Sorry for the slight delay on this chapter going up, I wanted to finish the new chapter on 'Your Arms' before I wrote this one, but everything's up-to date now!
I had added in an extra two hours of training each day with Rose, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. This meant, that we now had a total of 4 hours solo-training time. It was a lot for both of us, Rose was pushing herself harder than she ever had physically, but was also having to accommodate for it in her school and social life. I was having to take even more time out from my already busy schedule, and I was having to be constantly planning what we would be doing in sessions. I found that the best way to do this, was to keep doing the same strength training sessions, with only slightly adjusting reps and exercises if needed, and to focus on planning the more physical fighting and strategizing sessions. I planned them around what the group sessions would be covering, making sure that Rose was up-to date on the techniques she would need for her classes, as well as catching up on skills that she had missed.
It now seemed that each day blurred into another, due to my lack of free time, and the days quickly passed. Rose had been getting even better, I quickly discovered that she was a fast learner, and so I planned to spar with her for the first time this afternoon. I'd held back up until now because I didn't want her to get disheartened when she couldn't beat me, but I thought that she was at a level now where she could maintain some form of fight, even if it was very short.
I'd just finished a patrolling shift, a very boring one, and rushed back to my room to change. Sure, I could fight well in my jeans and guardian shirt, but they weren't the most comfortable, and knowing I would be demonstrating a lot of moves I picked out a simple pair of loose running pants and a t-shirt.
I arrived at the gym early to get out some mats and equipment needed, and to my surprise only a minute later Rose walked in. She had stayed true to her promise of commitment. When she walked in, she looked at me, her eyes going wide for a moment before she hurriedly looked away again, busing herself with taking off her hoodie. I was transported back to the moment when I had found her and Jesse, and the awe and even… lust I'd felt when seeing her. Since then, I'd been careful to not get myself into that situation again, yet watching her take off her hoodie, I couldn't help the feelings it ignited. I wondered if she had ever felt them too. I immediately scolded myself for even thinking of it, and snapped back into business mode.
I called her over to me, and positioned her on the mat I'd just laid out, standing opposite from me. I crossed my arms, reinforcing the strict mentor role.
"What's the first problem you'll run into when facing a Strigoi" I asked sternly.
"Their immortal?" Rose quipped back, a smirk on her face.
"Think of something more basic" I countered.
Here eyes turned thoughtful as she contemplated my words, thinking of the answer I wanted.
"They could be bigger than me. And stronger" she answered perfectly.
I nodded, pleased with her answer.
That makes it difficult but not impossible. You can actually use a person's extra height and weight against them."
I turned away from her slightly, and began demonstrating some manoeuvres, carefully pointing out where to move and how to strike someone. True to what I had already learnt, Rose picked them up quickly, executing them perfectly in slow motion, and before long I decided it was time to let her try them out for real. I was the perfect person for her to practice these moves on, as I was significantly taller and heavier than her.
"Go ahead." I said. "Try to hit me".
I had to hold back a chuckle as fire was immediately ignited in her eyes. She lunged at me without hesitation and threw a sloppy blow towards my side. I easily countered it, perhaps a little hard, sending her flying back into the mat. She jumped up, immediately attempting to land a blow on me, and whilst this one was slightly more focused, it was still sloppy and easily block-able. Each time I knocked her down she jumped back up for more, filling me with pride at her resilience. She really would be an incredible fighter.
"Okay what am I doing wrong" she said, standing up and throwing her hands in the air.
I was pleased once again. The old Rose, the one I had met in Portland, would have kept going until she could move no more, without stopping to contemplate what she was doing wrong. This Rose, was ready to accept help to improve.
"Nothing." I replied truthfully.
She looked sceptical, and her eyes narrowed slightly.
"If I wasn't doing anything wrong, I'd have rendered you unconscious by now".
I had to hold back a chuckle once more.
"Unlikely" I said with a small smile. "Your moves are all correct, but this is the first time you've really tried. I've done it for years".
She shook her head and rolled her eyes at me, the usual banter we had coming back into her face.
"Whatever you say, Grandpa. Can we try it again?"
As much as I wanted her to perfect her moves, I had to get ready and eat before my guarding shift at the banquet tonight. I also presumed she would want to as well, and despite me lecturing her on acting mature and sensible, I wanted her to have the chance of dressing up and having a teenage evening with her friends.
"We're out of time" I told her. "Don't you want to get ready?"
She looked up at the clock on the wall behind me, and her face filled with excitement. I smiled at seeing it.
