Dimitri Belikov

Rose Hathaway was a dangerous and confusing plague. On one hand you had rumors of a girl who was not only violent and nothing shy of a blood whore. On the other, you had the Rose I had seen, the funny and sassy protectress. She was beautiful and witty. She was obstinate. The one thing I was discovering about Rose is that for every one fault you could find there were two good traits to replace them.

She was inviting me to go against my very nature. I was training to become a Guardian. I had to put Moroi before my wants and Rose made me want to rebel against that. I nearly had lost my resolve and kissed her after the sparring. Something about seeing the lighter side of Rose, had stirred the feelings I had been trying to bury.

I sat through the entire reception and dinner for the Queen, oblivious to what was happening around me. I only had room for one thought on my mind. The memory of Rose's soft and warm body underneath mine. The way her supple curves fit against the taught muscles of my chest. The way each word and breath from her sent the scent of cherries and mint. Yes, Rose Hathaway was unknowingly becoming my own person tormentor.

"…he's i E, Ivan," Vika's teasing voice and Ivan's slap on my shoulder drew me out of my daydream of Rose. I looked around to see that the banquet hall had nearly emptied. Narrowing my eyes at Vika, I clamped my hand over her mouth.

"It's not love. I'm just trying to figure her out."

"Who's the lucky lady?" Ivan asked, wriggling his eyebrows at me suggestively.

"No one," I said quickly.

"Rose Hathaway." Vika answered at the same time. "You should have seen them earlier during our extra practice session. It looked like they were about to rip one another's clothes off and go at it." She giggled.

"I don't think so. It was an intense fight. We were just catching our breaths." I countered. Leave it to my sister to hone in on what I was hoping no one had noticed. She rolled her eyes at me and Ivan gave me a pat on the back. I marched ahead of them and left them with their laughing as I headed to my dorm room.

I skipped morning practice the next day, hiding in my dorm until close to time for classes to start. That was the flaw in my plan. Rose was in all four of my classes before lunch. By the time it had dawned on me, it was too late. I made my way to first period and found everyone but Rose had already paired up. She was watching the door and nervously biting her bottom lip. When she saw me, her lip slipped out from her teeth as it broke into a big smile.

"I was getting worried you weren't going to show. Are you feeling okay?" She asked as I dropped my gym bag next to the sparing ring she was standing in.

"Yeah, just slept past my alarm," I said grabbing my protective vest from my bag. "I take it we are going over staking maneuvers today." I asked as I rushed to get it in place, catching up to the rest of the class.

"Here let me." She offered as she reached behind me and lifted the strap to the top of my shoulder. Her finger tips brushed my neck and it took all I had not to flinch away. I enjoyed her touch way too much. I reached up and quickly snapped the straps together and thanking her.

Rose had brought her A-game this morning. She was able to pin and 'stake' me two out of the five rounds we went. It wasn't until she was settled on a weight bench, me spotting her, that I realized I had followed her. We had been caught up talking about certain moves we had used during the sparring.

I would make my break from her when we went to our second class, I kept telling myself, but I found myself sitting in the chair next to her. It went this way all morning. No matter how much I tried to force myself to walk away and not get any closer to her, I found myself either partnering up with her or in a chair next to her.

When lunch came around, she asked me to sit with her and her friends, and I agreed as long as my sister could join. We grabbed our trays and filled them and she led me to a table with a few other novices I didn't really know. We were soon joined by Mason Ashford and Eddie Castile. My sister and Ivan came next, but with one seat left open, I suggested that we would move to another table. Rose assured me there was no need.

She stood and walking to the table next to ours, slapped her hands down flat on its surface. "Move or you will regret it." She said and the two Moroi sitting there quickly gathered their lunch and left. Rose then started sliding the table over to join it with ours. She had just gotten it in place when Lissa walked up with Christian Ozera.

"Did you have to bring Fire Boy?" Rose asked Lissa.

"Yes, Rose. He is my friend too."

