I DO NOT OWN VAMPIRE ACADEMY OR ANY OF THE CHARACTER!

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Chapter 13

Being a Strigoi felt easy. Simple. Almost nothing. It wasn't what I expected. I expected to be hungry, so, so hungry, like an animal. I expected to feel different inside my mind. More powerful, more wild, more uncontrollable. But it was like I was no different. I guess I could do it. Become a Strigoi and still stay the same. Be the same Rose as before – but with fangs and red eyes. Maybe I could even go back to the Academy and live my life normally? I could be that one Strigoi that changes things. Maybe other Strigoi are like me too – but are too afraid to come out of hiding.

My eyes fluttered open slowly; the world was blurry and spinning around. Almost like a head rush but much, much worse. Yet, I didn't feel any pain. I felt nothing. Like my whole body was numb. Yet, I was so weak. So, so weak. I made a light whimpering sound and tried to open my eyes further, but instead I drifted off. The whole world was black again.

I was woken up by a light slap on the face. As if someone was trying to wake me up – which is what someone was actually trying to do, but my eyes only fluttered open lightly. I was still so weak and the world was still a blur, "wake up...don't fall asleep again ok? Just stay with me..." the gentle voice trailed off as I once again drifted off.

My eyes slowly opened to once again a blurred world. But this time I could see a little bit clearer. I felt movement. Yes, I was moving. Except I didn't know how I was, as I was so weak and couldn't feel my legs moving. It then hit me that someone was carrying me. I turned my head, slowly from the arm that my head was resting on, to face the person who was carrying me. I used all my strength to turn those few movements, open my eyes slightly, and whisper, "Am I a Strigoi?"

"Shhhh Roza. Just stay quiet ok? There is no need to talk. But try your best to stay awake ok? Just for a few more moments until we get you help..." his voice trailed off as I drifted out again. But one thing that I realised just before I drifted off was that this man who was carrying me, who had, I think - saved me - was Dimitri.

I awoke to open my eyes to a bright light above me. My eyes fluttered open and closed a few times, due to the heavy light, before I was fully able to open them. I looked around me to find that I was in a room. I was connected to a machine with many needles and cords in my body. I was in a hospital room. I moved my head around to get a better look of the room when my eyes stopped to my left. There, sitting on a chair, sound asleep, was Dimitri.

I was very confused. Why was I alive? How did I survive? Where are Mikael and Sophie? Or was I actually dead? And was this heaven? ... I don't even know if I believed there was a heaven.

My thoughts were interrupted by a ruffling sound from Dimitri. I turned my head to see him move around in his chair and slowly open his eyes. When his eyes fully opened he stared at me and froze. His frozen position didn't last long as he was over at my side in a split second. He moved his hand across my forehead and moved my hair away from my face as his smiled. "Oh Roza. You're awake. You don't know how worried I was about you," his lips went to my forehead and they kissed it. It held that kiss for several seconds while his hand rested on the back of my head.

When I he lent back we stared at eachother for a few moments, lost in each other's eyes before he lent in and his lips met mine. The kiss was full of love and passion. He didn't hold back and neither did I. My hand went straight to his cheek while the other rested on his arm. His hands were also on my cheek and resting on the back of my head. When we finally broke our kiss, our faces were still oh so close, our foreheads touching. We both smiled – mine slightly weaker - and I close my eyes to endure this moment with him, before I asked questions.

After a few long moments he lent away and went over to his chair and pulled it further towards my bed. We sat down and lent forward, extending his arm for me to hold it. I did the same and our hands met. I smiled and mouthed the words, I love you to him. He repeated it back to me and I smiled again. There was no need for sound or words. His presence brought me happiness.

I tried to sit up by pushing both of my hands on either side of me, but it was too much for me. I still felt very weak and worthless; "No Roza" Dimitri stopped me, "Lay down. Rest. We can talk while you are lying down." He assured me.

"Ok" I managed to whisper. It was the first thing I had said so it sounded croaky and slightly off, so I tried to speak some more to get my voice working properly again, "What..." I coughed to get rid of the croakiness, "what...what happened?" I asked, voice becoming stronger. Dimitri sat there for a few moments and looked down, obviously trying to find the right words, but I didn't let him talk before asking him more questions, "All I remember was Mikael biting me and then I blacked out and drifted in and out, and you carrying me. Please tell me I am not a Strigoi right now..."

