I don't own VA.

Vampire Academy.

Shadow Kiss.

1.2


My day couldn't have started worse.

I hadn't fallen asleep until late. And it was very late. First, I had gotten pulled into Lissa's head. Then I when I had managed to sleep, I had gotten a terrible dream. Well, it did start out good. But it had turned scary afterwards. Dimitri and I had been together and it had involved very less clothing and then suddenly he had started to fade, like one of the ghosts. I had woken up screaming like a banshee. Then after comforting myself that Dimitri was probably sleeping in his room, I had finally, finally fallen asleep.

Not even three hours later, the shrill of my alarm woke me up. That goddamn thing! And I couldn't even throw it at the wall, seeing as I didn't have any more clocks.

For once, I was twenty minutes early. And Dimitri wasn't there.

Dimitri I-am-never-late Belikov wasn't there. Okay, he wasn't technically late. I was just early. But I was frustrated due to the lack of sleep.

He arrived ten minutes later. I was sitting in the middle of the gym and he stopped at the entrance to look at me with an eyebrow raised and an amused smiled on his lips.

"You are early." He said.

I raised my hand, not wanting to put an effort in getting up. He pulled me up and put the back of his hand against my forehead.

"Are you feeling okay?"

I swatted his hand away. "I am fine."

His amusement faded and a rare, full smile crept on his face.

"Happy birthday, Roza." He said, his hand reaching out to touch my face. He lightly brushed his hand against my cheek. My mind went back to the dream that I had earlier. Even the lightest touch made me feel warm all over.

I smiled widely, turning my head slightly, I kissed his palm.

"I got you something." He said.

I was immediately excited. "You didn't have to." I said. It was right. He didn't have to. The best gift I'd ever received or rather fought to receive was him.

"It's nothing special, I mean it just-"

I couldn't believe my eyes. Dimitri Belikov was rambling and he was nervous.

I cut him off and raised my palm. With a small smile, he deposited a paper bag in my hand. Eagerly, I opened it. Inside was an anklet. The strap was black and there was a tiny silver anchor. My smile had never left my face.

"The shopkeeper said it signified hope and strength. She said an anchor is seen as the beginning of a journey. Roza, I know we have face a lot in the past. I know our future won't be easy. But whatever happens, I want you to know that we will face it together."

I cut off whatever more he wanted to say. I couldn't describe what I was feeling. I only knew it was intense. Knowing that I would probably utter something unintelligible, I threw my arms around him.

"I love you." I whispered.

He was right. Whatever the future might hold for us, we would face it together. He was always going to be there for me, just like I was going to for him. It would be our own adventure, our journey of hope and love and so much more. We would make it work, no matter what. Together, we could do it.

We held on to each other for another moment, seeking comfort in each other's arms. But the spell was short and soon was broken.

Since it was my first day back at training and I had been in the hospital for a while, we were going to take it easy. It was kind of boring, but I understood his worry. There weren't any more of our moments, just some glances and small smiles.

I suddenly couldn't even remember why I had been grumpy earlier this morning.

I met my friends for breakfast.

Lissa was screaming with excitement. Turning eighteen was a big deal. Somehow, she had even made Christian look excited for me. Well, now that was something. Eddie made sure to tease him endlessly about it.

Sure, Christian and I hadn't gotten along together at first. I mean we still kind of didn't. He was still infuriating. But after everything that happened, we were starting to change. Who would have thought that I, Rose Hathaway, would be calling Christian Ozera my friend.

As usual, Adrian sat along with them. Someone had apparently informed him for my birthday. He had come prepared. There was a bouquet of lavender roses waiting for me on the table. Someone really needed to tell him that I wasn't really into rose stuff. But well, at least they weren't red roses.

"Happy Birthday, Rose." Lissa had pulled me into a tight hug.

"Thanks, Liss." I hugged her back.

"I got your gift here, since you have the next few hours free and I wouldn't have been able to talk to you until lunch." Lissa handed me two shopping bags, "Open them later."

I nodded, "Thank you so much." I kissed her cheek. She was doing a great job of hiding my gift. Damn.

"Well, cousin. It's my turn now." Adrian gave his usual carefree smile. His hair was perfectly styled in its usual messy way.

