Chapter 3
The long ride back to St. Vlads was quiet. While Rose dreaded being back behind the walls of the academy she was also a tiny bit excited to see her old friends again. Lissa, formally known as Princess Valissa Dragomir, had been her best friend for years before she fled, even brought her back from the dead. Lissa bringing her back from the dead was the reason Rose could help her now; Rose was shadow-kissed. They had a connection that defied everything the world thought was possible. That connection was also part of the reason that Rose left. She could feel Lissa's emotions, hear her thoughts, sometimes see as if looking through Lissa's eyes. She also sucked in Lissa's darkness. Whenever Lissa used her spirit magic it had a cost, a cost that Rose suffered. She just couldn't handle living that way anymore. Yet here she came walking back to it. No matter how much she ran she knew she couldn't have left Lissa alone forever.
"Hathaway," Dimitri said, successfully getting her attention, "we're here."
Looking up at the walls that had once been her home Rose muttered a sarcastic, "great."
The first guardian Rose saw when she stepped through the gates of the school was her pissed off mother, Guardian Janine Hathaway. Janine Hathaway was well known and respected, as well as feared. Rose knew she should have expected to see her mother, but quite honestly she barely had a relationship with the woman, so no thoughts of her had crossed her mind. Big mistake.
"Rose Hathaway. Where the hell have you been?" Her mother asked calmly, too calmly.
"Well you know, figured I'd hitchhike around the country selling my body for drugs, always chasing that high I get in your presence, mother." Rose replied, each word dripping sarcasm and amusement. Her mother getting redder and redder with each word.
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOURE TALKING TO, YOUNG LADY?! YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST RUN OFF TO GOD KNOWS WHERE AND NOT TELL ANYONE AND JUST WALTZ BACK IN?! YOU HAVE ANOTHER THING COMING, YOU DISRESPECTFU-.."
"Guardian Hathaway!" Dimitri called, "While I'm sure you need a discussion with your daughter the Headmistress does await us, and this is a rather..public area."
Surprised to see her mother nod silently, Rose shot Dimitri an appreciative look and small smile.
It was going to be a long day.
Headmistress Karova was surprisingly calm. Not the calm before the storm that Rose's mother had demonstrated, but a legitimate calm and reserved manner. Unusual for Rose's history of meetings in this office.
"Ahh, Rose Hathaway, it's good to see you again," Guardian Petrov exclaimed sincerely as she joined the group.
"Guardian Petrov! Man I've missed your face," Rose replied with a genuine smile that reached her eyes.
The two chuckled before turning their attention to the Headmistress. Rose talking before anyone else got the chance.
"I'm only here for Valissa. Do not waste my time. Do not lie to me. Or I will leave again, and take Valissa with me." The hard glint in Rose's eyes was enough to make most men quiver. Dimitri Belikov was impressed.
However, the Headmistress only sighed, "I am well aware of the situation, Hathaway, Guardian Belikov has updated me. I'm not sure that you are aware of the situation, however. There have been increases in organized strigoi attacks, targeting schools and the court. We believe that now we are at war. Royals are being kidnapped left and right, and our guardians are not equipped to handle this much activity. Princess Valissa Dragomir will be the next monarch. Not only is her health imperative for such a future, but it is also imperative for the morale of Moroi and Dhampir alike. It may also be helpful for Princess Valissa to have you around not only as a guardian, but as a friend. The shadow-kissed bond you share is more useful now than ever. If you do stay, I will allow you to finish the school year and graduate a certified guardian, with a very modified schedule of course. I never thought I'd say this, but we need you, Hathaway."
The room seemed to hold it's breath after the headmistress' speech.
All eyes watched Rose until she finally spoke.
"I'll stay, but I need to see Valissa now."
A/N:
This is my first fanfic so please review! Thank you so much to those of you who have reviewed so far, I promise I've read through them all!
I hope this chapter has answered some of the questions thus far!
Happy reading!