Rose leaned in and whispered something in her ear to which Lissa sat back looking at her disapprovingly. "I will say this once, if he goes, then I leave too. Don't push me Rose. I love you, but you can't save me from everything. This is my decision." She then lifted Christian's hand and placed a small kiss on his knuckles. Rose stared at Lissa for a moment. Lissa raised her eyebrows and after a moment turned away turning the conversation to the upcoming Christmas dinner and dance.

I saw when Rose's body relaxed in defeat and she too joined the conversation offering her input on dress colors with a sad look in her eyes. Lissa offered to order her a dress, but Rose shrugged it off. I couldn't understand why she was beginning to turn so glum over a dance. Weren't most girls usually excited over such things? My sisters were always a flurry of talking and nerves before big parties and dances occurred.

"Why are we even discussing this? The dance is over a month away and it's not like I am going to go anyways." Rose said exasperated at Lissa's urging.

"Don't worry about it; I will make sure you get to go." Lissa said almost too quietly to be heard.

"Why aren't you going to go, Rose?" Vika asked baffled.

"Kirova has me on lockdown and my mother is the warden." Rose said as she dangled a french fry from her fingers.

"Well you never know she might let you off for good behavior. If she does, I bet Dimka could take you." She said cheerily, causing me to swallow my water wrong.

"Who's Dimka?" I heard Rose and Lissa ask at the same time over my coughing. Ivan the traitor was slapping my back roughly and their words caused him to shake with his own laughter. Of course he would find the whole situation humorous.

"That's Dimitri's nickname." Vika smiled.

"Why Dimka?" Rose asked. "Shouldn't be something like Dimi?"

"It just is." I shrugged at her, finally able to control my coughing.

"Oh Comrade, I knew living in an Artic Wasteland had to have messed with your heads somehow. How do you get Dimka from Dimitri? There aren't any Ks in that."

"Comrade, Artic Wasteland? Who is this girl?" Ivan sputtered as he laid his head on the table laughing.

"Rose, you really don't know all that much about Russia do you?" Vika asked with amusement.

"I know some. I had to do a book report on R.S.S.R one year." Her words only sufficed to cause Ivan to fall out of his chair as his laughter grew into large guffaws.

"The U.S.S.R?" I asked.

"The what? Oh, it doesn't matter." She said scowling at everyone's amusement.

"Oh I remember that. She started her report with 'I was assigned Russia and the R.S.S.R. I was happy to receive this assignment because Russians are known for their drinking. I guess they would need all that liquor to make it through all the blizzards and stuff." Mason was slamming his fist against the table as laughter once again overtook him.

"Yes! I remember now too. Ms. Vann about blew a gasket when Rose said that her new goal was to 'learn to drink like a Russian'. I think she only passed because Ms. Vann was scared what she would do if she made her rewrite the paper." Eddie said as the whole table fell into another fit of laughter.

"You have an interesting view of Russia, Rose. It isn't all blizzards and drinking." I told her. Lunch ended all too soon. I had enjoyed the company of Rose's friends. Ivan had immediately accepted their invitation to sit with them anytime we wanted. He claimed he hadn't ever laughed as much as he had in all of his life and would definitely be back for dinner and probably every meal after.

The rest of the day went by quickly my thoughts going back and forth from Rose and the Molnija ceremony. Even though lunch had set us all on friendlier terms, Rose and I both were somber at best during afternoon practice.

At dinner I watched and listened not really a part of things. With the exception of a few minutes of hushed conversation with Lissa, Rose was pretty vacant as well. I was grateful when Guardian Hathaway stepped forward from where she was standing against the wall and told Rose and I to go get ready. She reminded us softly to wear an undershirt with a button up or a simple t-shirt, either one as long as they weren't collared.

I showered and placed my hair into a higher than normal pony tail as Guardian Hathaway had suggested. Then dressing in simple jeans, I slipped a ribbed undershirt and black button up shirt on. I went down to the commons room, finding that the couches and tables where filling up with other novices as they talked, trying to enjoy a little time together before being sent to their beds. Vika seeing me came over and gave me a quick hug telling me she would see me in the morning.

