Here is the next chapter, sorry for the delay.

Chapter Six - Turning The Tide

Over the next few weeks, things kept going better and better. Strigoi attacks were failing left and right, and there were rumors circulating that the Strigoi had spies in our ranks, but most of them were being rooted out and killed. It was decided that a squad would be put together to head for Siberia. If Rose was still living at that mansion, we needed to clear it out. It was also decided that Guardian Harkin would be sent with us, since he had so much experience. He was arriving two days before we shipped out, and since I had never seen him before, I decided to meet him. I went to see Lissa who, knowing we would be gone for a week or two, had insisted on being sent with us. Alberta had agreed, on the condition she would be left at the safe house with two guardians.

"For the millionth time, yes, I am sure I want to go Dimitri. I know you care about me, but I will be fine. Besides, without that charm on your wrist, your condition will worsen.", she was irritated, but she also had a hint of worry in her voice.

"Alright.", I smiled, "I just want to make sure. Now, I need to go meet Harkin, you coming?"

She hesitated for a second, "I suppose I should meet him since he is going to Siberia with us."

We walked over to the parking area of campus, and Alberta, not surprisingly, was waiting as well. Just as we arrived, a gray SUV with all tinted windows pulled in and parked. When Harkin got out, I realized that I had underestimated how intimidating he looked. He was in his mid sixties, so I had assumed him to look that way, I was wrong. He looked like his was in his late forties or early fifties. He had jet black hair with streaks of crimson, obviously it had been dyed. He was well muscled, well tanned, and most shocking of all were his molnija marks. I assumed he had wielded a lot of death over the years, I was wrong again. This guy was death. He had so many molnija marks, his neck was covered almost all the way around, and there were several on his right shoulder.

"Ah, Alberta. It's been so long.", he walked over and shook her hand. His voice was fairly deep and seemed to demand respect. He turned to me, "And you must be Guardian Dimitri Belikov, I have heard a lot about you too." He shook my hand and I noticed how firm his grip was.

"It is such a pleasure to meet you Guardian Harkin.", I kept my tone formal.

He smiled and chuckled, "I assure you, the pleasure is all mine. And you.", he said turning to Lissa, "Must be Ms Vasilisa Dragomir. I'm sorry about your parents, they were great people."

I hadn't assumed that he had known Lissa's parents, but this guy knew a lot of people, so that didn't surprise me.

"And about what happened in Europe the other day, I have no clue what came over me. I just got really nervous. I have been wishing lately that I hadn't been pulled out of retirement, and I was actually hoping for a quick death instead of being fed from. But then the shipment of Daylight arrived, and I realized that we had a good chance."

"Well, we should probably get Harkin to his room, let him rest up for the trip.", Alberta was keeping it formal as well.

As Harkin was led off to his room, me and Lissa headed back to her room.

"He scares me. I know it is childish, but he just seems, well, frightening.", Lissa's voice was laced with fear, and she looked scared.

"Don't worry, you are actually safer with him then me. He is highly skilled, and he has been decorated time after time for bravery." I decided she should probably go back and pack, and I should go teach my last class before I leave.

I took Lissa back to her room, and went to the gym for class. As I headed over, I ran into Harkin, who insisted he come to speak to the class.

As we entered the gym, Harkin stayed behind me and waited off to the side while I spoke to the class. "I assume you are all ready for class, but first I have a guest, I don't expect many of you to know who he is. I beckoned, and Andy stepped forward, "This is Senior Guardian Andrew Harkin, he has more experience then any other guardian alive today."

The class gasped as they shifted their attention to Harkin, he was wearing a t-shirt and jeans, and his shirt had the sleeves rolled up, exposing the molnija marks on his right shoulder.

I stepped back so that Andy could speak with the class' undivided attention. "Hello class, I have very little to say to you, and I am not one for speeches, so I will keep this brief. I know that some of you would look at me and think I want to be just like him when I get older. Well, if you mean that you want to become respectable Guardians and do your duty well, then do that. If you mean that you want as many Strigoi kills as me, think again. I have seen more death in my life then any one of you would want to know about. I have seen horrors that you couldn't imagine. When I was 19, I was taken prisoner by Strigoi, along with two other Guardians. We were torchered and beaten for information, and when my colleague gave something up, they awakened him and he killled the other one. I was kept alive for about two more days before I escaped and killed every last one of them. I was captured a second time, beaten and torchered again, and escaped to kill them all. I had over twelve kills after that, and I was horrified by what I had done. Trust me, your first few kills are never easy. Over time, I got used to it. But when I look back on all those I have killed, even though every last one of them was an evil bastard, I feel remorse. So when you think you cannot wait to get some molnija marks, you better realize they are just something to remind you of that which you want to forget.

The class was shocked, and I stepped forward, "So, do twenty laps around the track and come back in for stretches and sparring." Guardian Harkin will be happy to show you some sparring techniques. When they exited, I looked at him, "That was an amazing speech."

He looked me in the eyes, "I meant every word of it. I may be skilled, but I am remorseful for what I have done, that is truly what happened in Europe. I didn't want to cause any more death, I wanted my life to end. But, now I realize that it was a foolish thought. I will be happy to help you take down the leaders of this army. Now, shall we?"

He stepped out of the room, and realized how traumatic his life had been. Then I wondered.

Was my life heading down the same path?

What do you think of Harkin's appearance? (Physical)

What do you think of Harkin's personality?

Love it, hate it? Review and let me know!

-Nueemann