I do not own Vampire Academy! Only my OC's. Leave me a Review of what ya'll think so far!- B
The gymnasium was in full swing. The sound of fists hitting punching bags and novices crisscrossed the gym gave a different atmosphere than the world outside of it. The constant movement echoed throughout the room giving a base, slow but steady, like your heartbeat. This is the room that novices learned to be leaders, earned the right to protect, and when you've been beaten to get back up again. This room made my body pulse with excitement. It's as if the room instantly sent an electric charger through my spin. It was a place where I could be challenged.
Instead of the normal inside equipment, it was all pushed aside to make room for the looming obstacle course. The early dhampir's were already surveying the course before class begun, cheaters. It looked like any other standard obstacle course. I had to admit though it looked massive from where we stood. Lily and I had to crane our necks up were the only way to spot the bridge, which was in the middle of the course. That was along was down.
Lily gave out a low sigh, "I don't know, Scar. They've given us obstacles before but never like this."
"It'll be fine! We'll do great, we just can't fall that's all," I smirked.
"If that were the only problem," Lily mumbled under her breath, at this I snickered. If she hadn't been the first to turn towards the girl's locker-room, I probably would've seen an eye roll.
as we headed to the locker room a group of Guardians car I near the end of the obstacle course. The two most noticeable we're Head Guardian Alberta and Guardian Castle who were talking to another three guardians in a hushed matter. They kept their voices low while surveying the novices. Uncle Eddie was talking to two Guardians I didn't recognize. The first was considerable taller than the average Guardian, built like a Guardian, as they must stay in shape, but nothing overdone. His face was stoic but unlike a Guardian's demeanor which was supposed to be closed off was quite the opposite. I didn't know him, but he seemed approachable but firm. His dark Brown hair covered his forehead and ears and a little bit down his neck with eyes to match. The second man faced away from me towards his conversation. I was about the same height of the first Guardian. He held a stiff stance with his arms crossed with wavy hair jet black hair that met his shoulders.
Who really caught my attention, was the older Guardian standing off to the side of the group. Now, he wasn't elderly, but age was present on his face. Some woman would say he's aging like 'fine wine'. He wasn't holding conversation with anyone in the group but instead surveyed the gym. The presence he held was unlike the other Guardians it had a dominating, expressionless, and stiff demeanor. This man stood only a couple inches above the last two. His height and Guardian structure gave him the appearance of a God. With dark hair that was peppered with gray that was pulled back to the nape of his neck. He wore a dark, worn leather duster on top of his uniform. I truly believed this man could have won a fight against John Wayne.
Wanna-be John Wayne must've sensed my staring. He stopped his scanning to look directly at me, the contact wasn't awkward it was…well, it was defiantly strange, like a poking sensation, at an old locked door at the back of my mind. An old memory trying to resurface, maybe? I felt like I recognized him, like I knew him, but I had never seen him before until today.
I had no recollection of ever seeing this man, but my gut said differently. Dark chocolate eyes met mine and I couldn't look away. The eye contact was gone in seconds before it started, and I wished to sink into the floor.
"Who do you think they are?" I whispered, trying to distract myself from the Older Guardian, who was still staring at me. "Court officials maybe? Scouting?"
"No," Lily said in deep thought, "Russians. I recognize their stance, it's in their training. Plus, one of them has a Saint Bails' emblem on his uniform. Though now my question is what are Saint Bails' Guardians doing here?" It made perfect sense; Lily was right. The two guardians stood very precise informal comma and expressionless mask made a perfect wall against the outside world. Russians were trained hardcore, they dealt with larger Strigoi sightings because of their cold climate. This meant that the older Guardian was also Russian.
"So, the 'John-Wayne-looking' Guardian must be the Russian boss, right?" I inquired.
"Possibly," she shrugged "a man his age still in great shape and age must be a high ranking Bloodmaster. I wonder why the visit though; Russians rarely leave home."
"They could be hating the cold. I hear it gets colder than a witch's-"
"May I have a moment, Ms. Hathaway?" asked Guardian Castle, who had managed to sneak up on our conversation, away from the group officials.
"Of course," I stepped aside as Lily went to go change. Lily looking rather amused the Guardian Castle spooked me from behind.
