Chapter 2
As dawn stole across the fields, a slight figure traveled down the road, a bag slung across slight shoulders and a silver ring glinted on a finger. According to Lissa, anyone who looked at her would see a boy with brown hair and eyes, a broad chest and a masculine face. However, Rose would have to still bind her breasts and pitch her voice lower if she wanted to fool anyone. The charm would alter her appearance but if anyone were to touch her, they would easily discover the truth.
When the sun had reached its apex, Rose could see the gates of St. Vladimir, the training camp specific for new guardians. Here the charm would be tested for the first time up close.
"I need to see your letter," said the guardian at the gate. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw the name listed. "Mazur? Abe Mazur has a son?"
"He doesn't talk about me much." Rose replied in a gruff voice, praying her nerves wouldn't change her tone.
The guardian looked at her queerly but after a pause waved her through. "Report to Captain Belikov. You'll find him on the east side of campus."
"Thanks." Rose said and walked into the grounds. As she found her way to where she was supposed to go, she walked through a cloud of clove smoke.
There were four men standing together. The tallest of them, a Moroi with tousled brown hair and emerald green eyes similar to Lissa's spoke first. "Well boys, looks like we have a new recruit. Tell us princess where did you come from."
The other Moroi, with black hair and icy blue eyes, turned, "Princess?"
"Well look at him, it's clear he's never trained a day in his life." With a smirk on his lips. His eyes flicked to her ring as she stared at him. What did he know about her? She had trained, albeit not under a guardian. She lunged at him, trying to prove him wrong. He was knocked back into the two dhampir boys who'd been standing there as well. They pulled her off of him, and before long fists were flying in every direction. She got in a good on hit on the shorter of the two boys, the one with red hair. The blonde boy punched her gut. All eyes turned to watch the fight. With an especially hard kicked to her shin, Rose lost her footing and fell, the others landing on her in a heap, a voice shouted pulling their attention.
"Guardians!" Everyone jumped to attention, leaving Rose to clamber to her feet. Her eyes slowly raised to meet those of the man who had spoken. He was tall. Very tall. Probably 6'6 or 6'7. His hair was brown, tied back into a ponytail. His chocolate eyes widened for a moment when Rose met his stare with a glare as if upset that she had been interrupted. She rubbed the ring to make sure it was still in place. He blinked, looking quizzical for a moment, then spoke again, a note of authority in his voice.
"What is the meaning of this? You are here to train to fight Strigoi, not each other."
The Moroi who was truly to blame pointed at Rose, "He started it!"
The captain, Rose was sure of his rank if nothing else, looked back at her, anger evident in his eyes though his face maintained indifference, "Novice, what is your name?" he barked.
Rose stuttered, her perfectly rehearsed story wiped from her mind as she tried to face this giant.
"My name is Jamie."
"What is your surname novice?" He snarled, glaring at her lack of respect and discipline. Rose cringed, she hadn't thought of a surname, assuming she would only use her first name in all forms as address.
Seconds passed, and she tried to stammer out something, but words wouldn't come.
"I asked you a question, novice. Now tell me, what is your surname?" He rolled his eyes with impatience. Daring the boy to continue defying him, he stepped closer letting his superior height intimidate him.
"Hathaway" She breathed, her heard pounding as he leaned over her, emphasizing just how small she was.
"Well then, Hathaway, let me see your letter." He glowered at her and stuck out his hand. As he read her letter his face slipped out of the stony mask he wore for just a second, eyes bulging and he inhaled sharply.
"Mazur, Abe? The Abe Mazur? Zmey? I thought he only had a daughter." He said with a suspicious look, remembering the slip of a girl he had seen while visiting Abe nearly 5 years ago, after becoming a guardian. The boy who stood before him would be about the same age as that girl, and from what he remembered of her, their hair color was almost identical. Before he had time to delve into this budding suspicion, the teen spoke again, crushing his theory.
