Dimitri POV:
I heard music pounding out from the small gaurdian gym, happily situated at the edge of the school campus. Definitely something my Roza would appreciate. It was easy to escape from, close enough to help but a good distance for her to be alone for a while. I crept closer, a familiar song getting louder. I recognized it from Roza's work out playlist, Wake me Up Inside by Evanescence. Slipping in through the door, I found myself staring at a thick shining mane of flaming red hair. The girl was a dhampir, short with well toned muscles, an hourglass figure and a natural tan. A light sheen of sweat clung to the exposed skin of her back, the very short sports shorts and tank top like a second skin. She was punching on every beat, perfect rythem and pace, then as the song went into the chorus, brought one leg whipping round in a powerful kick. Both feet left the ground as she balanced on one hand and landed on her feet again.
She was side on now, slim but with killer curves. There was no mistaking that this was my Roza. She back-flipped with flexibility I never knew she possessed and slid down into the splits, moving as if sweeping someones feet out from under them. It was like a perfectly choreographed dance, each flawless move melting smoothly into the next. She must have dyed her hair red in an effort to remain un recognizable. It was all to waste though, I would know my Roza anywhere, no matter how she disguised herself.
"Take a picture, it'll last longer." Her voice rang out, clear and demanding. She wasn't facing me so she wouldn't know that it was me. The statement was so obviously Rose... I had finally found her. I had found my love after three years of searching. I had finally found her. I smiled internally, not even relaxing in spite of myself. She was still dangerous to me.
"What if I don't want a picture? I already have many and they don't do you any justice. I think I am ready for the real thing." she whirled around to face me, eyes burning with passion. All excess fat had been stripped away, even her face had lost its roundness, now feminine and more angular. Grown up. I saw the emotions flicker before a cool mask slipped into place, a guardian mask that made my heart wrench. In that breif moment I had known she loved me still, now the spark had frozen. This was guardian Hathaway. She inclined her head towards me, not looking anywhere else. She must have already memorised the escape routes and just needed to distract me long enough to get out. That was bad for me. Something clattered close by and I flinched despite myself. Rose took full advantage of my momentary distraction and launched herself upwards, climbing up a rope I hadn't noticed before. She swung up and hooked her legs over the beam before running towards the door on the narrow piece of wood. I ran underneath, standing in the doorway to block it. She came down feet first.
"Look, as much as it flatters me that you searched for so long, I really have to go and I suggest you don't follow. Things will get ugly." Her foot remained on my throat for a little while longer to emphasis her point before she took off running. She hit my back up a moment later, ten fully trained guardians including Eddie Castile. She would never get past them. They all waited for her to make the mistake of making the first move. They were treating her like she was still the novice they knew so long ago. I could tell she was very different in fighting style. They didn't know her like I did. Rule number three, never hesitate.
She leapt forward, catching them by surprise, sliding under a pair of out stretched hands and sitting on their back as they feel, knees on their shoulder blades. The move stunned them and they gasped for breath until she elbowed the pressure point on their neck. One man was already unconcious. Nine to go. I stayed to the side, watching her style and moves. It was like a cobra, strike fast, knock the opponent out and pull back to strike again. I had watched the movements of one of the guardians here on the records, they had been taking dance and fighting lessons, gym membership and went to most of the sports teams. All things I reprimanded her for the first time she ran away. The second man went down, swiftly followed by the third. She kicked the legs out from another and manged to knock him out with resounding punches. I was actually glad I wasn't on the receiving end, the muscles of her shoulder and arm rippling as she struck. The rest of my men staggered up to her, one looping his arms around her from behind and pinning her own down.
"You have got to be joking... are you really that dumb?" she hissed at him, making him lose focus. I winced in spite of myself as her foot came up into a very tender spot for men, making him collapse. Self defence 101. Eddie jumped forwards next, apprehension on his face. Hers softened before she was behind him, grabbing him in a headlock. Her smaller frame meant he couldn't reach her and he slowly dropped, unconcious from lack of oxygen. She cared still.
I cursed making her run laps as she took off sprinting, the sheer speed astounding me. Only a strigoi could possibly travel that fast. Well, I was no strigoi but I had to try. I wasn't going to lose her again, not after seeing her.
Our chase led me through the school where Roza had the upperhand, knowing the set out. I knew she wouldn't lead me to Lissa and Christian but she would try to lose me so she could still protect them. She ran around a corner and skidded to a stop, looking down in horror before turnong to face me and running at me. Her face lost it's mask and I saw her love and fear.
"Dimitri, please run!" I didn't question her as she tore past me, grabbing my hand and forcing me to go faster. As we went down the corridoors again, this time together, she ran through a classroom, brunette Lissa and blonde Christian standing up and taking off out the window as well. My heart fell as we looked out the window, seeing the sinking sun and shadows. Strigoi time. Roza let go of my hand and jumped out the window, landing on her feet and urging Liss and Christian in front of her while pulling a stake out of Lissa's bag. Strigoi were already in the school grounds. Catching up to them, I pulled out my own. Finding myself pushed against a wall by Roza. Her lips met mine in a hungry kiss, full of passion and everything we had both been feeling since she left. Then she was gone, fighting strigoi that I hadn't even noticed creep up on us. Fighting savagely, I only stopped when I heard Lissa gasp. Whirling around, my blood ran cold. A strigoi had Roza against a wall, her feet not even near touching the ground. As he bent to bite her I threw my stake with lightening speed and precision at his back, knowing it would pierce his heart before he killed her. It never did.
He span away at the last second, a gleeful smile on his chalk white face and it buried itself in her chest, pinning her to the wall. Her eyes met mine and I almost dropped to my knees, the forgiveness I don't deserve shining through supressed tears. The strigoi fled and I just stared, looking in horror at what I had done. I had killed the only woman I could ever love and now, I could never get her back. The world swayed around me and I saw the ground coming towards me at a tilt. Then I let the greif and blackness take me.