Chapter 1 - Beginnings

There are things in this world that, to humans, wouldn't make any sense. If you spoke about vampires, demons, ghosts and monsters to a random human, you'd probably get called insane and locked up. But to us, these things are every day normal issues.

"See you guys around, I'll let you know if another case comes up for you." We hear shouting from the car we jump out of as it speeds away, leaving a trail of dust behind.

"No worries Syd! Speak to you later!" Eddie shouts back as we start the few miles back to the academy.

Sydney Sage isn't one of those humans. She's an alchemist, a secret organisation that hides the supernatural from the rest of the human world. She's well aware of myself and Eddie and what we are as well as the Moroi and dhampirs. The Alchemists aren't very fond of the Moroi and dhampirs. Believe they're 'evil creatures of the night' especially how they tend to live in opposite schedules to humans as well as us. When I was younger, I used to feel the same. But since coming to the academy, I've gained a lot of respect for the two species. More so the dhampirs and non-royal Moroi, but respect, nevertheless. But the alchemists are different with us. More friendly, trusting. Our relationship with them goes way back.

You see, there are two divisions of the alchemists. First, the part of the group that deals with the Moroi and dhampir. They tend to help them cover up Strigoi kills and things like that. They also happen to be the lower ranks of alchemists, where everyone starts out and they tend to be unaware of us. The second division, the one we deal with, is the supernatural division. They deal with us, cases of monsters and demons, the odd witch and other things that are very out of the ordinary. Only the best alchemists work in that division, Sydney Sage included.

The dhampirs and Moroi have always been very secretive about their work with the human group, only telling dhampir novices about them when they graduate and most Moroi never knowing of them. For our people, we are told about the alchemists and their importance to our way of life as soon as we can understand it. Eddie and I grew up with Sydney and her sisters so have always been around alchemists. This difference in our culture tends to be why we end up being better prepared for the real monsters out there. We actively seek them out to destroy them whereas the dhampir take a more defensive approach and try to limit any Strigoi interaction.

As we both watch Sydney drive off in her sleek black convertible, we begin on the journey back to St Vladimir's Academy. Stretching his arms, Eddie breathes in heavily before looking my way and as he exhales, his tawny wings uncurl from where they're hidden by the glamour charm and he flaps them a few times to get used to the feeling and weight of them on his back again as I wait for my dragon to reach us from where he flies above us. As the black scaled beast comes to my side, I jump on as we both ascend into the dark skies above.

It's not often we can do things like this. For the majority of our time, we are stuck behind the gates of the academy, where we have to pretend, we are just dhampirs, training to be guardians, and not that we're hunters. The same species the Moroi and dhampir are hunting down and have declared war on, over 500 years ago.

When we were 10, we were both sent here under pretences we were orphaned dhampirs from an attack, made to infiltrate their society and find a way to stop this war. We set targets, people to get close to. Both of us had the two youngest Dragomir's as our 'charges'. The plan was for Eddie and me to find a way to end up as the Guardians for both Andre and Vassilissa Dragomir, but over the years, it got complicated. We were meant to stay apathetic to everything. To not let our emotions, get in the way, and we managed it, until the car crash.

The same car crash that killed me and caused me to be bought back by Lissa's Spirit and now leaving me shadow kissed to her. An increasing issue for both myself, and my dragon.

But, changes in the way the dhampirs have been looking for us have caused our leaders to think about pulling us out of the academy. On fears that it may be ineffective, and we should take the fight to them now and in regard to the closeness we both exhibit due to our ties with the Moroi and dhampir world.

Neither of us ever thought that we would care for these people the way we do, that I'd consider them family. But we do. And leaving them will be the hardest things we've ever had to and admitting what we are and how we've lied even harder.

But I fear that it will come sooner rather than later.

As much as we have come to love these people, our loyalties lie with ours. Our people, our friends and our family. And if it comes to it, we will fight for us before them. Every single time. I just don't think any of them will understand…

I watch Eddie spread his arms out as he glides on the wind, my dragon doing the same. I met Toothless years ago when we were both younger and we immediately felt the bond between us connect. For some reason, Drakon Hunters can bond with dragons, and to find our draconic bonds is a special and uncommon thing. One of the hardest things while I'm at the academy is being away from him. Usually, we're stuck by each other's sides, but here we can't be. If the vampires here saw him, they'd try and kill him on sight.

