Chapter Nine - New Sisters and New Misters
"What," I kicked hard at the padded cushion Dimitri was holding out in front of him, "the hell," another kick as I gritted my teeth, "is her problem?" I let out a loud warrior scream as I kicked the cushion one final time, dropping my arms to the side and looking up at Dimitri with a huff.
We'd been working out for about half an hour the Monday evening, getting out my frustrations from the first day. Turns out Guardian Charkov had ended up with a broken nose and had been written off from teaching for the rest of the week. A part of me knew that I should have felt bad for hurting her so bad, but most of me was just so hooked up on the fact that she deserved it. She called me out for no reason, underestimating my skill - the woman deserved to get her ass handed to her.
"She's a very insecure person, Rose." Dimitri said plainly, as if that was supposed to explain everything. "She was in the year above me at school, so I got to know her a little bit. I think she just felt threatened that a Novice had molnija while she has yet to even see a Strigoi."
"She's never seen a Strigoi?" I looked up at him in disbelief, a small part of me understanding now why she seemed to resent me. "But she graduated eight years ago."
"She was allocated as a teacher here at St Basil's after her graduation." He explained as he placed the cushion to the side, walking us over to the other side of the gym where the upper body equipment sat. "She's never had an external charge to protect, so the only time she's been out of the school is to visit family."
"That's kind of sad." I frowned slightly at the thought of being cooped up in one place for years on end, no life outside the walls of St Basil's. I cracked my knuckles before rubbing my hands together for friction, jumping up to grab either side of the chin up bar.
"It's how some people choose to live their lives." Dimitri shrugged unfortunately, stepping forwards to tense up my stomach as I lifted myself up and lowered myself again. "Ours is Guarding people, theirs is teaching."
"You know what they say - 'if you can't do, teach'!" I commented with a wry smirk, earning a sharp squeeze at my waist from Dimitri. I squealed, dropping down from my chin up but still holding onto the bar.
"Right now I'm a teacher," he chuckled with a shake of his head, stepping back to take a look at my form. "So any insults you throw at teacher's you're throwing at me."
"But you're so much more than just a teacher." I breathed out as I lifted myself up, looking down over the bar to give him a cheeky wink. He rolled his eyes, but I could still see the smile on his lips.
"Dimka!" I heard a high pitched voice call from behind me, and I watched as Dimitri focused on something behind me with a huge grin.
"Viktoria!" I dropped myself to the floor from the bar as he strode past me, quickly scooping up the brunette girl from our class earlier in the day - his sister, as I had assumed.
She squealed in delight as Dimitri swung her around in a wide circle, him laughing the whole time. She said something in Russian through her laughter, and Dimitri settled her on the ground but kept his hands around her in a brotherly embrace. They had a small conversation in Russian with me onlooking rather awkwardly. I shifted between my feet and folded my arms across my chest, looking down to the floor.
Viktoria must have seen me lurking behind, because she then turned to greet me. "Hi! I'm Viktoria Belikova. Dimitri's sister." She skipped over to me and outstretched her hand with a wide smile. I giggled at her infectious attitude, shaking her hand delightfully.
"Rose. Rose Hathaway."
"I know." She waved dismissively, though not rudely, as we retracted our hands. "You're somewhat of a legend around here after what you did to Guardian Charkov. I mean, you were well known before you even arrived, but now you're like, St Basil's equivalent to Dhampir royalty."
"Well known?" I tilted my head curiously. "I've never even been to the East Coast of the States, never mind here in Russia. How could people know who I am?"
"Your escape with the Princess Dragomir was, legendary!" She explained, gesturing widely with her hands as she spoke. "Nobody has ever been able to successfully hide any Moroi, royalty or not, for the length of time you did. Queen Tatiana was scouting for the very best Guardians to try and get you back, and that was how Dimka came to be in America. Loads of St Basil's Guardians and teachers were shipped off for the mission."