On holidays and summer vacations Guardian Castle goes by Uncle Eddie. He preferred at school we left it strictly formal, so no students thought his teaching bias. However, as he constantly stuck his neck out for me and trained me behind my mother's back, I would say that boat sank a long time ago.
"Would you happen to know why I found a cooked dummy in the trash-pin this morning." He didn't sound very amused.
"No, Guardian Castle," I put my dhampir wall up hoping to seem serious and formal.
"Oh really…what if I told you that you're not running this course," he said. Oh, he was fishing…with good bait.
"What!" My outburst caught some eyes, my guardian formality sat at a record of four seconds "Look, I'm sorry for Mr. Dummy-Head but this isn't about blowing up equipment, is it?" I knew better then to think uncle Eddie was upset over a piece of equipment.
Now, that I think about it an obstacle course is a very dangerous position for myself, uncle Eddie comma and even Guardian Alberta. The risk of running an injury on the course and having to later explain it to my mother would have a bullseye both on Eddie and albert's foreheads. uncle Eddie already risked enough by teaching me outside the classroom and letting me learn in this course. Everyone was afraid of the repercussions from my mother, but nobody stops to think about the repercussions from me.
"Just leave it be Scarlet," Eddie hissed, "don't let your pride take the reins. I'll let you have a go at the obstacle after class. You are running it in front of officials today which makes a higher risk that your mother will find out."
"Look, I understand you're under mom's pressure but I'm tired of being restricted. Let me just once run a course in front of my peers. I know I can do it." I begged, along with some irresistible puppy eyes that made Eddie and Dad cave. I used it sparingly, however, as I rather use determination for my actions, rather than beg for the things that I wanted.
"Fine," he huffed, running a nerves hand through his dark blonde hair, "but if anything happens…I don't know if I can protect you this time." Eddie was one of the few that understood my deposition. The need to prove myself to my fellow Dhampirs, to myself.
Eddie and I's relationship had always been full of love an understanding, but I also couldn't help but feel guilt over the circumstances of why Eddie was now teacher at Saint Vladimir. My uncle Eddie had a strong connection with my uncle Adrian, he was his Guardian for the longest time but when my uncle Adrian an aunt Sidney moved to Maine to live a quiet life uncle Eddie was given the position as head Guardian to my mother. This was the pinnacle of guardian's career. I know the demand of my mother's lifestyle strange my uncle Eddie especially as he was in a relationship with the Queen's sister, my aunt Julian.
Eddie's and my aunt Jillian had an interesting relationship. They had been married for a while, a happy marriage from what I remember. Aunt Jill and Eddie just feel apart, Eddie claims that the responsibility of their jobs pulled them apart, but I always suspected more. He was beside himself, and the night of Andre and I's accident was probably the first night he found sleep. In his exhaustion, he passed out on the couch snoring away as two ten-year-olds left unnoticed. Our freedom was too easy that night and Eddie took all the blame for our missed care.
That guilt would never leave me regardless of the numerous times Eddie explained that the stress of the job was to much and he only accepted this job to be closer to Mason, his son. Regardless, my reckless actions cost my love one his reputation, his career, and pride in guarding.
He looked around the gym to make sure no one was watching and pulled me into a tight embrace, "just be careful, okay?"
I nodded in agreement and headed into the locker-room.
The locker room wasn't as crowded as it would seem, there weren't many female guardians within the school and only ten were graduating this year. The blessing of such a small number was never waiting in line for the shower, we woman happen to take long showers.
"Hey, did you bring deodorant by chance?" Lily's voice echo in the stale next to mine.
"Yupper," I tossed the deodorant stick over the privacy barrier.
There was a light thud of the plastic hitting concrete followed by- "OW! That hit my head!" I laughed, a genuine laugh for once, it was times like these that I was going to miss once we graduated.
"Damnit Hathaway, I think I'm seeing stars!"
"No," I took the stick back once we exited the stales, "I believe you're seeing sweet cherry blossoms." I received a blow to the head for that one. "Ha, you think you're so amusing." Lily said drily, still rubbing her head as we left.
….
