Chapter 5

Rose awoke before the crack of dawn. Next to her head was a note and a silver key. Glancing at Adrian, who was still sound asleep, she grabbed the items, toed on her shoes and crept out the door. In the light of the hall she read,

Hathaway, Zeklos gave me this key to give to you. It will open the gym in the staff area. AVOID BELIKOV! Keep your ring on and your head up. He can't actually kick you out until the end of next week, so keep up the hard work and it will all work out.

-A.

Shocked, she glanced back at the key. Ivan gave this to her? Why? Logging away that question, she quickly headed to the staff gym, intent on getting some practice in before anyone else woke up.

Rose was so into hitting the bag that she didn't hear the door open.

"Hathaway, you are doing that wrong." She shrieked and whirled around. Mason and Eddie were standing behind her.

"How did you get in here?" Eddie asked.

"I was given a key. I need to figure out how to fight before the end of next week or Belikov is going to send me home. I can't go home in disgrace." She felt tears prick her eyes and quickly fought to get her emotions under control. The red head stared at her and took a step towards her.

"Let us help then. Eddie and I were taught by the captain, well at least we started to train with him." Mason glanced at Eddie who nodded.

Rose sighed. She did need the help, and they had kicked her trash the day before.

"Very well, teach me all you know."

They started. Before the hour was up, they had corrected her stance and her punch.

"Don't close your fist over your thumb, you'll break it. Keep your thumb on top. Strike out and keep your other hand up to protect your face. Keep your weight on your back leg, so you can twist easier. A good punch comes from the hips, not the arms— that twist is your powerhouse. You are small, the advantage is that you can evade. The disadvantage is that you have to get closer in to reach anyone. Stay light on your feet, wear the other guy out. Anyone fighting you won't view you as much of a threat, so you can surprise them."

The advice kept rolling. Mason and Eddie knew what they were talking about and now Rose was benefiting from it. Before long though, the horn sounded and they raced out of the gym before anyone caught them in there.

Rose was standing between Mason and Eddie on the parade ground when Belikov came walking out of the dorms looking pleased. He almost seemed to be skipping. Rose took half a step back so that she was out of sight.

"Good morning men! Now that we are all here, it is time to kick up training a little. Today we are going to work on team work. Each group will be given a clue. This clue will lead you to another clue and so on. The first group back will be granted the rest of the day off. Everyone else will be on KP." Belikov was definitely in a good mood.

They broke into groups, Rose still keeping out of his sight. Ivan came over to hand them their clue.

"Hathaway, good to see you. Belikov was afraid you left in the night when your bed was empty this morning. I can't wait to tell him you're still here. I can't let you get away from him." Ivan winked at her.

"Zeklos, please don't tell him. I want to surprise him when we are the first group back. His eyes will roll, won't they. After all, to him I'm just a little boy. He won't expect me to be here, or to win this race. Thanks for the key by the way. It has already come in handy. I think by the end of next week, I will be able to hold my own." Rose smiled at him.

"Haha, I'm sure you will. With Mas and Eddie helping you, you will be able to beat most of the guys in this camp." Ivan handed her the envelope with the clue. "Now get going, I believe you have Captain to surprise."

He sauntered off still laughing.

"Alright, let's see what this clue says. 'When you have had a long day, you often want to enjoy, a long relaxing bath, but alas no luck. What would you do beside? Where would you take a rubber duck?'"

Adrian stared, "What kind of clue is that? Obviously I'd take my duck to the tub. But it says no luck to a bath. So, what could it be instead?"

Christian started laughing, "You have a duck? Why does that not surprise me? You act like a man, but you are nothing more than a little kid! The great womanizer, Ivashkov, is just a ducky lover at heart."

Rose glared at them. "Guys, come on. I need to win this. Belikov wants me gone, and I'm not going to give him the satisfaction."

Mason looked serious, "Perhaps a pond? Or river? Some other source of water. Adrian, what is around here?"

Adrian thought, "In the back corner, there is a pond. In fact, I happen to know that there was a rubber duck there once! Let's go." The group raced off.

Standing around the pond, they all looked for the next clue. Finally, Eddie found what they were looking for. A rubber duck with a ribbon around its neck. A scroll was attached to the ribbon. Unraveling it Eddie read, "A place of safety, a place of refuge. Where one is at peace and all are welcome."

Christian looked ill. "No need to think about this one. I know where it is." Without another word, he walked off into the trees. The others all looked confused, but followed him anyway. He led them all the way across the campus to the chapel. He stood just inside the gate and didn't seem willing to take a step forward. Rose waved the others on, to go look for the next clue while she went to stand with him.

"Christian, how did you know to come here?" Rose spoke softly.

"My parents. They willing turned Strigoi, and then they came for me. My aunt told me to run to the church, that I would be safe there." He was just staring at the ground, not willing to look into her eyes.

"Christian, you know that wasn't your fault. You would never turn Strigoi. Anyone who actually pays attention to you will see that you are not your parents."

He shuffled his feet. "Thanks Jay. A lot of people don't bother to try to get to know me after they learn who I am."

"No problem. My best friend has everyone judge her based on her family too. It's hard to live up or down your parents' reputation." Rose laughed it off.

"Who?" Christian looked surprised.

"Vasilla Dragomir. Lissa to me. We've been friends since birth basically." His mouth dropped. That was the normal reaction when Rose told people who her best friend was.

"Princess Dragomir is your best friend? That is amazing. I heard she was hiding from public after the accident."

Before Rose could respond, Mason came running out from the church. In his hand was another clue. It was clear that Mason was excited.

"You guys! This says it is the last clue! 'As you reach the end, there is only one more thing. In addition to training and sleep, what else do you need?' Jamie, what do you think?" Mason was almost jumping in excitement.

