~ Chapter Two ~

I make my way through campus, ignoring anyone who is feeling social. I am late for class and don't feel like getting in trouble because of it. A few teachers are hanging around the grounds, yet I manage to avoid them completely. I wonder why they aren't, well, teaching. What makes getting to class even harder is every part of my body aches. Yesterday was a total mess, with Dimitri, Lissa, and all. I had decide to push all of that into the back of my mind and completely ignore them today as much as I can. Although it's hard to get rid of Dimitri since I have another training session with him. I only wish he would cancel.

Instead of worrying about class, I focus on the night sky, which is absolutely breath-taking. I guess that's one of the perks of living in the middle of Montana. The stars are visible in every direction. . . And the moon. God, that moon. If I wasn't late for class, I would sit down on the grass and throw aside everything else just to stare up at it.

It happens without me realizing what is going on. . .

Lissa's emotions tug me into her mind, something that I have yet to perfect. There are times when I can't get out of her mind, mostly when she's in jumble of feelings. And that's exactly the case. She isn't in class, which worries me. No, not in class. She's in the chapel of the church.

"Tell me why we're here?" She says, letting Christian lead her to the window.

Christian seats her in an old armchair, for which he bends down in front of her. His eyes the crystal blue eyes they always are. There's no mistaking he's an Ozera.

"Christian?" She asks, arching an eyebrow. "I have Basics of Elemental Control, like, now!"

"You don't even have an element that they know how to control. . ." He trails off with a long, lingering kiss. I am officially, totally disgusted. I try and pull myself out of her mind, but Lissa just pulls me back in.

She puts a hand on Christian's chest and pushes with barely any effort. "Christian, ple-" He kisses her again, and this time she drops her hand and begins kissing him back.

I feel everything Lissa feels. Her heart pounds, her breath is heavy, and everything inside her is in turmoil. The love for Christian is too much for her, and she gives herself over to any control she has left. They kiss again, this time harder and more powerful. I try again to get away, out of her mind. No success.

"Christian Ozera." She places a hand on his cheek as he pulls away. "I can't help but say. . . I'm in love with you."

Kill. Me. Now.

It's all I can take to not throw up while in her body. This time, when they begin to make out again, I pull myself out and back into my body.

"Ugh, Lissa," I put a hand to my head, the early signs of a headache beginning to show.

A voice behind me says, "tardy again, Miss Hathaway?"

I turn to see Headmistress Kirova. She wears her usual outfit and looks like the proper jerk she can be sometimes.

I frown. "Sorry, Headmistress Kirova. I was-"

"No, no," she says. "No excuses, please." She motions to the building behind me. "I would get a move on it."

"Right."

She looks at me for a few seconds with her eyes narrowed. "Now, please."

I nod and rush off to my class, which is Bodyguard Theory and Personal Protection 3. By the time I reach the room it is held in, the teacher has already started. I nod and make my way to my desk beside Eddie. He gives me a disapproving look as I sit down. Talk about serious. I sigh and sit down.

"Now," Stan Alto, the teacher, says, "as I was saying. . ."

Dimitri is late to training, so I take my stance in front of a dummy and start kicking and punching in all the right spots. Every time I hit the dummy, it slightly moves, then bounces back. They are really stable, even when I am fighting them. I stop, take a deep breath, then move on to the next one, hitting and jabbing it until I feel content with its condition.

I think about my meeting with Lissa's mind today. The very thought disgusts me, but I can't help but think about it. It was Christian and Lissa's fault that I got caught by Kirova. I mean, sure I was the one that was late, but if she hadn't sucked me into her body and made me experience things that I never wanted to. I shudder and continue with my training. I really hope by now that Lissa is in Basics of Elemental Control. Not off with Christian in a nasty old attic. If I could just shake her and make her wake up from the dream she is living in.

"Rose," Dimitri addresses me as he walks in, interrupting any further thoughts of Lissa.

I push them aside and give him a small smile. "Thought you'd never show up, Comrade."

He drops his bag on one of the benches. "Tell me again, why must you call me that?"