"They're going to flip when we get back, ya know." Eddie whispers from his place on my left, playing with the air currents underneath his large wings.

"Yeah… randomly leaving probably wasn't our best idea." I mutter. "But to be fair, we didn't have much time to prepare… it was a last-minute decision."

We've been gone for over a week now, on some demon hunt in New York as well as visiting the Council about our futures here at St Vlad's. We had to up and leave without telling anyone about it and are sure to be in a heap of trouble when we get back.

"We'll need to make time to practise our bending too though Charlie. Just in case…" He admits, head lowering as we come in on our target.

Below us, hidden by the wide expanse of forest, is a cabin by a lake, far enough from the academy that any guardians are unlikely to come this far but close enough for us to get to and back without raising any suspicions. As Eddie tucks his wings into his body, he dives down, followed closely by Toothless and I as we glide down to the forest floor.

As we land, we quickly leave the dragon back at the cabin and make our way back to the school, leaving behind any hunter weapons we have on us apart from a hidden silver dagger in my boot.

The closer we get, the more anxious I feel. Since we left a week ago, Lissa has blocked me out of the bond and I've had only snippets of what she's feeling. Also, we are both well aware that we are bound to get a few lectures and if we can't sweet talk Kirova into letting us stay, may even have to leave. The thought of it has even crossed my mind. It would be easier…

But we have a job to do. And we're going to carry on doing it until new orders come in.

10 minutes away from the gate, and it's 2 in the morning (Moroi time so it's like 2pm). It's chilly outside and I tug my black leather jacket harder against me. The winds blowing quietly around us as we hear rustling in the woods around us. Silently, we both slip our knives into our hands as Eddie hides his wings back against him. We slow to a stop as we listen out, and we both notice the scent just before a girl leaps out at us, mouth full of razor-sharp fangs bared at me as my arm blocks her head.

Eddie quickly decapitates the vampire as another jumps on his back, fangs bared for his neck as I grab the vampire from his shoulders and using my dagger, hack at the head quickly to kill the vampire. We wait for a while before looking around.

"I can't smell anymore on the air." Eddie says, both my dagger and his knife now gripped tightly in his hands as I throw flame from my own palms.

"I think that's it. But I'll get Toothless to check around and let us know." I announce before we calm down and make our way back to the academy gates after hiding the two bodies away, knives now hidden and fire quenched.

The two creatures that just attacked us were vampires but not the type living behind the gates of St Vlad's, and not the same type we killed in Spokane a few months back. Another, different type. Older, stranger. With rows of fangs hidden above their normal human set. The only way to weaken them is with dead man's blood and the only way to kill them is decapitation.

"What in the hell were two vampires doing so close to Moroi lands?" Eddie wonders quietly as the black gates come into view.

"Not a clue, but I have a feeling we'll find out soon enough." I whisper before a figure comes into view at the gates.

A figure clad in the black and white uniform of the Guardians shout out at us as we stand outside the gates.

"Who's there?" We hear as a bright torch shines into our eyes.

"Novices Hathaway and Castile." I shout back as I raise my arm to block the light.

The light falls quickly as the gates open to let us in and we are met with a guardian called Yuri.

"Eddie, Rose. You're back. I thought you two had done a runner…" He admits while looking us over and sending a quick text to, I assume, Guardian Petrov and the Headmistress.

"Well, got bored so came back." I quipped as he shook his head at the two of us, trying to hide a smirk.

"Well, Guardian Petrov and Headmistress Kirova want you in Kirova's office immediately so I'd get going if I was you two." He says before ushering us on our way.

Hiking our bags up on our backs, we shout a 'thanks' before calmly making our way to the headmistress, knowing we are about to get an earful our way.

Finally reaching the office, we meet Guardian Alto at the door who looks our way and smirks as he speaks.

"Ah, finally decided to grace us with your presence. This, I expect from you, Hathaway, but I expected better from you Castile." He smirks, looking us over with a sneer on his face.

