Dimitri

Rose and I did 'talk' last night and then I got a phone call early this morning to remind me to talk to Alberta. Since having Aly, Rose had matured into a very strong women, which I loved, but sometimes I wonder if I fit into her life anymore and not just because I'm Aly's father. There are no grounds for this worry – or even jealousy, it's just that Rose had grown so much away from me – away from her friends and family and I wonder if she would have been able to grow like that if she never went missing.

I told Christian that I wouldn't be able to make his early classes to help with the combat portion but Eddie was more than capable – we did have the same training after all. Instead, I made my way towards Stan's class first, asking to speak with him, which he wasn't happy about but I'm sure I was a saving grace for the novices. Then we went to find Alberta before making our way to headmistress Kirova.

"What is this about, Belikov?" Stan ordered. I waved a hand dismissing him and waited to be called into Kirova's office. It wasn't easy, I had to do just about everything in the book to walk into that office. Alberta, was quiet, trying to read me, my emotions, my posture. As we walked into the office, she pauses for a second.

"Is this about Rose?" I nodded and pulled out my phone and called Rose. She took a while to answer. It rang out and I called again.

"It'll be easier if Rose explains." Then she answered. It was dark on the screen

"Just be quiet for a second." She whispered. Alberta looked at me and shrugged my shoulder and shook my head.

"What is the meaning of this, Hathaway?! Most of us have classes to teach." Stan yelled.

"You won't be teaching much longer Stanly if you don't shut up." Rose hissed back. There was a hint of panic in her voice, Alberta must have heard it too because she opened her mouth to sh Stan, even Kirova did. I tried to make Rose out int he darkness but it was nearly impossible.

"Is that a threat?!"

"Ah shit!" There was flickering of light as Rose ran and then suddenly stopped before complete silence. Stan finally kept quiet as we watched the small screen, Rose wasn't making a sound and the sounds that were coming through her speaker were slightly muffled as if she had us in her pocket.

"Do you think that was her? Rose?" The voice was unfamiliar.

"No, she was talking to Shelly about how she likes to sleep. She wouldn't be awake this early." That was John's voice.

"You said she had a brat? What age is it?" I was starting to get offended, I don't know how Rose managed to control herself and not punch these guys. Maybe I'm the one that needs maturing? When they say the student becomes the teacher - they were telling the truth.

"I don't know? Five? Six? Seven? She's very tall but I mean, Rose's boyfriend is a giant."

"Oh, shut up. If she's five then she could have started that awful school."

"I was talking to Rose you know? She knows nothing about it."

"You really are stupid, aren't you? You think she's going to blab?"

"But she seems nice." Then the voices faded. It was twenty minutes before there was any movement made and another fifteen before there was an image on the phone again. This time, there was some light from the sky. Rose slotted her phone on a stand and started her car.

"John's one of them." She sighed. "And I'm starving. Thanks for that Stanly, now I don't have time for breakfast."

"Are you sure?" I asked her. Everyone else in the room looked up in confusion, I ignored them.

"Who's in the room?"

"Petrov, Alto and Kirova, I know they're the ones you actually trust."

"You got one out of three."

"I got the one out of three you would actually admit to." Have I always been this childish?

"What is going on?" Alberta raised her voice before Kirova could.

"Oh, you know – someone's killing any female that has molnija marks and they think St Vlads is the place they hoard them all." Alberta stared at the phone. "I don't think they've found the school yet, but they have scouted the mall close by and have started to venture into the forest."

"Who have? How do you know about this?" Kirova asked sitting back in her chair. Alto remained quiet.

"The law firm I'm interning with – Looks like I only got this job because of the marks on the back of my neck." Rose sighed, keeping her eyes on the road, only glancing at the screen for split seconds before going back to the road. "There's a mole in the Vlad's too."

"What did you say? When did you-" Rose cut me off. She has not mentioned this to me before.

"Before Stanly rudely interrupted my sneaking – They were told where Vlad's was, they didn't start going into the forest for no reason."

"Is it just speculation that there's a mole, or is there actual proof?" Stan interrupted, finally speaking for the first time. Rose rolled her eyes.

"They know the layout of Vlad's – lunch times, class starts, class finishing. They know about the wards, their locations – it looks like they're specifically looking at the kindergarten. Dimitri, Eddie, my mom, Pavel and the two of you were all mentioned by name. It has to be someone inside." I leaned back looking at Alberta. She was staring back at me, worried. It has to be someone and I want either my mom or Dimitri stationed in Aly's class."

"Do you know who?" Rose shook her head. "Do you have any idea who would do it?" Rose snorted.

"If Mia wasn't reformed, my money would be on her." Rose shook her head. "I honestly don't know but we can't really trust anyone." Rose parked her car. "Someone has to tell my mom and Eddie. At least that's two more Guardian's that can help out."

"Rose - are you absolutely sure about this? That it's not some prank?" Kirova looked hesitant, not because she didn't believe Rose – despite everything she portrayed to Rose while she was a student, she always knew Rose was going to be the best Guardian to walk from St Vlad's. She seemed to be trying to figure out a way to protect the school, the students all with a handful of Guardians. Rose nodded her head. "Can we tell the others?"

"You can't tell Lissa, she'll literally drop that baby with worry. Christian can't keep anything from her so we can't tell him. You can try and tell my dad that someone is out there trying to kill his kid and wife – question mark – at your own risk."

"What about Mia?" Alberta asked. Dimitri looked at her. "She came with you guys, didn't she?"

"She doesn't exactly help Christian with his classes. We only see her during lunch and in the evenings. She's helping Lissa look through the books in the library to see if there are any journals from Anna or Vladimir." I replied.

"Why would she be helping looking for Anna's book in the library? They're all hidden in the church, something about Vlad believing they'll be held sacred there." I shrugged.

"There's no harm is there?" Rose shrugged her shoulders and then waved out the window before rolling it down.

"Hey! You coming in to do some very exciting work of paper pushing?" Rose laughed and shook her head.

"I'll be in a minute."

"Are you sure you don't want to come in now?" Rose turned her head to the other window. She made a face.

"Yeah, I'm coming." Rose picked up her phone. "I gotta go. I love you." Rose hung up the phone.

"I'm not telling Janine!" Alberta and Stan said together. I looked over at Kirova who was shaking her head.

"I'm pulling the Moroi card." I let out a breath.

"Alright." I mumbled. "I'll talk to Janine. Rose is heading here tonight – she's driving in case someone is following."

"We'll talk strategy then." I nodded.

"We're the only ones to touch the wards for the time being and they're to be changed in irregular patterns, hopefully this will help until Rose can get here."

I went to talk to Janine.