I shrug and we drop the subject. Dimitri picks up a Styrofoam bar, which I give him a look. "Seriously, I can beat up Styrofoam."

"We're practicing your kicks today." He says, raising the bar to a high level. When he gives me the signal, I have at it, kicking and throwing my legs out in front of me. His face shows nothing, so I don't know whether he's impressed or not.

"What?" I ask when he gives a shake of his head.

He sighs and says, "It's nothing. You're doing good."

"Doesn't seem like it," I say a little too harshly. An immediate regret on my side.

Dimitri shakes his head and puts the Styrofoam bar down, motioning for me to stop. I stop, and begin to heave heavily. The exercise was tiring, and took a lot out of me.

"Are you okay?" I ask, concerned for whatever Dimitri is dealing with. If only he weren't so closed off to me.

"I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure, Rose," He spits at me and walks over to his bag, where he pulls out a stake.

He hands me the stake. The feel of the cold silver scares me a little. It reminds me of just a month ago, when Mason had died. It feels like such a long time, but I can't help but feel horrible. I stabilize myself against the mat.

Concentrate, Rose. Focus on the enemy. You can't show weakness. Not now.

I didn't exactly have an enemy. But when I practice staking, Dimitri always acted as the enemy Strigoi. He gives me a nod and I throw myself at him, spinning and jumping, getting out of the way of his grasp. He is graceful, like a swan. He turns and twists, making it harder to get a good place to jab him with. Before I know it, Dimitri grabs me and shoves me to the ground, him hovering above. I manage to get my arm loose from under me and get a good look at his heart. I do it. I hit him in the heart, the stake a bit tilted. The silver stake hovers only a few inches from the real place where I would hit a Strigoi. He nods, his eyes twinkling. I don't know what makes me do it, but I just can't help myself. . .

I kiss him.

I immediately pull away, lowering my head on to the mat. He releases me and stands, his expression hard. I sit up myself and open my mouth to say something. I know it isn't right. In fact, if we were to be together, we would be risking Lissa's life.

"I-I-I'm sorry," I mumble, stunned myself.

Dimitri shakes his head and throws the stake across the room. It makes a large Bang sound as it hits the gym floor. I look down at my fumbling hands. I made a mistake. One I will have to pay for probably.

"God, Rose!" He shouts. "Why do. . . Why do you have to do stuff like that!"

I stand up, brushing off my sweatpants. "I said I was sorry!" I yell back at him.

"You know we can't!" He yells. I step back and his face softens. We stand there for a few minutes. "Roza, please," he reaches his hand out, reaching for my cheek. I push his hand away and narrow my eyes.

"Don't call me that. . ."

He closes his eyes. I get ready for another Zen life lesson, but only silence feels the air.

"Something's been bothering you the entire time," I announce. "So, tell me. What's going on?"

"Rose-"

"Tell me!" I interrupt, shouting at him. "Just. . . Please, Dimitri. I want, I need an answer."

He shakes his head. My trainer is utterly impossible. "I can't. . ."

"Yes you can." I touch his cheek. . . barely; softly.

Dimitri turns his head, focusing the wall in front of him. I tilt my head and step forward, placing a hand on his arm. He flinches, probably not noticing I am so close. We stand like that for a long time before he comes to his senses. His face is stone-hard.

"Dimitri, if you can fight Strigoi without breaking a sweat, you can be truthful with me," I say to him, stroking his cheek. "Please, Dimitri." I know my voice sounds pitiful, pleading, but I can't stop myself. I need to know what's going on with him.

Dimitri catches my hand in his, his head tilted downwards so he can look me straight in the eyes. I hold my breath, waiting for whatever he has to say. "Roza, you'll always be the only one that can do that to me."

I tilt my head to the side. "Do what?"

"Make me admit something I don't want to; make me break," he says.

I step closer by one step. "Just tell me, Dimitri."

He takes one deep breath. Exhale, inhale, exhale; that's his way of calming down. I wonder if his heart is racing like mine is. Just being so close to him sends electricity through my hand to the rest of my body. But I know what comes next won't be good.

"I'm leaving, Roza."