"So did he. I'm the result of a drunken liaison, shortly before his marriage." She paused, thinking about how that part was actually true. Her parents almost didn't get married over it. A child hadn't been conceived, but oh how furious her mother was when she found out. It was a story that her father had told her one night after her parents had argued about Abe wanting to go out with some friends. "When I heard about the mandatory recruitment, I found him and told him I would go in his place. So here I am." Rose was trying very hard to play the part, she clenched her fists by her side, rather than throw out her hip like she naturally would when confronted.
"Very well. Jamie Hathaway- get back in line." The guardian turned to the group, "Tonight guardians, you are going to be assigned groups and dorms. I am Guardian Dimitri Belikov, but you will call me either Guardian Belikov or Sir at all times. Tomorrow your real training begins, you've been warned."
"Yes Sir!" everyone replied and set about their way.
Dimitri Belikov. The legendary badass god of the guardians. She remembered seeing him from a distance when she was 12. He had come to see her father about something, and nosy though she is, something about this man had made her feel both scared and safe. For once she hadn't spied on her father, and so didn't know anything other the rumors that continually floated around.
When Rose got to her dorm, she was dismayed to find that someone was already there. She'd hoped that because she was one of the last to arrive at camp that she'd get her own room. Keeping her secret would be that much harder with a roommate. Of course she'd get stuck with the one that caused her loss of temper, resulting in Captain Belikov already singling her out.
"Hello, roomie. Now... before you attack me again, tell me Jamie what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to learn to fight Strigoi, same as you. Who are you anyway?" Rose glared with her arms crossed.
He laughed, "Oh little dhampir, if only you knew...Well, I am Adrian Ivashkov and I am a spirit user." He gave a dramatic bow, "And that means that little silver charm on your finger won't work on me. So, before I go tell Belikov that you are in fact, a girl, tell me why are you really here?"
Rose sighed. There was no way out of this one. But could he be trusted? Perhaps it would be good for someone to know her secret, he could help her hide it, and even renew her charm if she needed him too! What were the chances that there was another spirit user, and they would be roommates?
Rose had no choice but to trust him.
"Alright, Adrian, I'm trusting you." Rose took a deep breath, "My name is Rose Hathaway Mazur, and I came to take my father's place. I couldn't bear to see him back in war, honor or not." She paused, then added, "Before you get any ideas, I'm not a girl who can marry because she was told to. I have my own opinions and ideas, which apparently makes me too outspoken to be of any use. If I stayed home, I would be left with no future. At least, not a future I want to think about. "
Adrian chuckled as he pulled out a flask from his pack. Offering it to her, he was surprised when she grabbed it and took a long swig. This girl was definitely not like any he'd ever met, and living at court he knew hundreds.
"Well, princess, I can't say I blame you for wanting your old man safe, but you are still a girl. What makes you think you can fight?" He gave her a serious look. "I bet that you will get knocked on your ass enough tomorrow you won't be able to sit for a week. Belikov won't go easy on you if you are weak, he will push harder. He earned his reputation and trust me, he won't be let it go anytime soon. He will send you home in disgrace if you can't make the cut." Adrian let his words sink in, can't say she wasn't warned. "But if he finds out you are a girl… let's just say that the Strigoi will be the least of your problems." Adrian glanced at Rose, taking in her pale face as she realized what he meant.
Rose looked at Adrian, she was about to speak when suddenly she was pulled into Lissa's head.
"Please Lissa, just tell us where Rose is! She was gone when we woke up and hasn't been back all day. Normally she comes home for dinner, or lets us know if she is with you. I know she was upset last night, it makes sense that she would come to you." Abe Mazur was pacing in circles around Lissa's parlor. He was clearly concerned as to where his daughter was, but it hadn't yet hit him what she had done.
"Mr. Mazur, I'm sorry but Rose really isn't here. She came by last night and wanted to talk. When I told her that I thought Queen Tatiana had made the right choice in the conscription, she got mad and left. I haven't seen her since. Did you notice if anything of her things are missing? Or perhaps she is at her spot in the woods. Or hiding watching the guardians practice again." Lissa was trying to send Rose's father off on a wild goose chase, hoping that Rose had made it to St. Vladimir's and was getting settled. She hated the bond most of the time, but right now she really wished it was two-way so she could talk to Rose. Rose, if you are listening, I miss you already. I really wish I could tell your parents what is going on, so they wouldn't miss you as much.