We all formed a single line upon finishing the usual warmups. Nothing like starting our night out with running a mile. I personally didn't mind running.
"Alright, Novices!" Guardian Castle blew his whistle; the Russians had moved to the back of the gym against the wall.
"As you have noticed you will be preforming in an obstacle challenge today. You must beat the time limit of five minutes; however, the record is three minutes and fifteen seconds. These obstacles will test your training so far. Fail and well…" Eddie smirked obviously amused, "you fail." What a bundle of sunshine.
"In this obstacle challenge you must perform core elements have your training. You will start off platform in a high sprint and use your jumping exercises to launch yourself onto the cargo net. Then you must conquer the bridge. This branch what time is your offense and defense strategies in a pressured environment, let's just say it's a long way down if you fail. After the bridge do you use these ledged walls and a beam to make your way down to the finish line. This puts your balance and leg core to the test. Understood!" Those that understood nodded, and those that didn't…well they were fucked at this point.
"Anderson! You'll go first." We formed a line leading off the platform waiting our turn.
"Oh, look it's the Academy's star novice. Did you finally learn how to hold a stake today, my Lady?" Bev Carr, mockingly curtsied. She along with a group of obnoxious Dhampirs where just ahead of Lily and I in line. Bev Carr was obnoxious with her click group of other toxic 'friends' she found it amusing to point out where other people didn't belong. Her petty humor however was praised by a chorus of giggles. She was a hypocrite in her own right, and I seemed to be the only one in the school that told her so, for this she despised me.
"Yes, in fact you may need more lessons in dodging mine, Beaver," I smirked. Bev's smirk faulter at the old insult. If was a running joke that she was Bev the Beaver, because she didn't…well you get the picture.
"I'm not afraid of you Hathaway."
"I didn't ask you to be," I smiled, hoping she caught the hint that my smile was worse than my bite.
It was finally Bev and her posses' turn to take the course and I was delighted to see Bev get smacked by a turning pin, but she still made it. She glanced at me smiling at the bottom. Oh, if she only knew what I saw last night she wouldn't dare look at me.
"Must you really sink to her level?" Lily jumped onto the starting platform for her turn.
"She started it," it was childish, but I wasn't about to admit how petty I could get especially with Bev Carr.
Lily rolled her eyes, but grinned, showing how entertained she was of the situation. My life happened to be amusing maybe that's the reason why she stuck around.
Her buzzer went off and she shot out like a rocket from the starting line. I was proud of my best friend she had been shunned by society due to her lineage always shy and barely talked most of our schooling. She proved them all wrong. Lily would make a great Guardian one day.
She made it to the end without any problems, of course, but she barely made the limit. This course was a beast even for Lily. The bridge seemed to be where the other novices were slowing down. The countdown buzzer began, I assumed my starting position. I want to jump out of the gate with no pause, no hesitation, no fear. Like a nervous racehorse pined into the starting gate ready to reach the finish-line.
I heard a wolf howl in the background. "Looking good Hathaway!" Idiots, why did we teenager have to be nothing but hormone producers? Instead of looking at my ass, they should fear I can kick their ass.
My buzzer sounded, and I was off the platform within a second.
The first three events weren't hard, a lot of dodging and covering my back as padded dummies tried to quickly smack you from behind. The cargo net was all about upper body strength and that was a hefty thirty-foot climb. I listen to my heartbeat all the way up it matched with my breath which was a good sign.
Everyone was drowned out as I deepened my hole of concentration. I reached the bridge and here is where it got tricky, mock dummies came flying out. Now, if you get hit with these big guys, you'll be falling thirty feet down, with little padding to break the fall, bruised ribs, and a hurt ego.
A good reminder of your failure.
The object of the task was to hit the dummies hard in the chest area causing their light to turn red signaling them 'dead'.
My first mock Strigoi was no problem giving him a hard punch in the chest with the practice wooden stake. What I didn't notice was a heavy dummy coming from behind smacking me hard in the back. The breath from my lungs was gone; the dummy continued to smack me down till I gave it a hard kick in the chest, it's light turning red.
Now spent, which wasn't good, my third dummy stood in the middle of the walkway. The only way I would be getting through this was forcing my way though. I sent out the first punch which the dummy defected. Damn robots too smart for their own damn good.
