.

She fired back, "I can drink coffee in moderation."

Christian sighed and paced the floor in front of her desk as he held the coffee pot that Lissa had asked me to sneak in for her since Christian had gone on a rampage of confiscating anything that was not healthy.

"Lissa, you do not know how to moderate."

Lissa gritted her teeth and I laughed not able to control it any longer, which earned me a glare from Lissa.

I was soon forgotten as Christian kept speaking, "I have enrolled us for some mommy and me classes for after the twins are here."

Lissa was fuming, "What you think I can't take care of a baby?"

I didn't get to pick up the last of the conversation as the smell of clove cigarettes and rich cologne filled my nose. I looked up to see Adrian had just walked in the door. He looked at me then away.

It had been this way for weeks now. Adrian was trying his best not to show his anger but I knew it was there. It was more fear then anger though. I tossed him the bag of chips I had between my legs.

"You might want a snack with the show." I said scooting over so he could sit next to me.

"What is now?" Adrian asked sitting and cracking the bag of chips open.

I shrugged as I munched on a chip, "The usual. Christian had decided to turn into father of the year and Lissa is annoyed that she can't have her way."

Adrian chuckled, "Good old times."

We laughed in unison and both Lissa and Christian turned around.

Christian averted his eyes to the ceiling as if praying before looking at us again, "Do you guys really need to be here right now?"

Lissa slammed her hand on her desk, "Enough!" She screamed making even me jump a little, "We can talk about this tonight. Leave please before I decide to commit my first murder."

Christian looked appalled but turned and left, slamming the door on his way.

Lissa slumped in her office chair and groaned.

Adrian piped in, "He means well Lissa."

Lissa sighed pulling a water bottle out of her desk drawer, "I know he does. I know."

I felt the bond tingle as Lissa's mind was filled with worry and even more agitation not directed at Christian.

"What's wrong?" I asked trying to dive deeper into her thoughts. She pulled back her mind and I was left again with my own thoughts only.

She sighed and rubbed her neck, "Apparently we will be getting a new…advisor of sorts next school year."

I frowned, "Advisor?"

Lissa took a big gulp of water, "They wouldn't tell me more. Just that I needed to find a living quarter for a new staff member."

Adrian frowned, "I thought you had final say on staff."

Lissa sighed again, "I do but since the whole teens running away and students using magic as weapons, my judgment is being questioned."

Adrian sat back, "Does this have to do with the election?"

Lissa didn't answer but we all knew the truth.

Of course it did.

Nora POV

"Ivan stop." I giggled as he tickled me. We were in our final class of the day and he had me pinned to the ground.

He kissed me on the lips and I felt my body go stiff. He hadn't kissed me in weeks. Not since we had decided to just be friends. Well more like I had decided.

After the kidnapping, things had been put into perspective for me. One being that having a boyfriend…even a really hot one…was not the main butt of my problems. I had felt weak and pathetic when we were faced with danger and I never wanted to feel that way again.

On top of all that, I knew Ivan was going through a lot what with his father being a sick bastard.

I pulled away first and maneuvered my way out from underneath him.

He cleared his throat and looked at his hands, "I…uh…I need water." He said getting up fast and walking towards the water fountain on the other side of the gym.

I sighed in relief. It was hard to turn down someone like Ivan. He was sweet and handsome and well everything I had always dreamed about in a boyfriend. I shook my head trying to get back on track.

Mila laughed from her mat a few feet away. She was sitting doing exercises.

Since our return, Mila had cut her hair in a pixie bob that was actually quite flattering to her little features.

I looked at her and my cheeks flushed. I knew there was history between her and Ivan and I felt like I had complicated that history. But if I had Mila had kept a good attitude about hiding it. She had even befriended me in a way.

She met my eyes before turning her attention back to her sister.

Charlotte Ozera had been a big topic of gossip around campus. Someone had let it out that she had been raped by Ivan's strigoi father. Yeah, that news had spread like wildfire.

The gossip got more prominent when she had started joining our classes. She was already a promised Guardian but my dad had let slip one night that Charlotte was way out of training and actually benefited a lot being in our classes.

Yet the truth about why Charlotte had been in that house in the first place had seemed to surpass everyone's mind. Asher had told me one night that Charlotte had claimed she didn't remember anything.