"What can I say Stanny boy, she's a bad influence…" Eddie says as he shoulders me with a grin, and we are let into the silent office as we come face to face with various figures.

"Take a seat you two." Kirova states as we are pushed into the seats by Alto, who wears a shit-eating grin behind us. Looking around, I notice the headmistress, Petrov, Alto and Dimitri stood around the office. As I meet Dimitri's gaze though, it hardens, and he stares me down with a disappointed gaze.

With a quick glance at Eddie, we turn to meet Kirova's stare as she speaks.

"Care to explain where you two have been this last week and why exactly you've bothered to come back…? Surely you both realised that the second you left; you were kicked out of the academy." She sneers as she lays her hands on the desk before her.

"We had some matters to attend to." Eddie diplomatically states as he leans forward slightly, ever the respectful one when it's needed, while I roll my eyes and cross my legs and arms.

"And what matters were they?"

Cutting Eddie off, I add, "I don't see how that's any of your business. Now, tell us if we've been kicked out or not so we can deal with that."

"Ignore her." Eddie says as he points to me, causing me to grin, "We were in New York, helping an old family friend. It was a last-minute decision and time didn't allow us to tell anyone before leaving."

"So, you both think, that it's completely acceptable, for you to come and go from this academy, from your studies, as you please. Tell me, how do either of you plan to become guardians if this is the way you act." Kirova states before Alberta cuts in.

"What the headmistress is trying to say is, why did you go and not tell anyone?" She says looking at us imploringly, trying to find a way to help us out of the situation we have gotten ourselves into.

"We didn't have a chance to, it was family issues. Telling someone we were leaving wasn't our main priority." I speak, leaning forward and speaking with some respect to the dhampir in front.

"You know, the Princess has asked you to not be her guardian, Hathaway? She can't have a guardian she can't rely on you; you see?" Alto mentions from behind me.

"I know." I mention, not letting them on to how much it upsets me, even if it was never going to happen anyway.

"Look, I've spoken to the Headmistress, "Alberta starts as she watches us with narrow eyes, "and you can stay and continue your studies but nothing like this can happen again. And you'll both have to take extra sessions for what you've missed this week with myself and Guardian Belikov."

"What about my sessions with Belikov anyway?" I ask aloud as they all look at me. I can feel his gaze burrowing into the side of my head.

"What do you mean Rose?" Alberta wonders.

"Well, I need to catch up from this week yeah, but what about my general sessions with him. We all know that both Eddie and I surpass the class in our skills, and giving one of your top novices' extra sessions when they'd be more useful to others would be better, right? Or it'd at least give you more manpower without having to lose a guardian for a few hours to train a novice." I admit, as I look at Alberta.

"If you're to be the Princess's Guardian, you'll need all the training you can get." Dimitri states as he moves away from the wall and next to Alberta, trying to meet my gaze.

"But Guardian Alto just said it himself. I'm not going to be her guardian. So why prepare me for it?"

Before either he or Alberta can come up with an argument, Kirova speaks up, "I think that's the best idea you've ever come up with Hathaway. As long as you can both prove where you were and why, you can stay and your sessions with Belikov will be cancelled."

Thank god, both myself and Eddie think but catching onto what she said exactly.

"Wait, what do you mean proof?" Eddie asks as she sits in her seat.

"Give me your phone and call whoever it was you were with. They'll prove if you're saying the truth." She glared while I dragged my phone out of my pocket and handed it to her, already having pulled up Sydney's number up.

Looking at Eddie quickly, I say, "Her name's Sydney.", as Kirova dials the number and puts it on loudspeaker.

"Hey, didn't I just drop you guys off?" Sydney speaks before Kirova interrupts.

"This is Headmistress Kirova, were Hathaway and Castile with you this past week?"

"Yes. They were with me. I had some family problems and Rose and Eddie helped me." Thank god she called me Rose…

"Okay thank you." Then she hangs up and hands me back the phone again. As I'm about to pocket it, she questions. "Have you got her parents number?"

Looking at Eddie annoyedly, he quickly says, "Yeah, call her dad. It's Bobby on our phones." He says as I catch on and hope to god it works.