Dimitri chuckled, "No Roza...you are not Strigoi. You are still a Dhampier. You don't have to worry about that. I...you had been bitten and had lost alot of blood. I mean alot. The Strigoi were obviously going to turn you. The doctor didn't think you would make it. But he injected you with some medicine and a lot of blood and...Well...here we are. You aren't fully healed yet though, so you have to take it easy and just rest until you are stronger. When you are strong enough to move, you will transfer to the Academy's clinic and stay there until you are better...Oh Roza...I thought...I thought I was going to lose you. And I didn't think I could live if you were to die..." Dimitri trailed off and sunk his head into his hands.

I layed there for a few moments in silence before saying, "But you didn't Dimitri. You didn't lose me. Look at me...look at me Dimitri," he looked up at me, "You see me here? Lying on this bed? I am alive. Because of you. You saved me – "

"You are in this bed because of me. I am the reason this all happened to you in the first place. If I didn't leave...you shouldn't have come after me Roza. Not like this. You could have died, or worse...become a Strigoi, because of me. I couldn't live knowing that happened to you."

"How...how did you know I was coming for you?" I asked

"Lissa. She is the one who told me that you had been captured. She told Alberta and Kivora and then reported it to me. She knows about what happened between us you know?"

"Yeh...I kinda told her. I mean, I was heart-broken and she is my best friend and I hated keeping that secret from her..."

"It's ok Roza, but we must keep it a secret from everyone else from now on ok?" he held out to my hand and I grabbed his and nodded, "but anyway, Lissa told me and I immediately came looking for you. I got there first and managed to kill a girl – Sophie, I think her name was. A man Mikael, he managed to run away," I gripped his hand tighter at that last thing and widened my eyes in pure shock, "but it's ok because the other guardians came in time and killed him." My hand loosened and I felt myself relax a bit, "I found you then, you were cuffed to a chair and I thought you were dead. I broke you free and carried you to the car, where we then drove to this safe house. You drifted in and out many times."

"Safe house?" was all I could say. I was speechless for everything else.

"Yes. It is a place where Royals come to hide out if they are under attack. Or it is a place where people – once again, mainly Royals – will come if they seek medical attention. Alot of Moroi give birth here. But because of your situation, we were able to use this place until you are healthy enough to head back to the academy."

"Oh Dimitri," I sobbed, realising that I was crying. "I...I...thank you so much. But where is Lissa now? Is she here?" I asked hopefully

"No she isn't here yet. They wouldn't let her come until everything was safe and ok. But she is on her way so she should be here shortly." Dimitri informed me and I laid back into the pillow and stared at the ceiling and yawned...I was exhausted and still weak.

Dimitri must have seen my exhaustion and said, "Rest Roza. You must sleep. You have been through too much..."

"But I have so many more questions for you. I want to be with you. I don't want to leave you" I said desperately

"Roza, Shhhh...I won't leave you, I promise. Just sleep for now and when you wake up, you may ask more questions... Just sleep for now, my sweet." Dimitri leaned into me and kissed me. When our lips met it was like I didn't want to let him go. I didn't even want to sleep. I wanted him so bad. I needed him. But I knew he was right, I needed to sleep. I needed to rest. When I wake up I will still see him and I can ask him everything then.

When I awake again, I find that Dimitri is not in the room and he was replaced my Lissa and Christian. Christian was awake and Lissa was asleep, "Rose...you're...you're...awake," he paused before continuing, "how are you feeling?"

"Hey Christian," I managed to say with a smile, but I was still weak, "I'm ok I guess. Still weak, but I'm alive..." I trailed off and chuckled awkwardly. Christian didn't really laugh – I guess he thought it was a stupid joke, which it was.

At that moment we were saved by the movement of Lissa moving around in her chair. I tried to see if I could talk to her while she was sleeping – in her mind. I closed my eyes and took nice, deep breaths. I was sadly rejected, either because I was still a bit weak, or because she was asleep. It was probably because she was asleep, because I couldn't go into her mind while she is asleep either.