But if you looked deep into her eyes, you could tell that she knew more than she was letting on.

She met my gaze and I quickly averted her gaze.

Yes, there was something there. But then again it was not my problem to handle.

I noticed Ivan staring at Mila from the water fountain. Ah, there was that history I was talking about.

Asher plopped down next to me on the mat, sweat dripping from his face.

"Please tell that jerk was not just kissing my sister." He said pulling out a rag and drying off his face.

I pursed my lips, "So what if he was."

Asher looked at me like I was crazy, "So what? So you are my younger sister that's what."

I rolled my eyes. I would never be able to master the art of eye rolling like Alana.

"By two whole minutes. That's nothing." I said feeling my voice squeak in protest.

"That's two whole minutes." He said tossing the rag onto his shoulder.

I fired back with my own comeback, "It's not like I get on your case when you ogle Alana."

His cheeks turned red, this time not from his workout, "I do not ogle. That is a completely different situation and you know it."

I sighed and patted my brother's shoulder, "How's that quest coming along anyways."

He looked at Alana as she dodged a kick from another student.

Asher shrugged, "It's complicated."

I knew not to pry him. I also knew how it was complicated. At least I had my suspicions.

I patted his shoulder again and stood up, "Well when you want to talk about it you know I'm here."

I started walking away smiling as he called out behind me, "No more kissing!"

Yeah. No more kissing.

Mila POV

Don't lose it Mila, my mind whispered to me. I averted my eyes and continued with my stretches. I so did not want to think about the kiss Ivan had just planted on Nora.

I knew Ivan and I had officially called it quits but dammit my heart was having a hard time letting it go.

Charlotte…or Carly as she liked to be called now, sighed next to me as she stretched out her leg.

She sighed again and this time I wanted to snap, "Just spit it out already." I said knowing where this conversation was leading once again.

Carly folded her legs under herself and stared at me, her icy blue eyes searing through me, "Mother and father invited us to dinner tonight. I think you should go. I mean you haven't seen mom once and you have ignored all of their please to get you to attend. It's not so bad. They seem in love again."

I resisted the urge to hurl. Charlotte had been the obedient daughter the last three week, attending each family dinner and spending time with our poor excuses of parents. It wasn't my mom I was really angry at. Yet knowing she was taking my father back set a fire in the pit of my stomach that wanted me to burst. Unlike Charlotte, I had stayed far, far away from my parents. Aunt Tasha had even called me trying to persuade me to cooperate and be a good sport.

Heck no.

I was not and would never put myself back into that situation. Images of my mother broken and crying at the bottom of the stairs filled my head.

I shook the images away returning to my stretches.

"No." I said firmly and I knew Charlotte wouldn't push me. Just like I hadn't pushed her to talk about what had happened between her and the strigoi.

She looked up and her face turned puzzled as she smirked, "Looks like you have a fan."

I followed her gaze and caught a glimpse of Nora's hazel eyes as she turned away.

I didn't answer. Charlotte studied me and I knew she was beyond curious.

She sat back on her hands and let her long legs stretch out, "So nothing ever happened between you and Ivan did it?"

I gulped and felt my fist clench. I did not want to talk about this. I stood went to go run my hands through my hair. Or at least what was left of it. I had needed a change and had decided to chop it into a little shoulder haircut.

I put my hands to my side, "Just leave it Charlotte."

Then I walked towards the water fountain. I hadn't meant to snap at her but I just could not think about Ivan anymore. I passed Nora on the way and took a brief moment of satisfaction as a deep blush crossed her cheeks.

No, I did not hate Nora Castile. But I didn't like her either. All because she held the attention of the one person I wish would not hold mine.

Dimitri POV

I sat in silence reading. The Guard booth was a seemingly boring job but I did it anyways. So I felt a whoosh of relief as Rose climbed into the tiny stall with and plopped down in a chair.

Things with Rose were complicated. I almost wanted to laugh. When were they not?

She sat back and folded her arm across her chest, "Cat got your tongue Comrade?"

I wanted to groan at the use of the silly nickname she had held onto for years. It was amazing hearing her say it thought as her lips curved into a tight smile.

Those lips. Many of my sleepless nights had been haunted lately by those lips. All I really wanted was to kiss her.

But that was out of the question.