"Hell, yeah I do!" She replied, making me chuckle softly.
I turned around and walked away, going to grab my duster from where it lay on a bench, and was suddenly startled by a loud cry. I spun round and saw Rose barrelling towards me, clearly attempting to take me down. I reached out and grabbed her before she could make contact, and threw her down to the ground, following her with my body and pinning her down hard.
"I didn't do anything wrong" she groaned underneath me, rolling her eyes.
I looked into her eyes, unable to keep the humour from my face.
"The battle cry sort of gave you away. Try not to yell next time".
"Would it have made a difference if I'd have kept really quiet?" she asked, laughter in her eyes.
I contemplated it, thinking through her movements and what would have happened if she'd made contact before I noticed, but I realised that even if she hadn't cried out, I probably would have felt it coming.
"No. Probably not" I answered truthfully.
She sighed loudly, in the joking manor that she often assumed, but her face was still bright and cheerful. I found myself staring into her deep, laughter filled eyes, loosing myself in their hazelnut depths. She had flecks of other colours in them, gold and even a slight hint of green that was invisible unless you really studied them, and they contrasted with her dark hair so beautifully.
I felt head swell up through where I was holding her wrists, heat that travelled through my body and made me acutely aware of my body pressing into hers. In pinning her down, I was resting my full weight onto hers, from my legs to my torso, and I could feel her every curve. Curves that were driving me crazy. I could feel her full breasts pressing into my chest, her shapely hips, her muscular thighs, and it felt incredible. I studied her beautiful face, shocked at the feelings that were ignited within me as I gazed at her. Feelings that I hadn't felt for a long, long time. Feelings that I shouldn't be feeling. Yet I couldn't tear myself away.
She was gazing back into my eyes, and seemed to be studying me in the way that I was studying her, her eyes even seemed to express the same emotions that I was feeling, and still, I couldn't pull myself away from her.
"So…um…you got any other moves to show me?" she asked slowly, breaking me from the trance.
My lips twitched, and I had to work hard to keep the open smile from my face. I had already revealed far too much. I flipped my guardian mask back on, forcing myself off her body, gently letting go of her wrists and immediately missing the skin to skin contact.
"Come on. We should go" I said, rising onto my heels and standing up.
I grabbed my duster and walked out of the gym. I was aware of her following me, but I couldn't allow myself to look back. I was already fighting the reaction of my body pressed against hers, feeling every curve her body had to offer, and I didn't need to add fuel to the fire.
I walked back to my room slowly, and by the time I unlocked my door I had managed to fully push all inappropriate thoughts of Rose from my head. What had I done? If someone had walked into the gym and found us like that, I would have had more to worry about than the reaction of my body. Not only that, but she was my student. My 17-year old student. 7 Years younger than me. Promised to be Princess Vasilisa's guardian alongside myself. But despite all the obvious reasons not to, I couldn't help but think about how she had made me feel.
I took a cold shower and quickly ate, before dressing and leaving my room for my shift. Hanging back in the gym had cost me time that I didn't have to spare, but I made it on the dot to sign in. We had been given our allocations a few days back when Alberta had briefed us on the event, and I was stationed in the main hall, a position that respected my high status amongst the guardians at the school. I acknowledged the start of my shift with Alberta who merely nodded at me. She was clearly very busy with organising the security for the event, and didn't have time to chat, despite the warm look in her eyes. I had great respect for her.
I took my position against the wall, assuming the guardian stance and expression, my eyes constantly evaluating the room, yet appearing unseeing at the same time. We had been organised to start before any students entered the hall, but soon enough they began appearing. They arrived slowly at first, Royals moving to the front of the hall and dhampirs at the back, and I found myself searching for Rose's face amongst the crowd. She wasn't here yet, and I scolded myself for even looking, deciding that I wouldn't look her out again.
Once all the students had arrived, the royals paraded in, followed by the Queen. I noticed her pause and speak to Vasilisa Dragomir, well everybody noticed, and whilst I heard the words, she spoke I tried to keep my expression neutral and maintain the guardian unseeing mask.
"But, as you have demonstrated, names do not make a person. Nor do they have any bearing on how that person turns out".
The queens verbal dressing-down shocked me, but then I tried not to get involved in politics. All of a sudden however, fears ran through me over the response it would cause in Rose. My eyes flicked over to where she was sat amongst the other novices, (because despite my earlier promise to myself, I knew exactly where she was sat), and watched her carefully. There was a fire in her eyes that I recognised well, I fire that I hoped would dissipate as I imagined scenarios of Rose throwing herself at the queen, but I could see on her face that she was furious, but going to behave.