"Scouted by Queen B-iatch herself, huh, Comrade?" I wiggled my eyebrows at Dimitri from where he stood besides his sister, teasing him for so conveniently leaving that detail out whenever we spoke of my return to the Academy. "Guess you're not just some cheap foreign labour like I thought you were."
"That's because you wildly underestimated my abilities, Rose." He threw back cockily, and the insecure part of me immediately picked up on the 'Rose' as opposed to his usual nicknames. I had thought that we would be able to be a normal, open couple in front of his sister, though clearly I had been proven wrong. I just laughed slightly, pretending to act like it hadn't hurt.
"So, Rose," Viktoria started semi-awkwardly, clearly sensing the tension between her brother and I and wanting to find a way to ease it out. "Would you like to come get some dinner in the cafeteria? I've got some friends who are just dying to meet you."
I looked up at the clock to see it was 6.45 in the evening, and Dimitri and I had barely been training for 45 minutes. We'd cut this morning's session short by half an hour already, and I knew that both of us would be frustrated with ourselves if we missed another hour and forty-five. From all the flying and time changing, we'd already lost four days worth of training, and I could just feel the need to work out building up inside of me.
As if sensing my hesitation, Dimitri was gracious enough to answer for me. "We can cut the session short if you'd like, Rose. That just means an extra long session at the weekend, so long as that's okay with you." An extra two and a half hours workout on Saturday seemed perfect enough for me, so I nodded gratefully.
By the time I'd showered and changed, it was almost 7, and Viktoria and I were heading towards the cafeteria with Dimitri not too far behind dressed in his St Vladimir's Guardian outfit. Apparently he was taking Alberta's request of being my round-the-clock Guardian a lot more seriously than I had anticipated, though I wasn't exactly complaining. Anytime with Dimitri was good enough for me, even if it was with him being my steely-faced protector.
"So, has he told you yet?" Viktoria interrupted my thoughts, and I turned to her with a questioning expression. "Dimka. Has he told you he loves you?"
"I am entirely not sure what you're talking about." I stumbled slightly, shaking my hair out and turning to face where I was walking so she couldn't entirely see my reaction. From our interaction back in the gym I had assumed that she didn't know about anything between Dimitri and I, but now she was asking questions like that? I was more than confused.
"Oh, please," she rolled her eyes with exasperation, speaking quiet enough so the lurking Russian behind us couldn't hear what we were saying. "He's called or Skyped back home once a week ever since he left for America. In four months, I don't think he's ever not mentioned your name."
"Really?" I looked up at her hopefully and she nodded. I couldn't help the smile on my face as I sneaked a glance over my shoulder at the man I loved, seeing him ever so briefly make eye contact with me before looking straight ahead again.
The cafeteria was almost twice the size as the one at St Vladimir's, and was about half full of students. When Dimitri had told me that the school specialised in producing mass numbers of Dhampir's, I don't think I really comprehended to what extent that was true until I took in the room. Back home, there would have typically been twice as many Moroi students in the room than there were Dhampir, though here it was the complete opposite. I don't think I'd ever seen so many Guardians and Dhampir under one roof.
Viktoria guided us over to a table at the very far end in a small secluded corner that was already pretty full of students, most of which I had recognised from the Senior training class. "Guys, this is my friend Rose." I smiled at the fact she had so easily taken me on as her friend, waving slightly at the group which consisted of two Moroi and three Dhampir. "Rose, this is Malakai, Sylvia, Katya, Evan, and Feliks."
I nodded politely to each of them as Viktoria introduced them, placing my bag on the floor by an empty chair before she quickly pulled me away to go get some food. Everything on offer was very obviously Russian, and so I was dubious to try anything since I didn't know what it was. Viktoria ended up choosing for me, some beef and vegetable meal with steamed potatoes on the side. It was good, in reality, possibly one of the most heartiest meals I'd ever eaten in my life.
