A/N Look, guys, I'm getting slightly upset about the whole "not reviewing" thing going on. I'm not going to stop the story, or anything stupid like that, but I would really like some feedback. I may not be the best writer in the entire world (Philip Pullman is), but I'm not awful, and the plot is going somewhere, I promise! I want to thank Candigal for being such a great reviewer!

Right, rant over. Sorry about that.

Off we go, into the realms of my sick and twisted mind. *Maniacal laughter emanates* Enjoy…

Disclaimer: Me, own Vampire Academy? *Snort* Nooooooooooo. That came from Richelle Mead's mind, not mine. I just enjoy playing around with her characters.

And no, not in a dirty way. In an "I control their lives" kind of way. I have issues…

Ah-hem, on with the story…

This was a curious situation I'd landed myself in. I felt like Alice, confused by the Wonderland I'd appeared in. So, the queen may hate me, but it didn't look like Lissa and her friends did. They seemed…nice. It would probably take a while for me to get to know them, and they really didn't have the best impression of me at the moment but, well I could get along with them. I really could.

My phone rang, the opening notes of Lacuna Coil's "Spellbound" piercing through my thoughts. I pressed "Answer", and put the phone to my ear.

"Hey!" Came the cheery voice of Cassie, my human best friend. "How's America treating you? Longing for home yet?" I heard scuffling in the background, and the loud thump of something being dropped. "Hang on." Cassie told me breathlessly. I could still hear her though, courtesy of my improved hearing. "What the fuck was that? If you've broken that, James, I'll kill you! It's over two thousand years old! TWO FUCKING THOUSAND YEARS! I don't care if it was an accident!" There was rustling as she opened something. I heard a sigh of relief. "It's okay. You're lucky. Had anything been damaged, I would have rendered you impotent." She told this "James" menacingly. I had no doubt she would have. I should probably explain who and what she is. Cassie (full name Cassandra Hawes) is an Archaeologist, specialising in Ancient cultures. She was working at a museum at the moment, as well as going on digs all the time. She was the youngest curator they had, a fact she was very proud of. She adored her job, a huge contrast to me, and was a very funny and supportive friend.

"Sorry about that. We've got this idiot working here. He's pompous as hell, and he drops everything. I mean, I'm clumsy, but I know that. That's why I get other people to carry things. A bit of a mistake here, obviously."

I laughed. "Yes, so I heard. I liked the impotence threat."

She growled. "I should do it anyway. His genes don't need to be continued. So what are you up to? Have you heard from Alex or Chloe yet?" She asked. I heard the swivel of her chair as she got comfortable.

"Alex, yep. Chloe, no. But I think she's at work. Everything's okay at the moment, but really, I've only just got here."

"See, I'm the better friend! I phone while at work! No, but seriously, you aren't even a little bit homesick?"

"Well, obviously. But the people I'm working with seem nice, so, it's okay. What are you up to?"

"Well, apparently, they've found more nomad mummies in Siberia, and since I'm the only one who can speak a bit of Russian, they've been getting me to talk with the archaeologists there about getting some people over to the dig. Other than that, I've just been sorting stuff. It's just a typical day, really." She sounded happy, and satisfied.

"Good, good. I miss you guys already. It's pathetic." I told her, and she laughed in response.

"Don't worry; I get that all the time. Of course, I leave voluntarily, so I can get into different tombs and stuff, but it doesn't mean I don't miss home. You were basically forced to go. When are you coming home?"

"I don't really know. I mean, Alex and everyone are coming in two weeks. I could probably ship you out. The people I'm working for have private jets!" I wanted her to come. It would be nice to see her, and everybody. I don't know how I'd be able to explain the Court, but I could find a way, I'm sure.

"I'd love to." She said wistfully. "But I can't. I've got to help organise a big exhibition at the museum, and I can't leave. I'm sorry."

"Hey, it's not your fault. I'll be coming over soon, anyway." I was disappointed, but if she had to work, she had to work. I wouldn't make her walk out on her commitments.

"I wish I could go. I've never been to America." She sounded a little sad. "Ah, better get to work. I'll call you soon, probably with full details of James' castration and eventual dismemberment."

I chuckled. "Bye-bye!"

"Byeeeeeeee!" She said, her accent and intonation making the 'e' sound elongate. The call clicked off. I didn't really know what to do with myself. I could go and see what Lissa and the others were doing, but on the other hand, I could unpack. My cases were standing by the wardrobe. I decided in favour of unpacking-I could sort myself out mentally while doing that, and then I could just slip into the living room, unobtrusively, and try to strike up conversation.

I dragged the case and unzipped it. Immediately, my belongings started to pop out. So much for my neat packing skills. I opened the wardrobe, checking to see if I needed any clothes hangers. Sure enough, I found lots of silk covered hangers sitting neatly on the clothes pole. They really had thought of everything. I carefully eased out my clothes, and started to unfold them, placing them on the hangers. My shoes went on the bottom of the wardrobe, and my collection of jewellery and make up went on the dressing table. I put my picture and knick-knacks on the dressing table, and slowly, slowly, the room started look a bit more like me. I put my cases under the bed and pushed a hand through my hair. I was exhausted.