The rest of the meal went past quietly, and Rose managed to behave herself. I maintained my position, watching over everyone dutifully, but I made sure to keep an extra eye on her. I didn't want her throwing away all her hard work and good behaviour tonight, and I knew Kirova would be keeping careful watch.
Once the food had been all cleared away and students and royals were just mingling, I looked around for Rose, having lost track of her amongst the sea of people. When I couldn't find her, I presumed she had just left to use the bathroom, but after a few minutes I realised Vasilisa was also absent from the room.
"I need to go and check something out" I murmured to the guardian stood next to me.
I didn't know him, he must have been accompanying some royal that had come for the banquet, but he nodded politely and moved slightly to cover my gap. I quickly strolled away from the wall, slowing down as I moved through the sea of people, and headed to the courtyard, the outside only place that the hall exited to. Knowing Rose, she would have taken the Princess outside for air and to comfort her.
I stood by the doors, scanning the courtyard and was dismayed to see nobody there. I opened the doors and walked out, looking around for them. As I walked towards the gardens, I could see shapes of people, two people stood together, one much taller than the other, and another shorter person stood opposite them with a group stood behind. My stomach sank once I got close enough to identify who the people were. Just as I had suspected, Rose was on the verge of a fight. This girl always seemed to attract trouble.
I strolled over quickly, letting them see that I was there, glad that I had gotten there before Rose did something drastic.
"Everything alright?" I asked in a stern voice, crossing my arms and standing next to Rose.
"Sure thing, Guardian Belikov" she replied, smiling confrontationally. "We were just swapping family stories. Ever heard Mia's? It's fascinating!"
I almost rolled my eyes at the clear barb she spat out, but it had its desired effect and Mia and her followers left, glaring at Rose as she did so.
"I'm supposed to take you back to your room" I told her drily.
That wasn't the exact truth, nobody had told me to, but I knew that she would just cause trouble if she stayed in the current mood, and I didn't want that happening.
"You weren't about to just start a fight, were you?" I asked, knowing full well the answer.
"Of course not," she replied not looking at me, her eyes trained at the door Mia had just left through. "I don't start fights where people can see them".
"Rose!" Groaned Vasilisa.
I had almost forgotten that she was even there, but her comment snapped me out of the banter with Rose.
"Let's go" I commanded. "Good night, Princess" I said formally, turning away to head to the dorms.
"You going to be okay, Liss?" Rose asked, not following me.
The princess nodded, assuring Rose she would be, but Rose clearly didn't believe the words and began arguing otherwise before the princess nodded in my direction and Rose reluctantly turned and followed me.
"We may need to add an extra training on self-control" I quipped as we walked, knowing full well that I was already trying to subtly train her in that, but wanting to diffuse some of the tension between us.
"I have plenty of self-control…" she started, before she was distracted by Christian Ozera. "Hey!" She called. "You going to see Lissa?"
"What if I am?" He replied.
"Rose, this isn't the time" I chastised, wanting to drop her off at the dorm quickly so that I could resume my shift.
"Why don't you just leave her alone?" Rose started, ignoring me. "Are you so messed up and desperate that you can't tell when someone doesn't like you? You're some crazy stalker and she knows it. She's told me all about your weird obsession- how you're always hanging out in the attic together, how you set Ralf on fire to impress her. She thinks you're a freak, but she's too nice to say anything."
I could see the impact of Rose's words hit Christian, and his face paled, his eyes turning dark.
"But you aren't too nice?" He retorted.
"No. Not when I feel sorry for someone."
"Enough." I interrupted.
I knew Christian's back story, having been involved slightly with it happened. I remembered seeing a young Christian and Tasha be brought in, and Tasha had even left him with me briefly when I was much younger and on a court visit. I sympathised deeply with him, and liked his Aunt, and Rose's attitude was annoying me. I pulled her away from him, angry at her hurtful and childish behaviour, and any feelings I had been having after the event in the gym were wiped away by this behaviour.
"Thanks for helping then" Christian called as we turned to leave.
"No problem" she called over her shoulder, darkening my mood even further.
As I lead her away and towards the dorms, we both saw Christian pause, and turn back around towards the Moroi dorms, clearly listening to Rose's cruel words.
Thank you for the reviews, follows and favourites on the last chapter! For anyone interested, this ended at the end of chapter 11!
Please review and let me know what you thought :)