I rolled my eyes as he handed me the flowers and bowed. "Here's another one." He handed me a neatly wrapped gift box. It was the width of Dimitri's two westerns put right next to each other.

"Adrian, I can't accept that." I said. I wasn't really used to this. Sure, Lissa and I traded gifts all the time but this was different. Adrian had once sent me a box full of perfumes. That had been without any occasion. This time it could be much worse.

Don't worry. It's not bad. I helped him chose.

"Don't break my heart, little dhampir." Adrian said in mock hurt.

I rolled my eyes but still said a thanks. It was nice of him, I guess. But I hoped accepted he didn't take me accepting his gifts as me warming up to him.

He pulled in a hug. Almost immediately, I pulled back.

"Thanks, Adrian." I said genuinely.

I sat down next to Lissa, and attacked my plate.

That was the moment when the message came. A guardian, one of those who had replaced the ones who had died. I cringed at the thought.

"Princess, Miss Hathaway, here. Its from the Royal Court." He left right after handing us the thick envelope.

Lissa and I frowned.

"What do you think it is?" Lissa asked Adrian.

Adrian shrugged. "No idea."

The stuff that the envelope was made up of was heavy and thick. It was in the traditional Ivashkov color-red- and the color kept for a king or a queen-purple. I opened it with less grace than Lissa.

The paper inside was made of the same material I opened it and read it. Once and then twice.

"What the fuck?" I said.

Lissa's expression mirrored my own. Christian was reading the letter over her shoulder and so was Eddie. Adrian snatched mine.

It was an invitation, more like an order by the Queen. We were to fly to Court on twenty-fifth and meet her on twenty-sixth to 'discuss some confidential matters.'

What the hell was that supposed to mean? What confidential matters? Hadn't she already discussed with Lissa about Lehigh? Now what did she want?

What if she read the reports on the attack and knew about the ghosts? Oh god, what if she said that I wasn't not suitable for Lissa?

Clearly someone had done a lot of thinking. We were summoned right away and the fact that we had received elegant and beautiful invitations. It couldn't be that bad. Lissa sent me calming thoughts. I knew she was as worried I was. But she was a princess. Princess and Princes were summoned by Tatiana all the time but their Guardians didn't get any special invitations

Adrian frowned.

"What?" I asked.

"I know nothing about it. How could I know nothing about it?" Adrian said. The intensity with which he said the words made me roll my eyes.

"Well, I wonder why is that. Oh, right, maybe that's because the world doesn't revolve around you." I said focusing on my breakfast sandwich.

"Hate to be the one breaking it, guys but classes start in ten minutes." Christian said.

I scowled, "Well, see you later, I guess."

"Don't worry, little dhampir. I'll keep you company." Adrian said with a grin which probably made some girls go crazy.

Well, that's nice of him. Lisa smirked at her yogurt. Seriously, someone needed to tell her to have something other than yogurt. And someone also needed to tell her to stop making suggestive comments about Adrian and I.

I shot her a look.

Oh, come on. He likes you. He might have a reputation but he's not that bad. You have to date again.

I mentally let out a sigh. Maybe it was time that I told her about Dimitri and I.

No, no. I scolded myself. I couldn't risk anything right now. Graduation. I told myself. I would tell her a few days before graduation.

Keeping something this huge from Lissa was hard and I felt so guilty about it. She would understand. I was sure of that. But still.

What's wrong? She frowned.

I shook my head with a smile. "You'll be late. Go." I said.

She kissed Christian and gave Adrian a smile.

Man, here it was again. She could kiss her boyfriend anytime she wanted and no one else would bat an eye.

"See you later." Eddie said.

I nodded.

Christian stood up too. "Later Ivashkov, Hathaway."

"So," Adrian started when it was just the two of us left, "what do you want to do? I mean I am up for everything."

"Can't we have one conversation which does not involve your stupid innuendos." I said, annoyed. "I need another sandwich." I got up, hoping that there would be some left.

"How much do dhampirs eat?" Adrian asked.

"We burn food faster than Moroi and humans." I shrugged. "Besides, training always makes me hungry."

I decided to eat my sandwich in my room. I picked up the gifts and said bye to Adrian. He gave me a two finger salute.

Back in my room, like a little kid, I ripped apart the bags.

