Dimitri Belikov

We arrived at St. Vladimir's in the middle of the Moroi night. The school was much more open and spread out than what St. Basil's had been. Too bad that the Moroi couldn't function on a human schedule; it would be nice to feel the sun more often. The best part was that the time in Montana ran four hours earlier than it did back home. It would bite me in the butt towards the end of the day, but for now, I was wide awake.

We were led to the Dhampir dorms, to the third floor. Vika was led through a set of doors to the left of the landing, me to the right. Following the male Guardian through the doorway, he stopped at a desk just inside the doorway. They talked quietly for a few moments about some princess contacting the school and would be returning sometime the next day. The Guardian behind the desk looked back at me and clearing his throat, pointed to a door across from us, passing me a key. "I know it's not the preferable room. It was actually mine; I'll bunk with the Guardians for a while." He chuckled, "It was the only way for you to have a bed. It's a double too. You'll probably like it more, with your height and all."

I shrugged and taking the key, made my way into what would be my new home until graduation. I really didn't care that it was meant for the hall monitor. I just wanted to train, graduate, and become Ivan's Guardian. I tossed my bags on the foot of my bed and looked around the room. It had a desk and lap top computer near the door, the double bed sat in the center of the room along the right wall, flanked by two doors, and a couple of chairs sat in the back left corner. The first door led to a walk in closet and the second to a small private bath. Well that is a nice perk.

An upright dresser sat in the corner beyond the door, and right across from the bed set a combination bookshelf and entertainment center. The furniture took up a good bit of the floor space but surprisingly left plenty of walking space. I began filling the dresser and closet with my various personal clothing when a knock came on the door. I unlocked and opened the door to find the Guardian acting as hall monitor standing on the other side with a thickly filled garment bag.

"These are new uniforms. The ones from St Basil's are a different coloring." He said handing me the bag. I thanked him and went lay it across the back of the desk chair. When I turned to shut the door, he was standing just inside, now holding a canvas bag. "School books and a folder with your schedule map, and other stuff you will need should be in here. " Thanking him again, I took the bag, and he turned to leave but turned back. He swallowed harshly. "I hope you like it here. I'm sorry about St. Basil's. It was shocking to all of us, but if you need anything, well don't be afraid to ask. Most of the people around here are pretty nice." His Guardian mask had slipped for a second showing sincerity and a bit of nervousness.

"T-thank you, I think I will just get settled for now."

"Headmistress Kirova would like to meet with you before classes begin tomorrow. Her office is marked on the map." His look was all business now and he turned again, this time actually leaving my room and closing the door behind him.

I finished unpacking and setting up my room and still had another two and a half hours before I had to meet with the Headmistress, so I grabbing a book, I settled onto my bed. My mother had given me a new western novel for my birthday and I enjoyed the few moments I could steal away and read.

As the sun began to set, I grabbed my gym bag and the folder containing my schedule and map. The texts books were mine to keep in my room, the classrooms held their own sets. I made my way down to the commons area and waited for Vika. It wasn't long before I saw her come bouncing down the stairs.

"Dimka," Her voice rang out from halfway across the commons room as she rushed to me. "Do you know I am only one of two female Dhampir on the third floor? There used to be another girl, but she ran away. Meredith, she's the other girl on my floor, she was telling me about it on the way down. They don't have very many female Dhampir here. Even less than back home," she said lowering her voice.

"Good morning to you too Vika," I chuckled down to her. "Let's go grab some breakfast and go check in with the Headmistress." Leading Vika to the cafeteria I listened to her go on all about her room and how nice it was that she would only have to share the bathroom with one other student. I could honestly see the optimism in it. The bathroom was probably identical to the one on the male side of the dormitory and only contained four shower stalls, toilet stalls, and sinks. I didn't really have the heart to tell her that because the male Dhampir floors were full, I had been given a room with a private bath.

Grabbing our food, we found an empty table and dug in. I looked over her schedule and noted we would share meal times. "You still want to keep up our extra training?" I asked her, hopeful. Back home we had always met up an hour before breakfast to run the track and then again after classes to spar and practice new techniques. Vika shook her head as she bit into a biscuit. I was happy she had agreed. I really felt the extra running and practices helped. We were both at the top of our classes back home.

"Oh look, that's Meredith, she's a senior but my first semi friend here. Mind if I go sit with her a bit?" Vika asked as she stood and gathered her things. "Thanks." She called as she walked off.

"Why ask if you aren't going to wait for an answer." I grumbled to myself. I finished my breakfast and dumped my tray before going to gather Vika back up to start our day. She was deep in conversation about the Dhampir girl who had ran away the year before, taking a Moroi Princess with her. I tuned out the stories of the wild girl, lost in my own thoughts.

How crazy could a Dhampir novice be to take off with a Moroi, especially a royal Moroi, be? Did they think that fighting Strigoi was something easy? I still had fading bruises from St. Basil's and that was two weeks ago. I wondered how and if she was able to keep the Moroi girl safe. Then remembering the Guardians' hushed conversation from earlier and I had to wonder if it was the same Princess. It had to be. There weren't any other Princesses young enough to still be in school. The only one close to our age was the Dragomir Princess and she…

"Holy Vlad," I whispered and shook my head to clear my thoughts. I settled my attention back to my sister and those sitting with them to find them all staring at me. "Vika, come on, we are going to be late." I said and picked up her bag. She told her new friends bye and trailed behind me.

"Are you okay?" She asked, nearly jogging to catch up to my long strides. I slowed down to her pace and assured her I was fine. I don't think I was meant to know that the Princess would be returning, so I didn't want to say anything, least Vika would tell her friends.

Headmistress Kirova was sweet but very stern. She was also very thorough about expectations. Though she was receptive and nice, she seemed like someone you did not want to get on her bad side. We were signing a few forms, when her phone rang and her demeanor changed. After a few agreeable sounds, she asked her caller to hold and setting the phone down, smiled at Vika and me.

"Can I ask you to come back toward the end of the day? Something has come up that demands my attention." She said as she was writing on a tablet of paper. "Give this to the instructor in your last class and come see me then."

Although smiling, it seemed strained. Taking the notes, I agreed. Vika and I left and noticed that there were now a lot more students milling about the courtyard. As three vans pulled up, conversation died down and everyone began to eye the vehicles with curiosity. A collective gasp rang out as a dark haired girl stepped out of the front seat of the middle van. The students then exploded in whispers when a blonde Moroi was assisted from the back. I heard people mentioning names, Rose and Vasilissa.

The Guardians had been talking about the Dragomir Princess. She was as beautiful as I had heard mentioned, but my eyes were drawn to the dark haired Dhampir that was taking the Princess by the hand and whispering to her as they walked. She was strikingly beautiful. She was a good foot shorter than I was. Her waist was near Moroi thin, but gave way to supple womanly curves.

I chastised myself for the direction of my thoughts. I didn't have time to admire girls right now, especially a supposed trouble maker like the girl that had just passed by me. Repeating the mantra, 'They Come First' I drug Vika through the crowd to her first class before running to the gym for my first class.

The Guardian instructor waived us over as we entered and looked about the gym. "Novice Ashford, lead today's session." I watched as a red headed boy ran over and took a clipboard from the Guardian, excitement on his face. Guardian Petrova, I learned afterwards, lead me a corner of the gym and was began discussing what I had learned and going over different techniques.