I sent another fist for the temple which made contact, but the light didn't turn red. Its padded hand took another go, the hard impact colliding with my hip. The force of the punch sent me down to the floor of the bridge, in my attempt to roll out of the way for the next blow I rolled too far. The floor of the bridge was suddenly out from under me And I felt the pressure of gravity taking my body to the ground pin
I'm don't remember what I did, I was expecting to hit the mat. Philosophers or whoever thanks of the stuff aren't exaggerating when they say time slows when you are falling. In this moment which felt like forever the instinct to reach out possess the rest of my body. My mind was blank on what to do but my body knew exactly how to survive. In my arms attempt to reach out my fingers caught the edge of the wind bridge, barely. They talk about upper arm and leg strength, but real adrenaline is where finger strength lives.
I caught it. Five inches of board isn't much to hold onto but when you don't want to fall it's a lot. I was angry, no I was pissed. I could see a whirl of smoke escape from between my figures, that was defiantly going to leave a mark. New energy filled my body as I pushed myself back onto the bridge. The dummy still standing in my way.
The anger of my possible failure sent a hot anger through me and in that moment, I used all my power. I sent a roundhouse kick to the head. The robotic head tor off the body cleanly. The light turned red but sailed off the bridge to gymnasium floor.
The rest of the course felt like a walk in the park. I used my arms and legs to balance myself between the channel of walls as if spider monkeying my way down to the ground. I could feel my feet slip against the wall and my hands desperately ached from pulling myself up from the bridge but all I could hear was silence And I didn't know if that was a good thing or bad.
Finally, racing down the narrow beams I did a final push and summersault into the air to cushion my landing, making my way to push the button on the wall stopping my time. Then collapsing in defeat. It felt like hours, you never know it probably was. I heard several cheers and Lily hovering over my body smiling, yelling something at me.
"You did awesome! You took its head clear off!"
I was still dying on the ground from exhaustion. Eddie and I never practiced like that.
"Do you need help?" She paused her celebration now looking concerned. I wheezed a yes then taking Lily's hand, groaning all the way as my hips protested.
"Hathaway," Guardian Castle walking over his face slightly paled, not good.
"How'd I do Guardian Castle?" I asked, my head still in a fog of exhaustion. Lily handed me a water bottle quickly. I tried to stand and look at his clipboard. He moved it away from my sight, "overall? Sloppy, reckless, and you almost got your ass handed to you by a dummy." My heart dropped to my gut, yah not good.
"But," he added, "you had great technique, recovered beautifully, and still had enough energy to destroy another piece of training equipment. You also had the fastest time today, Congratulations." He was smiling slightly as he gave me the last bite of information. I smiled brightly, ear to ear. I had never completed an obstacle course before. I was on a slight high from the adrenaline. He turned away, back to the group when I caught the Russian Boss staring again. His attention was gone before it started without any acknowledgement, rude.
Lily and I took our seats on a bench as where the rest of the exhausted novices. Lily in the background was rambling about something about the course but in this moment, I heard nothing but my own heartbeat. Have you ever stopped and thought that a moment could change your life? In this moment I couldn't tell if it was my own adrenaline with the gorgeous dark green eyes not now stared at me from across the gym. The last Guardian that I could not get a proper look now had his full attention to me comma and just, wow!
His hair was wavy in a dark brown the covered parts of his forehead, ears and down to his shoulders. His beard matched this hair, but it was long or unkept but just a slight growth that gave him a matured appearance. He had an olive completion which completed the natural sexy look. His green eyes pierced my chocolate ones and man I could melt on this bench. He looked in his mid-twenties which was a shame because that meant he was legally untouchable, well, more like the other way around. He was the perfect specimen of the Y-chromosome.
He turned to leave with Russian Boss and his twin, and it sadden me to see him go.
"All three Mr. Russian's watched your whole run," Lily smiled at me, she was also highly impressed by my course run.
"Damn, I must look irresistible with ten gallons of perspiration all over my body," my sarcasm was never ending today.
"I doubt they noticed," she laughed as we headed the showers.
In this moment, I knew things would be different.