Hey guys,

This next chapter took me awhile to get up, sorry about that. I've been busy with school and stuff, but I'm sure the wait has been worth it ;)

Enjoy... And don't forget to REVIEW :)

Chapter Six

Early Sunday morning I got up for church. Now, I didn't consider myself a "believer" in god but I went to grieve for my former charge Zeklos. I felt guiltier with each passing day. I always questioned myself on would the circumstances have changed if I had been the one guarding him when the strigoi attacked? Since Zeklos and the guardian were severely outnumbered by the Strigoi I highly doubted my presence could have helped except kill one or two more strigoi present. However that still didn't change the fact that Zeklos was dead and I wasn't taken down with him, the way it should've been. My rightful place was by his side fighting off strigoi, trying to protect his life and my own, and even though we would be outnumbered when he and I would be pinned against the floor by strigoi- I would take one last look at Zeklos and smile…because we had been taken down together; I wouldn't have it any other way.

Sitting in the back pew, I listened intently to what the priest was saying. I was ignoring the whispered conversations around the room. My face was lined with shadows, my expression thoughtful as I remembered my former charge before the attack. Zeklos was a good man; he and I were a great team. He was so focused and admirable and he was always full of charm. Zeklos respected others but most of all guardians. He knew the importance we withheld and the sacrifices we made to protect his kind; moroi. Many fell in the process.

He always used to tell me "Dimitri, don't ever let another moroi treat you like an accessory. They'll abuse you and treat you like shit if you let them. Stick up for yourself and the ones you love because you never know how much one person means to you, until they're gone for good."

I repeated those words to myself nearly every day, they were absolutely correct. I missed my dear friend Zeklos more than words could describe. No one would understand my pain… no one. He was like my brother, my best mate, my partner in crime. I didn't have to change for him, I could be myself and he wouldn't treat me any differently. He acted like a dhampir and criticized his own kind for their disrespectful behaviour towards dhampir's. I would never be able to forgive myself for his death.

I blinked, focusing back on the priest who had apparently concluded today's session. A lot of the pews were already empty and there was a long line of people walking out the door. A couple of people surrounded the priest waiting eagerly for their turn to talk to him. That's when I realised Rose was among the people standing next to the priest waiting for her turn to speak. Why was Rose at church? I wondered. She wasn't a believer, well; she didn't seem like one that is.

She stood there, next to the priest speaking to him with curiousness written all over her face. What was she up to now? I worried. Certainly she wasn't going to question his faith in god or something disrespectful like that. I watched them both warily. The priest handed Rose a book and said a few words before turning away from her and smiling warmly at two young novices. Rose scowled as she walked away from the priest, holding the book in her hand. She didn't seem to notice me staring at her- thankfully. She stopped at the chapel's entryway to join in on Vasilisa and Aaron's conversation.

They spoke animatedly and Rose's eyes flickered back and forth between Vasilisa and Aaron. A couple of minutes later Rose and Vasilisa left Aaron and walked outside. I heard screams as a big pile of snow fell from the roof and landed on Rose and Vasilisa. Shocked, I started making my way over to them, to offer them my coat, but a curly blonde haired moroi blocked my path. I heard laughter from outside and a boy spoke.

"Wish you hadn't been wearing a coat Rose. That shirt would have looked good wet." He said cockily.

"That shirts so ugly, it should be burned. Did you get that from a homeless person?" The curly blonde haired moroi chastised, looping her arm around Aaron's.

"I suppose you want to offer to burn it, huh? Rose asked. "Oh, wait-fire isn't your element, is it? You work with water. What a coincidence a bunch just fell on us."

"What's that supposed to mean?" The curly blonde haired girl asked innocently.

"Nothing to me, but will probably have something to say when she finds out you used magic against another student."

"That wasn't an attack." The girl scoffed, "and it wasn't me. It was an act of god." A few people laughed, and I waited nervously for Rose's response, expecting her to lash out at the rude girl. Instead Vasilisa nudged Rose and said "Let's go." They then walked off, leaving behind a trail of laughter and jokes about the girl's wet states. "Good one Mia" one girl said, giggling. "Please," Mia replied, putting a hand on her hip. "That was nothing." She laughed.

I knew well aware about Mia Rinaldi and the way she treated dhampir's-like filth. She wasn't a royal moroi- in fact- her parents worked for a Drozdov lord. Her mother was a maid and her father cuts grass. She desperately wanted to be with the "in" crowd, so she often showcased herself to the other royal moroi, like she was all mighty, when really; she had to hide her family's shame. I knew Mia had- in fact -used magic against Rose and Vasilisa just to gain attention from her friends and make Rose look bad. Mia wanted a reaction from Rose and she almost got one- a bad one. Rose had done so well this last week and I couldn't let Mia ruin all she had achieved; I wouldn't let her. I was thankful Rose didn't attack Mia because now I could eliminate the threat. Walking briskly out of the church and up to Mia's group, I tapped her lightly on the shoulder. She turned around and looked surprised to see me standing before her.