Guardian Hathaway showed up at seven exactly, Rose trudging along beside her. She had her hair in some intricate braided bun. A few wisps of the silky strands had escaped and where brushing her cheek. I had to hold myself back from reaching out and running my fingers over them. With a single nod, I followed them into Guardian housing.

Guardian housing was set up much the same way our dormitory was. As a matter of fact, the commons room of the two was only separated by a single double door. I had never seen the actual rooms that the guardians slept in, but I assumed they probably mirrored my own room.

The commons room here was nearly identical to ours; the couches looked much more comfortable though. The tables along an area of one wall had been pushed aside, their chairs turned over so they rested on the tabletops. In the space they usually would rest, a tattoo station had been erected. Guardian Hathaway introduced us to the Guardians that were also receiving Molnija marks. Other than the five of us, Guardian Hathaway had been truthful; only her, the tattoo artist, and Guardian Petrov were in attendance. It was a very small fanfare.

Guardian Petrov stood just behind the tattoo artists and would call their name and state how many marks they would be receiving. In turn, each of the Guardians would remove their outer shirts, laying them over the back of a nearby chair and would then straddle the chair.

During the marking of the second Guardian, I closed my eyes tightly trying to push back the memory of the Strigoi attack. I felt a small tickle along my palm as a hand slid against it before its fingers wrapped around mine. I instantly knew by its warmth, that the hand belonged to Rose. Opening my eyes and looking at her, I saw that her eyes held the same haunted feelings I was trying to bury. I adjusted my hand in hers, entwining our fingers, tightening my grip slightly in understanding.

When the last Guardian stood from the chair, Guardian Petrov looked in our direction giving us a small smile and with one small gulp of air began her introduction of me. Rose flexed her fingers as he grip tightened for just a moment and she slipped her fingers from mine. Like the Guardians before me, I unbuttoned my shirt and laid it across a chair behind me. I had straddled the chair and taking one last glance at Rose, placed my forehead against the headrest and waited.

"Dimitri Belikov will be receiving three Molnija marks. He was able to release the souls of three Strigoi during the attack on St Basil's Academy." I heard Guardian Petrov say, her voice much softer than it had been with the Guardians.

"He has not been promised yet?" The tattoo artists said astounded.

"Yes, the last two are still Novices. They will receive their Promise Marks when they graduate this spring." Guardian Petrov explained.

"They are talented then." The tattoo artist said, though his voice was tinged with slight grief. "It will be tricky, but I am sure I can set the marks so not to interfere with their Promise Marks."

I felt the sting when the needle first bit into my skin and held back the hiss that wanted to escape my lips. I let my mind wander to thoughts of my family back in Russia and before long I felt as a bandage was slipped on my neck and the tattoo artist give my shoulder a gentle squeeze.

I walked back to Rose and laying my hand on her arm whispered that it wasn't too bad and picked up my shirt.

"Rosemarie Hathaway will be receiving four Molnija marks. She was able to release the souls of two Strigoi while vacationing with Princess Vasilissa Dragomir in Chicago. She again released two more souls when their vacation took them to Portland." I felt the corner of my lips turn up at Guardian Petrov's use of the word vacation to describe what Rose and Lissa had really done.

I watched as she approached the tattoo chair, and like the rest of us straddled it backwards. I heard the hum of the tattoo gun begin and a moment later, a small moan of pain. The muscles in my jaw tightened at the sound and I wished more than anything that I could go and grasp her hands in mine once again.

It only took a few minutes time and Rose stood, her neck now bandaged too. I lifted her jacket from the chair behind us and opened it so she could slip into it easily. Her mother directed towards a table that held some refreshments, telling us she would join us in a few moments.

Leading Rose over, I prepared her a small plate with brownies and a few cookies. Placing it in her hands, I saw that a single tear was spilling down her cheek. Using the pad of my thumb I wiped it away and slipped my arm around her shoulders. I quickly grabbed a can of soda and led her to one of the couches. Settling her in before I took a seat beside her. She smiled at me appreciatively and offered up one of her brownies.

