Chapter 5

When it was okay for me to leave to the clinic, Dimitri led me to Kirova's office. She was wanting to speak to everyone at once. Ibrahim and Adrian included. Kirova was happy to see Dimitri okay. The rest of us got scolded.

When Kirova's speech was over I asked the question that I had barely been able to keep bottled up. "Can I come back to school? I want to come back and finish my training so I can be Lissa's guardian."

"Rose, you dropped out. You'd have to repeat the whole year."

That's when Ibrahim stepped in. "Headmistress, my daughter here has done a great deal. She saved this Moroi girl's life and turned this man into a Moroi when he was a Strigoi."

"Did you just say daughter," asked Kirova astonished. Ibrahim nodded. "Well, we finally meet Rose's father. What is your name sir?

"My name is Ibrahim Ivashkov. I am Queen Tatiana's son." That shocked even me.

"I didn't realize the queen had a son," Kirova said shocked.

I just stared at him for a few minutes. Now that I looked at him there was a bit of resemblance. He must have got his coloring from is father like me. Finally I said, "Wait. What?" Making me sound even more stupid. "I'm the queen's granddaughter? You have got to be kidding me!"

My father shook his head. "I'm serious. I am her only son and you are her only grandchild."

"I can't believe this, " said Kirova. "You two don't even look like the queen."

"I took after my father's side like Rosemarie. I wouldn't have believed it either if I was in another's place."

"Let's get back on topic. So I dropped out of school. Why should have to redo my entire senior year. I was only out for a week. Can't I do extra training? And if you think about it, I only missed three days since I have counseling on the other days."

"She has a point," said Dimitri. "And the three days that she missed were half days. I would be more than happy to give her extra training. Plus, she has been fighting real Strigoi. When the school was attacked she was out there and then when she fought Victor's Strigoi in Kamloops. She has had more training than the other students from actually being out on the field."

Kirova thought for a minute. "Fine. She may continue her classes. But there better not be any slacking. You are going to have to work like the rest of the students. And I'm taking you out of counseling. You will work full days just like everyone else and you will go back to protecting Christian. Same for you Mr. Castile. You will go back to protecting Vasilisa."

"Yes ma'am."

"Very well. Now I want to ask my question. Ibrahim, you said that Rose turned Guardian Belikov into a Moroi?"

"Yes, " said Ibrahim.

"Then explain, Miss Hathaway."

I did my best to describe what had happened in the cave. I explained the filling up with power and going into the dark land with souls. About how I found Dimitri's and when I did, how I returned and gave him his soul. "I think why he turned into a Moroi and not a Dhampir is because when he was a Strigoi he grew fangs and had blood cravings. All I did was return his soul and give him back his sanity."

Everyone in the room stared at me in awe. I hadn't explained to anyone yet what happened. Lissa and Adrian really stared.

"Does this mean you are a spirit user?" asked Liss.

"No, I don't think so. It felt different from when you do it. I think it has to do with being Shadow-Kissed. Victor said that being in death's grasp leaves a mark on your soul. I think that I went into the land of souls and actually found Dimitri's."

"So is he Shadow-Kissed?" asked Adrian.

"No, I don't think so on that either. I actually died. Dimitri had his soul taken away from him but his body was still alive. I was completely dead. In body and soul."

"Rosemarie," said Kirova, "I would like you to take classes with Ms. Cormack like your friends do. We need to see what you can do with your powers. You may be able to do things we can't. And they may come in handy."

I really didn't want to take those classes, but I might as well. I had been watching Adrian and Lissa do it for a while now. Might as well join them. "Ok. I'll do it."

When we left Kirova's office it was past curfew. We split up at the quad. Eddie and I were walking back to our building. The trip had wore us all out. We were ready for some rest. We were almost to the door when it happened. I cried out in pain and fell to the ground.

"Rose, are you okay?" I could barely hear Eddie beside me.

The pain in my head got worse and then I blacked out.

I was in the land with the souls. This time I was able to see their faces. I didn't know many of them. I spotted Lissa's family and ran over to them.

"Rose," It was just a murmur. It looked like here they could actually talk. On earth they couldn't. "Join us, Rose. You should be here with us." They started to come towards me. I wasn't liking this.

"No!" I screamed. "I want to live."

Just as they were about to touch me, I woke up. I was panting hard. Dimitri, Eddie, and Dr. Olendzki were at the foot of the bed. I was in the med clinic. Eddie or Dimitri must have carried me here.

"Rose," said Dimitri. He looked relieved.

Dr. Olendzki walked up to me. She pointed that annoying light of hers into my eyes. "How do you feel, Rose? You just woke up out of a coma."

"Coma! How long have I been out?"

"A couple of days."

"I wasn't in a coma! I was in the land with the souls. I had the same headache that I got last time I went there and then I was there. Oh God. It was terrifying. This time I could actually see their faces and hear them. I had ran over to Lissa's family. They were trying to get me to stay there with them and die like I should have. They were about to touch me when I woke up."

Dr. Olendzki was trying hard to hide another Rose-is-crazy-look.

"Believe her," said Dimitri. "From everything that has happened, it must be true. She said she went there and retrieved my soul. She described the same thing about that to Headmistress Kirova. She's not crazy and it's not stress. It's powers from being Shadow-Kissed." Dr. Olendzki looked stunned. Like she couldn't believe what was just said.

"Um, ok, Rose. You can go. Just be careful."

Dimitri and I walked out together. As soon as we were alone he asked, "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?! If so, it's working. A coma! I saw you when you fell. I came over and you were barely breathing. I rushed you to the clinic and Dr. Olendzki tells me you're in a coma. She said that being in a coma could cause brain damage from the lack of oxygen. Do you know how scared I was?" Dimitri had stopped in front of me. He rested his hands on my shoulders. It surprised me he would do this in public. I looked around but no one was in sight. It was almost noon.

"No. And I couldn't help it. Eddie and I were walking back to our dorm and it just happened."

"Oh Roza." He bent down and kissed my forehead. He jerked back. He must have just realized we were in the middle of the school. It may be noon, but someone may be watching. We continued walking. When we got to my dorm he said, "Goodnight, Roza. Try to stay safe for tonight please."

"'Kay. You stay safe, too. And please don't turn Strigoi on me."

"You got it."

"Night."

"So," I said to Adrian the next day. "Looks like were cousins. Weird." I laughed.

"Yep." He didn't look too happy about this fact. Apparently he still had a thing for me. "I bet you're thrilled to be the only granddaughter of Tatiana."

"I'm the happiest teen alive," I said acting like I was totally thrilled. It made him laugh. "Oh, I can't wait 'til Christmas! We'll all have to get together. And maybe we can have dinner in her castle and drink tea with our pinkies sticking out." Still sarcastic.

"She's not that bad," he said.

"She's a bitch." He cracked up laughing again.