"Miss Rinaldi. Would you mind coming with me for a short moment?" Her smile dropped and the group fell silent. All eyes stared at Mia, waiting eagerly for her response.

"Sure." She said uncertainly. "I'll catch you guys up." She beckoned for them to leave and then turned to look back at me.

"This way" I said, motioning with my hand for her to walk ahead.

"What happened with Rose wasn't my fault-I swear." She gushed, looking up at me innocently. I gave her a warning look as we walked around the side of the church; where no one could see us.

"Don't lie to me. Do you understand?" she opened her mouth to protest but I continued. "I saw you. Your hand moved in synchronisation with the water sliding off the roof and onto Rose and the Vasilisa!" I almost yelled. I hadn't realised in my angst I'd unconsciously leaned forward, so now I was inch's from her face. Mia's innocent expression turned to one of fear.

"Please, I was only-"

"-Only trying to impress your friends" I finished for her. Sarcasm dripped off the word friends. I leaned even closer to her, so our eyes were level, purely to intimidate her, nothing more.

"I want you to stay away from Rose." I looked directly into her eyes and spoke every word slowly, to make sure she was paying attention.

"And if you don't… I will be the first one to find you, so you are dealt with correctly." I told her. "Are we clear?" I raised one eyebrow questioningly.

"Yes Guardian Belikov." She whimpered. I gave her a lingering look.

"Then leave."

She scattered off around the corner and I stood up straight. That was her dealt with. Wait- what had I done… I cannot believe I just threatened a student! What was wrong with me? I should't have done that. The anger that had built up inside me from what Mia had done- slowly lessened, and I could breathe normally again. Did I just defend Rose? Why had I done that? It shouldn't have bothered me this much. It was just what happened at schools, girls got in fights all the time why should I intervene this time? Because it was Rose. The feelings for Rose were making me act this way, and I couldn't control them. Rose was doing so well obeying protocol and then Mia had to go try and ruin all she had worked for so far. I wasn't going to stand for that.

If Mia messed with Rose then she was also messing with me. I just couldn't stand by and let that happen, but I shouldn't have handled it like that. I groaned. I was going crazy, this had to stop. Whatever was making me feel defensive about Rose had to be eliminated. For good. I wouldn't allow myself to act that way ever again. Not for Rose. That was wrong, very wrong.

As I had said early, moroi girls saw Rose as a threat. They looked at Vasilisa with envy and longing. So with the small power Mia withheld she was trying to bring them both down to make herself look good. I had gone to the source and disabled the threat before things got too serious. Hopefully there would be no more fighting, hopefully. My phone chimed from my pocket and I got it out. The screen showed I had a new message from Alberta. I opened it and quickly read the message.

Belikov, come quick! Rose is breaking protocol. She's in the library with Mason. Mason Ashford. I'll let you handle it. Remember you owe me. -Alberta

I sighed and started jogging over to the library. Why now Rose? Why now. You were doing so well. She had thrown all my effort to waste. As soon as I entered the hall I saw Alberta standing at the library's entrance. I nodded to her.

"Belikov she's sitting at a table with Mason, in the far corner." I grunted in response and opened the library door just enough to poke my head in. Sure enough Rose was indeed sitting with Mason in the far left hand corner of the room. They were chatting whilst Rose stared intensely at a book she had opened. The book the priest had given her, I realised. Well if Rose was reading something the priest had given her, there was no harm in that. Unless she was just pretending to so she could talk with Mason. Closing the door, I turned around to face Alberta who was frowning.

"It's okay. She's just reading a book the priest gave her this morning. She won't do any harm reading." I explained.

"Yes but she's with the boy, Mason." Alberta protested.

"Yes, well, their only talking it doesn't really matter all that much."

"Well the boy has a crush on Miss Hathaway, everyone knows about it. Students gossip Belikov. I've heard stories. When no one is looking at them they'll probably kiss." She huffed. My eyes narrowed to slits and my blood began to boil. Without another word I marched up to the hall matron. She looked up from her paperwork and smiled.

"What can I do for you Guardian Belikov?" she asked politely.

"It's Rose Hathaway. She's in the library with Mason Ashford." I said icily.

"Oh, I see. I knew it was only a matter of time before Miss Hathaway broke protocol." I nodded stiffly and she stood up from her chair. Did anyone actually have faith in Rose? Obviously not, I seethed.

"Well, I better go separate them." She said- then walked off. I walked back over to Alberta.

"Thanks." I said before sulking back to my room.