"So, Rose," Malakai - or Kai, as he had asked me to call him - started, sitting to my right with Viktoria to my left. He was one of the Moroi at the table alongside Feliks, and with his shaggy black hair and seemingly muscular physique, he didn't appear to have the stereotypical skinny and lean look as most Moroi had. He seemed to be the most interested in me, besides Viktoria, always bringing me into the conversation as if to make me feel included into the new group. I appreciated it.
"I heard from these guys that you beat up one of the Guardians?" Of course my reputation would precede me, I thought to myself. "First day here and you're already getting into trouble? Maybe you'll be a bad influence on us."
"I didn't just randomly decide to attack a Guardian, okay, if that's what you're thinking." I rolled my eyes in exasperation as Sylvia - a small, timid Dhampir with Aryan features - gathered up everybody's plates to take them to the disposing trays. "She came after me right in front of the entire class. She deserved the ass kicking she got. Perhaps it knocked her attitude down a few pegs as well."
"The Senior class thank you for that, by the way." Evan grinned at me. "Guardian Charkov has been up our asses about graduation and allocations since the beginning of the year. I'm pretty sure the last Guardian left at Christmas because he was fed up of having to deal with her." I laughed at that, mentally agreeing. Although I'd only known the woman all of 8 hours, I could already imagine that anyone forced to work with her would rather run for the hills.
"How come you got transferred here anyway?" Kai asked curiously, turning his body slightly to face me more. "Beat up Guardians on the reg' back at Vladimir's?"
"No," I said incredulously, mentally trying to think of an excuse. Like Alberta had said before we left; only people who needed to know, were to know. "Since I'm slated to be the Princess' Guardian, they thought it would benefit me to gain some experience from different teachers in a different style. They thought it would be helpful to expand my arsenal - after all, guarding a Princess isn't an easy job." The difficulties lay in both protecting her from threats as well as dealing with her midnight tantrums and nightmares, but that wasn't something they needed to know.
The table seemed contented with that, before turning onto a different matter of gossip between themselves about some senior Moroi whom I obviously didn't know. I decided to take the opportunity to get up from my seat, telling Viktoria I'd be back in a minute, before heading to the lines of food to grab an apple. Instead of walking back to my table, I went to Dimitri, who was stood lined up against a nearby wall at an at-ease stance with a Guardian mask on.
"Here," I lifted up the shiny red apple with a smile, keeping a formal enough distance between us. "I thought you'd be hungry. I'll get the cafeteria staff to send a meal up to our dorm as well, if you'd like."
"Thank you, Rose, but that won't be necessary." He returned just as politely, though still took the apple and placed it in his duster. Although he appeared to be being courteous, I knew that he would be starving by the time we got back to room and would probably be too stubborn to cook himself something.
Instead of accepting his words I just gave him a look of disbelief, before turning and heading back to the food again. There was an elderly Moroi woman stacking clean plates up at one end, and so I figured she would be easiest to approach with the topic. Once I explained that Dimitri had been working all day with no time for dinner, she agreed graciously to send a large lot of food up to our dorm at around 8. She was even kind enough to ask if him missing dinner would be a regular occurrence, and when I confirmed by saying he would usually be training until 8.30, she promised to send up extra food each evening for him. I thanked her profusely before she kindly shooed me away, sending me back to my previous table.
The first week at St Basil's was easy enough, and I was happy to see that Viktoria's friends had accepted me easily enough into their friendship group. Although it wasn't quite the same relationship as those of us back at St Vlad's, obviously, it was better than spending the next five months being the outcasted loner.
Viktoria had figured out Dimitri and I's relationship from our very first meeting, and the days since she had been very casual yet knowing of it. I was thankful that we were able to be open about our relationship to at least one person, even if it was just his little sister. She frequently asked questions about our history at St Vlad's, how we came to be, how we were finding things being a 'hidden couple'. Truth be told it was nice to get a lot of things off my chest.