But she tossed and turned a bit before waking up and looking at me. She also did what Dimitri did and froze looking at me. When she came back to reality, she smiled heavily and came over to sit on my bed, "Oh Rose...you're awake! I can't believe what happened to you...I'm so glad you're ok...don't you ever do that to me again you hear me? You scared me so much...but I'm so glad you are ok! Oh god Rose...if I lost you...but...but...oh god! You're ok!" she immediately grabbed me into a hug and laughed as well as cried on my shoulder. I laughed at her and hugged her back. I was so glad I was ok.

"Now this is what I call a happy ending..." a voice said and I looked up to see Adrian leaning against the opening of the door. Christian gave him a death glare as he walked into the room and sat on the seat Lissa was sitting on.

"Oh god Adrian...you don't change at all do you?" I said referring to his little thing he mentioned when Lissa and I were hugging. I laughed at him and he smiled. Lissa stayed sitting on the end of my bed, legs crossed and head and her hands like a little kid waiting for something. I broke the silence, "So...where's Dimitri?"

"Oh...he...he had to go back to Avery, Rose." Lissa said, straightening up.

I laid frozen. I didn't know what to think or say. I couldn't believe he left. Again. He fucking left me! "Why?" Was all I managed to get out. Lissa knew my real emotions towards the idea, because she was the only one who knew about Dimitri and I.

"He...he is going to go and ask if he can get transferred back to the Academy..." she trailed off, I guess hoping that his real reason why he is transferring back, wasn't obvious.

I smiled when she answered and replied, "Oh that's good. I guess we can go back to training again" I laughed

Lissa laughed too, "Maybe you should rest for a bit first?"

I smiled and nodded at her and we all then sat in silence for a bit before Christian broke it, "well I'm hungry. I haven't had my feed yet. Neither have you," he faced Lissa, "so why don't we go to the feeders then we'll come straight back ok?" he stood up and held out his hand. Lissa grabbed it and smiled and got up off the bed.

"Alright. But it's ok Rose. I'll be really quick," she smiled

"Liss. Thank you, but it's ok. Take your time. I've got Adrian here with me. Unless you haven't fed yet?" I directed that last bit to Adrian.

"Nope. All good. I just did before. I'm good to stay with you Little Dhampier" he winked at me and I rolled me eyes. Lissa and Christian walked out of the room, hand in hand, and I stared at them as they walked out, wishing that could be Dimitri and I.

When Christian and Lissa were completely gone, Adrian pulled his seat closer to my bed. "So Little Dhampier, how have you been feeling?"

"Adrian, I'm fine, really. Can we please just talk about something else?"

"Ok, well...I broke up with Alexis..."

"Oh god I'm so sorry Adrian." I hoped that I came out convincingly seeing as I never really liked Alexis. Well I had nothing against her; she was just...well...boring I guess.

"It's cool...we didn't really mesh together you know? She's got nothing on you, Little Dhampier," he said seductively and winked. I scoffed and rolled my eyes. Adrian was such a player, but I could really see that he really liked me. "No, but she was pretty boring. She never said anything and I always had to start the conversations."

"Oh thank god! I thought I was the only one...well...I never liked her anyway" I said shaking my head and smiling. Adrian smiled and came in to give me a hug. I hugged him back, "gee thanks Adrian," I said sarcastically.

"Well Rose. I am glad you are ok. And even though I am not you one," he looked at me for the last word like he knew, "I will always care about you" he hugged me tighter for a few more seconds then let go and sat back down on the seat. The one? Does he know? Know about Dimitri and I? No...He couldn't...he can't. "Don't worry, I won't tell. Your secret is safe with me" he did the actions of zipping up his lips and throwing away the key.

Oh god! He does know! "How...how do you know? I mean...how?"

"Well I guess it isn't that hard. I have seen how you act around him at school and that. And just before when Lissa mentioned that he went back to Avery, I saw your aura and it wasn't hard to figure out. I know you love him Rose. And I won't hold that against you. I want you to be happy, I do. I would rather you be happy with me," I punched him playfully on the shoulder, "but it's ok that you are happy with him. I mean, you are happy with him right?" he asked seriously, like if I said no, then he wouldn't hesitate to jump up, track him down and kill him.

I reassured him, "Yes Adrian. I am happy with him. Now that he is coming back, well...now everything will change I hope. Well we still can't tell anyone, but at least we can actually be together, without being together. If that makes sense.

