Hey guys n' gals, here is the next chapter.

Someone pointed out that Dimitri wasn't really mentioning his love for Rose, so I will try and implement that. I have an idea for a new Romance for Dimitri, and I am looking for some opinion on it.

Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter One - Foolish Students

The next day, I was due to start teaching combat training to the Novices, and while I knew it would remind me of my sweet Rose, I remembered what she had become. Unless we captured her, she would be a monster her whole life. I entered the gym, which was the area I was given to teach, and looked over my class. They were all novices, about a year younger then Rose was when she was turned. "Alright, today is your first day with me as your teacher, so I'll be a little easy.", I smiled, "Fifteen laps around the track, then back in here for some stretches and sparring practice." I heard several moans and groans, I sighed and decided a little motivational speech was in order. "Look, I'm going to be blunt, there is an army of Strigoi out there over 150 strong, they are almost all former Guardians. They know our training, and they can counter it with their speed, strength, and endurance. The only person I ever truly loved is with them, and I have seen what she is capable of. They will not resist the temptation to kill you and leave your corpse where it falls. They are fighting for only one thing; the extermination of the Royal Families. We are just collateral damage to them. So no matter how bad I treat you, get used to it! They will treat you worse, and if you are awakened with them, your life is over." Most of the students were a little shocked at what I had said, but a few of them were whispering amongst themselves, and one of them, a tall novice who was equally as muscled spoke, "Oh really? How do you know they are all converted Guardians? Almost no one has returned from a fight with them alive. I think you are just saying most of this stuff to keep us in line!"

"How do I know what that army is like? I was among them for a time, but I met salvation with Princess Vasilisa Dragomir, she saved me." The mouthy novice spoke again, "You know what? I think that is some Grade A bullshit! How in the hell would you be turned back from a Strigoi into a Dhampir!" I walked over to him and looked him in the eyes, there was still a thin red line around them, but it wasn't as obvious as it was before. When I spoke to him in a whispering tone, I stopped hiding my fangs. "You don't believe me? Go and ask the fifteen guardians that survived the attack on the Royal Court. They will tell you there were twenty left, and I killed five of them while they were restraining me." He continued looking at me and smiled, then shouted, "Whoa, we got a half Strigoi on campus, someone call the Guardians!", then laughed. I looked at him, and when I heard laughter from behind me, I decided to teach him and everyone else a lesson. I kicked him, he flew a few feet and landed, sliding into the wall. He got up and I strode over and pinned him to the wall, "Lesson One, learn respect! If you disrespect me, you WILL pay the price for it. Lesson Two, I am here to teach you combat training, if you are unwilling to learn and would rather crack jokes about my history," I gave a fang-filled grin, "I can make sure you are thrown into the woods nearby, around midnight. I will NOT have someone with the attitude of this young man becoming responsible for the life of a Moroi." I lowered my arm and turned to walk away, I heard him take a swing at the back of my head, so I reached back and grabbed him by the arm, I then spun him around and tossed him to the floor. "That was clumsy, and it would have gotten you killed anywhere else. Now, all of you, twenty laps around the track, and back in to stretch, I will be back in a few minutes." As they exited, I walked over to the student I had thrown around, I reached out to help him out, and he got up himself, then he just looked at me, "The one you loved," he whispered, "Was she another dhampir?" I turned away and spoke quietly, "Yes. She was just a year older then you, and she secretly meant the world to me. I was the same to her, and I was the one who had turned her. I view myself as responsible for this army that has risen. I can tell you the story someday if you like, but I would advise this conversation remain secret between me and you, or you WILL regret it." He nodded and amazingly went out to run laps.

I looked out the door and watched the novices run around the track, it reminded me of when I had tutored Rose, except on a larger scale, with less respect, and without the love of my life.....

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