It was Friday evening and the five of us - Viktoria, Malakai, Katya, Feliks, and myself - were sat in the cafeteria after eating dinner. Viktoria had made it a habit to meet me at my afternoon training with Dimitri, letting me shower and change before we went to eat dinner with the rest of her friends. Sylvia and Evan were twins, apparently, and left every weekend to spend time with their family that lived just outside of Omsk. Apparently they were a very well off family, their father being some important Russian Moroi figurehead while their mother was his Guardian. They never flaunted their wealth, though, appearing as your very typical Dhampir students.
"Viktoria, are you going to the party tomorrow?" Katya asked her with a perfectly arched eyebrow, making it seem effortless. Katya was easily the prettiest of all of Viktoria's friends, and I meant that in the kindest way possible, but with perfectly curled black hair and olive skintone, flawless complexion and innocent aura, it was hard not to notice her beauty. Like me, however, she was confident in her appearance, and never shied away from showing her body off or her natural beauty.
Viktoria shrugged, picking at the pastila - a Russian pastry dessert - she was holding and popping pieces into her mouth with delicate bites. "I'll go if Rose is going." She looked up at me questioningly, and I pursed my lips in thought.
"I didn't even know there was a party." I explained, turning to the other three at the table. "When and where?"
"There's an old Moroi common room in the attic of the Moroi dorms that's been out of use for years." Kai elaborated with a confident smirk. "Irene, a fire user who graduated last year, got really drunk one night and accidentally set fire to a couple of the sofas in there. The Headmaster banned anyone from going in there afterwards, saying we used the smaller one on the ground floor. It's still all intact, and they removed the burnt furniture, but nobody bothered to reopen it since the smaller one was good enough to accommodate us all. Most of the senior class is meeting there around curfew."
"So? Whaddya say, you in?" Viktoria looked across at me semi-hopefully, and I could tell that she was really wanting to go. I knew she said she'd only go if I would be going, but I also knew that she only said that to make me feel included. If I didn't go I'd probably force her to go anyway, not wanting to bring her down.
"Sure. Sounds like it could be fun." I grinned, and was happy to see that she clapped her hands excitedly at my agreement.
Kai seemed equally as happy at my commitment to go, Feliks and Katya just seeming indifferent. "It's a party then. Oh, and, by the way - don't tell that Guardian of yours about it." He was glancing up over my shoulder as he spoke, and I could only imagine he was looking at Dimitri who was standing Guard a little further away from us. "He seems pretty chill for a teacher, and I know he's from St Vlad's with you, but I don't want him snaking us out to the other teachers and shutting us down."
"You don't have to worry about Dimitri," I promised with a dismissive wave. "He's not exactly a stickler for the rules, so I wouldn't worry too much about him giving us up even if he did find out somehow." Feliks seemed to be the only one who gave me a scrutinising expression at that, and I could feel him almost staring a hole into the side of my head. I glanced at him with a quizzical look, staring him out for a moment before he sternly looked away.
Hmph, I thought as Katya started talking to Viktoria about what they were going to wear for the party. Guess not everyone likes Dimitri as much as I figured.
"You're sure you're okay with me going?" I pouted to Dimitri, looking at his reflection in the mirror as I was doing my makeup. It was Saturday evening, and Viktoria was due to meet me so we could head to the party in an hour. Dimitri had been more than happy to let me go once I told him about the party, however I could still see that he was a little put out over the fact we wouldn't be spending the entire night together - alone.
"Of course, Malýshka." He said for what must have been about the eighth time that evening. He was sat in the centre of our bed in some jeans and a black shirt, reading one of his current Western novels that he enjoyed so much. He dogearred the page he was on and placed it in his lap to look back up at me through the mirror's reflection. "Just because I am not a student here anymore does not mean that you cannot enjoy yourself. You are still seventeen, remember - have a little fun with other people your age."
"I don't want you to feel like I'm abandoning you for new friends."