Adrian grabbed my hand and I didn't stop him – I knew it was nothing like when Dimitri grabbed it. With Adrian, it was more friendly. Well from my side anyway, "Well then I am happy for you." We smiled eachother before he let my hand go and we sat in a comfortable silence until Christian and Lissa returned.

The Dr walked in a few moments later and she looked at the clipboard at the end of my bed, and asked me a few simple questions before giving me a cup of water and sending everyone out to let me have my rest.

After returning to the academy a few days later, I rested in the clinic for a day or two before being allowed out to attend classes and stay in my dorm. The Dr recommended that I see the counsellor, but I refused. If I was able to live through the last event with Mason, then I would be able to live through this one.

I returned to classes as normal. It was pretty much the same, but a few whispers here and there and of course, the rumours circulated around. They began by saying that I had gotten pregnant and went off to be a 'Blood Whore,' to being me running away like I had the last time. None of the rumours were technically right, because none of them involved me running away to go after Dimitri – thank god! And I am hoping that it will stay that way. I mean, if they found out that I did go after Dimitri, and then he would definitely be fired.

Later on my first day officially back to class, Kivora asked me to her office after classes, just before dinner, to talk to me about the event and everything that has happened.

"Come in," she replied when I knocked on her door a couple of times, "Oh good evening Rose. Thank you for coming to see me. I know that you may not want to talk about everything but it would be better now to talk than later."

"No, that's ok. I would rather talk now too. Get it over and done with," I smiled slightly and sat on a chair in front of her desk.

She sat in her chair on the other side of her desk and put some paperwork into her top drawer, before resting her chin on her hands, "So, Rose. How are you feeling now?" she didn't hesitate to get to the point.

"I'm fine now thank you. I'm feeling much better," I knew she was going to ask me about what had happened so before she could ask, I just went ahead and said it, "Well after it, I was pretty shaken up. I mean, this is the second time, but, this time I was alone. So it much scarier." I left out the parts where I felt weak and gave up – I didn't want to seem like I couldn't handle a job like that when I was going to be guarding a royal. I continued on with the story of what happened and she just sat there, looking understanding and not judging at all. "And so, then I returned to classes and overall I think I am much, much better"

"Well Rose, you seem to be taking this rather well. I hope that you know that if you need any help, or you would like to know anything, that you have many adults here to help you." She said seriously.

"Thank you, but I'm sure I'll be ok." She looked a bit worried so I added, "But if anything does happen or I need any help at all, I will definitely ask," I said and I saw her relief and she smiled.

"Ok. Well thank you for that. And on more lighter subject, I'm sure you have heard, but Guardian Belikov will be returning to the academy tomorrow. He was asked to be reassigned here."

I smiled at the thought of Dimitri returning, "Oh yes, I think I heard of that. I'm sure that we could then continue our training sessions," I added with a small chuckle. Kivora didn't seem to find it that funny and just smiled. We sat there awkwardly for a few seconds before she then stood up and let me go to dinner. I stood up, thanked her and walked out with a huge smile on my face. Dimitri will be returning tomorrow. Dimitri. My Dimitri.

The next day, I had lunch with Lissa in the cafeteria and I caught up with all the gossip. Surprisingly there was a lot of gossip, even though I was only gone for a short time.

"I know! I couldn't believe it myself," Lissa practically squealed while I was eating my salad roll. She was updating me on the relationship between Carly and Anthony – a relationship that nobody saw working, yet they all surprised us when we learnt they took it to the next level. And might I add that Anthony was a sleaze.

I looked around the cafeteria until I saw Carly sitting on Anthony's lap in the corner and they were practically making out. Lissa saw what I was looking at and we both looked at eachother and burst out laughing. "Ewww" I added and she nodded in agreement.

After a nice lunch with Lissa, we split off to go to our next classes. Well I had a free period next so I took the advantage to have some alone time and walk around the school and just clear my mind. After walking around for some time, I found myself on the top of a small hill right in front of the cabin. I sat down and just closed my eyes and felt the wind blowing on my face. It felt nice and relaxing.

My calming silence was interrupted by someone behind me, "clearing your mind?" the man asked. I opened my eyes and smiled to myself, knowing immediately who it was.

"Yes. It's nice to, once in a while," I said and turned around to face the tall, handsome man – Dimitri.

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