Rose pulled out of Lissa's head and sighed. Things would be easier if she could respond, to let Lissa know that she is okay, and that it was too late for her parents to do anything, at least without her getting thrown in prison.
Rose looked back at Adrian who was staring at her with a quizzical expression, but before either of them could speak, a horn rippled through the air.
"Novices! Line up! You have work to do." A voice resonated through the building. Feet thundered as they hurried to get into place on the lawn to find out why they were being called from their rooms when they should have been going to go to bed.
"Men. I am Captain Ivan Zeklos. Unlike Captain Belikov, I'm not as formal. Feel free to call me Ivan." He winked, his blonde hair and blue eyes giving him a handsome, but friendly look. "You will be divided into groups of 5 and sent to work in various areas of the camp making sure everything is setup up for training to begin. If it is wrong, you will do it again. If you have to be up all night, so be it." He paced in front of them. Due to his attitude, he must have been second in charge. Dimitri Belikov stood behind him leaning against the wall. Rose couldn't help but think that no one that tall should be able to be that graceful.
To Rose's horror, and Adrian's apparent humor, she was assigned to Group C. They were assigned to clean the bathrooms. When they arrived to start cleaning, Rose's horror only grew as the other three men in her group were the same three that she had gotten into a fight with. Adrian quickly introduced her Christian Ozera, Eddie Castile and Mason Ashford. Christian was the black haired Moroi who's element was apparently fire, which Rose found out to her annoyance when he lit her rag on fire. Eddie was sandy-haired with hazel eyes while Mason was a freckled, red-haired, blue eyed boy who seemed like he would be fun to be around.
As they set to work, Rose couldn't help but yawn, wondering how much longer until they could sleep. She was already exhausted and couldn't imagine trying to stay up all night with training starting in the morning. Based on his reputation, she knew Dimitri wouldn't go easy on them. She determined that no matter how tired she got, she would push through and prove her worth.
"Hey Princess, why did you attack me earlier?" Adrian broke through her thoughts. Christian sniggered at the nickname again.
"Perhaps because you insist on calling me that ridiculous name. My name is Jamie, or Hathaway. So if you want to keep your head, you'll call me one of those." Rose turned away from the rest, clenching her teeth and scrubbing harder at the floors.
"Maybe we should just call you Rosie." Christian replied. "After all, you smell like roses."
Eddie laughed, "And just how would you know what he smells like? I didn't know you were that close to each other already."
Christian flushed, stammering over his words, "Of course not you sod. When we all joyfully piled on top of him either, I had to deal with the stench."
Rose threw a rag at him just as Ivan came to inspect their work, earning the group another hour of cleaning.
Captain Belikov was sitting in his office, trying to decide what exactly to have them do. He had already ordered Ivan not to let Group C go until an hour or so before roll call. He had re-arranged the groups so that the boys who fought earlier would have to work together. He thought about what he knew and how it could work into his plan to weed out the 'weak links' that Queen Tatiana had seen fit to saddle on him.
Adrian he knew quite well, as they had grown up together, and since he was friends with Christian's aunt Tasha, Dimitri knew those two got along fine. Castile and Ashford had also grown up together, so it looked as if the 4 of them would do well. It was the Hathaway boy he wanted to break. Something about him crept under Dimitri's skin. No one had ever defied him before, at least not that easily, and he was not about to let this boy get away with it. If he had to punish the whole group just to break the one, he would.
Dimitri Belikov would see to it Jamie Hathaway left camp before the month was out.
AN: Thank you for your wonderful reviews! Just so you know, I will never hold this story hostage for reviews. That actually really bothers me when I see authors do it, so… not gonna happen! I would love know what you think though, so please do review. For this story, I don't have a set upload schedule, due to the fact that I have 2 toddlers and I'm a full time student. I will try to upload a chapter a week, hopefully more some weeks.