"Roza," he laughed incredulously with a large smile on his face, putting his book to the side and shuffling forwards on the bed so he was sat on the edge, right behind my seat. "You're in high school. You're supposed to be going out with your friends, partying and getting up to mischief. Although, as your teacher I probably shouldn't be condoning you getting up to no good, but I'll allow it this once."
I giggled at him with a small shake of my head, looking at him with pure affection and adoration. I turned around in my seat to face him properly, seeing his gaze changing from the mirror to my face as well. "I love you."
"I love you too, Malýshka." He cooed affectionately, standing up to press a lingering kiss to my lips. I stroked the side of his face with a smile as I leaned into the kiss, attempting to chase him up once he pulled away. "Now, you better finish getting ready. My sister can get very impatient with people being late."
He then left me alone to finish up getting ready, heading into the living room to plan some lesson work for the week coming. I did a neutral makeup job, something Lissa had taught me to do since it was easy yet pretty. Neutral eyeshadows with a little bit of winged eyeliner and mascara with a nude pink lipstick. I curled my hair loosely before running a brush lightly through it to give it large, voluptuous waves, before donning a pretty burgundy dress. It was off the shoulder and flared at the waist, reaching to a little above the knee at the front and a little below at the back. I put on a pair of black boots with a skinny 3" heel before deciding I was done, heading out into the living room with one final glance in the mirror.
I glanced around the room as I entered, finding Dimitri sat in the centre of the sofa with a notepad and pen in his hand. "Hey." I smiled, getting his attention as he looked up at me. What was a relaxed expression on his face soon turned into one of lust and want once he took my appearance in, and I felt myself blush shyly at the way he was looking at me.
"Roza," he almost moaned as he placed his stuff on the table, standing up and deftly striding over to where I stood. In an instant his hands were running all over me - waist, hips, ass, back. I ran my hands up his chest and looked up at him through my lashes with a coy smile. "You look absolutely gorgeous."
"Thanks." I almost whispered, biting my lip as he looked down at me with a carnal expression. He leaned down to kiss me passionately, the heels I was wearing working in my favour as I didn't have to go onto my tiptoes to meet him in the middle. He wrapped his arms tightly around my back and pulled me possessively to him.
I moaned needily against his lips as he stumbled us back to press me against the door, and I found myself running my hands up into his hair to tug at it lightly. He groaned, tearing his lips away from mine to press them against my neck. I closed my eyes blissfully and tilted my head back to give him more access, mewling in delight. "Don't you dare fuck up my makeup." I breathed unconvincingly, though I'm sure he knew I would slap him if he ruined my hard work.
"Wouldn't dream of it." He mumbled against my skin, and I felt him grip my waist tightly before lifting me up out of nowhere, using his body to press me tightly against the door. I circled my arms and legs tightly around his body, scarily aware that we didn't have much time before Viktoria was due to arrive.
"If you're wanting me out of this dress, you better work fast, Comrade." I commented with a wry smirk, feeling one of his hands drift to beneath my dress to palm my ass delightfully. I giggled and moaned at the same time, pulling his head away from where it was buried in my neck to look at him completely.
"Mm, I think I like you in it too much to take it off too soon." He looked into my eyes with a carnal desire, and I felt him adjust us both to unbutton and slide down his jeans, reveling in the thought of him taking me against the door, fully closed. He fingered the crotch of my panties which blocked the space between us purposefully. "These, however, need to go."
Instead of taking them off like I had thought he would, I felt him slide the fabric to the side before sliding his member deep inside me, making me whine in both pleasure and surprise. He cursed lowly in Russian as he adjusted me to sit comfortably on him, gripping my waist to hold me tightly between him and the door.
"Fuck, that feels so good." I proclaimed, digging my nails into his shoulders instinctively as I held onto his broad shoulders tightly. He began thrusting hard into me, setting a relative pace that was comfortable for both of us. There was no doubt in my mind that him holding my weight up was like picking up a feather, and the new angle meant that he was hitting every perfectly deep spot, making me whine and moan profusely.