I checked the mirror, and sure enough, my hair was an unruly red mess. Pulling my hairbrush and a hair tie from my bag I attempted to pull it into a semblance of a ponytail. My makeup was in dire need of a touch up, so I did that too. I knew there was no point, as all I'd be doing was acting bodyguard, but I liked to look good. And next to Lissa and Rose, I needed all the help in the beauty department I could get. My clothes I left as they were; I knew I could fight in them if needed. The heels I slipped off in favour of a worn pair of black Converse. I would have to go to the gym soon-I needed to train. Left alone, I'd never go to the gym, but in this job, if you didn't train, you didn't live.

I felt confident enough to brave the living room. I pushed open the door, and knocked on the door of the living room. Rose opened it, looking surprised. "Why d'you knock? Just come in."

I bit my lip, feeling stupid and awkward and nodded. "Oh, okay. I didn't know if you guys were like that or not. Some Moroi like to have us knock before we come in."

"Surely you don't do that at home?" Lissa asked.

"Well, no. Me and Dom come and go as we please. We're all more like roommates than anything else. Well, we were." I blushed. The amount of times Dom had walked in on us was astronomical, but then, we'd walked in on him too.

"Who's Dom?" Lissa inquired.

"Oh, Alex's other Guardian. We've all been together since school. I mean, we didn't know each other then, but we went to the same school, and Dom and Alex were in the same year. I was a few months younger."

Lissa looked interested. "So it's like you're all best friends living together? That sounds fun. It's pretty much how we are, too." She said, indicating the whole group with a sweep of her hand. "I mean, obviously, I've known Rose since forever, but I've known everyone else from the Academy too."

I nodded. I already knew what she was telling me. It was common knowledge that Princess Vasilisa was best friends with her Guardian, and consorted with unsavoury people. Or so Alex's parents said.

"So, come on. Tell us about yourself!" Lissa giggled. I hate it when people force me to talk about myself…

I forced a smile. "Well, I'm twenty six, prefer to be known as Zanna, and my favourite colour is blue. Uh, um, uh… I don't know what else to say! You've put me on the spot!" I was sure I was blushing.

Rose coughed. "Liss, you realise you're scaring her, right? She only just arrived here. She's not exactly going to be ready to tell us everything. Ignore her, Zanna, she's slightly high. Hormones, you know."

Lissa gave her a mock glare. "I am not high! And I have no hormones!" She whirled on Christian. "Do I, Christian?" The look on her face told him it was in his best interests to say yes. He looked frightened.

"Um, no, of course not. You're perfectly fine." Lissa smiled at him.

"See." She announced. I decided to stay quiet. I was saved from having to say anything else when the doorbell went.

Eddie was at the door in a flash, and had it open within seconds. I felt awed-I've never been able to move that fast. There was a man in the doorway, evidently someone everyone here knew, because they all relaxed when they saw him.

"Adrian!" Lissa cried. "We were wondering when you'd turn up." He doffed a bow.

"I am here, my princess. I wasn't going to miss the chance to see your new Guardian, especially one our dear queen is so afraid of." Afraid of? The queen's not scared of me. She just hates me. I looked up, intrigued. The man in the doorway was tall, as all Moroi were, with chestnut brown hair, and green eyes. He was cute, in an American kind of way, and his expensive wool coat belied his wealth. All in all, a nice package.

Ah, but he was taken. I watched as his gaze went to Rose, and a look of…longing, I guess, crossed his face. In a moment, I had the story. Being psychic is handy sometimes. Adrian adored Rose, loved her, but it was unrequited. She loved Dimitri, as she always had. She'd had a relationship with Adrian, but it hadn't worked out. How could it, when he was addicted to her, and she didn't love him? But the love had never really gone away for Adrian, and even now, whenever he saw Rose, he couldn't control the uprising of emotions he had for her. He was angry, frustrated and utterly obsessed with her. It was saddening, and I felt for him, especially as Rose had no idea. He lied to her, told her he was over her.

What a convoluted little group they had here. I glanced at Eddie-he was still torn up over the death of his best friend- Mason, was it? And he was pulled towards a girl, a Moroi called…Mia? Christian worried he wasn't good enough for Lissa, and Lissa was just happy. And Rose and Dimitri? I couldn't get a hold on them. It was almost as if they weren't a part of the world as much as the others were.

I stopped. I wasn't usually this nosy, but, well, they had such strong emotional currents, for want of a better word, that they drew me in. It wasn't like I had any control over my inner sense-it came and went as it wanted to, usually at the most inconvenient times. I looked down at my shoes, feeling strange and violated. I never liked knowing what people felt. It opened up a whole new can of worms I was never ready to deal with. I hadn't asked around about my powers. Most of the time I pretended they didn't exist, that I was normal, but I never would be, not with the life I'd been given.

Adrian glanced at me sharply, his eyes narrowing as he focused on something…me. "You!" He barked. "Who are you?" I jumped.

"Adrian, she's my new Guardian! What are you doing?" Lissa reprimanded, face stern.

"Her aura, it's weird. Who are you?" He asked again, softer this time.

"I'm Zanna Asher. The Guardian sent to protect Princess Vasilisa." I told him formally. I always fell back on formality when I felt threatened.

"But…" He said, looking lost and kind of insane. "Why is your aura black?"

A/N DUMDUMDUM! What's going on? You'll have to review to find out. And, by the way, ignore my review that says it's from me. My best friend decided to review using my account. :S Thanks, midget!