She Called Him Comrade Chapter 8: Scars, a vampire academy fanfic

February 19, 2011

Well hello all. I hope everyone had a good Valentine's Day. My dad came home on the 14th. He was doing great but last night we hit a bump in the road. It sounds like he will be fine and back home soon.

My Beta reader is moving house this weekend and was not able to beta for me because I am too impatient to wait. I hope you like it anyway.

I do not own VA but that which comes from my slightly deranged mind I happily share with you

Chapter 7: Scars

After my first week Annemarie and I fell into a pattern. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I would eat lunch with her and help her with her homework. This gave Guardian Tanner a chance to get his things done or have lunch in the staff dining hall. It took three weeks before Annemarie earned a special fun work out. Guardian Tanner and I took her to the elementary campus playground. Tanner and I took turns competing with her. We tried to see who could swing the highest and how long we could keep it up. We timed how long it took us to get across the monkey bars. She showed us some gymnastic tricks she could do on the balance beam. I taught her some Russian jump rope songs that my sisters used to sing. I was surprised to find out that she speaks Russian fluently.

As the weeks passed I made aware other routines as well. Every other week Rose, Adrian, Christian, Mia, Eddie, Angus O'shea, and Jake Baddica would leave for the weekend. The coincidence was that Christian, Mia, Angus and Jake are all Elemental Defense teachers. On the Fridays that they are out their classes and Lissa's spirit class join the novices in combat training. They would be gone from just before sunrise on Thursday night and return before school started on Monday. I asked once where they went but Tanner only said that it was between them and the Queen.

A few weeks into our training I happen to notice some scars that ran across both of Annemarie's arms and part of one of her legs. There had been an attack recently where a guardian had to fight a Strigoi in water, the guardian lost his life. I asked Rosemarie if I could incorporate water training in with the other training Annemarie and I did. She agreed and we scheduled use of the pool once every two weeks. Usually she wore long sweat pants and an over sized tee shirt for our regular training. This day she wore a one piece swimsuit under her tee shirt. When she got to the pool she pulled off the over shirt and that is when I saw her scars. She must have expected me to say something because she automatically went into an explanation. I had nearly forgotten what Alberta had told me the day they gave me her file.

"When I was still in my mommy's tummy three Strigoi crashed the car that she was riding in. The people she was guarding were ok but in the commotion the Strigoi grabbed her and took her away from her charge and the other guardians. She tried to fight them but because her tummy was so big and she was already in labor, almost ready to have me; she couldn't fight them off. One bit her to make her even weaker. Then he took her stake from her hands and even though it burned him and made him bleed, he used her stake to cut her belly. They wanted to take me from her. Her charge and her friends saved us. One of them used fire to distract the Strigoi while my grandmother and another guardian staked them.

She looked at her scars. "Aunty Lissa and Adrian tried to heal the scars but because of the Strigoi blood both me and my mother still have them."

I tried to ask her more questions about her mother but she said "I don't want to talk about it". I dropped the subject. Though I am very curious as to what relation she is to Rosemarie; in all truth it doesn't really matter. Like with Connor; I love her for who she is and even though she is not my child I have found myself wishing she was and almost thinking of her as such.

I can't say that Rose ever really started to warm up to me. During our weekly meetings she was always the cool professional. She was never rude or unkind, but I never felt like she was the same girl I once knew. She did begin to let her mask down just a little. Any time that I hinted to something from the past she would ether give me a hint of a small sad look or take no notice at all. At times when I would mention how similar she and Annemarie are she would almost always give me a look that was between a small sad smile, frustration and indecision. As time passes I have found myself thinking of her as Rosemarie. It hurts me to realize that the vivacious girl is gone and may never return.

On Thursday November 10th I was notified that I would not be working with Annemarie due to her leaving for court Friday morning. My curiosity got the better of me that morning. I woke up early and took a walk. Soon I found myself near the airstrip. There was a court jet on the tarmac and Adrian was standing outside the plane. Embarrassed by my behavior I was just going to continue to walk on.

"Hey Dimitri" Adrian was waving me over. Not wanting to be rude I went to talk to him.

"Good morning Lord Ivashkov." He gave me an odd look before giving me a very big smile.

"Cut the crap Dimitri, I know you are my older half brother. Unless we are in a formal situation just call me Adrian. Hell even then I might prefer if you just call me by my name."

"Adrian, you are sober. I think you have been sober every time I have talked to you since my return. Have you quit smoking also? You don't reek of clove cigarettes." I know I was being blunt but he seemed to prefer it.

"I was wondering when you would notice. I have been completely sober for the last seven years. I can even be around alcohol and cigarettes without having any desire to imbibe in the slightest."

"I thought you drank to deal with the effects of spirit?"

"I did but somehow Rose started to take my shadows away as she does for Lissa. She has found a way to exorcize the shadows from herself after absorbing any spirit wielder's shadows. So I get to practice spirit without going crazy. Rosemarie isn't going to go nuts now ether."

"Can I ask how this happened?"

"No but add it to your list." He gave me a sly smile. Then he focused on something behind me.

I turned to see Rose walking up to the airstrip. Walking with her were seven children. I recognized Annemarie right off. She let go of Rosemarie's hand and came running up to us; I thought she was going to greet me but she jumped into Adrian's arms.