Lissa had given me all sorts of makeup. There were two eyeshadow palettes, a set of brushes, bronzer, blushes, mascara, gel eyeliner almost everything. There was also a dress with a note that said 'for graduation. Christian pitched in too.' She had made sure to remove all the price tags. I sighed. The dress and all the make-up were something I would have never spent my money on. I mean sure, I had some makeup products, mostly the drugstore ones, but this was some expensive stuff.

There was a white cardboard box in the bag, attached to it was a note.

'Rose, Mase wanted to give you this. We came across these pictures when we were packing for ski trip. He pulled some strings there and got them framed.

I just wish he could have given this to you in person.

Happy Birthday, Rose.'

There were two pictures. One of Eddie, Mason and I when we were thirteen. It was Christmas and Lissa had left with her family. Mason hadn't been able to go back home that year either. But the three of us had spent our time in the commons coming up with the traditions of our own which we would follow when we got older. One of the guardians had taken the picture. The other was of the recent school dance.

Lissa was standing with Christian. I stood next to Mason. Eddie was next to us. There were a few more of our classmates, both Moroi and Dhampirs.

"I miss you, Mase." I whispered.

I spent a few more minute staring at his face. For a brief moment, I let myself drown in the what ifs that I had managed to keep at bay. I let my walls down. Not the darkness ones but the emotional ones.

Had it been just a few months since Mason and I had laughed about skiing? Just a few months since he had threatened Jesse and Ralf for me. Just a few months since we hadn't cared about anything that we would face in the future.

A few traitorous tears fell.

It took me a few minutes to regain control over my emotions.

I opened Adrian's present next, hoping it wouldn't be too bad. It wasn't. It was a jacket. An expensive one, a gorgeous one. There was a note too, no more Salvation Army stuff for you.

How did he know about that? It was considerate of him. I had been dreading his gift so much. It was completely unexpected. Adrian Ivashkov buying me something practical. Sure it was expensive and I wasn't going to be able to afford it even if I tried saving money. Guardians didn't get paid that well. For someone willing to sacrifice their lives, all we got was 'Eternal Service' written on our graves.

Huh, who knew the Adrian Ivashkov was more than just a pretty face. Maybe I had been too harsh.

Shaking out of my thoughts, I decided to spend the rest of my time on the computer, suddenly grateful that the Academy was well aware of the latest technology. I had a new e-mail from mom. Just two words, happy birthday. I smiled and sent a reply. Then wondered if I should have or shouldn't have sent one.

The Internet didn't hold my interest today. My mind kept wandering to what Tatiana wanted from me now. Sure, she thought that I wasn't suitable for the last Dragomir, sure she thought that Adrian and I were going run off. But send out a proper invitation? To a dhampir? I couldn't digest it.

I was to graduate in a few months. Lissa would request me as her Guardian. Dimitri would ask to be reassigned. If the Guardian Council thought I was good enough, they would allow me to get Lissa. But if Tatiana wanted Lissa to have someone else, no one would be able to stop her.

Groaning, I buried my face in my hands.

First, I would focus on graduating. I need to pass not only in the trials but in my other exams as well.

I was going to graduate. I was going to be a guardian. I would have Dimitri and Lissa, both with me. I would have my friends, my family by my side.

A knock on the door made me jumped. I mentally chastised myself for being startled over something small as knocking.

I opened the door. The girl standing there was two years junior than me. She was fidgeting. I couldn't quite remember her name.

"Hey, Rose, the headmistress...she and Guardian Petrov want to...to see you in Kirova's office." She kept touching her blond hair nervously.

"Are you alright?" I asked. I wasn't intimidating her, was I? It felt like meeting Jill again.

"Uh, yes." She blinked as if surprised.

"Thanks for telling." I smiled.

"Welcome, I guess. Bye." She said.

I nodded.

Great, first Tatiana and now Kirova. Wasn't the report on the attack enough? It had already been hard telling the Guardians about the battle.

I shut off my computer and locked the door, wondering what new thing I was going to face now.


Well, here's the third chapter. Thank you for reading and reviewing.

Dragon Ball Super episode 131 comes out in a few hours! It's going to be hard watching it and yet exciting at the same time.

See you soon.

Sacraa.