I knew that was probably one of the best thanks I would ever get from Rose Hathaway. One thing I had noticed about Rose was that though she had no qualms helping you clear your plate, she did not share her own food with anyone. If there was anything she loved more than her friends, it was her food.

The days after saw that my mood improved as the soreness from being marked waned. Rose seemed happier after a couple days, but then started slipping into sadness once again. I hadn't seen anyone casting questions her way since the morning after, but I was beginning to wander if someone was harassing her about something when I wasn't in her presence. I noticed she had begun to argue more with Lissa until the princess stopped sitting with us all together. She began to avoid Rose by choosing to sit with her other friends at Natalie's table to avoid their daily confrontations.

A couple weeks later I found myself lying in bed as sleep avoided me. I was growing concerned about Lissa and Rose's behavior. The princess was acting erratically and I noticed the more irregular her behavior came, the more depressed Rose grew. I was trying to figure out a way to help them when I heard my window begin to slide open.

I stilled in my bed as I watched the curtains move and a moment later, the girl that had taken over my every thought came tumbling inside.

"Shit!" she hissed as she hit the floor, sliding. Coming to a stop she began pushing herself up by her hands when her eyes met mine. "Double Shit." She said causing my eyes to narrow.

"Is there a reason why you're sneaking into me room at this hour?" I asked intrigued by what she was up to.

"I didn't know it was your room." She answered defensively. "The Guardian that would normally sleep here this time of day never does."

"That still doesn't tell me why you're in my room." I said lifting a brow at her. She finally untangled herself from the curtain and sat up crossing her legs in the floor.

"I couldn't sleep and Mason and Eddie said I could come watch a movie with them. This is how I normally sneak in. The hall monitor on the female side is damn near a vulture. She has a nose that can smell escape from miles away. I learned to scale the building in order to get around her."

"So why not just scale the building and go in through their window?" I asked.

"The ledge there is weak and broken."

"Oh, so you've tried it before."

"Yeah, I'm the one that broke it."

"Why does that not surprise me? How did you manage to break a concrete ledge?"

"It was weak and when I stepped on it, it crumbled under my foot. If it wasn't for Ms. Karp, I would have gotten caught."

"Who is Ms. Karp?"

"Oh she was this really strange teacher we use to have. I guess she left while Lissa and I were away. Anyways, she saw me fall and came out to help me."

"That was nice of her." I said. We sat in silence for a moment, Rose looking lost in thought. "I can't sleep either if you want to stay here and talk. I could use the company."

"Sure. Just let me send Mase and Eddie a text so they won't think I got caught and am being hauled off to Kirova." She said as she pulled her phone from her pocket. I patted the bed next to me and grabbed the control to the television. It was one of the perks of the room that I enjoyed. Rose finished her text and joined me on the bed as we scrolled through the guide in search of something to watch.

"So what has you tossing and turning at night?" I asked her during a dull moment in the show.

"I'm worried about Lissa. There is something going on with her and she won't talk to me. She's been using a lot of magic lately too. With the bond, it makes me feel all jittery." She said not meeting my gaze.

"Is that why the two of you have been arguing a lot lately?"

"Yeah, the more magic she uses, the more unstable she is becoming. It's starting to scare me." Her voice waved in uncertainty.

"I'm sure it will all work out though. The two of you seem too close to stay upset with one another for too long."

"She's just so upset and scared right now. Between the Queen humiliating her in front of everyone and Mia harassing her she is on edge. She's doing things she shouldn't be doing in order to try and…" Her words cut off as her face took on the dazed expression she got when she was pulled into Lissa's head. It unnerved me, but I was beginning to get used to it. It seemed like it was happening more often each day.

"Lissa," I asked her as she gasped coming back to herself.

She shook her head in the affirmative and launched towards the window. "I have to go to her. Something is really wrong."

I slid my shoes on as she did the same, and out of concern for both girls, followed outside the window and down the fire escape. She ran to guest housing and as I hid in the bushes under the window, she woke her mom. I joined them at the front door.

"Novice Belikov," Guardian Hathaway questioned my presence. Rose yelled that there wasn't time for questions and took off for the Moroi dorms leaving us to follow her.