"Slow down little Dhampir; we have a whole flight to talk." I realized that she must have been talking to him in her mind. She did it to me once just the other day when she caught herself having a tantrum. She asked me if she was going to have to do an extra lap and lose her fun training. I heard her clear as a bell even though her mouth never moved. I find it interesting that both she and Rosemarie seem to both possess the ability of telepathy. After hugging her he let her down on the ground.

I looked over at Rose and her group of children. I recognized the little boy in the picture with Annemarie, Rose and Adrian. He was holding Rosemarie's other hand. He too ran up to Adrian but he ran up shouting. It sounded like he said Daddy. Adrian smiled at him and caught him midflight. I looked at the boy and at Adrian. There was no resemblance between them. The boy had fair skin and was slender. His hair was the color of dark copper and his eyes were rich butterscotch. Adrian's hair was dark but there was a hint of bronze when he was in direct sun, and his eyes are the color of emeralds.

"Josh, say hi to my mentor. His name is Guardian Belikov but I call him Woody."

I rolled my eyes. After the first week of training she had begun to call me Woody. With my fascination with the old west and my leather duster she decided I needed a cowboy name. She also told me she likes Toy Story. I tried to get her to call me Guardian Belikov or even Dimitri but I couldn't shake her of it. She is so much like Rosemarie used to be that I gave up and now I let her use the nick name.

I gave her a nickname too, well two nicknames actually. When she is reminds me of Roza I call her Princess. But most of the time she is so unique that I wanted to give her something more original than princess. She is feminine and delicate looking but I know when she is older she will be quite deadly. I call her Lady Bug. Lady bugs protect delicate flowers from destructive aphids. One day my Lady bug will protect others from Strigoi.

"Hello Guardian Belikov, My name is Joshua Harrison Hathaway."

He gave me his hand and I shook it. My heart beat wildly but I held on to my guardian mask. I looked up to Rose who was looking right at me. This boy looked to be about the right age of a child she could have had after I left. He looked a little like Rose but he looked more Like Janine. I let down my mask with Rose; I wanted to be honest with her. I was sad that she did go on to have a child since it meant that she must have slept with someone. At the same time I was relieved that she was able to have what she wanted. If this little boy was part of my Roza then I wanted to know him. Well honestly I am interested in knowing all the children she cares for. Because they are important to her, they are important to me.

"Hello Joshua, it's nice to meet you. Maybe one of these days you, Annemarie, and I could do something together."

"Can the rest of the kids come too?"

"Yes of course, I think it would me more fun with more kids. There is a lake within the wards and we could go fishing and have a cook out over a camp fire. Does that sound good to both of you?"

I looked to Annemarie and to Josh. They both had big excited smiles and were nodding. I looked to Rosemarie. She gave me a funny look that I couldn't quite decipher

"So Josh would you introduce me to your other brothers and sisters?" Adrian let him down and he ran back to Rose.

"This is Aiden Harper he is 4." For a four year old Aiden was quit big. He still had a baby face and he had his thumb in his mouth.

"Karalin is almost 3 she is Aiden's sister." She had big eyes that were the same blue gray as her brother's. Her hair was a lighter shade of blond. She held on to a well loved doll.

"Brian Jonson is going t be five soon." Brian had curly black hair and bright blue eyes. He looked a lot like my Connor. I wonder if one of his parents was an Ozera.

"Sarah and Suzan Dashkov are twins and they are 3." The other three children were obviously Dhampirs whereas the twins showed all the earmarks of a Moroi. They were tall and very thin. Their skin was so light that it was literally the color of a porcelain teacup and they had the same Jade color eyes that the Dashkov and Dragomir families both share.

I followed him around and shook hands with each child as he introduced them. I could feel Rose watching me; part of me wanted to look at her but I felt it would be rude to the children if I did. I didn't realize how close I was to Rose till I stood up. She was right next to me still looking at me with that indescribable expression.

"Your children are beautiful Rosemarie. I hope you don't mind that I promised to do something with them before discussing it with you."

"I am thankful to anyone who will help me entertain them. We can discuss the details when I get back."

Her mask was down but still she was more professional than friendly with me. Our eyes locked. I don't know what she saw in my unmasked face but sadness and betrayal flash through hers briefly. My heart burned with remorse, and longing. She closed her eyes and took in a cleansing breath. When she opened her eyes she had a look of resolve on her face. She tuned to the children.

"Ok everyone let's get on the plane. I promised Auntie Tatiana that we would be there at 8:00 PM and you know how I like to be early."

She ushered them up the stairs. Before boarding Annemarie ran up and hugged me. I couldn't help but pick her up and swing her in the air.

"I am going to miss you little lady bug. Have fun and behave."

"I will Woody, I promise. I will try to wait my turn and I won't attack if I get mad."

"I will ask Guardian Tanner and if you were good we will have a fun training day when you return."

"Yippy!" she squealed then she boarded the plane. Rose smiled brightly at Annemarie as she ran up the stairs. She looked back at me with that indescribable look, for a second she gave me a small genuine smile before disappearing through the hatch.

I watched the plane taxi down the runway. As it took to the air I heard her voice.

"Dimitri, I am not ready yet but I promise one day we will talk."

POP QUIZ

1. Ok now that you know what the fun training days are what do you think? The metal image of two guardians playing on swings with an eleven yr old made me laugh.

2. Did you notice that Annemarie speaks perfect Russian?

3. Where do you think Rose and the others are going every other week?

4. For those who read So What Now you might know from chapter 55 that there is great significance with the scars that Tasha had in that story and the similar ones that Annemarie and her mother have. How do you think that might play out in this story?