Everyone stared at Rose, waiting for her to figure it out.

"Chocolate Donuts."

"Um… What?" Eddie looked confused. Adrian started laughing.

"Ah, princess, always thinking with your stomach aren't you?" He started leading the way to the cafeteria.

"I can't let Belikov see me yet. So we need to be sneaky. I want to surprise him that we won." Rose kept in the middle of the group.

In a few more minutes the group made their way into the cafeteria and sat around one of the tables. They just sat there and talked for the next several minutes waiting for anyone else to show up, hopeful that they would in fact be in the right spot.

Dimitri sat in his office after dismissing the novices, sorting papers on his desk when Ivan came in. Pulling out a chair, Ivan sat down across from Dimitri and just sat there. It was several minutes before Dimitri let out a sigh, knowing his best friend was going to stare at him all day if he didn't make the first move to open conversation.

"Yes, Ivan? I know you want something."

"Me? Why would I want anything? You are the one in a good mood. Care to share?"

"Hathaway wasn't in his bed this morning, I think he got the hint and went home. One less pansy for me to worry about. He should never have been here at all."

"Is that what you really think? What makes him any different than you when you first joined the guardians? As I recall, you were even worse."

"I was 10! Hathaway is supposedly 18, but he doesn't look a day over 16. You know how I feel about children fighting the Strigoi. It isn't their place. He needed to go back home and grow up some more." Dimitri slammed his fist onto his desk. "I won't be responsible for the slaughter of all my men because one boy couldn't hack it."

"I'm just saying, he might have surprised you. I bet that with a little bit of proper training, Hathaway would surpass everyone, maybe even you. He has an aura around him that gives of the sense of determination. Would you have volunteered to take the place of a father you never knew? I think Hathaway is stronger than you believe. If only you hadn't sent him home." Ivan leaned back in his chairs, arms reaching up behind his head as he contended with his friend. Rarely one to give into peer pressure, Dimitri wouldn't see reason when it came to Hathaway just because everyone else liked him. It would have to be through logic.

"Well, it's too late now. He's gone. I'm not going to chase after him. He's not worth it." Ivan chuckled at that.

"Oh friend, I think you would find that he is worth it, and so much more. Just remember, not everything is at it seems." With that Ivan got up.

"Come on, someone will be finishing the scavenger hunt soon. We'd better go meet them in the cafeteria.

Dimitri stood up and grabbed his leather duster. Swinging it around his shoulders, he thought about what Ivan said. Perhaps he was too hasty in kicking the boy out. Then he jolted. Hathaway's bed hadn't been made when he stopped by this morning. That meant the boy had at least slept in it. Perhaps he was still here. If he was, he hadn't reported to the meeting that morning. Or had he? Dimitri thought hard. He didn't recall seeing the boy, but Eddie and Mason had seemed a little more on edge than normal.

Shaking his head, he strode up to Ivan.

"You know, if the boy was still here, I could just make his life a living hell until he leaves. There are always toilets to clean, pots to wash, boots to shine."

Ivan was laughing as they pushed open the doors.

"You know, there are other ways to punish someone, they could always have to train with you!"

Dimitri joined in his friend's laughter. A quiet chuckle was all he allowed though. A laughing shrieck filled the air as they fully entered the cafeteria. There sitting at one of the tables were Adrian, Christian, Eddie, Mason and Jamie Hathaway.

Ivan shot Dimitri a look. "Remember what I said friend. Things aren't always what they seem.

Dimitri started towards the group, furious at having been disobeyed. Then he halted.

I can get either make Hathaway's life a living hell, or I can deny him the chance to train properly. There are lots of menial tasks that need done. If I never let him on guard duty, or do day training with him, there is no way he would be able to pass the qualifier. That's it. I'll let him stay, make him think he has a chance and then yank it out from under him.

Dimitri resumed his march to the group.

"Hathaway!" He barked "Since you feel the need to still be here, it's time you get to work. First assignment is to go into the gym and wipe down all the equipment. This will be your first task every day."

Rose looked up at him, "Relax Comrade, my group won the challenge. I get the day off, you said so this morning."

Dimitri flushed with anger. "Hathaway, you aren't even supposed to be here. The rest of the group gets the day off, but you have to make up for staying when I told you to leave."

It was Rose's turn to flush. "But that's not fair. I want to stay, I know I'm not very good, but I was never given the chance to train before coming here. My mother felt it was too risky. I want to learn to fight. How can I protect my family and my best friend, Lissa Dragomir from Strigoi if no one will teach me! Everyone else here has been given a chance, why do you hate me so much?"

Adrian was staring hard between the two. He hadn't realized it before, but their aura's were very interesting to watch when they were together. It was almost like they reached out to one another. He smirked, oh this could be fun! Then he chimed into the conversation.

"Cousin, perhaps you really should give Jamie a chance. He might surprise you. I know for a fact that he's willing to do anything to make it, to fight. You forget that old saying, 'One man may be the difference between life and death.' Let Jamie stay, and I bet you that within a week, you will see an improvement."

Dimitri pinched his nose. First Ivan, now Adrian. Between the two, he was never going to be able to get rid of Hathaway without putting up a real fight first.

"Fine, he may stay. BUT he has to follow orders. And orders right now mean go clean the gym equipment."

"Yes sir." Rose stood up and with a fake bow, rushed out the door before Dimitri could say anything else.

AN: Thanks for reading! I have 2 weeks left in my semester at school, so I've been pretty busy. Updates will come when I can. The week after school gets out, I'm heading on my first ever cruise! So probably one more update before then. Anyway- I hope you all enjoy this chapter!