Dialling Bobby Singer's number and handing it to Kirova, we hear Bobby answer.

"Yes?" Bobby says immediately.

"Is this Mr Sage?"

"No, it's King Kong. What do you want?" Classic Bobby. Haha! That'll get on Kirova's nerves.

"I was wondering if you could tell me if Rose Hathaway was with you this past week?" Praying that he catches on and helps us, we cross our fingers subtly as we hope it works.

"Yeah, she was with me. What's it to you?" And he shoots and scores. I can tell by Kirova's face that she is disgusted by Bobby's words and tone of voice and that she isn't happy.

"I was just wondering. I'm sorry for wast…" But Bobby hangs up before she finishes. Playing the dickhead of a Dad down to a tee. "Well, it seems that your whereabouts can be confirmed, you're free to leave. But anything else, and that's you both gone. Understood?" Nodding, we're told to leave and pretty much run out of the room as the Guardians slowly walk out but we make sure not to look back.

"Rose, Eddie… a word." We hear lowly from Alberta as her and Dimitri wait for us to come back to them.

Looking at each other, Eddie starts walking first as I huff from his side, muttering under my breath how we should have stayed in New York.

We arrive in front of the two dhampirs and wait for them to speak.

"What in the hell were you thinking?" Alberta starts, sternly telling us off. "You risked everything you had here, and for what… some girl I've never heard you mention?"

"She needed our help. What were we meant to do?" I ask, as I shoot a glare at her.

"Not run off. We understood why you left last time with the Princess, but this was uncalled for. It was stupid. And now, you may never be her guardian… is that what you want?" She speaks, staring at me.

"Maybe it is…" I speak, staring ahead at the two, causing them to both jump back.

"Roz… Rose," I hear Dimitri start, "You don't mean that."

The Council said to make waves, be fiery, cause issues… so that's what we're going to do. "It is. Why am I wasting my time in learning how to kill Strigoi when all I'll be is a guard dog for a bunch of Moroi who have actual magic at their hands…" I utter as I raise my arms slightly to express my point.

They both stare, shocked at my outburst as Alberta speaks. "They come first, Rose. You know this."

And this, is one thing that keeps me from becoming too invested in their world. The whole concept that a dhampirs life is worth less than the Moroi… It's disgusting.

"No… they don't." I say before Eddie adds in.

"Rose is right… we train but for what? To lay down our lives for a bunch of Moroi who couldn't care less!" He exclaims, walking away as I follow him, and I feel Dimitri grab my wrist as Alberta shouts at us.

"It's what we are raised to do, it's what we are good at."

Ripping my hands from him, I walk to Eddie's side as I point at the two, Headmistress Kirova now having come out to see the commotion along with Alto and a few other guardians.

"No-one… And I mean no-one, is raised to die! It's wrong. We are capable of so much more than just dying for Moroi lives. How many of us have died for them? How many more will? It's a losing battle, why risk our lives for it?" I shout at all of them before we leave to the dorms.

Once we lose sight of the guardians, we both huddle into my room in the girl's dorms.

"I've wanted to do that for a looong time." Eddie admits before falling onto my bed.

Laughing, I nod my head as I fall on my desk chair. "I bet some of the novices heard that. We were only outside the dorms." I admit as my head leans back.

"We'll know when we get bombarded in class tomorrow." Eddie states as he swirls to look at me. "These dhampirs, they follow the Royals so blindly… It's pathetic really."

"I know. But remember what the Elders said."

He nods as he continues for me, "Cause a rebellion, even teach Moroi to defend themselves. Then lead them. Make sure to get people on your side. Make someone understand that Hunters and Elementals aren't bad. That we are here to help. And that we want the war ended…"

"Yeah… too late to go back now…" I add before making my way to my bed as I push him off. "Go to your room, I'm tired, feathers. I'll see you in the morning."

Chuckling to himself, he rolls off of my bed and makes his way to the door, "I'll see you later Sparky."

And at that, he leaves, leaving me in my room on my own with my thoughts. Finally, we can do something. It won't be long now. And we can stop pretending…

Chapter 2