Since Alana's return to the Academy, Rose and somewhat pushed me away. When I would touch her, she would quickly retreat. It was as if the night we shared had not even happened and honestly I had no clue as to what had changed inside Rose's head. She was jumpy and completely not herself lately.

"Depends. Are you going to finally tell me what's wrong?" I said creasing the page in the book I was reading and setting it down.

She pursed her lips and looked straight ahead, as hard as a statue, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Her voice faltered. I had finally had it.

I pulled her arm from across her chest and swung her close to me. Her body was warm against mine and I wanted to kiss her so badly when a tiny yelp escaped her rosy and perfect lips.

Her eyes met mine and she held my gaze.

I inched closer to her, "This isn't you Rose. I know you were worried about Alana after the attack but it's been three weeks. Why are you so keen on pushing me away?"

Rose looked at me, desire hooded her eyes.

She sighed and leaned closer, closing her eyes once and then opening them, "Oh, screw it."

Then her lips were on mine and I felt my whole body erupt into fire. Her hand found its way to me chest and before I knew it I was pulling her shirt off. I kissed her. I kissed every inch of skin. She tasted like honeydew.

"I love you Roza." I murmured against her skin. She sighed and much to my disappointment pulled away.

I wanted to growl and grab her like a lion would its prey.

She took a deep breath to steady herself, "I love you too Dimitri. But I'm not ready to do what this is leading up to. At least not until I know."

I felt my brows rise and my confusion take over, "Know what Rose?"

She sighed and pulled her shirt back on over her head. I savored each last glimpse I got of the tan skin of her stomach.

She kissed my cheek and smiled, "I'll let you know when I know."

Then she stood and straightened her shirt as she walked out of the guard booth.

Adrian POV

I slumped onto my couch and grabbed the bottle of fine wine that was sitting out. I was halfway done filling my glass when a voice had me jumping of the couch and nearly out the window.

"Hello Adrian dear."

I turned and was nearly passed out with relief when I saw Tatiana Ivashkov herself.

I recovered quickly and set the glass down, "Well to what do I owe the pleasure to have my favorite aunt here?"

My great aunt smiled and waved away the guardian that was at her side. I was highly surprised that she didn't have a whole army with her considering she was the Queen.

"More like the question is why is my favorite nephew snooping around behind my back?" She said pouring herself her own generous glass of wine and sitting down on a wooden chair.

Damn Rose.

I shrugged and tried to play it off, "Why whatever do you mean?"

My aunt chuckled, "Adrian, always the one to soften my heart." Then her eyes bored into me and I felt like a puppy that was about to be chastised for peeing on the carpet.

"Imagine my surprise when I get a call from them saying that an Ivashkov has requested information on the offspring of shadow kissed dhampirs. They were rather surprised to find out that I was not that Ivashkov." She took a steady sip of her wine, "So then I racked my mind for who in our family would want to know something like that? And the only person I could think of was the only person who even knows of their existence."

I felt my heart racing. I was speechless.

She continued, examining her wine as she spoke, "Tell me Adrian dear? Has your love for a silly dhampir trumped your judgment again?"

I straightened my back, "I do not love her. Not that way anymore. And my feelings for Rose have never trumped my judgment."

She sighed, "Then why is my talented and smart great nephew a silly ornament here at the Academy? You have moved your entire life to be near this woman."

I felt spirit's anger bubble. I never really got angry with my aunt but this conversation was one I was tired of having with mother and father let alone her.

She spoke again, "Why did you need the information Adrian? You could have come to me and I would have helped you. Even if I think it's silly for you to be searching for answers to a problem that isn't even your own."

I felt my anger subside, "Is that what this is about? That I didn't come to you?"

My aunt chuckled and set her wine down, "Well of course it is. When was the last time you visited me? It's been years. You've gone on and forgotten about your dear old aunt."

I smiled, "I could never forget the most important person in my life."

She chuckled and sighed again, "Gosh I've missed you."

We sat and talked about things at Court. Nothing had changed really. It was still the same. But my mind was buzzing to ask. So finally I did.

"Great Aunt, did they give you the information I asked for?" I asked trying to sound like it was not important.

She chuckled and reached for the wine glass she had long forgotten taking a hefty sip, "Adrian, their kind does not do things for free or on a whim because we ask. They have scheduled a representative to come to Court. That's all I was told."

Well, crap.