"God, I'm so lucky." Dimitri attached his lips to the join between my neck and my shoulder, biting the sensitive spot there. I gasped at the feeling, enjoying the pain and pleasure mix more than I thought I would have. It was sure to leave a mark, but in the moment I didn't care. "You're all mine."
He reached around to grip my ass underneath my dress firmly, lifting me slightly higher as he picked up the speed of his thrusting. I let out a strangled scream as I felt his tip hit my g-spot. "There!" I gasped, bucking my hips into him. "Right there!"
As if that gave him the fuel he needed, he shifted to grip my waist tightly once again, keeping me in a fixated position against the door as he wildly thrust into me, hitting the exact spot he wanted to almost every single time. I cried out to the ceiling as he growled animalistically against my neck. My breathing was coming in short bursts now, testimony to how close I really was. "Dimitri," I whined, and he silenced me with his lips against mine.
We kissed passionately, and I felt myself slowly coming undone beneath his touch. I moaned delightfully against his lips as I felt myself come hard, Dimitri still thrusting as he rode out my orgasm. I felt him finish soon after, buried all the way to his hilt inside me, with a deep groan, before milking himself with his final few thrusts.
"Fucking God," my eyes rolled into the back of my head as I slumped back against the door, barely supporting myself around Dimitri anymore. I wasn't even sure if I could still walk after that.
I heard Dimitri chuckle, and I opened my eyes to look down at him. "My name's Dimitri, but I guess 'God' is pretty close." He teased with a relaxed smile, and I slapped a hand to his chest in retaliation.
He slid out of me before settling my feet to the floor, making sure I was at least semi-supported by the door before shifting to tuck himself back into his boxers and then sliding his jeans back up. I took in a deep breath to make sure I was steady and wouldn't fall over in my heels, before politely excusing myself to use the bathroom.
Once I was cleaned up and reapplied another lick of lipstick, I was satisfied that I totally didn't look like I'd just had hot sex against a door with a Russian God. I flattened my sex-hair and straightened my dress before heading back into the living room.
"Rose! You look gorgeous!" It was Viktoria who gasped as I entered, though I wasn't entirely surprised she was here already - what with the impromptu love making, she was probably here dead on time. It's hard to keep track of time when you're having fun.
I grinned as I took her in, seeing she looked just as pretty as I felt. She wore a gorgeous dual-coloured dress that had a fitted gold bodice with lace stretching up to the neck, and a flowing aqua blue chiffon skirt that ended mid-thigh. Her shiny brown hair was straightened and reached to the centre of her semi-exposed back. "You're one to talk." I complimented back as she came and hugged me tightly, and I returned the gesture with enthusiasm.
"So, we ready to go?" She chirped cheerfully, looking between myself and her brother. I nodded with a smile, looking up to a now-composed Dimitri, not even a hint of what we had been doing just minutes before her arrival.
"Yeah, we're ready." I walked up to Dimitri and gave him a loving kiss, placing my hand on his cheek as I did so. He smiled down at me, pecking my lips one final time as I moved away.
"Have fun tonight, Malýshka. I'll see you when you get home."
"See you, Comrade."
With one last compliment and goodbye from Dimitri, Viktoria and I headed out of the dorm room and began our sneaky descent to the Moroi rooms. The quarters we were in was the closest to the Moroi dorms, we didn't have to snoop much.
"Have an enjoyable time before I arrived?" Viktoria smiled suggestively as we rounded a corner, and I looked at her with fake disbelief.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." I feigned innocent, pursing my lips stubbornly.
"Oh, please," she rolled her eyes. "That hickey on your neck didn't just manifest out of nowhere, now, did it?"
I went to say something sarcastic to say that she was wrong, but just couldn't, instead giggling at the thought of being caught out by my boyfriend's little sister. I just shook my head noncommittally, linking our arms together as we made the final stretch to the old Moroi common room.