The New Rose

Chapter 4:

I watched as she walked towards the bodies and took in the sight. "That is the most amazing thing I have ever seen," she said in awe. Her brown eyes were large with awe and excitement. She had tan skin and brown, straight hair that hung past her shoulders.

My body stiffened and she noticed. Then the thought occurred to me, she couldn't have been human; 1) if she was she wouldn't have been able to see my battle because we move too fast for human eyes at times 2) she would've been more freaked out by what she had seen if she was human and 3) now that I could really see her, I could tell she wasn't human, she had a Dhampir stride about her, the way she moved, talked, held her body, her muscle definition. "Don't worry, I'm a Dhampir." She had just verified what I was thinking. "My name is Viktoria."

"Rose," I stated, giving her my name.

"By any chance are you Rose Hathaway?" she asked. When I nodded she looked shocked and in awe. "Ohmigosh! I've heard about you! Everyone at my school has! You killed Strigoi before you even graduated! Everyone at school would never believe me! Wow!" She kept gushing and gushing. But the thing that shocked me was that people new me from a different country? Like I was famous or something? "My mum doesn't approve of the Guardian lifestyle but you have inspired me to go against my mother and become a Guardian just like my older brother!"

"Wait, people know who I am in other Academies?" I asked her, confused.

She grinned at me. "Of course they do silly! Everyone in the Dhampir and Moroi community know of you and all your accomplishments! I just never I dreamed I'd ever meet you!" she kept rattling on, I was lost in my own thoughts, stunned. I was just as famous as my mother. I couldn't believe it. "Can you train me? I'm not a very good fighter, I'm too clumsy but I'm sure with someone like you training me I'll be amazing in no time! You don't have to if you don't want to but I just thought maybe it'd be fun to get to know you and I'm on school holidays now so I can train whenever you'd like me to!" That brought my attention.

"Uhmm. I don't know. I've never trained anyone before. When I ran away from the Academy for two years, when we-Vasilissa and I-got caught and brought back I needed a mentor, it was unfair really for my other classmates because he was a God and I caught up in no time!" I told her. She looked at me dumbfounded and I realized I couldn't say no this girl, even though I had no idea who she was. I sighed. "Okay then, I'll train you, but just so we're clear, I don't really want to." I gave her my number and told her where she could meet me tomorrow afternoon-my dad's house. Then I went on my way. Walking around the city that came to life at night.

As I watched the girls and boys partying I began to pity the, yet feel jealousy rise in my throat. I pitied them because they didn't know what was out there but I was also jealous because they didn't know, not that I wasn't happy with my life, I was, but it would've still been nice to be that naive and just party until the sun came up, laugh and talk amongst friends, but no, this was my life and I make do with what I've got. I was lucky, I have a faster metabolism than normal humans so I can eat what I want and burn it off quicker and to top it off I train, hard-core since I could walk so I was incredibly fit, I could fight, I could get away with a bruise or two on my face because just like Moroi, Dhampir's were beautiful. But I could blend in with normal society without standing out. I was average height for most Dhampir's and humans but Moroi were tall and slim. Mainly because they're main source of diet was blood, and from what I knew, that wasn't very fattening. But still, it was nice to dream, but this was my life and I took pride in killing Strigoi, it was still ending a life one way or another but I was saving countless of lives at the same time. It was a rush, a thrill, that boost of adrenaline that left you wanting more. I loved it. I wouldn't give this up for anything. Except Lissa. I would for her. But it hurt too much. I couldn't.

The night swung by. It was 2am and still hadn't run into anymore Strigoi and just with that thought I noticed the bushes rustle as two passer-by teenage girl and guy laughed, leaned back against the tree, looked around and kisses. Things were getting steamy. I walked around, sneaking up behind the Strigoi to see him spying on the young couple. "Did your mother ever tell you it was rude to spy?" I asked, all attitude.

He spun around. "No, she didn't. I killed her," he simply replied, smirking.

He lunged for me and I side stepped him, kicked him in the back which sent him sprawling further, he grunted at the impact. He quickly regained his composure, stood and turned, threw a punch which I blocked. This went on for a while; me blocking, throwing a punch, until I seen an opening, and I staked him. I quickly left, taking my stake with me, hoping not to be spotted by the couple.

At about sunrise I made my way back to the mansion, showered and climbed into bed.

I fell to sleep into the darkness but then I was standing in the Academy. "Adrian!" I yelled. "I know you're in here!" I looked around. But it wasn't Adrian who was walking up to me. "Lissa!" My heart dropped.

"Oh my gosh! Rose!" she squealed. "I did it! I finally did it!" She ran up to me and pulled me into a hug. I hugged her back, enjoying the smell of her strawberry scented conditioner. She pulled back and looked at me grim. "Why? Why did you leave?"

I sat down on the edge of the bed. "I made a mistake," I told her. "I fell in love with Dimitri, and we gave into each other, I lost my virginity to him but... he left, to be Tasha's Guardian. I went back for him. In the cave. I went back. I fought. I fought so hard, I killed 46 Strigoi. I rescued him. I shouldn't have. I should've went back to the Academy, got a rescue team and come back for him the next day. But I couldn't just leave him there to get tortured. I couldn't. I couldn't leave a man behind. Not him."

Lissa's face dropped and she looked at me solemnly. "I am so sorry Rose!" She bent down at eye level. "That would've been hard."

"I got an early graduation. I met my father," I told her and she looked at me shocked and smiled kindly, like she always was. I swear, she wan an angel.

"That's great!" she said.

I nodded. "I think he's some mafia guy. It's so weird. He has this big mansion in the city, lives in Russia. Has so many Guardians he almost puts the Queen and Adrian to shame." I let out a little, short laugh.

"Wow," she said, eyes wide. "Mafia?" she giggled. "Of course your father would be part of a Russian mafia."

I laughed with her. It was good to see her smile. "I'm glad you came. But you shouldn't have, you need your strength and I can't be your Guardian at the moment. I don't think I could ever be. I-it hurts Lissa."

She frowned and pulled me to her. "You've always been strong and been there for me. Now it's my turn to be strong for you. I love you Rose. You're my best friend and I'll always have you when you're ready. Anyone would be lucky to have a best friend or Guardian as strong as you."

I let myself shed a tear for my best friend. And just like that the dream vanished, I don't think she was strong enough to hold one as long as Adrian could but she did it. It was a step I closer. I let myself fall into the darkness again. Not willing to wake up just yet. I was too tired and sore from fighting.

Thanks for reading! And I am slowly re-writing all the next chapters so I hope you like what I have so far and review!